Hi guys! Next chapter is UP! I'm actually really sad that I'm on the last few chapters. It seems like this has gone by so fast, when in reality I know it's been around 9 months… wow ridiculous. Anyway, I'm really glad to have taken this ride with all my readers, and I love you all so much. I need to thank Shockin'BlueEyes, the everchanging, LouiseJames, Endipseles, Dreamcloud123, Aella Leto, hodhod2011danger, liebluz lover, Molly and my darling that I have been missing so much, Heartbeats77.
I hope you know how much I love you all! Enjoy this close – to – the – end – chapter.
I own nothing but Adriana and now Hattie
Adriana woke the next morning with Hattie sleeping next to her.
"How did this happen?" she asked herself smiling down at Hattie.
Adriana remembered coming back into her room and it was dark. She didn't know if Hattie was here when she came back or she came in after she was asleep. Adriana stretched and laid her head back onto the pillow and closed her eyes. A smile crossed her face as she thought of the night before. Luz had kissed her. The smile grew. He had kissed her. She sighed.
"What are you so smiley about?" Hattie asked.
Adriana opened her eyes and looked at Hattie.
"What happened?" Hattie asked sitting up excitedly and shaking Adriana.
Adriana grinned and put her hands behind her head.
"Adriana!" she yelled happily. "Tell me!"
"Luz kissed me," Adriana said, her eyes still closed.
Hattie squealed and shook Adriana some more.
"Jesus Hattie relax," Adriana said struggling not to fall off the bed.
"Oh Adri I'm so happy for you!"
"Hey what about you?" Adriana asked. "Did you tell Lieb about you leaving?"
Hattie sighed and her smile left her face.
"You really know how to ruin a moment don't yah?"
Adriana smiled sadly and put a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"As long as you plan on leaving today, you need to tell him."
"I don't plan on doing shit," Hattie hissed. "My damn OC is making me."
Adriana furrowed her brow thinking.
"Well I guess you're right. I'll go tell him then," Hattie said getting out of the bed.
"You want me to come with you?" Adriana asked.
Hattie shook her head.
"No, I can do it," she said.
She grabbed her rifle and helmet and left the room. Adriana sighed and lay back down to think. There was no way Hattie could leave. Not now especially. Liebgott had just gone through something more difficult than anyone in the paratroopers. She couldn't leave. Suddenly, she had an idea. She jumped off the bed almost forgetting her rifle in her excitement. She had to find Hattie.
Hattie sighed as she walked around looking for the bilingual Jew. With the day that he'd had before, Hattie figured he would be in his room so she headed for the building she knew he was billeted in. She crossed paths with Malarkey as she entered the building.
"Hey Hattie," he greeted her as he walked by in a towel.
"You enjoying the shower Malark?" she asked grinning.
"And a nice razor," Malarkey said returning the smile and rubbing his newly shaved chin.
"Hey you know which room Joe is in?" she asked.
"Yeah him and Babe are at the end of the hall on the left," Malarkey answered.
"Thanks," she said.
Malarkey nodded and she made her way to the end of the hall. She raised her hand to knock, but Babe opened the door before she had a chance.
"Oh hey Hat," Babe greeted her then turned around. "Hey Lieb your girl is here!"
Liebgott appeared behind Babe. He too was in a towel.
"I told you not to call me that Babe," she said shoving him lightly. "Am I interrupting your shower time?" she asked not able to stop a smile from crossing her face.
"You wouldn't be interrupting anything," Babe said dodging a fist from Liebgott and passing Hattie.
He jogged down the hall hooting and cat calling as he went.
"Sorry about that jackass," Liebgott said. "You coming in?"
Hattie thought about saying no, but she figured it was a better idea to tell him inside.
"Why don't you put some clothes on?" she asked going under his arm and into the room.
As she passed him she caught a sent she had never smelled before on him. The smell of earth and blood and sweat was and would be forever present on him, but it was something else.
"You smell…" she paused. "Clean."
Liebgott scoffed.
"Yeah well you better get used to it," Liebgott said throwing an arm over her shoulder. "I can feel that this damn war is almost over and I'll be smelling clean all the time."
Hattie turned and looked at Liebgott.
"Joe I have to tell you something."
His brows came together.
"Alright," he said. "Shoot."
"My CO from Charlie Company is coming today. To personally take me back to my Company."
Liebgott took a step back out of Hattie's reach.
"You're leavin'?" he asked in disbelief.
"It's not my choice," she said quickly. "I want to stay."
"Why do you want to stay?" Liebgott asked meeting her eyes.
She hesitated.
"You Joe."
Liebgott's face didn't change.
"Joe?" she said questioningly.
All she wanted was for him to say something.
"I don't have a choice," she tried again.
"I…" he paused. "I… well… I really like… I like… well I think I…"
"Joe," she said closing the space between them.
She looked up into his face. He sighed.
"I love you."
Hattie blinked and raised her eyebrows.
"I know it's weird," Liebgott said beginning to ramble. "I have only known you for a little while, but I have never felt like this before. I'm not good at this kind of stuff but I can't let you leave without telling you. I don't want you to leave! There must be some way we can get your CO to let you stay. I just want to –"
But he was stopped mid sentence by Hattie's lips crashing into his. The force knocked him back into the bed. He barely was able to keep them standing. He wrapped his arms around her lower back and lifted her. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around his hips, locking her feet behind him. She braced her forearms on his shoulders and held herself up above his face. She broke the kiss long enough to toss her chest length, almost orange hair back and then met his lips again. Liebgott let her hold herself up and put both hands on her cheeks. He pushed her hair back and held a handful of it, pulling her closer with the other hand on her back. Suddenly there was a banging on the door.
