Disclaimer: all the usual apply
Chapter 34
Amelia POV
"Hitler's dead?" she repeated the question to Nixon.
Taking one last drag of his cigarette he tossed the butt to the ground. Casually exhaling the smoke he replied, "That's the news. Shot himself in the head."
Looking around the bomb stricken village they were in, she sighed heavily, "He should have done it sooner."
"Yeah, but he didn't."
"Em. Sir," Lipton greeted as he joined them.
"Hear the good news?" she asked the lieutenant.
"'Bout Hitler? Yeah. Doesn't help us much. War ain't over yet."
"It should be. Well, this one at least," she replied.
Both men nodded in agreement.
"We're moving out, heading for the Alps," Lipton relayed the message he'd been sent to deliver.
"OK. Time to catch my ride," she said, smiling fondly at the two officers.
"Em," Nixon stopped her just as she turned to leave.
"Yip."
"When we get some time. You owe me a drink and a long conversation."
"Oh, I do believe you owe me a drink, but I'm willing to compromise on the conversation part."
Nixon laughed, his eyes capturing their long lost mischievous glint for a split second.
She winked at Nixon and patted Lipton's arm before turning to the waiting truck.
Hauling herself into the back of the empty truck she scrunched up her nose and looked around, unable to make up her mind where to sit as every available space looked terribly uncomfortable.
"You just gonna stand there all day?" Babe asked from his spot on the ground at the back of the truck.
She turned to find him and Joe looking up at her, naughty smirks on their faces.
"What?"
"I can't say anything," Joe said, holding up his hands in mock innocence.
She turned her gaze to Babe, placing her hands on her hips and cocking her head to one side as if to say, "Well?"
"We ain't complaining. The view's pretty damn good from where I'm standing."
She rolled her eyes, taking a step back so they had room to climb up.
"I just can't actually think where to sit. We've been driving around on these trucks for weeks and my ass hurts. A lot."
"Well, that is a crime," Joe chimed in, shooting her a wink for good measure.
She glared at him and then at Babe when the latter dared to laugh.
"Well, he ain't wrong," Babe teased her.
"Hey, you ladies gonna sit down or what?" Johnny shouted from the ground where he and Don were waiting.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist," she retorted, but she moved up to the front of the truck anyway.
Babe nudged her shoulder and she scowled up at him, the irresistible smile on his face only fuelling her annoyance.
"Remind me not to get on your bad side today. I'd like to make it home in one piece."
"I can make no promises."
He ruffled her hair and nimbly dodged a smack aimed at his head, before taking a seat, conveniently leaving a space open between him and Joe.
She waited for the vehicles to lurch to life before taking her seat, hoping to spare her sore behind some misery.
"Where we heading again?" Joe asked as he bit off a large piece of K-ration, filling his cheeks so he looked like a stuffed chipmunk.
"Berchtesgaden, high up in the Bavarian Alps. It's where the Eagles Nest is."
"Nest?"
"It's like a palace of sorts built specially for Hitler. There's a town nearby where you had to be a true Nazi to live. All the higher ups have homes there."
"I'm sure they all knew about the camps," Joe said and she noticed the dark cloud that marred his handsome features.
"Hey," she hushed as she grabbed his hand.
His eyes locked onto hers, deep frown lines etched into his forehead. "I'm fine."
"That's my line. Get your own," she teased him, hoping to lift his spirits.
He rewarded her with a small smile, but the corners of his eyes never creased.
"You will be fine. And until then I'll be fine for you."
He tugged on her hand so she moved closer to him. He placed a lingering kiss on her forehead before replying, "You're one hell of a broad Em."
"And you're one hell of guy."
She felt him smile, and this time it did reach the corner of his eyes.
He let go of her hand and she wiggled herself into the most comfortable position the could manage.
Here we go again.
XXXXXXX
They'd been forced to halt their progress to Berchtesgaden just before midday. The SS had brought half of the mountain side down on the road leading up to the town and the eventual Eagles Nest. Massive boulders blocked their path and it would be hours before the engineers arrived with the necessary dynamite to blow a way through.
