Anna lay in her bunk as Elli snored softly beside her. She couldn't sleep. Her mind churned over everything that had happened. Today had been so surreal, so overwhelming. The torment was over; they were never going to suffer at the Nazi's hands again. And yet, here she was, in the same bunk as the night before.

When they had been locked back into the camp, and the town's people had left, she and the American medic had treated the other inmates. The rich food had been too much for many of them, and a lot of them vomited profusely. Margot, in particular, was in a very bad way. Her illness had become so much worse since the SS guards had left and lack of water did not help the cough that was trying to claim her.

Anna had tended to her as best she could, finally settling her down in her bed again. She explained to Margot that she would be leaving with the Americans.

"That doesn't surprise me," sighed Margot. "Make sure you catch every single bastard that kept us here."

"I will, don't you worry. Anyway, you'll be out in no time."

"God, I hope so," breathed Margot, but she coughed violently again.

Anna moved to fetch her a cup of water.

Margot sipped it slowly, Anna helping her. She was so frail. "We did it, Anna," she managed, her voice weak. "We made it!"

"Yes we did."

"I can't wait to leave this dump," Margot mumbled sleepily. "Get back out into the real world."

Anna stroked her hair gently. "Neither can I."

"Do you think that American with the moustache is single?" 

Anna laughed a little. "I think you've got more important things to concentrate on right now. Get some rest."

All of the Americans had been so helpful, even if two of them kept glaring at her. That would be Hollywood, and the one they called Frenchie. The medic's name was Ewie, and the blonde man that often helped him was Samuel. Abraham in particular kept checking on her and Elli as often as he could. Anything that was asked of him, he did, including carrying Margot to her bed when Anna had approached him. You could tell how close the five of them were. They had clearly been through a lot together. They had pitched their tents at Anna's end of the camp and set a fire going. Only when all the inmates were asleep, did they retire to their makeshift campsite.

Anna could hear the Americans chatting outside now as the fire crackled away. She could make out Abraham's voice easily. It had a delightful twang to it. She felt drawn to them; being around new people was so refreshing.

Making sure Elli was out for the count, Anna tucked her in further, and ventured outside. She walked over to them and the chatted paused.

"May I join you?" she asked.

"Of course!" said Abraham before anyone else could object.

He moved over, making room beside him. She sat down, nodding to him gratefully. There was an awkward silence. Hollywood and Frenchie exchanged a look, then went back to glowering at her.

"Thank you for your help today," said Ewie, cutting through the quiet.

"I should be thanking you," she replied.

"All in the job description. You seemed to know what you were doing."

"I have worked as a nurse before."

"Here?" asked Hollywood, staring at her over the fire. He was goading her again.

"No," she said firmly. "In the ghetto, before we were taken to the camps."

"Ghetto?" asked Samuel.

"Jews were first segregated to ghettos, then sent to camps," Anna said, looking up at him. He had a kind expression on his face, his blue eyes full of sympathy.

"If you're not Jewish, why did you go?" asked Frenchie. "Did your parents make you?"

"Certainly not!" said Anna, incredulous. "They left me with my friend Karl, but I chose to follow them. Karl ended up rescuing me from the first camp I was in."

"So, he was a Nazi?" asked Hollywood.

Anna's eyes narrowed. "As he once pointed out to me, the world is not that black and white. You were not there, so how could you judge him?"

"Did he wear the uniform?"

"Yes. But he saved me from the camp. Have you any idea what they might have done to him?"

"Slap on the wrist for the good little Aryan boy?"

"Shut up, Cotton," snapped Samuel.

Hollywood glared at him. "What've I told you about callin' me Cotton, boy?"

"Sorry Cotton, am I being an ass? Can't imagine that's nice when you're just trying to have a polite conversation," replied Sam, pointedly.

"You are wrong," said Anna, her gaze still directed at Hollywood as his rested on her again. "They would have beaten him and then shot him. Just as they did to my friend Freddie about a week ago."

Hollywood fell quiet, looking awkwardly at his feet.

"I'm sorry to hear that," murmured Abraham, reaching out tentatively to pat her hand. Anna looked up at him, his warmth surprising her. He genuinely meant it.

"I know it is hard to understand," said Anna softening, "but this world that we were living in was so different from anything you could ever imagine."

