Dick watched the scenery flash by as the train rumbled through the New Jersey countryside.

He checked his watch again and shifted nervously in his dress uniform. Being home for the first time in 4 years was strange in itself, but going home after the things he had seen and done was a different story.

Dick wished Nixon was still with him, but they would see each other at work in a few days. Nixon had said he needed to go home and sort through his divorce and family problems before getting started at Nixon Nitration. Dick agreed.

Suddenly the train stopping jarred him out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes and noticed a small boy watching him. He tried to smile, but the awe and reverence in his eyes made him sick. It reminded him too much of the boy on the island and the other boy in Paris.

Before his mind can drift back, Dick shuts it down with thoughts of his family. He reaches up and grabs his duffel, slinging it over his shoulder. His other things were being shipped from HQ, but he had the necessities in this bag. He took one more look at the boy before slipping on his cap, tipping it to the front and a little to the side, boldly displaying the parachute patch on the side.

He stepped off the train and before he could even look for his family, a warm body rammed into his side. He immediately tensed and reached for his gun, which wasn't there. He heard screams of his name and the person holding his middle squeezed tighter. Dick finally relaxed when he recognized the bright red hair on the top of the girl's head.

"Sarah?" She pulled away and looked up at him, her grin spreading across her face. "Of course silly! Who else could it be?" Dick only smiled slightly in response. "Can I breathe now?" Confusion crossed her face before realization hit her and with an apologetic "whoops", she unlocked her death grip around his waist.

"Where are mom and dad?" Dick asked worriedly, looking over her head for the rest of his family. Sarah laughed at his worried face. "Silly man they are right behind you." Dick spun and was immediately enveloped in his mother's arms. Dick felt tears prick his eyes, but held them back, knowing there would be time later.

He pressed his face into her hair and inhaled, letting the smell of freshly baked pie and home wash over him. His mother, Edith merely sniffled and held him tighter. "For goodness' sakes, Edith, let the boy breathe." Dick pulled away from his mother and reached out a hand to his father who took it and instead of shaking, pulled him into a hug.

"Welcome home son." He patted his back and then pulled back to study his oldest child's face. Richard Sr. took in the lines around the eyes and mouth and the sadness and despair that hung in his son's blue eyes. He squeezed his shoulder knowingly. Richard had fought in WWI and had seen some of the same atrocities as Dick.

Dick could only pat his father's hand and turn to his sister. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Sarah squinted up at him, her height bringing her only to his shoulder. "You look different." Both Edith and Richard froze, unsure of how Dick would take this observation. He only quirked his mouth in surprise and said, "Different how?"

Sarah pursed her lips and seemed to be deep in thought. "I'm not sure. I mean physically you look almost the same. A little under-fed and under slept, but mentally…" she drifted off now seeing her parent's faces. Before she could comment, a voice rang out. "Sarah!" Sarah turned towards the call and her face brightened dramatically. "Edie you came!"

Another girl of Sarah's age, maybe 18 or 19, came running up next to her. Her blond hair bounced with her movements and her red plaid dress swished with the wind as she came to a stop. She was breathing hard. "I'm sorry…gasp…had to run here from school…gasp…wanted to see him…" Sarah only giggled at her friend's breathlessness.

She finally regained her voice and was turned by Sarah to face Dick. "Dick, I don't know if you remember her, the last time you two saw each other was in diapers, but this is Ethel Estoppey. Or Edie for short."

Edie smiled up at him and reached out her hand. Dick had to remind himself to not blush too noticeably when he took the pretty blonde's hand. They shook and let go. Richard and Edith could only hide smiles at Sarah's poorly concealed attempts to play matchmaker for her brother.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, miss Estoppey." Edie wrinkled her nose at the name. "Please call me Edie. My older sister is miss Estoppey and believe me when I say I don't want to be her." Dick smiled and nodded in agreement. "Edie then." Sarah smiled even wider and said gleefully, "wonderful well now you are both introduced and we can make our way off this platform."

Dick only nodded, his eyes still on Edie. She blushed and looked down, catching sight of his uniform.

"Oh my goodness! You're a major? My brother told me that last he heard you were a captain! Oh he would be so jealous." She grinned and Dick felt his heart beat a little faster. "Is your brother in the military?"

Dick let his parents walk in front of him and his sister linked arms with him and her friend. He switched his bag to his other arm and walked with them, enjoying their chatter. "Oh yes, he was in the navy. He told me all about you." Sarah's smile faded at the mention of Edie's brother and Dick finally noticed the past tense.

"Was," he asked questioningly. Edie looked across at him, her grip on his sister tightening noticeably. "Yes he was killed in action in the pacific." Dick felt the tightness in his chest returning.

Immediately his mind turned back to the young boys he had led to their deaths, but before his mind could cripple him, his sister took her hand off his arm and took his hand instead. She squeezed it comfortingly. Dick looked over at Edie who had gone quiet. Sarah sighed and said, "well Dick, mom cooked up a storm and made all of your favorites. Edith, don't forget you're invited."

They only nodded and walked to the car together.

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Dick felt sick after eating so much. He hadn't wanted to disappoint his mother after spending all day in the kitchen so he ate everything on his plate. His father kept trying to tell her that his stomach wasn't used to eating that much food so soon and especially such rich food, but Dick told her it was fine.

Edith had declined coming to dinner and Dick was worried it was because of him. After dinner, Dick excused himself, saying he needed to unpack. He caught the worried look his mother sent his father and the way his sister offered to help.

Richard Sr. told Sarah to give Dick some time alone. Dick shot him a thankful look and nearly vaulted up the stairs to his room.

He stretched out on his bed, looking at the photos and posters he had put up as a teenager. He was nearly too big for the bed, but compared to the beds he had in Europe, it was heaven.