Of course this hadn't stopped some of the men from trying their hand at demolition, using grenades and bazookas to try and move the mountain. Truth be told she suspected they just enjoyed blowing things up.
Men.
She'd wandered around between the waiting trucks, talking to whoever wasn't trying to blow up a mountain. By noon she'd completed her rounds and scanned the area for a comfortable spot to lay down that was also a safe distance from the shenanigans.
Seeing Joe sitting next to a truck, using its large wheel as a backrest, she sauntered over to his side. Plonking herself down ungraciously she nudged him softly in greeting.
"What you doing?" he asked her, lazily offering her a cigarette.
"No thank you."
"Still sticking to the whole no one's trying to kill me so I ain't smoking thing?"
"H'mh."
A loud explosion drew their attention and they both casually glanced in its direction. A cloud of dust and rock chips flew into the air, but otherwise the barricade stayed in place.
"How are you? I mean really," she asked, resting her head against the large wheel and closing her eyes as the spring sun warmed her face.
She felt Joe shift a fraction next to her. "That could've been me and my family."
She nodded.
"That place, those camps. It stripped them of everything that made them human. Fuck, how can people do that to one another?"
Without looking over to him she reached out and took his hand, squeezing it. "I don't have the answers. Maybe we'll only know the truth, the full extent of it, years from now. Hell, maybe we'll never know."
"Fuck Em, I just don't feel right no more. After seeing that place, even after everything we'd been through," he spoke the words as if they hurt him, and his grasp on her hand tightened to the point where it almost hurt.
She lowered her face to look at her friend to find his eyes staring off into the distance.
"You're human Joe, and a good man. Seeing a place like that should change you."
"Maybe," he replied, his voice forlorn and a deep sadness weighing him down.
She rested her head against his shoulder and he rested his on top of hers. They stayed like that for quite some time, the peaceful setting broken intermittently by the sound of unsuccessful explosions.
At the sound of boots stopping in-front of them and someone crouching down she opened her eyes a slither, sleep only a few seconds away.
Babe was kneeling in-front of her, his eyes dancing between her and Joe and holding something she couldn't really place.
"We're moving out," he said after a few moments.
She sighed and sat upright, running her hands over her eyes to try and wake them up.
"They got through the barricade?" she asked.
"Nah, Sink arrived and told Winters to find another way into the town."
"Well, there should be one." Holding out her hand to him she continued, "Help?"
He straightened out and took her hand, easily pulling her to her feet. Letting go of her hand he helped Joe up and then proceeded to lead the way to their truck.
Glancing over her shoulder to Joe she said, "See you up there."
"Yeah, see you up there."
She jogged after Babe, having to dodge a few men to reach his side. Just before they reached their truck he bent over and spoke softly so they wouldn't easily be overheard, "Everything alright?"
"Hm? Oh, yes. I just wanted to make sure he was fine after everything that happened the last few days. He took it very hard."
"Well, you were comforting him awfully well."
She jerked her head up and raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
"I mean it's just, did he need to hold your hand and have you sleep on his shoulder?"
She stopped dead, nearly causing the man behind her to run smack into her, but luckily he was able side step her at the last second, shooting them a confused look in the process.
Making sure to keep her voice low, she took a step towards him so their bodies were almost touching. "You know what? I don't have the energy for this. I took his hand and put my head on his shoulder. And you know why? Because my friend, a man I care deeply for, is in pain and needs me. Now either you are secure enough in our relationship to handle that, or you're not. But I will not be made to feel guilty because I did nothing wrong. I love you Edward, I want to be with you. So deal with it."
Without waiting for a reply she turned sharply on her heel and hauled herself into the truck, taking a seat between Don and Johnny and making sure there were no empty benches anywhere near her.
Men, she thought not for the second time that day.
"Everything OK?" Don asked her, his eyes flicking from her to Babe sitting at the other end of the truck.
