A/N: I had someone at the end of the last chapter think that Helga is leaving the group. I just wanted to clarify that Helga is not leaving to be on her own. The ending part was about the object was left behind in Krakow. The 'they' she was referring to was not the group, but someone else. And that's all I'm going to say about that.
Helga awoke that next morning with a shooting pain in her shoulder. I really need some medicine. She checked her stitches to make sure they were still intact before recruiting Phoebe to help her dress.
"How did you manage to dress yourself yesterday?" Phoebe asked while assisting Helga in sliding her arm through the sleeve.
"Arnold helped me," Helga stated matter-of-factly. "Why?"
"Do you worry that he might have, ahem, snuck a peek?"
"Phoebe!" Helga exclaimed. "I don't know whether to be shocked or proud of you sudden bluntness."
"I'm just merely curious," Phoebe blushed.
"I kept a close eye where Arnold gazed," Helga informed. "He was a perfect gentleman about it. Although, I wouldn't have minded if he looked."
"At least he respects you. If he didn't, he would have to deal with me," Phoebe warned.
"In that case, I'll know he'll stay in line," Helga giggled. "He told me he loves me."
"He did?" Phoebe squealed. "Oh, I'm so happy for you!" She hugged Helga tightly.
"Phoebe," Helga strained to say. "Air!"
"Oh, sorry." She let go. "Do you need help with breakfast?"
"What do you think?" She retorted, pointing to her shoulder.
The two girls, along with Patty, prepared breakfast for everyone. As they were eating, there was a knock on the door. Everyone froze in their seats. They all looked at each other, wondering who this mystery guest was.
"I'll go check," Sid declared, rising from his seat. He answered the door and stayed at the doorway for a few moments before coming back to the kitchen with a package in his hands. "It's our papers." Everyone sighed in relief.
"I'm tired of being scared," Harold whined.
"We all are, Harold," Patty comforted him. "Do we know how long we'll be at sea for?"
"Probably a day, if I have to guess," said Phoebe. "So by sometime tomorrow we'll be in Stockholm."
"Does my sweet Rhonda know we are coming?" Curly asked.
"Fuzzy Slippers said she'll be there to pick us up," Gerald informed.
"How do we know she'll be there?" Helga questioned. "How does she know to trust Fuzzy Slippers?"
"It turns out Rhonda is friends with one of our informants in Stockholm," Sid informed everyone. "Gerald and I will be working with her when we get there."
"Her?" Helga repeated. "You guys actually have women in this underground group?"
"Um, yeah," Sid answered as if it was obvious. "I told you before that the captain's niece is in the group. That's how we're able to get on in the first place."
"Right, I forgot," Helga said, embarrassed about her forgetfulness.
"Well, now you won't," Gerald chimed in. Helga growled at him. "Now, can we go over the plan one more time?"
"Okay," Sid sighed. "If it makes you feel better, we will go over it. Again." Gerald rolled his eyes. "We are meeting with Earl, the captain, two hours before the ship is set to sail. He is putting us in crates to hide in just in case Nazis check the ship first. While we are in the crates, we are to keep quiet until he gives the all clear code."
"What's the code?" Eugene asked.
"He'll tell us when we get there. He doesn't want anyone to overhear."
"That makes sense," Arnold said.
"He also has the crates lock on the inside along with some other cargo to help us hide. He will give us flashlights in them so we can get out. When we do, he'll show us to our cabins for the rest of the trip."
"At least he's thorough," Phoebe said.
"Do we have to be in the dark?" Patty asked, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. "And in such a cramp crate?"
"I know it will be hard, Patty," Sid said, "but it only be for a short while, and then we'll be out. Just remember everyone, no matter what happens, stay quiet, for our lives may depend on it."
They finished breakfast and made sure all their belongings were packed before piling into the two trucks and heading to the docks. Upon arrival, Sid handed everyone their papers, reminding them not to lose them. They were soon approached by an elderly man who has an obvious love for the color yellow. He introduced himself before showing them the crates they will be hiding in.
"Only one of the crates is large enough to fit three of you. The others can fit two. In each of them is a lock with a key and a flashlight. Stay in there until I give you the key word, which is doubloons. Oh, and one more thing: do not eat the food in the crates."
All eyes went straight to Harold. "What?" he asked.
"Patty, make sure you keep Pink Boy distracted," Helga commanded.
"Don't call me 'Pink Boy,' Madam Fortress Mommy!"
"All right, time to get in," Arnold interrupted.
The three couples paired together while Sid, Curly, and Eugene grouped up. They all went onto the ship and into the boxes. Helga and Arnold located their equipment. Helga turned on the flashlight while Arnold locked them in the crate.
"Get yourself comfortable before turning out the light. We may not be able to move until we're cleared." Helga nodded and lied down while Arnold covered the top of the box and joined her.
"Do you have one of the guns with you?" Helga asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Just in case. You ready?"
"Yes. Turn the light off." Helga did so and cuddled close to Arnold. He held her tightly as they waited for everything to be clear.
This is amazing, Helga thought. I'm with my love all alone. Sure, this may not be the most romantic location, but who am I to complain? What is that smell? She sniffed deeply. Oh my goodness, it's him! He smells amazing. Is that apples? Whatever he uses, I must find out.
