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The bus journey back to Aldbourne didn't go as smoothly as the journey to Brighton. Nelly was hungover and sat with a bag on her lap. It was her first time feeling properly hungover and her friends convinced her to eat a slice of toast and drink water but now, she felt sick to her stomach and was trying hard not to vomit on the bus. Malarkey was sitting next to her, and he constantly checked up on the girl. Nelly's forehead was pressed against the seats in front of them. Her boots swung back and forth as the bus bumped along the road. Alex and Skip sat near the back, both of them were fast asleep. Nelly wanted to sleep but she was too nausease to sleep.

"Donnie?" She whispered.

"Yeah?" Malarkey asked softly.

"How far?"

"Uh...". He checked his watch. And frowned. "Two and a half hours left".

"Oh, dear". Nelly mumbled, "Not...good".

"You'll be alright, pal". Malarkey assured her. "You've got a bag".

Face pinched with a small grimace; Nelly nodded faintly. "My bag...".

"That's right, your bag".

"Fuck that...".

A tiny smile lifted Malarkey's lip. "Right". He said lightly, "But if you need to be sick, you've 'gotta use the bag".

"No toilets?"

"No, none on this bus". Malarkey reminded her, "Just like the last bus". With a yawn, Malarkey rubbed his eyes. He was feeling hungover too but not as bad as Nelly, Skip or Alex. Thankfully, Skip and Alex had managed to sleep. But Nelly was still awake, constantly on the verge of being sick. And with a tiny groan, Nelly coughed and leaned into the bag – Malarkey's hand hovered by her back. But she took in a deep breath and then sighed quietly.

"Fuck...I thought that was it there...". Nelly said quietly.

A little amused, Malarkey huffed out a small laugh. But the humour soon left his eyes and face, when Malarkey remembered what Skip had told him. "Do you know what you said to Skip last night?"

Nelly's head turned to the side, and she looked at Malarkey, with horrified eyes. Because the thought of saying something bad to Skip was horrifying. "No...". She whispered, "Bad?"

"Oh, no – no, sorry". Malarkey soft apologised. "You didn't upset him – well, not really – "

"oh, dear...". Nelly whispered. And if possible, her face went paler.

"Shit, sorry – no, you weren't mean or anything". Malarkey assured her. "You just...you said something that worried him and...he told me and...". A tiny and concerned smile met his face, "Well, I guess I'm worried too, pal".

The horrified look left and Nelly appeared confused. "I said...I don't remember what I said".

"You were drunk". Malarkey pointed out, "You probably didn't mean it".

"Why?"

Malarkey shrugged. "People say a lot of things they don't mean when they're drunk".

Nelly frowned softly. "Okay". She whispered.

"Remember when I told you about my dad?" He asked softly, "And how he's very sad and doesn't talk or...or do much except sit and drink whiskey?"

She nodded faintly. "Yeah".

Malarkey softly pointed to his chest. "Our worry". He explained, "Is that you're sad like my dad".

Nelly frowned. "Oh...I don't like whiskey, Donnie".

And he almost smiled. "It doesn't matter, pal. I'm worried that...that you're very sad". He said to her gently, "And we just 'wanna help you".

Nelly worried that she told Skip how she truly felt inside – deep down inside. And she must have done for Malarkey and Skip to worry. "Drunk". Nelly said quietly, "I'm not sad...I...I said things I...".

Malarkey nodded along slowly.

But then, Nelly's legs felt weak, and her head spun. Eyes zoning out, it felt as though her mind had left her body. "It's hard...". She whispered faintly.

Malarkey frowned. "What is?" He asked quietly.

Blinking, Nelly broke out from her trance. She gave her head a faint shake. "It's hard...it's hard to remember...". She lied softly.

Malarkey's shoulders relaxed a little – he figured maybe Skip might have misheard Nelly or perhaps Nelly was drunk and didn't mean what she said. Either way, Malarkey didn't see the need to worry. He lit up a cigarette and leaned back against the seat. Nelly's head was back facing directly into the bag. Malarkey said to her, "You know, I think you'll be alright".

However, just as he finished saying that Nelly gagged.

Panicked, she whimpered out, "Donnie...".

Stubbing his cigarette out, Malarkey leaned forward and rubbed Nelly's back. "Or not – sorry, pal. Just try to relax, it'll be over soon".

