For the sweet @strudelcreme and @redrosewritingsstuff
Hope you’ll enjoy!
This morning seemed like any other for Lieutenant Aldo Raine and his commando. Even if no two days were alike: if today they would have a quiet day, tomorrow they would no doubt be forced to face a German patrol.
The whole team had settled in an abandoned house and tried to rest a bit.
For her part, Y/N, the sole woman of the group, took her basket and got ready to leave:
"I'm going into town to do some shopping."
"Huh? Are you going to go alone?" asked Hirschberg.
The young woman smiled.
"Don't worry, Gerold: I won't be long. Besides, I know how to defend myself!"
"We trust you, Y/N."
Y/N turned on her heels and headed towards the small town below the forest.
This charming person was called Y/N L/N, and his presence within the Basterds could surprise more than one.
Indeed, the young woman was a teacher before the war, very popular with her students. Unfortunately, because she was born into a Sephardic Jewish family, the French authorities banned her from practising her profession. Since then, she discreetly helped resistance networks in France by giving information or deciphering messages.
Her encounter with the Basterds was different.
While the Germans chased them, Utivitch and Sakowitz took refuge in the courtyard of her building. Y/N had made them come discreetly to her place.
To thank her for her help, the two Americans offered to come with them for her safety.
From that day on, she followed them on their missions and enabled them to create links between the Basterds and the resistance networks in France.
As the only woman in the group, she gets special attention from Lieutenant Raine's men.
And the latter are also entitled to small gestures of attention from (Y/N).
In particular, the young woman gave small gifts to her comrades for their birthdays.
These joyful moments, far from the torments of war, were an enchanted interlude for Aldo and his men.
Suddenly, Utivich wondered aloud:
"By the way, what day is today?"
"Good question! Wicki, can you look at your calendar?" asked Simon.
The Munich native took his calendar and flipped through it before answering:
"Today is the 8th. Why?"
Omar exclaimed:
"WHAT? We missed (Y/N)'s birthday!"
They all looked at each other in dismay: how could they have forgotten their friend's birthday?
"We couldn't have done that to her !" Michael panicked.
"Calm down, guys! (Y/N's) birthday is on the 10th!" reassured Wilhelm.
"Yes, but that means we have two days to do something!" Hugo pointed out.
"Considering the effort the lady puts into celebrating our birthdays, it would be fair to return the favour!" added Hicox, smoking his cigarette.
"And what do we do then?" asked Donny.
Aldo was thinking fast: what could they possibly do to celebrate (Y/N's) birthday? Deep down, he wanted to give her a memorable party: after all, wouldn't he do something to impress the one he secretly loved?
He had an idea:
"I think I have the solution! Come over here: you will all help me!"
The whole group gathered around their leader and listened carefully to his plan. Everyone agreed and immediately began to plan "Operation GREAT PARTY".
When Y/N returned from her trip to the market, she had no idea that her companions were preparing a surprise.
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
Two days later.
(Y/N) felt her companions had been acting strangely for two days.
The young woman could see that the Basterds acted strangely in her presence: for example, they whispered to each other and stopped when she got close to them.
She had the unpleasant feeling that the group planned something and purposely left her out of the project.
There was nothing more frustrating for (Y/N): why all the secrecy? What were they up to?
No matter how hard she tried to catch snippets of information, she couldn't find out more.
Annoyed, the former teacher sent the message: because they didn't tell her what went on, everyone would suffer from her bad mood.
Aware that they had offended their friend, the Basterds hoped their surprise would be worth it.
In the late afternoon, as evening began to fall, (Y/N) found that she was alone... with Andy.
"Where the hell is everyone?"
"They're not far away, don't worry."
Unconvinced by the answer, (Y/N) shrugged.
"If they could come back in one piece, that would be nice. Ah, and let the ENTIRE team know when we do an operation!"
Andy pursed his lips: he wanted to tell (Y/N) everything, but he shouldn't spoil the surprise.
Luckily for him, Wicki arrived:
"(Y/N), Kagan, get ready: lieutenant Raine needs us all for a special operation!"
"Really? What's going on?"
"It's about infiltrating a social event where many Nazi dignitaries will be present. You'd have to go, (Y/N)."
"But why wasn't I told before?"
"The lieutenant needed to check that nothing would endanger you before he told you everything. He knows it pissed you off, but it was a necessary evil."
The young woman nodded before asking:
"And how do I get there?"
Wilhelm handed her a box:
"Our friends in the French Resistance have provided us with an evening dress, shoes and a set of jewellery for you. They also gave us a box of make-up. Go and get ready: Andy and I will take care of the rest!"
As (Y/N) retreated inside the house, Andy turned to his friend:
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes: I've even got your suit!"
"Great! I can change my clothes!"
The two men got dressed and found themselves looking smart.
"By the way, did you see what (Y/N)'s outfit looked like?"
"No, and neither did the others. We're saving the surprise for ourselves!"
Meanwhile, the young woman finished getting ready. When she saw herself in the mirror, (Y/N) almost didn't recognise herself: it's funny how changing clothes changes people!
When she came out of the house, Andy and Wilhelm were amazed: (Y/N) was wearing a beautiful pink silk off-shoulder dress and a pair of pearly white high-heeled shoes.
The young woman had put a delicate pink shawl around her shoulders to match her dress.
She also wore a lovely silver pearl necklace around her neck, delicate earrings sparkled in her ears, a silver bracelet delicately encircled her wrist, and a silver rose ring encrusted with diamonds. She wore a beautiful flower brooch in her impeccably coiffed hair.
