UPDATED 05/05/2022

* * * * *

Soon after Madison's seventeenth birthday passed, the 506th was sent to Upottery, England. There were rumors going around that they were going to jump very soon, and Madison wasn't sure on how she felt about it. Every time she thought about it, she felt the pit of anxiety in her stomach. She decided that it was best to ignore everything.

Captain Sobel was no longer in Easy Company, something everyone secretly cheered about. Soon after his departure two new men rolled in. Their names were Thomas Meehan and Buck Compton. Meehan was taking over Sobel's position while Buck was going to assist in the platoon leading. Madison liked them well enough.

For about a week Easy, Company was in a semi-relaxed, semi-anxious state. They were waiting for their orders. They finally received them from Lieutenant Meehan. He told them that they were going to be involved in Operation Overlord, or D-Day as it is widely known. The lieutenant ordered his men to study the sand tables and maps until they could memorize it, and that's what Madison did. In fact, she studied it so much that she gave herself a horrendous headache.

"Good," Lieutenant Meehan had told her, when Don Malarkey explained that his friend's head was killing her and requested if he could walk Madison back to her tent. "That tells me that you're going to be ready."

You're going to be ready.

Did he really think that? Did he believe that Madison was prepared enough for the jump? God, she hoped that she was. She didn't want to let Meehan or anyone else down. If she did, that means she would fail at her job: to keep everyone safe. She voiced her fears to Roe and Spina, her bunkmates while they all slept in tents.

"Our job is to patch anyone up if they get hurt, not to keep them safe," Spina reminded her. "You're going to be fine."

As the big day rolled in, Madison wasn't so sure. As she was listening to Toye ranting about all the shit they had to carry, she couldn't help but think of everyone. She thought of her mother and her father. They had two of their children fighting in very two different war theaters.

Madison thought of her siblings: Matt, Morgan and Michael. She knew that Matt was already out somewhere in the pacific fighting, and from all the letters he had sent her and the articles she had been read, she knew that the fighting wasn't exactly a walk in the ballpark. There was no doubt that she too would soon be in her own hell.

She thought about all the times she and Morgan had together. They were never once separated or far apart from each other before. Not until Madison decided to sign up for the Nurse Corps but then went on to be a paratrooper instead. God, she felt so selfish for doing this to Morgan. What kind of twin would put their other half in pain like this? Madison prayed that Morgan was doing okay.

She then thought about her little brother Mikey with his big blue eyes and dark shaggy hair. He may have been a pain, but he was her little brother, damn it. Did he tell everyone at his school on how his big brother and one of his older sisters were going into the fight? Damn, she probably had a reputation back home.

Madison also thought about Louise, her best friend Louise. Madison felt bad about leaving her behind too.She felt bad about leaving her grandparents behind. God, she was the worst teenager on the planet. She had left everyone.

"Klein?" she heard someone yell. "Where's Klein at?"

"Maddie! Where are you?" she heard one of her friends yell out. Madison quickly snapped out of her trance and looked over to where the soldier with the mail was yelling out for her.

"I'm here!" Madison went over to the man as fast as she could (she couldn't help but internally thank Guarnere and Malarkey for watching most of her stuff) and stopped in front of him. "Madison E. Klein, sir."

"Here you go, ma'am," the soldier handed her package and walked off.

"What'd you get?" Liebgott hovered over her, along with Talbert, Shifty and Hoobler.

"Probably not much, but let's find out," Madison said. She quickly tore her package open and found a few letters from various people—her parents, grandparents, Matt, Michael, Louise and some other family members and friends.

"Looks like you're a real big deal back in Dayton," Shifty commented.

"Not really," Madison disagreed with her friend. She noticed a rather larger and darker envelope than the others. She grabbed it, feeling the density. It felt much heavier than the others. She quickly tore it open and couldn't help but feel shock as to what was in it.

They were photos.

They were photos of her family and friends. One photo was of Madison's immediate family, taken around November or December of 1941, right before the United States was dragged into the war. She couldn't believe it.

