AN: I can't get over how lovely everybody is on this site, like seriously! I couldn't be any luckier to have such amazing reviews and they make me really happy. So, thank you very much and it is much appreciated! Also another Rita POV, but this time because I don't honestly know how to write it from Joe's perspective. I hope you all have a lovely and very merry Christmas, and if you don't celebrate Christmas then I hope you're having a wonderful holiday! Hugs and presents from Scotland!

[Rita's POV]

I was jerked awake by the sound of an explosion and the constant drilling of machine gun fire. I had fallen asleep by the window in a splintering chair, trying desperately to see what was happening on the other side of the river. Dragging my fist across my eyes, I wiped the condensation from the glass. All I could hear was the high pitched whistling of machinegun fire and deep rumbles of the ground shuddering beneath. The night sky was filled with almost blinding flashes of lights and I could hear muffled shouts from the other side of the river. My thoughts instantly drifted to Jones leading the patrol. I worried about whether or not he had made it across at all; one of the last dinghies had overturned before they had even made it over the river and the men had trudged back, sodden and ashamed with their tails between their legs. I tiptoed between the men sprawled over the room towards 'Gene who offered me his cigarette packet which I waved away. I plonked myself down on the bed beside him and leaned against the headboard. The exhaustion I felt was almost overwhelming; it pulled down on my eyelids and made my eyeballs itch and ache, yet I didn't want to close my eyes just in case I missed something important. The room wasn't small, but somehow it felt positively constricting, the air heavy with dust and tangible anxiety and I found myself breathing quicker than usual. To pass what would be another long hour I pulled the now tattered copy of Shakespeare from my bag and began to read again. I skimmed through about four acts, not reading the play at all, my eyes drooping. Eventually I gave in to my exhaustion and slumped down, closing my eyes and drifting off almost instantly.

XXX

I rolled over and smiled a little. The sun was streaming through my window and the view of the mountains was absolutely gorgeous. I closed my eyes again,revelling in the peacefulness of the morning- I usually had mother violently threatening me to get up or else at this time. Birds were chirruping and the gentle sound of rushing water from the river beside the house was like music to my ears. I dozed off again a few more times, then at ten oclock I persuaded myself to get up. Getting to my feet I lifted my grey, slightly worn out dressing gown from the chair beside my bed and sat myself down in front of my dressing table. My hair was still somewhat in its braid from the previous night, but all my tossing and turning had liberated a good half of the curls. I tugged the elastic from the end of the braid and began to run a brush through my hair, only occasionally coming across a tug. Deciding that I was too lazy to retie it, I let the waves hang loose, singing to myself as I danced down the stairs, thoughts of bacon and eggs trailing around my mind.
"Mama?" I called, chapping the kitchen door. "Papa, are you two awake yet?" Strangely there was no response. I pushed the door open and I suddenly had to lean on the doorframe for support, my legs failing me. I opened my mouth to scream but no sound came out, bar a small squeak. Bile filled my throat and I couldn't breathe, eyes and nose burning, my body shuddering. I stumbled over to the kitchen table where my family now sat at the kitchen table, tied to their chairs with slumped heads, scarlet blood coating their pyjamas and the floor, yellow stars sloppily plastered on their backs. I felt hot tears slide down my face as I choked on my sobs, fingers feeling the bullet wounds in the backs of their heads. I collapsed to the floor in front of them, unable to stand anymore. Mother hadn't even combed her hair! I saw my hands through the blur of tears; they were coated with their blood and I retched as I frantically wiped them on my trousers, desperate to get the blood off; my sobs becoming more and more strangled until I felt like I was being suffocated. Then, cold metal was being pressed into the back of my neck and I froze. No. Please no. I heard the gun being cocked and I squeezed my eyes shut, only being able to whimper as fear paralysed my brain.
"Stehen, Juden. STEHEN!"

