Susanna hummed as she stirred the warm pot, waiting for the soldiers to come in for breakfast. Once they calmed down and had some food sticking to their bones, Susan began to enjoy their company. She loved the sound of a full house, the life and energy that each soul brought into the room. She had hoped to be a mother some day, a wish she had been forced to push aside with her husband's death.<br/><br/>Susan had been quick to learn their names out of respect, disappointed that she did not recognize them from any of Tommy's letters. And asking if they had known him... It was too soon for that, even if months had passed since his death. She smiled as the soldiers slowly came in clean and well groomed, thanking her kindly for the meal. It was difficult for her to imagine them as the same hooligans that broke into her home the night before. "Your husband sure is lucky to have come back from the war to such a nice home and wife, Mssus," the youngest said sheepishly to her as he accepted his ration.<br/><br/>Susan faltered to this, her eyes darting to the innocent face and then Robert. She sighed softly and nodded, smiling to him. "Thank you, James. Robert and I do our best to make this old farm feel like home.  I'm sure you have a family waiting for you too, so eat up now so you can get back to them," she said, patting his hand. Susan watched the last soldier blush and take his rations before she scooped the last of the oatmeal and apples into a dish and came over to where Robert stood. "I hope you don't mind me not correcting him," Susanna said softly, knowing Robert had overheard their conversation. "I couldn't take the hope of a better life after the war away from him. They are broken enough as it is. Now come and eat, you need your strength if you ever want to heal up."<br/>