Thank you so much to Nirvana, Higgles, Eva and Elixir for the reviews! They truly make my day!

Wrapped up in each other, side by side, Liebgott and Evelyn made their way slowly back to camp. It took quite awhile, especially since they stopped every so often to kiss. Evelyn was on cloud nine. She hadn't felt this light and free since Meehan had promoted her to combat medic. Liebgott grinned at her, as if he could read her mind. The sun was just beginning to go down when they finally got to the tents, just in time for dinner.

Figuring they'd have to hustle to get to the mess and snag some food before it was gone - even after supply runs became more frequent, the men were vultures - they were wrong. Those who weren't on patrol were waiting for them, each with matching chesire grins.

Seeing them, Evelyn popped a hip out and placed a hand there before giving them a look. Heffron piped up first. "So… last night then?"

She sucked on her teeth in annoyance. Liebgott only laughed. "You guys are damn pathetic. Christ, you have nothing else to do but wait for us to come back? I hope you were waiting all damn day."

The men were quiet, some of them toeing the ground, ashamed, but the majority didn't seem fazed. A beat passed before Heffron added, "Yeah, but was it last night, Evie?"

Luz pushed forward through the crowd. "Pipe down. Pipe down. Leave them alone, Christ." He paused. "I'll find out and will confirm or deny."

If Evelyn had something in her hands, she would have thrown it at his head. As if he knew this, he ducked back into the crowd.

She stepped forward, breaking away from Liebgott. She pointed at them. "Listen to me now, all of you. I've lost track of the amount of bets and pools that included me in them, first and foremost whether I would become a goddamn paratrooper. I've proved you all wrong then, and I hope each and every one of you will lose again for poking into my private life." She was pleased to see most of them look ashamed now. She grinned. "That being said, I won't kill you. This time. But I don't want any new betting pools including me at all, OK?"

The men deliberated for a moment before Luz coughed. "You don't want any new pools or bets including you, correct Ev?"

She nodded. "That's right."

Luz shrugged. "You heard her, gentlemen. I think we can manage that." They all murmured in agreement.

Evelyn sighed and smiled. "Thank you."

As she left them to go towards the mess, the men's eyes shifted between themselves. Liebgott shook his head until he started walking after her. "You better hope she doesn't find out about the other pool, Georgie."

Luz ran up to his side. "What? She said any new ones!"

That night, Evelyn, in her PT shorts and tank, walked from her tent and into one a few down the line. The men looked up in surprise from their beds. Liebgott grinned. "What are you doin' here, Cassidy?"

She walked to his bunk. "Same as you." Over her shoulder to the others, she added, "To sleep." She turned back to him. "Scoot."

His smile grew and he started to move over to give her some room when Garcia interrupted. "What are those on the back of your legs, Evie?"

Evelyn froze. In her state of hazed happiness, she had completely forgotten about her scars and hiding them from view. Christensen piped up. "She's got one on her arm too, see it?"

Before Liebgott could step in and tell them to shut up, Randleman did instead. "Are those your wounds from Bastogne, darling?" Evelyn nodded after a beat. He gave her a small smile, around his unlit cigar, even at this time of night. "Christ, girl, I always knew you were one tough son of a bitch, but those scars only add to what I already knew."

Luz gave her a wink before adding, "You don't know the half of it, Bull. She's got battle wounds all over."

"How do you know, Luz?"

He scoffed at Christenson's question. "I'm her best friend!"

Evelyn caught Liebgott's eye while the others continued to argue. He gave her a look, silently telling her that of course that was their reaction and she was being stupid before, hiding away. She rolled her eyes but smiled softly. Climbing into bed beside him, she laid her cheek against his chest and sighed when he held her close. She fell asleep while Luz and Christensen were still at it.

The next night, Evelyn took a deep breath before stripping down for bed. Liebgott was right, she can't hide forever. In her underwear, she moved to climb into her bed but stopped when Heffron gasped.

"Jesus Christ, Evie!" he cried. "What did those krauts do to you?"

Popeye whistled. "Damn, girl, wish I had somethin' like that to show off. I only have the wound on my ass."

Evelyn threw him a wink, relieved. "Got one there too, Pop. We should compare someday."

"Anytime you want, Evie, but I think I'm gonna lose."

She climbed in with a sigh before opening her eyes to see Liebgott standing in front of her. She smirked. "What are you doing here, Liebgott?"

He threw her a wink. "Same as you, Cassidy. Move your ass."

