Disclaimer: I do not own American Girl.

A/N: I made Felicity 15 when Ben turned 18.

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The cold air pierced her skin as she walked towards the tavern. Felicity Merriman looked up at the tavern and saw the list at the window. Taking a breath she looked at the list of casualties for the war. Thank God, she thought, he isn’t there. She let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Felicity let a small smile warm her face as she remembered the last day she saw him.

“Ben?” asked Felicity. Ben looked up from his packing.

“Yes?” questioned Ben. Felicity took a deep breath.

“Please promise me you’ll come back,” she pleaded, then realizing how she sounded, “Ben you are one of my best friends and I do not know what I would do without you if you died. Ben I have known you since I was nine. Promise me, you will come back.”

Ben looked intently at her and spoke, “Lissie, I’ll come back I promise.”

But that had been over two years ago and Felicity felt relieved that he was keeping his promise. They had written each other frequently in the first year. Then in the second year the war had gotten worse and it was hard to get a letter out to the soldiers and it was even harder to get letters from the soldiers. Felicity understood that she did, but it didn’t quail her fears. She had seen one soldier whom was sent home due to his injuries. He had once been a vibrant young man and when he came back he became a former shell of himself. Felicity feared what the war was doing to the men. She knew they fought for good reasons, reasons she believed in herself, but she wished that the war wasn’t taking so long.

“Felicity?” a voice asked breaking her from her thoughts, Felicity looked up and saw her best friend Elizabeth. Elizabeth had a questioning look in her face and Felicity knew what she wanted to know.

“No,” she said.

“Oh, thank goodness,” said Elizabeth. Felicity smiled and hooked her arm with Elizabeth’s as they made their way to the store. Elizabeth had become a patriot and lived with the Merrimans now since her family had gone back to England. Her family accepted her choice all except Annabelle. Annabelle called Elizabeth a disgrace to the family and cut of all ties of communication with her. It saddened Elizabeth that her sister would not write to her, but she understood. The two friends reached the store and entered.

“Father, Elizabeth and I are here to come help with the shop,” she said as her father looked up from the counter. Her father, Edward Merriman smiled.

“Thank you girls,” he said. Then the two girls got to work, Felicity working at the cashier and Elizabeth organizing the shelves. The girls made small talk while a customer was not there, but as soon as a customer entered they became all business. Felicity smiled as she remembered one day at the shop a few months ago.

“Lissie?” asked Elizabeth as they were closing the store. Elizabeth looked up.

“Yes?” asked Felicity.

“Have you thought of courting yet?” asked Elizabeth. Felicity blinked in surprise.

“I have not with the war. I have not decided if I would like to court,” said Felicity in surprise. Elizabeth nodded.

“Yes this war has held us back from living a normal life,” sighed Elizabeth, “but that does not mean that we have to give up the normal things.”

“Honestly Elizabeth I haven’t thought of courting even though I am of age that courting starts,” said Felicity. Felicity had just turned sixteen and Elizabeth sixteen and a half.

“I know you haven’t and neither have I. But Lissie haven’t you wondered what all the fuss about courting is,” said Elizabeth. Felicity shrugged.

“Not really. Now Elizabeth, what brought this on?” asked Felicity. Elizabeth blushed warmly.

“You know that James Carlton that lives two houses down?” asked Elizabeth.

“He has asked to court you?” asked Felicity in shock.

“He has,” said Elizabeth smiling shyly. Felicity beamed at her friend.

“Oh my Elizabeth I am so happy for you,” said Felicity.

“Although he asked me if he should ask for your father’s permission seeing as I live with him and I said yes,” said Elizabeth.

“Oh father will love James,” said Felicity reaching for Elizabeth. Elizabeth turned to her friend and they hugged each other.

Now James and Elizabeth had been a couple for three months. Felicity was happy for her friend and she liked James. Her family had welcomed James and her father had approved of him. Just then the bells tinkled and Felicity looked up. She saw James who held finger to his lips. Felicity smiled and nodded. She watched as he placed his hands over Elizabeth’s eyes. Elizabeth then turned around and when she realized it was James. James placed a chaste kiss on her lips and Elizabeth smiled warmly at him.

