What are men to rocks and mountains

The Garden

The following days were spent very much the same. William was learning more and more about modern times with each new day, and time and again Alison found herself amazed at how fast the former Lieutenant managed to grasp new concepts and adjust to them. He'd only been here for around a week now, and he had successfully used most electronic devices alone more than once, but as the days moved on, he couldn't help but feel like a burden to Alison and Mike. They had been so incredibly lovely to him, and he hadn't done a whole lot for them except eat their food and be in their way.

He'd resolved to find something more useful to spend his time on. He had been spending most of his time in the garden, researching the best flowers to plant in the middle of winter, and then planting Pansies, daffodils, witch hazel-a flower he had been warned firmly by the Captain, to never name in front of Mary- and snowdrops.

He's pretty sure the reason the pansies hadn't started growing yet was because he'd seen Mike accidentally stumble into the flower bed while washing the windows a few days ago. But he'd hoped there might still be a chance they would find their way to the surface.

William had taken up most of the duty of restoring the garden to its former glory. A feat that- during the war, he had taken up as well. It felt great to be back there, even it was often times quite cold in the garden. He didn't mind much, he liked the fresh air- and most of all, the company. The Captain had helped him with the garden, though he hadn't been much help at all. He was great at decorating though, so they made quite the team.

It all started when William remembered a sudden confession on a certain London bridge and had playfully asked his friend "Would you happen to know a decorator that lives nearby? I'd greatly appreciate his expertise and company while I renovate the garden." He'd watched the twinkle in the Captains eye as he agreed to help, and they'd started the very next day- the Captain absolutely revelling in his ability to actually touch or move any given piece of debris or junk lying around. They'd been going for only a few minutes when William sighed loudly.

"I can't believe the state of the garden, it used to be magnificent. Look at all the debris! What on earth happened here?" he said, for once not hiding his disappointment. He'd greatly admired the restorations Alison and Mike were doing inside the house, and couldn't help but feel like they had neglected the garden a bit. Maybe it was because they hadn't seen it in its glory days.

"Yes well, very unfortunate indeed. One of our prototypes exploded here recently. A small error on my behalf I'm afraid, burying it underneath the garden." The Captain replied, all of a sudden finding the grass beneath his shoes very interesting. William did his best to stifle his laughter, but gave up halfway through.

"Was there nobody to persuade you from your more outrageous ideas after I left?" William said, teasing. The Captain laughed, a short but clear sound that bounced off the walls of the house behind them.

"Of course there was. But I am being generous when I say that they were not half as quick or perceptive as you. No, I wouldn't take their advice on what colour tie I should wear for the day." That made William laugh again, he could imagine the strife the Captain caused his new lieutenants. He had had first-hand experience with the stubbornness of the Captain, but at least the man had listened to him. Lord only knew what pity he felt for the poor lad that came after him.

"I suppose I should be glad you think that highly of me, Theodore." He replied as he loaded some Tulip bulbs from the wooden crate that stood next to them, into the freshly turned earth.

"There isn't a man who I think more highly of than you, William." He said, not taking his eyes off the other man. William did his best to stifle the blush that had undeniably started to form on the back of his neck, and buried his hands in the soil, pressing the loose earth onto the bulb. Ever since that day in London, the Captain had become more and more bold in his statements of praise and affection towards him, not that he minded, of course. And every single time William's face would heat up immensely. He still wasn't sure if it was because the older man had finally come to accept that the military regime of suppressing any and all feelings had become painfully unnecessary, or if there was another reason he might have realised it was time to stop denying his feelings.