I won't even begin to say how sorry I am because if I start I won't be able to finish. I guess I got caught up in school work and sports and I just forgot about this story (again!). But like I said in earlier chapters, I plan to finish this story and finish I shall!

Once again I'm sorry but I hope I can make up for it by delivering what all you have been waiting for. Please enjoy!

XX

Gretel was seated on one of the many dining room chairs, twiddling her thumbs with a carefully wrapped package in her lap. It was so early in the morning that the only light provided in the room was from the dim rays of the sun that had just started to peek over the mountain tops. That morning she had gotten ready in a dark haze.

She wasn't even supposed to be up. If Father found out she was running around the house in the wee hours of the morning while everyone slept surely he wouldn't be too pleased. But she couldn't help it; she was just too excited to sleep. I wonder what he'll think.

Christmas had rolled over and two whole days had passed. Two whole days of not seeing Kotler. He was the reason she lay awake in bed instead of getting her beauty sleep. Well, him and the package she was holding of course.

After Kotler had gotten her the most wonderful present a girl could ever wish for (oh how magnificent that hat was), she had spent the rest of the day in a daze of happiness. Somehow, she had thought, I will repay him.

And so she started planning.

It didn't take long before she thought of something, oh how sinister that thing was. She was actually quite proud of herself thinking it up. That had been two days ago and now here she was, too excited to sleep with a package in her arms waiting for the man she was so smitten with to walk through those doors.

She waited. And waited. And waited.

At one point Gretel must've dozed off for the sound of a closing door snapped her head from the table. How peculiar, she thought. If someone hadn't come in then that meant that someone was leaving the house at the crack of dawn. Gretel slowly pulled herself from her spot on the chair and peered out the window near the door. It was just light enough for her to see the retreating form of a little boy.

What could Bruno be up to?

Gretel smoothed out her pretty pink dress and ran her fingers slowly through her golden locks. Wherever Bruno had been heading he made sure that no one found out. Gretel was so bored that she couldn't help but be curious. Picking up her package and tucking it under her arm, she slipped out the doors.

When the cool morning air hit her skin she felt like skipping. She felt so refreshed and free the particular morning that not even nerves could ruin her excitement.

She looked to her right and saw Bruno following the line of the fencing, his form starting to disappear in the horizon. Grabbing bundles of her elegant dress, Gretel followed after.

XX

She was tired. And sweaty.

Those were the two things she could describe herself as right now. Gretel had been chasing after her brother for what seemed like hours. The coolness of the morning passed and evolved into heat when the sun had fully come out. Her dress felt heavy and her hair stuck to her face.

Despite snow being on the ground only days before, the sun came down hard. It beat down on her and Gretel continuously stumbled over her own feet.

So that's why she felt as if she could almost scream out in relief when Bruno came to a halt ahead. It might've been the heat of the sun or simply the distance she was at but Gretel swore that when she saw Bruno sit down that she saw something on the other side of the fence sit down too.

Gretel hesitated, unsure of what to do next. So she stood there. She wasn't quite sure how long she stood there on the dirt path watching her brother talk to something on the other side of the fence that most definitely looked like another boy.

It didn't take major brain suffrage for Gretel to realize that Bruno was in fact talking to another boy, one that looked very familiar in fact.

Oh Bruno what trouble are you getting into now…

At that moment Bruno leaning towards the fence as if receiving some sort of information. Gretel could see him nod and then as quick as possible he turned his eyes towards her. Gretel froze under his gaze.

"Bruno!" Gretel called, waving a hand. "Bruno it's me Gretel!"

Gretel started towards her brother, her muscles sighing in relief at the chance to move again. Once Gretel drew near enough to get a better look she noted oddly that her brother didn't look happy to see her. Quite the opposite actually, he looked quite frightened. Almost as if Gretel had caught him in the act of something unbelievably horrid.

She stopped once she was side by side with her brother and shot him a smile. When Bruno didn't offer one in return she turned to his friend.

"Hello I'm Gretel." She spoke politely as she looked the boy up and down.

The boy looked horribly dirty and hot. With a long shirt and trousers made of what seemed like scratchy material Gretel felt her sympathy towards the boy. He must be absolutely melting under the sun.

"I am Shmuel." Came the small response of the boy on the other side. Sweat rolled down the boy's forehead and Bruno's breathing had become labored. Gretel shot both boys an appointed look and then raised her hand.

The boy flinched.

