A/N: For Reference Andy/Carter - 4, Peter/Newkirk and Louis/Lebeau - 7 James/Kinch - 9, Robbie/Hogan -10

Schultz looked out the window. The sun was setting, turning the sky into a rich shade of orange. It was around 6, time to call in the boys from outside so they could have their soup while it was still somewhat hot. The soup Schultz made was too watery, but there wasn't much he could do about it. Most of the food was like that so it could be stretched out for as long as possible.

Schultz got on his boots and coat and headed out. The children were all playing in the front yard of the orphanage. They had built a fort out of snow, a circular wall that was just large enough to fit all five boys: Louis, Peter, James, Andy and Robbie.

"Time to come in, soup's ready." called Schultz.

"Awww, Just a few more minutes," Said Andy. "We haven't gathered enough supplies yet." He pointed to a pile of sticks and rocks within the snow fort.

"Alright, you play for five more minutes, but that's it."

"Can you pretend to be the guard again?" Asked Peter. "The one with the funny voice."

Schultz nodded, then straightened his back and glared at the boys in a mock angry expression. "I am the security officer of Stalag 13. I'm going to go now, but I don't want any escaping while I'm gone. So stand right there and don't move a muscle. When I come back, I expect you all to be right where I left you."

"Yes sir, we understand." The boy said with matching mischievous grins.

"Good." Schultz walked away and stood with his back turned to the boys. Behind him, he could hear them climbing out of the snow fort.

"Okay guys, we need more supplies." That was Robbie talking. "Sticks are guns, pinecones are grenades, rocks are food rations. We'll split up and get as many as we can."

"Hey guys, I found some rocks over here."

"There's a bunch of sticks by this bush."

"I found half a pinecone."

"What good is that? Who's ever heard of half a grenade."

"Leave him alone Peter. Andy, we can just pretend it's a whole one."

Schultz heard his stomach growling and checked his watch. It had only been three minutes, but he decided that the five minutes were up. "Alright, I'm coming back now." He called out. "I hope none of the prisoners left."

"He's coming back! Into the fort everyone."

"Hurry up Andy, he's coming."

"The wall is too high! I can't get in!"

"James and Peter, grab Andy's arms and pull him up."

Schultz waited until he heard Andy yell "I did it, I got in the fort." before approaching the snow fort.

"1,2,3,4,5. All the prisoners are present and accounted for. Absolutely nobody got in or out of the camp, not on my watch." At the mention of nobody getting out, the boys all covered their mouths behind gloved hands in an attempt to suppress their giggling.

After heading inside and removing their winter apparel, Schultz and the children all sat down to eat. Even during their meal, the boys continued their game. This time, instead of collecting supplies, they were planning to send a secret message to London.

Back when Schultz had first realized that the boys were playing a game in which they pretended to be prisoners of war, he had initially banned it. But banning something just makes it all the more appealing, and he constantly found them trying to sneak the game in, whether it be sending notes in homework or staying up late to talk about sabotage plans. After discovering that many of the boys had fathers overseas in POW camps, he finally allowed it, seeing it as a sort of therapeutic way of dealing with the trauma that they had gone through.

After they had finished cleaning their dishes, the boys went upstairs to play before bed. Robbie, James, Peter and Louis were playing cards while discussing their message to London. Meanwhile, Andy built towers with building blocks, only to immediately knock them down.

Once the clock struck 9, it was time to go to bed. Most of the boys were already in their bunks when Schultz came in, except for Andy, who was still having trouble figuring out how to put on his tattered onesie pajamas. After Schultz was finally able to get Andy dressed for bed, it was lights out.

"Goodnight everyone." Said Schultz.

"Goodnight Schultz." Five voices echoed back. With the lights off, the room was only illuminated by the moonlight shining off of the newly falling snow. Schultz stood in the doorway a while, enjoying the only moment of calm he would have today. When it started to occur to him how tired he was, Schultz shut the door and headed to his own room to dream about a better future.