The other men didn't know how to react at first, but they quickly relaxed when it was clear the pair was only going to sleep. Still, Heffron muttered, "Better not hear any smacking lips tonight."

Evelyn beat Liebgott to the punch. "As if you wouldn't enjoy it, Babe. Christ, you get so worked up over a simple pin up, and I can only imagine -"

Heffron threw his pillow at her head. She grinned and continued. "Remember that time Speirs caught you in the act?" She dropped her voice to mimic the CO's deadly murmur. "What are you still doing in bed, private? Drop your cock and grab your socks -"

Evelyn squealed as more things followed the pillow, but she gave in and left Heffron alone. Not to mention that Liebgott was getting the brunt of the assault and he grumbled next to her.

"You heard the man," he grunted, closing his eyes but wrapping his arms around her. "Quit smackin' your lips, Cassidy."

She pinched him on the side and had the pleasure of seeing him jump before snuggling in close again. "I'll smack something else if you're not careful."

Liebgott smirked. "Now that sounds like a helluva show, Babe. You listenin'?"

Heffron grumbled after retrieving his pillow. "One time. Just one time."

August 30, 1945

Biding their time turned out to be harder than anyone could have imagined. After dreaming up all the things they would do once they were finally home, the soldiers could only wait until it was time to go. One would think this would be a simple task, but with the sheer amount of troops all over Europe, it was easier said than done. Easy was sitting tight.

Besides waiting to see when they would finally ship out for good, Evelyn only had one other task - avoiding Luz at all costs.

Ever since the shared profession of love to one another, her relationship with Liebgott had one dire consequence - Luz won the bet that she and he made way back in Toccoa. And he was holding her to it.

"Are you hidin' behind me, doll?" asked Liebgott, trying to glance at her over his shoulder.

She hissed at him to shut up. "Believe me, if Bull was nearby, I'd get behind him. Christ, eat something once and awhile and maybe you'd make a better door than a window too."

He rolled his eyes before ducking and swinging his arm around her as they walked to the mess. He held her tight so that she couldn't sneak behind him again. "Cut it out. I ain't gonna spend my precious time with you if you won't even let me look at ya."

Evelyn huffed. "If you just took me back to that island, like I asked, then..."

Liebgott grinned. "I told ya. I gotta give Emilia a little notice, but that doesn't mean we can't reenact everything right here."

She swatted at his head and blushed. But before she could give him hell, Luz spotted them and came running up excitedly.

"Ev!"

She tried not to cringe. She gave him a tentative smile. "George! Where have you been?"

Luz grinned back, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "I've been lookin' for you everywhere!" He placed both hands on her shoulders, and she could feel the energy roll off him. "I got them."

Evelyn didn't have to ask what he got, and this time, she couldn't hold back the cringe. Luckily he didn't seem to notice.

He waved two pieces of paper in his hands. "I didn't think I'd be able to get them so fast, since you and Joe pranced off only a few weeks ago for an overnight." He rolled his eyes as if it was the most annoying thing he had ever heard.

Liebgott snorted. "Fuck off, Georgie. I don't prance."

Luz waved him away and scoffed. "Anyway, I did it, sweetheart. And not only are they overnight passes, but..." Evelyn waited in pained anticipation. "48 hour passes!" He opened his arms wide, waiting for the hug. "Isn't that great?"

Evelyn only waited a beat before allowing herself to be swallowed up by his arms. Damn octopus. Eventually she had to laugh. His enthusiasm was infectious. "So great."

He pulled back to grin again. "Not only a night on the town, Ev, but TWO! I had to beg, barter and steal a bit, but it will be worth it. We're gonna have a great time!" He began walking towards the tents in the opposite direction. "Time to pack, sweetheart! We leave at first light on Saturday! Don't forget that French ID I got ya. May need it." And then he ran off without another word needed from her.

Liebgott turned to Evelyn who was cringing and laughed. "You're gonna have a ball."

Evelyn nodded slowly, but she couldn't help the whine. "He's going to get me arrested, I just know it."

He grabbed her hand to continue towards the mess. "Try and be good. I ain't breakin' ya out."

She swatted at him again. "What good are you then if you won't even pay my bail?"

He surprised her by twisting her to turn in front of him before dipping her low. With a sweet kiss, he winked. "Don't test me, Cass, or the guys at dinner might get a show when I remind you exactly what I'm good at."

September 4, 1945

Liebgott was standing around the square, smoking and shooting the shit with the guys before breakfast when Perconte nudged him in the side. "Lieb, looks like they're back."

