Small note: I changed a few details in this chapter after a nice reviewer told me about my geographical mistake regarding the distance between Bridgeport and Washington D.C. Thanks again, mate. It was appreciated.

Warning: This chapter contains a minor sex scene between Hogan and Mavis Newkirk. Nothing too explicit, just a few words that they make love and that's it! No details whatsoever. This is still save to read for teens.


Over the next three weeks, which were filled with many debriefings for Hogan and his heroes, Hogan and Mavis got to know each other a lot more. They met for their dates in restaurants, at Hyde Park or at the Thames River, taking nice long walks. By now they knew nearly all each other's secrets, at least those they could talk about. And they developed genuine feelings for one another. On one of their dates in the third week, Hogan dared to go a tad bid further. While they were seated on her couch in her new flat in Highgate, he put an arm her shoulder, pulling her close to him. She enjoyed his closeness and she felt safe in his strong arms. Looking into his soulful brown orbs, Mavis leaned over and put a chaste kiss to his surprisingly soft lips. A moment later, Hogan pulled her fully into him and kissed her with wild abandon; only lack of air forced them apart. Knowing full well what would happen next, Mavis got up and held her hand out for him to take.

He allowed her to lead him into her bedroom, which was rather dark thanks to the blackout curtains. Without the need for words, their lips found each other again and without breaking contact; they shed their clothes, leaving behind a trail of them on the floor. As they reached the bed, Hogan gently lowered her down on it and he followed, covering her body with his, mindful of not crushing her with his superior weight. They made slow, but passionate love, bringing each other to climax more than once. Shortly before falling over the edge for the first time, Hogan looked into Mavis' eyes and told her with his soft baritone that he loved her. That was enough to bring her over the edge and she replied, after she got her breath back, that she loved him too. Smiling brightly, Hogan loved her again and again until both were satiated and too tired to carry on. They fell asleep in each other's arms, content and happy. They didn't even bother with covering themselves with a blanket, their bodies still warm in the afterglow of their last love making.

At the end of the fourth week of their stay in London, Hogan's injuries had finally healed. Only a small near invisible scar on his left temple and a scar on his stomach would always remind him of what had happened to him. Otherwise he seemed unscathed and he was ready to face the world again, especially after a few mandatory sessions with an Army psychologist. He was finally over his battle fatigue and could get to work again. But London had other plans for him. They allowed him and his men to visit the States, but with the given promise that they would come back to England. Hogan agreed to their condition.

Together with his four men and his girl Mavis, he was to board a plane that would fly them to Washington D.C. When they arrived at the plane and got in, they were in for a surprise. The pilot had called in sick and they couldn't get in the air without a pilot. Not hesitating, Hogan took off his dress jacket, loosened the tie and handed both items to Mavis. She took them and kissed him for good luck. Baker gave him his new bomber flight jacket, which Hogan put on and with a thankful smile, took up his place in the cockpit. Putting on the headset and going through the pre-flight checks with the co-pilot, Hogan readied the plane to taxi. As he got permission from the tower, he pulled the flaps back, let go of the brakes and pushed the throttle to its limit, getting the plane, a C-47 Skytrain, into the air.

The normally eight hour flight took a bit longer, as Hogan had to circumvent around a thunderstorm cell. He smoothly landed on the tarmac of the Washington D.C. air base. He went dutifully through the after flight checks and stepped out of the cockpit, followed by the co-pilot. Together with Mavis and his men he disembarked from the C-47 and told them with a smile, "Welcome to the United States of America!" Carter and Baker smiled brightly at their CO, knowing full well he said those words for the benefit of their European friends.

