The Postlude: Dieses ist Haus [This is Home]

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan.
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow upon snow,
In that bleak midwinter, long, long time ago...

~ In the Bleak Midwinter, tr. Catherine Winkworth

...six months since the funeral...

"…und führen Sie uns nicht in Versuchung, aber liefern Sie uns vom Übel. Für Ihr ist das Königreich und die Energie und der Ruhm, von Alter zu Alter. Amen."

The Düsseldorf Quartet and their Mensch-Maschinen had all held hands and prayed the Lord's Prayer before the graves of Rebekah and Anneke's parents. Earlier upon arriving at the cemetery they said proper prayers for the parents that brought Elizabeth and Johannes to the world. In all their humility and respect the men kept their silence until the prayers were said and they had all left the cemetery.



Andelina and Gregorio moved back to Düsseldorf, so to start a new life with their son Alessandro. Every now and then the boy would get a visit from their deceased daughter Rinalee, and they would have funny conversations, which in turn amused their parents whenever the boy spoke of them. For Andelina, however, it was even more special to her, that her new son would speak with his guardian sister and find many a topic to talk about. Like Mother's homemade spaghetti...

Andelina's friends Faith and Ingo also moved to to that same town to help out their fellow Clandestinian family out in making the most out of life. Together the two women started a late-night cafe, while Ingo and Gregorio would help out in civil affairs throughout the city, and in keeping the peace.

Professor Henning and Conductor Fritz continued to oversee the Spacelab, and received many a visit from the Quartet, Mensch-Maschinen and friends. Henning himself had received a few visitations from Rinalee, who felt it was best to stick around for more than an hour to talk about life and all its humors. Fritz however thought that, perhaps, ghosts could fall for the living, and would joke with his friend the Professor after Rinalee left for Heaven.



Rebekah finished making Matzo-ball Soup, using Mother's recipe, and placed the pot on potwarmers in the center of the dining room table. Afterwards she grabbed two bowls and two spoons. She was about to sit down when Wolfgang entered the kitchen.

"Reki, can I see you a second?" he asked.

"And I thought you were coming to sit down for lunch, hun" she answered as she stood up and walked to him. "What is it?"

He sighed for a moment. "Remember back at the Spacelab when I swore that I'd marry you?"

"Yes, I remember quite well. I know I was in a bit of shock too. Why?"

He handed her a small, blue box. "Well... remember when Mother left you her jewelry to wear from time to time?"

She nodded. "Yes. There was that one small ring I loved that she wore."

"And it had a star on it, correct?"

"Ja, it did."

Wolfgang sighed again. "Well..."

Rebekah raised a brow at him and opened the box, and there it was--the special ring that Mother wore, a simple silver ring that was adorned with a small star-shaped cubic zirconia. The nurse blinked back tears--she hadn't seen the ring since before she was deported to Lisbon. Then she looked up at him.

"Wolfgang... you..." she whispered, but words failed her as he got on one knee and took her left hand in his.

"Rebekah" he said, with adoring eyes fixed upon hers, "before we sit down to lunch and Matzo-ball Soup, will you marry me?"

But she, at a loss for words, could but only hug him close to her heart for a moment and, taking his face in her hands, kiss his lips. He held her tightly to him, to drown in the kiss for that moment, and then he smiled at her.

"I'd marry you this very moment if we but just grab the Minister and the gang" she answered.

"And deny the girls the honor of fitting you out for a bride!?" he laughed as he placed the ring on her finger. "I'd rather a proper ceremony instead of a shortened eloping, hun.

"That and, the soup is getting cold."



Anneke glanced up at the bright blue, white and purple menorah for Hanukkah, which was a Jewish holiday that the Quartet celebrated. Not that the Quartet was Jewish--they weren't, they were Anglican, but they felt proper to celebrate a holiday so rich in roots and tradition. In a couple of nights they would begin the festivities with a party at Rebekah's, and with the traditional exchanging of presents. A few weeks later it would be Christmas, complete with Anneke's favorite service--Weihnachtsmitternacht, or Christmas Midnight.

