Wolves of the Pacific

by greenpeach20

In 1902, Renesmee Cullen grew tired of the tedious life of moving around with her family and decided to make the journey west as a mail order bride. Yet a chance encounter with a reddish brown wolf would change her life forever.

93. Chapter 93

Chapter 93

"Your cousin needs calming down," Oscar said in his best English. He and Travis sat together amid a large group of soldiers that were resting at the moment. They placed poker but truthfully neither of them were very good.

"Say that at your own risk, Oscar," Travis muttered and took a card. "Try to put yourself in his shoes. Imagine if it were Zakra in her position." There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between them as that thought sank in. "That's what I thought."

"He overreacts," Oscar muttered, defiant still. "Frankly, she is likely dead. Best to accept and move on."

"She's not dead, Oscar," Travis said adamantly.

"You know?" Oscar asked with heavy skepticism.

"Yes, we know," Travis said.

"How?"

"We just do," Travis said. "Kevin knows she's alive. We just need to find her. That's all."

"Woman is dead," Oscar said rather bluntly and even cruelly. "Best he forget."

"He won't," Travis said. "You wouldn't I would hope."

"Zakra had good sense to stay from trouble," Oscar said.

"I suppose that's how he ended up at the wrong end of your dad's knife?" Travis said pointedly but regretted the mean comment immediately when he saw that look in Oscar's eyes.

"What happened was the fault of Oliver. Zakra did nothing wrong," Oscar muttered. Then he tossed his cards on the ground and stood. "I'm going to get some rest. Don't bother me unless it's an emergency."

Oscar walked away and Travis groaned and rubbed his eyes before picking up all the cards. Figuring it was best to do the same, he retreated to bed too. As he went, he saw Kevin. He'd not taken his eyes off Amber's bracelets in days. He just stared at them with a distant look in his eyes. He wasn't sleeping well either. Worse than normal. He seemed to wake up every night in a cold sweat and would take a hold of her bracelets as if for comfort, though they only served to worsen the deep anxiety he felt. It seemed everyone had made an attempt to get through to Kevin, but there was no talking to him. Even Embry wasn't getting through to him at the moment.

"She's alive," Travis mumbled to himself. "She has to be."

He finally retreated to bed for the night without a word to Kevin. There was nothing he could say anyway. Despite all their determination and Kevin's certainty she was alive, no one, even Embry, could shake that deep fear that she may very well be dead. Perhaps the imprint bond was wrong or just desperate for her to be alive. Back in Italy, Kyle had very much the same fear. The few POWs he'd been able to speak to knew nothing and with them defending their occupation of Rome, he had to focus on the wounded. Kyle confided in Evalina frequently about these fears over letter. She'd explained to him her family wasn't allowing her to leave the city limits with the war and, though he was sad for it, he was forced to agree. Evalina continued going to Margarita's bakery every other day to learn a new recipe or practice cooking. Eventually, she couldn't hold back everything about Kyle. She let slip that he was an American and she feared Margarita would be offended. Perhaps for a moment she was surprised, but she didn't say anything. Even went so far as to swear she wouldn't tell anyone which Evalina took comfort from at least.

"They're all worried about this woman," Evalina confided to Margarita one afternoon while they made roasted artichokes. "I wish I could help them look for her."

"How so? Even if you could get to Germany or Poland, how would even begin to look for her?"

"Kyle received word from his brother," Evalina said. "They think she's in Auschwitz. They took a prisoner from the German army when they invaded St. Lô and one of them…one of them had her bracelets that Kevin had made her. Both of them."

"She might just be–"

"Don't say it," Evalina said. "Don't even think it. They're sure she's alive. She has to be. She's the whole reason they all came to fight in the first place."

"Evalina," Margarita said, "you and I both know Nazi policies were Jews are concerned. Besides, with how the war has gone on, it's likely she was a casualty."

Evalina was briefly silent but shook her head. "I don't think so. I think she's still alive. She has to be."

Margarita sighed, "If you believe she is, then we'd best pray for her safety. That's all you can do, Evalina."

Evalina was quiet and proceeded with her cooking lesson not bringing up Amber again, but she was troubled. If they're right about Amber being in Auschwitz, then there was no way Kevin and the others would get to her. The Soviets would get to her and there was no telling what would happen. Evalina knew well Stalin's policies towards Jews in his nation were hardly ethical. As far as she was concerned, it was part of the reason Hitler and Stalin got along well in the first place. But then, according to Kyle's letter, that soldier had said he'd received those bracelets two or three years ago. What if she wasn't there? If not, then where could she possibly be? She tried not to think about it. Margarita was right about one thing though not in the way she'd thought: getting to Poland to search Auschwitz could well be a death sentence. There was hard fighting going on that she would certainly encounter. Despite those attempts at rationalization, though, Evalina's conscious began to feel the weight of the world.

In France, by August 1st, the American forces had taken Avranches in Normandy. A pivotal point for the Nazi efforts. With the taking of the Peninsula, they'd lost a significant advantage. Kevin and several others knew that of course. It also meant the Germans would try to take it back at any cost. Kevin and the others knew that all too well. Knowing that he needed to focus, Kevin did eventually pull himself out of the trance he'd seemed to be in the past several days since finding Amber's bracelets and focused on the task at hand: defending what they'd taken and taking more. With the capturing of Paris, they'd be able to fight their way into Germany at long last. But then…..if Amber were in Auschwitz, going to Germany was of no use to Kevin. The thought weighed heavy on his mind. Sadly, it didn't matter in the least, because the attack they'd all knew had to be coming finally came. While some rested and reinforcements were still coming in, shortly after midnight, the Germans made their move.

The position of the 30th Division of the American units felt the wave of the German's attack. Mortain was briefly recaptured by the Germans after achieving their surprise attack, but it was brief all the same. They were unable to fully breach the 30th as the key points in Mortain remained under the control of the 120th Infantry. Of course, that didn't mean they didn't fight hard for it. The German army, several hours after the first attack, had sent their 2nd Panzar Division to attack from the north, but they were ultimately stopped by the 35th Infantry and 3rd Armor Division. They Americans also received their reinforcements from the Air Force who took on the Luftwaffe German Air Force and took command of the air. Through all the fighting, Kevin kept Amber's bracelets close, but he focused his efforts on the fight. The battle stalled by noon that day of the attack, the Germans wanting to recollect themselves so they could proceed and take the Mortain. However, it did them no good as American forces led their counter attack and pushed forward. They pushed and fought and forced the Germans back until, by August 13th, they'd succeeded is halting the German advance in a victory for the Allied forces.

But they weren't safe. After their victory only came the forming of the Falaise Pocket in which American, British and Canadian forces had the German infantry surrounded more or less. Operation Dragoon had commenced with the goal to take Paris. Coupled with the uprising in Paris, the Germans had their hands full to say the least. Kevin and the others, through the fighting, frequently found themselves in a town or in places that suffered heavy bombing at the hand of the German forces. They weren't alone of course. They had their company, but it was an unsettling time for them all.

"We're almost to Paris," Embry said to Kevin one night when they had finally, by some miracle, had the opportunity to rest just a little. "Once we take Paris, we can push through to Germany."

"But then how are we going to get to Auschwitz from there? Once we take Germany, the war's over. It's not as though they'll keep sending us east. The Soviets are covering that ground."

"We'll be able to go to Poland ourselves," Embry offered. "You have that map, right Jae?"

"I do," Jae said, patting his left breast pocket where he also kept his family pictures and Natalie's pictures to him. "Once we're able to move more freely, we can get to Poland and rescue Amber from that camp."

"Something about this is bothering me," Peta said. "All the POWs we've talked to keep saying Jews are being sent to work for the Reich. So it's physical labor."

"So?" Embry asked.

"So, Kevin's dreams aren't making sense. He should be seeing Amber working with the others at that camp, but he keeps seeing her locked away."

"Maybe they've learned she's dangerous and locked her away," Embry said.

"But in that case, wouldn't they just kill her? I mean, Kevin had a nightmare they were doing that to those that were sick and couldn't work, right? So if she's dangerous and she's not working, why keep her alive at all?"

"Quiet, Peta," Embry said irritably, making his be quiet before he said something that might set Kevin off. The man was on a hair trigger to say the least. But it was an interesting question. All Kevin heard was a desperate thirst. He knew she was alive, but she wasn't in her right mind. Hadn't been for years now. She was dangerous. Kevin knew she was. So Peta was right: what were they keeping her alive for? Regardless, Kevin only cared that she was alive. If she's alive, he could save her.

"Tomorrow we continue to push through," Kevin finally spoke, his voice hard and commanding. "Embry's right: once we take Paris, we can move on the Germany. Cut off the snakes head if you will."

"Then we can move more freely and move on to Poland," Embry agreed. "We're getting closer Kevin. You mark my words; we'll save Amber before the end of the year."

"Then things can finally go back to how they should be," Jae smiled reassuringly. "Amber will come back with us to America and the two of you can have that big wedding and a Quileute ceremony on the beach. Her dad will walk her down the aisle and they'll cry with joy to finally see you two get married." Although he was trying to be encouraging, it felt more like a hateful reminder.

"15 years," Kevin muttered bitterly.

"What?"

"Fifteen fucking years," Kevin said and rubbed his face. "I proposed in 1929, remember? I kept saying 'by next year' or 'within two years' or 'once I do this' or 'once I do that'."

"It wasn't your fault," Embry insisted. "You two kept hitting road blocks. That extended engagement wasn't due to lack of trying to make shit happen. I mean, shit Kevin. You spent all of the years after the crash busting your fucking ass to keep your business afloat. You weren't taking home any more than you desperately needed. You did the responsible thing."

"The responsible thing," Kevin repeated bitterly.

"Kevin, you harassed the immigration office for years to get their citizenship! That's not nothing," Embry said. "You did what Levi asked you to do and you did everything in your power to make things happen. You did the right thing. It is not your fault that things turned out the way they did. It's not your fault the boat was turned away. It's not your fault Hitler started a war in Europe. It's not your fault, Kevin. Don't blame yourself for it. You can either waste time picking at the past and trying to decide what you should have done but it won't change a thing. We need to focus on the now."

"Embry's right," Jae said. "There's no point in beating yourself up about it. It doesn't change anything. What's important now is finding her and getting Amber safe. After that, if you want, you can spend the rest of your lives making up for what you think you should have done."

"Lord knows I'll have a lot to make up for," Kevin muttered and rubbed his face. "We push through tomorrow. I want us in Paris as soon as possible."

"We will, Kevin," Embry encouraged. "In fact, we'll make sure we're the first to hit Paris." Kevin nodded absently with a weak smile to Embry and they finally went to sleep, but they only slept for what could be described as a nap at best before they had to continue the trek towards Paris.

"I remember when we all came here together to meet Amber and her family," Jae said offhandedly while they were moving with the company. "It's a shame you didn't come with us, Embry."

"I'm sure Paris is lovely when it's not blown up," Embry said flippantly.

"It is for the record," Jae smiled. "Scarlet certainly loved it."

"She liked the Guard at Versailles that let her take his helmet," Nathan said, smiling reminiscently. "I remember when she'd wanted to wear that when we met Amber's family. Broke my heart to tell her no." Nathan remembered when he and Tomoeh had to speak sternly with Scarlet about the tantrum she'd nearly had in the middle of the hotel lobby back in Berlin. "I can't wait for all this to be over. I miss my kids."

