2

Dieter's POV

I can't see anything, and I don't understand why I haven't panicked yet. I start to see images in my head and I can't control them. I see a warm light and slowly it clears out and I am standing in a small field in Paris. I could see the Eiffel Tower off in the distance. I hear marching all around me and I look over to see my comrades marching off somewhere. It's a usual patrol, a usual day. I looked down at my hands to see my black gloves on and I am in my Gestapo uniform. I was particularly striking. Something white catches my eye and I lift my head and turn to see someone prancing off toward a patch of trees.

My eyes study the figure who is a woman in a big white dress with heels and some type of sparkling barrettes in their hair. I know that figure. Nicholette! My heavy boots move and begin to follow after her. She was like an echo of light as she moved into the forest and I did not think twice about following. I had to see her, to touch her, to hold her. Everything around me was darkening as trees began to form around my mind. The white dressed angel was skipping almost happily and she looked back at me and I saw her flawless face smiling at me. She had silver glitter above her cheekbones that made her eyes pop in utter perfection. This only made me want to run faster to catch her.

She slowed her run and this told me that she wanted me to eventually catch her prompting me to move faster. I didn't feel out of breath or feel my heart quickening from the run, but I did not question it for I did not care. I just wanted her. I wish things had been different.

As I was close to catching her, a bright light surrounded us and now I was lying down. I blinked a bit familiar with the ceiling. I was in my room. I looked around and saw my lamp and a Nazi flag hanging from my wall. Now I turn to my right and I see her staring at me, her head resting on her hand. Her hair was messy and wild and a few strands of her curls covered her face. She's naked and just smiling at me. My face brightened and I turned to her and quickly took her hand.

"Nicholette. You're here." I said with relief placing her hand against my cheek to feel her baby soft flesh. She chuckled ever so lightly, and I kissed her knuckles.

"Yes. I am here." she said and I lean forward pressing my lips to hers, and she caressed my cheek returning it. I didn't want to break the kiss, and so I pressed my forehead into hers, our lips just grazing each other.

She smelled so good.

"You were taken away." I whispered to her wondering if she remembered that or if it had all been a dream. "Stiglitz, the Basterds came for you-" But she lightly silenced me with a soft shush and shook her head.

"That doesn't matter now. We are here right now." she said. I felt my head shaking against my will.

"Oh Nicholette, I wish this had never happened. I wished I didn't see you that day on my march and feel such attraction for you." I answered. I had never looked at Negro women before, but something in her eyes stuck out of the dainty white women that surrounded my world. Nicholette was somewhat dainty, but she was a survivor. She was not afraid to be hard if she had to. She submitted to me, but of her own will not from expectation of having to one day meet and marry a man as is the culture. My fraulein now shook her head, eyes now seeming serious.

"You can't force your brain to fight your heart when it comes to your feelings. Your heart always wins." she said. I shook my head.

"But the only person feeling pain through all of this is you." I said and she nodded.

"Yes. You have put me in quite a situation haven't you? The Nazi soldier and the Negro store clerk. We make up quite a fairy tale." she said leaning forward, her sold hand sliding up my hip and I used this to do the same and pull her to me.

"I was not thinking of the burdens you had to bare. My status makes me entitled where your… existence makes you inferior." I admitted and she nodded as if already knowing this.

"And this is why our worlds should not have collided, but they have and they will continue to collide." she said moving into me and kissing me with mild demand. I cupped her cheek and forced my tongue into her mouth exploring the wet cave around her. She was so warm and I loved it. I pulled her closer to me deepening the kiss.

"If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up. Ever." I said breathlessly and she shook her head and pulled back now, surprising me with her action.

"If you don't wake up, Dieter, you are going to die." she said and now I sat up now and shook my head.

"I do not care, if it means staying here in this room with you forever then fuck everyone else." I said viciously, and now she shook her head placing her hand on my cheek.

"Live for me, Dieter. Then we can be together forever." she said her tone fading. Now everything began to dissolve around me. I looked around in shock wondering what the hell was going on and now I looked at Nicholette to see her form was slowly disappearing. My eyes widened and I shook my head grabbing for her, but my hands went right through her.

"No! No, don't leave me please!" I begged feeling the darkness devour me quicker.

"Find me, Dieter…fine me." she said her voice echoing in my mind.

I felt the sleep leave my body and my eyes slowly began to open and I was met with a pale grey ceiling. Everything seemed real. I could smell paint from the walls and everything was grey and slow. It was not bright and heavenly and beautiful and she was not here.

But a woman was here. A blond woman with red lips and tight curls was standing beside my bed. She was in a white dress and had a petit figure. When she looked at me, she seemed caught off guard that I was looking at her and she even blushed.

"O-oh hello. I am Ingrid Muller, I am your nurse." she explained. I didn't respond. I just listened waiting to hear information I needed to know. She blinked rapidly before clearing her throat. "You are Major Dieter Hellstrom."

"What's my condition and where is my doctor?" I asked too weak to voice annoyance. She nodded quickly and motioned her head at me.

"The doctor is very busy, but will be here shortly. I am pleased to inform you that your four gunshot wounds did not pierce any major arteries thank god… Um you will only need to spend a few days in the hospital so your stitching can heal and then you can go home and rest before going back out into work." she explained. All I heard was that I was going to be okay and that was indeed a miracle. There was a firm knock on the door and it opened.

It was Wehrmacht marksman Frederick Zoller, one of my closest friends. He knew about my relationship with Nicholette and even though he was highly against it, he made excuses for me to see her when I had to sneak away. I would never tell her I had to sneak out, but in the end it was all worth it. Frederick looked at Nurse whatever name was and nodded at her firmly. She nodded and looked at me.

"I shall be looking after you until you are discharged." she said before leaving out of the door. I just gave a slight nod before looking at Frederick. He was in uniform and looked genuinely worried.

"You are truly a lucky man to survive four gunshots." he said and I just winced a bit shuffling in my bed and I looked out the window seeing what seemed like a bright day in Paris. "Dieter?" I was relieved that I would make a full recovery but I honestly did not care about that now.

"Where is she, Frederick?" I asked lowly, my throat dry and cracked. I looked from the window to my comrade with a blank stare. "Where is Nicholette?"