But for now, she smiled at the Hanukyah, and returned upstairs from the family room to her bedroom, just as Karl arrived home from grocery-shopping. She could hear his "Hallo Anya, I'm home!!" and she giggled as she sat down at the side of her bed, just taking in everything that she'd been through up to now. After Karl finished putting the groceries away he went upstairs to the bedroom and smiled when he saw her. "Anya, stop thinking so darn much" he laughed a bit, but she looked up at him and smiled.

"I can't stop thinking how I've come a long way up to now in over three years' time" she spoke, the smile not leaving her face. "Have I ever told you just how happy I am to have you in my life, Karlos?"

He shook his head. "Nein, not that I know of." He then walked over to her. "Why?"

"Because, I really am happy to have you in my life" she answered as he stood before her. The smile never left her face, which caused him to raise a brow in curiosity.

"...okay Anya, what is up?" he asked finally, giving up the thinking process of just what could possibly be up with her.

But she simply grabbed his hands and, in one quick swoop, she got him on the bed and happily took the tie off of him. Karl, stunned at the quick move, was speechless as she took his wrists and tied them with his tie in the same manner he'd once tied her hands with a ribbon back in Venice.

"Dear God, Anya--" he laughed, but she put her finger to his lips and smiled.

"Tonight, it's Mistress to you" she answered.

Karl looked at her, wide-eyed, still smiling. "You can't be serious."

"Remember that night in Venice, when you had me all tied up and at your mercy?" she asked. He nodded hesitantly.

"Well" she said, "this is going to be the best case of payback I've ever attempted on anybody. And you wanna know the best part?"

He simply blinked, smiling nervously.

Anneke licked his lips for a moment, then smiled again. "I think we're going to like every moment of this."

Karl rested his head back on the bed, his eyes rolling back with a sigh as she fought with his shirt buttons, the smile not leaving his face--this form of payback was going to be such good torture...



Elizabeth and Florian sat in her parents' library in the basement, cross-legged, facing each other. It was, for the first time since their moment in Athens, another staring contest, and the same rule applied that, they could smile, they just couldn't laugh.

The ante was upped again when Florian began to make funny faces, and Elizabeth would follow suit. He'd smirk, she'd smirk. He'd pout, she'd pout.

Best part was, they'd been at it for a couple of hours now...



Johannes and Ralf were upstairs in her room, taking a much-needed nap from the whims of the day. Wrapped in her favorite blanket that Elizabeth gave her younger sister, the couple had to keep warm from the snowy chill outside, and fell asleep to her music box playing Funkeln, Funkeln, wenig Stern [Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star].

A moment later Johannes blinked her eyes open, a smile crossing her face as she looked at her beloved's sleeping face. He then opened his eyes and smiled--their quiet moment slightly interrupted by the sound of laughter coming from downstairs. The young lady giggled.

"Sounds like Elizabeth and Florian have found an end to their staring contest, Ralf" she whispered.

"Ja, sure sounds like it" he replied softly, still smiling.

Johannes closed her eyes for a moment, remembering how she felt this wasn't meant to happen to people like her. And then came the blessed Trans-Europa, with the sweeter company of Ralf and his friends.

"Ralf" she whispered, raising a brow softly.

"Yes, Johanna?" he said.

"Ever heard the phrase... home is where the heart is?"

He nodded. "Why?"

She smiled adoringly. "Because whenever I'm with you, my heart feels like it's at home. I'm sure that... Elizabeth, Rebekah and Anneke would agree with me... about the ones that they themselves truly love and adore."

Ralf smiled back at Johannes--no words were needed as he took her face in his hands and kissed her lips. She was right--the girls had found something sweeter than just being at home in beloved Düsseldorf, they'd found a home in the hearts of the men they loved, just as they found in the young women that went out of line for the sake of Eastern Europe's freedom. With the Mensch-Maschinen in their lives, in their hearts, there was no telling what was possible for the Quartet of the Düsseldorf Chapter of the Clandestine Rebellion...



