Is it in his eyes?

Oh no you need to see

Is it in his size?

Oh no you make believe

If you wanna know

If he loves you so

It's in his kiss

"It's in His Kiss" by Aretha Franklin

Ron's POV

April 3, 1944

Walking along the street, I marveled at the silence that surrounded me. Usually, Aldbourne was teeming with people. Now, it was almost like I was the only person left in the entire world. It was disconcerting, filling my heart with unease and horror. If I was the last person, that would mean that she was gone. And I didn't know if I would be able to survive that. There was a twisting feeling in the gut of my stomach. It was festering slowly but surely. It bothered me that I couldn't put a name to it. Unidentified emotions were never a good thing, especially not for me. I liked being in control, loved it even. It was the only way that I knew how to live.

But she was a different matter all together. She made me feel things I hadn't felt in a long time. And it terrified me that every moment I spent near her, I wanted to lose my sense of control. I'd never wanted that with anyone before. Of course, I'd never dreamed of someone and have them show up out of thin air in front of me either. I knew, though, that she was different somehow. And that thing, the sickening feeling in my stomach, I did not want to acknowledge what it was because it was more frightening than not knowing. Yes it was better to ignore it for the sake of both of us. It was easier this way anyway because I knew she'd been avoiding me for whatever the reason. I wondered briefly if perhaps we'd dreamed the same things. That we'd kissed in a moment wrapped in passion. I could admit though that staying away from her was having an affect on me. I'd snuck into the hospital when I knew she would be working. Just to get a glance of her only to find that she wasn't there. Britney, however, was more than eager to keep me company. Simply because she believed that I was there to see her. I had to refrain from rolling my eyes at the thought. What the hell would I want with a woman like her when I had-there it was again. I kept forgetting to ask her for her name. The nagging feelings prodded my mind again, driving me mad with curiosity.

How could I possibly stay away from her when she presented such a mystery? Somehow, I knew that finding answers to the questions flooding my brain would just create more questions. It was dangerous, this game we were playing. A smirk curled my lips nonetheless. It couldn't be that dangerous when it felt so right. It was stupid and foolish of me to become so emotionally affixed with this woman. I couldn't help it, though. She was addicting. Everything about her. From her laugh to her voice to her eyes that looked like they'd been carved from the bluest ocean. My mind was swirling with thoughts and I had to run my hand through my hair to distract myself.

I exhaled, my breath forming a cloud of mist in front of me. It was quickly forgotten when I heard two voices nearby. I stopped, glancing around quickly to get my bearings. I spotted the familiar outline of the building where we all showered. My legs were moving beneath me even before I knew what I was doing. I froze just outside the entrance, my ears perking up at the sound of a terrified voice pleading with someone else.

My hands clenched in on themselves, my heart accelerating as adrenaline flooded my veins.

"Please don't do this to me," she whispered, her voice working like a knife through my heart. It was so sad, so defeated. And I wanted nothing more than to rush in there and shoot the bastard that had her cornered. Giving in to my instincts, I slipped through the crack between the door and the wall. Moving quickly and quietly toward the sounds of their conversation, I found myself faced with something that very nearly had me surprised.

"I will do with you whatever I Goddamn well please. And if you want me to keep my mouth shut about you being a woman, then you will stop talking and let me fuck you," the soldier said. I recognized him at once. The bastard of a Commander of Easy Company. Captain Sobel. Anger coursed through me like a second heartbeat and I had to grit my teeth as hard as I could to keep myself for telling him to get away from her. Not yet I thought to myself. My fingers searched in the darkness that consumed my body in shadows. I found what I was looking for, the cold metal of my pistol stinging my skin. I gripped it hard and firm, pointing it at the back of Sobel's head. My thumb did not hesitate in cocking it. I enjoyed the way Sobel jumped and made to turn around to look at me. When he faced me, I could see the surprise and fear in his dark eyes. I allowed the smirk to overcome my features, the anger overriding my concern for the woman cowering away from him. I didn't spare her a glance, knowing that one look at her would drive me over the edge. Right now, I needed to focus on getting Sobel out of here and away from her.

"You must be really brave or really stupid to be pointing that gun at a superior officer, Speirs," Sobel said, his sneer making the anger rage inside of me even more.

"Yeah, well I've never been a big proponent of the idea that officers can do whatever they want when they want. So, what exactly were you doing to her?" Now it was his time to smirk. It was nothing short of evil, the look that he gave me. His eyes were shining with hunger, a hunger that hadn't been fully satisfied because of my interruption.

