If their friends didn't guess what happened when they didn't show up for dinner, sleep that night, or breakfast the next morning, they sure as hell had an idea when Reilly and Perconte showed up at patrol, even separated on either side of the town.

After giving him a wink goodbye, Reilly headed towards the south. Finding Janovec and Malarkey, they gave her a warm smile, relieved that they could finally head to bed.

"Good morning, guys," she said cheerfully, dropping her rifle to the ground and leaning against the side of the jeep.

Malarkey yawned widely. "Good night, you mean."

Nudging him with her elbow. "Get to bed, Malark. You look like shit."

He gave her a grin. "Thanks, Fran. You sure know how to make a guy feel good."

"I bet she does," replied Luz, smirking around a cigarette. He placed his rifle down next to hers. "You're off, Janovec." The replacement was too tired to even reply.

Reilly studied Luz with narrowed eyes, taking in his joyous expression. "I thought I had patrol with Babe."

Smiling wide and dancing on the balls of his feet, he answered her, "I traded with him. Heard you were off again. Wanted to spend some time with my girl." His words were sweet but his expression was anything but.

Malarkey looked at her. "You're going again?"

Reilly glanced at him, ignoring Luz for the time being. She gave him a soft smile. "Yeah, unfortunately."

"Jesus, that's bullshit."

"Yeah," piped up Luz. "Especially considering…"

Reilly stopped him with a glare. "How did you even find out about my trip, Luz? I thought Lieb knew better than to tell you anything."

His smile only got wider. "Our good captain is also chief gossiper, although you wouldn't know it by the scowl."

She rolled her eyes, realizing she was surrounded by old bitties. Jesus, Speirs, too?

Malarkey clapped her on the shoulder. "See you at dinner? Unless you're leaving beforehand?"

She gave him a hug. "I'll see you then. I'm off after."

Janovec, still clueless and half asleep, followed Malarkey back into town, only caring about his bed.

Bracing herself, Reilly turned to face Luz. Somehow his smirk only grew and it became more crude when he wiggled his eyebrows. "Hiya, Fran."

She rolled her eyes again and sighed, moving to sit down in the jeep, which proved to be a mistake. Wincing, she adjusted herself, but not before Luz saw it. He chuckled deviously. "What's the matter, sweet cheeks? Are you sore? Can't think why that could be."

He was lucky she left her knife in her bunk. Instead, she swatted at his head but he ducked just in time. "Shut it, Luz."

If Reilly thought Wentworth joining them at lunchtime with gifts of apples and rolls was a reprieve, if only to get Luz off her back, she was wrong. The medic hunkered down next to him in the jeep, watching Reilly pace in frustration.

"Hmm, you'd think any tension would have left her body by now," she commented, earning a rude gesture from the girl.

Luz shrugged. "Maybe Frank did it wrong." He waved to Reilly. "Chickadee, let a real man show you how's it done!"

Teeth clenched, she could only take five minutes of the double-teamed torment. Dropping her rifle once again (so I don't shoot them), she started walking back to the town, muttering about a bathroom break. Wentworth and Luz only laughed, congratulating one another.

After taking as much time as she could, Reilly finally left the barracks house, grumpily making her way back to her post. As she passed by the alley in between apartments, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her into the shadows.

"Frank," she gasped a moment before his lips slid over hers and his body pinned her to the brick. It took her a moment to respond, but her body reacted before her mind. She kissed him back with equal fervor.

Finally wrenching his mouth from hers, he grinned at her dazed expression. Placing a quick kiss on the side of her neck, he whispered, "Just something for you to remember me while you're gone."

She could only blink, which caused him to laugh softly before pulling on her hand to walk back towards the square. He dropped hers when they hit sunlight. He gave her a wink before turning in the opposite direction. "See you in a few hours?"

Reilly could only nod and blush, her feet somehow making their way back to patrol.

After recovering, she found Luz and Wentworth as she left them, but their wicked smiles only grew at the sight of her red lips and slightly disheveled hair.

