Hi everyone! I'm sorry I haven't updated as frequently. School's kicking my ass, and I kind of lost momentum. It's not Christmas anymore, and we're on a Christmas timeline for the story…so I haven't felt as inspired.

However, some stupid boy in my class managed to make me feel:

A: Worthless

B: Pathetic

And, C: In need of writing a romance that has a man who actually can treat a woman with respect and ardor.

So, hence, the new chapter of 'Summers & Winters'!

To everyone that has favorited this piece & added me to their favorite authors list…THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. You are amazing!

To my reviewers:

It's AUTHOR RESPONSE time!

RHatch89: Thank you! Glad you're liking my updates!

LuckyNumber28: I'm trying really hard with keeping it 'accurate', and by the way, I HEART your Edith & Winters piece. Love, love, love, actually. You have lovely characters yourself, my dear.

Luchi: Thank you! Isn't Winters a sweetheart always? Gotta love a man who can treat a woman right!

Rainboweating: Suspense waits for you no more…and I'm almost done with my grad semester, so expect frequent updates this summer. Thanks for reading!

mngirl: My ever-faithful reviewer! I'm so glad I'm able to 'raise your spirits' with my average writing! Makes me feel good. I'm hoping your life issues are being smoothed out. If not, take a bayonet like our boys, and use it effectively…just kidding. Yes, a Sherlock reference (had to do it!), and June's not really 'waiting' for Nix. Not now, while he's married. She's a beauty, and there's other very nice looking men in Easy, obviously…so we'll see what happens! Wait till you read this chapter with the cute Winters/Caroline flirting…you're gonna *squee* Anyways, yes, go to school in England. Oxford was amazing, and you'll love anywhere you can go! Thanks so much again, for your support!

I present to you all: Chapter nine, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. The song lyrics are present right away (it's another verse of the song that usually goes unsung), and I thought these lyrics related a lot to how Caroline and Winters may have been feeling; that war is awful, it's a 'crushing load' they're 'beneath', but together, during Christmas, they can 'rest beside the weary road…' But that's just my take on the song.

PS: POV switch to Winters, 1st person, but just for a brief moment. It'll go right back to 3rd person.

Happy reading! Enjoy! See you all for chapter ten (I think we're preparing for Slapton Sands/Upottery/D-Day jump now…I'll see where my mind takes me)

no author's note at the end today.

BB


9
"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"
Aldbourne, November-Christmas 1943


O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.


Until the matter of the court-martial was settled, Caroline and Winters stayed away from each other. She didn't want him to get into more unnecessary trouble, but it didn't mean that she didn't miss him. She felt sorry for him; the poor man had been reduced by Strayer to the battalion mess officer for the time being, while Strayer figured out what would be done regarding the two Easy Company officers.

He looked defeated, she thought, as she discreetly observed him taking an order of supplies for the mess hall. It wasn't fair. Not at all. It wasn't fair that he had been forcibly assigned to 'scramble eggs.' It wasn't fair to the men of Easy Company that they were more than likely, going to be led into combat (and subsequently, their deaths) by an incompetent officer. Caroline tried not to dwell so much on the unjust situation, but it was hard not to when it was the hot gossip around the town. It was all anyone seemed to want to discuss.

One afternoon, she was keeping herself busy by preparing a lesson plan on morphine injections at the Watsons. Emily was keeping her company; she was reading a book, while Mrs. Watson was in the kitchen, preparing that evening's dinner. Suddenly, the front door burst open, and a frantic Holly and Ruth rushed into the sitting room.

"What is going on?!" exclaimed Caroline, as she rose from the chair. Emily looked up from her book, taking in the situation with a wide-eyed interest.

"The NCOs! Your uncle is going to shoot them!" shouted Ruth.

"WHAT?"

"Breathe Ruth. Breathe. Lina, apparently, earlier this morning, the Easy NCOs turned in their stripes. Sink got wind of it, and is dealing with them as we speak."

"Those idiots! Let's go. Mrs. Watson, we'll be back!"

"Alright dears!" she yelled from the kitchen. "And no, Emily, you can't go!"

