December 12, 1944

"Look at me. I'm John Wayne. The costume department set me up with these great Navy whites. Whadda ya think?" said Luz, leaning back on his folding chair. Easy company was in the makeshift theater, attempting to watch a film, but Luz had other plans for entertainment.

"I'm trying to watch the movie," said Toye, turning towards the three of them from the front row. Lipton added a dirty look, agreeing. Jaclyn sat next to Luz, simply enjoying the scene.

"Don't look at me, pal," said Guarnere. He was on her other side, shaking his head, pretending he wasn't friends with them.

"I've seen this movie thirteen times, OK," said Luz.

"Well, I haven't, so shut up," muttered Lipton.

"Neither have I," added Jaclyn, but she couldn't care less. Cowboys and romance? Please.

Luz shrugged innocently. "Watch the movie, it's fine." He chewed on popcorn, trying but failing to keep a grin from spreading across his face.

Jaclyn smirked, nudging Luz. She motioned to the movie with her chin. Marlene Dietrich just came on set with John Wayne. "Well hello little lady, what can I do for you?" she said, lowering her voice to try and imitate the actor. She was almost as good as Luz.

Luz grinned. He raised his voice higher. "Oh my goodness me. Are you real Navy man?"

"I don't expect a woman like you to understand, but I happen to be a real war hero. Look - I have a medal and everything." Jaclyn replied, trying to keep her face straight. "Now tell me. What's a pretty thing like you doing here? Shouldn't you be home baking some cookies?"

"Shut the fuck up, both ya."

Luz tried to smother his laughter. His voice squeaked. "Oh my, I left my kitchen to come borrow some sugar, but I really came looking for a husband to take care of me. You'll do fine. You have money, right?"

Jaclyn giggled before coughing. She couldn't take it anymore. "You win," she whispered to him.

He kept his feminine squeak. "I always win, darling."

"Luz!"

They behaved for a moment before he nudged her again. "Mack, my favorite part."

He sucked on a cigarette. "Got a penny?" Jaclyn's eyes flicked between the screen, Luz, and the agitated men in front of them. Guarnere only rolled his eyes.

"Got. A. Penny?"

"I swear to God, Luz."

"GOT A PENNY?"

Jaclyn erupted into giggles and leaned against Guarnere's shoulder as Toye and Lipton looked ready to rip Luz apart. Her joy was short lived however, when the lights came on and the movie disappeared from the screen.

Shouts of protest rang throughout the men as two soldiers marched to the front, yelling for them to shut up. "I said quiet!" the officer yelled, looking directly at them as they continued to giggle. Jaclyn and Luz bit their lips and tried to straighten their faces. The laughter soon left them as the man told them that the Ardennes forest had been breached. They were headed out again.

Luz and Guarnere walked out with her, everyone suddenly quiet. "What a kick in the nuts," said Guarnere. Jaclyn and Luz only nodded, trying to wrap their thin jackets tighter around themselves once the brisk air hit them.

Jaclyn's eyes scanned the sky as snowflakes fell. Well, shit.

"Christ, I miss those C-47s," muttered Guarnere inside their truck. A large group of Easy soldiers was stuffed in like sardines. Jaclyn sat on the floor between Luz's and Guarnere's legs. A replacement soldier, Suerth, sat across from her. Every once in a while she'd notice him looking at her as if he couldn't quite believe she was really there, going to war with the men. She gave him a wink and his face immediately turned the color of a tomato.

Although she was sullen that they were headed out again, especially since she had just returned to the boys, Jaclyn couldn't seem to rid herself of her good cheer. Her time with Easy seemed to bring it out in her – whether it's torturing Lipton and Toye during a movie or heading back to the war.

"You're in a good mood, Mack," Luz commented, taking a smoke out. Jaclyn found herself to be grinning.

"Yeah, what gives, doll?" said Guarnere. "We know you like to kill krauts, but this ain't right."

She swatted his knee. "Is it a crime to be happy?"

"Here?"

"Yes, here."

"Yup," replied the entire truck. She noticed Cobb didn't say anything, only stared at her darkly. She smiled sweetly back.

She leaned her head back against the wood of the bench, looking upside down to Guarnere. She held her wrists out to him. "You got me now, yank. You've captured the enemy and I declare my guilt. What will you do with me?"

Half the truck whooped while the other cackled. Jaclyn could see Suerth's face getting redder from the corner of her eye.

Guarnere looked down at her and a slow smile spread across his face. "Don't test me, woman. You won't be able to handle a man like me." He slapped a hand on Luz's shoulder. "Now Georgie here is a different story. Bet he'd be kind to ya."