"No kidding," Jae said. "I'll look at our family photos and Natalie's picture whenever I miss them. That's been more often as of late."

"Yeah," Nathan sighed. In a moment of longing, Nathan reached into his breast pocket and pulled out the picture he'd been sent with Ada María, Tamara, his two daughters and his son. The picture lifted his spirits briefly but almost immediately dampened them. He had two children he'd never met. One was three now and the other was two. "I have two children I've never even met. How fucking pathetic is that?"

"You'll meet them," Jae reassured. "Ariel can't wait to meet you. You're a hero in that boy's eyes."

"Maybe, but I'm just a speculation," Nathan said. "I'm a shadow of everything Ada's told him about me. I'm an idolization. What happens when we finally meet and I'm just this fucking asshole?"

"Stop worrying," Peta said. "It's not as though Ada and Scarlet are making shit up about you. They're telling Ariel about you and what you've done with your life and the boy admires you. As any boy should do for his father, right Jae?" Peta teased Jae with his last statement. Jae smiled, thinking about JJ and Salem. He couldn't grateful enough for JJ. The boy had been so supportive, keeping Natalie's spirits up and taking charge as man of the house in his absence.

"Never was a man so lucky as to have a son like JJ," Jae smiled reminiscently. "When we get back, I'll tell the boys all about our time here. Filtered of gore, though."

"That'll probably be what they want to hear the most," Peta chuckled. "They'll want stories about how their dad fought the big, bad Nazis and came home a hero."

"We're all coming home heroes," Jae smiled. "If there's anything positive about this, it's that we're going home heroes."

Kevin ignored them as they talked. He wasn't concerned with being a hero. He only had one goal in mind and that was it. He'd not fault her family for their own goals, though. He wasn't under any delusion this was just about finding Amber for the others. Embry, maybe, but the others? No. Along the way, they found a small company of German soldiers and, upon finding them, a battle proceeded and very few German soldiers lived through the onslaught. Those that did, Kevin and Jae questioned fervently. He didn't get any more information than before. Those tasked with the POWs did with them as had been ordered by the man in charge of their unit and they were ordered to continue on. They were getting closer and closer to Paris and Kevin was getting antsy for this operation to be over with so they could turn their attention to Germany.

"Just a few more days and we'll finally reach Paris," Peta said as they marched through a town on their way to Paris. He spoke quietly, the company remaining on high alert. This place was the perfect spot for German infantry to hide. They'd need to smoke them out, kill the ones that fought back and, assuming they did, take any prisoners that surrendered. "I hear the Spanish army is moving in towards Paris."

"So long as they're on our side, more power to them," Embry said. "You enjoying your tour of Europe Pvt. Barker?" Embry asked Oscar with a hint of sarcasm. He'd yet to be apologetic about his snapping at Travis a few days ago, not to mention his presumption to assume their efforts were fruitless. The man had yet to win his way back into anyone's good graces.

"It's lovely," Oscar replied just as sarcastically.

"You're English is improving at least," Embry said. "Might be able to make yourself useful for a change."

"Embry, stop it," Travis defended. "He's fought just as hard as anyone else here."

"Frankly, Barker, you're damned lucky," Embry said. "You keep that in mind."

"Your friend seems in a bad mood this morning,"Oscar mumbled, assuming only Travis could hear him. "Did someone piss in his porridge this morning?"

"First of all, you little cunt, I speak your language, so don't try speaking to Travis in our tongue to avoid me. Second of all, I have impeccable hearing. I could hear a mouse shit from twenty miles away, so don't think you can keep shit from me by whispering. Keep your head in the line of action, do your part and for Travis' sake, I will continue tolerating you. Got it?" Oscar and Embry seemed to stare one another down a moment before Oscar looked forward.

"Pissed in your porridge it is,"Oscar said.

"Oscar, just stop," Travis said. "Both of you. You keep this shit up, you'll start yelling."

"All of you shut up, period," Kevin ordered in a harsh but quieted tone. "We're in enemy territory. I don't want to hear another peep out of any of you."

The two shared a final glare but followed Kevin's order and kept quiet. They searched the village and found civilians, but they didn't find German soldiers. Some were relieved while others, Kevin among them, found that to be highly suspicious. It was too quiet and the civilians were claiming the German soldiers had fled. Kevin suspected that wasn't true. There was no way that was true. They'd fought tooth and nail to keep Allied forces away from Paris. Why would they flee when said forces were getting so close? After searching the whole town and coming up with nothing, they were ordered that they could rest at that town. They set up camp for the time being with the plan to continue bright and early the next morning.

"Something's wrong," Kevin muttered when they'd been ordered to rest for the night.

"What do you mean?" Peta asked.

"It's too quiet," Kevin said. "Why would they flee? If they're goal is to hold Paris, why would they let us get closer and not fight us off?"

"What are you thinking?" Embry asked.

"I'm thinking they're trying to lull us. I think they're trying to catch us by surprise."

"What should we do?" Jae asked.

"Keep on alert," Kevin said. "Nathan, you and I will stay up and keep watch. Change if we have to, but we don't sleep tonight."

"Got it," Nathan agreed.

With his suspicions, Kevin kept his eyes wide open and his ears wide open. Nathan did the same. The moment he heard anything amiss, he'd raise the alarm. He made sure to appear as though he were resting. Nathan did the same. It was the dead of night by the time Kevin and Nathan heard what it was they were expecting. There was movement in the trees that were clearly bipedal. It wasn't an animal scurrying around or someone from the village. The footsteps were approaching. They were trying to ambush the Americans. Nathan overheard it too and the two looked at one another.

"Now what?" Nathan mouthed rather than said so they wouldn't be heard or suspected.

"I'll raise the alarm,"Kevin pushed the thought to Nathan's head. "Let me see if we can catch the Germans by surprise."

"Should we let them in?" Nathan mouthed the question silently.

"To a point," Kevin said. "Let's take down as many as we can. Don't let any of them go. They surrender, fine. But the rest die. Clear?" Nathan nodded and Kevin looked around again discreetly.

He could see them quietly sneaking in through the woods and he hears sounds of climbing up buildings. Snipers almost certainly. He memorized where he heard those snipers perch near them. He'd shoot them dead first. When it sounded like all the snipers were in position, Kevin quietly and discreetly lifted his gun near his hip, aimed, and began shooting each sniper with pinpoint accuracy. By the time the Germans realized they were caught and his infantry were wide awake and alert, ready to fight, the snipers were dead. With their position given away and with the men awake orders being shouted at them to fight, the Germans made an attempt to escape, but enough were shot and a battle ensued. Jae, Travis, Oscar, Embry and Peta were wide awake with the sound of Kevin's shooting and followed his lead, taking cover where they could and shooting down any German soldiers they came across.

"When you're right, you're fucking right!" Embry said when they first got into cover. Nathan and a few others were watching their backs and a few others were under cover with them.

"You knew about this?!" one soldier screamed.

"I knew there was no way they'd give up this position so easily!" Kevin yelled back. "Why the man in charge didn't realize that, I've no fucking idea! Enough talking, more shooting!"

Doing as ordered, they continued shooting and when it seemed like no one was coming in that direction anymore, Kevin ordered everyone in his company to move to a different point of cover, shooting as they went along. They found another point of cover while one of their own retrieved a Gatling gun and open fired on German soldiers, but that gunman was zeroed in and shot dead. When Kevin noticed, he looked around for the sniper that did so and, when he had the man, he shot the sniper down.

"They've got snipers out the fucking ass," Kevin muttered.

"I thought you got all of them," Embry said.

"I got all the ones near us," Kevin said. "Doesn't mean they aren't replacing the fuckers."

"Then keep shooting the birds from their perch," Nathan said and shot down another German soldier.

The battle lasted into the wee hours of the morning when they'd planned on leaving. Nearing the crack of dawn, they shot down the last of the Nazi soldiers before a handful surrendered. That number wasn't many, though. All the same, Kevin and Jae took a moment to question them. Out of the men they spoke to, only one had at one point been stationed at Auschwitz for a time and he didn't recognize Amber. He said, however, that he did recognize Levi. He'd said Levi was, evidently, a favorite of one of the camp superiors, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out why. That had been a year ago.

"So Levi's a favorite of someone?" Jae asked. "Good. Hopefully, that means he's alright."

"He only talked about Levi, though," Kevin said uncomfortably. "That doesn't tell me if Anna or Amber are safe or where they are."

"It's still a positive, Kevin," Jae said. "That's worth something." Eventually, Kevin nodded and left the POWs from the day to the mercy of those that were responsible for them.

They received their orders to keep pushing through to Paris and stayed on alert while they walked down the roads, over bridges and through some woods here and there. Jae and Nathan were sad they didn't get to be within the company that passed Versailles as they approached Paris, but the pushed through. In truth, even if they could have passed Versailles, they'd not have been able to enjoy it. Instead, they focused on marching to Paris and fighting any clutch of German soldiers they happened upon. They finally reached a larger town just outside Paris. The fighting had already begun with some troops having already reached the city. The German forces were fighting hard to keep the city by the sound of the bombings and gunfire.

"This is it, Kevin," Embry said as they marched. "Finally taking Paris."

"We'll worry about celebrating taking Paris once we've actually succeeded," Kevin said, staring forward.

Their hearts pounded as they pushed forward towards the line of action. Kevin and Nathan changed and kept their eyes peeled for any bullets heading their way. Eventually, they reached the battle with the telltale sign of some of their own being shot down and those that were spared ducking for cover wherever they could. Kevin and his group stayed together as they ran through the outskirts of Paris avoiding gunfire and bombs.

"Focus on fighting out way to Paris," Kevin said to the group. They'd found a section of town that was quieter hoping they might be able to sneak up on the enemy where they could. "If you see a German soldier, shoot him."

"Don't need to tell us twice," Embry patted Kevin's shoulder and, on his mark, they began the jump from point of cover to point of cover, ensuring they shot down any and all Nazis they came across. They continued to go from cover to cover until they took cover when they noticed a clutch of German soldiers that were running in their direction.

"Nathan and I will run out first," Kevin said. "He and I will get most of them down. Whoever we don't hit, the rest of you shoot."

He heard the nods and affirming grunts from the group and, when they were closer, Kevin and Nathan stepped out of cover first and just unloaded their guns on the group. Embry and the others did the same and started shooting. Once all the Nazis they'd come across were shot down, Kevin ordered everyone to start running, assuming the area was clear. He realized, however, they were not alone. He heard the slightest breath to his left from a higher vantage point than he'd think usual. He looked in the direction of the sniper he knew were there to his left and shot his gun. He hit the sniper in the head, relieving them of the threat, but then there was another sniper that Kevin overheard. He aimed ready shoot, but he was out of bullets. He heard the man's gun getting ready to shoot. They needed to get to cover.

"Run for cover!" Kevin yelled at his men and began to run for one of the damaged buildings where they could hide.

The gun went off, but it missed. Though the sniper didn't waste a single moment on the error. Kevin and Nathan were the first to reach cover with Peta and Oscar close behind. As the remainder of the group ran, Embry just barely reached cover before the gun went off again and, this time, there was a bloodcurdling scream that filled the air and they all looked to see Travis having rolled onto the ground from a bullet to his leg.