Emily pouted, and plopped herself back on the settee.

"We'll tell you everything when we get back," promised Caroline.


As the girls rushed over to regimental HQ, June was nervously biting her fingernails to the quick as she paced outside Sink's office. She was so worried about the outcome of the NCOs, and dreaded typing and sending the letters back home to their families—that they'd been shot dead because of their act of treason.

But surely, she thought, that it's not really treason. She knew about the company's universal hatred for the CO, and Nixon himself had told her that Easy Company wouldn't last one day in battle if Sobel led them to war. She knew about the rumblings, and while it wasn't great that it had to come to what the military termed as high treason, something had to be done to bring it to Sink's attention. Although the act was defined as treasonous to the United States Army, June knew that they were doing it in loyalty to the company.

"I OUGHT TO HAVE YOU ALL SHOT!"

Gulp. Perhaps Sink wouldn't see it that way…

June listened to the yelling for a bit as she continued pacing, and then chose to distract herself by staring outside the window. She could see from a distance, a trio of nurses approaching HQ. She kept her eye on them, and then noticed that it was her sister, Holly, and June, more than likely wanting to find out about the situation.

"…which leaves me no choice but to spare your lives…"

The girls were almost at the entrance of HQ. June, relieved that there wouldn't be an execution that evening, ran outside to receive them.

"NO ONE'S GETTING SHOT!" she exclaimed, as they attempted to greet June. They could barely muster a hello when she blurted out her news, and then they looked at her in shock.

"Really?"

"Yes Ruth! Really. I overheard the entire thing. Harris is gone; Sink is transferring him out of the regiment, and uh…Ranney, I think, was simply busted down to private. He spared their lives!"

"Oh thank god. Good ol' Uncle Bob," said Caroline.

They saw the NCOs march out of HQ in formation. It was only then that Caroline saw Winters with a truck, overseeing the delivery of some food and supplies. They looked on in pride as the NCOs paid Winters the ultimate compliment; they each individually saluted him…and he returned it, albeit, at first, a little confused…but Caroline could see that he realized what exactly had transpired.


Sure enough, a few days later, rumors spread that Captain Herbert M. Sobel, CO of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR/101st AB, was to be the commander of a newly established jump school nearby in the village of Chilton-Foliat.

Caroline wasn't sure if this was true or not. Unlike the outcome with the NCOs, June had not overheard the outcome of the meeting between Sink and Sobel…she'd only been privy to the rumors at Regimental HQ, and told Caroline what she knew. The rumors were finally confirmed as true when Mrs. Watson announced one evening that Caroline had a visitor…and her visitor turned out to be Winters himself.

"Long time no see," she said, hesitating to embrace him. Winters didn't—he stepped forward and gathered her in his arms. For a moment, he simply basked in the warmth that Caroline was emitting, grateful to be near her after such an extended period apart. He breathed in her familiar and ever-lingering poppy scent before he kissed her forehead.

"Too, too long, Caroline," he agreed. "By the way, if you've heard the rumors…I can tell you now. They are true. Sobel's gone. Lieutenant Meehan from Baker's our new CO. Sobel's at—"

"Chilton-Foliat."

"How'd you know?"

"June, naturally." So at least whatever June had picked up at Regimental HQ was true.

"I still can't believe he's gone. I'm relieved, but never thought this day would ever come."

"I don't think anyone did. Even the nurses were starting to worry about Easy's fate if you stayed behind as a damned mess officer and he took the company to war. Bit not good, yeah?" she said, lightly, now that the situation had finally been solved.

"No. Not good at all."

But he was smiling, and it was nice to see him genuinely smile. The past few weeks, she knew, had been hard on him. She pecked his lips gently, allowing the smile to grow into a bona-fide grin.

"Would you like to come in for a little while?"

She pretended not to notice his soft blue eyes twinkle at the prospect of spending some time with her. Winters nodded his head, and Caroline led him into the sitting room.


