A week later, Margaret was just finishing up getting ready for the party. She had her blue dress on and just a touch of lipstick. Eugene's new friend from the bakery, Julia, set her hair earlier in the day. The young woman was shy to Margaret at first, but she quickly blossomed into a chatty and enthusiastic companion. She complements Eugene well, she thought happily.

After Margaret helped Julia with her hair (which basically meant Margaret handed her pins here and there since she was useless when it came to hair), she was alone again to change. A knock came to her door.

Margaret opened it to find Winters in his dress uniform. The sight still caused butterflies to go through her, especially as she remembered Paris. She smiled warmly, trying to cover her blush.

Winters had to take a deep breath before he could smile. He figured that she'd be wearing her blue dress again, but it still didn't prepare him when she opened the door. Her beauty knocked the wind from him.

"Excuse me, but I'm waiting for an incredibly handsome officer with killer blue eyes to come sweep me off my feet," she teased.

Winters grinned, breaking through his reverie. He stepped up to her and pulled her close against him. "Will you settle for me instead? I promise to do more than sweep you off your feet." He leaned his lips towards her neck and nibbled.

Margaret giggled, swatting him away. "And you're going to have to settle for a lady tonight. Dresses and makeup and hairdos that take hours." She sighed at the thought.

He smiled again, and held out his arm. "Then we'd better make an appearance so that I can come back and undo all your hard work." She blushed brilliantly.

They walked through the town and towards the party. "I need to dance with Eugene before you start getting ideas into your head, Major. "

Winters rubbed circles on her hand with his thumb. "First dance. Eugene can have the first dance, then we can go."

Margaret giggled as they entered the building. Inside the large room was decorated with red, white, and blue balloons, streamers, and glitter. In the far corner, a huge buffet of food was laid out. She could smell something delicious from there.

She motioned forward towards the food, her stomach growling. Before she could go, Winters pulled her back and place a soft kiss on her lips. He looked her in the eyes before murmuring, "You're saving a dance for me, too, I hope."

Margaret grinned and kissed him again. "You get all the rest." He groaned. "Yes, as my date, you are dancing the night away." She pulled closer, lips to his ear. "Give me a hard night of fighting, soldier, and you will be relieved." She took his earlobe into her mouth and sucked softly. She smirked before sauntering off towards the food.

Winters stood still for a moment, a glazed look on his face. Nixon came up to him, startling him with a slap on the shoulder. "You've got a handful with that one, Dick." He paused, taking a sip of his drink. "Damn, I'm jealous."

Winters chuckled before nudging his friend in the ribs. "I bet Nixon, New Jersey is filled with plenty of women looking for a great guy. Named Nixon at that."

Nixon grinned, nodding. "Yeah, but I need to find a dumb one this time. Clever doesn't work for me. They catch on too fast when I make fun of them." Winters laughed again, shaking his head in wonder of Lewis Nixon.

Margaret finally made it to the food, stopped along the way by many of her friends. She was just about to pick up a plate when Roe stepped next to her with Julia.

"Hey Maggie," he said, kissing her cheek. "You look great."

Margaret smiled at both of them. "You're looking pretty great yourself, Eugene. Julia, you look beautiful."

Julia smiled shyly, overwhelmed with her surroundings. "Thank you, Maggie. You're very sweet." Her accent only emphasized her loveliness.

Margaret spied their hands entwined. "Eugene, you know you don't need to honor your request for a dance with me. I'm sure you'll be much happier with Julia."

Eugene grinned. "Nonsense. I can't miss out on an opportunity to step on your toes."

The music began and Eugene held out this hand to her. He walked her to the center of the room, Julia waving at them. Margaret caught Winters' eye and he took the hint. A moment later, she saw him leading Julia onto the floor as well.

Although all companies were attending Sink's party, Easy company was surely the most rowdy and rambunctious. Their joy was infectious as they danced with local girls, drank away most of the booze, and laughed the loudest in their corner of the room.

Margaret couldn't remember a time when she was so happy and content. Her eyes scanned the faces of her family. Luz and Roe, her very best friends. Randleman, Perconte, and Popeye. Lipton, Malarkey and Liebgott. Nixon, hell, even Spiers.

Her heart began to ache when she thought of those that weren't here. Guarnere, Compton and Toye, torn apart, but alive. Hall, Blithe, Jackeon and Hoobler, gone. Muck, Penkala, vanished. And more. So many more.

Winters could feel the change in her mood. He came to her side and took her hand. He searched her eyes for an answer.