Wentworth blinked innocently. "Find someone on your way to the latrine, girl?" Luz cackled.

Glaring, Reilly only grabbed her rifle again, keen to get as far as she could from the pair, muttering death threats under her breath. They beamed when they heard some of them.

"Don't you have an aid station to man, Gi?"

"Eugene was kind enough to force a lunch break on me. He's such a sweetheart."

Reilly snorted, convinced that the Doc was somehow in on the torture as well, even though she knew in the back of her mind that he was a gentleman and could never be this obnoxious.

Wentworth eventually left them, promising to see them again at dinner. This left Reilly as Luz's only source of entertainment. By the time the afternoon was over and Grant walked up at 1600 to relieve her, she almost cried in happiness.

Although she wasn't very close to Grant, he had always been kind to her. She decided to reward this kindness with a huge hug, freezing him awkwardly to the spot when she saw him.

"Uh, hi, Fran. Everything OK?" he asked tentatively.

Reilly sighed happily, somehow her tiny frame inhibiting his lanky body from moving. "Thank you, Chuck. Thank you."

He looked at Luz, wide eyed, and tried to shrug. "No problem? It is my turn after all."

She finally released him and gave him a wide grin. "Doesn't matter. I've never been so happy to see your handsome face." Grant had the decency to blush.

She gathered her rifle and began to walk away from them.

"Hey!" called Luz. "Chickadee! Babe isn't here to relieve me yet!"

"Yup!" she called back over her shoulder.

"You aren't going to wait for me?"

"Nope!"

"Not very nice, kid!"

She only gave him another rude gesture, her middle finger beginning to ache from the strain all afternoon.

Reilly was just finishing up packing a small bag with extra clothes and other essentials (her knife and sidearm of course) before meeting everyone for dinner. Fingering the green fabric of the dress, she packed it, trying to forget the memories of when she wore it last.

Digging around her pack to make sure she didn't forget anything, her fingertips brushed the cold metal of the watch. With a smile to herself, she placed it under Perconte's pillow, envisioning a nice surprise for him after she was long gone. With a pang, she hoped it was only for a short period of time.

Picking up her bag, she then made her way to battalion XO to let the officers know she was leaving after dinner. She found only Winters inside, surrounded by paperwork as usual.

With a smile, she watched him scribble another note. "Sorry to bother you, sir." Her smile deepened when he jumped slightly, not hearing her come in. "But I wanted to let you know that I am still scheduled to leave at 2000. I figured it would be easier to leave straight from the mess."

Winters stood and gave her a lopsided grin. He held out her hand and she shook it. "Probably wise. We'll miss you, Reilly. Hurry back, OK?"

She smiled back. "I'll try my best, sir."

He studied her a moment before coughing. "And you'll be alright?"

She narrowed her eyes. Little old bitties. "As I reassured Captain Speirs, sir, I am hopeful this will be my last trip. I am eager to return to Easy and finish out this war." She paused before adding, "In one piece."

His smile widened at her disgruntled sarcasm. "At ease, private. Speirs was only looking out for his soldier."

She nodded to him. "If you say so, sir. I'll see you soon."

"Very soon, I hope."

Grabbing her pack once again, she headed towards the mess. Stepping into the large room where several long tables were set up, she skidded to a stop when the entire room burst out her name when they saw her, cheering.

Blinking in surprise, she hardly noticed when Luz and Liebgott grabbed her hands and dragged her to their table before someone else could claim her. She sat down without a fight next to Perconte, who was grinning. "What's going on?"

He shrugged innocently. "I think it's a farewell party."

Luz lit two cigarettes before handing one to Liebgott. He pointed at her, mock stern. "That's right, kid. A farewell party, not any goodbye bullshit."

Wentworth nodded with Roe by her side. "I expect you back here before I can miss you."

"Not possible," murmured Perconte, squeezing her knee with a hand.

With a wink, Randleman came by with a round of beers, placing hers first in front of her. He raised his own glass up, Martin next to him doing the same. "To Fran and her safe return to us." He gave her a nod. "Hurry back, darling. I need you back here to help me keep Johnny in line."

