Liana was glued to the radio, listening to songs and every development that she could find and even some of the French morse codes for hours on end, even though she had no idea how to decrypt them, as well as the fact that she didn't speak French. It was December 9th when Alfred and Matthew left, then it was December 12th. The days just seemed to drag on like there was no stopping them, Liana wanted time to stop, that way her brothers might not get hurt, they might not be killed.

A knock at her front door made Liana blink her sky blue eyes as the world came back into focus. "Come in." She said meekly. Liana rarely made the effort to lock the door anymore, she didn't really care if someone were to come in or not.

Dorothy stuck her head in and smiled brightly at her, "Liana, good to see you out of your room."

"Hmm." Liana nodded, all the alcohol was still gone, not that Liana drank that much. She was a complete lightweight. But she still longed for the bitter taste on her tongue, the buzzing in her head that would make the constant worrying go away. She had nothing to do but play the violin, and that only seemed to bring the dark thought closer, but she did it anyway. She didn't want to walk around the town, so her entire mind was filled with only panic and distress, perhaps Alfred was onto something…

"We just came by to-" Dorothy said, opening the door further and stepping inside. Nellie-Rose bolted inside and jumped up and down in front of Liana.

"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" She shouted. Liana's eyes widened, that's impossible, there's no way it was Christmas already. The last time she had checked the calendar it was December 15th, Nellie-Rose was just being an overexcited child. Dorothy walked up behind her and smiled, holding out a bag for Liana to take. It was red and green and was tied at the top with silver ribbon, the whole thing shimmered.

"Merry Christmas, Liana." So it was Christmas. Liana looked to the calendar on the far wall displaying the landscapes of America and saw that it was indeed December 25th. Where had all the days gone? Liana couldn't remember a single one of them. She tried to play it cool and let out a slow breath.

She smiled weakly, "Thanks." Liana took the gift from Dorothy and put it on the table behind her.

Nellie-Rose spoke up, "I-I have a present for you too!" she looked at Dorothy who pulled out a small, rather clumsily wrapped gift the size of a paperweight. Liana took it and held it in her hands, which she realized were shaking. There was a beat of silence, "Aren't you going to open it? I picked it out just for you!" Nellie-Rose looked a little sad and Liana tightened her grip around the gift.

She swallowed, "Well… I have you to give you two my gifts too, don't I?" Liana slowly put down Nellie-Rose's present next to Dorothy's and walked into her room to pick up their presents. Luckily, Liana had planned out these two's Christmas presents since before the war started and had them ready since November. She handed them off and Dorothy smiled and Nellie-Rose jumped up and down and tried to look inside. Liana smiled too, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Now you open your presents!" Nellie-Rose demanded, but Dorothy put a hand on her shoulder.

"Actually, Nellie, I think Liana has some work she has to do. But how about we head back and see how far along Travis is with our Christmas Dinner." Nellie-Rose nodded and waved goodbye to Liana as the door shut behind them. She kept waving at the closed door for a few seconds before she turned back to the table. She felt like she shouldn't open them, but she knew Nellie-Rose would pester her about it if she didn't say anything.

Liana opened Dorothy's present first. It was a pair of earrings and a new pair of winter gloves. She smiled softly as she remembered complaining about her old ones weeks ago. Dorothy really did listen, and she did think every little move she made through. The earrings were small dangling blue gemstones. Liana doubted they were real as no one here had that much money to speak of but she didn't care, they were the exact same shade of blue as her eyes, and she put them on. Nellie-Rose's present looked to be a rather lumpy package wrapped in red paper and tied with a green ribbon. Liana had found a corresponding card for it in Dorothy's gift that she had yet to open. Liana pulled off the ribbon and the paper to find that it was something wrapped in newspaper. Liana was thankful that it was the comics and not the war reports that covered her holiday gift. Gently, she peeled the paper away to reveal a bracelet with three charms on it. A sun, a moon, and a star. Liana smiled at it softly as she marveled at the overall quality, Nellie-Rose must have told Dorothy what she wanted to do with the bracelet so they could have it done professionally. But when she turned the charms over she thought she might cry, on the back of each charm was written a name. Alfred was on the back of the sun, Matthew on the back of the moon, and Liana was on the other side of the star. Liana tried to steady her breathing as she opened the card and she laughed a little seeing Nellie-Rose's illegible handwriting, but Dorothy had transcribed the message below.

Merry Christmas, Liana!

