Author's Note: If I really had to pick a favorite episode of The Rat Patrol, it would be "The One That Got Away Raid." I found Luden to be an interesting character, and wished they had been able to do more with him.


"Of course, I turn away for two seconds and my son has disappeared." Moffitt kept his anxiety under control as he marched through the crowded mall, his height proving to be an advantage as he kept a lookout for Jules. There was also the added bonus of Anah, perched on his head, stretched as high as she could go. "Do you see anything?"

"No, not yet," Anah replied. "Just a lot of confused people staring at us."

"That's not very comforting, Anah."

The crowd thinned a little as people began filling up the restaurants during the lunch hour. The usual smell of food was drowned out by the heavy smell of pine and cinnamon and other things typically associated with Christmas. The speakers had been playing Christmas music nonstop. What started as a decent day looking for presents and new ornaments for the tree was quickly becoming a disaster.

"If he wants to see something, he should've just told me," Moffitt said.

"He is your son, you know," Anah replied.

"Yes, but I'm still convinced he's getting this 'go get it now' mindset from Troy."

"Troy is five thousand miles away, but still causing trouble."

"Exactly." Moffitt's view was blocked by three giant Christmas trees in the center of the mall. As he walked around them, he spotted Jules, talking with an oddly familiar-looking man with dark blond hair. "Jules?"

Anah lowered herself to whisper in Moffitt's ear. "That man he is with… you sense something familiar about him."

"I do, actually, but I don't know what it is." Moffitt jogged over. "Jules! There you are!"

"Hi, Dad!" Jules said.

The blond man gave Moffitt a confused look. "Sergeant Moffitt?"

The slight trace of an accent in the man's voice set off a chain of memories in Moffitt's head, but for once, they were better memories than what he usually experienced. "Lieutenant Luden?"

A big grin came over Luden's face. "I cannot believe it!" He gave Moffitt a quick embrace. "How long has it been since you and the Rat Patrol helped me defect?"

"It'll be nineteen years in a few months. How are you? I know you came here to England for safety, but I didn't think you'd stay when the war ended."

"I did become a bit attached to England, and… I was originally from the eastern part of Germany."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It is alright. Thankfully, I have established myself here. I am happy." Luden looked down at Jules. "This is your son?"

"Yes." Moffitt gently hugged Jules, hoping to prevent him from escaping again. "This is Jules, and—" Moffitt motioned to the cobra on his shoulders, "this is Anah. We found her in North Africa. I'm a little surprised you're not scared of her."

"Well, if she is sitting on your shoulder and not biting, I would assume she is safe, and I love animals." Luden smiled. "After all, that is where my codename came from."

"Yes, after nineteen years, we're still wondering why you chose 'Buttercup.' Bit unusual, don't you think?"

"Buttercup was the name of a cat from my childhood. Very sweet, talkative cat. Loved to sleep on people's chests. I miss her dearly."

"We have horses at home," Jules said. "Would you like to meet them?"

"Jules, I'm sure Luden has places to be, and we have things to do," Moffitt said.

"Oh, no, I would not mind. I actually came to browse the bookshop. Nothing overly important." Luden's smile was a little weak.

"Alright. If you'd like to tag along, go for it. We're doing a little Christmas shopping. Shouldn't take too long."

Jules grabbed Luden's hand. "We're getting more candles for Mum. There's ones that smell like cake and pie and we can't get them because they make Dad think something's baking."

"Well, if you cannot get those, what do you get?" Luden asked.

"This time of year, we get candles that smell like Christmas trees. Our tree is already up. We get a real one every year. It's a lot of fun, and Dad swears a lot when we have to put it in the back of the car."

Moffitt rolled his eyes.

"He is right, you know," Anah said. "You were particularly foul-mouthed this year."

"You weren't helping." Moffitt watched Jules lead Luden off to the candle store, and gave a heavy sigh. "Looks like Jules has found a new friend."

"Indeed he has. I remember you telling me the story of how you helped that man escape."

"Quite a harrowing adventure that was," Moffitt said. "Luckily, we all made it out alive."

They caught up to Jules and Luden in the candle store, where Jules was already showing Luden all the Christmas-themed candles. Moffitt noticed a look of distant longing when Luden turned his attention to a silver candelabra on display.

"My mother has a candelabra similar to this one," Luden said. His voice lowered. "Or had. I do not know."

Jules tugged on Luden's sleeve. "You look sad."

"Oh, I am alright, Jules. Just thinking about home."

Jules handed him a candle. "Here. This one smells like a fireplace." He then picked up a pink candle. "Miss Anah? I found your rose candle."

"Thank you, dear," Anah said.

"What else do we need?"

"Did you find the Christmas tree ones?"

"Yes." Jules lifted up a basket weighed down with green-colored candles.

"Okay, we do not need that many, dear. Put some of them back."

"Yes, Miss Anah."

"We still have other things to get, Jules. We can't spend everything on candles," Moffitt said.

"Can I take Mr. Luden to the Christmas store?"

"Let's finish up here, and then yes."

Jules turned to Luden. "There's a store here dedicated to just Christmas stuff, and they're only open for a couple of months. It's amazing in there!"

It took over an hour, but eventually Jules was tired enough for Moffitt to convince him to leave the Christmas shop. The four headed out to the parking lot, where Luden offered to take one of the bags.

"I can help. This has been fun," he said.

"No, I got it," Moffitt replied. "At least we didn't make a mall Santa quit because of Anah."

"That has happened?"