"Just peachy" she snapped.
"Hey, I was just asking."
She instantly felt bad, knowing she'd taken out her mood on an innocent bystander. "Sorry Don. I'm just having a moment. It'll sort itself out."
"You sure? 'Coz I would happily go knock some sense into a certain someone's thick skull."
She smiled, "Maybe not right now. But I'll keep it in mind."
"You do that."
Her lips twitched into the start of a smile as all the vehicles lurched to life. She was content to listen in on the conversations of the men around her for the duration of the journey, every so often adding a comment of her own but mostly sitting in silence and refusing to look anywhere near Babe's direction.
As they continued to climb further into the mountain she could start to see the tops of roofs sticking out between the rocky mountain side. Just before their convoy took the turn that would bring them directly into the line of sight of the town it ground to a halt.
The order was quickly passed down to disembark, and everyone shuffled out of the trucks, guns at the ready.
As her boots hit the pavement she sensed a familiar presence approaching her. Still refusing to acknowledge him or listen to what he had to say she quickly pushed through the crowd of men, ignoring his voice as he called her name.
She knew she was being stubborn and impossible but at that moment she didn't care. She was mad and she was going to stay mad until she decided it was time to move on. Every second that passed she replayed the conversation over and over in her head and each time her blood pressure rose another notch until she wanted to find him just so she could slap in square in the face.
"Amelia," Luz called, saving her from her brooding and possibly killing someone.
"Here."
Luz pushed through the men, eyeing her suspiciously when he found her but deciding to say nothing.
"Speirs wants you up front."
"Sure," she replied, jogging to the front of the line, happy to have something to do.
She already knew what he wanted, there really was only one reason why they would call for her when preparing to enter a potentially hostile town.
Stopping between Lipton and Speirs she waited for the latter to finish giving out orders to the Easy platoon leaders. He finished his briefing and the men quickly returned to their platoons to relay the orders.
There was a pause when he turned to her, his lips already forming the orders she knew were coming.
"Snipers," she interjected and he nodded, his lips snapping shut into a thin line.
"I'll stay close to Winters."
Speirs just nodded and gestured for someone to join them.
Shifty jogged over, his rifle already at the ready. She gave him a determined nod and he returned the gesture, they both knew what was needed.
"Let's go," Speirs said, happy that the two experienced veterans knew what to do.
She and Shifty started for the front of the advance column as Speirs and Lipton got the rest of the company ready.
They quickly found Dick's jeep since Nixon was driving and Harry was sitting in the back, squeezed in next to a heavy machine gun.
"You our escort?" Nixon asked as they stopped on either side of the jeep.
"Major Winters is the ranking officer assaulting the town," she answered.
"Assaulting?" Harry asked, almost barking out a laugh along with the word.
She shrugged. So far they hadn't encountered resistance, but that didn't mean it was going to last. "You know that old saying about counting your chickens before they're hatched?"
"Yeah, yeah," he said, a grin on his face as he nonchalantly waved off her concern.
"We're ready, sir," Speirs said from behind her and she glanced over her shoulder to see him and Lipton leading the men up the road.
"Let's go," Dick said, slapping Nixon's shoulder.
The jeep slowly crawled forward and she was able to easily keep up with it. Some of the men were in-front of them, while the majority of the company trailed behind.
The town was picturesque. All cobbled streets, beautiful lattice and fine woodwork. White flags hung from windows while large, blood red, Nazi flags still covered the sides of a few buildings. All her senses were straining as she searched for life, but they all came up empty as the only thing she found was an eerie silence.
Makes sense. Can't deny not being a Nazi if you live here.
They kept climbing up the centre of the main round which ran right through the heart of the town. With every heartbeat the hairs on the back of her neck stood up straighter. She just couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
Most of the men were advancing casually, no real worry evident to the casual observer. She stole a quick glance over to Shifty and was relieved to find that he looked as uncomfortable as she felt.
