1939--Paris, France.

"Oh, miel. Je regrette que vous ayez senti le besoin de voyager constamment. J'ai l'impression que je vous perds."
{Oh, honey. I wish you didnt feel the need to travel always. I have fear that I will lose you.}

The slender woman with chrimson hair said.

"La maman, je ne suis un enfant plus et cela veut dire de trouver mon endroit dans le monde. Je ne peux pas rester en France pour ma vie enti re. Essayez s'il vous pla t de le comprendre. Je vous aime."

{Mama, I'm not a child anymore, and that means finding my place in the world. I can't stay in France for my entire life. Please try to understand that. I love you.]

looked at her grown daughter with compassion and understanding, though the pain of losing her was just beneath the surface. She stroked her porcelain cheek.
"Am lie, Vous tiez toujours un oiseau libre et j'ai un temps difficile en vous permettant de voler libre. Il est que vous avez besoin bien que, je puisse le voir dans vos yeux. Je vous aime aswell, mon plus cher."
{Amelia, You've always been a free bird, and I'm having a difficult time letting you fly free. It's what you need though, I can see it in your eyes. I love you aswell, my dearest.}

The tears slowing sprung from her eyes as Amelia grabbed her worn bag of belongings and made her way out the front door.
hoped--hoped with all her heart-- that this would not be the last memory of her daughter.

Boston, Massachusetts.
Two weeks later.

"Donny, I still got customers lined out tha door, whadd'ya doin' back there?!"

Hastily turning off the small radio, Donny called back.
"Nothin' pops, just grabbin' s'more meat!"

Indeed, the small Italian bistro had been populated to the brim with townsfolk eager to indulge themselves in whats been known as the best Italian cuisine in town.
The beastly man who'd been preparing the food eyed Donny once he regained his place at the front counter and started taking down orders.

Soon the Bistro became barren just as fast as it had become over burdened.
"Donny, wheres ya head at, boy?" asked in a harsh yet concerned voice.
"Pop, you know I'm not gonna be 'round forever to take orders." He continued "I've got whole life a'head of me, and I can't just-
"Support ya family?" the gruff man asked harshly.

Donny turned his head, knowing exactly what he'd just gotten himself into.

"What exactly do ya plan to do wit' yaself then? Play baseball 'till you're an ol' man like me?"

"Actually, I was thinkin' more along tha lines of joinin' the army." Donny said, matter-of-factly.

Donny thought he could actually see his fathers' heart break through the look in his eyes.

With a deep sigh, the old man turned and headed in the direction of the door.
"We'll talk 'bout this later, I'm gonna' head home for dinna', should your motha' and I be expectin' ya tonight?" he asked, in sorrow.

Looking to the ground Donny replied " Naw, meetin' the guys after I close up."
And with that, he was alone in the small eatery.

After his cleaning duties were done, Donny flipped the sign on the door from open to close, then locked the door behind him.
The sky had darkened, as the sun started to set. Making his way down the almost deserted street, he looked up at the sign that hung from the frame of the familier pub.

Once inside, he met the faces of Joey and Bullet. Of course his real name wasn't bullet, but he was that type of guy you just loved to hate.
Well built, but not over-sized--like Donny slightly was-- green eyes, hair styled to perfection, and dressed to kill. Joey was more slender, with a baby face and wide brown eyes, matching the shade of his less groomed though they were all the same age -19--Donny could have passed for a few years older.

Joining the boys at the bar, he greeted them warmly.
"Eh! Joe, Nathanial! How ya' boys doin'?"
Bullet passed him a dirty look and hushed his voice.
"Donny,man, whadd'ya tryin' ta do to me?" He leaned in a bit closer "Ya know i go by Bullet now."
Donny shook his head with a grin on his face.
"Tha ladie's ain't lookin' ta make it wit' a Nathanial.."
Ordering a cold beer, he replied "Sure, whateva' man."

"Speaking of..there's a fine piece of tail right ova' there" Bullet said in a cocky tone, eyes locked on a slender, pale girl with a fiery mane of hair.

Donny took a large gulp of beer before looking in the same direction.
"It's girls like that, that keep good ol' America jumpin'.." He heard Bullet, the rest fading to background noise.