Hattie broke the kiss and opened her eyes. Liebgott was looking at her. A cheeky grin crossed his face and he pulled her face back to his.
"Hattie, Liebgott I know you're in there!"
It was Adriana.
"If you want to stay here I suggest you come out! I have a plan!"
Hattie unwrapped her legs and jumped to the ground. She jogged to the door and flung it open. Adriana was standing, looking very excited. Her expression changed when she saw Hattie.
"You been having fun in there?" Adriana asked pointing to Hattie's messy hair.
She straightened it out and attempted to keep Liebgott behind the door.
"Hey what's the meaning of this?" Liebgott asked good naturedly as he pulled on a pair of pants under the towel.
Adriana made a disgusted face then turned to Hattie.
"You don't have any family that will miss you if you died in the war right?"
"Well no I guess not. Thank you for reminding me," Hattie said glumly.
"That is what I wanted to hear. Come on!" Adriana yelled happily grabbing Hattie's hand and running down the hall.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Liebgott yelled after them.
He grabbed a shirt, shut the door and ran after them.
"Adriana what's going on?" Hattie yelled.
"You will see!" she said happily. "Hurry up! Your CO will be here soon!"
"All the more reason to let her hang out with me!" Liebgott pressed from behind them.
"She will have plenty of time for that if my plan works!" Adriana yelled happily.
She drug Adriana down to the middle of the street where Doc Roe was waiting with half a dozen Toccoa men. Adriana slid to a stop in front of Luz who was holding an armful of tomatoes.
"How long can you hold your breath?" Adriana asked Hattie.
"What?" she asked.
"Your breath! How long can you hold it!"
"Like thirty seconds?" Hattie said confused.
"That's not very long," Adriana thought out loud.
"What if he didn't see her up close," Luz suggested. "We keep back away from her so he can only see the blood but not her breathing."
"Excuse me, Blood?" Hattie asked raising a hand.
Luz smiled and held up the tomatoes. Suddenly a shot rang out and Hattie and Liebgott dropped to the ground, but the rest of them smiled.
"Hattie, get over here!" Adriana said pulling Hattie to the middle of the men.
"But the shot –"
"That was Shifty telling us your CO is coming, now get over here!" Adriana said annoyed.
Hattie lay on the ground where Roe told her to and he began squeezing tomato juice onto the front of her uniform over her heart. Roe opened her jacket and got 'blood' on her green button down and finally her white crew neck. He then took the remaining tomatoes and squished them against his chest, arms and pants.
"Incoming," whispered Malarkey.
"Close your eyes and try not to breath and get those damn things out of here," Adriana said nodding to the tomatoes.
Luz took them and tossed them behind a wall then ran up to the CO of Charlie Company as he got out of a jeep. Winters and Speirs were meeting him.
"Luz," Speirs said as he and Perconte jogged up. "What was that shot?"
"Sir it hit Hattie," Luz panted trying to wipe the spatters of 'blood' off his shirt.
The CO started and blinked.
"McDurman? Is she alive?"
Luz and Perconte looked at one another then back at the CO and shook their heads. They glanced back over at the group of men who parted on cue to reveal Hattie lying motionless in the street with Doc Roe sitting back on his heels by her head.
"Shit," the CO cursed and turned back for his jeep.
"You're not going to take her body?" Winters asked confused.
"For what?" the CO asked. "I know for a fact she has no family. Who would we send it to?"
Winters and Speirs looked at each other, but before they could say anything, the CO was in the jeep driving away. Luz and Perconte raised their eyebrows at each other and jogged back to the group of men around Hattie.
"He's gone," Luz reported.
"Just like that?" Hattie asked sitting up making Speirs and Winters do a double take from across the street.
"Yeah he really didn't seem to like you," Perconte said. "When he saw you 'dead' he ran for the hills. Damn spineless bastard."
"I really couldn't care less," Hattie said standing. "As long as I get to stay here."
Her eyes ran over the group of men landing on Liebgott last.
"Hey hey, he is great, but what about me?" Adriana asked.
Hattie smiled.
"Who else could have convinced me to swim across an almost frozen river in the middle of winter, in the middle of the night?"
"No one," Adriana grinned.
She patted Hattie's shoulder.
"Hey did you guys hear?" Webster asked running up to them.
"Hear what Web?" Luz asked.
"Division has been finding camps all over the place. The Russian's liberated one a lot worse. It was ten times as big with execution chambers, and ovens for all the bodies."
"Holy shit," was the general reaction.
"The locals here claim they didn't know the camp existed," Adriana said repeating what Nixon had told her the day before.
"Bull shit," Hattie growled.
"They say we are exaggerating," Adriana went on. "General Taylor declared martial law. Ordered every able bodied German 14 to 80 to start burying the bodies. They start in the morning. Tenth armored are going to supervise clean up. But we are heading out to Thalem. Tomorrow. 1200 hours."
"Woohoo another no name German town, sure to be as interesting as the last," Web complained.
"It's got a name Web," Adriana said glaring at him.
She was tired of Web's complaining. She was glad Hattie was staying with them and her plan had worked, but Web was driving her crazy. She grabbed Luz's hand and walked a little way away from the group.
"What's going on?" Luz asked a little concerned.
Adriana thought for a moment.
"I want to go back to the camp."
"What the hell for?" Luz asked now more concerned.
"I want to help clean up the camps."
Luz stared open mouthed at her for a moment then touched her forehead.
"You sick or something?"
Adriana batted his hand away.
"Seriously why the hell would you want to go back there?" he asked placing the hand on her cheek.