I wanted to get you something to help you think of your brothers because they're so far away. Alfred is the sun because he's bright and happy, and Matthew is the moon because he's quiet like the night time, and you're the star because that's what you're going to be one day! A big star just like my big sister! And you can be stars together!

Merry Christmas!

-Nellie-Rose

Liana brushed the tears off of her cheeks as she put the bracelet on. The metal felt cool against her skin, but it was one of the most real feelings she'd had in a long time. She tried not to remember what she had seen sitting on her dresser when she had gotten Nellie-Rose and Dorothy's presents, two other presents, wrapped and taped each with a bow and a card, labeled Alfred and Matthew.

(*) (*) (*)

During the previous war where Alfred and Matthew had been away, it hadn't been so bad. They weren't gone for a long time and Liana had her Grandfather Davie to stay at home with her and make sure her spirits didn't get too low. Liana still went to school and Davie went to work. But now, Liana didn't have a job, she had lost it a few weeks before the war started and know her mind was too clouded to think of work, instead all that filled her head were ways to clear her mind, music, she had taken to gardening in the plant boxes on her balcony, but for the most part she didn't know where the time went. Her thoughts swirled around in her mind and consumed her with worry and distress. The money coming in from both Alfred and Matthew being in the army took care of some of the rent but there was still a significant chunk missing, those two army salaries could cover the cost of the apartment, but they didn't reach the food, water, electricity or other things Liana needed. So she soon found herself in on a rainy day in late February debating whether to knock on Dorothy's door for help or not. She knew it was impolite, she knew that Dorothy was barely making enough to get her own family by let alone adding another person, but at the same time Liana knew that Dorothy would welcome her in with open arms and give her a place to stay. It was just a matter of pride.

Liana's hand had been hovering over the wood for over seven minutes however before she had the chance to make any sort of decision, Dorothy opened the door and looked at her. "Liana?"

Liana's hand fell down to her side, "I need your help."

After Liana had finished explaining her situation, Dorothy had sat her down with her traditional cup of tea and had a hand on her knee. "Oh sugar, you should have told me sooner." Liana shook her head. "Well, I'm sorry but we can't help you."

"I understand. It's the money, isn't it?"

Dorothy nodded, "Partially, and another part of it is I know you're too proud for your own good and if we did help you you would never let it go for the rest of your life. So, I'll do as much as I can, but I think you'll want to figure this one out on your own."

"I'm just not used to it."

"No one is the first time, but," Dorothy put her tea down on the coffee table and smiled. "What are we to do? We can't help it." Liana recognized the words from the Marlene Dietrich song she heard on the radio nearly every day and wondered if Dorothy was quoting them on purpose or not.

"So there's nothing you can do?" Liana asked, her tea was cold and she felt as if she might cry.

"I can't do anything, but I know someone who might."

Dorothy had directed Liana to a casino on 15th street called The Golden Rose. Liana was skeptical about the idea of gambling her money back, seeing as she had so little to start with. The building itself was surprisingly black with red accents and not gold, but the lettering above the awning was. Liana pulled her red rain coat tighter around her shoulders as she crossed the street and walked into the casino. It was early in the evening so it was already full of people. There were blackjack and poker tables and slot machines and endless seas of people in varying states of intoxication. Liana felt very out of place as she took off her coat, revealing her short black dress. It was a lot fancier and showed more skin than Liana was used to but Dorothy had told her to dress nice and do her hair. Liana was supposed to go up to the reception and ask for the Italian. Once she got in she was going to explain her situation and that Dorothy sent her. Whoever this Italian was he owed Dorothy a favor. Liana absentmindedly picked at her hair which she had curled into ringlets and pinned to her head. She felt too many pairs of eyes on her as she walked through the casino and approached an employee in a quiet corner wearing a black vest and a golden bow tie.

"Excuse me," Liana said and the man turned to look at her. He was around Alfred and Matthew's age, just lucky he hadn't been drafted.

"Yeah?"

"I'm here to see the Italian."

He looked her up and down, eyes lingering on the length of her dress and her hair and shoes. "Sheesh," he said, lightning a cigarette and puffing on it, "he keeps 'em coming. We're gonna have to put a limit on him one of these days."

"I'm sorry?" Liana asked, leaning forward a bit.

"Nothing, just follow me." He said and led Liana through the crowd to a small side door with a golden rose on it. He opened it to reveal a simple room that looked like the waiting room to an office with black leather chairs to sit and wait in. "Wait here, he'll come get you when he's ready." Liana just nodded and he closed the door.

