Remember WENN and its characters are copyright Rupert Holmes, AMC and Howard Meltzer prods. No infringement is intended. Any original characters are copyright Michele Savage as is the story.

Challenges

By Michele Savage (6/00)

June, 1942

"I do care for you, Lord Branley, but as ever my heart will always belong to Brent."

"I know you do, darling, but at least I have you for now." Scott read his script and glanced at Hilary who stood next to him. He gave her a light smile as he read his next line. "When Marlow comes home after the war, I'll divorce you so you can return to him."

"Darling, you'd do that?" Hilary read her next line, with the excitement it deserved.

"For you, my dearest Elizabeth, I'd do anything."

The sound of a doorbell was made and then the click and creak of a door opening. Jeff, standing next to Hilary read, "Telegram for Lady Branley."

"A t-telegram?" The sound of footsteps, then paper rustling, a dramatic beat, then 'Elizabeth' gasped and Mr. Foley approximated the sound of her fainting.

"Oh, no." Scott as Lord Branley said, "It says here that Brent Marlow is missing in action and is quite possibly in a German prisoner camp."

Dramatic organ music, then Jeff read as the announcer, "what has happened to Brent Marlow? Will Elizabeth be able to choose between the two men she loves? Tune in tomorrow for another exciting episode of The Hands of Time. Next, after a word from our sponsor, we bring you, Colonel Moore." Jeff handed the airwaves off to Mackie and with a light affectionate touch to Hilary's shoulder walked past she and Scott and left the studio.

****

Jeff sat in the closest chair at the table in the green room and thumbed through a magazine left by the previous occupant. He glanced up as Hilary walked into the room, followed by Scott, who collapsed onto the sofa with an audible sigh.

"Man, I've been on my feet all day."

"It could be worse, Scotty." Hilary said as she poured a glass of iced tea and sat opposite Jeff, "you could be in the office instead of Victor listening to your commanding officer complain about last night's w.e.n.n. line-up."

"True." Scott responded with a yawn.

Jeff reached across the table and lightly touched Hilary's hand. When she quickly looked at him, blushed and pulled her hand away, he smiled, "that was a nice 'message from our sponsor' you just read, Hilary."

Hilary stood abruptly wanting to put space between she and Jeff. She walked to the couch and roughly slid Scott's feet to the floor and sat. "Did you have any ideas yet for dinner tonight, Scotty?"

Scott gave her a crooked grin, "why? Are you cooking?"

Jeff laughed, "has she tried to poison you yet with her idea of a pot roast?"

Hilary raised her eyebrow as she glanced Jeff's way, "don't tempt me."

"I'll keep that in mind," Scott said warily. "I was thinkin' more on the lines of scrambled eggs. That I know you can fix."

Jeff laughed.

Betty walked into the green room doors, "Scott, there you are. Victor wants to see you."

"Great, I knew I'd be involved in that conversation sooner or later." He leaned and gave Hilary a kiss, one meant to be noticed by the room's occupants, and then stood. "Sure thing, Mrs. Comstock."

As soon as they were alone, Jeff moved to sit next to Hilary. "Why are you still married to him?"

"In case you hadn't noticed, Jeffrey, I didn't complain when he kissed me."

Jeff watched her for a moment, then threaded his fingers through her hair and drew her into a languorous kiss. With no small amount of satisfaction, he felt her arms hesitantly wrap around him as she settled into the embrace. He pulled away slowly, not wanting to leave her arms and whispered, "I noticed that you didn't complain just now."

Hilary stood fast, "that wasn't fair."

"Hilary! Your marriage to Scott isn't fair. It's not fair to us and it's not fair to Scott."

"There is no us anymore, Jeffrey." She said almost pleadingly.

Jeff stood and held her close, "that's not the impression I got when you spent Saturday night with me."

She leaned against him momentarily, then pushed out of his arms. "I can't do this."

"Hilary, -are- you in love with Scott?"

"I don't have to answer that." She turned on her feet and escaped the room.

****

Hilary walked into the ladies room as Maple was leaving. Seeing the distressed look on her co-worker's face, Maple made a u-turn and walked back in. "You OK, Hilary?"

Hilary took a deep breath, "No ... I'm not OK," she answered with an 'I don't want to talk about it.' feel.

Maple leaned against the wall and faced Hilary, "look, I know I ain't exactly your best friend, but when it comes to at least one half of the problems I know you got, I'm a pretty good expert." She watched as Hilary glared, then softened her expression. "Hey, you wanna go to the canteen tonight? You look like you could use a night out with someone of the 'not male' persuasion."

"I could use the diversion." Hilary thought the offer through, "All right. I'll meet you there after A Book At Bedtime."

Maple smiled widely, "you're on." She glanced at her watch, "ooh ... and so am I. I'll see you later." She left the room with a light wave.

Hilary smiled, "I could use a night out." She refreshed her make-up, then left the room feeling much better than she had when she went in. On the way down the corridor to studio B, she passed Scott as he was leaving Victor's office. "Oh, Scotty. You're on your own for dinner tonight. I won't be home."

"What?" He asked as she passed. He glanced up seeing Jeff has left the green room and was standing in the hall. He raised an eyebrow, the obvious question unasked.

"Don't look at me." Jeff replied, "I never left the green room."

****

Hilary walked into the canteen and smiled as several people crowded to ask for her autograph. Most only knew her by voice, but by now she didn't mind it so much.

Maple rushed up to her, "Hilary! There you are." She pulled the surprised woman away from the crowd, "how are you at singin' harmony?"

"Depends on the song," Hilary answered, with confusion in her voice.

"Oh, good. 'Cuz Mary Lou can't talk." In a quiet gossip's tone of voice Maple explained. "I think she got the laryngitis from her boyfriend."

Hilary sarcastically harrumphed, "we should all have that problem."

Maple pointed out the obvious, "you've got that problem. Twice!"

Hilary smiled, "I meant the laryngitis."

"Oh," Maple chuckled. "So will you sing? Or can you not handle being back-up?"

"Ha ha," Hilary smirked. "What kind of group is it?"

"It's just me and Doreen and Mary Lou. We're kinda like the Andrews Sisters. Only we're not. Sisters, I mean." Maple explained with a rushed tone.

Hilary sighed, "All right. Lead on MacDuff."

Hilary was quickly introduced to Doreen Watkins and familiarized with the song repertoire for the evening. Once onstage, she found she was really enjoying herself. It felt good to be on a stage again, in front of an appreciative audience. She knew she'd missed it, but had never realized just how much.

Another thing she'd enjoyed was the fact that the soldiers were flirting. When was the last time someone had honestly flirted with her? Jeffrey still flirted, but now it was to pressure, not to tease. And Scott ... well, then there's Scott. Why was she still married to him? Jeff was constantly asking. She had no idea. Was she in love with Scott? She had no idea.

Why had they gotten married in the first place? At the time, each offered what the other needed. Caring arms and a warm body to comfort. Scott had been so torn and confused over Betty and she'd been the same over Jeff. Somehow they'd drifted together. But did she love him? She recalled hating Scott Sherwood from the moment she'd met him. Of course it could have been that she saw too much of herself in him.

"... Mrs. Sherwood!"

Maple's voice cut into Hilary's thoughts. She turned, "what?"

"I knew that would get your attention."

"I'm sorry, I've got too much on my mind." Hilary apologized.

"Yeah, it's been interesting watchin' those wheels spin."

Hilary smiled sarcastically, humoring the woman.

"Anyway, I'm heading back to my place. Wanna come or go home?" Maple invited.

"Would you mind if I came along?"

"No," Maple smiled, 'just no comments on my decorating sense."

Hilary grinned, 'if it's anything like your fashion sense ..."

Maple laughed as they gathered their belongings and drove to her apartment.

****

An hour later found them eating snacks, drinking beer and laughing hysterically.

"Gee, you know Hilary, you aren't half bad when you loosen up and be yourself. I can see what Scotty sees in you." Maple observed.

"You and Scott have spoken about me?" Hilary soberly asked.

"What is going on with you and Jeff?" Maple changed the subject.

The question surprised Hilary. "Scott knows?"

Maple looked at Hilary as if she'd just landed on Earth. "Everybody knows. It's obvious."

Hilary set her glass down on the table and took a deep breath. "I don't know what to do. I tried to fight it, I really tried. But I guess I'm just too weak when it comes to Jeffrey. Maple, I've never loved anyone like that before and I'd never had anyone love me like that. I just can't turn off those feelings."

Maple cut in, "It's like you get a taste for something and have to have it. Like a craving."

"Yeah, I guess that's it."

"I used to feel that way about Scotty once upon a time."

The admission surprised Hilary, "really?"

"But I never told him." Maple explained. "See, we were in California at the time, running a few cons and trying to make a living out of what little we had. We had some kind of relationship." Maple shrugged, "I don't know if you could really call it love, looking back now."

How do you feel about Scott now?" Hilary asked.

"He's my best friend." Maple answered. "How do you feel about Scotty?"

Hilary took another drink of beer and sighed, "I honestly don't know."

"Maybe you're in love with him and don't want to admit it. Because admitting that you are in love with another man would mean that you've put Jeff behind you." Maple surmised.

"I don't want to hurt him."

"Scott or Jeff?"

Hilary smiled melancholically, "and therein lies my problem."

"You know you have to make a decision." Maple reminded.

"I know, "Hilary yawned, "but not tonight. Would you mind if I just sleep on your ... um..." she gestured to the almost gaudily covered surface, "sofa."