~ trans-europe express ~ the end ~

Chapter 36: Requiem ~ An ewig Frieden [Requiem ~ Unto Everlasting Peace]

ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, דיין האמת
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, dayan ha-emet.

[Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, the True Judge.]

~ traditional Jewish blessing upon receiving news of a passing ~



Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

In memoria æterna erit justus, ab auditione mala non timebit.

Absolve, Domine, animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omno vinculo delictorum et gratia tua illis succurente mereantur evadere iudicium ultionis, et lucis æterne beatitudine perfrui.

Domine, Jesu Christe, Rex gloriæ, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de pœnis inferni et de profundo lacu. Libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum; sed signifer sanctus Michæl repræsentet eas in lucem sanctam, quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et semini ejus.

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus; tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et semini ejus.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam.

Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in æternum, quia pius es. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis.

[Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

He shall be justified in everlasting memory, and shall not fear evil reports.

Forgive, O Lord, the souls of all the faithful departed from all the chains of their sins and may they deserve to avoid the judgment of revenge by your fostering grace, and enjoy the everlasting blessedness of light.

Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, free the souls of all the faithful departed from infernal punishment and the deep pit. Free them from the mouth of the lion; do not let Tartarus swallow them, nor let them fall into darkness; but may the sign-bearer, Saint Michael, lead them into the holy light which you promised to Abraham and his seed.

O Lord, we offer you sacrifices and prayers in praise; accept them on behalf of the souls whom we remember today. Make them pass over from death to life, as you promised to Abraham and his seed.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, grant them rest eternal.

May everlasting light shine upon them, O Lord, with your saints forever, for you are faithful. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon them.]

~ from the Requiem Service ~

Alessandro took a deep breath and held the Processional Cross high, only glancing back once at the processional party behind him before starting his solemn march down the aisle. Behind him were Elizabeth and Johannes, serving as Torch Bearers. Ralf followed with the Paschal Candle, with Florian right after bearing the banner of the Martyrs of the Union.

Following them were, side by side, Rebekah and Anneke, dressed in traditional Clandestinian Mourner's attire--black coats, gray skirts. In their hands they held candles, black because of the nature of the service. And then were the many officers of the Düsseldorf Chapter, dressed in their Mourners uniforms, serving as Pall Bearers--
Among the Bearers for Rebekah's father, Gregorio and Henning;
Rebekah's mother, Andelina and Wolfgang;
Anneke's father, Ingo and Fritz;
Anneke's mother, Faith and Karl.

At a distance the ghostly angel Rinalee kept vigil, watching from a corner near the back of the Church. It returned her memory to her own funeral--she was much too young to die at the hands of the Darkstrom. But this... four souls lost at the hands of Hell's hounds. This was more than she could bear, more than she could comprehend. More than she could fathom as she remembered the night before...

Rebekah sat on the floor, beside the main door of the funeral home, hugging her knees to her chest. Sleep was impossible in situations like this. In merely hours she would have to bid her final fare-wells to her parents. She rested her forehead against her knees, struggling to fight the tears that welled up in her eyes.

Wolfgang had slept on one of the couches in the parlor where her parents' caskets were there. But he opened his eyes knowing the young woman herself was not in the room, and looking around a moment stepped out of the parlor. His gaze fixed to the left, and there she'd sat. Quietly he walked to her and, kneeling down, placed a hand on her knees.

She lifted her head to look at him, rivers of tears falling down her cheeks. Their eyes met, and he realized this was hurting her more than healing. He sat down beside her, took her into his arms, and consoled her in her tears.

As the Processional approached the altar, the caskets were lined up side by side, the Paschal Candle placed in the middle of the solemn row, and all took their proper places at the altar and pews.

