Alright, this is the first chapter of my new Band of Brothers story. Hope you all enjoy. I know its a bit slow to start so hopefully you can bear with me! Let me now what you think.

As always the characters don't belong to me, and I in no way mean any disrespect to the man who fought, i am using the TV characterisations not the actual people.

Normandy 2003

Stephanie walked quietly along the beach of Normandy, the sea was gently lapping at the golden sands of the beach. Wind pulled loose strands of her dark hair around her shoulders and across her face. Her arm was looped through the still strong arm of her Grandpa. His back was ram rod straight as he walked alongside her, his face composed, with his collar turned up against the wind. They reached the edge of the sand, where water was just missing the edge of her black boots. Her grandpa stood staring out across the dark waters of the north sea as Stephanie let her head fall to the side and rest on his shoulder. They stood in silence for what seemed to be eternity before she quietly asked "gramps? You ready to go back?" Her grandpa looked down at her, and she was shocked to see the watery sheen of tears covering his shining blue eyes. Stephanie laid her other hand on his arm "gramps?" she asked softly.

He nodded quickly "I'm ready sweetheart"

Stephanie nodded taking his answer at face value and they turned and walked away from the edge back up to the verge of the beach where her car was parked. Her older sister Marian was stood there with her arms crossed over her black wool coat. As they reached her, Marian held her hand out to their grandpa helping him up over the lip of the beach. He smiled at her gently squeezing her shoulder "thanks darling" he then went quietly by himself back to the car and slid into the back seat. Marian turned to looked at her little sister. Stephanie's cheeks were flushed red from the wind and her long dark hair was knotted from the wind. She was now hugging her arms round herself to try and keep warm in the bitter north wind and there were tears leaking from the corner of her eyes. "Stephie?"

"he was nearly crying Marian" she said turning away from the car so her grandpa wouldn't see her own tears. "he stood there with tears in his eyes at memories we can't possible comprehend"

Marian put her arm round her sister squeezing affectionately "he'll be ok Stephie"

Stephanie wiped her arms quickly with the sleeve of her own coat. "I know that" she said stiffly "I just wish we could make it better for him"

Marian sighed "I want that to, but we can't take the memories of this place away from him"

"maybe we should save the grave yard for another day" Stephanie said looking up at Marian once again "I don't know if its such a good idea to take him today"

Marian shook her head "he has to do this Stephie" Stephanie looked like she was going to protest so Marian just held her hand up shaking her head again "stephie, he wants to do this and who are we to tell him he can't"

Stephanie finally nodded cracking a small smile "fine, but I want it noted that this is not my idea"

Marian smiled back at her sister "consider it noted" she removed her arm from her sister and stuck her hands in her pockets "now, come on lets get moving, its freezing out here" The girls quickly moved back over to the car and managed to smile at each other once more before getting into the front seats. "ready to go gramps?" Marian asked smiling at him in the mirror. Ralph Harris nodded looking at both of his not inconsiderable beautiful granddaughters. Marian the elder was tall and elegant with a cascade of brunette curls and sparkling blue eyes. At 22 she had graduated top of her university class in European history and politics. Stephanie the younger was 20 and a living and breathing version of her grandma his late wife at that age. The same incredibly pale skin making the blackness of her long black hair and eyes all the more shocking. She was currently studying some sort of science that boggled Ralph's aging mind. Looking at the two of them together his heart swelled in pride and suddenly the idea of what else he must do today didn't seem as awful as before. Looking at his future in these two girls he was once again proud of his past.

Realising they were still waiting for him to answer he nodded "yes, I'm ready"

Marian smiled at him and Stephanie reached back and gripped his hand briefly squeezing. "lets get this show on the road then shall we"

It didn't take long for Marian to drive them from the beach to Hermanville war cemetery. What did surprise the girls was when they all got out of the car their Grandpa turned to them and shook his head when they tried to follow him. "I need to do this alone"

"Gramps, you don't, that's why we're here" Stephanie said. Their grandpa simply shook his head though "no girls, I have to do this"

Stephanie looked desperately at Marian who simply shrugged. There was nothing she could do, if their Grandpa wanted to do this alone they would have to respect that. Sensing defeat Stephanie sighed and went to sit on the hood of the car. "we'll wait right here gramps" Marian said, dragging a smile from her Grandfather as she to turned and went to sit next to her sister.

Stephanie was sulking Marian thought with a small laugh to herself. Her sisters face was gloomy and her lower lip was almost sticking out like it had when she had been a child and not gotten her own way. "He'll be ok Stephie" Marian said as she sat down.

"I know that" Stephanie complained.

"then what's the face for" Marian teased "you've got the same look on your face as you had when Mum told you it wouldn't be very nice to try and microwave Alison Steven's cat"

Stephanie shuddered at that memory "that cat was evil Marian, I swear it waited for me everyday after school just to try and get me"

Marian laughed and lightly bumped her shoulder to her sisters. Who turned and finally gave her a small smile. Stephanie then returned to looking at the retreating figure of their Grandpa. He was moving silently through the graves, occasionally stopping to touch the stone his lips moving as he talked to what were obviously men he had known. "You know I used to love listening to Gramp's stories about the war" she said suddenly making Marian frown but Stephanie continued "it never really hit me that it was real. That the people he talked about really did bleed and die for their country. It's kind of hard to not believe though when confronted with this" she waved her arm to encompass the mass amount of graves confirming what she was saying.

