She had done it. She was now a nurse in the United States Army. All 20 years of army life and now, she was a part of it. The day of their indoctrination was a proud moment for her. Her sister had taken time away from school to attend the ceremony; she had given her permission.

18 months after her last call from a phone booth; she had done it. She moved out from home and into a training base. With her she had taken her sister; away from the terror the two had put up with in the recent years of their mother's alcohol abuse. Her mother had struck her once, not a wise decision. She had grown up from the shy, timid six-year-old who avoided dolls at all costs. Her mother never expected her to strike back: it just wasn't common practice in 1942. She hit her back, with full force that a minute person of her stature could do. Her mother flew back a few feet, coming to rest against a table; knocked cold out. It was then she stormed away, a scared Elizabeth in tow and the two packed; a sense of deja-vu about them. 2 hours later they had everything, she left a note for her father and the sisters caught a cab to the bus station; heading back to her birthplace of Fort Ord. Her sister slowly settled in to her 32nd school; she reassured her she wouldn't be moving til she had graduated. Elizabeth made friends this time. It was a harder change for her though. Her friend had since moved back from Canada...but the two were never as close as they used to be. She kept people at a distance during the day; but came out at parties, and always 'forgot' it the next day.

2 years and a lot of hard work later...she was now an official nurse of the United States army. She did not, however, notice until she was up on the stage, a familiar face sitting in the back row or so. Her father had come to see his daughter graduate as it were. A silent tear rolled down her cheek. One that symbolised love, happiness whilst at the same time, hate and hurt. She walked off the stage and was congratulated by her sister. Her father walked away, content at seeing she had joined the institution the Colonel so proudly hailed from.

When he had discovered his wife was home, unconscious, and still alive, he went to find his girls. Their rooms were empty. No books, no clothes, none of their little homely touches to be seen. All that remained was the furniture. He spotted the note on the kitchen table.

'Dear Dad,

You probably haven't noticed yet, or maybe you have, that we are nowhere to be seen. You may also observe that none of our personal possessions do either. And if you look more closely...so has the 50 dollars that you kept in the pot by the front. Like father like daughter, I have gone and joined the army. I am old enough to take responsibility of my life and I have begun to do so. Lizzie has come with me. No, she hasn't joined; but she needs to get out of the environment that we've been living in for almost 10 years. You can't control mom, and neither have you shown your ability to stop her from hurting us. You will also observe her unconscious. Yes dad, I did that. I had to. I did it in self-defence and for the safety of myself and my sister. Please don't try to take her back; you'll make her life more miserable. I'm not kidnapping her; I just want the best for my baby sister. I want to give her the stability you were never able to give us. I intend on paying you back the 50 dollars we used to get here.

If you need to contact us – i.e. mom or someone else dies...we're home.

Sincerely yours, Margaret.'

Al became angry. Not because he disagreed with his oldest daughter, but because on some points, she was right. He never fought her for custody of his youngest; the two had always to him, been close and he only wanted the best for his children.

She watched him walk away with a heavy heart. She didn't shed a tear though. She had learnt to be tough 14 years ago and would not falter in that. She was not surprised that her mother did not come. Her mother saw the girls as useless and unwanted. She did not know if that was really her mother talking though.

Life for them since leaving had adjusted just so. She went off at 0600 every morning after waking her sister, spent her day in classes and training and went home at 1700 to cook for the two. They discussed the days events; everything from algebra problems to the inner workings of Newton's 2nd law of physics and on a few occasions, to the cute young boy her sister and friends had taken a liking for that week. She was, since she was 6, her sister's mother. And at 2200, her sister was asleep and she was either studying, over at the hospital or in the rec hall celebrating national General Tom Dick or Harry's day. Home by 0100 for 5 hours sleep; and near dead on her feet the next day.

The two walked and talked; her sister was nearing her own graduation and they were discussing her next move; to follow in her 'mother's' footsteps: the army. It was the logical thing to do. Lieutenant Houlihan was in a few weeks up for reassignment; she had requested Georgia but would most likely end up in Vancouver knowing her luck. It was only because of her sister that reassignment was not sooner.

Al had rung his daughters and had spoken to them for the first time in 5 months. They were well, he was well, their mother was still as she was. Nothing much had changed. Their father had been denied promotion to brigadier general on the basis of 'not enough Colonel-time'. Really it was his family situation that had cost him the star in the sky.

The two had walked outside, she was distracted and was not listening to her sister ramble. It was there she saw her father. Leaving Elizabeth, she walked over to him.

"Dad." "Margaret." "Been well?" "Fine, you?" "Fine also." "Mother?"

"The same" Margaret sighed. She didn't really expect any different. "Where are you to be assigned?" he asked her.

"I requested Georgia. After Elizabeth graduates, she'll be heading here and I'll hopefully be going there."

Her father did something she had never seen him do. He smirked at her before replying "You never get what you want first assignment...with any luck, you'll end up some place...like Vancouver."

She grinned at him. Like father like daughter. And for that moment, all the emotional abuse she had suffered at the hands of that man were gone. All that was left was love. He quickly kissed her on the cheek before saying "I need to head back to Colorado for a meeting. I'll speak to you soon Margaret."

"Right dad." She finished as he walked off.

Her sister came over to her. "Who were you talking to?" she asked, not recognising her own father. "Just someone I used to know." She replied with a soft smile on her face as she watched him walk away.

A/N: A quick touch of 'niceness' was needed. And by quick, I mean the next instalment won't be as nice (if anyone wants more). Thanks for the reviews both here and on LJ.