A/N: I DO NOT own Inglourious Basterds. So yes I am thinking about ending this soon so that I can move onto the sequel. I've made a final decision, this will be the last chapter. The sequel will be called Harlot, Bear, Apache. Look for it within the next few days.
Chambord
"Won't stop bleeding." Hugo's voice cracked as he and Aldo continued to press bloody towels down on her torso.'
"What the hell do you mean she won't stop?" I exclaimed, leaning forward.
"Ain't it obvious!" Aldo snarled, pushing down forcefully.
She moaned, her upper lip twitching.
I put a hand on her face, stroking her jaw.
"Don' touch her!" Aldo smacked my hand away.
I rolled my eyes, ignoring him. I had just come to talk to her. Ask her to forgive me. And this is what happened. Now she was laying on the table, bleeding out. Like I gave a shit. I loved her.
I put my hand in my pocket and felt the ring she had just thrown at me.I grabbed her hand, waiting until Aldo and Hugo were occupied before slipping it back onto her ring finger.
She grabbed my hand weakly, opening her eyes. Eye. However she saw.
She reached out her other hand, grabbing for Aldo, then grabbing for me and pulling us both down.
"Guys..." she croaked weakly.
We both leaned in close, next to her mouth.
"I love you both."
We both straightened up and looked at each other. I knew she had always talked about loving him like a brother, but when I walked in on them during that kiss...
At first I had thought it was just a kiss. Aldo was just that kind of guy, but the way she looked after. I had my doubts.
I guess I was right.
"Must get her to hospital." Hugo suddenly spoke up.
Annabelle twitched underneath us, her chest rising and falling heavily. It looked like she was about to start seizing or something. Shit it was scary.
Aldo picker her up, wrapping the bloodied towels around her before stepping over the screen door and carrying her to the car.
I followed, ignoring Hugo's death glare and the stares from the other guys. As soon as Aldo slammed the door I reopened it, getting in beside her.
"What the hell you think you doin'?" Aldo asked.
"What the hell does it look like? I'm coming too."
"No you ain't."
"Fucking stop me then."
He pulled out the bloodied knife before Hugo pushed through the both of us, opening the door to the driver's seat.
Aldo and I glared at each other before both opening the door and getting in. Fuck if I was leaving. Fuck if he was leaving. I guess we would both just have to see who she chose.
If she came through.
BIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIR
I opened my eyes, looking up at a white ceiling.
My vision came slowly, black dots appearing before it finally came to me. I rubbed my eye vigoriously, trying to restore it as quickly as possible.
"Ah, you're awake. Perfect timing too." a man smiled over me, his voice tainted with a distinct New York accent.
"Where am I?" I asked, fully well knowing where I was.
"Hospital."
"Where?" I asked. Was I back in the states?
"This is an underground hospital. We do work on American soldiers and German double agents over here."
"Oh. Yeah...so how long have I been here?"
"Just a day. We had to put you under to stop the bleeding but we finally did. Let me tell you though you are a lucky woman. If that knife had been but a millimeter over you would not be here with us.
I smiled, looking away. As far as I could see the room was empty, although there were flowers everywhere. On a stand next to me were several roses, my favorite.
"Yeah you've had quite a few guys in here. All wanted to make sure you were doing alright. You one of the Basterds?"
I nodded.
"Well that explains a lot. Well, you'll have to be in here for another day or two just so we can monitor you for infection and then we'll have you out on your way."
"That sounds like a relief." I gave another small smile.
"We have you on several antibiotics and a pro-coagulant. Now, we've noticed that there seems to be a little...tension with the men? Who do you wish to see first? We had to keep everyone out of here to prevent fighting."
I sighed. Of course this would be the first problem I awoke to. Insane love triangle. Hell, why not add Hugo and make it a love trapezoid? Better yet, I could call up Bridget von Hammersmark and ask her to come join. Love pentagon. Couldn't get any more dramatic than that.
"We can hold them out until you're discharged although I'm sure you'll still have this problem long after you get out." the doctor smiled.
"Got that right. Fine. Bring them both in." I sighed.
He nodded before turning to fetch them both. The sad part was the fact that he knew which two men I was talking about.
I waited anxiously, still rubbing my eye. I made a note to talk to the doctor about this other eye. At first I thought it looked kind of cool, but now it was just downright annoying. I couldn't do anything with it, yet it was still there. I felt like Claus von Staffenberg.
The door opened and I didn't have to look to hear the massive footsteps of two muscular men trying in vain to push past one another.
Aldo grabbed my hand on one side, and I felt the weight of Donny's ring on the other. I looked back and forth between the both of them, trying to think of a way to say what I had to say.
I vaguely remembered uttering the words. It was only because I was sure I was dying, and I just wanted both of them to know that I loved them.
But I wasn't dead.
So now it was out there.
And the worst part, was the fact that it was true.
BIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIRBIR
Two days later and I was sitting on the back porch, once again. Aldo and Donny were on either side of me, still at each other's throats but I had two days to think over what I had to say, and I had finally worked up the nerves to say it.
"Both of you...are really handsome guys. You've both been great to me. Donny, I love you, but you did something to me that I am sure I'll never forget. Aldo, you took care of me. You treated me like a princess. You made me feel like every woman should..."
They both stared at me, simply waiting for me to make my choice.
"I know you guys are expecting me to choose, but I can't do that. I love both of you,and right now I'm not sure which one over the other."
"So what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Donny snapped.
"It means, that I'm going to choose who I want, when I want. That means as of now no commitments. No jealously. No anything. I am no ones girlfriend. I am no ones fiance. I am free to do what I please, and that is exactly what I'll do."
"So...I still don't get it." Donny trailed off.
"It means this, Donny, would you like to have dinner tomorrow?"
He looked at me in confusion, better nodding slowly.
"Okay, and Aldo,would you like to have dinner the next night?"
"Why do I have to go after him?"
"Just answer the question."
"Fine. Yes."
"Good, then I think that explains that."
I stood up before turning around and throwing open the new screen door and smiling. I was one eye less and two men more. I was in control now, and I couldn't be happier.
