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.

113. Chapter 113

Chapter 113

"So do you guys always let yourself in uninvited?" Kai asked when they'd arrived in Las Vegas and were letting themselves into an empty house.

"Tamara's already expecting us," Scarlet said. "We come here every summer to pick up Ivory."

"She's your half-sister, right?"

"Yeah," Scarlet nodded.

"So, Kai," Nathan said, "how do you like the desert?"

"Not the least bit. Thank you for asking," Kai said and walked into the house eagerly. "I've never been anywhere so dry."

"I like it," Nathan said. "There's nothing quite like a good dry heat."

"To each their own," Kai said as he looked around the room. Ada María was already getting a few things cleaned up and getting something for dinner ready as was her habit when they came. "So what's the story with you and….Tamara you said her name was?"

"It's complicated," Nathan said.

"Alright," Kai said. Scarlet walked up to him and asked him to hold Lulu while she helped Ada María. "I don't suppose you know the story do you?" he asked Ariel who was getting comfortable in the living room with Cindy resting her big head on his lap. The dog was only a year and she'd grown to be a massive dog.

"Dad met Tamara while he'd been traveling with Scarlet, they hit it off I guess and when mom and dad argued, dad and Tamara had a one night stand and Ivory was the result."

"That's the abridged version, but that's about it," Nathan said and gently shoved Ariel's head making him smile a little.

"Jaedynn has a different mother too doesn't she?"

"Her birth mother isn't in the picture," Nathan said but only after making sure that Jaedynn hadn't come in the house. She was outside playing with Tamara's and Ivory's dragons. "Her mother and I met in Paris and it was an accident frankly. Long story short, she got pregnant and we came to an agreement that if she had Jaedynn here in the U.S. we'd send her to Canada. We haven't heard from her since as we agreed."

"Does Jaedynn not know?"

"Not really, no," Nathan said. "She's known Ada as her mother her whole life and I'm content to keep it that way. I'm sure she'll figure it out one day and when she does we'll be honest with her, but until then, I don't see a reason to bring it up."

"Fair enough," Kai said. "So when are Tamara and Ivory getting home?"

"After three when school's out," Nathan said.

Nathan took Cindy outside to keep an eye on Jaedynn while she played with the dragons. He'd trained Cindy well. Once he gave her the command 'guard', Cindy was at alert looking around ready if she was needed. In the end he was glad he'd let Ivory convince him to get the dog. She was a big teddy bear most times but she was also very protective and well trained enough to be a defender if for any reason he wasn't in the house. Really, with just a little more training, he could feasibly leave all the kids alone with Cindy and she'd be all the protection they needed. Nathan checked his watch periodically and was getting anxious the closer it got to 3. Then he finally saw Ivory walking up the road with Tamara holding her hand and as soon as she saw Nathan, she let go and started approaching. Cindy barked and her tail was wagging. She clearly remembered Ivory.

"Hold," Nathan commanded Cindy who stayed in her place but kept wagging her tail with excitement.

"Daddy!" Ivory said and Nathan kneeled down to hug her and lifted her up giving her cheek a big kiss.

"There's my Ivory Dahlia," Nathan said. "How's my little girl been?"

"I've been okay," Ivory said. "I missed you, daddy."

"I missed you too, Ivory," Nathan said and kissed her cheek before putting her down. "Do you recognize Cindy?"

"She got so big!" Ivory said and started petting Cindy. She held her position, but her tail kept wagging.

"Cindy, break," Nathan commanded and Cindy left her sitting position to stand and kept bumping her head against Ivory for pets.

"My God, what is that?" Tamara asked once she was in front of the house.

"That, Tamara, is an American Pitbull Terrier," Nathan said. "A tank in dog form with the disposition of a cuddly teddy bear."

"I certainly hope so," Tamara said nervously. "How big is she?"

"Last I checked, she's gotten to about 80 pounds. So she's a hefty girl."

"I would say so," Tamara said. "You couldn't make daddy buy you a Chihuahua could you?" Ivory wasn't listening, playing with Cindy and running around the front yard with her with Jaedynn leaving the little dragon den to join them.

"I assume everyone's inside?" Tamara said.

"Yeah, they're getting something ready for dinner," Nathan said. "Also, we have a guest with us."

"Yes, I heard," Tamara said. "You said Scarlet had a girl? Luana? I can't wait to meet her."

"I meant the father, but yes, Lulu's with us."

"Your daughter gives the girl a beautiful name like Luana and yet you insist on calling her Lulu? For shame Nathan," Tamara smiled.

"Actually, you can blame her grandma for that," Nathan chuckled. "She's actually named after her grandma. I finally got to meet her before Scarlet and Kai got married. Nice woman. She started calling her Lulu and it just stuck."

"So the grandma's to blame?" Tamara teased. "Likely story."

"It's the truth, Tamara," Nathan smiled. "So how've you been?"

"Busy," Tamara said. "I got a promotion actually. I'll be teaching the school's High School age block next semester."

"Really? Tamara, that's great. You've earned it," Nathan praised.

"Thank you," Tamara blushed a little. "The downside is it'll mean longer hours, but the pay is much better. I'll have to invest in a nanny for Ivory after school."

"Did you want me to help? I can send you some extra money for it if you need."

"I'll get some quotes and let you know," Tamara said. "I'm hoping I can take the expense myself. You already take a big financial weight off me with what you send as it is."

"Just let me know," Nathan said. "Anything new personally?"

"Not really, no," Tamara said. "I haven't really wanted to date if that's what you're asking about. Ivory's enough company for me frankly. Besides, if I tried bringing another man in Ivory's life, she might rip the poor guy a new one. I think I tried dating once and she wasn't having it. Hated him immediately and he got tired of it."

"That's my girl," Nathan chuckled and Tamara swatted Nathan's shoulder but smirking. "I really do wish you could live with us in Washington. I don't like being so far away from Ivory."

"I know," Tamara said. "Maybe after she graduates from school, she can spend a year in Washington with you."

"I'd like that," Nathan said. "Shame it's so far away."

"It'll fly by. Don't worry."

"No shit," Nathan said. "Everything's already flown by so fast. I'd ask if you'd be willing to let me take her for a year, but I guess that's not really fair to put her in a new school."

"Yeah," Tamara agreed. "As much as I have all the confidence that your mother would be a far superior teacher, it would be too much to ask of Ivory. Hell, knowing your mother, she'd have Ivory ahead at least three grades by the time she's done with her."

"All the more reason to spend a year with me I would think," Nathan smiled.

"Nathan, that would put her in classes with teenagers. Who knows how she'd be treated in that context. And while I know I can count on you to bloody up anyone that hurts our little girl, there's a delayed response time unfortunately."

"Yeah, I know," Nathan sighed. "You must be tired of having this conversation."

"It's alright, Nathan," Tamara said. "We knew when we started this was going to be challenging. I doubt it would be much less challenging if we lived near one another."

"I just miss her when she's away. That's all. She's the only one who I don't get to be a constant part of her life. I don't want her thinking it's because I don't love her or something."

"Don't you worry," Tamara said. "That girl adores you and she knows you love her too. Hell, sometimes when she gets upset with me, she'll threaten to call you and move to Washington to live with you."

"I'm sure if we traded, she'd do the same thing to me," Nathan chuckled.

"Tamara," Scarlet's voice came as she came outside with Lulu in arm.

"Scarlet!" Tamara said and went to her and gave Scarlet a hug then looked at the baby. "This must be Luana," Tamara smiled. "She's beautiful."

"Thank you," Scarlet smiled. Kai poked his head out and came out fully with a smile. "You must be Tamara. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kai."

"Nice to meet you," Tamara said. "You're Luana's father?"

"Yeah, I am," Kai nodded. "Took me by surprise when I found out, but she's great. Scarlet and I got married not long ago."

"So I heard," Tamara smiled. "Congratulations. I'm glad things worked out." Ivory came to Tamara's side and then to Scarlet to give her a big hug that Scarlet returned.

"Ivory, this is Luana. She's your niece!"

"Can I see her?" Ivory asked eagerly and looked at the baby. "She's so cute, Scarlet!"

"Thank you," Scarlet said. "Did you want to hold her?" Ivory nodded and took Lulu into her arms and started rocking her gently from side to side. Jaedynn stood beside Ivory and watched her rock the baby. "Kai, this is my little sister Ivory." Ivory looked up at Kai.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ivory. I've heard a lot about you," Kai said.

"Hello," Ivory said.

"Come on, Ivory, don't be shy," Scarlet said and patted Ivory's head. They all spent a few days with Tamara waiting for their train meanwhile allowing Kai to get to know the extended family before they moved on to Brazil.

