October 17, 1943 - Aldbourne, England

Next to Winters, I crouch behind a hedge. Now that we've done a few exercises in England and also had more tactical lessons, we're in another exercise, and again Sobel is faltering. Winters looks at his watch. "Sobel's late," he says, and I look at him. I can't say what I'm thinking right now because it wouldn't be proper, but I know Winters is thinking precisely the same thing. It was to be expected. Again, Winters looks at his watch. "Sir, we need to move," I say, and he nods. "We have to." "Sir, without Captain Sobel and 1st platoon?" asks Lip, and I look at him briefly. "It's a T intersection. We improvise. Double envelopment lay down a base of fire to cut the road in all directions. Lipton hook right with 1st squad. Tell Guarnere to move left with 2nd. Stark and I will be right up the middle with 3rd. Go," he tells Lip and then signals Bill what to do.

We do as Winters instructed us. As I walk forward, a man on a bicycle comes to a screeching halt. "Oh, dearie me. Bloody hell. You've done it now, yanks. You've captured me," the man says, raising his hands. I stop short and smile at the man. "Sergeant Stark, take cover with the others," Winters says, and I slide into the ditch with the men. "Just unbelievable. How can you let Sobel lead?" Bill asks me, and I shake my head as we hear the 1st Platoon. Then Winters looks at us again. "Good work, 2nd platoon. We took the objective."

"Wait, wait, wait. You guys did what?!" I ask in horror, looking at my friends. "We were messing with Sobel. So George did," Skip says, and George grins. "Yeah, but only because you idiots wanted it so bad." "So you guys are responsible for us having cows all over the place now?" asks Don, laughing. "You could say that," George grins. "Oh guys, you're really too much. But how stupid can Sobel be to fall for that?" I ask, and the guys look at me. "I don't know. But it's getting worse with him. From what I hear, Colonel Strayer was furious." We all laugh. "Can you imagine? Strayer folding Sobel up surrounded by wild cows," Don laughs.

We joke about it for a while longer when I spot Lip. "Oh, hey, Lip," I call out to him and stand up. "You got a minute?" He nods, and I take him aside a little. "What's up?" I take a breath before saying what I have to say. "We need to do something..." "What do you mean?" "About Sobel? It can't go on like this. Did you catch what happened today?" Lip nods. "If this man takes us to war, we'll all be dead within a day; I can guarantee you that." Lip considers for a moment. "I know. I've been thinking about it, too." "Yeah, and Winters and the others can't do anything. You know that as well as I do, so maybe the NCOs will have to step in..." Lip looks at me. "You do know, though, what that could mean, Liv, right?" I nod. "I'd rather be put up against the wall here than shot down by a Kraut." Lip takes a deep breath and seems to consider. "I see it the same way you do. At least we have other capable officers." "Yeah, but he's in charge." "That's true. We need to talk to the others." "Well, at least there's an advantage to having most of them together in one barn." "Yeah yeah, rub it in my face Liv..."

The other NCOs were not particularly enthusiastic about our proposal. At least a large part of them were not. Bill was immediately on board, as was Chuck, but Myron Ranney and Terrence Harris were not at all enthusiastic.

December 31, 1943 - Aldbourne, England

"May I? Let me through, will you? Thank you," I say and try to fight my way through the crowd of people with a few beers. The bar is completely crowded with soldiers, but also with local people. The guys cheer for me when I finally get to the table. "Hey Liv, look," George says, holding up a sprig of mistletoe. "Really now, George? Again? How long are you going to carry around this mistletoe?" I ask, and he grins. "As long as it takes to finally work." "Well then, you can wait a long time," I laugh and he snorts. "Oh, what the hell. It's New Year's," I then laugh and press a kiss to his cheek.

Again the boys cheer, and George's grin stretches from ear to ear. "Take what you can get, Luz, but she'll be kissing me at midnight," Don now interjects. "And who says that, Malarkey?" I ask him, and he holds his heart theatrically. "Come on, Liv, you're breaking my heart." "Sure I am."

For a while, we laugh and drink. As midnight slowly approaches, George pulls me to my feet. "Come on, Liv, one last dance in the old year," he laughs, and I let him lead me to the dance floor. George pulls me towards him, and we dance together. At five to 12, Skip, Penk, Don, and the others join us so we can toast together afterward.

Don presses a glass of champagne and a smoke into my hand. "Almost there," he grins, and I also smile at him. "Are we ready?" I ask my group of boys, and they nod. Then I look at my watch. "Okay, let's go! Ten..." I call out, and everyone joins in. "Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!" We shout, "Happy New Year!" and Don immediately embraces me. One after the other, I hug my friends and wish them a Happy New Year. For this moment, we fade out that we will probably effectively go to war this year, and many of those here will not make it through this year.

