DISCLAIMER: No offense is meant to the men of the Easy Company or anyone living resembling our characters. We only own Lorraine and anyone else that isn't real.

Chapter 11

She was exhausted. It seemed every time they settled they moved out again. The past few months blurred together and without realizing it, the war was slowly ending. They had all been moving fast and focusing on the end of it all since Bastogne. Shivering she wrapped her arms around herself. That was a place she didn't like to think about. Too cold and too dangerous.

Looking at the window, she saw something more dangerous than Bastogne, Lewis Nixon with a smile on his face. "Well if it isn't my favorite clerk. Now before you frown at me, I brought you something."

Raine took the letter from him and looked at the condition it was in. "So what did you do walk on it before you gave it to me?"

"Nope, I guess it's been chasing us for a while and when it showed up at Easy I thought I would make the excuse to come see you. Besides I know you won't come near Easy now that they have a new commander."

She made a face and dropped down in the nearest chair. Nixon was right about the fact she'd been avoiding second battalion and especially Easy since Bastogne. When she found out Ron was made the new commander she knew that would push them together and she wasn't ready for that just yet. Oh, he'd been nice enough, smiling and seeing her when he could. The thing that bothered her is the fact he never pressed for anything more.

Shaking her head, "well I don't mean to do it exactly."

Nixon snorted, "yeah right, sure you don't. So you gonna open that letter or what?"

Ripping it open, she quickly read through and then started to read it again with a huge smile on her face.

Dearest Michael or should I say Lorraine,

Agnes gave me your address, however I have no idea when if ever this letter will reach you. After you left I took your advice to heart and began to ask about the last three Lady Wentworths. At the time, you saw me Albert hadn't begun his reign of terror, however once I found out the truth it all began.

When Agnes confided that you were indeed the third Lady, currently in hiding, I decided it was time to do something to help and avenge us all. I have such tragic news, my dearest Albert was killed in a riding accident. Seems the girth on his saddle was damaged and the poor steward never noticed.

I guess what I'm saying is, you are free to live your life again. Agnes has in her safe keeping funds that belong to you and if and when your return to England, take them with my blessing. Be happy Lorraine, you deserve it.

Susan

When she looked up at Nixon, again she had tear in her eyes. "Raine, what the hell is wrong what's in that letter?"

Managing to smile she hastily wiped her face. "Only the best news over, Albert's dead Nix, I'm free to live as Lorraine again after the war. I'm free to do as I please."

"So can I take that as you'll be talking to Ronnie?"

Frowning she tapped her lip in thought. "I don't know Nix, I want to, I want to tell him everything but with us moving deeper into Germany I don't want to distract him."

"Well look, Sink has me heading off with the 17th Airborne, when I get back this is going to be resolved."

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him close. "You'll take care of yourself won't you?"

Laughing he kissed her forehead and stepped out of her arms, "hey, what's to worry about, a little jump and then off to Berlin. See you when I get back."

After Nixon, left Raine was lost and out of sorts, they were heading further into Germany and she knew time was running out for her and Ron. Maybe he was right; she had to make the effort to talk to him. Folding the letter, she shoved it in her pocket. Maybe she could just hand him the letter and they could go from there.

They were stopped again in another German town, she still hadn't caught Ron alone, and now she was frustrated. Heading down the street she decided that it was now or never she'd just had him the letter and let him decide what he was going to do from there.

Marching into Easy's CP she had to look around a moment until she spotted someone. "Hey can you tell me where Captain Speirs is? I have something from regiment I need to give him."

The sergeant shrugged, "I think he's in the back, but you can leave it with me, I'll make sure he gets it."

"No I have to deliver it to him and him alone, down this way."

"Yeah third door on the right, but hey, if it's closed you might want to come back, he doesn't like to be disturbed."