She swallowed hard and looked away from him, eyes manically scanning each rooftop, window and dark alley for signs of a muzzle or a gunman.
"You should relax Amelia. No one's home," Harry joked from the back of the jeep.
She was about to turn around and retort when a whisper of movement caught her eye, her heart immediately climbing into her throat.
She focused her eyes on the roof of a three storey building half a block up, her eyes methodically scanned each inch, as she hoped it had only been a bird or a figment of her imagination. Having searched the roof twice she exhaled the breath she'd been holding when suddenly a blur of white and grey popped out on the furthest edge of the roof. Before her brain could register the glint of metal catching the afternoon sun or the large body tucked behind it, she'd already planted her feet and lifted her rifle to her shoulder.
There was a beat, a moment in time where everything stilled and the world faded into nothing, and then it was shattered as a single gunshot rang out over the deathly quiet town.
Everyone stopped moving, men dropping to their knees and raising their guns even as the assailant tumbled down from the roof, hitting the sidewalk still clutching his rifle.
She inhaled deeply, the feeling of being watched now lifted she felt like she could fill her lungs for the first time since nearing the town.
"Amelia?" Dick asked.
She glanced over her shoulder to the three officers, "I don't think there's anyone else."
"How did you know there was one to begin with?" Nixon asked, his eyes running over their surrounding buildings.
She shrugged. "Woman's intuition," she offered.
Her eyes found Shifty's and he shot her a thumbs-up which she returned with a twitch of her lips.
"Let's go," Dick said and the jeep crawled forward.
The men around them rose to their feet and continued their invasion of the town, but she could tell they were all more vigilant now.
As they passed the man she'd shot she looked down at him with a cool detachment she only ever found in battle. He was wearing a German uniform, his Nazi regalia on full display. He didn't look young, then again war aged you beyond your years so it was difficult to tell.
In three strides he was gone from her line of sight and she never looked back.
XXXXXXX
In the end taking the town and the Eagles Nest turned out to be a walk in the park. With the exception of her single instance they encountered no further resistance.
The whole of Easy had climbed the winding mountain path leading to the Eagles Nest. Some of the men had run the route while others rode on the back of the trucks. Speirs had picked her and a handful of other men to accompany him up the mountain in the jeep, ensuring they got there first.
The Eagles Nest itself was even larger than she'd expected, with panoramic views of the Alps and the valleys below. As the men popped bottles of champagne they'd found she slowly toured the marble hallways, peering into elaborately decorated rooms but never staying long.
Her earlier fight with Babe was weighing heavily on her mind and her heart. She hated feeling like she couldn't just walk up to him and grab his hand, as if their next interaction was fraught to start off with.
"Damnit," she cursed, barely sparing another room a second glance.
"Amelia," Speirs called as he stepped out of a room at the far end of the corridor she was walking in.
"Sir," she greeted him, expecting an order of some sorts to follow.
When she reached him she saw he wore a rare smile, his eyes twinkling mischievously. She quirked her head to one side, a lopsided smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she waited to find out what he was up to.
He gently placed a hand on her lower back and steered her towards a dark, double wooden door, engraved with a detailed flower motif.
She looked at him sideways, still waiting for the big reveal he clearly had planned.
His hand rested on the doorknob, but without opening it he said, "I have two orderlies on their way up the mountain. They have strict orders to take any bags I leave for them to my room."
"OK?" she stretched out each syllable.
He smirked, enjoying her confusion too much for her liking.
"They also have orders to take any bags you leave to my room for safe keeping. And the men are under orders to leave this room for you."
A smile started to form on her lips as her stomach flipped with the type of childlike excitement she'd felt every year on Christmas morning.
Speirs opened the door, gently pushing her inside and she could feel her jaw drop. The room was quite large with a massive window overlooking the mountain range set into the further wall. A king sized, four-poster bed, dominated the one wall while a large, intricately carved dresser and cupboard stood next to another dark wooden door leading to what she assumed was the bathroom.