"we both loved those stories Stephie, and we were kids how were we meant to know"

Stephanie shrugged "it's not stories though is it Mari. Not anymore anyhow"

"No its not" Marian answered. Both girls fell silent once again after that simply watching their grandpa move around the silent white stones, filled with unspoken memories.

The small family group got back to the bed and breakfast they were staying in late that afternoon. Their grandpa pleaded tiredness and quickly excused himself to go and rest after hugs from both of his granddaughters. With their grandpa resting the two sisters decided it seemed only fair to go and explore the small town they were staying in, so pulling their scarves and gloves back on they waved goodbye to the land lady and headed back into town, on foot this time.

"It's a beautiful place France" Marian said as they entered the main square of the town. Stephanie nodded and blew on her hands "cold as well. Jesus I thought France was meant to be warmer than England"

Marian laughed at her sisters grumbles and simply pulled her further into the town. Spotting an antique shop amongst the store fronts she pointed excitedly "oh come on Stephie lets have a look"

Stephanie groaned "do we have to Mari. I know what your like. Once your in a place like that its hell trying to get you out again"

"Fifteen minutes. I promise that's all I'll take" Marian wheedled pulling on her sisters arm "come on stephie, pleeasse"

"oh alright" Stephanie relented letting herself be pulled in the direction of the shop "at least it will be warm inside" she muttered as Marian laughed opening the door of the shop and stepping inside. Marian soon lost herself in the place which was piled floor to ceiling with bits of what Stephanie would only call junk. Marian seemed happy though so she found a sturdyish looking chair in one corner and plonked herself down to wait for her sister.

Of course Marians promise of fifteen minutes soon turned into thirty and then even longer as she started to argue and debate something with the owner in fluent French that left Stephanie with nothing but a headache and a tiredness that was approaching exhaustion. "Mari" she said trying to catch her sisters attention "Marian" she tried again, eventually her sister turned round "Mari, you've been in here for hours can we please get going"

Marian looked shocked as she glanced at her watch "God I didn't realise I had taken that long" she muttered putting down the latest piece she had been staring at. She said something to the pained looking owner and turned to leave. Stephanie smiled at the owner as well who just looked happy to be getting rid of the all knowledgeable English girl who had made the end of her afternoon hell.

"What were you talking about to make her look so affronted?" Stephanie asked once they had gotten outside walking back towards their B&B. "Oh just the local history round here"

"and that got her so upset" Marian flushed and Stephanie was pretty sure it wasn't from the battering wind. "Marian what did you say?" she asked.

"Oh nothing much" Marian said attempting to evade the question.

Stephanie however was much to skilled at reading her sister after knowing her all her life, she was also very good at getting her to talk. "You would have thought that since she was from here she'd know more than you"

Marian instantly tutted to herself crossing her arms over her chest "Yes, you would have thought so wouldn't you, but no. I still had to educate her over the battle that happened just on the beach down there"

"really you had to educate her?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes" Marian cried "as if she believed that the Americans took sword beach it was of course the British" seeing her sisters blank look Marian explained "sword beach was one of the sections that the British were allocated to take during D-Day"

"oh, and this woman thought it was the Americans?"

"yes, how idiotic is that?" Marian demanded.

Stephanie smiled and agreed with her sister that it was completely out of line that anyone should give the Americans credit for something they hadn't done. Which then got Marian started on the fact that Americans did have a lot to be worthy of credit. After all she reasoned they had done a lot for the war effort and without them she doubted that Britain would have been able to hold out against the force of the Nazis. Stephanie just nodded and went along with it all. Marian didn't notice her sister wasn't answering though just continued talking about the war and D day until they reached the B&B once again.

The rest of the evening passed with nothing much out of the ordinary. The girls grandpa had risen again and after dinner they spent much of the evening getting him to tell them his stories once again. Which although he complained about both girls knew he was secretly pleased that they still wanted to listened to him. Ralph retired back to his room at just past 10:30pm with a kiss to both his girls and promises to accompany them on the tour of the next town over tomorrow and also promises to show them more places that he had visited. Which pleased Marian no end.

After that the girls stayed up talking for another hour or so before going to their own room. It was a small B&B and they were sharing a twin bedded room much like they used to when they were younger. So after giggling and joking there way through their evening bathing they fell into bed with smiles still on their faces.

"Hey Mari?" Stephanie asked as they lay in bed the light just gone off.

"Yeah Stephie" Marian asked softly.

"You remember that summer we went to stay with gramps and gran when I had broken my arm"

"yeah, you fell out of a tree again. What about it?"

