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FanFic
The Richard Dawson Experience
Last UpDated: 15 December 2001.
Site Copyright © 2000-2001. Lisa Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Story Copyright © 2001. Rhonda "StuntChick36" Inc., All Rights Reserved.
PRISON CELLS TO WEDDING BELLS
Through the darkness of morning and a patchy blanket of fog, Peter Newkirk could see the lights of his beloved homeland. A smile wrinkles his mouth as his heart beats just a little faster with anticipation. Only a few more hours and he will be home.
"So here you are," comes a voice from behind him. He turns around and sees Freddie leaning in the doorway. "Did you get sick again?"
He laughs. "No, love." He points behind him and turns around. "I was just lookin' at the coast." Freddie slowly saunters over and stands next to him at the rail. She, too, is anxiously awaiting to disembark.
"Wow. I didn't think you could see the shore this early," she says. "How far away do you think we are?"
"I figure maybe about 5 miles. Maybe more." His eyes sparkle like diamonds as they catch the distant moonlight, drawing Freddie closer to him. She stretches her arm around his waist.
"What are you thinking about, darling?" she asks softly as she slips her other arm around him. He turns his face to her and smiles.
"A lot of things. But mostly about you." Newkirk pulls Freddie closer to him with one arm. "I'm very much in love with you."
Freddie grins and says, "It's a mutual feeling." Her smiling face draws his lips to hers, stoking the flames of deep love. They hold each other close in the pale gray moonlight, turning the cold dampness into a dry warmth.
"I can't wait 'til you meet my parents," he says with a dopey smile. "They'll love ya."
"I'm sure I'll love them, too." Slowly the smile leaves Freddie's face. "I wonder if my father will be home."
"Is he still in Paris?"
"I'm not sure. I haven't received a wire from him in almost 6 months. I hope he's alright."
Already Newkirk has an idea. "Don't worry about a thing, love. As soon as we dock, we'll head to your flat. If he's not there, I'll get a hold of my squadron commander. If there's anyone in Britain who can find a missing person, it's Captain Hardcastle."
"Thanks, darling. That would mean a lot to me," Freddie says with a hug.
"Hey, it's the least I can do. I mean, after all, he is gonna be m' father-in-law." Newkirk's fingers wander up to Freddie's hair, which is pulled back into a ponytail. He removes the small band and tosses it overboard, letting his fingers comb out her blond hair as it falls about her shoulders. All is silent as they both stare into each other's eyes.
"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Newkirk says softly. "Those calmin' blue eyes, those invitin' lips that carry candy-sweet kisses, and a smile that could light up the whole ruddy universe if the sun ever stopped shinin'. Helen's face may have launched a thousand ships, but your beauty could bring them home safely, and make the enemy concede."
Freddie stands with her arms around Newkirk as her heart is massaged by his tender, truthful words.
"Peter," she says softly, "you have always said the most eloquent things to me. I could listen to you speak to me for hours or even days on end." Her fingers touch his face. "I can't wait to spend every day and every night with you. That is... if you still want me to."
"God, yes," he replies as he embraces her. "I want you for all eternity. In life, in death, forever and beyond." Freddie buries her face in his neck, smelling the soap on his freshly washed skin. "I will always be yours."
"Oh, my heart sings with happiness when you say that," Freddie says breathlessly as she strokes his hair. Newkirk backs away from her embrace and takes her face gently in his hands.
"Then let me make your heart scream." With those words, he kisses her deeply and passionately.
When the lovers separate for a breath of air, they look towards land. The lights seem brighter now. Subtle outlines of buildings appear through the mist as the morning sun prepares itself to greet yet another day.
"We're gettin' closer now, love," Newkirk says. "Only a little while longer."
"Yeah," says Freddie. Both of them stand quietly and look as the English shores come closer and closer. "As soon as we come into port, we have to get Klink and Schultz to an Underground safehouse."
"Oh, blimey," he says, "I completely forgot about them."
"Here," she says, holding out her hand, "let's go check on them." Newkirk grins and takes her hand and follows her into the ship. They proceed below deck and venture down a narrow corridor to the staff room where Klink and Schultz have been bunking since their journey began. Freddie is the first one into the room and quietly goes over to Schultz.
"Schultzie. Come on, teddy bear. Time to wake up." She gently shakes him until he stirs.
Schultz's eyes are slow to open. "What.... Oh, guten Morgen, fraulein. Hello, Newkirk."
"Mornin', Schultz. We're almost to shore. Better get up," says Newkirk. He then goes over to Klink and wakes him. "Rise 'n shine, Willy!"
"What's going on?" asks Klink as he rubs his eyes.
"We're approaching the docks," explains Freddie. "As soon as the gangplank's out, it's off to the safehouse with you."
"So soon?" says Klink, surprised. He puts in his monocle and gets up. Both he and Schultz gather their belongings and prepare for the final important part of their journey.
About 45 minutes later, the vessel docks at Dover, England. Freddie, Newkirk, Schultz, and Klink all exit the ship and proceed to the dock office where they will contact the local Underground unit to pick them up. They're almost out of the woods.
One of the dock workers offers the group some coffee. Sitting nervously and sipping his coffee, Klink asks, "What will become of us, fraulein? Will we be turned over to the authorities?"
"No. You will stay with an Underground unit until the war is officially over," Freddie explains. "Then you will be allowed to return to Germany. Both you and Schultz are only in England as a precautionary measure, not as punishment."
"You mean," says Schultz, "I will be able to return to my wife?"
"Of course," Freddie reassures. "You will be able to send her a message through the Underground. If for some reason she was re-located, they'd know about it and could help you find her."
The door to the office opens and three men walk in. They are all dressed in normal civilian working attire.
"You are with 'Papa Bear'?" asks one of the men.
"Yes," answers Newkirk. The three men smile.
