Lenora laughed at Yelena's antics. "Oh, come on, Marina. We're going to be fighting together! Smashing Hitler and his traitorous soldiers, together! There's no reason we can't get to know each other while we're doing it. Here, I'll go first." She jumped off the bed and went back to her own billet, returning a few moments later with a a blurry photograph. It showed Lenora in a dress, next to a tall, slim man. Seated in front of them was a little girl with Lenora's wavy hair and the man's slim, dagger-like profile. They were all dressed formally like at a party.<br/><br/>"This is my beautiful Masha." Lenora kissed the photo gently, before passing it around so the rest of the women could see. "She is my entire world. She's why I enlisted, why I'm fighting here instead of being back on the farm. Her father writes to me that whenever the children play at being great Soviet heroes, Masha gets to be the pilot -- because her own mother is off being an airwoman!" Lenora felt a great wave of homesickness rise in her, felt her eyes prickling as she remembered holding he daughter so tightly before she left. "I would give anything for a chance to be back with my family in Vologda, but until that day happens I am proud to be here. Fighting alongside all of you!" When the photo finally made it back to her Lenora kissed it again and held it gently against her breast, cradling it almost like she might her own child.