Ray sat in the back seat of the jeep Dick and Nixon were in, her eyes were bloodshot from crying, she gazed up at the stars as she was gently thrown side to side on the bumpy car ride. Clenching her fist and tightly shutting her eyes she made a silent wish, a wish she could've wasted on Bill but she wanted to find Randleman alive. Wishing on a star to fix things with instantly would be taking the easy route and Ray despised it, if she truly wanted to fix things with the man she loved then she must fight with her heart and soul.

"What are you thinking about, Race?" Dick's voice broke her from thought. In the gentle starlight she could make out the figure of his face, it wasn't much without the facial details being visible but it didn't matter.

"I made a wish, Richie." She replied softly.

"A wish?" Richard cocked an eyebrow with amusement.

"Richie?" Nix butted in with a sneer.

"Shut up, Lew."

"Alright, Richie."

"What did you wish for?"

"If I told you then it wouldn't come true!"

"Pft, you still believe in things like that?" Lew chuckled, "That's adorable! Richie, you're sister is something else-"

"Call me 'Richie' one more time and I will kick you out of this jeep, so help me."

"Sorry, Dick." Nix instantly shut up when Dick made himself clear.

"Race," the ginger grinned, "You know that wishing on a star won't do anything, right?"

"Yeah... But..." Ray's childlike hope and determination plummeted into her gut, she was an adult now and it was foolish to believe in silly fairytales like this, "It's like your last thread of hope, you know? Wishing on a star, hoping that whatever it is that's bothering you or hurting you is fixed?"

"Bill?"

"No, actually." she chortled at the response her brother gave her, "It wouldn't be right for me to just wish those problems away, if I want to fix things with him then I gotta work and fight."

"When did you become so mature?" Dick chuckled.

"Well, Dick," Ray smirked, "War is no place for a child, and if I am to help end this war then I need to grow up."

"Uh-oh," Nix chimed in, "Looks like big brother won't be needed to tie someone's shoes anymore!" Ray laughed at his comment causing Dick to smile, her pain was fading away and that was all he could ever want for her.

When they finally stopped on the outskirts a few miles away from Nunen, everyone waited as their "runner" hurried away to check how many Krauts there were. Ray was curled up against the tire of one of the jeeps as men wandered about and spoke amongst themselves, she had heard that a wounded soldier who went by the name Van Klinken had died. It hurt seeing people so young die so violently, but what hurt more was him.

A series of words flowed through her head as she tried to find the best way to tell him without any complications or hurting the both of them, she was so caught up in thought that she didn't hear him approach or plop himself next to her.

"Sunshine?" His voice was low and raspy, it made her jump, in the dim moonlight she tried her best to find his face.

"Bill." she whispered back, suddenly all those words became scattered in her mind.

"I-I'm..." once her eyes adjusted to the dimness she could make out his tear stained face and bloodshot eyes, had he been crying? "I'm so-"

"You don't have to apologize." Ray placed a finger against his lips, "I- you- ugh. Dammit." she sighed and bit her lip. She took a deep breath before trying again.

"Thank you," she muttered, "I'm sorry that I... I pushed you away and-"

"I wasn't there when you needed me the most."

"I still pushed you away-"

"You were scared," Bill choked, "Scared of me..."

"Bill, I-"

"You don't have to explain doll, I know."

"I..." she paused, she tried her best to keep her tears from falling again, "I'm sorry... I didn't-"

"It wasn't your fault." he took Ray's silence as a signal to continue, "I guess... This is how we end?" Ray's heart stopped. End? Her and Bill, end? No, she didn't want this, she'd never want this!

Bill said his goodbyes as he quickly jumped to his feet but when he turned to leave Ray reached out and grabbed him by the sleeve. He looked back with confusion, pain and a small piece of hope as he noticed the heartbroken gaze in her eyes.

"No!" She shook her head rapidly, "No, no, no, no, no!"

"Ray," he tried his best to hush her, "Keep it down will ya?"

