Author's Note:
Thank you Straight Edge Queen for the review, I thought you'd enjoy that ending ;D
Updating early again! Some more elements and true stories from Malarkey's book and dialogue and scenes from the TV series, I hope you all enjoy! ❤
Aldbourne, England
September 1944
Marie walked along the streets of Aldbourne, enjoying how much the weather had cooled down as fall approached. She couldn't believe that it had already been a year since Easy Company had headed to Europe. A year. Marie absentmindedly rubbed the scar on her forehead, the one she received from her close call in Carentan. She waited under a street lamp, waiting for a couple automobiles to pass before she crossed the street. She passed a shop, catching her reflection through the shop window. Her cross necklace gleamed in the sunlight. She instinctively reached for it, holding it fondly in her hands.
Her birthday was in late August, Malarkey surprised her with buying a gift for her. He'd bought it for her in the jewelry shop in town. He said he owed her for that pocket watch she'd given him for his birthday two years ago. The sentiment had made Marie's heart warm with joy. While everything had gone back to normal after the news of her mother's death, her feelings for Malarkey had become confusing and complex. She'd always viewed him as a friend and had always denied that there was anything more, but now when she looked at him her stomach would get butterflies, she would blush easily, and she'd grow almost shy around him at times. She'd known Malarkey for years, he was one of her best friends and she was completely comfortable around him. She hated how she had been feeling lately.
She dismissed her feelings as being childish, but some nights she'd dream of him. She'd dream of his touch and his body entwined with hers. She shook the lustful thoughts out of her head, her face growing hot as she recalled her dreams. She continued down the streets, trying to outrun her thoughts. Malarkey and More were off riding their motorcycle through the countryside, something that they'd been doing all summer. She'd hope they'd be back soon before the meeting commenced. Easy Company had been requested to head to the barn for a meeting. They had these meetings all the time, so Marie wasn't concerned with what the topic was.
"Marie!" She heard her name. She turned to see Emilia jogging up behind her. "Did you hear?"
"About what?"
"Tab's back!" Emilia beamed.
Marie smiled, happy for Tab and for Emilia's giddiness. "You see him yet?"
"No, I'm on my way to see him right now."
Marie smirked. "You gonna give him a welcome back kiss?"
Emilia swatted at Marie's arm. "Only if you kiss Malark first." She countered.
Marie's pale cheeks turned red instantly. The thought of kissing him flooded back to her mind. Emilia laughed at her reaction. Marie grabbed her necklace, averting her eyes from her friend.
"Why would I do that?" Marie questioned, trying to sound as if she had no idea what Emilia was saying, but her voice came out unconvincing.
"Uh-huh." Emilia answered sarcastically. "Where is the little Irish Romeo anyway?"
"Riding with Alton."
"Those boys and that damned motorcycle." Emilia chuckled. They approached the barn that was a little outside of the town. They followed a dirt path toward the crowded entrance lined up with trucks and soldiers. Marie saw that Malarkey still wasn't present. She hoped that he was okay, Malarkey and More often drove that thing like maniacs.
"You coming in?" Emilia asked.
"No, I'm going to wait for Malarkey."
Emilia gave her a knowing look, which made Marie blush again. She cursed her stupid face for always giving away her emotions. She waved Em off, embarrassed by the evidence of her affection. She was a soldier, dammit, she wasn't supposed to be swooning over boys.
Marie waited and waited and waited until finally she heard the motorcycle approaching. More and Malarkey were laughing nervously as they approached, skidding to a stop as the tires kicked up dust. Malarkey held a beer in his hand as he climbed out.
"Jesus Christ, that was close." Malarkey breathed in between laughter.
"Missed it by a mile." More smiled.
"Missed what?" Marie asked. Both men stopped walking and turned to her.
"We almost collided with a truck." More snickered, continuing toward the barn. Malarkey shot him a look, wishing that he hadn't been so blunt. Marie felt her nerves bubble inside her at the fact that Malarkey had almost been run over.
"It's okay, Hun." Malarkey assured, smiling boyishly from the alcohol. Marie took the beer from his hands, raising an eyebrow at him. He started to protest but stopped when she took a deep gulp of the drink. She grimaced as she swallowed it down, making Malarkey howl in laughter. "I love you." He laughed, slinging an arm around her as they both headed into the barn.
Marie's face grew hot by his words and by how close he was. She was trying to be suave and it completely backfired. She tried to laugh it off, but she was struck silent by nerves. He was oblivious to her reaction. Inside the barn everyone in Easy was celebrating. Malarkey led her around the tables, trying to find a place where they both could sit. Marie spotted Tab, Emilia sitting next to him, both grinning ear to ear. Smokey was reciting a poem about Tab being stabbed. As morbid as that sounded, it was actually pretty funny.
"Why is everyone in such a hurry to come back?" Malarkey commented, tapping Tab on the head as he walked by with Marie. Malarkey sat next to him and Marie sat down next to Malarkey.
"What is Smokey going on about?" Marie asked.
"His poem, 'The Night of the Bayonet.' It's actually pretty clever." Emilia answered with an amused smile. Marie watched and cheered with the rest of the company when Smokey handed Tab an honorary Purple Heart. Marie was happy that everyone was in such high spirits. It felt like the war was finally starting to be put behind them.
