Gradually over the next few weeks tensions eased a bit, the fraternization rules were relaxed and Germany became a much better place.

The rubble clearing still went on though, it had to, the building work was moving on quicker than most of us had anticipated.

I'd met Eva's younger brother Manfred and I'd managed to get him a job on our building gang as a tea boy and general labourer, he still did a bit of black market wheeling and dealing, but mostly he was kept busy working and he was getting a regular wage.

Eva proved invaluable, not just as an interpreter, but also as a go between whenever disputes arose and there were plenty of those!

We'd taken her friend Anna on as an assistant to the C.O. but as the defeated German troops returned to what was left of their homes and were cleared as being "denazified," the supply of bricks and other building materials actually began to outstrip our huge demands.

There were several alarming incidents involving so called Werewolf S.S. who had refused to surrender, but generally speaking our troops who guarded the sites day and night were alert and on the ball.

Eva had practically given up her carriage to move into mine and when we had to wait for materials I used some of the builders to expand my carriage almost into a bungalow complete with a bathroom and a small rear garden, then one morning the C.O, sent for me again.

"Sit down Jack," he said and asked Anna for two coffees.

"Your work is going well Jack," he said with a smile, "So much so that we can do without you for a while."

"Sir?"

"Leave Jack," he smiled again, "I'm ordering you to take some leave, two weeks in fact starting today." he threw an envelope onto the desk in front of me.

"Your travel documents and some for your lovely lady friend."

"But why sir, I'm quite happy to remain here for as long as I'm wanted?"

"You have a mother and two brothers I believe?"

"Yes sir."

"Well she's been bending a few ears back in London, it's been three years since your last home visit, oh and there's to be another awards ceremony at the palace, the King was wondering if you could spare the time so that he can pin a couple of medals on your chest."

His sarcasm made me smile.

"And as I said Jack, it's an order, so get your gear together right away and I'll see you in two weeks time."

"Sir." I stood up and saluted smartly before leaving with a smile on my face.

Eva was in my office going through some paperwork and her face lit up when I told her we were going to England.

"But Jack, I am German, they will not like me."

"They'll love you my sweetheart and anyway I need you with me at the palace."

"The palace?"

"Yes Buckingham Palace, it's a little place in London where the King lives."

"We go to the Palace?"

"Yes he wants to give me some bits of tin."

"I not understand."

"I'm getting some medals."

It was late afternoon as the train steamed into Croydon station and shuddered to a halt.

 The platform was mobbed with people waving and cheering, bunting and flags fluttered in the breeze and a brass band struck up as we alighted.

"There must be somebody special on the train," I said just as a voice shouted out.

"Jack, Jack!" and a small bundle I called mum nearly knocked me off my feet.

A big pair of arms grabbed me in a bear hug and when my brother finally put me down I realised I was crying, all this was for me! Me, Jack Burton the snotty nosed little trouble maker who went off to war and came back a man!

My mother was crying, my two brothers were crying and poor Eva was crying.

"Aww my little darling," mum exclaimed and did her best to crush Eva to death. "You must be Eva, welcome to England pet, my name's Mary, I'm Jacks mum."

"Wow you nicked a toff's uniform mate?" Paul my elder brother laughed and hugged me again, "'Ere Pete, we got a toff in the family."

"Bugger off you pair of prats," I laughed and grabbed Eva's hand.

"Say hello to the two worst soldiers in the British army."

"Oi do you mind? The two worst sergeants if you please," Pete laughed pointing to the three stripes on his arm.

She smiled nervously and allowed herself to be led away by mum, everyone wanted to say hello to her and to slap my back or shake my hand but finally we made it into the old charabanc they'd hired and Paul showed off his new found driving skills.

"What was all that about then?" I asked and mum laughed.

"You tell him Peter."

"You're not getting the Military Cross."

"Oh, why not?"

"You've been upgraded, you're getting the big one."

"The big one?" I asked stupidly.

"The Victoria Cross* mate, that's all."

"Bloody hell," I laughed, "That means I get a pension as well."

"You very brave man Jack," Eva said quietly and Pete snorted derisively.

"A bloody fool more like."

We pulled up outside my local pub and I groaned inwardly as I saw the banner stretched across it saying, "Welcome home Jack, you're our hero."

"You're the first V.C. We've ever had from Croydon." Paul said as we got out and I was mobbed by cheering well wishers, half of whom I didn't even know!

Inside were long tables groaning beneath the weight of food on them, there were plates of ham, whole chickens, salads, boiled eggs and masses of sandwiches, you name it, it was there, I'd never even seen a whole ham before and chickens were an unheard of luxury at that time in Britain.

"Bloody hell," I gasped, "I've never seen so much grub before, where the hell has all this come from?"

"We all contributed Jack," Mum said proudly, "And the parish council doubled what we collected, the whole town's proud of you."

"Flippin' heck, what berk made you a bloody officer?" I looked round and saw the grinning face of my best mate."

"Chris mate," I yelled, "You made it through."