Smirking she turned and headed down the hallway, she'd just see how little he enjoyed being disturbed. Sure enough, the door was closed when she got there. Knocking on the door, she waited for a response. After a moment or two, she figured he wasn't even in there. Opening the door she stopped in her tracks when she saw him stretched out on the bed asleep.

The rugs on the floor allowed her to approach the bed without waking him, however she'd knocked on the door and he hadn't moved, he must have been exhausted. She had to admit she was enjoying looking at him without him knowing it. He'd stripped down to his pants and shirt, unbuttoning the shirt part way and was completely dead to the world.

Reaching out she softly ran her fingers through is hair and brushed against his cheek. When he didn't move she smiled and continued to trace around his jaw and down his neck. Giving in to her temptation she softly kissed his lips and restrained a moan when he kissed back slightly. Pulling away she stepped back to see if he woke or not, but all he did was change position.

Sighing she went to the desk and grabbed a pen quickly leaving him a note and the letter. Laying both next to him on the bed, she kissed his cheek and left the room as silently as she'd entered.

The pounding on the door brought him out of the nicest dream he'd had in a long time. Trying to wake himself up he yelled at the door, "what?"

"Hey sir, they need you up at battalion, I think we're moving out again."

Rubbing his face, he swung his legs off the bed and glared at the door. Just one more minute and he'd have been exactly where he wanted to be. Taking some deep breaths he willed his body back into a calm state, there was no way he was walking into battalion in the condition he was right now.

Reaching for his boots, the rustle of paper caught his attention. Glancing over he saw a mangled envelope lying atop a piece of paper. Picking up the paper, he smirked and shook his head as he read.

Ronnie,

Have left you something of interest. When you've read it and if you desire to talk, you know where I'm at.

Raine

She'd been here and hadn't even bothered to wake him up. Damn her, but then again that could easily explain the dream he'd been having staring her and very little clothing.

Finishing up with his boots, he grabbed the envelope and read it quickly. Not grasping everything, he read it several more times then he couldn't stop the smile. She was completely free and he'd been given a second chance.

"Pryor, get your skinny ass in here."

Looking around the corner of the door and Sink she sighed deeply, "you know sir; I'm starting to develop a complex about my ass being skinny. Do you think you could scream something else when you wanted me?"

Sink chuckled, "ah, I ain't never met someone particularly someone like you," he paused and gave her a pointed look, "that would be upset being called skinny. However right now I need you to get down to battalion. Winters sent a runner and said he needed your assistance with a matter of upmost importance. Oh and don't spend all day down there, we're moving out again in the morning and I need to you get things straight here."

Dragging herself from the chair, she gave him a look of suffering, "sir, I'm sure there are others here who can pack your clothes."

"No one that does as good as you, now git."

Shaking her head, she turned and left. There was no use arguing with him, he'd just wait till they were alone and pull the 'but you're a female' card and then she'd end up doing it any way. She was convinced that Sink liked to argue and that was the whole reason he went to such links to bait her.

Stepping into the battalion CP, she found it oddly empty. "Captain Winters? I'm here; Colonel Sink said you needed to see me?"

A door opening and closing in the back had her glancing down the hallway to see Dick approaching her. "Hey I got the message, what do you need help with?"

Looking back over his shoulder, he pointed to the door he'd just left. "Well you see I know you have the ability to fix anything and well I kind of need you to fix…"

"Sure no problem, I'll have the paperwork done in no time and take it back with me." Patting him on the cheek, she headed down the hall and entered the room he'd just left.

There were only a couple of candles burning and this room had its window boarded up apparently busted from an air raid. Moving over to the desk, she grabbed one of the candles and began to sort through the mess he'd left. She was too busy mumbling to herself to hear the door close behind her.

"You know they say people who talk to themselves are insane? I've always wondered if that was true or not."

She nearly dropped the candle when the voice came from behind her. Turning she shook, her head when she saw him leaned against the closed door. "Ronnie, do you have to always sneak up on me?"

