Archie paced back and forth in the apartment, constantly looking out the window to see when Anna would arrive. She hadn't come home the night before and hadn't bothered to call. He avoided all thoughts of her potential capture. If they'd found her out they would have gotten him by now as well. That was the only thing keeping him from panicking. He was on his fourth cigarette of the morning when he heard her come in.

"Anna, where have you been?" Archie ran up to her and almost laughed out of relief. His expression quickly changed once he saw her face. "What's happened? What's wrong?"

His concern for her was almost more than she could bear. Her composure was hanging by a thread, and she felt herself slipping into emotions that were uncontrollable. The tears that spilled over onto her cheeks made her feel like she was drowning. How could she explain everything to him? Furthermore, why did she feel like she owed him such an explanation, and why did all of this seem like such a devastating betrayal? She remembered how eager she was to inform him upon their first meeting that they weren't actually married. Yet the shame of infidelity rested in her heart and wouldn't leave.

"Darling," He took her in his arms as she continued to sob. "What happened?"

"I…" Her sobs caught in her throat and she could barely speak.

"What happened?" He asked, more knowingly now as he began to put the pieces together. There were few things that could get her so upset, and one of them was what, or maybe who, he'd sworn to protect her from.

"Don't make me say it."

She looked down in shame, and he held her close to his chest. His nostrils flared as heat rose to his cheeks. He knew the major had done something to her. Hurt her in ways he could only imagine. His anger grew like a roll of thunder.

"He did something to you?"

She nodded against his chest.

"Hurt you?"

A brief moment of hesitation, but she nodded once more. He was angered beyond imagining at the pain he put her through. The need to retaliate overwhelmed him, and he began to plot his revenge before he was able to get control of himself. His grip on her shoulders tightened as he felt her cry harder. He wasn't just upset because the major hurt her, he was upset because the major did the one thing he'd been dreaming of doing with her since he met her. And now any association with the act would bring back traumatic memories instead of good ones. It was so like the Germans during this war. Any goodness, any slight glimpse of hope and happiness was drowned in a blitzkrieg of pain and suffering brought on by hatred.

"I'm sorry," She pulled back suddenly and wiped her tears.

"Don't apologize." He was astonished, but held her hands in his.

"I let my guard down," She said pulling away from him and moving to grab a handkerchief. "I should've never let my personal feelings interfere with the mission."

Without another thought he pulled her close to him and kissed her. Forceful, but full of a passion and care that she never could experience with the major. He didn't know what came over him. Maybe it was the overwhelming mix of emotions and the fact that he didn't want to die without having done it, sober and unhindered by blurred lines. As angry and hurt as he was at what Hellstrom had done, he needed her to know how much he truly cared for her. She kissed him back more than willingly. The love and intimacy she felt in the way he kissed her brought even more tears to her eyes. She wanted this for so long, yet she couldn't help but feel that the experience was stained by the events of last night. She pulled back and held her hand against his cheek.

"I've wanted that for a long time." She replied. "I just wish…"

"What?" He asked, covering her hand with his.

"I wish the major hadn't been first."

"Well…I can't speak to what happened last night, but he wasn't the first to get a kiss."

She looked up at him confused.

"The night we planned everything, you drank more than your fair share, and we finally…"

"I…I thought that was a dream." She stared back in disbelief.

"No." He smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Though it was everything I dreamt it would be. I'd been thinking about doing that ever since I first laid eyes on you."

She couldn't say how often or how long she'd wanted to hear those words, but she was overwhelmed with hurt and disappointment at how everything unfolded. The fantasy she'd been living in her head seemed to become reality too late. She looked down and continued to sob.

"He won't hurt you again. I won't let him."

He touched his forehead to hers and held her tightly in his arms. She breathed in deeply and sighed. She wanted to believe him, wanted it to be true, but only time would tell. And in times like these there were never any guarantees.

…

The silk of the dress shone more brightly than any other fabric she'd worn in her life. Standing in front of the mirror she almost didn't recognize herself.

"Beautiful." Bridget smiled at her as she peeked in to her dressing room. "Absolutely beautiful."

It was hard for Anna to believe that, especially as she'd been used the night before, but it was key for her to try to move past that. She was determined that all of her energy from now on would be channeled into killing Hitler and every Nazi fucker she could find on premiere night. And she'd be damned if she didn't enjoy every minute of it.

…

She was quiet at dinner. Archie had so many things he wanted to tell her, to try to console her, but he knew there was nothing he could really say that could take away the pain. He picked at his food and took another drink before reaching across the table and taking her hand. Her eyes met his, and there were no words that needed to be said. Seeing him, being near him, made her feel all the more at ease. Safe. Which in these days was rare to find.

He kissed her goodnight and started walking towards his room when she stopped him.

"Will you…" She paused, unsure of how to phrase it. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

"Of course I will." He smiled softly and kissed her forehead and she instantly felt relief at him having known exactly what she meant.

He wrapped his arms around her and cradled her to himself as they slept. Admittedly it was the best she'd slept in a long time. His embrace was strong and protective, yet gentle and full of a tenderness she'd always longed for. She couldn't change what happened with the major, but she knew in her heart that Archie would make good on his promise to her.