For foroneandall (and anyone else who is wondering): I'm reposting this because I've COMPLETELY changed the plot, the first two chapters are the same but I've changed it from then on. I was originally going to have it Emily/Shifty, but decided against it. I'm sorry if I've confused anyone, I probably should have just changed the original one, (don't know why I didn't?). Anyways, sorry for the confusion, Enjoy :)

Whoop! Another chapter! I've been writing like mad lately ;) Thank you for the reviews EmmyMK and AlishaofTroy! And I'm still considering the ending ;) ENJOY! :)


Trees

Emily crouched down, head just peaking above the ditch where she sat. Rows and rows of endless trees stretched out in front of her, eventually fading away into the distance. She glanced round at Eugene Roe, who was also crouched down, at the other end of the ditch. He caught her eye and flashed her a quick smile, before turning back to face the trees.

"Petty! Map! Come on!" she heard Sobel whisper.

"Oh, Christ," Petty hissed under his breath.

Brilliant, she thought. Sobel's gone and got us lost again… Lieutenant Winters scrambled over to Sobel, who was muttering 'We're in the wrong position.'

"We're textbook position for an ambush, sir."

Emily didn't catch the rest of the conversation, she was too busy smiling to herself at the confusion present on Sobel's face.

"Second platoon, move out," hissed Winters. The men looked round at each other, obviously as confused as Sobel. They stood up silently, grabbed all the gear, and started to scramble out of the ditch. Emily's legs weren't as long as the other Easy Company guy's, so she was finding it just a little bit difficult.

"Emily, here," whispered Muck, as he held out a hand and heaved her out of the ditch.

"Thanks, Skip," she whispered back, an embarrassed smirk on her face.

They had just caught up with the rest of the group, when Sobel halted. Emily glanced towards what he was staring at and saw eleven men, covered in foliage, pointing guns at them. She could see the disappointment on Sobel's face, the anger on Winters'.

"Captain," started a major, stepping out from behind a tree, "You've just been killed, along with 95% of your company. Your outfit?"

"Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506."

"Leave three wounded men on the ground and report back to the assembly area."

"Goddamn it," hissed Sobel. Emily glanced over at Gene. She heard him exhale loudly then glare at Sobel. Their defeated Captain, turned to face the men. "You, you, you." He pointed at three men, who began offloading their equipment to hand it to someone else. Sobel turned and started marching towards the assembly area, and the men, reluctantly, followed.


Emily rested her head against the window of the gently rumbling train. The carriage occasionally shook with such vigour that she was almost certain the sleeping Gene would have fallen off the seat by now. He lay on his side, eyes closed, with a peaceful expression painted on his pale face.

The carriage rocked again, waking Gene from his slumber. He sat up and yawned, stretching his weary arms, and opening his heavy eyes.

"Mmm…" he groaned. "How long have I been asleep?" Emily smiled at him.

"About an hour or two."

"Really?" The look of confusion on his face was enough to make Emily laugh.

Oh, how Gene loved her laugh, even if it was directed at him. Her sweet, tinkling, joyous laugh. It was always enough to chase away even the most dismal of thoughts.

"Really," she smiled again.

"We nearly there?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"I think so." Emily glanced out at the lush countryside rushing past the window, with an occasional cottage dotted amongst the rolling, green hills.

A noise approached, and she looked to her left, to find Joe Toye, George Luz and Donald Malarkey walking past their compartment. The first two walked past without so much as a glance, but as Malarkey walked past, he shot Emily a nervous smile, and threw her a timid wave. Emily awkwardly lifted her hand and waved back, a smile gracing her face. He swiftly moved on, and Emily's face turned a delicate shade of pink.

"Malarkey has a thing for you, you know," Gene grinned at her. She raised an eyebrow and laughed.

"I'm sure he does," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"No honestly, he really does. All the Easy guys have a soft spot for you. They'd die for you, Em." The smile fell from Gene's face. Emily stared intently out of the window.

"I know… and I'd die for them."


The sun was starting to set in the crisp September sky. The sky was the most beautiful shades of pink and orange and yellow. Emily could feel the Statue of Liberty casting her gaze over the ship. She stood proud, a beacon of hope, towering over the ship. The men were packed in along the railings, catching a last glimpse of the land of the free and the home of the brave. Emily was right at the front, with Gene, as usual, by her side. A gentle breeze ruffled her hair, making her shiver. Eugene put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

"Do you think we'll come home, Gene?" she asked, hands gripping the railings.

"I don't know, Em, I sure do hope so," he replied.

"Me too, Gene, me too."


Emily was violently sick again, leaning over the side of the ship, watching the tumultuous waves lapping at the hull of the ship. Rain battered the ship, and the wind felt like ice. The dark night sky enveloped her, and her only piece of comfort was the hand of Gene Roe rubbing her back.

"There, Em, you're doing fine," he whispered in her ear. Emily suddenly felt weak at the knees and collapsed into Gene's arms. He knelt down and gently set Emily on the deck of the ship, his arm still rubbing her back.

"Hey," he soothed, stroking her hair. "It's alright, I'm here, Em, I'm here…"

"Oh God, Gene, I hate boats…" He chuckled softly.

