"Golden Gate Park"

Author: carmen_085

Disclaimer: I don't own any Band of Brothers characters. All original characters in this belong to me

Summary: He stared down at the dark, swirling water under the bridge. A step up and over…and a push off the railing is all it would take. Closing his eyes he swallowed the lump of emotion in his throat. No matter what, they were always there. The men who lived, the men who died, and her…always her. ( Liebgott X OC with an ensemble storyline)

Author's Note: I do no own any Band of Brothers characters and this story is based on the mini-series and not any real life individuals. I started this story last year but looking back I wanted to re-write it with more detail, same initial storyline but hopefully more developed. Thank you for your time and please leave a review! Still here, still trying to write this. Thanks for reading

Chapter Five

A dense fog settled over the valley as the company marched silently on the dirt path. Lucy focused on nothing more than the man in front of her, his ODs, the way his helmet shone in the moonlight, and the click of his rifle as he walked. It kept her mind off the searing pain in her feet, the ache in her back, and the tug in her shoulders. When Winters had informed her earlier in the day that she would join them on the Friday Night March she was filled with equal parts trepidation and excitement. Now she was simply filled with pain and a deep want for this God Forsaken exercise to stop. Thankfully, she could see the lights of the camp up ahead.

Prior to setting off, it had been made clear that no man should drink from his canteen. That Sobel expected everyone to drive themselves to the point of dehydration just because. She knew there was a chance that fresh water might be hard to come by in combat, and this was a round about way of driving that point home. Still, it didn't mean that it wasn't masochistic and surely just another tool to inflate Sobel's ever expanding ego. Either way, Lucy had been sure not to drink a drop. No sense in giving him another reason to hate her.

A few rows up she heard grumbling and saws some elbows being throw as a voice rose up breaking the silence, "Lt. Winters, permission to speak sir." It was Randleman, a mountain of a man that she hoped he would never have to drag by herself. She didn't know much else about him other than he was southern and seemed to be popular with the men.

"Permission granted." Winters peeled out of the primary formation to walk alongside the men.

Randleman sighed deeply, "Well sir we got nine companies sir…" He was right, Abel through Item.

"We do." Even in the dark she could see the corner of Winters' lip twitching into a smirk.

"Well how come we're the only company marching every Friday night twelve miles, full pack, in the pitch dark ?"

"Why do you think Private Randleman ?"

"Lt. Sobel hates us, Sir." Lucy felt herself stiffen, she could sense what would be coming next. Behind her she felt someone purposefully step on the back of her boots making her stumble.

"Hates us cause we're stuck with you." She didn't have to turn around to know that it was Cobb, a man that wore a perpetual scowl and made no effort to hide his clear disdain for her. Of course he'd said it just loud enough for her to hear as she straightened herself up looking side to side self consciously. "Do us all a favor and quit now !" His parting shot was a bit louder as the man who has been standing next to her stopped causing Cobb to run into his back. Lucy swallowed hard, fuck this was her first task with these men and already she was causing a problem. Guarnere looked Cobb up and down challenging him to say something else. Instead the instigator scoffed, as he shook his head narrowing his eyes. "Really ?" The rest of the men continued marching around them as Lucy slowed her steps torn on what to do next. She really…really didn't want to make a problem, but this also wasn't Guarnere's fight. The short Italian eyed Cobb up and down in the dark not saying a word but more than ready to let his fists do all the talking. For his own part, Bill didn't know if he really felt this strongly about her or if he was just tired of hearing Cobb run his mouth. Either way he wasn't moving.

"Lt Sobel does not hate Easy Company, Private Randleman, he just hates you." A wave of chuckling broke out over the company. Lucy's brows knit together in concern, someone was going to notice that they weren't moving and she wasn't about to let Guarnere get jammed up alone over defending her. Christ, she didn't even know why he was taking up her side in the first place, she just knew that she couldn't walk away. Thankfully, Cobb's posture relaxed back into submission as he rolled his eyes and with a huffing "Whatever" side stepped the short Italian. Lucy breathed her own sigh of relief as she turned and rejoined the Company, Guarnere right next to her. Taking her chances, she cast a sideways glance at him, wondering what that was all about. The look she got in return said one thing 'don't ask'. So she didn't and was content that nothing more came of it, although a bit surprised that one of the biggest mouths of the Company had come so quickly come to her defense.

