The day after the party found many of the men of "E" Company in a daze. An evening dancing and dining with their ladyloves left all of the guys wanting to spend more quality time them. At breakfast, Shifty observed that Malarkey and Bull looked liked two lovesick cows. Joe Toye's appetite and attitude had improved to such an extent that Buck, who liked taking breakfast with the men, asked if Toye had any news that he would like to share with the rest of the company. "Let's just say Bettye and I are finally on the same page."

Bill laughed and patted his buddy on the back. "That's great Joe. Listen fellas, I have been thinking about what we can do for Doc Roe and Danielle to celebrate their upcoming nuptials."

"If it's a trip to Niagara Falls," said Muck, "I will be glad to drive them there. I grew up around there. In fact, I once swam across it."

"The fall," said Perconte.

"No, the river dummy," said Penk.

"My mother and sister gave me heck, but at least I can say I lived to tell the story."

The look on Bill's face silenced Muck and everyone else. "That's a nice story Muck, but it makes me wonder about your sanity. As I was saying, I have this idea that we should build them a honeymoon cottage where they can have some privacy during their first couple of weeks of marriage. Besides, the way things are going around here, I have no doubt that they won't be the only couples to spend time there."

"For once Bill, you have a brilliant idea," said Johnny. "It's important for couples to have some of quality time when we they first marry.

"Yeah, Bill that's a winner," said Bill. "Besides, the word is Gene plans to move in with Danielle after they got hitched. They should have a little time together, you know like a real married couple."

A sleepy Eugene came out of his room and all the guys smiled at him and said good morning. He stopped looked down to see if his fly was open. "What's going on? Why is everyone staring at me?"

"No particular reason, Doc," said George. "Have a seat. The ladies brought us pancakes and Canadian bacon with boiled eggs."

"Sounds good," said Eugene as he sat down by Luz and started serving himself.

"Listen Doc," said Bill. "The fellows and me have been talking. To make a long story short, we would like to build you and Danielle a honeymoon cottage. Nothing fancy, mind you, but maybe a couple of rooms plus a bathroom and a little kitchen."

"Not that you will be doing much cooking," teased Perconte.

"Hey, what's the matter with you," said Joe. "Have some respect for the institution of marriage."

"Hey Joe, I was married, remember. Johnny and I both know what's ahead of you guys even if you don't." Perconte did not like to think of his wife who now only lived in the faces of the children he had grown to love along with Tia. "No one knows the sacrifice that Johnny and I are making by staying here, so cut me some slack here."

"Frank is right," said George. "Let's get back to the cottage. What do you think Eugene?"

"I don't know what to say. I'm really touched, and I know Danielle will be happy."

"You deserve it Doc," said Tab. "If it hadn't been for you, a lot of men from "E" Company wouldn't have made it through the war."

"Including Joe and me," said Bill.

"Besides, the rest of us hope to get some use out of it before too long," teased George.

Later that morning, Buck shared the company's plans with Dick and Sarah, who thought it, was a wonderful idea. Check with Vern and see if he could help with the project. I think we have some lumber that is already milled. Also, both Amon and Vern can assist with the plumbing."

"Guarnere has some ideas, and Lipton thinks he can draw some architectural plans," offered Buck. "So Dick, can I tell the men it's a go?"

"Absolutely," said Dick. "This will give us an opportunity to learn some new skills like timber cutting and milling logs."

"Always thinking ahead, Dick," said Buck.

For the rest of February, the men worked on the honeymoon cottage. They discovered new muscles, and they went to bed tired but happy. Amon, Vern, Shifty, and Lip had experience in selecting trees for timber for the frame. Joe took over the milling area, and had all the men trained in turning logs into two by fours and four by fours. To insulate the walls, the women created a form of white tabby that Johnny Martin smoothed out so perfectly that they decided not to panel the walls. Joe and Amon made the glass for the windows and George had already proved his skills at repairing windows now he faced the challenge of building them from scratch.

Meantime, Bettye and Fran took the former's old wedding dress and redesigned it to Danielle's taste. "Oh, Bettye, are you sure you want to do this," said Fran as she held a pair of scissors, poised to make the first cut.

"Two months ago, I would have said no, but meeting Joe, I see a future that includes something besides being a mother. He makes me feel like a woman. When I lay in that hospital bed, waiting for limbs to regenerate, I worried about my children, but I also was afraid of what a man would think if he knew about my injuries."

"Oh, Bettye, I can't imagine what you were feeling. It must have been so hard, but I have seen the way Joe looks at you when you enter a room. It's like you just saved his life."

"Kind of the way Bill looks at you except there are times I feel he has to refrain from walking up to you and kissing you so hard that your teeth rattle.

"Trust me when Bill kisses me, all of me rattles."

"Oooo, girl," laughed Bettye. "Now let's get down to business. Sharon did a good job of removing all of the lace. We can save that for another wedding dress. Who knows it might be yours."

By the end of March, the men had completed the house. Everyone contributed to furnishing the house with furniture some borrowed and some made like the bed. The latter was rustic and instead of a box spring, Shifty devised a rope support for the goose feather-filled mattress.

Eugene and Danielle married on a Friday afternoon. It was a simple ceremony where the couple rose to exchange a simple vow. Eugene went first, "In the presence of God and these our Friends, I take thee Danielle to be my wife, promising with Divine assistance to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband as long as we both shall live." Then Danielle repeated the same words, and the two sat back down. Much to some of the men's surprise, the women took turns standing up and extending good wishes and advice to the couple.

Taking the cue, Babe stood up. "All the men here are real happy for you Eugene. You are a great medic, and I know that you will be a good husband to Danielle and a father to that little baby. Eugene took care of us in Bastogne without enough supplies to cure a sniffle, but when you got hit, he was there. When the Krauts started dropping bombs on us, he did not think about himself. When someone cried medic, Eugene Roe was there. Just know if ever you need anything in the years to come, everyman here will give you hand."

Dick Winters rose and said, "Eugene, you are one of the finest men I have known. You have a gift for healing that I hope you pursue. Anyone can see how much you two love one another, and after everything we have seen since "D" Day, well, let's just say you deserve a happy life.

The wedding dinner that followed was a Cajun feast. Sarah and Dick arranged to have shrimp flown in from another colony for exchange of some fresh cut timbers left over from building the house. The gumbo was hot and the mood was bright and happy. Dancing followed the meal, and towards the end of the evening, Danielle handed her son over to Bettye Toye, who volunteered to baby sit for the first few days to give the couple some time alone. As the couple rode off in Doctor Grace's horse and buggy, everyone stood outside and waved. The boys tied a lot of shoes behind the buggy, including Amon's old Army boots. Danielle tossed her bouquet, and to everyone's surprise, Fran practically knocked Grace down to catch it.

Turning around, Fran walked up to Bill, who clapped his hands. "Bill," said Fran. "I need your help."

"Sure sweetheart, what can I do," said Bill.

"Marry me," she said softly

"Are you sure girly?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, honey, what was that you said?" Bill cupped his hand behind his ear and Fran said yes again, but Bill continued to pretend he could not hear her until Fran practically shouted it.

Bill winked at Fran, who was becoming embarrassed then said, "I just wanted to make sure." Then he scooped Fran up in his arms, bent her over a little bit and kissed her so hard, the other women drugged their beaus away before they could say anything.