"Travis!" the yell came from Oscar and he tried to leave cover, but Peta grabbed him and forced Oscar back into cover. Jae turned back in a hurry and grabbed Travis without a second thought and practically dragged Travis with to their appointed cover. Trying to stay out of view of the sniper, those already under cover yelled for Jae and Travis to run and reach them.

Kevin could already hear the gun being reloaded by the time Jae and Travis finally reached the position and Jae practically tossed Travis into cover yelling, "Take him!"

His right foot stepped forward about to run for cover when the gun went off again. It only grabbed their attention when they heard the sound of the bullet hitting flesh and a surprised grunt. They all looked up and saw Jae standing there eerily still with a large red flow of blood oozing from his chest, right at his heart. He barely had time to realize what happened before Embry screamed Jae's name, only for a gun to go off again and that bullet going through Jae's neck, blood splashing from the wound and blood starting to collect in his mouth as he lost his footing and began falling forward.

"Jae!" Embry screamed and caught Jae while everyone else stared wide eyed, unable to believe what they just saw. "Jae!" Embry screamed again as he turned Jae over to assess the wounds. In a panic while Jae coughed from the blood that collected too quickly in his throat, Embry looked around at everyone as if they could help. Embry tried pressing his hands into the wound on Jae's chest to stop the bleeding, but the real damage was his drowning in his own blood. "Just stay with me, Jae! You can beat this, just stay with me!" Embry continued to scream as she tried in futile to combat Jae's bleeding. But the fact remained it was a futile effort. With terror and even tears in his eyes, his life, his children….his wife. Everyone flashing before his eyes as he felt the life drain from him as it became harder and harder to stay awake. Jae grabbed onto Embry's jacket looking up at him, his hands shaking and the terror in Jae's eyes causing Embry to very nearly freeze. He attempted speak, but all that came was a cough. "Jae, don't try to speak. Just stay with me!" Embry screamed again.

But it was over. He'd lost too much blood and his body just wasn't healing fast enough. Finally, after the struggle of not being unable to breath and losing blood, he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore and, ever so slowly as he tried desperately to fight, his eyes began to shut and, when they did, the grip he'd had on Embry's jacket had loosened and fell to the ground. They all stared on in horror. Oscar, who'd been focusing entirely on Travis and the injury he'd sustained to his leg, finally looked towards Jae and felt the sudden emptiness that filled the space. His heartbeat was the last thing to finally go, the weakened thud trying to fight through the bullet wound finally stopped and there was a deafening silence.

"Jae," Embry whimpered, shaking violently as he started lowering down over his brother's body. The grief overtook him and he cried. Really, truly, unashamedly cried. "Jae," Embry cried louder, the tears falling shamelessly from his eyes.

Nathan stared on, tears forming as well as he felt the loss like a strike to the heart. Yet the pain was replaced with rage. Hateful rage. He turned and left cover with Kevin screaming at him to get down when he realized what was happening. Nathan looked in the direction the bullets had come from and saw the sniper. Their eyes locked briefly and that moment seemed to fuel the anger Nathan felt. The sniper aimed and Nathan hid for cover again just in time for the bullet to narrowly miss hitting him right in the eye and, instead, hit the rubble stone within their hiding spot.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Kevin screamed. "Stay under cover!"

"I saw him," Nathan muttered cruelly.

"What?"

"I saw him," Nathan repeated. "I saw the fucker. I saw him with my own two fucking eyes."

"Eyes you lucky to still have you stupid ass! Stay under cover!" Kevin screamed again, but it was broken with Embry's lamenting cries.

Nathan looked at Jae again and was filled with a renewed crippling sorrow that was usurped by the rage again. The sniper's face. He remembered it vividly. Chiseled, light brown hair, pale skin, blue eyes. He committed the face to painstaking memory, even taking a deep breath in a desperate attempt to catch the man's scent. He had no way to be sure he'd found it, but he heard the man's heartbeat. Steady as a fucking rock. Somehow, that served only to fuel Nathan's bitter anger. The cries from Embry and, finally Peta, did even more. Peta had been so shocked. It took several moments to even believe their brother was really dead. But once it sank in, the realization left him inconsolable, just as Embry. Just as everyone would be once they heard the news. He'd not let this go Nathan thought. He'd make the man pay. Ruthlessly. They stayed under that cover, having no desire to move any further or any desire to force Embry or Peta forward. From what Nathan could tell, the sniper stayed at his perch. The bastard almost certainly could hear Embry's and now Peta's cries. He was waiting for one of them to make a mistake so he could shoot down another of them. And so, the waiting game commenced. By then, Travis' leg had healed completely since Oscar had helped remove the bullet, but there was no joy from him over it.

"He saved my life," Travis said, barely audible, as he started at Embry's back, the man hunched over Jae's body as though protecting it.

"As he would have done for any of us," Kevin said, also barely audible.

He wanted to offer Embry some semblance of comfort, but there was nothing he could do. An overwhelming guilt overtook him. It should have been him to go back for Travis. It should have been him. He was the one masquerading as a vampire at the moment. He was the impenetrable one. It should have been him. Were he in his normal form, the thoughts would have made him throw up. Travis was having very similar thoughts. He should have been faster. He should have kept up so no one would have needed to come back for him. He, unlike Kevin, did not have the luxury of the vampire strength to prevent his reflex and Travis turned his head, the contents of his stomach emptying, the memory of the pain from his leg and the guilt that weighed on him being too much to bear. Oscar stayed by Travis' side and rubbed his back while he vomited. A gesture that took Travis by surprise.

The battle raged on and they all stayed where they were, the sniper included. He was a patient mother fucker, Nathan thought. He'd give him that. Embry's and Peta's crying eventually calmed, but the two of them never left Jae's side, even as the heat left his body and he started to go hauntingly cold. Hours later, Kevin could hear the gunfire die down and it became clear that the battle was over. Whether they'd won't or not he wasn't sure as of yet. He told everyone to stay under cover while he found another way out of their enclosure and, upon finding an exit, ran through town to find out what was going on. He found that the Allies had taken the day and Paris was liberated. They'd won the battle. Kevin returned to the group and told everyone the news, but no one celebrated. For them, it was a hollow victory.

"We need to get to the city," Kevin said. "Embry, can you carry Jae?"

Embry only nodded, finally lifting himself off Jae only to pick him up and start carrying him in his arms. They all retreated to go into the city. All except Nathan. He listed and knew the sniper was still there. He'd started leaving his post. Likely attempting to flee or perhaps unaware the Allies had won the day. Nathan discreetly stepped back away while the others moved forward and, as fast as possible, reached the other building where the sniper had been perched. He snuck in and could hear the quiet footsteps of the sniper. He looked around hoping to find rope or something but he didn't find any. He'd just use his bare hands then. Nathan laid his back against the wall listening for the sniper but realized he wasn't coming down. Not by any of the stairwells anyway. He seemed to be going to another window. So Nathan left the wall and went up to the same floor as the sniper, listening for him and sneaking through the hallways to find him. The sound of Nathan's footsteps were inaudible as he ghosted down the halls. He finally found the room where the sniper and repositioned himself. More appropriately, he was cleaning his gun, completely unaware of Nathan's presence. His back was to the wall so he could see the doorway where Nathan hid. He'd have to be fast.

Delving for the kill so to speak, Nathan ran into the room and was before the sniper by the time the man had even realized Nathan was in the room. Nathan grabbed the sniper's discarded jacket and used it as a makeshift rope, wrapping one sleeve around the man's throat and making a tight knot. All the sniper could do was try to grab his fingers between his neck and the fabric so he could breathe after Nathan kicked away his gun. Once the man was tied, Nathan took hold of the other sleeve and dragged the sniper to a window and threw him over the parapet to hang to death. Nathan held onto the sleeve and listened as the sniper chocked and gasped for air. Nathan stared down and watched as the man struggled, content to let this be the end of it. But as his struggle began to lesson, Nathan decided he was unsatisfied and pulled the man back up through the window. The sniper was alive, but barely conscious.

"No," Nathan muttered. "That's too fucking easy."

The sniper might have protested, but Nathan kicked the man across the face ensuring he fully lost consciousness. Once he was so, Nathan untied the coat and instead used it to tie the man's hands behind his back and tossed him over his shoulder to carry the man back. On the other side of town, Kevin and the others were making their way into Paris proper with Jae cold in Embry's arms. They were all dead silent as though it were a funeral procession and not a victory march. For them, the former was just that. Kevin didn't turn to look at the group until they'd finally reached the city and only then did he finally notice something.

"Where the fuck is Nathan?" Kevin asked with the rage bubbling up in his throat. They all looked behind them, just as surprised.

"He was behind us when we left," Travis spoke up.

"Well, he isn't now," Kevin muttered. "The rest of you get into town. Embry, we'll find a crematorium once I get back so we can send Jae's ashes home. I'll go look for Nathan."

Embry nodded weakly, looking down at his brother again feeling another shiver go down his spine. Kevin went back the way they came and say Nathan halfway back. Then he saw the German soldier he carried. Once Nathan was close, Kevin's previous anger was replaced with curiosity.

"Who's this?"

"The sniper," Nathan said. "I thought you might want to question him."

"Indeed I would," Kevin said, the rage returning but redirected to their unconscious assailant.

"Once you've gotten what you wanted out of him, I'll deal with him," Nathan said with a cruel, angry tone in his voice. It scared even Kevin.

"Let's find somewhere quiet," Kevin finally said and they went to one of the warehouses that appeared partially damaged but remained intact.

They located a room within the first floor of the building that had a dirty table in it, but there was no chair. Kevin looked for and found one that was barely staying on its feet but it would do and Nathan got the man seated. Once situated, he went ahead and untied the man's hands. It wasn't as though he'd be able to get away from them. Nathan looked at Kevin briefly to make sure he was ready. When Kevin nodded, Nathan shook the sniper a moment to wake him. He seemed to be coming to, but he took too long. So Nathan slapped the man across the face telling him to wake up in a harsh tone, finally bringing the man to. He was disoriented and confused, but Kevin didn't care to give the man time to recoup.

"Do you speak English?" Kevin asked, not in a mood to bother with any other language.

"Who's asking?" the sniper said flippantly and Nathan hit the sniper over the head.

"You're in no position to be cute, asshole," Nathan hissed.

"Quite the contrary," the sniper said. "I'm about to die. I can think of no better time to be 'cute' as you put it."

"Let me rephrase," Nathan said. "How quickly you die will depend entirely on your cooperation. Continue being cute, and you'll pay for die a very slow death. Clear?" The man didn't answer, so Kevin proceeded.

"I'm trying to find my Fiancé. Her name is Amber Dymek."

"The name isn't familiar," the sniper said.

"Perhaps her face is," Kevin said and pulled out his picture of Amber and her parents in front of their shop, placing it on the table. "Familiar now?" The soldier appeared to contemplate, but he said nothing. "One soldier we spoke to had her bracelets. Said his brother had sent them to him. Said he'd been a guard at a camp in Auschwitz."

Rather suddenly, the sniper started to chuckle a little, "Auschwitz you say? Forget her than, American."

"She's still alive. I know she is," Kevin said adamantly. "And if you know anything then tell me."

The sniper huffed and looked at the picture again, this time for a long moment. Then, awareness and a mean smile crossed his face. "Ah, yes. I remember her now."

"You saw her at Auschwitz?"

