" Poetry is what happens when your mind stops working. And for a moment, all you do is feel."

- Atticus

✰✰✰

Cobb got into an altercation with Foley after and got arrested.

Hazel resorted to getting some rest after that. She was drained, emotionally, mentally and physically; she was just exhausted. Hazel found a little spot to curl up on and rest her tired head for a moment, listening to the sounds of quiet chatter and clicks of weapons. Hazel woke up to a voice in front of her. She was slow in opening her eyes but saw it was Shifty on his knees gently shaking her shoulder. Speirs wasn't that far away looking at her. Hazel slowly sat up with tired eyes and looked around.

" Hm?" she asked.

" Briefing, Speirs is trying to get everyone together." Shifty said quietly.

" Oh," Hazel said as she sat up fully and yawned, stretching herself out before standing. Most of the guys were around the table nearby, so Hazel shuffled over and sat down beside Liebgott who was sipping his drink, sitting on the table. She sat down with a tired sigh, praying that before this next patrol she could rest her head on the rather comfortable wooden table and get a few more hours of rest.

Joe was watching her softly, but she was too tired to even smile. Joe gently rubbed her back, noticing the girl's exhaustion, seemingly like she were carrying the world's exhaustion of war on her back. Joe gently handed her the cup and she took a sip of the warm liquid before passing it back to him with a grateful smile.

Catherine was sharing a smoke with Chuck as the two were talking quietly side by side a map in their hands, shaking their head and nodding back and forth.

Hazel sighed, thinking of Lizzie. Hazel hadn't seen her friend in what felt like ages. Hazel hoped she was feeling better, but she knew that she was warm, and eating and resting, 3 things she had been deprived of out in the Ardennes when she was severely sick. She needed all the peace and quiet she could get.

" Sarge, they're on their way in." a voice said and Hazel looked over to see Webster stooping down and walking inside the basement.

" 10, hutt." Johnny called, and Hazel quickly stood beside Joe and Chuck, as Webster walked in, the 3 Captains slowly following.

" Martin." Winters said rubbing his hands together.

" Sir." Johnny said. Winters walked in rubbing his hands together, as Speirs appeared behind him. Winters' eyes seemed to tell a different story than what initially was going to happen, as he looked at the group in front of him.

" At ease." Winters said.

" This everybody, McCown?" Winters asked Catherine.

" Yes, sir." Catherine answered with the smallest hint of a smile. Hazel slowly leaned up against the table with her arms crossed as Winters took the head of the table, looking at the group of soldiers. Winters removed his helmet and observed the group.

" You men and women did an excellent job last night. I'm, uh, I'm proud." Winters said as Hazel immediately thought back to Jackson, here one minute and gone the next.

" I'm proud, I just saw Colonel Sink, he's proud too. In fact, he's so proud he wants you to do another patrol across the river, tonight." Winters said and Hazel looked down at her hands. She bit her lip as she glanced at Babe across from her. Silence seemed to follow that announcement. She watched Winters meet her eyes for a brief moment before looking at his watch, looking rather conflicted.

" Any moment now, the outpost we hit last night will go up in flames, Martin?" Winters asked looking towards the man.

" Yes, sir." Johnny said rather matter-of-factly.

" It means we'd have to venture farther into town this time." Winters proposed and Hazel felt her heart drop inside her chest a bit. Deeper? How many more lives would they risk for that? She could see the pain on Winters face as he said that.

" Captain Speirs, you have the map, please?" Winters asked the Captain.

" Yeah, Sergeant Grant." Speirs said, handing the map over to Chuck who took it and pulled it down in front of Winters and a few others for them to see. Hazel watched Catherine's eyes immediately dart to the map and beginning looking it over.

" We have enemy movement here, and here." Winters said as he pointed to a few locations that were on the map, " Which means this is our new house target here." Hazel bit her lip worriedly, as she did so often, sitting up like a child with her legs beneath her body, leaning forward to get a better look at the map itself.

" We recovered all the boats, so we'll be setting off from the same place we did last night." Winters explained.

" We're not changing the plan any, sir?" Johnny asked him. Winters was quiet as Hazel glanced towards him, with innocent eyes.

