There has been a few edits and changes of this last chapter that differ slightly from events in Mädchen In Wartime. Two very crucial being, the baby girl was born in the warmer months, towards the end of the War. Here, it is written as her being born in winter (still in '45). The other change being, she is born in Oświęcim, Poland. Not her homeland of Germany. Enjoy and please R&R! 😊
December turns to January. Bringing with it, the ninth month of Christof's pregnancy. The winds bitter cold, finding he was more thankful than ever for his thick leather trench. He breathes into his hands, a mediocre attempt to bring the warmth and circulation back to them. All the while, his piercing blue eyes scanning the perimeter. Feeling even more vulnerable than he had before.
He had opted for the duty of foot patrol. The towers posed too much of a risk at their heights, for him to man. Quite frankly, very few things could ensure the German a healthy pregnancy. How he made it this far was beyond him, practically everywhere he turned he was putting himself and daughter in jeopardy. He spots an officer approaching with a crooked smile.
"Sie in der Linie behalten?"
He jests, referring to the prisoners. Christof simply nodded and chuckled.
"Ja!"
Surprisingly, the animals seemed to possess enough foresight to take heed and not test the officers. Unless they wanted to end up like their fellow inmate Christof shot dead a month prior. This wasn't to say everyone was entirely compliant. If he didn't have his pistol by his side, situations would become deadly within seconds.
Suddenly, he notices a confrontation with one of the officers at the entrance of the chambers. He turns heel and heads in their direction. All the while being mindful to keep his hand within close range of his pistol.
"Was ist das problem?"
He inquired. The filthy man thrashed against the officer's restraints. His soulless, dead eyes boring a hole, just as the other had done. Christof, once again sneered. He joined the officer on his right side and attempted to brace against the prisoner's outbursts. Just as they opened the door, the dirty swine spat in the officer's face.
"Du fickerei kike!"
The German snarled. Taking a tighter grip of his arms. Christof reached for his pistol, as he held the door open with his free hand. The officer forcefully shoved the animal inside. Frantically wiping the sickening bodily fluid from his face. Just as Christof turned to ask if he was alright, both were unaware that another filthy prisoner had crept up behind them.
Even if his fellow officers were unaware of his condition, somehow, they were. And unfortunately for the German, his reaction time wasn't nearly as rapid this time around. Just as he was about to resume foot patrol, with the other officer's back turned, the animal took the opportunistic moment to strike. Sending a heavy blow with his foot right into Christof's stomach. The German let out a sharp cry of pain and fell to his knees. A slug of lead right between the wretched creature's eyes. Suddenly, the shrill of an alarm sounded.
"Achtung!, Achtung!"
The officer vigorously shouted. Rushing to Christof's aid. At that moment, he was so sure he had lost his baby. A single tear slipping down his cheek. It only took a moment for their once, orderly overseeing to turn to absolute chaos.
"Du bist okay?!..Sind sie verletzt?!"
His questions in rapid fire succession. All he could do was simply nod his head, he was much too preoccupied for his brain to form any type of words. In no time flat, the camp was in the makings of a full scale riot. As much as he valued the concern of his fellow officers, he had to make a break for it. Clinging to that sliver of hope his daughter was unharmed, and to seek out a safe of place as possible to deliver her.
As the unrest grew, so did the pain throughout the German's body. Shakily getting to his feet, cradling his gravid middle. His breathing erratic and panicked. Before the direst had him becoming a prisoner himself, he made his escape. Albeit, slowly.
With each step taken, the pain steadily grew worse. However, it was that sliver of hope he held out for, that turned his Hell into an ephemeral Heaven. He had nearly covered a mile before feeling his daughter kick. His face instantly breaking into a weakened grin. Feeling a hot tear run down his cheek. Mixed feelings of absolute ecstatic and relief. Stopping momentarily to gingerly rub the area he felt the jab.
"Mein liebling. Du bist am Leben!"
By the second mile, Christof wearily spotted an abandoned concrete tunnel. It was nothing short of a miracle he was able to cover the distance he had. His contractions growing stronger by the minute and what little energy was left, slowly breaking down.
His back giving into its own fatigue, conceding to the harsh, solid tunnel wall to act as support. Again, he found himself more than thankful for his trench's additional layer of warmth and comfort, that he so desperately needed. Just when he thought he could have a moment, and properly breathe. His abdominal muscles contracted, bringing with it an intense wave of labor pain.
"Fick mich!"
He hissed. It wouldn't be long now. All he asked for was she be delivered safely and well looked after. He was now marked as a verräter, never again to show his face, for his next move would be lined up against a firing wall. Feeling the presence of cold sweat starting to trickle down his forehead, stinging his eyes.
Making haste of removing his black leather belt. This acting as a safeguard, something to protect his tongue from soon resembling Swiss cheese. His teeth burying deep into the leather as another powerful contraction hit. Again, letting out a weakened, pained curse. Hearing as every noise densely vibrated off the tunnel's walls.
Attempting to use what minuscule, conserved energy he had left. He went to work removing his trousers and jacket. All that remained was his dress shirt and long leather trench. His already weakened voice lowered to a whisper.
"Beruhige dich, meine liebe"
Feeling her tiny feet press against the palm of his hand. Knowing full and well the request was absolutely fruitless, but anything to lessen the pain. Even as a distraction, was welcoming. Even if it was only for a moment. Once again, his teeth instinctively sinking into the black leather of his belt. It was this contraction that finally succeeded in breaking his water.
Suddenly, his ears pick up the sounds of footsteps echoing throughout. The sound growing nearer as the bits of ground crunched beneath their feet. His breath hitched, complete dread for what could possibly be rounding the corner. If it was fellow SS, he was possibly safe.
