By morning it was a new day. The sun still shone, the birds still sang, the French were as rude as ever. In an effort to clear her head, she'd gone to pick up her dress for the premiere. Bridget offered to drop it off at the apartment, but after the attack they knew they couldn't risk any information being compromised, especially not where she and Archie lived.

"What's the name, miss?" The salon attendant asked.

"Tremblay."

The attendant's brow furrowed.

"Is something wrong?"

"I believe that order was already picked up."

"Oh really? By who?"

"A Gestapo officer came in and retrieved it. I believe his name was Hellstrom."

Her heart dropped.

"Thank you."

She turned and left immediately, hastily walking through the door. She breathed in the air as best she could. Her hands trembled as she grasped her stomach to steady her breathing. She couldn't panic, not now and not ever. As she composed herself the same black car from the night before pulled up to the curb once again. But this time the major himself sat in the backseat and rolled down his window to greet her.

"Hello, my love," He smiled. "Come, I've gotten the car already."

She made no attempt to deny him. How could she on a busy Paris street? Reluctantly she got in the backseat with him.

"You're following me now?" She asked coldly.

"What kind of a greeting is that?"

His tone made her reconsider her stance; it was that of a command. The look in his eyes told her that if she didn't comply, she wouldn't last very long. He could ruin her life with a snap of his fingers. So she swallowed her pride and decided to become the actress her conman father would be proud to call his daughter.

"I'm sorry." She turned towards him, cupped his face, and kissed him as if she meant it. "You just startled me. I don't want to be seen."

He put his hand over hers, pleasantly surprised at her reaction.

"You don't need to care what anyone will think. In fact, you should be proud. Anyone on this street would lick my boots clean if I asked them to."

They both laughed, and she surprised herself at how convincing she could be. The only way to survive this was to be cold and calculating. Think like the enemy and bring them down when they least expect it.

"Now I suppose you're wondering where your dress is." He smiled like he was dangling a carrot in front of a hungry mule.

"And I suppose you know where it is?" She replied, taking the bait.

They drove back to his apartment. If Archie could see her taking his arm as they walked inside…well, she had to shake that thought off. For now, it wasn't about her or Archie. It was about winning the war. She just had to hold on until tomorrow evening.

Dieter smiled as he watched her take in the apartment once more. She looked so well in it as if she'd always belonged there. It would only be a matter of time until they could move her belongings in. She just had to tell her husband, but that could be easily taken care of.

"It's in the bedroom." He said, taking her hand and leading her in.

Anna half smiled and lovingly touched the dress. The silk gown hung on a velvet hanger, more beautiful than ever save for the fact that it was in this monster's possession.

"Try it on for me."

As soon as the door was closed she allowed herself a few moments of natural emotion before assuming her role once more. The dress really was gorgeous. More beautiful than any garment she'd ever owned, and she knew she had to wear it with confidence. No matter what the major did to her, he would never own her. Never.

"Beautiful." He said as she emerged. She felt sick to her stomach as he wrapped his arm around her waist and cradled her close to his body. "I can't wait to have you on my arm at the premiere."

She did her best to smile before he leaned in to kiss her. His hands roamed all over her body. Getting her out of the dress was just as easy as getting her in. Dieter smiled as he secured his conquest.

…

With every thrust of his hips, her hatred of him grew. His sighs of pleasure made the screams in her head grow louder until he emptied himself inside her. Then all went quiet, and she laid there used once more as he rolled off of her and lit another cigarette. This time when he offered her one, she accepted it. There was nothing she could do now. Nothing was sacred, and no one was safe in a world where he lived. Truth be told, it was all she could do to keep herself from putting his walther in her mouth and pulling the trigger. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. The sweetest revenge would be blowing him and the rest of the Nazi party to hell, so she focused her mind on that.

"You must tell your husband tomorrow night."

Again, it was a command. One that she definitely couldn't refuse, but perhaps manipulate in her favor.

"Why tomorrow night? He expects me to go to the premiere with him."

"And so you shall. No need to tell him anything explicitly, unless you wish to. Besides," He wrapped his arm around her waist once more, "unless he's a fool, I think he will figure it out fairly quickly."

She took another drag of her cigarette and stared out the window. The city of Paris looked so grand from this view. She wished it hadn't been tainted for her.

…

She glared down at the major as he drew slow, peaceful breaths. Sleep came easily to him, the monster. The air felt cold around her as a draft brushed against her bare frame, but she couldn't risk the sound of her slipping into her clothes waking him. The tip of the blade reflected momentarily off the moonlight. Of all the Nazis they were going to kill she would relish watching him die the most. Ruby red blood spilled over the pillow as she cut his throat. His eyes bulging as he gasped for breath that would never come. She smiled to herself. One more Nazi fuck in the grave.

He jolted up suddenly, seizing her throat with his hands and squeezing tightly as she writhed in pain underneath him. The look of vengeance in his eyes raised a fear within her that she never understood, never acknowledged until now. He knew. He knew everything. His maniacal laugh as he crushed her rang in her ears until she couldn't bear it anymore.

She jolted awake, gasping for breath.

"Help," She whispered, "Help, help."

"Darling," Archie stirred beside her and turned to lean over her.

"No!" She attempted to push him away, still half asleep. The major's face was fresh in her mind.

"Anna!" He gently pinned her and she breathed heavily as she batted her heavy eyes open. "You're dreaming, dearest."

She reached out and felt the soft cotton sheets. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, and she felt soft sobs well up within her chest that she was helpless to stop.

"Oh," She breathed. "I'm sorry."

She began to sob, and Archie cradled her tenderly to his chest, kissing her forehead.

"It's alright, you've nothing to apologize for." He said as he stroked her back.

"I dreamt that he knew. He knew everything and was going to do something about it."

"What are you talking about?" Archie asked, but in his heart he knew what she meant.

"The major knew about our plan. I…I couldn't breathe."

"Shhhh," Archie whispered and held her tighter as she sobbed quietly into his chest. "It was a nightmare. It's not real."

She slowly eased into his arms. Archie knew something was off with her when she returned with her dress, but she wouldn't reveal anything to him. He had no idea what she must be going through, so he resigned himself to leave it at that without pressing her. First and foremost, their allegiance was to their countries, and if this was how she needed to prepare herself for battle, then so be it. A part of him wished he could whisk her away from this place, taking all of her pain away with a snap of his fingers, but this world was broken and immovable when it came to devastation. At least with the war over they could begin to rebuild. They just had to hold on until tonight.