Adriana said nothing.
"I saw the way it affected you the first time."
"I will be ready for it now," Adriana said sounding more like she was trying to reassure herself.
"You sure?" Luz asked.
She nodded and Luz shrugged.
"Alright," he took her hand. "Let's go."
She nodded again and took a breath before moving toward the line of Germans being taken to the camp. Adriana and Luz jumped on the back of one of the trucks, acting like one of the 10th armored who were shepherding the citizens out.
"We going to the men or women's camp?" Luz asked her.
She shrugged as the smell of the camp began to hit her again.
Adriana realized as soon as the camp came into view that it was a bad idea to go back. There were no more people walking around, but that just put more emphasis on how many were dead. Adriana and Luz had walked around the camp just watching for half an hour until Luz pulled her outside and they began to walk back to town through the woods.
For now Adriana and her boys and thankfully Hattie were in Thalem. The German citizens were only just returning from being driven out by their own soldiers. The Krauts plundered everything they wanted from the town, then destroyed it. Most of the buildings were completely gone, reduced to a pile of bricks with table legs sticking out the top. Almost no building was untouched by the bombs. Almost all of them had at least a few holes. A few Germans had begun playing string instruments, emitting a sad and rather annoying song that set a depressed mood over the Germans who were working in the rubble that used to be their homes. A man led a horse drawn cart through the rubble laden with broken tables, chairs and even a bed frame. It had to stop for two men crossed the road, carrying what looked like a very heavy rolled up carpet.
Adriana was sitting on the edge of a bombed out room with a few Toccoa men and Hattie. She leaned back unexpectedly into Luz's chest. He was surprised, but he caught himself and smiled. He took a drag off his cigarette and put it in front of Adriana's face. She smiled and put her lips against his fingers over the end of the cigarettes and breathed in. Hattie smiled from across the blown out room.
"They're cute ain't they?" Liebgott asked in her ear making her shiver.
"Yeah, but I know someone cuter," she said turning and meeting his eyes.
"Oh yeah? Who's that?" Liebgott asked grinning.
"Well Speirs is pretty cute," Hattie said with a grin.
Liebgott raised an eyebrow trying to decide if she was serious. She smiled wider and touched his cheek.
"I'm kidding Joe," she said placing a quick kiss on his opposite cheek and turning to look back out at the German citizens.
Liebgott settled his arms around Hattie's waist and pulled her back to rest against his chest. She complied easily and leaned her head back against his shoulder so her forehead was against his cheek. Luz poked Adriana in the ribs turning her to look at them. Luz whistled getting their attention, but all Liebgott did was smirk and hug Hattie tighter.
"I tell you one thing about the Krauts," Luz began snaking an arm around Adriana's middle. "They sure clean up good."
"All you need is a little Mozart," Liebgott said taking a drag around Hattie.
"Beethoven," Nixon said coming out of the hallway.
"Sorry sir?" Liebgott asked.
"That's not Mozart. That's Beethoven."
Adriana didn't much care whose song it was. She was tired of hearing it, but she was so comfortable leaning against Luz, she just didn't move. She took another drag off Luz's cigarette and closed her eyes only to snap them open at Nixon's next words.
"Hitler is dead."
Seven pairs of eyes landed on Nixon at the same time.
"You serious?" Adriana asked suddenly very awake.
"He shot himself in Berlin," Nixon said sounding bored.
"Holy shit," Liebgott exclaimed.
"Is the war over sir?" Bull asked.
"No," Nixon answered. "We have orders to go to Berchesguarden. We move out in an hour."
"Why?" Web asked. "The man's not home."
Sighing heavily Adriana got up from her ridiculously comfortable spot in front of Luz and stretched. She took her helmet from beside him and helped him up.
"Should have killed himself three years ago. Saved us a lot of trouble," she grumbled as they went from the open air room and into the musty hall.
Easy company entered Bavaria in early May ready to capture Burchesguarden. There was only one small problem. The Germans had exploded the mountain and there was a pile of boulders three stories high on the road. Everybody who was anybody in the 3rd Reich had a house in Burchesguarden.
"What the hell are we doing here?" Liebgott asked from the wheel well of the truck he was leaning on.
"Have some patience," Hattie said continuing to pace in front of him.
"Your one to talk," Adriana said with a smile. "You have been pacing so long; I think you have started making a trench."
Hattie stuck her tongue out at Adriana but sat down leaning her back against Liebgott's shoulder.
"Hitler ordered the SS to make it their last stand and hold off the Allies with a gorilla resistance," Adriana explained. "First thing they did was block the roads."
"So we have to sit around and do nothing?" Luz asked jumping down from the back of the truck.
The four of them jumped as there was an explosion behind them.
"The rock pile is a mile long you blockheads!" Luz shouted. "You aint gonna do nothin' with your puny little rocket launcher!"
Adriana suddenly smiled.
"But maybe with some extra power," she said quietly. "Come here boys!"
Liebgott, Web, Luz and Hattie followed her to the boulders piled on the road.
"Give me your grenades," Adriana said.
The four handed them over and Adriana piled them on one of the rocks. She put the last one on the top of the pile then jogged back behind McClung who was holding the rocket launcher. He counted to three and fired. The explosion was significantly bigger, but it still did little against the ridiculous amount of rocks.
"Boys load up!" Speirs yelled. "Were moving out!"
"See that boys," Hattie said climbing into the back of the truck, Liebgott close behind. "No need to waste valuable granades."
"Yeah yea, get in there girl," Liebgott said pushing her.
"Easy there Joe, you wouldn't want to harm the princess," Babe said smiling and pulling Hattie into the back of the truck.
