" I've never met a strong person with an easy past."

- Atticus

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Life at Mourmelon-le-Grande had never been more peaceful.

But Hazel noticed Lizzie was getting an influx of letters, almost daily by this point. And Hazel would watch Lizzie read them, her eyes grow sad and the stress lines appear on her features as she read it all. Hazel and Catherine were the only ones, as well as Gene who knew about Lizzie's grandmother and her cancer. But Lizzie didn't tell many people, she didn't want to burden others were her hardships when they had their own.

Truth be told, Lizzie was getting updates on her grandmother. The cancer was worse and Lizzie was told she couldn't hold on much longer. Lizzie got a letter from Vest almost daily by this point, her parents wrote one to her everyday, updating Lizzie on just about everything that dealt with her grandmother. Lizzie had been the closest out of all the Elliot's with her grandmother. Her grandmother, even when she was first getting sick, was brave and she told the funniest stories from her childhood, with a smile on her face, her eyes lighting up. She never failed to do that.

Even now, her parents wrote in letters that her grandmother was still doing that.

Her grandmother had been the one to help her through the worst breakup she had ever experienced. Even though her parents and her brothers were there for her on the night she spent, crying upstairs alone in her room, refusing to eat, her grandmother truly helped her through most of it.

Lizzie had only been 17 back in early 1940, when she had started dating one of the boys from her school, Danny Donahue. Lizzie had felt for the first time, that someone like him was making her feel love, a real love. She had been mistaken and her broke her heart once he heard she was deciding to join the Cadet Nurses' Corps. He had always been supportive and caring and willing for her to do anything he wanted. He was even super supportive of college, when not many people were of the day for women to go to those campuses.

But the Cadet Nurses' Corps had crossed the line, for him at least, and that's when he broke it off.

Her grandmother helped her through for the months following and leading up to her deployment to the Nurses' Corps, and the women that were there, were supportive and told Lizzie how wonderful she was and she didn't need Danny. But her grandmother, she had taken Lizzie's hands and the two had prayed; prayed that Danny would find the good in life and try and be better.

And then her grandmother told her the wisest words she thought she'd ever hear from someone and it was hard to come to the certain realization, but Lizzie knew it was true.

The heart was made to be broken over and over again until it grew wise, just like if you fall and fall again you'll eventually stand tall and now be knocked down again.

The words always sat with Lizzie, like a little puddle on her heart, but she eventually found strength and peace, and the words from her grandmother still follow her today.

Heartbreaks weren't just romantically related. There were heartbreaks in war, like seeing a man die at your hands which were supposed to make him live, or seeing someone like Hazel, start crying because of the man she called her father. Or maybe it was because you couldn't control a heartbreak such as losing hope and faith finally.

Heartbreaks were everywhere, but you always came out stronger in the end.

Hearing her grandmother was getting worst had to be an even more terrible heartbreak than that of Danny. Her grandmother had always flown with the wind, taking it in strides, letting it guide her. She'd always been so graceful. And now, Lizzie might never see her graceful spirit again.

But Lizzie told herself this is why she did what she did. She was helping people, everyday, with her work as a combat medic, and if that was something she could do to heal she was willing to do that. And then once this war ended, she'd go on and she'd try and find more hope for cancer, she'd study hard, that's what she'd do, and she'd advocate for hyperkinetic impulse disorder and for others who were like her feeling scared and alone.

She'd help everyone.

Her grandmother had always said she'd do so.

So, Lizzie folded up the most recent letter and headed towards the mess hall, maybe someone like Skip or Tab would be there. Lizzie slowly headed towards the mess hall and noticed Malarkey and Skip sitting in a corner, chuckling quietly together as they passed bits and pieces of money back and forth between the two. Lizzie felt a tiny smile tip at the corner of her lips. Lizzie gently wrapped her arms around herself and slowly approached the duo.

" Hey guys," Lizzie said with a small smile. Both men looked up and grins blossomed on both their faces.

" Hey, Doc!" Skip called, a wild grin on his face.

" Here come sit down." Malarkey said scooting over as she slowly eased herself into the spot beside him.

" You look bundled up, you going somewhere?" Skip asked her. Lizzie grinned softly and shook her head.

" Just cold," she said with a nod, " but what about you two?" Malarkey and Skip glanced at each other and then looked back to Lizzie with grins.

