Elena opened her eyes to the deserted pillow next to her on the crisp, clear November morning. The sun shown in her eyes, and she blinked a few times. She sat up, looked around, and let out a deep sigh. He was still gone, still searching for Jaque. "How much longer…" She whispered to herself. Her english accent was beautiful; it was the perfect touch to her voice. She ran a hand through her blonde hair and set her feet onto the wooden floor of their bedroom. She picked up a picture of her and Josef, looking at it for awhile and setting it back on the bed-side table. She rose from the bed, pulling up the sheets and comforter, making sure it was ready and made. She only got to see Josef twice a week; usually around 2-3AM, but she always hoped.

She opened her dresser and pulled out a pair of light-wash skinny jeans-for she was only twenty-four and still wore what fit her best. She pulled them on, throwing her shorts to the side, and walking into the closet part of the room. She fished through a few shirts and removed a black tanktop, pulling it on and a white and black striped cardigan. She only buttoned two buttons at the bottom. She slid her feet into two warm, fuzzy black slippers and walked into the bathroom. She threw some water on her face and put a bobby-pin into her hair, as her natural blonde curls fell perfectly around her face. She put on foundation to match her light skin-tone, and some concealer. She lined her eyes lightly and put on mascara, putting light pink lipgloss onto her lips.

She walked into the kitchen, and began preparing coffee and eggs. She pulled the coffee out of the machine and mixed in half&half. She took a big sip and set it down, putting the eggs onto a plate and eating those slowly and loaded the dishes back into the washer. She took another sip of her coffee and brought her coffee into the room with the piano with her. She set it on the table by the piano and sat down, looking at the music she'd been writing. She longed for every day to spend with him - every long day she had to wait for him. Ever since he'd been gone so much, she'd never ever talked half as much as she did. Every word she spoke was through the music she wrote; beautiful, incredible music she'd never played for anybody but herself. She always prepared for him to come home; and when he did, it was only for about three to four hours. Out where he was, he risked being shot, stabbed, captured, anything terrible she could imagine. She wanted to know how much longer she had to wait.

Elena's fingers hit the piano keys lightly. The music was beautiful.

Smiling Josef thanked the woman in broken French and walked a few feet to sit on a chipped and carved bench to eat the lukewarm pastry.
"Yahd think the French would know they're breads.....terrible." Quickly scarfing the roll Josef wiped his hands on his coat before shouldering his bag and continuing. His stomach continued growling causing him to reluctantly return to the pastry woman for seconds.
One of the things I miss most about home is Elena's cooking.
He sighed and chastised himself for allowing thoughts of his wife to creep into his mind, thinking of her only made him long for home more and more, yet he knew finding Jaque was important as well.

His hand crept to his wallet were he removed a few slips of currency not bothering to see what they were but judging from the womans squeals of delight he had just given a generous tip, smiling he accepted the elderly womans hug as she presented him with the remainder of her pastries and quickly hobbled away down the street.

Looking at the pastries he mumbled, "Well lads your gonna be bragged about later, (imitating a high falsetto)The Pollock liked my pastries so much he bought them all! now cmere and get eaten."

Closing his wallet his eyes rested on the picture he kept of Elena, one from their wedding day, she had looked beautiful.

"Damn,(Swallowing bites of greasy pastry) thats it Jaque, Im spending one more day on your ass then I'm done."
Stowing a few of the pastries in his medic's bag he threw the rest to the birds and continued the search.

Elena broke her song and her focus on a very low -- one of the lowest notes on the piano -- banging it hard. She stood up and grabbed her coffee, dumping the rest of it down the sink. She whispered a jumble of words into the warmth of the day. Rain was falling on the streets of Paris; though she loved rain, she couldn't go out in it. She didn't want to, due to the fact she was feeling incredibly miserable today. She looked at her hands and wondered if Josef was coming home today.

"Just get home today," She whispered to herself, "I'm sick of all this doing without you.." She said, turning around and walking back into the bedroom. She flipped on the television to watch the latest report she'd recorded about Jaque and the catching; she hoped Josef could sucker some words out of his boss to come visit her tonight. She curled up against the back of the bed, her hands hugging her knees into her chest. She closed her eyes for a bit, thinking about everything that was going on. For anything Elena knew, Josef could be dead right now.