Loud shouting outside of the crate pulled Helga from her thoughts. It was incoherent due to multiple voices, but Helga knows the shouts of the Nazis well. They always sounded angry. She stiffened every muscle while Arnold pulled her closer and stroked her hair to try and calm her.
The shouting continued along with pounding on some of the containers. There was some pounding on theirs. The two blondes remained motionless, barely even breathing. They heard footsteps grow softer as they moved on. A thud came from the other side of the room. Their shouting increased suddenly. There was a new voice; it sounded like it was begging. A gunshot rang throughout the cargo room. Helga bit her bottom lip to prevent herself from screaming. She bit it so hard that her lip began to bleed.
Please don't let it be any one of us, she begged. Please let everyone be safe. No more death, no more death, no more death.
The shouting diminished and the room was quiet once again. Time seemed to drag on as the couple lied in the bottom of the crate. They soon heard Earl's voice. "In one of these chests contain four thousand doubloons."
Arnold and Helga sighed in relief. Helga turned on the flashlight and Arnold unlocked the crate. He got out and then pulled Helga out. He held her tightly. "It's over," he whispered in her ear.
"Almost," she corrected. "We still need to make sure everyone else is okay and cross U-boat infested waters."
"Good point," he said. They pulled apart and looked around. Soon, they started seeing everyone come out of their respective crates.
"Oh, good," Curly let out a breath. "We're all okay."
"Who got shot?" Gerald asked Earl.
"Someone else who tried to hide. He didn't stay quiet, though, and got caught."
"So now what?" Arnold asked.
"I need to get back to the bridge and leave the docks. You are all welcome to go to the top and see us sail off. Just give your luggage to the crew and they will take them to your cabins when you're ready."
The group followed the captain to the top deck after giving their luggage to several crewmembers. The horn blared from the bridge as the engines roared to life and the steered away from the docks. Helga leaned against the rail, looking out at occupied Poland. She felt Arnold's presence beside her.
"Are you going to miss Poland?" he asked.
"Not one bit," she replied flatly. "I don't ever want to come back here. Or Germany. There's just so much death and fear. I never want to experience it again."
"You wouldn't even come back to visit? To remember what happened?"
"There is no way you can make me go back to that nightmare. I don't need to go back to remember what happened. Those thoughts are forever etched in my mind." The little pair of shoes popped back into her thoughts. She shut her eyes tightly, trying to remove them.
"Are you okay?" Arnold asked, worried.
"I don't ever want kids," Helga said bluntly.
Arnold blinked a couple times. "Um, okay?"
Helga sighed. "At Auschwitz, when I was in Canada, I saw a pair of little shoes. They were from a little girl who was gassed in the chambers. And I keep thinking of those shoes and how that little girl was killed just because of her background." Helga began wiping tears away. "And I just wondered how could anyone harm so innocent? This world is so cruel, and to bring an innocent child into this mess of a world is cruel."
Arnold moved closer and wiped her tears away. "I understand why you would think that. You had horrible parents and this whole war with so many casualties, it is perfectly understandable why you don't want kids. But I ask you to listen to me. I know you would be an amazing mother. You are sweet and caring, and you would do anything for the people you love. You've shown that multiple times. As for the world: yes there are cruel people, but you are surrounded by good people who will make sure any child our group has a good upbringing. We would all protect them."
"I know that," Helga said, staring at the land they left melt into the horizon. "I still don't know if I want to have kids."
Arnold grabbed her hands. "Look at me." Helga turned her head to face him. "Just make me this promise: you won't completely remove the idea of having kids in the future. You still have plenty of time to have kids. You don't need to be popping them out now."
"According to Hitler, I'm an old maid. Hell, I'm almost twenty."
"What does Hitler know? Honestly?" Helga giggled softly as Arnold kissed her hands.
"Just don't completely remove it from the table. In fact, don't think about it until after the war is over."
"Whenever that will be," she muttered.
"I think it'll be here before we know it," he smirked.
"Whatever you say Football Head," she mocked, rolling her eyes playfully. "Can we go inside now? It's starting to freeze."
"Sure, let's go." He took Helga's hand and led her inside. Before going in, she looked back at the horizon to see the last bit of Poland. Good riddance.
They met up with the rest of the group in the mess hall. They had a dinner and had light conversation before going to bed. They were all excited to leave the mess behind in the mainland, but they all still feared about the U-boats that traveled in those waters. They didn't want to wake up to a sinking ship that is supposed to lead them to freedom.
Helga bunked with Phoebe and Patty. It was a small room with hardly any room to walk around. They didn't care, though, since they knew it was only for the night. They all curled up in their beds and prepare for what will hopefully be the last stressful night they will have.
Helga dreamt of children that night. There were multiple kids with blonde hair running around. Some had blue eyes, some had green. They all had large smiles on their faces. Then she saw Arnold standing next to her, carrying a baby. "See how happy they are? I told you you'd be a good mom. Despite everything, they're perfect." She looked at them. They were indeed perfect. But it wasn't a perfect world. How will they be once they know what their parents have gone through? And how would they handle if they are put in the same situations?
"Helga, wake up," Phoebe said, nudging Helga. Helga woke up to see a gleeful Phoebe.
"What is it, Pheebs?"
"We just docked in Stockholm. We made it!"