He turned with a smile. It had only been two days without Evelyn, but Christ, he missed her. But what he saw along with everyone else made him forget all that. They began howling with laughter.

Luz, as usual, was brimming with energy and cheer, even in the early morning hours. He mock tipped his hat towards them. "Gents. Great to see ya. What'd we miss?"

But everyone only had eyes for Evelyn as she slowly dragged behind him. They cackled at the sight of her tired face and crumpled uniform. A waft of stale alcohol still lingered as she passed, her focus only on her bunk and nothing else.

Liebgott smirked. "See, doll? No jail or nothin'."

Silently, she placed a paper in his hand and kept walking slowly, each movement painful. He looked down at it and gaped as he read the German words on it. "Are you fuckin' serious?" he called after her. Evelyn only waved over her shoulder, still moving.

He turned to Luz, gesturing to the paper in hand. "George, this can't be real."

Luz only shrugged and grinned. "It was only for an hour or so."

Perconte piped up for the rest of them in the dark. "What does it say, Joe?"

Liebgott shook his head, still in awe. "A receipt of imprisonment." The men gasped and then began roaring with laughter again.

Luz shrugged innocently again. "I guess krauts don't like any yanks in their fountains. Or maybe it was when we broke into the bell tower. Ever ring one of those? It's a riot, swinging from the rope, especially at two in the morning." He paused. "But I'm pretty sure it was the fountain that they didn't like so much. Hard to tell with all the yelling."

The men continued to howl as they made their way to breakfast with Luz. Liebgott still shook his head. "You know you made all her fears come true, right?"

Luz met his eyes and a huge, evil smile crossed his face. "Serves her right for puttin' me off all these years." He slapped a hand on his shoulder. "I had months of ideas lined up, and I only got through half of them. Next time, it's gonna be epic."

Perconte snorted. "You mean if there is a next time. I doubt we'll see Evie for a few days by the looks of it."

Luz grinned again before lighting a cigarette. "Oh, there will be a next time. To think of all the trouble we can do back at home. No way they'll lock up a few hero soldiers. We'll be able to get away with so much!"

Liebgott and Perconte exchanged a look before grinning. Silently, they agreed to make themselves scarce the day that was sure to happen.

September 15, 1945

"You'll love my sister, Natalie," Liebgott murmured into her hair. They were back in their favorite field, lying on the soft grass together, watching the sun go down. It took her a few days to emerge again from her tent, but when she did, they visited this spot at least daily. "You remind me so much of her. It's actually a little scary."

Evelyn hummed under her breath and adjusted her position to lace their legs together. He paused briefly at her silence before continuing. "And Hannah, God, she must be fully grown by now. She was catchin' up with everyone else when I left. I bet she's close to your height, doll."

She only hummed again, deep in thought.

"Cass? What's goin' on?"

Evelyn blinked before meeting his eyes for a moment. In the next she looked away again, nervously playing with the buttons of his OD shirt. "Oh, nothing."

Liebgott raised an eyebrow and tried hard not to roll his eyes at the blatant lie. "I know you're only used to brothers, but my sisters are great. Just give them a chance."

She looked at him again and shook her head, trying to smile. "No, it's not that. I'm sure they're lovely." She paused. "It's just -"

He gave her a long look. "Just -" he drew out.

Evelyn knew she was being stupid. How many times did Liebgott have to tell her how much he loved her until she got the idea? But she was hesitant all the same, and she knew she wouldn't stop until all her fears were put to bed.

"Just...you're so sure of everything. I wish I was the same. I don't know, I guess I just -"

"You're not sure of us?"

She shook her head violently, cursing herself, knowing she wasn't getting her thoughts clearly communicated. "No, I am. I love you, please don't think I don't." She sighed heavily. "Christ, I'm terrible at this."

Liebgott brushed his lips across her forehead. "What are you afraid of? This is so unlike you. I want to show off the overly confident, sometimes cocky woman I fell for when we get home. Be the envy of every man in all of Frisco."

She swatted him. "Sometimes cocky, huh? You're one to talk."

He ignored her jibe back. "What's going on?"

Her eyes shifted and he cupped her cheek until she looked at him again. "When we get home," she started before taking a deep breath, but he cut her off before she could continue.

"You mean when we're on the other side of the world, gettin' ready to begin a life together?"

She blinked. Christ, yeah, but Christ. He was so confident. She wished she could borrow it, just for a moment.

