Back in England the great 500 year old manor was being readied for the upcomming Christmas celebration in 3 weeks but neither the lord of the house, nor its mistress felt much like celebrating. They had just recieved word that their only son had gone missing in action, presumed dead. Marguerite was inconsolable. Both Mary and John did everything they could to try to get her to so much as leave her room. All she ever left for was to go to the convelesant home for boys who had returned injured, helping to nurse them back to health and send them home. She could see Will in every hurt man and for the first time in her life, she truely began to pray--pray that somewhere, a woman like herself was taking care of her boy.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Em dreaded saying goodbye. The train that was to take her further south was leaving in an hour but she couldn't leave without saying goodbye to Will. She had to attmit, the last few weeks, getting to know him, letting him get to know her, were the best thing this wretched war ever produced. She held her blue coat closer as she walked across the camp twors the tent where he was, iggnoring the snow. Cursing Belgum for the wicked early winter and longing for home, she wished she could take Will up on his offer to return to England. What was honestly keeping her? She'd seen so much death and sickness some nights she just wanted to scream. Sighing she stepped into the tent...only to find Will's bed empty. She just staired in shock. She knew he was due to return to England but he wouldn't have left without saying goodbye...would he?

She asked around but no one could tell her a thing in typical army fashion. Her time was running out. Finially she just grabbed her ruck sack and headed for the dilapidated train station. She knew it was silly, but she waited on the platform, praying he'd come. Finially the wistle blew and she stepped on board, only to hear him call out her name. Turning she saw him run up as the train lurched in preperation for leaving.

"I thought you left.." she said softly, finding it hard to iggnore him when he put his arms around her small waist and pulled her close.

"I had to get something. Stay or go, it's your choice and I cant force you no matter how much I want to or love you but I needed to replace something.." he said a bit out of breath handing her a rag wrapped package.

With shaking hands she slowly pulled off the rags, revealing a small rag doll.

"I know she can't replace the one I....expirimented on, bu-" and he was cut off as Em threw her arms around him and kissed him. Finially he pulled away but still held her close. "Don't go. Come home with me."

"What'll I do?"

"We have newspapers in England. Or we can go to America. We'll figure it out later but all I know is if you leave I'll never see you again....and I cant live with that."

Em bit her lip and glances away from him, then back to his face.