Caroline was happy. She was seeing more of her sister, she was seeing more of Winters, Easy seemed to be in good hands under Meehan's command, and Christmas was fast approaching now that they'd welcomed the month of December. But just when she thought things were fine, June came by her billet one day, not on a social call, but to deliver a message from Sink. He wanted to speak with her about a matter of "utmost urgency," so Caroline, feeling quite nervous, headed over to Regimental HQ the next day.

"You wanted to speak with me, sir?"

Sink looked up from his paperwork and turned his attentions to his worried-looking niece. He simply bade her to sit down.

"Caroline, let's drop the formalities. Right now, I am your uncle, and you are my niece."

"What is going on, Uncle Bob?"

"You need to be careful."

"With what? On the frontlines? I'm listening to all the advice Edwards, you and the men give me, Un—"

He put a hand out to interrupt her rambling.

"I don't mean in combat. You wouldn't have come this far if you didn't understand the intricacies of warfare…how anyone has a chance of dying. You know that. No one is invincible, from a private to a lieutenant, to Ike himself."

When he stressed 'lieutenant,' she started to figure out where he was going with this conversation.

"You cannot, as a nurse, get in too deep. You can't get too attached to these men. Caroline, it will only hurt worse if you do. If you don't guard your heart from feeling so much about your men…it will be devastating. They are good, brave men. You know that. I know that. But war changes things. You could be with amongst these men one day, laughing at something stupid, and the next? One dies. They all die. Who knows?"

"Uncle Bob—"

"Let me finish. I'm not saying you have to avoid these men, or ignore them and act cold. But I just don't want you to give up if you start to see these men disappear in the blink of an eye. It will happen, and you have to be ready for that. Even if that man happens to be Lieutenant Winters."

Caroline looked at Sink in shock, but he wasn't fazed, and kept talking.

"Caroline, he is an upstanding young man with a bright future ahead of him if he survives the war. He is someone I'd be proud to consider family."

"How did you know?"

"Edwards. Apparently, one of the nurses told her you've been getting close to him. She's asked others if there's been any impropriety—nothing at all to report—I figured the both of you would have sense to act correctly. She was simply worried about you, and hoped I could, well, offer some familial advice."

"She was worried?"

He nodded.

"Uncle Bob…look. Mom and dad met him during our furlough last year, but I can honestly tell you that we're not, you know, engaged or even 'going steady.' I don't really know what we are. He is a very good man, and we both know what's at risk. I will be careful. I promise."

"You're a sensible girl with a smart head on her shoulders. Caroline, there is nothing wrong with falling in lo—"

This time, she raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Don't. Please don't say that. I don't love him, Uncle Bob."

He studied Caroline's countenance for a bit, as she held his gaze. She didn't break from his examination of conscience, even though she could tell he didn't quite believe her.

"Alright," he conceded. "That's all I wanted to say. You can go, Caroline."

She managed to smile.

"Thanks, Uncle Bob."


Her response to her uncle had her think twice about the so-called relationship that was developing with Winters. She couldn't believe that she'd so vehemently denied that she didn't love the man during the meeting. She practically affirmed it, but she chalked it up to her state of had thought, for the longest time, that she had loved Berger. Two years of a relationship, and she then realized that perhaps at one time, she loved the idiot, but she knew she was never in love with him. When Berger walked out the door of her father's library that summer day in 1942, she didn't cry. She didn't look back; she only looked forward to her future as an army nurse.

She was okay with that. She decided she'd go off with her sister on this adventure of the unknown, do her duty to her country, come back a seasoned war nurse, and resume her position at Bryn Mawr. And then she locked eyes with Richard Winters that first day at Toccoa, and nothing was ever the same since then. They'd spent time getting to know each other; she fondly recalled the quiet moment they'd shared freezing their asses off in the middle of the night during the 2nd battalion march to Five Points. He was the perfect gentleman, and had more respect for her in his pinky than Berger did in his whole body.

Obviously, she liked him, and respected his gentlemanly nature. What wasn't so obvious was if she was in love with him, because "love" in her book, was a little, no, a lot, harder to define than "like." That was all thanks to Neil Berger, and the two years she'd wasted on him.

