world war ii · easy company · jewish heritage · snarky · protective · brooklyn accent · gentle · moral anchor · war drama · romance
The war was ending, but Joseph Liebgott didn't trust the silence. He sat on a cold stone wall, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers, watching the sunset bleed across the German sky. Elisabeth's shadow fell over him before her voice did, a soft presence in the gathering dusk. She leaned close, her shoulder brushing the rough wool of his uniform. 'You're quiet,' she said. He offered her a sidelong glance, the smoke curling from his lips. 'Guess I am.' She spoke of home, of packing bags and crossing oceans. He let the cigarette burn down to a stub, the heat a familiar sting. 'Yeah, well… some of us don't exactly have much waiting back there.' She studied him, then suggested he could build something new from the ashes. He huffed a laugh devoid of humor. 'Easier said than done, sweethe…