Opening his eyes to the bright expanse ahead of him, he saw a familiar figure standing in front of a vast lake with her back to him. "Took you long enough." He gulped as he heard an all too familiar voice. "This is the most marvelous thing I've ever laid my eyes on." She gave a chuckle as she turned around facing him, the same way she did when they first spent the night in each other's arm. Her electrocuting gaze falling on his as he stood dumbfounded. Those eyes, they still give him goosebumps as if this was the first time he's ever saw them. "God knows I've been waiting an eternity! Where have you been?!" He felt a familiar feeling in his gut. The butterflies, he felt nervous and contented at the same time as he took a step towards her, reaching out to hold her hands. He felt himself relax as if all his pain, regrets and sufferings has been lifted off his shoulders. She giggled as she took a step closer, not once breaking eye contact with him, her voice a melody, his memories flashing all the things they went through, the day he met her, the first time they kissed and said the word 'I love you'. She held on to him-placing a light kiss at the back of his hand. "Eugene."

**FLASHBACK**

ALDBOURNE, ENGLAND – 1944

"Company! We're heading out! Grab all your belongings and make sure you thank all the families that took you in. Assemble here in 5 minutes and load those truck. Dismissed!"

"Fuck! Are we going to have our jump tonight, sarge?"

"Not a chance, Perco. We're being taken under the wings of Lieutenant Nixon's contact."

"Yeah, about time! From what I've heard, all other companies' been annexed by this friend of his since they landed here in England. A hotel of some sort... We coulda been there when we got here but Sobel didn't want to feel too comfortable." One lad butted in. As they started to disperse heading off towards the family who gave them temporary shelters.

"God! Took the Lord long enough see that Easy Company is full of good men that should not be punished. We are now, Sobel-free!"

"Amen to that, Skip! Amen!" Everyone roared.

"Hey George! Guess how lucky we are, huh? This house is freakin' huge!"

"Well... Technically Frank, this ain't a house. It's a fucking hotel." The other guy stated.

"Jesus Christ! This looks like a 5 star hotel! Are they sure we're in the right place?" Everyone started cheering in excitement as they started wondering around the room. A sudden knock made them stop as they all looked towards an older woman standing at the door wearing a Victorian dress.

"Good evening, gentlemen. I hope you're all comfortable, my name's Dayna, the overseer of the hotel." The older lady bowed gracefully. "In behalf of the owner, I welcome you. I would like to also call on to Mr. Lewis Nixon, your old friend is chuffed to meet you the soonest, sir." The older woman stated as she stood stiffly in front of the men.

"Couldn't wait, huh?" Nixon laughed as he started to follow the older woman. "Oh! I would also like them to meet my CO and my good friend here if they won't mind."

"Oh, I bet they wouldn't Lewis. Any friend of Lewis Nixon are very much welcome around here. Dinner will be served at 7:30, the owner will meet you all by then. Ford will assist you to your rooms, cheerio! " She waved behind her as she went out followed by the other officers.

"I could just live in here for the rest of my life." Everyone started to nod in agreement as they started walking along the corridor.

"In your dreams, Webb. We're jumping in June." The smile faltered on their faces as they thought about the impending invasion.

"Oh what the hell! I still get to stay here until the jump." A man hollered.

"2nd floor is solely for your company only. Here are the keys to your rooms, medical storage is at the far end of the corridor. Should you have any concern or in dire need assistance please do call." The man in suit gave the key to each leader.

"Beat it sisters! We have 30mins to be ready. Push those scrawny assess up and scrub 'em clean, capisce?"

"Aye, aye! Gonorrhea!"

Gussying up, the men decided to make their way towards the so called mess hall. Stepping in to an unfamiliar corridor, everyone gawked as they saw the lavish interior spoilt with paintings and pictures.

"I didn't know they decorate 5 star hotels with pinup posters here in England." A man with the strong jaw bellowed as he surveyed a pinup poster placed besides a painting. "What I'd do to get one of those and keep it, something to look at in the middle of the war when I feel lonely."