"Welcome home," says another man. "And welcome to freedom, gentlemen." The men show the group out to a waiting delivery truck. All four of them pile in the back and they're on their way to the safehouse located 80 kilometers away in Chatham.
Two hours later, Klink and Schultz have reached their temporary new home. It's a peaceful looking family farm that serves as a command outpost for Underground agents who are ready to transfer into Germany.
After the two former Nazis are left in the Underground's charge, Freddie and Newkirk climb back into the truck and press on to London. Now the butterflies of anticipation in Freddie's stomach have turned into bats.
"I've never been this nervous and scared in all my life," Freddie says.
"Why's that, love?" asks Newkirk.
"I'm worried that my father won't be there." Newkirk pulls her into his chest and hugs her.
"He'll be there, darlin'. He'll be there," he soothes. He runs his hands through her hair in an attempt to calm her worried mind.
"How do you know that?" she asks. "How can you be so sure?"
He kisses her head gently and says, "I've never known of a father who wasn't there for his child. That's why." Holding onto one another, they both fall asleep.
Newkirk and Freddie are suddenly awakened by the three agents. They both stretch and look out of the back of the truck to see where they are.
A trucking yard in London. They made it.
A big smile spreads across Newkirk's face as he hops out of the truckbed, helping Freddie down. "Good ol' London," he says happily. "She may be bruised 'n battered on the outside, but she's still standin!" He hugs Freddie, spinning her around in jubilation. "We're home!" After he sets her down again, he looks at her and says, "Let's find your father." Taking her hand in his, they race from the yard and start down a street towards the west end of town.
As they ran for what seemed like an eternity, neither one of them saw the piles of rubble that were once buildings lining the streets. Neither of them saw the people rummaging through the debris trying to find their belongings, or their lost family members. As much as both Newkirk and Freddie would have liked to have stopped and helped them, they only had one thing on their minds: finding her father.
Once the pair turn onto Munson St., SW, Freddie lets go of Newkirk and runs urgently down the lane. Newkirk has no choice but to follow. Freddie slows down and runs up the steps of a red brick apartment building, banging on the door.
"Papa! Papa, open the door! Please!" she begs. She quits banging when she hears the sound of the deadbolt being released and the chain being unlocked. The door slowly opens and peeking out from around the corner of the door was Freddie's father. He's a tall, older man, about 50 years old or so, but he looks physically healthy. His hair is graying at the temples but has remained dark brown on top; his Prussian-styled moustache has changed color, too.
"Fredricha? Is that you?" asks the man softly in a heavy German accent.
"Yes, Papa," she says as tears of happiness fill her eyes. "It's me." Herr Raffschneider steps outside and they embrace each other. The older man's face is streaming with tears of joy.
"My little girl, mein liebe," he says as he takes her face in his hands. His thumbs gently wipe her eyes. "Everything is alright now. The war is over!"
"I know, Papa," she says as she hugs him again. "Isn't that wonderful?" As Herr Raffschneider hugs his daughter, he notices Newkirk standing close by.
"Is this a friend of yours, liebchen?" he asks. Freddie turns around and smiles as she takes Newkirk's hand and pulls him over.
"Yes. He's my best friend. Papa, this is Corporal Peter Newkirk. He is a member of the Underground. Peter, this is my father, Albert von Raffschneider." Newkirk snaps to attention.
"I'm honored, sir," he says.
Herr Raffschneider smiles and extends his hand. "No, my young friend. I'm honored. You helped take care of my Fredricha when she was captured. And I will be forever grateful."
Freddie is surprised that her father knew of her capture. "Papa, how did you know that I-"
"Uncle Karl sent a wire to me while I was in Paris. He said that the Dortmand refinery was going to be destroyed by 'Papa Bear,'" says Herr Raffschneider. "He added a side note telling me that 'Papa Bear' had picked you up and that I should not worry." He laughs and continues. "Naturally I still worried, but at least I knew where you were!"
As the three of them laugh, Newkirk says, "She was in good hands, sir. Colonel Hogan saw to it that she was treated like a lady, and with a lot of respect."
Freddie's father shows them into the house as he says, "Like I said, I'm just happy that she fell into Allied hands."
Herr Raffschneider puts on a pot of water for coffee, then returns to the parlor with Freddie and Newkirk. She stands by the mantle and looks at some photographs of her mother and grandparents. The interior of the house is showing the signs of war. The paint is peeling, a couple of the windows are broken, the drapes are torn. A few pieces of shrapnel broke a window and embedded themselves into the wall. The place was even ransacked by the SA (" the Brownshirts") while Herr Raffschneider was gone on assignment. But Freddie still recognizes the place as 'home.'
Once the coffee has been served, the conversation continues.
"So," says Herr Raffschneider, "have you seen your family yet, Peter?"
"No sir, not yet," he says. "When Freddie and I made it to London, I promised her that we'd find you first. She was so worried that you might not be here."
Freddie's father smiles. "That's my little one. Always more worried about her papa than herself. She got that from her mother." Freddie smiles and snickers as he continues. "I wish she could have inherited more from her."
"I have, Papa," she says. "I inherited her keen eye for handsome men." Newkirk grins and looks at his feet. Freddie sets her coffee down on the tray. She wants to tell her father that she wants to marry Newkirk, but doesn't want to hurt him or upset him. "Papa, I have something to tell you."
"What is that?" her father asks. Just as Freddie's about to speak, Newkirk stops her.
"No. Wait. Let me." He sets down his cup on the tray and stands up in front of Herr Raffschneider. He removes his hat and says, "Sir, the moment Fredricha set foot in our prison camp, she took my heart. I had never seen such a beautiful woman, or ever known a more charmin' one. I've been in love before, but I've never been more willin' to die for it." He watches for any sign of emotion on Herr Raffschneider's face. "What I'm sayin', sir, is that... well... I've asked Fredricha to be my wife, and she's accepted. And to prove that I'm a gentleman, I would like to ask you for your permission for her hand in marriage."