"Now listen here," Hattie said turning and pointing a long finger at Babe's nose. "Just because I don't want to get clean by splashing around in a puddle in the middle of Germany doesn't mean I am a princess, because I am far from that."
She was now inches from his nose. He grinned at their closeness.
"Jackass," Hattie growled pulling away from him, sitting next to Liebgott and crossing her arms.
Adriana laughed and got onto the truck as it started moving backward down the hill. After an hour of backtracking and looking for another way around, Easy company finally made it into Berchesguarden. The town was eerie as the men came through. Adriana and Luz were walking close to the front with Lip, Talb and Malarkey, leading the company as Winters, Speirs, Nix and Welsh rode in the only vehicle that would fit in the small streets. The little Jeep could hardly fit on the street with the men.
Every window was shuttered and from all the balconies hung white flags. They were fluttering in the gentle breeze making a small flapping noise. Adriana jumped at every noise, every squeak of the old buildings. Everyone seemed on edge, as they should be. The farther into town they went, the wider the streets got. Finally it opened up to a large building with the familiar Nazi spider on it.
"Ugly fucking thing," Liebgott commented pointing at it.
"Who the hell would make a four legged spider on a red background their mascot for a war?" Malarkey asked.
"I tell yah one thing," Babe said. "I wouldn't follow a guy who made you say 'hail Hitler' whenever someone important walked by."
Luz, Liebgott and Malarkey grinned, but Adriana sighed.
"Some people didn't want to Babe, but they didn't have a choice."
"Like hell they didn't," Babe scoffed.
"Hitler ordered every able bodied German man into his army," Adriana explained. "If they refused, he killed their family, or, if they pissed him off enough, he just killed them. I would have liked to see you refuse."
"I'm sure some people did," Babe said solemnly.
Adriana nodded slowly.
"You're probably right Babe. Some might have, and I bet we would be good friends with them."
Babe watched her for a moment.
"Come on boys. Let's check out the hotel," Adriana said following her four ranking officers in.
"Another ugly fucking thing," Babe said to Liebgott pointing at a bust of Hitler.
Liebgott snickered.
"Who would decide to have facial hair like that?" Adriana asked.
"Who would decide to have facial hair period?" Hattie asked with a grin at Liebgott, whose face was as hairless as the day he was born.
He grinned and rubbed his cheek against hers making her laugh.
"Oh come on Hattie," Adriana said grabbing Luz's chin. "Some scruff is nice."
Luz smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Aww Jesus, get a room will yah?" Perconte said pushing past them.
"We could yah know," Liebgott said wrapping his arms around Hattie's waist and kissing her cheek.
"Not now guys, "Adriana said. "We have to clear the town before you two do anything."
"Fine," Liebgott said. "Hattie and I will clear one of the rooms."
Liebgott smiled mischievously, swaying on the spot, Hattie still in his arms.
"Aww damn get out of here," Adriana said waving a hand at them.
"Why do they get to go have fun?" Babe complained as Hattie and Liebgott practically skipped up the stairs.
"Who the hell are you going to go have fun with?" Adriana asked.
Babe looked around.
"Exactly," she growled. "Keep working."
Babe huffed and went to check out a room down the hall. Adriana stopped the desk clerk from taking the room register and running with a pistol to his face.
"Don't do it," she hissed. "Put it down."
He did, then scurried away. Adriana began to go through the book, but none of it made sense to her because she couldn't speak German.
"Why can't we blow off work and have fun?" Luz asked surprising her.
He slid a hand up Adriana's side and came to rest on the back of her neck. She didn't appreciate the shiver he caused down her spine.
"Because I'm an officer," she said sternly putting her hand on his chest and pushing.
He didn't move, just stood with his hands on his hips and grinned. Adriana knew her relationship with Luz was much more subdued than Liebgott and Hattie's relationship, but it had to be. She was an officer, but she couldn't seem to make Luz understand. He came forward and Adriana backed against the desk. Luz trapped her with both hands on either side of her.
"Looks like you're trapped between a desk and a hard place," Luz said pressing himself against her with a sly grin.
Adriana sucked in a surprised breath as Luz ran a hand up her back and into her hair.
"Luz," she said her voice void of any authority.
"Yes?" he asked his lips hovering above hers.
He leaned forward, but she pulled away. By now, she was almost laying flat on the desk, Luz above her. Adriana could hear the other officers in the next room, taking anything that wasn't nailed down and the other boys were checking out the rooms. She wanted Luz so much more than she ever had, but she had managed to make it through all three years without even kissing him, and now, in the span of a few weeks she had gotten so much closer to him than she ever thought she would. She had even kissed him. Well more correctly, he had kissed her.
"Luz…"
"Mmhmm," he acknowledged as he placed a line of kisses from her collar bone up her neck and behind her ear.
"Not now."
"Why not?" Luz asked between kisses.
For the life of her, Adriana could not think of a reason why not. Especially with Luz's lips against her ear and his hands raking her scalp and back. His hands were cold as one of them got under her clothing and went up her stomach. She gasped at his touch and he pulled away and looked at her. His brown eyes were shining with lust. She put a hand on his cheek stroking her thumb over his jaw lightly. He sighed and leaned away from her.
"I will have you Adriana Roosevelt," he said looking slightly disappointed, but he smiled.
"Roosevelt!" Speirs yelled walking back into the room.
"Sir," she said jumping.
"Roosevelt, get Liebgott, McDurman, Malarkey, Moor, Popeye and Grant. Luz you're with us too."
Speirs smiled.
"We are taking the Eagles Nest."