Karl held onto Anneke tightly, as he done for so long since the night they returned from Alessandro's adoption festivity. He helped her through all the pain of the past two days, the long hours of the past night. His glance went around to the faces of the entire Düsseldorf Chapter present, to the Priest and Deacon, then to Ralf and Florian with their girlfriends, Alessandro who stood at attention. To Rebekah and Wolfgang, and finally to Anneke. Then his gaze fixed to the Paschal Candle, the symbol of victory over death, and he closed his eyes in the memory of the night's painful vigil...

"Mind if we join you, Becca?"

Rebekah and Wolfgang looked up to see Anneke and Karl, who were unable to sleep as well, and the younger woman nodded in acceptance of further company. Anneke sat beside Rebekah, holding her hand tightly.

"We're all in this together, Reks" Karl whispered as he sat beside his beloved. Rebekah smiled sadly and squeezed Anneke's hand tightly.

"The grief is shared amongst the entire Chapter" Wolfgang said quietly. "They will be present, considering that the parents to be buried gave birth to two of their finest officers among us. They have all found it fitting to stand beside us in a fond, proper and final send-off."

"This... is the darkest hour that we have ever faced" Rebekah finally spoke as she hugged her three friends close to her. "All we have now is each other, so help us... so help us Father above--"

Wolfgang could but only hold her close as she sobbed, the embrace made sweeter through Anneke and Karl. They knew in their hearts, the youngest of the Quartet was right.

Anneke's eyes looked back towards the darkness of the funeral home, the haunting of it all. She hadn't been to a funeral home since the passing of her best friend's parents, she vaguely remembered anything from the vigil. But this...

this truly weakened her more and more, the longer she suffered in its walls.

Elizabeth stood at the pulpit on behalf of the Düsseldorf Chapter, giving a proper eulogy for Rebekah and Anneke's parents, and at its closing gave the two friends a proper Jewish greeting--

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שער אבילי ציון וירושלים
Hamakom y'nachem etkhem b'tokh sha'ar avelei tziyon viyrushalayim

Rebekah smiled at Elizabeth sadly, knowing the meaning of the greeting--The Place will comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem--and how much it meant to her that such a greeting would be said. Through her mother she made many Jewish friends, and while they were not as close as her tightknit Quartet, they shared in the grief of the passing. She glanced to one of her mother's friends, who was a Jew and in the Chapter, and they shared a grateful, knowing smile--that all would be well in the end. That all things began and ended rightly so in God.

The Priest continued with the service, which included the Prayers for the Deceased and Prayers for the Mourners, and then the Passing of the Peace. Then followed the Communion, with the Lord's Prayer. After Communion, Anneke and Rebekah stood up and, hand in hand, approached their respective parents' caskets. Ralf, Johannes and Elizabeth joined them and, taking each a permanent marker, inscribed the following on each casket--
Rebekah: זכר קדוש לברכה [zekher kadosh livrakha], which meant May the memory of the saintly be for blessing
Anneke: To my blessed family, here and in the life to come
Elizabeth: Our family, we grieve, we rise above, we thank God
Johannes: Requiescant in pace [Rest in peace]
Ralf: From the Clandestine Rebellion, the Düsseldorf Chapter, with all our love, honor and respect

Afterwards they were joined by Florian, Wolfgang and Karl and, huddling together, Rebekah led the Mourner's Kaddish, the traditional Hebrew prayer for the deceased, which praised God. Then the huddle turned into a group hug, and just as quickly they dispersed back to their proper places for the final blessing and Procession to the Cemetery.



The iron bells tolled throughout Düsseldorf as the Procession reached the Cemetery. Alessandro stood behind the small grave markers, in the middle, facing the approaching crowd. He watched throughout the entire service, his faces looking to those of the mourners, his family present to be there for their friends, the daughters of the deceased comforted by their loved ones. His own parents never received a proper funeral--they were cremated by the Darkstrom soldiers, and their cremains sunk into the sea.

