Falling Star Chapter 29
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Note- Heey, sorry to be so late with the updates but classes have started up again and the work is piling on like a beast already since it's my last year. My dissertation is due in at the end of this month too, eek. So I might not be able to update as often as I'd like until the end of October (then I'll be back to normal, haha) but I'll try my hardest to keep the updates coming nice and regularly. In my plan for this story, there are only 2-3 chapters remaining (plus a possible Christmas special, haha) so we're getting there. Plus, I already have an idea for another story but I'm waiting until I finish this one, since I already have another unfinished one as well.
Thank you as always for the reviews. I absolutely love reading critique and/or praise for the story :D. Thanks to everyone that's left me a wee message. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
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July 27th, 1945- Zell Am See
"Mail call," Annie said, floating into Roseanna's room, brandishing a package. Walking over to the bed, she promptly threw it onto the girl still slumbering beneath her covers.
"Ow," Roseanna groaned, sitting up, her head reeling as the package made direct contact with it. She gingerly took the package in one hand, her other caressing her head. "Thank you very much for that."
"Sorry, accident," Annie grimaced, sitting down on the bed next to her. "Why's your father sending you such a big package anyway?"
"Let's see, shall we," She replied, shaking her head at Annie impatience. She tore into the package, disregarding the letter tucked inside, distracted by the bigger object that fell out. Squinting, she noticed that it was one of the daily news rags from back home. Emblazoned across the front page was a picture of Lola, winking in front of a microphone, text at the side boldly proclaiming The Rise and Rise of Lola Caine. Roseanna didn't even need to locate the page for herself, as it had already been handily dog-eared for her by whoever had decided to put the magazine into her father's package. Opening the page, she was barraged immediately by numerous pictures of her stepsister. Groaning, she immediately handed it over to Annie. It was too early for this. "Look at this."
Annie, intrigued, took the magazine, scanning the page, actually bothering to read the words accompanying the text. She blew out a deep breath. "Looks like Lola's doing well for herself back home. Ha, listen to this. Listen to what the Journalist has written! When asked about her sister, Roseanna Caine, who is currently still serving with the USO in Europe, Lola says plainly that the family misses her. She doesn't deliberate over the issue too quickly, however, quickly changing the course of the topic onto the newly redecorated Caine Family Mansion. She hasn't changed then, I see. Seriously, she must be dealt with when we get back home. I can't wait to organise the Roseanna Caine comeback."
"If there is one," Roseanna said, pushing the covers back, climbing out and reaching for her robe.
"There won't be?" Annie blinked over the top of the magazine. "Don't say that. You're the only tool I have in my arsenal against this girl."
"Oh, I'm sorry to inconvenience you then," Roseanna rolled her eyes as she playfully tossed one of her pillows at Annie.
Annie dodged the incoming pillow, the magazine still tightly gripped between her fingers. "You know what I meant. So you're really putting me out of a job then?"
"I think you'll be fine, still having all of the other Caines' whims to cater to," She laughed, throwing on her dressing robe as she pulled the curtains open to reveal another beautiful day.
"Oh, I know," Annie nodded. "It should be a blessing if anything but, really…you've decided then? Dick's won you over?"
"Dick hasn't done anything," She said, sitting back down on the bed, covering up a smile.
Annie waited a moment. "Liar."
"Well, then let's just say he's making me realise what all of my options might be."
"Hmm, the bright lights or the country," Annie raised her eyebrows, her eyes going back to the magazine article. "Oh, it looks like Lola's involved with someone. The fella from Worlds Apart."
"I liked that movie," She bit her lip pensively. "Poor guy, wonder how she managed to entrap him. Probably looked at her during a full moon."
Annie laughed, glancing over the pages again and letting out a sigh. "Still, looks like she's having a whale of a time back home."
"I'm sure she is," Roseanna nodded, looking out of the window into the distance before closing her eyes against the bright sunshine. "Still, I wouldn't trade places with her for anything in the world."
Annie sighed happily, a soft look on her face as she put her head on her friend's shoulder. "Spoken like a true woman in love."
