A/N: Hello, everyone, I hope you're doing well! I apologize that I couldn't get this chapter out sooner. I had planned for it to be published in June, but I had ran into some personal issues in my life, mostly regarding my health, my grandmother, and new job. Let's just say that things were chaotic, but everything started to level out! Also, while I was out of commission, I watched the Korean drama Twenty Five Twenty One and it is so good. It's now one of my favorite shows of all time. Also, the main couple's dynamic reminds me of Madison and Sledge so much and that was a lovely bonus. If you like K-dramas and this fanfiction, I recommend watching 25-21.

Also, while I'm not happy that I had to delay the release of this chapter, I think it worked out great as it gave me time to edit/revise to my liking. (It also allows me time to curate new writing styles, too!) While I want to give you guys as many updates as I can, I don't want to sound rushed.

I'll have more A/N at the end, but without further ado, here's chapter 11. Please enjoy.

"I thought you were staying for one more week?" Madison asked, laying on Luz's bed as she watched him pack his belongings.

"I was, but something came up back home and I need to go," Luz explained.

"Really?" Madison arched an eyebrow at her friend's answer. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, Easter Sunday is coming up and I want to be home as soon as possible."

"Shit! Is next week Easter?" Madison jolted up from her spot. Truth be told, she's been so busy that she forgot about Easter weekend entirely. Hell, when was the last time she celebrated the holiday? 1941?

"I know, I was surprised too," Luz said. "I mean, when was the last time we celebrated?"

"Certainly not together," Madison pointed out. "I didn't even think about holidays or my own birthday when we were in service, especially once we were deployed."

"Yeah, no kidding," Luz paused as if he was going to add on, but he seemingly decided against it. "Sorry for cutting time short."

"No, no, it's okay," Madison waved off her friend's concern. "I think family's important, although I'm sure your mama would like one less mouth to feed."

Luz cackled. "Yeah, but I help out a lot with cooking and I fix the appliances, so she needs me more than anything."

"A man of many talents," Madison nodded. "And you still can't find work?"

"Ha ha, you're so funny," Luz deadpanned as he buckled his suitcase together. "Okay, I got everything packed, save for a few things."

"What time does your train leave tomorrow?" Madison asked.

"10:45 AM."

"Meaning we'll get there by at least 8:30 AM," Madison said before groaning and flopping down on the mattress. "That means I'm going to miss this week's Sunday service."

"It's okay to not go sometimes," Luz pointed out.

"I know, but it's been instilled. Mama always made us go to Sunday services at the least. She'd kick my ass if she knew I skipped," Madison thought out loud, staring at the ceiling.

"Hold on, move it, squirt," Luz stopped her, forcing her to move from the center of the bed and closer to the edge. He laid down next to her, also staring at the ceiling. "Okay, continue."

"Thanks," Madison replied sarcastically. "What was I saying..."

"You're repenting," Luz reminded her.

"Oh, yeah, that," Madison agreed. "Well, I said my mom would kick my ass if she knew I was skipping, but you know what? Sitting in the pews and drowning out the priest's weekly sermon...it makes me feel normal, and I miss that feeling."

"Sorry for making you skip," Luz apologized.

"No, no, it's okay," Madison reassured. "It's not like I want to go every Sunday. It's okay to take a day off every now and then. I do like to sleep in when I can."

"Yeah, we have the opportunity to do that now," Luz agreed. "Couldn't really do that in the army—in Easy Company."

"No kidding! We never caught a break," Madison chuckled. In training, Sobel would revoke passes from most of the unit; sometimes he would cancel everyone's pass. As much as it irritated Madison, most of Sobel's punishments hardened her and her comrades for what they would face once they dropped in Normandy.

Even before she enlisted, the Nurse Corps. kept Madison busy with studies and simulations. However, Madison came from a family of hard workers—she can't remember a time where her parents took a day off work, and Madison and her siblings were always doing something to contribute to the household in some way.

Madison sighed heavily. She had a strong drive to work, but it was okay to take breaks. That's applicable to both her career and personal development.

"Whatcha thinking about, Dorothy?" Luz peered over to his friend, who seemed lost in her thoughts.

"Ah, nothing," Madison answered. "Say, what do you plan on doing when you're back in Rhode Island? Are you going to let your mama baby you, or are you going to try to find work again?"

"I dunno," Luz shrugged. "You got any ideas?"