As the party approached the open graves, the Pall Bearers placing the caskets in their respective graves, the boy's face lifted to the sky.

"...clouds" he whispered as he lowered his head to the four caskets, the gathering of mourners.

The Priest spoke the final prayers, and all joined in the Final Commendation, just before the first casket--Rebekah's father--was being lowered. Rebekah watched bitterly as first her father, then her mother returned to the earth. Wolfgang stood behind her, watching the caskets being lowered, unable to hold back the tears. His girlfriend closed her eyes for a moment, then reopened them, tears spilling at last over her pale cheeks.

The casket of Anneke's father soon was slowly lowered, and the girl herself forced herself to watch through this. "Don't if you can't handle" Karl, standing behind her, whispered in her ear.

"I have to, Karl" she whispered back as she began to cry. "They brought me into the world. I cannot turn away. This is the least I can do for them now."

Karl held her in his arms, watching as the casket of her mother was soon lowered to the grave. Blessed be the ones whose love brought Reks and Anya to us he thought, wiping a tear from his face. The caskets now being lowered, Anneke looked to the youngest of the Quartet, who was on her knees and sobbing, being comforted by Wolfgang.

The rest of the mourners dispersed, but the Quartet, Mensch-Maschinen and Alessandro remained. One of the gravediggers asked if everyone was alright, and if anyone needed a hand. Alessandro simply looked up and asked for a shovel.

"A... a SHOVEL!?" the gravedigger asked.

"Yes, Sir. A shovel."

"But... why!?"

"Because this is family you're trying to bury. We will proudly bury our family ourselves."

The gravedigger simply smiled and handed the former orphan the shovel and pointed him to the mound of dirt, and told him of extra shovels if needed. Seconds later the boy ran back with his first shovelful of dirt. Anneke raised a brow at him, but Alessandro wouldn't have any of it as the rain began to fall.

"This is family, you guys" he insisted. "I'm not going to let strangers' hands place the ground over loved ones."

Anneke looked at the mound of dirt and shovels for a moment--the child was right. If you're gonna bury your parents, best to do it with your own hands. And what better way than to lead by example--she stood up and straightened out her skirt.

"What is it, Anya?" Karl asked, looking up at her.

"This is family, and there is huge debts owed to those who gave us to the world" she replied. "This is the last proper favor we can do for them." And with that she followed Alessandro and, taking up a shovel, returned to help seal the graves.

Then, one by one... the rest of the gang followed. The graves were filled within an hour. And as they stood before the graves of their loved ones, wiping sweat and tears from their faces, their eyes, Rebekah and Anneke smiled, clasping each other's hands tightly. For despite now being rainsoaked through the storm, there was a proper sense of closure in their being. All was going to be just fine.

Then the gang went back to the church to change and dry off, and then to the Spacelab, for a luncheon and rejoining of the rest of the mourners from the Union.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem. Amen.

May angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your coming and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May a choir of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have eternal rest. Amen.

*writer's note - much of the chapter was inspired by the funeral traditions of the christian and hebrew faiths.*

Chapter 35: Eine Korrekte, Süßere Liebe [A Proper, Sweeter Love]

*to the few lurkers that read this story.

for louise and faith, my two beloved fellow passengers as i tirelessly tried to finish this crazy story.

and with all my love.*
Elizabeth knelt at the grave of her parents, Johannes standing beside her trying to take it all in. For the older sister, as she lost herself in prayer, it was the only way she could keep updating her parents on what all had gone on since before they were imprisoned. For the younger sister, however, it was simply a visiting to the parents. She could only remember their voices, but that was about as much as she could get from them. Her heart broke as she watched her older sister, then looked to the gravestone. Finally her gaze took in all the cemetery. In another couple of days Anneke's parents would be finally given a proper funeral, with Rebekah's parents' funeral following right after. The thought of it overwhelmed Johannes a little, as she'd never seen a funeral, and she didn't really remember anything from that of her parents'.