"Last I saw that girl, she was being put on a train to be transferred," the sniper said.

"Transferred where?" Kevin asked.

"Hell if I know," the sniper said. "It's the strangest thing. We collected a few Jews for disposal and this one…..this one fought back. Rather admirable I must say. You see, we'd put the lot of them in these gas chambers. We were dying to test them out, but the bitch broke down the door. By herself no less from what we could tell." The sniper noticed Kevin's gaze sharpen with each detail. The sniper found it rather amusing. "We tried to reprimand her but she hit her guard clear across the face. Near broke the poor bastard's jaw. She has a mean punch, this girl. Then we shot her as we would with any of them. But the most amazing thing happened: she got back up. So we shot her again. But she got back up. Two more bullets in her and yet she still got back up. Fascinating, wouldn't you agree?"

"Where is she?" Kevin hissed cruelly.

"Like I said," the sniper said. "Last I saw her, she was being put on a train to be transferred. Broke poor Commander Schneider's heart to send her away. The Jew became a frequent favorite of his. Fascinating what a Jew will do to take attention from its mother." Suddenly, Kevin grabbed the man by the hair and slammed his head into the table, breaking the table clean in half and leaving a gush of blood flowing from the sniper's head. Keeping his hold in the man's hair, Kevin forced him to look up at him.

"Where is she?!" Kevin yelled.

"I've answered your questions, American," the sniper said. "I only know she was transferred to an appropriate testing facility."

"What the fuck does that mean?" Kevin hissed.

"Exactly how it sounds," the sniper said. "Like I said: the bitch wouldn't die. Might be interesting to find out what makes such a thing possible. Don't you agree?" Kevin's hand shook in the man's hair as he glared at him. Finally, he let go of the man, tossing his head aside and nearly off the chair, but he stayed upright.

"Was there anything else you wanted to ask him?" Nathan said.

"No," Kevin said. Then, suddenly once again, he pulled out Nathan's gun from his hip and shot the man clear between the legs. The scream filled the air while the sniper fell over in pain and Kevin handed Nathan back the gun. "I'm done with him. I don't care what you do. I'm going to locate a crematorium. We'll wait to proceed until you're back. It's all we can offer him before we send him home." Kevin finally left and by the time he did, the sniper was no longer screaming, but he was still very clearly in pain.

"Alone at last," Nathan said and walked a little closer to the sniper. He pulled out the sniper's knife he wore – a Hitler Youth knife – and used it to guide the man's chin upward so they were looking at one another. "I should probably make a little confession. I'd not intended to make this quick for you. That's too fucking good for you."

"What a shame," he answered sarcastically.

"You're awfully brazen for a man that just lost his cock," Nathan said.

"When you're about to die, it matters not," the sniper said.

"I suppose that's true," Nathan said. "Of course, that doesn't mean I can't make your trip to Hell a gruesome one. Serves you right for what you did."

"What? Shooting down an enemy soldier? I've done so hundreds of times. Your little friend was no one special."

"See, that's where you're wrong," Nathan said. "You see, you didn't just kill any enemy soldier. You killed my brother in arms. You killed the father of my nephews and niece. You widowed my sister. You killed my best friend."

"I have killed many fathers, husbands, brothers and best friends," the sniper answered. "And I'd do it again were it commanded of me."

"Oh, I don't foresee that last one being a problem anymore," Nathan said. "You're missing my point, though. You killed MY best friend. My brother in law."

"And what makes you so fucking special?" the sniper said.

"The fact that I could hunt you down. As you can see: I have. I can make you pay for what you did. And I intend to."

"You won't," the sniper barely managed a light, condescending laugh, but the pain in his groin prevented it. "If you planned to, you'd have done so. If you do intend to kill me, I suggest you get the fuck on with it."

"I thought you'd never ask," Nathan said.

As Kevin left the room and warehouse, his first order of business was to locate the others. Eventually, Travis and Oscar were the first he found. They approached one another and Travis was the first to speak.

"Did you find Nathan?" Travis asked.

"I did," Kevin said. "Nathan went looking for the sniper that shot Jae." There was an eerie silence that passed between them as palpable tension filled the air.

"Did he find him?" Travis finally asked and, as though to give an answer, screams rang in the distance.

"We did," Kevin finally said.

"And…..did he know anything? I assume you questioned him?"

"He said he recognized Amber and last he'd seen her, they'd stuck her on a train to be transferred."

"Where?" Travis asked.

"He didn't know," Kevin muttered and felt his blood boil. "She's not at Auschwitz." His hands went up into his hair and he tugged at the roots in frustration. "We're back to square one," he barely uttered.

"Kevin, don't worry. We'll find her," Travis said. Despite the reassurance, the events of the day and the news he'd just received became too overwhelming and made Kevin fall to his knees. Travis went down beside him, his leg long since healed, and placed a hand on Kevin's shoulder while he broke down and cried.

"Where is she?" Kevin asked no one in particular.

"Kevin, we'll find her," Travis said. "I promise we will. At best, this is a temporary setback. We'll find out where she is."

"She can't afford any more setbacks, Travis," Kevin said.

"We have some more prisoners of war we can talk to," Travis urged. "I'll bet you anything one of them might know where she is or have an idea. We'll talk to all of them and we'll find out where she is. Don't worry, Kevin. We'll figure this out." Travis could see Kevin wasn't convinced, but he regained control and stood all the same, rubbing his eyes until the streaks were gone leaving only the red puffy remnants.

"How are Peta and Embry?" Kevin finally asked.

"They found a funeral home in town that has a crematorium," Travis said. "The undertaker said he'd perform a service for us free of charge. Embry asked him to wait until we were all there."

"Alright," Kevin said. "You two wait for Nathan. I'm going to find a superior."

"About what?" Travis asked.

"There's something I have to do," Kevin said and walked away without any further elaboration.

The screams from before had slightly dissipated, but it seemed to be only due to muffling. Doing as Kevin ordered, Travis and Oscar went in the direction Kevin had come. Their pace was slow largely due to the dread of what they might see based on those screams they'd heard.

"Travis," Oscar said and Travis looked at him.

"What?" Travis said.

"Don't ever do that to me again," Oscar said.

"Do what?" Travis asked.

"You could have died today," Oscar said. "Scared the shit out of me. Don't do that again."

"Sure. I'll make a note of that," Travis said sarcastically, the event replaying in his head again. He remembered that sharp, unbearable pain from the bullet to his leg. Even having healed, he could still feel it. It had been the scariest moment of his life.

"Don't give me an attitude," Oscar said. They were silent as they continued, but then a realization hit Travis. He almost died that day. He'd pussyfooted around Oscar in a vain attempt to cater to him with the hope that, one day, he'd finally start to actually care for him. Yet, today, he could have died and done so having never told Oscar the truth.

"I love you, Oscar," Travis finally admitted. "The Quileute wolves imprint and that's what I did with you. I loved you the moment I saw you. I didn't tell you because I wanted to win your love in return on your terms. It just occurred to me I nearly died without ever having told you that. So there. I love you, Oscar. Take it or leave it."

"Such a romantic," Oscar said.

"Now who's giving me attitude?" Travis said and was stopped when Oscar's hand landed firmly on Travis' shoulder and forced Travis to face him.

"Don't mistake me, Travis," Oscar said, discarding his English altogether. "Were circumstances between us normal, perhaps things would be different. You need to understand something. My lover of nearly thirty years was killed before my eyes by my own father. If you're hoping I'll get over such a thing just for you, then you're out of your mind."

"I only said I love you, Oscar. Though rest assured I wonder why every day since we met,"Travis pulled away. He regretted what he'd said, but he was so frustrated.

"So have I, kid,"Oscar said. "But I'm grateful for it." That stopped Travis in his tracks and he turned to look at Oscar again. Oscar walked closer but kept a reasonable enough distance. They were, after all, still out in the open. "I'm sorry. Alright? For everything I've said and how I've been. And I'm sorry it took nearly losing you today to realize how highly I think of you."

"But not love?"

"I'm not ready to love, Travis,"Oscar said. "Whether that makes sense to you or not, that's the truth of the matter. I may love you in the way you're saying, but I can't love you the way you need or the way you're asking of me."

"And what is it, exactly, that you say I'm asking for?"

"A partner,"Oscar said. "Someone that will be by your side through thick and thin. I've been there already and it nearly killed me. I can't do it again."

"So you'd rather avoid it?"

"I'd rather enjoy what we have while it lasts,"Oscar said bluntly. "We'll steal our moments and we'll have our time together, but once this war is over, I'm staying in the army. I will serve until my retirement. Perhaps longer even. Who knows? But I have no intention of going back home for a very long time. I'd prefer to keep you as a fond memory. As someone that helped me through a hard time in my life."

"So I'm expendable to you?"Travis said.

"No,"Oscar said. "You're one in a million. And I'll always remember you as such."

Travis didn't speak as he didn't really know what to say. He'd never been complimented and simultaneously torn to shreds in his life. He was taken from his trance when they heard a door open and then slam shut in the distance. Moments later, they saw Nathan walking out of the warehouse covered in blood. It was everywhere. It was on his shoes, his pants, his jacket, his hands, even on his face in spray patterns. It was a horrifying site and Travis went wide eyed.

"What happened?" Travis nearly squeaked when Nathan finally reached them.

"I 'dispatched' the sniper; to use his choice of words," Nathan said. "Where's Kevin?"

"He…..he said he needed to take care of something. He said he was going to find a superior."

"Ah," Nathan said. "I'll leave him to it then. Where's Embry and Peta?"

"They're at the crematorium. The undertaker said he'd perform the service for free," Travis managed.

"Very generous," Nathan mumbled. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and asked them to tell him where the crematorium was. Once Travis had given directions, Nathan made his request. "I need to get into a clean uniform. Do me a favor and take care of the sniper. Let's see if anything will grow with him underneath."

With that chilling statement, Nathan walked away holding the picture of Amber and her parents that Kevin had left in his rage. It would have blood smeared on it, but Amber's face and the faces of her parents remained clean. Travis and Oscar watched after him a few minutes before finally continuing to the warehouse. Travis smelled the blood the moment they entered the warehouse and nervously followed the smell to a room with the door ajar. Travis was about to approach first, but Oscar stepped ahead of him and glanced into the door.

"Fuck," was all he said as he backed away.

"What?" Travis asked nervously. Oscar was quiet, so Travis tried to approach, but Oscar stopped him.

"Don't go in there," Oscar said.

"Oscar, I'm in the man's head often times," Travis said. "I'll see it eventually. May as well get it over with now."

Travis pushed passed Oscar and went to the door opening it the rest of the way. What he saw horrified him and he had to back away. The man, the sniper, was unrecognizable as human, at least facially. There was so much blood everywhere covering the man, the chair in which, the broken in half table, the floor and the walls. It made all the injuries impossible to see.

"You go back," Oscar said. "I'll deal with this." Travis couldn't move as Oscar went into the room and used the man's jacket to cover his face and got ready to carry the body somewhere to dispose of. "What are you doing? I said go back. I'll deal with this guy. I'll meet you when he's gone."

"What are you going to do?" Travis said.

"What Nathan asked us to. Dispose of him," Oscar said and walked past Travis with the body over his shoulder.

