Author's Note: I've divided the chapter into two parts. This part is what happens to Hadrian—hence the chapter title being the German phrase for 'Welcome Back'. Next chapter will be what happens to Ellen during the same exact time, but the chapter will be the Polish phrase for 'Welcome Back'.

As you may notice…this story will contain a lot of German/Polish words on occasion. I will ALWAYS put up the translation so don't worry.


Chapter 8- Willkommen Heißen

Hadrian walked a little farther to see his sister impatiently tapping her foot on the cobblestone ground. He frugally snuck out of her view, avoiding the glower she kept especially for him. He stretched out his had apprehensively, deciding whether to back away or proceed. Persephone looks pissed, maybe I should just turn around… He didn't have time to pull back before she spun into him.

"Hadrian!" she yelled. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for almost forever! What kind of dumbass leaves his sister waiting in the cold like this, hmm?" Hadrian instinctively protected himself from her special attack—the bitch slap. But instead she decided to hug him tightly.

"Persephone?" he whispered. "Are we…are we hugging?"

"Welcome back Brüderlein!" He exhaled in relief.

Persephone had been shorter than he remembered—or he simply grew by a head since six years ago (it was probably the latter). The two shared the same chartreuse eyes that they received from their mother. Hers seemed to glimmer with less angst than he remembered.

Persephone had dark blonde hair. Hadrian remembered it to be cut short crop hairstyle that turned into a pixie cut later, but never had he seen her with long hair.

"The only person—he remembered her saying—that could convince me to wear my hair long, would be my fiancé. And seeing how I'm not getting one in a long while, why should I care." He wondered who the special man in her life was.

Or if the change was due to a special guy in her life at all… Regardless he enjoyed the new found predilection she held for him, but it didn't last long.

"So where's that whore of a girlfriend you've been talking to mom so much about…Yes I do read your letters to her."

"Don't assume things about people. You don't even know who she is—who she might be…"

"Give me a reason to think otherwise."

"It's Nelle…"

Persephone gasped like it was an odd mix of good and bad news. "That's your girlfriend? Awww!" She punched Hadrian in the gut. "Next you guys might start spewing stuff about marriage."

"Um...I proposed to her five days ago."

Her eyes lit up. "Oh! And you left her in Poland? How cold (Literally)! You shouldn't treat your mistress like that."

"Persephone did you not hear me? She's not my mistress. She's my wife!" He blushed as the words came out. My wife… He enjoyed the sound of that. But their life as husband and wife wasn't set in stone, and like Mello said– she could very well have found a new guy to mooch off of.

"I'm sorry I said such," she giggled. "Just keep it under wraps a bit. Until we find a way to tell father…" Hadrian nodded solemnly. He wasn't sure how father was going to react to opposition.

"You haven't changed a bit Persephone."

"Ah, but you are always changing." The two held hands and walked. "Just like old times, right Brüderlein?"

"Yeah…sure…" he was still waiting for that bitch slap.


Upon returning home Hadrian remembered why he left for Pabianice. Pabianice was a quieter and more humble town than the city he hailed from (plus Ellen was there—which was enough reason for him wanting to go back).

It was almost uncomfortable that he and his sister had been driven (by personal butler), to their flat outside of Stuggart.

Hadrian groaned. "Was all this necessary?"

"Nothing but the best for the family…" Persephone said nervously.

"I see…" he rolled his eyes to the view beyond the window. At least some of Stuggart remained true to its name. Open country—luscious, verdant with rolling hills continuing for what seemed like eons when in truth, the scene may have covered about 21 miles.

The smell of earth and dew-filled flowers made the sight even more breathtaking. Hadrian tried to recall all of the names of the flowers that grew here.

Let's see…Common Mallow, Bindweed, Calla Lily…Bermuda buttercup and Scarlet Pimpernel? He failed to accurately name the Stork's bill and the Spanish Oyster—but he did remember Ellen's two favorite flowers—Impatiens and Oleanders…

The colors were relaxing, the scent—sweeter and more pleasant than any perfume. It was a sight that no painting could capture quite well enough. Hadrian was half tempted to jump out of the speeding care and pick flowers,

"Fur mein Liebling" Ellen…, he thought sadly. Hadrian no longer kept thoughts of her from running freely in his head—maybe some thoughts…

"Boy, you must really love this chick."

"Yes I do…speaking of which. Who's the lucky guy?" he said as he brushed back her bangs. Persephone blushed.

"There is no guy!" she denied, but anyone who knows her knew that when she lied her nose wrinkled.

"Sure there isn't…" he sighed. "I thought it would never happen…" Hadrian chuckled.

Persephone raised a hand to slap him. "You know Hadrian-

"Kavalier, Seine Freudine. I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have arrived." The driver winked at Hadrian.

"Thank you" he whispered as he slipped him 87 marks.


Hadrian gazed at the place of his birth; he couldn't believe that when he was a child he thought this was a castle. Now it was just a simple three story house that entertained too little an amount of guests to be so huge. It was called 'die Dienstwohnung'. It was a simple name and a bit redundant, but it was why he liked it. The red brick Victorian house with blue windows was only subtle on the exterior, Hadrian knew what horrors lied on the inside… something between ostentatious and tasteless, as he would say.

"My son's home! Oh my baby!" A small red-head woman hugged Hadrian tightly.

"Nice to see you again too Mama. Where's father?" As if he heard his name being called, a large blonde haired man with gray eyes made his appearance.

Hadrian tried to conceal his horror…

His father was wearing swastikas…


A/N: Whoo chapter over! Next chapter might be up later than next week (maybe the week afterwards, I'm not sure!) March 10 I will be getting my results seeing if I made it into boarding school or not. Depending on if I do or not will determine how fast I update! Have a good rest of the week and please don't forget to review!


Glossary

Brüderlein—means "younger brother" in German. Anything with 'lein' following typically means younger or small.

Stuggart—means "mare's garden". The town (now city) used to be stable area for stud horses.

Für Mein Liebling—typically means "For my Sweetheart/Love(r)"

Kavalier—literally means "master"

Seine Freundin—means "his young lady", it was used because Persephone was accompanied by a man, there for making her his no matter the relationship between them

die Dienstwohnung—means "the mansion house"