Was she in love with Richard Winters?

She kept asking herself that as she busied herself with the girls and the Watsons. They excitedly wrapped gifts and prepared the house for Christmas whenever they had their free time in the evenings. She also tried to keep June occupied. Although Nixon had learned the line between friendship and fornicating with June, and respected it, it still hurt June when she saw him courting some local girl. Caroline tried to placate her; June would have been that local girl—the other woman—had she fallen for Nixon's charm and agreed to date him.

"I don't want to be 'the other woman', Lina, but I did like him…and I thought, for that brief moment, that he liked me too."

Caroline, never before seeing June act so damned vulnerable over a man, simply embraced her sister while she mentally plotted to kill Lewis Nixon during one of her walks around the village one December afternoon. She'd just come back from Regimental HQ, fresh from a lunch/consolation session with June. As she had consoled June, it was then that she realized Nixon and Winters, despite being best friends, were polar opposites. Nixon acted very much in the vain of Berger, although he was genuinely a nice guy (when merely friends with him), while Winters…

Caroline had told herself to stop comparing Nixon to Winters while she was with her sister. Now free to be with her own thoughts, she realized that he was always there for her, and not in the macho overprotective way that Berger had been.

He wasn't a liar.

He wasn't a cad.

He was simply Richard Winters, and she finally accepted that if, for some crazy reason, she told him that she didn't want him in her life anymore, well…she couldn't live with that scenario. The feelings she held for Winters weren't at all what she felt for Berger; that had been lust when he charmed her in the same way Nixon had charmed June…with his arrogance, confidence and flamboyance. June, bless her, saw something in Nixon that Caroline clearly didn't if she'd developed feelings for him. If, for some reason something happened to him, she'd be devastated, like her uncle predicted. His faith in her strength would enable her to keep going and see the remainder of the war through.

Winters saw her. He saw her at her worst, at her best. He saw her dolled up, he saw her sweating like a pig doing PT drills…

He took her as she was.

And he was still always there.

I am in love with him, she silently, but with not the least amount of regret or sadness, confirmed to herself, practically floating her way into the Watsons' house upon the end of her stroll.


"What are your plans for Christmas?" she asked, as they shared a cup of coffee in the mess hall.

"Sink's organizing a dinner for the brass on Christmas Day, and I've been invited to that, and then there's still the company dinner on Christmas Eve. What are you up to?"

"Having dinner with the nurses on Christmas Eve, and then June and I are going to midnight mass. Would…would you like to go with us?"

This, she knew, was a true test of his affections for her. Berger, in the history of their two-year relationship, had never attended a single mass with her, despite all the times she'd asked him to accompany her.

Winters, however, didn't hesitate to answer.

"I'd be honored, Caroline."


After the dinner Edwards arranged for her nurses, Caroline rushed back to the Watsons, took off her dress uniform, and pulled out the Harrods garment bag that contained the delicate lace trimmed lilac cardigan and poplin brown skirt she'd bought during their weekend in London. She slipped on her pantyhose, slip and then eagerly donned the new garments. She had adored the way the pale lilac color complemented her eyes in the store, and the effect was no different in the small mirror of her vanity. Caroline put on her brown oxford pumps and chose to apply a little makeup.

Just as she slipped in her pearl studs, the doorbell rang. She could hear June's voice echoing from downstairs, and breathed out a sigh of relief. Winters had not yet arrived. She searched around in her dresser, and pulled out the narrow black box that contained his fountain pen. Caroline placed it in her purse, along with her wallet and rosary, when the doorbell rang again. Winters politely greeted Mrs. Watson and Emily, and she heard June warmly tell him that she was glad he was accompanying them to mass that evening. She treaded downstairs, and he rose from his seat when she entered the sitting room.

"Hello, Caroline. You look lovely," he said, sweetly.

"Thank you. I swear, I can't ever get tired of looking at you in your dress greens. You always look so handsome in them."