"Did you really have a Nazi fiancé though?" asked Frenchie. Ewie slapped him to shut him up.

"He wasn't a Nazi," said Anna quietly. "But he was a soldier, if that is what you are asking."

"Where is he now?" asked Frenchie, ignoring Ewie. There was a long pause.

"Dead," managed Anna. Her eyes brimmed with tears. "Just like Karl... and Freddie... and my parents."

"Oh," said Frenchie awkwardly, settling further down onto the ground in embarrassment.

"I know you have lost people at the hands of the Nazis," she said as she tried to blink away her tears, "but so have I. I would rather not fight with any of you." Before anyone could say anything, a huge coughing fit came from Margot's hut. Without another word, Anna clambered to her feet, wiped her tears and left to see her.

"What the fuck's the matter with you two?" hissed Abraham. "Beratin' that poor girl... she ain't done nothing wrong!"

Hollywood took out his hipflask and took a sip as Frenchie lit him a cigarette. "Yeah, all right Abe. We'll leave her be. Just curious is all."

"Yeah, come on Abe," said Frenchie. "You heard what they were all saying... I get it was for her sister, but she was still whoring herself out to all those Nazi fuckers..."

"Did it ever go through your thick skulls that, maybe, she had no choice?" snapped Samuel, glaring at the both of them. "Have either of you taken a proper look at her face?"

"What 'bout it?" asked Hollywood.

"She's got a scar on her eyebrow, lip and cheek."

"Oh watch out, Detective Walker is about."

"Do you think that being beaten demonstrates compliance, Cotton?" asked Samuel. "Besides, she's here, in this camp. You think they'd really do that to someone that they considered 'one of their own'?"

"Yeah, Sam's right," said Abraham. "If you two ain't got nothing nice to say to her, just keep your damn mouths shut."

"Charming way to speak to your LT," said Hollywood.

"Enough of your smart talking," spat Abraham. "She don't deserve it."

Hollywood sat up, looking curiously at his friend. "Shit, I ain't heard you talk this much the entire damn war. She got you that rattled, huh son?"

"Don't make me smack that moustache off your goddamn face, boy," grumbled Abraham, sitting back now.

"I'll stop. So will Frenchie."

"Fine," muttered Frenchie.

Hollywood yawned. All of them caught it and sent it around the circle. "We need sleep. Who's gonna take first watch?"

"I will," volunteered Abraham. "I can't sleep any way."

"Fair enough." Hollywood stood up and stretched. "Come on boys, to your tents."

They all mumbled goodnight, Samuel slapping Abraham on the back before they disappeared into the two tents they had brought.

            Abraham stared at the fire, fiddling with his fingers as he tried to process what had happened. What he'd seen. It had shaken him to his core. What kind of monsters could do that to people?

"Just you now?" asked Anna, suddenly interrupting his thoughts.

He looked up at her. She had a small, pleasant smile on her face. "They need their sleep," he said as she sat back down beside him. "How's your friend?"

Anna tugged off the rag that was pulling her hair off her face. She ran her fingers through and massaged her scalp. "Not well. She should not have eaten as much as she did. It was too much for her."

"I'm sorry," he said quickly.

"You have no need to apologise. You were all just trying to help." There was another silence and Anna filled it with a yawn.

"You sure you don't wanna head to bed?"

"Are you trying to get rid of me too?"

"Of course not!" Anna smiled at him. "Oh," he said with a small laugh. "Well, you can stay out here as long as you like."

"Thank you."

"I'm real sorry 'bout those two idiots getting' at you," he continued, "again."

"Honestly, I am used to it."

"Don't make it right."

"No," she agreed. "But it is the way of things. I have met so few truly kind faces over the last few years. It is why I cling to them when I do." She looked up at him. "That includes you. It is why I wanted to come and sit out here."

"I just wanna help."

"Well, you are succeeding."

His smile grew wide then fell serious again. "I'm sad for you, that you've lost so many people."

"It is the nature of war," began Anna, but she felt her heart really sink. She missed them all so much.

"Do you have anyone left?"

"Just Elli. I suppose my friend Maria. And Karl's mother as well. She is in Berlin."

"Is that where you'll head once you're outta here?"

"I have not really thought about it."

"Really?"