Travis eventually left the warehouse, but only after spending a few minutes dry heaving. He had nothing left in him to expel and he was light headed from the gruesome site still vivid in his mind. He eventually returned to the crematorium where everyone else was. The undertaker, in his best English, led Travis to a wake room where everyone was with Jae's body. The undertaker had been kind to say the least. There were even a few flowers on the table where a coffin would typically be. Instead, it was only Jae's body atop the usual table. He looked so pale compared to his normal self and Travis felt himself feeling ill all over again. He walked over to Jae's body and put his hand on Jae's shoulder, tempted to shake him and force him awake as though he were joking. But he wasn't. He was gone.

"How are we going to tell mom?" Peta whimpered, sitting beside Embry on the pew.

"Just by telling her," Embry mumbled.

"Where's Oscar?" Nathan asked.

"He's…..taking care of that thing for you."

"Good," Nathan said, but somehow the anger from before seemed to have died down. By now, Nathan was just upset. "Once we've burned his body, we can send his ashes home. He may have died away from home, but he won't be put to rest away from home." His voice trailed off the more he spoke until he was silent again.

Kevin, in the meantime, was on the other side of the city where the base headquarters were being temporarily set up. He found the officer in charge, or one of the higher ups, and waited for an audience with the man. He was hoping his position as a Sergeant would be enough to accomplish what he wanted. Eventually, he got an audience with one of the Lieutenants and they met in a fancy room that had been cleaned up just for them. The citizens of Paris were delighted with the liberation.

"What is it you wanted to speak about, Sgt. Black?" the Lieutenant asked.

"I wanted to make a recommendation. One of our own has fallen in the line of battle this morning," Kevin said.

"Not one, Sergeant, though I'd gladly take just one," the Lieutenant said. "We lost many brave men today."

"Yes, sir," Kevin said, "however…a young man in my company specifically was killed. He died risking his life for another. Corporal Reid was shot in the leg by a sniper and Corporal Dauer went after him. Corporal Reid escaped with his life, but Corporal Dauer did not." Kevin was silent a moment trying to ensure he remained professional.

"Corporal Dauer?" the Lieutenant repeated the name, knowing it instantly. "He's fallen?"

"Yes, sir," Kevin said.

"I see," the Lieutenant said. "I've become rather familiar with the man through word of mouth. I'm told he was well loved by the men."

"To know him was to love him, sir," Kevin said.

"And what was it you were requesting?" the Lieutenant said. "Naturally, he'll earn the Purple Heart, just as all men who have been wounded or killed in the line of action."

"And it's greatly appreciated, sir," Kevin said. "However, I'm of the opinion he deserves an additional recognition. He died saving another man's life. I'd say he's earned a Medal of Honor." To that, the Lieutenant wasn't quite so eager.

"The Medal of Honor is a prestigious award, Sgt. Black," the Lieutenant said. "It's reserved for those that go above and beyond the call of duty."

"Jae braved a sniper's wrath to save another," Kevin said. "I'd say that's warranting of prestige."

"That's one man, Sgt. Black. When you won your medal, it was because you had saved countless for braving grenades in your hands throwing them back to the enemy and saving the lives of two of your commanding officers. That is above and beyond."

"I'm not talking about my medal sir and I'll gladly give it to Jae if it's the only way he will receive what he rightly deserves, but I firmly believe his bravery should be noted by everyone. We lost a hero today, sir. Please allow me to send my family proof of his bravery."

The Lieutenant pondered a moment and eventually sighed. "Consider it done," he said.

"Thank you, sir," Kevin said and saluted. The Lieutenant reciprocated. "We're going to cremate his body and send his ashes back. Might it be possible to send those medals at the same time?"

"I'll make the arrangements," the Lieutenant said. "Just tell me when you're sending the ashes back and I'll make it happen."

"Thank you, sir," Kevin said. "This means the world to me."

"It'll mean the world to everyone who knew him I'm sure," the Lieutenant agreed and Kevin finally left and returned to the crematorium.

Oscar was there by the time Kevin returned and let them know Jae's ashes would be sent home with a Purple Heart and a Medal of Honor. Word had spread of Jae's death because about twenty minutes after Kevin got to the crematorium, a lone soldier Kevin barely remembered from their time in London stepped into the room.

"Is it true?" the man asked as he approached, but he got his answer when he saw Jae's body. It seemed to weigh heavily on the man's shoulders. "I didn't want to believe it."

"We'll be burning his body tomorrow if you'd like to join us for a makeshift funeral. We'll send his ashes home with a Purple Heart and Medal of Honor."

"This will kill his wife and children," the man said. "The way he spoke of them…they'll be devastated."

"JJ especially," Embry mumbled and then rubbed his face, fresh tears coming force. "Sweet Christ, this is going to kill JJ."

"Is there anything I can do?" the man asked. "I…I'm not married. I've been keeping my pay when I get it. I can send my pay his widow's way at least once."

"Thank you, but we'll take care of it," Nathan said. "I'll be talking to the higher ups about sending my pay right to Natalie."

"Me too," Embry said.

"I will too," Peta said. The man looked at everyone and then back to Jae. He placed his hand on Jae's shoulder and shivered.

"He'll be missed," the man said. "Would you mind if a few of us came to that funeral tomorrow? There aren't a whole lot of us still alive that remember Corporal Dauer like myself, but there are plenty who would want to pay their respects."

"That would be very kind, thank you," Embry managed. The man nodded and finally left the room leaving them all alone with one another.

"Can I speak to you alone a moment, Embry?" Kevin asked. Embry nodded and the rest of the group left the room so Kevin and Embry could talk. Kevin sat beside Embry on the pew looking forward at Jae. "I'm sorry."

"We all knew….." Embry attempted to be tough and say they all knew the risks of coming to war, but he couldn't verbalize it.

"Knowing doesn't make it easier," Kevin said weakly.

"Don't' start blaming yourself for this, Kevin," Embry said.

"How can I not?" Kevin asked. "I should have never let them all come. I should never have let you all risk your lives."

"We chose to, Kevin," Embry managed. "Jae chose to just the same as the rest of us. You didn't force us to come or ask us to. We offered and we signed up. You have nothing to be sorry about."

"It still should have been me to go after Travis," Kevin said. "Me or Nathan. Then we would have all gotten out of this alive."

"Stop it, Kevin," Embry said. "My brother's dead. Playing should have, could have, would have won't solve a fucking thing." Kevin was silent at that and Embry was too for a while. Eventually, Embry started to cry again but silently this time. Kevin sat closer and placed a hand on Embry's back.

"We all loved him, Embry," Kevin mumbled. "Not a day will go by that we don't miss him."

"It hurts so much," Embry said.

"I know," Kevin said. "I know," Kevin repeated in a soothing tone and started to rock Embry back and forth while he started to cry again.

As promised, arrangements were made to have Jae's body cremated the following morning. It was overwhelming how many people ended up attending the cremation. Even the Lieutenant that Kevin had reached out to about the medals had made an appearance. Several hours later, the undertaker collected Jae's ashes, having burned everything that had been on his person including his watch that Hailey had given him, his family pictures and the map – the one with all the camps marked – were all burned. Kevin had already checked the map to see if he could salvage it but it was covered in blood. The undertaker put the ashes in a box that was tightly secured and handed it to Embry. The Lieutenant stopped Kevin and let him know the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart for Jae were requested and that they'd be delivered with his ashes for which Kevin thanked him adamantly. When they had Jae's ashes, Embry looked at Kevin.

"Should…should we change and tell the pack?"

"I don't know," Kevin said. "Would it make this hurt less telling them now rather than finding out when they receive his ashes?"

"No," Embry said.

"I say let them find out when his ashes are delivered," Peta said. "If we tell them now, they'll have to live this twice."

"I agree," Travis said while Nathan said nothing.

"We'll not shift then," Kevin said. He looked down at the box with Jae's dog tags secured around it. He still couldn't wrap his mind around it. "There'll be a parade soon to celebrate the liberation."

"Fuck the parade," Embry muttered. "I've no desire to celebrate."

"None of us do, but we'll be required to attend," Kevin said. Though reluctant, they all nodded in acknowledgement.

They made the arrangements for Jae's ashes to be sent back and it was a shock to Embry how hard it was to let go of those ashes. Kevin had to force them from him. As they were expected, they participated in the march through the Arch of Triumph in a symbolic march. Civilians cheered and welcomed them while tanks went down the road with stars up front and foot soldiers marching with the music playing. Flowers were thrown at them and there were a handful of the men that received grateful kisses on the cheek from ladies they passed. Yet for Kevin and the others, it felt hollow and undeserved. Several weeks passed since that day and the news of the Liberation of Paris flooded the newspapers. The papers exalted the brave men that had fought and won the day for Paris and for the Allied powers. Yet with it came mothers and wives receiving news their sons were dead and that they fought bravely. When no such letter reached them and with Jacob not having heard from the boys in months, they hoped for the best. Mid-September, Hailey and Leah were in the shop assisting a young woman with her purchases when two men in uniforms entered the shop. When Hailey saw them, his heart stopped. He saw the box they held with an envelope atop it and another holding a folded American flag.

"How can I help you?" Hailey asked while Leah and the woman in the shop looked on.

"We're told you're Mr. Dauer? Might you take us to the Quileutes?"

"Who was it?" Hailey couldn't help but ask.

"Corporal Jae Dauer, sir," the man on the right answered and Hailey nearly fell over while Leah and the other looked horrified.

"Jae?" the woman asked.

"His company was able to have his body cremated. We have his ashes here for his widow and a gift we were told was to go to Corporal Dauer's eldest son."

"I'll show you to the tribe," Hailey barely managed. "Miss Kathy, would you do me a favor and let everyone in town know? Leah and I are closing shop for the day. I'm rather sure the funeral will be tomorrow so the store will be closed tomorrow too."

"Of course," Kathy said and left the shop to spread the terrible news.

Hailey and Leah followed the two soldiers outside who'd brought their own car. Hailey sat up front with the soldier driving and led the way to the tribe. The Cullens were at the beach with everyone undertaking a school lesson. Edward was walking the children through a math course when he stopped speaking suddenly and started looking in the direction of the woods.

"Grandpa Edward, what's the matter?" Nesia asked Edward. Edward looked down at Nesia. Were he human, he'd have broken down into tears upon looking at the little girl. Then he looked around for everyone else. JJ and Salem were in a separate lesson with Renesmee who was teaching the older children. At the moment they were discussing science.

"Class is dismissed for the day," Edward said and stood to go to Renesmee, but the car was already approaching and Renesmee saw it. Everyone's attention was directed at that car as it approached. When Hailey and Leah stepped out with two soldiers in tow, Renesmee started shaking.

"Oh, dear God, no," Renesmee began to whimper. Jacob, overhearing the car, stepped out of his parents' tent to see what was going on, Sara and William looking out.

"Jacob, what's going on?"Sara asked.

"Stay here," Jacob answered and ran towards the soldiers, his heart racing. His first thought was they were here about Kevin or Nathan or Kyle. Renesmee was already running towards the group as was Caevia, Embry, Natalie, all the siblings, JJ, Salem and, when it was explained who these men were, Nesia. Ada María and Ariel ran forward fearing the soldiers were there about Nathan. Scarlet feared the same as she came. "Who was it?" Jacob asked, having reached the men first and everyone was still approaching. The soldier holding the ashes handed them over to Jacob with the envelope on top and then handed over a folded American Flag.

