Women of War - A Band of Brothers Story

Entering Berchtesgaden

A/N: *peeks around the corner* Hey guys. Gosh, it's been a month since my last update.... I am so sorry! I got stuck on the transitions between scenes because I had these little snippets and images and just couldn't get them to fit together in a good way. I hope it turned out alright.

Please note that I've put another A/N at the bottom with some historic facts I make reference to in the chapter, so be sure to check it out :)

As always, a massive thank you to everyone reading this story and taking the time to leave a comment! It makes me so happy to read your thoughts and what you think of the story and characters.

Easy had been given orders to head for Berchtesgaden, the Nazi leaders' mountain retreat in the South Bavarian Alps. The weather, sunny and warm, infused the atmosphere with a general amiable cheer and not even the enormous rock slide blocking the road – the enemy must have blown half the mountainside to hinder the Allied advance – put a damper on the company's good mood. The soldiers were content to shoot the breeze, soak in the sun or waste a couple of grenades and bazooka rounds on the mass of boulders.

Sitting against the tires of one of trucks, Liebgott was distracted from taking in the gorgeous, peaceful landscape when Louise chuckled. She was lounging next to him, reading her letters from home with her legs kicked up on his lap, his arms comfortably resting on her shins.

"Listen to this", she said, "this is great: Your father is of course being his usual stubborn and unreasonable self. He is completely unwilling to compromise and seems bound and determined to stake claim to everything that is dear to me."

She grinned at his snort, then shuffled the papers around to read another passage: "And here's what my father wrote: As always, your mother is making things far more difficult than they have to be with her exaggerated sentimentality and fits of female hysteria. She insists on keeping several items which are important to me and contests my claims of rightful ownership of countless others."

She rolled her eyes, laughed lightly. "They're so bloody dramatic."

"Jesus Christ." Liebgott scoffed, shaking his head. "What're they telling you that for? You're an ocean away in a fucking war."

"Well, they're expecting me to take their side."

"Fuck. Good thing you lived with your grandparents, else you might've turned out like that, too."

She laughed, nudged him with her knee.

***

To the veterans, the sight of Louise and Liebgott amiably sharing space, their animated bantering and bickering exchanged for quiet conversations, smiles and silent company, was nothing new. The newest bunch of replacements, however, had a very different impression of their relationship, and the scene brought them up short.

The pair looked up as one when the new kids stopped and stared.

"See something interesting?", Louise asked, interrupting her recount of how her cousin Charlie had accidentally blown up the shed in Gramps' backyard the first time – something which he'd managed to do again according to his letter.

"No, I, we, uh, sorry Ma'am", Corporal Raymond fumbled, taking a step back.

Private Collette, nicknamed Collie, shuffled his feet, opened his mouth and closed it again.

Louise and Liebgott held a full conversation in a brief glance and turned back to the awkward gaggle of replacements.

"You hate each other!", Corporal Haley blurted eventually, gesturing between them like he was upset that they would just sit together in peace.

Louise's eyebrows arched at the accusation. "Whatever gave you that stupid idea?"