Switzerland April 1968

Wolfgang pulled some additional paperwork out of a hidden draw in his desk. He'd intended to show it to her until he looked up and saw her reaction as she entered the room. Angie slowly walked into the office he'd had locked, and her eyes widened at the sight greeting her. Standing stunned for a moment, she honestly didn't know what to say. Walking over to the far wall, she looked at near life size painting. Holding her hand over her mouth in utter surprise, she looked back at Wolfgang with confusion and astonishment.

"Wolfgang?"

Letting out the breath he didn't realize he was holding he went to her side taking her hand into his. "I never married. I've seen a couple of women socially, but never anyone seriously since you. I had this masterpiece painted from the photographs I had of us," Hochstetter answered looking from her to the painting. His head was still spinning that she was here, alive, real, and he could touch her.

"I have never stopped loving you. Ever. I thought you might have found another to love, but I have never seen anyone else since our time together. I always said raising my children was all I had time for. Secretly, I never wanted any man but you," Angie replied standing in the front of the painting of her. It was filled with rich hues, showing her walking down a staircase in a long flowing satin gown. He smiled as he watched her take it in. Hochstetter reached over and kissed her, taking her in his arms their kiss grew deeper. They fit in each other's arms perfectly, each thought. When he felt the knife under her clothing, it made him admire her cunning.

When their kiss ended he walked over and touched the picture's frame. "I thought it was the least I could do. I commissioned one of the local artists to paint it for me. I told him that the war had robbed the world of the loveliest woman ever to grace the planet. He looked at several photos before he found your essence to create this beauty." Over the years, he'd spent many hours staring at it, wishing, wondering, what might have been. This place had become his safe haven when the world closed in on him, and only two other people knew of its existence. Being able to share it with her had only been a dream until today. No woman had ever graced the inside of this house before.

Noticing that the chill of the room made Angie shiver, Hochstetter put his arm around her and they walked back into the living room to the warmth of the fire. He wasn't ready to open his heart, the pain ran too deep. Many times over the years, his friends had tried to pull him away from the memories and bring him into living, or at least some feminine companionship. His crippled heart bled for one woman – this woman. He tried to date others, but everyone he met since looking into her eyes was compared to her. The shredding his heart had taken now held anger, betrayal, and longing. All were trying to co-exist at the same time. He didn't know what would win.

"There is still much I wish to know. You said that you were able to get Hogan to commit treason to protect me and I assume you. Explain to me how that happened?" Hochstetter nearly growled Hogan's name. He never wanted to be indebted to Robert Hogan for anything. The very thought infuriated him.

Germany December 1944:

Corporal Schneider and Private Mueller had been watching the farm house for nearly twenty-four hours when Majors Hochstetter and Braun arrived mid-afternoon. The Corporal reported that no one had come near the farm in the time they'd been staking it out. Hochstetter thanked the men and sent them on their way. He and Braun went inside the house and sat up their trap for Hogan and Tiger. Their plan was to stay inside and out of sight until their invited guests had arrived. Braun closed the shutters from the outside of the house, while Hochstetter closed any curtains that were still hanging in the house. They didn't want anyone to see who was inside, only that someone was inside and waiting. Next Braun found a back room and started to set up for his invited guests.

"What are you doing?" Hochstetter asked watching Braun unpack his instruments from a small bag.

"We told Fraulein Monet to be here at nine pm and Papa Bear to arrive at ten-thirty. So since we'll have the Fraulein for at least an hour, before our guest of honor arrives, I thought we'd use that time wisely." Braun answered laying out his knives in the order he would use them. "Just trying to be prepared," he said with a wickedly evil grin.

"Ja, ja, it's good to be prepared," Hochstetter answered not quite sure he believed what he was seeing. Braun had always been…well…unique. "However, I want a full confession from Hogan."

"Don't worry my friend, after he sees Monet, he'll give you that confession. I promise you'll have it before the night is over and done with," Braun replied finishing his task. The two men went back to the main room of the house and started a fire in the fireplace. They knew the smoke from the chimney would be seen from anyone outside, but were counting on Tiger and Hogan thinking the other arrived first and started it.

Hochstetter walked over and gave the just barely starting fire a stir with the poker causing sparks to fly as the air flowed more freely within it. Standing next to the fireplace memories of Lisal flooded his mind. Braun could tell by the look on his face where Wolfgang's mind had taken him, he walked over and put a supportive hand on his shoulder.

"One night a few weeks ago, it was cold and I was trying to get the first fire of the season going. The wood must have still been green or wet, because no matter what I tried it wouldn't catch. I was getting frustrated with it, when I heard giggling behind me. Lisal was sitting on the couch with her hand over her mouth smirking at my attempts, and then I found myself laughing with her. We ended up rolling on the floor together in joyous fits of laughter. The simplest of things brought such delight when we were with each other. It was just an ordinary evening…" the sobs took over him and Hochstetter couldn't go on. Braun put his arm around his friend letting him grieve.

"We will get those who took her away," Braun promised as Hochstetter regained control. "How about a game of cards while we wait?" He asked taking a deck of cards from his coat pocket and wiping the tears away from his own eyes.

"Ja, that would be a good way to pass the time," Hochstetter answered wiping his face. They sat at the table with Hochstetter shuffling and dealing, their talk was light for the first hour. Both grew hungry so they laid the food they'd brought with them on the table eating as the card game continued. It would be at least another couple of hours before their first guest arrived.

"This morning, I was able to find out why General Kittsmeyer didn't make the conference in Düsseldorf. My contact said that the Fuehrer did call him to his office and had some type of special assignment for him to complete," Braun said as he placed his bet.

"Does your contact know why Hogan and his men were taken?" Hochstetter asked raising the ante. He picked up a slice of cheese and ate it waiting for his next move.

"Nein, but we'll ask Hogan when he arrives. Call." Braun laid his cards down losing another round to Hochstetter, who had always been the better card player between them. He reached over and cut another slice of cheese and bread as Hochstetter collected the poker chips on the table.

"If the Fuehrer ever found out about your contact giving you information, then they could lose their head rather quickly," Hochstetter said with grave seriousness.

"If my contact lost their head, then the one giving the order would find his head on a platter. That is a promise," the look in Braun's eyes was one of murderous conviction. No one touched his family or friends. No one.

"Such treasonous words are best left unspoken," Hochstetter watched Braun with a wary eye.

"We're just two comrades talking over a friendly game of cards," his expression turned into a smile, but the darkness in his eyes remained. "Besides, a man fills that position now. And he's only a man. If such things were to come to pass, another man could easily find himself in command."

"All hail the Fuehrer," Hochstetter said amusingly raising his glass.

"Whoever he may be," Braun finished the toast and the two men laughed conspiratorially.

Outside Tiger had made it to the edge of the woods surrounding the farmhouse. She could see the smoke in the chimney, and the warmth of the fire called out to her as the snow began to fall.