An army troop truck picked them up and drove them up to Bridgeport, Connecticut, their CO's hometown. The two hour drive through various landscapes finally ended in front of a two-story home; made of solid white wood. A white picket fence surrounded the grounds and two very old oak trees stood to both sides of the house, shielding it from too nosy neighbors. Hogan and his men got out of the truck, followed a bit more shyly by Mavis. As they weren't informed of his homecoming, Hogan wasn't sure how to face his parents, after being away for over five years. Mavis stepped beside him and held out his dress jacket and tie. "If you want to make the right impression, you better change back into your dress jacket. That will floor them for sure." Conspiratorially she whispered into his ear, "I'll make it up to you tonight, Rob. I promise."

With a deep sigh, Hogan slipped out of his comfortable leather jacket and changed it for the dress tunic and tie. Mavis tied the tie for him and made sure it sat right, and then she kissed him on both cheeks and on the lips. "You look positively charming, my dear. I fear I will have future fights ahead of me, trying to keep you with me and not going astray."

No longer able to postpone the inevitable, Hogan opened the small gate and walked the path up to the house. Heading up the front steps, he breathed deeply, before knocking hard on the door, making sure to be heard. After what felt like an eternity to Hogan, he heard a female voice cry out 'I'm coming' and moments later the door was opened. Because of the low standing sun and the visor on his crush cap shielding half of his face, the elderly woman didn't recognize the man in uniform standing on her doorstep. She asked anxiously, "Who are you? Are you bringing bad news about my son Robert?"

Hearing the fear in his mother's voice, nearly brought him to tears again, but he kept himself in check. Clearing his throat and taking off his cap, Hogan stepped closer and allowed the woman a better look at him. Still not seeing any recognition and wanting to get out of the cold air, Hogan joked, "What's that, Mom? Don't you recognize your own offspring? It's me, Robert."

Mary Elizabeth Hogan, or just 'Rose' to all of her friends because of her love for the flowers, couldn't believe her eyes. She called out for her husband John Edward to come to the door as there is a surprise for him. Just a few moments later, an elderly gentleman came from the back of the house, asking, "Who is that at the door, darling? Won't you be hospitable and invite him in from the cold, whoever he may be?"

Rose turned to her husband and waved him closer. When he reached the open door, he immediately recognized the tall uniformed man standing at his doorstep as his long-lost son. Without a moment's hesitation, John pulled Robert in for a strong hug, assuring himself that this was really happening and not only his and his wife's imagination running wild. Breaking the hug with his dad, Hogan pulled his mother into a hug too, holding her to him. She was clinging to him desperately and crying openly, never wanting to let go of her son. Awkwardly and not really sure what he should do, Hogan gently patted her back and shushed her with soothing tones. "It's alright, mom. There is no need to cry; I am home now and I intend to stay for a short while at least. So you'll be stuck with me again." Moving back a bit and looking into his mother's teary eyes, he also informed her with his winning smile, "Oh and I have brought some friends with me who need a place to stay. If you will allow us to come inside, I will introduce you to them."

Exchanging short glances with one another, Hogan's parents nodded. Looking back to where his men and his girl were waiting, he called out, "Come inside, guys and lady and don't forget your bags!" At once, his men and Mavis picked up their bags from the ground and moved up to the front door. Hogan's mother invited them in and closed the door behind them. In the grand living room, they all set their bags down and waited for their CO to make the introductions. Moments later, Hogan, Mavis and his men took seats on the couches and chairs and Hogan's dad John joined them; while his wife got some refreshments and coffee. LeBeau asked where the kitchen was and stood up, heading over there to assist his commander's mother in any way he could. Rose appreciated the help from the nice little Frenchman. She immediately warmed up to the rectangle group of men her son commanded. As a mother, she had a fine sense of the human nature and it told her that those four men deeply cared for her son, maybe even loved him in their own special way. Her husband John thought the same about his son's men. And as it was the norm, the men started to talk about everything and nothing, drinking and enjoying fine cigars while doing so.