He blushed, but managed to say goodnight to the Watsons, as he helped Caroline and June with their coats. They told Mrs. Watson not to wait up; that they'd be home around two in the morning. The trio chatted amiably against the cold as they walked to the church, each looking forward to the prospect of attending services while the most of the soldiers chose to celebrate Christmas down at the local haunt, the Blue Boar Pub. In fact, they passed a group of Easy Company men going inside the pub; Lipton, Muck, Malarkey, Grant and Toye saluted at Winters in greeting, and the girls cheerily waved at them while Winters snapped the return salute.

"Looks like Winters has got a date!" joked Toye. Caroline rolled her eyes, and grasped onto his arm tighter as they continued their way to the church.


Winters POV

I listened carefully to the priest's homily, comforted by his words that, while we were at a time of war, one day, peace would come again to the world. I hoped it would. We may had arrived in England, but we had no idea when we would actually see combat.

I took a moment to look at the girl next to me. God, she looked so lovely that night. Her brunette locks were loose and framing her delicate face, and she was happy. Happy to be at church with June, and dare I hoped, with me. It was nice to finally be out with Caroline. The court martial issue set us back, and I really hated not being able to be in her company.

But, I'll admit, the time away from her made me realize that I was in love with her. I wanted to see her during that wretched period, and I couldn't have her nearby. When I saw her once everything had been resolved…I knew I was in love with her. It was terrifying, and yet exhilarating to come to terms with that. I was undoubtedly in love with Caroline Summers.

And yet, I had no idea if she was in love with me. I hoped she was. She'd not yet spoken her affections; nor had I, but the ardor in her eyes was obvious.

The congregation rose to recite the Nicene Creed, and as the collection was gathered, the church's choir led everyone in a rendition of "What Child is This." Caroline and June's sweet voices harmonized perfectly as they sang. I was content just listening to them; I wasn't a singer, and their singing only put me more at ease. Caroline turned to look at me, and offered me her pretty smile. I smiled back down at her, but said nothing. Her voice comforted me, and that was all I wanted to hear at that moment. I focused my gaze on the altar, while she continued to sing.

Could I, I wondered, get used to this on a more permanent basis? Having a wife to share these joyous moments (and, admittedly, not so joyous ones) once the war was over, and I had to go back to being 'Mr. Richard Winters'? Being out with Caroline during a holiday that meant so much to us…it felt so natural. I could just imagine us now…back in the States, ensconced in a cozy house, decorating our Christmas tree without a care in the world…our family all around us…

That was one of my Christmas wishes that year. I kept that dream in my mind during the war, hoping that one day, it would come true.

And that it would be with her.


After mass ended, Winters accompanied the girls back to Caroline's billet. Because it had gotten so late, Mrs. Watson had insisted that June stay over instead of having to make the lengthier trip back to Regimental HQ. When they got to the threshold, June simply bade Winters a pleasant 'Merry Christmas' and gave him a hug, before naughtily winking at Caroline and heading inside. Caroline hoped that Winters had not noticed, but to her horror, he had.

"What are siblings for, if not a little teasing?"

"Oh Richard, I wish she wouldn't in front of you though."

"Caroline, she knows that we should be given a moment to ourselves every now and then. She knows that you're a grown woman who should be given some trust, but she's not going to do it without a little fun on her part. It's alright. I'm glad we're out here alone…if only for a moment."

He could see her shoulders relax, and she finally looked at him in the eye.

"Thank you for coming with me tonight. I…you have no idea how much it meant to me, Richard."

"Lina…it was…"

He stopped in the middle of his words, and stepped much closer to her that he thought she would flinch. Caroline did widen her eyes at the gesture, but didn't move in her stance. Winters leaned in, and slowly placed his hands on her cheeks.

"It was a pleasure, and you shouldn't have to thank me for it. I was happy that you even asked. Sweetheart, what's wrong? Why are you…?"

Her green eyes had welled up with tears. The moment was a little too much for her; she'd thought back to her conversation with Sink, and before she knew it, the tears were shamelessly falling down her face.

"Caroline?"

"Oh Richard. It's…believe me, it's not because I'm upset. Not at you, at least. Maybe with this damned war."

"What do you mean?"