His stomach grumbled angrily as it tried to digest the heavy rich foods and he closed his eyes. He expected images of the war to come, of Landsberg, and Holland, but instead a girl with blond hair and green eyes flashed through his mind. He sighed and let his mind drift. When he next opened his eyes, darkness had fallen and he could hear the pitter-patter of rain on the roof.

He sat up and looked out the window. The moon was concealed by heavy rain clouds, but it sill managed to shed enough light to see the rolling grass plains surrounding the farmhouse.

Dick changed out of his starched uniform and put on some old jeans from his youth. They were loose on him, his waist being thinner then usual after the war. He then put on a flannel shirt and warm jacket. He snuck downstairs and was about to go out the back door, when he heard voices. "But Richard I'm worried."

"Edith, he went through a war and came out alive. That's more then some other people can say. Just let him be for a few days or weeks and he will be okay." Dick didn't hear his mother's answer and went out the door into the rain. It started to come down harder as Dick made his way through the mud to a hill behind the house.

As he began the trek, he noticed a figure at the top. As he came closer, he recognized the drenched blond hair blowing wildly in the wind and small body sitting on the ground near a tree on the hill. "Edie?" he called. She turned and her eyes widened in surprise at his appearance. She stood up immediately and began to walk down the other side of the hill.

He called after her again and ran after her.

He caught her arm and she swung around angrily. "Don't touch me." She pulled her arm out of his grasp and continued to walk down the hill. Dick followed her and caught her arm again. "Can you at least tell me what I did wrong so I can apologize before you run off?" She froze and turned towards him.

Dick could see the tracks of tears mixing with rain on her face. "What makes you so special? Tommy was just a good a soldier as you. Why did he have to die and you didn't?" Dick nearly let go of her hand at that statement, but instead he pulled her into his arms. She didn't struggle, just hid her face against his chest.

Dick held her close and leaned down to whisper, "I don't know why, Edie. I really don't." She sighed and pulled away. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. You kind of caught me at a bad moment."

She pushed her wet hair out of her face and wiped her eyes. She looked up at him and reached up a hand. She caressed his cheek softly and then pulled away. She continued to stare up at him and whispered, "so young…"

Dick frowned and before he could respond, her eyes closed and she nearly crumpled to the ground before he caught her. "Edie!" Dick felt her forehead and it was hot to the touch. The rest of her body was ice cold and dick wondered how long she had been out in the rain.

He shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around her. She shivered violently and Dick picked her up bridal style, and began walking down the hill towards his parent's house.

As he entered the house with his bundle, he called his parent's names and his sister. He nearly had to choke down the call for medic, expecting Doc Roe to come running in. Sarah came flying down the stairs, tying on a robe as she went. She took one look at Edie and paled. "Not again." Dick looked at her in surprise.

"This has happened before?" Sarah only nodded and ran to fill the bath. His parents came out of their room, shock filling their faces as they recognized the girl in Dick's arms. Richard looked at Dick and noticed the panic setting in. Before he could try to calm his son, Dick straightened suddenly and said in a loud commanding voice, "Webster I need towels and clean clothes. Liebgott get a pitcher of water with a glass."

Richard and Edith looked at each other in alarm. Richard realized what was happening and nodded at his wife to get what Dick asked. Richard waited until she was out of the room before saying, "Major, sir, why don't you give me the girl? Ill take her down to the aid station to get some help. I think captain Nixon is looking for you."

Dick nodded absently and let his father take the wet girl from his arms. He turned and walked out of the house. Richard watched him go before Sarah came running back into the room. "The bath is ready and I—where is dick?" She looked around and turned to her father.

His face was devoid of emotion. "He went out for a minute. Here I'll take her into the bathroom so you and your mother can get her into the tub." With one last look at the door, Richard turned to the bathroom.

Outside, dick sat on the steps, breathing hard. He could still hear the screams of medic and the shouts of his men. The distant boom of bombs dropping echoed through his mind and Dick clenched his hands into fists, trying to drown them out.

He couldn't understand what happened. One minute he was standing with Edie in his arms in his parent's kitchen and then he was back in Holland, trying to keep Lieutenant Heyliger alive. Everything was so real.

He could still see Webster and Liebgott standing next to him and the rest of the boys standing near by. Heyliger was in his arms. And then his father's voice jarred him out of his hallucination.

Dick took a deep breath and stood up. He walked back into the house and found his father sitting at the kitchen table, two glasses set in front of him. "Come sit down here son. Lets have a talk." Dick nodded and sat.

He picked up his glass and took a sip, making a face as the whiskey burned its way down his throat. "Still can't stomach the stuff, huh kid. Well I guess that's for the better." His father smirked as he took a deep gulp of his own drink. Dick pushed his glass towards his father.

"Where did you find her?" Dick looked down at the tablecloth and said, "On the hill. I was just taking a walk and it was raining and she was sitting up at the top. I called out to her and she saw me and started yelling then ran away. I ran after her and she just fainted."

His father only nodded. "Its good you were there son. Last time she did that, no one found her until the next morning and she was already half-dead by then. Thank goodness this doesn't happen during the winter."

Dick looked up at his father in surprise and his sister's words came back to him. "Sarah said this has happened before?" Richard nodded.

"Always on this day and at this time for over two years. It's the day she found out about her brother and no matter what we do, she always ends up outside on that hill. After the first time, we learned not to try and talk her out of it, but usually we stay up to make sure she gets back okay. I guess this time with all of the excitement around your coming home, we forgot."

Dick just nodded and looked towards the bathroom door. "I'll take care of her." Richard only nodded.

ooo Dick's taking an interest!! part 2 coming soon!! please review cause it keeps the muses alive!!! and look for a pic of Edie on my profile...and yes i realize Dick met Ethel differently in reality, but that's why its called fiction...lol