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July 29th, Zell Am See, 1945
Roseanna wiped at her forehead with her forearm, stressed, as she wrestled with the chicken wire fence that was adamant that it was going to fall down. Sighing, frustrated, she mimicked the words she'd uttered far too quickly not even fifteen minutes previously. "No, Annie, don't worry. You go and find Lew. I can handle this fence all…by…my…self…argh."She leaped back as half of the fence dipped forward, uprooted. She threw her hands up in despair. She flopped onto the ground, her muscles fatigued from trying to hold up the fence, covering her eyes from the glare of the sunshine with her forearms. She was so distracted that she didn't hear the jeep quietly pull up nearby. She only caught on when she felt something stroking at her forearms over her eyes.
"Well, well, well, Miss Wilkes, have you just gone and fainted at my…," He stopped, his face aghast as Roseanna pulled her arms away to reveal that it was her. "Oh my God!"
He jumped back, his eyes raised in alarm. "Roseanna! What are you doing…? I'm sorry, I thought that you were…."
She stood up, dusting herself off and holding up a hand to silence him. "I know what you thought, Lew, but…how?"
He took off his sunglasses, motioning to them. "These damn things make red hair look brown, I guess. And you're face was covered so…sorry."
"Don't worry about it," She shook her head at him. "So you're looking for Annie?"
"Yeah," He said, replacing the sunglasses on his face. "Seen her around?"
"She's back at the hotel somewhere," She replied, getting back to work on the fence, trying to hoist it back up. "Looking for you actually."
"Well I should go and end that search for her," He joked, frowning at the strain on Roseanna's face as she tried to upright the fence. "Need a hand?"
"Does it look like it?" Roseanna said dryly, her expression promptly softening. "I mean…yes, please!"
He pulled at the fence from the other end and, together, they managed to keep it balanced.
"Thank you," She smiled gratefully at him. "So much for Lewis Nixon not doing manual labour."
"Hell, Lewis Nixon doesn't," He joked. "If Lewis Nixon needs something fixed he hires someone to do it."
"I see," She gasped mockingly. "So what made you change your mind?"
"Hell, you look desperate," He shrugged. "And it'll make me look good in front of Annie later when I tell her."
"Aww, well you're just all heart, aren't you?" She rolled her eyes.
"But, honestly, I don't know what the hell this thing even is so…I don't know what I can actually do to help you," He looked at her sceptically
"Aren't you the intelligence officer, Lew?" She teased him. "Don't worry, you just hold this thing straight whilst I fix it at the bottom."
"Aye, aye," He sighed, looking down as she began using a hammer with, what looked like to him, some degree of precision. "Hey, if you're stuck for something to do after the war, you should consider construction."
"That's what I've always wanted to do! Singing was, of course, just a back up career!" She joked, biting her lip suddenly. "So what are your plans when this is all over?"
"Back to the family business, I suppose," He shrugged.
"Oh, Dick mentioned your family business," She said, playing dumb. "It's a nitration works, isn't it?"
"One and the same," He nodded.
"And possibly even Dick's future employer?" She pressed apprehensively.
He looked down at her, raising an eyebrow. "Possibly. Why, what did he say?"
"Nothing, just told me that you'd offered him a job," She shook her head nonchalantly.
"Well, it's only in New Jersey," He said, as though he'd read her mind somehow.
She took a breath, pausing for a moment before continuing. "What's it like there?"
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August 1st, 1945- Zell Am See
It was a highly informal little gathering, just those Easy Company soldiers who'd managed to escape being on duty and the Officers who'd manage to find the time to attend. Still, every Easy man had striven to ensure his presence, such was the admiration for Don Malarkey.
"Shhhh, everyone!" Roseanna hissed to the room, flipping the light switch off as she heard footsteps approaching the room. "I can hear them. They're coming."
"Really, ma'am, I'd really like to help you put that shelf up but I do have a lot of packing still to do and," Don's voice said, stopping as he turned the corner to be confronted with the suddenly harshness of the light which had been promptly switched back on, his corneas adjusting quickly enough to take in the sight of the Easy men in front of him. He raised his eyes. "What's this?"