"I think its pretty obvious, Speirs, what I planned to do to her. She didn't fight me on it either. I guess you can take the whore out of the corner but you can't take the corner out of the whore," Sobel said, his voice thick with something that tore me apart. I'd known what he was going to do-what he would have done if I hadn't happened upon them. But, he was enjoying this too much. There was something so evil, so inhuman in his eyes that had even me terrified. And when he reached behind him and brushed her hair away from her face, something inside me snapped. She was staring at him with nothing but fear edging her features. Tears were streaming silently down her face, making my blood curdle and boil at once.

"Get your fucking hands off of her!" I shouted, my voice ringing harshly through the tiled room. Sobel turned around and gave me a wicked smile. Apparently he'd forgotten the gun that I still had pointed at him.

"And what are you going to do to make me, Speirs? Hm?" His tone was condescending, defiant, and it pissed me off even more.

"Well, if I wanted to, I could shoot your nuts off. And then, I'd go to Sink and tell him exactly what you've been doing after hours, Sobel. They'd throw you in the brig for that. Sink wouldn't stand for this kind of behavior from his soldiers, especially if I threatened to call every Goddamned paper in the United States to post the story," I told him. Behind him, I could see her eyes alight with something I couldn't identify. The ghost of a smile appeared on her face and I knew then that everything I'd said was true. I would go to whatever lengths I could to ensure that Sobel never touched her again. I would do anything to see that smile on her face for the rest of her life, even if it meant killing the worthless excuse for a man before me.

I turned my attention back on Sobel, who was now not looking so sure of himself. His dark eyes were darting every which way, his lips trembling while he thought of something to counter my threat. I knew before he did that it wouldn't work.

"Fine, I'll leave her alone, Speirs. But just know that you won't always be here to protect her," Sobel said. With that, he buttoned his pants again and stalked out of the building. I watched him go, wishing that I could just shoot him in the knee caps to make sure that he didn't say anything. To show him just what a cold-hearted bastard I could be. The sound of her sobs behind me, however, kept me from starting after him. My heart clenched painfully at the sounds falling from her lips. I shoved my pistol in my belt and went to her. Kneeling on the damp floor, I took her in my arms and cradled her to my chest. My chest that was on the verge of exploding with euphoria. This was what I'd wanted since the night she'd appeared in my dreams. And it was even better than I could have imagined.

Her small hands fisted themselves in my jacket in an effort to hold me to her. How could she know that I wasn't about to leave her unless she told me to go? How could I tell her just how much I was frozen to this floor?I was stuck here, by some invisible force that I was helpless to fight against. I noticed suddenly that she was shaking. My arms came around her. Her small, fragile body seemed to conform to the shape of mine. Making me feel her in ways I'd only dreamed about for so long. I closed my eyes, desperately trying to control my male urges. But as I realized for the first time that all that was barring her naked body from me was her bra and underwear, a growl passed through my chest. She shuddered against me, her hands coming up to rest against my neck.

"Maybe you should get dressed," I whispered, my voice so strained that I had a hard time believing that it was really me saying it. My arms stayed where they were, preventing her from going anywhere.

"You have to let me go first, Ron," she replied. She sounded strained as well. Good, I wasn't the only one being affected by this. She pulled back and a sudden consuming abjectness filled me to my very core. How could I be thinking about her in such a way when she'd, not ten minutes ago, been on the verge of being raped by a monster? A monster that seemed to have taken residence in my thoughts. As suddenly as I realized I hadn't wanted to let her leave, my arms fell from her. She hurried off of my lap, her pale skin looking like something carved from moonlight as she moved away from me into the shadows. My heart was thumping loud in my chest, my manhood pulsing with an aching need that I frantically tried to subdue. I couldn't let her see me like this, I could not let the monster control me. It would ruin everything, it would ruin the feeling that was building even know in my stomach and in my chest. That wall that I had built around myself, around my heart, was trembling. On the verge of a collapse, I knew that I had to stop it before it was too late.

All the while, I noticed her in my periphery. I was just as aware of her now as I was when she was on my lap. I could smell her, a mixture of Army soap and fall. I could hear the scratch of the fabric against her skin as she dressed herself. Oh how I wanted to be those clothes, sliding against her curves. Hugging her body to me like I would never let her go. I shook my head, running a hand hurriedly through my hair. I had to get a grip, had to do something to pull myself out of my painful awareness of her.

"Done," she suddenly called from a few feet away. I could see the innocent smile on her face as she walked back over to me. There was nothing to suggest that she was trying to set me on fire, nothing to suggest that she knew of the power she held over me. But, she was doing it all the same. My desire burned ever higher, fueled by the sight of her bright blue eyes and warm smile. She held out her hand to me. Though I knew it would lead to disaster, I also knew that I would walk through fire to be with her. To hold that hand and follow her wherever she went. So, I grabbed her hand and let her pull me to my feet. We were standing so close, close enough that if I breathed the right way our chests would brush. Instead of giving in to my urges, I stepped away from her slowly. She was watching me, visibly confused by my actions. The frown that marred her face made my heart clench. Fighting to rid her of that sadness, I grabbed her hand and pulled her along with me. I could feel the smile that overtook her features. I could feel the happiness radiating from her as she moved ever nearer to my own body.