"Hmmmm," Madison hummed, thinking about possibilities for her friend. "I mean, I'm sure there's plenty of work to go around—you have more luck as a man, but what kind of skills or passions do you have? I know you can do anything, but I think you work really well with tinkering and talking to people."

"That's a shock to hear you say that I'm good with people," Luz joked.

"Well, it's true," Madison stated. "Do I find you annoying? Ja, but you can be charismatic and I've seen that people do enjoy talking with you. You're a good guy—they're very hard to come by these days. My aunt and uncle like you, but I know my parents and grandparents would like you too."

"That's a high compliment," Luz said. "Hey, isn't your dad a blue collar worker?"

"He works in construction, yeah," Madison agreed. "But my papa can work on anything, he's very smart like that. I hate to say this, but you remind me of him in a few ways. I think that's why I was put off with you when we first met. You're a lot like my papa and I missed him."

"Awww, Maddie, you're so sentimental," Luz teased his friend.

"Shut up, I'm just speaking the truth," Madison scowled. Then, suddenly, Madison had an idea for Luz. Her scowl dropped as she made a realization on what Luz could possibly do.

"Hey! I have an idea!" Madison decreed, sitting up so she could look down on her friend. "You could be a consultant!"

"A connoisseur?"

"No, you dumbass, a consultant. Con-sul-tant," Madison drawled out the word to for Luz. "You know, you can give advice and recommendations...like for all those machines; maintenance is probably the word I'm looking for."

"No kidding?" Luz sat up, looking Madison straight in the eye. "Where the hell did you get that idea?"

"You never shut up and you're pretty good with machines," Madison stated. "I remember how quickly you were to assess and repair your radio, and you helped others, too. You helped Josh with his jeep in Austria, and weren't you helping Mr. Jamison with the sink just the other day?"

"Yeah, but..."

"No buts, Luz. With your charming personality and talented hands, you can go far in life."

Luz smiled serenely.

"Thanks, Maddie."

"Awe, Maddie, are you tearing up? Don't cry, I'll be back soon!" Luz assured his friend, patting Madison's head.

"Shut up. I'm not crying," Madison denied, hand swiping at Luz's arm. "And don't do that! I'm not a dog."

"Sorry," Luz chuckled as he retracted his arm.

"Do you have everything? Do you need anything?" Madison asked as she took in Luz's appearance. He was wearing casual clothing for his journey back to Rhode Island, and his suitcase was right by his side. His train hadn't arrived yet, so the two friends were standing on the designated platform together.

"Yes, mom, I have everything. I don't need anything, either, so don't worry. You know they offer amenities on the trains, right?"

"Yeah, but...I worry, okay? I just want to make sure you'll have a safe trip home," Madison admitted as she crossed her arms. "You know I'll do anything for you."

"Believe me, I know," Luz agreed, briefly reflecting on Madison's actions as a medic. "But I can take care of myself. I'm a grown man, you know!"

"Hmmm..." Madison hummed as she cocked out her hip and tapped her index finger against her chin. This had become a habit of hers when she was in thought. "Debatable."

"Oh, can it, kid," Luz rolled his eyes. Although, he knew what Madison's answer would be.

Madison and Luz continued to converse with each other, eventually sitting on a bench as they waited for Luz's train. They talked about many subjects, including their families, future careers, movies, comics, and whatever else came to mind.

Then, all too soon, Luz's train rolled into the station. The two friends watched as people were loaded off the train before a few started to board.

"Well, that's my cue," Luz sighed, standing up with Madison following suit. The two friends turned to face each other.

"Thanks for being a great hostess," Luz told Madison, sticking his hand out.

Very manly, Madison thought as she firmly shook Luz's hand. For a moment, Madison couldn't say anything. She was afraid her voice would crack. However, Madison was able to compose herself at the last minute.

"Thanks for coming down," Madison said, momentarily glancing towards her shoes. "Write to me when you get home so I know you're safe, okay?"

"I didn't realize how worried you are for me," Luz said.

"You're my friend, of course I'm worried for you," Madison admitted. "I just want you and the others to be okay."

Luz smiled at Madison's confession. He knew that Madison was a caring individual, even if she didn't always show it or outright admit it to others.

"I'll be fine, don't worry. Remember what I said? We have support and we'll have that no matter where we are or how far we're from each other."

"You're right," Madison nodded, looking towards the train. "You should probably get on board now before they leave you behind. Get out of here."

Luz laughed at her bluntness. "Will do, ma'am. Tell your family that I give them my thanks."

"I will," Madison promised. "Now go. I mean it; I'm sick of you being here."