Adriana smiled at Luz then darted up the stairs yelling it as loud as she could that they were taking Hitler's house. The last thing she wanted was to walk in on Hattie and Liebgott so she preferred running through the halls shouting for them. In the end it worked. They appeared, Liebgott missing all his clothes but his boxers, and Hattie in a blanket.
"The Eagles Nest?" she yelled happily.
"Dear god," Adriana said turning and seeing them in the doorway. "Put some clothes on. We are leaving in five."
The two disappeared back inside the room and Adriana jogged through the rest of the building looking for Malarkey, Moor, Grant and Popeye. They were soon assembled and Speirs had them running up the mountain. They would have run up the mountain regardless, but Speirs kept yelling at them to go faster. They were whooping and hollering as they charged up the mountain. At one point they were looking over the road they came up and more Easy Company were coming up.
"HIGH HO SILVER!" Grant shouted down to the other Toccoa men coming up the road in trucks.
Adriana, Luz, Liebgott, Moor, Malarkey and Popeye joined in and even Hattie shouted it. She didn't know what it meant, but she didn't care. She was enjoying the run and the joy of Hitler's death.
The boys on the road responded with "Currahee!"
Adriana, Speirs and their squad made it to the Eagles nest without incident and found a big, empty building. There was a dead German officer behind the couch. He had a Luger in his hand which Speirs immediately took. Malarkey found a bottle of wine, which he didn't pause before opening. Moor found Hitler's personal photo album and took it before Speirs could. Liebgott and Hattie finally found a room they could be alone in, and Luz and Adriana found a balcony that looked over the snow covered alps.
Luz dropped onto a lounge facing the sunset over the mountains. He patted the spot in front of him and Adriana sighed heavily and sat down dramatically throwing herself against Luz. He laughed and began rubbing the back of her neck and shoulders. She purred at his touch and arched her back like a kitten.
"Tease," Luz commented under his breath.
Adriana leaned back into his chest and breathed deeply.
"Why did you come back?" she asked.
Luz frowned.
"What do you mean?" Luz asked, pulling a strand of hair over her shoulder.
"After you got hurt. You came back." She paused. "We all thought you were dead. You could have stayed away and gone home. You came back."
Luz sighed and continued massaging her shoulders.
"I wasn't going to come back," he confessed. "They transferred me to the hospital right outside Foy and I met someone who kicked a little sense into me."
Luz smiled at the memory. Adriana turned around and looked in his eyes.
"Who did you meet?"
"Guarnere."
Adriana's mouth dropped in surprise.
"What did he say?"
Luz leaned back pulling Adriana with him and breathed a sigh of contentment.
"He told me, and I quote, 'George you're a damn fool.'"
Adriana laughed which earned a frown from Luz.
"I'm not done yet," he said irritably.
"I'm sorry darling, continue," she mocked.
"He said – ,"
"George, you're a damn fool. That girl loves you."
"No she doesn't," Luz sighed heavily. "She loves – "
"I swear to god if you say Shifty I'm going to hit you upside the head with my crutch," Guarnere growled.
Luz was quiet while Guarnere looked at him with annoyance.
"She was just here tellin' me how much she loves you. She thinks you're dead you know."
Luz nodded.
"I know."
"You were just gonna leave weren't yah?" Guarnere asked.
Luz nodded and Guarnere sighed. He sat up and scooted down to the end of the bed where Luz was sitting, his face in his hands. Guarnere put a hand on his shoulder.
"Now I'm about to give you a bit of wisdom so listen here."
Luz looked up.
"Adriana loved before and she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters?"
Luz blinked a few times and looked away.
"Look at me damn it," Guarnere said loudly. "I ain't finished."
Luz looked back at him.
" She's not perfect but you ain't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, make you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, although right now, I guarantee you, she is, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break – her heart. So damn it, dont hurt her, don't change her, and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there."
"And do what comes naturally. Love her," Luz finished and looked down at Adriana.
"Bill told you all that?" Adriana asked surprised.
Luz nodded placing a gentle kiss on her lips. Adriana barely had time to close her eyes before he pulled away and looked down at her. Adriana had never seen that look on his face before. She couldn't even describe it to herself, and it made her weak and speechless.
"So you stayed because of that?"
"I won't ever forget what Bill told me. Besides, if I went home, it wouldn't really be home would it?"
Adriana frowned.
"Why?"
"Home isn't where you were born or where you grew up," Luz explained. "My home is wherever you are. Even if that happens to be in the middle of a war. I came back determined to take you back from Shifty."
Adriana couldn't believe what she was hearing from Luz. He was funny and adorable, but she had never known him to be overly romantic.
"You never had to take me back," Adriana said touching his face.
"Roosevelt!" Speirs yelled up the stairs.
Luz started to get up quickly, but Adriana didn't move. In fact, she held him where he was.
"What are you doing?" Luz asked as Speirs yelled her name again his voice getting closer.
"I don't care Luz," Adriana said capturing his lips as Speirs came up the stairs.
"Roosevelt."
Adriana pulled away from Luz and looked up at him. He looked like he could be smiling, but you never knew with Spears.
"We need the officers together," Speirs said.
"Yes sir," Adriana said pushing off of Luz's chest and standing.
He waited for her then jogged down the stairs. Adriana stole one more kiss from Luz then followed Speirs. Luz blinked a few times then leaned back, his hands behind his head.
"And you whistle at me and Hattie," Liebgott said sauntering around a corner, hands stuffed deep into his pockets.
He was followed by Talbert and Babe. Luz rolled his eyes.
"And where is your girl?" Luz asked him.
"Off helping Vest with inventory," Liebgott said with a smirk.
