9th June 1942

Bert was adjusting the sleeves of his uniform when his cigarette flared dangerously. He widened his eyes shocked, threw the cigarette on the ground and only one second later two letters came flying towards him. One was addressed to him, the other to Peter.

Bert was amazed that his letters could now also apparently arrive through a small ember. Either it was a coincidence or Elizabeth's powers grew stronger.

The letter for Peter looked like it had been sent by normal mail. Presumably so that it wouldn't be obvious that she had magical powers. Peter didn't know about it and it should be kept a secret too!

"She thinks of every little thing," he muttered and looked for the medic.

Bert found Peter with a small group of doctors just outside the camp.
The former chimney sweep had to smile slightly: Peter wasn't a medic, at least not officially. Like Johnny, he was a Lance Corporal. But because of his great interest and certain know-how in the field of medicine, he was the Section-appointed medic.

He always remembered that Peter actually wanted to be a doctor. And in Bert's eyes he also had potential!
He learned incredibly quickly and was able to apply what he had learned.

Dr. Peter Pegg.
Yes, it had a nice ring to it.

Bert was torn from his thoughts when Peter came up to him and asked "Are you okay, Sergeant?"

"Yes, 'ere" he handed Peter the letter with a smile, "that's for you."

The young soldier took his mail skeptically and raised an eyebrow when he discovered an unknown handwriting. But then he relaised: The letter must be from Elizabeth!
He walked quickly to the next corner and let his eyes wander over the lines:

Hello Peter,

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I was very delighted.

You are a medic? Then we have something in common: I'm also a medic. Not officially, but I take care of the injured I come across.

I could imagine that Bert is worried sick. He never really shows it, but I know him well enough by now...
That's why you did not unsettle me. On the contrary!

It is good to know that there are people who take care of Bert. And I can't thank you enough for that!

Please take care of yourself too, Peter. In times like these, we need people like you to look after and take care of others ...

Best wishes

Elizabeth

He didn't know why, but Peter was extremely happy about this letter! He would like to meet Elizabeth. Who knows: maybe one day it would be possible? When he looked up, he saw that Bert was watching him; in his hand he also had an open letter.
"You were right: she is very special... you can be proud of her."

"I am," said Bert, "I definitely am."

The sergeant looked ... strange. Peter couldn't describe it any other way.

What stood in his letter? He couldn't ask, however, as Bert had already turned away and was walking in the direction from which he had come.

In the evening Bert sat on a rickety chair and smoked a cigarette. With a vacant look he watched the red, dancing flame of the candle that stood at his feet.
All day long his mind revolved around the letter he'd received just hours earlier. He pulled a metal box, in which he kept special letters, from his breast pocket and let his dark blue eyes wander over the lines again:

Hey Bert,

as so often I have to apologise for my late reply. I would have written to you earlier, but unfortunately some things happened.
Hans was drafted and asked me to take care of Martha and his stallion Basil. I hope you understand this has priority. But the way I know you, you understand it.

On the day Hans left, I started my journey to London to bring them to Mary.

Today we arrived, but we will leave in a couple of days. Mary had the suggestion to take the little girl to Winifred and Barbara Banks to the countryside.
I think it's a good idea... it's probably safer there than in London. She can also learn our language there in peace.

I haven't told Mary yet, but I feel like the wind is slowly changing for me to put it in her words. So it won't be long before I go on my own journey again.
I don't know where it will lead me. At least not yet. But I am not alone this time, as Basil will be with me from now on.

For some inexplicable reason, I've been more and more oppressive feelings lately. They appear all of a sudden and then I'm scared for Mary and especially for you. A fear that sometimes almost turns into panic. That's why I think a lot... Too much to be honest.

What should I do if something happens to you or if you shouldn't be with us anymore? I think it would break me...

I don't want you to worry about me, but I think you should know that I am thinking of you.

How long will it be until this freaking war is over and we will be finally back in London? I miss our time together... And I miss you.

I love ya, Bert

Lizzy

A lump formed in Bert's throat. Elizabeth didn't deserve a life like this.
It has never been easy for her, but experiencing a war and then going from misery to misery was enough.

However, one sentence put a smile on his face:

I love ya, Bert

Elizabeth has never been a sentimental person and she rarely showed her feelings. She was hard on the outside but incredibly soft on the inside.

"I love ya too," he muttered before looking up at the sky with tears in his eyes.

Soooooo xD
I think it was time to get another insight into Elizabeth's soft inside :3

By the way, in the next chapter there will be a jump in time again, since everything in between would not contribute much to the story.
It continues about 5 months later: In November '42.

As always, I would be very happy about reviews 3

I think I never mentioned that there is a playlist for this story on Spotify? There are all the songs that inspire and motivate me in a certain way for chapters and for writing in general. So if someone is interested: Let me know haha