Back in South Korea, JJ was deemed completely recovered even though any injuries he'd gotten from the holding camp were long since gone. It wasn't so much that JJ was concerned about going to the parallel. At the moment, it was a bureaucratic clusterfuck and men playing chicken, especially since General MacArthur had been fired. JJ was surprised and even a little upset with the news, but even he had to agree an attack on China was a horrible idea. Lord only knew what would have happened if they'd done what MacArthur wanted to do. JJ was more concerned with leaving Eun Mi. They'd grown so close in the past few months. She never allowed more than for him to hold her hand, but that was alright. She was opening up to him. Her English kept getting better and better and JJ was hoping that she was gradually starting to love him. He'd received his orders that he'd be leaving for the 38th Parallel with 70 other troops in two days' time. Hadley and Jun being among the men. He needed to wait to tell Eun Mi until she was released from the kitchen, so as soon as he was able, he was waiting outside the back door waiting for her. Soon, line cooks were coming out but when JJ saw Yon, Eun Mi wasn't with her.

"Yon," JJ said, "Where's Eun Mi?"

"She's inside still," she answered. "She asked to work late and Terry said it was alright. She's making you kimchi," she smiled and reached up to pinch his cheek.

"Do you think Terry will mind if I go in to see her? I need to talk to her about something."

"Oh," Yon lost a little of her smile, "I take it you're one of the men that's getting sent to the border?"

"Yeah," JJ said. "I want to be the one to tell her."

"Of course," Yon said. "Just be quick. I don't know if Terry would want you in the kitchen."

"Okay," JJ said and went into the kitchen past the other cooks. By the time he found Eun Mi, it was just the two of them in that large kitchen. There were several salted heads of cabbage off to the side in a clean basket while Eun Mi was making the kimchi porridge. When he was close enough, Eun Mi looked up at him a little surprised.

"JJ? What are you doing here?"

"I'd waited for you outside but Yon said you were working late."

She nodded, "Yes, I'm making kimchi."

"Out already?" JJ joked.

"There are a lot of men to feed," Eun Mi blushed. "I was going to use this to make some Budae-jjigae. It will just have lots of vegetables instead of meat and cheese."

"I'm excited," JJ smiled. "I like how that stuff smells so I'll be excited to try your version." JJ chuckled a little when he suddenly realized something. "You know, my uncle's first wife Tomoeh had a sister named Jjigae. I never realized it meant soup in Korean."

"Stew," Eun Mi corrected. "Budae is Korean for Army Base, so Army Base Stew."

"If I remember to, I'll be sure to say something about it to her," JJ smiled. "Anyway, I came in because I needed to talk to you about something."

"What did you need to talk about?" Eun Mi asked as she kept stirring the porridge.

"The day after tomorrow, I'm being sent back to the parallel," JJ said. Eun Mi kept stirring but she looked up at him.

"They're sending you to the parallel?"

"Yeah," JJ said. "It's not too far from here, so I hope I'll be able to get permission to come here and visit from time to time, but I don't know when that'll be."

"I see," Eun Mi mumbled and returned her attention to the porridge that she'd brought to the right consistency. "Do you want to help me?"

"Sure," JJ agreed and approached. He wasn't sure if she was trying to avoid the topic or make the most of the time they had together. Either way, he'd comply. "What would you like me to do?"

"Start rinsing off the cabbage," Eun Me said, pointing at the basket of salted cabbage.

Really, now that she was alone, she could easily do everything herself and take a third the time if even that to get this done, but JJ took the cabbage to a sink and started rinsing off the access salt from the cabbage. While he cleaned the cabbage, he watched in amazement as she did several things at once. She was chopping daikon, buchu, carrots and green onions like a machine while a pair of ghostly hands started putting together the kimchi paste. She'd glance over her shoulder to make sure those hands grabbed the right bottle, but she'd memorized a lot of them by texture alone. Once he'd gotten used to it, it was like a scene from Fantasia. All they needed was a little mouse to run around the kitchen with a wizard hat with classical music in the background.

"How many of those do you actually have?"

"What?" Eun Mi asked, suddenly stopping chopping the carrot to look at him.

"Those 'hands'," JJ clarified. "How many do you have?"

"Ten," Eun Me said. "Five left, five right and then my hands." She lifted her visible hands for emphasis.

"Like Parvati," JJ joked.

"Who?"

"Parvati; she's a goddess in Hinduism. She's always depicted in art with multiple arms. I had an expansive history education when I was growing up and studying India was part of it."

"Interesting," Eun Mi said and returned to cutting the carrot until it was reduced to tiny matchsticks. She finished mixing up the kimchi porridge, used her ghostly hands to retrieve a pair of silver chopsticks, dipped them into the paste and then brought it to JJ. "Taste," she said and JJ did. "Good? Or do you want it spicier?"

"No, that's good," JJ smiled. "How'd you learn to cook so well?"

"My mother and grandpa," Eun Mi answered and used her ghost hands to bring the large bowl of kimchi paste to the table she was working at and put all the vegetables in the bowl. Using just her visible hands she mixed the chopped veggies into the paste.

"What were their names?" JJ asked.

"My mother was Chin Sun. My grandpa was Chin Mae."

"They adopted you, right?" Eun Mi nodded as an answer. "What were they like?"

"My mother was very good to me," Eun Mi said. "She took me in when no one else would. She found me on the beach one day and kept trying to approach me, but I kept pushing her away. I'd become thirsty and killed a Japanese soldier. She saw me and I nearly killed her, but she called me eolin-I and that stopped me."

"What does that mean?"

"Eolin-I means 'Little One'," Eun Mi said. "I was shocked she could still speak kindly to me after all she'd seen me do. I tried running away, but that same night, she gave me a little flower as a gift and I've been her daughter ever since."

"A gardenia?" JJ guessed and Eun Mi nodded. "That explains why you love it so much. That's very sweet."

"I loved her," Eun Mi said. He heard the smallest hint of her voice faltering just a little at the memory of her loss.

"She must have been wonderful," JJ said. "I wish I could have met her. What about your grandpa? What was he like?"

"He was the sweetest man I've ever known," Eun Mi mumbled. "He was scared of me at first, but he grew used to me and embraced me as the grandchild he never had. He died of old age when I was….I think I was seven."

"Do you know when you were born?"

"Around 1931," Eun Mi said. "I'm not positive when specifically. I think it was spring."

"You're really twenty?" JJ asked and chuckled a little. "I keep thinking you're younger than that. You're so tiny and youthful."

"No, I'm twenty," Eun Mi said. "You? You must be very old since you're a giant."

JJ chuckled, "I'm 22. Big and tall just runs in my family. My little brother's about my height. My grandpa Jacob is about my height too. He might be taller."

"Is the air fresher from up there?"

JJ laughed, "It's about the same. Why? How's the air down there?"

"Depends on the time of day," Eun Mi said and JJ started laughing again. She even smiled a little, but he wanted her to actually laugh.

"Are these good?" JJ asked. Eun Mi lifted the bowl so she wouldn't drip any of the porridge on the ground and looked. She smelled it as well.

"Break off a piece. I'll taste," she said. JJ took off a leaf and Eun Mi bit into the leaf with a pleasant crunch. "Good," she said. "They're clean. Get them to the table?" She went back to where she'd been before and JJ brought to cabbage to her little station.

"Do you want me to help you get the paste on the cabbage?"

"It's okay, I can do it," she said and grabbed one of the pieces she'd halved. She pulled that apart using a slit she'd put at the bottom and started getting the paste between the leaves. "Can you grab that Ongi?" Eun Mi glanced at the Ongi in the corner with a little sash around the neck of the pot. JJ got it and put it to Eun Mi's right.

"What's that say?" JJ asked pointing at the Hangul characters.

"It's your name," Eun Mi said.

"So my kimchi literally has my name on it?" JJ asked with a small chuckle and Eun Mi nodded.

"You're so finicky that I have to label your food," Eun Mi said. "So long as it means you're eating. You were too skinny when we met. You need meat on your bones."

"Yes, mom," JJ chuckled. Eun Mi put the first finished piece of cabbage in the bottom of the ongi, red kimchi paste all over her hand.

"When I was younger," Eun Mi started, "had a huge ongi that could hold 200 heads of cabbage. We would spend two days making kimchi and put the ongi in the ground to ferment. It would be so heavy that it would take all three of us to put the ongi in a big hole in the ground." JJ saw the smile on her face from the memory.

"When I was a kid," JJ said, "my mom used to make homemade sauerkraut that she learned how to make from Uncle Hailey. Sometimes mom will make pickles too but with cucumber. It's completely different spices though and when we pickle, we use sugar and vinegar."

"You don't need vinegar for kimchi," Eun Mi said. "I use Asian pear in the kimchi paste. I used two in this batch. It helps balance."

"Do you like food? Or do you only like blood?"

"I only like blood," Eun Mi said. "But I can usually tell something tastes good based on smell. I can detect if something's too salty or not salty enough or is spicy or not spicy enough, but outside that, none of it tastes good to me. I wish it did. I'm told my food tastes very good and I would love to find out for myself."

"I can attest that your cooking is very good," JJ smiled. "I always assumed I would hate kimchi but what you make is very good. I've never had a pickle without vinegar."

"The natural occurrence makes the kimchi sour. The longer it sits, the more sour it becomes," Eun Mi said. "Very healthy for you."

"You can eat it immediately after, though, right?"

"Yes," Eun Mi said. She pulled off a leaf of one of the cabbages and rubbed a layer of the paste on it and then held it out to JJ. He took it with his teeth and ate up the leaf using his fingers to put it into his mouth and then sucking the remaining paste off his fingers. "Good?"