"Sure," Maple said with a smile. She took the glasses and the chips back to the kitchen. "g'night."

****

Midmorning the following day approached with no sign of Hilary. Scott was beginning to worry and cornered Maple as she left the green room. "Mapes are you sure she was gone when you left this morning?"

"Yes, Scotty for the fiftieth time, when I left my place this morning, Hilary was not there. I just assumed she was here." Maple responded sharply, having gotten tired of the questioning. "She's a big girl, Scotty." Maple patted the worried man on the shoulder and stepped around him en route to Studio A, "she can take care of herself."

After her show, Maple walked into the lobby to collect her mail. Suddenly the door opened, a hand reached in, grabbed Maple by the collar and pulled her through the door. She turned to face her 'kidnapper' to be surprised. "Hilary! Where the hell have you been?"

"Tell Gertie you are OK before she sends out reinforcements." Hilary requested.

"Oh, yeah." Maple opened the door, just enough to lean her head in, "it's OK Gertie, just someone wanting to talk to me." She closed the door and turned back to Hilary. "OK, start spilling."

Hilary pulled her to the end of the hallway, "I need to tell both Jeff and Scott something, but since it indirectly involves you, I'm telling you first."

"Tell me what?"

"Something Doreen said last night gave me an idea so--"

"--you joined the WACS."

Hilary smirked, "No, I joined the USO." Hilary looked at her watch, "is Victor here? I need to talk to him."

"Yes."

"Good, thanks." Hilary walked past Maple and went into the station.

An hour later, Hilary was still in the business office. Jeff and Scott both paced the green room, as if they were expectant fathers.

"So what do you think she's doing in there?" Jeff asked with a glance to the closed blinds of the office window.

"How would I know. She never tells me anything anymore," Scott huffed and glared at Jeff. "such as where she was last Saturday night."

Jeff stopped, "how would I know where she was," he asked flippantly.

Scott stepped toe to toe to Jeff, "look, Singer, I've seen how you've been pressuring her. It's gotta stop!"

"Pressuring her?"

"All those glances, the touches," Scott responded sharply, "the smiles. You need to remember she's not your wife anymore. She's mine and I'll thank you to stay out of my marriage!"

Jeff's response was caught in his throat as Hilary walked into the room. "Fighting over me again," she observed with a tired sarcasm, "how quaint." She took a deep breath, "I want you both to meet me at Bella's after work tonight. I have something to tell you." She turned on her heels and left the room with Scott and Jeff still unsure she'd just been standing there. Scott waved Jeff off as if he were a nuisance and followed his wife out of the room.

****

The restaurant was bustling with the dinner crowd as Hilary relaxed in her chair and sipped the glass of wine she held. She glanced at her watch noting that Scott and Jeff would be arriving at any time. She took a deep breath and contemplated their reactions. They were certainly going to be interesting; but she really did need to get away and do some thinking.

Scott entered the restaurant and noticed Hilary. He walked to her and bent to kiss her. She turned away and the kiss landed on her temple. "has Singer been here yet?" Scott asked as he sat next to her.

Hilary half-heartedly smiled. "I'm fine thank you," she responded with irritation. "Yes, I had a good time last night, so glad you apparently weren't worried about me, darling!" She looked Scott into the face, "why can't you once worry about me and not Jeffrey's every move?"

Scott took her hand. "I do worry about you, Hilary. I worry about you getting hurt again. I worry about losing you."

"Scotty, I don't know what I want. I'm tired of the fighting, I'm tired of not knowing what to do," she said, "I'm just tired."

"Pardon me for interrupting." Jeff said as he sat on the opposite side of Hilary.

"Not really." Scott retorted, then sarcastically grinned as Hilary kicked his shin beneath the table.

"Can we please be civil this evening?" Hilary requested.

The waitress took their orders and while they waited for their food, Scott asked, "so you had something to tell us?"

"Yes, I do. It concerns you both, which is why I asked you to meet me here." Hilary told them. "I need to get away from here and try to decide what I want to do regarding you two." She explained, "starting next Monday, I'm going on a nationwide USO tour."

"What?" Jeff was clearly surprised. "Hilary, you hate touring!"

"Jeffrey, there are a number of reasons why I am doing this." Hilary sighed, "I've missed being in front of an audience. Even if it is on a tour, it's still an audience. I'm honestly looking forward to it."

Scott squeezed her hand. "Anything you need to do," he lifted her hand and gently pressed a kiss against it. "Have you settled things with Vic at the station?"

She smiled, "yes, he gave me all the time I need." Hilary turned to Jeff, I hope you understand, Pumpkin. I just need to get away from the confusion so I can see through it."

"I understand." Jeff grudgingly admitted.

****

Monday morning, Scott and Hilary stood in the terminal at the train station and waited for the newly arrived train to debark its passengers. Hilary turned to Scott, "So, how do I look?" she asked straightening the dark green jacket of her USO uniform."

"Like you're going to war."

"Oh, but I am Scotty. I'm going to war against those no talent hacks on Broadway and in Hollywood to prove to them that Hilary Booth still knows how to entertain men."

Scott smiled and responded with a sparkle in his eye, "and very well, might I add."

Hilary smiled and lightly tapped him on the arm with her purse, "that's not what I meant."

Jeff stood, half the room away, and watched Scott and Hilary together. Jealousy raced through him as he saw them laughing at some shared joke.

She had again spent Saturday night with him, but this time had been different. He recalled coming out of the shower Sunday morning to find her sitting on the edge of the bed, wrapped in the sheet and staring at the wall in front of her . . .

<< "Hilary darling?" he asked.

She jumped, "I need to go. I've got a ton of things to do before I leave tomorrow." She began throwing on her clothes in an automatic rush.

Jeff stepped in front of her and grabbed her arms to stop her frustrated motions, "Mittens.."

She jerked out of his embrace, "Stop! I'm not doing this anymore." She zipped her dress and began to strap on her shoes, "I am not your wife anymore Jeffrey! I am not 'Mittens', I am not 'darling', I'm not 'Hilary dear'! I'm Hilary!" She stood, "Like it or not, I am married to another man." She gestured around the room, stopping at the bed, "this has got to stop."

"But Hilary, I love you."

"This isn't love. It's desperation, and Jeffrey, you're much better than this." She leaned up and softly kissed him, "I am leaving tomorrow and I'll probably be gone for six months. If you love me you will think about things as thoroughly as I plan to. I don't know what my coming back will bring," she gathered her hat and purse and walked to the door. "But it won't be this." She closed the door behind her as she left.>>

The whistle of the train brought Jeff back to the present. He wiped a falling tear and watched as Hilary said goodbye to Scott.

Hilary noticed passengers were now loading onto the train. "Guess its time to go."

Scott grabbed her hands, "Whatever you decide, Hildy, I want you to know that I love you enough to let you go if I have to." He smiled, "but I'd kinda like to keep ya."

Hilary kissed Scott warmly, drawing the kiss out as long as she could. She broke away when the conductor called, "all aboard!"

"I'll write often," she promised, "I love you, Scotty. God help me, but I do." She stepped onto the train and turned to wave one last time.

Both men watched the train pull away, each lost in their own thoughts about the woman who'd just left. Once the train was gone both turned to leave with heavy hearts.

****

August 9, 1942

Dear Scotty,

My feet are killing me. We've been going solidly since getting 'on the road'. As you can tell by the postmark we're in Springfield, Illinois. We'll be here for a few days, then it's on to St. Louis. It's hard work, but rewarding. But as you know, I've never complained about dancing with men. (Except for you; you're a terrible dancer, but that's part of your charm.)

Doreen Watkins and I have become fast friends. Has Maple been able to replace her yet in her singing group? Doreen was worried about that. I told her not to worry, that Maple is a wonderful singer in her own right and can handle a stage by herself if she has a mind to. (Please don't tell Maple I said these things about her. Let that be our little secret.)

Well, I must go, time for lights out. Tell everyone hello for me. Good night.

Hilary

August 14, 1942

Jeffrey,

You'll never guess where I am now. Do you remember that wooded alcove that we found nestled on the banks of the Mississippi, in Saint Louis? The tall tree that stood sentry to the privacy? We made love under that tree, remember? I'm sitting beneath that very tree now, and remembering as if it were yesterday. And I am wondering what happened between that idyllic moment and now. Life, I suppose.

So, what is happening there? Me, I'm charming the socks off plenty of service men, doing some Shakespearean monologues, singing and having the time of my life. But I miss you. And I miss Scott, and believe it or not, I miss WENN.

"Writing a love letter?"

Hilary jumped as Doreen plopped down next to her. "Oh no, well, no not really," she told the brown haired woman.

The women lapsed into an introspective silence. Doreen looked up at the clear evening sky and sighed, "It's so peaceful here, you'd never know there was a war going on."

Hilary smiled, "I was just sitting here remembering the last time I was here; with Jeffrey. It was a beautifully clear night, just like this." She hesitated, fighting a lump in her throat, then continued, "afterwards, we wrapped ourselves into each other and the blanket and watched the river." Hilary stopped, lost in the memory.

"Aww, gee, that's sweet." Doreen softly said.

"That was one of the nights when we were actually getting along and speaking to each other." Hilary wiped a straying tear, "I wonder what happened to us." she mumbled, more to herself.

Doreen watched her companion for a moment, then reached over and took the paper and pencil away from Hilary. "I have an idea." She stood, then bent to take Hilary's hand, "c'mon."

Hilary let herself be pulled to a stand. "Where are we going?" Hilary asked as they approached the river bank.

