A/N: Finally, right? Or is it 'About damn time she freakin' updated!' lmao Sorry it took so long, again, but I have been going crazy with my Botany final. But I am now free and that meant time for writing :D
Lena
Chapter 14: The Premier: PART 1
Colonel Hans Landa walked across the bar floor, paying no mind if he stepped in a puddle of blood or on a dead body. His ever-searching eyes scanned the bar searching for something of interest. After only a few moments of searching, his eyes caught sight of a curious item.
He bent down, picked up the designer shoe, and examined it closely. However, the napkin that rested on the floor next to a fallen over a chair seemed much more promising. He pocketed the shoe and picked up the napkin. His eyes gleamed and wicked grin spread across his handsome face as his read the flamboyant writing on the serviette.
"Got you," he whispered gleefully as he pressed his lips to the napkin. He stood and walked past his confused men. He paid little attention to them; he was too focused on getting back to base. He needed to call in a favor.
-o-
"I don't want you to go," Wicki said as he came up behind me and rested his calloused hands on my hips. I slowly spun around to face him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought him down to where his forehead touched mine.
"I know," I whispered. "But someone has to be the smart one of the group?" I laughed, but it felt hollow.
"Lena, what if something goes wrong? What if we get separated and I can't make it to you in time? What if…" I cut him off by pressing my finger to his lips.
"Shh, Wilhelm," I said soothingly. "You can be with me tonight and we will worry about the premier when the time comes." I pressed my lips against his and he hesitantly responded. His kisses were soft and chaste, as if he was I would break. Needing more than simple kisses, I moved my hands to his chest and slowly unbuttoned his over coat. Wicki, surprised at the turn of events, broke the kiss.
"Are you sure?" he asked, he voice abruptly sounding deeper than before. I answered him by pulling him for another kiss.
-o-
"Has Donny talked to you yet?" Bridget asked as she pulled the pins from hair. She then proceeded to add several gleaming hair barrettes to style it.
"No," I said. I wondered why Donny would be seeking me out. Bridget saw my confusion and chuckled.
"You too weren't exactly quiet last night," she said. My eyebrows knitted in further confusion, before it dawned on me what she was referring too. My eyes widen comically and a dark red blush overtook most of my face. I buried my face in face hands, but Bridget tugged at my hair, pulling me back.
"None of that," she chided. "You will ruin your make-up," she finished with a smirk. I groaned, only causing her to laugh at my expense.
"Okay, all done," Bridget said brightly after a few minutes with a bright smile.
"Can I look now?" I asked, excited to what Bridget was smiling about.
"Yes!" she said giggling as she pulled me up from the stool and lead me over to the large mirror.
I gasped when I saw my reflection. The woman that looked back couldn't be me. I moved my hand and, despite what I expected, the beautiful stranger copied the movement. I saw Bridget looking smug at her work, in the background.
"Ready?" She asked, coming up to stand beside me in front of the mirror.
"Does it really matter?" I asked, not expecting an answer in return. We just stood there in companionable silence, wearing our sparkly dresses like battle armor.
-o-
When Bridget and I presented ourselves, Donny gave a high-pitched wolf whistle causing the others to look. Hirschberg looked like he was about to faint and I fought the urged to giggle. I watched as Donny pushed him to the side and spun me in circle, causing me to become unbalanced falling backwards into a pair of strong arms. I looked up to see the face of Hugo, looking back down at me. I smiled at him and was amazed when he gave me a small smile in return.
"Tryin' to give her a broken leg so her and Hammersmark have matching cast, ya idiot?" Aldo reprimanded, slapping Donny in the back of his head. "And dammit Hirschberg, quit droolin' on the floor."
Hearing the commotion, Hicox and Wilhelm entered wearing smartly cut black tuxedos. Wicki's eyes and mine met across the room and both our breaths hitched with a combination of our appearances and the memories of last night. I smiled, refusing to think about what would happen if something went wrong.
-o-
I entered the cinema with my head held high, my movements confident as I stood next Bridget. With her at my side, we quickly became the center of attention. Many soldiers of various titles came over to chat. I laughed and chatted as if everyone I met was an old friend.
"You are a natural," Bridget whispered casually in my ear as she smiled. I looked back over my shoulder at Wilhelm who was being hounded by several wives, most old enough to be his mother or grandmother. However, despite being uncomfortable, he acted like the perfect gentleman. I spotted Hicox who was also having no trouble winning over the other guests with his movie knowledge. Now that he wasn't dressed as an officer, his strange accent was of little concern to the people around him. I inwardly sighed in relief. 'So far, so good,' I thought to myself.
I reached out for a flute of champagne when a woman in blood red dress caught my eye. She was overlooking the crowd, from the upper floor railing. There was something about that seemed so familiar. As if she was from a memory. I watched her make her way down the stairs. I quickly made my way through the crowd to the bottom step of the stairs. When she passed, recognition hit me like a ton of bricks.
"Shosanna," I whispered. I watched her head snap up and look around in fear. I ducked away from her searching gaze, nearly spilling the champagne in my haste. I took a deep breath, in attempt to regain my composure. I calmly made my way back to Bridget, all the while fighting the increasing urge to run.
I felt a man grip my arm and my first thought was Wilhelm or maybe even Hicox, until I spotted them both on the far side of the room.
"Lena?" a gruff voice said behind me. I looked back and saw an older man, with an enlarged stomach. "Lena!" he said again cheerfully.
"Grandpa!" I said joyfully as he pulled me a tight hug. "What brings you here to this Nazi scum festival?" he whispered very quietly in my ear. "You are not becoming like your mutter are you?"
"Oh, Grandpa! I have missed you so much," I whispered, hugging him impossibly tighter as tears threatened to fall from eyes. Grandpa was the only one I wrote too when I moved to France. I wanted to move in with him, but as he lived in Germany, he was still in reach of Mama's control. When she found out, she would have dragged me back kicking and screaming.
"When you stopped writing, I feared the worst had befallen you," he said wiping the tears from my eyes with his thumb. "But I should have known better, you have too much of my son in you," he said with his deep baritone chuckle. "However, I must warn you your…" he started before getting cut off by a new presence.
"Fräulein Lena," said an all too familiar voice behind me. "What a pleasant surprise." I fought the urged to draw my fist back and hit him square between the eyes. I swallowed my pride, turned to face him, and gave him my best smile.
"Pleasant doesn't even begin to cover it, Hans," I said in an overly sweet voice. "But if you excuse me, I must get back to my other cohorts." I nodded to my Grandpa, silently sending him an apology. I reluctantly gave Landa another polite smile before my jaw went slack. A woman in a shimmering blue dress with her face caked with make-up, slipped her arm into Landa's.
"Mama?"
A/N: So, as always, I like to know what you thought of it. Also, I am sad to say that there are only two more chapters to go; The Premier: PART 2 and The Epilogue. I am already working on part two and I am really scared on how you are going to take it. I won't say anymore, I don't want to give anything away! Till next time, Macbeth.