" Sometimes the best friendships are formed by the most unlikely pair."

- Kenneth G. Ortiz

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Weekends usually ended, just as quickly as they started, with the company training relentlessly with Sobel, with the women were beginning to figure out why they all hated Sobel so much. He wasn't good at directions, or anything that had to do with directions in general, and including that, he couldn't lead a platoon anywhere without getting lost.

Tipper was the one with the map, and Hazel managed to hear that Tipper would even tell Sobel he was wrong and Sobel would still ignore him. Hazel, Chuck and Joe continued their jokes on night hikes and hoped that Sobel wouldn't hear them as they did so, but it passed the long endless hours of walking. Christmas however was bliss.

The company got Christmas Day off, and were served turkey, beautiful, delicious and luscious turkey. Hazel had never tasted something as good as the turkey she got to eat that night. She sat across from Catherine who was going through turkey like it was going out of style as she slowly drank more and more beer that was on the table laughing with Bill and Joe Toye like monkeys. Hazel quietly ate beside Joe Liebgott, who always seemed to be beside her when Shifty, George or Lizzie wasn't. But Hazel had grown use to his constant presence by her side. They talked about the stars a lot, and even if Joe didn't say he stargazed, they sometimes escaped the bars of Swindon, Birmingham or London and looked at the stars and just talked about their families, and for Hazel it didn't reveal too much of her past, which she hoped to conceal for a long time.

" Hey," Joe said nudging her shoulder, " you ok, Tiny?" Tiny, the nickname given by George, who sat on her other side, laughing at something Skip said and impersonating Sobel again. She was in fact a very Tiny person.

" Yeah, just," Hazel let out a sigh and looked around, " homesick." Joe frowned at her.

" Well I'm sorry about that, wish I could do something about it." Joe said as he sipped his drink.

" It's fine," Hazel said with a nod and a forced smile. Joe quirked a small smile. He gently wrapped an arm over her shoulders and squeezed it gently. She looked at Joe and smiled softly at him, his arm around her shoulders was comforting in its own way. Grace and Henry had gifts for Hazel, and there was a little stocking filled with chocolates and candies as well as a hand-sewn pair of gloves and a scarf and Hazel thought they were adorable. Hazel was grateful that Grace and Henry were playing parent figures, as a symbol for Hazel as they were here. It was comfort on another level. That night, before bed, when the candle light was slowly dying down and the snow fell heavier outside, Hazel wrote a letter to her mother in her notebook; the first in a while.

Mom,

I'm writing from a home in the little town of Aldbourne, England. There's a candle burning nearby, the light just barely out, and the little wisps of smoke are slowly rising to the ceiling. It's dark in the room I'm in; but it is 12 am so it makes sense. It's Christmas Eve and I want nothing more than to be home with you, but I want you to know I'm happy and safe and warm. The men and women of Easy Company have welcomed me with open arms and have embraced me as a little sister over the past year and a half. I'm in my old PT gear, with a blanket wrapped around me. You can see the stars brightly from where I am, from the window I look out of all the time. They're truly beautiful in the countryside.

I've grown close to the men of the company and they're all so respectful and protective, but we banter a lot over the funniest things and that's what makes it such an enjoyable company. I've met a few other Polish members of Easy Company, one of them being Alex Penkala and he's been super sweet. I met Joe Liebgott as well, who makes me laugh and he's become like a sort of best friend to me, in a guy sense. I know I have the girls, but Joe's just always there, and he looks out for me. That's a nice feeling to have, especially now. I also met someone else, a sharpshooter and hunter, Darrell Powers, but we call him Shifty, because he's quick and 'shifty' on his feet in the field. We've shared a foxhole too many times to count by now and he's a great friend. There's also so many others here you would like, like Chuck or Floyd, Bill or Joe Toye, Don and Skip, George and Frank, Moe Alley or Alton More or Bull and Johnny and Eugene Roe, a medic with Lizzie. They're some of the most respectful men to the 3 of us women and it is a wonderful thing to feel as young women in a covert mission. I wish one day you can meet them all, just so I can show them the wonderful women who raised me. I always talk to them about you, and they always are so eager to listen and learn more about you. They're the best band of brothers anyone could ask for!

It's getting quite late, and Christmas Morning will certainly be lovely this year with Grace and Henry Burnett, who I am living with for the next year or until the mission. I hope you have a lovely Christmas and that babcia and dziadek come to visit you. I love you mom.