"Okay, geez, I get it!" Luz laughed again. He and Madison walked towards the train, but Luz suddenly stopped before he boarded. He looked down at Madison.

"Hey, can you do me a favor?" Luz asked. Madison nodded. "Tell me when you get your acceptance letters."

Madison beamed but did her best to contain her excitement.

"Of course. Of course I will."

Luz smiled. "Good. I believe in you. Good luck, Dorothy."

Luz boarded the train, giving his friend one last wave before he entered the passenger car. Madison stepped back, and watched as Luz found a window seat. He waved at her again just in time for the train whistle to release a loud, high pitch whine. Slowly, the train exited the station with Luz still waving at her. Madison waved back, watching as the train left Mobile. She stood on the now empty platform, watching the train until it was out of sight.

In a matter of minutes, George Luz was out of her sight and out of Mobile. He would go home to spend time with his family for Easter Sunday. He was lucky he could do that. Not many could do that.

While Madison could technically go home, return to Dayton, she wasn't ready. She missed her city, her family, and her friends, but...she was stuck. She was in an odd transition in her life and she didn't know what to do.

Despite her internal turmoil, Madison knew that she liked it in Mobile. It was similar to Dayton, yet different. She liked that despite the cons of the cultural attitudes. But the weather, stable job, and support she has here? Sure, it would have been nice to have this in Dayton, but Mobile was fine. Besides, she found that she had goals down here, and she wouldn't go home until she was ready. However, just because Madison liked it in Mobile, it didn't mean she wanted to be here all the time. She realized that as she watched Luz's train leave the city.

What do I do now?

"It's always hard, watching a loved one leave."

Madison quirked an eyebrow as she heard a familiar voice. She turned to her side to find that Paul from her group therapy sessions was standing next to her.

"Paul, what are you doing here?"

"What does it look like? I'm waiting for the next train," the young man answered, holding his suitcase in the air to emphasize his reply. "And I happen to be boarding on this platform."

"You're leaving?"

"I'm visiting my brother and his wife. They just welcomed their first child, so I decided that it was time to pay a visit."

"Oh! That's exciting," Madison nodded. "Will you be gone for long?"

"A few weeks," Paul answered. "But I need it. As much as I like living in Mobile, I need to get away for a bit. I'm visiting family, but a few buddies from the war too."

Madison smiled at Paul's excitement as she listened to his plans. As she paid attention, a seed of an idea was planted into her head.

"Paul," Madison began. "Besides your family, how many others are you visiting?"

Paul briefly mentioned the friends he would visit. There weren't too many (Madison didn't question that), but Paul was determined to see them within his time frame of absence.

"I see," Madison said, her thumb and forefinger rubbing her chin in thought. Paul could tell that his young friend was storming a plan, but did not ask to reveal her feelings.

Madison looked up to Paul, eyes gleaming with a new goal in mind.

"Good luck on your trip, Paul, I hope you have fun," Madison said her farewell before leaving the train station.

As Madison stepped out of the station, she glanced down at her watch. Church services would end in about an hour, but Jack and Sarah liked to mingle after services too, so who knows when they would return home.

What do I do now? Madison thought to herself as she scanned the area. Luz isn't here, and I'm sure everyone else is doing their Sunday thing. Sounds like I have time alone for a few hours.

With her hands in her pockets and taking large, childish steps, Madison began to venture in town without a particular destination in mind. She would occasionally glance up at shops, but nothing really stood out to her.

The cinema? She's already seen the current showings there. The floral shop? Too cheerful for today and her favorite employee didn't work this Sunday. The diners she frequented? Nothing sounded good...

Damn, I'm not doing so hot, Madison thought to herself, momentarily stopping in her tracks to tug at her shirt collar. As she thought to herself, she looked around and realized that she had stopped at one of the gas stations...on the other side of town.

"Damn, did I walk that far? What time is..." Madison glanced at her watch. "Oh, I still haven't been out for long. Ha, forgot how fast I travel by foot."

Madison observed the gas station. There weren't any cars in attendance, and it looked like the store wasn't busy either. Madison took that as a sign for a break and inspect the merchandise.

Madison walked through the doors of the general store, nodding her head in greeting to the clerk before browsing the merchandise. There wasn't a large selection of drinks, but Madison ended up getting a few snacks, some postcards, and small toys.

After paying for her items, Madison left the gas station. With one hand in her pocket and the other holding her bag, the young woman was calculating her next move. She could see a bench not too far from her, perhaps she could—

"Miss Klein?"