Margaret turned and smiled weakly to him. "Sorry, I'm OK. Just...remembering."

He nodded, understanding immediately. "We need to remember the fallen, love. We carry their memory."

Margaret nodded back, relief flooding her that he could understand her so well. "You are a good man, Dick Winters." She kissed him on the cheek. She was ecstatic to see his cheeks pinken.

He squeezed her hand. "I'm going to say goodnight to the other companies. Then can we go?" His voice held bit of a whine. It was nearing midnight.

Margaret laughed, kissing his cheek again. "When I'm finished, you will definitely know." He shook his head, but grinned, and then walked over to Fox company.

Margaret walked up to the bar. Luz was there, saying goodbye to Greta and Greta. The blondes each kissed him repeatedly all over his face before he finally pushed them away, laughing. "Girls, girls! There's enough of Georgie to go around!" He took each of their hands and kissed their knuckles. He looked to the one on the right. "I'll see you later tonight, Greta." He turned to the left. "Oh, sorry. Yes, the other Greta. I'll see you tonight." The blondes waved, blowing kisses as they left the room.

Luz heaved into the seat beside her. "Love is hard."

Margaret laughed loudly, bumping her shoulder with his. "You are too much, George Luz. How do you even tell them apart? They must be twins."

He shrugged, sipping at a beer. "Close. Cousins or something like that. They're wearing me thin. And I mean, thin."

She held up a hand. "No need for details."

Luz rolled his eyes and exhaled loudly. "As if I hadn't heard enough details about you and Winters to last a lifetime. I scratch my previous statement. Love isn't hard. Being the best friend to the one in love is hard. Especially if your best friend is a broad."

Margaret smacked him and giggled. "You made plenty off my love life, George. How much did you and Nixon make with your most recent bet, again?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Six hundred bucks and a case of lucky strikes. It would have been more if you smooched immediately. Bet was down to the minute." She smacked him again but grinned. "So I take it you're not mad?"

Margaret kissed his cheek. "Who could stay mad at this face?" she marveled. He batted his eyes at her innocently.

They were just about to start a new topic when a tall, blonde man came to Luz's side. Luz looked the red-faced stranger up and down before he said, "Pal, this is a private party. And this lady is taken. Auf Wiedersehen." He gestured with his thumb to the door.

"I'm not here for the lady," the man replied with a thick Austrian accent. "Are you George Luz?"

"Pleased to meet you, No-Neck. Now skedaddle." Luz turned back to Margaret and opened his mouth.

Another blonde man, although shorter but much thicker, came to Luz's other side. "Are you George Luz?"

Luz's gestured to the two men with wide eyes. "Did you hire entertainment for the party, Mags? Because I have to say, you should get your money back," he said to Margaret. She didn't respond, only looked between the two angry men.

They each placed a hand on the bar, trapping Luz in between. The man on the right spoke first. "I am Greta's husband." Margaret saw Luz's eyes widen to saucers.

"And I am Greta's husband," said the second man. Luz looked back and forth between the two. Margaret swore she could hear him gulp.

He took a deep breath before smiling stiffly. "And what handsome husbands you are. Here, let me buy you a drink." And faster than anyone could say "grab fanny," Luz sprinted away and out of sight.

A moment of silence passed before all of Easy roared with laughter. Margaret felt tears in her eyes before placing a hand on each man's arm. She swore her ribs were cracking from laughter. "Thank you so much for that. It was truly better than I could have hoped for."

Nixon walked over with a case of Lucky Strike cigarettes. Margaret took it and handed it to the men. "Thank you again, gentlemen. Your work is done." They nodded, smiling to her. Across the room, she caught Julia's eye and winked. Julia laughed and winked back.

Nixon shook his head in wonder as Perconte and Malarkey came to them. "Remind me never to piss you off."

Margaret smiled sweetly to him. "Well since you paid up with the winnings you made off me, it was only fair to leave you alone, Nix." She paused. "This time." Nixon gulped.

Malarkey stared at her in wonder. "Maggie. I love you. How did you do that?" Perconte nodded vehemently in agreement.

She shrugged innocently. "Eugene's friend, Julia, mentioned that she had two brothers. I didn't want to waste an opportunity for revenge before we shipped out." The men howled with laughter and respect. Man, she was going to miss these guys.

Winters came from behind her and Nixon. "Does this mean the night is over?"

Margaret smiled, the evil glint in her eye still prominent. "Oh yes. We can go now."

Fin.

Thank you for following the story of Dick and Margaret!