She closed her eyes, fighting tears as she looked back to her older sister. Elizabeth finally stood up and, wiping a tear or two from her face, looked to her younger sister.

"...what is wrong, Johanne?" Elizabeth asked.

"I just don't understand... why people have to die" Johannes replied looking to her with a sigh. "I don't... I just don't get it, you know?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I know, kleine Schwester. I know."

"And when it's time for Anneke and Rebekah's parents to be buried..." Johannes started, but couldn't finish.

"Not now, Johanne" Elizabeth interrupted. "Let not the sorrow be near on such a day as this." With a warm hug she helped her younger sister out of the cemetery and towards the Spacelab, where the rest of the gang awaited them.

"How are Mother and Father, Eliza?" Florian asked as the sisters entered the Meeting Room.

Elizabeth sighed. "They're doing just fine, Florian."

"You know, I still can't believe what happened to Anya's parents" Karl said somberly.

"Nor I for Reki's" Wolfgang chimed in, holding onto his girlfriend in an embrace. She looked up sadly, then hugged him tightly.

"We are all the family these girls have now, guys" Ralf said quietly from where he stood, in the back corner, his gaze fixed out the window to the cemetery in the distance. "Just as they are all the family we have." He then lowered his head as a few tears fell from his eyes. Then, with a sigh he lifted his head back up and fixed his gaze to the cemetery again. "After this, we have two funerals to be strong for. And we know this is going to be the hardest time that we can ever face.

"But, for now... at least... another family will be born. Let us rejoice for that" he finally said, looking to the rest of the gang. Johannes nodded.

"He is right" she said softly, "we'd better get going for Alessandro's adoption ceremony. We have to be there in 15 minutes."

En route to the main Clandestinian Rebellion HQ, Karl held Anneke in his arms as she took a decent nap. She'd been napping for the better part of the afternoon and, like Johannes, didn't wish to fall asleep mid-ceremony. The Mensch-Maschine looked out the window for a moment as they past the cemetery, and a tear or two fell from his face as his eyes caught four open caverns of earth, side by side. His heart sank as he knew whose graves were those, and his eyes quickly darted to Wolfgang, who held Rebekah to him. Rebekah's eyes caught Karl's and, for a moment, he reached out and held one of her hands tightly, mouthing "I'm so sorry, Reks."

"Danke, Karl" Rebekah whispered back with a sad, but grateful, smile. Wolfgang nodded his thanks.

Karl then let go of her hand and held on tightly to Anneke again, planting a tender kiss on her forehead. It was only a matter of time before he and the rest of the gang would put four dear souls to their final rest. But for now the thought of it all subsided as he looked at his beloved, then straight ahead as the gang arrived at the HQ.



"Everybody's here!!" Alessandro cheered as the Mensch-Maschinen and the Quartet walked into the Meeting Room of the HQ. Elizabeth's eyes met those of Gregorio, and her jaw dropped.

"Süße Mutter des Gottes…" she said, as Johannes looked to her, then to Gregorio. But the former guard walked to her and gave her a big hug with a smile.

"Yes, I am back in the neighborhood!" he said with a grin. "And I take it you've all met my wife Andelina?"

"Wait--WHAT!?" Rebekah asked in shock.

"So you mean... wait... Andy is...?" Anneke asked, trying to take it all in.

"Gregorio, you smart bastard!" Wolfgang laughed, hugging his old friend. "What are you doing here home in Düsseldorf?"

The guard smiled. "Andie and I are going to be parents again. To make up for the one we lost." His smile faded. "We couldn't allow Alessandro to be without parents, not if he's in need of a good family."

Wolfgang's eyes filled with tears. "Wait--you two are adopting Alessandro!?"

Gregorio nodded as Andelina joined him at his side and her face met Rebekah's. "You again!" she said with a grin.