Evelyn chewed on her bottom lip hard, deep in thought. He watched her internal debate silently, waiting for her to finally blurt out whatever was plaguing her. With a deep breath, she did. "Are you sure?" She began to nervously ramble again. "I know sometimes men say they feel something, but that it changes, and I know what I want, but when we get home, someone else might catch your eye and I don't want to tie you.…"

Liebgott leaned forward until his lips touched hers. He made sure to try and say a lot in the kiss. When he pulled back, his fingers threaded through her hair. "Christ, he sure did play with your head, didn't he?" Evelyn bit her lip again. He took a deep breath. "I will never lie to you, Cass. I promise ya. Even if it means you get mad at me, I won't hold the truth from you. Ever."

She blinked. "So when we get home…?"

He grinned, kissing her forehead. "I'll need to work on my ma for a bit, and I'll need to find us an apartment, but then I'll work on your ma. Gotta get her permission first, of course, before I can make an honest woman of ya."

Evelyn smiled wide, blinking back tears. "You always manage to surprise me, Liebgott." She leaned up and gave him a kiss, her relief flooding through her. "And you'll have no trouble with my mom, but my brothers might give you a hard time. They fancy themselves my father." She felt with a pang that there was only two of them to defend her honor now.

He sighed in contentment, holding her closer to his chest. "I can handle brothers. I mean, I've had to deal with an entire company of them ever since they found out my intentions, yeah? Your brothers at home will be a cake walk." He tightened his grip around her. "No more fear, OK, doll? We're in this together."

She hummed again in agreement, but it was warmer, filled with relief and happiness. Closing her eyes and being held in his arms, Evelyn allowed herself to think of the future for the first time in years, picturing it with him at her side and she at his.

Finally, Easy and the rest of the 506th were told that they would be headed towards home within the week. First, they'd be going back to Aldbourne before they waited for their ship to arrive and then, finally, they could cross the Atlantic. The excitement grew once again, but not only because of the good news.

Luz and Evelyn were walking along the path by the water, chatting and laughing together, when Heffron ran up excitedly to tell them the update. After they shared hugs and handshakes, the thrill didn't leave his cherub face. It only seemed to grow when he turned to look at her.

Evelyn was taken aback. "Christ, Babe. What's with the look?"

Heffron turned to Luz and his grin only grew. "George, it's time."

Luz spluttered. "Not right this second!"

"You said when we were headed out!"

She interrupted them. "What the hell are you two talking about?"

They both turned to her and their expressions were completely opposite from one another. Evil vs. Innocent. Excited vs. Fearful. Impatient vs. Sloth.

"Christ, spit it out!"

Luz winced. "Remember when you said you didn't want us to include you in any more new bets, sweetheart?"

She narrowed her eyes. "You mean when I made you all promise you wouldn't?"

Heffron nodded, his smile still wide. "Yeah, but this wasn't a new one, Evie. In fact, it began way before I even met any of ya."

Evelyn was beyond confused. She turned to her best friend. "George, I'm giving you a chance to explain. One chance without any yelling."

Luz looked abashed, but he nodded after giving a pained sigh. "No yelling. I'm holdin' ya to it." He paused. "So after the very first pool at Toccoa -" He blinked at her in adoration with big eyes. "- when you proved all of us how very wrong and terrible we were when we betted that you'd wash out instead of becoming the biggest, baddest paratrooper of them -"

"Luz," Evelyn said. "Spit it out."

He closed his eyes tightly before answering quickly. "The entire company has been betting since almost day one on what your first name is and the pool is so large, I can't keep these savages off my back no more, so I promised them I'd find out right before we head home, but obviously they're holdin' me to it, and make it stop, sweetheart. Make the madness stop!"

Slowly, he opened his eyes again when she didn't respond or smack him. He and Heffron found her to be looking at him as if frozen, only moving to blink. "Ev?"

"You all knew?" she breathed. "I thought no one noticed." No one except Anna. She tried not to wince with that thought.

Luz grinned when he realized it was safe to do so. "I know we ain't the smartest men on God's green earth, sweetheart, but after months of you yelling 'Cassidy, D. Evelyn!' to Sobel every morning, one of us was bound to catch on."

Evelyn continued to blink in shock before finally recovering. "And when you say the entire company…."

Heffron cackled. "And then some, Evie." He whined a little when she wasn't moving fast enough. "Now can we know?"

Luz gave her a look. "We knew you'd never tell us if you found out about the pool, sweetheart, but if it makes you feel any better, we've had a helluva good time guessin'."

She finally recovered. "I'm assuming you have a list someplace?"