"Whenever I got upset, my father used to tell me something. It always helped me." She stopped at the water's edge and looked at Hilary, who'd stopped next to her.

"What did he tell you?"

Doreen smiled and moved slightly behind Hilary. "Sometimes you just have to jump into the river." She gave Hilary a good shove.

When she hit the water, Hilary's immediate reaction was shock and cold. She surfaced, sputtering. "Doreen!" she yelled at the laughing woman. "All right, I get the idea. You can pull me out now." Hilary grumbled as she reached toward the shore to be helped out of the water. When Doreen took her hand, Hilary gave a mischievous smile and yanked, pulling the other woman into the water with her.

Doreen surfaced, giggling, "I cannot believe you did that!"

Hilary started laughing, "Serves you right!" she said with a splash.

Doreen shoved a wave of water back, "You feel better though don't you?"

"I feel wet!" Hilary laughed, then admitted, "but I do feel better. Thanks."

Later, back in the hotel room, now clean and dressed in robes, the women lay on their stomachs across one bed and talked.

"OK, so which do you think I should choose?" Hilary showed Doreen pictures of Jeff and Scott.

"Well, they're both kinda cute." Doreen took the pictures and looked them over. She turned the picture of Jeff to face Hilary, "You say you got a history with this one?"

"Yes, very long and very complicated."

"Well, I know you love him." Doreen said, "I could tell by the way you talked about him back at the river front." She set the picture of Jeff down and picked up the photo of Scott. "What about Mr. Smiles here. How long you known him?"

"A couple years, " Hilary answered, "and that's also very complicated."

"Wee-ell, you know what I think you should do?" at Hilary's questioning look, Doreen tossed the two pictures into the air, "I think you should chuck 'em both. Who needs men!"

"You know, that idea has merit." Hilary replied thoughtfully.

Doreen laughed, "I've been saying that for years." She sat and looked at her watch. "Gee, we need to get dressed and get down to the canteen. The boys are waitin'."

***

October 4th, San Diego

Scotty and Jeffrey,

Jotting a quick note to tell you that tomorrow we're shipping out. Will be performing some shows for the boys on the front. We're with Red Cross, so please don't worry. We'll be far enough behind the lines and out of danger. Please be sure to let everyone else know. Give them all my love.

Love to you both,

Hilary

********

December 3, 1942

Hilary stood against the railing of the ship, waved and blew kisses to the cheering soldiers lining the decks of the ship they had pulled along side of. She'd enjoyed the impromptu show for the passing cruiser. This had been the third in so many days. The troupe she was with had insisted on putting on a show for the boys who wouldn't be able to pull into land to hear them there and she'd of course had no objections.

They wore what the GI's had affectionately dubbed, "Mae West's" constantly the closer to the front-line that they sailed. They had only seen enemy planes once since leaving Pearl Harbor, but Hilary knew that it was only a matter of time before they were seeing them daily. She just prayed they wouldn't attack the ship she was on.

As she watched the battle cruiser slip past, Hilary tried to consciously put out of her mind the thought that crept in with every soldier she saw. Would he see the end of the war? That thought always led to thoughts of Jeffrey and how glad she was that he'd been 4F. And Scott, fool that he was, had enlisted just after the bombing in Hawaii, but was fortunately kept at WENN and put in charge of the w.e.n.n. She smiled slightly at the irony that of all the folks at WENN, she was the one presently on a ship heading toward the Pacific war front.

As he whistled a random tune, Scott walked into the green room. "Hi ladies," he said as he noticed Maple and Betty sitting at the table looking at some pictures. He walked past the table and pulled a bottle of Coca Cola from the small refrigerator. Having noticed army uniforms in some of the pictures the women were looking at, he joked, "looking for a soldier to write love letters to?"

Maple chuckled and Betty turned to face Scott, "Oh, no. These are pictures from Hilary. We got a package of them this morning addressed to all of us." She again faced the table and looked through some of the photographs to find two white envelopes. "There are also private letters for both her, um ... husbands," she deadpanned as she handed him an envelope, "Here's yours."

Scott grabbed the letter from Betty and walked to the couch to read it. Hilary told of the trip to Hawaii to meet the rest of the group that was going with them. There was of course she and Doreen, a male singer named Jack Davis and a four member band consisting of a saxophone player, a bassist, a drummer and a flute player. He laughed when she mentioned having to sing over the band as they could get a little loud.

There were photos included in his letter as well. His favorite, was one obviously not captioned by Hilary. It was of Hilary and Doreen, and he assumed it was aboard the ship that carried them to Hawaii. They were both dressed in the USO's military-like uniforms, and smiling widely. It was captioned in ink, "two dames in a dingy". Scott had a feeling Doreen heard a word or two after Hilary read it.

"She looks happy."

Scott looked up and only then realized the person who'd sat next to him and spoke was Jeff. "Yeah. I guess she needed this."

*****

December 19, 1942, Port Moresby, New Guinea

"Outside the barracks, by the corner light. I'll always stand and wait for you at night. We will create a world for two. I'll wait for you, the whole night through," Doreen sang to the crowd of exhausted soldiers at her feet. She glanced at Hilary and smiled as the other woman joined in her song, "for you, Lili Marlene. For you, Lili Marlene."

As they sang the song, the two women walked among the tired boys and shook their hands, touched their tired faces and gave them reason to smile. Once the song finished the applause was generous. They sang one more requested song, God Bless America, before ending their portion of the show.

"I am tired, Lili." Hilary joked as they walked back to their makeshift barracks. A simple tent with cots for beds.

"Me too, Marlene." Doreen responded and lay her arm across Hilary's shoulders. "I say we hit the sack; from what I understand we're going farther into New Guinea tomorrow."

"Farther in?" Hilary asked, "I heard one of the fella's say that the Japanese have broken through the line and are advancing again."

Doreen shrugged, "I don't think they'd take we mere civilians into a hot spot."

"Dorry, we're already IN a hot spot." Hilary reminded.

"I'm not worried. Our fella's will take care of us." Doreen said with a yawn. "Let's get some shut eye. Tomorrow will come too soon."

The sun had only been shining an hour and Hilary felt like they'd been moving for four. The Red Cross/USO unit was traveling from encampment to encampment that day. In some places they'd put on small shows, in others such as the one they were in now, they'd just cheer the soldiers up and serve them a good hot meal.

Hilary walked the tray of food out to the young man who was standing guard and handed it to him. "I thought I'd bring the kitchen to you, since you couldn't come to the kitchen."

"Thanks, ma'am." David Bellows took a roll from the tray and popped it into his mouth, whole. At the lift of her eyebrow, he mumbled around his mouthful, "Smrry, frsst brd, I had," he chewed rapidly and swallowed, "Sorry, that's the first fresh bread I've had since I left home."

Hilary laughed, "It's all right. You just reminded me of someone."

"Oh?"

"My husband, well, ex-husband," Hilary corrected.

"Gee, why would anyone give up a swell doll like you?" David wondered.

Hilary laughed, "That is a very long story. One that isn't quite finished."

David's comment was cut short as he felt a searing pain in his back. "Run!" he managed to warn before he lost consciousness.

The whole thing happened in slow motion. Hilary had seen a shadow move behind the man she was talking to, but before she could warn him, the Japanese soldier had already stabbed him. She heard his pain filled warning, but before she could heed it, the Japanese man was waving the now bloody knife threateningly at her. By now shots and screams could be heard throughout the rest of the ambushed camp. She stepped backwards hoping to dash out of harms way, but backed into the arms of another enemy soldier.

*****

December 24, 1942

Scott walked into the front door of WENN and jovially greeted Gertie, "How are you this fine, almost Christmas morning, Gertrude?"

"Just glad that snow storm wasn't as bad as predicted."

"Yeah, tell me about it." Scott huffed, "As it was I had to shovel the walks twice before I came in."

Gertie laughed, "Well if anyone knows how to shovel it, Mr. Sherwood, it's you."

Scott feigned shock, "Gertrude Reece. You've been spending entirely too much time with Miss Lamarsh."

"I'll be sure to tell her." Gertie chuckled, "Oh, by the way, this telegram came for you this morning."

"Oh, thanks," Scott took the envelope from the receptionist, "I wonder what that crazy Aunt Agatha of mine wants now." Scott left the desk and headed toward the green room. As he walked he opened and read the telegram. He stopped. That can't be, Scott hoped. He re-read it again, just to make sure he'd read it right the first few times. Without realizing it, Scott found himself at Victor's office door. He slowly opened the door and stepped in.

"Vic," Scott numbly said, "uhh ... I need to sit down."

"Sherwood, what is it?" Victor asked, concerned. When he got no answer, he asked again, "Scott--?

Scott handed the paper to Victor and then looked toward the radio where Amazon Andy was currently being broadcast and said in a heavy voice. "we need to get Jeff off the air."

****

Victor read the telegram and blew out the breath he'd been unconsciously holding. He stood, tossed the paper onto the desk, With grim determination, he left his office and walked into the studio. He firmly pushed Jeff aside from the nearest microphone and announced, "I'm sorry, but we need to interrupt this episode of Amazon Andy due to technical difficulties. Rest assured Amazon Andy will return tomorrow, but for now please enjoy this musical interlude."

While the occupants of the studio looked at Victor with confusion, Mr. Foley sprung into action and quickly found a record to play.

Lester signaled that they were off the air and Mackie took the opportunity to ask, "What's the problem, Victor?"

"It's a long story." Victor answered, "Jeff, can I see you in my office please?"