"Just a little Goodbye, Don gathering," Roseanna explained, patting him. "Or, should I say Bon Voyage, Don."
"Well, hell," He said, stepping further into the room, looking around. "You didn't all have to go to this kinda trouble."
"We heard there'd be cake!" Liebgott called out sarcastically from somewhere in the room.
"Funny, Joe," Roseanna rolled her eyes, casting an apologetic look at Don. "Sorry, there isn't actually a cake."
"I'm sure you'll get plenty of that in Paris, Don," Annie piped up from the corner of the room.
"There is this, though," She beamed, reaching for the shelf behind her and holding up two bottles of VAT 69, prompting cheers all around. She winked at Nix out of the corner of her eye. "Kindly donated by an unnamed source."
Nix rolled his eyes, blowing air out of his mouth bitterly. That was the last time he'd let Annie name the stakes in any bet. Looking out of the corner of his eye, he saw her shoot him a little look of triumphant, making him shake his head and look away.
Handing the bottles to Johnny Martin, she let him take over proceedings, slipping further to the back of the room. This was their moment, these men.
"Not late, are we?" Harry asked, briskly entering the room, Dick in tow. Harry eagerly took the small glass of whisky offered to him. "Not too late for the booze, anyway!"
Dick politely declined the whiskey, catching Roseanna's eye as she involuntarily waved at him from the back. He made his way over to their group at the back.
"No Lieutenant, course you're not too late," Malarkey smirked at Harry. "Never to late to sing my praises."
"What, for being a lucky bastard and makin' it through the war alive?" Harry teased, cupping his glass.
"Yeah, looked doubtful, didn't it?" Liebgott teased, piping up from further back. "I, for one, though he was a goner that first day when he tried to frisk a German corpse for a damn luger, while the fuckin' krauts were shootin' at him!"
"Yeah, well, running into the line of fire and makin' it back to tell the story," He held his hands up, as though to receive rapturous applause. "I s'pose I must be the luckiest bastard! I'll drink to that!"
"To Malarkey, fellas," Johnny said, holding up his glass as a model for the others to follow, saluting Malarkey with it before necking the contents, the men around him all doing the same. Hip, Hip, Hoooraaay!
Perco grimaced against the bitterness of the whiskey, shaking his head animatedly as though to combat it. A wide grin spread over his face. "How about another round?"
As Johnny made the rounds, keep a safe guard on the bottle, pouring a small measure into each of the glasses, Harry made his way to the back of the room towards the small group at the back, his cheeks already growing rosier from the little nip of whiskey. "Good party, ladies. And Nix, old buddy, thank you for the whiskey."
Nix suppressed a smile, trying his best to look hard done by. "Yeah well, enjoy it."
"I have," Harry joked, punching him teasingly on the arm.
"Careful, Harry," Dick teased, flashing a semi-warning look at his friend. "I expect all of these men to be fit for drills tomorrow."
"Aye, aye," Harry rolled his eyes, saluting, holding his empty glass out for Johnny to fill as he passed by.
Roseanna laughed. "All you'll be fit for tomorrow is your bed! It doesn't look like you can hold your drink there, Harry."
"Coming from…," Lew teased, pointing a finger crookedly at her.
"So what time does Malarkey leave tomorrow?" She said, briskly changing the subject.
"He should be out of here by 8 sharp tomorrow morning…," Dick spoke up from beside her. "If he makes it, that is."
"I'm sure he…," Roseanna stopped, feeling the tips of Dick's fingers lightly intertwining with her own. It was a gentle movement, out of sight of the others. A moment just for the two of them. She began to softly return the movement, their fingers grazing each others as their arms touched side-by-side. She carried on talking all the while, as though nothing was going on. "I'm sure he will."
"I'll see to it that he does," Dick said, nodding. They weren't even looking at each other, not needing to. Their fingers saying volumes for their unspoken desire for each other.
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August 15th, 1945- Zell Am See- Baseball Diamond
"There she is," Annie said, shaking her head and indicating to her watch to Roseanna as she approached the crowd of men in their PT gear, all ready for the first game of baseball.