Returning to the parade grounds the Company fell in line according to platoon with first in the front and third in the back,. The medics weren't technically assigned to a platoon so they just tucked in the middle near second platoon. Sobel appeared in the front, pacing back and forth his hands clasped behind his back and a permanent scowl on his face. Lucy hoped that she would go unnoticed tucked between Roe on the right and Guarnere on the left.

"Lt Winters I want canteens out of belts with caps unscrewed."

Winters delivered the order with a completely neutral face although not a single man there didn't realize how stupid this all was. "Easy Company, canteens out and open." The men unlatched their canteens as Lucy produced her own, mildly afraid that it would slip from her grasp and her impeccable discipline all night would go to waste.

"On my command they will pour the contents onto the ground." What a fucking waste of good water.

"On the CO's command you will upend your canteen." Lucy bit her lip, the Army sure wasn't a place for any sort of free thinking.

"Now, Lieutenant !" Sobel's face itched with anticipation for the man who's balls he was about to bust as his one and only friend in the Company, Sgt Evans looked on.

"Pour them !" Water hit the dirt causing a splashing sound all around as Sobel paced examining each man closely. Somewhere in the rear, he spotting something and shouldering past Lucy rougher than necessary he zeroed in on someone.

"Who is this ? Christenson, why is there no water in your canteen ? You drank from your canteen !" Lucy's own canteen ran dry as splashing stopped and the night fell silent once again. She didn't know Christenson but she could hear him struggling to come up with an explanation. Sobel, however, would not hear of it. "Lt Winters !"

"Yes Sir." Next to her, Guarnere sighed. Everyone knew he would going to find something wrong.

"Was this man ordered to not drink from his canteen ?" With a whole lot of dramatic emphasis on 'not'.

"He was , Sir."

"Private Christenson you have disobeyed a direct order. You will refill your canteen and repeat all twelve miles of the march immediately." Twenty four miles with nothing to drink. It wasn't just wrong it was dangerous. Lucy opened her mouth, intending to say something before Roe elbowed her in the ribs. His sharp eyes and the slight shake of his head said one thing…don't do it. Biting down on her tongue so hard that it hurt she watched as Christenson refilled his canteen, casting a glance or two toward Sobel and the rest of the Company to make sure this was actually happening. The CO didn't blink, however, as he stared down his nose at the young private expectantly. Everyone in the Company knew how damn ridiculous this was and yet they were powerless to stop it, equally concerned about their own fate if they did.

They stayed that way, in formation, all chewing on the idiocy of their commander as Christenson trudged onward down the path. Lucy began to understand in that moment what it meant to be a Paratrooper. These men wanted to be the best of the best more than anything. It would have been so much easier for Christenson to tell Sobel to fuck off and get on the first bus to the infantry. All the pain and the suffering would be over. But he didn't…maybe he couldn't….needing the extra fifty dollars a month to send back home, needed to see this all the way through, needed to stay here with these men. Either way he kept going. It dawned on Lucy what a monumental risk she was for these men and how goddamn hard it must be to accept her. And yet they were….some of them anyway…at least trying their best in earnest to see past the fact that she was woman and believe that she was a soldier just like them. She was doing her best, there as no question about that but now she knew that she needed to do even better.

The sun hadn't yet come up as she sat on the bench under a tree near the E Company Cabin. Lucy hadn't gotten much sleep thinking about what could be happening to Christenson alone out in the woods without a drop to drink in twenty four miles. Gathering a bag that she had put together with Roe for treating the men during training exercises she double checked for the IV and saline bag. It was her intention to meet Christenson as he stumbled back into Toccoa and offer him whatever aide she could. He could naturally rebuff her but she was going to make the effort either way.

After the Company had been dismissed last night, she noted that even Sobel and Evans had turned in. Winters waited for a long while staring out into the night, clearly just as concerned for his man. They were the last two left, in fact, before he acknowledged her dedication with a nod and gave her the order to turn in. She wasn't sure how long he'd waited there but as she crossed the dewy grass this morning the parade grounds were empty.

IV supplies, saline, her own canteen filled the brim with cool water, and a biscuit she'd stolen from the mess hall on another occasion and squirreled away in her bunk for the day Sobel decided they didn't need to eat. She checked it again, there was nothing else she could think of that he might need. Lucy just hoped that he made it back at all, imagining the young private delirious roaming around the swamps.

