Chief had been on hyper-alert since they reached the outskirts of Dijon. Pure luck they had ended up here. When they left for the latest mission, the First Division had been outside Lyons, miles to the south.

Chief was sure she would be in the thick of things here, but there were so many in civilian clothes. Resistance, Maqui, ordinary citizens armed for the final battle for the city. He couldn't spot a familiar small figure among them.

The Free French officer they were following had directed them to a barricade on the west side of the plaza. After some time of exchanging gunfire with the Germans entrenched in the building, Chief nudged Garrison.

"Maybe we can start some trouble in their supply yard? Keep 'em from bailing out the back way."

"Good idea, Chief," approved Garrison. "I don't think we're using our best talents out here. Let's go."

Garrison told the other three to stay in position, then slipped out behind Chief. They worked their way to the back side of the massive building. The gate to the courtyard was open, a tempting array of Nazi vehicles inviting them in. With the ease of long practice, they pulled explosives from their supply packs and went to work.

They paused to watch the results, trucks catching fire from each other, gas tanks exploding. Satisifed that they had destroyed all of the vehicles, they started back around the east side of the palace. Troop carriers lined the street.

"Let's just disable these," said Garrison. "The Allies might need them to cart off prisoners."

There was no gunfire coming from the front of the building, and Chief could hear the tanks approaching. He nodded, "Might be so."

They clipped or pulled critical wires from each truck. It was still quiet out front, so they walked back with only ordinary caution. They could see German soldiers, arms in the air, being led off by the French troops. A small crowd of civilians stood outside the gate. Chief's heart skipped a beat. He saw Suzette, linked arm-in-arm with that damned baker and another man. She turned to say something to the man at her side, and her expression changed as she saw Chief.

Suzette disentangled herself from the men and walked toward them, her eyes locked on Chief's face. They met in a tight embrace.

"Chief," she whispered. "My Rainey."

"Claire," he answered softly. He set her down, keeping a grip on her arms. They smiled at each other, and he looked her up and down.

"You look good," he said. "Healthy. Happy."

"This is the happiest day of my life," she said. "And now you are here…."

Garrison moved up and greeted the various Jacquerie he recognized with a handshake. He turned to look at the couple, still standing close, and cleared his throat.

"Chief, we have to move on. You have five minutes."

Actor spoke up from behind him. "Surely, sir, you can give them some time together."

Goniff and Casino chimed in. "Warden, 'ave a heart." "Yeah, give the kids a break."

Garrison shook his head and sighed. They were a day behind already. "All right, Chief. You've got twenty minutes. We'll pick you up in that small square with the fountain."

Chief finally looked in his direction. "All right."

Suzette smiled at Garrison. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Bienvenue, it is good to see you again."

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Chief held her arm as the worked their way through the barricades and people streaming towards the palace. They turned down a quieter side street.

"How does it happen that you are here?" Suzette asked. "Are you with the regular army now?"

"Naw. We ran into the French army on our way back from a mission," he said. "Decided to join the fun this time."

"This is good," she nodded. "I think you will be very more safe with your friends, as a unité de guérilla. "

"What about you? I mean, your job is done now, right?"

"Yes," Suzette said softly. "It is done."

Chief took her hand and looked down briefly. "You're not gonna do anything crazy now, are you? Like join up with the Free French or the Maquis?"

"No," she replied with a slight smile. "I don't think that they will allow me to fight. You are correct, my part is finished now."

"Good," he said without thinking, "then I won't have to worry about you anymore."

Suzette looked up at him. He looked straight ahead and said, "Well, Garrison would bring back word of your missions once in a while…. What are you going to do now?"

She shook her head and gave a small laugh. " I don't know. I have not thought beyond this day."

Chief said, "You know, this whole thing could be over in a few months."

"This is difficult to believe," she sighed.

"Well, the Allies have retaken almost of all of France. They'll be pushing into Germany soon." He paused. "And they're bombing the cities into rubble. The Krauts can't take much more of that. I've been there. It's pretty bad."

"This is good," Suzette said fiercely. "I hope they suffer much. They deserve this retribution."

Chief was a little startled. She saw his expression and spoke up. "They chose Hitler. They cheered this man, by the millions. Do not you hate them also? Surely you kill them without regret."

"That part's easy … Don't like them much, but don't know if I hate them all," he answered slowly. "Not as much as you." He paused. " But then, I didn't have to live in a cellar. Or lose my friends and my family."

He squeezed her hand and continued. "Anyway, it'll be over soon. And they'll pay for it."

They walked on in silence until they reached the edge of the small square.

"Listen, I was thinkin'," Chief said, looking straight ahead. "I might…when this is over, maybe I could come back to see you? If you'd like?"

Suzette smiled up at him. "I will like that," she said softly. "I will like that very much."

They came to the fountain. Chief laid his rifle on the rim. He slipped the girl's rifle off her shoulder and laid it on her other side. He moved close and looked down at her with a soft smile.

"Man, you're even more beautiful than I remember."

Suzette shook her head. "No, not today, I think."

"Oh yes," he replied. His long fingers pushed back some hair that had escaped from her braid, and smoothed away a tearstain from her dusty cheek. Then he took her face in his hands and leaned down to meet her lips. They kissed long and tenderly.

Chief nestled her head into the right spot on his shoulder and pulled her closer. They were both bulky with equipment, but it felt good to hold her again. Suzette sighed contentedly.

They kissed again. Suzette whispered, "Will the Lieutenant …. Do you think Garrison would tell me if something would happen to you?"

"Yeah, I think he would." He looked down at her seriously. "But it ain't nothin' to worry about. I'll make it through. I've made it this far."

He pointed to an empty café to the side of the square. "We'll sit in that café, over there. So plan on it, all right?"

Suzette pulled his head down to kiss him. Too soon, they heard the sound of a jeep approaching. Chief sighed and loosened his hold.

Casino pulled up with flair and a grin. "Hey, kid, time to go."

"Give her a kiss good-bye," Actor prompted.

Casino and Goniff looked at each other and began chanting, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Chief shook his head, then smiled down at Suzette. He leaned her backwards and delivered a long, passionate kiss. The Gorillas whooped.

"Au revoir, Claire," he said softly.

"Au revoir, ma mie." She raised her hand in farewell to the others as Chief jumped into the front seat.

Casino looked at him as they started off. "Chiefy, did I actually see you smiling?"

Chief leaned his head back against the seat. "I still am, Casino."

Suzette watched the jeep until it turned away from her view. She took a deep breath, picked up her rifle and slung it over her shoulder. She joined the crowds streaming towards the palace, all talking, laughing, passing bottles of wine. Most of them wore scarves or armbands of blue or white. The hated Nazi flags were burning in piles all around the plaza. She finally reached her friends, and linked arms with Emile and Gaston. No more were they Jacques.

"Voila! Ici!" A cheer rose from the crowd. The tri-color flag of France was unfurling from an upper window.

A tear slid down to meet her smile. The job was done, her city was free. And her child would be born in a free France.