UPDATED 05/16/2022. Final edit! Should flow better and mistakes should be fixed in this chapter.

A/N: It's the last chapter of We're On Each Other's Team! I'm emotional right now. I can't believe...wow. We've come so far. This is also by far, the longest chapter in the series. It takes place during the last few months of 1945. I'm actually sad, but also excited! You'll see why later. Until then, enjoy! This chapter took a lot, lmao.

* * * * *

It was mid-October when Madison stepped foot on American soil. Easy Company had to spend a few more weeks in Europe, which included one more jump, until they were all packed up in a ship and sent back to the states.

Easy had one hell of a trip back to New York. If Madison had to describe it, it felt like a massive sleepover where you pulled too many one nighters. She wasn't sure if they did it because they were excited, jittery, or were having trouble sleeping. For Madison, it was all three. She was ecstatic that the war was over and that she'll be able to be back home. She was jittery because well, wouldn't you be nervous going home after not being there for years? Everything had changed, maybe too much, while they were away. Madison was scared of readjusting back into a normal, civilian life. The sleeping, well, it's not her favorite pastime anymore. It hadn't been for awhile. Not since she was forced to stay in the hospital in 1944.

When the ship docked in Pier III in New York, Madison didn't want to get off, but she knew she had to at some point. So, she picked up her bag, put her cap on, and walked off with Babe, Spina, Luz, and Malarkey.

It was a sight for sore eyes, seeing New York. Madison couldn't believe it. They were truly home, back on American soil. It had been two years since she left on the Samaria, heading to England before dropping into Normandy on D-Day.

Madison clutched Malarkey's wrist as everyone made their way to one of the buildings where a Red Cross station was set up. There were a ton of people on the port and they all welcomed the soldiers home with open arms. Even though Madison appreciated the gesture, it also made her very uncomfortable. She hated the attention. All she wanted to do was say goodbye to her friends and head home.

New York was where Easy truly started to break up, and it hurt Madison. She had been with these men for so long and to be separated from them...she didn't know how she could handle it. They were her friends. No, they were her family. They were her family and they were going to be separated from each other. It was very unsettling to think about.

Webster and Luz were some of the first to leave, seeing as they resided in this part of the states. Madison hugged them both goodbye.

"You may be pretentious, but I am going to miss you," Madison told Webster. He chuckled.

"Thank you. I had a great time knowing you," he said, as he let her go. "If you ever need to enroll in higher up education, call me."

"I'll do that," she laughed. Then she held her arms out to Luz.

"Come here, big guy," she said, and George swooped down and hugged her. "You may annoy the hell out of me, but I'll miss you too. Thanks for being there for me and the others."

"Thanks, Maddie. You should come out and visit," he suggested. Madison laughed.

"I don't think so, but you can visit me," she told him. She loved the man, but she didn't want to meet his gigantic family as well. She was sure they were good people, but the thought of his nine siblings alone scared her.

It was too soon for Madison when it was her time to go home. She would be accompanied by Babe, Johnny, Spina, and Stein. Madison went around and said her goodbyes to the men. Tears started to well up in her eyes. Oh, she was going to miss them so much.

"We'll keep in touch, alright?" Liebgott told her. He wrote down his address and number on a scratch piece of paper. "This is my parents'. If you ever need to reach me, call this number, okay?"

Madison nodded, and she wrote down her own information. Madison found herself doing it for every single Easy member. Everyone was exchanging info, so that they would all be able to keep in touch. It made Madison feel much better that everyone wanted to stay in contact.

Madison's hug for Malarkey lasted just as long as Lieb's. The two friends didn't want to let go. It was as if they could sense the other's pain.

"Faye wants us to visit her," Malarkey told Madison.

"Ja, I know. I told her that I wanted to meet her, and that you did as well, but I said that we would visit her sometime after we returned. I'm not ready, and I know you're not either."

"I'm afraid if I meet her, I would fall in love with her," Don said. Madison smiled softly at him. She could feel a tear escaping.

"I know. Me too."

Madison was about to say more, but before she had the chance someone behind her had picked her up. She couldn't help but give a small yelp. The man laughed, and Madison recognized him as Bull.

