I apologize for how long it took to get the next chapter posted. I hope you enjoy, even if it is a tad short:)

Chapter 11-Reasons

"Flush. Read 'em and weep, boys!"

The rest of the players at the table grumbled simultaneously. "Are you serious? Doc, are you helping her cheat?"

"I stay out of the card games for a reason. That's all her," Eugene laughed. I was happy to see everyone so relaxed.

Babe jumped in, "All I can say is our next game is Bridge and she's with me!"

I poured myself a small glass of whatever alcohol was being passed around the table and took a sip. Perconte chimed in, "Keep an eye on her, Doc! Any more of that and she won't make a very good partner for anyone!"

"Speak for yourself. I bet she's plenty good when she's—"

"Cobb, shut it," Bull drawled, quieting the whole room. Luz lightened the mood. "Where did you learn to play cards, anyway? Did the nuns teach you in Bastogne?"

I smiled. "By brother taught me. We made a deal; he would show me how to play cards in return for my help asking out one of the girls in town." Eugene patted my knee reassuringly as I smiled back at him.

"He must have been a damn fine player. You practically cleaned me out," Babe grunted.

"Yeah. I'm about out, too," Bull agreed.

"Thinking about calling it a night? We just got started!" I boasted with a giggle. The men stood up from the table and said goodnight as they headed to different parts of the house.

The company had moved into the village just before nightfall after a short stay in Mourmelon and a trip through Germany. Eugene insisted I make my way back to Épernay. I told him that, after being in the thick of the war for as long as I had, I could not handle sitting on the sidelines and not doing something to help. While it wasn't a complete lie, I neglected to tell him I was also scared to let him out of my sight for fear of losing touch with him. The men were in high spirits as the convoy made its way to the Alps. Each night we stopped in a village, and each night the men forced the residents out of their homes to provide lodging and, for some, souvenirs for Easy. After staying at the company CP a night, I asked Winters if I could stay with the soldiers. Although he allowed it, he asked me to stay at the CP during the day and work as his secretary to keep me as far away from the line as possible.

I looked around the room where the card game had just ended. It was not as nice as Battalion CP was, but it was a far cry from the foxholes the men shared in Belgium. The fireplace let off a soft glow that illuminated the well-furnished room. I ran my hands over the heavy oak table to collect the cards. A small chandelier dangled over the center of the room. I reached over and took Eugene's hand. I pulled him to his feet and lead him upstairs.

Although I had a separate room down the hall, I dragged Eugene into his room and closed the door behind him. "You're pretty good at cards. What else don't I know about you?" he asked as he took off his shirt.

I smiled. "Well, let's see…I can't whistle. I was scared of the dark until I was twelve…stuff like that?" I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

He turned to face me and surprised me with a peck on the lips. As he opened his mouth to speak, I caught him off guard with a kiss of my own. One kiss led to several more, and before I knew it we were lying on the bed. I reached up and pulled my dress off my shoulders as my heart raced in my now bare chest. His hands gripped my dress and pulled it the rest of the way off as I reached for his belt.

"Renée, je t'aime."

"I love you, too." Before he could say another word, I kissed his lips as I reached over and turned out the lamp on the bedside table.

The next morning brought the sound of the other men in the hallway and Eugene whispering in my ear as I woke up. "Don't tell me we're moving out," I groaned as I pulled the blankets over my head. I heard a chuckle and felt his arm tighten around me.

"Duty calls," he replied. He tried to sit up, but I held his arm around me so he couldn't move. "I think they'll suspect something if we're late."

"Babe suspected something back in Belgium," I said, kissing his hand. "Let's make them wonder."

Eugene slipped his arm away and pulled on his shorts and pants. I grabbed my dress, and in a few minutes we were both downstairs and loading up in the trucks with the rest of the company.

"Doc, did you hear 300,000 Germans surrendered?" Babe commented as he slid in beside Eugene. "Sounds like our job is done! So much for jumping into Berlin, huh?" The trucks pulled away and a face I didn't recognize chimed in, "Maybe there will be a jump into Tokyo instead."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"O'Keefe." Babe chuckled and shook his head as he mumbled about replacements.

The rest of the men remained quiet as the trucks rumbled down the road. We passed an old, shoddy building just as a couple of troops kicked two German prisoners outside. After a lot of yelling, they shot the Germans in the back of the head. The rest of the men remained stoic, but Private O'Keefe's eyes grew large at the sight. I rested my head on Eugene's shoulder and sighed.

We pulled into a village and cleared the trucks. The men began to spread out, looking to take anything not nailed down, when Winters called for patrols to search the area around town. Eugene and I leaned up against a statue just off the road and watched each platoon as they left in a different direction out of town.

"It seems strange, doesn't it?"

"What's that?" I replied.

"It feels like this whole thing is coming to an end. We've been away from home for so long…"

"What will you do when you get home?"

Eugene sighed. "I don't know. Find a job, probably. What about you?"

I shook my head. "I don't think I can go back to Épernay. I'll probably end up in a convent somewhere."

Eugene cleared his throat and stammered, "W-well…if you want, you can come with me to Louisiana. I'm sure my family would love to have you."

My heart skipped a beat. Was he serious? A noise from the other side of the road caught my attention. Perconte walked beside Major Winters, speaking almost frantically. Winters looked around and shouted, "Easy Company! Load up! Doc, we're going to need you!" Eugene jumped to his feet and ran to the nearest truck. I stood up, and Winters walked over to me. "Miss Le Maire, maybe it would be best if you just wait here. If we need you, we'll send a runner." I nodded and waved to the men as the trucks rumbled into the forest.