" We've been hitting up every major French town within a 25 mile radius of here and are cleaning the places out of cash." Malarkey said proudly, " Everywhere I go there's people putting money on things, and I just happen to clean it up for them all. And here we are." Lizzie grinned with a small laugh and nodded.

" I can see." she said, looking at all the money spread in front of the two of them. Skip noticed the frown on her face.

" Hey, you okay, Lizzie?" Skip asked leaning forward. Lizzie looked up and met his eye.

" Yeah," she said, nodding, " fine." Skip watched her curiously.

" You sure?" he asked, " I know where you're ticklish and could get you laughing in seconds." A grin broke out on Lizzie's face as she laughed. Skip had been partnered up with her in Aldbourne on hand to hand combat sometimes and he hand found her ticklish spot, right on the side of her stomach and each time a block or punch was there, she'd giggle. Skip had found it hilarious.

" Hey people," a voice said and the group looked up to see Joe Toye sliding in beside Lizzie.

" How's the Doc doing?" he asked as he poured some creamer into his coffee from one of the tiny packets. Everyone was sucking down coffee these days.

" Okay," she said, " I'm glad to just be sitting here with you guys though." Joe smiled and nodded.

" Alright, alright, I know I can be rather flattering," Joe said as the trio looked at him and laughed, " but what's up? You look a little upset." Lizzie met his eye and sighed softly to herself.

" My grandmother has cancer." she said quietly, nodding," and it's not getting better." Joe's eyes softened and she saw Skip's mouth drop open.

" Aw, Lizzie." Malarkey said wrapping an arm over her shoulders and pulling her softly into his side. As Lizzie curled into his side, she felt the tears build up, the one's she had been hiding for so long, the one's she refused to let out. She squeezed her eyes shut in his embrace and forced herself not to break down in front of the guys. She felt Joe's gentle hand on her other soldier, softly rubbing against it. Skip was quiet.

" Thanks, Don." Lizzie whispered softly, as she pulled back from him and smiled up at him. Malarkey smiled at her and nodded, squeezing her shoulder a bit more. The guys were usually so upbeat and brash and just guys that sometimes Lizzie forgot how soft and emotional and comforting they could all be, like big brothers. She forgot the comfort it felt to have men like these guys around all the time.

" How's she doing?" Skip asked leaning forward as Joe kept a gentle hand on her shoulder.

" She's okay, for now, but they don't think she'll be getting better anytime soon." Lizzie whispered softly, glancing towards him and nodding, " She's a fighter though, she's tough." Lizzie blinked a few times, as her voice cracked.

" We know she is," Skip said and gently reached across the table to take her hand is his. Skip nodded. Lizzie's eyes welled up.

" I just, I think sometimes, about if God takes her, what I'm going to do." Lizzie whispered. Skip didn't break eye contact from her.

" She'll keep loving you, even if she's looking down on you. She'll be so proud of you, Lizzie, and she'll be cheering you on from the stars." Skip said softly. Lizzie bit back her lip and nodded.

" Thank you, Skip." she whispered softly, as a tear fell down her cheek, but she was quick to wipe it away. Lizzie looked at the 3 men here, who were watching her so gently. Cancer was a scary thing, especially now. But sitting here with them, it didn't seem as if it were such a scary thought.

" God'll make sure of it, that she can watch you be you, Lizzie." Malarkey said to her and she met his eyes, with a trembling lip, " I've always believed that."

" She's happy for now though, she's still telling stories, jokes." Lizzie said, and the 3 guys smiled. Joe gently wrapped his arm over Lizzie's shoulder.

" Thanks for helping me feel better guys," Lizzie said as she wiped at her eyes, " it means a lot, truly." Joe gave her a gentle squeeze, as Malarkey and Skip smiled fondly at her.

" We can't let you deal with it all alone." Malarkey said, " No one should have to." Lizzie softly smiled, as her heart rate settled. Malarkey was right, that's why they were all here. And she smiled. Lizzie sat with Hazel that night in the barracks, curled up resting her head on Hazel's shoulder as Hazel listened to Lizzie whenever she spoke, when she wanted to speak. Hazel was always there to listen, whatever it was, and Lizzie was never more grateful for Hazel or Catherine or any of the guys in the company.