"Yes. When Jules was little. Anah wanted to be in the picture. Santa didn't."

"To be fair, she is a cobra."

"A very nice one."

"Troy would disagree with that statement," Anah said.

"You are still in contact with Troy?" Luden asked.

"All the time," Moffitt replied. "Everyone is coming over for Christmas in a few weeks."

"That sounds very nice. I am happy for you, Moffitt." Luden again looked distant as he waited for Moffitt to finish loading the bags.

"Thanks. Did you come in your own car?"

"No. I took the bus."

"Do you still want to visit?"

Shyly, Luden nodded.

"Alright. It is nearly teatime anyway. I'll brew an extra cup for you."

"Thank you. You do not have to, though."

"I insist." Moffitt opened the passenger side door for Luden. "I promise, I won't drive like Tully."

"Riding with Mr. Tully is so much fun!" Jules said from the back.

"He's not teaching you to drive, that's for sure. Makes me nervous."

"But you rode with Mr. Tully during the war."

"That's different. I'm a grown-up."

When they arrived home, Anah went first with the keys to unlock the door, and held it open with her mind to let Moffitt, Luden, and Jules inside. "I will get the tea started, dears," she said.

"Thank you, Anah." Moffitt set the bags on the dining room table.

"Can I show Mr. Luden the horses?" Jules asked.

"Let us have some tea and lunch first, and then you can. Aren't you hungry? It's after one o'clock."

"Not really."

Moffitt rubbed his face. "Good gracious, you are my son."

"Oh, you have no need to worry, dear," Anah said. "I will make sure he does not start skipping meals like you did."

"I appreciate that, Anah." Moffitt noticed Luden staring somewhat absentmindedly at the Christmas tree. "Are you sure you're alright? You've been a bit… off all day."

Luden remained silent until a cup of tea was placed in front of him. "My apologies, Moffitt, I… have not really had a good Christmas in years. I told you I came from eastern Germany. When the war ended and I learned of the Soviet occupation, I was devastated. It does not help that I have heard nothing from my parents in the last eighteen years. In a way, I have accepted the possibility that they might be dead, but every year around this time… it is like a dull ache sits in my chest and I cannot do anything about it."

"I'm sorry. I know there's not much I can do to help. You are welcome to visit if you are lonely."

Jules stood up and grabbed a piece of paper from next to the telephone in the kitchen. "You can call any of us if you're lonely. Mr. Troy said once that we can call at any time, and someone will always pick up. He doesn't want anyone to be lonely. Or you can call Mr. Tully. He's great at giving advice. Mr. Hitch is, too. And Mr. Dietrich always appreciates someone calling him."

"Wait a minute—" Luden looked confused. "Dietrich? As in Captain Hans Dietrich?"

"Well, he's a lieutenant colonel now in the Bundeswehr," Moffitt said, "but, yes, that's the same Dietrich. It's a very long story."

"Mr. Dietrich is very nice," Jules said, "but very sad sometimes."

"It sounds like things have definitely changed." Luden took a sip of his tea, then looked at the paper Jules had given him. "I will copy this and take it with me. Thank you."

"You're welcome!" Jules went back to his lunch. He was quick to finish, and after placing his dish by the sink, he started getting his coat and boots back on to go out to the stables.

Luden waited until Jules was outside before picking up the paper. "Surely, he was exaggerating."

Moffitt shook his head. "No. We have our own lives, but we do put things on hold to help each other."

"They will not remember me."

"They will once you tell them who you are."

"I would hate to intrude."

"We intrude on each other all the time. You have nothing to worry about."

Luden appeared to have no further arguments. He simply nodded, and finished his tea before going out to the stables.

Moffitt stood in the silence for a few moments before looking at the clock. He let out a sigh, and went over to the phone to dial Troy's number.

"I'm going to take a guess and say this is Dietrich," Troy said when he picked up.

"Wrong. Guess again," Moffitt replied with a grin.

"Hey, Moffitt. Is everything okay? Shauna and I just got up."

"Everything's alright. Guess who I ran into at the mall today."

"I haven't had my coffee this morning, Moffitt. I can't play guessing games yet."

"Oh, alright. Remember 'Buttercup?'"

"Luden?" Troy sounded a bit more awake. "You saw Luden today?"

"Yes."

"How is he?"

"Tough to say. He hasn't had contact with his family since we sent him to England. They're stuck in East Germany."

"Geez."

"I know. Jules has taken a liking to him, so we brought him home to visit. He's quite lonely. They're outside with the horses right now."

"Well, you know what to do, Moffitt."

"What?"

Troy sounded incredulous. "Did you invite him to spend Christmas with us?"

"No. Not yet."

"Go invite him. Put the phone down and go invite him."

"Is that an order?"

"Yes."

"Oh, fine. I'll be right back." Moffitt set the phone down and went to the entryway to put his jacket on. He headed out to the stables, where Jules was introducing Luden to Snowstripe and Icepatch. The boy, man, and horses turned to face Moffitt as he entered. "Luden? I came to ask if you would like to spend Christmas with us this year."

Luden thought for a moment. "Are you sure you want that?"

"Troy demanded I ask."

"In that case… yes. I will spend Christmas with you." A warm smile crossed Luden's face. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'll go tell the others." Moffitt headed back to the house and picked up the phone. "He said yes, Troy."

"Good," Troy said. "No one should be spending Christmas alone."

"No. Hopefully, this will help him be happier. Just don't pester him with phone calls."

"I make no promises."