Her father sets down his coffee and slowly rises to his feet. Newkirk is expecting to taste Herr Raffschneider's knuckles, but doesn't look away.
"Is what he says the truth, liebchen?" Herr Raffschneider asks.
"Yes, Papa," Freddie answers. "Every word. He even made my engagement ring himself."
Her father asks her slowly without looking away from Newkirk, "Do you love him?"
"Oh, yes. More than anything else in the whole world."
"Will you give him a family?"
"Yes." Herr Raffschneider takes one small step towards Newkirk and sets his hand on his shoulder.
"I have always wanted a son," her father says, smiling and extending his hand to him. "And I've always wanted grandchildren." Newkirk smiles and takes Herr Raffschneider's hand. "It was my sincerest wish that my little one would marry a man of character, and of honor. And she's seems to have found that man. Peter, you may marry my daughter."
Newkirk can't believe that he accepted. He looks at Freddie, who stands up and hugs her father.
"Danke, Papa," she says. Then she turns to Newkirk and hugs him, too.
"Thank you, Herr Raffschneider," Newkirk says as he embraces Freddie. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me, Peter," says Herr Raffschneider with a huge smile, "give your thanks to God. It was He who brought you two together. Now the both of you hurry along and tell his family. Mach schnell!"
"Yes, sir!" says Newkirk. He takes Freddie by the hand and leads her out the door and down the street.
As they walk along, hand in hand, Newkirk steals a kiss from Freddie every few yards or so. She can tell by his demeanor that he's relieved.
"I'm happy that your father agreed to let us marry," he says. "I was so afraid that he was gonna kill me."
"Oh, no. Not my father," she reassures him. "Like he said, he wanted me to, eventually, marry a man with character." Freddie stops walking, smiles, and tugs on Newkirk's hand. "And believe me, I found a character." Newkirk steps closer to her and wraps his hands around her waist as she folds her arms around his neck. "You are the most amazing man I have ever met, Peter. Brave, strong, and handsome."
"I like that last one," Newkirk says with a big grin. "That fits me to a tee."
Freddie smiles and says, "And modest, too." They laugh briefly, leaning forward so they're both resting on each other's foreheads.
"Fredricha, my love, would you think I would be too pushy if I told you to kiss me right now? Right here in the middle of the street?"
"Of course I would, Peter, darling. But I like it when you're pushy." Newkirk's hands gently touch Freddie's jaw as they lean in and kiss each other. Delicately, he sets his lips onto hers, showing her that his love for her is genuine and real. Newkirk slowly backs away from her, but Freddie reaches forward for another kiss. This time the kiss is passionately deep, almost orgasmic. The interior of his mouth felt like a warm velvet pocket, so smooth and so incredibly comfortable. Their tongues wrestled gently with each other, neither one wanting to pin the other too quickly. This is the first time they can express their feelings openly without being under constant watch.
The kiss ends and both the lovers breath deeply.
"I love it when you kiss me like that," says Freddie.
"I just love kissin' you," Newkirk confesses with a small smile. "Come on, I want you to meet my father."
"What about your mother?" asks Freddie. "Shouldn't she know, too?" Still holding her hand, Newkirk thinks for a moment.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right. Come on."
After a short walk, Newkirk leads Freddie to a small church with a cemetery in the side yard. The church miraculously escaped the Nazi bombings.
"Why are we here, love?" asks Freddie. Newkirk looks at her briefly with an empty gaze, then leads her over to a small plot with two identical headstones. Newkirk slowly kneels down next to one of them and kisses it.
"Hello, Mum. I'm back from the war." A tight knot forms in his throat and his eyes begin filling with tears.
Freddie felt so hollow all of the sudden, and a chill ran up and down her spine. His mother has passed on, too? Completely dumbfounded, she kneels next to him and takes his hand. By now, he's softly crying.
"Oh, my God," she says gently, "Peter, why didn't you ever tell me?"
He looks at her sadly, wipes his eyes and says, "Because it hurt too much to talk about."
She tries to console him by rubbing her hand over his shoulders. "Oh, Peter. I... I'm... I feel like a fool."
"Why?"
"I didn't... I didn't mean to cause you pain. I'm so, so sorry."
He smiles calmly and wipes away his tears. "You didn't hurt me, darlin'. Please don't feel bad." Newkirk looks at his mother's stone again. "Well, Mum. You were right. I wasn't gonna find love if I spent m'whole life lookin' for it." He looks at Freddie and squeezes her hand gently. "Love found me." Freddie tries her best to smile, but her mouth stays fixed in a tight straight line. Newkirk leans forward and kisses his mother's headstone once more and rises to his feet. "I'm off now to find Dad and Mavis. I'll give'em each a kiss for ya." He tugs at Freddie's shoulder. "Come on, love." Still feeling empty and dazed, she gets up and walks away with him.
As they leave the graveyard, Newkirk notices that Freddie is quiet and still looking like she's in shock. He puts an arm around her shoulder and walks with her close to him.
"Are you alright, love?" he asks.
"I don't know," she says honestly. "I guess I'm... just surprised."
"I understand. I guess maybe I should have told you, but it-"
"You don't have to explain, Peter. I know that it's a very painful and unpleasent thing to talk about. It's hard losing your mother."
"I guess you and I both know that, huh?" he asks with a slight smile.
"Yeah," she answers.
Newkirk kisses the top of Freddie's head. "Come on, let's find me father."
It didn't take long before the pair reaches the east end of Tottington Lane. Freddie and Newkirk wind their way through the piles of rubble and twisted metal left over from the blitzkrieg. She can see on his face that destruction around them hurts him. Freddie is sick to think that the country from which she is from was responsible for such barbarism. She and her father fled Germany before the war, but she saw the nightly bomb raids and heard the air raid sirens. She's half-English, even if it's in her own mind. She loves England just as much as anyone who has lived there their whole lives.