"Andy!!" Rebekah cheered as she ran to hug the elder Clandestinian.

Gregorio meanwhile looked to Elizabeth. "How is your younger sister, Miss Korinn?" he asked.

Johannes peeked at him from behind her sister. "That sounds like Gregorio, Elizabeth" she chimed in.

"That's because it is Gregorio!" Elizabeth laughed. "He and Andelina are adopting Alessandro today!"

The young Italian Mensch-Maschine meanwhile ran into the arms of his soon-to-be parents, hugging Andelina tightly as Gregorio beamed with pride. The boy then turned to Johannes with a grin. "I'm so happy you all can be here" he said. "If not for you guys...!"

The ceremony, led by the General of the Düsseldorf Chapter of the Rebellion, went off perfectly, the entire gang--Mensch-Maschinen, Quartet, Fritz and Henning, Andelina's friends Faith and Ingo, and of course the proud family--celebrating the simple joy of belonging to a family. Alessandro, Andelina, Gregorio, Faith and Ingo were all accepted into the Düsseldorf Chapter by the General. And in turn, Elizabeth was named Captain of the Chapter, with Anneke as First Lieutenant, Rebekah as the Nurse. And Johannes herself was given the title of Chaplain-in-Training, which amused Elizabeth but it was fitting--for if not for her hope the gang would not have hung tightly to the fight for the freedom and safety of Eastern Europe.

After the proper Inquisition, the taking of vows and the signing of the documentations, the General "by the power invested and granted by the Solemn Court of Germany and the Clandestinian Union" declared Gregorio, Andelina and Alessandro a family, and that by right the child had every proper reason to have a family. The family got into a group hug, which was added by the rest of the gang. Johannes, with tears in her eyes, looked to Alessandro, who beamed at her.

"Miss Johannes!!" Alessandro said. "I have a family!! My wish for a family has come true!!" His eyes then met Florian's, and the two shared a smile that could only mean that, had Florian not allowed the boy along, this would not have been. And all the while the gang relished in the group hug.

Then Anneke caught a glimpse and, towards a distance, she turned her face to meet the ghostly figure of Andelina's daughter.

"Rinalee" she whispered, "you've come to bless us again, haven't you?" The young girl simply smiled and nodded in reply. No words were needed.

Anneke smiled back at her, as Karl looked to her. "What is it, Anya?" he asked quietly.

"Rinalee gives us her blessing, is all there is to it" she replied softly, smiling back at him as everyone prepared for the party which followed immediately. And everyone had their fill of cheer, and more than enough to go around.



Back home Anneke lied down on her bed with a sigh, looking out her window in her upstairs bedroom. If there was one crazy thing she and her three best friends had in common, it was that their bedrooms all looked alike in structure--wide windowsill bench, a few steps to the left of their beds, and at the other side of the rooms were the doors and, beside the doors, their desks. Closets at the wall opposite the bed. To the direct left of the bed was the bedside table, then the dresser. What was different were the pictures that graced the walls, the portraits on the desks, the colors that reflected their personalities.

Exhaustion had finally overtaken her as she sat up on the bed and took her coat off, leaving on only her sleeveless gray dress. Placing the coat on the foot of the bed she lied back down, facing the window. The braids had all been undone--first thing when she got home--and while she was happy that Alessandro had a family, it was still hard to take in the fact that she couldn't tell her parents in time that she'd loved them, that she was thankful for being there for her when they could. They'd been working class parents, working so hard to take care of her daughter as she bravely faced the world, for the most part, on her own. When the Darkstrom took over, after she and the girls were captured, there wasn't much else she could do--she didn't even get to say good-bye to her parents. She didn't get to tell them she loved them that final time before she was transported. Finally she closed her eyes, trying to sleep, tears of regret filling her eyes.