"You weren't lying when you said that you had a twin. Jesus, you look exactly alike," Liebgott said.

"They are identical," Talbert reminded Joe. "And I got to say, your sister's a doll."

Madison quickly whipped around and glared at Talbert. "You better not be getting any ideas, Tab."

Seeing how his friend was acting like a vicious chihuahua, Talbert held up his hands in a surrendering manner. Madison decided to drop it. Quickly, she leafed through the others. There was a photo of Louise with some of their friends, a photo of her paternal grandparents and one of Matt in his Marine uniform. While she thought that he looked handsome, seeing her brother in his uniform made Madison remember something.

"Oh! I forgot! Hey, Joe?" she quickly looked up to her older friend. "Do you think you could do me a favor and cut my hair for me? I'll pay you."

For a moment, Liebgott didn't respond. He seemed almost surprised that Madison asked him to do that. "I've only done men's hair, but I don't see why not. Why do you want it cut? You have beautiful hair." Liebgott had reminded Madison of her Oma in that moment, and she couldn't help but let out a slight huff of laughter.

"I want it cut so the Germans won't know that I'm a girl, not on the spot," she explained quickly when she noticed Liebgott giving her a look. She knew that he wouldn't cut all of her hair off so she could look like one of the boys. She didn't want it that short anyway. It wouldn't be a good look on her. "Just to...oh I don't know, up to my shoulders? My ears?"

"I can do that."

* * * * *

After Madison was done with her errand she quickly found her way back to Malarkey and Bill.

But not before George Luz intercepted her.

Madison was running back to where her things were before she heard a loud gleeful yell and then a hand smacked right into her face.

"What the hell?" Madison yelped as covered her face with her hands. She felt that something was on her face and she became extremely worried. Oh God, what the hell was it?

"Don't worry, it's just grease paint!" came the voice of George Luz. He watched as Madison moved her hands around her face, effectively smearing it all over her adorable features.

"What the fuck, George?" Madison cried out. "Did you really have to do that?"

George nodded, smiling. "Yup! Now come on, where you going? I need help with my bag."

Madison said nothing in response. She just stalked away from the annoying pest, irritated with him. She knew that George was following her but she gave him no acknowledgement.

"I'm back," Madison growled out as she got to Bill and Don. Don looked up from his things and started laughing.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"George is what happened," Madison answered. She walked around Bill before she sat down in between him and Don, facing them. Bill was eating ice cream, which she had no idea how he got.

"What the hell happened to you, kid?" Bill looked at her.

"It was Luz," Madison explained once more with her arms crossed. She was pouting. There was no doubt in her mind that she looked like a young child at the moment.

"Does anybody have any idea on how the hell this thing works?" Luz finally appeared, holding the bag that they had to strap on to their leg in one hand and the cord attached to it in the other.

"If I did, I wouldn't tell you," Madison glared at him. Luz gave a nervous chuckle.

"I'm sorry Maddie, I was just messing with you," George told her. Madison was about to respond but then Don piped up.

"Why the hell are they springing this on us now? It's just another extra eighty pounds."

"You can thank the British for it," Madison told him, her tone different with him. It was much

"Colonel Sink," a man appeared out of nowhere and handed Bill a paper which he accepted. The man handed one to George too before going to more soldiers to give them the same papers.

"What does it say?" Madison asked for any of the men to answer.

"Soldiers of the regiment," George began to impersonate a southern accent (most likely Sink's accent). "Tonight, is the night, of nights." After that, Luz began to read in his own voice. "Today as you read this, you're in road for the greatest adventure for which you have trained for over two years..."

Bill looked up from his own reading, giving a sour look. "So that's why they gave us ice cream."

Madison sighed, getting up from her spot. She quickly grabbed the grease paint that George had so foolishly left beside her and walked up towards him.

"Hey, George?"

"Hm?" Luz turned around to see what Madison wanted. Big mistake. As soon as he turned he felt a small hand lightly (but impactful) smack across his face. He looked back down at Madison, who was giving him a goofy grin.