Madison looked up, turning herself towards the direction of the voice. It was Eugene Sledge who spoke to her as he stood in front of his car as the gas station attendants took care of his vehicle.

"Sledge?" Madison asked, truly surprised to see him there. "What did I say about calling me by my first name?"

"Sorry, ma'am," Sledge apologized. "I've been trying to get your attention for a few minutes, but it's like you couldn't hear me."

Madison blinked as if she was trying to comprehend Sledge's explanation. He had been trying to talk to her for a few minutes?

How long have I been standing here? Did I cash out? Madison furrowed her eyebrows, momentarily glancing at her bag. If she was having a thousand yard stare again...

"I see," Madison nodded. "But still, you don't have to say 'Miss Klein'. You could just say Klein, I'm used to that."

Madison couldn't help but grin, as if she was teasing Sledge. It seemed to work as Sledge averted his eyes and he released a small cough. As much as Madison enjoyed the little charade, she couldn't help but wonder...

"Hey, why are you here? You're not stalking me, are you?"

"No! No," Sledge asserted. "If anything, I should be asking you that. You're on the other side of Mobile, close to my home."

"I am?" Madison asked, looking around. Did she really walk that far? "How far away is the train station from here? I was there earlier to see Luz off."

"Well, it's not too far if you drive, but it's quite a wal—wait, how did you get here?"

"I walked."

"You walked," Sledge repeated nonchalantly before realizing what Madison was implying. "Wait a minute. You're telling me that you walked all the way from the train station?! That's far for anyone!"

"It's nothing I can't handle. I've walked farther than this big city."

"Sure you have," Sledge said.

"Well, it's true. And I bet I could walk all the way home, too."

"I'm sure you can, but you shouldn't walk by yourself, especially with that bag. It looks heavy."

"It's nothing," Madison brushed off the concern as she adjusted her bag. "It's just some snacks and other items I got. I was going to sit down and eat a few things, saving the rest for my walk back."

"You're not walking home. That's too far."

"Well, your home is pretty far from town when you walk...and I have completed that journey before, remember?"

"Doesn't make it right."

Madison gave him a confused look. "'Doesn't make it right'? What the hell does that mean?"

Sledge didn't give her an answer.

"Listen, Miss Klei–"

"Madison."

"–Madison," Sledge corrected himself. "Madison, I know you're upset about your friend leaving. I know that you like to be alone, but...it's too dangerous."

"It's too dangerous?" Madison repeated before scoffing. "Jesus, you're something else."

The same can be said about you, Sledge thought. He was sure that his sentiment could be seen in his facial expression because Madison had narrowed her eyes at him.

Uh oh. I hope she's not angry, Sledge couldn't help but feel nervous. He knew that Madison had a short temper. Her brother did as well, even though he was generally good-natured. Their uncle was the same way, which made Sledge briefly wonder if this was a family trait.

Sledge cleared his throat. He opened his mouth to say something but the gas attendant behind him beat him to it.

"Mr. Sledge? Your vehicle is filled. Please pay the clerk inside," the young attendant said. He then noticed Madison. "Oh, hello miss. It's a fine Sunday, isn't it?"

"It is. The weather is lovely today," Madison agreed. Although Sledge is right. I am feeling down about Luz leaving.

"I'll be back," Sledge informed both the attendant and Madison. However, his next words were directed to Madison only: "Stay here."

Madison blinked comically as Sledge walked towards the store. What did he just–?

"Who do you think I am?!" Madison shouted after Sledge, who ignored her.

The nerve of him! Madison thought angrily, still standing in her spot in a comical manner. Meanwhile, the gas attendant shuffled awkwardly.

"Sounds like your boyfriend is concerned for you, miss."

Madison sputtered. "I–psht—what?! No. No, no, no, we're not together! What makes you think that?"

The gas attendant looked embarrassed. "My apologies, miss. It's just that you two—"

Madison held up her free hand to stop the attendant from speaking. "You don't have to explain. It's fine. Really, it is."

"Thank you."

Madison nodded in acknowledgement. Luckily, Madison and the attendant didn't have to speak anymore since Sledge came back just in time.

"I paid the bill," Sledge informed the gas attendant before turning his attention to Madison. "Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"Ready to go home."

"Nah, I was going to go sit on that bench over there," Madison answered, her thumb pointed towards her designation, which was across the street and adjacent from her current position. "So, I'm going to go. I'll see you later."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Sledge said.