Eyes watering from the pain. Exhaustion holding him in a vice-grip. Just then, he hears the man call out.
"Jemand hier?"
He breathes a sigh of relief, as the approaching figure turned out to be fellow SS, Reinhardt Dross. The man's eyes go wide in both shock and panic, as the sight of an enervated Altenhofen in labor became more clear in his field of vision. He gasped.
"Mein Gott!"
His paces quicken, rushing over to assist the poor, fatigued German.
"Was ist los?!"
He asked, his voice hurried and frantic. Even through the midst of another excruciating wave of contractions, he managed a brutally sardonic response.
"In wehen, scheißkopf! Wie sieht es aus?!"
Despite this, the officer went to work assisting. The two hypothetically praying no one else would come across them. Reinhardt kindly removes his own jacket, as to provide some form of additional comfort against the hard ground, easing the expectant officer onto it. Thankfully for them both, their trenches managed to stave off some of the harshness of the bitter, January air.
"Hinlegen"
He instructs. Christof winces as he changes his position sitting against the wall, to lying down on the unforgiving ground. The uniform wasn't much. But it protected his head at least. His discarded trousers placed underneath his lower half, his own jacket reserved to wrap the baby in. The overwhelming sensation to push was upon him. With the countless hours in search of shelter, combined with the insurmountable amount of stress on his body. He was now fully dilated.
"Fick!"
He curses in pain. Dross brings an index finger to his lips to shush him. They couldn't afford any unnecessary attention. How it hadn't happened already was shocking. The stolid officer does a quick examination before he is sure he was satisfied with the expectant father proceeding. He gives a light head nod.
" Schieben..sorgfältig"
He instructs once more. Christof mustered any traces of remaining strength left and bore down. An elated flash sweeps across Dross' face as he realized, with even one push, how much progress was made.
"Ich kann den kopf sehen!"
He stated. A momentary spark of elation in his voice. Christoff gives a weary smile and chuckles softly. It seemed as though his body was now fueling off a surge of hormones and endorphins. Thankfully, thereby distracting his brain from honing in on the sheer intensity of his labor pains. He could feel the baby gradually move down further. If he could just push her shoulders out, Dross would guide her the rest of the way.
"Pushen ein bisschen mehr, okay?"
An explosion nearby, causing the ground to quiver, dust and bits of cement particles showering them. Somehow, this life-threatening occurrence was just what the officer needed. He found he now had his second wind. Once again, his eyes harshly shut. Subconsciously uttering a string of fatigued groans before boring down, his muscles, again contracting. He catches a glimpse of Dross moving in closer. An immediate presence of uncomfortable pressure. He could only hope this signaled Reinhardt now had a firm hold of her tiny shoulders. And just like that, the agonizing sensation had lifted.
"Sie ist hier!"
Dross announces. Inadvertently breaking his own orders and raising his voice. However, considering they were in the midst of Hell on Earth, they owed this modest bit of happiness to themselves, and to make a few exceptions. Christof's heart instantly swelling with pride and adoration upon hearing his daughter's first cries. Despite being surrounded by bloodshed and turmoil, even this wasn't enough to break the steel-plated bonds of love between a father and his daughter.
"Kann ich sie sehen?"
He inquires weakly, Dross delicately swaddles the baby girl in her father's jacket. Careful as to keep her delicate skin from coming into contact with his various military medals. Slipping his Iron Cross into the breast pocket. Reinhardt couldn't help but chuckle softly as he handed the infant into her awaiting father's arms, with the same care and precaution as disarming a bomb.
"Natürlich"
That airy chuckle returning to his voice in response. Christof could feel a swarm of emotions all welling up at once. He waited nine long months for this moment. Gingerly brushing an index finger over her cherubic cheeks. Her tiny face scrunches in discontent, fair wisps of whitish-blonde hair. Finally opening her doll-like round eyes, revealing a breathtaking sky blue. His heart seemingly getting caught in his throat. No amount of high ranking honors, medals, or decorations, could ever compare to the 7.6 lb one he cradled in his arms. Ever so gently, placing a loving kiss atop her head.
"Vielen Dank, Reinhardt"
He spoke at long last. His strength returning at a snails pace. The officer simply smiled and nodded. Both knew they couldn't stay there, essentially nothing more than sitting targets for the Soviets. Dross aids in finally getting the young father to his feet. Slipping back into his trousers, and Dross, his jacket. The little girl started to whimper. He makes short order of returning his visor cap to its rightful place atop his head.
Focusing his attention, immediately, back on his fussy daughter. Stroking the feather down wisps with such care, one could momentarily mistake her for a porcelain doll. He rocks her agilely, voice reverting back to a docile whisper.
"Shhh..shhh, es ist okay, Liebling. Papa's hier"
Regrettably, all was not all right. As the men soon picked up the distinct sounds of approaching enemy soldiers echoing off the tunnel's walls. Reinhardt's eyes widen in fear. Quickly turning to the officer, motioning for him and the baby to leave immediately. A pang struck Christof's heart, that his fellow brother in arms was sacrificing his life to save him and his daughter's.
"Aus, Schnell!"
He ordered briskly. Christof tips his visor. Drawing his daughter closer to his chest, nestling her inside his trench for extra warmth, before flashing a somber expression. The baby's soft cries brings him back into focus, hurriedly attempting to make his way out. This was no easy feat when just given birth mere minutes ago. He hushes the baby gently, finally exiting the decrepit tunnel. It was then he heard it, causing his heart to free-fall. The bone-chilling exchange of the Soviets orders, then.. a gunshot.