Your daughter, Hazel Parker

PS, England has treated me well, and I have too many memories to count from being with these men and women. I am grateful. I love you!

Hazel closed the tiny book and stared at the cover, running her fingers over the binding of the book, feeling the calming texture that reminded her of her mother's favorite coat back home that was also warm and fuzzy. Hazel turned and put the book on the bedside and snuggled back into bed, falling asleep to the gentle sounds of snow falling on the roof of the home.

If homesick was the way to describe waking up on Christmas morning, than that was the feeling she felt so heavily in the pit of her stomach.

Another Christmas without her mother.

But she was safe, warm, and loved and she needed to respect that because there were soldiers dying for their countries right now while she was safe. So Hazel slowly stood and headed downstairs towards the kitchen. As she moved down the stars, she could see snow falling still outside the window, as well as the gentle glow of lights on around the home. There was the sound of Christmas music on the radio in the sitting room, as well as a small purr from Freckles, the spotted ginger cat who liked to lie on the stars as the afternoon sun would come in through the window.

Hazel gently pet his little head before sniffing the wonderful scent of a full English breakfast. Hazel stepped down into the foyer and turned right to peak into the sitting room where a fire was burning brightly and there were presents under the tree, all wrapped up beautifully in big bows. Hazel then glanced over her shoulder and into the kitchen and saw Grace moving about cooking, as Harry sat in a chair reading the paper, sipping his tea.

" Merry Christmas." Hazel said as she slowly walked into the kitchen. Both Grace and Harry looked up with smiles on their faces.

" Hazel! Happy Christmas!" Grace called, putting down the plates in her hands to wrap the girl in a warm hug. Hazel relished the hug before Harry came over and wrapped the girl in a tight hug.

" We hoped you slept well, I know I'm always too excited to sleep for presents in the morning." Harry said and Hazel laughed.

" I slept well, but I have to admit, I'm very excited." Hazel said and the couple smiled.

" Well, go have a look, there's a few things there for you." Grace said with a grin her way and Hazel smiled, before turning and taking the step up into the foyer and then into the living room. Hazel slowly approached the Christmas tree and knelt down beside it, looking through the gifts for one's the were to have her name on it.

" How about you open a few up, Grace won't mind, you're like a daughter to her." Harry said bringing his tea into the living room. Hazel glanced back towards him.

" Really?" Hazel asked him.

" Of course, of course, go right ahead." Harry said as he took a seat in a comfy chair Hazel had fell asleep in too many times to count. Hazel slowly pulled a box into her lap and carefully pulled off the wrapping paper. It was all so magically.

Hazel had never really internalized Christmas and its meaning because of the images it always brought to her brain, but now she relished it because of the humanity it now reminded her of, and safety. Hazel received a few beautiful dresses from Grace, as well as more chocolates and a small perfume that Grace always wore that Hazel loved. There was also a few scarfs that Grace had promised would be helpful when war did come. Hazel was never more thankful, she had felt so loved, even away from home.

Hazel was sitting on the couch playing with Speckles, Freckles' sister, with the new cat toy they got when there a knock on the door. Hazel slowly stood, with Speckles in her arms and wadded over to the door, before opening the door up. As she stepped back, a bit of blistery cold wind and snow hitting her, she was surprised to see Lieutenant Winters on the other side. A smile fell on Hazel's face, as Winters slowly removed his cover, and gave her a smile.

" Lieutenant Winters, come in." Hazel said stepping back.

" Thank you, Hazel." Winters said as he stepped inside the home. Hazel shut the door and turned to the Lieutenant.

" I just wanted to stop by and wish you Merry Christmas." Winters said as Hazel smiled up at him.

" Thank you, sir." Hazel said with a nod, her smile bright.

" And this," Winters said reaching into his pocket, pulling out a piece of chocolate, wrapped in a pretty yellow bow, " is from Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. They know about the 3 of you in the 506th, and adore you all so much and told me to deliver it to you 3 for Christmas." Hazel took the piece of homemade chocolate and looked at it with soft eyes.

" Thank you so much, sir. It means a lot." Hazel said. Winters smiled at her.

" It's my pleasure," he said.

" Hi," a voice said and the two turned and saw Harry coming forward, " I'm Harry Burnett."

" Richard Winters," Winters said shaking Harry's hand with a smile, who smiled back, " I just came to drop something off to Hazel."