She opened her eyes and shook even the thought of that out of her head. She didn't like to think about anything bad that could happen to Josef. She kicked the slippers off and looked at the time; as she hadn't earlier today. It was already 4 PM? How late did she sleep in? All she remembered was staying up quite late wondering if Josef would show that night.

She yawned. She had to get to bed early tonight and catch up on some long-lost sleep. She walked into the bathroom and pulled the bobby-pin out of her hair. She knew if he showed tonight he wouldn't be afraid to wake her up. She would be overjoyed if he did; words she couldn't even explain.

Nico sighed softly as he sat down his backpack and assault rifle. It had been too long since he remembered anything near warmth. It was always cold in the mountains.. which didn't help his squadron. Most of Nico's squad moved deeper into the forest as he stuck behind, trying to make camp. "Damn...", Nico grumbled as he played with a piece of flint and struggled to get a fire started. After a few curses and many attempts later, the fire sparked to life and he smiled gently as he enjoyed the warmth. Nico then proceeded to clean his assault rifle and pistols.

After a few hours his squad returned, obviously tired from the scouting. "Любые новости командир...", Nico asked his captain if any news had arrived from HQ. Solemnly, the captain replied with a grunt and sat down while shaking his head. Great... even longer in this enemy ridden cold. How much could a man take...? Nico sighed again, closing his eyes and began to day dream about a place of warmth... in his home back in London.

Josef checked in with a few more contacts and submitted the days work to his boss via a quick phone call.
Anything new?
"The hell do you think?!?! Of course theres nothing new!"
Calm down kid.
"Dont tell me to calm down and don't call me kid! Im twenty three years old, starving, cold, tired and extremely pissed off, I haven't seen my wife in DAYS and I haven't had a proper bath since sunday, and If I have to say one more word in this damn singsongy language I swear I will pull my head off and punt it over that Goddamn tower you French are so fond of!"
.....Point taken head home, get some rest and report in Friday.
"Du verdammter scheißkerl deine verdammten korrekte Ich gehe nach hause."
What was that?
"Nothing sir Ill be in Friday."
Hanging up his phone, Josef smiled, His native German was a harsh sounding language and made insulting people extremely easy.
Heading to his car he popped in the keys and sat back as he began the long drive home.
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He got home around 11:15 that night and slowly trudged up the front steps, kicking off his shoes he left them on the porch not wanting to track mud into the house.
Removing his coat and bag he threw them in the closet and had to restrain himself from sprinting to the kitchen.
He relieved the fridge of nearly all the leftovers and quickly heated his food and ate, moments later he removed his shirt pants and socks wrinkling his nose in distaste and threw them into the washing-machine, he returned to the table and finished his food.

Heading to his and Elana's bedroom he smiled when he saw her sleeping form, crossing the room he bent and placed a kiss on her collar bone, she looked beautiful sleeping silently, almost angelic. Ignoring her mumbling half-sleep talk he said "I would've thought you were dead if that Godawful snoring of yours wasnt going on." Quickly brushing his lips against hers he stood and headed to the shower. "Be right back love I stink, if I tried to climb in now youd kick me outta the bed."

Moments later he sighed contentedly letting the almost boiling water pour down over him.

"Its good to be home."

Elena sat up at the sound of the rushing shower. She ran a hand through her blonde hair in disbelief; he wasn't ever home. She was overjoyed with the fact that he was; and she couldn't wait for him to get out of the shower. She set her two feet on the floor and walked to the window, sitting in one of the old chairs her mother bought for her and staring out the window. Even if she had been asleep for quite some time, she still looked incredible. It was one thing she loved about herself.

"Thank god." She whispered to herself.

Slowly and with regret Josef turned the shower off and stepped out blindly groping for a towel. After locating one he briskly dried himself and wrapped the towel around his waist.

Stepping out of the bathroom he saw Elena reclining on one of her chairs, his heart began hammering in his chest as love and lust rose equally into his mind. She truly was an angel.

"Now before you commence with the yelling and the smacking can I at least put some clothes on?"

Smiling mischievously Josef searched his drawers and sighed contentedly when he located a clean pair of boxers. He dropped the towel and slipped them on before climbing into bed, turning facedown and burrowing under the sheets. Chuckling he added

"I fully intend to ignore you by the way, goodnight!!!"