I was exhausted the next morning as she walked me to the bus station. My parents had said goodbye the night before. Both were angry that I was leaving, but again, couldn't do too much in the way of stopping me. Lilly woke up early and said goodbye to me. But wouldn't come to the station because she didn't want to cry in public.

We stared at the bus that could change our fate forever. That could take me away and make me never return. "I'll write," I promised, my arms wrapped around her. There were dozens of other couples there, but it seemed like we were all alone.

"And I'll write back. Everyday," she promised. "And," she said, wiping away a tear, "I'll have your mom teach me about the kitchen. So I can actually feed you when you come home."

I smiled, "Nah. We'll be filthy rich. We can just hire a maid."

She laughed, "It'll be good for me to bond with her. She actually likes me."

I kissed her. Better time spent. I knew I would miss the kisses more than the conversation on the coldest nights in the Pacific. I didn't care if people were staring at us. I just didn't care if it wasn't proper.

"Last call!" The driver yelled out.

I bit my lip. I had missed the other calls. I noticed Kevin and Randa over on the other side of the bus, rushing to catch it. "I love you," I said softly into her ear.

She sniffled, "Just close your eyes. I'll be there," she said, tossing my own words back at me. I could tell she was forcing her smile.

I kissed the tip of her nose. "I'll be back. I promise. And I'll buy you a house and-"

"Don't worry about me. Just take care of yourself, okay? And write."

I nodded, "Love you more everyday," I said backing toward the bus.

She shook her head, "More."

MIA:

I had missed him already as I saw his bus pull away. He was staring out the window at me, biting his upper lip. Trying not to cry. I don't know if it was because he was worried about leaving me, or because of boot camp.

"Hey there," Randa greeted after the bus had fully left.

"Hi," I said hoarsely.

"Walk?"

I nodded. I needed someone who understood what I was going through. "You guys were late," I said, breaking our silence.

She blushed, "I had given him some good news before he left and we celebrated a little bit."

I looked at her oddly. "Oh?"

"I'm having a baby," she said excitedly. "He or she'll be born in July."

I smiled and congratulated her. "But…when will Kev be back?"

We continued our walk a little longer before she answered. "Well, the war in Europe is kind of winding down. Hitler's troops aren't really all that strong there. We've taken back most of the cities he's taken over."

I hadn't been following it. Too enamored with Michael.

"But they'll be in the Pacific. The Japanese haven't shown any signs of retreating. That could go on much longer than Europe."

I bit my lower lip. "Well, I'm sure they'll be back. I mean, Kevin has his baby and his wife to come to."

"And what about Michael?" she asked. "He has his wife. And who knows, you could be pregnant. Right? You two have…"

I nodded, "Yes, we have…." I started before laughing, "But I highly don't think I am though…."

"Well, he has a wife then to return home to. Are you staying with the Moscovitz's until he gets back?"

I nodded, "Yes. And continuing school as well. It'll be weird. My last name is now Moscovitz…wonder what my teachers will say."

"Well, my name is now Fitzsimmons. It was deAngelo. That's a big change."

I laughed, "Yeah…I better get home before they worry. I'll see you soon though?"

"Yes. Hey, will you come with me to the doctors tomorrow? I'm terrified."

I nodded. We weren't close friends, but I could tell we would be.

I arrived at the Fitzsimmon's apartment at noon the following day. Randa hadn't told her mother in law her news, nor had she told her own mother. She was worried about what they would think. That the young couple were rushing things and everything

"Will your husband be joining us?" the doctor asked, reading her chart.

She smiled sweetly, "He was shipped out yesterday. He knows that I think I am…"

The doctor nodded. "And this is…"

"My friend Mia. Our husbands are best friends and were just shipped out together. She's going to help me out."

Um, I guess?

He looked at me skeptically. "Were you and your husband expecting this bundle of joy, Mrs. Fitzsimmons?"

She nodded, "We were hoping. And luckily…"

"When was your last menstrual cycle?"

Oh God. He started asking her more and more questions. About how her morning sickness was and whether or not she had been eating properly. I sat like a lump on the chair in the corner of the room. I suddenly had a sick feeling in my stomach.

Am. Pregnant.

The doctor told her that the signs don't normally appear for five weeks after conception. Michael and I did it for the first time almost two months ago. I had started getting sick and throwing up nearly every day for the past three weeks. Michael had helped me clean myself up and hid it from everyone. We had assumed it was a bug that was going around. We joked that I should give it to him so that he wouldn't pass the physical and would have to come home to me.

But I couldn't give him this. I couldn't easily pass a baby to him through kissing. I had started eating things that I had always turned away at dinner. But I had thought it was just be adjusting to normal American fare.

Food did taste different, metallic. My breasts had felt weird, they hurt whenever Michael had touched them lately. And I went to the bathroom about five times in one hour. God. We had joked around about my bathroom habits but look at the truth.

We hadn't even discussed a baby. And how was I to do this without him?