The furniture was cream, with gold embroidery catching the late afternoon sun, reflecting the light into the crystal chandelier that hung from the ceiling.
This was a woman's room.
She jumped up and down, clapping her hands in excitement and the indulgence of having the room and all its treasures to herself.
Speirs laughed, a deep sound drawn from the depths of his stomach.
Reluctantly regaining some self-control she said, "All for me?"
"If anyone even looks at the room before you finish with it, send them to me," he answered with a threatening edge to his words.
"Thank you Ron."
His smile softened, and for a beat he looked out the window before responding. Turning to face her he said, "You deserve it. You deserve the very best life has to offer."
Standing on her toes, she placed her hands on his broad shoulders to steady herself, and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
He stepped back and smiled fondly down at her, before turning to the door where a large, black steamer trunk was waiting. Pointing to the trunk he said, "I expect this to be full. That's an order."
She mock saluted him, "Yes, sir."
He walked out the door, leaving her alone with the room, but she could hear his laughter following him down the corridor for some time.
With a deep breath she walked to the cupboard, throwing open the double doors dramatically. Her senses were immediately assaulted by vividly coloured silks and satins spilling out of the stuffed interior. Stunning creations for every occasion. Taking out a bright red sundress she paused, hoping that she and whoever this room had belonged to was the same size, or near enough.
Holding the dress up to her body, she closed her eyes and turned to the full length mirror found on the inside of the one door.
Only daring to open her eyes a slither she giggled out loud when she saw her reflection. The dress was a near perfect fit, and when she got home and stopped running across Europe fighting a damn war she'd gain some weight and it would be just perfect.
Happy that the clothes were her size she dug through the cupboard and the dresser with renewed vigour, throwing everything she wanted on the large bed to be stowed away neatly later. Satisfied that she'd found every dress, gown, shirt, blouse and pair of shoes there was, she turned her attention to the bathroom.
As she'd suspected the glamour of the bedroom was matched in the white marble bathroom. The vanity station had bottles of expensive perfume, oils and make-up littering the counter top. Quickly walking over to it, she picked up each delicate bottle, opening the top to smell the content and happily sat those aside that she wanted.
Done with those items left in plain sight she sat down at the station and tentatively opened the first of three drawers, holding her breath in the hopes that her hunch was correct.
Peering inside the plush lined drawer, only one thought crossed her mind. Diamonds are a girl's best friends.
Each of the three drawers contained the most delicate, beautiful and extravagant jewellery she'd ever seen. Diamonds, rubies and emeralds were surrounded by pearls and gold. She really didn't know when she'd ever wear most of the things, but she would be damned if she left any of it here for the men to plunder.
Pulling out each drawer she stacked them on top of each other and walked back to the bedroom, placing them gently on the bed next to her other spoils.
She looked between the trunk and the bed, genuinely worried she'd be unable to fit everything into the rather large trunk.
"I know that look. What's the problem?"
Out of instinct she swung around to face the man standing in the door, a wide smile across her face.
She could see Babe relax when she smiled at him instead of delivering another cutting remark and he took a step into the room. His eyes darted between the overflowing bed and the trunk and he nodded. "I see the problem."
"I don't think the trunk's big enough."
"Probably not," he said through a chuckle, "But lucky for you Speirs and Nixon sent me over here with another trunk. I suspect they knew you'd be running into trouble."
"It's not my fault. All I've seen for years is green and khaki and trousers. What's a girl supposed to do?"
He closed the distance between them and came to stand awkwardly in-front of her, his smile now faltering.
"I'm worried you regret not choosing Joe," he blurted out, the look on his face showing he was as surprised as she was by the honest revelation.
She reached out and took his hands in her own, "There are things I regret doing and one or two I regret not doing, but choosing you will never be one of them. It was never about not choosing Joe, it was about choosing you."
With a gentle tug he brought her closer to him and rested his forehead against hers.