“Go on get out of here you lovebirds,” said Felicity. Elizabeth and James looked at her blushing.

“You sure?” asked Elizabeth. Felicity nodded. Then watched as James placed Elizabeth’s coat back on and they walked out of the store. Felicity sighed as she was left alone in the store. Just then Nan, her sister entered.

“Hello Lissie,” said Nan.

“Hello Nan,” said Elizabeth. The two sisters worked in amiable silence until the shop closed.

--Ben’s POV

Ben shivered against the cold as he sat by the fire. A younger man sat nearest to the fire and he was pale. Ben sighed remembering his first battle, it must’ve been that young man’s first too, because this was the first time Ben had seen him. He made his way next to the young man.

“Benjamin Davidson,” said Ben.

“Thomas Smith,” said the younger man.

“Thomas, this your first battle?” asked Ben.

“Yes,” said Thomas his voice low.

“I remember mine, scared out of my wits,” said Ben. Thomas looked at him.

“Is it always that bad?” asked Thomas. Ben sighed.

“The battlefield? I’d be lying if I said no, but yes it is,” said Ben. Thomas took a shuddering breath.

“So many bodies,” he said closing his eyes. Ben nodded.

“Remember why we are here though. Those men fought for what they believed in they did not die in vain,” said Ben. Thomas nodded. Just then an older soldier, Jonathan Edwards walked towards them.

“Yes they fought and died in honor,” said Jonathan. A man came near the group.

“They have letters,” said the man. Ben and Jonathan stood up shocked. Letters haven’t come in months. It would be good to hear from home. Ben waited to hear his name and pleaded to have letters.

“Benjamin Davidson,” said the man. Ben opened his eyes and took the letter from the man. It was from Felicity, he smiled. Sitting near the fire he opened it.

Dearest Ben,

It’s been a year and a half since you have gone of too war. I haven’t seen your name on the casualty list, that brought me hope that you are keeping your promise. You better be alive Ben or I’ll bring you back to life and kill you myself.

Ben laughed bitterly reading her words, he missed her spunk.

Anyways Elizabeth found a beau, his name is James Carlton. Do you remember him, that boy that always used to buy the sour candy? Elizabeth and James make a lovely couple though. Nan is still a little prim lady, but she and I have been talking about this crush of hers. She has a crush on Zachary Johnson. Honestly I don’t see what is so special about him. But I don’t tell Nan that. William is growing up to be a little man. Father cannot seem to shake him off. He wants to learn everything. It’s quite funny really. Polly is such a little spirit in the house. She loves Penny as much as I do. She’s growing up to be a lovely child. I cannot wait for you to meet her. Father and Mother are doing well. Ben, I do hope you are doing well. You better come back alive. Not dead, alive.

Your faithful friend,

Felicity Merriman

Ben sighed, it was one of the shorter letters she had written him, but at least she was still writing him. Ben looked around at the camp and saw smiles. Letters from home had brought those smiles to those faces. He heard someone sigh and realized it was Jonathan.

“Jon?” inquired Ben. Jonathan looked up and smiled.

“My wife sent me a letter,” he said holding it up. Ben nodded and smiled.

“Felicity sent me one too,” said Ben.

“Felicity, is she your girl?” asked Jonathan his voice teasing. Ben felt uneasy, what was Felicity?

“She is my friend, one of my closest. She’s my master’s daughter,” said Ben.

“A friend and master‘s daughter, but not your girl?” asked Jonathan.

“No, she’s not my girl,” said Ben and saying those words felt wrong to Ben. It made Ben completely uneasy.

“Are you sure?” asked Jonathan. Ben nodded, Felicity is only sixteen much to young to my nineteen. She’s my master’s daughter. She’s my closest friend, my confidant. What is she to me?

--a/n

So new story and I don’t expect reviews on this one, but I do want to continue this oneJ