"Put me down!" she laughed. Bull did as she requested. She hugged him too.

"Thank you for protecting me in Holland," Madison whispered. She felt his large hands around her.

"I would have done it no matter what. Take care, Maddie. Come visit sometime," he said.

"I have relatives that live in Alabama, so maybe when I visit them I could visit you two as well," Madison suggested.

"I'd like that," Bull ruffled her hair. Take care, kid."

"You too, Bull. Same goes for you, Eugene. I hope Vera will be able to come home soon," she told him, hugging him. Right after the war, Eugene had married Vera, with Madison and the cab driver as their witnesses. Sadly, Vera could not return to the states with Eugene. At least, not yet.

"Me too. Bye, Maddie. Hope to see you soon."

* * * * *

Madison was taking a train ride home. It was her, Babe, Johnny, Spina, and Stein as they all sat in one compartment together, and basically blabbered as they traveled to their destinations.

"I can't wait to see my wife again," Johnny moaned.

"I can't wait for my ma's cooking," Stein had said, and everyone murmured in agreement on that. Everyone couldn't wait to eat normal food again.

"I don't think I can ever eat meat again," Madison had said aloud. Most of the men gave her a look of shock.

"What's wrong with you?" Spina asked.

"Sorry, but I think the meat we've all had over there took a toll on me," Madison shrugged. The men thought about it.

"I mean, I don't eat pork, so I don't care," Stein eventually said. "Kosher, you know?"

"Hm, maybe I should convert," Madison teased him.

"You should!" Stein agreed.

"She can't! She has to be a Catholic so my ma can approve our marriage," Babe interjected. Madison turned red automatically as the others looked on in a quizzical manner.

"Married? Are you two engaged or something?" Johnny asked. Babe and Madison answered at the same time.

"Yes."

"No."

Madison narrowed her eyes at Babe, ever the comedian

"You wish," Madison said before turning to Johnny, her expression softening. "No, we are not engaged. He decided that if I wasn't with anyone by the time I was thirty, we would get married."

The three men snorted.

"Yeah, and I just won the lottery," Johnny rolled his eyes. "Like hell Klein here is going to marry this fat-head."

"Babe's gonna luck out. I would love for Maddie to live in South Philly," Spina winked at her. "A future Mrs. Heffron, where Babe's brothers will try to figure out why the hell she's with him."

Stein was laughing. "She'll find a guy better than Heffron. You Philly boys aren't worth a dime."

Babe and Spina stared at him in an offended manner. Madison busted out laughing.

"This is why you're my favorite," she giggled. "I'll give Babe credit, I never did give him a real answer, I said I would think about it," she winked at said man. Babe shot a smug look at Johnny.

"But I don't think you're my type. No offense."

Babe looked at her with a mock-offended look on his face.

"Oh, you kill me."

Madison grinned. "I know."

The train reached Philadelphia far too soon. Everyone said their goodbyes and Madison hugged the two men leaving tightly.

"Say hi to Bill for me, will you?" she requested.

"Don't worry, we will," Spina promised. "I know your fiance here will make sure of it."

"I fucking hate you," she directed this to both Spina and Babe. Both men laughed.

"You know we just like to mess with you," Babe said. "Goodbye, future wife!" he declared as he dashed off with Spina. Madison rolled her eyes.

"Kinder," Madison said. Soon they were pulling out of the station. Next stop would be Dayton.

Madison could not wait.

* * * * *

The trip home seemed to drag on. Madison grew anxious as they got closer and closer to their destination. Stein and Johnny notice.

"Relax, Klein. You're worrying too much," Johnny advised. "Stop shaking so much."

"Sorry, I'm just nervous. Really nervous," Madison explained, as she began to chew on her thumb nail.

"What's there to be nervous about?" Stein asked. Madison shrugged.

"It's just...it's just going to be different. You know that. I know that. They probably know that, but...everything is going to be so different," Madison had gotten quiet. Her friends were quiet too. The three of them knew that home would be different. Everyone knew, it's just that some thought about it while others didn't.

"Yeah, it's going to be different, but so what? We're home, we deserve it," Johnny said. Nothing else was said after that. The rest of the trip was rather quiet with not a whole lot of small talk.