"It's not much further," Newkirk says. "Just the other side of the-" He comes to a dead halt, staring at the road in front of them.
"What's wrong?" Freddie turns to look where he's looking. "Um Himmel's willen (Good God)."
The section of Tottington Lane where Newkirk lives has all been destroyed.
"I hope... my dad and sister... aren't in that...," he says, walking towards the new rockpile. Freddie keeps up with him and follows him into the area.
As they get closer, they're stopped by a policeman. "I'm sorry, but this area's off limits."
"But I've gotta find my family!" shouts Newkirk. "I just got back from prison camp and I gotta find them!"
"Where are they!" demands Freddie, getting a little angry.
"Calm down now. All the residents from this area were evacuated a week ago and are in a shelter."
"Which shelter? Where is it?" asks Freddie.
"The train station. No one was listed as missing or killed, so chances are you'll find who you're looking for." Newkirk looks somewhat relieved now.
"Right. Thank you."
At the train station, Newkirk and Freddie talk to a Royal Army officer in charge of the shelter. They're directed to go to queue 40, on the lower level. Both of them scramble downstairs.
By now, they're running along the long corridor beside the tracks. Newkirk spots his father and sister before they see him.
"Dad!" he shouts. "Mavis!" Mr. Newkirk and his daughter turn to see who's calling them. His father puts on his glasses to see who it is.
"It's Peter!" he says. Newkirk runs to his father and sister and hugs them both. "My son, my brave boy. Are you alright? Were you treated well?" Both his father and sister check him over to make sure he's not hurt.
"Yeah, Dad. I'm fine. Got back to England early this mornin'. Hey, there's someone I want ya both to meet." He extends a hand out to Freddie and pulls her into the group. "Freddie, this is my father, Edward Newkirk, and my sister, Mavis. This is Fredricha von Raffschneider... my fiancée." Just as the three are about to exchange greetings, his father's face lights up with glee.
"Your fiancée? And where did you two meet?"
"Prison," he says honestly. "She was shot down near our prison camp, so she was brought there." Newkirk puts an arm around her and looks her in the eyes. "And my life hasn't been the same since."
"Well," says Mavis, who is all smiles, "I'm very glad to know you, Fredricha. And welcome to our family."
"Thank you," she says.
"Indeed," says Mr. Newkirk as he takes Freddie's hand. "You're gettin' a very good man."
"Yes sir," says Freddie with a knowing smile. "I'm getting the best. My father thinks so as well."
Mr. Newkirk asks his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, "You mean he asked your father for permission?"
"Of course," Newkirk answers. "I just wasn't gonna marry his only daughter without him knowin' it."
The proud father pats his son on the back. "Good lad."
"If you like," says Freddie, "we can go back to the house and I can introduce you to him. I desperately want to go home and take a long bath and change into some civilian clothes." The elder Newkirk smiles, grabs his coat, and walks out of the shelter with his daughter to meet Freddie's father.
At Herr Raffschneider's residence, the atmosphere is much like a party; plenty of laughter, wine, and stories. Both Newkirk and Freddie are glad to see that their fathers are getting along well.
In the midst of the fun, Freddie excuses herself and goes upstairs to take a bath. Newkirk, who doesn't like being alone for more than two minutes at the most, follows her upstairs.
"Darlin'," he says, "do you need any help?"
"Help? With what?"
Immediately, he starts to blush. "Oh, I don't know. Washin' your back maybe. Or maybe washin' your hair." Freddie gently laughs as she slides her hands up his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"As much as I'd love that, I think I want some 'alone time.' Ok?"
Newkirk sighs and holds her close. His mouth smiles lazily. "Alright. If you must."
"Besides," she says, "I need to shave."
His eye open wide. "I beg your pardon?"
"My legs, you fruitcake."
"Oh," he says, laughing at his own ignorance. Freddie runs her fingers through his wavy hair.
She pulls his face closer to hers and says quietly, "I want them to be nice and silky smooth for you." His eyes close and he moans in that deep register that sends that kind of sensual vibration through her body.
"Don't torture me like this," he pleads. She kisses him softly on the mouth and lets him go.
"Go on, now. Lemme wash up."
"Yes, ma'am." He watches her disappear into the bathroom, winking at him as she closes the door. Newkirk leans back against the wall and smiles.
Back downstairs, Mr. Newkirk and Herr Raffschneider are still trading stories about the war and their children.
"I understand my son asked for your permission to marry Fredricha," says Mr. Newkirk.
"Yes, he did," says Freddie's father. "Naturally, I was surprised. But he asked me from the heart. I could see how much he cares for my daughter. I couldn't say no." He notices the younger Newkirk coming down the stairs. "Where is my Dricha, Peter?"
"In the bath, sir."
"Alone?" he asks surprisingly. Newkirk's at a loss for words.
"Yes sir. Of course."
Herr Raffschneider laughs. "Don't worry, son. I wasn't trying to scare you. I just figured that she would have invited you in, that's all."
He still feels on the spot. "Uh, well... I did offer, but she said she wanted to be alone."
"Ah, I see. Come and sit down. I was just telling your father how much I like you."
Newkirk smiles. "Thank you, sir."
"Herr Raffschneider thinks you're the most honorable young man he's ever met," says Mr. Newkirk.
"Ja. I was amazed by your bravery when you asked for my permission to marry my daughter. I admired that, Peter."
"Well," says Newkirk, scratching his head, "I only thought it proper if I asked first. And Freddie wanted you to know, too." He smiles and says, "I'd do anything to make her happy."