"I don't care what you think. I'm not going home yet."

Sledge rolled his eyes. Why was Madison so stubborn? Why couldn't she realize that he was worried for her to be out alone? What if someone undesirable came along? Sledge could never forgive himself if something happened to Jack and Sarah's niece, to Matt's brother, to his frie—wait, were they friends? Sledge wasn't entirely sure. Yes, they're at least acquaintances and colleagues, but friends? Something felt off about that label. The term "friend" didn't seem very fitting for them.

Ah, well, enough about that for now.

"Well...can I join you?"

"Why? And don't tell me because you don't want me to be alone. I don't care about that."

Sledge stared at her. The gas attendant, who had not yet left the couple, inhaled sharply. He could feel the tension in the air.

"Well, I care about that," Sledge affirmed. "As I said before, I knew that Luz was leaving today and I knew you would be upset. I actually thought about checking up on you but...well, here we are."

Madison arched an eyebrow as she studied Sledge. Unfortunately, he was not an open book so it was hard to understand any true intentions from the young man.

"Check up on me?" Madison asked.

"Yes," Sledge said. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Madison stared at him blankly. She didn't know what to say to that. Eventually she let out a small, "Oh," before briefly averting her eyes from Sledge. It appeared that Sledge's words were finally registering in her mind. However, Madison didn't give it further thought as she returned her gaze to the young man.

"Well, thank you," Madison started. "But you have your car, and you need to get out of here, so..."

"How many times have you been in a car?"

"Um, a few times? I know I said I walk a lot but Jesus, Sledge, I was born and raised in an industrial city, and I was in the military. I've used transportation."

There was an awkward silence between the two once again. Madison couldn't help but feel guilty for her sharp tongue. She knew by now that Sledge just didn't know how to talk to people.

"...but I haven't been in a car like this too many times, I suppose..." Madison trailed off, hoping that Sledge would catch her hint.

"Oh," Sledge nodded. "Oh! Well, I came here to get refueled, but I need to drive this car around...would you like to join me?"

"You don't want me to be by myself on a bench...but you want me to be in an operating car with you?"

Sledge huffed, starting to get annoyed with Madison's antics.

"Madison, just get in the damn car."

Madison grinned cheekily, hands up in a surrendering manner.

"Don't need to tell me twice."

Madison walked towards Sledge and his car, suddenly stopping when she got near Sledge and looked up at him. Sledge was about to ask if there was an issue, but Madison beat him.

"Jesus, you're tall," she blurted.

"Excuse me?" Sledge inquired, not sure if he heard Madison right.

"I—" Madison choked out as she felt herself blushing in embarrassment. "It's nothing. Absolutely nothing. Let's just go."

Madison didn't give Sledge the time to respond as she hurried into the passenger side. Sledge hurried into the driver's seat. He ignited the engine and began to drive, leaving the gas station and the attendant behind.

"Jesus, they're weird."

It was silent in the car as the two young adults stared ahead. However, Madison would look out the passenger window every once in a while to watch the scenery pass by her. Her hands would fiddle with her bag full of goodies, too, so she was somewhat distracted.

Some time had passed, and Sledge ended up driving them to a park on Madison's side of town.

"A park?" Madison asked.

"You said you didn't want to go home yet, so I drove around for a while before deciding that we could come here. It's a nice park; great for walking."

Madison stared at Sledge, who had yet to make eye contact with her. There was silence between the two again before Sledge spoke up.

"What?"

"'We'? You're not leaving?"

Sledge sighed. "Miss. Klein, I don't want you to be by yourself. Even if the park is safe, I'd rather you have company."

"You—you!" Madison pointed a finger at him before taking a deep breath. "Alright, fine. I get it. It's you who doesn't want to be alone, so you want to keep me company."

Madison's statement made Sledge whip his head towards her. "That's not it! I'm telling you, it's not safe for you to be out here by yourself. Mobile is not like your home city!"

"All cities have a risk of crime, dumbass. I know how to take care of myself and besides, I have traveled in Europe as part of the United States Military," Madison reminded him. "Trust me, if something bad happened to me, it would have happened already."

As soon as Madison said that, she went rigid. Sledge recognized that she remembered something from her time in service—he's sure he's had that same reaction himself in the past.

"Madi—"

"I'm okay," Madison breathed out. She sighed once more. "You know what, thanks for being considerate. I know I act otherwise, but thanks."

That was lame, Madison thought. I hope he didn't notice how pathetic that was.