"Sure." Jeff looked back at Mackie and shrugged as he followed the station manager out of the studio.

Victor opened his door and gestured for Jeff to go on in then shut it without following. He walked down to the switchboard, "Gertie, you are looking a bit peaked," he said as he helped the woman out of her chair and walked her to the coat rack. "Why don't you go down to the Buttery and get yourself a late breakfast."

"Well, I am a little tired," Gertie responded with confusion as her boss helped her on with her coat. "I'll be back in about an hour?" She asked as she was ushered to the door.

"Yes." Victor answered, "an hour would be fine, thank you." As soon as she was clear of the door, the tall man sat at the switchboard and began to call in every favor he had.

****

"What's the problem?" Jeff asked, as Scott moved to sit in the chair Victor had vacated.

Scott wordlessly gestured for Jeff to sit and handed him the paper.

With dread, Jeff read the telegram.

Dear Mr. Sherwood <stop> It is with deep regret that we must inform you that we have lost contact with the Red Cross/USO Unit that your wife, Mrs. Hilary Sherwood, was traveling with. <stop> We will investigate this disappearance fully and will inform you immediately regarding any information on the health and whereabouts of your wife.<stop>

Jeff numbly set the paper down and swallowed hard, suddenly realizing that his mouth had gone completely dry. He looked across the desk, "Scott?" he asked, hoping the other man knew more than the telegram said.

"That's all I know. I just received the telegram not five minutes ago."

Jeff lapsed into silence, staring at the desk, but seeing nothing; his mind focused on Hilary and the nearly ten years they shared. He felt Scott lay a comforting hand over his.

"She's a tough lady, Jeff." Scott reassured as much for himself as Jeff, "if she can put up with either of us, she can put up with the Japanese soldiers."

Jeff took the first deep breath he was capable of, since reading the news, "I've heard rumors of how they treat their prisoners."

"I wouldn't believe all that propaganda mumbo jumbo. It's just the Government's way of making us want to crush the enemy." Scott opened the desk drawer he knew held a bottle of Scotch and glasses. He poured one each and handed Jeff a full glass. "Here. We could both use this."

Jeff lifted the glass and watched the liquid wave and then settle, "to Hilary," he said softly.

Scott smiled, nodded and clinked his glass to the edge of Jeff's. "we'll get her back."

****

Hilary switched the positioning of the duffel bag filled with her belongings. She stretched her back and groaned as the muscles protested the movement. The sun was hot and bright, and she felt like she'd been walking for days. Well, she HAD been walking for days; she and a group of many other prisoners. She looked through the crowds of both men and women again, hoping for a glance at anyone from her tour group. She was worried about Doreen. There hadn't been any sign of her since she'd left the mess tent the morning of their capture with the guard's breakfast tray.

Something sharp poked her side, "Ow!" She turned to the Japanese soldier who walked along side of her and prodded her with his bayonet. "Would you stop that!" The man had taken up the habit of poking the men and women who'd stopped or slowed. She noticed he liked to pay particular attention to her, probably because she yelled back.

"I'll trade places with you." The man walking next to Hilary offered in a gentle Australian accent. "That way the yellow fool can't reach you."

"Thank you." She acknowledged and switched places with the man. The soldier sneered and moved forward, likely in search of another person to annoy.

The walking column eventually stopped. As she was near the back of the mass of people, Hilary could not tell why they were stopped. Eventually word floated down that they were at a prison camp and that they were being separated by sex. The women entered the barbed wire and wooden gates and the men were told to march onward.

Finally Hilary was hustled into the camp. She gravitated towards a group of women that she noticed speaking English. "Hello. I'm ... an American. You?"

"British," one woman who looked to be about Maple's age answered. "My name is Anna."

"British. Kathleen." A younger delicate woman introduced.

"Australian." The stout woman standing next to Kathleen answered. "My name is Ingrid. That's June." Ingrid pointed to a brown haired woman who stood off to the side of everyone else and stared ahead. "She's American, like you, but she don't talk much."

"My name is Hilary. It's good to meet you, though I could think of much better circumstances." Hilary smiled as a few of the women also grinned at her comment. She looked around the surroundings and noticed that the gates were now shut tightly and the men were being marched on down the road. She searched again for any signs of Doreen to no avail.

"Here comes Judge," Anna said as a Japanese man and two guards set up a table in the center of the camp, "Oh boy. We're going to be counted again."

Judge sat and nodded to a man on his right, and the man now spoke in many different languages. "You will line up, straight lines." He waited until he saw all the women obey his orders and stand in the requested formation. "You will now bow to Emperor."

Everyone bowed, following the man's directions. Those who didn't were hit across the back with a bamboo rod. More out of fear and lingering worry over Doreen, Hilary bowed deeply, little caring whether Hirohito knew if she bowed to him or not. Hilary rose again when she saw everyone else straightening.

Interpreter continued, "New arrivals, will come to desk and give names and get tag and be assigned to your house. That is all."

Hilary waited in the line that formed and then received her dog-tag, newly stamped with her name, barrack assignment and number. Interpreter had told her she was assigned with the English speaking women as there were too few American women to assign to their own house.

She hefted the bag that now felt like it weighed a ton and started walking towards the building that Interpreter had pointed out as hers. She entered and recognized the women she'd met earlier and said hello.

"You're staying with us, then?" Kathleen asked.

"Looks like it." Hilary answered, "Where's my," she looked around and saw that nearly all the room was occupied, "sleeping space?"

"You can stay here, next to me." Ingrid volunteered and began clearing an area near the far wall.

"Thank you." Hilary replied as she moved to her new 'home' and tried to make herself as comfortable as she could. She sat and sighed heavily. "Do you know this is the first time I've been off my feet since they captured me three days ago? Just sitting feels heavenly."

"Hilary!"

Hilary jumped and looked toward the direction the voice had come. She was on her feet instantly, forgetting the pain. "Dorry!" She ran to the doorway and hugged her friend, "God, I thought you were dead!"

Doreen held Hilary tightly, failing in her attempts to not cry in relief, "I thought you were dead too! I heard the screams and the guns and I couldn't tell who was screaming."

"When did you get here?" Hilary asked, "and where are you staying?"

"I came in this morning." Doreen answered between sobs, "I'm so glad to see you."

"Oh, sweetie, I'm really happy to see you too." Hilary hugged Doreen tighter.

Doreen pulled away and wiped her eyes, "I'm assigned to this house."

Ingrid walked up to them. "I'll trade my place with yours Doreen, so you can stay with your friend."

"That's very kind of you." Doreen responded.

"We have to be here, we may as well cooperate." The woman smiled and went to move her belongings.

New Years Eve, One Year Later

Jeff stared at the fireplace in his rented house and watched the flames dance against the air currents that wafted down the open chimney. He took a drink of his wine and went back to the memories. A Year. It had been a year since Hilary had been taken prisoner. A year since they had heard from her at all. Scott had received another telegram two weeks after the first one that explained that her troop had been taken prisoner by the Japanese. He took another gulp.

What was she doing now? He wondered. Is she sick? Is she being well treated? All manner of thoughts raced through his mind. The foremost thought, and the one he refused to acknowledge was, is she still alive? A bolt of anger raced through him and Jeff threw the half full wine glass into the fireplace.

******

Java, 1944

The English speaking women sat in a circle inside their hut and celebrated the new year in their own way. Several women had come and gone throughout the year, both to death and to relocation. This was the second camp they'd been in, the first had been abandoned after only two months. Why, no one knew. But at this camp, they were treated slightly better than at the last. At least here, some of the guards weren't harassing the women with every chance.

Hilary scooped some rice from the bowl into her mouth. It tasted wonderful, even though there were grains of grit and dirt among the food. "I wonder how the war is going."

"I wonder if it's still going." Kathleen spoke up.

I would hope so, if we're still bloody well here." Ingrid added with a snort.

The women nodded. "I wonder who's winning." The normally quiet June spoke.

Doreen picked up a leaf of *something* from her bowl of food and made a face, "Well, we can't tell by the way they are treating us." She put the green leaf into her mouth and gamely swallowed. "God, I want a steak."

*****

Pittsburgh, morning

Victor was looking over the New Year's Day schedule with Scott when his office door was thrown open. He glanced up to see an angered and upset Jeff. "Didn't I tell you to take today off?"

"Home is the last place I need to be today." Jeff snapped. "She's been there a whole year, Victor, can't you do something? Call your Washington contacts." Jeff sighed, then spoke again, his words even and almost threatening. "Do something."

"Jeff," Scott stood and lay a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. He backed away when the taller man angrily brushed away and glared.

Victor stood and walked around the desk to speak. "I can't do anything else, Jeff. My hands are tied." He was caught off guard when Jeff abruptly grabbed him by the lapels and shoved him against the wall. For a moment he thought the upset man was going to hit him.

"You self-serving son of a bitch!" Jeff yelled as he pushed Victor harder against the wall.

Scott moved quickly to pull Jeff away from Victor, but was stopped when he received a look from the trapped man that said, "let him be."

"After everything I did for you! After everything I gave up for you; you can't do this ONE thing for me?!" Jeff seethed and poured out the anger he'd bottled up since the day Hilary told him she was married to Scott Sherwood. He shoved Victor harder at the wall again, "She was everything to me, don't you understand that? Everything! And I sacrificed her to keep YOU alive! You owe me, Victor Comstock, a-k-a- Jonathan Arnold. You owe me a HELL of a lot more than, 'I'm sorry Jeff, I can't do anything'!"