" No, plan is the same." Winters stated. Hazel glanced to Babe, who looked at him with a destroyed glance. Liebgott was quiet from next to Hazel as he gently placed the cigarette to his lips and let out a quiet, exhausted sigh.

" It will be 0200 hours instead of 0100." Winters stated calmly. Hazel interlocked her two hands together and stared at them mindlessly, her heart hurting for having to experience another patrol like that. No one here wanted that.

" Is that clear?" Winters asked.

" Yes, sir." came the jumbled response back.

" Okay, good because, uh..." Winters paused for a moment, not looking up at the group as his eyes trained on the map, " I want you all to get a full night's sleep tonight." Hazel looked up at him, confused.

" Which means, in the morning, you will report to me that you made it across the river, into German lines, but were unable to secure any live prisoners." Winters said. It was quiet.

" Understand?" Winters asked.

" Yes, sir." came the rather confused response back. Winters seemingly looked around and met every man and women's eyes as he did so.

Winters would do anything for Easy Company, it was the men he trained with; it made no difference to him that he was Captain of 2nd Battalion, Easy Company would always feel like his company, and he'd do anything to keep them all safe.

" Good." Winters said, as he folded up the map, " Look sharp for tomorrow. We're moving off the line." Then Winters turned and walked away, leaving the group of soldiers, completely and utterly confused, yet filled with relief at the same time.

" Did I fucking hear the right?" Liebgott asked as Hazel felt an exhausted smile spread across her face. Smiles and laughter and sighs of relief filled with basement, as well as the flow of chatter. Hazel slowly stood and walked into the hug that Liebgott brought her into and she smiled thankfully.

" Oh thank god." Hazel whispered as she shoved her head into his neck. The two pulled back and Liebgott smirked at her.

" Now we can finally get some actual rest." he said and she sighed with relief. Hazel finally felt somewhat happy about sleeping tonight.

" 1st Sergeant Lipton." Winters said.

" Sir." Lipton said as he stood in front of Winters.

" Your honorable discharge as an enlisted man." Winters said. Lizzie and George stood side by side watching Lipton receive what he deserved, tiny smiles on both their faces. They'd forgotten about supplies a while ago, as Lizzie felt a smile approach her lips, a genuine one.

" Just keep 'em coming, Luz." Skinny said as he hauled supplies into his arms.

" Yeah, whatever." George muttered as Webster appeared, and both Lizzie and George leaned to the side almost synchronized.

" And Battlefield commission as a 2nd Lieutenant." Winters said, and Lizzie felt giddy watching Lip receive it.

" Look what we have here, boys, and lady." Webster said with a smile, as Lizzie's eyes felt brightened by the smile on Lip's face.

" Hey, pal." George said.

" Congratulations, Carwood." Winters said, as Lizzie felt her heart burst. Lip deserved this.

" Thank you, sir." Lip answered. Both Skinny and Web turned to look where George and Lizzie were looking. The other officers started congratulating Lip on the commission but Lizzie watched the joy on Lip's face grow, and the sickness fade. Lizzie glanced at George who began smiling proudly towards him. Her heart swelled watching George smile at Lip. George nodded and Lizzie watched as Lip looked his way and nodded. Lizzie felt happy, so happy.

" Lieutenant Jones." Winters said as he stepped forward, " Regiment has seen fit to promote you to 1st Lieutenant. They want you on staff up there." Winters unfolded a paper and handed it to him. Jones looked up at Winters.

" Congratulations and good luck." Winters said as the two shook hands. Lizzie smiled.

" Thank you, sir." Jones said. Lizzie smiled, her heart swelling.

" Dismissed." Winters said.

" Looks like you lost another platoon leader, huh, Web?" George asked, as he began loading things back into a box. She heard Webster laugh. Lizzie smiled.

That afternoon, Hazel had taken a trip to CP, hurrying across the tiny little street to look for Floyd, she only had met up with a scattered group from the 3 platoons and noticed he hadn't been there. When she stepped inside the little CP that was set up she found Catherine, Tab and Harry Welsh! A smile spread across Hazel's entire face as she stepped forward into the room, watching with glowing eyes.