" Do you talk to the stars, Hazel?" Lizzie whispered softly, " I know you love them, but I've always wondered if you talk to them." Hazel smiled.

" All the time, because it's like my mom is really there." Hazel said, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she rubbed Lizzie's shoulder, " It's comforting, they're always there."

" You think if God takes my grandmother, I could talk to the stars as if she were right beside me?" Lizzie asked quietly. Hazel's smile turned to a frown, as her heart sagged. It was a sad topic, but Hazel always did that for comfort. She knew it'd bring Lizzie comfort as well.

" Of course," Hazel said rubbing her shoulder, " anytime, everyday, every night, every minute." Lizzie slowly sat up from Hazel's shoulder and looked at her.

" Does it help, with the pain?" Lizzie asked her. Hazel smiled softly and nodded.

" All the time." Hazel said. Hazel watched a bit of hope seem to filter into Lizzie's eye, a bit of relief.

" But your grandmother, she's okay right now," Hazel said gently, " but talk to the stars, tell them everything, they will always listen." Lizzie watched Hazel with a soft smile and nodded.

" You know, I've always told the stars my darkest secrets, my worries, my fears, all of it. They know everything, and they still shine so bright." Hazel said, " They know so much and still shine, kinda like you." Lizzie smiled softly as she watched Hazel, the bright little sniper who had a want for hope to come.

" I think I might do that more often." Lizzie said and Hazel grinned.

" You should, it relieves a lot of stress." Hazel said with a nod as Lizzie smiled. The two girls sat there quietly for the rest of the night.

In the coming days, there was a warm peace, as people geared up in practices for the football game on Christmas, people ate each meal in peace and there was more joy and laughter and just a general happiness. Lizzie even perked up a bit. She ate many meals with her core 4 group of Tab, Shifty and Smokey and would usually have coffee breaks with Gene, which was relieving. There was just a general feeling of calmness and peace, for the first time since being thrust into war. It was a comfortable feeling.

The following night, Christmas was growing closer and Catherine had decided that if anything she hoped more coffee would arrive on base as she sat in the noisy barrack, listening to the men chatter, and Bill and Johnny go at it about how they had exactly shined their boots. She sat with her feet kicked up, eyes half shut, sipping her coffee softly, relishing the warmth and the overwhelming goodness of the caffeine which would hopefully sink in soon. There wasn't an annoyance, there was no one calling her ear up to go and write up a report and there was absolutely no sense of hurrying.

That was until footsteps arrived at her side and she knew exactly who it was. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up to see it was George.

" To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked him with a smile.

" Well, Lieutenant, Seven Sinners is playing down in the hall, and I knew you enjoyed those movies and figured you'd want to join." he said as a smirk played on his face.

" Let me guess, you've already seen this movie and are going to quote it the entire time." Catherine said with a smile on her face up at him.

" You know me too well, Lieutenant." George said as he grinned at her as she stood, a slight yawn escaping from her mouth.

" Why not?" she said, taking a generous sip of coffee, " If I can take my coffee, count me in." George smiled as the two headed out in the blistering cold night, where snow was starting to fall.

" Care for a sip?" she asked George.

" Please tell me you actually put creamer in it this time." George said as he took her up on the offer and gently sipped it. Catherine smirked.

" That was only a few times George, and they were when you caught me chugging caffeine." Catherine clarified to him.

" Ah right," he said, a chuckle leaving his lips. When they arrived at the hall where the movie was being played, a few people were already sitting down in their seats. And George picked ones right behind Joe Toye and Lip, who were talking quietly together, and ones just a bit in front of Skip and Perconte. Catherine slowly sat down as George seated himself quietly down beside her. Catherine raised a brow at how gentle he was sitting down.

Usually, back in Aldbourne, he raced to every meal, throwing himself onto the boarded seat, hungrily wolfing down his food. Now he sat down as if he were a graceful ballerina.

Did Catherine suspect any less from George?

No, not really.

Catherine settled into her chair, sipping her coffee rather tirelessly as the lights went down and the movie began playing. Catherine actually enjoyed the movie, just a bit more though, because George made comments that sent her snickering just about the entire time through it.

" Look at me, I'm John Wayne. The costume department set me up with these great Navy Whites." Luz said and Catherine nearly snorted the coffee through her nose as she watched Joe slowly turning from in front of them for the 6th time tonight, an annoyed look on his face.

