A/N: Heyyy, everyone :) So sorry for my absence all this time. Here we are again, another chapter is up, hehe. So, I decided to put some historic events in the story, to connect the fanfic with everything that occurred at the time of the plot. Hope you will enjoy it :) :)

dontchasethesheep- Aww, thank you so much for the lovely review, my friend :D Yeah, I wanted to show the boys' friendship and how they truly are there for each other. Also, since you liked that bit with the first name, I added it here as well, only that, this time, it comes from a certain auburn-haired girl, hihi.

Meeksy- Yayyyy, another one who wants stories about Pittsie :D :D Welcome to the club, my friend :)

Disclaimer: No, no, I do not own DPS

"[…] there was no sharper way to understand a country than by listening to its stories"

(Tahir Shah, "In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams")

Nellie's POV

I woke up suddenly, dizzy because of my most pleasant dream and without knowing what exactly had woke me up. I threw a side glance towards Virginia, for she often had a very restless sleep, but, for the first time in forever, she was sleeping soundly. No sound could be heard from the dorms next to us either, so no other girl was responsible for me waking up at six in the morning, according to my watch. Today we only had one lesson and this in the afternoon. When I rose up, though, and felt as if someone had transferred me right in the middle of Antarctica, I realized that my over-sensitive radar towards any sudden weather change was to blame. Seriously, it had to be the coldest day I had ever experienced right now, and not even my blanket was enough.

Virginia, obviously, didn't mind, curled like a cat as she was, but my whole body was shaking. I stood up, marched as quietly as possible to my closet and quickly wore my warmest set of clothes before sitting down again, my back against the wall and my blanket around me. Did anyone of the faculty know the word "heating"?

I threw a brief look at the deserted courtyard. It was foggy, so I couldn't see the horizon, and it was so quiet, as if I was all alone in the world. The sky had a light grey color, the color that was promising snow or rain later. Between us, I really hoped that the former would happen; I just loved the snow so much, how everything around me was covered in pure white and gave you the impression that no evil existed in the whole world.

Suddenly, I had the impulse to go out there, in the empty courtyard, and have a few hours only for myself and my thoughts, away from everything and everyone. Not that I minded company, of course, but sometimes I was thinking that even a few minutes of isolation was what I needed.

Madness, since I had just complained about the cold weather? Possibly!

High chance to catch a cold? Definitely.

But, in a sudden, I did not care at all; I wanted and had to go out there. I stood up again and wrapped myself in my thickest coat and my warm cap before wearing my boots and taking my notebook and pen in hand, just in case I had some inspiration to write anything or wanted to read through my lesson notes again. The sound of my shoes on the wooden floor, though, woke up Virginia, who jolted up in her bed.

'What, where, what's going on, where's the fire, are we under attack?' she mumbled, still a bit dizzy from sleep, her curly hair a mess. I couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. Typical Virginia; ready to jump into action, even at six in the morning.

'Relax, Ginny, nothing's on fire and, as far as I know, no one has attacked us' I answered and laughed harder. 'Just go back to sleep, I am only going for a walk outside'

'At this hour, at this weather and on your own?' her eyebrows almost reached her forehead and she fell heavily back on her pillow. 'You're crazy, girl' And with that, she lied on her stomach and hid her head under the pillow.

'Remember to breathe in there, I don't want to find you suffocated' I told her and opened the door. 'See you later!'

A wave was the only answer I got and, the next second, Virginia was back in dreamland. Walking as quietly as possible through the corridors to not wake anyone up (and some of the girl valued their "beauty sleep" like an expensive jewel), I opened the door made by oak wood and stepped out in the freezing desert that was our courtyard at the moment. I wrapped my coat even tighter to protect myself from the breeze and started strolling around, lost in my thoughts and feeling surprisingly free and relaxed. It was as if I was released from a burden I did not know I had been holding and I wanted to yell out in happiness.

I sat down at a corner, feeling the cool ground beneath me, but I didn't mind. Resting my back on the wall, I let my eyes travel around, for, used as I was in this place being filled with students, this isolation was new and I truly enjoyed it. Dressed as it was in light grey and white, it gave the impression that it belonged to another world, where no sadness, anger or guilt existed. My troubles and problems were forgotten, my father's pressure, my brother's indifference…

My brother! I was often wondering how Alexander was doing and, after my mother's letter, I was asking myself what could change him so much. I took my pen and started writing without thinking much.