Don has his arm around me, and I let my gaze roam the room. Scattered everywhere are our friends. Bill Guarnere, Joe Toye, Skinny Sisk, Ed Tipper, Popeye Wynn, Tab (who, of course, has another woman on his arm), Chuck Grant, and all the others. I smile softly, glad to see them all having a good time. Then my eyes linger on Joe Liebgott, and my heart slips.

There he is, holding a young redhead in his arms and letting her make out with him. The smile dies on my face, and I swallow hard. Why does this hit me so hard? I can't care whom this idiot is exchanging fluids with, and yet I don't manage to avert my eyes.

"Earth to Liv? Do you copy?" Don prods me before following my gaze. "Liv..." "I need some air," I say quickly, pushing past him toward the exit. Outside, I breathe in the cool winter air and sit down on a barrel before lighting a smoke. It doesn't take long for Don to come out to me. "Hey, Sweetheart, you okay?" he asks gently, sitting beside me. "Yeah, why? I just needed some air." "Oh yeah, and this has nothing to do with Joe being in there with a redhead..." "Why the fuck should I care, Don? He can kiss whomever the fuck he wants! It's none of my fucking business." "Only that you want him to kiss you! And you just cursed in every sentence you just said." "Bullshit! I certainly don't want that." "You can keep fooling yourself, Sweetheart, but I think the case is pretty clear!" "You have no fucking idea what you're talking about, Malarkey!" I toss the smoke on the floor and stalk past him again back into the bar.

My gaze automatically wanders back to Liebgott, who is now sitting at a table with the redhead. But as quickly as I looked at him, I avert my gaze again. "You know you don't make it easy to make me believe you're not into him when you never have a guy. Not even for a date, and I know you've been asked, so don't even try that excuse," Don says as we sit back down. " What's it about?" asks Skip, and Don tells him briefly. "Well, maybe I'm just not like that, Don. Has that ever occurred to you?"

Don looks at me with a smug smile. "Yeah, sure, sweetheart," he says, taking a sip of his beer. "I'm afraid I have to agree with Malark on that one, Liv. You are and always will be a soldier. And you don't seem nearly as innocent as you think you are," Skip says, lighting a smoke. "And besides, you told me about your past yourself," Don adds, and I roll my eyes. "I'm really wondering why right now."

"Look, it's simple," Don says. "Just admit you're into Liebgott, and we'll shut up." "You shut up? Really? Is that even possible?" I ask, but they both nod. "Yes, we shut up, but you have to admit it. The words have to come out of your mouth." I think for a moment and let my gaze wander around the room. Of course, I'll never admit it, those two can wait a long time for that, but I need a plan B.

Suddenly, my gaze lingers on Tab. That's it. Tab is definitely playing along. "So?" a grinning Don asks me. "We're listening." "I... I'm not into Liebgott," I say, and Don slaps his hand to his head. "And I'll prove it to you," I say and stand up. Confused, Don and Skip watch me make my way over to Tab. As I stand in front of him, I tap him on the shoulder to get his attention. "Hey, Tab," I say, and he smiles broadly at me. "Hey Liv, what's up?" he asks, and I smile before putting a hand on the back of his neck and pulling him down. His lips land on mine, and his hands are on my hips faster than I would love. Oh yes, this boy has experience.

Of course, the kiss quickly becomes more forceful, and Tab's tongue slides over my lips. I allow it to do so and open my mouth. For a moment, Tab and I make out, and I'm almost sure everyone in the bar is staring at us, but I don't care. Then I pull away from him again, look him in the eye for a moment, pat his chest, and turn away from him again. "Liv, what...?" I hear a confused Tab behind me, but I don't care. Nor that Chuck, Skinny, and the others are looking at me with open mouths.

I sit back at the table with Don and Skip and take a sip of beer as if nothing happened. Don and Skip look at me with wide eyes. "Wow, I didn't see that coming," Don says, and Skip nods in agreement. "No, neither did I." "Good, now will you finally leave me in peace with Liebgott?" Don thinks for a moment. "Hmm, yeah, maybe. However, I'm still not entirely convinced. But one thing I can tell you is what your performance did." Questioningly, I look at my best friend. "Liebgott just left the bar ." I snort. "Yeah, probably with that redhead," I grumble. "You mean the redhead standing over there alone and left behind?" asks Skip, pointing in that direction. I look over, and sure enough. There stands the woman who had her tongue down Liebgott's throat earlier, alone, and there's no sign of him.

