Prinzessin Mia, don't feel numb ahaha I didn't know how to thank you for your review! And, about your question: this story ( I didn't write it anywhere, sorry) is set in Albourne and I don't think Nixon (and Bea) trained with their company since their job started to concern a more ''intellectual'' training (that's what I thought reading the book); and second of all, these chapters are just to introduce the story so I wanted to focus mostly on Bea and Dick but I'd like to give a part to most of the men from E Company (Doc Roe is one of my favourite ones too!). Well, after that, enjoy the 4th chapter :D

She sought for perfection. She didn't want the others to think she was flawless just because she was an officer thus she had to give the right example. She wanted to be admired, she wanted to reach a divine state of mind that everyone would've adored and envied. That was why she wouldn't have let herself open up too much to anyone. She built walls all around her soul and she wouldn't have let anyone get in. There were so many things hidden in her heart. That's why she didn't tell Lewis her boyfriend had left her. She may have seemed too weak. She was replaceable, she wasn't strictly necessary to someone: Nixon didn't have to know it. She felt so guilty: Nixon admired her but, first of all, he trusted her. She really cared about him and she felt a total mess since she had lied to him. And what was worse, she had still so many secrets she hadn't told him. One of those, would've maybe destroyed both Lewis and Dick.

Dick. She didn't know why he had kissed her. Was he secretly in love with her? He said he didn't want to have regrets. Maybe, he just wanted to feel a woman; she guessed he hadn't done it for a while, although his touch was still secure and passionate. Lustful. Lust. Another sin she had dirtied herself with. What if Dick Winters had a crush on her? He was a gentleman, the man every woman dreamed of. Above all, he was all the things she was not: in simple terms, perfect. Equilibrate. Oh, she envied him so. She had vices. She had flaws. Lewis thought she and Dick had a lot in common, she whished ! Oh, damn, if they had known what she truly was they wouldn't have talked to her anymore. She couldn't let them know. In that moment, a dreadful thought crossed her mind: Dick may know something. They had talked about betrayal, when she still didn't remember what she had done with Dick. Maybe he thought she would've wanted to cheat on his boyfriend with him. But she was not with her boyfriend anymore, and Dick knew that. Maybe, he had thought of what that discussion meant. Maybe he had already figured it out: she had betrayed her boyfriend. No, he couldn't know.

She recalled the day she had first thought about betraying. She was so bored, so stressed: she needed a distraction. Jesse hadn't sent her any letter for a while, she felt so lonely. What's the best solution to loneliness and boredom? Physical activity, for sure. Nixon? God, no. There were some of the men that would've appealed to her. There was a Private, Webster, he was in Easy Company. He could've fit a lot: a literature student with whom she could've discussed Shakespeare after some movement. Then she figured out literature students were so petulantly romantic. Rejected. And what was that sergeant's name? Oh, yes, Bill. Bill Guarnere. Oh, she was sure she could've been a lion under the sheet. Rejected as well: too rude. What about Dick Winters? Actually, he was her first choice. She had to admit to herself she didn't want simply to betray her boyfriend, nor had she felt the real need to get physical with someone. She was fooling herself: she wanted Lieutenant Winters. Strong arms, muscular legs, bright eyes and…oh! Red hair! The exhilaration of sin! But what she did want the most, was to see him fall. She wanted him to sin. She wanted to crash his shade of perfection, she wanted to get to see him wild, giving vent to his impulses. Anyway, corrupting Saint Richard turned out to be the hardest thing she had ever tried to do. Damn, she felt so frustrated. So, one night, while she was all on her thoughts, she bumped into a Captain. And what a Captain! Yes, what a captain…

She knew that after the previous event she wouldn't have been able to get some sleep. She knew where she could go.

Knock knock. Here you are.

''Bea? Is it you?'' the man at the door asked, rubbing his eye.

''I know it's late but…I thought we could spend some time together'' she winked at him and he chuckled in response. She knew his answer.

''Get in, come on.''

Herbert wasn't as bad as anyone would've said. They had a lot in common: they hated the whole mankind, they both felt lonely and frustrated. Everytime she told him she felt alone, he could not believe it. She was always surrounded by smiling faces. She had people all around her that admired her and the job she did. She had Lewis. On the other hand, he had no one. He knew his men scorned him, and God knew how damn it hurt. Despite his rough manners he loved his men and his company and wanted them to be the best. Damn, that was is only aim in life. Easy meant everything to him. He deeply knew he was good for nothing: he couldn't read maps nor could he run as fast as his men. That's why he hated Dick Winters. Another thing they had in common. Sobel envied Winters' capacities: he could run faster, he could lead the men in combat and he was the leader Easy sought for. He couldn't stand even Sink had noticed it. From that moment, Sobel thought Dick would've done everything to take his place. Everything he did was meant to put Sobel under a bad light. But Sobel had any intention to give up.

''Why didn't you warn me? ''

''Actually, I didn't mean to come tonight. I think I miss you.'' He sweetly smiled at her. Dregs go along with dregs. She could be herself with him, at least. She had no need to show him what she was not. With him, she could've numbered all her flaws, one by one, and he wouldn't have ran away. He needed her; he needed her because she was everything he had. She was necessary.

He tenderly kissed her lips and draw her to his bed. They laid down close. When Sobel made a try to undress her she stopped him.

''Not today. Just…just hug me, please.''

He kissed her forehead and pulled her closer to him. They felt asleep: she wouldn't let her guilt take over. She didn't think of Dick or Lewis. She was free.