XXXX

I sat up with a scream. Joe stood over me, shaking my arm and dabbing at my forehead with a piece of cloth. I was sodden with sweat and tears. He sat down beside me, pulling me into his lap and letting me cry into his shoulder, all the while rubbing his hand up and down my back and telling me that it was 'just a nightmare, everything's okay.' I don't know how long I sat with my face buried into his uniform, but eventually the sobs subsided and my breathing was almost back to normal, just a little shuddery. I pulled away to wipe my nose on my sleeve and took a few calming breaths.
"How long have you been back?" I asked, hoping that he wouldn't ask about the dream. He was almost brown with dirt smears, a little blood spattered across his face and uniform, his eyes had massive bags hanging beneath them and stubble had started to shadow his chin. He checked his watch, running a hand through his dirty hair.
"It's been a half hour now. I came up to see how you were and you were screaming and shaking, I couldn't wake you for at least ten minutes." His forehead was creased with concern and he continued to swab the sweat from my forehead. Leaning me forward, he slid in behind so that he had his back to the headboard and I could lean back against him.
"How did the patrol go, do you know?" I asked, relaxing into his chest, his arms winding around me.
"We got a whole bunch of prisoners but we lost Jackson. We brought him back on a stretcher and he died downstairs... he wasn't even fuckin' twenty yet, Rita, he'd joined the army at sixteen. Sixteen!" I took his hand and we sat in silence for a little while, not talking. I couldn't believe that we'd lost Jackson. He was such a nice boy, always there with a hello or a how are you, and from what I could see, everybody liked him. I could feel my eyes beginning to droop again, and I fought to keep them open. I did not want a repeat of the nightmare, thank you very much."You should get some sleep." Joe said suddenly, shifting so that he could slip out. "It's been a long day and we're gonna have an early start tomorrow." I grabbed his hand before he could escape and pulled the same puppy eyed trumph card he had pulled not three days before.
"Stay?" I asked, tugging on his arm. He rolled his eyes and tried to walk away, but I did not relent. "In case I have another nightmare?" Sighing he sat back down on the bed. I rolled over a little so that he could lay beside me, watching him pull off his boots and socks. He pulled me closer and threw an arm around my shoulders so that I could lie across his chest.
"You're a manipulative little bitch, you know that?" sniggering, I cuddled in closer to his side to try and get warm, now that I had stopped sweating and shaking I could feel the chill. We lay under the thin covers, once again lapsing into silence. I had shut my eyes and was just on the brink of sleep when Joe nudged my arm.
"Hey, Rit, are you asleep?"
"Just about."
"Oh, okay. Never mind. Goodnight." I sat up a little.
"No, tell me. Im awake enough!"
"Never mind, just go to sleep!" I sighed, exasperated. I hated it when people did that...
"Okay fine, I'll go to sleep. See you in the morning." I smiled a little to myself and waited for him to take the bait. I had to wait a little longer than usuall, but eventually he got out with it.
"D'ya remember what I told you back in Bastogne?"
"What, that you'd stop stealing my chocolate?" I snickered, earning a light punch on the arm.
"No, idiot, about taking you to see America sometime." I leaned up on one elbow so that I could properly see his face, but he refused to look me in the eye. I nodded, as if to say 'yes,get to the point.'
"See if we both get out of this goddamned hell hole alive..."
"Yeah?"
"Wouldyoucomebacktoamericawit hme?" he said, rushing all of his words together in his, what looked like, embarrassment. I quirked an eyebrow.
"Can I have that in English please?" He glared at me and took a deep breath.
"Would. You. Come. Back. To. America. With. Me."
"With you? As in with with you?" I asked.
"Yes, with with. As in go back as my girlfriend." He replied, a scowl stretching its way across his face whilst a grin stretched across mine.
"I'd love to." He sat up straight, finally looking at me.
"What, really? What about your family here, and your friends?"
"My family and I never really got on, and my friends are here in this building or dead." I replied. "I want to go back with you."
He grinned and leaned forward, pressing his lips against mine. I was startled, my eyes opening wide and mouth not responding. He pulled back, quickly, scrubbing a hand through his hair and, once again avoiding eye contact.
"I'm sorry I-" he began to say, but I rolled my eyes and pulled him back up by the front of his uniform, kissing him with as much as I could. I felt him smile against my lips as he wrapped his warms around my waist and pulled me closer and I ran my hands through his overgrown hair, occasionally knotting my fingers in the soft strands. Eventually, I broke the kiss, becoming acutely aware that somebody could walk in at any time, and I got ragged enough without someone discovering this.
"Joe, we probably shouldn't..."
"Probably" he replied, leaning in again and muffling my giggles with his lips.
Suddenly the door slammed open and we sprang apart, guiltily sneaking glances at each other as Lewis Nixon walked in. He looked a little worse for wear and he knew exactly what had happened, you could tell from the smirk that pulled on the corner of his mouth. He reached into a footlocker and pulled out a bottle of what I could only assume was Vat69 and nodded at us.
"It's about fuckin' time" he mumbled as he stumbled out the door. I caught Joe's eye and we both started to laugh uncontrollably, settling down again for the night.
"So that's a yes?" Joe clarified with a cheeky grin. I slapped his arm and shut my eyes.
"You're incorrigible..." I murmured, the tiredness suddenly becoming overpowering. "But yes, it's a yes."

JESUS, FINALLY, WHAT TOOK YOU TWO SO LONG?! Ugh, honestly... Anyways, that's chapter 11 finally up and I hope you enjoy. Please review and once again, I hope you have a very merry Christmas and if I don't update by then I hope you have a wonderful new year! Over and out.