"I'm so sorry. Sometimes I can be a real idiot. I love the fact that you're there for the people you love and that you're willing to show them how much they mean to you. Even after everything you've been through."
"Well, you're my idiot, so…"
"All forgiven?"
She tilted her head and lifted onto her toes, pressing her lips to his. "All forgiven," she whispered against his mouth.
He let go of her hands and wound an arm around her waist to pull her closer as he cupped her face with his other hand. She ran her fingers through his hair before holding onto his neck as their kiss deepened.
Feeling the tantalising sensation building in her core she pushed him away, literally keeping him at an arm's length.
He pouted and she giggled at the cute face he was pulling, her resolve nearly crumbling. "I really don't want Winters walking in on us."
He took a deep breath and blew it out hard. "Good point. But this," he said, pulling her flush against him, "isn't over."
Planting a quick peck on his lips she retorted, "Who ever said it was?"
He laughed, shaking his head and she turned in his arms to face her earlier dilemma.
"So, you have another trunk, huh?"
"Yip. You got some nice stuff there. Very ummm….sparkly."
He giggled, tilting her head back so she could look up at him. "Contrary to what you've seen me wear the last few years. I'm a girl that likes girly things. And everybody loves diamonds."
She dropped her head back, relaxing her body more into his as she relished the feeling of his arms wrapped around her.
"Pretty soon you'll never have to wear a uniform again. Not unless you want to," he said, his deep voice reverberating through her chest.
"Neither will you."
He planted a kiss into her hair before letting her go to fetch the promised extra trunk which he'd left just outside the bedroom door.
"Want me to help?" he asked, nervously eyeing the bed.
She smiled, "No, don't worry soldier, I'm sure I can handle this on my own. I could always use some company?"
He opened the lid of the trunk and produced a bottle of champagne, popping the cork in answer to her invitation.
He closed the lid of the one trunk and used it as a temporary chair, happily taking a drink from the bottle before offering it to her. She gladly accepted it and took a big swig, enjoying the sensation of the bubbles on her tongue. She handed the bottle back and started to carefully fold and pack her plunder as he looked over her spoils, rummaging through the three drawers of jewellery and commenting on some of the gaudier pieces.
"Really?" he asked, holding up a huge gold necklace studded with emeralds.
She grabbed the champagne from him and took a drink before replying, "Some of the things we can melt down when we get to the States and make into something I can actually use. Or wedding gifts."
"You've already been invited to a wedding?" he asked, holding out his hand for the bottle.
"Well, actually, I have been invited to Harry's wedding. But there's this thin diamond bracelet in one of the drawers that I think will be perfect for Kitty."
He offered her the bottle but she shook her head, she could already start to feel the bubbles working their magic on her head.
Shrugging, he finished the content and said, "I'll go with your expertise on this one."
"Good call," she teased him. "But, you know once all these boys get home we'll be attending weddings left right and centre."
"True, marrying sweethearts. Finding sweethearts to marry."
"Fathers, lock away your daughters!"
They both laughed.
Leaning over him she took out a gold watch with a silver face and held it out to him. "For your mom. What do you think? And I saw a men's watch in there somewhere for your dad."
"Do you want us all to be written out of the will so you can have everything?" he teased her.
"What can I say? I'm willing to bribe your parents to love me."
"Good to know where you draw the line."
"Oh, ha-ha," she retorted. "I figured, if you think they'd like it we can say it comes from both of us. And you should go through these to see if there's something we can give to your sister."
He reached up and pulled her onto his lap. She giggled, easily throwing her arms around his neck.
"Have I told you you're incredible?"
She twisted her mouth as she pretended to think, before saying, "Not today."
"That was my mistake. You're incredible."
"And you're pretty damn spectacular yourself."
He kissed her before letting her go with a playful slap to her rear.
She narrowed her eyes at him, a smile pulling at her lips defeating the purpose.
Returning to her work she saw him pick up a diamond ring and turn it around in the afternoon light.
"Would most girls want a ring like this?"