"Delicious," JJ smiled. "It's best when I can have it with rice and sesame seeds. I like it when you put peas in the rice. Adds texture."

"You would like lotus root," Eun Mi said. "It's starchy and has a similar texture to an apple but has a similar smell to a potato."

"I've seen lotus root, but I never tried it. It looked weird and I was scared to. I was the same way with tofu too."

"Tofu can taste however you want," Eun Mi said. "Good for soups and frying."

"Japan had all these food items that were theoretically friendly for me, but everything had a…..I can't remember what it's called. It's this little fish broth."

"Dashi," Eun Mi said.

"That's it," JJ said. "I remember vendors that would sell eel I think it was and the sauce smelled good but I'd never eat it."

"Eel sauce is only three ingredients," Eun Mi said. "I can roast some eggplant and cook the eggplant in that sauce. It'll have the same flavor. Texture will be different than real eel, but it will have the right taste." JJ smiled.

"You're so good to me," JJ said. Eun Mi didn't say anything. "Will you miss me when I have to leave?"

"Yes," Eun Mi said. She was so blunt. He noticed that about her. She wasn't always the most affectionate person on earth to be sure.

"I'll miss you too," JJ said. "I don't know how I'll last without your cooking."

"If you get hungry, you just come back. I'll feed you," Eun Mi said. It was like a mother talking to her child and it was weird. His greatest fear was that Eun Mi felt nothing but a sisterly affection for him. He knew she felt something for him, but she was so….guarded. That was the only way he could describe it.

"Can I ask you something?" Eun Mi hummed in affirmation while she remained engrossed in her work. "Do you…..do you have feelings for me?" Eun Mi stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. She was holding up a leaf of cabbage with a large collection of paste she was getting ready to spread. He saw the blush on her cheeks and he hoped that he was right about what that implied. She took her gaze away, looking at the bowl in front of her while he saw her cheeks continue to redden. "You keep blushing that way, Eun Mi, you'll turn redder than me," JJ joked. She stayed quiet and continued working. She put in the newest cabbage bundle and pressed down in the ongi before going to the next piece. "I like you a lot," JJ decided he'd start. "I promise it's not just because you feed me," he tried to joke. "I admire you. You're so driven and selfless. If you'd never made me do it, I would have never swallowed my pride and made amends with Suerro. I feel so much better since I did and it's all thanks to you. You're so kind hearted and I'm always happy when I'm with you, even if we're just watching a movie or something." She wasn't speaking so he looked at her worried maybe he was making her uncomfortable. She was blushing still. "I'm sorry if I'm upsetting you."

"No," Eun Mi finally spoke up. "You not upsetting me," her English started faltering. It happened when she was getting nervous or upset or excited and every time, it made JJ smile. It was adorable.

"Do you like me too?" JJ dared to ask. He noticed Eun Mi's hands were trembling as she kept working through her nerves. All he got from her was a nod while she kept her eyes firmly on her work. "Eun Mi?" JJ said and she finally looked up at JJ. She looked so nervous and he didn't want her to be. Of course, he was no one to talk. He was nervous too, but he was just doing a better job of hiding it. He'd never had any interest whatsoever in dating or being with anyone until Eun Mi. As a consequence, he was basically flying blind trying to figure out what to do.

He'd half expected her to stop him when he started coming closer to her. He thought she'd keep him at a distance as a warning the way she normally would, putting invisible hands against his chest so he'd stay away, but she didn't. Rather she stayed extremely still like she wasn't sure what she should do. JJ kept approaching her until he was standing right before her. Eun Mi's hands were still in the large bowl covered in kimchi paste and the space was filled with the strong smell of gochukaru, fresh cut veggies and soaked shiitake mushrooms. That coupled with Eun Mi's own smell. She was wearing her white cook's uniform and it was stained with patches of red from the kimchi paste from earlier when they'd all made regular kimchi with fish. She started blinking rapidly as he came closer to her but she never stopped him. He hoped that was a good thing. JJ lifted his hand so he could touch Eun Mi's cheek and she even leaned into his touch once his hand was there, but she still looked slightly unsure.

She had such soft skin and her gaze was just as soft despite their nervousness. Her hands were now removed from the bowl and they stayed down to her sides as JJ continued approaching. She backed away until she hit the edge of the sink right beside them. Her reddened hands held onto the edge of the sink as she strained her neck to look up at JJ while his hand stayed on her cheek.

"You're so beautiful," JJ whispered as he brushed his thumb back and forth over her cheek. There was a long strand of hair that had fallen from her bun against his knuckles as he touched her. Her bangs had grown considerably in the months he'd known her and always had to be pinned back with her bun, but there would be stray strands of hair that would get released. He loved it when they did.

JJ felt a hand against his cheek but not one he could see. It was still warm like her visible hands and just as soft. He felt that hand trail down his neck and them to his chest where it stopped and JJ put his hand on it. He touched it tenderly while Eun Mi's eyes started to lose their nerve and seemed to dissolve to something else. He dared wonder if it were love and brought his hand down on the edge of the sink near her kimchi paste covered hand while he continued to touch her cheek and finally leaned down so he could kiss her.

JJ had kept the kiss chaste. He pressed his lips against hers for just a moment savoring what little contact they had in that time before pulling away just enough so he could look at her and smile. Her cheeks were burning with the rosy hue he'd grown so fond of and the lids of her eyes were hooded just a little as she looked back at him. He leaned forward again slowly hoping Eun Mi might let him kiss her again. She remained still, but she didn't push his away. Rather, she seemed dazed and closed her eyes as he came closer. Finally he kissed her again and this time he was not so timid. He used more pressure and tilted his head to deepen the kiss. Eun Mi surprised him by wrapping her arms around his neck, kimchi paste on her hands be damned, and held him close. JJ wrapped his arms around her lifting her up so he was standing up straight. He deepened the kiss further by pressing his tongue against her lips and making them part so he could taste her. Eun Mi released the tiniest little whimper when their tongues met and her hands started to trail into his hair. He leaned forward so they were against the lip of the large sink and got lost in one another.

JJ trailed his hands over her body enjoying how her body felt. While he rubbed her back, there was a moment where nothing was there and then suddenly he felt something firm protrude and she suddenly felt even lighter than she already was. So that's how it worked, he thought. She could retract those phantomlike extensions when she didn't need them and bring them forward when she needed them. She seemed to put those hands on the ground so she could reach him more easily at his level. He worked around them while they kissed and touched her shoulders, her lower back and her slender hips. She smelled of something pleasant that he couldn't pin coupled with a hardy smell of garlic, onions and ginger from all the cooking she'd done that day. He kept trembled from the feel of her hands in his hair when she'd move them around and almost unconsciously JJ reached down one leg and lifted her leg up so it was around his hip just as he learned further against the sink.

"Hey!" a booming voice came and they parted and stared wide eyed at Terry who'd just come it and was now approaching them. "What the hell are you two doing?! This is a kitchen; not a God damned brothel!" Terry grabbed one of the towels and started swatting it at JJ so that he had no choice but to put her down and step away. "Out! I didn't give you permission to be back here! Out!" JJ kept backing away while Terry hit him with the rolled up towel. He kept looking at Eun Mi but was eventually forced from the kitchen. Once JJ was gone, Terry started approaching Eun Mi who was standing where JJ had placed her feeling absolutely mortified. "I let you work late in here so you could make kimchi. Not so you and Dauer could fool around. This is not the place for that."

"I'm sorry," Eun Mi finally managed as her face went beet red. "I'm sorry, it just happen. I working and JJ come to say he leave in two day-"

"Eun Mi, Eun Mi, calm down," Terry said. "Your English is starting to break. Take a deep breath." Eun Mi nodded and breathed in and out until she was finally a little calm. "Now what's this about Dauer leaving in two days?"

"JJ said he is being sent to the parallel with some of the troops in two days," Eun Mi said. "I told him he could help me make kimchi. I was trying to have time with him before he leaves. I hadn't meant for…"

"Calm down, Eun Mi," Terry sighed. "You two still shouldn't have been in here alone and you certainly shouldn't be in such a compromising position, least of all in my kitchen. I won't act like your father and tell you what you can and can't do with JJ, but you do that on your own time. Are we clear?"

"Yes, sir," Eun Mi nodded. Terry looked at Eun Mi's hands and saw all the kimchi paste and started chuckling. "What's funny?"

"Nothing, Eun Mi," Terry said. "Just wash your hands, finish that kimchi and get out of here. Alright?"

"Yes sir," Eun Mi bowed and washed her hands, suddenly realizing what Terry may have found so funny, and then returned to finishing the kimchi.

JJ, upon being cast from the kitchen, finally realized there was kimchi paste in his hair and on his uniform and groaned. He'd have a lot of explaining to do and he'd likely never live this down. This could be his 'tater' incident, but he couldn't seem to muster enough concern to be upset about it. He went to the showers and at least got his hair cleaned before finally going to the bunks.

"What the hell happened to your uniform?" someone asked as soon as JJ came in.

"A mishap in the kitchen," JJ said and removed his coat and started undoing his shoes. Hadley came over and took JJ's coat and chuckled.