It was around one o'clock in the afternoon when they pulled into the train station in Dayton. Madison took a deep breath. This was it. They were home. She was home.

Altogether, the three soldiers collected their bags and stepped off the train. None of them had been in Ohio for roughly two years. This was the first time that Johnny or Stein were in Dayton.

The train station was packed with everyone in different military uniforms or civilian clothing, trying to navigate their way around. Everyone just wanted to go home. Madison supposed she had an advantage, living in the city and all. She could get a local cab or simply walk. She wasn't sure what she was going to do yet.

"Well, I guess this is it," Stein said. "Klein, it was great being with you."

"It was great to be with you, too. I'm sure we can catch up soon, you don't live too far away," Madison nodded. She turned to Johnny. "Bye, Johnny. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you as well," he responded.

With one more final exchange, the three of them went their separate ways. For the first time in a long time, Madison felt completely alone.

She needed to get home. Stat.

* * * * *

Madison took a cab home.

Out of all the people, Madison's cab driver was Fred Summers. Fred fucking Summers. The last time she saw him was when they were both in the hospital.

"How long have you been back?" Madison couldn't believe her eyes. She had never imagined the guy to drive a taxicab, out of all things!

"March. I got hit pretty bad, but I'm doing better now," Fred said, as he looked in the mirror. "Did you just get back today?"

"We arrived in the states a couple days ago. It's tough getting home now," Madison explained. Fred nodded in agreement. Everyone was trying to get home.

"Now, how did you get roped up into this?" Madison asked, gesturing around her.

"I didn't want to work with our fathers," Fred simply answered. He stopped the car. "Now get the hell out. You're home."

Both Fred and Madison got out of the car. Fred handed her her bag. She thanked him and started to dig up some cash, but Fred stopped her.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You don't owe me anything," Fred said. "Consider this a welcome home present and a thanks for keeping me entertained in the hospital."

Madison wanted to give him the money, but she knew that he was going to keep declining it, and she really didn't feel like arguing with him today.

"Alright. Thank you for your service, Fred."

The two friends saluted each other. Fred got back into the cab and drove off. Madison turned to face her home.

Madison took one good look at her home. On the outside, it hadn't changed much. She wondered who was home, if anyone was home.

Taking a deep breath, Madison began walking towards her home. She took careful yet sturdy steps onto the path that led to the staircase. She kept her eyes on the front door as she climbed the staircase, then stopped on the welcome mat, trying to figure out what she would do. She raised her fist to knock on the door before bringing it back down to her side. This was her house, wasn't it? She didn't have to knock! She lived here!

Madison stood still in front of the door, her hand reaching for the door handle before returning to her side once more. She hadn't noticed that she was shaking. She sighed. She didn't know what to do.

It turned out that Madison didn't need to make a decision. She looked up as the front door opened and she stared into a beautiful shade of blue. She was staring into a mirror of both, eyes and face and everything else. (Except for the scar that intercepted part of Madison's eyebrow—a gift from a shrapnel hit in Holland.)

It was Morgan, her identical twin sister. Neither twin said anything as they took a moment to study each other.

Madison noticed that Morgan was wearing a brown skirt with an orange sweater. Her mousy brown hair was in curls, and it looked like she had makeup on. She looked beautiful.

Morgan noticed that Madison was wearing her green military uniform, head to toe. Her sister had her hair pulled back into a low bun. She had ribbons, her medals, on her breast. She looked worn and tired. She looked beautiful.

The twins had said nothing as they took each other in. Eventually, the silence was broken.

"MADDIE!" Morgan screamed. She threw herself into her sister's arms. Madison, who began laughing, was able to catch her, but they stumbled and fell right on the porch. The two sisters laughed together, thanking the Lord that they were together again.

"Morgan, hey! It's so good to see you!" Madison said in joy as she hugged her sister again. Morgan pulled away.

"'Good to see you'?" she repeated. "'Good to see you?' That's all you have to say?"

Madison gulped. "No?"

Morgan stared at her, but then laughed again. "I'm only messing with you. It's good to see you too."

"Morgan? What's going—"

Madison looked up to see their mother standing at the doorway. She jumped up immediately, standing at attention. Marlene had dropped the dish that she held in her hands. It shattered.