Gretel frowned. "I won't hurt you, silly boy." She said softly. The boy slowly unclenched his eyes and stared mutely at the fingers Gretel had outstretched as far as she could through the metal wiring.

"It's just a shake. I promise not to bite."

Slowly but surely the young boy's hand reached out and grasped her fingers. They shook for a moment before both pulling away. Gretel turned to Bruno.

"So is this your 'imaginary friend'?"

Bruno blinked. "You're not mad at me? Or angry?"

"Now why ever would I be angry at you Bruno?" Gretel asked in a confused tone. Both Shmuel and Bruno shifted but did not utter a single word.

"Come on Bruno," Gretel said, sounding positively irritated, "why would I be angry?"

Shmuel was the first to break the silence. "Because he's not supposed to talk to my kind." He mumbled, his head hanging low. For the first time Gretel noticed the bruises lining peaking from under his striped shirt.

Gretel gasped.

"What happened to you?" instantly she sounded as if on the verge of tears.

"We did this to him." Bruno spat and Gretel stilled.

"We locked him and his family in this cage. We starved them and beat them. We did this to him." Bruno was seething; something that wasn't very common of the eight year old boy and Gretel felt herself more and more confused and upset.

"What do you mean we did this to him, Bruno? I have no idea what you're talking about. We would never hurt this little boy."

All went silent. Gretel just stood, Bruno was taking deep breaths and Shmuel had kept silent.

Finally, after choking seconds of silence Shmuel gasped, alarmed. "Uh oh."

"What is it?" both Gretel and Bruno asked.

"I need to leave." Shmuel hurried and then pointed over to their left.

Gretel looked over in the direction he pointed to. Hurrying in their direction was Soldier Skyler.

"Shmuel get outta here!" Bruno yelled. Shmuel scrambled a few steps away from the fence and threw a pleading look in their direction. Bruno nodded and Shmuel was off, sprinting until his form disappeared in the horizon.

"Come on Gretel." Bruno said as grasped for his sister's hand. "He's going to catch us!"

Gretel was frozen to her place. She clutched at the package under her arm and looked towards her brother.

"Go on Bruno you get out of here, he's already seen me so there's no need in getting us both in trouble. Go on, leave before I change my mind!"

Bruno didn't hesitate another second before he dashed behind some brush.

"Just what do you think you're doing all the way over here?" Soldier Skyler hissed once he reached her.

Gretel shrugged and shot him a girlie little smile. "I just thought it'd be a nice day for walking." She lied easily.

Skyler narrowed his eyes. "You are forbidden to be over here. Anything passed the limits of the house grounds is punishable. You are in a lot of trouble young lady."

"But I didn't—ow!" Gretel screeched when Skyler gripped her arm in a squeezing hold. "We'll just see what the Herr Commandant has to say about this." He threatened before tugging her harshly in the direction the house.

Gretel squirmed against his hold and cried out in pain when his grip tightened. Skyler was extremely scary. His eyes had become dark and hooded and his face had gone all red. His lips were pushed to a thin line as if he was refraining from shouting at her. Gretel could only feel pain and dread for what lie ahead.

When they arrived at the front doors of the old house Soldier Skyler didn't let go. With his free hand he threw open the door and shoved her inside.

Gretel stumbled from the force of his action and fell to the floor hard. Tears swarmed in the corners of her eyes and Gretel looked up fearfully to the man above her.

"Do you even understand how much trouble you are in?" Skyer spat.

The sob building up in her chest pushed past her lips in a loud cry. "I'm sorry. I really didn't know. Please, don't hurt me." She pleaded. Never in her life had Gretel felt so scared.

Skyler advanced towards the fallen, crying girl. By this time she was full on bawling as he raised his hand above his head. "I'm going to teach what it's like to be truly sorry."

Gretel squeezed her eyes shut and curled up. Skyler raised his hand higher and with gathering force threw it down.

BAM!

The sound echoed throughout the great halls of the house so loud that anyone who must've been sleeping had to of awaken from the noise. Strangely enough, Gretel felt no pain. Slowly uncurling herself, Gretel stole a look.

The scene before her was astonishing.

Lying on the floor, clutching his nose was Soldier Syler. Blood was pooling profusely in his hands, staining them red. But what was the most surprising was the man standing above him.

"Father?"

"Don't you ever, ever think about hitting my daughter again. You are lucky that I let you live, you pathetic excuse for a man! I want you out of here! Out! And don't you dare come back! If I see one sign of you here again or hear of your name I will personally hunt you down. Now get out."