"Might you elaborate on how you got these hand print shaped kimchi stains?" Hadley teased and everyone laughed while JJ took back his coat. He was trying not to smile.

"I was helping Eun Mi make kimchi," JJ said.

"Ah, helping make kimchi. Sure," Hadley teased. "Is that why there's still some green onion in your hair?" JJ reached up and felt the onion in question while everyone laughed harder and JJ pulled it out. He rubbed his hands through his wet short hair again to make sure he got everything out. "I see the red pepper flakes left a nasty stain on your head."

"Shit," JJ grumbled trying not to laugh himself. He really wasn't even mad. He was more concerned of whether or not Eun Mi was alright. He knew Terry wouldn't hurt her or anything, but he wasn't sure if the man wasn't above scolding her. He hoped she wasn't upset with him for their getting caught.

"So was 'making kimchi' a success?" someone joked.

"I left before she'd put all the cabbage in the pot," JJ said.

"That's not what he meant and you know it," Hadley teased. "He's asking if you two had fun."

"I don't kiss and tell," JJ finally said and everyone yelled at him telling him not to be such a kill joy but JJ just laughed along with them. The guys had their fair share of continued teasing before they finally went to bed for the night.

They were woken up the next morning by the siren as usual and had to get dressed, make their beds and be at the foot of their beds ready for their commander. JJ put on a clean uniform and proceeded as usual until he went to the foot of his bed standing tall and forward. Their commander came in right on time proceeding with morning review ensuring the bunk was in its required pristine condition. Then he came to JJ and would have proceeded had he not seen JJ's folded uniform from the day before. He noticed the red stain and picked it up. At first, he seemed concerned, but then he inspected it, and smelled it, and then looked at JJ.

"Dauer," the commander said, "would you mind telling me why your uniform is in such poor condition?"

"I was helping in the kitchen last night, sir," JJ answered. "My uniform got stained. I felt something on my back is all."

"A huh," the commander replied, looked down at JJ's hands and then the stains. "And I suppose your hands just shrank for a few hours while you were cooking?" He heard all the men start chuckled under their breath and the commander looked around. "What's so funny, gentlemen? You know I love a joke just as much as the next guy? I'd love to hear the story behind this apparent mishap. Park," their commander looked straight at Jun, "do you know the story behind this?"

"As far as I know, sir, Pvt. Dauer was assisting Miss So with making kimchi last night," Jun answered and even blushed a little having been put on the spot.

"Oh really," their commander said and looked at the coat again putting the pieces together. He dropped the stained coat onto JJ's bunk and returned to standard stance. "Well then, Romeo," he proceeded, "clearly your coat can't stay like this. This will need to be treated immediately. I know how that pepper shit stains something awful. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to do the laundry for your whole company?"

"Yes, sir!" JJ answered, not even angry, as he saluted the man.

"Gentlemen," their commander said, "make sure you give Casanova here your dirty uniforms before attending to your assignments for today."

"Yes, sir!" they all answered, forcing themselves not to laugh at JJ's expense lest punishment be extended to them.

Their commander finished his rounds and repeated his instructions to give JJ their dirty uniforms for him to clean. Once on hand, JJ went where all the laundry was done and got right to work. The ladies there were advised he'd be there and were told they weren't allowed to help him as part of his punishment, but one kind soul stepped over and handed him a little soap they used for kimchi stains patting him on the shoulder before returning to ignoring him. JJ overheard the women talking mostly in Korean but he couldn't tell what they were talking about. While he was working, he felt a presence come behind him. He smiled, knowing exactly who it was even before he felt a tiny finger poking his shoulder. When he turned, Eun Mi was standing a few feet away from him.

"Morning," JJ smiled. "I'm really sorry about last night. Terry didn't get too mad at you did he?"

"He just said save it for our own time," Eun Mi said quietly while her cheeks burned. "Did you need help with the laundry? I was told you were ordered to work on that because you had kimchi stains on your coat."

"I'm not allowed to except help, but they said nothing about accepting company," JJ smiled and grabbed a little stool by the leg so his wet hands wouldn't get water on the seat of the stool. Eun Mi approached and sat beside him. "Terry didn't fire you from the kitchen did he?" he tried to joke.

"No," Eun Mi said. "I explained that you were leaving tomorrow so he said I could have today to myself. I asked around until I found out where you were. I already got permission to come here, so we should be alright."

"I'll be sure to thank Terry," JJ said. JJ overheard renewed chatter between some of the ladies and, based on Eun Mi's blush, he assumed they were teasing. "Are the others being mean?"

"They're just speculating about our relationship," Eun Mi mumbled. "I'm sorry about your uniform. I can help get the gochukaru out for you."

"It's okay. They gave me a little soap for the stains. And don't be sorry," JJ said and continued to work on the laundry. Eun Mi was quiet a moment staring down at her hands before finally speaking.

"Do you know how long you'll be stationed at the border?"

"As far as I'm aware, I'm staying there," JJ said. "At least until the war's over. I don't know when that'll be. We've been in a stalemate with North Korea since they pushed us back over the parallel with China's help and to my knowledge, there's been no progress regarding reaching a truce or peace agreement."

"You said this M.A.S.H. is close to where you're being sent right?"

"Yeah," JJ said. "I'm just being sent about twenty or so miles from here. So I can get a car on days I can have some time to myself and I can come here. Do you think on days I come here Terry would let you out of the kitchen for the day?"

"I can ask," Eun Mi said. "Terry's very fond of you. I know you might not think so after his yelling last night, but he cares. I'm sure he'd be willing to let me off for a few hours to be with you."

"We'll pester him about it later," JJ smiled. "I'm told they're playing another movie for the troops again tonight. Would you go see it with me?"

"I'd love to," Eun Mi smiled.

"We'll be sure to get good seats tonight," JJ smiled. "I think it's a kid's movie actually. Some of the nurses said they wanted a Disney movie and their request was finally met. Cinderella I think is what they picked."

"I can't wait," Eun Mi answered. "Do you know what it's about?"

"It's a princess movie," JJ said. "I know the original German telling of the story, but I don't know the 'kid friendly' version with music. My little sister and brother went to see it but I didn't."

"How does the German story go?"

"Well," JJ said, "The story goes, as told by the Brothers Grimm, is about a girl whose father remarried and her step mother and step sisters were cruel to her. Her step mother reduced Cinderella to a servant girl. The King of the land announced that there would be three days of a grand ball in which all the ladies of the land were to attend so the prince could choose a wife. Cinderella begged and begged her step mother to let her go and the step mother kept giving Cinderella ridiculous tasks to earn a chance to go to the palace for the ball. Her step mother would throw lentils into the fireplace and told Cinderella she needed to clean it in a certain amount of time. Her step mother did this three times and Cinderella succeeded three times with the help of her little animal friends but despite her efforts, her step mother wouldn't let Cinderella go. So in tears, Cinderella ran to a tree and cried and cried until the tree gave her a beautiful dress for her to wear to the ball so she could go.

"Cinderella wore the first dress and went to the ball without her step mother and step sisters knowing and the prince danced every dance with her and only her until she had to run away at midnight. She did this two more times, going to the same tree for a dress and going to the ball to be with the prince until midnight. After the third night, Cinderella lost her shoe and the prince found it. He announced that whoever fit into her glass slipper would be his bride, so women lined up eager to try on the shoe but it fit no one. The step mother found out and ordered her eldest daughter to cut off her…heal I think it was so the shoe would fit. She argued that when she was queen, she wouldn't need to walk and it would be okay. So when the prince came with the slipper, it fit the step sister that cut off her heal and he was about to leave with her, but the birds told the prince he was foolish and to look at the sister's foot because it was bleeding. So the prince went back to return the sister. The step mother told her second daughter to cut off her toe to make the shoe fit telling her when she was queen she wouldn't need to walk. The same thing happened: the shoe fit the step sister and the prince walked away with her, but the birds told the prince he was being foolish and to notice that the step sister's foot was bleeding. The prince returned and demanded that he be able to try the shoe onto Cinderella.

"The shoe fit Cinderella perfectly, so the Prince announced she would be his bride. The step mother and step sisters begged for Cinderella's forgiveness, but they were cast away and the birds pecked out their eyes. They were forced to live their lives that way while Cinderella married her prince and lived happily ever after. The end."

"You say the version we're watching is different?"

"Very different," JJ said. "My little sister loved it. So did my younger cousins. I remember when my cousin Jaedynn had seen it with my uncle Nathan and cousin Ivory. Even after seeing it months prior, that little girl was still singing the songs from the movie. I still remember most of the words to A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes or whatever it is. No idea when Cinderella sings that or the context, but I know most of the words."

Eun Mi smiled, "I look forward to seeing it then. It sounds infectious."

"It's certainly that," JJ said. "I read that courtesy of Princess Cinderella, Walt Disney was able to avoid bankruptcy."

"I'm sorry?" Eun Mi asked.

"Never mind. It's not important," JJ said. "Point is Cinderella is really popular."

"It seems so," Eun Mi said. "Is Disney popular in America?"