"Madison," Marlene breathed. "Oh, Madison. Oh, Maddie, oh—"

Madison hugged her mother tightly, which ceased the older woman's words. Marlene began to tear up. Madison could hear her.

"Don't cry, mama. I'm here now. I'm never going to leave again," she promised, as she hugged her mother tighter. Marlene returned the gesture.

"Mama? Morgie?" a young voice piped up from a few yards away. Every Klein woman turned to see Mikey Klein, now aged ten, standing at the sidewalk with his school books in one hand. He stared in awe as he looked at the eldest Klein daughter.

"Maddie?" he whispered. Madison, who was still in her mother's clutches, nodded.

"Ja, Mikey. I am home. Home for good."

Mikey dropped his school books and jetted towards Madison. He wasted no time jumping in her arms and hugged her tight. Madison held onto him as well.

"You have gotten so big," Madison said quietly. At this moment she had regretted ever going off to war. She had essentially missed four years of his youth. She missed growing up with her sister, their friends, and their family.

It was so good to be home.

* * * * *

After an emotional reunion, Marlene sent Madison upstairs so she could unpack. Morgan followed suit as they entered their room. The latter sat on her sister's bed while Madison emptied her bag on the mattress, sorting and putting things away. The two girls conversed.

"So, how long have you been back?" Morgan asked.

Madison thought about it. "We came back a few days ago, I'll say about a week. It took awhile due to discharge papers and finding a way home. Public transport is very crowded these days."

"Everyone is trying to get home," Morgan agreed. She eyed some brown fabric that laid on the bed. She picked it up and it immediately unfolded. It was an army issued skirt.

"I see they finally gave you a skirt. Why aren't you wearing it?" Morgan questioned, holding it out. Madison roughly grabbed it out of her sister's hands and started to fold it.

"They just gave it to me," Madison explained as she walked over to the dresser, putting it away. "Besides, I didn't feel like wearing it. I haven't worn one in almost four years."

"So?" Morgan wondered.

"So," Madison echoed, as she walked back over and continued to sort everything out. "It's just odd."

"So you won't ever wear a skirt or dress again?" Morgan asked. She wasn't asking these questions to be rude, she was just curious.

"I'm not saying that. All I'm saying is that it'll be a huge adjustment, is all," Madison explained.

"Wouldn't be the first one," Morgan said quietly, but Madison heard it. Her head snapped up to look at her sister, whose head was down. She had a solemn expression on her face and Madison could feel the sadness radiating off of her twin.

"Yeah, it wouldn't be the first one," Madison agreed quietly as well. She really didn't want to bring up a subject that was still so sore, but she wanted to know.

"When did you find out?"

Morgan knew exactly what her sister was referring to.

"It was about a month after he got hit. It was on a Thursday, and everyone was gone except mama. She found out all by herself, and papa found her in a wreck."

A heavy silence filled the room. Madison had paused in her chore. Morgan was looking down at her hands.

"We had a memorial service. Alfonso got a headstone for us—"

"Stop," Madison warned. She swallowed thickly. She knew that the headstone was only a tribute. In the graveyard it was in, she knew that there was no body in the plot. It was useless. Fucking useless.

"I'm sorry," Morgan said as she got up and wrapped her arms around her sister. Her head rested on Madison's shoulders. "I didn't mean to make you upset."

"It's not you. I'm fine, really," Madison assured her sister. It wasn't their fault that their big brother died. No one could have prevented that. "It's just...it's hard to believe that something like that could ever happen to him. I found out about two months after his death date."

Morgan frowned. "That's awful."

"Yeah, it is," Madison nodded. Not to mention that I had to deal with additional pain and loss with Easy. She gently nudged her sister off of her, who got the message and stepped away. "Cheer me up. What did I miss?"

Morgan smiled. She was happy to oblige.

"Oh, I have so much to tell you!"

Morgan kept her word. She told her sister practically everything that had happened while Madison was away. Sometimes, Madison interjected with laughter, gasps, or irritation. Sometimes, Madison would tell a story in return. Morgan had never asked her sister to tell her what happened in Europe. She had noticed a huge demeanor in her sister, and thought