" Hazel!" Tab called, immediately jumping around the two to run towards Hazel.

" Tab!" Hazel called as the two caught each other in a hug.

" Man, I didn't think you'd be back this fast," Tab said as he pulled back and held at arms length,

" You look great, you healing up?"

" Best as I can," she said and Tab smiled at her.

" Hey there, kid!" Harry called as he noticed Tab leading the tiny sniper over. Hazel smiled softly.

" I heard about the wound, how're you feeling?" he asked her and Hazel smiled.

" I'm okay, sir, really, how about you?" she asked him with innocent eyes. Harry smiled.

" Doing fine, kid, doing fine." he said and Hazel smiled as the two hugged. And then Lizzie walked in like she were a walking hot knife going through butter, not even paying attention, muttering to herself.

" Lizzie?" Catherine called and Lizzie looked over and almost knocked into the wall before slowing herself.

" Hey!" she called, " Lieutenant Welsh!" Lizzie came over as Harry chuckled.

" Hey, there my savior." Harry said as Lizzie hugged the man.

" I think you should be telling Gene that," Lizzie said.

" Yeah, I will, where is he anyway?" Harry asked.

" Funny you should ask, I'm doing supply runs, George's hoarding the medical supplies." Lizzie said and Catherine smirked.

" Want me to rough him up?" Catherine suggested, " I know exactly where he's ticklish." Catherine said as the group laughed.

" Be my guest, but be careful of the radioman, he can't be losing an eye, yet at least." Lizzie said.

" Hey you almost took out my eye," Tab complained, " you remember that, Elizabeth."

" Can you cut it with the Elizabeth, bullshit? We've been on this since D-Day." she grumbled, flipping through the papers in her hands. Tab did one of those belly laughs, where he leaned back a bit and cackled to the sky.

" And clearly this obnoxious." Catherine muttered with a smirk as Tab scoffed.

" Both of you now?" Tab said and the room chuckled.

" Well you four, I'm heading out, gonna see what Dick has to say about my steady return and if Nixon happens to have some Vat 69 laying around." Harry said, placing his hands on both Tab and Catherine's shoulder.

" Think he ran out through Bastogne?" Tab questioned.

" Run out? I hardly doubt, if anything he's managed to snag more in his time being here, than ever before. He's gotta have something." Harry said and then situated his helmet.

" Vat 69, here I come." he said as he slowly left the room, a jump in his step. Harry was back. And of course, ready for more alcohol.

" Never get stranded in the middle of Normandy with him," Lizzie said, pointing to Tab, as he snickered.

" You're acting like you didn't have a fun time." Tab complained. Lizzie narrowed her eyes at him.

" You proceeded to talk for a majority of the time, Floyd," Lizzie said and Tab smirked.

" And here we are on the Floyd bullshit, Elizabeth." Tab said and Lizzie rolled her eyes, " My voice is a complete and utter joy to listen to."

" Oh yeah totally," Lizzie said sarcastically, " walking through the boiling hot sun with mosquitoes, thinking you're breakfast and your voice is in my ear. I'd so skip Paris for that."

" You know you loved it," Tab said and Lizzie groaned.

" Yeah I love it as much as white chocolate," Lizzie said, " I hate white chocolate."

" I'll take your word for it, Lizzie." Hazel said as Catherine laughed.

" Please do," Lizzie said, " Shifty could barely get a single word in as we moved through the high grass."

" No," Tab said and Lizzie raised a brow, " you're telling the story wrong."

" Since when was this a story?" Lizzie jabbed back.

" Alright, children, we are a long way from Normandy my friends," Catherine said as Lizzie shoved his shoulder and Tab scowled.

" You suck," Tab grumbled as Lizzie smirked proudly.

" So do you," Lizzie answered with a wink and Tab glowered.

" She always wins these." he grumbled and the two women laughed as Lizzie turned away with a little salute and a confident smirk towards George Luz and her medical supplies.

The basement of OP 2 was just a little bit warmer tonight, knowing there was not a patrol they'd have to risk their lives for tonight.