He snorted and started across the room toward her, "me sneaking up on you? That's funny, seems to be that you have been with me twice now and I've been unaware of your presences until much later."

At the look on his face, she began to back up until she hit the desk behind her. "Uh, you're not mad at me are you?"

Stopping just shy of touching her, he smiled, "oh no, I'm not mad. In fact, your little visit earlier gave me a very pleasant dream. Care to help me finish it?"

Swallowing hard she took a deep breath, "so does this mean you read what I left?"

"Yes and speaking of leaving things I think this belongs to you."

Looking down she saw the envelope in his hand and reached for it. "Thank you." Tucking it back inside her jacket, he looked up at him. "So now what?"

"So now you need to turn around and face the other way."

"Excuse me? What's gotten into you?"

Ron rolled his eyes and grabbed her shoulders spinning her around so her back was now against his chest. Bending down he brushed his lips across her neck, "you really need to stop thinking the worst of people sweetheart. I just wanted to give you something else you left behind."

She watched as the necklace swung in front of her and his hands secured it around her neck. His lips softly brushed her neck. "This is yours; it's always been yours, just as I've always been yours."

When she tried to turn he put his hands on her shoulders keep her in place. "I know this isn't going to be easy, but when I thought you were dead I wanted nothing more than to join you. I should have never left you that night; I should have taken you with me and married you."

She tried to speak only to have him shush her. "No you need to listen. I know that Albert did terrible things and I'm sure there are things I don't know, but I want the chance to…"

Finally wiggling free she turned in his arms. Throwing her arms around his neck, she pulled his lips to hers. Deeping the kiss she tried to pull him closer realizing suddenly he wasn't touching her. Pulling back, she looked up at him, "what am I doing something wrong?"

He shook his head, "no I want to touch you so badly but I'm a little nervous here. The last time I did you thought I was going to kill you."

Growling in the back of her throat, she grabbed one of his hands and placed it on her breast. "There, does that give you a hint where you can touch?"

The air was knocked out of her when he pulled her back against his chest. This lips covering hers, his tongue seeking entrance. Closing her eyes, she sighed into his mouth pressing herself closer to him. His hand on her breast had begun a slow tease and she found herself pushing back against him.

When he finally freed her lips to place open mouth kisses down her neck she let her head fall back. "Oh my, Ronnie, I certainly hope you don't plan to stop anything soon."

She couldn't make out his mumbled responses but did hear his groan when her hand caressed his erection through his pants, his hips pushing against her hand. When he lifted his head from her neck, his eyes glittered with lust. "Oh no, we are not doing this now." Reaching between them, he grabbed both her hands. "We'll finish this when we have more time. Right now we have to get ready to move again."

She dropped her head on his chest. She could hear the pounding of his heart and was shocked to hear how fast it was beating. Laughing, "well at least I'm not alone in being disappointed."

"No, but I'm promise later. Now thank Dick for me I've got to go." Kissing her forehead, he turned and slipped out of the room before she even had time to move.

Reaching down she let the necklace and dropped it inside her jacket. She was still standing there with a stupid smile on her face when Dick came to the door. "Well I'm glad to see you're happy. I thought you might like to know, Nix is back."

"Oh, great, well I'll go give him the good news."

Dick stopped her, "might want to give him a while. The jump didn't go so well and he's a little upset."

"He's alright isn't he?"

"Yeah, physically he's fine. His plane blew over the drop zone, him and three others made it out, so emotionally, he's kind of a mess and drinking Vat 69 like they're going to stop making it."

She nodded her head and checked her watch. "Damn, I've got to get back; I've still got to pack up Sink. I'll see him later Dick I promise."

"So uh before you go things good with you and Ron?"

She couldn't stop the smile on her face. "Oh yeah, and things are going to be even better in a few days." Humming to herself, she headed back off to regiment. She couldn't wait till they finally stopped moving, maybe they could finally find more than a few minutes to be together.