" She's been a pleasure to house here." Harry said and Hazel smiled brightly. Winters looked towards her with a smile.

" It was nice meeting you, but I have two other women to drop things off too. I'll see you tomorrow Hazel." Winters said, squeezing her shoulder before opening the door and putting his cover atop his head again.

" Good bye, sir." Hazel said with a wave as Winters smiled and stepped back out into the snow.

" That's my platoon leader." Hazel clarified to Harry who nodded.

" He's a great leader, sometimes I wish he was our CO more than our actual CO." Hazel said with a smirk.

" Well, we can all dream can't we?" Harry said as Hazel giggled.

On the 27th, Hazel finally sent her letter home to her mother, hoping it'd fine her well in this bittersweet holiday time.

When 1944 came, Hazel had of course been asleep and sadly sick as the rest of her friends celebrated that occasion at the pub. Grace though made delicious soup that warmed up Hazel and her prolonged fever, and made her happier that she was spending it here with the Burnetts than at the loud pub. Hazel was in the sitting room by the fire, hacking up a lung when a knock went off on the door. Grace, who was sitting and knitting and getting up every so often to get Hazel more water or to check her temp, looked up. Harry was out back working on the farm, so it wouldn't be him.

" I'll get it, dear." Grace said standing and putting her glasses down. When she opened the door she smiled wide and let out a jolly laugh.

" Well, she'll be happy to see you all." Grace said as Hazel looked over and watched as a bouquet of yellow flowers appeared with Joe Liebgott as the handler, with Shifty just behind him with Catherine and Lizzie bringing up the rear, with a laughing George Luz, which was no surprise.

" There she is!" Joe called noticing the girl on the couch, curled up into a blanket with sunken in eyes. Hazel smiled weakly.

" Hi." she croaked out.

" Aw, honey." Catherine said, as she frowned with sad eyes, hearing her lost voice. Joe was the first to reach her and pull her into a hug.

" I'm sick." Hazel said as Joe held her close, smelling of pine and cigarette smoke. Joe pulled back with a smirk, a few strands of hair in his face.

" I don't care about that, Parker." Joe said, before holding out the flowers as the rest of the guys filtered into the room, " These are for you." Hazel smiled at him with blushing cheeks.

" Aww, thanks guys." Hazel said, turning and coughing briefly.

" You can thank this guy right here," George said slapping Joe on the shoulders, to which Joe glared.

" Thanks Joe." Hazel said to him and he smiled at her with a nod.

" How're you feeling?" Shifty asked her as he sat beside her but on the table in the center of the room close to the couch she sat on.

" Terrible, the fever's been running for days." Hazel said. That's when Hazel noticed Lizzie coming out of the kitchen with Grace carrying a few pills and a cup of water, laughing lightly.

" Take some of these, Gene had them lying around." Lizzie said to her as she crouched by her side. Hazel took the pills and the water and then turned and coughed again and then rightfully groaned.

" Thanks guys," Hazel said as she wiped her nose with a tissue, " I missed not being there yesterday."

" Oh you were sick, we want you better." Catherine said from the top of the couch leaning against it with a smile. The group talked for a while and caught Hazel up on the chaos of the night out at the bar. There was drunk Bill and Catherine who had sung songs together like a pair of drunk sailors, rather obnoxiously, and Lizzie lost her shoe a few times because of dancing, and there was a lot of cheering and celebrating. It had sounded fun just from hearing about it.

Hazel was glad though that even being sick, her friends had fun moving into 1944. Eventually, duty called and the group wandered out, George leaving Hazel with a tight hug, before letting the door shut behind him. Joe was the only one to remain behind sitting beside her on the couch, staring at the fire.

" 1944." Joe said softly and then glanced at Hazel who frowned a bit.

" It would suck if this is how my year ends as well." she groaned and situated herself around a bit on the couch before letting out a groan, the fever persisting but her head ache fading from that stuff Lizzie had given her. Joe smirked at her.

" Hopefully this year ends with the war over." Joe said lazily.

" That'd be nice wouldn't it?" Hazel said as she sniffled and adjusted again. Fevers were so uncomfortable.

" What's San Francisco like?" Hazel asked him. Joe glanced at her.

" It's beautiful." Joe said with a nod.

" With the Golden Gate Bridge?" Hazel asked him glancing towards him. Joe nodded.

