Disclaimer: All characters and themes are the product of Quentin Tarantino's genius. Any others not native to the film are my own creations that are not set out to improve upon or change an already stunning production. I only intend to quench my need for an extended version of the character's lives. The basterds originally come to France in the spring of 1944. I have brought them a little earlier. The original film remains truthful.

16th September 1942

Aldo awoke to the soft chattering noise of birds outside the peeling window. He could hear the low rumble of someone snoring from the next room and saw that the bed beside him was empty. Annabelle had probably moved to sleep somewhere else during the night as Aldo himself was not the quietest of sleepers. On deciding the sleeping arrangements for that night, Annabelle had insisted she stay in the same room as Aldo as he was the furthest from her own age - she being twenty one and forty two - and posed less risk of sordid speculation. As well as this, Aldo had come away to war from a marriage with a woman whom he had known most of his life and had six children, one being close to Annabelle's age but this information was not the sort he divulged to the rest of the Basterds because he only wanted to be seen as a leader, not a father or friend. Aldo had already noticed the boys staring at her which irritated him a little as he did not want her to become some sort of distraction but reassured himself that they would get used to her soon enough. She seemed rather cold anyway, never meeting an eye for too long or smiling for real. As Aldo wondered about why she was like this, he resolved in himself he would question her, make her tell him her story. It was important to him to know everything about his Basterd's life so he could psychoanalyse their every action, never misinterpreting or misjudging them.

He slid out of the dirty, stained bed and slipped on his shirt over the elasticated vest he wore. While the others were asleep he would seek out Annabelle and question her about her life before the war. When there was no sign of her downstairs, Aldo looked into where the boys slept suspecting she was a little more lustful than she let on but there was no sign. Most of her belongings were still there but her sword was not. Aldo fast came to the conclusion that she had gone out hunting for Nazis alone which sent him into a rage. He ran to where Donny and Omar lay, kicked them awake to their annoyance then did the same to all of the others.

"What is it Lieutenant? What the fuck is going on?" said Hirschberg croaking, wiping his eyes.

"That fucking arrogant bitch has gone out alone to hunt Nazis."

"You sure she 'aint here?"

"Yes I am sure Donowitz. She's taken her fucking sword."

Hugo shouted something profane in German whilst kicking a cupboard so its doors collapsed inwards. He felt the sting of betrayal more than the rest because it was he who had raved about her reputation and the value of her becoming a member.

"Let's just wait for her. She'll be back and we can ask her what she is playing at." said Wicki.

And so they sat in the kitchen at the long oak table waiting for hours. For the most part of this time they took it upon themselves to talk about her viciously making fun of the way she gravitated to Aldo like some lost child and was obviously mad because she couldn't seem to laugh.

"Have you noticed the way she flexes her hands?" asked Utivich "She sat there for an hour yesterday just opening and shutting them. Staring at them. Was a bit freaky."

They all laughed at this and watched Donny perform some exaggerated impression of her. They could not understand how a girl of her age did not want to come over and talk with them, laugh with them and flirt with them as all of the Basterds believed themselves to be such amiable suitors because of their status in the army. As Stiglitz was in the middle of pondering why she even got into this line of work in the first place, the door sounded sending all the Basterds to their feet, all of them, including Aldo rushing to the disturbance. Annabelle stood with her sword hanging from her belt, pushing a wheel barrow with two large potato sacks within it. She stared at them silently confused at why her return was so maliciously received.

"What we are is a team missy and if you think you can go off doing your own thing then your wrong." said Aldo.

Annabelle's face grew black as thunder and her blood raced around her body kicking momentum into her legs. She stamped away up the stairs and slammed the door causing a small amount of rubble to fall from the ceiling. Omar took the initiative to study what was in the bags and found that one was filled with food. There was at least four loaves of bread, a large hunk of cheese, apples of a lime green and four large bottles of whisky. She had managed to obtain a canister of water along with some tins of sardines. The other bag was packed with guns and artillery, grenades, knives and other types of weaponry including belts and bags needed to carry such things. The others looked at the stash in dismay unsure of what to do, guilt slowly creeping into their bodies after all they had said about her.

"Well someone has to go up and see if she is okay." said Omar

"Utivich." Aldo nodded towards the stairs."

"Why me?"

"Because you are the softest of us all" Donny snorted.

"Fuck you Donald." Donny launched at him causing Utivich to jump back.

"Utivich just get up there. The rest o' ya, get this stuff where it belongs." said Aldo.

The Basterds reluctantly collected up the spilled treasures and carried them to the kitchen whilst Utivich, just as unwillingly huffed up to where Annabelle sat; knees tight to her chest. She flicked her eyes to him without so much as a stir from her head like a caged animal would to her cruel owner.

"Hey, um... Thanks for the food and all." He gripped the back of his neck in discomfort. "None of us were pissed about you leaving. I mean, less Nazis mean an easier job for everyone right?" He said lying through his teeth. "But that wasn't what you were doing anyway so..."

Annabelle stayed silent, still overwhelmed with anger. Utivich moved closer and sat on the opposite side of the bed trying to catch her eye.

"The thing is see: Aldo has trust issues you know? We all do 'cause who can you trust in a war?" His awkward questions frittered from his mouth making no progress what so ever.

"I'm kinda glad there is a lady around. Not to cook or anything." He laughed nervously "but to talk to. You don't seem much of a talker though."

Utivich sighed. He had tried his best but at home he hadn't really been good with girls and their feelings. At only twenty five there was so much he needed to learn from her and he wanted her friendship so badly. Defeated, Utivich got up slowly and headed for the door only for Annabelle's pride to deteriorate as she whispered a quiet "Wait." He turned and sat beside her, her face melancholy.

"I as used to be a talker but being on your own for so long, you kind of forget how to do it." Her eyes were empty. "All I feel is anger, it's destroying me. That's why I was so glad that you guys came along because I thought if someone was around I could feel like a person again. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise that, let alone undermine any of you."

The guilt now was stinging Utivich so badly that he almost broke down and cried. This woman was more damaged than she had initially let on and seeing so little within her eyes made her seem dead and haunting.

"Come downstairs. Us Basterds can make good company when we want to and that food 'aint gonna last long."

She smiled at him spontaneously which took her by surprise. A flood of warmth cascaded through her body sparking a few embers within her she had thought long burned out. They both made their way down the collapsing stairs towards a confident Aldo at the bottom.

"Well done sweetheart. You got her down." Aldo said to Utivich who by now was already storming off to the kitchen at that comment. "Thanks for the stuff Belle. Just tell us when you go out next time?"

Annabelle's father called her Belle and with this fatherly order she could not help but feel a little amused. On walking into the kitchen, the Basterds stopped their cattle like grazing and began to eat as a gentlemen should causing Annabelle to start getting a little peeved once more.

"Please boys. Hang up those airs and graces and eat like a Basterd."

"I don't need telling twice." Said Donny, casually stuffing his face once more and the others soon followed.

Ravenously, Annabelle shovelled the bread into her mouth realising how hungry she actually was - after all she had been foraging all morning, sneaking in and out of trucks on their way to the Fuhrer. The whisky flowed quickly from bottle to stomach producing a merry bunch of men all in need of some fun. Annabelle left them with the luxuries she had provided, sneaking up to bed with a lullaby of contentment lulling her to sleep from the floor below.