Second to vomiting, the worst part was all the passengers on the bus could hear Nelly. And they'd turn to face the girl with disgust. Nelly just wanted the earth to swallow her up. For the next hour, she battled with her stomach. And by the end of it, Nelly was too weak to lift her head. A few tears rolled down her face and she couldn't even mop them up.

"Just – here...". Malarkey's hand went around her shoulders, and he brought Nelly's head onto his lap. She curled her legs up on the seat and closed her eyes. Malarkey's hand fell onto her back. "Just try and sleep, alright? We'll be home soon".

Nelly sniffed. "I'm not...drinking again, Donnie". She croaked tearfully.

"I know, pal". Malarkey soothed. "You're alright now".

"Yeah...". Nelly whispered, "Okay now, Donnie...".

Skip soon appeared by their seats. He frowned down at Nelly. "I heard...is she alright?"

"She's fine, Skip". Malarkey assured him.

"Alex is still asleep". Skip said quietly. "Get us the fuck to Aldbourne, huh?" He joked lightly.

Malarkey snorted out a tiny laugh. "Yeah".

...

A lot of wounded men arrived back from the hospital. The first three were Smokey, Mellett and Lipton. And then Luz, Jackson and Hughes. Nelly was very relieved upon seeing Hughes. She saw him inside their block, unpacking his things. And surprisingly, Hughes shook Nelly's hand with a smile – he was just so happy to be back with Easy Company again. They had a few days left of their furlough, and most of the men released from the hospital took off to London or Scotland. And Nelly's friends decided upon one last trip to London. She didn't go but she was invited that time.

Leaving the block, Nelly walked toward the wall and spotted a familiar figure approaching her. Climbing up and over the wall, Nelly jumped onto the other side. "Ronnie". She greeted quietly.

"Hey, kid". Speirs greeted back. "How was Brighton? Did you have fun?"

"Yeah...it was fun". Nelly replied.

Speirs gave a nod to the stables. "You 'wanna pack a bag and spend a few nights at my place?"

A small smile reached her lips. "Okay".

"Edwyna's with her sister". Speirs said, "She's spending the rest of the week there. It'll just be the two of us".

"Yeah, alright".

A few nights with her older cousin sounded fantastic to Nelly. Rushing into her block, she grabbed her duffel bag and shoved an armful of pants, vests, socks and whatever her arms could carry inside. Zipping the bag, Nelly shouldered it and left the stables. Jumping back over the wall she reached Speirs's side and the pair of them walked over to a 1930s Saloon. Nelly didn't know her cousin could drive, let alone own a car. But the man was twenty-four now, he was bound to know how to drive.

"We've got an hour's drive ahead of us". Speirs said, "It's warm out. You can roll down your window if it gets too hot in here".

"Ronnie...you have a car". Nelly pointed out.

"Yup – I've got a car". Speirs replied with a cigarette between his lips. "I bought it when we got back".

"It's a nice car".

"Thanks".

With that said, Speirs turned the key and brought his car to life.

Nelly sat back, relaxed and watched the passing rolling hills and grassy fields.

They drove to Gloucestershire and stopped by a two-story house on Robinswood Road. Speirs had bought his wife a house, which they started to make a home when he got back from combat. It was a lovely house. Three bedrooms, a large sitting room, a kitchen/dining room, they had a front and back garden. And a huge family bathroom. It was clear Speirs cared a lot about his wife and their home – the man had been busy decorating and fixing the place up.

"The plumbing was a mess when we bought it". Speirs said, "I had to call for a guy right before we left for Normandy – it's these old pipes".

Setting her duffel bag down, Nelly pulled off her boots and wandered into the living room. They had a radio, a fireplace, two armchairs and a three-seater couch. It was all very modern. Nelly's eyes moved toward the bookshelf Speirs had made – it was nailed to the wall. And then she saw family pictures on the mantelpiece. A few from Speirs and Edwyna's wedding and a few of just Edwyna and her sister and parents. But then, Nelly saw a picture of her mother holding a baby. Frowning, Nelly stood on the balls of her feet and lightly pressed her fingers against her mum's face.

"That's you". Speirs told her quietly. "You and your mom".

"Me?" Nelly whispered, eyes soon looking at the baby.

"Yeah". He confirmed. "You were tiny, huh? You were born three weeks early. Just like Jimmy".

Frowning, Nelly turned around and looked at Speirs. "Why?"

