A/N: Hey guys! Next chapter! Hope you'll like it!

"So what happens if you don't get that piece of paper signed?" asked Rudy.

"Detention, obviously," answered Liesel.

"You? In detention?" Rudy's eyes glittered. "Oh, Saumensch even for you that's way too low."

Liesel, unwillingly nodding in approval mumbled back, "way too low."

For once the sun sat high with much pride in today's sky. The clouds had left to give sorrow to some other poor town because southern Germany had had enough of the snow, chill, and sudden breezes. And for once Liesel had tied her jacket around her waist. It had been months since she had done so and she had to admit, it was a strange feeling.

Liesel stuffed her tardy slip back into her skirt pocket. If she did not get it signed by a parent or guardian by tomorrow she would receive detention for a week.

Liesel pushed the limping Rudy from the path. "You could have reminded me to bring a note, Rudy!"

Rudy chuckled . "You mean I should have forged you a note?"

Liesel sneered and adjusted her ponytail. "Well, it's too late to forge a note now, isn't it?"

Rudy put his arm around Liesel and kissed her cheek. "Yes, ma'am it is."

Liesel sighed and looked up at Rudy. "Where are we going exactly?"

"Well," he said cautiously. "We could go to my place. My father's not home."

Liesel's eyes widened, "Your father's not home?"

Rudy's cheeks turned a little red but a smile drew across his mouth, probably against his will. "No Frau Meminger, he isn't."

The door slightly creaked as they stepped inside Herr Steiner's house.

"I was supposed to fix that," Rudy pointed out.

"But you didn't."

"Oh Liesel, you know me. Of course I didn't."

Liesel made her way through the entrance and into the family room. There was a small mantel beneath the window that had black and white pictures of the family. Rudy's awards from school and trophies from track were lined up. Across from the family room was a small dining room with a dinner table that had six chairs: one for every member of the Steiner family though six out of eight of them were dead.

Liesel had only been to the Steiner house a few times. She knew this was because Rudy was too embarrassed to bring her home after she lived in the mayor's mansion. Though Liesel had told him that that should never come into consideration, he never really listened.

They made their way into Rudy's bedroom which was in the far end of the house. His room was nothing special, like Liesel's. Though much had changed from them after the bombings, both of them remained quite simple.

His room consisted of a pretty large bed with white sheets, a desk with papers, a closet, a window, and a couple of pictures on the mantle. Liesel picked up a photo of both of them that was taken at the fair. Both of them were smiling though the chill of the winter weather could wear you down. Liesel could remember every moment of that particular day. The smell of the buttered popcorn and the loud music and how happy they were was precise in her mind. She would give anything to go back.

"I'm really going to miss you when you go away," she said softly.

She could hear Rudy's feet shuffle closer towards her. "What?"

Liesel turned towards him as her hands gripped the mantle behind her. "You know…"

His eyes turned sharp. "What?"

Liesel exhaled. "When you leave to Humbolt!"

A long pause dreaded over both of them like heavy clouds on a typical German day. "I never said I was going to Humboldt," he said finally.

Liesel's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Rudy sighed. "I haven't gotten my acceptance letter back so I don't know if I even got in. But it doesn't matter."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to go anymore."

"Rudy that's insane!" exclaimed Liesel. She placed the picture back on the mantle. "It's one of the best colleges in Germany. You worked so hard. What's holding you back?"

Rudy's entwined his fingers between Liesel's. "Us," he said softly. "What will happen to us?"

Liesel stroked his hair. "Nothing will I promise-"

Rudy shook his head. "No, that's not fair to you. Can we please not talk about this now?"

Liesel froze. She wanted to say more. But she knew this was uncomfortable for him, but she still nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Alright, Saukerl," Liesel whispered into his shirt. "What do you want to do, then?"

He grinned. "This." He pulled Liesel close to his body and enclosed her with his arms. She pressed her lips to his and enjoyed the warmth from his body. She let her hands into his soft hair as he lifted her up. Liesel wrapped her legs around his waist as he started moving. He gently placed her onto the pillow of his bed and relaxed on top of her. His lips kissed her neck, her chin, her eyes, and her forehead. Liesel felt a sort of burning passion bubbling inside her body. Her heart was hammering against her chest and her fingers were shaking, but she didn't want him to stop.

