Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you enjoy this chapter because it could be the last one for a while. Here it is:

Pleased

Wendla Bergman looked into Melchior Gabor's eyes, hoping that he would say that he would stay. She knew that she was the only one who could make him stay, and she knew that she had to, for Moritz.

"Wendla Bergman?" Wendla heard a startled voice say. She sat up from her favorite place by the creek and looked up to see Moritz.

"Moritz," she said with a smile, "what are you doing here?" Wendla herself was taking advantage of the summer and letting her dreams wonder free until the new school year began.

"I-I…" Moritz stuttered. Wendla saw that Moritz looked shakier then usual and that his clothes looked dirty.

"Moritz, are you all right? Did something happen?" Wendla said, standing and rushing to her friend.

"M-my father…He-he…" Moritz stammered.

"Yes." Wendla said, looking up at her friend with nothing but concern.

"He threw m-me out!" Moritz said, collapsing.

"What?" Wendla asked, joining him on the ground.

"My f-father threw me o-out!" Moritz said, crying into his hands.

"Moritz, that's terrible…" Wendla said, holding him as best she could.

After a few minutes, Moritz lifted his head from his hands. "I n-need somewhere to s-stay."

"Moritz, I would love to help, but you would never be allowed to stay with-"

"No," Moritz said, cutting her off, "I was t-thinking of staying w-with Melchior."

"Oh, Moritz, that's great. Melchi would be glad to take you in." Wendla said, attempting to only responded by saying, "I think he may be leaving soon."

"What?" Wendla asked, shocked.

"I w-was talking with him the o-other day. He said t-that he wanted to forget these lives and m-move on. I haven't s-seen him since. Frau G-Gabor said he was home as church l-last night though." Moritz said, staring into the creek and remembering the conversations with Melchior and his mother. Wendla hated to see Moritz this way, he needed a place to stay, or else he could end up like Ilse…Or worse. Wendla stood up.

"Wendla, where are you going?" Moritz asked.

"I said I would help you, Moritz. Now I'm going to follow through." Wendla said, navigating her way through the underbrush.

"Did you really mean to do that?" Melchior asked. Wendla only nodded and stared up at her childhood friend.

"So, will you stay?" Wendla asked. Melchior thought about it for a minute before slowly starting to nod. Wendla smiled with delight and held Melchior in a tight embrace. Melchior returned the gesture immediately. Suddenly, she felt that she was up in the hayloft with him again, and he was leaning towards her again; but this time, she would let him through. She was ready for her lips to connect with his again, when she heard a noise that didn't belong.

"How are you two doing?" Frau Gabor said, peeking through the door. Melchior and Wendla immediately let each other go.

"Fine, Mother." Melchior said with a smile.

"Splendid, I'll have dinner ready to be served in a few minutes. Will you be staying with us Wendla?" Frau Gabor asked her visitor.

"Actually, I had better be on my way Frau Gabor. But thank you for having me." Wendla said, giving Melchior one last look and heading out the door.

"Well, feel free to come by anytime you like." Wendla heard Frau Gabor say as she shut the door behind her.

OK, now to explain. I haven't been getting much feedback, so I'm going to go on a hiatus of sorts, until I feel that people are actually taking an interest. Again, Merry Christmas.