"Corporal Jae Dauer," he answered and Jacob's breath seized in his throat. The group finally reached his side.

"Jacob," Renesmee whimpered trying to ask, but then she saw the dog tag and began to cry. Then she looked right at Natalie. Noticing her mother's stare, Natalie looked back to the soldiers.

"Are you Mrs. Dauer?" the soldier asked. Natalie managed to nod, but she was shaking. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Dauer, but your husband was killed in the Liberation of Paris."

"No," Natalie barely uttered and fell to her knees. Caevia looked forward at the soldiers as a pain overtook her that she'd not felt in over 100 years. She'd not felt like this since her daughters were forced from her arms to be thrown from the Pedestal.

"Who among you is the eldest son to Corporal Dauer?" one of the soldiers asked. JJ didn't answer. Sharisa couldn't speak. She felt herself getting lightheaded and the other siblings were just in shock. Embry managed to have enough control to point out JJ. Once pointed out, the soldier took the envelope and held it out to JJ. He eventually took it, opened it, and saw the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart. "We were given strict instructions by a Sgt. Black that those were to go to you. Your father fought bravely and earned that Medal of Honor."

"How?" Embry spoke up in a barely composed voice. "What happened?"

"A man in his company was shot in the leg by a sniper. We were told the name of the soldier was Corporal Reid. He went back to save Reid and was shot in the heart and throat. Corporal Dauer died a hero, sir."

Natalie looked up at the box Jacob was holding and finally stood up to take the box from him and clutch the ashes to her chest as she sobbed. The sight was the hardest thing Jacob ever had to see in his life. JJ stared at his father's medals while Salem and Nesia went right to their mother crying right beside her.

"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Dauer," one soldier said. "Do you wish to return with us?"

"We'll stay here," Hailey said. They nodded and left Hailey and Leah with the family and drove off. Hailey looked up at Embry and felt himself go sick to his stomach. "That boy was like a son to me," he said and tears filled his eyes. "I love him like a son."

"I know," Embry mumbled. Caevia went to her knees, taking the flag from Jacob as if desperate to hold onto something and cried right alongside Natalie, Salem and Nesia. JJ was still wide eyed and staring at the medals. He didn't believe it. Refused to even. Hailey went to JJ.

"Your father earned those," Hailey reassured. "I'll get a frame for the flag and those medals so you'll always have them."

"This isn't real," JJ mumbled with his voice going up an octave. "My dad can't be dead."

"I'm sorry, JJ," Hailey said. He took JJ into a hug and he felt JJ shaking. "I'm so sorry."

"My dad's not dead," JJ said stubbornly, but Hailey shook his head.

"I'm sorry, JJ," Hailey repeated.

"No!" JJ screamed and pushed Hailey away. JJ finally started crying, threw the medals into the dirt and ran away. Everyone looked after him and then at one another.

"I'll go after him," Embry said and went after JJ. JJ ran until he reached the cliff where everyone would cliff dive when the weather was good. He sat over the edge and started crying. That was what Embry saw when he caught up and then approached his grandson, sitting beside him over the edge. "JJ," Embry said.

"Why?!" JJ said. "Why did this happen?" JJ cried. Embry didn't have an answer and somehow that made everything worse. He pulled JJ to him and held the teen close. JJ fought momentarily but he eventually relented and held Embry back and kept crying. "I want my dad," JJ cried, feeling like a child.

"I know," Embry said, rocking the boy back and forth. "Just let it out, JJ. We're all here for you."

"I want my dad," JJ repeated and cried harder. This time, Embry said nothing and kept rocking JJ back and forth as though he were a little baby again.

Word of Jae's death spread like wildfire as well as the news that a funeral would be the next day. Hailey and Leah remained at the tribe over night with the family to grieve. Embry and JJ eventually returned and when he did, Salem came over and handed JJ the medals. JJ accepted them and clutched them as though they were a lifeline. Natalie was still holding the box of Jae's ashes crying. Ada María sat beside Natalie saying nothing. She only rubbed her back in comfort. She'd never met Jae, yet the pain of his loss seemed to seep into her. Though she'd be lying if there wasn't an overwhelming relief it wasn't Nathan. Yet it still came to her mind that next time it could be. With that thought, she pulled Ariel into her lap and just held him. Natalie and the children remained at Jacob's and Renesmee's house for the night as did Leah and Hailey. Natalie still wasn't letting go of the box with Jae's ashes. Embry went to get Rae and Toroeh to let them know what happened. He managed to get them and Wren to the Quileute tribe, but Rae was inconsolable. When they finally arrived, she went right to Sharisa and the two sobbed.

There was no need for a pyre so Renesmee would perform the ceremonial prayers before tossing Jae's ashes from their box and let the wind carry them away, releasing his soul per their traditions. Natalie only released Jae's ashes to Renesmee when it was time to proceed with the funeral. As they were getting things ready that morning and everyone gathered at the shore, they noticed a huge group of people dressed in black approaching the tribe with flowers in hand and even food. Damn near the whole town of Forks had come to the funeral. Renesmee waited while the large group came to the beach and sat down behind everyone else, some carrying their crosses while most just held food or flowers. Mr. Pence and his wife were there and they were holding a triangular deep set frame for Jae's flag. It was very touching to see so many people present and to that so many people had cared for him. Hailey was trying not to cry, but often times his face was in his hand with Leah holding the other, resting on his shoulder.

Renesmee looked at Natalie and the children before proceeding. Tears kept flowing down her cheeks, but Natalie otherwise just stared at the sand with Nesia in her arms, the little girl crying in Natalie's shoulder. Salem and JJ were crying too. JJ was holding the Purple Heart and Medal of Honor, looking at them from time to time and just crying more. Eventually, Renesmee proceeded with the funeral rights. Jasper was kind enough to keep her emotions in check while she proceeded. Had he not, the sight of her daughter, her grandchildren, Caevia and Embry and all their children and grandchildren, Marcus and Aidetzi with their children, all of them crying would have made proceeding too hard. She said the proper prayers and did something extra. She burned several sprigs of lavender. He might not be a medicine man, but he was certainly special and deserving of recognition. After she said all the prayers and had burned the lavender, Renesmee unsealed the box with Jae's ashes and added the burned lavender. She said one more prayer and then looked around at everyone, the tear streaked faces nearly too much for her to bear. Finally, she took a deep breath and threw Jae's ashes into the air and, as if nature knew, a gust of wind swooped in and blew the ashes away. There was a renewed fit of sorrow with Jae's ashes being surrendered, especially from Natalie and the children. It meant he was really gone.

"Natalie," Mr. Pence said to Natalie after people started to disperse a little and make known their offerings of food and speaking with the family offering their condolences. Natalie looked up and saw Mr. Pence and his wife. Mr. Pence held the frame. "I just want to say that we're all so very sorry about Jae." Mr. Pence actually choked up a bit. "That man was…..well, he was loved very much by the lot of us."

"Thank you, Mr. Pence," Natalie managed and held Nesia close. "That really means a lot."

"I know one of the things you were given was his flag, so I wanted to offer you this frame for it. It's already the right shape and so long as the flag is still folded it'll fit right in."

"Thank you, Mr. Pence," Natalie managed.

"Mr. Pence?" JJ asked and looked up at the man. Then he stood so he could see the medals. "Might it be possible to put dad's medals in there too?"

"Oh, my Lord," Mrs. Pence said when she saw the medals and cried harder. Mr. Pence patted her back.

"Oh no, my dear boy. Those deserve their own case," Mr. Pence said. "I'll have one for you by tomorrow. I'll even help you hang the flag frame and his medals."

"Thank you, sir," JJ managed and started crying again.

"I'm very sorry, JJ. For all of you. Jae was a good man. I wish with all my heart this hadn't happened, but you and your own can come to us for anything at all. If you need anything, you're welcome to ask."

"Thank you, Mr. Pence," JJ whimpered. Salem stood and accepted the flag frame before Mr. and Mrs. Pence walked away rubbing their eyes.

With all the people from Forks that arrived, there was plenty of food to go around and everyone ate together and talked about Jae. Natalie was quiet through those discussions. She'd smile a little sometimes if anyone brought up a particularly fond memory, but it never lasted. The sting was too much to sustain a smile for long. JJ and the others remained either with Natalie or with Embry who did his best to comfort them while comforting Caevia at the same time. Someone went to Natalie's house and brought back a picture of Jae in his uniform and started passing it around. Natalie didn't care for the gesture but said nothing. She only kept the picture of Jae in her arms along with the flag once it finally reached her. Mr. Pence kindly helped get the flag into the frame for her, though she insisted the flag would stay with her. The medals would be JJ's but the flag she would keep. Natalie eventually excused herself from the group by now simply wishing to be alone, taking the flag and picture with her. When she returned to the house and looked toward their living room, pictures of Jae were everywhere. Pictures of the two of them during their wedding, pictures of them together with their children, Jae in his uniform and even one he'd sent them of him standing beside a tank. That one had everyone in it: Kevin, Nathan, Embry Jr. Peta and Travis. Everyone had gotten a copy of that picture. Everyone smiled in that picture except Kevin.

Natalie retrieved all the pictures, including the group ones, and took them with her up to her bedroom feeling her chest tightening painfully. She felt as though she were having a heart attack, but that wasn't it. Once in her room, she found a spot on the dresser and arranged all of Jae's pictures and hung the flag right above them as a makeshift memorial to him. When she saw her handiwork, she fell to her knees and started feeling the tears burn in her eyes again. She opened one of the drawers and was presented with some of Jae's shirts. She pulled out a small pile of them and clutched onto them. She could still smell him on those clothes and she inhaled as though it were air. Then she started crying again, holding nothing back. She wailed, called Jae's name and cried until her eyes were dry. That was how JJ found her. He'd come back to the house wanting to be left alone as well and realized immediately all Jae's pictures were suddenly gone. Then he heard Natalie crying and ran up the stairs going straight to her room.

"Mom!" JJ said and went right to her side, taking her in his arms forcing her to sit up from the floor. "It's okay, mom. I'm here," JJ said. Natalie didn't answer and, instead, continued to cry in her son's arms. JJ started to cry too but made himself stop. He realized in that moment, now more than ever, he needed to make good on his promise he made his father. He was man of the house now. It wasn't just until his father got home anymore; it was for good. "I'll take care of us, okay mom? You don't have to worry."

Natalie glanced up at JJ but had to look away, crying with renewed vigor. For the first time in her son's life, she wished he didn't look so much like his father. JJ truly was a carbon copy. He had his father's eyes, his father's face…..he even had his father's voice. She remembered vividly Jae sounding just like this when he'd been JJ's age. 15. The boy was fifteen she realized in her head, already becoming a man. She feared, from that day forward, every time she looked at her son, all she'd be able to see was his father and it would hurt more than she could bear. Ada María, back at the beach with everyone, eventually excused herself from the dinner she wasn't eating anyway. Ariel asked to stay, so she left him with Scarlet. She was nearing the hill when she was stopped by a young man.

"Excuse me, but are you Miss Escada?" the young man said. Ada María nodded and the young man held out a stuffed envelope to her. "We got this in the post office this morning. It's from Nathan."

"Thank you," Ada María managed as she took the letter and increased her pace up to Nathan's house. She went right to Nathan's room and closed the door behind her, opening the letter desperately. She'd not received more than a leaflet from him in the past, so such a bulky letter surprised her but filled her with hope. With the letter out, she sat on the bed not bothering with any lights and read.