A relief.

Such a wonderful relief.

Hazel sat back in a chair that night, feet kicked up on the table, humming I Don't Wanna Set the World on Fire, a tiny smile on her face as she thought of Jem, taking every last drop of Malarkey's meal from her tin and spin.

Maybe there was hope for Easy Company.

Joe Liebgott found himself taking bits of chocolate from a Hershey's chocolate bar, with his feet kicked up on a nearby box, trying to savor every last bit of chocolate, and then keep a bit for Hazel - she loved these. George Luz was organizing boxes still with help from Vest who moved in and out of the room, with mail, boxes and supplies.

" You doing alright, there buddy?" George asked Joe who glanced towards him and perked up a brow.

" You have me chocolate, course I'm doing alright." Joe said as he took another tiny piece. George smirked as he placed another few pieces into the box.

" Heard we're moving off the line," George said.

" Yeah, thank Christ already, I've only been seeing white and grey and fucking despair." Joe grumbled and bit into his Hershey bar again.

" Thought you two would be here," a voice said and the duo watched Catherine walk in, helmet on her hip.

" Aye, Lieutenant!' George said a smile perking up on his face, " Escaping death?"

" As per usual." she answered with a smirk.

" What's up?" Joe asked, biting his chocolate again and savoring it. It was so good.

" Nixon's got a flask of Vat 69 sitting up in his office," Catherine said. You could hear a pin drop.

" As of," George said looking at his watch," 1500?"

" Close," Catherine said and then managed to pull out a silver flask from her coat, " or right here."

" Holy shit," mumbled Joe as he sat up and watched the woman take a sip and sigh.

" Yep, I needed that," she said, before offering it up, " take a sip and make it quick, we don't need Nixon finding out we were taking sip of his lucky booze."

" You kidding, I won't even make a dent," George said as he took it in his hands just before Joe was about to grab it.

" Hey, asshole, me first." Joe said as George chuckled.

" You'll get your chance." George said, " Damn that's good."

" My turn," Joe said as he reached up to take the drink from George's hand who begrudgingly forked it over.

" And I might've just heard that we're moving out to Mourmelon tomorrow," Catherine said, " not just some run down town in the middle of the countryside."

" Hallelujah," George said with a smirk on his lips and Catherine grinned. She nodded.

" You owe me a dance there then, Lieutenant." George said as Joe damn-near choked on his drink, looking up at George with a raised brow. Catherine smirked.

" What for?" she said.

" I said you had a pretty face, I didn't take that as payment." George said and Catherine smirked.

" You have yourself a deal, but before careful I'll wipe the floor with you." Catherine said. Joe laughed.

" I'd pay money to see this," Joe said.

" Is this like a show to you?" Catherine said and Joe chuckled.

" Precisely." Joe answered smugly.

" Honey, you have yet to see my dance moves." George said with a smirk. Catherine chuckled.

" Right, right, like you weren't tripping over Lizzie's feet." Catherine said.

" Hey, it was 1 week of knowing her, I was not gonna get a medic's feet injured. Gene would be up my ass." George said and Catherine laughed, before plucking the smoke from George's lips and placing it on her's.

" Thank you George," she said as she heard Joe wheeze.

" You're lucky you're a Lieutenant," George said. Catherine leaned back and crossed her feet, smirking.

" Or what? You challenging me?" Catherine said as Joe sipped the flask again. George smirked.

" You're on," George said and Catherine laughed.

" Here ya go," Joe said pushing the flask into her grasp. She shook it and then scoffed.

" Joe, how much did you drink?" she scoffed.

" Like 2 sips, he took a lot more." Joe said and Catherine snickered.

" Yeah, right," she said as the two men laughed.

Maybe this war would be over sooner than they thought.

Hazel went out to the balcony that night, to look at the stars. She sat quietly, her legs curled up against her, as slight shiver in her body as she looked at the bright twinkling lights the filled the sky above her.