Malarkey turned in his chair to address Muck, Martin and Luz sitting behind him. Some of the men were smoking heavily and drinking. Marie realized that she was still holding onto Malarkey's beer. She tapped him on the shoulder, he turned back to her and smiled; that carefree, friendly smile of his.
"Do you still want your beer?" Marie asked him. Marie slid the beer can over to him, her hands still around it. Malarkey wrapped his fingers around hers and brought up the can to his lips. He took a long sip and set it back down, letting go of her hand. Marie's face went scarlet, causing her to avert her eyes.
God, get a grip, Marie! He's just being playful! You've held his hand a hundred times! She scolded herself in her head.
"Hey, guys. I'd like you to meet our newest replacement, Babe Heffron." Guarnere came over with a man Marie didn't recognize, interrupting her thoughts.
"Babe, huh?" Tab chuckled.
"Edward, but everyone calls me Babe." Babe greeted. Marie could hear his thick Philly accent. Now she knew why Guarnere wanted to introduce him, he wasn't a person who usually got close to replacements.
Malarkey and Tab shook his hand. When he got to Emilia he looked struck from her beauty for a minute. He smiled awkwardly, taking her hand and kissing it politely. The guys smirked at this. Most replacements had the same reaction seeing that there were actually women in the 101st.
"It's nice to have a gentlemen join Easy." Emilia teased.
"This here is Emilia Valdez, our engineer, translator, and everything else." Guarnere introduced. He turned his attention over to Marie, whom smiled warmly at Babe. He took her hand and kissed it too.
"This is Marie Docherty, or Hun as we call her. She's a Doc, and one of the best we've got." Guarnere told Babe.
"Aw, thank you, Bill." Marie said gratefully.
Lipton stood up and made his way to the front of the barn. "Couple of announcements men, and ladies." Lip called over the crowd. Most quieted down as he spoke. "First, listen up." He said, shushing some more people that continued to talk. "First, the training exercise scheduled for 22:00 has been cancelled."
Everyone cheered in relief. Marie couldn't be happier with the men's enthusiasm. She glanced over at Lip, smiling but her smile soon faltered. He looked distressed and hesitant to speak. Marie knew that he was going to give bad news. She braced herself for the worst.
"Secondly, all passes are hereby revoked. We're headed back to France." Lipton added. A heavy hush went over the crowd. "So pack up all your gear. We will not be returning to England, boys. And ladies." He added, regarding Emilia and Marie. "Anyone who has not made out a will, go to the supply office. Trucks depart at 07:00. As you were." Lipton concluded.
The cheery mood in the barn had been completely killed. They were going back to war. A part of Marie knew that it had always been coming, but now that it was here she didn't feel prepared. The men wearily started to gather up and exit the barn, most in stunned silence. Marie stood up, following everyone else's lead.
"I'm really going to miss shaving regularly." Emilia sighed as her and Marie both packed up their items in the hotel room. Gear and uniforms were the only necessities they would be able to bring with them. Everything else either needed to be left behind or shipped home.
"We've gotten far too used to luxury, Em." Marie sighed, changing into her OD's. She neatly packed her other clothes away but she kept her necklace on. She hid it under her uniform and decided that she didn't want to take it off. It meant too much to her. She came across her letters, and decided she'd pack those, too. Correspondence was still allowed and now that they were returning to the front she didn't know when she'd be able to write her family and friends again.
Marie watched as Emilia packed her makeup pouch amongst her belongings. "You're bringing that?" Marie questioned in a joking judgemental tone.
"Of course I am!" Emilia replied defensively. "We already can't bring those pretty dresses with us, I don't want to leave the makeup behind, too."
"Well don't take too long, we're heading out in an hour." Marie reminded her. Knocking suddenly came from their hotel door. "I'll get it." Marie said making her way over to the door. She opened the door to find Malarkey all ready in in his OD's. His hair was neatly combed off to the side with his garrison cap on, and his uniform looked sharp.
"Don?"
"Walk with me." He said.
Marie turned around to look at Emilia, she felt like she was silently asking a parent for approval. Emilia motioned that she could go, giving her a sly smile before Marie closed the door behind her. Malarkey seemed stoical as he walked beside Marie. A lot of men were glum about going back to war but this wasn't like him. He was a jovial extravert that always had something to say; seeing him quiet was very out of the ordinary.
"Are you okay?" Marie asked him softly.
"Yeah. I just wanted somebody to come with me to Ms. Lamb's to pick up the clothes."
Ms. Lamb was one of the kind British women that helped with cleaning and pressing Easy's uniforms. They did so much and were paid so little, Marie felt guilty that she didn't have more to give that woman.
They reached her house in silence, both of them too worried about the future to speak. Malarkey reached for the doorknob and held it, before he twisted the knob to open the door he froze. He looked over at Marie, waiting patiently behind him.
"We jumped into Normandy with 139 men. When we were taken off the line we had 74." He said.
Marie didn't say anything, only thinking about the numbers he'd given her. They'd lost 65 men.