" Luz, shut up." Toye spat, as Catherine bit back her tongue from beside George.

" What do you think?" George said, as Lipton turned around, looking at Luz with serious eyes.

" I'm trying to watch this." Lip said.

" I've seen this movie 13 times, okay?" Luz said.

" Well, I haven't, so, shut up." Toye said, and Catherine glanced over at George who held back a smirk. She shoved his shoulder and he laughed quietly.

" Watch the movie, it's fine." Luz protested.

" Hey, Skip!" a voice called out, and everyone turned as Malarkey's voice rang about the dark room.

" Shh, c'mon!" Luz called to Malarkey as Toye and Lip turned around again. Catherine just shook her head laughing again as she looked back up at the screen, a smirk drawn up on her face. Luz smoked from next to her, as her wide eyes focused on the movie.

" Jesus!" suddenly came a yell from behind them, and both Lip and Toye turned around shushing them and yelling shut up. Catherine looked back at Malarkey and raised a brow as he smirked at her. She smiled. Catherine then turned and looked back up at the movie. George's eyes started shining as he leaned forward and patted Lip's shoulder. Smooth, cocky, bastard.

" Lip, favorite part." Luz said. Lip turned and shushed him quickly.

" Got a penny?" Luz said, in a bit of an accent, and Catherine looked up at him with dancing eyes, a smirk crawling onto her face. She could see Toye slowly turning to look at Luz, who sat dead serious.

" Got a penny?" Luz said again.

" Got a penny?" Luz said again with more emphasis, as Toye continued looking at him. Toye turned muttering a curse to himself as Catherine let out a small chuckle.

" Got a penny?!" George said louder this time.

" Got a penny?" Marlene Dietrich said on the screen and then Catherine lost it as she began giggling louder, slapping a hand over her mouth to hide the laughter. Luz's laughter filled her ears as Lip turned to look at Luz who's laugh was that of sunshine it seemed.

" What?" Luz said through the laugh. Suddenly, there was bang from behind them, and footsteps were heard walking straight up the center of the path through the chairs.

" Lights!" the voice called, as the lights slowly came up and complaints began to ring out from every man in there, as Catherine slowly sat up, concern washing over her face.

The coffee was cold.

Catherine watched the two soldiers that had walked in, head up towards the front, and her eyes grew concerned even more than usual. Catherine furrowed her brows, biting back her lip with worry.

" Quiet!" the soldier yelled back at the complaints.

" You can't do that to the Duke!" Luz yelled as Catherine's eyes watched the two soldiers, her heart pounding.

" I said, quiet!" the man yelled turning to look at the mass of soldiers his eyes looking throughout the room as Catherine's heart rate sped up rapidly. The movie turned off and the room went deafly quiet, you could hear a pin drop. It was quiet for a few moments. What was going on?

" Elements of the 1st and the 6th SS panzer Division have broke through the Ardennes forest." the man said and Catherine's heart dropped into a pit inside her chest, as she saw George lean back a bit with a roll of his eyes.

" Now, they've overrun the 28th Infantry and elements of the 4th. All officers report to respective HQs. All passes are cancelled. " the man said as complaints sprang from mouths. Catherine's heart dropped as she glanced towards George who met her worried eyes.

" Enlisted men report to barracks and your platoon leaders." the man said firmly, before walking down the center of the isle again as men began storming out. Catherine slowly looked towards George, as she bit back her lip gently again. She puffed out her cheeks.

" Well, it's been real, but I gotta meet with Nixon." Catherine said, as she slowly stood, patting George on the shoulder.

" Sure has," George said with a sigh, " I'll see ya around, right, Lieutenant?" Catherine stopped and turned to him. She gave a mock two finger salute with a proud smirk on her face.

" You know it, radioman." she said and then headed out following a few fellow Lieutenants from Fox outside, heading straight for the storm.

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hey! so we have finally reached the events of bastogne and let me just say, writing this upcoming chunk of the story was super sad :( i forgot how sad it was to write it, and just the different emotions that go into this portion. but thank you for reading!! and i saw how you all LOVED joe's confession to himself, it was ADORABLE to write, i was screaming myself HAHA thanks!! <3