Donny couldn't take his eyes off of her. His eyes grazed over her delicate features, from her gold- flecked eyes to her full set of lips.
A sly grin formed on his face as he look forward, grabbing his drink.
"Good luck."

"I'm sorry, whad' ya say Donny boy?" Bullet asked, now fully interested.

"I'm just sayin', a girl like that.." Bullet cut him off "Is just my type."

Before anyone could say more, he motioned to the bartender, slipping some cash into his hand, he muttered something to him.

A few minutes later, one of the waitresses brought a fruity looking drink over to the looked up in the direction the waitress was pointing puckered his lips making a faint kissing sound, looking straight at her, while Donny and Joey looked slightly ashamed--but entertained none the less.

Before the waitress had a chance to walk away, the girl leaned in and whispered something to her. The waitress chuckled and walked back to the bar.

"Well, she hasn't dumped it on ya yet, im kinda' surprised." Donny managed to get out, obviously amused.

"Donny..please, i've got 'er right where i want 'er." Bullet retorted.
still looking, they noticed that the waitress had returned to her table, and set down a beer resembling Donny's.
Then headed back over to where they sat and set the fruity drink in front of bullet.
"Enjoy." she said, just as amused.

The cocky grin had been wiped right off his face, and they all looked back at the red head.
She made a cheersing gesture with her beer, sly grin on her face. Bullet just stared in disbelief as the guys cracked up in laughter.

Once the pub had started getting more and more empty, and Bullet had reached his stupid level of drunk, Joey spoke up.
"Well, I'm gonna drag this putz home, and take a hike myself, ya heading out with us Don?"

"Uh, naw, you guys take off, I'll see ya' tomorrow on the field." he said reassuringly.

They said their goodbyes and the guys left.

Donny couldnt help but look back over at the noticed she was writing in a small journal of some kind, and that her beer was next to empty. He decided it would be best to go over and apologize for Bullets' cocky gesture.
Downing another portion of his drink, he grabbed it and walked over to her table in the corner.

"Hi." He said, with a friendly smile.

She looked up at him." Hi." she said back, then looked back down at her book.

"Do ya' mind?" he asked, motioning to the seat across from her.
"Uh, no, go ahead." she said, now tucking her book in her black side bag.

"I just wanna apologize for my oaf of a friend..." he said, restin his arms on the table.
A small chuckle escaped her lips "Thanks, but it's no trouble, really, not the first time I've had to deal with men like that."
"Naw, I wouldn't think so, either." he said slyly.
She looked up at him, her cheeks slightly redder.

"I'm Donny, Donny Donowitz." he said, extending his hand.

She looked at him for a second before placing her hand in his.
"Am lie Roux." she said, in perfect french.

"Ah, so you're french? I've always wanted ta' go ta' France." He said, in a charming tone.
"Trust me, you're not missing much." She said in a playful tone, as she noticed their hands were still embraced.
She cleared her throat, as they parted.

"So I take it ya' don't like it in France.."

"Why would you say that?" she asked, challenging him.

"Well..for starta's, you're in Boston.." he teased.

Her face reddened again, and she looked away.

"Touche"

Donny had a huge grin on his face, and found that he couldn't help but feel very curious about this girl.
She made eye contact with him again and explained.
"Some people just weren't meant to stay in one place their entire lives."
Donny could looked out the window.
"Some people paint, others act, sing...I travel."
Her eyes met his.
"It's my release."

They had moved in closer to each other without realization, her arms now rested on the table aswell.
"Live life ta' the fullest, right?" He asked, already knowing her answer.
She simply smiled, now noticing for the first time just how dark it had gotten.

"Wow, it's late, I should..get going." she said, gathering up her things.

"Hey listen, I had a question." he said in a rush.
She stopped and looked at him, intrigued.

"Do ya' like baseball?" He asked

"Uh, yeah..sure, why?" they both stood

"Well, some friends and me were gonna' hit a few balls 'round tomorra', would you like to join us?"
She looked up at him, towering over her.
"Donny, we just met.."
"Exactly..people usually get to know each otha' afta' that part."

She couldnt help but smile.

"C'mon..live a little." He teased her.
She thought for a moment, knowing she couldnt say no.
"Fine, when and where?"

Donny smiled.

His day had just gotten a little bit brighter.