"I know we're soldiers and it's expected for us to return to war but… I'm going to miss England. I'm going to miss the freedom, the music, and pubs, the ability to talk to my friends about normal things, not about military tactics." He paused a moment, working his jaw in thought before continuing on. "Remember the night we went to see that band, Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band? And they played that song Moonlight Serenade? It was fun to enjoy life that way again. Seeing people sing and dance is such a rare sight nowadays. There were a few hiccups, with your mother passing and my grandmother… and that night that Joe confided in me about his life."
Marie listened silently; the fond and painful memories flooding back to her. She knew Malarkey was keeping all this bottled up for some time now, so she let him release. She remembered the night Malarkey came to her door telling her about Joe Toye's breakdown. He was feeling inadequate about his lack of education. Toye was forced to drop out of school when he was fifteen and had worked in the mines ever since. Malarkey had found him on a roof. Malarkey panicked seeing him up there, worried that he'd fall three stories. Toye was feeling like a failure so Malarkey and Marie had to coax him out of it. It was a scary night one Marie wanted to forget. Now that they were returning to the front lines, the fear that some of her friends could die at anytime was now coming back.
"After the drop into Normandy, I'm worried what the drop into Holland will be like." Malarkey concluded, taking a deep breath.
Marie gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Whatever happens, we'll endure it. Remember what Winters told us, we'll have P-47s and P-51s on this jump with us as escorts. We'll be jumping at high noon instead of in the middle of the night."
"You're right, you're right." Malarkey sighed, looking more relieved to get all of that off his chest. "C'mon, we're moving out soon." He opened the door and Marie followed behind him. Malarkey stepped in, seeing that no one was behind the counter. "Hello? Hello?" He took off his garrison cap out of respect, Marie did the same.
"Oh!" Ms. Lamb scurried over to the counter. She was a beautiful woman, though she did show signs of age, Marie always thought that she was graceful, caring and elegant. Most English women that she'd come to meet had those same qualities.
"Good morning, Ms. Lamb. Sorry to bother you so early." Malarkey politely greeted.
"That's okay, Private-"
"Malarkey." They shook hands. "This is Sergeant Docherty." He introduced, Marie shook the woman's hand.
"Hello, love." She kindly greeted Marie.
"Ma'am." Marie smiled.
"Come in." Ms. Lamb led them through her business. It looked like part of it was connected with her house. Marie saw a young teenage girl working on clothes in the back, she assumed that she was Ms. Lamb's daughter.
"Actually, it's Sergeant Malarkey now, ma'am. I just got promoted." Malarkey explained as they wound their way through the building. Marie smiled, knowing Malarkey had been excited about his promotion. He couldn't contain telling people the news.
"Oh, lovely! I expect you'll be wanting your laundry, I had the trucks rumbling by all night." Ms. Lamb carried on a conversation as she searched for his laundry. "I guess the Yanks must be on there way off again."
"Yes, ma'am. Looks like for good this time." Malarkey replied. Marie fought off a sad expression, not wanting to worry Ms. Lamb. She saw Malarkey doing the same.
"I'm sorry to hear that." The woman sighed. She picked up some laundry, neatly wrapped and pressed. "Two shirts, two pairs of trousers, light starch." She read off the label, handing it over to Malarkey.
He fumbled with the currency, not knowing how much to give her. He smiled awkwardly, just giving her the whole amount.
"Thank you." She said, as Malarkey took his clothes. "Would you two like a cup of tea, I got the water boiling."
"No, no thank you. We're in a hell of a – a bit of a hurry. But thank you, anyway." Malarkey started to make his way for the door, Marie right behind him.
"Oh, uh, dearies." Ms. Lamb called.
"Yes, ma'am?" Malarkey questioned.
Ms. Lamb was reading some of the shelves that were stacked with laundry. "Lieutenant Meehan is one of yours, isn't he? I hope he hasn't forgotten his laundry."
Malarkey and Marie froze. Marie didn't have the heart to tell this woman that Meehan had died on D-Day.
"I'll take it." Malarkey answered.
"Thank you. You um, you couldn't be a dear and move a few others, would you?" Ms. Lamb asked, oblivious to Malarkey and Marie's frozen melancholy. Malarkey stiffly held his and Lieutenant Meehan's laundry, immobile where he stood.
"Uh, let's see. Sergeant Evans, Private Meyer-" Ms. Lamb went down the list, but Marie had tuned her out. They were all the names of either dead soldiers or soldiers that were gravely injured and had to be taken off the line. Marie took the rest of the laundry, seeing that Malarkey was still stunned. Marie quickly paid her, mumbled a thank you, then led Malarkey out of there.
Both of them left, carrying dead men's laundry and not saying a word again. Marie's heart went out to Malarkey, wishing that he'd never had to experience that. She hated it when he was sad, which wasn't very often. She knew him and Sergeant Evans never got along, he always hounded him like Sobel. But now that he'd died, she knew that Malarkey was feeling guilty for never making amends.
She saw Malarkey glance at the pile of laundry she was carrying. His eyes rested on Evans' name. After a prolonged silence, Malarkey finally spoke.
"God rest his soul."