"Move out," Aiden said into the radio. We began to spread out through the field, trying to cover as much ground as we could.

"Davies, I want to take the left flank and I'll take the right." I nodded as a few solider followed me.

"What out for mines."

Gunfire broke the silence of the air, as bullets began whizzing through the field. Land mines were beginning to explode as they were hit by bullets. Earth was flying every which way. Solider began running towards the targeted building. Running behind them, I was knocked off my feet when the building exploded…

"No!" I woke up in a cold sweat. I hear the door open as Kyla came rushing in with a spatula.

"What happen? Are you okay?" I nod and put my head in my hands trying to shake the memory.

"I'm okay, just a bad memory," I said not wanting to talk about it. Kyla came over and sat on the bed wrapping her arm around me. I looked at the spatula in her hand, but before I could ask she interrupted me.

"I know what you're thinking. How can I defend myself with a spatula? Well I'm making pancakes for the person who is defending me, which reminds me works starts in an hour. Breakfast is on the table." My eyes widened and I hopped off the bed thanking Kyla before I ran into the shower.

It was a quick walk to the bakery, the fall winds made our hair flap in the wind and chill our faces. The bakery was opened when we got there and there were a few other employees there.

"Maddie can you come here for a minute," Kyla said sticking her head into backroom. Few moments later and young woman, who was around the same age as me, emerged in an apron.

"Dani this is Madison Duarte, the other baker you'll be working with. Maddie this is my sister. She just got out of the army."

"Ah, so you're the infamous Dani I've heard all about." I felt my cheek begin to blush a little; I wonder what stories Kyla had told about me.

"Yup, unfortunately that's me," I said giving her a smile.

"Come let's get you set up," she said pointing in the direction of the backroom. There was a small room in the back, which Maddie opened for me. Inside was a small room with a few lockers and another room for the bathroom. She rummaged through a few boxes before pulling out a uniform.

"So here's you're uniform, you must wear your apron at all times, the shirt, jacket, and pants are worn for special events, but you can just wear a normal top otherwise. You'll get more of each when we put an order in. I usually wear a t-shirt and the pants, but you can wear whatever you desire."

"Wow, I never thought that bakers actually had a dress code."

"Yeah that was the same reaction that I had, but it works out," she said giving her shoulders a shrug, "anyways I'll leave you to get changed." I changed quickly and headed out into the bakery. Customers were beginning to file into the restaurant.

"Alright so Kyla said to leave you in charge of the desserts and pastries," Maddie said.

"Oh okay, what will you do?" I asked.

"Oh honey, I'll cover the breads and starches, besides the decorating skills are awful and I never seem to get a cake to look or taste that great. So I'm honored to hand that job over to you," she said with a laugh. She ran me through how the machinery worked, and then left me alone to get started.

I managed to get a dozen cakes done and a good amount of pastries, but they were gone within the hour.

"Ashley," Kyla said peeping her head into the backroom, "whatever you're doing keep doing it. The customers love the desserts; I've already got orders for a dozen more."

"A dozen more," I said as my jaw dropped to the ground.

"Yeah, but if you could get most of the orders filled that would be great. I've got to go scout out some dresses but when you shift finished I'll be over at Ellie's and we'll get you squared away for tomorrow. Sound good?" she asked.

"I have to say I'm more excited about baking the cakes than trying on dresses," I said before Kyla playfully punched me in the arm. I took the orders from her before she left for Ellie's.

"So you also have fashion challenges, I thought that I was the only one," Maddie said taking some of the orders from me.

" Yeah not just that, my scars too," I said gathering pans and placing them on the work table.

"So is that how you got the one above your eye?" she asked quietly. I gave her a nod and continued cracking eggs.

"The army isn't as bad as most people think it is. It's just a lot a work, but you're fighting for your country so the amount of work doesn't matter. Sometimes shit happens; all you can do it get up and try again,' I said looking at her trying to ease the awkward void between us. We fell into small talk as we filled out the cake orders.

"Hey we've got an extra pan," I said holding it out to Maddie, "want to see if it doesn't taste bad." Maddie grinned as I cut the cake into pieces and spread the rest of the lemon frosting on it.

"Mmmm, damn that's good," Maddie said with her eyes closed. I felt a smile creep up onto my lips. I guess I wasn't a bad baker after all. "Well if you don't mind I'm going to take this home." A gave her a laugh and a pat on the back as I left the restaurant.

I flipped through Kyla's text message and sent her a quick "on my way" message as I headed toward the dress store down the road. I walked into the store to see her talking to the store clerk.

"Hey," I said as Kyla turned to look at me.

"Hey, so while you were baking magic, I grabbed a couple of dresses that would look good on you." She pulled me towards the changing rooms. There must have been ten or twelve dresses laid out for me.

"Aren't you dress shopping too?"

"I already got mine," she said waving a dress in the air. I sigh as she hands me Dress #1. Most the dresses were a light teal color which Kyla said went great with my tanned skin. Most the dresses ended up not fitting because of my stupid broad shoulder. We finally decided on a teal dress with a flower lace pattern. I paid for the dress and was heading for the car when Kyla pulled me into another store. We came out minutes later with a jean jacket that Kyla had already picked out to go with my dress.

"Wow I never thought that you would be a planner shopper."

"It runs in the family," she said with a chuckle, "alright so now that we got your outfit, what are you planning on doing with your hair?"

"Um…"

"I'll put in a nice braid now that you actually have more than shoulder length hair."

"Hey!"

"I'm just being honest. And plus my braiding will look fabulous on you."

"Fine."

"So how was your first day?"

"It was great. I haven't baked in a while, but it was so relaxing."

"That's just what I wanted to hear, so now I can tell you that I want you to work there full-time." I smiled and gave her a huge hug.

"So you're shift finishes tomorrow at 4:30 and the wedding is at 6 so we have to hurry."

"Yes mom!" I said jokingly rolled my eyes at Kyla.