"Good he needs it," Luz said closing his eyes.
"I'm surprised Speirs didn't kick your ass," Babe said sitting across from Luz.
"I'm surprised Adriana didn't jump up when she heard him coming," Talb said.
"So did Bill really say that stuff to you?" Liebgott asked.
Luz opened his eyes and nodded. The other three exchanged glances and smiled.
"What the hell are you three smiling about?" Luz asked raising an eyebrow.
"We were deciding who was going to knock some sense into you when you came back," Talb said grinning. "Looks like someone beat us to the punch."
"You're damn right," Luz said closing his eyes again.
The officers really hadn't been meeting for anything other than to drink and celebrate Hitler's death. Adriana had followed Speirs to the other side of the Eagles Nest where Nix and Welsh were already drinking. Speirs tossed her a bottle of wine. She looked at it for a moment, then smiled, popped it open and threw herself on a lounge. An hour, and seventeen bottles of wine later, Nixon was trying to explain something about Hitler.
"No god damn it listen, Hitler, Hitler, no, no. Hitler, Hitler, girls, girls, DOGS! Umm…"
"Oh give it a rest will yah?" Adriana said taking another swig.
"Hey Adolf!" Welsh shouted as Winters walked up. "LOVE your Eagles nest! I hope you don't mind. We made ourselves at home."
He gestured to the empty bottles strewn around them.
"Hey have a drink," Harry said. "Just so we can say we saw you do it."
"Listen up," Winters said ignoring the bottle pointed at his chest. "This just came in, effective immediately. 'All troops stand fast on present positions.'"
Harry, somewhat tipsily, stood at attention in front of Winters, who looked up and couldn't stop a grin.
"Standing fast," Nixon slurred.
Winters actually laughed with Harry.
"You want to hear it?" he asked smiling widely.
Harry grunted.
"You wanna hear it? Listen up," Winters said. "The German army surrendered"
For a moment they all stared, open mouthed at Winters and Lip who were smiling.
"Holy shit," Adriana said, not able to stop herself.
Winters grinned wider.
"And I have a present for you," Winters said pointing at Nixon who got up and followed at once.
"Is it really true sir?" Adriana asked after Winters who turned around, his blue eyes shimmering.
"Yes it is."
Adriana suddenly needed to sit down, but all at once, she needed to go tell everyone what she knew. She jumped up and didn't realize how drunk she was until she tried to go down the stairs. She hit the walls as she descended the stairs tripping over her own feet. Somehow she made it to the bottom where she fell off the bottom stair right into the arms of Christenson.
"Shit Rosie," he said putting her on her feet. "How drunk are you?"
"Pretty damn drunk," she said. "Listen, we just got word that the German army surrendered."
Christenson's mouth dropped open and he couldn't say anything. Adriana smiled and patted his cheek.
"Where is everyone?" she asked.
He turned without talking and pointed to the other side of the Eagles nest. She smacked his shoulder smiling then trotted off. She came out on the balcony were Luz was lying where she left him, now surrounded by most of the Toccoa men and Hattie. She was greeted with a round of hellos from all of them and an invitation from Luz to sit down.
"Listen boys," she began, but suddenly got very dizzy.
She started to fall back, but Talb was there.
"You alright?" he asked then he caught a wiff of her breath. "Shit. She never could hold her liquor."
Talb sat her down on the lounge beside Luz who sat up and rubbed her back.
"You alright Bell?"
"I'm more than alright," she said meeting his eyes. "The German army surrendered."
No one spoke for a full minute.
"The ones we are fighting?" Malarkey asked.
Adriana laughed and nodded.
"Holy shit," Liebgott said mirroring her earlier reaction.
"Is the war over Rosie?" Babe asked.
"It is here. I don't know about in the Pacific, but it is here."
"We are heading for Austria in the morning," Adriana said grinning and holding out her unopened bottle of wine.
Luz took it, opened it and took a swig.
"Happy V-E day boys," Adriana said taking the bottle and passing it around. "Happy V-E day.
Instead of an aggressive combat unit, Easy company became an occupation force; and no one wanted to leave Burchesguarden… until they saw Austria.
It's green, rolling hills, shimmering lakes and shining sun, coupled with the news that Germany surrendered made Easy Company happy and at ease with life. As they rolled into Austria they passed hundreds of German's on foot, walking in the other direction toward their home country. As Adriana watched them she was jealous. Their war was over. They got to go home to their families. They didn't have to fight anymore. They were at peace.
"So you reckon they'll make us run up those or ski down em?" Talb asked referring to the snowy Alps in the distance.
The men around him smiled, but said nothing in response. The reality that the war in Europe was over was slowly seeping its way into their minds, and no one needed to talk to express the joy they were feeling. Luz was sitting beside Adriana, watching her. She had her head back against the siding on the truck, her eyes closed. He knew she wasn't asleep because of the soft smile graced her pink lips. Her breathing was slow and even and she was enjoying the warm silence of the rolling hills as much as anyone. Luz watched her beautiful face, framed with carmel hair that was blowing softly from the wind of the trucks.
Her face suddenly flashed between the beautiful, serine thing in front of him to a dark, pained expression. The scene followed.
It was snowing in Bastogne. It was dark and Adriana was crying out. Her face was contorted in pain. Shadows were flashing across her face from the tree above them. They were in the hole at the front of the line with a tree trapping them. The bullet in her hip was making her bleed uncontrollably. Her eyes were shut, tears escaping and running down her cheeks. Her hands were grasping at his jacket as he tried to stop the blood. Her face flashed again –
Then the scene was gone and the beautiful woman was back in front of him, alive and well. He sighed and leaned back, slipping his hand into hers lying open on the seat; her fingers curling around his. She squeezed and rolled her head to one side to look at him. He smiled and she returned it then she closed her eyes again.