Victor grabbed the hands that had crept too close to his throat, "Jeff," he spoke calmly, "I have called every contact I know in both Washington and Berlin. I've called every contact Jonathan Arnold knows in both Washington and Berlin. I have called approximately fifty people; some of whom are infiltrating the Japanese High Command. In over a year, I have found out only a few things." Victor explained to the noticeably calming man. "The Japanese move their prisoners at the slightest indication that a liberation is near. The camp Hilary is in and that has probably changed since my last update, is too far into enemy territory to even consider a rescue mission." He could feel Jeff loosening the grip on his jacket. "And as of two months ago, she's still alive."

Scott pulled Jeff away from Victor and sat him into a chair. "Vic, how often do you get updates?"

"It's hard to say," Victor answered, "When someone has something, they send it to me. I've heard nothing since that last report. My guess is that her camp is likely in a remote region of Java, if she's still on that island." He walked around Jeff's still form and spoke softly to Scott, "could you leave us alone for a few minutes?"

Scott nodded and left the room.

"Jeff?" Victor sat and regarded the now stone silent man, "never think that I don't know or don't appreciate what you did to get me out of Germany alive."

"I'm sorry." Jeff said quietly.

"Don't apologize. If I were in your shoes, I'd have attacked me too." Victor took a deep breath, "Why don't you take off Jeff. You don't have to go home. Just go somewhere."

********

Hilary took a heavy breath and soon regretted it. Latrine duty was her least favorite job in the camp. The hot sun did nothing to make the smell any better. She went back to scooping out the pit and filling her fertilizer bucket. If she wasn't so damned hungry, the thought of eating food fertilized with human waste would have made her sick.

The one and only benefit to this duty was the ability to actually bathe afterwards. Granted it was in the tepid pond just outside the gates of the camp, but it was still a luxurious full-bodied bath.

"When I get home," Hilary said to her companions of Doreen, Ingrid and Jane as they stepped into the water, "I am going to fill my bathtub full of hot water, make Jeff and Scott wait on me hand and never leave that bathroom again."

Doreen laughed, "according to Maple, they both always wait on you."

Hilary smiled, "yes, well, why change a good thing."

Jane looked at the guard who sat on a nearby rock, expression blank, but definitely alert. "Just once, I wish we could bathe without an audience.

"I know. Those heathens think they can wear us down enough to take advantage of us." Ingrid grumped.

"Would they?" Jane asked with a look of fright in her voice and a fearful glance at the guard.

"I've never heard of it here," Hilary said, "but I wouldn't be surprised."

Jane swam closer to the group.

Suddenly the guard stood and threw a large stone into the water. The stone hit Doreen in the shoulder as it passed. "Ow!"

The women jumped and watched the guard as he gestured wildly and yelled in Japanese. "He wants us to move apart, apparently." Ingrid observed. "Heaven forbid we have a conversation."

Hilary swam closer to Doreen, "Dorry are you all right?" She inspected the wound and noticed it was bleeding.

"I'm OK, Hil." She winced as she moved the arm. "I think." Doreen noticed the concerned look on Hilary's face. "It's cut isn't it?"

Hilary nodded. "Let's get back. Maybe we still have some medicine left. We can catch it before it gets infected."

They left the water and dressed in the clean khaki tank tops and shorts they'd brought. Their own clothes having been long been sold to get the material for the cooler more comfortable clothes.

"We're going back." Hilary told the other two women. "Doreen's arm is bleeding and I want to get it bandaged."

The guard on duty gestured and another man materialized from a hiding place beneath a tree to accompany Hilary and Doreen back to the camp.

*******

"We're going to have to go to the camp doctor." Hilary announced after an unsuccessful search for an antiseptic.

"No!"

"Dorry, honey, we have to." Hilary insisted. "I know going to this man is horrid, but I don't want that to get infected and I don't want you to get sick." She brushed the wet hair away from the eyes of her friend. "We're getting out of here together. Remember our deal?"

Doreen smiled, "I get the man you don't choose."

"I'll hold your hand." Hilary assured, "C'mon."

The pair walked across the compound to the infirmary. Hilary certainly didn't blame Doreen at all for not wanting to come here. The infirmary was next door to the morgue and certainly no cleaner. Hilary shuddered as the recalled the last time she'd been here. She'd had to have an open ulcer on her leg cleaned and cauterized. The pain was unbearable and she felt for the following few days like she was going to die. But it had healed. The scar it left was terrible, but she still had her leg and her life.

The dank examining room smelled of rotting blood and medicines. Doreen hesitated, "Let's get out of here."

"It won't be that long."

The doctor walked in and Hilary noticed he was a different man than the one who'd helped her. "You need help?"

"She has a cut on her shoulder." Hilary explained.

"From a rock one of your goons threw at me!" Doreen angrily finished.

"Let me look." The man bade Doreen to sit on the table that Hilary noticed didn't look as though it had been cleaned in quite some time. Her stomach churned, but she ignored it and focused on Doreen.

"Lower sleeve please."

Doreen lowered the wide strap of the tank top and let the man look.

He dribbled a liquid over the wound and declared that he would clean it and stop the bleeding.

Doreen knew immediately what that meant. "I..it's not bleeding that much. Just wrap it, it will stop on it's own."

"No, must cauterize."

Doreen lifted a panicked gaze to Hilary.

Hilary wrapped her arms around the frightened woman and held her tightly. "I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't think he'd do this." She looked at the doctor. "This is unnecessary. It's just a small cut."

"Necessary for conditions. Cauterize everything." The man shortly replied as he moved to the fire pit against the wall. He picked up the small hot iron and pressed it against Doreen's shoulder as the woman screamed.

Hilary held the young woman closely, trying to soothe her. She glanced up and noticed the doctor wore a sadistic grin on his face. "That's enough." Hilary said.

"Still need more," the man stared challengingly at Hilary.

When she felt Doreen pass out from the pain, Hilary pushed the iron from the man's hand. "I said that's enough!"

The doctor angrily grabbed Hilary's arm and pulled her off balance, throwing her and the unconscious Doreen to the floor. Hilary winced as Doreen landed full weight on her ribs. She heard a crack and felt the pain.

"Not do that again!" The man screeched as he grabbed another hot iron out of the coals and waved it threateningly at Hilary.

For the first time since she'd begun this nightmare, Hilary genuinely feared for her life. She warily eyed the man as she scooted gingerly out from beneath Doreen's weight. She screeched in both pain and fear as the doctor grabbed her arm and jerked her to a stand.

"Punishment fit crime," he declared as if he were a judge. He tried to force her hand open. When he couldn't, he lowered the iron rod to her wrist.

Hilary tried desperately to pull away as she realized what he meant to do, but her hunger-weakened body was not strong enough. Hilary clamped her mouth shut to avoid screaming. She refused to give him that satisfaction. Her knees buckled and she fell to the floor, the movement shifted her away from the iron.

The man threw the tool aside and kicked Hilary's leg as a final punishment. "You go!" He turned and stomped out of the room.

Hilary sat in silence, wanting to be sure the man was really gone. When she could stand no more, Hilary finally began to sob. Her ribs throbbed with every breath so she leaned her head against Doreen's hip and let the pain envelope her into a fog.

Doreen woke and realized Hilary was laying atop her lower body. "Hilary, ow, wake up."

"Take me home Jeffrey," Hilary mumbled, "this hotel is horrendous."

Doreen grimaced as her shoulder protested when she tried to move the other woman. "You have to wake up, Hilary, I can't carry you across the camp."

"Camp?" Hilary asked, coming slowly into awareness. "Oooh," She groaned as her body protested the movements. "I think my ribs are broken, Pumpkin."

"Hilary you're delirious."

"Deliriously happy." Hilary chuckled slightly, then turned serious. She lifted her left arm to cup Doreen's face. "Jeffrey, where did we go wrong?"

"Hil, I'm not--" When Doreen moved the hand on her face, she saw the angry burn. "Oh, my God." She looked around, "I need to get us out of this place." Doreen struggled to her feet trying to carefully lift Hilary without jostling her ribs too much.

After what seemed forever, Doreen finally made it to their hut. "Someone help me."

Ingrid rushed over and took the barely conscious Hilary and carefully lay her on her mattress. "What in God's name happened?"

"We went to see the doctor about my cut." Doreen explained, "There's a new doctor. He's . . . evil! I don't know what happened. He burned my cut and I passed out. When I came to we were on the floor. He burned her arm and I think she's got some broken ribs."

Ingrid sat and ministered to Hilary's wounds. "Dear, God what else are they going to do to us?"

*****

Two days later

Ingrid smiled slightly as she listened to Doreen softly singing 'Lili Marlene' to the still bedridden Hilary. There had been talk, rumors, around the camp about the two women, but Ingrid ignored the cackling hens. Boredom tended to set tongues to wagging. The truth be known, most of the women probably envied Doreen and Hilary. Ingrid knew she did. At times like these anyone needed a friend and to be imprisoned like this with an already close friend is envious indeed. Doreen finished the song and started over. Yes, Ingrid thought, she did envy them.

Standing, Ingrid walked to the women and lay a hand on Doreen's shoulder. "Aren't you on planting duty today? I can sit with Hilary while you go to the field."

Hilary smiled, "Go on, Dorry. You could use some fresh air."

"All right." Doreen stood, "I can tell when I'm not wanted." She winked and left the hut.

Hilary watched her go, the turned, "Ingrid, have you see her eat anything in the last couple days?"

Ingrid thought, "I sure haven't. I think she's been giving her food to you."

