//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Truman's Decision // Story: War, Apples, and Love // by Island_Dancer96 //------------------------------// One afternoon at the White House in Washington, D.C., former First Lady Mia Celestia was in her room mourning the loss of her husband, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who died from polio when her sister, First Lady Lulu Luna walked into her room to find her sister with her head hanging down. Her husband, President Harry Truman was in Germany in Berlin for the Potsdam Conference. "Tia?" Lulu asked, stepping into the room. "Oh, hey, Lulu." Tia sniffed. "I was wondering how you were doing." Luna said, stepping into the room. Tia turned to face her sister, Luna saw that Tia's eyes were bloodshot, and her dress had tearspots on it, the former First Lady had been crying. "Are you still thinking about Franklin?" Lulu asked. Tia sniffed and nodded yes, Luna sat beside her sister and saw that Tia was holding a pocket sized picture of herself and Franklin during their wedding, back when Franklin was young, and could walk. Both of them were smiling in the picture. "I can't stop thinking about him.." Tia whimpered. "I just can't believe he's gone.." Tia sniffed. Lulu went over to her sister, sitting down so she was eye level with her sister. "Tia… If you had blamed yourself for Franklin's death… I would've never ever forgiven myself… this isn't healthy for you, you haven't slept for over a week!" She gently tilted Tia's head up so she could look into her eyes, smiling gently. "Tia, I just want you to know that even though Franklin is gone, you still have him in your heart." Tia looked at her before smiling a little, a small tear got out, and streaked down her cheek. Lulu looked at her elder sister, an encouraging smile on her face. "Oh Lulu…where would I be without you?" Tia asked. "What are sisters for?" Lulu asked Tia, hugging her. A few minutes later, after Tia and Lulu hugged each other, a Secret Service agent assigned to the Presidential Detail, Agent Shining Armor, walked into the room. "First Lady Luna, your husband will be returning from Berlin in 2 hours. I also have this letter for you. It's from Cadence in London." Shining said, walking up to Luna and handing her the envelope. "Thank you, Agent Armor." Luna said. Shining nodded and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. "What does it say?" Tia asked, her curiosity peaked. "I don't know, I have to open it first." Lulu said. Being careful not to get a paper cut or crumple the letter or the envelope, Lulu carefully opened the envelope, took out the letter and started reading it. "Dear Lulu Luna, I am just as devastated as you are about the death of Tia's husband. He was a good man, and a wonderful leader of not just men in military, but a country, and I loved him as much as Tia did. I will miss him as much as you and Tia will. My husband Winston is equally as devastated by Franklin's death, and he will miss Franklin as well. He always considered Franklin more than an ally in war, he considered Franklin a brother. The British crown is wishing the best for you and the American people. Yours and Tia's close friend, Mi Amore Cadenza." "Cadence.." Lulu sighed, holding the letter in her hands. "You always have ways of cheering us up.." Luna sighed. Luna's and Tia's best friend Mi Amore Cadenza, was married to the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill even though she was born in the United States. "Luna, I'm back!" Harry called as he walked into the White House foyer. "Harry, did they accept the Potsdam Declaration?" Luna asked Harry, walking up to him, Tia by her side. He forlornly sighed, "No, Lulu, they didn't. Prime Minister Suzuki said that the Japanese government will ignore the Potsdam Declaration, he even used the word mokusatsu." Harry grimly said. "What does that word mean?" Tia asked, confused. "It means 'To kill with silent contempt'. Which leaves us with only one choice, the atomic bomb will be used." Harry said. "No, Harry! We don't know what will happen if something goes wrong!" Tia protested. "Tia, I can assure you that all potential problems with the bomb were ironed out during the course of the Manhattan project, we've invested more than $500,000,000 and spent 3 years on this! With the assistance and the expertise of some of the worlds finest scientists, including Albert Einstein." Harry reassured the woman. "Harry, there has to be another way to make the Japanese surrender!" Tia pleaded, trying to change Harry's mind. "I wish there was, Tia, but I'm sorry, there isn't. The war needs to end, and it needs to end NOW!" Harry said, walking away. "If only there were another way..." Tia said. "No, Tia, Harry's mind is set. It's best if we just stay out of his way." "You're right, Lulu, he's already tired from traveling from Berlin all the way back here." Celestia said.