The man on the floor shot off the ground like a bullet and staggered to the door that had been left ajar. Gretel didn't even wait to watch the man's form retreat. With tears in her eyes she looked up at her savior.

"Father?"

The man above her seemed to be pulled back to reality when his eyes settled on the shaken girl he called daughter. His eyes turned sympathetic and he reached out to grab her. He pulled her up, careful of the bruises forming on her arm and pulled her into a hug.

"Oh Gretel, don't you ever scare me like that again. I promise you that you will never see that man again. No one will even think to utter his name under my roof." He took her face in his hands, "are you alright, my daughter."

Gretel was shaking like a leaf but nodded anyways. Besides a few bruises and a scraped knee she was perfectly fine.

From her side her Father stiffened and gazed at the man with red hair in the corner of the room. "Soldier Bryant I want you in my office immediately." The warmth in his voice disappeared and Gretel, knowing it was too good to last, watched as he walked away.

"Are you okay?" A voice asked from behind her. Gretel let out a scream.

"Woah there, its okay Gretel it's just me." Kotler hushed, placing his warm hands on her shoulders and looking her intensely in the eyes. The pad of his thumb brushed away the stray tears from her face. At that moment Kurt never seemed so beautiful, Gretel decided. His blonde hair shone from underneath his grand hat and his eyes reflected concern. Beautiful.

With that thought a new round of tears flooded her eyes and ran down her face. She felt so weak. Kotler gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly. "It's okay." He assured.

When Gretel pulled away she was staring at the blood stain on his suit jacket. The stain of fresh blood. Gretel shivered despite the heat. She didn't even want to think of what Kotler might've done to that man.

"Thank you." Gretel whispered because she didn't know what else to say and because it felt suited for the moment.

"I'll always be here for you, soldier." He promised.

Kotler lifted his hat from his head and placed it gently on her messy curls. "Stay strong solider."

Gretel's face burned and she noticed the package on the ground. She bent to pick it up and then held it out to Kurt Kotler.

"It's a gift. For you." She clarified to his confused expression.

A grin broke out of Kotler's face and his cheeks burned red. He tore open the paper and then chuckled. Nothing was there.

"I thought and thought about it forever." She explained. "I really had no idea what I could get you. Well that is until I realized that the one thing I wanted to give you I couldn't wrap."

Gretel reached on her tip toes and leaned forward, her breath fanning across Kotler's face. His eyes widened and his cheeks burned even brighter once he realized what the beautiful girl in front of him was about to do. He stared into her eyes and leaned forward.

Their noses were first to meet and Kotler brought his hand up to caress her cheek the same moment she fisted his suit. Her nails dug into the scratchy material and she pulled him closer.

They simultaneously closed their eyes and their lips met at last.

Gretel poured all her emotions into that kiss. The hurt, sadness, fear, anger, pain, lust, adore and love into that kiss. With every memory that flooded her mind she pressed harder against his mouth. Kotler responded with just as much fever. He ground his lips against her soft ones in a bruising kiss that would put all the other kisses in his life to shame. He held onto the thought from earlier of losing her as he wrapped his muscular arms around her slim waist. Fingers tangled in his hair and Gretel let out a moan. It was such much yet at that moment, not enough. She wanted to give everything to him. She wanted him to feel her pain and for her to feel his. She wanted for once for him to understand just how much she loved him. She wanted to feel how much he loved her.

When the powerful kiss finally came to an end, Kotler pulled away and kept her at an arm's length apart.

"Oh God, you are so beautiful." He breathed. Gretel flushed and she opened her mouth to respond.

"What is going on here?" a deep voice spoke from off to their sides. Kotler and Gretel both looked up and then froze.

In front of them was Father, standing still with his face set as hard as stone.

Inconvenient, intruding Father.

XX

And finished! Well not with the whole story but with the chapter at least. Sorry if it sounds rushed and if there are mistakes, I promise to edit when I get the chance, but I felt as if I need to get this out to guys as soon as possible!

Once again I am deeply, deeply sorry for keeping you guys waiting for soooo long. Theres still a couple of chapters to squeeze out of this story and I promise I am going to finish it, one way or another!

Oh yeah, also I would greatly appreciate reviews telling me on how the chapter was (regardless of its nice or not). Please review and thank you for reading! Peac out I 3 you guys!