Luz coughed violently, breathing in ash from his cigarette. Jaclyn laughed after Guarnere ruffled her hair, and turned to face forward. She felt her cheeks grow hot, but luckily it was nighttime. She hoped no one could tell. She shivered slightly, this time not from the cold. You don't even know the half of it, Guarnere.

December 17, 1944

Bastogne, Belgium

Easy had finally arrived at their destination, the outskirts of Bastogne and its forest. The air had turned even colder as they drove deeper into the country. Fires were immediately set in the ground with gasoline, a small gift to the soldiers before they marched towards the line.

Jaclyn stood by the fire with the rest of them, attempting to thaw her fingers and toes. Bloody hell it's cold. Her thin jacket hung stiffly against her.

Suddenly, they all turned towards the sound of many footsteps. A long line of American soldiers were headed towards them, away from the line. She heard someone gasp. They were torn apart.

Some were bandaged. Some were limping. Some still had blood caked on their exposed skin. All were only half alive, maybe even less.

Jaclyn watched them walk by, her face grave. Luz came to her side. "Jesus. Have you ever seen anything like this?"

To his surprise, she nodded. "I have." She didn't elaborate, and he didn't push her.

After shaking themselves from their shocked stupor, they joined the others and took what ammunition and rations they could from the retreating soldiers. Their eyes followed them, watching them disappear from sight.

They arrived to a frosted wonderland. The trees and ground were covered in fluffy snow. With what moonlight they had through the dense fog, ice twinkled everywhere. If it weren't for the krauts across the way waiting to kill them, Jaclyn would consider this place beautiful.

A few hours later, however, she changed her tune dramatically. "Fucking bullshit," she muttered. She tried to bury her spade into the ground again, but it bucked hard against the frozen earth. "This is fucking bullshit!" she said louder.

Perconte, who was nearest to her, smiled. He took a breath from digging his own hole. "Need some help, Jackie?"

Jaclyn shook her head stubbornly. "No thanks, Frank. I can do it." She lowered her voice and spoke only to the ground. "You will behave, or so help me God." Great, Jackie. You've graduated to talking to goddamn spades and dirt. Well done.

Guarnere came up, whistling. "Where'd that good mood go, Jackie?"

She heaved her spade into the ground again, digging with all her might. "Into the fucking ground. Where you're headed next if you don't leave me alone."

He smirked. "There's my girl. That cheerful nonsense was gettin' irritating."

"Piss off."

Another hour later, Jaclyn was covered in an ice cold sweat with no real progress to show for it. The wind had picked up, causing her to shiver against her damp clothing.

"Hey Mack," Luz greeted her, sitting next to her pathetic excuse for a foxhole. "Need some help?"

Jaclyn didn't look at him, only grunted and struck the earth again. "No. I'm going to do this myself."

"If you say so."

She turned to him, her patience snapping. "Yes, I bloody well say so."

Luz held up a hand in peace. "OK, no problem. Have at it." She nodded, thankful that he'd leave it alone. She resumed digging. Maybe I'll dig to the pacific. It's warm there.

Luz watched her for awhile, silently shaking his head at her determination. More like stubbornness. He lit a cigarette and grinned briefly, before making sure to wipe it from his face. He looked out towards the line. "Bet those krauts are having a hard time too."

She grunted in response. He continued. "I heard Shifty say it took both him and Martin four hours to dig one hole for themselves. Man, that's a lot of work."

Jaclyn didn't respond, but she grimaced. It had taken her the same amount of time to dig what could best be described as a divot.

Luz saw her pause but tried not to grin again. "Me? I got lucky. I found an old foxhole that I just needed to reinforce a little. Good as new." He waited a beat. "Hell, it's even big enough for two people."

Jaclyn continued digging. Luz didn't dare look at her, but he stubbed his cigarette and stood. "OK, well, I'm going to try and get some shut eye. Good luck, doll. Try and stay warm." He walked away.

She waited a few minutes before stopping and tossing her spade aside. Night was almost over and she was freezing. Fuck this shit.

A pause. He'll never let me live it down if I give up. She picked the spade up again. I fucking hate you, she said looking at it. She dug once more before throwing it again, farther, finally giving in. Shit.

Luz sat curled up in his foxhole with his eyes closed, but he wasn't asleep. He waited. Sure enough, and even faster than he expected, he heard her jump down next to him. He peeked one eye open. Worked like a charm.

"I don't want to hear it, Luz," she hissed. He couldn't help but chuckle at her face, torn between annoyance and a pout.

"Come here, doll." She pursed her lips at first, but then curled up next to him in his arms. Jesus, he's warm.

Luz felt her burrow down deeper. She was so small, his arms could almost wrap around her twice if he tried.

They were silent for a long time. She thought he had fallen asleep before he murmured, "Sucker."

He yelped when she pinched his side. "Shut up, Luz." But she sighed, content, and drifted off to sleep.