As Easy company continued moving into Austria, the rolling hills began to be smattered with small houses and large farmland and finally they gave way to small towns and villages. Women working in the fields stopped as the Americans came by. They came up to the road waving and cheering. Malarkey, who was a little drunk, was declaring his love for all the woman he saw. He was leaning over the edge of the truck with Shifty and Moor reaching out and touching the woman's fingers.
"Man, the war is over!" Malarkey said slapping Moor's shoulder.
After a few more bumpy minutes of driving, the American convoy pulled up to an elaborate white castle with red accents around the windows and doors and red balcony railings. It was complete with tall spires on the two corner towers and ivy growing up them. Nixon, Winters, Welsh, Adriana and Speirs climbed up the stairs to the porch that overlooked a huge lake surrounded by lush, green mountains while the other men explored the town.
Adriana found herself in an ornate room with white walls and gold accents. Fifteen foot ceilings with ridiculous chandeliers hanging down made every step echo. The sun was shining through the huge windows onto the small table in the middle of the room that Winters was sitting at. Adriana thought the little table looked comical in the huge, empty room, but now was the worst time to laugh. Winters and the German Colonel were meeting to discuss the formal surrender. She, Welsh and Nixon were standing behind Winters while the Colonel and one of his soldiers were standing on the other side.
"I wonder what will happen to us," the German officer started. "To people like you and me when there are finally no more wars to occupy us."
Winters watched the officer with his usual stoic expression.
"Have all your men collect their weapons, deposit them at the church, the school and the airfield," Winters said.
"Very well," the officer said with a small nod, then he went for his gun.
Adriana's hand slid to her side arm. The German saw and smiled at her.
"Is she always so jumpy?"
Winters glanced behind him and shook his head.
"Yes," he said as the officer pulled out his Luger.
He put it out to Winters.
"Please accept this as my formal surrender," he said and Adriana pulled her hand away from her gun causing the Colonel to smile. "It's better than to lay it on the desk of a clerk."
Winters stood and looked down at the gun then back up at the Colonel.
"You may keep your side arm Colonel," Winters said.
The German blinked, surprised at Winters then smiled. He and the other German stomped making the loud noise echo then they both saluted.
"Roosevelt, show them out?" Winters asked.
Adriana nodded and led the Colonel to the door. She turned and saluted him.
"You would salute a German officer who just surrendered to your Major?" he asked.
"I don't follow," Adriana said confused.
"I surrendered to your commander. Why would you salute me?"
Adriana smiled.
"You salute the rank, not the man," she said echoing Colonel Sink's words from long ago.
The German smiled.
"That is clever," he said. "What is your name?"
"Lt. Adriana Roosevelt," she answered.
The Colonel's eyebrows shot up.
"You must be an incredible woman to have made it so far in this war and to move so far up in rank."
"She is," Nixon said coming to stand behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
Winters was standing to his left and Welsh to his right.
"You men are very lucky to have spent such a long time with a very talented, and if I may say it, beautiful woman."
Adriana felt herself blushing but she didn't look away. She held his green eyes. He put a hand out. She took it without hesitation and shook it then turned to Winters and did the same.
"It has been my pleasure to surrender to you and your Lt."
Winters nodded and the Colonel left with his general. Winters followed with Nixon, Speirs, Welsh and Adriana behind him. As they headed for the room where a video was being shown about the war in the pacific, Perconte and Bull stopped her.
"Hey Rosie, wanna come hunting with us?"
Perconte looked far too excited for hunting, but hunting deer was better than freezing your ass off in a foxhole, or dropping from an airplane behind enemy lines. She looked after Winters who was watching her. He smiled and nodded.
"Alright Perco lets go," Adriana said slinging her arm over his shoulder.
Half an hour later Adriana, Perconte and Bull had four others, including Shifty and were tromping through the forest. Perconte was in a crouched position as they walked. Adriana looked to her left and giggled at him catching Liebgott's attention.
"What are you crouching down for Perco? You think the deer is gonna shoot back?"
"Leave me alone," Perconte said.
It seemed his good mood from earlier was gone.
"How bout you all just shut up, and let Shifty kill us some dinner," Bull said spitting out a mouthful of tobacco.
"Whats da matter Bull? You tired of eating dried up spuds three times a day?" Perconte jeered.
"Eh you know what, I got an idea," Liebgott said. "Why don't we just shoot Bull here and feed the whole company for a week."
Adriana snickered but Bull stopped and glared at Liebgott. Anyone who didn't know Bull might have been afraid of his glare, but fortunately, Liebgott, Adriana, Perconte, Malarkey, Shifty and Ramirez knew him. Suddenly Shifty held up a hand and the other six stopped. There in a little clearing was a full grown buck. Shifty took aim as it turned and looked toward him. The six of them looked between the buck and Shifty until something cracked on the other side of the deer making it turn and bolt.
"Aww god damn it Shifty, you let him get away," Liebgott groaned. "We outta be glad to be rid of yah."
"Shut up Lieb," Adriana growled.
"I wish," Shifty said. "It seems they want me to stick around for awhile."
"You serious?" Liebgott asked.
"How many point yah need?" Malarkey asked.
"Fifteen."
"Fifteen? Jesus Christ I thought I had it bad," Malarkey said.
"No purple hearts, never was injured," he said with a sigh and they continued walking.
"Being injured ain't all that great," Adriana said sighing.
"How many points you need Rosie?" Ramirez asked.
Adriana sighed.