She caught sight of him at the edge of the perimeter as her heart loosened. He'd made it back. Stumbling with his head hanging, Christensen deposited his canteen at the water pump on the parade grounds before shuffling toward his cabin. Taking a cursory glance around, Lucy was thankful that no one was about to see this for fear of what else Sobel might do to them.

"Hey…Hey…" He stopped squinting his eyes, looking at her. She didn't know his first name and felt strange calling him Private. Still, no one else was around and it was clear that she was talking to him. She could see him trembling with dehydration as it took everything he had to stay on his feet. Without his consent, Lucy immediately went to him throwing one if his arms around her shoulders and letting him lean into her. Thankfully, he wasn't the size of Randleman or else they both would have been flattened to the ground. Something akin to a moan escaped his lips as he turned his head resting his face against the side of her head.

"Please…I don't want to fall….don't let me fall." Her heart broke as not for the tenth time in the last twelve hours her understanding of how badly these men wanted this was reinforced.

Placing one hand on his chest she steadied him as they walked up the stairs to the cabin. "I won't, I promise." Surprisingly they made it up the stairs and into the cabin as quietly as possible with Christensen gritting his teeth and expending the last of his strength. Lucy inhaled sharply as she laid eyes on all the men sleeping. Obviously she wasn't supposed to be in here and obviously Sober would flip the fuck out if he caught her here but she just couldn't leave. A man was sick and in need of medical care, not because of his own poor decisions or misfortune but because of Sobel's ridiculous punishment.

Christenson's bed was near the back and she was thankful for that. Easing him down onto the mattress in the dim grey light she could see up close and for the fist time just how bad he looked. Pale and with dry cracked lips he trembled no doubt from hyperthermia, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. He stared at her, his eyes vacant and pleading at the same time. Carefully she set his helmet onto the floor under his bunk along with his pack. Lucy would obviously forgo undressing him, though he definitely needed to cool off and instead she settled on the compromise of peeling his outer OD shirt off and leaving him in a t-shirt. For his part, Christenson didn't refuse as he sat there almost like a child letting her undress him.

He'd not looked at the girl much since she'd shown up on the parade ground that one morning. He'd also not taken part in the caterwauling or heckling that many of the other men had. She was here and it wasn't up to him what happened to her. Simple as that. But now with her gentle hands undoing the buttons of his shirt he could't help but to look, just a little, and really see her for the first time. She was beautiful in a way he never would have appreciated before joining the Army. Natural tanned skin and light grey eyes framed by a head of a dark brown hair that hung loosely over her shoulders. She was strong with developed arms and legs that had done manual labor in the past. Nothing like what he would have taken note of before leaving home. Delicate women with pinned up, tightly coiffed hair and bright red lipstick. Dresses that cut their pale legs just below the knee and heels that clicked as they walked down the sidewalk.

She wasn't that- not even close- and yet she was amazing in her own way. He licked his dry lips finding nothing there to wet them. Immediately a canteen was produced and pressed to his lips as he drank with wide eyes. "Slow down…you'll make yourself sick." She whispered the words as she placed a cool hand to forehead. Taking a breath he let out a groan that was completely involuntary. Her lips twitched up slightly in a reassuring smile as she ran her hand back into his sweaty hair wiping it away from his forehead. Although he would never allow himself, Christenson wanted to cry right then. Not just for the way she was caring for him but also for the fact that he needed this….like really needed this more than anything right now. "Take another drink and then lie down." He did as he was told and before he knew it her steady hands were on his left arm sliding a needle into his vein. It didn't hurt- not that it could right now as he was nearly numb from head to toe- but still it was evident that she knew what she was doing.

Lucy was relieved that she could find a vein so easily and as she sat back she watched the saline drip into his body a small smile came to her face. He would be feeling better in no time. Still, the matter of his temperature remained. She didn't have a thermometer, the Army surely not wanting to spring for such an expense, yet she could conclude from his hot, dry skin that he was suffering from heat exhaustion. Unlike her bunk with a single toilet and sink, the men had a cordoned off restroom area that was easy enough to find. Wetting a wash cloth with cold water she rung it out. This would have to do.

