It had been almost a year since Prinz Eugen last saw Admiral Hipper following her transfer to another base. Much to her surprise—and quite frankly, delight—just a week ago, she received orders to relocate to the same base.

She was disappointed to see Hipper wasn't there to welcome her, but she soon learned from the others it was for a very good reason and that Hipper would very much like her to visit.

If someone told her before that Hipper would one day settle down, she would gleefully ask them to have their heads examined. She knew Hipper would do the same.

But as she entered the house—the door was unlocked like Hipper promised it would—and walked past the photographs showing nothing but smiles, suddenly the idea didn't seem too far-fetched. It felt right, even—like it was meant to be.

She remained on the living room couch for a while, looking for Hipper. Seeing that she wasn't around, Eugen had a mind to call for her out loud but decided against it as she noticed one room had its door slightly open, and the lights were on. She walked up to it and glimpsed inside.

She knew she should just barge in instead of sneaking and peeking around like a common thief, but even she didn't have the heart to bring the moment before her eyes to an abrupt end.

Hipper was seemingly too lost in her own world, surrounded by dolls and delicate flower arrangements—itself something Eugen would never imagine before—to notice her. All her attention was devoted to the little boy she was cradling in her arms.

And she was smiling. She seemed like a wholly different person. Or maybe not. There's always more to her sister than meets the eye, after all. Perhaps only the boy—and possibly his father—had managed to pick all the layers apart.

Seeing her freely giving her smile like that, Eugen couldn't help but feel—of all things—oddly jealous of her very own nephew, of all people. She could count with one hand the times Hipper would genuinely smile at her before.

And that boy could get away with things that would have Hipper tearing into someone had they been the ones doing it—things like pinching her nose or slapping her cheeks and having the gall to laugh about it. Meanwhile, she would get barked at—not that it stopped her, though.

"You're just like your aunt, aren't you?" Eugen heard Hipper murmuring and getting a gurgling laugh as a response. "…So you are. You would get along well with her, I think. Ah, it's been months since I last saw her…"

Eugen moved slightly from the door just in time to avoid being seen by Hipper as she turned to it. She could still hear her speaking, though.

"…Seriously, that girl really takes her sweet time. I hope she will come soon. Don't you want to meet her too?"

Eugen heard the boy making another gurgling laugh and clapping. She moved her ears closer with bated breath.

"Ah, that's a relief. She'll see how awesome you are, and…you'll see how awesome she is. You would like her right away, I think…I hope. You know…I…I miss her."

Who knows Hipper could speak that gently? And when did she become honest? Chuckling, Eugen knocked on the door. She had plenty of questions and much affection to give.