Her father sips his wine, then looks Newkirk in the eyes and says, "She loves you, Peter. I could see it in her eyes, just the by the way she looks at you. I've never seen her look that happy before. You've done something wonderful for her. You've freed her spirit. You've provided a comfortable place for her heart to open up. Somehow you were able to penetrate those walls that surrounded her heart and you've released her. When she was 13, her mother was murdered. And from then on, she no longer smiled, she was no longer a happy little girl. She grew up in one day, 13 to 22. Boom! In one day. Mein liebe became a, how do you say it in English, a zombie. She turned into a hardened soldier, and saw little use for love. She once told me, 'Papa, love does not exist.' I cried when she said that because I knew it wasn't true. Love does exist. And you, Peter, are the personification of that truth."
"Herr Raffschneider-," Newkirk begins.
"Call me 'Papa.'"
Newkirk smiles. "Papa, Freddie has made me so happy. There's nothin' in the whole world that I wouldn't do for her. She's not only saved my life on a number of occasions, but she's saved the lives of my comrades, too. And I wanna desperately try to make it all up to her."
Her father slowly stands. "Just be there for her. Be strong when she is weak, be the shoulder she can weep on. And above all... love her until your dying day."
He says very seriously, "I will." Herr Raffschneider gently pats Newkirk's cheek and smiles.
"Good." Then he turns to Mr. Newkirk and Mavis and says, "Come. Let me show you both upstairs. Now that we are practically family, I wish to open my home to you. You needn't stay underground anymore."
Mavis and Mr. Newkirk rise and follow Herr Raffschneider towards the stairs. "That's very thoughtful of you, Herr Raffschnei-"
"Please, call me Albert." The trio continues to talk as they head upstairs while Newkirk sits on the couch. Feeling restless, he gets up and walks over to the fireplace. He picks up an old photograph and studies it carefully.
"That photo was taken in Munich in 1930," says Freddie. Startled, Newkirk turns around quickly and sees her standing there in a freshly pressed uniform, complete with a necktie.
"I thought you wanted to change into civilian clothes," he says. "I was kind of hopin' to see your legs for a change."
Freddie smiles and slowly walks over to him. "Maybe you'll see them later. The more I thought about it, I realized that I haven't been officially discharged. And I'm not sure who will show up at the door unannounced." He hands her the photograph. "Oh, yeah. Those where the happy times."
Newkirk grins and plays with a few strands of Freddie's wet hair. "Your mother was a beautiful woman, love. I see a lot of her in you."
She smiles. "You think so? I always thought I looked like my father."
"No," he says, "his moustache is heavier than yours." Both of them break into laughter. Freddie reaches up and plays with Newkirk's bangs.
"Why don't you go take a bath. I'm sure Papa won't mind if you borrow some of his clothes."
"Alright," he answers with a smile. She takes his hand and leads him upstairs.
Freddie leaves Newkirk outside the bathroom, just for a moment while she gets some of her father's clothes.
"Here you go," she says, handing him a couple of clothes hangers with slacks and a shirt. "Once you've stripped down, toss your uniform out in the hall. I'll wash it for you."
He smiles and kisses her. "Thanks."
Freddie grins. "Well, I gotta get in practice." She turns to leave, but he stops her.
"Hold on, you. I don't wanna be alone."
"Peter, I don't think-"
"Shhhhh... I don't think your father would mind."
"What makes you so sure?"
"He asked me why I wasn't bathin' with you." Newkirk takes her hand and slowly pulls her into the bathroom, shutting the door behind them. He hangs the clothes on the back of the door, then turns and faces Freddie. "You don't mind bein' in here, do ya?"
"No," she says. "I just don't know how my father would react if he found us."
"Relax, darlin'. I'm sure he's fine with it."
Suddenly, there's a knock at the door.
"Dricha?" It's Freddie's father.
"Yes, Papa. What is it?"
"Where's Peter?"
Newkirk answers openly. "I'm in here, sir." Freddie's body goes numb.
Herr Raffschneider laughs. "Oh, getting some expert help washing your back, huh?"
"Yes sir."
"Fine, fine," he says. "Just behave in there, liebchen."
"Ja, Papa."
After a few moments of silence, Newkirk smiles and says, "See. I told you."
She's stunned. "I don't believe it." He takes one step closer to her.
"Come on," he says softly. "Strip me down." Freddie's eyes can't leave Newkirk's as he raises his arms above his head, making it easy for her to pull his grey sweater up over his head. Freddie backs away from him and turns on the water, drawing a nice hot bath for her lover. Again he lifts his arms as she pulls his undershirt off. Usually, just seeing Newkirk without his undershirt on makes her go completely insane with raw desire. She runs her hands over his bare chest, letting his body heat soak into her hands. Freddie takes one small step towards him and kisses his chest lightly. While her mouth kisses him tenderly, her hands work the button loose on his pants.
"Sweetheart," she says, "maybe you ought to do the rest. I don't wanna get carried away."
"Alright, but don't go anywhere," he says. "I want ya to stay with me."
"I'll be here." With that said, Freddie turns around. Newkirk removes his boots and socks, as well as the rest of his clothes. He turns off the water and hops in the tub.
"All set, love," he says. "You can turn around now." Freddie turns around and sees him sitting with his head tipped back and his eyes closed. "Oh, this feels goooood..."
"Almost forgot what hot water feels like?" she asks as she kneels beside the tub.
"Uh huh." Freddie splashes some water onto his chest. "Oh, that feels great." She grabs a bar of soap and begins to wash his chest for him. "I could get used to all this babyin', love. All I need now is a cigar in one hand and a glass of brandy in the other."
She smiles. "You deserve it. You've done your part for the war."
"Well, so have you. Your share and someone else's." She moves to his arms and soaps them up. While she bathes him, he watches her; his eyes never leave her face. "Freddie, how soon do you want to get married?"
"How soon?"
"Yeah. I mean like a week from now, a month from now, or whatever."
She laughs as she rinses his arms. "You know, I never gave that any thought. I mean I'd love to marry as soon as possible. We've been engaged for two years for crying outloud. But we haven't got a place of our own yet, neither one of us has a job."
