She had that feeling. It was so familiar. Despite the warmth of a rather mild winter day, and her coat, her entire body spiked in a chill. Every sense was heightened. Through the soft breeze, she could hear the breath. Her body tightened, her heart pumped blood into every vein and artery. B instinct, her hand went to the gun she kept hidden inside her coat. She didn't pull it out. Eva, Amara, William and Maria still chattered pleasantly as they walked on a path illuminated only by a setting winter sun. The didn't feel the offending presence,
Fear gripped her. Riza felt the pain that she'd been made to suffer slam into her body again. She stopped, her breathing deep and even, fighting the irrationality of fear.
Eva turned, her head cocked slightly in confusion, an ebony whisp of hair peeking out from under her woollen hat.
"Everything okay?" She asked with slight concern. She'd never seen such a look on Riza face. Eye's so devoid of feeling. Her hand, slipped through the buttons of her coat, slowly drawing a military issued hand gun.
By now, Amara and the children had stopped and turned. Their faces showed surprise at the unveiling of such a thing.
He was so close.
"Hello honey" A sickly sweet voice rolled out into the deserted path.
Foot steps crunched in the undisturbed snow of the woods that the path cut through.
She felt her hands shake. Her resolve slowly ebb away to fear. Such utter fear.
He emerged. Stepping between Riza and the Mustangs.
How easy of a target he made. Right in front of her.
Her mind raced. She was on the bed, the cold air, the undesired warmth of his body atop hers. A gunshot. Blackness. Pain, Violation.
Any response she could have made was useless.
"Riza...whats going on?" asked a rather threatened sounding Amara to the sight of the knife in John's hand.
"What do you want?" Eva asked with the clearly hereditary Mustang reserve, stepping ahead of her children.
John watched the scene with mild amusement. This was a dream to him.
"You sweetie, you're collateral. I'm just here for the lovely Lieutenant"
"Come now Eva...why so uptight?" Came an equally chilling voice.
Another man stepped out, a tall man, slight build. Disarmingly handsome, even through the grizzled exterior. Dark brown hair, soulful eyes, a cocky smirk
"HIENRICH YOU BASTARD!" Spat Amara to respond for her speechless sister.
"Heinrich..." Gasped Eva, her hand flying to her mouth.
"What the hell do you want?" Amara hissed. Moving menacingly to the grinning man.
"I think you can guess." John cut in, facing Riza, who still held a shaking gun levelled at him...her face clouded in panic.
"Fight! Goddammit Riza Fight!"her mind screamed.
"Why?" she whispered. Anger filled her, beating back the fear.
"Honey, I'd put that gun down if I was you...don't want your Colonels family shot 'cuz of you, do ya?"
On cue, Heinrich pulled he own gun, levelled at William who stood with confused fear behind his mother.
Amara made a futile attempted to grabbed the gun. Heinrich easily held the small woman and landed a forceful blow to her head with the back of the gun.
Maria let out a shrill screech to the sight of her aunt on the ground, a small gash on her temple seeping blood.
Eva fell to her knees and gather her sister in her arms.
Heinrich pressed the gun in Eva's head. Tears coursed down her face, the kids holding each other in fear and protection.
"Riza" whimpered Eva, her tear filled eyes pleading.
"You can shoot me honey, but Heinrich here will blow this pretty bitches brains out" John smirked " Make your choice"
It was spring time. Eva loved the spring time. They walked through the sprawling lawns of the Mustang estate, her hand felt so protected in his. Her heart burst with joy.
"I have news" she said coyly, looking into his deep brown eyes.
"Oh?" he responded with a raised eyebrow
She smiled and threw her arms around his neck. Her blue sundress sweeping against their legs, her long black hair whipping about her face, it's softness tickling his cheeks.
"We're going to have a baby" she cried, clearly over joyed.
"A baby?"
his eyes did that thing. She hated this. She just wanted to make him happy
"Aren't you happy?" she probed tentatively
He remained silent. His eyes looked hurt.
"Promise me one thing baby.." he whispered, a pleading look in his eyes
"Of course" she agreed, jumping at the chance to make him happy again
"You promise you won't love the baby more than me?"
That was just the beginning.
After William was born, Heinrich wheedled Eva. He became angry at the thought of a baby getting more attention than him.
Yea, he;d hit her. Just to teach her.
She went crying to that damn brother of hers.
He drove him away. He wanted his Eva back, and he'd make her pay for breaking his heart.
He met John at the bar.
They got to talking.
Talking led to planning.