"I'm just doing what anyone would do."

Madison shook her head in disagreement.

"You're wrong, but that's a conversation for another day. I'm getting out of the car and walking to the nearest bench. Do you want to join me?"

"Sure," Sledge agreed.

The two young adults stepped out of the car, shutting the doors. Sledge made sure he pocketed his keys before following Madison, who had already sat down on a bench.

"You picked a nice spot," Sledge commented, standing near Madison. She had picked a bench that was along a cobbled path that headed towards the lake. There were a beautiful, assorted group of flowers blossoming near them too.

"I like flowers, and people watching," Madison admitted. The last activity made Sledge roll his eyes. "Hey, it's fun observing people! Anyway, sit down," she patted the spot on the other end of the bench.

"What, you don't want me to sit next to you?" Sledge asked sarcastically but sat down in the spot nonetheless.

"Boys have cooties," Madison retaliated before she placed her bag in the middle of them. Sledge didn't even notice that Madison took her bag with her.

"You brought your bag?"

"Um, yeah, it has my snacks in it. I had planned on sitting down and snacking before you kidnapped me," Madison explained.

"I didn't kidnap you. You came with me willingly."

"Eh, you kind of coerced me, you said 'Miss Klein, get in the damn car!'" Madison did an impersonation of Sledge, making her voice deep and mocking his accent.

"I do not sound like that."

"Yes, you do."

"You know what? I'm changing the subject," Sledge objected. "Say, what do you have in that bag? What did you buy?"

"Do you really want to know?" Madison grinned.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

Without another word, Madison took off her jacket, the inside facing upwards as she placed it on the bench. She then dumped the contents out of the bag. Sledge saw that Madison had snacks, confections, postcards, and some toys.

"Really?" Sledge asked as he picked up scatter jacks and some baseball cards. "Why the hell did you buy these?"

"Don't tell me you're against having fun, Baby Sledge," Madison shook her head as she took the baseball cards out of his hands. "And you be careful with these! Baseball cards still aren't being manufactured but that store had some. You know I had to get these before they're gone!"

"Didn't take you to be a baseball fan," Sledge commented, as he placed the scatter jacks down. He eyed her food next. "Did you spend all your money on this?"

"Only my allotted budget for the week," Madison admitted. "And I wasn't going to eat all of this today. I was actually going to put some of this in my desk tomorrow."

"Ah," Sledge nodded as if everything Madison said made complete sense. "So, Twinkies, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Dot's, and Reese's must be a staple for your shopping list. Along with toys and cards."

"Guilty as charged," Madison said, before picking up a package of M&M's. "Can't forget these."

"M&M's?!" Sledge sounded surprised. "You bought M&M's too?!"

"Um, yeah. I loved eating these little bastards overseas. One of the best inventions of all time."

"You sure love your snacks," Sledge said as he watched Madison open the packet of M&M's.

"They spark joy," Madison admitted as she placed a few M&M's in her hand. She looked up at Sledge. "Say, did the Marines get M&M's with their rations?"

"Yes."

"I thought so. You sounded...excited when you saw that I had M&M's," Madison noted slyly. "Say...would you like some? My treat."

"No, I couldn't," Sledge denied.

"Hey, I'm offering here and let me just say, I don't offer my food to anyone," Madison revealed. "Not even to jolly old Saint Luz or Babe Heffron."

"Really now?"

"Mmhmm," Madison hummed before popping a few M&Ms in her mouth. "Oh, this is so delicious. You don't know what you're missing out on...unless?"

Madison extended her packet of candy towards Sledge.

"Well, alright," Sledge caved in. "If you're offering, I suppose I can't refuse."

"Great. Now take some! You can have some of my other candy, too. Just don't eat the Almond Joy, that's for Sarah's mother."

Sledge accepted Madison's offer as he ate a few M&M's.

"You're right, that is good. I forgot how much I missed M&M's."

"Apparently a lot of vets do. My friend Chester was telling me that M&M's became mass-produced because of how popular it was. Same for Hershey Bars, they're really popular now. Oh, man, I bet Lieb is living his best life. He got angry with Luz because he refused to give out the Hershey's one time."

"Why?" Sledge asked, having no idea who Lieb was.

"Ah, apparently there wasn't enough to go around. Which is funny, because we didn't have a lot of men in the unit at that time..." Madison trailed off, making the mood momentarily somber. "Ah, well, I was running a fever at that time, so I doubt chocolate would have helped anyway."

