She did not sleep. She couldn't sleep. Not while more of her little ones were out there. Out in the crawling darkness; their Frankenstein fathers lumbering beside them.

Her eyes were gaunt, hair was filthy, and she hadn't eaten in days.

Mein Gott, help me.

Her Fault. All of it. The Slug. The Adam. The Little Sisters. Everything.

Bitte. Even if it is my final act.

She put her face in her hands. She would not cry. Not yet. Not until all her little ones were safe. Away from the hell that was called Rapture.

Help me save them.

Her little ones. Through them she learned to be a mother. She learned to love through them, and through them she was loved in return. She did not deserve it.

"Mama!"

Her head snapped up. A nightmare. The residue of SuChongs mental conditioning. Die Schwein.

She rushed to the bed, if it could be called that: a mattress and ratty towel as a blanket. The child was writhing in her sleep; dreaming of her daddy's final minutes. She gently shook the little one as to not scare her.

"Wake up my little one. Bitte, wake up."

The little girls eyes opened in shock for a few seconds in surprise. Her body began to shake and then she flung herself at the German doctor, sobbing.

"I want Mr. Bubbles! Where is daddy!?"

"Shh, mein kleines madchen. Daddy's not here anymore, but I am here... and I will never let you go."

The little girl had buried herself in the doctors chest; tears soaking the front of her nightgown. She backed herself against the wall next to the makeshift cot. Settling the girl on her chest and putting the towel over both of them. She stroked the girls hair softly.

The other five girls she has saved were unaffected by the sound of movement. Still asleep and dreaming better dreams. She looked down at her little one slowly dosing off. The doctor let out a deep breath and looked around. Toys and stuffed animals covered the majority of their tiny sanctuary, as well as crayons and drawings. A smile landed on her face as she looked at them.

She began to lose herself in thought of Fontaine and how had reeled her in with promises of fame and wealth. How he had been so impressed by her discovery, and how he promised her that together they would change the world. She believed him and his charm, him and his lies.

She thought he loved her, and that by making him happy the guilt that began to haunt her would go away. By making him happy she would be happy in return. By making him happy she would be loved in return. How naïve she had been. There was no emotion. Just empty words. Fake promises. There was no love.

If this is my punishment for being so ignorant then so be it. But bitte let my little ones live.

She was fast asleep against her now. So the doctor closed her eyes. If only for a second.

"Mommy?"

"Yes darling?"

"I Iove you."

She may have lost the ADAM. She may have lost the fame and the fortune. She may have lost Fontaine. But she gained another thing entirely.

A family. She was a mother, and she would embrace every minute.

"I love you too my little one. So very much."

The German doctor began to cry.

Bioshock does not belong to me. This is my first fanfiction. So be kind to it. Tenenbaum is one of my favorite characters. This was meant to be a Hurt/Comfort fic. I hope I accomplished that. For what its worth.