" I used to take my ma up to this little restaurant along one of the nicest streets of the city. My sisters made fun of me, but it was for my ma, so of course I'd do. The lights always lit up the entire street and it always made my ma's eyes shine. Kinda like yours do. And we would be sitting outside, overlooking the city, as the sun set, and she'd tell the funniest stories. We watched the sky change colors, as we ate some of the best food I'd ever eat. And they would play some fancy music over the speakers, as people walked the streets. And then we'd head down to the piers, look out on the bay, just be part of the city life." Joe said, imagining those moments in his head now.

When he glanced towards Hazel, he found her asleep, tiny snores escaping from her mouth. Joe smiled softly at the woman who he had never seen sleeping before.

Sure, she had to be one of the most innocent members of the company, next to Shifty, and she looked so young and innocent awake but asleep she looked even younger.

Joe carefully placed the flowers in the vase on the table and then pulled the blanket over Hazel and rubbed her shoulder. Joe then left the sitting room and gave a small smile and nod to Grace before heading out the door again. Hazel spent her night on that couch, sleeping. Hazel's fever disappeared within a few days and she was slowly able to feel herself being able to move around again. Her muscles were weak and exhausted and she had lost some weight from her poor appetite she usually had when sick.

" Hey, kid, how're you feeling?" Bill had asked her as they performed another 25 mile hike on Sobel's behalf. Hazel glanced up at him with tired eyes.

" I've been better, Bill." she said with a small smile.

" If you start feeling bad or something, I'll throw you up on my back, ok?" Bill said and Hazel gently laughed.

" Thanks, Bill." Hazel said, " I'll let you know." Bill smiled at her and patted her shoulder before they continued.

January 18th was a day that raised morale greatly. General Bernard Law Montgomery who commanded the 21st Army Group, where the 101st was attached to showed up to Chilton Foliat for an inspection, where he would review the entire regiment. The regiment awaited his thorough inspection that he gave to the group. The only words that he told them were that after seeing the 506th, he pitied the Germans. And that, that was truly that thing that spiked morale amongst the regiment as well as Easy Company.

January continued with similar training, of hikes, and classes and jumps, and close combat fighting. The jumps were slowly becoming habitual, with the company waking and training and jumping and then doing some afternoon training and then being dismissed. Or the nights with the 2 to 3 day practices, the company was used to their close comrades by that point and there was a general appreciation for everyone.

On the weekends, Hazel would help out at the Burnett's house with their farm when she wasn't hanging out with her friends. Grace provided Hazel with some extra farm clothes she had that she could change into, like overalls, and a loose collared shirt and boots and something to tie up her hair. Hazel enjoyed the ducks a lot, they always flocked together when she walked over with the tub of food for them. It was a peaceful reprieve from the war when training became too much.

" Hey farm girl!" a voice called as Hazel was down working with some of the pigs. She looked up and saw that it was Joe Liebgott in his Class A uniform. She smirked and slowly stood with one of the baby piglets in her arms as she walked over with a small smirk. Joe leaned against the fence, eyes on the piglet.

" Who's this?" he asked.

" She's the runt, Harry named her Abby." Hazel said as she gently pet the pigs head. Joe smiled at her and then reached forward and gently pet the little piglet who squealed a bit. Joe chuckled a bit, as he looked at her clothes.

" So, farm girl?" he asked her. She looked at him and rolled her eyes.

" I'm not cleaning in PT gear." she said with a smile. Joe smirked at her.

" Some of the guys were thinking of heading out to one of the pubs, you in?" he asked her. Hazel looked at him, as Joe looked at her with soft eyes. She bit her lip.

" Maybe...."

" Aw, come on Tiny, it'll be fun, we'll stargaze again, get out of the bar." Joe said, leaning against the fence.

" Is that what you say now to convince me to go to these places?" she said with a smirk.

" Come on, what else am I for?" he asked her.

" Being annoying," she said, as she looked back down at the piglet again. She looked up again and Joe was looking at her with a raised brow.

" Sarcasm? Who are you and where did Hazel Parker go?" he said with a smirk. Hazel bit her lip with a smile.

" I can be funny," she said as she pet in between the little piglet's ears. Joe chuckled.

" Guess you can say I'm a good influence." Joe countered. Hazel raised a brow.

" Good influence?" Hazel said with a slight laugh. Joe smirked proudly at her.

" Remember? I am allowed to be one." Joe said. Hazel raised her brow further.