Joe had always been a light sleeper- something he learned from a kid when his old man was drunk and stumbling into the house at all hours of the night. He didn't anticipate that going to war would change much. So he heard her, tip toeing around the cabin, while most of the other guys were still snoring softly in they bunks. He cracked an eye open, careful not to let on that he was watching her, but still he was watching her all the same. She must have been waiting for Christenson to get back and now after guiding him into his bunk like a rag doll she was taking care of him. Joe couldn't see much but he did hear the desperate moan that escaped his bunkmate's lips. Keeping himself hidden and out of the situation was the least he could do for Christenson's pride as he was sure the man would be mortified if he has the sense to think at all.

He heard the water shut off and saw her pad quietly back to her patient's bedside as she laid the rag across his forehead earning herself a whispered thank you. Across the bunk house Doc Roe was still asleep, and through no fault of his own, unaware that someone needed a medic. But Lucy knew…somehow she just knew. Joe closed his eyes feeling like such a dick for treating her as he had. It was clear to him now as it had been when she put that tourniquet on him, that she knew what she was doing. More ready for war than the rest of them. Because unlike all the farmers, constructions workers, and fucking cab drivers trying to make themselves into something else; she already was something else. She came here already knowing what to do and how to do it. Rolling onto his side, Joe couldn't help but to crack an eye. A jar of saline hung on the nail above Christensen's bed as she sat on the floor next to him staring at his sleeping form with practiced eyes. Reaching up he saw her flip the cloth around on Christensen's forehead letting her hand linger there for a moment providing him what measure of comfort that she could. None of this could be taught; it's just what she was. Joe closed his eyes as she stood, taking the rag back to the sink and re-wetting it once more.

Lucy watched the last of the fluids drain into Christensen's vein before disconnecting the IV and removing the needle from his arm placing a small square bandage in its place. His skin was much cooler and offering him the last the water in her canteen she was satisfied that while he might feel like shit the rest of the day, he was not in any danger. Covering him with a sheet she lingered a moment as he drifted off into a peaceful sleep. Dawn was breaking and the cabin was beginning to fill with sunlight, the men would be up soon. Taking this as her cue she collected her bag and quietly left the cabin easing the door shut behind her.

Joe heard the door shut as he rolled onto his back. He treated her like shit and it bothered him more than it should. Pushing himself out of bed he left the cabin and tucked in around the side taking a leak and pulling out his first smoke of the day. The sky was a smear of purple and orange, yellow and red. Looked like rain today, maybe just maybe they wouldn't have to run that goddamn hill, his feet still aching from the twelve mile march the night before. Blowing a cloud of smoke away he flicked the hair out of his eyes. In the distance he saw her walking toward her cabin. Kneeling down on one leg he stared at her retreating form. Fuck it, he was going to say something. What ? Well he figure that out on the way. Perching his cigarette between his lips, Joe began to follow her.

The door to Lucy's cabin clapped shut behind her as she let out a deep sigh. She'd done something good this morning and it felt like, against all odds, she was finally beginning to belong with these men. She had about an hour before it was time to muster and she intended to spend it relaxing in her bunk, her feet still aching from the night before. Her head filled with silly notions that things might actually work out for the best, she let her guard down. Lying down in her bunk she exhaled closing her eyes. She was more tired than she thought, spending half the night laying awake worrying that Christensen would pass out from dehydration.

She was already drifting back off to sleep when she heard the door slam shut. At first she thought maybe she'd dreamt it, unable to resist the magnetic pull of sleep. Footsteps came closer to her bed as her eyebrows knit together in sleepy confusion.

"You just won't give up…." Sobel….in a second she was bolt upright in bed. Swinging her legs over the side, a sudden surge of fear shot through her. None of the men were allowed in here; his orders, to ensure they didn't "get mixed up in some unfortunate accusations".

Stammering she looked up at him, her reflexes and brain seriously impaired at the moment. "You….you aren't supposed to be in here."

His eyes were dark as he cocked his head at her inquisitively. Lucy felt her heart pound in her chest. When she entered the Army they made her well aware that this was a man's world and any whisper of sexual harassment would be met with her swift end. She had earned her place to be here but that didn't mean they felt her to be irreplaceable. They wanted no trouble, no bad publicity, no bullshit. Making an accusation against an Officer, her Commander no less, would be a sure ticket home. Swallowing hard she stared at him as he stepped closer.