"I don't want it to end! I don't want this to end- us to end- please!" tears started rolling down her dirt covered cheeks as she begged for him to stay, it hurt him so goddamn much...

"You want me to stay...?" he sat back down besides her, "Even though you're scared of me?" she nodded and he felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders.

"I love you, Bill." she whispered, "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Rachel. I'll stay and I will do everything in my power to protect you, care for you, and will love you with all my heart." He watched as a small smile spread across her face, he felt the sides of his lips curve up as well, and she tackled him into a tight hug which caused Bill to fall over with her in his arms.

Bill couldn't help but smother her face with kisses as he propped the both of them up into sitting position, he tangled his fingers in her hair with his lips planted on hers. The two of them smiled into the kiss without a care.

"Ray?" Bill was now sitting with his head against her chest, "Can I talk about something real quick?"

"Go ahead," Ray was cradling him and running her fingers through his hair, "I'm listening."

"You know the day before we dropped in Normandy?"

"Yeah? What about it?"

"Well, I found a letter that was originally for Johnny, my brother who was also fightin this war- he was stationed in Monte Carlo- was killed."

"Bill," Ray didn't know what to say, sure she knew how he felt but she just couldn't find the words, "Bill, I'm sor-"

"Don't gotta apologize for nothin sweetheart. His death hurt so damn much."

"I know how that feels..."

"Marcel?"

"You remembered his name?"

"Well, yeah I did. I mean his death affected you to the point where you became a different person." Bill gazed up at her, "How could I forget?"

"Yeah..."

"Well," Bill continued, "When it felt like my whole world was crumbling, Randleman was there and he listened to every problem I had. From that day on he's one of my closest friends, but now that he's missing... I don't know what to do..." the two of them were silent for a moment which allowed Bill to actually acknowledge his pain while Ray kissed his forehead gently.

"We'll find him," her fingers still gliding through his hair, "I promise."

"I already lost my brother," his voice broke softly, "I don't wanna lose anymore people I care about, especially you..."

"And you won't ever lose me, Bill. I promise you."

"Thank you..." Ray smiled softly while Bill snuggled closer to her. It would be a while- about an hour and a half- until the runner got back and there was little to do so the two of them sat there underneath the stars.

"Why don't you get some rest?" Ray whispered after 5 minutes of silence, "I'll wake you when something comes up."

"But-"

"No point in arguing right now, Guarnere," Ray scolded, "You've been going back and forth both emotionally and physically. Rest."

"Yes ma'am." Bill shot her a goofy smile before leaning up to peck her lips softly, "You better wake me up, got it private?"

"I will sir." and with that he fell asleep quickly. Ray giggled softly and kissed his forehead all while playing with his hair still, "I promise..." Once she was sure he was fast asleep she gently pushed him off of her body, she pulled out her journal and ripped out a fresh page and started scribbling in a hurry.

Dear Bill, I'm sorry I didn't wake you. After you told me about the relationship between you and sgt. Randleman, I've decided to go alone to search for him. I know you're going to be upset, but I want you to know that it just didn't feel right just sitting around doing nothing while our friend is still out there.

-your little ray of sunshine

She quickly rolled the paper up and tucked it into his chest pocket before kissing his cheek one last time. Before hurrying off she went to Joey who was sitting against his pack and smoking.

"Heya, Pearlie." he grinned, "Everything alright?"

"Joey, I need you to do me a favor." She glanced around to make sure no one was listening.

"Sure, Pearlie. What is it?" Ray proceeded to tell him what she was about to do, she only asked that when Bill awoke to tell him to not worry too much.

"Promise me?" She looked him dead in the eyes.

"Promise," he nodded and Ray started to scurry off, "Ray just..." she stopped and glanced back at him.

"Hm?"

"Just be careful, kid..."

"I don't make promises I can't keep," he frowned, "But I'll try."

"Good luck, kid."

"See you soon." and with that she was off...