A/N: I DO NOT own Inglourious Basterds, it is property of the magnificent Quentin Tarantino. Wow chapter 20 already...and I still have many more to go.

Vesper

"Wow...this is..."

I trailed off, unable to find words. I hadn't seen a beach since I came here now. It was absolutely pristine. The sound of the waves. The water crashing around us.

It had taken hours to get to Normandy, but we finally reached our destination. It was totally worth it too. In the backseat was a cooler full of ice containing our picnic feast. I couldn't invision anything more romantic than making love with Donny on the beach. Making love. It made me chuckle. I never thought I'd hear those words go through my mind.

"Beautiful..." Donny finished.

I whipped my head around in shock. Had he really just said that?

"Repeat that to anybody and I'll kill you."

Yep he had just said it.

He turned off the car before getting out and walking over to my side. I watched him. His dark hair. Stocky build. Adorable brown eyes. As much as I fought it...I loved him.

He helped me out, a strong arm around my waist before reaching into the backseat to get all the crap we had brought along.

We walked along the seemingly endless stretch of sand before finding a spot, obscured by trees and putting down our blanket before taking a seat. The sun was setting now, the breezy air cooling tremendously. This would be the first time I had ever spent the night on beach...actually my first time having sex on the beach (assuming we ended up having sex, which was extremely likely) as well. There was a first time for everything.

I collapsed down onto the towel, pulling down my dress a little bit. Donny rested his elbows on his knees, looking down at me. We stared at each other in silence before he put a hand on my face and leaned in, kissing me.

The wind whipped around us, blowing my hat off and pushing wisps of hair in my face, but I didn't care. It just felt good to feel his hands on my thighs. My waist. Literally every place he could seek out.

I laid back against the towel, leaning on my elbows. Donny opened the basket we had brought along and pulled out a freezing bottle of champagne, kept frigid from ice.

He grabbed the cork, twisting upward before a satisfying thunk sounded over the waves and a river of foam cascaded down the bottle. He took a swig before handing it over to me.

I took a sip, looking into his warm eyes and sighing. I wanted nothing more than for him to grab me, push me down softly onto the blanket beneath us, and tell me how much he loved me.

But that wasn't going to happen.

"You alright?" he asked, furrowing his thick brows.

I nodded, giving him a small smile before taking another sip of champagne as my face became heated.

Donny stared at me for a moment before putting a hand on one of my thighs.

"Ann..." he trailed off.

"What? I breathed, looking up at him through my lashes."

"I...you're the greatest gal I've ever been with. I want you to do something for me."

"What?" I leaned in closer.

"Wear this."

He pulled a small chain out of his pocket. It was gold, with a small Star of David pendant.

I ran my fingers over it, feeling my heart flutter.

"It was my grandfathers. He told me before I came over here to give it to someone special. Will you wear it?"

"...Of course." I breathed, taking it and pulling my hair out of the way before turning around. Donny grabbed the ends, fastening it for me before running his fingers over my collarbone.

"Donny?" I turned around, not even thinking clearly.

"Yeah?" he grinned.

"I love you."

BIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIR

I watched Annabelle. As soon as she said it her face turned bright red and I watched her hold her breath for a moment.

Love. Wasn't something I was ever really interested in. Or thought about. I thought I loved this girl back in high school. Cheerleader. Named Florence. It was puppy love nothing more.

Did I love Annabelle?

I looked at her. This was one of the first times I had seen her look so...vulnerable. She looked close to crying.

So did I love her? It wasn't really a tough question. Either I did or didn't. She was a great girl. Gorgeous. Amazing in bed. Funny. Nice. The whole package.

But did I love her?

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud!" she threw her arms out, trying to suck the words back in.

"It's okay...Ann, I really like you. But love is a big step for me. Listen why don't we give it some time?"

I watched her face. A subtle twitch. She looked down. She looked hurt. I didn't want to hurt her...no I didn't love her...yet.

"Hey." I said softly, putting a hand underneath her chin and tilting her face up. Her eyes watered. She was about to cry.

"Just because I don't now doesn't mean I never will..."

BIRBIRBIRBIR

The ride back was undeniably awkward and tense. Donny had attempted to make light conversatoin all the while, but still...it didn't really help.

I had never been rejected before. I had never been in love before. This was in fact turning out to be a day of firsts.

We ate, we got into the car, we were on our way home. That was it. No sex. No "making love".

I didn't even want to think about that word. It wasn't Donny's fault. He just wasn't ready for that sort of thing. Neither was I really but I didn't know what the hell had come into me. I spoke the words without evern thinking, and I was paying the price.

I felt the heavy weight of the necklace and lifted up my hand, running over it with my fingers. This was probably the most hurt I had ever been.

I could feel Donny's eyes on me, looking over every so often. I understood that he wanted to take things slow, but what if that was just his nice way of saying 'I want absolutely nothing to do with you.' Could I be loved that way?

Hours went by in silence until we pulled up in front of our motel. I got out of the car, starting towards the door and not even waiting for him.

"Um, I'm going to run out for a little bit. Give you some time." he rolled down the window.

I nodded, looking down at the ground before making my way into the building. Or was it that he just didn't want to be around me?

I made my way up the endless stairs, ignoring all the sleazy drunks hanging around, ogling me. I reached our room before unlocking the door and throwing it open, preparing to let the tears fall.

I didn't see it coming. The fist to my face. Or the three Krauts in our room. Then everything went black.