Martin rolled his eyes but grinned. He raised his glass. "To Reilly." Never a man of much sentiment, he only gave her a softer smile. Tears pricked her eyes as she smiled back to her platoon leader.

Everyone else followed suit, raising their own glasses, the officers standing in the back. "To Reilly."

She was overwhelmed. With an elbow from Liebgott, she cleared her throat, standing shakily to her feet. She took her own glass in her hand. Raising it, she tried to muster the strongest voice she could. "To the best damn company in the entire Airborne." She paused, her voice softer. "And the best friends a girl could ask for."

They drank to that, laughing and shouting, and she sat down quickly, embarrassed. Dinner began then, the soldiers diverted to their own discussions and the hot food. She felt Perconte take her hand in his under the table.

"They insisted," he said. "Once word got out that you were leaving tonight, it was like a snowball rolling into an avalanche." He grinned. "They couldn't be stopped."

Reilly blinked away tears and smiled back to him. "I'm just a little overwhelmed is all."

Liebgott snorted and wrapped an arm around her shoulders from her other side. "Quit flubberin' already, doll. You'll be back here so fast you will be wishin' you could go again to escape us."

She grinned and nudged him in the side with an elbow. "You may have a special knack of knowing how to piss me off, asshat, but I'll always miss your ugly mug."

He cackled, poking her in the side, just to prove his point. She instantly began berating him through dinner to quit it.

After getting over the initial shock of the celebration, Reilly returned to her old self, cracking jokes with her friends and stealing glances with Perconte. After he squeezed her knee one too many times for her to ignore any longer, she took action.

Slowly stroking her hand upwards, she began at the knee closest to her and made her way up his inner thigh. She had the pleasure of seeing his eyes bug from his head and his breathing become labored.

Throwing him a wink, she ceased before things got out of hand or someone caught on. Just something for you to remember me while I'm gone, Perco. She knew at that moment he could read what she was thinking, and his eyes narrowed.

Roe caught her eye, oblivious. "What time are you leaving, Fran?"

Reilly grimaced. "I have to go at 20..."

"1900," finished Perconte.

She gave him a strange look before catching on. Nodding, she agreed. "Yeah, 1900." She looked at her watch. It was 1830 now. "I should probably start making my way out."

With a grin, Roe began the long chain of hugs. After over a year of Reilly disappearing - especially when she returned to them with added skills or wounds - the soldiers began to catch on. They weren't stupid. Wherever she was heading, it was for something important to help bring this war to an end.

After Luz kissed her cheek for the third time, Reilly finally began to pull away, but it was hard. Before Foy, she never doubted that she would see them again. This time was a little different. Guess a near death experience does that to you.

With a final hug to Wentworth, Reilly walked out, worried she was going to cry. Perconte followed close behind. Finding a dark corner outside, she caught her breath. He only watched, his expression pained.

She saw it. Making sure to give him a smile, she said, "I'm serious. That was very overwhelming. That's all." She swallowed hard when she remembered the toasts from earlier. "I can't believe you all did that," she added quietly.

Shaking his head, he pulled her close. "When are you going to realize that as much as you love all of us, we love you too. You said it before, Fran. We're family."

She closed her eyes at his words, allowing a tear to escape, but when she opened them again, she grinned. She waited as he brushed it from her face with his thumb. "I seem to recall you telling me you love me a little different than everyone else."

Grinning back, he tightened his hold around her. "I also recall showing you."

She shrugged innocently. "Did you? I think you'll have to show me again."

Just before 2000, Reilly and Perconte walked from the woods and towards the southwest corner of town. As they got closer to her rendezvous point, their giggles began to subside and a quiet tension began to build. Finally, they were there. In the near distance down the lane, a jeep sat waiting already, its headlights off.

Taking a deep breath, she reached up and kissed him softly before resting her forehead against his. "Be good for me, Perco."

