Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ６０ － Ｂｉｒｔｈｄａｙ】

Chapter 60 - Birthday

Though Margaret had never met him, she really liked Colonel Dobie. He'd organised a party in Nijmegen, and sourced Champagne. She'd never had it before, but the bubbles made her nose fizz if she drank it too quickly.

Not that she minded, it made her feel bubbly inside, and she found herself liking the bubbly feeling.

Ripley seemed to have turned on protective older brother mode, probably feeling the need to make up for ten years away, but forgetting she was 24. He stayed very close to her, but let her pull him around and introduce her to the Americans. They all seemed wary of him, but that was because they knew she'd been alone for a long time. Maybe they blamed him.

"Ripley, surely you don't want to spend the whole night hovering around me?"

He smiled down at her, for he was very tall, and she felt like everything was ok.

"But it's my baby sister's birthday, so forgive me for wanting to spend it with her."

Peggy beamed at him, and let him put his red beret on her head. She was very proud to wear it, to have him as her brother.

"Wait! It's your birthday today?!"

"Why'd you not say?"

"How old you turnin'?"

The news spread around the room, and outside of the large barn, like wildfire and then in ten seconds flat, Luz and Muck were either side of her, lifting her up above the crowds – much to Ripley's distress. The cry went up for Captain Winters to be fetched, and somebody ran out lickety split. All the men of Easy Company started singing Happy Birthday, confusing the British and the American Brass, but still some of the Brits began to sing and Peggy was carried around the room, practically sat on the shoulders of Luz and Muck.

"Happy birthday to Mar-" Muck started to say Margaret before Luz shouted Peggy! so he corrected himself, "Peggy, who has now completed 5 jumps and so has officially earned her wings Paratrooper style, and turns- hey, how old are you now?"

"Twenty four!" She called out, not to Muck but to the test of the room. Oh she was having so much fun.

"Twenty four today! Hip hip! Hooray!"

There was a large cheer, and then Muck just kept going.

Past three, and Peggy kicked him gently to get his attention.

"People aren't pissed enough to keep going, just give it a rest!"

Apparently most people were actually pissed enough to just keep going.

And they did.

All the way to 24.

And then after that there was a huge cheer, mostly congratulating themselves for making it to that many cheers.

Captain Winters had arrived at some point and was stood by the door grinning up at her, cheering with the rest. He mouthed congratulations trooper over the noise.

But the moment couldn't last.

They never could.

Colonel Sink wanted to know who she was, what she was doing with his regiment, much less his finest company, and how on earth she'd managed to get a hold of some ODs and Jump Wings.

"Well, I don't know if you remember, but back in June you were asked to pick up Genesis? Hi."

You could hear a pin drop, the silence was so loud.