"No." Hilary protested, "Who's on kitchen duty? Tell them to give my food tonight to her. She's ... she needs to eat. I'm worried about her."

"Hilary, you need to keep up your strength to let your ribs heal."

"My ribs will heal fine. I'll not have Doreen starving herself to death for me." Hilary readjusted her position and winced when a shot of pain went through her. "Oh, God, I need to get up and get some exersize. I can't just lay here and wither away, I've got too much to live for."

"D'you want me to help you walk a bit?" Ingrid offered.

"Yes, that will be wonderful." Hilary smiled, "But just baby steps for now." Hilary held her arm out and let the other woman ease her out of the bed. They slowly walked the length of the hut and back again.

"We'll do this daily, until you can do it yourself." Ingrid insisted. "and if I know you well, I can easily way, you'll be runnin' footraces in no time."

********

Scott looked through the blinds of the green room doors and saw Jeff sitting at the table picking at the food in front of him. He took a breath, held the papers in his hand tighter and pushed open the door.

"Hey, Jeff." Scott turned a chair backwards and sat, leaning against the back. He tossed the packet onto the table, "Thought you might want to see this."

Jeff quirked his eyebrows, "What is it?" He lay his fork down and reached for the offered item.

"Open it before I change my mind." Scott requested.

Jeff picked it up, unfolded it and started to read. He looked at Scott, with surprise and confusion on his face. "Divorce papers?"

Scott nodded slightly, "I'm leveling the playing field. With everything Hilary has been through, I think the last thing she needs when she gets home is to go back to the way things where."

"But, don't you think she'd want a say in this?" Jeff asked.

"When she left the country, she turned her power of attorney over to Doug. He signed for her. That way, when she gets home she can choose either of us without the hassle of the marriage." Scott explained, "If she chooses me, we'll just get remarried. If she chooses you, you'll have the freedom to get married right away."

"I don't know what to say Scott." Jeff was surprised at the man's decision.

"Just that we leave everything up to her. No more fighting. If she chooses you, I'll live with it. But if she chooses me, Jeff, the pressure has to stop. Can you promise that?"

Jeff thought for a second. "I'll walk away clean. WENN isn't the only station in the country.

"You don't have to leave the station, Jeff."

"Yes, Scott. If she decides to stay with you, I'll have to go. You know that as well as I do."

****

Java, May 1944

Hilary stretched and looked around the field. The vegetation they'd been growing was finally ready to be harvested. There was a general buzz of excitement in the air, because a new harvest meant more food. On harvest days, all the women helped so the precious food source wouldn't burn in the heat. Hilary picked her handfashioned hoe up and started digging. With renewed energy, she sang a harvesting ditty along with the rest of the woman.

The afternoon wore on and the heat got worse. The water supply quickly dwindled and no amount of requests or begging would convince the guards to refill the barrels. Hilary could feel her skin broiling with each passing minute. The sun had darkened her skin considerably and she knew without looking in a mirror that she'd probably aged ten years in the year and a half she'd been in this place. Her hair had grown to below her shoulders and was so hot on her neck, she'd love to just whack it off. All of it.

She sighed and sat on the ground for a rest. Reaching back, she tightened the cord holding the aubern mass together at the nape of her neck. Hilary glanced at Doreen who was swaying against her hoe and looked as though she were ready to -- "Dorry!" Hilary jumped as Doreen collapsed onto the ground.

She reached the unconscious woman and with horror felt that she was very hot to the touch. "Doreen?" She smacked the woman's face lightly trying to wake her up. "Dor, come on, wake up." Hilary looked up and saw Kathleen moving towards them. "Kath, I'm taking her to the hut, she needs to get out of this sun."

"Go! Take care of her." Kathleen moved to talk to the other women in their hut about finding someone who could help minister to the ill woman.

Hilary carried Doreen as best she could and placed her on the cot she used, then ran to the hut's water ration barrel and retrieved a bucketful. She splashed the cool water over Doreen in hopes of waking her.

Soon a woman entered and nodded to Hilary. She spoke in what Hilary thought was Dutch. She bent to look at Doreen's still form and began to examine her.

Kathleen had followed the woman into the hut and spoke up, "This is Helene. She's a Dutch nurse. I thought she might help."

"Thank you, Kathleen." Hilary noticed a grave look pass across the nurse's face. "Is there a translater?" She asked Kathleen again, "I'd like to know what she says."

"I'll find one." Kathleen lay a hand on Hilary's shoulder and with an encouraging smile, left.

Within fifteen minutes, Kathleen returned with someone who said they could speak both languages.

"I'm Anna." She tapped the nurse on the shoulder and spoke in her language. Helene nodded and looked to Hilary and started speaking.

"Helene says that this woman is sunstroke." Anna translated as best she could, "with her being very malnourished, it doesn't look good."

Hilary looked from Doreen to the nurse and back to Doreen, "She's dying. That's what you are telling me?"

Kathleen walked behind Hilary to lay a hand of comfort on her shoulder.

Helene patted Hilary's hand and spoke softly. "I'm sorry." Anna translated.

Hilary squeezed the woman's hand and managed an appreciative smile. "How long?"

Anna asked and Helene looked at Hilary and shrugged. Hilary nodded, "thank you," she whispered. "I'd -- can everyone leave please?"

Kathleen hugged Hilary close and then shooed everyone from the room.

The evening settled and the hut slowly began to fill with it's occupants. Hilary didn't notice the bustle of activity. She was concentrating on making sure Doreen was comfortable.

Doreen had been floating in and out of consciousness for the last hour, each time awake was weaker and shorter than the last. Hilary moved to lay Doreen's head on her lap as the woman lay on her side and breathed shallowly.

Finally noticing the occupants, Hilary asked, "could someone bring me some more water?" The bucket was quickly refilled and returned to her. She resoaked the rag she'd been using and continued to wipe Doreen's forehead.

"Hilary?" the whisper was weak.

"I'm here."

Doreen turned her head slightly, "You'll get out of here for both of us right?"

"You're coming with me, Dorry, We're going together remember?"

"You'll -- remember me right?"

Hilary tried unsuccessfully to stifle the sob, "Of course, silly."

Doreen took a weak breath and rolled to her back. She reached for Hilary's hand, "I love you, you know that?"

Hilary nodded, "Yes." she answered solemnly. "I love you too, Doreen."

"Sing to --me?" Doreen asked, obviously fighting to stay conscious.

Hilary softly began to sing.

Bugler tonight, don't play the Call To Arms

I want another evening with her charms

Then we will say goodbye and part

I'll always keep you in my heart

With me, Lilli Marlene

With me, Lilli Marlene

Give me a rose to show how much you care

Tied to the stem, a lock of golden hair

Surely tomorrow you'll feel blue

But then will come a love that's new

For you, Lilli Marlene

For you, Lilli Mar-lene

When we are marching in the mud and cold

And when my pack seems more than I can hold

My love for you renews my might

I'm warm again, my pack is light

It's you, Lilli Marlene

It's you, Lilli Marlene

Hilary hesitated when she felt Doreen stop breathing. She bent and lay her forehead against Doreen's and finished the song between her tears.

My love for you renews my might

I'm warm again, my pack is light

It's you, Lilli Marlene

It's you, Lilli Mar-lene

"I'm so glad you're free." Hilary whispered against Doreen's forehead. "But I'm going to miss you, Dorry."

Hilary straightened and composed herself. She wiped away her tears and then gently removed Doreen's dogtags from her neck and placed them around her own. "I won't forget you, Dor." She eased herself from beneath the woman and addressed Ingrid. "I'm going for a walk. Can she please not be here when I get back."

Ingrid nodded, "But I'll be here when you need to talk."

The burial was solemn, of course. Hilary carved Doreen's name into a white wooden cross she'd fashioned from leftover scraps of wood and a nail. Some of the women spoke words of comfort and inspiration over the grave and then left Hilary alone to leave her cross and to have a chance to say goodbye.

****

September, 1944

The noise of the crowd woke Hilary up. She sat quickly wondering what was happening. She hoped they weren't moving again. The camp had been moved in June, again no one knew why.

This time all the women had been billetted together, there had been no separation of language groups. Someone tapped Hilary on the shoulder and nodded toward the door. Hilary shrugged, indicating she too had no idea what was happening.

Ingrid and Kathleen, the only two other surviving members of Hilary's original English group walked to her, "Seems like we're about to get company. Looks like old Judge is setting up a table."

A Japanese guard quickly rushed into the large building and gestured with a bamboo rod that he wanted all women outside. He took pleasure in randomly swatting some of the women as they had to walk past him.

"Lord, I swear it gets worse and worse the longer we're here." Ingrid said.

Everyone lined up and bowed as requested. Once they were upright again, Judge, his translator and two other men walked into the camp. Hilary's heart nearly lept into her throat when she recognized one of the men. It couldn't be, she thought. She had to be hallucinting.

Judge spoke and the translator interpreted, "This man is German Agent and guest of Emporor Hirohito. He comes to choose woman to accompany him while in our country. You will address him properly as Herr Arnold."

She wasn't hallucinating. It really was Victor Comstock. What the bloody hell was he doing in Japan? German Agent? Herr Arnold--Victor was Jonathon Arnold? That realization rang in her mind and suddenly everything made sense. It was that final puzzle piece that she'd been missing. That's why Jeff married Pavla; that's why she was blackmailing him. Now it made sense.