Ada,

I'm writing you because I have done something terrible. Something I can never take back and I need desperately to get this off my chest and confide in you. By the time you read this, you will likely have been made aware of Jae's death.

He was killed by a sniper. He went back to save Travis who'd been shot in the leg and when Jae tried to get to cover, the sniper shot him in the heart and neck. The memory has haunted me every night since and probably will continue to do so. My best friend died before my eyes and I can still hear Embry and Peta crying over his body.

I felt that sorrow, but then I was angry. I could see red. Not just from the blood, but from rage. I was able to see the sniper responsible. I committed his image to memory and waited for the battle to be over. When it was over, I went to his perch and tied the sleeve of his coat around his neck, threw him out the window and tried to hang him. But I'd stopped and pulled him back. It wasn't enough. So I took him back into Paris.

Kevin and I found a damaged warehouse and questioned the sniper there. He revealed he knew Amber wasn't at Auschwitz anymore like we had thought, but he didn't know where she'd been sent since then. He implicated that she'd been rapped while at Auschwitz by a Commander Schneider. Kevin shot him in the dick and told me he didn't have anything else to say to the man and left.

When I was alone with that sniper, I was so angry. Even so, I don't know what came over me. I told him he'd killed Jae and that I'd make him pay for it. He'd told me he'd done so with many men and said Jae was no one special. I hated him more for saying that. I was seeing red all over again. The brief time we talked, he just kept taunting me. He said he knew I would kill him so to get on with it. So I did.

I tried to talk to a priest about everything I'd done to that man and the priest had gone so pale. He told me, though, that it was okay because that man had clearly been evil. I'd tried to convince myself of that, but the more I tried to think it, the more I realized it didn't matter.

Kevin and I had already slammed his head over the table, breaking it in half, and drawing blood. Then Kevin shot him. But at the time it wasn't enough. I wanted him to suffer. Worse than what Jae had. I watched Jae drown in his own blood. I watched that fear in his eyes. I wanted that sniper to feel the same. I wanted him to suffer and I wanted him to feel fear.

I started with his hands. I'd tied his hands down with his coat and broke each of his fingers one by one. He screamed in my ears, so I forced off one of his socks and shoved it in his mouth to quiet the screaming. After that, I took both his hands in mine and squeezed until I crushed both his hands.

Even though he had a sock in his mouth, I could see hear him screaming in my ear. I'd looked at him, but he looked defiant. It was as though he refused to show me any fear and it made me angrier. I started twisting both his arms until I broke and dislodged them both so they were useless. I kicked him where Kevin had shot him and made him fall over on the floor and I broke his legs the same way I broke his arms. I think I crushed nearly every bone in his body.

I kept him on the floor for a while after that. He couldn't move anyway. I started punching him while he was on the floor. I wound up dislodging the sock from his mouth. I broke his jaw and his nose and part of his skull. Son of a bitch had the nerve to call me a savage. I told him I'd give him a reason to call me a savage and I scalped him. I made sure it stayed attached to his head, but I kept going until the top of his skull was visible. That's how I found out I'd cracked his skull. I dared him to call me a savage again. Fucking dared him.

He called me that again. A savage I mean. I started punching him again until his nose was completely caved in. After that, I got his knife again and cut out each of his teeth one by one and made him swallow them. I elbowed him with all my weight and cracked at least three of his ribs. It had been on his right side.

He still didn't look afraid. After everything, he still looked at me defiantly. I told him I was nowhere near done with him and he told me to do my worst. I hated him so much more for that. Even without his teeth he was back talking me. I told him that I'd make sure he didn't back talk me again and I cut out his tongue. I forced him to swallow that too. I got him back on the chair and made sure he was sitting over so he wouldn't choke.

When I was a boy, I used to read about the Vikings and what little was known about them. I'd read that they used to execute offenders by pulling their lugs out through their backs making them suffocate to death. I tried doing that. I cut into his back and broke more ribs until I found his lungs and pulled them out. It was actually fascinating to watch his lungs expand and shrink from breathing. I took a break after that.

I stood by him making sure his head stayed over so he wouldn't choke on his remaining tongue or blood. His breathing started to slow down a bit after a minute or two, so I made him look at me again. I finally saw what I wanted. He was scared. He finally looked scared. I lifted up his head so I could look at him while I took out my gun and shot him in the heart and in the throat. I stabbed him in the chest with his Hitler youth knife. I'd meant to leave it in but after that, I couldn't stop and I just stabbed him over and over again.

I didn't count how many times it was, but I didn't stop until I was tired. He died not long after I'd started, but I couldn't stop. I stabbed him in the chest more times than I could count. I stabbed his face a few times and I stabbed him in the stomach several more times. I think I disemboweled him with how many times I stabbed him. That smell of blood was overwhelming. I stared at him a bit after I was down. I'd thought I was admiring my handiwork but now, thinking of it makes me shiver. I left his body there and basically made Travis dispose of the body or do whatever to it.

I got into a clean uniform and then went to the crematorium where we'd taken Jae. When I arrived, he'd paled even more since I'd last seen him. Seeing him hit me with the reality of what I'd just done and the realization that I'd solved nothing. I tried not to let myself think that way. I wanted to think that sniper deserved what I did. He'd killed Jae and it was crime enough.

But when I saw Jae's body, dead as before, when we cremated him and Embry had carried that box of his ashes like a scared, sad child. After all that and after replaying what I did over and over in my head, I realized I'd not only accomplished nothing, but I'd become worse. The sniper had killed Jae, but he's a soldier. He did what any of us would do: kill the enemy. I tortured that man. All for the sake of revenge.

There was a parade held shortly after we'd liberated Paris. By then, all I could think about was what I'd done. I started seeing Jae and that man in my sleep. Jae's death replays in my head and then what I'd done to that man. One night, I dreamed that it was Jae I tortured. I dreamed it was his fingers I broke, his limbs I broke and him I'd killed slowly and I woke up in a cold sweat. Last night it was too much and I was scared to even go to sleep. I went to a bar in Paris and drank. I don't even remember what it was. Gin I think. I didn't stop until I couldn't even stand up straight. I don't even think I stopped then.

I was trying to ease the pain and forget what I did. It worked for a bit. I'm actually shocked the alcohol didn't kill me for how much I drank. But even with how drunk I'd become, when I went to sleep, the dreams were even worse and I woke up screaming. I woke up in a strange room and realized I was naked. I realized there was someone else there and looked to see who it was. I don't know who it was. Some French woman. But it dawned on me that we must have slept together. I couldn't remember a thing, but I got dressed and left as fast as I could.

I've done two things now that I can never take back. I murdered a man in vengeful rage and proved to be a greater monster than the sniper could ever be. Then as an effort to forget and make my actions go away, I got so drunk that I slept with a woman who's name I don't even know. Don't care to know even.

I'm sorry Ada. For everything. I'm sorry that I didn't let you explain when the officer came down the stairs. I'm sorry I hit you. I'm especially sorry for that. Never in my life had I ever done such a thing and yet I did it to you. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry I ran away with the intent of never speaking to you. I'm sorry I betrayed you again and slept with Tamara. I'm sorry for leaving you alone with our first child and for not being there for the birth of our son. Not a day goes by that I don't regret missing Ariel's birth. I didn't realize until we'd had Ariel how much I really wanted a son. Thank you for going so far as to ensure he was born in my home where he needed to be. I'll never be able to express to you how grateful I am for that.

I'm sorry that my infidelity led to Tamara and I having a child together. I don't regret Ivory, but I wish it could have been you I had her with. I'm sorry for my evasiveness. I'm sorry for refusing to even write to you about what happened and try to work things out. I'm sorry I never gave you the time of day when you wrote to me. I'm sorry for refusing to speak with you as a wolf, even if it had to be with my dad as an interpreter. I'm sorry I didn't at least write you telling you I was safe and okay. And above all I'm sorry for being as weak as I am. I'm sorry that I allowed my anger and hatred to make me do something so monstrous as what I did and then, in a fit of drunkenness desperate to forget, I betrayed you again and slept with another woman, all the while having solved nothing.

I'm sorry, Ada, for everything. I can't think of anything I can say to make all this better. I can only say I'm sorry for everything I've done. I'm even sorry about what I'd done to that sniper. Torturing and killed him didn't bring Jae back. I knew it wouldn't but I'd hoped that act of revenge would have made me feel better but it only served to weigh heavier on my conscience.

I'm so sorry – I only hope I can repent somehow, some way and move forward and put this behind me.

I love you and never stopped loving you and never will. I just hope it'll be enough.

Nathan

Ada María leaned against the headboard of the bed staring at the last line of his letter. She wondered what she should even say in response. Reading that letter had made her skin crawl. She never thought Nathan to be a man capable of such a thing. He obviously felt the same way, never imagining he was capable of what he'd done hence why he'd written at all. That last line had been something she'd longed to hear from him. He'd said he loved her before in a previous letter, but there was still that animosity between them when he'd written that letter. This time that last line was said with nothing holding him back. Yet she couldn't happy to see those words from him because they'd come due to something terrible happening.

"Did you get a letter from daddy?" Scarlet's voice came from the door Ada María hadn't even noticed opened.

"Yes," Ada María finally said. "Your father and the others were able to find and kill the sniper that had killed Jae."

"Good," Scarlet said bitterly. Ada María folded the letter, not wanting to risk Scarlet reading it. It was one thing to tell her they'd found and killed the sniper. It was another entirely for her to know what happened. "Is that all he said?"

"He said he was sorry about everything that happened between us and he wants to put it behind us," Ada María paraphrased.

"That's good news," Scarlet said.

"How is everyone?" Ada María asked.

"Mourning," Scarlet said. "Aunt Natalie and JJ went home and Salem and Nesia are saying with Grandma and Grandpa for the night."

"Your father doesn't seem to be taking your uncle's death well according to his letter," Ada María said.

"I'm not surprised," Scarlet said. "You never knew Uncle Jae, but he and dad were close. They all were."

"So I'm told," Ada María said. An uncomfortable silence passed between them that lasted longer than either of them knew. "Is Ariel still at the beach?"

"He's staying with Grandma and Grandpa tonight," Scarlet said. "He said he'd come home if you needed him to, though."

"No, he can stay with everyone," Ada María said. "They need him more than I do right now. Right now I need to write your father back."

"What are you going to say?" Scarlet asked.

"That I'll be here," Ada María said. "It's what he needs from me."

"So does this mean when daddy gets home the two of you will pick up as though nothing happened?" Scarlet asked.

"I doubt it," Ada María said. "We still need to talk about it."

"Well, good luck to you I guess," Scarlet said. "I'll leave you to your letter."

Scarlet left the house to go back to Renesmee's and Jacob's house so Ada María could write her reply. It was a simple reply: I love you too. I'll be here for you. She wondered if she should write more, but after reading it a few times, she knew it was the best answer she could send. It was a truthful answer and it was what Nathan needed to hear from her. Word eventually reached Kyle about Jae's death. It was before Jae's ashes had made it home. He received a letter from Kevin explaining what happened as well as what the sniper they captured had told them. It was the news of Jae's death that rendered him speechless and forlorn. He made himself work through the day as though nothing happened, but he often took moments in the day to retreat somewhere to be alone. A few days after hearing the news, he finally wrote a reply to Evalina's last letter to him. Karenin had been perched on his bed or just outside the doctor's quarters for several days waiting for Kyle to provide a letter to return to Evalina. When he finally wrote back, he confided in her of what happened. Not two hours after he'd given Karenin the letter to take to Evalina, the bird returned with a tiny note that only read: I will make sure I'm there tomorrow. I will wait for you at Vatican City.