Seeing the reaction of her friends, (Y/N) asked:
"So, what do you think?"
"You look beautiful!"
"Thanks, guys."
"Come on: we have to join the others."
The trio walked towards an elegant black car.
"I see we're paying attention to detail..." smiled (Y/N).
"We weren't going to show up at the party with our old pickup. Come on, get in the back!" said Wilhelm.
Shortly afterwards, the car drove to the meeting place.
Sitting in the back seat, the young woman looked out the window dreamily.
She felt like a princess or a Hollywood actress on her way to a gala.
But (Y/N) reminded herself to stay focused: they were on a mission, and this was no time for daydreaming!
After a few minutes of driving, the car stopped in front of a fancy house.
Wilhelm rushed to open the door:
"After you, Mademoiselle..."
"How pampered I am! Why so much attention?"
"Why not? You've got to fit the part..." said Andy as they climbed the steps to the stoop.
"The part? But what role?" asked (Y/N).
"The most important role... The queen of the evening!"
The doors to the living room opened, and (Y/N) discovered that the entire cast of the Basterds was already there, along with the members of the French résistance network called "The Freed Crows."
"SURPRISE!"
(Y/N) gasped.
"But what are you doing all here? What about the mission?"
"Girl, ya remember what's the date today, or nah?" asked Donny.
"The date... OH, HOLY COW!" exclaimed the young woman.
Utivich said:
"Alright, fellas! Let's start the celebrations! One, two, three!"
And all the Basterds sang:
"Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you, cute (Y/N)!
Happy birthday to you!"
The young teacher laughed.
"I can't believe you remember my birthday!"
"You remember our birthdays: it would be rude not remembering yours!" explained Hirschberg.
"And since we all love you, we thought it would be great to make you the princess of the day!" explained Michael.
"Not the princess, the queen of the day!" corrected Michèle, a French resistance fighter.
"The meal is ready!" announced Jules, the cook.
Perfect! In that case, let's go to the table!"
The meal was an enchanted interlude in the richly decorated dining room, with elegant golden tableware.
And the food was as good as any dinner served in an aristocratic home.
When Hugo asked where they had taken the food, Peter replied with a wink:
"Let's just say we borrowed it from a fine gourmet German lieutenant!"
As for (Y/N), she was still struggling to realise what was happening to her: yesterday, she was walking in the cold and mud, and today she was wearing a beautiful dress and having dinner in an elegant house with her friends.
She had received small gifts from her friends: a bracelet, a watch, and a gun!
Then one of the guests turned on the record player, and swinging music filled the room, much to the delight of the others.
"Come on, everybody: let's get up and dance!" exclaimed André, one of the French resistance fighters, joyfully.
No sooner had he finished his sentence that the dining room changed into a ballroom.
Everyone was swaying and laughing - even Hugo did a few dance steps with Sophie, the charming Resistance nurse.
As for Y/N, she twirled and danced among the guests, enjoying every second.
Suddenly, large hands took her gently by the waist, and a voice with a Tennessee accent said:
"Who would dare let a pretty lady dance alone?"
The young woman smiled:
"Are you always so charming, Lieutenant Raine?"
"Only with the ones who deserve it!" replied Aldo, a smirk on his face.
Despite his confident attitude, Aldo the Apache felt his knees would fail him: he found (Y/N) beautiful, but now... She looked like a Hollywood actress!
If only they weren't so different, maybe he could try his luck. But what could a redneck moonshiner from Maynardville offer a cultured and elegant schoolteacher from Paris?
But maybe tonight, things would be different.
Gathering his courage, Aldo asked:
"(Y/N), will you dance with me?"
"Of course!" replied the young woman, taking Lieutenant Raine's hand.
And the duo took to the dance floor under the delighted eyes of the other guests.
Throughout the dance, Aldo and (Y/N) were entwined, not letting go of each other's hands for a moment.
For the young teacher, it was a moment that seemed unreal: she was dancing with Aldo Raine!
The man for whom she felt admiration (and more) had invited her to dance. And he had even complimented her!
She suspected he was behind this surprise birthday party: the man liked to do things in a big way. But was it to impress her?
Suddenly she felt Aldo's hand gently brush her neck. Curious, she touched her throat and felt a necklace pass around her neck.
"Happy birthday, (Y/N)."
She gently picked up the pendant and saw that it was rose-shaped. Below the rose was an elegantly carved banner with a message written on it, but it was upside down, so she could not read it.
"What is written on the banner?"
"It says Only Yours. That's because I am: yours only."
The young woman gasped at this before a broad smile lit up her face. She rose on tiptoe and gave Aldo a quick kiss on the lips.
This gesture surprised Lieutenant Raine: he did not think he would be allowed to kiss Y/N's lips.
His signature smile appeared on his lips and said:
"Damn, girl: this is not how I imagined the next part."
"How did you imagine it?"
The American soldier massaged the back of his neck, a little embarrassed:
"Well, I imagined kissing you first and telling you I love you. But you were faster than me!"
The teacher felt her cheeks turn pink: she was pleased to find that he reciprocated her feelings.
She moved closer to Aldo and said:
"As far as the kiss is concerned, you can always catch up."
"Aye, milady!" replied the Apache, who gently took (Y/N's) face in his hands and kissed her to the shouts of joy and applause of the Basterds and the French resistance fighters.
"WELL DONE, LIEUTENANT!" joked Donny.
For (Y/N), there was no doubt: this was the best birthday ever!