"A few days ago, I had a talk with my uncle. He found out about us…that we were 'seeing' each other, and he warned me, in a good way, mind you, to be careful about getting too attached to you. That one day you're alive, and the next? Who knows? I, Richard, I told him that I wasn't in love with you."

He could feel his heart fall at her words.

"Then Caroline, if you're not in love with me—"

"NO!" She grabbed desperately onto his arm, begging him to listen to her.

"I was wrong! I lied just to get him to end the conversation! Richard, if I were to lose you, I'd be devastated because I am attached to you, whether the United States Army likes it or not! I am so in love with you, it hurts, but I know that god willing, we will make our way back to each other at the end of this war…that is, if you're so inclined to."

"Lina?"

"I am in love with you, Richard Winters, and my love is my strength to survive whatever we face out there. Do you love me?"

He studied her countenance for a bit; her porcelain skin obviously flushed and her green eyes alight with passion and love. Yes, Caroline Summers finally admitted it, but her feelings had been written on her face for the longest time. He could see no difference in the way her face showed her feelings during her proclamation of love, and the day she first locked gazes with him at Toccoa.

Winters got on one knee, and took her hands in his.

"Caroline Summers, my green eyes, yes. I am in love with you."

She knelt down, and they held each other against the chilly night. They managed to get up as their lips met. Caroline eagerly ran her deft fingers through his ginger locks, while his hands maintained their earlier hold on her cheeks.

"As wonderful as this night has been, Caroline, I should get you inside before you freeze."

"Oh, who cares about some chilly bursts of wind?" she joked, not wanting to end the moment with him.

"You're going to see me tomorrow, sweetheart. Can't live without me so soon? My goodness."

"You know, I think Nix's cockiness is starting to rub off on you. With that said…I like a confident man. But don't be him."

"Never. God forbid!"

They laughed, and he pulled her in for one last kiss. Before she bade him goodnight, she remembered that his gift was in her purse, and pulled out the little box.

"Caroline, what's this?"

"Merry Christmas!"

"Sweetheart, yours is at my billet! I thought we'd exchange in the morning!"

"Well…I was excited to give it to you…so I brought it with me. Open it, please? I hope you'll like it."

He sighed, but obeyed. Winters could see the flashes of silver from the details of the fountain pen, and felt its sleekness and weight in his hand.

"Caroline, thank you. This is…a perfect gift, and it's from you. What could better?"

"You're welcome. I saw it when we were in London. I knew you were having a horrible weekend…I thought of you during the trip, and then all of a sudden…I was shopping for you. I saw the pen in a stationery store, and immediately knew it was meant for you, Richard."

He pocketed the box in his coat pocket, and they met for one last kiss.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Get some rest. I love you."

"I love you, Richard. Merry Christmas."

He waited until she was inside the house. Caroline dreamily treaded upstairs to her bedroom, and saw that June was in bed. She took care to tiptoe around as she undressed, not wanting to wake up her sister.

"So…is Lieutenant Winters going to make an honest woman out of you one day, Lina?"

"JUNE!"

"I wasn't asleep. C'mon, sis. You should know me better by now."

"That's right; you'll always be a snoop!"

"I saw you two smooching from the window! Caroline that was not just any old kiss."

"Why, whatever do you mean, June?"

"Don't you play innocent with me! Tell me what happened!"

She laid her clothes away in the closet and casually got into bed, much to a fuming June's displeasure.

"Caroline!"

"Alright, alright. June, I told him I love him. And he said he loves me. End of story. Good night, sister."

Caroline burrowed under the blankets, desperate for sleep, but a few minutes later, felt June slip in next to her.

"He's lucky to have you, you know. And I'll tell you now…don't ever sell yourself short. You're too good for anyone, but Winters…I think he'll come the closest for my approval."

She turned and looked at June.

"Thanks Junebug. For what it's worth…you're too good for Lewis Nixon. So you better take your own advice."

"Duly noted, little sister."

"Can I go to bed now?"

"I suppose. Good night, Caroline. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," she murmured as June went back to her own bed.

Yes, thought Caroline, a very merry Christmas indeed.