Dear Alexander,

how are you, bro? I wanted to write to you sooner, but I had so much to study for college, that I had barely time to eat and sleep. Believe me, Law University is difficult and not at all a piece of cake. You have to be patient, learn hard and, of course, being tough enough to handle this. I myself, as a girl, have to be double tough, since, according to some fellow-students, I have no place here; I belong to the kitchen (hm, that sounds a lot like father, right? Seriously, are men's opinions the same at all ages?).

But, anyway, I can't complain, I honestly love it here. It's what I always wanted, leaving home, stand on my own feet, deciding for my own life, and that's exactly what I've achieved here. I have also made great friends; my dorm-mate and fellow-student Virginia and two boys from the Physics University, Gerard and Steven. They're all wonderful, although, please, don't tell father about the boys; he'll either try to force me to marry one of them or he'll think that they're a bad influence for me, and I'm not in the mood for any of this.

Sorry, I know you respect father and I respect your opinion, but, since you know me, you know what I think about his way of behavior. He still believe that Law School is just a stubbornness, a way to resist, and not something I want to do for a living.

I guess I am bothering you right now, huh? Well, you see, right now I am sitting all alone in the courtyard and it is so peaceful, as if nothing bad exists in the world, and I remember how we used to play snowball fight when we were little, remember? I always let you win and you called me your "clumsy rebel sister", because I preferred to play in the garden with you than practicing my French and piano with my tutor. Does it snow there? Well, if it doesn't, you have my word that, when we go home for Christmas, we'll play the biggest snowball fight of all times!

I will not annoy you with demands like "Study harder, young man, you must excel at school so that you will have a good job later"; we have our father for this. No, my demands for you are to be careful, to take care of yourself and to not exhaust yourself. Do not pressure yourself, your physical and emotional health is of primary importance.

Now I think about it, it's the first time I give you some sisterly advice, right? Well, if you want my opinion, it is about time. Years and years we had spent like strangers, not like siblings, and I still can not understand why. Was it father's fault? Was it my fault? I have no idea, but, seriously, Alex, I want to make up for this. I want to be a proper elder sister. And something else: I am really proud of my baby brother. And, no matter what, you will always be my baby brother and I will always be here for you. You know that, don't you?

Anyway, enough with the sentiments, right? I am a bit over-sensitive, I'm afraid, but, at least, I don't have to apologize to you, no matter what.

Write to me whenever you want; don't hesitate. Hope you are well.

Yours,

Nellie

Oh, yes, definitely a sisterly letter and much different from the cards I used to send him at his birthday when I was still at school. I only hoped that we would be able to bridge somehow that chasm between us. We had never argued, but this silence between us was much worse. But it's never too late and I honestly hoped to build a family bond with Alex. I hurried up to my dorm again (Virginia was still sleeping), put the letter in an envelope and hurried to the post to send it to my brother's school. I left for college smiling, feeling optimistic.

I sat down again, watching the sky becoming lighter and, when the first students made their appearance and the yard slowly filled with yawns and conversations, I realized that I sat there for two hours already. I had all morning free until it would be time for me to go to my lesson. Maybe I would take a walk with the others or study in the library; Virginia and I really had a lot to read and so did Pitts and Meeks for Physics; it really was a wonder how they managed to understand everything they were doing, for me it would be easier to learn Chinese.

Speaking of the devil, I saw the two boys making their way towards me, Meeks holding their infamous radio. Pitts had told me how they had constructed it when they were still at school, in secret and even lying to their teachers that they were building a radar. I chuckled at the memory and greeted them with a wave as they sat down next to me.

'Morning, Nels' Meeks said and I chuckled; this guy would never be tired inventing new nicknames for me and Ginny. 'How are you doing? You seem fresh and relaxed, did anything pleasant happen?'

'Nope, nothing' I answered. 'I have been awake for two hours already, I just sat here, wrote to my brother, enjoyed the weather…Oh, I really hope that it will snow!'

'Wait, wait; for two hours?' Pitts gasped. 'And you are not tired? Why on earth didn't you get some sleep, you don't have lessons right now'

'Yeah, well…I wanted to have some moments on my own, surrounded by the empty yard'

'My, my, you're a hopeless romantic' Meeks chuckled. 'Unlike V.M, poor you'

'V.M?' both Pitts and I repeated confused, making the ginger-head laugh louder.

'Virginia Meadows, idiots; God, what a lack of imagination! Do I have to explain to you everything?'

'Well, you are the genius here' Pitts playfully smacked his arm. 'And' more serious now 'I really hope you'll keep notes today, I am not in the mood to attend the lesson, much less keeping notes!'