Heffron took that as a confirmation that the winner was finally going to be chosen and he grabbed her hand. Pulling her along, he urged them back to the town. "Come on, Evie! I could really use the cash!"

Rolling her eyes, she allowed him to tug her faster and she grinned. "Who gets the money when no one wins? It better be me."

Luz chuckled as they entered the outskirts of the village. "Good question. Maybe another night out is in order, on you this time." That earned him a smack.

They were surprised to find the majority of the company, including several officers, in the center of town, milling around and chatting excitedly. Stepping up to her side, Liebgott threaded his fingers through hers. Before she could do more than give him a smile, Heffron broke the trance.

"She's gonna tell us!"

Rolling her eyes when the chatter got louder, she held out her free hand. "Give me the list, Luz."

Luz grimaced, after digging around in his pack, and he handed it over to her. It was several pages long. "As long as you promise not to tear it up."

She gave him a smile before breaking her other hand away from Liebgott to take it from him. "I'll even promise to tell you if there's a winner, but there won't be."

Evelyn's eyes looked first to a huge list of names of the men that placed a bet, the crowd around her quieting. One of the first made her look up at the guilty party. "Major Winters? You placed a bet?"

Winters shuffled his feet guiltily. "You know, it was in good fun. And it took awhile for Nix to twist my arm."

"Your name is near the top, sir. Even before Captain Nixon."

"Sergeant, you're stalling."

She grinned and looked back at the list. "Yes, sir." Names began to pop out more than others, in each owner's handwriting. Her fingers gently brushed a few. Guarnere. Toye. Hoobler. Muck. Penkala. Adrianna. Her eyes unexpectedly filled with tears. "George, do you mind if I keep this?" she asked softly.

Luz looked at Liebgott in alarm before turning back to her. "Anything you want, sweetheart."

Evelyn nodded before taking a deep breath, blinking to rid herself of the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her. Liebgott placed a hand on her shoulder right before Luz did the same on the other side. Borrowing their strength, she tried to turn the tide back towards the gambling and away from her friends that weren't there. "Right. It really does seem like the entire company placed a bet, and then some."

"You're a very popular target, Ev."

Smiling, she turned to the list of guesses from the soldiers. Liebgott's stood out and she gave him a good natured glare. "Daisy? I thought we've made it clear that I'm definitely not a Daisy."

He shrugged and smirked. "Be careful, doll. It might be my new favorite nickname." She swatted at his head but missed.

"Hurry up, Evie! I could use the cash!"

"Calm down, Perco. And… Destiny is definitely not it. Christ, wasn't that the name of one of the strippers?"

Peconte shrugged as Martin ruffled his hair hard. "I thought it was a great guess. Who knows if Evie had another life before the war?"

Evelyn snorted before scanning the names a second time. "Like I said, there is no way anyone of you would ever guess…" She stopped short and her jaw dropped.

Luz squeezed her shoulder excitedly. "Someone guessed it! Who was it?"

It took a moment for her to look up, but when she did, she found his eyes instantly, even though he was standing near the back of the pack. "Eugene," she blurted out. "How did you…?"

The other men groaned but jostled Roe playfully, congratulating him. He blushed and shrugged. "Just lucky, I guess."

Evelyn shook her head in bewilderment and chuckled. "I guess so."

"So what's your real name, doll?"

She glared at Christenson at the same time she tried to hide the list. Before she could, Liebgott took it from her. He placed one of his hands on her head, pushing against her when she struggled to retrieve it. In the other hand, he read the name connected to Roe. "Nuh uh, nope. Ain't possible."

Luz ripped the paper from his hands and eagerly looked down at it. His mouth dropped open. "I remember when you placed that bet, Doc. I thought you were crazy."

Roe grinned again while Evelyn moaned. "Come on, George. Just give me the papers like you promised."

Luz surprised her by handing her the list, but in the next moment his eyes twinkled with a glint of mischief. "Here you go - Dharma."

Evelyn winced at the exact moment the men looked at her and gaped. "Dharma?"

She grimaced until finally nodding. "My mother was very into researching Buddhism during her pregnancy. Luckily my father stepped in and gave me a traditional middle name."

The men shook their heads, stunned. Luz gathered the money before handing it to Roe. "Well deserved, my friend. I woulda never guessed that."

Evelyn turned to Liebgott, who as exceptionally quiet. She grabbed his hand and he looked at her before shaking his head. ""I'm just trying to figure out how to tell my ma I fell for a Dharma. Christ."

This time when she swatted at his head, she hit the target dead on.