Kyle sent her a reply letting her know he'd get to Vatican City as soon as he possibly could and Karenin flew back to Volterra finding Evalina in her room where he'd left her. Upon receiving Kyle's reply, she picked an outfit for the following day and left the castle to go straight to Margarita's shop to make something nice. Normally she'd want to try something new, but she suspected cookies would be exactly what he needed. She didn't mention going to Vatican City until the following morning and she only told Lia as she left the castle claiming that with the war escalating in Northern Europe, she needed to go to Rome and pray. Of course, she pointed out the church in Volterra was more than adequate but Evalina insisted she needed to go to Vatican City and left without another word. As promised, she went to Vatican City with the large basket of anginette cookies. She waited at the entrance of St. Peter's Square from midmorning until well into the afternoon reading the last book of Anna Karenina. She had anticipated she'd be waiting a while for him.

It was nearing the evening when he finally did appear but when he arrived, Evalina smiled lovingly at him. He wasn't in the fancy uniform he usually wore whenever they met. Instead, he was in his standard uniform, but it was a clean one that he'd changed to before leaving the base. She marked her spot in her book and closed it, slipping the book in her back and grabbing the basket if cookies before running to Kyle's side. He smiled at her and embraced her. Evalina wrapped her free arm around his neck while holding the big basket in the other.

"I missed you," Evalina whispered comfortingly in his ear.

"I missed you too," Kyle replied. "You won't get in trouble for coming here?"

"It doesn't matter," Evalina said. "After your last letter, I needed to make sure you were alright." She pulled away and lifted the basket so Kyle could see it. "I made you those cookies you like so much. I added more lemon zest just for you."

Kyle smiled at her, but it dimmed when he thought of the letter he'd sent her. "I can't believe Jae's gone," Kyle finally said.

"I'm so sorry," Evalina said and held him close to her again, putting his head on her shoulder to comfort him. Kyle tightened his hold on her and after a minute, she started to feel tears forming on her shoulder through her dress. "Do you want to go somewhere private and talk?"

Kyle nodded and lifted his head. Evalina brushed away the stray tears from his cheeks and gave him a kiss on that cheek before taking his hand to leave Vatican City. They made a brief walk to the St. Angelo Bridge in front of the Palace of Justice. They walked over the bridge until they reached one of the Angel statues and stared out onto the water. Evalina put the basket of cookies on the ledge and took one out to hand to Kyle. He smiled, accepted the cookie, and gulped it down.

"The lemon's really prominent. I like it," Kyle said.

"I made those all by myself," Evalina blushed. "Margarita let me burrow her kitchen and didn't lift a finger to help."

"Thank you," Kyle said and took another cookie. There was a moment of silence between them. Kyle thought of Jae again and was sad. "I wish you could have met Jae. You would have loved him."

"He sounded like a wonderful man," Evalina said and wrapped her arm around Kyle's, keeping on hand on the basket so it wouldn't accidently fall into the water. "You said he died during the taking of Paris?" Kyle nodded. "That was very brave of him; what he did. Not many people would be able to run into the line of fire to save another."

"Jae would never abandon anyone," Kyle said. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I couldn't even be there for his cremation."

"You would have been had it been possible," Evalina was quick to reassure. "You said your brother was sending his ashes home?" Kyle nodded. "He can be with your family where he belongs, then," she said.

"He will have that," Kyle said. "He would have wanted that." He sniffled and rubbed his eyes. "We all grew up together. I've known Jae his whole life. He loved my little sister from the start. As far back as I can remember, he used to blush when he talked to Natalie. She'd always had a crush on him too when we were kids."

"Childhood sweethearts?" Evalina said with a gentle smile, hoping to help Kyle think of good times.

"Exactly," Kyle managed a smile. "My little brother Nathan was the first to get married, but Jae and Natalie followed not long after. He wanted a lot of kids. They have two boys and a daughter together." Kyle started rubbing his eyes sorrowfully again. "If Jae could've had his way, the two of them would have 12 kids just like his parents."

"Twelve children seems rather ambitious," Evalina tried joking a little and Kyle smiled gratefully at her.

"Jae was a family man," Kyle said. "He was a triplet. Rae and Sharisa were his sisters born with him."

"Goodness," Evalina said. "Their poor mother."

Kyle chuckled a little, "Poor Caevia indeed. But she wanted a lot of children."

"She certainly did," Evalina said. Kyle returned that smile and rested his head against hers as they stared into the waning sun and water of the river. They were momentarily quiet as Kyle took comfort from Evalina's presence, but then he mentioned the part of Kevin's letter he'd not mentioned to Evalina.

"Nathan captured the sniper responsible," Kyle said.

"He did?" Evalina said.

"He and Kevin questioned him and found out Amber isn't at Auschwitz anymore," Kyle said. "He didn't know where she was sent from there. He claimed it was a 'testing facility'."

"So they're back where they started?" Evalina asked.

"Unfortunately," Kyle admitted.

"What will they do now?" Evalina asked.

"Keep questioning prisoners they capture until they find her," Kyle said. "That's all they can do. He's just hoping someone else will recognize Amber and know where she is."

"And if they don't?" Evalina asked.

"Then he'll search Europe until he finds her," Kyle said. "I believe his exact threat was he'd burn down all of Europe if he had to."

"What did they do with the sniper?" Evalina asked.

"Nathan killed him," Kyle said. That was all he knew of the situation.

"I suppose if he didn't know anything else," Evalina said and rested her head against his shoulder reassuringly. "I can tell Jae will be dearly missed. He sounds like he was a wonderful man. I'm so sorry for what happened."

"Me too," Kyle said.

Evalina kept holding Kyle and eventually he wrapped his arm around her waist in a gesture that, under any other circumstance, would be extremely romantic. But under these circumstances, it was strictly comforting. She stayed with Kyle until he needed to return to the base, leaving him with a loving, reassuring kiss and promising she'd write when she returned home and made him promise he's stay strong. When Evalina returned home, as before, her parents and grandparents were waiting and had quite a mouthful to say to her. Back in Washington, Hailey reopened the shop the day after the funeral as normal but the store suddenly felt empty. When Jae left, Hailey was hit with how much he desperately missed his company, but he had a reassurance that things would go back to normal after the war. Now it was just empty as though the store had lost its heart.

"It's just awful," an older woman that had gone to the funeral said. "Jae was such a good young man. He didn't deserve to die."

"None of those soldiers deserve to die," Hailey muttered as he held back tears. "In times of war, families have to accept it's a sacrifice some of us will make."

"I don't know how you can be so strong, Mr. Dauer," the woman said mournfully.

"It's not without difficulty," Hailey admitted. "I loved that boy like a son. I never told him that enough."

"He knew, Mr. Dauer. I'm certain he did," the woman reassured.

"I hope so," Hailey said. He was prepared to ring up the woman when he heard the door in the back open and saw JJ come up front. The boy looked nervous and was dressed nice with a hat in his hands. "Is everything alright, JJ?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, Uncle Hailey. I was hoping I could speak to you a moment."

"Sure," Hailey said and looked at the woman. "I'm sorry, but would you excuse me just a moment?"

"Of course," she answered and Hailey followed Jae to the kitchen in the back.

"What did you want to talk about?" Hailey asked.

"Well…Before dad left, he told me to look after my mom and siblings while he was gone. Now that he's….." JJ didn't finish that sentence. He choked on his words and forced a deep breath before continuing. "I know you'd told dad his job would be here when he returned. I was hoping under the circumstances I might be able to take dad's job."

"Pardon?" Hailey asked, surprised.

"I'm asking for a job," JJ repeated. "Mom and the others are my responsibility now and I need to look after them. The first step would be to get a job."

"JJ," Hailey started, holding back tears again and trying to remain rational. "You know we're all here for you and your family, so we'll help you wherever you need."

"I don't want charity, Uncle Hailey," JJ said bluntly. "Dad would never accept charity and neither will I. I'll start today if you like."

"Does Natalie know about this?" Hailey asked.

"I told her I'd take care of everyone. She didn't ask for me to elaborate. She hasn't left her room since last night."

"JJ," Hailey said, "you can't just take on the responsibility of three people overnight. You're still young. I can't let you throw your youth away like that."

"I'd rather throw away my youth than go back on my promise to dad. I told him I'd take care of mom and the others and I meant it. I'll take a lower pay if necessary."

"No," Hailey mumbled and rubbed his face. He'd be lying if he didn't admire the boy's determination, but he knew this wasn't what Jae had had in mind when he'd told JJ he was man of the house until he got back. "Your father wouldn't have wanted this, JJ."

"I didn't want to lose my father," JJ said. "Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. When they do, one needs to deal with it or cower in the corner feeling sorry for one's self. I'm choosing to deal with it and do the right thing, Uncle Hailey." Hailey looked at JJ again and sighed. The boy looked so defeated and yet he looked determined all at once.

"When your father was your age," Hailey started, "younger than you in fact, he fought tooth and nail to work for me." JJ stood silently waiting for Hailey to continue. Hailey stared down at JJ. A boy that was truly the image of his father and it tugged at his old, grumpy heartstrings. "You're so much like your father. You know that?"

"I think it's upsetting mom," JJ admitted.

"She misses your father," Hailey said. "We all do." He was quiet a little longer, closed his eyes with a deep breath and then looked at JJ again. "I expect you here at 8 sharp Monday morning. I don't tolerate tardiness." JJ's eyes widened just a little before tears started coming and he ran to Hailey and hugged him.

"Thank you," JJ said. "I'll be here Monday at 8. Not a second later."

"I'll expect it," Hailey said softly while patting JJ's back. Then he hugged the boy. "Your father would be very proud of you, JJ. I want you to know that."

"Really?" JJ said.

"Really," Hailey said. "Mr. Pence actually brought me that case for those medals if you'd like to take that home."

"Yes, please," JJ said and stepped away, rubbing his eyes and following Hailey up front. The woman in the shop, who had admittedly been eavesdropping, smiled at JJ softly. Hailey took the frame Mr. Pence had brought and handed it over to JJ.

"All you'll need to do it pin them into the velvet of the frame and then put the glass over it. It'll rest just above the medals so they won't get damaged and it'll keep them clean."

"Thank you," JJ said and accepted the frame.

"I'll be sure to pop in on Monday and check on you, sweetheart," the woman said. "And don't let Mr. Dauer intimidate you."

"Thank you," JJ managed before thanking Hailey and returning home. When they were alone, the woman looked at Hailey.

"That was very kind of you," she said.

"How could I not?" Hailey said. "He's trying to step up and do the right thing."

"Indeed," she answered. "His father really would have been proud."

"Jae has always been proud of JJ," Hailey said. "Even when the boy used to follow me around trying to eat his hand."

The woman giggled, "Oh I remember."

"I guess spread the word that JJ will be working here starting Monday," Hailey said.

"Of course," she answered and finally Hailey rang up her purchases.