"Hold your horses, I'm here now," Roseanna joked as she strolled casually towards them, dressed in her casual clothes herself, the baseball bat slung nonchalantly over her shoulder. She indicated to it. "Besides, you couldn't have started anyway without this."
"You're playing?" Bull asked, cigar still firmly lodged between his lips as he looked at her sceptically.
"Course I am. I spent long enough workin' on this damn thing so why should I miss out?" Roseanna put a hand firmly on her hip, shaking her head disappointingly at Annie, who had actually dressed up for the occasion. Skirt, heels and the whole shebang. "…and she was supposed to be playing, too."
"Oh," Annie said, suddenly taking on an air of cluelessness. "I didn't think that you were serious when you suggested that."
"Don't be so chicken," Roseanna scolded. "Go and get changed!"
"Oh no, my dear. I don't play," Annie replied, channelling Lew's reaction to DIY. She indicated to the officers who'd come down to watch the spectacle, leaning or sitting on their jeeps. "I'll be over there, cheering you on."
"You do know how to play, right?" Luz interjected, looking squarely at Roseanna.
"Of course I know how," She said uncomfortably as she tossed the bat to the ground. "…I mean, how hard can it be."
"Oh, Jesus," Liebgott grimaced at that last statement, picking up the bat and practicing his grip.
"So, whose team am I in?" She asked animatedly, trying to get them all in the spirit.
Johnny and Bull, elected team captains, looked blankly at one another, as if trying to telepathically persuade the other. Eventually Bull sighed, relenting. "We're one short, you'd better come with us."
"Alright then," She said, clapping her hands animatedly as she jogged alongside Bull's team, which was beginning to line up to bat.
Perco sidled up to her, lowering his voice. "We're batting. That means we're trying to score runs."
"Yes, thank you, Frank," She shook her head. ?"
"Ladies first," Bull said, holding the bat out to her.
"Such a gentleman," She said, taking the bat and gripping it tightly between her fingers. She'd seen them do that at baseball games she'd gone to with her father when he'd been invited to sit in the Executive seats.
"I'll go easy on ya," Johnny teased, calling out to her as he prepared to bowl.
"Well now, saying that is just going to spur me on further," She said, preparing herself for the incoming throw.
He threw it towards her, she caught it in her eyeline, following it until it was out of sight. It had zoomed right past her, slamming into the fence. She let out a frustrated sigh.
"Strike one!" Buck called, matter-of-factly.
Second throw, same thing.
"Strike two!"
"Come on Roseanna," Annie called out from the sidelines. "Feel the rage, pretend it's something that you hate! You're angry at the ball! You want to do some serious damage to the ball!"
Roseanna tightened her grip on the bat with steely resolve. As Johnny released the ball, sending it hurtling towards it, in her mind it seemed to suddenly take the shape of Lola's face, coming ever closer to her. Closing one eye, she took aim…and swung. Crack. She felt direct contact, both of her eyes springing open as she saw the ball flying towards the outfield. She pumped her fist into the air, prompting encouraging cheers from her teammates.
"I hit it!" She cried out triumphantly.
"Ruuuun!" Perco shouted out, waving his hands erratically at her.
"Right, run!" She said, suddenly springing into action, dropping the bat to the ground as she began to run. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, feeling the wind whipping her ears as she went. Running so fast, she couldn't make out any sounds except from those shouts of encouragement. Despite herself, as she passed second and made her way to third, she couldn't help but laugh. She felt so free there in that moment. She could barely believe it when she passed third, home base clearly in sight. Putting all of the power into her legs, seeing the ball being passed amongst the men and slowly making it's attempt to catch up to her, she hurtled forward, sliding along the sand and into home base just before Buck managed to catch the ball.
"Home run!" George shouted, his eyes raised in surprise.
"Well I'll be damned," Bull said, reaching out a hand to help pull her to her feet.
"Thank you," She beamed, letting him hoist her up. She dusted the sand off of her t-shirt and trousers, not particularly minding the mess at that moment. "Many strings to my bow, Bull. That was fun."