The men walked forward, Victor and the man with him who wore an SS officer's uniform. They walked to the end of the line and Victor inspected each woman fully. It seemed like forever, but then he was standing in front of her. It was all Hilary could do to not rush into his arms and shamelessly beg him to take her home. He kept his face carefully neutral as he reached for the dogtag around her neck.

"Doreen Watkins?" He questioned.

"Oh,no." Hilary quietly said, and reached for the other chain around her neck. "This is mine."

Victor nodded, "Who--?"

"A friend."

"Hmm, Hilary Booth." Victor looked her in the eyes, "you're an actress aren't you?"

"Yes." She replied with a raise of her brow.

"Any good?" He asked again.

Hilary straightened proudly, "the best." She thought she saw a brief smile cross his lips, as Victor made a show of examining her. He nodded and went to the next woman.

Once he'd inspected all the women, 'Jonathon Arnold' stepped in front of Hilary again. He turned to the Commander of the camp. "I'll take this woman." He grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her out of the line.

Hilary, having understood with Victor's questions to 'play along', protested. "I will not be your concubine! I'd rather stay here!"

Victor turned to her and seethed, "you have no choice. I have been to four of these camps looking for someone to warm my bed at night and I chose you. End of discussion."

Hilary jerked her arm out of his grasp and mumbled, "all I need is another man in my life." She boldly looked at Victor. "I don't suppose you will allow me to collect what few precious belongings I still have."

He nodded curtly, "I will secure your release, you will meet me at the gate in ten minutes."

Hilary was quickly surrounded by Ingrid and Kathleen as they ushered her into their quarters and helped her gather her things.

"It's just awful how they treat us as nothing but property." Ingrid commented, "I hope you'll be all right, dear. That man looked mean."

"I can take care of myself. He doesn't scare me." Hilary commented as she took the two pictures, now glued back to back, of Jeff and Scott that she'd hidden beneath her thin mattress.

"Hilary, I have something for you." Kathleen said softly. "Here. You should wear it."

Hilary turned and recognized the dress that the woman was giving her. "It's Doreen's liberation dress." Hilary sat and looked at the blue hand stitched dress.

"She wanted you to have it." Kathleen explained, "she ... I think she knew she wasn't going to make it. She gave it to me, to give to you."

Hilary smiled through her tears, "I'll be glad to wear it."

Ingrid rummaged through some of her things and produced a brush. "If you're going to be a kept woman, you may as well look the part."

Within minutes, Hilary was dressed, her hair was combed neatly and she was ready to go. She hugged the two women tightly, "I'll be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the United States." she told them, "I want you both to look me up after this is all over."

Remembering to keep up the act, Hilary met Victor at the gate. "I am ready to go, Herr Arnold." As he led her outside the gate, she turned and waved to the woman who watched her leave.

They drove in silence and soon came upon a large town. Hilary looked at the surroundings and noticed it was battle torn. The car stopped in front of a building that looked as if it were once a mansion. Victor and the driver exchanged words in German and they were soon ushered into an ornate room.

Hilary started to speak, but Victor shushed her. "You will not speak until I have spoken to you. Now sit quietly until dinner. I have things to attend to."

He sat at a table near the couch he'd gestured for Hilary to sit on and began working on some paperwork

***

The very long afternoon, finally gave way to evening. During dinner, the most sumptuous meal Hilary had had in nearly two years, the SS officer that had accompanied Victor quite obviously made rude hints and advances towards Hilary.

Victor slammed his hand on the table and angrily shouted in German. Hilary jumped at the sudden outburst, but gathered that Victor was trying to tell the younger man that she was not to be bothered.

Once the meal was completed, Hilary waited to see what Victor was going to do. He set his napkin on the table and addressed her, "come with me."

She followed him down a hallway and stopped when he did at a closed door.

"Would you like to get cleaned up? Take a bath?"

Oh, the thought. Hilary smiled, "I'd love to."

Victor shouted some orders and before she knew it, several Japanese women appeared with buckets of hot water to fill the tub in the large bathing room. With a bow, one woman handed Hilary a Kimono to wear after her bath. As rapidly as they appeared, they were gone. Victor gestured and Hilary walked into the room. She was surprised when the man followed her in.

She turned to question him when he shushed her. He closed the door and then walked to the window to close the shutters. Once he was sure they were alone he turned to Hilary. "Go ahead, enjoy the bath. We can talk quietly in here." He smiled, "I promise I won't look."

"Victor," Hilary pulled him into a warm hug and was unable to stop the tears, "I don't think I have the words right now."

"I'm just glad I was able to find you." He held her tightly, shocked at how thin she was. "The water is cooling," he pulled away, "I'll sit on the floor, with my back to you, and fill you in on the plans."

Once he'd turned his back, Hilary undressed and sank into the hot water a contented sigh, "You have no idea how many nights I've just simply dreamt of a hot bath."

Victor laughed as he settled himself on the floor and leaned his back against the tub. "I seem to recall many a day when it took a lot more than hot water to please you."

After a moment of silence, Hilary leaned forward and tapped Victor on the shoulder. She moved so that she could see his face when he turned his neck. "Victor, where are we going from here?"

"I'm not going to lie to you, Hilary, it's not going to be a walk in the park. It's dangerous, but it's the only way." Victor warned before he spoke, "We'll have to keep up the act until tomorrow when Friedrich is reassigned to another job. His replacement will be a collegue of mine who will drive us to the docks tomorrow afternoon. We'll board a US hospital ship that's bound for Pearl Harbor." He smiled, "with luck, we'll be in Pittsburgh before Christmas."

Hilary lay a hand on his shoulder, "Victor why are you doing this?"

Victor took her hand, squeezed it comfortingly and responded quietly, "I had a debt to repay."

Hilary felt tears well in her eyes and she blinked them away. She could find no words to reply with. So she laughed away the lump in her throat, "You sure as hell did!"

With a smile, Victor leaned a dropped a kiss on the back of her hand, "finish your bath. We need to get some sleep."

*****

October, 1944

Hilary stood at the ship's railing and took a very deep breath. She watched as the Pacific ocean slipped peacefully beneath the ship, unaware of the battles and consequent deaths taking place on the surface. She worried about the friends she'd left behind at the prison camp and prayed they would gain their precious freedom soon.

"I thought I'd find you here." Victor said as he approached the woman at the rails. "We're out of enemy waters so we should be safe from here on in."

"That's wonderful." Hilary said and took another refreshing breath. "You know, freedom never smelled so good." She turned to speak to Victor, "I can't thank you enough for what you did."

"You don't have to thank me."

"I wish I could have brought Ingrid and Kathleen with me." Hilary reached for the dog tags she still wore around her neck, "and Doreen."

"When did she die?" Victor asked.

"In May. She starved to death, like everyone else in that place." Hilary took a deep breath and returned her gaze to the ocean, "I don't know how much longer I would have survived."

******

November, 1944

As Scott walked into the front door to start his day, Gertie handed him his mail. He opened and read the letter, then let out a whooping yell. "Jeff!" He sped down the hallway, and skidded to a halt in front of the studio doors, his momentum carrying him past. He rushed back and tore through the double doors, "Jeff!" then realized he'd rushed into the middle of a program. "Sorry," he quickly said, then grabbed Jeff's arm, yanked him out of the studio and pulled the surprised man into the green room.

"What's going on?" a bewildered Jeff asked.

"This!" Scott waved the envelope and it's contents at Jeff. "He found her! Victor found Hilary!"

Jeff grabbed the envelope and noticed it contained two military flight vouchers and a letter from the war department. Victor had wired his Washington contacts and arranged to have both Scott and Jeff flown to Honolulu. They were to leave as soon as they recieved the letter.

A giddy Jeff rushed out of the green room, followed closely by Scott, and down to reception. He grabbed Gertie out of her chair, "Gertrude Reece. Have I told you you're beautiful?" He kissed the stunned woman soundly on the lips. "Can you call me a taxi?"

"Us a taxi." Scott added as he rushed up behind Jeff.

Gertie stammered that she'd make the call, then told the excited men that it would be there within the half hour.

Betty emerged from the business office, "what is all the fuss about?"

"BettyBettyBettyBetty," Scott turned, "Jeff and I are going to Hawaii. Victor found Hilary!"

Betty's eyes lit, "really! Oh, that's wonderful." She then hesitated, "he told me he was going to Washington."

"Well, he apparently went to Washington, by way of Japan." Scott deadpanned.

"It doesn't matter!" Jeff spoke up, "he found her."

"Hey, what's all the hubbub?" Mackie, Maple, Eugenia and Mr Foley walked out of the studio, their curiosity peaked.

"Victor found Hilary!" Scott informed the rest of the gang.

A collective cheer went up through the station, and everyone crowded around hugging each other.

From the midst of the hugging mass of people of people is heard Eugenia's voice, "is anybody on the air?"

*********

December 3,1944

With an hour left before the ship docked in Pearl Harbor, Hilary fussed nervously with her hair. She had decided to pay a visit to the barber shop on board. The barbers were there as a comfort to wounded soldiers returning home. Hilary silently wondered if her wounds would ever heal, and had her doubts that a man could do anything with her hair at all. But to Hilary's surprise the barber was a woman. Hilary shook her head and reminded herself that it hadn't really been a shock. With all the men at war, of course a woman would be likely be handling this duty. Hilary felt herself almost smile at the thought of her afternoon at the beauty parlor.

Once she was able to get her hair styled, Hilary grudgingly admitted she liked the extra few inches of length. It hung nicely to just below her shoulders. It was her weight that bothered her the most. She had to keep reminding herself not to be too judgmental of the reflection that stared back at her from the mirror. The clothes that Victor had bought for her before they left port in Java hung on her as if they were rags.