"I think we can call it even."

* * * * *

"Easy Company! Listen up! Move it up, come on gentleman!"

Everyone who belonged in Easy Company gathered around Lieutenant Meehan, the company's CO. Madison made her way to the front so she could see the lieutenant. Even though he was standing on top of one of the jeeps, she still had a hard time seeing him. Damn her height and bad eyesight.

"The channel coast is soaked in with rain and fog," Meehan began, making hand gestures. "High winds on the drop zones. No jump tonight. We're on a twenty-four hour stand down."

"Son of a bitch," Madison heard Bill swear as the men around them started groaning and complaining.

"No kidding," Madison couldn't help but find herself agreeing. "Luz smacked me in the face with his fingers for nothing," she gestured to her grease streaked face. "We got ready...for nothing." Fuck that.

"I know, girly," Bill sighed, placing one of his large hands on her small shoulders. "Come on; let's go see what we're up for now."

* * * * *

Madison found herself in between Roe and Smokey. Even before the cancellation, Roe had been a wreck. He was an engaged man who had planned his wedding day to be the sixth, but obviously, it had to be canceled. The problem was that Roe and his fiancée Vera had no clue that he was going to be shipped out this soon, and Roe had no way of telling Vera. The only person who knew about Vera was Madison herself.

"Eugene, I'm sure she'll understand," Madison whispered to her friend. They were currently (not) watching a movie with the rest of the 506th.

"I'm breaking her heart," Roe mumbled sadly. "She's going to think I'm leaving her at the altar."

"No she won't, Eugene. Listen—" Madison started but someone in front of her turned around and shushed her loudly.

"Can you shut up?" the man asked her.

"How about you fuck off?" Madison hissed at him. "Turn around and mind your own business, danke."

The soldier stared at her with wide eyes, not expecting her to respond so harshly. A few men around her looked at her in surprise but as soon as she gave them all looks they all turned away.

"Anyway, as I was saying," Madison hoped her voice was quiet enough. "I'm sure Vera will understand. As soon as she finds out why, she'll be okay. I promise."

After what felt like an eternity, Madison decided that she needed to take a walk. The movie screen was burning her eyes and she wasn't sure how much longer she could stand the smell of the smoke. So, she told Roe and Smokey that she was taking a stretch outside and that they didn't need to worry about her.

Madison walked around camp, not sure where she was really heading too. She looked around, noticing how empty it was out in the open. It was eerie.

She stopped when she saw a figure in the distance. She couldn't tell who it was and was afraid to go over to them. What if they attacked her or something? That wouldn't be good. Her thoughts of paranoia stopped as she swore she could hear sniffling coming from them.

"Um, hello? Sir?" Madison called out. "Are you alright?"

The person's head snapped up and it was clear to Madison that they had heard her. The man stood frozen in the dark for a moment as if they were a deer caught in the lights before they walked towards her. As they came closer, Madison's fear subsided. It was Bill that she saw and he looked distressed; upset about something. Madison could tell by the raw look in his eyes. I wonder what happened.

"Bill? Are you alright? What's wrong?" Madison asked, concerned. Bill didn't answer her. Instead he grabbed her by the arm and took her inside the nearest tent.

"Don't jump," Bill told his young friend.

Madison stared at him. "What?"

"I said, 'don't jump.' You can't do the jump."

"And why can't I do the jump?"

"There's no way that we're the same age, girly. I know you're not twenty."

Madison froze, staring at him. Fuck, did he know? Just play it cool.

"Just because I'm small doesn't mean—"

"Stop with the bullshit, Madison. I know for a fact that you're not twenty. You may be able to fool everyone else, but you can't fool old Gonorrhea."

Madison could only stare at him. "I'm—"

"You can be convincing when you want to, I'll give you that. You could probably let the men stare at your tits and they wouldn't care," Madison couldn't help but turn red. What was up with the men and her...chest size? She couldn't help it that she was large chested, okay? "But you slip sometimes."