"I don't know, you seem to run on sugar based on your recent shopping spree."

"Whatever," Madison dismissed, before looking out towards the scenery of the park. "It's nice out today. The weather is always so nice here."

"Sure is," Sledge agreed. "When I was younger, you could never get me to come inside."

"Really?" Madison asked, observing Sledge. "I can see it, but at the same time I can't."

"Why?"

"I just can't imagine you being like any boy I know, playing sports or exploring the wilderness," Madison answered. "You don't strike me as the boy who would jump off the roof with an umbrella, either."

Sledge chuckled as he took some Dot's. "You're right. I wasn't as physically active like most kids, like Sid. I was...I was frail in my youth. Did you know that?"

"No," Madison lied. She promised Sidney that she wouldn't let it slip that she knew some of Sledge's past health issues.

"I contracted rheumatic fever as a child and it ended up messing with my heart," Sledge explained.

"No kidding?" Madison couldn't help but feel shocked. "I...wow. That must have been terrible."

"It left me frail. I lost two years of schooling. My father helped me through it," Sledge explained. "He would take me outdoors."

"What would you do?"

"We would hunt doves but I took the time to watch the world," Sledge explained. "Being outside did tremendous wonders."

"Hm," Madison nodded. "I don't think of you as the type to hunt, though."

"I haven't done it in years," Sledge admitted. "It's been a long time."

"But you still like being outside," Madison said. "Especially in your pajamas."

"I only do that at my house and when we don't have unexpected guests," Sledge couldn't help but roll his eyes. "But, yes, I enjoy being in the yard."

"Do you do anything?"

"I observe my surroundings, mostly. I can do it in peace now; no one will disturb or sneak upon me," Sledge explained.

"You're not out in the field, you mean," Madison stated.

Sledge gulped, his hand clenching on his leg.

"Yes."

His reply was curt and uncomfortable. Madison knew she made a mistake with her comment, but he did allude to it. She couldn't help it.

"I understand," Madison said. "Now that...now that we're not there anymore, we can just rest. No one can disturb us, not in the same way like, well, you know."

Sledge appreciated Madison's attempts of softening the subject, but he did not know how to reply. Instead, he changed the subject.

"What about you? What did you do as a child?"

"What did I do?" Madison took the bait as she looked away. "Well, I played with my sister a lot. We're twins, so we always had a playmate. If you saw one of us, then the other wasn't too far behind."

"Her name is Morgan, right?"

"Right. I'm surprised that you remembered," Madison admitted. Sure, she's mentioned her sister a few times during their downtime at work, but Morgan wasn't a frequent topic. As much as she loved Morgan, sometimes talking about her made Madison miss her twin.

"What would you do?" Sledge asked.

"Ah, anything and everything, really," Madison replied, her left hand scratching the back of her head. "We had to use our imagination a lot since we grew up during the Depression. We'd make toys, play games like jump rope or hopscotch. We'd have the occasional odd job to help out."

"You had jobs?"

"Not jobs per se, more like tasks or responsibilities," Madison explained. "Anything from doing housework, babysitting, or even collecting cans were things my sister and I did the most. Matt was the one who had a real job, besides mama and papa; papa was out of work for a while...although he would do freelance work at fair prices. He still does, actually."

"What does your father do?"

"He's in construction, but can work on anything, really," Madison explained. "He actually built a good chunk of our house furniture. He even made something for Jack and Sarah as a wedding gift—I'll show you if you ever enter their house."

"That's right, Matt talked about your folks sometimes," Sledge remembered. "Although, he never really talked about what he did growing up."

"Yeah, he was humble like that," Madison nodded. "He would praise everyone but himself. He also admired our parents, even our grandparents."

"Well, what did your brother do?"

"He worked in a cemetery for a family friend. He'd do anything he was asked to do, whether it was cleaning headstones, handling orders, helping the grieving families," Madison explained. "Shit, I think Alphonso even had him dig graves. They both said it built character."

"That...that makes sense," Sledge said.

"Yeah, and it's ironic now that I think about it," Madison agreed, a small chuckle escaping her lips as she looked down at her lap. "I miss him so much."

Sledge swallowed hard at her small statement. He glanced over to see her in her current position. Head bent down, hands in lap and no longer toying with her cards or candy. Based on her side profile, Sledge could tell that she may have struck a nerve...which might have been his fault.

"I'm sorry that I brought up a painful thought," Sledge said hoarsely.

Madison shook her head, looking at him.