"It certainly is now," JJ said. "First Disney movie my parents ever saw was back in the thirties when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs came out. I remember when I got to see Fantasia. That's my favorite. It doesn't really have one cohesive story. It's mostly a display of animation combined with classical music. When I saw you making kimchi last night and you were able to….work the way you normally do, it makes me think of the Sorcerer's Apprentice skit of Fantasia where Mickey Mouse puts on his master's hat and starts manipulating objects to get his chores done."

"Who's Mickey Mouse?"

"A Disney character. He used to be called Steamboat Willy actually. I don't suppose you had cartoons like that as a kid did you?"

"No," Eun Mi shook her head gently. "We had to make do with storytelling to one another. I was trained to tell Japanese troops the story of Kaguya-Hime. I used to be a Geisha of sorts."

"Really?" JJ asked. "I got to go to a Geisha once when I was in Japan. Bless that woman's heart: she pretended to give a shit about my problems for about 45 minutes while I guzzled down pot after pot of green tea. That same woman played music for us too. I think they'd said it was called a….Koto?"

"it's a big string instrument?" Eun Mi asked and JJ nodded. "Either a Koto or Junanagen. Those are the bigger ones."

"Do you know how to play those?"

"No," Eun Mi said. "I learned how to dance for them and I became fluent in Japanese so I was able to listen to them and pour them tea. I was the 'gansing' as the Mistress used to call me."

"Gansing?"

"I think the English word is 'snack'," Eun Mi said. "She ran a brothel but I refused to be a comfort girl and my mother wouldn't permit it either. She had to be a comfort girl, though."

"How did that happen?"

"We just couldn't support ourselves after my Grandpa Chin Mae died. We tried, but soon our little house was taken from us and we had no other choice but to seek shelter with the Mistress and her generosity came with a catch."

"I'm sorry," JJ said. "How long were you there?"

"A few years," Eun Mi said. "We had to leave suddenly though. I…caught a soldier harming my mother. I took the matter into my own hands so to speak."

"I see," JJ said. "How did you come to be enlisted with the North Korean army?"

"At the time, it was the only way to find medical help for my mother," Eun Mi said. "The doctor had said there was nothing he could do for her, so I asked to be able to be with her until she passed away. I promised if they did, I would be loyal to them. Before that, we'd had a tiny hut that I'd built for us and we had a little garden and we were able to be left alone until Japan lost the war and General Kim Il Sung took control. I had to work in a factory to earn food stamps so my mother could eat, but her condition was deteriorating so quickly that I wanted to be with her and I quit the factory…in my own fashion. Word about that spread and the General found out about it. He demanded that if what was said about me was true that I would have to serve the People's Army. I put forward my conditions for my service and that was that."

"I'm sorry," JJ said soothingly. "Do you regret me taking you?"

"No," Eun Mi said. "I did for a brief time, but not anymore. Truthfully, if the doctor had not told me, I suspect my superiors would have let my mother die and would never have told me. I was lucky the doctor was good enough to tell me. I suspect he paid a heavy price for telling me."

"They took advantage of you," JJ said bluntly. "I won't apologize for bringing you here. I'll apologize for scaring you and for taking you by force, but not for taking you."

"You're a stubborn man aren't you?" Eun Mi said with a gentle smile.

"You don't know the half of it," JJ smiled right back. "You strike me as rather stubborn yourself."

"To be fair, I never told my potential step-father to….what did you tell him? That you would set him ablaze and into the water where he should have stayed?"

JJ chuckled a little, "Fine. You win. Although, for the record, Suerro may be my mother's husband someday soon, but he won't be my dad."

"Well, no, of course not," Eun Mi said. "You're named after your father are you not?"

"Yeah, I am," JJ said. "I'm told I look exactly like him too. I have a picture of him in my left inside breast pocket. You can grab it to look if you like. My hands are wet." JJ's jacket was on his leg so he wouldn't get the sleeves wet while he did laundry, so Eun Mi took hold of the jacket and found the picture in question.

She looked at the picture and examined it. There was one tiny corner that had a little blood on it, but it was barely noticeable after it had dried. She looked up at JJ and then at the picture again. Indeed JJ looked just like his father, but the smile was different. She could tell that much. The man in the picture had the smile of a man with the confidence of a titan on cloud nine. JJ's smile was a little different. His was the smile of a man that, as far as Eun Mi could tell, had found a renewed hope. When the thought crossed her mind, she nearly blushed. She'd been told by Jun before that before JJ had met her that he was very depressed and didn't smile very often and if he did, it was always a very sad smile. According to Jun, since Eun Mi and JJ met, JJ had made a complete turnaround in his personality in which he was happier and smiled more. Something about knowing that touched her deeply.

"You do look like your father," Eun Mi finally said. "You're very handsome like him."

"Really?"

Eun Mi nodded. "Your smile is different, though. Your smile is your own. I like your smile."

"Do you?" JJ asked and Eun Mi nodded again. He overheard the other ladies giggling and it caused Eun Mi to start blushing again, but this time she looked at them and said something to them in Korean. They seemed to keep quiet, but they were still smiling. "Everything alright?"

"I just told them to leave us be," Eun Mi said. She put the picture of JJ's father back in his pocket but she held onto his jacket.

"I actually have some pictures left over from when I got back to send to my mom. Late Christmas present, so on. I have a few I didn't send. Did you want one?"

"I don't have a picture to give you in return," Eun Mi said.

"That's okay," JJ said. "I'll just have to come back more often to see you." Eun Mi smiled a little and looked down to her hands and JJ's jacket a moment before looking at him again.

"I would love a picture of you," Eun Mi said. She noticed her acceptance made JJ very happy. She just wished she could give him something in return. "When are you leaving tomorrow?"

"We're leaving early in the morning after breakfast hour," JJ said. "So I'll be allowed one more special breakfast before I leave."

"Anything in particular you would like?" JJ thought about Eun Mi's question a moment before smiling.

"Rice with peas," JJ said.

"Okay," Eun Mi smiled and blushed a little.

"I'll give you a picture tomorrow when I get breakfast," JJ said. "Until then, I don't suppose since I told you a story you might tell me one?"

Eun Mi smiled and, since she'd brought it up, she started by telling the story of Kaguya-Hime and JJ listened intently as she told the story while he continued doing laundry. Once she'd finished telling that story, JJ asked her to tell him a story of Korean origin that maybe her mother or grandpa had told her. That took her a moment to think of. Her grandpa had been the story teller, but it had been so many years that she nearly forgot the details of even her favorite story: the Story of Simcheongga.

"My grandpa was very good at telling this story," Eun Mi said after she told JJ what story she'd be telling him. "He had a very deep voice and it was soothing when he told it."

"How does the story go?"

"Simcheongga is the story of a girl named Sim Cheong. Her mother died in childbirth and her father was a blind man that had to take care of his daughter by himself but he raised his daughter with undying devotion and sincerity. Her father Sim Hak-Gyu was called Sim-Bongsa or Sim the Blind in English. One day, Sim-Bongsa fell into a ditch. A Buddhist monk found him and rescued him from the ditch. When the monk found out Sim-Bongsa was blind, he told the man that if he donated 300 bags of rice to the temple, his blindness would be cured, but he had no way to obtain that much rice.

"Sim-Bongsa told his daughter Cheong the story and lamented that he simply couldn't follow through with such a task and Cheong reassured her father. Then Cheong learned there were sailors that were offering any request so long as they could obtain a virgin to sacrifice to the Sea Dragon King Yongwang. They needed the virgin sacrifice to appease the King Yongwang in order to guarantee the safety of their merchant ships before they set sail. Cheong offered herself to the sailors for their sacrifice in exchange for the 300 bags of rice.

"The sailors sacrificed her to the Dragon King Yongwang by throwing her into the sea. She was then taken to the palace of King Yongwang and she relayed her story to the Dragon King. The King was moved by her story and by Cheong's goodness so he sent her back to land carried by a giant lotus flower. The lotus flower carried her to an emperor's palace and the emperor fell madly in love with Cheong so he made her his empress. Yet Cheong deeply missed her father and longed to see him, so she threw a large banquet in the hopes that she might see her father again. She is successful and her father comes to the banquet. She approaches her father to welcome him and he's so stunned and elated to hear his daughter's voice that he completely regained his sight."

"That's a sweet story," JJ smiled.

"It was my favorite story Grandpa would tell to me," Eun Mi said. "I remember when I was a little girl and Grandpa was warming up to me. My mother encouraged him to tell me a story because I was having a hard time sleeping." Eun Mi smiled fondly. "I remember keeping my poor Grandpa up late into the night telling me stories. One night, he held me in his lap and told me stories while he and mom were eating dinner and I fell asleep in his arms." A small tear fell from Eun Mi's eye that she immediately brushed away. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," JJ said. "I know how it feels to miss someone that much. Believe me. When I was a kid, I was my dad's shadow. I used to beg to go with him to work instead of staying at home with mom or go to school. Dad used to take me and my little brother fishing with Uncle Hailey all the time and dad taught me German. So did Uncle Hailey of course. When I was really little, if I had a nightmare, dad would stay up with me and read to me in German and it would send me right to sleep again." JJ stopped talking after that, needing a moment to keep himself composed. He stopped the cleaning he'd been doing and started taking deep and even breaths.

