Epilogue…

Jout sat at the common table next to Newkirk and played poker with him, Carter, Baker, Olson, and Hogan. Christmas was in one week, which meant it had been two months since Brawley, Fanbrick, Leach, and Kinch left the camp and escaped to London; two months of utter happiness. Yesterday, London informed them that a military court had sentenced Brawley and his gang to 30 years in a military prison back in the States and that General Fanbrick had received a dishonourable discharged, making it finally possible for Jout to put what happened behind him.

Baker had proved himself to be an excellent radio man and valuable part of the team. He was cleared quickly after he had arrived in camp and Hogan confide him in their operation, explaining to him that they were short on a radio man. Baker immediately volunteered for this position and now he was a trusted and loved team member, who did not feel bothered by Jout and Newkirk being a couple. Shortly after he had joined the team, Jout approached Baker during one of his night shifts by the radio and talked with him about his relationship with the Brit. He also told him about Kinch's reaction and that being the reason for his talk with him. But Baker immediately assured him that he did not feel bothered by him or Newkirk, taking a load off Jout's mind.

Jout asked for new cards and waited for Newkirk to deal the next round. Unobtrusively, he touched Newkirk's left leg with his right one underneath the table, moving it up and down to stroke it. Newkirk glanced at him and gave him a seductive smile that he hid behind his cards. They had been a couple for a little more than two months now, and Jout was still on cloud nine. Even though it turned out that hiding their relationship from the other prisoners in their barracks was much harder than anticipated, it was the best decision in his entire life. And when he spent a few quiet hours with Newkirk in the tunnel, or only snatched a kiss, he knew that it was worth all the trouble. In those two months they were together, Newkirk succeeded in tearing down the wall Jout had built around his heart after Henri died, making him allow his romantic feelings for Newkirk without fearing another heartbreak. He was the love of his life and though he often felt insecure, Jout knew one thing for sure; no matter what life had in store for him, he would master his fate with Newkirk by his side.

Jout folded and his gaze fell on his brother, who sat across from him. Who would have thought that he needed to end up in a POW camp in the middle of Germany to forgive his brother and make up with him? During the last two months, he had talked a lot with Hogan about his life before the war, and now their relationship was as strong as never before. Jout trusted his brother again like he had trusted him before Hogan left him with their father, and he knew that no matter what, his brother would always support and protect him.

Newkirk dealt a new round of cards when Olsen asked out of the blue, "Say, Newkirk, are you and Jout a couple?"

All eyes landed first on Olsen, and then on Newkirk, who stopped dead in his tracks with dealing the cards. Jout continued to stare at Olsen while he had the feeling his heart stopped beating. He was completely shocked and instantly fear started rising in him.

He was only glad that at least Newkirk did not panic upon Olsen's question. The Brit began to laugh and questioned, "What gave ya 'at barmy idea?"

Olsen shrugged his shoulders. "You two just spend a lot of time together, and it seems like you like each other really much. Besides, you two look cute together" His last remark made most of the occupants smiling since they all had the same suspicion. In fact, everyone except Jout, Newkirk, and their close friends knew the reason behind Olsen's question.

Jout was still paralyzed from shock and not able to say anything. Newkirk sensed his boyfriend's fear without looking at him and so he was the one who tried to make Olsen believe that he and Jout were just friends. "Of course I like Jout, but only as a friend. Lots of attractive birds wait for me in London and I wouldn't want to miss out on them"

"Is that so?" Olsen had a hard time hiding a smirk. He knew that Newkirk was lying, but he thought it was fun to make him sweat. He glanced at Saunders, who stood behind Newkirk, and was greeted with the same badly suppressed grin. Newkirk nodded, and Olsen said, "That's interesting, because I caught you two kissing in the barracks last week. Didn't look to me as if you longed for those women in London"

Newkirk's face turned white as a sheet. "I…I don't know what ya're talkin' about," he stammered, not knowing what to say but getting angry at himself for his recklessness. He knew what kiss Olsen was talking about; Newkirk had broken their own rules when he had kissed Jout in the barracks, risking exactly this kind of dangerous situation.

Olsen looked at Newkirk and Jout and began to smile. "You don't have to deny it, Newkirk. We're happy for you two"

"We?" asked Jout when the shock started to fade.

"We occupants of barracks 2. Or should I rather say, those who you haven't told anything. I'm sure the Colonel and the rest knew about you two"

Newkirk narrowed his eyes. "Ya all knew about us?"

"Well, we didn't know for sure until I caught you two kissing. But we all had our suspicions," Olsen explained. "Say, since when are you two a thing?"

"For about two months now," Jout said, relieved that everyone in their barracks accepted them.

Olsen counted backwards in his head. "So since late October? Which date exactly?"

Jout furrowed his brow. "I think it was October 22. Why do you want to know?"

A sudden "Yay!" from Garlotti and groans from the other occupants confused Jout and Newkirk even more. They watched Garlotti jumping down from his bunk and taking off his hat, walking around the barracks and collecting money from the other prisoners, who only gave it to him reluctantly.

He began to count the money in his hat when Newkirk asked, "What the bleedin' 'ell is goin' on 'ere?"

Garlotti looked up from his hat, beaming with joy. "I pitted on October 21, and with that I was closest and won 45 bucks"

"You bet on the day we came together?" asked Jout in disbelief.

Olsen nodded. "Yup. When we first suspected you two being a couple, Saunders, Garlotti, and I discussed the beginning of your relationship. And that discussion developed into a betting pot"

"Hey! Why haven't you guys asked us too?" interjected Carter.

"Because we figured you already knew," Saunders explained. "That would have been a bit unfair"

Newkirk draped his arm around Jout's shoulders and glanced at Garlotti. "Well, don't ya think ya should give us somethin' from yer winnings? After all, we are the reason for the bet"

"But don't you have already the jackpot?" responded Garlotti with a smirk on his face.

Newkirk turned his head and gazed lovingly at Jout. "Yes, I 'ave," he said and closed the distance between them. He sought Jout's mouth for a kiss and placed his left hand behind his boyfriend's head, burying his fingers in his umber brown hair.

Amid the applause of the prisoners, Jout and Newkirk demonstrated their love for each other in a passionate kiss, showing that even against all reason, love would always win.

A/N: So here we are. 1 year, 35 chapters, and about 87.000 words later. I just wanted to thank all of you who have read or reviewed this story for encouraging me to write this story and making me try to update as regular as possible :) I hope you guys have enjoyed this story and hopefully you will like my continuation stories in the Jout/Newkirk universe too.