She glanced over to him and briefly studied the ring. The diamond was sizeable by most people's standards and was surrounded by a dozen smaller stones. "It depends on the girl and the reason for the ring, but I would say yes."
"And you?"
She hid the blush that crept into her cheeks by busying herself with folding a fancy evening gown she doubted she'd ever wear, but it was just to beautifully crafted to leave behind.
"As a pretty ring to wear, sure," she replied, trying not to jump to any conclusions.
She heard him sigh and she could imagine him running his hand through his hair.
"Not as a special ring?" he ventured.
Closing the lid of the first trunk she gestured for him to move over so she could start filling the second one.
As he scooted over she answered, "I'd rather have a ring that means something, so that every time I look down, I would be reminded how special I am to that one person."
She quickly glanced over her shoulder and saw he was looking off into space, the ring laying forgotten in the palm of his hand.
The only thing left to pack was the jewellery, so she carefully reached for the ring in his palm. His eyes focused back on her face and she giggled at the startled look he had.
"Welcome back."
He rolled his eyes, "You're funny."
"I do try. Everything OK?"
"Perfect. I was just thinking."
She eyed him, trying to decipher what he'd been thinking without having to ask.
"I'm not going to tell you."
"What if I ask really nicely?"
"Nope, still not."
She turned her lips up into a naughty smile. "I can be very convincing."
He cleared his throat and shook his head, a smirk already starting to form. "Oh, I know. That's why I'm taking that trunk," he pointed to the closed one, "to Speirs' right now."
"Chicken."
He planted a quick, hard kiss on her lips before locking the trunk, tossing her the key and carrying it out of the room.
She stuck her tongue out at him, and he must have seen it because his boisterous laugh could be heard throughout the Nest.
She quickly finished packing, and after giving the room one last look she locked the second trunk just as a replacement private she hadn't met before entered the room.
He stood awkwardly in the door, shifting his weight from the one leg to the other.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Oh, sorry sergeant. Captain Speirs told me to collect your second trunk. We're taking everything to his quarters now. Unless you're still busy. I don't mean to rush you of course, ma'am."
She smiled at the young soldier, hoping to put him at ease after Speirs had probably put the fear of God into him. "You have impeccable timing…" she trailed off, waiting for him to offer his name.
He blinked when she looked at him expectantly. "Oh, White."
"You have impeccable timing Private White. I'm just done," she said, slapping the trunk dramatically.
He smiled and stepped forward, using some effort to lift the trunk but getting it out of the room successfully none the less.
Grabbing a pair of gold rimmed aviator sunglasses from the bedside table, she pushed them onto the top her head and sauntered out of the room and down the corridor.
Just as she neared the main lobby she heard a ruckus coming from outside. Men laughing and shouting over each other as others cheered, all to the background noise of champagne bottles popping.
Someone loved champagne.
She picked up her pace and as she rounded the last corner was nearly run over by Babe. He grabbed her around the waist and without saying a word lifted her into the air and spun her around and around, his infectious laughter making her giggle hysterically even though she had no idea what was going on.
"Em! Em!" Luz's voice reached her a second before the man himself did, smoke between his lips and bottle in hand
"Here," she squeaked out.
"Can you believe it?" he exclaimed.
Babe finally put her back down and took the bottle from Luz's hand.
"Believe what?" she asked both men.
"Fuck, you didn't tell her?" Luz asked Babe, taking his bottle back as if to show him how shocked he is that she hadn't yet heard whatever news it was that had everyone in such a tizzy.
"I haven't had the chance," Babe defended himself, a cheek splitting smile on his face.
"Will someone please tell me what is going on!"
Her two friends shared a look before Babe answered her, "The German army surrendered. The war in Europe is over."
She looked from the one to the other, her brain running a blank as it tried to process the words.
"Amelia?" Babe asked, gently touching her shoulder as Luz clicked his fingers in-front of her face.
She blinked twice, took the bottle from Luz and downed half of its content. Handing him back the nearly empty bottle she said, "I hear there's a balcony."
