My Story: World War II - German [COMPLETED]

40: Old Friend

(May 1945)

I watched as Alaric stitched up Carl's leg. I guess not everything changed. Alaric was still the medic that I knew deep down he was. Alaric patted his shoulder and Carl smiled up at him before reaching for Erika.

"Is Tiny your nickname?" I asked as he leaned on the counter I was sitting on.

"Yes. Patch coined it for me since I was the smallest in the group," he said as he picked at his jacket.

"That's Zimmermans for you. Can't get much smaller than us," Adalwolf said as he sat on the counter. I watched as the guys of Alaric's regiment talked and checked windows and doors.

"Will you miss them?" I asked and Alaric nodded.

"These guys have been my family for the past five years," he said as he pushed off the counter to turn around. "If we leave now, they won't notice us leaving until it is too late."

"You don't want to say good bye?" I asked.

"I already did," he said.

Alaric Zimmerman

(April 1945)

The guys and I ran behind a building as gun shots went off behind us. Damn Russians.

"Sh*t guys. We have to keep moving," Booya said as we crouched in the shadows.

"We don't even know the city," Butch said. Engel looked at me.

"Tiny does," Engel said and I sighed. I knew I had to leave them before Adeline and I were left behind, assuming that she convinced Adalwolf to go on the plane.

"Promise me something guys," I whispered, gaining their attention, "Regardless of what happens at the end, we are still brothers to the end and hopefully one day we will write each other again." They all exchanged looks.

"Brothers to the end," Gen said.

"Brothers to the end." Booya patted my back as I looked around the corner.

"Most of these buildings are apartments on this side. Follow me," I said as I started running towards Schmit household.

"Alaric?" a familiar voice asked as we ran up the stairs and slammed the door to the Schmit house shut. I turned around and saw Abe and Isabella standing in front of us in the living room. I took a deep breath.

"Tiny, I am checking upstairs for... you know," Booya said and I nodded as Abe rubbed the back of his neck.

"Give some privacy," I whispered to the guys and they all spread out.

"What are the chances of this happening?" Abe asked and I stared at him.

"About the same as finding out your ex girlfriend is going to marry your best friend the day you leave to fight in the war," I said as I looked out the window. Abe and Isabella looked at each other and I turned around to look at them.

"How have you been?" Isabella asked.

"Good. Got married. Fought in a war. You know, the normal stuff for non-rich people like you two," I said and they were quiet.

"Tiny, we have more guns upstairs," Booya said and I looked at him before following him upstairs.

"You can't take those!" Abe yelled as we started up the stairs. I looked at him as he tried to look intimidating. Booya crossed his arms and I stared at him.

"We are soldiers of the German government. We can take the guns," I said and we continued up the stairs.

"Well, I am a governmental official that is telling you that you can't take the guns from upstairs," Abe said. Kipling and Rat stood at the bottom of the stairs as Rat bit into an apple.

"So you are one of the a*****es that made us keep fighting out there?" Kipling asked. Abe lost all colour in his face.

"Still have a problem with us taking the guns?" I asked and Abe shook his head. The guys went up the stairs and I stared at Abe as Isabella came up behind him.

"You've changed so much, Alaric," Isabella commented. I looked at the walls that had their wedding pictures on it.

"What makes you say that?" I asked.

"You are so confident and respected among them," Abe said. I swallowed.

"Five years is a long time to not see someone," I said and they exchanged a look between each other.

"It is a long time," Abe agreed with me and I went to walk upstairs. I felt a hand on my shoulder as I got to the top of the stairs.

"Alaric, I never really wanted to leave you. I was stupid to listen to my father," Isabella said and I took her hand off my shoulder.

"I wasn't upset that you married Abe," I said as I tried to go back up the stairs to meet up with my regiment.

"Then what were you upset about?" she asked, softly. I looked at her and I took a deep breath.

"The fact that you told me the day that I was leaving to tell me," I said and she closed her eyes.

"I didn't want you to worry about me while you were at war. I figured that if I told you then that you would be safer," she said as she played with her hands.

"I think that it is good that we broke up," I said and she looked at me.

"Why is that?" she asked.

"I got married and from the looks of it, you and Abe live a... comfortable life," I said. She nodded with a small smile.

"We do. And he loves me," she said and I nodded as I heard small foot steps.

"Mama?" a little boy asked. I looked towards the voice and Isabella walked up to the boy.

"Alaric, I told you to stay in the attic. It's dangerous right now," Isabella told him. Alaric. Was he named after me?

"I know Mama but I heard noises," he said and Isabella looked at me.

"Excuse me, soldier. I need to put my son up," she said.

"Assistant Commander," I said and she smiled.

"Assistant Commander," she said as she picked up her son.