"Behave yourselves boys. Don't you even think of breaking, smudging or taking anything."

"Aye aye, Johnny."

"I sure wish the hot broad could join us. Been a while since I talked to a girl." A tall lanky lad with black hair professed as they started towards their designated table.

"Hey boys! Took you long enough to cozy in with us. Guess you didn't get the memo huh?" Men from other companies teased. "Took the lady with us too!" The table opposite to them roared in laughter.

"Look at all these fuckers messin around. No limeys around huh?"

"Probably because they have their own houses around and we're thousands of miles from ours, you dung head."

"Attennhut!" On cue, all men stood as Colonel Sink barged in trailed by other ranking officers. "Easy Company." He greeted them as he stood proudly. "A kind hearted family has offered to let us live in this hotel until the invasion. I expect your company to be in best behavior." He stated as he averted his gaze towards the hallway. Silence fell on their table as everyone started whistling and chanting. A smiling Lieutenant Meehan entered walking ahead of Nixon and Winters, in the middle stood a figure a lot smaller than the three of them.

"Men! This is Lieutenant Elizabeth Slaughter. Former medical doctor from the British Pacific Fleet, she will be deployed in France after the invasion. You'll be seeing more of her around you, especially the medics."

The girl giggled lightly as she felt the curious eyes of the new men looking at her. "Pleasant to meet you all. Took quite a while before your officers decided it was time to move you all in here." She glanced up looking over at Easy Company. She was small, her head almost reaching up to Winter's shoulder; curly bombshell blonde hair reaching up to her shoulder, pale skin. What was striking about her was her eyes, they were green, and almost gray- accentuating her pupil, making it look like a big dot at the center.

"Drink's in the house gentlemen, drink your hearts out. Cheers!" Everyone seemed to be in trance as servings after servings of food and drinks was taken out and placed on their tables in front of them.

"Thank you ma'am!" A chorus of voices blurted out happily as they started to dig in on the food in front of them.

"Now this, I'm gonna say out loud, Skip. I love England! God save the King and Queen! "

"Get a hold of yourself, Malark! We ain't drunk yet!"

"Hey, Luz! Did I hear it right? The girl's last name's Slaughter?"

"You heard right, Penk. Hey Docs! Whatchu think about her last name? Kinda inappropriate for her profession huh?" Both medic gazed up towards the officers' table looking straight at the new lieutenant. Feeling someone was staring at her, she looked towards the two gentlemen, her piercing gaze landing on one of the medics, offering a smile and a toast before drinking.

"Glad to see you've survived hell, Liz. Intelligence told me it's been crazy out there." Nixon asked goofily out of the blue.

"Don't be cheeky on my now, Lew. It's been seven years since we last saw one another you daft dog!" Elizabeth barked back as she stared at him. Immediately averting his gaze, remembering the time when he first met her, he cried like a new born child. How those eyes made his spine prickle in fear. Her pupils dilating and constricting depending on her mood and how she feels.

"First, I would like to congratulate you for the supposed new chapter in your life. I'm also sorry for not being there when you called." He reached out a hand and squeezed hers, offering comfort.

"Look at that. Ever the devilishly handsome womanizing son of a bitch, ain't that right, huh, Joe?" Everyone glanced up.

"They look quite cozy." Joe asked his comrade back as he looked at the interaction in front of them.

"The guy's married, Bill. Quit your yapping. We have one week to spend some time in here, with her." Luz declared waving his eyebrows at his friend. "You'd still have your chance"

"Well she's a sight for the sore eyes. The first broad I ever set my eyes on since Sobel keep on revoking our weekend passes from the day I joined the army. I say, it's Sobel's fault!"

"Cheers to that!" everyone shouted, earning the attention of the people around them.

"Jolly blokes you have, Lew. War is hell. " everyone at the table cheered in.