Newkirk looks a little sad. "Yeah. I guess you're right." As Freddie finishes rinsing his arms, he notices that she's still wearing the engagement ring that he made for her. "My God. You still wear that thing?"
She looks at her finger. "Are you kidding? I've never taken it off. Except, of course, to shower. That's only because I don't want it to turn green."
"I'm gettin' you a new one."
"Why?"
"Because my wife deserves to have everything a queen has."
"Peter," she says as she grabs some shampoo from the vanity, "I told you when you gave me this ring that I'd marry you without those things."
"I know you did, darlin'." He stops her before she can soak his hair. "But Freddie, I love you so much. I want you to have the best of everything." She smiles and leans in and kisses his lips.
"I already got the best of everything. Now shut up and let me wash your hair."
Newkirk smiles and laughs. "Yes, sergeant." Freddie laughs, too, as she dumps some water over his head and begins lathering up his hair.
Once Newkirk is all washed, Freddie takes his uniform downstairs to clean it while he relaxes in the tub. She fills the washtub with warm water and begins scrubbing his shirts.
Upstairs, Newkirk gets out of the bath and towels himself off. He puts on the clothes that Freddie gave to him and he leaves the room.
On his way downstairs, Herr Raffschneider stops him. "Peter, are you busy at the moment?"
"No sir."
Freddie's father looks around. "Good. Come with me, please." Newkirk follows him into his bedroom.
"I want you to give this to Fredricha on your wedding day." Herr Raffschneider hands Newkirk a small black leather box. He opens it, and sees that inside are two gold wedding rings, each with two diamonds set in them. "These rings belonged to her mother and I," he says. "I stopped wearing my ring the day her mother died. I want you two to use them."
"Oh, Papa," says Newkirk, "I couldn't take these-"
"Please take them, Peter," Herr Raffschneider presses. "I'm very certain that her mother would like you to have them, too. It will be like giving her a little piece of her mother to hold onto." Newkirk continues to look at the rings.
"Then that's what I'll do." He extends his hand. "Thank you."
While his sweater is hanging up to dry, Freddie begins stitching up Newkirk's blue jacket. She's instantly startled by the hands that grab her waist.
"Hello, pretty lady," says Newkirk as he looks over her shoulder.
"You rat," Freddie jokes as she kisses him. He continues to hold her close as she goes about her stitching. "Did you enjoy your bath?"
"I did," he says, "but I would have enjoyed it even more if you were in the tub with me." He gently kisses her neck.
"Don't worry, meine liebe. Someday soon." He runs his hands up and down her arms and continues to kiss her face and neck.
"Can you take a break from your chores?" he asks hopefully.
"Why?" Freddie asks.
"I wanna find somewhere to go so I can be alone with you."
"You're a hopeless romantic, d'ya know that?" she jokes.
"I'm afraid it's terminal, love." He continues to kiss her neck softly. Freddie sets down his jacket and turns around to face him.
"Let's go for a walk."
It's around noontime as Newkirk and Freddie head out for their stroll. The people of the city go about their business as usual, or as about as usual as they can.
Slowly walking hand in hand, they make their way into town.
"So," begins Newkirk, "you're absolutely sure that I can't talk you into lettin' me get you a different ring?"
"I'm positive," says Freddie.
"Good," he responds, "because I already got one for ya."
"Peter-"
"Fredricha, please. You'll like this one. I know you will. It's not very big or flashy, but I think it'll suit you just fine." He stops walking for a moment and puts his arms around her. "Please trust me."
Freddie's hesitant to smile, but she eventually gives in. "If you say so." Newkirk smiles and hugs her tightly. As they embrace, Freddie's mind is working. "Peter, what are you doing this evening?"
He looks in her eyes and says, "Hopefully spending some time with you. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to get married." Slowly his mouth drops open and his eyes grow bigger.
"You mean-"
"Yes. I wanna get married tonight. I can't wait any longer."
"Oh, Fredricha," he says as they embrace again. "Are you sure? What about all those things you said earlier. About no house and no-"
"So what? As long as I'm with you, I'll survive being broke and homeless." As they laugh, she takes his face gently into her hands and says softly, "So whatdya say? Will you marry me?"
After a brief moment in which his eyes get a little misty, he says, "Yes, my love. I'll marry you." Freddie kisses him quickly before they run back home.
"Papa!" shouts Freddie, as she and Newkirk run through the door. "Papa, where are you?"
Herr Raffschneider comes out from the kitchen. "What is wrong, liebchen? Why are you shouting?"
"Papa," she says, catching her breath, "I want to marry Peter tonight."
"Tonight?" he asks.
"Yes. I've waited for two excruciatingly long years to marry him. Please, Papa."
"Two years? You waited two years? Why didn't you ask your prison kommandant to marry you?"
"I refused to let a Nazi officiate over something that sacred," she says. Herr Raffschneider smiles and hugs them both.
"After two years, you are still together. This is a good sign. Yes, children. You have my blessing."
"Danke, Papa," says Freddie as she hugs him. Newkirk also hugs him again.
"Danke, mein herr," says the Englishman.
"Bitte shoen (You're welcome)," says Herr Raffschneider, a little surprised that Newkirk knows German. "Oh, Peter. Your father and sister have gone to your old house to try and retrieve some of your belongings."
"I hope they can find my parade uniform," he says. "I wanna look my best."
"In that case, my dear boy," says her father, "go upstairs and use my razor. You have a rough chin."
"Yes sir. Right away, sir." Newkirk darts off for the stairs. Freddie hugs her father again.
"Papa, I've never been this happy before."
"It's good to see you acting like your old self again, liebchen. I haven't seen you this happy since we visited your Uncle Lars that one summer." He takes her face in his hands and kisses her cheeks. He looks a little sorrowful, but manages to smile. "I can't believe I'm going to give you away this soon."
"Oh, Papa," she says. "You may be giving me away, but you're not giving me up."