"I saw you coming out of the men's cabin this morning…early when I'm sure you thought no one was watching." Lucy stammering knowing exactly how that must have looked. She should have taken Christensen to the medical tent. It had never occurred to her that someone would assume such a thing when it was so obvious that it was the only thing to assume. Foolishly, the only thing she'd been concerned about was his well being.

"He needed a medic…" It sounded pathetic even to her as she took a deep breath redoubling her conviction. "These men are my responsibility now." Sobel smirked finding the whole notion entirely amusing.

"Oh yes I've noticed, a few of them have taken to you quite fast. Accepting you into the Company as if you belonged." He looked down shaking his head as if that was the saddest thing he'd ever heard.

Lucy grabbed the sheets on either side of her steeling herself. "I do belong." He looked up meeting her eyes, the anger back and masking every feature of his face.

"Do you know what the Nazis will do if they capture you ?" He stepped closer so that now he was between her legs. She kept her gaze trained upward hoping that he didn't see the fear in her eyes. "Do you know what they will do to those men because of you…". Putting his hands on his hips he shook his head, "I tried…I tried to make them see…tried to make you see."

Hedging her bets Lucy tried to get up and around him. Grabbing her by the shoulders he pushed her back onto the bed roughly ripping her paratrooper t-shirt over her head. Involuntarily she let out a scream as he pinned her down, holding both arms above her head with all his weight. His hot breath tickled her face as she bucked her hips trying to throw him to the side. "The Nazis aren't going to be as nice as I am either…" Her chest heaved with anxiety as she continued to wiggle underneath him. Frustrated with her resistance, Sobel readjusted himself freeing one hand and slapping her across the face as hard as he could. Blood immediately erupted from her nose as she let out a yelp. Feeling his hands on her she refused to give in to this no matter what he did. "Hold still…goddamnit !"

Everyone knew it was rule that nobody went in her tent. Not hers, but Sobel's of course. As dawn began to creep down Currahee, Joe reasoned he had at least ten minutes before anyone else would be up. Throwing the cigarette to the ground his picked up a strange sound as he stepped up pushing the screen door open.

Hearing the creaking of the door Sobel froze. Looking over his shoulder he released her arm just enough that she was able to push him back. Taking his eyes off of her she pulled her right arm back far enough to hit him directly in the face causing the CO to fall off the edge of the bed onto the floor with a hard oof. Lucy couldn't quite believe that just happened as her eyes quickly darted to the doorway where Liebgott stood staring at her speechless. Wiping her bloody nose with the back of her hand she stumbled off the bed pulling her t-shirt over her head before pushing past him out the door.

On the ground Sobel stood up, his right eye already swelling and turning a shade of purple. Not meeting Liebgott's stare he whipped a white hankie out of his pocket as he dabbed his eye. "I thought I made myself clear, Private, when I said no man will ever be in these quarters…"

Joe swallowed hard as he stared at Sobel, who still refused to meet his gaze. His mind had finally caught up to understanding what he had just seen. Clearing his throat he spoke before he thought, "Every man except for you, Sir."

Sobel stopped what he was doing to look at him briefly before averting his gaze toward the door."Latrine duty for the foreseeable future, Liebgott. Report at 0930 and I will be watching." Straightening himself the CO walked past Joe toward the door.

"She's going to make it…." Sobel stopped but didn't turn around as Liebgott stared at the back of his head. "And nothing you do will stop her. She's going to see this all the way through. I believe in her." Funny how easy and eloquent the words came out when he was talking to anyone but her. Joe saw his shoulders tense for a moment before opening the door and disappearing into the early morning air. Exhaling, Liebgott looked around the cabin shaking his head.

Lucy ran and didn't look back. Where she was going she had no idea as she hit the dirt trail that led up Currahee and didn't stop. Her legs ached but she couldn't tamp down the need to get away. All she could see was him…all she could smell was him…all she could feel was him. No man had ever done that to her and she shuddered wondering what might have happened had Liebgott not walked in when he did.

Liebgott

What the hell had he been doing there in the first place? Stopping she bent over. Now that she was alone Lucy felt safe affording herself just a moment of weakness. Tears came to her eyes, rolled down her cheeks and dotted the red clay soil. What the fuck. She knew it was going to be hard, impossible even, but she never counted on this. Being harassed, demeaned, and even assaulted. A sob erupted from her throat as she shook her head. Why was she putting herself though all this when they so clearly didn't want her here ? They had a medic already- Doc Roe- and he seemed more than capable. She was nothing more than excess baggage to weigh them down, a liability in combat, - the "girl" they didn't want. Frustrated and angry, Lucy fell to her knees and throwing her head back she let out a scream that echoed across the mountain.

