"Mama, Papa, something serious has happened...", Alexandra said, looking nervously first at Jonathan then at her parents.
"Alexandra, my child.. ", her father interrupted her, touching her arm.
He knew what their daughter was about to tell them, but this, what he had to tell her now, would be so horrible for her and Jonathan, that he felt like his heart was being ripped to pieces.
"Alexandra, Jonathan ...", her father said in a sad, heavy voice. "Last night, the USA declared war on France and Germany."
"What?", Alexandra whispered in a trembling voice, as she felt her knees gave way.
Tears were filling up her eyes. Jonathan, holding the sea-bag in his other hand, let it fall abruptly, to put his arm around and support Alexandra, because she swayed and looked as if she was about to lose her balance. He was completely shocked, unsure if he had really understood Alexandra's father even though he was speaking English.
"These people are from the German embassy and the US Government", her mother added softly, pointing to the strangers standing next to the cars, watching the whole scene silently.
The woman stepped forward, to face the family.
"My name is Tania Müller-O'Brian", she said. "I work for the German embassy. We will first escort you to the embassy and from there you will be taken to Gotham airport to catch the next flight back to Frankfurt."
"No, no!", Alexandra shouted, shaking her head in bewilderment.
Tears were now running down her face and she grabbed her father's sleeve.
"Tell me, that's not true! Please tell me, that's not true!"
"My child, I'm so sorry...", he said, his own voice choking with tears, looking at Alexandra and Jonathan. "..for you both".
One of the men approached.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wentzler, but we have to leave now."
With these words, he took her elbow and started to escort her in the direction of the first car. She didn't resist and followed him, holding little Martin's hand. The boy had started to cry again and his mother picked him up in her arms, trying to calm and console him.
Now Mrs. Müller-O'Brian approached Alexandra's father: "Mr. Wentzler, please follow me."
She guided him to the car and he too, followed her without resistance. Alexandra couldn't let go of Jonathan's hand. Now one of the two men, a tall, beefy guy, approached Alexandra and Jonathan. Both were standing there, holding each other in their arms, motionless, apathetic and unable to understand what was going on, unable to react. Tears were pouring down Jonathan's face too, as he tried to hold on to Alexandra as firmly as he could.
"Jonathan..", Alexandra whispered, gazing at him, when the man broke their embrace, pulling Alexandra to the car.
For a short moment, Jonathan looked at them without moving.
"Hey! What are you doing?", he suddenly yelled, running after Alexandra and the man as they had almost reached the car. "Let the girl go!"
He grabbed the beefy guy from behind and tried to pull him away from Alexandra. Suddenly, he was struggling with the beefy guy as Alexandra tried to break them up. The other man ran quickly towards them, trying to pull Jonathan off his colleague who was pulling and punching Beefy like a madman, trying, with all his strength, to pull him away from Alexandra.
"You are not allowed to do this! She was born here, you don't have the right to exile her!"
"Boy, calm down now, there is nothing you can do about it!", the man shouted, grabbing Jonathan by his shoulders.
"Damn it! Leave me alone!", Jonathan yelled, his voice choked with tears.
Now the beefy man grabbed Jonathan firmly and his colleague grabbed Alexandra. Then Beefy pushed Jonathan back. Jonathan tried to run towards Alexandra, but Beefy grabbed him again and gave him a blow on his stomach. Jonathan groaned out loud, doubled over and collapsed to the ground. Tania Müller-O'Brian screamed.
"Stop it, God damn you, he's still a child!", Mr. Wentzler yelled at the bully, watching in bewilderment.
Jonathan gasped and still didn't move, holding his stomach. Then he looked at the man who had punched him, his eyes full of rage. He wanted to stand up again, to punch back, but Beefy grabbed Jonathan again and twisted his arm. Jonathan cried out in pain.
"Leave him alone, you're hurting him!", Alexandra yelled and broke away from the other man. Before he could even react, Alexandra had already rushed to Jonathan and Beefy. She threw herself between them, trying to separate them.
"Please!", she shouted looking at the man. "Give me just a few moments with him, I am begging you!"
Beefy let off them and straightened up.
"I beg you! I will go with you, but please, first give my boyfriend and me a few minutes! Please!"
He nodded.
"All right.", he said, adjusted his suit and went back to the rear car.