"JJ?" Eun Mi asked.

"Sorry," JJ said. "After all these years it's still so hard." JJ stopped again otherwise he would start crying. He held his head down continuing his deep breathing. Then he rubbed his eye to make sure a tear didn't fall, but he got soap in his eye. "Fuck," JJ snapped and lifted his head. Eun Mi went to get a clean cloth and dipped it in clean water before returning to JJ and forcing his eye open so she could wring water into his eye and then used the wet cloth to gently massage the soap out of his eye.

A few moments of rubbing later she asked, "Is that better?"

"Yeah," JJ said and was about to rub his eye again but Eun Mi stopped him and continued. She finally stopped when JJ said he was fine and she pulled her stool chair closer to the water basin and started cleaning the rag.

JJ didn't really say anything again after that. He kept trying his best not to think too much about Jae and it never lasted very long. When JJ would suddenly stop moving his hands from thinking, Eun Mi would use her phantom hands to reach into the water and start guiding him to continue. The first time she did it and he felt that warm touch, JJ looked at her and Eun Mi just smiled. JJ eventually finished the laundry assigned to him by noon hour when all the recruits were called to come eat. Eun Mi went to the kitchen and whipped up something really quick for JJ with prepared rice, thinly sliced pickled radish, a little of his kimchi and eggplant that she roasted over an open flame until tender that she put a mixture of soy sauce and sesame oil on, then grilled. JJ had come to the line figuring that day he'd only get rice, but Eun Mi handed him a big tray of food and he thanked her for it before sitting with a few of the others.

"How was cleaning the uniforms this morning, Susie Homemaker?" Hadley joked.

"I discovered a number of you have a nasty little habit of forgetting loose change in your clothing," JJ smirked.

"You are giving that back, right?" one guy asked.

"I did your laundry. I get to keep my payment," JJ said and the others began to protest, but Hadley was chuckling.

"I actually was a little more interested in how your date with Eun Mi went," Hadley said.

"Oh, yeah, that's right. We all saw the two of you talking all morning. She even rubbed your little head for you," one guy joked.

"I had gotten soap in my eye and Eun Mi was helping clean my eye," JJ said.

"Well, that was nice of her," Hadley said.

"Are you planning to come back a lot to visit?" Jun asked.

"That's what I'd like to do," JJ said. "I don't know how often I'll be able to get permission to come here, but I'll get it as often as I can."

"Are you going to ask Miss So to marry you?" Jun asked innocently.

"I was under the impression the two of them were already married," one guy joked and everyone at the table laughed.

"To think: she cooks and takes care of you and you never even put a ring on her finger," another man joked.

"Even let's you kiss her too," another guy teased. "Has she afforded you any other luxuries?"

"Stop," JJ said with an exasperated sigh.

JJ tried to veer the conversation away from the guys teasing JJ about his and Eun Mi's relationship, but it took a lot of sidetracking. He was also thinking about what Jun had asked. He'd of course contemplated asking Eun Mi to marry him, but he wasn't sure it was the right time. In fact, he knew it wasn't the right time. Asking her to marry him would mean he'd be sending her to America. He wasn't sure she was ready to receive another harsh dose of culture shock, but he also knew he didn't want to be without her. He wanted to marry her, but he also wanted to be able to enjoy being married to her. Of course, with the country being engulfed in a war, wouldn't the wiser decision be to send her where she'd be safe? His feelings and needs be damned? That seemed much easier said than actually done. Finally when he'd finished his lunch, JJ left the mess hall and was met by Eun Mi.

"JJ," Eun Mi said, "I spoke with Terry about what we'd talked about. He said he'd be happy to give me a day off on days you come to visit."

"He did?" JJ smiled and Eun Mi nodded. "I'll make a point the thank him later. I was actually planning to call home. Did you want to come with me?"

Eun Mi nodded and JJ reached out his hand to take hers. She accepted it and they walked to the administrative tent so he could ask the officer for permission to call home. Since he was being shipped out the following day, it wasn't a tall ask. However, asking if Eun Mi could be with him when he called was a bit of a tall ask. JJ agreed he'd let the officer stay in the room with them if Eun Mi could sit with him. So when JJ called home, Eun Mi sat beside him while the officer sat at the desk reading the latest newspaper that had been shipped in from the States.

"Black residence," Suerro's voice came from the receiver.

"Hey, Suerro, it's JJ. Is mom there?"

"I'll wake her for you," Suerro said and the other end was quiet a moment. A few minutes later, Natalie's voice finally came.

"JJ?"

"Hey mom," JJ said. "I'm sorry to wake you, but I wanted to get a chance to talk."

"I always tell you, JJ, you're welcome to wake me," Natalie's voice came through the receiver. "How have you been? You're still alright? You haven't been injured or anything?"

"I'm fine mom," JJ said. "I'm being transferred tomorrow, so I'll only be able to write for a while."

"Where are you being sent?"

"Just the parallel," JJ said.

"'Just the parallel'," Natalie grumbled. "You say that as though it's no more than a trip to the grocery store."

"Mom, try not to worry so much," JJ said. "How have Nesia and Salem been?"

"They're doing alright," Natalie said. "They miss their big brother. We all miss you. I don't suppose you received any update as to when they're sending you home?"

"Not since they gave me orders to go to the parallel," JJ joked. "So….how have you and Suerro been?"

"We're alright," Natalie said. "We miss you."

"Even Suerro?" JJ said skeptically. "Put him on the phone and I'll yell at him a bit. That should tide him over." JJ heard Suerro chuckle a little in the background. He never thought it would feel good to have a relationship like this with the man, but it did.

"JJ, please don't tease," Natalie said.

"Also, mom," JJ said and looked at Eun Mi, "I actually have Eun Mi with me if you wanted to talk to her." That took Eun Mi by surprise and her eyes went wide as she gently shook her head.

"The young woman you imprinted on?" Natalie asked.

"Yeah," JJ said and smiled at her. "That's Eun Mi. Did you want to talk to her?" Eun Mi kept gently shaking her head. Normally, JJ wouldn't push, but this was different. He wanted his mother to 'meet' Eun Mi the only way he could really offer.

"Sure, I'll talk to her," Natalie agreed and JJ smiled while Eun Mi just appeared nervous as JJ handed over the phone.

"My mom would like to talk to you," JJ smiled. "Her name is Natalie." Eun Mi reluctantly accepted the phone and finally pressed it to her ear.

"Hello?" Eun Mi finally mumbled nervously. JJ took a hold of her trembling hand and smiled encouragingly at her.

"Hello? Is this Eun Mi?" Natalie asked.

"Yes," Eun Mi answered. JJ rubbed his thumb over her hand to offer encouragement. "You are Natalie, correct? JJ's mother?"

"Yes, I'm JJ's mother," Natalie answered. "I've heard quite a bit about you, so it's a pleasure to finally get to speak with you. Allow me to extend my gratitude for how well you've been taking care of him. I'll never stop worrying, but knowing you're there and taking care of him gives me comfort."

"Oh, no," Eun Mi said, "it's no trouble." JJ tried not to chuckle when Eun Mi started blushing and the officer was smiling knowingly behind his paper.

"So how did you and JJ actually meet? JJ said you cook for the head chef on base?"

"I do now," Eun Mi said and looked at JJ. He continued to smile.

"It's okay," JJ whispered to her. "You can tell her. She was bound to find out anyway."

Eun Mi nodded a little and finally continued, "JJ and I met…um…..that is to say….JJ had been…..captured by People's Army."

"Hold on a second; what?" Natalie said suddenly. Eun Mi was about to continue nervously but was interrupted. "Eun Mi, dear, would you please put JJ back on the phone?"

Eun Mi nodded nervously and looked at JJ, "She said to speak with you." JJ nodded and accepted the phone.

"Okay, mom, before you start panicking or getting upset-"

"No, no, no JJ, when were you captured?!"

"Mom, calm down," JJ said. "I haven't been there for months. Long story short, we were fleeing from the Chinese army when they extended North Korea their assistance, I was shot and I was lucky enough that I lived, but I was captured by the North Koreans. I was lucky enough again that Eun Mi was there and she helped me and my men escape from the camp. She was injured when we were escaping, so I took her with us. We were able to cross the parallel safely more or less and we returned to South Korea safe and sound. Okay mom?"

"Don't 'okay mom' me! Why didn't you tell me this happened?!"

"Because I knew you'd do exactly what you're doing now: you're worrying when there's nothing to worry about anymore. Really, mom, everything's okay now."

"Everything isn't okay until you're home," Natalie said stubbornly.

"Alright, I'll give you that one," JJ chuckled a little.

"This isn't funny, JJ," Natalie said.

"It actually is to some extent," JJ said. "According to Eun Mi, the camp started calling me the Ogre and were scared of me because I assaulted one of their officers on numerous occasions and I even cut off his finger. Son of a bitch burned my back and rubbed salt in my burns so cutting off his middle finger was more satisfying than it probably should have been."

"They what?!"

"Mom, calm down, it's already healed up," JJ said. "You'd never know they tried to burn me alive."

