So, I've watched over half of Saving Private Ryan… and I will defiantly be doing a story for it! :D

As always, I adore reviews… I suppose you could call them my drug. They make me immensely happy.

I'm sorry this one is so short, it's kinda a filler I guess you could say. :)

Chapter Thirty-Six: Happy V-E Day

Victory. It tasted like honey on her tongue. To a broken soldier, it was the most beautiful word in the world. This was because 'home' trailed directly behind it. Holding up a flickering lighter to her thick cigar, a pleasant smile spread across her face. Babe had just whizzed past her, taping her shoulder with a thrilled hand. Apparently, Winters had discovered Himmler's house with a towering wine cellar. Easy had gotten a truck load of the fine booze, and they wanted to chug it down with their Bastonge Baby.

The heavy dark oak door swung open, the welcoming aroma of Lucky Strikes wafting into her nose. Childishly scolding her boots, Essie tip toed up to the balcony. Convinced the creaking of the warped wooden stairs would give her position away, she rolled her eyes. The men beneath her continued to heartily laugh, making jokes about Hinkle and debating about their favorite pin-up girl.

Resting her elbows on the edge of the magnificent balcony, Esther admired the brave men beneath her. They had survived the war with her; they had seen the same things as her. Easy felt her pains, her sufferings. They were her brothers… and deep inside she knew they always would be. Malarkey teased Taletta who was surprisingly drunk, while Grant poured her another shot glass. Luz's mocking voice cut through everybody else's, followed by a roar of laughter that warmed Essie's heart. She loved these men, with all her heart.

"AHEM!" She mocked a royal, clearing her throat obnoxiously. "Attention, attention my fair gentleman and lady! I have arrived…" she put an extra emphasize on 'arrived', leaving it to linger in the air. Their eyes darted upwards from the long dining table, searching for the owner of the calls. With all eyes on her, she playfully bowed over the edge, winking at them all.

"Come on down, Es!" Christenson waved his hand.

"Yea, we saved ya some Kraut booze!" Liebgott held up a crystal shot glass. A needle was drug across a record, the sweet tunes of Benny Goodman's clarinet emerging from it. As she strutted down the steps, Essie held the cigar tighter in her teeth. Where was Floyd?

Shifty shyly scooted up to her, a half-empty bottle in his hand, "Glad you could join us, Esther." She snatched the bottle, pressing it to her lips. She ran her tongue along the front of her teeth, "Me too, Shifty. Me too."

She slid on the bench between Bull and Martin. Martin happily nudged her, while Bull promptly slapped his goliath hand on her back. An average woman would have grimaced, but Bull knew she was battle strong. Essie continued to drink the fancy winery as she listened lovingly to her boys.

"No, I'm telling you! It was 30 different POW's," Malarkey argued with Grant. "Muck told me so." Essie chuckled, catching on that they were still arguing about Speirs' ledgend.

"Doesn't matter boys, he's not as badass as we were made to believe," she swirled the remaining booze in the bottle. "Guy can't even hold down two bottles."

Perconte piped up, "Uh, either can we. You're just the guzzler that can." He winked at her, making her stick her tongue out at him.

"Whatever. Has anybody seen Talbert?"

"Why? Do ya want him?" Skinny timidly asked, begging for some chuckles.

"Shit Skinny, it's not like I love the man or anything…" She took a heavy draw from her cigar.

"Oh, so you don't love me? Is that what I hear?" A familiar and teasing voice emerged from the darkness. Essie stood and met with him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her bottle tapping his back she laughed, "Fuck you, Floyd."

A broad smile cracked his face in half, he spoke with sarcasm, "Love ya too, babe."

"What's that? You love me, Tab? I didn't think of you as the gay type, but whatever!" Babe's South Philly accent cut through the smoke, making Essie sadly smile into the crook of Tab's neck. She released her arms, sliding down the front of his jacket. They marched in time to the table. Before she sat down, Essie snatched up a tall and lean wine glass from the china cabinet.

Pouring the pink liquid into the bowl, "I propose a toast." Everybody followed her, the room growing silent.

"To every fallen men of Easy Company. Without them, I guarantee we wouldn't be sitting here right now." The room roared in their agreement. "To Dukeman, to Compton, to our good ole Wild Bill."

Babe stood up, his face solemn, "To Penkala and Muck… I miss those saps."

Taletta then took her turn, "To every man I couldn't save. Joe Toye and Smokey Gordon. Lest we forget."

"Miller, Van Klinken, Tipper and Blithe. Meehan and Jackson," Talbert pushed back the bench, his voice wavering.

"To Hoob… the best man I knew," she quickly held the glass to her lips to hide the quivering. They all took quiet sips, each with their own pains of mourning. Floyd placed a soothing hand on her back, making Essie blink back tears. "Currahee, boys. We stand alone."

"CURRAHEE!" the brave paratroopers of Easy Company bellowed, lifting whatever alcohol they held. Talbert wrapped his muscular arm around Essie's waist, bringing back painful memories of Markey Garden. She gasped.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing… I was just... nothing."

He worriedly raised his eyebrows, "Alright then."

Changing the subject, she broadly spoke up, "Christ, I hope we never leave Berchtesgaden."

Malarkey vouched for that, as did Luz and Leibgott. Now completely drunk out of their minds, the men grew quiet. Some were passed out on the table, other barely propped up on a wall. The sweet tunes of Big Band still humming through the hall, and Essie began to swing her booted foot.

With slurred words, Talbert gently held up Essie's sharp face by her chin, "Dance. Would you like to dance?"

"I'm not sure if I even remember how to, Floyd."

"Sure you do," he hastily grasped her hand, pulling her to her feet. Moonlight Serenade performed by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra began playing, the needle scratching the black spinning surface. Tab gently took her by the waist as she looked awkwardly up to him. shyly she rest her small head on his broad chest as they began to sway. Noticing her breathing beginning to speed, Tab reassuringly squeezed her fingers. She sighed heavily with his touch.

"We don't have to dance if you don't want to, Es," his voice held a hurt tone.

"It's not that… it's, I forgot how good it feels to dance. A delightful taste of civilization; I missed it." Floyd leaned down and kissed her pale forehead. Essie squeezed shut her eyes, begging to be held like this forever.

"Happy V-E day… it's all over now. We can live a normal life together, Esther."

I'm so sorry it was so short.

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