A cup of coffee was in her shaking grasp, and as much as she waited to sit in the warmth, it felt better to be outside, alone and in her mind which lay in a calm ambiance for the moment. It was a peace she needed. A blanket from Chuck was wrapped around her shoulders comfortably, as the warm mug kept her hands and fingertips from freezing. She could hear the slight laughter from inside, the boys were playing card games by the little lantern that was set on a table between the bunks.

Hearing their laughs made Hazel smile softly to herself. She softly sipped her coffee and let out a gentle sigh. Hazel started to think about life after the war, it was the only way to comfort herself as she sat here watching the stars dance across her vision.

Hazel gently leaned to the side to look into the room where all the guys sat around the table playing cards and her eyes suddenly set on Joe.

What if she had a life with Joe after the war?

What if she finally worked up the courage to tell him how she felt?

But she was scared, the last time she loved someone, her father, he had left her and her mother behind and didn't seem to think twice about it with no regrets.

Would she tell him and he would run?

Hazel watched him laugh though, as he placed his cards in front of Chuck and then slapped Chuck's shoulder lightly.

His face was golden.

Hazel softly leaned back against the outside of the room and stared at the stars. Her heart raced at the thought of telling Joe that she was falling in love with him and more than just that stupid smirk but his personality, his soul, his loyalty and fierce love for his friends, his soft side even.

Her mind suddenly went soft.

Hazel couldn't deny it, she thought sometimes if she would have a life with Joe after the war somehow. Her fingers gently tapped against the warm cup, as an innocent, sad smile draped over her lips in the cold dark.

The reality she felt, would never come out. Love was hard. She knew that. Fatherly love was hard. It always was and always had been.

Would true love be even harder?

Hazel let out a shaky sigh and thought of the love she had for Catherine and Lizzie, that was sisterly love - and that love was stronger than any force in the entire world. Hazel sighed. Love and trust was hard. She'd get through it eventually, she didn't know when, but she would.

" Hey, Mom..." she whispered, her voice gentle, hoping on the other side of the world her mother was possibly staring at the sun and thinking of this horrid war, " I wish I could tell you I loved you again." Hazel let out a sigh and rubbed her fingers between the fabric of the blanket over her shoulders.

" Everyone's doing okay," Hazel said with a soft nod, " and I'm okay, too." Hazel smiled softly, and then let her shoulders slump.

" I wish I could talk to you in person, about everything. These stupid things called emotions." Hazel whispered, eyes said. Hazel looked down and softly brought the cup to her lips.

" Love's hard for me, but the person who has shown me the love I deserve, has made me start to think that love, true love isn't as hard as it seems." Hazel whispered. She smiled to herself, her heart softly thumping. Hazel gently sighed and continued tapping her fingers softly against the surface of the cup.

" I trust him with my life, mom, and he has a soul, a good one, even if he doesn't think he does himself. I've seen it, I've seen the good soul he has and I've seen what a beautiful soul he does have." Hazel whispered and then smiled to herself.

" He has a nice smile as well, a cute one," Hazel said and then giggled, before she blushed, surprising herself that she had even said that.

" Hey," a voice said and Hazel looked over and smiled softly to see Catherine. She needed a Catherine moment.

" Hi." Hazel whispered, an innocent smile on her face, that had seen the tortures and tragedies of the war and the fear that struck one soldier to another. Catherine slowly sat down beside Hazel and looked at her with soft eyes.

" You doing okay, out here all alone?" Catherine asked her gently.

" Fine," Hazel said, " but it's actually my heart." Catherine glanced at her softly.

" Your heart?" Catherine asked. Hazel nodded.

" Love's hard for me, Cath," Hazel whispered. Catherine gently wrapped her arm over Hazel's shoulder and rubbed it.

" And love, it's such a big word for me, and to say it to someone, it means a lot, it means so much and to finally feel love? It just, it makes my heart ache." Hazel whispered.

" Hazel?" Catherine asked and Hazel looked at Catherine with soft eyes.

" I think I love Joe." Hazel whispered, her heart racing. And Catherine saw tears fill her eyes and watched Hazel look down as if she were ashamed.

" Aw, Hazel," Catherine whispered, as Hazel caved into Catherine's warm side. Catherine's mind began racing, thoughts zipping wildly though her mind.