"JJ!" Natalie said.

"Alright, mom, alright, I'll stop," JJ said. "The point is that's how Eun Mi and I met." He heard Natalie sigh heavily a moment and he gave her that time to calm down.

"Alright," Natalie finally said. "We'll be talking about this again later. Can I speak with Eun Mi?"

"Sure," JJ said and looked at Eun Mi handing the phone back to her. "I think I calmed her down so you should be alright."

"Is she mad?"

"At me, sure, but not you so you have nothing to worry about," JJ reassured and rubbed his thumb over her knuckle again. Eun Mi kept trembling and brought the phone to her ear.

"Miss Natalie?" Eun Mi said.

"I'm here, Eun Mi," Natalie said, "and you can just call me Natalie. So you are NORTH Korean?"

"I was born in Northern Korea, yes," Eun Mi said.

"I see," Natalie said. "I suppose South Korea must be quite the culture shock?"

"It was at first," Eun Mi mumbled. "When my mother was alive, we lived largely as hermits I suppose is the word. When Japan lost the war and were removed from Korea, the country was divided and we were in the North, so we have to grow accustomed to a communist structure." Eun Mi glanced at the officer who was still reading, but she knew he could hear them, so she chose her explanation carefully. "I had worked for a factory for a while to make sure my mother could have food, but her health started to deteriorate so I had to give her my full attention. I was given orders to serve the People's Army and I agreed under the condition that my mother were taken care of health wise."

"They gave you the choice?" Natalie asked a little surprised. "I was under the impression you would have been told to serve or else."

"Most of us served willingly because we didn't want to be oppressed like we were under the Japanese. I wasn't so much concerned with that as I was with my mother. My circumstances were different from most."

"Because of your gift? JJ said you had a strange power."

"Yeah," Eun Mi nodded. "The General found out and wanted proof it was true and when it proved true, I was enlisted, but I'd made my conditions for my service clear. If it's alright, I would prefer not to talk about it."

"I understand," Natalie said. "Is your mother still in North Korea?"

"My mother passed away," Eun Mi said solemnly. "Her condition was such that there was nothing doctors could do. I was able to be with her when she passed away, but it was very hard."

"I'm so sorry," Natalie said.

"It's okay," Eun Mi said and rubbed her eyes. "So anyway, JJ told me a lot about you too."

For the next ten remaining minutes they had to talk, Eun Mi and Natalie talked and got to know one another. When the Officer said they needed to end the call, Eun Mi handed the phone over to JJ so he could say goodbye to Natalie and promised he'd write as soon as he reached the Parallel.

"Your mother is very nice," Eun Mi said after they walked away from the office.

"She liked you a lot too," JJ smiled and squeezed Eun Mi's hand. "I'm glad the two of you were able to talk. Sorry to push you on it, but I don't know when will be the next time I'll get to call my mom and I wanted to give her a chance to get to know you. I've been telling her about you for months now."

"Have you really?" Eun Mi blushed.

"Of course," JJ said. "The truth is I've liked you for a long time. More than liked you honestly." JJ squeezed her hand. He almost said 'I love you', but her aversion of his gaze stopped him.

The two of them walked around the M.A.S.H. base just talking until it was nearing dinner service and Eun Mi went to the kitchen to make something that JJ could eat. It was something quick again to make sure it would be done by the time he arrived to the mess hall and they agreed to meet in thirty minutes so they could go watch the movie that night. In the meantime, Eun Mi was helping Yon clean and she brought up that she'd spoken with Natalie.

"He introduced you to his mother?" Yon asked, the two of them speaking in Korean, and grinned. "Eun Mi that is a very, very big step. Men do not introduce ladies to their mothers lightly."

"She was very nice," Eun Mi said.

"Is that all? Eun Mi, you should be delighted you were able to speak with her. I'd wager Pvt. Dauer will be proposing to you very soon."

"Proposing?" Eun Mi asked, going a little stiff.

"He'll ask you to marry him," Yon said. "I'm certain of it."

"He kissed me once and said he liked me," Eun Mi said. "I would hardly consider a proposal the next step."

"Well, if this is how cold you are with him then perhaps you're right," Yon scolded.

"I'm not cold with him," Eun Mi defended. "I just think you're jumping to conclusions."

"Yes, of course. A man takes up time he could be spending talking to his mother on the other side of the world and instead uses it to introduce a woman he's kissed once to his mother."

"I'm sure he just wanted his mother to have a chance to speak to whomever got her son out of the North Korean camps," Eun Mi said, even if they'd not spoken of it at all. Natalie had reserved that conversation entirely for JJ. Yon didn't need to know that.

"A huh," Yon said in English and then proceeded in Korean. "Are you saying if he proposed, you'd say no?"

"You're a damn fool if you say no," one woman helping them clean interrupted and Eun Mi didn't answer, just staring into the water while she cleaned.

"I…" she started but she stopped, unsure how to even answer.

"Mei Lin, you get back to work. This is a private conversation," Yon scolded the other woman who bowed her head and returned to her work. "Do you not love Pvt. Dauer?"

"I don't know," Eun Mi hurried to say, not wanting to talk about this with Yon or anyone else in the kitchen for that matter.

"Well, Eun Mi, I'll be very honest with you," Yon said. "If you don't love him, then you're stringing the poor boy along. If you don't love him, you owe it to him to be clear."

"I didn't say I don't love him," Eun Mi defended.

"You said you don't know. That implies the answer is no."

"No, it implies I've never felt this way about anyone," Eun Mi said. "I don't know how I feel."

"Of course you know how you feel," Yon said. "You just never had to put your feelings to a word. Do you look forward to being with Pvt. Dauer? Do you enjoy being in his company? Does he make your heart flutter and does he make you feel good? If the answer is yes, that sounds an awful lot like love to me."

"I loved my mother and grandpa," Eun Mi said. "I don't feel the same way about JJ as I did about them."

"Love is a broad term, Eun Mi," Yon said and then sighed. "You speak Japanese right?"

"Yes? What about it?" Eun Mi asked, confused.

"Alright," Yon said. "You know in Japanese, the way to express affection is to tell someone Daisuki, correct?"

"Yes," Eun Mi said.

"Well, there's another word the Japanese use. Aishteru – the way I understand it, this word is not used lightly. It's reserved for people you feel a deeper love than you feel for anyone. It's intense. It's special. It's romantic. So tell me Eun Mi," Yon continued, "do you have a love for JJ you would apply to family, or do you feel something more intense for him?" Eun Mi kept blushing with her head held down. "Good," Yon said. "You're not stringing him along. You're just a little naïve."

"Naïve?!" Eun Mi asked, offended.

"Hey," Terry's voice boomed, looking at them and getting their attention. "When you talk, you use inside voices, got it? The only one yelling in this kitchen is me. Understand?"

"Yes, sir!" Yon and Eun Mi said and turned around to face him and bow.

"Oh get off it, Lotus. Since when do you show me respect," Terry said.

"Sorry, Mr. Terry. From now on I treat you with disrespect like stubborn man you are!"

"Fine!" Terry said and got back to what he'd been doing while Eun Mi and Yon turned around to the sink to continue.

"I never understood how you get away with talking to him that way," Eun Mi mumbled.

"Because frankly, my dear, were I not a happily married woman, I'd likely have fallen into that fool's arms a long time ago," Yon answered bluntly and Eun Mi stared at her wide eyed. "Oh, stop it. Terry and I have an understanding. We're not talking about us; we're talking about you and Pvt. Dauer."

"I didn't realize we were talking," Eun Mi grumbled. "From what I can tell, you've just been scolding me and telling me how to feel."

"Alright," Yon sighed and raised her hands a moment before putting them back in the water. "You clearly know better, so I shall say no more."

Eun Mi gladly took the silence that followed over Yon's lecturing and when it had been thirty minutes, she got permission from Terry to leave and met up with JJ so they could go to the little makeshift theatre to see the movie. He'd been right about the movie showing being Cinderella, but Eun Mi asked they stay in the back. She preferred the picture from far away anyway so they stayed in the back. While they waited and other people on base were getting themselves seated, JJ and Eun Mi talked a little. When the movie started, JJ lifted her up so she could see and she used her ghostly hands to keep herself up with greater ease and wrapped an arm around JJ's neck. It was one of the first movies they'd seen together that Eun Mi understood all of the dialogue rather than just bits and pieces of it. She enjoyed watching the movie with JJ but he'd been right about the movie being rather different than the original Brothers Grimm tale.

JJ's hold of Eun Mi changed a little though when Cinderella met the prince and they'd started singing how they were in love. Truthfully, Eun Mi thought it rather silly that a couple could think themselves so madly in love at first sight, but then she felt JJ's hand seem to tighten its hold on her and he rested his head against hers swaying gently from side to side as though to dance with her. Eun Mi leaned her head against JJ's chest and brought her right hand up so she was holding it over JJ's and she laced her fingers through his. It was perhaps the most romantic moment the two of them had ever shared and it hit her just how JJ made her feel. Not just in that moment, but in general. They continued to hold each other that way the remainder of the movie and when it was the end when Cinderella and her prince married, A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes started playing again in the background and Eun Mi actually started humming. She heard JJ chuckle just a little.