'It's difficult, isn't it?' I wanted to know with compassion; this was the main reason I had hated Physics from the first moment.

'It's difficult, it's boring and the professor is speaking as if he's addressing future Einsteins!' Pitts groaned and rubbed his forehead. 'It is a miracle I am not falling asleep'

'Okay, okay, I will explain everything…Nellie, you are welcome to join us'

'Nope, thank you, but I think I will pass'

'Theoretical mind'

'Rationalist'

'Hopeless romantic!'

Having enough of our teasing, Gerard suddenly started laughing so loudly, that both Meeks and I looked surprised at him before laughing as well. Oh, how much I enjoyed these simple, yet important moments, with friends who accepted you because you were yourself.

Something was different, though…It was as if something had changed.

And then it hit me so hard, that I needed all my composure to not show it.

Because I had just realized that, together with the letter to my brother, it was the first time I had thought about my best friend with his first name.

Pitts's POV

Nellie seemed kinda distracted for the moment, but then she became her usual self. I saw her and Meeksie teasing each other and I couldn't help but laugh. I owed them all so much and the girls had absolutely no idea about how their humor, their strength and, most of all, Nellie's compassion and her willingness to accept those around her. It was the beginning of November and, when college would close for Christmas and I would return home, I honestly did not know how I would cope with this.

'Let's listen to some radio, shall we?' I suggested and the two of them nodded in agreement. 'I want to learn the news'

'Is there anything specific bothering you?' Nellie asked worried.

Oh, Nellie, why are you like this? Why are you so protective in your own, discrete way and make me feel safe and unharmed?

It's as if you're practically encouraging me to tell you what happened…but I can't do this to you. I can not pass two years of grief to you; you did nothing to deserve this.

'Pittsie?' her gentle voice brought me back to reality.

'No, nothing specific' I shrugged. 'I just think that it's necessary to be informed about everything that's happening around you'

'Exactly what I believe; after all, we are not the only people in the world, right?' Meeks nodded in agreement.

'You're right and I think the same, but, whenever I tried to openly express my opinion about something, my father used to silence me' Nellie admitted with a sad smile that made her seem ill.

'You are not the only one; that was happening in my own family as well' I comforted her and switched on the radio. It had an excellent sign and the speaker's voice was heard perfectly clearly.

'Heinz Felfe, West Germany's chief of counterintelligence for the BND, was arrested by his agents' he announced. 'Felfe was discovered to have been passing secrets of the CIA to the Soviet Union and to East Germany for two years now, revealing the identity of more than 100 CIA agents in Moscow'

'What the…' Nellie stuttered and could not even finish her sentence. 'That is over my strength…I know about what's going on and I am not blind, I knew there would be spies, but…'

'Things are serious' I commented with a darkened expression. 'It's been sixteen years since the end of the Second World War and, although we are not at open war, it is not over yet'

'I heard someone calling all this the "Cold War"; fitting, do you not agree?' Meeksie scoffed. 'I don't know, I am worried about this…It's as if there's a bomb you can not see, yet it can explode at any moment'

'And not only that, but it's what we said earlier; news like these make us realize that we're part of something bigger, a society, a world' Nellie added. 'Even if it wouldn't affect us, we should still search and discuss issues like this'

Both Meeks and I nodded and, for a few moments, silence fell between us. The news from outside had a heavy impact and we were all thinking about their impact on our lives. We would probably slip into a negative mood if it was not for Virginia, who had approached us as silently as a cat and we only became aware of her presence when she called for us.

'Hey, what are you doing here sulking?' her happy voice echoed all around. 'Come on, get your lazy feet here, it's snowing!'

And really, only then did we notice the snow that had started to fall from the sky. Nellie left out a yell of triumph and happiness, laughing as if she had heard a very entertaining joke.

'Yes! Yes! My wish came true!' she celebrated and I smiled widely. 'That's what I call true winter atmosphere'

'Wait till we'll be able to have snowball fights, then brace yourself, V.M!' Meeks laughed menacingly at Virginia, whose eyebrows narrowed at the nickname.

'The point is who should brace himself, Stevie!' she returned the commented and, at the last word, I burst out into a hysteric laughter. It was so funny and Meeks's face that became even redder than his hair made it even funnier.

Oh, well, life had to go on, right?

Better enjoy these moments now, so that I could have something positive to think about when I would go home for the holidays.

A/N: Okay, everyone, that was it for now, hope you liked it :) Until the next time...Love you all :D