They managed to reach the border and Mike huffed as they slowed to a stop as he looked from left to right at the barrier that consisted of barbed wire and wooden poles although it would not stop Tanks it was enough to deter small vehicles and people.

How the hell would they get through the barrier, Mike dismounted and walked up to the barrier to see if there was way they could walk through instead. By this point he had discarded the Wehrmacht uniform although he had kept the weapons. They had gone through a small village and stole some clothes off of a washing line for both him and El who too discarded the clothes of a concentration camp. The threw the clothes into a nearby river and watched silently as the clothes floated down river. The last remnants of who they used to be was now washing away. The watched in silence, hand in hand.

El thought back to the possible future that she had managed to get a glimpse of, the bundle of cloth and fabric would be their child, she looked at Mike and smiled, hoping that one day that it would become a reality for them.

They drove on in Silence with El keeping an eye out on all sides for any troops looking for them, several times they had been barely avoided being seen by patrols, they did not risk using their weapons at the time, it was something of a last resort.

Both Mike and El had talked about what they would do if they were to be captured with no chance to escape, they would shoot each other whilst embracing, if they were to die, they would die together rather be submitted to a pointless interrogation before being carted off to die alone and away from the other, at least this way it would be on their own terms.

Mike had briefly noticed that there was an 011 branded onto his inner wrist, he didn't question it, he knew the camps liked to brand the prisoners with numbers and refer to them as such. It didn't seem to bother her so he never mentioned it although she did catch his eye and sent a small apology through the bond. But she gave him a small smile to indicate it was okay.

Mike looked on, the heavy onset of wind was blowing his mess of black hair everywhere, El stole looks at him, she seriously wanted to jump him right now, simply because of the way the damn wind was affecting his hair but she held herself back, biting her lip as she did so. Mike, thankfully, did not notice El's small predicament as something else had caught his attention.

The distant sound of clanking could be heard and Mike spun to see something he dreaded to see, especially now that freedom was within their grasp. He felt his body go cold at the sight of a Tiger, with several squads of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS troops fanned out around it, clearly searching for them, it would not be long until they were spotted.

Mike turned to El who too had now noticed the acquisition of the unwanted guests, rapidly closing in on their position. There was no possible way they could take on a Tank and win, much less a Tiger Tank at that. Mike knew this was the end of the line for them.

There was nothing for it and so he gently leaned down and captured her lips with his in a gentle kiss that sent shivers down the spine of the other, their eyes closed as the world melted around them to nothingness, like there was nothing left in the world but them. Mike poured every ounce of his soul into the kiss as a single, solitary tear made its way down his cheek, knowing that they would never experience the joy of freedom.

They pulled apart reluctantly, The Tiger had spotted them and launched a shell towards the two which impacted the ground with deafening force a fair distance away from, both of them flinched at the sound. Their hands still clasped together. They realized that they weren't trying to capture them alive. But his eyes never left hers, if they were going to die then by God he was going to die looking into the eyes he had come to adore.

"El" He whispered his voice shaking.

"Y..Ye..Yes?" she stuttered and she simply could not stop the tears falling one after the other. He reached his hand up to stroke her cheek lightly. The distant sound of tank treads and the shouting of the enemy troops as they closed in on the despairing couple.

It was now or never.

"I'm so glad I met you, you are everything to me and so much more El, I felt it that day we met, the day we first spoke and that night we escaped, if we are to die here, there is nowhere else I'd rather be. I love you. I will love you till the day I die and beyond that, even if that day is today" He said, his own eyes brimming was unshed sorrow.

El choked out a sob, all composure was gone as she choked on her tears as she clung to Mike with every single fibre of her being, their shared sorrow cementing their love, their passion and unwavering loyalty even until the end of all things.

"M..Mike, thank you getting me out, for freeing me" She whispered "I will love you forever and beyond" she said, their bond was essentially on fire by this point, overwhelmed with emotion. They fiercely kissed the other for the last time. A drop of water was followed by another then another as the heavens opened up with a downpour of rain. Like the heavens above was weeping for them.

They broke apart and turned to see Tiger coming to a stop.

The Tiger's Gun looked straight at them, a beast staring down it's prey.

It Fired.

(A/N) yet another cliffy! Lol now that things have calmed down a bit I can get back to my regular writing schedule, one more chapter to go! Then I can start work on the sequel to Beauty of Annihilation.

As always guys, review! And until next time, Peace!