"It's gotten to you," JJ whispered.

"It's enjoyable," Eun Mi said. "I can see why your cousins had the song stuck in their heads."

JJ smiled and even kissed the top of Eun Mi's head and she felt her cheeks start burning. When the movie was over, JJ put Eun Mi back on her feet and offered to walk her back to the tent where she'd been bunking. He held her hand the whole time while JJ asked her how she liked the movie. Eun Mi answered but she wasn't really thinking about the movie at the moment. She felt slightly dizzy and her stomach was fluttering with her heart racing. Once they reached the tent, Eun Mi stepped around so she could look up at him. Looking at JJ was like staring into the sky for their height difference.

"Thank you for tonight. I had a good time," Eun Mi said.

"Thank you for coming to see the movie with me," JJ said. "I don't suppose I can write to you could I?"

"My reading is still…..limited," Eun Mi said. "Learning to speak wasn't so hard since it consumed my days, but getting someone to teach me to read isn't so easy."

"Okay," JJ said, admittedly a little sad. He'd been hoping to be able to write to her. "Don't worry; I'll just have to visit more often." Eun Mi nodded, but she made a mental note to devote more time to learning to read. She knew if she were to write a letter to JJ it would mean a lot. "I'll give you my picture before I leave tomorrow. Will you see me off?"

Eun Mi nodded, "Yes, I will."

JJ smiled and leaned down so he could give her a kiss. Eun Mi waited until his lips pressed to hers. There was no hesitation this time when they kissed. Eun Mi wrapped her arms around JJ's neck and even jumped up a little so he would stand upright and take her up with him. JJ held Eun Mi close while they kissed and continued to hold her after they stopped kissing. JJ went to her neck and shoulder so he could just hold her. He didn't want to let her go and started planting gentle kisses to her neck. He felt Eun Mi tremble against his touch and it bolstered him to keep kissing her. Eun Mi ran her fingers through JJ's hair and rested her head against his while he kissed her. She felt outside of herself as though the world had melted away and she found she quite liked it. All the feelings that Yon had mentioned – the intensity and passion that didn't apply except for someone special – Eun Mi felt it all.

"사랑해요," (Saranghaeyo/I love you) Eun Mi whispered almost unconsciously.

"What?" JJ asked between kisses to her neck. Remarkably, that didn't break the trance. Rather, Eun Mi held JJ tighter.

"It means I love you," Eun Mi said and JJ stopped what he was doing. Then he held her tighter in return and lifted his head back up so he could kiss her. Eun Mi accepted the kiss, however brief it was, and looked up at him when he stopped and rested his forehead against Eun Mi's.

"I love you too," JJ said and kissed her. "Ich Liebe dich," he continued then planted another kiss, "I love you," he finished in Quileute. Eun Mi giggled between kisses.

"Relax, JJ, it's not a contest," Eun Mi said and made JJ laugh a moment. "What languages were those?"

"German and Quileute," JJ said and kissed Eun Mi again.

"Alright, you love me in three languages. You win," Eun Mi teased and made JJ laugh again. He held her for several minutes rocking back and forth with her in his arms. "I could fall asleep like this," Eun Mi said.

"Me too," JJ said and kissed her neck again. While they hugged, they heard someone clear their throat and they both looked at Yon who had poked her head out of the large tent with a big smirk.

"Alright, you two, it's late. Time to kiss goodnight and get to bed," Yon teased. Eun Mi let go of JJ while she started raising her voice at Yon, but it was all in Korean so JJ couldn't follow. Whatever it was, Yon certainly found a great deal of humor from the situation. Eun Mi pushed and shoved Yon until she finally went back inside and sighed a little once they were alone. JJ walked up behind her and leaned down so he could wrap his arms around her and kissed her neck again.

"Goodnight, Eun Mi," JJ said and then brought his lips to her ear. "Any particular language you want me to say 'I love you' in?"

Eun Mi smiled, "English is fine. I love you too." JJ kissed her ear and Eun Mi turned her head so she could kiss him back. Finally, he released her and waited for her to step back into the tent. She smiled at him before retreating inside and JJ had to return to the tent he'd been staying in.

"'So this is love,'" Yon began to sing as soon as Eun Mi was inside, "'So this is love. So this is what makes life divine.'" Eun Mi shoved Yon so she couldn't continue the song but every woman in that tent started giggling at Eun Mi's expense.

"Stop," Eun Mi said and went straight to her bed.

"So when's the wedding?" one woman asked. Eun Mi ignored her and just went straight to bed. They all giggled and continued to pester and tease her until everyone finally went to bed. They were all woken bright at early the next morning as usual.

"Are you giving JJ anything before he leaves?" Yon asked.

"I don't have anything to give him," Eun Mi said. "He's giving me a picture of him for me to keep. I want to give him a picture too, but I don't have a picture of myself. Except the one of me and my mother together."

"I'll ask around about getting a picture for you to give to him later," Yon said. "In the meantime, you can always give him your button."

"What?"

"You're button," Yon said and pointed to the second button on Eun Mi's uniform. "It's something I noticed the Japanese troops used to do. If there was someone in our village that a soldier fell in love with, he'd give their lover the second button of their uniform because it's the one closest to their heart. There was a young woman I knew as a girl that fell in love with a Japanese soldier. He gave her his button before he was sent off to fight. After the war, he came back and asked her if she'd marry him and she said yes. She went to be with him in Japan after that."

"How romantic," Eun Mi said almost sarcastically.

"Look, Eun Mi, the Japanese were mostly awful, but some of them were good. That young woman I told you about was a good friend of mine. I was apprehensive about her falling in love with a Japanese soldier, but he was a good man and was good to her. I'm just trying to suggest something you can do for JJ until we get you a picture."

Eun Mi looked down at the button of her uniform. It was a plain white button and was very small. She started fiddling with it trying to think if it was an option. The more she thought about it, though, the more she liked the idea. It would be a way that she could give him something in return until she could give him a picture like she wanted. While she was preparing breakfast, JJ was getting some things together so he'd be ready to go. They were all leaving as soon as they finished breakfast. He pulled out a picture like he'd promised and made sure to find one where he was smiling. He found one that, when he compared it to his father's picture, were very nearly mirror images. Eun Mi was right, though. He had a different smile than his father, but JJ was happy with the picture all the same. When he was on his way to the mess hall, he noticed something white on the ground. It was a gardenia. JJ grinned and quickly picked up the flower and gently brushed any dirt off the petals so it was perfect.

Eun Mi made the rice with peas just like JJ had asked and gave him a side of his kimchi, some pickled radish and fried tofu. Eun Mi waited eagerly for JJ to appear and when he had, she came over with his breakfast. JJ took the tray, but didn't immediately walk away. Instead, he handed over the gardenia and picture he'd promised. Eun Mi was surprised to see the flower and JJ smiled at her before walking away with his food. Eun Mi got out of the way so she could admire her gift. It smelled freshly fallen from the bush; fragrant and pleasant. Then she looked at the picture. She loved it instantly. In truth, were anyone else to see this picture and his father's picture side by side, they'd never know the difference except maybe for the fact that there was a hint of brown hue to the picture's black and white color. But Eun Mi knew better. She knew JJ's smile.

"A flower as well as a picture?" Yon said. "He's spoiling you, dear."

"You're just jealous," Eun Mi said, smiling to herself while she held the picture close to her chest.

"I have a picture of my husband too, dear," Yon giggled. "So what shall you give him in return?"

"Until I can give him a picture, a button will have to be enough," Eun Mi said. "I'll give it to him before he leaves."

"You'd better get permission from Terry now, then. They leave as soon as they finish eating," Yon said.

With that knowledge, Eun Mi went to Terry and begged she be able to see JJ off and promised she'd come right back. It didn't take much convincing at all. Terry practically shooed her away telling her to go say goodbye to JJ, so Eun Mi went outside where all the cars were that would take the men to the parallel and waited. She burrowed knife from one of the officers, cut off the second button of her uniform and gave back the knife to wait for JJ. JJ eventually came outside and saw her right away. He went right to her and hugged her.

"I'll come back as soon as I can," JJ said.

"I know," Eun Mi said. She gently pushed JJ so he'd let her go and she held out the button. "It's not much, but I wanted you to have this. It's my button."

"You're button?"

Eun Mi nodded, "It's the second button of my uniform. It's the one closest to my heart, so I want you to have it." JJ smiled once she'd explained its significance and leaned down to kiss her.

"Thank you, Eun Mi. I'll keep it safe."

Eun Mi kissed him back. "Just come back, okay?"

"I will," JJ promised. "I love you."

"사랑해요," (Saranghaeyo/I love you) she answered gently. JJ chuckled and kissed her again.

"Relax, Eun Mi. It's not a contest," he teased and Eun Mi giggled until JJ kissed her again. They hugged one another for the remaining time they had left until JJ had to leave. When JJ got on the back of the car with some other men being sent to the parallel, Eun Mi watched as he left and they waved goodbye to one another as he drove away. Eun Mi waited until she couldn't see him anymore and when she couldn't, she felt a sadness set in. She missed him already.