"I'd never give you up, liebchen. Never in a million years." He hugs her tight just as Mr. Newkirk and Mavis walk through the front door, each carrying a couple of suitcases. "I have good news for you, Edward. Our children wish to be wed tonight."
Mr. Newkirk smiles and says, "So soon?"
"Soon?" repeats Herr Raffschneider. "They've been engaged for two years already!"
"Well, in that case," says Mr. Newkirk, "the sooner the better."
"Mavis," says Freddie, "would you be my maid of honor?"
"Sure," Mavis answers with a smile. "It's a good thing I found my good dress in that rockpile."
"You didn't happen to find Peter's parade uniform, did you?" asks Freddie. Mr. Newkirk hands her a suitcase.
"Yeah, I think I found most of it. Should be in this one here. It's got most of his things in it."
"Thanks." She takes the case and heads upstairs with it.
Freddie passes by the bathroom and sees Newkirk shaving. She stops long enough to poke her head in and smile.
"I love you," she says. Newkirk turns his foamy face towards her and smiles.
"I love you, too."
"Your father just brought back some clothes from your flat. Says your parade dress is in here."
"Great. Thanks, love." Freddie goes into her old bedroom and sets the suitcase down on the bed. She shuts the door and grabs her parade/inspection dress outfit from her closet. Before she puts the jacket on, she polishes the two brass medals until they shine like gold. Freddie takes a brush through her hair a few times, then takes her parade cover (hat) from an unmarked hat box, her jacket, and heads downstairs.
"Once Peter's changed into his uniform," says Freddie, "we'll be ready to go." Everyone relaxes for a few minutes. Freddie pours herself a small glass of schnapps and paces a little.
"Are ya nervous?" asks Mr. Newkirk with a slight grin.
"A little, I guess," answers Freddie. "But don't worry. I'm not going to get cold feet."
"Cold feet is fine, liebchen," says Herr Raffschneider. "It means you have a warm heart."
Freddie laughs. "I thought it was cold hands that meant a warm heart."
"Hands and feet are interchangeable," he says, "but the heart isn't." Newkirk straightens his necktie as he comes down the stairs.
"Well," he says, "how do I look?" Freddie looks up at him in awe. She's never seen him look so decedent before. He's wearing his air force blue dress slacks with spit polished shoes, a short blue waist jacket with a white shoulder cord over the left shoulder, white shirt with a black necktie, and his blue garrison cap under his right shoulder strap.
"My God, Peter," she says, "you... look amazing." He smiles as he slowly walks over to her.
"Yeah, I clean up pretty good, don't I?" He takes one step back from her, stands at attention, and salutes. "And you, sergeant, look devastatingly beautiful. As always."
Returning his salute, she says, "Thank you, corporal." Freddie reaches out to him and he takes her hands. They look each other over for a brief moment, then hug each other.
"Dad," asks Newkirk, "since none of me other mates are here, would you be m'best man?"
"Of course, son." Herr Raffschneider takes his watch from his vest pocket and looks at the time.
"Come, children," he says. "Let's go." Newkirk looks Freddie in the eyes as they still cling to one another.
"Well, love. Are you ready to take the biggest risk of your life?"
"Peter, falling in love was my biggest risk. Marriage will be a walk in the park." Newkirk smiles and backs away from her, holding his arm out for her to take.
The party proceeds to the church a few blocks from Herr Raffschneider's place. Both of the fathers go inside first to talk to the minister, leaving Freddie and Newkirk outside alone. He walks her over to a small bench where they sit down.
"I can't believe it," Newkirk says. "In a few more minutes, you'll be my wife."
Freddie smiles. "Yeah. And you'll be my husband." She touches his face tenderly. "I love you, Peter."
"I love you, Freddie." He kisses her sweetly on the lips just as her father comes outside. Herr Raffschneider is wearing a warm smile.
"Come, come. It's time." Newkirk takes Freddie's hand and gives it a gentle squeeze as he stands up and leads her into the church.
The young soon-to-be-newlyweds walk up the aisle until they reach the alter. On one side of the minister stands Herr Raffschneider, and on the other stands Mr. Newkirk and Mavis.
"Are you ready?" asks Reverend Wheeler politely in his soft Irish lilt.
"Yes sir," replies Newkirk.
The minister asks, "Who gives this young lady to this man?"
"I do, Reverend," answers Herr Raffschneider. He steps towards Freddie and kisses her on both cheeks. "Ich liebe dich, mein Fredricha."
"Und Ich liebe dich auch, Papa." He smiles at Newkirk and shakes his hand.
"From what I have seen," says the Reverend, "both parties have given consent to let this marriage take place. In which case, let us begin." He opens up his hymnal and opens with a prayer. "Our Heavenly Father, we ask that you be with us today as we unite your children, Peter and Fredricha, in Holy Matrimony. Through the cruelties of war, they have found each other, and in finding each other, they have found you. This is proof that with you in our lives, O Lord, anything lost can be found. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, we pray. Amen. Before we begin exchanging vows, do either of you have anything to say to the other?"
"I do," says Newkirk, his voice quaking slightly. He takes Freddie's hands and looks into her eyes. "Freddie, I knew from the moment I first saw you that I wanted you to be a part of my life. I just didn't know how big a part you were going to be until you occupied every free thought in my head. Then my heart started to ache when you weren't around. That's when I knew that I needed you to be with me for always." He touches her face lightly. "You are my whole life now. And you're all I'll ever need." Newkirk brushes a tear from her cheek as she tries to smile at him.
"Fredricha," asks the minister, "do you have anything to say to him?"
"Yes, I do. I have never met a man who is as strong yet tenderly compassionate as you, Peter. You would worry about me when I was on assignment alone, and the whole time I was counting down the minutes until I could return to you and make you stop worrying. Peter, from now on, I won't go anywhere without you. Because I need you that much."
