I was surprised at how we acted when we learnt that Hitler shot himself. Holy Shit was about the only thing that left any of our mouths. The war wasn't over, so there wasn't going to be any celebrating. That wasn't until May 8th 1945. The war was over but we couldn't go home.
July, 1945 Austria
We were trying to capture Berchtsgarden. It was beautiful. No, it was paradise. Minus all the Nazi banners. Austria was by far the most incredible country we had been to the entire war. Make shift barracks seemed to turn into hotels and cold washes turned into steaming showers. We were living in the best conditions yet.
The SS blocked the roads determined to not let the allies get their hands on their treasures. But we ploughed through with rocket launches, dynamite and trucks. There was no stopping us claiming it. We were racing the French to the Eagle's nest. One of Hitler's many homes away from home. We got through. And we didn't half loot.
I was bed ridden. Not that I really minded. My illness was impossible to ignore and Roe finally managed to get me to agree to see one of the doctors where we were staying. He drove me out to town and accompanied me into an Austrian doctor's home surgery. He looked roughly in his late sixties. His hair was silver and he had a small pair of spectacles on the end of his farther pointy nose. He invited us to sit in a small room where he made his diagnosis.
Roe sat next to me and said "Doc, she's been violently sick for about three or four months now" the doctor nodded and took notes on a small notepad "I've looked her over and I just can't pin point a diagnosis. She's not contagious and what ever it is it can't be treated by antibiotics"
The doctor stood up and approached me. He smiled and said "Miss...?"
"Wilson" I replied.
"I think I know why you've been feeling so ill" he said with quit a remarkable smile. I want to slap it off his face. I was irritable to say the least.
"You do?" Roe asked, looking me up an down to try and spot my illness that the doctor detected so easily.
"Miss Wilson, have you had your menstral cycle in these last few months?" He asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.
I raised my eyebrow "Well, no actually. It's been very irregular since joining the army but I out that down to stress. Stress can cause it to stop can't it?"
The Doctor nodded, still wearing his smug smile "Yes, Miss Wilson but your body hasn't stopped your period because of stress..."
It suddenly hit me. How could I have been so stupid. How could I have not realised that there is no illness. I could feel blood draining away from my cheeks.
"Rose?" Roe looked at me "Are you okay?"
"Yes, she's perfectly alright" The doctor cackled and I really wanted to launch my fist in his face "Congratulations Miss Wilson, you are going to have a baby" the doctor pressed his hand against my stomach and stroked his chin with the other. I was too in shock to question him "Ah! Two babies actually"
"Oh" Was all that Roe could get out.
Black dots invaded my vision and before I knew it I had passed out.
I woke up in my bed in our barracks with Doc Roe and Liebgott by my side.
"Thank god you're awake!" Lieb squeezed my hand.
I glanced over at Roe who looked queasy. Judging by Lieb's reaction, Roe hadn't told him the news.
"What did you doc say?" Lieb's asked Roe.
"Uh" he stuttered "I think Major Winters wanted to see me" he quickly ducked out of the room.
Lieb turned to me and raised his brow "What's with him?"
"Uhh um oh nothing" I said.
"Rose, what's wrong?" You seem shaken "Are you really ill? Please tell me. I've been so worried about you"
I felt guilty but I just couldn't tell him yet. I couldn't tell anyone. They would force me to go home and as appealing as that sounded I couldn't leave Lieb and the rest of the guys.
"It's just and infection" I lied.
"What sort of infection?"
"Uh one that makes me sick"
He wrinkled his forehead "that's all the doc told you?"
"Uh yeah..."
"He must be a crap doctor"
I needed to change the subject.
"So what are the guys doing?" I asked.
"Downstairs. They're about to watch a recording of the fight in the pacific" he frowned "the war isn't over for those guys"
I jumped out of bed "Let's go watch"
I unconsciously clutched my stomach whilst watching the screen. It was obvious that they wanted to send us out their. I had to tell Lieb and Winters, in that order. I couldn't go to the pacific with twins growing inside me.
By the end of the film, sure enough we were told that we're waiting orders. The men in the pacific needed our help. Physical training was going to start again. New recruits were going to join us. A new war had to be fought. We needed enough points to be able to go home. I didn't have enough. Lieb didn't have enough. Hardly anyone had enough.
I had to tell him. I had to tell him right away.
I went out into the woods with Lieb, Malarkey, Luz, Perco, Bull, Web and Shifty. We were hunting for deers to take back and eat. We weren't successful. Everyone claimed they missed but to be honest I think we were all tired of killing and missed on purpose.
"Can't believe we're heading out to war again" Perco sighed and rested against a tree.
We all stopped and sat down.
"Yeah" I said and felt my stomach. It was a miracle I wasn't blown up like a balloon.
"As long as we're all still together" Luz smiled at me.
A pang of guilt kicked me in the gut and I wanted to cry right there and then. I had to tell him.
" Lieb" I said, my voice shaking " can I talk to you in private a minute"
A smirk creeped in to Lieb's face and all the guys seemed to smile amongst themselves.
"What's going on?" I asked " why are you all smirking at each other"
Lieb got up and pulled me up in front of him. All the guys watched silently with big smiles on their faces.
"Rose Wilson" Lieb held my hand in his "I love you, with all my heart..." He fidgeted in his pocket and pulled out a small box. He bent down on one knee and I gasped aloud. He looked up into my eyes and opened the box "you are my life and I want to be with you forever" I looked down at the silver ring in the box. The sun glittered on the large diamond "I don't know what will happen in the pacific so I wanted to do it know while I still have to chance" I glanced over at Webster who nodded and smiled "Rose Daniella Wilson, will you marry me?"
Every worry, every hurt, every fear left me. A huge smile crept onto my face and a tear escaped my eyes.
"Of course I'll marry you-" I didn't even finish. Lieb launched up at me and kissed me. All the guys cheered and came at us in a group hug.
"Guys wait a minute!" I shouted and they all backed off "Lieb...I'm...uh I'm..."
He furrowed his brow "you're...? You're what?"
"Pregnant"
Everyone went dead silent.
"What?" Lieb asked.
"Twins" is all I could say "Twins"
A small smile crept onto his face as he looked at my stomach "I'm going to be a daddy" he said.
I felt a massive weight lift of my shoulders "You're...you're okay with it?"
Lieb brought me into a hug "of course, as long as they're mine" he laughed and everyone else laughed too.
"Err actually Lieb" Luz stepped forward and pulled at his collar " Those buns in the oven are mine"
I through him a dirty look " Shut up, idiot"
Everyone laughed and joined in on a second group hug. Now all I needed to do was tell Winters...and my parents...shit.