Karl had searched all over the house for Anneke, and finally he checked the bedroom, and became still when he entered the room. His face was fixed to the open window, then to the still figure on the bed. He knew she'd been exhausted from all the festivities of the day, he just never realized how much. But it all sank in the moment he looked at her, resting after a long day, as if nothing else mattered but sleep. With that he closed the door to the room and sat down on the side of the bed, turning to face her.

Anya he thought to himself, you've gone through so much in this life, haven't you?

Lying down behind her he took her into his arms, holding her tightly. They hadn't spent a lot of time together since the return to her home, with Fritz's birthday and Alessandro's adoption. But the time between it all, she'd spent the better part of her days with Rebekah at the HQ, settling the documentations and the funerals for their parents. Karl was with Wolfgang trying to figure out how else to console the girls, for they themselves hadn't really felt the pain of losing their own respect parents. But for Karl, the most important person in the world to him was in his arms, and so help him God if he couldn't see to it that he was there for her at every moment, every second that she needed him.

Except, inasmuch as she needed him, they'd been so apart because of all that had gone on, that he realized just much they truly needed each other. With that he held her to him even tighter, kissing her right ear.

Anneke opened her eyes, knowing that Karl was with her, and she turned to face him. And for a moment as their eyes met, all was still. And then finally she spoke.

"I've missed you, Karlos" she whispered, still lost in exhaustion.

"As have I, Anya" he whispered back as she held him to her.

"I have no idea what to make of all this anymore, Karlos" she whispered as she kissed the top of his head. "So much has happened... I never thought I could suffer such pain and still survive. I never thought what would've happened if I ever lost my parents. And now... I'm just... alone." Her eyes fixed to the picture of her with her parents--an impromptu, lighthearted portrait of her only family by blood. It was the last picture she'd taken of her parents before she was deported to Lisbon, the last picture of her parents alive.

"Anya, you're not alone" Karl whispered back, kissing along the scar on her neck. "You have Elizabeth, Johannes and Reks. You have Florian, Ralf and Wolgang. You have Andelina, Gregorio, Rinalee and Alessandro. You have Fritz and Henning.

"Anya... you have me."

Anneke was quiet for a moment as she looked at the picture again, then to him. He was right--she wasn't alone, even as the pain of losing her parents was getting to her. For now, she was in the sweeter company of the man she loved, and God forbid she'd dare to let her pain get in the way of this very moment. Not while he was with her now, and not while the next at least 48 hours were to be the hardest time she'd have to face.

"Karlos" she whispered, "I love you."

But Karl lifted his gaze to her face, took her face in his hands, and smiled. "I know, Anya, and I love you just as much but, no."

Anneke raised a brow. "Beg pardon--?"

"Not another word tonight, Anya" he whispered as he kissed her full on the mouth, and she finally understood why--that her words would only keep her somewhere in her misery. He didn't want to see her in such sorrow, not while he still had a moment to simply spend time with her. He then rolled onto his back so that she was on top of him and, breaking the kiss for a moment looked her in the eyes.

Outside the lanterns of the houses would be aglow, a lantern for each of the girls that remained alive through the chaos of the Darkstrom. Rebekah would take care of her lantern, then to that of Anneke, and then for Elizabeth and Johannes. Wolfgang would light four candles on the metal table in the living room of Rebekah's home, one for each of the parents soon to be buried. Florian and Ralf would keep their respective girlfriends company, the gang would soon reunite for the funerals, and that was to be their darkest hour.

But, not tonight. Not now.

"Angel," Karl spoke quietly, "not another word be said tonight, please. All I wish is that tonight, let's just... let's just be. All I want to do is to just love you tonight." He then held her face in his hands again and kissed her forehead. She then looked at him, how his eyes simply held that one plea. And then, she smiled softly. She couldn't say another word, didn't dare to. That one smile was all the affirmation he needed as their lips met again, her arms wrapped around him and his hands fighting the buttons on the back of her dress to take into his senses all of her, simply nothing more than to love her and for them to drown in that sweeter love that not even death could destroy.

Tonight, they would make up for some lost time...