"Credit where it's due," Bull nodded politely, taking his turn to bat.
"Beat that," She challenged teasingly, taking her seat amongst the patiently awaiting batters.
Speirs' rough voice suddenly boomed out, calling for them to gather up. She whipped her head round, to see that Dick and Lew, in full attire, had pulled up in a jeep and were making their way across to the other Officers. She made her way towards them along with everyone else, her appearance prompting a somewhat surprised yet amused expression from Dick as she took a seat next to everyone else.
"Listen up. I've got some news," Dick cleared his throat, raising his voice so that everyone could hear him. "This morning, President Truman received the unconditional surrender from the Japanese."
There was a silence amongst the men, a silence with baited breath.
"War's over," He finished, looking around at all of his men.
There was no immediate sense of elation as one might've expected. Collectively, there was merely a stunned silence. Perhaps some couldn't quite believe it, perhaps some dared not to. Perhaps for some it was merely sinking in slowly, after having waited so long to hear the words just uttered. Whatever their reason, he'd said what he'd said. Roseanna had felt that immediate burst of happiness in her stomach at the news, just as she imagined everyone would but, for her, it was tinged slightly with sadness. The war was over? Back to New York.
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That night, for the most part, the mens' duties had been allowed to be overcome by celebration. Why shouldn't they celebrate the end of the war and their chance to finally get home to their loved ones and the lives they'd left on pause to come over and fight this war. The girls' records came very much in handy to aid these celebrations, and music passed through every corridor of the hotel, from the upbeat tempo of the Andrews Sisters' to the dulcet tones of Jimmy Durante, to the patriotic bursts of their proud national anthem. One hell of a party was beginning to form itself in the main lobby and, in their droves, assigned staff throughout the hotel were making their way down towards it. Roseanna, however, passed by them all, instead making her way up the stairs, stopping just outside of Dick's office. She slipped inside the door, making her way over to the balcony. She lingered by the balcony door, merely watching him staring out onto the lake, hands inside of his pockets, the moon shining off of his light hair, making it seem darker.
"Not going to the party?" She asked, breaking the silence (save for the music straining up towards them).
He turned round upon hearing her voice, smiling fondly at her when he saw that it was, indeed, her. "Maybe in a little while. What about you? Not celebrating that home run?"
She waved a hand dismissively, joking. "That little, old home run? That's old news by now. There are seemingly bigger things to celebrate now."
"Not happy that the war's over?" He asked sarcastically, smiling as he beckoned her over to him.
"Very happy," She said, her voice dropping to a whisper as she gently slipped her arms around his waist, looking up at him. "Just sad to be leaving this beautiful place."
He gentle stroked her forearms as he pulled her ever-so-slightly closer to him. "I'm sure there views as nice as this back home."
"Maybe," She wrinkled her nose, laughing. "But we should take a photograph…just in case."
"Deal," He nodded, his eyes twinkling. He gave her forearms a gentle, fond squeeze as he let his gaze drift back out over the water. "Back home, huh?"
"Shhhhh," She said, relasing one hand momentarily from around his waist to put a finger to his lips. "Let's not think about that tonight. Let's just enjoy the celebrations."
"Okay," He said, looking back at her, letting his eyes drift down towards her torso. She'd dressed up for the evening, and he couldn't help thinking how beautiful she looked. "What do you want to do then? Go downstairs?"
"Mmmmm…no," She said, stroking the small of his back with the free thumb of her hands which clasped together round his waist. "I don't want to do that."
"Then what?" He asked, his spine tingling in response to her slow, soft thumb movements. Desire for her coursing through his body.
"I want to stay with you tonight…in your room," She said, adding the last part tentatively, her eyes drifting up towards his to convey just how serious she was.
His body stiffened slightly, like she'd just read his mind. Still, he wanted to be sure that it was what she wanted too. He lightly stroked one of her cheeks with his thumb. "Are you sure?"
She smiled, not wanting to tell him how sure she was, but rather wanting to show him how sure she was. "Dick, just kiss me."
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