"Ron?" Her voice came as a whisper, one that stroked my soul and made me look her as if she was the only person left in the world that mattered to me. And I knew then that she was. I had never been someone to easily accept people into my life, but I realized that she had wiggled her way in without even trying. I didn't know how it was possible. That somehow she had found her way to me through the miles between our dreams, but she had.

I smiled suddenly, once again reminded that I still did not know her name, "Yes?" She blushed slightly as my eyes met hers. Inside, I was jumping in exaltation. But I only let a portion of it on my face, still unsure that she was as infatuated with me as I knew I was with her.

"I was just wondering-how did you...." her voice trailed away, something close to horror replacing the warmth. I stopped, squeezing her hand gently. She faced me, meek and terrified. Of what I could not guess. I grabbed her chin, turning her face upwards towards mine. Again, the desire to kiss her nearly took over. I fought it, knowing that to do something like that would be wrong.

"I was walking past and something pulled me to you. I couldn't let him hurt you," I told her, my voice more tender than I had ever remembered it being. Only she could bring out these tendencies in me. But I found that instead of weakening me, it somehow made me feel stronger. She smiled at me. It was simple, one that I thought would have looked mechanical and forced to anyone else. I could feel the truth in that smile and I pulled her along the path toward Easy's barracks.

"You know," I began, a smirk playing on my lips, "I don't even know your real name." I didn't look at her, because I could feel the heat spreading through her body.

"It's Rebecca. Rebecca Harris," she said, just as the barracks loomed up before us. I closed my eyes. One more mystery uncovered. However, the sorrow in her voice doubled the questions I had. Just as I knew they would. I could feel the tension, could feel the despair she was trying to fight. What was she fighting? What clue had I yet to uncover?

We were drawing closer to the building now and a panic seized me. I didn't want to let her go, not when she was suddenly so sad about whatever she had hidden about her past. An idea seized me as she slowed beside me before the entrance. I swung her around, my hand immediately finding her pale face in the darkness. It was shining in the face of the moonlight. It struck me just how small and fragile she felt beside me. I cupped her cheeks, brushing away the invisible tears that leaked from her beautiful eyes.

"Rebecca?" I asked, loving the way her name rolled off my tongue. It was natural, so right. Desire flared within me at the adoring gaze she fixed on me. This time, I let it devour me mind, body, and soul. I felt it grow like a wild and raging beast within my breast.

"Yes?" she muttered, her eyes closing in anticipation as her cold breath blew across my neck. I shuddered with want, with pure and unadulterated need.

"Do I have your permission to kiss you?" I wondered aloud, my lips only now a hair's breadth away from her own. I paused, waiting with painfully forced hesitance for her reply. The moments flew by, the stars reeled overhead. Still, I waited. I would not give in to the monster until I knew what her answer would be.

I got it when her hands came up to tangle themselves in my hair. She pulled me close, her sigh of ecstasy mixing with my own as our lips met. It was soft and violent at the same time. Something frantic and wild roared within us both as wave after wave of passionate desire flowed around us, through us. Slowly, I backed her into the wall. The heat from her skin making the flame within my soul light anew. I had...to...pull away. My hands tightened upon their place on her rounded hips. I tried to push, but all I managed was to wrench her closer. Her moan ripped through me and her lips left mine for only an instant. I sucked in a breath, now moving to her exposed neck.

"Oh God," she whispered shakily as my lips grazed her sensitive, overheated skin. Her hands were like a vice grip upon me, violently holding me to her. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, I jumped away from her. My chest heaved and I felt the lack of warmth so completely that I thought I had left every bit of my body heat with her. I shivered, my entire body quaking with the want for her in my arms again.

"Rebecca, please go inside. I can't...if I get a hold of you again, I don't know if I'll be able to let go," I pleaded with her, helpless against the pull even now trying to force me back to her. The surprise in her eyes shown like a light. I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. But I stayed where I was, held there by the power of her gaze. Her own chest was heaving, her hair mussed by my hands. Hair that I hadn't even remembered touching.

"O-okay," she stuttered. She began to back away slowly. I guess I wasn't the only one who was disappointed about having to stop. I watched her, waited expectantly until she'd been barred from me by the solid, thick door. Something about that barrier sobered me and I began to sink to my knees, the ground crunching under my feet. I felt awake, the endorphins rushing out of my system as fast as they'd come. I felt so lost, so incomplete without her being in my arms. And kissing her tonight...I knew it was only the beginning of that awful, gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach.