"Hilary you look beautiful." Victor had watched her walk past the mirror in the dining room until he could no longer keep quiet.

"I look like a waif."

"Come and eat your lunch," he suggested.

She walked to the table and sat, "so you do think I look too thin."

"What I think is that it is exhausting to watch you walk back and forth to that mirror." Victor set a glass of iced tea and a plate in front of Hilary. "eat."

Hilary smiled then with the face and voice of a chided child responded sarcastically, "Yes, Daddy." She picked up a cut celery stalk and purposefully crunched into it.

******

The ship docked and the wounded were debarked before the returning passengers. Hilary waited and nervously fidgeted. She was excited to get home, but nervous because she knew that both Jeff and Scott would be waiting. She took a deep breath and told herself to relax. When she did, she could see through the surface emotions and realize that she was excited and really couldn't wait until she left the ship.

The whistle blew the signal for the passengers to leave.

"Are you ready?" Victor asked.

Hilary smiled, "As I'll ever be."

Scott glanced at his watch, "should be any time now."

"Yeah, I can see the other passengers leaving the ship now," Jeff responded. He shielded his eyes from the afternoon sun as he carefully scanned the crowds for any sign of Hilary. It wasn't long before he spotted Victor, then caught sight of her. He reached for Scott, tapped him on the arm, "I see them." and pointed in their direction.

As she drew closer, Jeff took in her appearance with surprise. Her skin had darkened to a deep tan, her hair was much longer and to his shock was beginning to grey around the temples. But what stunned him the most was her weight. Her normally high cheekbones were gaunt and sunken. Had he not known her as well as he did, he wouldn't have recognized her. Jeff glanced at Scott and saw by the look on his face, he'd been thinking the same thing.

Hilary approached the two men awkwardly, unsure of what to expect. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jeff nod towards Scott and then Scott stepped forward.

"Hildy," he said as her pulled her into a hug.

She settled into the hug and finally let herself believe that she was actually home. "Oh, Scotty. I missed you so much." She tried to hold back a sob, "I missed everyone."

She pushed slightly out of Scott's arms and turned to Jeff. She reached to take his hand. "Pumpkin."

Jeff took her hand and pulled her gently into his arms. He cupped her cheek and bent to kiss her softly on the lips. "Mittens," he whispered, then wrapped her tightly into his embrace. He heard her start crying against his shoulder and couldn't stop his own tears. "Hilary, I'm so ... I can't believe you're here and you're all right." He pulled away slightly, while keeping her still in his arms. "You are all right aren't you?"

She answered, "I may look a little worse for wear, a fact that I am going to remedy as soon as possible, but, I'm okay." Hilary turned and took Scott's hand as well. "I'm so glad to be home." She leaned against Jeff's chest and smiled at Scott through her tears.

****

Scott walked through the open door that joined the room he and Jeff shared with Hilary's. She'd wanted the door left open, as well as the other door that led to Victor's room, so she wouldn't feel locked in. He started to knock, but hesitated when he heard soft humming. Quietly, he walked in and saw her sitting on the balcony staring out at the ocean and clutching the dogtags that she wore around her neck. The tune she hummed, Scott recognized, was "Lili Marlene".

Hesitantly, he knocked softly on the open door to catch her attention. Seeing her jump at the sudden noise, Scott quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, Hilary. I didn't mean to interrupt."

She wiped away the tears she didn't want him to see, "it's all right, Scott. I was lost in some memories that I need to put away."

"I needed to talk to you about something, but I can come back later," Scott offered.

"No." Hilary walked back into the room and offered Scott a seat at the table in her room. "We do need to talk."

"Let me talk first, OK?" Scott waited until Hilary sat, then seated himself opposite her. "You need to know that about a year ago, I had Doug draw up divorce papers and sign them in your stead. We're divorced, Hilary, so whatever you want to do, you're free to do it."

Hilary silently regarded Scott, unsure of what to say. "Scott, you know you didn't have to do that."

"I know, hon," he explained, "but I didn't want you to have to come back to the way things were. Jeff and I had a long talk and we decided to put away the petty jealousy and pressures and let you decide with no strings attached."

Hilary stood and pulled Scott into a warm hug. "You have no idea what that means to me." She stepped back, "I have made a decision, but I'll tell you at dinner. I want Jeffrey to hear it too."

"Why don't I skedaddle then so you can get ready. We'll meet you in the restaurant downstairs in an hour."

"All right." Hilary squeezed Scott's hand, "thank you."

He nodded an acknowledgement. He leaned in and kissed her warmly. "I love you, Hildy, just so you know."

"I love you, too, Scotty." She smiled and slightly pushed him away, "now shoo so I can get cleaned up for dinner."

Hilary walked to the closet trying to decide what to wear for dinner. She only had the two outfits that Victor had bought for her and the blue dress of Doreen's that she'd worn out of the camp. She looked over the clothes for some time before finally choosing the dress. In a way, she felt, wearing the dress to her first meal on American soil was affirming her independence.

Hilary walked into the dining room and was shown to the table where the three men were waiting for her.

"I'm sorry I'm late." She sat, "I'm still not quite used to the fact that something as simply luxurious as a hot water bath isn't going to be taken from me without a moment's notice." Hilary opened the menu, "so what is good here?"

"The food is all good." Scott spoke up, "Jeff and I have been splurging all week."

"You've been here a week?"

"Well," Jeff answered, "we didn't know exactly when the ship was coming in and we didn't want to miss meeting you."

"Besides, a week of sun and fun," Scott interrupted, "what more could a fella ask for?"

Hilary smiled, "I'm sure you both stayed out of trouble."

Jeff picked up his menu, "so, food."

The four ate their meals among small talk and catching up. Hilary told about some of the happier times at the camp. The nights the men from the neighboring camp snuck into theirs. The laughter and the camaraderie, and admittedly some hanky panky. "No one knew if we'd ever get out of there alive, so we took every chance at laughter and fun that we could. It wasn't long before we were moved to another camp. We assume the guards found out about our weekly rendezvous."

As dessert was served, Hilary finally broached the subject of her future. "Victor and I spoke at length about this on the ship. He and I came up with a good solution for how I feel, at the moment, about the stifling thought of a schedule. I'm not coming back to work."

"Hilary?" Jeff started, knowing how important her career was to her."

"I'm not coming back full time. Maple is going to take all my roles and Victor agreed to hire Enid on during the week. I'll come in and do a show here and there, when *I* want to." She explained, "after living behind a barbed-wire fence, under complete scrutiny and fear for my life at any given moment, I can't stand the thought of having to be at a certain place at a certain time. I need to enjoy my freedom."

"That's perfectly understandable," Scott said.

"I'm also staying alone. My plans are to find either a smaller house or a penthouse in Pittsburgh. I hope you both can understand."

"You aren't shutting yourself off from friends are you?" Scott asked.

"No, of course not." Hilary assured, "I just feel that at this moment in my life, I need time to myself. But" Hilary, took both their hands into hers, "I certainly won't rule out spending an evening with either one of you."

*********

Hilary glanced at the watch on her arm and peeked out the window to see if the taxi had arrived yet. She'd been home for three weeks and today would be the first time she'd seen her friends at the radio station since she'd left on the USO tour some two years earlier.

In that three weeks, she'd been quite busy. She'd found a penthouse within a short taxi ride to WENN, she'd been able to get her hair touched up to cover the unruly grey that had crept up around the edges and she'd been able to put on a little weight. In short, she felt a little more like herself again. Well, not quite. She wore pants and long sleeves to cover the scars she wasn't ready to explain. And she still wore the dogtags, which she'd vowed to herself and to Doreen's memory that she would never remove.

She heard the driver honk and grabbed her coat, took one glance at the mirror and left.

The taxi ride to the station was uneventful and Hilary soon found herself standing outside the glass door at WENN. She smiled at the familiarity of the letters and opened the door. Surprisingly there was no one at reception, so Hilary walked down the hallway to the green room. As she walked through the doors she was suddenly thrust into a happy chaos of "welcome home"s and cheerful hugs.

Everyone had questions for her. Some she could answer and some she politely refused. There were some memories that she'd rather stay hidden until she could better confront them. Through it all though, Hilary realized that she was truly among friends and glad to be home.

Epilogue

Hilary stood just offstage at the Canteen and waited for the performer currently occupying the stage to finish. She'd finally decided to perform in public and this was the best place she could think of starting.

While she waited she considered where her life had gone in the last three years and how different she felt now. She was no longer married, no longer felt the need to be married. Yes, she still loved Jeffrey, and of course Scott, and maybe sometime in the future she might think of remarrying. But for now, she needed this time alone, this time to be herself. The time to be Hilary Booth. Not Hilary Booth, the actress, but Hilary Booth, the woman.

The singer finished her song and walked offstage, giving Hilary a smile. Hilary waited until she was introduced and walked on stage. The audience's reaction was warming and welcoming.

Hilary sat on a stool and began speaking. "Thank you everyone so much. As you know I spent the last two years in a Japanese Prison camp. It was certainly not the most pleasant experience of my life, but I was fortunate enough to have a very close friend with me as well. She unfortunately died just a few months before I was liberated. Her last wish was that I never forget her, and I never will."

"I would like to dedicate this song to her. It's a song that she loved dearly." More to herself than anyone else, Hilary whispered, "Dorry, this is for you," and she started to sing.

"Outside the barracks, by the corner light. I'll always stand and wait for you at night . . ."

The End