"Just," he grinned, "The buggers took me leg in France, but the rest of me made it."

"Oh shit, I'm sorry mate."

"No sweat mate, I'm fine, I just won't be playing much football that's all."

"Chris say hello to Eva."

He grabbed her hand and shook it warmly, "I'm pleased to meet you gal, any friend of Jack's is a friend of mine."

We had to suffer through a speech then by the chairman of our local council welcoming me home and by the time he'd finished we were all nearly asleep until mum stood up and shouted.

"Well the grub won't eat itself, get stuck in." and it was pandemonium.

"Please may I have a sandwich Jack." said a tiny voice beside me and I looked down into Eva's big eyes.

"Eva my darling," I said softly, "This food is for everyone, help yourself."

She dutifully took one sandwich and nibbled it nervously, still very unsure and very nervous.

 I thought for a moment about how she must have felt, our two countries had been at war for six years and here she was in a strange country, she didn't know a soul and up until just a few months ago she would have been the enemy.

"Fuck this," I muttered and strode up to the stage, the microphone was still on it's stand and I tested it to see if it was still live, it was.

"Ladies and gentlemen," I shouted, "Please give me your attention just for a minute."

Gradually the noise died down and I beckoned Eva up to the stage with me, she looked gorgeous in her uniform, gorgeous but frightened and she nervously gripped my hand.

"First of all allow me to thank you all for this lot," I spread my hands out to them.

"But please I need to ask you to meet my fiance, this young lady here is named Eva," I paused then added "And she's German."

I stopped to let it sink in.

"She wears a British uniform because she is doing invaluable work for us over in Berlin, her only surviving family members are a young brother in Berlin and an elder brother who was a Luftwaffe pilot.

He's now a prisoner of war somewhere over here, she's not yet twenty, she's in a foreign country and at this moment I'm guessing she's rather frightened, am I right Eva?"

I got a very small nod as an answer.

 "And if you think the bomb damage here is bad, you should see Berlin." and just for a heartbeat there was complete silence and then a voice shouted out.

"You come down 'ere luv, we'll show you some good old British hospitality, come on gal, come on down, the wars over, there's food on the table and I'm bloody starving."

 A mixed group of men and women rushed the stage and she was enveloped in a wave of humanity, one of the men shouted out, "Three cheers for little Eva, hip hip,..."

The next time I saw her she was behind a heaped plate full of food laughing with some of her new friends, someone had brought a gramophone so we all danced to Glen Miller, Vera Lynn, Al Jolson and all and we all shed a few tears unashamedly as Lili Marlene was played. (A haunting song much loved by the troops of both sides in the war.)

Everyone was eating, drinking, dancing or just chatting to old friends, it was a great welcome home, I even managed to drag Eva away from the crowd around her for a dance or two.

"These people here, they are nice."

"They're just ordinary folk my darling, but they like you."

"Ja," she smiled, "I mean yes, I think they do, you said I am your fiance, what is this word I do not know it?"

"It means you are the girl I'm going to marry." she stopped dancing and looked at me with those big eyes of hers.

"You marry me, a German?"

"If you'll have me, yes."

"I have you Jack, oh yes, I have you."

"Jack." mum had sidled up to us to tell me that as there was no room in our house for us both.

 The council have paid for a room for you both here in the hotel, so you can disappear whenever you like, I'm sure you're both cream crackered.

"Aw mum, thanks, this has been amazing, I never expected anything like this."

"Yes Mrs. Burton thank you, you are very kind."

"Mrs.Burton? I told you gal, me names Mary."

"Thank you Mary," she said and kissed mum warmly, "But what is this cream crackered?"

"Cockney rhyming slang my darling, cream crackered- knackered, tired, get it?"

"Yes I think so," she smiled then put a hand up to her mouth to stifle a yawn.

"Jack I think I'm a little bit cream crackered."

It took half an hour to say our farewells to everybody, then the landlord showed us up to our room.

"Sleep as long as you like Jack," he said, "It's good to have you back mate."

"It's good to be here Tom," I said with feeling and shook his hand.

Eva was looking round the room when I got in and closed the door.

"This is nice Jack," she smiled, "The people, they are good to you, yes?"

"Yes," I agreed and took her into my arms, "They are but this is what I've wanted all day."

We made love quietly; each one engrossed in our own pleasure and then slept in each others arms.

It was after ten in the morning before I awoke to find her standing at the window looking out over Croydon.

"Come here you sexy little fräulein," I growled and she giggled before diving on me completely naked, I was already hard and she was wet so I slid right up into her making her moan with pleasure.

"You still want this when we marry Jack?"

"Every day," I laughed, "And twice on Sunday."

"Only twice?"

"You make me a maniac for sex Jack."

"You mean a sex maniac."

"This is what I say."

"Are you complaining?"

"No," she giggled, "Oh no, I never complain about making too much sex."

*  Author's note: (During the whole six years of fighting during WW II only 182 Victoria's Crosses were awarded in all theatres of the war.)