"What do you mean by 'you slip sometimes'?" Madison questioned. She did not like where this conversation was going.

"You hesitate when you tell people what age you are. Then sometimes when you drink, you tell a different tune. I may not be smart, but I'm not dumb either. Did you even finish high school?"

Madison couldn't help but look down. They both knew the answer. "No," she answered quietly. "I dropped out when I was fifteen."

"When exactly were you born, Klein?" Bill asked her, using his authoritative voice. Who did he think he was, her father?

"Well, I was born on May 17th," Madison began, hesitating on the second half of her answer. "...in 1927..."

Madison watched as the information sunk into Bill's brain. He screwed his eyes shut and started cursing under his breath. "God damn it, Madison...you've been with us since you were fifteen! What the hell were you thinking?! Do you have any idea on what could and still can happen to you? Why are you so dumb?"

That angered Madison. Especially since he called her dumb. How dare he?

"I was thinking about what I need to do! I was thinking about my brother! About my friends! And no matter what you tell me, I'm still going to make that jump! I've come too far to back out now!"

Without giving her friend a chance to say anything else, Madison stomped out of the tent that the two were in, not bothering to look back. She could do this. She knew she could. It didn't matter what Bill or anyone else said. She was going to jump, and no one was going to stop her.

* * * * *

The next day, in the evening of June 5th, was the day that the regiment would go up in the air and be dropped into France. Everyone got packed up and put their gear on once more before they went to the planes that they were assigned to. Madison hasn't seen Bill since their small incident, and Madison was starting to feel extremely guilty about it. Lieutenant Winters made Madison and Roe pass out the air sickness medicine. After they was done, Winters began to talk.

"Second platoon, listen up," Winters had quickly grabbed their attention. "Good luck. God bless you. I'll see you in the assembly area."

One by one, Winters grabbed each man by the hand, lifting them up. Madison watched as her friends were climbing aboard and then all too soon, Lieutenant Winters helped her up. Winters squeezed her hand briskly. Madison gave him a pursed lipped smile and a small nod, with Winters returning a small nod back, before she walked to the plane she was to get in. The men had to help her get up in the aircraft, simultaneously pushing and pulling her into it. As soon as she could stand up steadily in the aisle, she briefly looked at her comrades before her. She wanted to remember all of their faces. They had been waiting for two years to get into combat and this was it. She didn't know how many would survive this upcoming battle and who wouldn't. She made a mental note to add everyone into her prayer list and to pray for them as soon as they were up in the air.

Madison found a spot next to Cobb, unfortunately. She honestly tried to get along with Cobb, but he didn't like her and he was just one of those people that naturally pissed her off. She would have to deal with it for now. They were all in the same boat...or plane, Madison thought. Technicalities. Matt would be the one on the boat.

Madison looked around her. Skip, Alex, and the two Dons sat across from her. She could see Liebgott near the front, as well as Roe. Madison couldn't help but feel saddened that her fellow medic wasn't sitting near her. It was as if Roe could keep her calm. She wondered how he was feeling right now, especially since there was no doubt that he was thinking about his sweet Vera. The poor man.

She wondered how everyone else felt too. Anxious? Nervous? Scared? Excited, maybe? Then she thought about her family. The last thing Madison heard from Matt was that he was resting somewhere in the pacific, the lucky bastard, but she knew that he deserved it after fighting for a few and long torturous months. Her mother and father must be worried sick and she wondered if Morgan was able to know what Madison was currently feeling. It always seemed like the twins could always know what the other was feeling or thinking as they grew up together, but would she know now? And what about Mikey? How did he feel, as an eight year old? What about her grandparents? What about her best friend Louise? The kind old couple that quartered her and Smokey in England? What about—

Madison was jerked out of her thoughts when she felt the plane jolt and started moving. She didn't even hear the planes starting because she was so wrapped up in her thoughts.

At that moment, Madison Elizabeth Klein, aged 17, knew how she felt: frightened.

It was also then where she realized that she had not taken her air sickness pills.