Liesel had never craved this sort of love from him, but she now that she was here, she was attracted to it. She pulled him closer and let her hands underneath his shirt attempting to pull it off. He chuckled, sat up and ripped off his shirt. She had only seen Rudy shirtless a couple times, but not this close. Unwillingly, she let her fingers touch his muscled body. He came back down to her and pressed his lips on hers, this time with more passion. He let his hands go under her shirt but this time Liesel flinched.

"Is this okay?" he asked, his voice deep and luring.

Liesel, who still felt uncomfortable, managed to breathe a yes. He slowly pulled her shirt off and Liesel felt her eyes sting. She did not kiss him back when he did. And when his tender fingers found their way to her bra strap she yelped.

Rudy sat up, red faced, and his eyes wide.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Did I go to far?"

Liesel shook her head, her lips quivering.

Rudy stood up from the bed. His eyes were wide. "Do you need some water?"

Liesel sat up and shook her head. She searched around for her shirt. When she found it, she put it back on.

Rudy still looked worried. "Liesel? Are you okay?"

She stood up from the bed. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"I didn't mean to-"

Liesel looked up at him. "It wasn't your fault. I just want to go home now. I'll see you later."

With that said, she walked out of the room and out of the house leaving Rudy wondering what went wrong.

As soon as the grand door of the Hermann's palace slowly shut behind Liesel, she heard slippers hurriedly gliding across the tile floor and saw a pale faced Ilsa, still in her robe and morning tangled hair rushing towards her.

"Liesel!" she said. A wave of relief washed through her face. She placed her hands on her shoulders and shook it hard. Her eyes were wide. "Where have you been?"she demanded.

Liesel placed her bag on the floor, her eyes not leaving Ilsa's fear struck face. "I was at Rudy's. What's the matter?"

Ilsa froze.

Heavy footsteps entered the scene as soon as Liesel finished speaking. The mayor's solid face appeared out of the work room.

He walked towards Liesel and placed a soft hand of Ilsa's shoulder. He wasn't in his work outfit as usual and was sporting just a simple cotton outfit.

His face was tight but his eyes were weak.

Liesel looked up at both of them, her heart thumping against her chest begging to be let out. "Can someone tell me what's wrong?"

The mayor's face stayed motionless but his lips read, "Someone broke into the house."

Liesel's jaw fell.

"What?"

Herr Hermann brought his palms up to his forehead and rubbed it. He looked at Ilsa in a way that Liesel could tell he was telling her something.

And after that he trudged away back into his work room.

"Come," Ilsa said. "Let me show you."

Ilsa turned around and walked across the hall and into the small doorway that lead to the hallway. She motioned Liesel to follow her.

The library.

Once Liesel entered the room, the smell of old pages and fresh ink hit her. It had been weeks since had come in to read. Usually, she spent all her time in the library and had gotten used to the scent. But since it had been a while, it all was new.

Nothing had changed. But the window at the corner of the room caught Liesel's eye.

There was a big whole in it.

Liesel's head spun around to Ilsa. "When was this?"

Ilsa looked at her with a sad look in her eyes. "A half an hour after you left for school. We were still asleep so we didn't know."

"And you didn't hear anything?"

Ilsa answered with a wretched nod of her head.

Liesel examined the break in the window. Centered right at the middle, it was big enough for a person to fit right in.

"The window was locked so they decided to break through," said Ilsa.

"What about the glass that broke with it?" Liesel asked.

Ilsa sighed. "It was gone when we got here. We suppose the breaker cleaned it."

Liesel rubbed her eyes. "It's not really a big deal, right Frau Hermann? You can just fix the glass," said Liesel, hopefully.

Ilsa shook her head sadly. "Liesel," she said her voice rough this time. "There was a break in and a robbery."

Liesel stepped back. "Well, what did the burglar take?"

Ilsa sighed. Her eyes moved to the bottom shelf of one of the bookshelves. The bookshelf with the most books.

And when Liesel quickly looked over to what was causing Ilsa so much pain, she gasped.

The entire bottom shelf was empty.