Both Newkirk and Freddie, still holding hands, try their best not to cry as the minister begins the ceremony.
"If there are no objections from either family as to why these two should not be joined in marriage, we will proceed." He waits for both families to answer, then continues. "Do you, Peter, take Fredricha to be your wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others until death parts you?"
Looking her in the eyes, Newkirk answers softly, "I do."
"Do you, Fredricha, take Peter to be your husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others until death parts you?"
With tears dripping from her blue eyes, she answers, "I do."
The minister looks at Newkirk and says, "Do you have the rings?"
"Yes." He turns to his father, who hands him the small black leather box. Newkirk removes the rings and hands them to the minister.
"These rings will be an outward symbol of your love for each other. They symbolize your commitment to each other and to God." He hands one of the rings to Newkirk. "Peter, take this ring and place it on the third finger of Fredricha's left hand and repeat after me. Fredricha, with this ring-"
"Fredricha, with this ring-"
"I thee wed."
Newkirk's voice cracks slightly with emotion. "I thee wed." He carefully slides the ring onto her finger and kisses it.
"Fredricha," says the minister, "take this ring and place it on the third finger of Peter's left hand and repeat after me. Peter, with this ring-"
"Peter, with this ring-"
"I thee wed."
Freddie pushes the ring onto his finger, and just like him, she kisses it. "I thee wed."
Reverend Wheeler places his hands over their heads and says, "Peter and Fredricha, you have taken a solemn oath to each other, in which you both promise to love, honor, and cherish one another. But more importantly, you have done so in the presence of God. And whoever God brings together, no mortal man will ever separate. And He has given me the authority to pronounce you man and wife." He lowers his hands and says, "Peter, you may kiss your bride."
Newkirk's eyes fill with joyous tears as he kisses Freddie. She wraps her arms around him as they kiss and hold one another tight.
"I love you so much, Freddie," Newkirk says, his happiness hard to contain.
"Oh, I love you, Peter." Freddie also is weeping with gladness. When they finally release each other, they start laughing and drying each others faces.
Reverend Wheeler smiles and says, "I now present to you, for the first time anywhere, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Newkirk." The pair is immediately swamped with hugs from their relatives. "Congratulations."
Later that evening, after the large celebratory supper Herr Raffschneider prepared at his house, Newkirk and Freddie go into town and check into a hotel.
At the front desk, when asked to sign in, Newkirk stops.
"What's wrong, darling?" asks Freddie. All Newkirk can do is smile at her.
"Come 'ere, love. Watch." He lets Freddie slide next to him and she looks down as he signs, for the first time, 'Mr. and Mr. Peter Newkirk.'
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asks.
"Yeah." The bellhop takes their luggage and shows them upstairs and to their suite.
As soon as the door to their suite closes, they embrace again. They hold each other close and whisper 'I love you' into each other's ears.
Backing away so he's nose to nose with her, Newkirk says softly, "My beautiful wife."
"My darling husband," whispers Freddie. She leans forward and seals his mouth with hers. "For the second time in my life, I've changed my name. Now I'm Fredricha Newkirk."
"And I won't let you change your name anymore," Newkirk says with a smile. "You're done doin' that."
"Finally, I have a name that will stay with me forever." Again, Freddie kisses him. "What can I do to show you how happy I am?"
Newkirk seductively bites his bottom lip. "Make love to your husband."
"Oh, yes," she says as she pulls him down for another kiss. His hands leave her for a moment so he can remove his jacket and tie. She, too, scrambles to take off her jacket and tie, flinging them into a chair across the room. Freddie lays down on the bed and waits for Newkirk.
Finally, he lays himself down next to her, his lips gently caressing her face. She closes her eyes and lets him work his magic. His mouth softly nibbles at her neck, growing even more hungry for her mouth. As if told by some mystical voice, Newkirk works his hands into her hair and kisses her full on the lips, slowly sliding his tongue into her mouth.
"Oh, Freddie," he moans as he rolls himself further onto her. "My love, my life. I am yours at last."
"Yes, my darling. Forever." They kiss deeply again, then separate to remove each other's shirts. Quickly and smoothly their hands work to free themselves so they may lose their minds in the waves of passion.
Tossing his shirt aside, Newkirk helps Freddie out of her undergarments as fast as he can, kissing every inch of her exposed chest. As she holds his face to her, Freddie looks at her wedding ring.
"Where did you get my ring, Peter? My mother's looked just like this one." Newkirk stops kissing her naked breasts and looks up at her face.
"It is your mother's ring, love."
"What?"
"Your father gave me both her ring and his own. He said that your mother would want us to have them." He touches her face. "Does that upset you?"
"No," she says honestly. "I was... just curious. I was wondering why they looked so familiar."
Newkirk smiles and kisses her chest again. "They're ours now."
Freddie puts her arms around his neck and says, "Peter, you promised me that you'd make love to me all night long, remember?"
"I'd never forget a promise like that."
She curls the corner of her mouth and says, "Prove it."
"Oh, yes ma'am." Newkirk and Freddie both hurry to finish undressing so they can please each other in total freedom. Even though they have made love with each other several times in the past, this time feels a little different. This is the first time they are making love as husband and wife. Their passion for one another has built up over the course of their escape, and coupled with the excitement of their delyed, yet sudden, marriage makes for a night of intense satisfaction.
Freddie and Newkirk made love continuously until the wee hours of the morning, their bodies just too exhausted to continue. She's fallen asleep in his arms, sleeping like a newborn. Newkirk sits in contemplating silence just watching her breathe. He looks at the gold band on his left hand and smiles. He then sets it on Freddie's hand, lacing his fingers with hers. A smiles graces his lips as he sees both rings side by side in the morning sunlight, the diamonds turning the beams of light into rainbows on the wall. Newkirk holds her a little tighter and rests his cheek on the top of her head.
Now, he figures, the world is as it should be.