I can't believe that I didn't update for such a long time. I'm terribly sorry about that, but real life has the nasty habit of cropping up. I hope you will forgive me and want to thank you for your feedback and your support and dedicate this chapter to all the people who took the time to leave a comment.

At D-Day plus 25 Easy was again assigned to clear the surroundings and this Mission was led by Nix and Harry. To everyone's surprise, Blithe volunteered to go upfront. When he got closer to the house they were rounding up, he got hit in the neck. Lew and Maggie were able to retrieve him so that Doc Roe – who had just arrived – could tend to his wound. Dick had arrived together with their medic to tell them that they were going back to England. Maggie was sad due to the poor timing of that announcement and knew that Dick felt even worse. She could practically hear his thoughts regarding Blithe being fine if he had arrived a few minutes earlier. She tried to cheer Dick up but couldn't get past his self-reproach and knew she had to leave him alone for awhile, even if she didn't like it.

After a short stay in a camp near Utah beach, they finally got back to Aldbourne, where they quickly got back into their routine from the time before leaving for Upoterry. Maggie was again billeted with "her" widow and it felt kind of like coming home. Katherine welcomed her with open arms and behaved like an old friend. Maggie didn't want to afflict her with her war experiences and instead questioned her about her time since she had left. Katherine immediately turned red and shyly told er about a very attractive and charming doctor she had met at the aid station. She told Maggie about her ambivalent emotions and Maggie felt for her. She could only imagine the feeling of falling in love again after losing someone dear and sincerely hoped she would never have to experience the same. She tried to tell Katherine that her fallen husband would surely be happy for her and wouldn't want her to mourn him forever. At least that's what Maggie would want for her beloved should she die. Although she had to admit that the thought of Dick falling in love with another woman wasn't a pleasant one... Now that Katherine had opened up to her, Maggie told her about her feelings for Dick. She hadn't realised it before, but she was rather glad to be able to talk about it to another woman. As much as she loved the boys and appreciated their support, it was just different talking to someone of the same gender. Katherine told her – much to her surprise – that she already knew that Maggie had a crush on that handsome strawberry-haired Lieutenant because she had seen them bidding goodnight one evening after a short trip to the local pub before the big jump.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yes, dear, it is. I have to admit I sat at the window and waited for you to finally kiss each other because I could see that was what you both wanted and then he just went away, I was a little disappointed."

"Yeah, me too. I remember that evening. Lew had finally talked Dick into a trip to the pub and we even danced to a few songs. After he had offered to bring me home, I hoped that he'd finally make that step but I didn't dare to take the initiative because I was afraid, I might frighten him. And I still am."

"That's indeed a problem. I'm afraid most men don't take it to well when women are proactive. But I can assure you that he has feeling for you. I could see it in the way he looked at you. And he even waited outside until you turned on the light in your room."

The time in Aldbourne was relatively relaxed for Easy-company. They absolved the daily routine of PT, firing practice and strategic lessons and spent most evenings in the local pub. Only Dick was terribly busy with his new position. He was running from meeting to meeting and had to do the administrative stuff "en passant", so that he didn't find the time to spent some time with Maggie. He had to admit that he really missed her company and thought again about deepening their relationship. Even the Colonel had made an indication that he would tolerate a relationship between them...

One evening, Maggie played darts with Bill and Lip when she heard the door opening, hoping that Dick would join them and was a little disappointed, when only Lew came in. All men saw her sad face and tried to cheer her up.

"Hey, doll face. Aren't old Guarnere and our dear Sergeant here enough for your entertainment?"

"Boys, you know that I love you and I really appreciate your attentiveness, but still I would like to see Dick again. I hardly know how he looks anymore..."

"I promise, he still looks like the virginal eskimo you fell in love with."

"Lew!"

"Don't hit me, Mag. But fun aside, I know that he has a meeting with Major Strayor that should be finished in a few minutes. If you hurry up, you might be able to head him off."

Before one of the men knew what happened, Maggie had given each a peck on the cheek and ran away.

"Wow, that's what I'd call craving" Lew stated and took Maggies position in the game.

When Dick left the HQ he was pretty annoyed. He didn't know that being CO would involve that much administrative stuff and so many meetings. He really missed Maggie's presence and was gradually afraid that he'd forget what she looked like. He could portray Strayer and even Colonel Sink in his sleep, but the picture of Maggie in his mind was fading. He was all the more surprised when he found her standing in front of the HQ.

"Hey, that's a nice surprise! But I'm afraid I don't have much time, cause we're moving out again."

"We're moving out again?"

"Yes, I told Lew to tell Lip that he should tell the boys about it. Didn't he?"

"I'm sure he did, but I practically left when Lew came in. Why did you want Lip to announce that?"

"He's the new First Sergeant."

"Wow, Lip has been promoted. A pros pros promition: congratulations on yours! You must be really proud of yourself, Captain."

"Naah, that's not a big thing..." Dick said but still turned a light red.

"Pff. Not a big thing. That's fantastic and you deserved it... And I'm really proud of you." Maggie added shyly. Since she hadn't seen much of Dick in the last weeks, she felt a little intimidated. According to the colour of his face, Dick felt the same.

"I'm glad to see you again, Dick. I hardly remember what you look like. But I could map Lips freckles and Bills wrinkles in my sleep..."

Despite feeling slightly jealous, Dick replied: "Yeah, I know what you mean. It feels as if I'm only in contact with three persons at the moment: Lew, Strayer and Sink..."

"I've got something for you, so you don't forget what I look like" Maggie replied and fingered for the picture she had asked Luz for. It was a photograph of the two of them at the night of the celebration of their jump wings and showed them during their first dance.

"Wow. Thanks, Maggie. It feels like this was years ago..."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. It's kind of crazy that this was only a few months ago."

Without them noticing, they had went to the house Dick was staying in. He had to write an urgent report for Sink but didn't want Maggie to go home alone.

"Ohh. That's kind of reversed roles here. Do you want me to bring you home?"

Maggie could see that Dick was already calculating if he would be able to finish his tasks in time if he did that and reclined although she would have loved to spend more time with him.

"No, Dick, thanks. I'll be fine on my own. It's not very late and I got along the last weeks as well."

Convinced, that Maggie would be fine, Dick hugged her and gave her a peck on the cheek before practically running into the house. 'Where the hell did that come from? I just kissed her...'

Maggie, who was a little dreamy after that move, went in the direction of Katherines house. She didn't pay attention to her surroundings and therefore noticed too late, that she was followed by a drunk soldier. He manoeuvred Maggie into the corner between two houses and started kissing and groping her. She stopped breathing and didn't remember any of her training because she was so shocked, that a comrade would do such a thing. "Come, love. Don't be so abrasive. I only want to have a good time with you" her attacker said and started to move Maggies skirt up. 'Wait, I know that voice. But it can't be him, can it?'