When I wake up the following day, my head is pounding. I lie on the bed for a moment but then quietly get out of bed. I put on my morning gown and get into the kitchen to make some coffee. Not long before, I hear another room door open; Don enters the kitchen. "Morning," he says, yawning. "Morning," I return. Don couldn't make it home yesterday; he was far too drunk. The family I'm staying with is out of town, so why it's not a problem that he remains here? "Coffee?" I ask, pouring two cups. Don sits down in a chair behind me. "Oh yeah, please!"

I set a cup down for him and sit down at the table. "Do you want something to eat?" I ask, and he looks at me. He looks pretty tired, which makes me laugh. "I don't know if my stomach can take it yet," I smirk again, and we sit silently at the table for a moment. "That thing you pulled yesterday was really... incredible," Don says after a while, and I bury my face in my hands in shame. "Oh please, can we not talk about that?" "Why? You made out with Tab!" laughs Don, and I groan. "Yeah, because you wouldn't leave me alone! It's all your fault." "Sure thing sweetheart. But at least you managed to make Liebgott jealous."

Questioningly, I look at him. "What?" "Well, Joe... He left the bar as soon as he saw you with Tab. I don't think that sight suited him at all." I let Don's words run through my head for a moment before I shake it and stand up. "Never mind. Breakfast?"

March 2nd, 1944 - Aldbourne, England

I am late that morning. I manage to stand just in time when Sobel steps in front of us. He explains the program for the day and will be a real pain in the ass.

After a few exercises, Sobel finally lets us eat something. Immediately Don comes up to me and lifts me. "What are you doing?" I ask, laughing, but he grins. "Do you think I forgot your birthday?" he asks and puts me back on the floor. "Happy Birthday Liv!" Of course, this doesn't go unnoticed, and many guys wish me a happy birthday.

"And how old is our little bird today?" Bill asks, settling down next to me. I give him a quick look. "Twenty-four, thanks for asking," I grin. "Jesus, you're old, sweetheart," Skip grins, and I punch him in the shoulder. My gaze automatically moves to Liebgott, who is eyeing me. "You got something to say?" I ask him with a raised eyebrow. Liebgott looks at me for a moment before standing up and walking away.

Questioningly, we watch him go. "What's his problem?" I ask around the room. "He's an idiot; that's his problem," Bill says. He and Joe have had a bit of a strained relationship since the incident on the ship, even though that was almost a year ago. "Or he just realized you're becoming more and more perfect for him, dear Liv," Don teases me. "Shut up, Don! You really don't need to do that," I say, but he continues to grin.

As our break draws to a close, Don, Skip, Penk, and George gather around me. "What?" I ask, confused, and the four of them grin even wider. "Okay, you're freaking me out, guys." "We got something for you," Skip says then, and I frown. "That's not necessary." "Yes, it is necessary. Happy Birthday," Penk says, and then Don pulls out a small box. When he opens it, inside is a pretty little charm in form of a long silver feather. "You guys!" says I, taking it out. They still grin. "There is more", says Skip and hands me a pocket watch. "A pocket watch?" "Open it," Skip demands, and I open the watch. Inside are small photos of the boys. And it's not a watch, but a compass. "Oh, you guys are the best," I exclaim, giving them a big hug. "Just so you'll always have us with you should you ever get lost or something," Don grins, and I laugh. "This is just the best gift! Thank you, guys! Really!"

I take the charm, take off my dog tags for a moment, and attach the charm to it. Then I let it disappear back into my uniform. The pocket watch disguised compass I put into my jacket pocket.

"Liv?" someone then calls out, and I turn around. It's Vest, holding a letter in his hand. "It's for you," he says, pressing it into my hand. "Thanks, Vest." "Don't worry, and happy birthday!"

I look at the letter and quickly see that it's from Cindy.

My dearest sister

Happy Birthday! I am curious if this letter will arrive on time, but if not, at least happy birthday now.

We are now somewhere in the Gilbert Islands. It is scorching here, I can tell you. How are you? Are you in Europe already?

Somehow I envy you, Liv. Sometimes it's almost unbearable here, and the Japanese are really crazy.

I've made some really great friends here. Eugene Sledge, for example. He was nice to me from the beginning when the others were not. They weren't too thrilled about having a female soldier in their circle. They felt a woman couldn't be a Marine. I proved to them that we could, but I think you experienced that yourself.

How are you doing? And Malarkey? You told me about him. Have you still not fallen in love with him?

Let me know as soon as you know where you're being sent, okay?

Hoping to see you again soon.

Your sister

Cindy