Luz grinned like a fool and said, "Sure is. Most of the fellas are out there."
"I think we should join them. And I should have a bottle to myself. There are quite a few of you that owe me a lot of drinks. I think you can start making good on your promises tonight. What'dya say?"
Luz's smile broadened if that was even possible and jerked his head in the direction of two large doors which led out to the wrap around balcony.
He winked at Babe and nudged his shoulder before walking off as he whistled a tune she didn't recognise.
Babe wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her to him, planting a dramatic kiss on her lips as she felt her weight dip backwards.
She held onto his neck with her one hand, feeling him easily bring her back to standing. She giggled against his lips, considering for a second just disappearing into one of the many rooms.
But she was sure someone, Luz, would come looking for them. And we have all our lives to hide away together, we'll only have one day like this.
"I love you," he husked.
"I love you," she purred.
Planting one last quick kiss on his lips she skipped past him, smacked his rear and giggling as she ran away to join the rest of her friends.
Two strong arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her into the air, swinging her around wildly before placing her back on solid ground.
She was laughing so hard her legs felt a bit wobbly, but Babe helped to steady her and together they walk outside into the late afternoon sun, where their friends, their family, were waiting.
XXXXXXX
Mid-afternoon the following day she dragged herself into the back of the waiting truck, newly acquired sunglasses shielding her fragile eyes from the bright sun.
She fell into her usual seat between Babe and Joe, rather happy to note they both looked as terrible as she felt.
"I'm never drinking again. Ever," she moaned, rubbing her temples to try and alleviate the headache crashing inside her skull.
"Wanna bet on that?" Joe asked.
She shot him a withering glare just to realise he couldn't see her eyes behind the tinted glasses, so instead she settled for sticking out her tongue.
"You were on form last night," Babe added.
"You mean this morning. And look who's talking? I remember, relatively clearly, a few someone's standing on a table signing. Off key I might add."
"Hey now, there's no need to get personal," Luz chipped in where he was sitting diagonally across from her.
"I blame you for this, handsome."
"Me? How is this my fault?"
"I don't know, my brain can't think that far. It just is and in a few hours I'll be able to tell you why."
Luz rolled his eyes, grinning over at her until the loud kickback of an engine misfiring made them all to drop their heads, a few choice curse words being mumbled.
"So where are going again?" Babe asked the group.
"Austria," she answered, taking a long drink of her canteen so she could swallow her third aspirin of the morning.
"Sounds nice," he said.
"It's supposed to be beautiful. Like fall in love, signing in the fields, everything looks like a damn picture kinda beautiful."
"Amelia," Winters called up to her.
She turned in her seat to find a very pleased looking Dick, standing next to rough looking Nixon and Harry.
"Sir?"
"How are you feeling?" he asked, the glint in his eyes saying he was enjoying their pain a little bit too much. Dick didn't drink or smoke, and most of time she thought he was missing out, as that moment in time she wished she was missing out.
"I feel the way they look," she answered, casually gesturing to Nixon and Harry.
He glanced over to his two friends, a discreet smirk on his lips.
Turning back to Amelia he continued, "When we get to our destination, you'll be staying in the same hotel as the officers. Your own room."
"Oh, thank you, but that really isn't necessary."
"You've earned the right to some privacy Amelia."
She smiled, satisfied that she'd argued enough considering her state and how badly she wanted her own room.
"Yes, sir."
"Good," he replied before turning to the waiting jeep, Nixon and Harry following painfully slowly in his footsteps.
Their truck started to move and she leaned against Babe, resting her head on his shoulders. "Wake me when we get there," she mumbled.
She felt his chest move as he chuckled before he planted a kiss on top of her head.
Yip, never drinking again.
XXXXXXX
Something lighter after last week's chapter...fluff and more fluff (all the good stuff!)
I hope you all enjoyed it and that you've had a lovely weekend!
I appreciate all the support and feedback. Good luck with your week, hope it's a good one.