"I thought that Karl and Hans would come for me. I spent so much time thinking about that, that I just felt hopeless when I found out they were gone."

"I'm so sorry."

"You keep apologising for things that cannot be your fault."

"I guess I don't know what else to say."

"That is very sweet." There was a small, awkward silence. "So, tell me," she said, changing the subject, "where are you from?"

Abraham's eyes grew warm. "Missouri."

"And what is Missouri like?"

He laughed. "God, now you're making me think. I don't know that much of it. I come from a small town about fifty miles outside of Charleston. And even then, we live way past the edge of town." He seemed a little embarrassed now, Anna waiting patiently for him to continue. "We have a farm, you see. Me and my Momma."

"A farm!" gushed Anna. "That sounds wonderful!"

"Really?"

"Yes! I have never been to one."

"Not ever?"

"No. What animals do you keep there?"

"Pigs mainly. But we got some chickens and a couple of cows."

"And your house is on the farm?"

"Yeah," he said with a delighted chuckle. "I ain't met anyone excited by farm life."

"It sounds wonderful!"

"Well thank you ma'am."

Anna giggled. He sounded desperately American. "And you live with your mother?"

"Yeah," he said fondly. "She's a real handful, mind. My sister too, but she moved out when she got married. She has two boys now."

"And your father?"

"He died when I was fifteen."

"I am so sorry."

"Now who's apologising when they shouldn't?" he teased. "It is what it is. It's why I stayed with Momma. Didn't like her bein' on her own. My sister's been helping her with it all while I'm away."

"You must miss them."

"Yeah," he said, then paused. "It has been nice to breathe different air, though. I mean, not the killing and all, but you know; it puts a lot of stuff in perspective."

Anna nodded. She didn't really understand. But then again, her experience of different places had brought her only suffering. There was no glory in the journey she had taken.

"What about you? Where d'you and little'n hail from?"

"Berlin."

"Ah! A city girl."

"Yes. We were very lucky. Papa was a Doctor of Medicine, and mama was a Professor of Ancient History."

"Jesus! I bet you two are both mighty smart, huh?"

"I suppose," she said, a little shyly. She didn't want to sound like she was bragging.

"So, you guys had a good childhood?"

"The best. As I said, we were so lucky. We never wanted for anything."

"And, this is your adopted family?"

She nodded.

"How old were you when they adopted you, if you don't mind me asking."

"Six," she said, her eyes glossing over. "Up until the last few years, I thought that those years would have been the worst of my life. Like you said, it puts it all into perspective."

There was a pause.

"I bet your folks would be damn proud of you."

Anna beamed at him. "Thank you, Abraham."

"Please, call me Abe," he asked, their eyes locked. "I only ever get called Abraham when I'm being told off."

"All right, Abe," she agreed.

They just stared at one another for a moment. They were both so curious of the other. Anna found Abe fascinating. There was something light and comforting about him. Being around him brightened her spirits in a way that the other soldiers just didn't.

He looked at her more closely now and saw that she was shivering. "Jesus, darlin'," he said, pulling the blanket out from his bag beside him, "why didn't you say you were cold?"

"I did not think about it," she admitted, taking the blanket as he handed it to her. She wrapped it around herself and thanked him quietly and surveyed him in return. He was only in his uniform. "Are you not cold?"

"Nah, I'm super warm blooded," he said, dismissing it. "Besides, it's nowhere near as cold as the Bulge was."

"The Bulge?"

"Yeah, in the Ardennes in Belgium. That was a fucking cold winter, let me tell you."

Anna's heart stopped. Her face fell and her stomach swirled.

"Sorry, is it 'cause I curse?" He'd clearly noticed how she had suddenly changed.

Anna didn't answer him and instead got hastily to her feet. "I need to sleep." She made to give him the blanket.

"Keep it!" he insisted. "I don't need it."

"Thank you. Goodnight."

"Anna, are you okay? What did I do wrong?"

Anna's eye's brimmed with tears. "Nothing," she insisted. "Goodnight."

Anna darted into her hut. She half expected him to run after her, but he let her be. She curled up beside Elli, putting the blanket over both of them. Unable to help herself, she buried her face into Elli's back and sobbed quietly.

He had been in the Ardennes offensive.

The same battle that had stolen both her best friend, and the man that she loved.