The summer song birds sang their sweet symphony as Marie listen to them, taking in the peace that surrounded her. She was glad for a calm finally. The last months were hell with Genesis threatening the boarders and diplomats going missing. Ludwig barely was home at times, just leaving her and Gil to the home as things go out of hand outside the nations. It was worrisome for her at least, she waited to see him come home bruised and battered and shaking with more trauma of war, yet he always smiled and wrapped his arms around her. Whispering every night that she was his star that lit up his night.

She smiled at his words, how sweet and gentle they were. She never tired of them. Couldn't to be honest. They filled her with love and hope that chased her own past away. It was to the point that the pull to the needle was barely noticeable and her nightmares and memories just something that came occasionally and each time they did, he was there to comfort her. Yes, things were finally calm.

Well, except for that morning. She smiled oddly at the chaos that ensued in the early hours as Ludwig panicked over everything and Gil ran around like a chicken without its head. Thank god for Eliza being the calm one of the bunch, not that Marie hadn't done it before.

The small sigh pulled her thoughts back to the bundle against her legs. Two days after Gil came back, Marie found herself in the bathroom for hours it felt and things sort of added up to her discomfort. Although telling Ludwig was the funnier part of it all.

Marie leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to the baby's head. Her little hands wrapped around her own fingers, something she missed more than ever. Her little girl laid there, content as could be as Marie smiled down at her. She didn't expect to have a baby so soon yet she was overjoyed each day looking at her belly grow and feel her within. Ludwig was no different as his hands were always upon her belly, protective and yearning of her. Well, unless Blackie and Berlitz saw him, then it was their baby to protect and he wasn't allowed to even be near her. Even Aster, in his weakened state, growled at him.

She was truly awed by her little girl. Adrian wasn't wrong, he was right when he said she'd see him again one day. Her face was as peaceful as his and the same pouty lip as well. It wasn't him one hundred percent, but damn near close. She lifted her hand to her lips, placing gentle kisses to the tiny fingers that gripped hers.

Footsteps came to the side of the bed as she marveled at the baby, another kiss placed to her head as one came to her own.

"You are beautiful and did amazing this morning." Ludwig whispered in her ear as he caressed her arm.

"You've told me that at most five times now." she smiled at him.

"And I will tell you every day for eternity Marie, you are. I watched you do something amazing that I can never judge upon. I'll never argue over the strength of a woman ever again."

"You thought I was weak before?" she joked with him, watching his expression change instantly.

"Nein, nein. I'm not saying that!" he tried to cover his ass, "I'm saying that-"

She silenced him with a kiss, "You get any louder and you'll wake her."

"Sorry." he spoke gently as he moved himself to sit behind her. "Lean back Liebling. I want to hold my girls."

She felt his legs surround her as his arms wrapped around her and their daughter. The solidness of his chest was comforting as she leaned her head back against his should and brought the baby to her chest. This is what she dreamed of. The happy family moment that everyone dreamed of and now she had it.

Small whimpers left her girl as her head moved side to side, "Ok, ok. One moment Schatz."

Marie cradled her pulling her robe open as the baby began to nurse. Ludwig settled his head on her shoulder as he watched his little girl in her arms, the awed look in his eyes of her.

"Still amazed she's here?" she asked him.

"Hard to believe she's mine." he said, his fingers rubbing her blonde tuffs. "You do realize Gil will never leave her alone?"

"Eliza will control that but she will probably be just as bad." she said, "However Ludwig, I was wondering why you never asked?"

"Asked what?"

"After I had her and she was in my arms, I said her name and you didn't question me. Why? I thought you'd be curious as to why?" she pondered.

"Marie, I watched you bring her into the world. I wasn't asking or questioning anything after that." he stated.

Marie chuckled, "Be glad hers was this way and not like Adrian's. I like the fact I couldn't feel anything during this, just the sensation of her being born. Adrian's was hell and I made it known in that hospital."

"If hers was his?"

"She would be a guaranteed only child." she smiled at him as his eyes widened in fear.

"Well then, note to self. Keep you in Germany or by me when next baby is born."

"Isn't that the rule anyway after Brie in Italy?" she asked gaining a nod.

"I have a feeling you brought that up for reason though." he said, "Why did you say Adeline?"

"Because it was her name." she replied only getting his raised eyebrow of question.

"When I died, and sat on the breath, I not only saw Adrian there but her as well. The little girl you tried to save. I made the deal with them that if I came back I wanted Gil to be a Capital and that I would tell you her name. So, when I found out I was pregnant and then having a girl, I decided to name her after her. So, Adeline Raine."

Ludwig just gawked at her and the baby, taking in the truth of her name, "Adeline?"

"Yes Luddy, Adeline." she smiled, kissing him once more.

He pulled her closer to him as Adeline slowly fell asleep against her, "Danke Liebling."

"Always." she sighed, "Oh and we don't fully have to worry over Gil and Eliza after a bit."

"Why's that?"

A loud cheer of excitement echoed the home as they could hear Gil jump around downstairs, "I'm going to be a Vati!"

"That's why." she laughed with Ludwig at the news.

After all her hardships and mountains of pain to climb, she made it to the tope, standing tall and strong after nearly falling back to the start. Now she was staying there, with her family around her, she was never losing touch of what mattered most.

Fin

Epilogue

The glow of the computer screens called out to her as she scanned each one with multiple tasks. The TV behind her talking about the latest Gaming Expo and how the master gamer and computer hacker was going to have there filled her with excitement as she readied everything.

Most wouldn't take Nora for one of the gamers, the ones that had I.Q. higher than most people, and the one that wouldn't settle for anything less but her past was what kept that at bay and after her accident... she shook her head as the screen lit with street camera views.

She was hunting, not for something, but some one. The voice whispered to her once more as she typed in the street name. It was as eager as she was as the people bustled out of the large building, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man in question. It was hard to differentiate people of the same origin. She hated sounding racist but most of the people looked alike and it was hard to tell which he was.

"If you give me a name I can look better." she said to them only gaining their chatter.

The ding of her other screen gave her the heads up that hear tickets were ready along with passport and expo tags, she had to hurry and gain an idea of what they wanted from her and this building or she would miss... her eyes caught him.

There he was, the business suit pristine on him as the voices chatted a storm of him as she looked at him. He walked with seven other men, their pins the identification of the nations they represented. She knew they were more than diplomates of war, they were the real deals as she watched him pull off the tie.

They whispered more to her, telling her that he hated modern dress and preferred the old ways. How he was and what he liked, and the more they spoke the more she was entrapped by the man.

"He's kinda nice looking eh?" she said, trying to ignore them.

They paused for a moment, as if humming in agreement with her as she watched his ponytail blow in the sudden breeze. Standing up from her large computer space, it was fully time for her to act.

"Ok you guys, this time tomorrow, we'll be sitting in China."