Hazel loved Joe.

But Catherine could see it in the way Hazel looked at Joe, blushed around him, laughed with him, just what she was like being with him. But it wasn't just attraction, no, it was more than that. More than just what met the eye. It was their prolonged deep connection that helped them know what the other was thinking with a glance. And Catherine was positive both of them had looked at the curve of each other's lip and memorized it, as if understanding each and every detail - they knew each other's smiles. The signal of happiness.

" How?" Hazel whispered, her voice breaking.

" Because you love him for him, and that's okay. I feel that is the purest form of love there is." Catherine whispered gently.

" But love has no place in war." Hazel whispered, her voice breaking, " Why would I amount to this?" Catherine watched Hazel.

" Well, you know I love you." Catherine said and Hazel smiled softly.

" I know you do." Hazel said and Catherine smiled, squeezing her shoulder tightly.

" Love is okay, it keeps this war better able to handle, easier to handle all of it, actually." Catherine said gently. Hazel sniffled.

" You think?" Hazel asked her.

" Of course, love is powerful," Catherine said, " and it's okay to love deeply. It's what humans do." Hazel smiled softly and wiped at her eyes.

" And when the time comes," Catherine said softly, " you tell him that you love him, what's the worst that could happen?"

" Yeah." Hazel whispered softly nodding.

" Whenever you're ready," Catherine said, " but love is okay, remember that." Hazel nodded and then let her weary head rest against Catherine's shoulder as she let her eyes shut and her mind stop thinking.

Maybe love was what she needed more of instead of shying away from the fear of not being loved.

Maybe just loving herself was what she needed even more.

Moving out the following day, and hopefully back to Mourmelon was the hope that every needed. Hazel hoped that Mourmelon would bring much needed rest and food and sleep that everyone needed. Hazel walked out into the cloudy morning with her helmet firmly on her head, bag on her shoulder, boots sloshing in the mud, and rifle on her shoulder as she approached where she saw guys like Chuck and Lieb sitting. Hazel approached and as she did a smile fell on her face.

" Hazel!" Chuck called out to her as she looked up. They could recognize her from the dimples in her cheeks and her bright eyes.

" Hey, help me up will you?" she asked.

Liebgott's hand appeared as Chuck took her things. Hazel softly looked up to meet Joe's eyes. And they only looked at her with adoration.

Hazel's newfound emotions and feelings and love was daunting, but maybe love was what the world needed more of. love was okay, it was good and more love made the world even better. Hazel smiled.

Hazel grabbed Joe's hand as he pulled her up so she could sit beside him. The second she sat down she sighed in relief. Almost 3 months of hell would finally be over, and they could go back to Mourmelon. It would be different, entirely, and it would feel weird, but Hazel would have to get used to it, like everyone else. Hazel watched Lieutenant Jones come over and look up at the group.

" Good luck, men. Good luck, ladies." he said with a smile. Hazel watched Catherine lean forward with a small smile.

" Thank you, sir." came the chorus of responses. Hazel smiled at him, before noticing Webster wandering up. She smiled watching him nod to Lieutenant Jones. Lieutenant Jones smiled and so did Hazel. Joe was the one to help Webster up and into the truck again as they began pulling away from the small, snow covered town with relief in their systems.

They were finally going somewhere away from here, away from Belgium, away from the French-German bordered, away from the Ardennes, away from the horror that would follow many of them through the rest of their lives.

But with love, love could cure anything.

And maybe loving one another, despite their fears and the horrors they all faced, maybe they'd heal each other's wounds the best they could, as far as they could.

And it'd be okay, it would all be okay.

By the time they left Haguenau, Easy Company's European Campaign had taken them from England to France, Holland and Beligum.

Soon they would be entering Germany.

✰✰✰

ah!! we've finished episode 8!! AND O M G has tiny bean hazel parker admitted her feelings? i feel i always avoided love like this in war, but i realized without love, the war wouldn't be human enough whether it be family love, friend love, sister love or relationship love. i truly loved this chapter, as we are really seeing hazel grow - it makes me SOFTTT i love it and i hope you did too!! <3