"Just close your eyes, don't think about it."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled her tight.

"I'm so glad you're here, Gene…" Eugene Roe smiled, despite the cold and the wind and the rain. He smiled, because he had Emily Wade.


Emily had completely and utterly lost track of time. She filled her days and weeks with medical training and physical drills. The months flew past, Emily barely catching sight of them as they rushed by. Her weeks spent in the quiet town of Aldbourne had been peaceful compared to the 24/7 training of Toccoa. She could do nothing to stop the weeks flying by, and could only try to take her mind off the not-so distant future and what must be asked of her. She'll have to be strong, not only for the Easy guys and for Gene, but for herself too.


The truck rumbled along the muddy trail, drawing ever nearer to fate. Rows upon rows of tents stretched out as far as you could see, each soaking wet and covered in mud. The truck grumbled and slid to a halt. The back came down, and the men began pouring out.

Emily jumped out of the back of the truck, into mud, which she realised too late, that reached well above her ankles. She tried to pull out her right foot, only to push it further down into the mud. Laughing, Lieutenant Compton turned round and offered her a hand.

"Thanks," she blushed. This wasn't the first time she'd needed a hand with things. He heaved her out of the mud, and grinned.

"No, problem," he winked and then walked off. Emily glanced up towards the sky. Grey clouds gathered and hung over their heads, threatening a downpour. She walked past Hoobler, deep in conversation with a Tommy dressed as a Kraut. Hoobler was marvelling over a Luger, he hadn't stopped talking about one since they found out they'd be going to Europe. Emily wasn't sure about Hoob, but she couldn't understand a thing he was saying.


Emily sat on a crate, rubbing her hands together, trying to muster up a little heat for her numb fingers. A thin layer of mist covered the airstrip, and an ice cold breeze rattled through the field. She wiggled her toes in her boots, at least two sizes too big, but the smallest they came. It seemed almost everything here was too big for her. She exhaled softly, resting her chin upon her delicately folded arms.

"Fingers any better?" Emily turned round to face the young, raven-haired Cajun staring at her, a mischievous grin painted on his pale face, cheeks red from the bitter cold.

"A bit," she smiled back.

"I'm telling you," he sat down beside her on the muddy, boot-trodden ground, not bothering to look for a crate of his own, "Strange weather for June alright."

"I suppose." She shivered, half out of lack of warmth, half out of anxiousness.


Another tear leaked down Emily's already tear-stained face. Gene put a hand to her face and gently wiped away the new batch of tears. He put his hand under her chin, and raised her face so her eyes met his.

"I… I don't want to leave you," she sobbed, and buried her face in his chest.

"I know…" he rubbed her back soothingly, and wrapped his arms around her.

"But… but what if…"

"Shh…" Gene stopped her, pressing his finger to her lips. "Don't think about that. Just concentrate on looking after yourself, okay?" he smiled weakly. She wiped the tears from her face and nodded.

"Be strong," he whispered in her ear as he pulled her close. And with that, Eugene Roe let go of Emily and starting walking towards his plane, not looking back. Unbeknown to Emily, it was because he had started shedding tears of his own.


Emily heaved herself off the ground. No, she thought, it's no use. Her pack weighed almost as much as she did, and getting off the ground like this would be impossible. She saw Lieutenant Meehan helping the men in front of her to stand up. Finally, it was her turn, and he heaved her to her feet.

"Good luck, Wade," he smiled.

"Thank you, sir." Emily tried to salute, but the amount of gear she had on her prevented her hand from getting higher than her shoulder. Meehan laughed, and saluted her back.


The dark night flew passed the window, and Emily glanced towards the dark abyss of an ocean below. The night was calm, with only a hint of a gentle breeze. The men were quiet. Thinking. Remembering. Praying.

A tear slid down her cheek and Talbert reached out and gently took her hand in his own. She turned to face him, her pale face lit up by the moon. Emily opened her mouth.

"Gene…" she whispered, her voice cracking.

"Hey…" he took her face in his hands, "Don't worry. the Doc's gonna be alright."

The plane shuddered, sending a vicious rattle up her back. She squeezed Tab's hand and looked across at the terrified face of Shifty Powers. He smiled at her, obviously trying to hide his terror. Emily couldn't really blame him.

Oh God, she thought. Oh God, please let Gene be alright, please…

Suddenly the sky was filled with bursts of light and sound. The plane shuddered again, more violently this time. Emily caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye, and glanced out the window to find the left engine on fire. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart felt as if it would burst from her chest.

An explosion ripped through the plane, and flames began to engulf the men at the back. Tab pulled her to her feet and hooked her to the wire stretching the length of the plane.

"You're gonna have to jump, Emily, okay?"

Emily squeezed her eyes shut and nodded. Tab pushed her towards the door, but the plane veered to the right and she lost her footing. He heaved her up once more and shouted,

"Jump, Emily! Go! Jump!"

Emily threw herself out of the plane, watched her parachute open above her, and slipped into oblivious unconsciousness.


Ooh... Do you think I rushed this chapter a little? I'm not too sure :S Anyways, thank you for reading :)