Things were well once again. Ludwig had come home unharmed, and though very weak for the first week he was out of the hospital, he was fine. If they had more access to meat he would have recovered earlier, but meat was running short. Like everything else. The fact that Ludwig refused it the rare times they actually had it to have Feli eat it did not help.
He had been stunned when Feli told him about Reiter. How could that stuck up SS officer son of a bitch be a spy too? He could not believe it. But he did a very good job of covering the whole Weil accident up. It turned out that Weil had not told anyone about his suspects, and that helped matters a lot. So the case was closed as "personal defence" without no one doubting it. Who could? Colonel Reiter in person had said that there was really nothing more to it. And doubting Captain Beilschmidt... that had seemed downright stupid to all the workers of the Headquarters. Thank God.
Ludwig and Feli were in bed. Feli had entered her eighth month, and though healthy, she tended to get tired very easily. Ludwig was doing all he could to help her out with chores, and he didn't have to insist very much since Feli always put up a pathetic resistance.
Ludwig hugged her closer. Feli snaked an arm around his waist and gave him a tender smile.
"I've been thinking about names, you know." he said.
Typical Ludwig. Feli was sure he had started thinking names a week after discovering she was pregnant. She asked "Really? And what have you thought about?"
"I'd like Friedrich for a boy and Elsbeth for a girl."
"Eh? Both German names? That's not fair..." she pouted while getting closer.
"Well... I don't know many Italian names, and seeing that we live in Germany... I thought it was a good idea...?"
He was a little hesitant. Feli adored his random bouts of cuteness. He was always so serious and sure of what he had to do, so making him insecure was one of her favourite pastimes.
"I don't know... I've always wanted to call my kids like my parents... I don't remember them very well, but from what my grandpa tells me, they were good guys."
Ludwig brushed a bang away from her eyes.
"And what were they called? You never told me."
"My dad's name was Giuseppe and my mother's was Anna Maria, though everyone called her Anita."
"That's difficult. I'm not sure I can even pronounce your dad's name..."
"Giuseppe. Like Joseph. Come on, try, it's not difficult."
"Jew – sap – pay?"
She laughed. "Definitely not. Joo – zap – peh."
Ludwig sighed. "I could never get it right. How about Joseph?"
Feli pouted. "Naaaw. It's still a German name. Might as well call him Friedrich..."
"Oh come on. It's not my fault if your language is impossible."
"Excuse me, MY language comes directly from the Roman Empire, whereas YOURS from a lance - wielding tribe!"
"How dare you!" gasped Ludwig. He got on top of her and started tickling her.
"Aaargh... ahaha Ludwig, stop... ahahah! Stop!" Feli was laughing and squirming under him, trying to make him stop.
"No way! You have to say sorry!"
"Ahah... never..."
"Then prepare to be tickled to death!"
Feli was still trying to get him off her and he was still tickling her when they heard a loud explosion that made the glass on the window shake.
Feli yelled and Ludwig stopped immediately to go look at the window.
Bombs! The Allies were bombing Berlin! Fuck!
"Feli! Get dressed now! You're going to the shelter!"
Feli sprang to her feet as fast as she could and obeyed. But she didn't like the way he said "you" instead of "we".
Ludwig put on his uniform while instructing her about what she had to do.
"And you? What are you going to do?" she asked, scared to hear the answer.
"I'm going to the Headquarters. Come on now, are you ready? I'll take you to the shelter."
"No! I don't want to go there if you don't come!"
Ludwig knew they didn't have much time. He got her by the arm and started pulling her towards the door. But she was resisting.
"This is no time to throw a tantrum! Come on, walk! We have to get out of here!"
She was crying and trying not to be dragged away while she said "No! I'm not going alone! You're coming too!"
Ludwig was getting impatient. He could hear other explosions in the distance.
"Feli, STOP IT! Don't make me carry you!" he shouted.
Feli shivered. Ludwig was dead serious.
She gave in. He was stronger than her, and if need be, he could carry her one handed. The only thing she was doing there was wasting time.
Ludwig sighed in relief. "Good girl. Come on, the longer we stay here, the more danger we're in."
Feli was crying all the time while she was being dragged by Ludwig to their area's designated bomb shelter. Her stomach was hurting, and she was sure it was because of the fear. When they got there, people were already crowding it, and the soldier that had to close it was not in the mood to wait for latecomers.
Feli hesitated.
Ludwig cursed. Would she get in already!
"Come on, get in. I have to go. I'll be fine. Now go!"
Feli was still there, shaking and crying. She didn't want to go there on her own, but she couldn't go with him.
The soldier was getting mad with impatience. "Come on, the two of you! We don't have all night!"
Ludwig barked "Shut up, you idiot!" thus silencing the soldier. Then he looked at Feli. "Come on, Feli. I'll be back in a few hours. I'll be fine."
A bomb fell really close, making the ground vibrate. People shouted for them to get a move already.
Feli felt a strong pain in her stomach that was making her see stars, but tried to keep her voice even when she gave in.
"Okay. Please be safe!" she hugged him and kissed him all over his face. "Ti amo."
Ludwig hugged her back for a moment before pushing her in the shelter, finally pleasing the poor soldier. "Ich liebe dich auch! I'll see you later."
Then he ran all the way to the Headquarters. It was still standing, but it looked damaged. He got in and saw soldiers running frantically up and down the stairs carrying papers and looking for people.
"Beilschmidt! You came!"
Ludwig turned around to see Colonel Reiter. He saluted. "Yes sir, of course I did. What's going on? Is it the British?"
Colonel Reiter nodded. "Yes, indeed. We have destroyed a couple aircrafts, but there are just so many... we can't keep them at bay. The anti – aircraft guns are going full throttle, but they can't work wonders."
Ludwig cursed under his breath.
Colonel Reiter gave him a pat on the shoulder and said "This is going to be a long night, Kommander. Prepare yourself."
Soooo... if someone catches the meaning behind Feli's parents' names, you are geniuses. Unless youìre South American or Italian, in which case I'm sure you got it right away.
