"Okay, so we're doing this." George stood awkwardly in front of Julia in his PT shirt, his suspenders hanging down by his thighs.

"Yep," Julia said as seriously as she could before bursting into a fit of nervous giggles.

"Julia!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! You just-," she pressed a hand over her mouth as she took him in, "I'm sorry," she giggled.

"This is not going to work if you can't keep it together."

"I know, you're right. I just have never seen you so…" she gestured up and down his body.

"I'm not even undressed yet."

"No but it's clear it's going in that direction," Julia blushed and giggled nervously.

"Well, yeah, it is." George was not nearly as amused as her.

"Okay," Julia composed her face, "I'm ready." She began unbuttoning the top of her dress.

"Here let me," George said, his hands out stretched. She smacked them away.

"Julia!"

"Sorry! Wouldn't you say that's kinda intimate though?"

"Well, we are about to be naked!"

"Yeah, but-,"

"It would feel transactional if you just stood and stripped. Look, we're good friends right?" George's voice dropped into a low, comforting tone, "As your friend, I think you're beautiful. And, we've hugged and kissed and touched each other before. This doesn't have to be weird, we just need to trust each other."

"You think I'm beautiful?" she asked.

"Yeah, you're a red hot tomato, kid."

Julia stuck her tongue out at him. But, George's words reassured her. He was right; it wasn't like this was their first time ever touching each other. How many times had he planted a kiss on her after a rowdy darts game victory. How many times had they stumbled back to their beds with their arms wrapped around each other. They were dance partners, they knew each others movements almost better than anyone else. Theirs was a different kind of intimacy founded on confidence in the other. Julia needed to get out of her head and simply trust her friend.

"Okay," she said in a low voice. She was calm. The previous giddiness had evaporated as she surrendered her trust to George. He moved toward her, slipping his fingers behind the button at the very bottom of her bodice. He worked steadily, efficiently sliding each plastic button through its hole so that slowly her light pink satin slip was revealed. George pulled the dress off of her shoulders, letting it drop to the ground. Then Julia took her turn. She ran her hands into the waistband of his pants and under his shirt, helping him to lift it over his head.

"I'm going to kiss you know," he said.

"Okay."

The kiss was sweet but some carried the same weirdness as their last kiss.

Julia pushed him away, "I think it's when we plan it." George looked confused. "Just kiss me!"

"So you don't want a heads up?"

"No, I think I think about it too much when I get a warning ya know?" George nodded and leaned in. His hand came up to cup her jaw as he deepened the kiss.

"George," Julia squeaked. He pulled away.

"What now?" he said exasperated.

"Don't be so sweet! It's weird! Just be you!"

"I am just being me! This is how I kiss! I'm sweet!"

"Well don't kiss me like one of your girlfriends, kiss me like one of your friends!"

"Oh my god, fine," George rolled his eyes. He grabbed her around the waist, kissing her hard. The kiss was relentless; Julia barely had time to think as his lips and tongue explored her mouth, her neck and her collarbones. She could barely keep pace as he slipped her shift off and expertly released her garters. Her hands fumbled with his pants. He took that opportunity to come up for air. He released her from their kiss, leaning back to give her room to work. As soon as she had his pants unbuttoned he belly flopped onto the bed, pulling her down with him. Julia squealed in involuntary delight, giggling as they landed on the quilt.

"Shh!" George grinned and began kissing her again. They roamed each other's bodies with a familiarity that was innate to people who had spent so much time with each other. The only pause in their rhythm occurred at the moment of penetration.

"Are you sure about this?" George was braced above her, his chocolate eyes searching hers for any indication of uncertainty.

"I'm sure!" Julia said confidently pulling him to her.

"So, thoughts?" George wrangled his arms through his shirt sleeves.

"Yeah, good," Julia said as she reattached her garters.

"Good? That's it?" "What do you want me to say? You're a god in the sack, George?" Julia teased.

"Actually, yeah, that would be great to hear."

"Ha ha!"

They had spent only a few moments in each others arms after they finished. But after coming down from the haze of their orgasms they realized no cuddling should be a rule. Their friendship could handle a bar booth cuddle with clothes on; naked and in bed was not conducive to their goal of platonic sex.

"So when's the next time?" George said, tying up his boots.

"Ready to go again already?"

"As a red-blooded man I am always ready to go."

"Debatable."

"You need me to prove it?" George tackled her onto the bed and the two dissolved into a fit of giggles.

"No!" Julia playfully swatted him off of her, "we don't have time anyways, get out of here."

George stood up and smiled warmly down on her. "See you tomorrow, Jules."

"Be quiet!" Julia reminded him as he slipped out the door, his jacket in hand.