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She managed herself to wriggle out of Sobel's billet without being caught in the morning. She felt strong and ready for her briefing with Colonel Sink.

She liked to have that kind of power on her superiors. She was the first to know everything, it was her job. She informed Sink about her latest discovers: where Germans were located, how many supplies they had, their number, they strength. Sink was carefully paying attention to her.

''So, Captain, what do you think about it? Are we going to find a strong resistance ?'' Sink asked. Clearly, he didn't want her personal idea, but a clear and objective answer.

''Honestly, they are warn-out. They've been fighting this war for a long time and recently they got a good hiding, sir. They are forceless. But, they are still united by their national pride which makes them confident and relentless. We have to watch out, sir. They may have still some ace in the hole.''

Sink didn't seem to care a lot. He didn't say a word and seemed to be caught up by his own thoughts, forgetting the presence of Bea and Lewis in front of him, who were giving each other a disoriented look.

''Sir…is it all for today?'' she sheepishly asked.

''Oh yes, dismissed. Thank you Captain Laurenti, and thank you Lieutenant Nixon.'' They saluted their colonel and got out of his office.

''Nix, do you think he heard the first part of what I said, or the second one?'' she asked, referring to her last words.

''I don't know. I hope he will consider all the possibilities. These Germans are smartasses.''

A look of concern appeared on her face. She knew they would've get into mission soon. Somehow, she would've missed Albourne: there they had everything they needed and war seemed to be so far.

''So…have you talked to Dick?''

''Yes, I have'' she said back, nodding and feeling her checks turning hot. Damn, had she to tell him about the kiss?

''And…?''

''He kissed me.''

''Wow, that was unexpected'' but his voice didn't seem to show any surprise ''just a kiss, eh? Any wandering hand?''

''No, Nix…it was…passionate, but tender. He said he didn't want to have regrets, that he wanted to do all the things he had never done.''

''He gave his first kiss, as far as I know.''

''Well…maybe he wanted to give his last one, don't you think so?'' now she was trying to get the truth out of Nixon, as a real Intelligence officer.

''Maybe…or there might be something more. Maybe he likes you.''

''Does he?''

Lewis gave her a questioning look. She had to know he couldn't really give out all his best friend's secrets.

''He had never told me anything about his feelings about you. But…you know, there are some things that could make me think he likes you. I don't know how to explain it.'' Truth was, Nixon hadn't noticed anything. He was taken aback by what his friend had done because he didn't see that coming. But, if he had kissed her, maybe Dick was hiding him something.

''Ok, got it, you don't want to betray your boyfriend, I understand'' she chuckled. Lewis was too engaged in his own thoughts to notice the joke.

''What if he liked you? I mean…he's a good man. Would you like him back? ''

She was taken aback by that question. Oh, Nix, don't do this to me.

''Do you really want me to be sincere?'' he nodded.

''I'm attracted by his innocence shade. I wouldn't dislike a night with him'' she winkled at him and he gave her a surprise look in response.

''But…he's not that kind of guy. He surely wants a girl to settle with and I don't want anyone now. Besides, you know I don't really like the way he is. I don't find frigidity so appealing.''

''Bea, I think you're too surrounded by men and you're starting to think as one'' he laughed because he found it funny. It wasn't. She gave him an insecure smile and headed back to her office.

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They had never hung up together and she wasn't so comfortable with the idea. What if someone would've noticed them? She was standing in the dark where they were meant to meet. He was late: he had told her he would've had a meeting with Major Horton, so she wasn't angry. She patiently waited for him to show up and when she saw a tall figure coming towards her she thought her waiting had come to an end. What a mistake.

''Dick!''

He stopped running and gave her a sweet look.

''Hi, Bea. What are you doing here?''

''I…'' Damn ''just taking a breath, you know. And you?''

''As well. I went running, I needed to clear my mind'' he chuckled at her.

''And would you mind telling me what is troubling your peaceful mind?''

''You.'' She was melting. She felt naked under his blue eyes which were inspecting her waiting for an answer. They were so close she could feel him breathing heavily.

''I'm so sorry I'm a problem to you'' she said, visibly guilty.

''Don't even say it again'' he pulled her close to him and caught her lips with his. He was eating her up. Devouring her. Their tongues danced together for a while until he decided to inspect each corner of her mouth with his. His lips were roughly colliding with hers, a groan of desire escaped from his; she felt herself fainting at such sound. He desired her. His hand caressing her hair sent shivers all along her spine. She could feel his body pressed against her which made her feel so small. Now his arms were wrapping her and she could feel them trying to explore her body. In that moment, she recalled the reason why she was outside in the cold and separated from him. Dick seemed so displeased.

''I'm sorry if I let go a little bit, but you look so beautiful tonight. I can't resist you.''

She turned red.

''You did nothing, Dick but…we're outside, someone could see us.''

''Right'' he smiled at her ''so…I'd better go having a shower, I think.''

''Ok, goodnight Dick.''

''Goodnight, Bea.'' He gave her a kiss on her forehead and left.

It was almost midnight. Sobel didn't seem to arrive. It was too cold so she decided to go back to her billet, wondering why Sobel didn't come over. Had he something better to do? Was she replaceable, even for him?

At the same time, someone could not close his eye. That fucking little red-haired dared to kiss his girl! That was the last straw ! It was the beginning of the end: he wanted Dick Winters to disappear from that world.