"No, don't apologize. It's not your fault," Madison rejected the apology. "If anything, I'm glad you asked. It's good to remember things, even if something like Matt's old job is dark humor now."

There was an awkward silence, almost as if one person was afraid of triggering the other. After some time, however, Madison spoke up, as she couldn't handle the tension.

"We did go to school, though. That was a real luxury: not many children we knew went to school."

"Really?" Sledge inquired.

"Ja. While our family made decent money, it was still hard for us to get by while we grew up. It was worse for others, though. I remember my best friend's fiancé didn't attend school very long. He had to quit and help out even at a young age. That was pretty common, though, even in a bigger city like Dayton."

"Wow," Sledge said. "And I thought contracting rheumatic fever and losing a few years of schooling was bad."

"Oh, I'm sure it was, but you graduated high school, right? That's quite a feat, even if education improved only a few years ago. You, my sister, and our younger brother have it good," Madison said. "Damn, Mikey's one lucky kid. Hope he gets a normal school experience."

It was quiet again, as if both Madison and Sledge ran out of things to say. That was fine with Madison and Sledge because they could enjoy the silence as they observed in the park's scenery.

"Thank you for the ride," Madison told Sledge as she exited the vehicle. "I would have walked back here eventually."

"But would you really want to walk from the park to your house? It's not on the other side of Mobile, but it's a long walk. It would have taken you days to get here."

Madison smirked. "I've marched farther than this city has to offer. Bye, Sledge, I'll see you tomorrow."

Madison shut the door and walked towards the house, feeling a surge of confidence and motivation. Sledge thought it would take days for Madison to reach the house from across town or the park? Please, she could have made it in a flash. She was like Jay Garrick, but cooler.

As she compared herself to the superhero, Madison remembered the training she and her company endured during wartime. Easy Company may have received the toughest training, but it only made them stronger in the end. Even after the war, veterans like Madison found themselves enduring civilian life. In some ways, she was like a superhero because of that, and people called her such even though she would deny the claims. After all, she and her fellow veterans knew who the true heroes were.

Life's funny that way, Madison thought to herself, semi-dejectedly, as she entered the house, shutting the door behind her.

"I'm home!" Madison shouted, hoping that someone was in the house. As much as she liked her alone time, there were times where she felt isolated. That's why she enjoyed Luz's company so much.

Silence filled the house as there was a lack of reply to Madison.

"Figures," Madison huffed. "Ah, well, that's fine. I need to write to some of my friends, anyway, but first..."

Madison walked into the kitchen where the telephone was located. She quickly dialed a number and waited for her call to go through. A few seconds later...

"Yowza!"

"Hey, Bill, how are you?"

"Maddie! Jesus, kid, how have you been? I haven't heard ya voice in years!"

"Bill, I saw you...oh, it has been a little over a year now," Madison realized. The last time she saw Bill was when he lost his leg in Belgium. That was almost sixteen months ago.

"Sure has! Toye and I were pissed that you didn't visit us in Jersey."

"Sorry, I had other things to worry about."

"I know, I'm just yanking your chain. How've you been, Maddie?"

"I've been mostly good," Madison said. It was true, she has felt better in recent weeks. "I got something to ask you, though. How would you feel if I came to visit you in Philly?"

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I wanted to make a quick announcement: in the fall, I will start graduate school, so I'm not sure how the update schedule will be. Realistically, updates may become a bit sporadic. I don't want it to be like this, but education comes first. That being said, I will do my best to make time for this story. I love it so much as I have been attached to my characters for years (and HBO War for even longer, haha!), and it allows me to be creative. I try to do something new every time I write, which I hope is paying off.

Before I leave, I just wanted to make a few quick notes about some of the references here:
1) All the candies (Twinkies) included were in existence at this time. M&M's became a popular sensation because originally, they were made for soldiers (the chocolate wouldn't melt thanks to the coating). Once the war ended, the veterans missed the candy so much that it became mass-produced as a result!

2) Baseball cards ceased to be printed due to war-time rationing. Companies wouldn't print them again until about 1947-48. So, as a baseball fan, if Madison spots those bad boys she'll buy them!

3) Madison is making references to school education prior to about 1940-41. It's true: the education system was not very good/was very roundabout up until around World War II/early 1940s. That was due to many things, but Madison is reflecting how it was in the 1930s because she was growing up in that time (she was born in 1927). All I have to say is: it must suck growing up in the 1930s before your country enters a war in the early 1940s.