They were overly cautious at first which meant their liaisons were few and far between. But as their confidence grew they became greedier, and more reckless. On more than one occasion George was nearly spotted exiting Julia's bedroom.

"None of the guys know right?" Julia asked one night as she dressed.

"Not that I'm aware of," George replied. "Why?"

"Only wondering, I want to make sure things stay private."

"You embarrassed of me?" George stuck out his bottom lip jokingly.

"No, not of you, but at the same time I don't want every guy in the Company thinking I'm easy."

"Don't worry about that, they're Easy too!"

"Bad joke, George."

"Mm yeah, that one kinda fell flat huh?"

"I just don't want to get a reputation ya know?"

"I understand," George sat down beside her on the twin bed, "don't worry, kid, our secret's safe." He kissed her sweetly on the cheek. "Okay, I'm off."

As the summer wrapped up so did the men's training at Toccoa. Julia and George discussed the possibility that Julia may not be moving on with the men. There was nothing they could do about it if that were the case so promises of letters were made.

Fortunately, however, Julia continued on with the 101st airborne to Fort Mackall. Life was good, all things considering. The dynamic between George and Julia was comfortable. For all intents and purposes, nothing had changed between the two of them. They played darts and cards and drank with the other airborne staff and soldiers just as they had before. They ended the evenings laughing into each other's shoulders. But instead of walking back from the bar together or George escorting Julia back to her quarters, they would sneak off to find a private moment.

They were still careful. One had to know the difference in order to spot it. If the evening ended with just the two of them they would find a place to kiss - or if they could, go back to Julia's room. Their rules hadn't ever prohibited fooling around or kissing outside of Julia's bedroom. So, especially when the alcohol was flowing, they found themselves taking liberties with their intimacy in dark alleyways and behind barracks.

Had this been a rule, it would've been the hardest to respect. But it wasn't, so instead the couple found themselves struggling with the "sleep with other people" rule. Neither of them would admit this; as much as they each wanted to support the other (and keep up appearances) it was easy to feel lonely if one of them was occupied elsewhere. Considering the male to female ratio at the bars, it was surprising that George was usually the one with a new partner.

The bars were always filled with the airborne men, along with the army and marines. Relatively few women were brave enough to infiltrate the packed bars. Yet, somehow, George was often found charming a beautiful local.

It bothered Julia quite a bit at first. Not for the obvious reasons, but because she missed her friend. They had never been glued together at the hip, but at Toccoa they almost always ended the evenings together. Julia couldn't help but wonder if George was getting tired of her since they spent so much time together. But Julia found solace in her other Easy Company friends. Frank Perconte was always up for a chat. Joe Toye was a more melancholy friend when he drank and they spent plenty of evening's lost in deep conversation.

It was on nights like these, when George was absent, that Julia found herself interacting more and more with Chuck Grant. On a regular week-day evening Julia was honoring an invitation to play cards with Frank and Bull when Chuck invited her out on a date.

He had run into her as she was about to enter the building where Frank was bunked. It was late evening. The sun hung just above the horizon, struggling to say goodbye to the late summer world. The warm, fading light had Chuck's skin glowing when he approached her. Julia had always found him very handsome, but never entertained the idea that he may be interested in her. Before their social encounters out in town she wouldn't have expected him to know her name.

"Hi Julia," he said politely. He looked like he had just showered. His hair was freshly combed back and she could smell his aftershave.

"Hi Chuck," she smiled. Her palms were a little sweaty, although she wasn't sure if it was out of nervousness or due to the last beams of the day's heat.

"Who ya visting this evening?"

"Frank. Well a few guys actually, but Frank invited me to play cards with them."

"You any good?" Chuck asked.

Julia shrugged, "not as good as I'd like to think I am."

"Ah, I bet you're better than you think!" Chuck said.

Julia smiled at him, then at the ground, trying to think of something to say next. "Well, I ought to get going…" she trailed off.

"Yeah, well hey, I was wondering, would you like to see a movie with me?"

Julia looked at him in surprise, "like watch one of the ones they screen here?"

"Well I was thinking somewhere in town? Like a date."

"Oh!" Julia didn't know what to say, she was totally taken aback.

"If you're up for it?" Chuck asked sheepishly. He was usually a confident guy but standing there in front of her Julia finally saw a more vulnerable side of him. His shoulders were slightly hunched and his lips were pressed together in nervous anticipation for her answer.

"I would love to!" she said honestly.

"Great!" he straightened with renewed confidence. "We can work out the details later, I'll let you get to your game."

"Okay, see you later Chuck."

He smiled a little half-smile at her as she turned toward the barrack. Before entering, she stole another look at him over her shoulder and he smiled warmly at her. A little swarm of butterflies somersaulted in her stomach and Julia had to press down a wide smile.