San Francisco

November 1945

It was late afternoon, the day before Thanksgiving. Lucy had finished her shift at the hospital and was to stop at the store for some last minute groceries. It would be a quiet holiday; just her Dad and Scottie. Shaking her head, she realized how ungrateful she sounded. How many people did she know who's families were having this holiday without them. Still, she couldn't bring herself to be happy or even grateful at the moment.

Instead of the market she found herself wandering down the Bayfront promenade staring out at the dark blue water. It was nice day- still somewhat warm and the sun had just begun to set. She could walk like this until well after dark, lost in her own thoughts for hours on end. Blinking a familiar face caught her eye as a hesitant smile twitched at her lips. Christenson sat on one of the benches just up ahead, lost in his own memories just like her. Pat- as she'd come to know him after that morning in the E Company Cabin, had become another steadfast friend that remained by her side throughout the entire war. She'd seen him a handful of times since they got back with him living just across the bay in Oakland. Lucy knew that she was in no position to talk- none- sitting in Golden Gate Park every day at noon waiting for a ghost. But she couldn't help but notice the change in her friend. The exuberant happiness of being home had faded into a discontent, a consuming guilt.

Coming to stand in front of him she paused as he looked up from the bottle in his hand. Immediately his face melted into a smile as he stood and instantly wrapped his arms around her. "Man…you're a sight for sore eyes." They sat down leaving no space between them; a habit they'd grown accustomed to long ago. She could smell the booze on his breath and she wondered why he was sitting here alone just before the holiday. Yes, they all had demons but those demons she found were usually less noticeable when she was busy. Occupied at work or with her dad and Scottie at the shop. Nothing was worse than an idle mind with space to wander.

If she remembered correctly Christenson had a big family; four sisters, two brothers, and cousins out the wazoo. No way, his house wasn't like grand central station right now. "Don't tell me you had nothing better to do. I know that house of yours has to be overflowing right about now." She elbowed him gently in the ribs as he shook his head taking a drink of what she had now determined was whiskey.

"Just had to get some air…you know ?" She looked away nodding, knowing exactly. "I…ah…" He exhaled long and slow as she felt him shift leaning against her in a way he most likely didn't even realize. "They want to know things and I don't know what to tell them…" What was there to say? Nothing. At least nothing nobody would understand. They fell into a companionable silence before Lucy's lips began to twitch up into a smirk.

"You remember that night Sobel made you repeat the march ? Because you drank from your canteen…" He paused before nodding, the ghost of a smile coming to his lips. She had no idea what made her think of that just now.

"I remember..I thought I was going to die. All those miles and not a drop to drink. I was so sure I was going to fall over right there on the parade grounds, but then you just appeared…" He took a drink letting it swirl at the back of his throat before swallowing. "I was so scared that I was going to get kicked out- but you didn't let that happen. You were always there, for all of us." Lucy blinked back the tears in her eyes as she shook her head.

"I could have done more." Looking away she swallowed back the disgust. "I should have done more…" She met his eyes unable to stop a few tears from sliding out. "Hoob…" Stay there Hoob…stay there. Just let me get the tourniquet on… "Julien…" Fuck Martin let me go out there…I can get to him. Hold on Julien, we're coming. It physically hurt to say the next one, "Skipp.." I'm scared Luce…scared I'm never going to see home again. "I'm here and they're not and everyday I wake up asking myself why?"

Christenson stared at her for a moment, his own eyes gleaming with sadness before he readjusted putting his arm around her shoulders and bringing her into him. It didn't take much coaxing for Lucy to rest her head on his shoulder. Offering her the bottle of whiskey she took a swig letting the alcohol burn the back of her throat distracting her from the pain. He didn't say a word…he had no words…and she knew that. How do you explain the things that happened to those men ? To all the men that didn't come home? Families didn't understand, no matter how well meaning they were, they just didn't get it. As the sun began to set and darkness fell, they stayed that way knowing all they had right now was each other.

TBC….

I'm still here writing for anyone who wants to read. Please review. !