"Do you remember gramps told us the story that night about the Yankee soldiers he'd met that one time" Stephanie paused "the ones who had that TV series made about them"

"E Company" Marian replied "yeah I remember the story. Why?"

"Do you reckon that guy he was talking to ever managed to find a luger?"

Even in the dark Marian turned to the dark shape of her sister in the bed opposite her frowning in confusion "what?"

"you know" Stephanie yawned "that man gramps talked to he was trying to find a Luger, do you reckon he ever got one?"

"I don't know" Marian said. "why do you want to know?"

"I don't" Stephanie said "I just wondered" she was quiet for a few more minutes before saying "night Marian"

Marian smiled to herself before saying "night stephie"

The talk between the two girls stopped then but Marian couldn't get the question out of her head. Why would Stephanie remember that strange part of the story their gramps told them. Marian tossed and turned for a good while before finally falling asleep dreaming of E Company and the man searching for a luger.

Stephanie woke first the next morning, stretching her limbs out when she climbed out of the old single bed. She hadn't slept in a single bed since she was a child and it had taken a lot of tensing to make sure she hadn't rolled out during the night. Checking the clock she realised it was still early and went to jump in the shower.

When she got back Marian was sat up on her bed fastening the laces of her boots. "You going somewhere Mari?"

Marian looked up smiling at her sister. "Just quickly going into town, there was a music box in that antique shop that I want to look at again. Do you want to come?"

"to the antique shop?" Stephanie scoffed "as if Mari, once was quite enough for me"

Marian smiled "you can get fresh croissants from the bakery"

Stephanie looked up suddenly interested "really"

Marian nodded "I saw the advert in the window yesterday as we were walking"

"what about gramps"

Marian glanced at the clock "he won't be awake for a while yet, and we can leave a note downstairs to say were we've gone and that we won't be very long"

Stephanie seemed to debate the fact with herself for a few moments before nodded "fine alright, the croissants have won me over. But you get 10 minutes in that shop and I will be counting"

"deal" Marian agreed. Both girls grabbed their coats and scarves once again and Marian scribbled a note for their grandpa just in case he woke up then they set off into the town. They split up in the centre, Stephanie going towards the bakery and Marian to the antique shop.

The door rang as Marian went through it, much like it had yesterday. Only this time an older man sat behind the small counter at the front, he smiled briefly at Marian then went back to his newspaper. Marian spent a few minutes just gaping at the mounds of treasure before gathering herself together and heading for the back of the shop she found the little music box she had found the day before. She was guessing that it was an early 40's design with engravings in the walnut box, that once opened played softly lilting waltz music as a couple spun around a small platform. It was quite charming and Marian was more than a little taken with it. Making her mind up she carried it back to the front of the shop. "How much Monsieur?"

The old man looked up at smile as he saw the box "a nice find mademoiselle. For you €10"

Seen as the music still played and everything seemed to be working with the box Marian nodded and digging through her bag found her purse to pay the man with. He smiled and carefully wrapped it up placing it in a small brown bag. Saying goodbye Marian hurried out of the shop where Stephanie was already leaning against the window digging in to a steaming hot croissant. She smiled at Marian "find it?" she asked. Marian nodded and held her hand out for a croissant. Stephanie obligingly handed one over for her sister and stared curiously at the brown paper bag Marian was carrying. "Lets see then" she prodded.

Marian nodded and both girls went to sit on a bench in one corner of the main square. Marian wiped her buttery fingers on the serviette Stephanie handed her then carefully untied the paper around the music box handing it over to her sister. Stephanie looked carefully at the outside tracing her finger along the engravings on the top. "Is it real wood?"

Marian nodded "Walnut I think, although its been stained at least once before"

"does it open?" Stephanie said already lifting the lid before Marian could answer. It happened so quickly that both girls couldn't be sure if it was real but as Stephanie opened the box instant screaming could be heard. Sounds of gun fire and the sudden blast of what could only be bombs echoed in their ears. Stephanie slammed the lid shut and both girls looked up at each other in shock. "did that just…"

Marian nodded slightly pale "yeah, I mean I heard…"

"screams" Stephanie finished. "how did we hear screams" she asked looking round the still perfectly quiet and serene town square. "I don't know" Marian answered taking the box from Stephanie's hands. She carefully lifted the lid of the box. Nothing happened the only noise came from the sweet tones of the waltz music. "maybe we imagined it?" she reasoned.
Stephanie frowned "we both imagined the same thing" she shook her head "I don't think so. Here give me the box"

Marian passed it back over and Stephanie carefully opened the lid once again a loud buzzing started building inside Marian's ears and the blue sky and stone walls of the small town started to fade. It was then that the spinning started Marian closed her eyes in desperation. She could hear screaming again. Screams that sounded like nothing she had ever heard before they ripped through her leaving her shaking and trying to clutch at her ears to block them out. Flashes of people and places she didn't recognize reached her even though her eyes were closed, until finally not able to stand it any longer Marian moved, as if her movement where the key she slammed down onto solid earth. The screaming stopped and everything went quiet.