Author's Note: As this is the last chapter, I can't help but look back and chuckle. Originally this was intended to be a short story, just to ensure that there was another 5/Heinrich story up there. I originally intended to end it after the drinking, and never planned the whole sex scene until much later. I originally had a whole back story for Jan, to give him some depth. Just in case you're curious, I was in a debate with myself…he was either going to be gay or incapable of reproduction due to something being wrong with his body, and so, for that reason, would not be allowed to take over the Von Marzipan family because he could not produce an heir. Then I realized I didn't like that idea and also that that might distract too much from the point of the story. I also never intended to be fluffy with this stuff. I usually abhor that kind of junk, because it's so often written so god-awfully. There are exceptions (The few I've found so far are all in my favorite stories list), but I tend to do depressing things. But this story kept changing on me. I didn't know whether to be frustrated or relieved, as the thing was practically writing itself. Either way, please read on. I'll go stand in the corner and stop bothering you. Oh, and if you're reading, artgirlb….when the heck will you be updating your story?!
Abby dropped her backpack behind the door, not caring that her father would just tell her to pick it up later. She glanced around, finally noticing that the lights were on. "Dad's not supposed to be home this early…" she noted out loud. "Daddy?"
"I'm in here!" The voice came from the living room. She followed it, and found not only her Father in the living room, but Leopold, Jan, and Heinrich Von Marzipan. Leopold and Jan had identical smiles, and Abby noticed that her father looked like he was up to something. Heinrich, on the other hand, was staring down at the carpeting.
Abby's mind reeled as she tried to make sense of the whole situation. "..Is this about the dress?" She finally asked, as it was the only rational explanation she could come up with for them being there. Well…the closest to rational, anyways. It seemed kind of silly to travel half the world for a dress, but from what she'd seen of the Von Marzipan clan, she wouldn't be that shocked by it.
"Nein, Abigail," Heinrich shook his head. "I..I haff come to tell you something …something important."
The other males in the room all smirked. Abby felt her eyebrows go up about an inch. "First you should probably explain why your grandfather's here. Seein' as he did kick me out and all."
"It vas ein test, Abigail…" Leopold said with a shrug. "Das macht nichts…..it doesn't matter," he elaborated, remembering that Abby didn't speak German.
"Oh, no way….No way you got the nerve to say that! Numbuh 5 got her butt kicked out for being an American…and for a stupid test? Are you crazy?!"
"Oww.." Leopold said softly, clutching at his chest. "Es tut mir leid, you haff every right to be mad, liebchen…aber, do try not to yell too much. It makes mein heart act up…"
Abby sighed, immediately over taken by guilt. "Oh, all right, all right…" she slapped a hand to her forehead. "Numbuh 5 didn't mean to upset you, now. I just want to know why you're all here? I mean…look, Heinrich, you had a chance to get out of marrying me. Why didn't you just take it instead of coming back here? And…how did you pass the test? What was the test about?"
"For ein long time, I haff vanted Hinz to take over ze family. He vould be ze best sing for it. He's ambitious, brave, und very good at candy hunting. But zhere vas one problem…He vas often only out for himself," Leopold explained. Heinrich frowned, but made no point to disagree with his grandfather. "I vas vorried zhat zhat vould mean he vould never be able to take over ze family, because he could not care for its vellbeing above his own. But love makes even ze most hardened man…or voman…a lot more caring. Mein Gretchen vas so much like Heinrich….vhen she fell in love vith me, she changed. She had ze biggest heart in all of Deutschland."
Abby closed her eyes, reflecting on this information. "You people really are crazy," she decided. "No way Heiny loves me. Right, Heinrich?" She turned to him.
He finally looked up from the floor, his blue eyes looking into her brown ones. "Nein, Abigail. Zhey…Vell…" He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, allowing the words to spill out awkwardly. "Ich liebe dich! Okay? Are you happy now?"
"Heinrich…" She said softly, "How many times Numbuh 5 got to tell you people she don't speak German?"
Heinrich's face went from light pink to a deep crimson red, the blush covering his cheeks completely. "It means…It means I love you, Abigail."
There was a very long pause. But Dr. Lincoln had never been good at knowing when not to speak, and so broke in with "Aww! Well isn't that sweet, with the love, and the cuteness, and the marriage and the….awww, you know what I'm talking about!"
"Dad…Umm..Mr. Marzipan, Jan..could you guys leave the room for a moment?" The men all agreed to, going over into the Kitchen. Abby couldn't see them, but she knew that they were all listening in through the wall.
Heinrich had not stopped blushing. Abby plopped down on the couch beside him and draped an arm over his shoulder. "So, what you've been trying to tell me since Germany…was.."
"Ja."
"Is that why you wanted to get married so much?"
"Part of ze reason..ja. Listen, leibchen…know zhat you know..vell..I guess if you don't vant to go through vith ze marriage, zhen.."
"Of course I don't!"
"Ja, zhat is vhat I sought…"
"For a few more years, anyways." Heinrich stared at her. She smiled, and continued on. "Heiny, we've barely been able to hang out together. We've never even been on a date. Maybe things will work out that way, maybe not. We don't know yet."
"Zhen…" Heinrich's ability to only focus in on one part of the conversation reared its head, "Does zhat mean you vill…uh..go out vith me?"
Abby rested her head on his shoulder. "Yeah, Heinrich. I'll go out with you. But no proposals. At least not until after the twentieth date. Okay?"
"Ja….aber, vhat about grandfasser? He still vants us to get married so badly, und..vhat if he does…." His voice became soft, "die before ze vedding?"
Abby rolled her eyes at Heinrich's assumption that there would even be a wedding, but decided not to comment on it. "I don't know…is there any way we could sort of..compromise?"
"Ja, zhere is!" Dr. Lincoln rolled Leopold back into the room. Leopold was beaming. "You haff ze vedding now…just ze ceremony, I mean. You don't haff to actually be married. You vill be certified later. Vhen you are…Zwanzig, maybe?"
"Zwanzig?" Abby asked.
"Twenty," Heinrich explained. "All right, zhen…Abigail, is zhat all right with you?" Abby feigned a sigh of exhaustion.
"Well…If Numbuh 5 has to," She said jokingly. "C'mon, Heiny…"
"Vhere are ve going?"
"On a date. Oh, and you're paying." Abby added, grabbing his hand and pulling him out the door after her. Mr. Lincoln and Leopold waved goodbye as the children exited.
"So…what disease are you dying from?" Mr. Lincoln asked. "I'm a doctor, so I might be able to help you with the x-rays, and the specialists, and the …aww, you know what I'm talkin' about!"
"Disease? Vhat disease?" Leopold said, his grin malicious. Mr. Lincoln immediately caught the drift.
"Ah…so…Why just use it to get them to do the ceremony? Why not the whole wedding?"
"Oh, I can vait…" Leopold said with a shrug. "I just vant to ensure I see it. I am not sick now, aber, I am old. Besides…your daughter und mein Hinz just make ze sveetest couple..don't zhey?"
Author's note: (mandatory! READ!) If at least two people ask, I'll write an epilogue for this. I have some really fluffy junk in mind. Almost tooth rotting.