Mavis excused herself from the group and also headed into the kitchen to help. Both women liked each other at once and Rose was very glad that her wayward son had finally found his match, his soulmate. Minutes later, Mavis came back bearing a tray with cookies and Rose followed with another tray; this one holding a freshly baked cake. LeBeau balanced a tray with the coffee pot and the mugs on it. He set it down and after handing everyone a cup, started filling them with the warm beverage. Enjoying the cake, cookies and the coffee, Hogan, Mavis and his men had a great and entertaining time with his parents.

They stayed at the Hogan home for about a month, before they all headed back down to Washington D.C. With a heavy heart, Hogan said goodbye to his parents, but promised to be back sooner this time; on furlough. He also promised them that they would be invited to his wedding in London and that the Army would pay for their expanses. With smiles on their faces and holding their only son to his promise, Mary 'Rose' Elizabeth and John Edward Hogan waved to their son and his friends as their troop truck started driving off. They watched the truck as long as possible, and then they went back inside, hoping that this time around they would be reunited with their son a lot sooner. Also now they wouldn't need to worry as he no longer flew any dangerous missions above enemy territory. He would have a safe job, behind a desk, or so they thought.

But in truth, Hogan went from London and a short debriefing, directly back to post-war Germany. He managed to persuade his handlers to allow him and his core team to return to his old hunting grounds around Hammelburg, near Dusseldorf in North-West Germany. Hogan believed that he owed it to the good people who helped him and his men and the Allies to win the war. He wanted to do everything in his power to help in rebuilding what was lost and to establish the groundworks for future relations between the nations. For this purpose, the High Command had named Hogan as the aerial commander of this occupation zone and again that went with another promotion; this time to a three star general, a Lieutenant General. Hogan couldn't believe it! He never wanted another promotion, but now he had to accept it. Using his new status and influence, Hogan arranged for his men to also get promotions, which were long overdue. Kinch got a field promotion to captain, Carter got his Lieutenant bars back and was immediately afterwards promoted to major. Newkirk was promoted to warrant officer, the highest non-commissioned rank in the RAF. LeBeau got a field promotion to Lieutenant. They also all got new ribbons for their uniforms, rewarding their merits for their respective armies.

Hogan worked close together with all his former underground contacts, like the veterinarian Oskar Schnitzer; Max Gruber, the grocer and Franz Hofer, the owner of the Hausner Hof restaurant and hotel. With their help, he managed to get the new Burgermeister on his side and arranged further meetings. He used the old Gestapo HQ building as the new headquarters for the Allied occupation forces. On the front of the stone structure three different flags were blowing in the wind; the stars and stripes banner, the Union Jack and the Tricolore.

Over the coming months, Lieutenant General Hogan managed the near impossible. He got the industry in his part of the country working flawlessly again and arranged the building of new houses for the homeless, as well as new schools, hospitals and other much needed infrastructure.

In between he got a few short furloughs, which he used to relax and at one time, he finally asked his girl Mavis the question; she said yes. The wedding ceremony was held at the old Westminster Abbey in London. All of Hogan's friends, family and of course a lot of comrades from his former command, the 504th were in attendance, wishing the newlyweds all the happiness in the world and lots of children. They also got a lot of gifts; among them was the set of pictures Carter had taken back down in the tunnels before their evacuation. Hogan was deeply moved at seeing them and thanked Carter with a bear hug and a friendly clap on his back. It was the most personal gift out of all and meant the most to Hogan. He promised his men to put at least one of them on display in his living room.

After his honeymoon, which he spend on Hawaii and a nice romantic weekend in Paris with his new wife Mavis, Hogan returned to his post in Hammelburg. Needing his wife close by, Hogan had purchased the old castle like mansion, formerly owned by Field Marshall von Leiter and had it refurbished. Mavis sold her old flat in London and moved to Germany to be with Robert. Now all that was missing was the pitter patter of a little tyke running amok in the house. But that was something that neither Robert, nor Mavis were thinking about. They had each other and they were happy and Hogan had his entire good friends close by. They lived happily ever after, so to speak.

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