Timeless

Chapter 49

July 1947

The members of the Hundredth Bomb Group had gathered in Wisconsin for a celebration of the ages. There was no official reasoning behind the reunion, merely a group of people that were inexplicably bound together by forces of fate and history. But you would've thought that there was some grand occasion by the sight at the local park.

Families bunched together, babies and toddlers starting to run around the place. Wives and fianceés chatting excitedly and getting to know one another in the flesh—rather than just phone calls or the letter exchanges like usual.

And the men, so happy to see their brothers in arms again. For the first time in a long time, the 4th of July really felt like a day to celebrate freedom. A day for them to gather and celebrate and honor the people who they had lost, the friends and the brothers that they had watched die—and a day to reminisce on the time they had spent with one another.

In the summer heat, Kathryn Cleven found simplistic joy in watching her friends gather together. It was the first time really—since they had all been on base together when the war ended—that they were all gathered.

Meatball was pushing through the groups of people to try and sneak a portion of a hot-dog—only to be greeted by his original savior, DeMarco. Kathryn watched the scene fondly, and found herself feeling all too much like a young girl again. Standing there with her friends—Annika, Laura, Tina, Poppy, Becky , and even Barbara—it was fun to see them all together for something so happy.

Poppy was currently chattering away about her boyfriend, who evidently was a singer. They had plans to move to Hollywood for him to make his stage debut in an upcoming movie and Poppy was very proud .

"Well you didn't get married by 23, but at least you've got Hollywood," Annika exclaimed with a grin.

The embarrassment that spread across Poppy's cheeks nearly made Kathryn laugh. "Listen, I was young and stupid!" Poppy retorted. "I didn't know!"

"Oh it's not like you haven't been having more fun than half of us," Barbara deadpanned, taking a sip of her spiked lemonade with a grin.

"Oh I don't know, Benny promised me backpacking in South America," Tina stated with a shrug.

Laura's jaw dropped. "Good on Benny, jeez."

"Like you're not reveling in finally being back in New York," Kathryn said pointedly, gaze falling on her best friend.

Laura grinned at that, giving her a half-shrug. "What can I say? I like being around his family. Besides, it's free babysitting."

"Maybe I can convince my husband to move here. Then I'd get free babysitting too," Becky retorted, glancing over at her toddler who was running around through sprinklers. Her husband was chatting with the men, baby in hands.

"At least you can convince your husband to take care of the baby in public," Poppy pointed out. "Some men don't do that."

"Some men that are unlike my brother," Kathryn pointed to the side and everyone's gaze fell on a proud John Egan walking around with his daughter and introducing her to every man that was there.

"He's wrapped around that little girl's finger and she doesn't even know how to walk yet," Becky exclaimed.

"Oh I'm sure she'll be a terror, like her namesake," Kathryn insisted, grin slipping on her face.

"Mrs. Cleven, your six o' clock," Poppy mumbled with an amused expression on her face.

Kathryn didn't even have time to process that before a hand was slipping around her waist and she turned, finding her husband standing there. Gale pressed a kiss to the side of her head and gave a grin to the nurses. "You ladies mind if I steal Kath?"