The sound of the crowd was muffled and Liana felt suddenly very awkward. She hung up her rain coat on a coat stand and sat down in one of the chairs and ran her thumbs over her hands. Pausing to caress the charm bracelet she wore every day. She heard voices from within the next room. One was loud and cheerful, laughing loudly. The other less so, but every so often this other man laughed as well, it was a calm and lilting sound. After a few minutes of chatter, the door to the office opened and a man stepped out. He was tall and had dark auburn hair and brown eyes that were almost red. He turned up the collar of his long black raincoat and took only one glance at Liana before looking back into the room. "You're getting off with a warning this time, Vargas. But next time I don't want you hanging around my girl."

"Of course, of course," the loud voice said. It was cheery with an Italian accent. "It was my fault completely. Angel, you know I would never touch her."

"You better not." Angel said before he left the room, slamming the door loudly behind him.

Apprehensively, Liana stood up and the Italian walked into the waiting room. He was a very handsome man with ginger auburn hair and light green eyes. His bangs were hanging in his eyes and a strand of them were bent upward in an angular curl. He stared at the closed door until Liana cleared her throat. His eyes suddenly darted towards her and he smiled charmingly.

"Oh, ciao bella! I'm sorry I didn't see you there." He strode over to Liana and kissed both of her cheeks. Liana squirmed a bit but figured, he's Italian, this was totally normal. "I'm sorry for the holdup, but now that we're alone, Eloise." The Italian leaned forward in an attempt to kiss Liana but she quickly stepped back.

"Woah, what?"

He quickly recovered and ran a hand through his hair. "Haha, sorry, sorry, my mistake. Lorraine, right?"

Liana stared at him in utter confusion, "Um, no?"

"Jess? Marybeth? Julianna!" Liana just continued to stare. He threw up his hands in defeat. "Then just tell me your name, so we can cut to the chase and-"

"I've never met you before." Liana interrupted.

The Italian slowly looked her up and down, "Are you sure?" Liana nodded. "Well then, would you like to get to know each other?" He said, raising his eyebrows and taking a step closer, "Have a drink, maybe a little fun? My name is Romeo Vargas and-"

"Listen pal," Liana sidestepped away from him and put her hands on her hips, "here's the deal. I'm broke."

Romeo raised his eyebrows and seemed to understand. "Sorry, bellissima, but I don't do cash."

Liana quickly held up her hands, "No, no, no, not like that. Dorothy sent me, she said you could help me out."

"Ah, Dorotea! Why didn't you say so?! Come in, come in." Romeo walked into his office and Liana followed tentatively behind him.

The office was decorated in golds and light browns and Romeo sat himself in a red leather chair behind the desk and Liana sat in one of two far simpler ones on the other side. "So," Romeo said, "Dorothy's friend, why have you come to see me?"

Liana stared at him, he really was an interesting character. "I told you I was broke."

Romeo snapped his fingers, "Ah, so you did. And how do you want me to help with that?"
"My two brothers were both drafted at the beginning of December and I've been on my own since then. I can't get any work and I won't be able to pay rent by the time March rolls around. I just need help."

Romeo's expression softened and he looked at a picture on the wall behind Liana's head. She quickly turned to follow his gaze. She saw Romeo in front of a beautiful countryside with fields of golden grass. There were two other figures in the photo, and they both looked similar. The youngest looked like Romeo but with light brown hair and amber eyes and was smiling widely with his eyes closed. Then there was Romeo in the middle and to his left was the tallest. He had dark brown hair and hazel eyes with a curl, but on the opposite side of his head and he was scowling at the camera.

"I have two brothers as well." Romeo said. "And if they were forced into this war I would be desperate too."

"If you don't mind me asking, but do they live close by?"

Romeo laughed quietly, "I wish they did. But they are back in Italy, and I can only hope that they are safe. You see, the first thing you're going to learn about me is I'm a lot more trouble than I'm worth. Got into a bad spot in Italy so I fled to America, and here I am." Liana blinked and wanted to give him some comforting words but Romeo's smiling face was back again. "Here I am to help you! Tell me, bella, what's your name? And don't worry, you'll only have to tell me once, because I'll never forget it."

Liana was skeptical, but she answered. "Liana."

"Liana, ah a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Now, Liana normally I would just give you a bit of money and send you on your merry way but I think I need to provide you with a more… long term solution."

Liana raised an eyebrow, "And what is that exactly?"

Romeo smirked, "I'm going to teach you how to gamble."