Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ３４ － ０１】

Chapter 34 - 01

It was actually Martin who drove her home after tea. The drive was quiet, save for the engine and her almost shouting directions. The drive back would be interesting. And getting dark.

Apparently at least Winters was in on this, hence the vehicle. Unless they'd stolen it.

When she got home she dug through her small wardrobe, and decided upon a black tea dress, plain as plain could be, with a flowy skirt and little almost puffy sleeves.

All Margaret could really do was wash her face and then sparingly apply lipstick to her lips, and just a little to her cheeks – so at least she looked human.

Looking into the grubby mirror made her huff. Her hair. She'd raked at it with a comb and had just made herself angry.

When she emerged from the bathroom, it was starting to get dark in her kitchen.

Martin made to take the comb and do her hair.

"Don't," she all but snapped, "just don't touch it."

She'd had quite enough of people touching her hair.

Then with little black ruby slipper style shoes, she was ready.

It seemed like rather a long way to come just for a dress and some shoes.

But nonetheless, she hopped back in the... Margaret still didn't know what it was.

Back on their way again, she did her best to give directions, only getting the turns wrong once. That meant the journey took just under an hour, as Martin had slowed in the waning light.

He parked where all the vehicles were, and the pair walked in silence into Aldbourne, the only sound between them their footfalls.

But soon they could hear the noise, and as they entered, Margaret sought George Luz.

Apparently, he'd not come with her so that he could big her up to all the others.

She was getting looks she wasn't used to, and it made her feel quite small. So she tugged on Luz's sleeve when she came up to his side, and he grinned at her, pausing his conversation for only a moment to pass her a drink he'd apparently been gallantly defending for her, and to put his arm around her shoulders.

"So, guys, this is my friend Peggy. Peggy, meet Grant, Tab, and Buck. Say, have you ever played Darts?"

Margaret shook her head.

"No worries, I'm sure one of the fellas will be happy to teach you."

No. No no no. He was going to leave. She wasn't mentally prepared for this.

"George," she whined, surprising everyone – herself included. She sounded like a child, at least to her. "You aren't gonna leave, are you?"

"Don't worry, I'll be back. Just have fun."

And just like that, he slipped away, and she felt uncomfortable, awkward.

So there she stood, sipping away at a drink to try and get that warm buzz so that she could feel like Peggy again and be Peggy, and of course, have fun.

It seemed as though lately Genesis had abandoned her, and Margaret didn't know whether she was glad of it or not.

Tab and Grant smiled at her, before heading over towards the dart board. Buck drifted behind, staying with her.

"Y'know, when you're not focusing so much on keep those defences up, your smile is pretty. I'm sure by the time the night is up, you'll have at least half the guys falling at your feet."