"Thirty."
"What the hell?" Liebgott said. "You have been hit more than any of us."
"I never went to the hospital," she said. "I never actually got a purple heart because no one who mattered knew I got hurt."
The men shook their heads.
"It doesn't matter anyway," she said smiling. "I couldn't let you boys go to the Pacific alone."
Shifty, Adriana and the boys were forced to come back empty handed at the end of the day. The next morning Easy company was assembled in the town square. Speirs was shouting out orders for the enlisted men. Adriana was standing on one side of Speirs with Welsh on the other side. They were standing facing all three Platoon's. Talbert was standing in front of First Platoon at attention. Lip was in front of Second and Malarkey was standing in front of Third. The non-coms were on the edges of their platoons standing at ease, looking rather bored to Adriana.
"At ease," Speirs finally said. "General Taylor is aware that many veterans, including Normandy veterans still do not have the 85 points required to be discharged."
Adriana watched her men's faces as they all mentally counted their points and were disappointed.
"On this, the anniversary of D-Day he has authorized a lottery, to send one member of each company home. Effective immediately."
Adriana watched Talbert bring a helmet up to Welsh who pretended to dig around in the helmet for a minute then pulled out a folded piece of paper. As Talb walked past her she grinned, seeing no other name's in the helmet.
"And the winner is…" Speirs paused for effect. "Serial number, 13066266, Sergeant Darrel C. Powers."
Instantly everyone who knew Shifty whistled and cheered for him. Luz's whistle stood out easily to Adriana. The cheer rose above the crowd of people as Grant congratulated Shifty. The happiness for Shifty was short lived as Speirs quieted everyone.
"Roosevelt."
She stepped up and took over.
"Sgt. Grant will see to it that Second Platoon takes over at the crossroads checkpoint beginning tonight at 2200 hours. General Taylor has also announced that the 101st airborne division will definitely be redeployed to the Pacific."
The silence that fell over everyone was almost pliable.
"So, beginning tomorrow at 0600 hours, we will begin training to go to war."
She paused.
"Again."
The men snickered and the mood was lightened slightly. After Speirs dismissed them Adriana darted after Shifty but lost him in the crowd of people. She decided Shifty would want to say goodbye to Winters so she jogged to his office. She was about to climb the stairs when he came down. He jumped when he realized it was her. She stepped away about a foot and looked up into his face.
"I'm glad you're going home Shift," Adriana said smiling.
Shifty nodded and faked a smile and Adriana frowned.
"Look Shift, I –" but he held up a hand.
"I'm gonna miss you Adri. You been a good friend. You –"
"Don't start that shit with me," she said quietly. "You're going home now hug me damn it."
She opened her arms but let him come to her. He finally sighed and wrapped her in his arms. He lifted her off her feet for a moment then set her down and pressed his lips to her hair. He closed his eyes. He was going back to the states, but he was hardly going home. He breathed in enjoying maybe the last time he would get to be this close to Adriana. This close to the woman he loved. His home would, like Luz said, forever be with her. He wasn't sure how he was going to go back to his old life. His old friends, old family without someone to tie him to the real life that was war. Everything seemed so fake even now before he got back, he couldn't imagine how it would be when he was walking the streets of his home town, just another civilian. He would be doing mundane things like going shopping, fixing the house, going to work, hunting, ext. He wouldn't be in the war anymore. He would have no purpose. Adriana pulled away and looked in his eyes. Shifty almost cried out he was so frustrated. He wanted her to have the same look in her eyes while she was looking at him as she did when she looked at Luz. He knew it was foolish, and he'd had a chance to make her love him, but it wasn't enough. He had to let her go and let her and Luz be happy. He sighed and put on a convincing smile. Adriana believed it thankfully.
"I hope you find whatever you need to back home Shifty," Adriana said.
He nodded but didn't trust himself to speak. They walked back out onto the street and he turned back to her and placed a hand on her cheek.
"I – I – aww hell Adri. I love you."
He put a hand on either side of her cheek and pressed his lips to her forehead for a long moment, trying to pour all the love he had in him into it, then let go and turned without looking at her. He closed his eyes and tried to hold back the tears until he got to the jeep taking him anyway. Coming around a corner he ran straight into someone. He blinked back the tears and looked down into Luz's surprised eyes.
"Hey Shifty," he greeted him rather cheerfully. "You ok buddy?"
Shifty nodded and met his eyes.
"You take care of Adri," he said thickly.
Luz's eyebrows knit together.
"You know I will."
Shifty nodded and awkwardly patted Luz's shoulder.
"C'ya,"
"Hey Shift!"
He stopped but didn't turn so Luz took his arm and turned him.
"I'm sorry I was such an asshole to you."
"You had every right to be," Shifty said looking at the ground. "I gotta go. Be safe." He paused. "And make sure she makes it through this damn thing, and don't ever let her go."
Luz looked taken aback by Shifty's sudden eagerness.
"I swear, she will make it through this," Luz said.
Shifty nodded once then turned and was gone. Luz turned to see Adriana peaking around the wall.
"What was that about?" she asked not moving.
Luz put a hand out to her and she took it and came around the corner. He put his arm around her shoulder and looked after Shifty.
"He wants you to get through this war," Luz said simply.
Adriana frowned up at him.
"We all want to live through this war," she protested.
Luz shrugged and looked at her.
"I don't know Bell."
She sighed and put her head against his chest.
"Tired?" he asked.
She nodded. He grinned and led her away to Easy Company's billet. Surprising enough, Luz was going to miss Shifty. Brothers fight, but he and Shifty were still brothers. The war had made them forever connected, even if they did love the same woman.