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to memorize the feeling of her in his arms. "Only if you promise to come back to me."

Reilly was silent, and he pulled her back to look her in the eyes. Shaking her softly by the shoulders, he repeated himself. "Promise me that you'll come back, Fran."

She swallowed hard. After a long moment, she nodded. "I promise," she whispered, knowing she couldn't. Neither had any idea what she was heading into.

He also knew this, but hearing it seemed to appease him all the same. Giving her another kiss on the forehead, he added, "I love you."

Breathing hard to keep tears at bay, she gave him a smile. "And I love you." With an attempt at a wink, although tears were impending the ability, she added, "I left you a little something under your pillow. Think of it as my addition to your collection."

And with another kiss, she ran to the jeep. If she didn't, she might not have had the strength to leave him.

The driver fired up the jeep as soon as she sat down, barely giving her a chance to get secured. Choosing not to look over her shoulder to Perconte, they rolled quickly away, the steep hills hiding the town in a matter of seconds.

Brushing tears from her eyes in annoyance, she turned to the driver, a young, blonde man in civilian clothing. "I'm Fran."

He was silent, ignoring her outstretched hand. Affronted, she turned from him again, deciding to look into the woods instead. Her thoughts instantly strayed towards Perconte, but she tried to steer it away. Focusing on the old intelligence plans of Normandy, that were still imprinted in her brain after Nixon's training last summer, the images of maps and coordinates kept her busy until they stopped, about an hour west of Thalem.

Reilly looked at the man again, and he only nodded. Ahead of them was another C-47, and its engines were already ignited. She jumped from the jeep, and to her surprise, he followed her into the craft.

"You're coming too?" she asked.

Strapping himself into a seat, he nodded again.

Annoyed, she mimicked him. "Do you speak?" Or are you here simply to test my patience?

Sighing the man gave her a look. Shouting over the engine of the plane, he said, "I speak." His accent was very thick.

Her eyebrows shot up. "You're German."

Nodding again, he gave her a smirk. "Not all of us are Nazis, private. If you can believe it, some of us are against this war. Some of us are human beings."

"But not most of you from what I've seen."

He sighed. "No, not most of us. Most of us are too scared to do anything. And, yes, a fair share support Hitler and the Nazis." He paused, giving her a sneer. "But a small amount of us won't stand for what he's done. We acted with the Allies. We risked our lives with the Allies."

Reilly took this in as the plane began to take off. Not knowing what to say, she only nodded to him, trying to relay her understanding.

It was awhile before he spoke again, but thick sarcasm infiltrated his voice. "I thought fraternization wasn't allowed in the United States military."

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "And?"

He gave her a look. "You were kissing that soldier."

The eyebrow raised further. "And? Should I expect you to write to my commanding officer and tattle on me?"

For the first time, the man smiled. He even laughed. "No, private, your secret is safe with me."

"How is that possible when I don't even know your name?"

He shrugged. "I guess you'll have to trust a German after all."

Reilly scowled.

Their trip only took about an hour or so, but they landed softly into Holland at a military base. She had to keep up with her travel companion at a jog. She didn't bother to ask him where they were going; she knew he probably wouldn't tell her.

He brought her to a tent, surrounded by dozens of others. It reminded her of Easy's time off from the line, whenever they were sent back to France to rest. He opened the flap and motioned for her to go inside. Hesitating for a moment, she walked in.

Sitting at a desk, a commander of the British Royal Air Force looked up. Seeing her, he smiled wide. "Ah, you must be Reilly." He turned to the young man on her side. "Excellent work, Adrian. You can go. I know the plane must be waiting for you to head out again."

Adrian nodded to him. Before he turned to go, he gave Reilly a small smile. "Good luck, Private Reilly. And thank you."

Her eyes widening, she replied sincerely, "And to you, Adrian. Thank you for your sacrifice."

After he left, she turned back to the commander, who had yet to introduce himself. He smiled again at her, his easy humor reminding her instantly of Nixon. "So, Private Reilly, I hope you're ready for some hard work."