" Right," Hazel muttered, as she looked back down at the piglet, " asshole."

" Whoa, and you curse now? I must be the good influence." Joe said and laughed as Hazel smirked at him.

" Shut it." she muttered shaking her head with a smile.

" So, what do you say?" he asked her. She shrugged.

" I have to make sure I don't have more work here." she said with a small smile.

" Well, if you change your mind, we'll be at the usual." he told her with a nod and a smile.

" Maybe I'll stop by." she said with a shrug, and then smiled at him.

" Hopefully," he said and then leaned back from the fence, " Maybe I'll see you then."

" Maybe." she said with a smile. He nodded to her as he placed his cap on his head.

" You look cute, by the way, the whole get-up." he told her. She rolled her eyes, as she felt her cheeks heat up a bit.

" Shut up," she muttered, looking at him as he laughed to himself.

" C'mon, I'm not lying." Joe said and smirked at her as she rolled her eyes.

" Get to the pub, I'll be there later." she said, with a smirk to him.

" Right, I'll see ya Tiny." he said, as he turned and walked away. She smirked and shook her head.

" Boys are crazy, Abby." she told the little piglet, who squealed a bit. She giggled to herself. She went to the bar that night, after finishing her help with the Burnett's and found before even heading inside, Joe, sitting outside, looking up at the stars. Hazel raised a curious brow but slowly retreated towards him.

" Joe?" she asked and he looked towards her quickly.

" I knew you'd show up." Joe said and Hazel just smirked slightly before sitting down beside Joe again and looking up at the stars.

" You said you didn't stargaze, Joe." Hazel said.

" Well, I have 4 sisters back home, who always would, so..." Joe trailed off, watching them.

" What are your sister's names?" Hazel asked, swinging her feet on the bench as they didn't touch the ground.

" Well, there's Mary, then Elizabeth, then Anna, then Barbara." Joe said as Hazel looked at him," I also have a younger brother, Stephen, carbon copy, I'd say."

" You sound like you have a nice family." Hazel said as she glanced at him. Joe glanced at her.

" Yeah, I'd say I do, but mama runs the house. You respect her or you get a slap." Joe said and Hazel smiled shyly, as Joe glanced at her.

" 'Course, you know me, I upset her a few times when I shouldn't have." Joe said. Hazel watched him.

" I got in fights a lot, bruised bloody knuckles, some skinny guy like me getting beat up in the bar down the street." Joe said, shrugging before looking at Hazel, " Ever since I was a kid really." Hazel softly watched him, with concerned eyes.

" I'd get pushed down in the park?" Joe started, nodding his head as he picked at his fingers, annoyed, " I'd cry. And I'd go running home to my mom, where she'd give me hugs and kisses, and then some of that Hershey's chocolate."

" It's why you love it so much." Hazel said, shifting closer to Joe in the cold and looking at him gently. Joe felt a small smile on his face as he watched her.

" Yeah, you could say that." Joe said as Hazel grinned.

" I love her more than anything." Joe said as Hazel watched the guard that Joe normally held up break down a bit, " Sometimes I regret it all, joining the war. Because there are things I wish I could've told my ma before I left." Hazel looked at Joe, as she sat beside him. Then she glanced at his knuckles, and the tiny scars that were left on them.

" I didn't have much friends in school, I was always in fights, going to the principal's office, stuff like that, but I tried to make sure my ma didn't know. I couldn't have her worrying." Joe said as Hazel looked at him.

" She just wanted the best for me and I, I think I let her down more than I needed to." Joe said, shaking his head, " I was reckless as a teen." Hazel softly looked at him.

" Besides the fights, there was the smoking and the drinking, and then of course, ya know, girls." Joe said shaking his head, " Sorry I'm even telling you this."

" Hey, Joe." Hazel said as he looked towards her, " It's nice to get it off your chest every once and a while." Joe nodded, with a small smile before he looked down.

" It's just, I trust you, you feel like a friend." Joe told her and Hazel grinned softly.

" You got a friend in me, Joe Liebgott." Hazel said as she smiled up at him.

An unlikely one at that.

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hey! so i really liked this chapter, mainly because it showcases a friendship that i absolutely love, just because even if they are complete opposites, they are connected through deeper terms and deeper meanings that what is just on the surface and i love that <3

thank you all for your reads, comments and votes! they always make me so happy!! :)