A/N: My ego can't stand the thought that you might think that I'm misspelling the names of months. So in case you haven't figured it out yet, they're in German. 'Kay. Now that I've posted, I'm going to go back to hoping that this thunderstorm I hear overhead will result in my class being cancelled before I have to give my presentation today.

*prays*

Also, if you like the story, please leave a review! It's not mandatory. Really. And I won't even hold chapters hostage, because that would be mean and rude. But...*sniffles*.

Chapter Three

Never: Lesson Four, and Reflection

Juni 2002

The night after Liesl had left, Miles was awakened by, of all things, footsteps. Gradually, as he woke further, he became aware of a pattern—five rapid, running footsteps, and a door was yanked open, then slammed closed. Repeat. As the sounds drew closer, a soft little call joined the pattern, but Miles couldn't make out the words—until finally, it was Miles's door which was flung open. Squinting through the darkness, Miles saw a tiny figure in the doorway, leaning into the room, peering about anxiously.

"Liesl?" The voice was tearful—a girl's voice, to match the shadowy shape.

And then the door began to ease closed again.

"Hello?" Miles called out at last, but softly, not wanting to risk waking any of the staff—or worse, Von Karma himself.

The door stopped.

"Hallo?"

Ah. German. Right. Hastily, Miles constructed his next sentence in the same tongue.

"Why are you looking for Liesl?" he asked, sitting up. "Please, come in," he added, as he shifted further until he was kneeling on top of his bed.

The girl did so, closing the door behind her. Miles reached out to the bedside lamp—specifically, to its dimmer switch, turning it up just enough so that he could see her face.

Once he could, of course, his suspicions were confirmed. He'd been pretty sure there was only one other child in the house, but now that he saw her, there was no doubt that this was Liesl's younger sister.

"You're Franziska, right?" he asked.

Timidly, the girl nodded, fidgeting with the braid of silver-blue hair which hung over her shoulder. She was wearing one of those old-fashioned nightgowns, all white silk and gathers and lace, collar to wrists and toes.

"Are you Miles?" she asked, looking longingly at the bed.

"I am," Miles replied. "You can sit down if you like."

She did. "Liesl told me about you. Liesl said that you were my brother now. Brother, where is Liesl? Do you know?"

"I—" The words stuck in Miles's throat as Franziska looked at him expectantly, blue eyes wide and shining with hope.

She couldn't be more than three. He shouldn't have to tell her this.

"I'm sorry, Franziska, I don't know. She—she left," Miles said quietly.

Lips pursed, eyes narrowed, arms crossed. Every line of the girl's body radiated disbelief.

"No! Liesl wouldn't go! She promised to—"

At Miles's panicked look, she too seemed to grow afraid, glancing at the door with a hunted expression before continuing in a lower voice.

"—to stay with me! She promised! She promised me and she said she promised Mama too and Liesl never breaks promises! Never, never, never!" the girl insisted, looking fierce.

Miles was silent.

"She…she wouldn't just…leave me…" Franziska sounded less certain, softer. "She wouldn't leave me al—"

Her voice cracked. Alone.

"Franziska, I—I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Miles whispered, feeling tears gathering in his eyes just as in Franziska's.

"She never breaks promises," Franziska repeated, her voice rough and strained. "N…n…ne…never…"

All at once, the tiny girl threw herself at Miles, sobbing quietly into his pyjama shirt. For a moment, Miles was at a loss what to do with her.

"Liesl," the girl hiccupped. "I—I want Liesl back, Miles!"

"I know," Miles forced out through the lump in his throat, putting his arms around her…

His little sister.

She wants Liesl back. I want Father back.

"But we can't get them back…" Miles whispered, and if a tear found its way free from his suddenly ancient-seeming eyes, no one would ever be able to say.

Liesl had promised to never leave Franziska. She never broke promises? Hah.

Trusting in others only gets you hurt. Miles silently vowed to remember this fourth lesson. I will not leave myself open to that again.

He almost thought never, but he didn't. Never was a lie.

In his mind's eye, Franziska frowned, glaring accusingly at him.

"Liesl never breaks promises."

Liesl, pale, trembling, staring at nothing.

"Papa never hits."

A young boy hugging his friend beneath the weak sun of a cold Christmas day.

"I'd never leave without saying goodbye! You know that, Phoenix!"

Another never lie.

I'll see you at New Year's, Miles had promised. Only he hadn't. And he wouldn't. Not ever. Never.

But not never—because never was a lie.

Lesson One: Kindness inspires loyalty.

Lesson Two: A Von Karma is perfection.

Lesson Three: Don't cross Von Karma.

Lesson Four: You can't trust others.

A/N: Is Franziska not adorable? I just refuse to believe she was in full "I am perfection me-whip-you-dead" mode at the age of three. Yay, sibling cuddles!

Dammit, the rain stopped. *fumes*