"Well, it's because your mom was sick". Speirs explained. "And – uh – that caused her to go into labour early".

"What's...labour?" Nelly asked, "Like...work?"

His lips twitched. Speirs shook his head. "Labour is when the baby is 'gonna be born".

She slightly grimaced.

Speirs appeared amused by her reaction. "Come on...it's not that gross. It's natural".

Nelly continued to grimace. "No...".

"You're too young for that, huh?" Speirs smiled.

"I'm...eighteen". Nelly nodded and agreed, "Too young".

"I 'wanna show you something".

"Okay".

Leading the way, Speirs walked out of the living room and up the stairs. When they reached the landing, Nelly spotted four doors. Three of which led into a bedroom – the other led inside the family bathroom. Speirs opened one of the doors and stepped inside. Nelly followed in after him. The room was a nice size, with a single bed, a desk and a wardrobe. It was plain but pretty.

"What do you think?" Speirs asked.

Nodding, Nelly's feet shifted against the wooden flooring. "It's nice". She said softly.

"You get a good view of the cows in the field across". Speirs mentioned.

A tiny smile met Nelly's lips.

"So, you like it?"

"Yeah". Nelly replied quietly. "It's...it's nice, Ronnie".

"Good". Speirs said, "Cause it's yours".

Frowning, Nelly looked up at her cousin. "What?"

"It's your room, Nelly". Speirs explained to her. "Why else would I buy a three-bedroomed house?"

"For...". Nelly whispered, "For...your babies?"

Speirs's head cocked to the side. "But not for my eighteen-year-old cousin? That hardly seems fair".

Eyes leaving her cousin, Nelly looked down at the floor. "Ronnie...".

A frown met Speirs's face. "Kid, I just...when the war is over, I want you to have a home". He said to her quietly, "And I 'wanna take care of you".

"You won't be fighting forever, kid".

Nelly's eyes closed.

"Edwyna really likes you". Speirs added. "She wants you here, just as much as I do".

Nelly bit down on her bottom lip.

"Besides, we're 'gonna need your help". He said, "Edwyna's having a baby".

Huffing softly, Nelly rubbed her forehead. "That's...a lot of...happy things". She whispered.

Smiling small, Speirs set a hand on Nelly's shoulder. "Yeah, it is".

Nelly could remember the room she shared with Jimmy. It was small, damp and dark – nothing like the room she was currently standing in. "What about...America?" Nelly quietly asked.

"We'll move back one day". Speirs said, "But I don't 'wanna rush Edwyna out of her country".

"What if...you don't like living with me?"

A soft smile settled on his face. "That won't happen, kid".

Swallowing down a lump in her throat, Nelly took a step to the side and walked by her cousin to reach the window. Looking outside, she saw plenty of cows grazing in a field. It didn't fully sink in for Nelly that she now had a place to call home. Nelly's mind was still set on her previous thoughts about when the war came to an end. She didn't think she'd ever fit into a peaceful world, not after fighting all of her life. She didn't know how to settle in a normal home, with a cousin who loved and wanted to take care of her.

Speirs watched her cousin quietly – wondering what she was thinking. Eventually, the girl let out a sigh and turned around to face him. "Why was mum sick?"

"She had this...women problem". Speirs tried his best to explain.

Nelly nodded slowly. "I can see it...the word but...I can't say it".

"My mom doesn't have it but our Grandmother did". He said, "That's how your mom got it".

Nelly pointed to her chest. "I have it?"

"I don't think so". Speirs said, "I think you would've known by now, Nelly".

She scratched the palm of her hand and nodded slowly. "Right".

"But if you did...". Speirs added, "You know we'd – well, you'd get the best treatment. I'd make sure of that".

"My mum...she knew she had it before she was pregnant?"

Speirs nodded. "The doctors warned her pregnancy would be dangerous". He said, "But she got pregnant twice and had two healthy babies".

Nelly shook her head. "No...Jimmy was deaf and sick".

"Right". Speirs said quietly. "Of course". He said, "But you were both...alive".

"Me...I'm...weird". Nelly whispered. "Different".

Walking over to Nelly, Speirs then knelt in front of her. "Different isn't bad, Nelly". He said to her softly, "You're smart, kind and brave. That's what you are".

Nelly wasn't sure how to respond to that.

Speirs smiled. "You 'wanna explore this place? How about a walk?"

She nodded. "Yeah, alright".