"Davey?"

"Oh my goodness…Becca?"

David Kenyon Webster, handsome as ever, rushes to me and hugs me tight. We haven't met since he enlisted to be a Paratrooper. That's almost two years ago. And what the odds that we meet again here in Aldbourne, thousand miles away from home.

"God…Becca…what are you doing here? You're leaving Harvard?" He looked at me. Appraising me from head to toe.

"Want to start the revolution, Dave. Fight for your country is not just the monopoly of men, you know."

"Yeah…but…"

"Don't start with that women-help-at-home-front bullshit, Dave. I've heard enough from my Mother. And I thought you know me better." I raised my eyebrow and cross my hand in front of me. The usual pose that makes David never wins arguing with me.

"Hey, Webster…you don't want to introduce us to the little lady?" A relatively-short man (well at least compared to the other Paratrooper) with mischievous eyes approaches us. I've seen him playing dart with the extremely-tall-and-blond Lieutenant earlier when I was entering the bar.

"Oh…hi Luz…this is Rebecca Jones. She's my childhood friend and we both were in Harvard, but she's taking History."

"Impressive. Hello, Ma'am. Pleasure to meet you. I'm George Luz. You can call me George." He shakes my hand and kisses it. Hmm… suave.

"Call me Becca. And by 'us' you mean…?"

Luz jerks his head towards a table that consist of three men grinning at us. David groans.

"Oh…shut it, Davey. I assured you, I'm not here for looking for a husband, and I'll be fine. What…do you think your friends over there will jump at every single woman that passed them?"

"Yeah, Davey…" Luz teases him "We just want to know your lady friend here."

Luz leads me to the table and David finally follows suit.

"Gents, this is Becca. Webster's childhood friend. Becca, that Italian is Bill Guarnere, you can call him Bill or Gonorrhea, depends on your mood. That red-headed-baby is Babe Heffron; he despised his given name, so we all oblige to call him Babe. Although we don't think he's that adorable. Bill and Babe are from South Philly so they're joined in the hips, basically. And this extra-tall-and-extra-blond Lieutenant is Lieutenant Lynn Compton. We call him Buck. I would like to call him the Poster Boy of the Aryan Race. But that will be too Nazi."

I smile to them and say directly to George "And from your derogatory explanation about them, I can assume you're the company clown."

Bill's laugh is the loudest. "I like your sassy-ness, Doll. You'll survive in South Philly anytime."

I winced "Ugh…Please don't call me Doll, or sweetums or the likes. I hate that."

David cuts in "She's a feminist." And the men whistle.

"I'm not that radical, Dave. But…yeah…I'm not that housewivey-and-braid-each-other-hair type of girl."

Babe looks a little disappointed but George looks…beaming. It's like he labels me with 'Challenge' right in my forehead.

"So Becca…what are you doing here?"

I shrug "WAC. What else? I'm the embedded translator and staff for Colonel Sink. Just transferred 3 days ago."

Babe says "You're not…um…upset with the rumors about WAC?"

"What? That we're sexually immoral? That we will distract the soldiers in the frontline? Ha! I believe those rumors were said by soldiers who afraid that their masculinity would be devalued, while they paint each other toe-nails and gossiping like housewives in their fucking foxholes." I answer heatedly.

I really hate that most of the soldiers at this time is strongly opposed women involvement in warfare. Those sexist bastard slandering the WAC by said that we're lesbians and prostitute. And that our uniform was widely copied and used by 'Victory Girls' (thrill-seeking local teen girls who slept with servicemen), is not helping either. When I met those 'loose girls' in bars or other places, I usually slap them silly, literally and figuratively.

And then I realized that the men gapped at me…along with the rest of the men in the bar, actually. Oops…I think I said that out loud. David hides his grin with his hand by scratching his nose. He knows me too well.

But then Bill and George pat my shoulder, laughing.

George says "You are officially adopted as Easy Company honorary member."

I raised my eyebrows "And that will be an honor because….?"

"Shit…we're the best damn Company in the ETO, woman! I mean…Becca" George hurriedly corrects when he saw my not-amused-expression on the term. And then he continues "Why do you think Webster here ask for transfer from his company. He's bored his ass off, right Web?"

David nods "Yeah…not so much to do in HQ. So how's your college, Bec? I'm sure your mother is not happy with this."

"Well…Harvard can wait, Dave. And mother keeps pushing me to get married...so either this or trapped with some snob who begs his parents not to get drafted."

"So…no boyfriend, then?" George asks

"Your deduction can make Sherlock Holmes crying in shame." I answer dryly.

The men grin at me and George.

"Have you kissed this Webby here?"

David makes a strangled yelp "Jesus! You are shamelessly persistent."

George shrugs "Just testing the water."

"Tomayto –Tomahto" I deadpanned. "Yes I have, actually. Out of curiosity. In High School. And it's like kissing my brother. I've known Dave since we're in diapers. Our mothers are in the same 'Society', if you know what I mean. You know, I've seen his junk in various states; I don't think I could feel embarrassed anymore." I shrug and sip my beer.

David only managed to shout "Hey" and his face is as red as tomato.

We all laugh loudly at his face.

"So you will jump with us to Holland, Becca?" Babe asks.

"If the Colonel jump, I'll jump. Just following order, aren't we?"

"And your Godfather will want you to tag along, I presume." David mumbles.

This time, it's my turn to groan. Colonel Sink and my father has been best friend since…I don't know when. And Uncle Bob is the one who makes me want to join the Army on the first place. My Dad need a lot of time to be convinced but finally he gave his permission after he made me promise to stay close to Uncle Bob and return to Harvard as soon as the war is over. I think he hoped that I will fail the basic training and crying back home. Much to his dismay, I inherited his stubbornness and determination, so long story short, his plan was backfired and here I am. David knows that Colonel Sink is my Godfather and since he's kinda smart, he easily conclude that I got that position due to Uncle Bob. Which is honestly I want to keep secret as long as I can.

"You're the Colonel's Goddaughter?" Buck asks incredulously.

"Er…yeah. But I passed the basic training in flying colors, mind you. And I really appreciate if you guys keep this secret."

"You're getting harder and harder to reached, don't you Becca. College girl, society princess, and now the Colonel's Goddaughter" George says wistfully "And here I am…can only looking at you from far far away…because there's no way in hell a boy from Rhode Island can make you his wife." He exhales exaggeratedly.

Bill and Babe grin and pat his back, offering false support. Buck almost snorts in his beer from hearing George's blatant flirting. David just shakes his head.

And me? I admit it's kinda sweet, but thank goodness I'm able to keep my blush to creeping up my cheek and say patronizingly to George "Aww…Georgie…don't give up hope. There's a reason why there's a fairy tale called 'The Princess and the Frog'."

George blinks twice before says "Are you saying…that I'm a frog?"

We all laugh because George's face is so comical and looked like a human puppy.

I barely catch my breath before saying "Oh…George…you should see your face. You remind me of my Labrador puppy."

This makes us laugh harder but George joins us this time.

He grins at me and says "Anything to make you laugh like that, Princess."

This time, I feel my face grow warm and I hastily hide my grin in my glass, pretending to sip my beer. I even forgot to feel annoyed he called me Princess.