We're back in St Nazaire main street, Christian has just been dropped off to much shouted promises of breakfast in the morning,

"Are you sure you should be out, Rollie?"

"Yes of course. It was a fuss about nothing, the bullet hardly grazed the bone, and anyway, if Christian is allowed out, then so am I"

Heidi laughed.

"You two are such little boys!"

"Here's my new place, Rollie. Stop here, driver"

She had two steaks sizzling in the pan, the kartoffeln were already roasting, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes cooking away. And the bottle of red already opened, and demanding a taste.

"You know Heidi..."

"Sit here, darling, let me look at that bandage..."

And just her touch, made me know that I can never...never ..die in the Atlantic.

LS

I wonder what tune they would play ?:hmm:

There have been so many nice comments on this thread, and I appreciate them all, but my current favourite is the one that cared about Christian. He's one of us!

LS

Roll on the next installment LS!!!:rock: Just keep it in the PG rating area, avoid the R rated stuff!:)

"Wake up Rollie, here's your coffee and the bath is running"

Heidi kissed me gently on my head.

You're having some healthy breakfast food for once, and you can forget about going out drinking with your U-46 reprobates as well..."

"What...why...?"

"You're taking me to Paris, like you promised last night!"

LS

Being in a tub of water that wasn't freezing cold, and then eating warm croissants instead of cold sausages, was kind of nice. But I wasn't about to give that information away. Paris? When did I say that?

"Come on Rollie!"

I am already being hustled out of the door into Rue Vert.

"I already know what we're going to buy each other!"

I sighed and pulled her close in the car to the station. Shopping is worse than depth charging, but it's hard to argue with someone like Heidi alongside you.

LS

We took a taxi out of the Gare du Nord.

We went up to the Sacred Heart, which church magnificently overlooks Paris from the north and sat contendedly together, and shared baguettes, fromage and ham.

I suppose it was then that I made my decision.

Then we drove down to the Arc de Triomphe, and sauntered down the Champs Elysee.

Heidi bought me an expensive shirt, and I bought her the perfume that she had wanted.

But I had another present in mind, and left Heidi to browse in a dress shop, while I went in search......

I hope I got the right size, and I know nothing about jewellry, but now I am guiding her to the Eiffel Tower, which is one place she's always wanted to visit.

We climb up to the top breathlessly. And stare out across Paris from the opposite perspective. It really is a fine city.

Now I'm plucking up the nerve.

"Rollie, this has been a fantastic day, thank you so much!"

And then she hugged me, and that was all the courage I needed.

I produced the ring, and braced myself.

"Heidi, will you marry me.....?

LS

Way to leave it hanging, you're worse than a soap opera leaving a characters life in the balance until the new season!:rotfl:

wow, I bloody hope she says yes:rock:

LS, your story is just brilliant. I've been following it since I joined the forums and keep checking regularly for more chapters. Can I offer a tiny wee bit of advice/criticism, though? Lately there's been a tendency for your writing to jump from present to past tense and back, sometimes within the same post. I know this is a small issue, but I personally really like your style when you write in present tense. It seems to keep the sense of events happening as we read. Definitely suitable for a story being written as the game is played. Also it would definitely be a consideration if you were to publish...! :yep: :rock:

You're quite right, I need to tighten up my writing.

I'll work harder to keep it in the present sense, but there are moments when I'm looking back on things.

Anyway, there will be a book (properly edited!) one day.

Let's just see what happens with the boat, first..

LS

"Yes! Yes!! and Yes!!!"

Heidi spins me round and holds me close.

"Will this fit, or would you like another one, or..."

"This is perfect, Rollie. You could have given me anything. Of course I will marry you! Do you know how long I've been waiting for a moment like this, you idiot!"

The French don't really like us Germans much, but they are incurable romantics. As soon as they saw my proposal, they came out from the small cafe bar dancing with delight. I had my hand shaken vigorously, and Heidi was kissed endlessly on both cheeks. A bottle of champagne was produced, and a boy was sent racing all the way down to fetch some roses. He brought his Mama all the way up, and she was in tears as she embraced Heidi, as if she was her own daughter. Heidi was shooed away to discuss such important things as dresses and cakes and so on. Emille, the bar owner, sat me down with his best brandy.

"She's a lovely girl. You are very lucky, my friend"

"Yes I am very lucky Emille."

Meanwhile his wife is talking ernestly to Heidi, with lots of wild hand movements. I'm guessing she is getting the last word in how to keep me under control.

"How long do you think this will go on for Captain?"

"The marriage? Forever, I hope"

"I meant the War"

"Untill someone runs out of steam, I suppose. Regardless of what other people have told you, I'd like to come and meet you as a visitor, not as an invader.

We shook on that.

"Look after her..."

And then we are walking back down the iron stairs and making our way back to the hotel. The War is still on, and I have to go back to sea, but for now we are together, and engaged to be married.

It's the hardest, but the best thing I have ever done.

LS

Better than Mills and Boon :lol: :up:

In the morning, Heidi's arm flopped over to my side of the mattress, now empty.

We U-boot men are up early, and I am standing there with a tray of hot real french coffee, some juice, warm croissants, and some brioche just waiting to be filled with the ham, and cheese and butter

"You did this for me, Rollie..?"

"No, because I was hungry. Now get in that bath tub, hurry up the croissants are getting cold"

The croissants were still warm and the butter melting as she came back in her bathrobe.

I popped the champagne and added some to our orange juice. "This is what they call 'Bucks Fizz' "
"What do you mean by 'They', darling"
"Well the Brits and their colonies and the Amis mainly, the Russkies , well maybe not them so much and....I tailed away lamely

"Pretty much everyone, Rollie"

"Yes, but they don't have what we have. We pretty much massacred that convoy, and with a few more boats...."

"..'with a few more boats', Rollie? Those people are even now churning out ships, quicker than the next u-boat"

I took a long pull of the champagne

"Well they still have to get them across the Atlantic Ocean, and that's the flaw in their plan, Heidi. Because we'll be waiting!"

LS

Heidi's going to go to sea as well? I'm sure she will be popular in the U-46!:D

Rollie sounded like a good 'Party' member for a second there :hmm: