Later that night

Another clear night had descended onto the Somme sector of the western front, giving the soldiers on the ground an amazing view of the stars in the sky. It was beautiful, especially if you were walking through a peaceful forest well behind the frontline. And that is what Wally and Eve were doing. Wally was in his uniform, not bringing his coat as the weather was no longer cold, and Eve was still dressed in her nurse's uniform as she had just finished her duty when Wally turned up.

However, when Wally arrived at the hospital, Eve quickly realised that there was something wrong with him. He was not his cheery self. In fact, he looked as though he was worried about something. What it was, Eve could not tell, but before she had even had time to ask him, he had walked away towards the woods.

The two were walking down the path they went down earlier this year when they had their snowball fight, though this time happiness no longer released itself from them, only fear and concern filled them and hung in the air around them like a cloud. Wally had barely spoken at all to Eve, which only worried her even more.

Eve sighed when she looked at Wally and saw him looking worried again. Alright enough was enough.

"Alright, Wally," she said, stopping him and facing him. "What is it?"

Wally looked away from her. He wanted to tell her, but he just did not know how to put it.

"C'mon," Eve urged him. "I know there's something wrong and I want to know what it is,"

Wally sighed. He would just have to say it to her the best way he could.

"I-I'm scared, Eve," he said.

Eve sighed. "Wall, I know how you feel about the front, but I ke-"

"No," Wally interrupted her. "I'm not talking about the front this time. I…" he paused and sighed again. "I'm worried about my brother, Hal,"

"Oh," Eve replied. She had heard about the battle going on up at Ypres by a radio reporter who worked upstairs, which was a command centre, in the upper parts of the hospital but it was only now she remembered that Wally had a brother up there. "Wally," she said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure he's fine,"

"What if he isn't?" Wally asked, looking at her again. "What if he's lying dead or dying in a muddy field and I can't help him?" At this point, his voice began to break a little. "What if…I don't see him again? What if he di-"

"Wally, stop!" Eve said, trying to calm him down. "Look, just calm down, please!"

Wally nodded and walked over to a nearby tree and sat down, resting his back against the bark.

"I just don't want to hear the news that Hal's been killed, Eve," he said sadly. "I mean, I'm sure you must know how that feels with your father being in Verdun,"

Eve nodded as she walked over and sat down next to him. "Yeah, I do,"

Wally heaved another heavy sigh and rubbed his hand down the front of is face.

"You know, since Moe told us about the battle earlier on this afternoon, I've been worrying really badly about Hal," he said to Eve. "And imagining what would happen if I was go home and find out he was killed. I-I wouldn't be able to live with myself,"

"I know how you feel, Wally," Eve said. "I'm worried about my family as well,"

Wally looked at her, a little shocked.

"Why do you have someone else fighting on the frontline as well, besides your father?" he asked her.

"No, but…" she paused for a second, trying to find out how to word it all. She sighed and looked at him. "My family wasn't exactly… very, well wealthy," she explained. "It was hard working in Ruesnes, I had to go around and do any odd jobs for anyone to make some money. Then when the Germans invaded last summer, things got really bad because we had leave and, as I've told you already, go to my grandmother's house outside Paris. Things got really hard, especially that my mother had to look after my grandmother because she's a bit deaf and can't walk very well, so me and my dad signed up into the army, half to help, but mainly to earn some decent cash." She sighed and rested her head on her knees. "It's what been keeping me going, knowing that I'm finally helping my family earn a living."

Wally just stared at Eve, lost for words. He felt really sorry for her. Sure, there were times when his family had fallen upon stony ground in trying to earn a decent living, but for Eve to live with it for most of her life, it was hard to think about, let alone actually live through it.

"I'm sorry, Eve," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I can't really imagine living through that,"

"It's hard, but…" she paused. "Well, they usually say hard times bring the family closer together."

Wally smiled a little. "I'm sure they do." Eve looked up at him and smiled. "Look," he said. "I'm sure your family'll be fine one day. Maybe not during the war, but after It's over I'm sure your family'll earn a decent living,"

Eve smiled at him again and embraced him. "Thanks, Wally," she said. "I know I can count on you for friendship and help,"

Wally smiled. "And I can count on you for keeping me reassured on my family's safety,"

Eve released Wally and the two looked in each other's eyes. There it was again, that spark of love. They knew they could trust each other and count on each other for support and help, but they also knew that they loved each other, dearly. They did love each other and they did care for each other. What if…

Suddenly, Wally felt something wet hit the back of his neck. He looked up and saw a few clouds hanging in the air above them. More water ell from them. It was beginning to rain.

"Oh, God, where did that come from?" Wally asked himself as he and Eve stood up. The rain was only light, but it was best not to take any chances and see if it would get heavier.

"Let's go," Eve said. Wally nodded and the two ran up path back towards the hospital.