Having her lips crashing against my own, holding her gave light to what I'd been missing for twenty-four very long years. I hadn't even known that I was missing it, but tonight had enlightened me. And now, I wasn't sure if I would be able to stay away from her for very long for the need to fill that empty void that now replaced her soft lips and tender fingers.

Becca's POV

I leaned with my back pressed tightly against the cold metal door, wishing with all that I had that it was Ron's body. My thoughts, my lungs were still heaving from the kiss that had completely knocked me off my feet. I touched my lips in awe. They were tingling slightly and my skin still felt like it was on fire. I'd never known a man, real or otherwise, who had inspired such passion in me before. Of course, I didn't have much of any experience with guys anyway. They had been clumsy, careless, and obviously inexperienced at the art of kissing. But Ron...

I choked back a sigh, my heart still pounding a mile a minute as I tried desperately to recover my breath. As my mind shifted gears suddenly, it wasn't that hard to do though. I calmed down, my blood freezing inside my veins. Sobel's evil leer had seared itself into my mind and I couldn't help but remember it. I didn't want to imagine what would have happened to me had Ron not come and rescued me. For that, I would be forever grateful to him.

The horror, still so fresh within me, had me moving forward through the darkness. I didn't know exactly where the bed was, but I could guess. I felt my way through the darkness, pausing every few seconds to make sure that no one had woken up. I knew how much of a risk I was taking, but I couldn't stand the thought of staying mad for too long at Bill. I'd been brewing over the way I'd treated him all day. In the moonlight shining in through the window in the corner of the barracks, I saw his face gently conformed to sleep. I smiled and my heart seemed to melt. I continued my way to him and sat down on the edge of his bed. I didn't expect him to wake from the gentle jostle of my body against his leg, but his dark eyes snapped open immediately. His hand came up to snake around my wrist. He held me tightly, as the sleep faded from his face to be replaced by a profound consciousness. I could see that he sensed it at once, that something had happened to me. I had never come to his bed before tonight, and I didn't think that he would let me make a habit of it. This was dangerous and I knew that as well as anyone. But, the thought of sleeping alone. So vulnerable to the attack of the monster who was even now at an advantage to sneak in here and take of me what he would. It was terrifying and I couldn't help the way my eyes flooded with tears at just the mere thought of Sobel and what he had almost accomplished with me.

"Bill, can I sleep with you tonight?" I asked, feeling so small and helpless as I begged him silently for forgiveness. I could see the confusion pass over his face. I could even anticipate what he would say when he smirked, obviously remembering the feel of my palm slapping him across the face.

"What, Smalls, you ain't gonna slap me again?" He smiled then, tugging my hand even before I'd replied. I knew then that I was forgiven. Slipping under the covers, I snuggled into him. My face was pressed against his sculpted chest. My mind flitted back to those forbidden thoughts that had threatened to overcome me when we'd been in a similar position earlier that day. Only now my back was not pressed against a wall and I'd just been kissed senseless by a man who was what I could never imagine Bill to be.

Bill draped his arm along my waist, his fingers playing lightly on the small of my back. There was something comforting and soothing in his touch. And as my eyes closed, I could feel his breath on my cheek and on my neck.

"Me and all the other NCOs is scheduled for a meeting with Sink tomorrow," he began to explain, his own exhaustion showing in his fading voice.

"Bill, I don't want to think about that tonight. Please, I don't want to hear that you could die tomorrow. You mean more to me in this world than anyone else," I muttered sadly, pressing my face harder into his chest. His arms tightened around me and I found that I fit perfectly in the space created by his neck. With his head lying atop mine, I could feel his chin bumping lightly against my skull as he nodded.

"Okay, Smalls, whatever you say." His lips played lightly against my ebony hair, his warm breath blowing like a gentle wave against my skin. Carrying me on and on on the waves of my dreams.

Me: And so it begins.

Reader: So what begins?

Me: You'll see in the next chapter. *evil laugh*

Yeah with the A/N I guess I left you off with another really horrible cliff-hanger. But I'm not kidding when I say that you'll see what I'm talking about in the next chapter. God I can only imagine the reviews....anyways, you guys can all thank S a i r a h i n i e l, who reminded me tonight to update this for you guys. :) Thanks to all the readers who have been keeping up with this story. It means so much more to me than words can really convey, but I guess I'll have to leave you with a very ecstatic, enthusiastic THANK YOU! And thanks to: captain ty,

S a i r a h i n i e l, Finelame86, EllieMay, Dancing in Red, Roossmit, VendingMachine, and beccasmind for reviewing the last chapter.

The usual disclaimer applies and if you have any questions/comments/concerns, please feel free to PM me, twitter me, email me, and I would say you could get on FB but my name is not really ber1719. :(