A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it took so long to update! This chapter was really important and I had to make some final decisions about the plot line!

Hope you guys enjoy it and please review after!

Even in the dark night, Liesel's vision was crystal clear.

The outline of Rudy's body faded with the night's color, but the blue tint in his eyes could be seen.

Liesel could see the breath come from Rudy's mouth as he spoke. "How long has it been since we-"

"Since the first time we attempted it?"

Rudy was walking parallel to Liesel. He nodded.

"2 weeks?"

Rudy bit his lip.

Liesel looked over at him. "What?" she asked.

Rudy looked ahead, Himmel Street was in sight.

"Here we go again," he said.

The outline of the board could be seen, slowly emerging into view. The white paint on it only could sting the hearts of both Rudy and Liesel.

They stopped right in front of the board. The neighborhood was dead silent. The stars were beaming from above, giving the criminals some light.

Liesel took a sharp breath in of the icy air. "Do you have the paint?" she asked Rudy.

"No, Saumensch. I left it at home," Rudy said sarcastically.

Liesel gave him a disapproving look. "Dompkolf," she whispered harshly. She looked around the street, worried. "Keep your voice down. I don't want to get caught."

Rudy knelt down to where he had placed the can of brown paint and opened it with a tool he had taken from his father. He opened the lid and placed the paint brush they had brought inside then handed it to Liesel. He looked up at her and smiled. "Will you do the honors, my lady?"

Liesel rolled her eyes. She took the brush from Rudy's hand.

She stroked the brush across Rudy's name on the board- letter by letter.

Rudy frowned. "Does the paint even match the one of the board's?"

Liesel froze, she hadn't even thought it through. She stepped back a little but couldn't tell.

"It's too dark to tell," she told Rudy.

Rudy scratched his neck and smiled. "That's one risk that I'm not willing to take."

Liesel stuck her tongue out at him and handed him the small brush." I'm not doing all the dirty work for you."

Rudy took the brush from Liesel's hand. He dipped the brush back into the paint can and then slowly stroked it on the board where his name was, over and over again. Until his name had suddenly disappeared from the board.

Like he had never been dead.

Rudy placed the brush back into the paint. His face was stone. "Now, where do we dispose of this?"

Liesel looked down at the paint. She thought for a second. They should have gone over the plan step by step. "I'll take it," she told him. "The Hermann's have a place where they put all the stuff they don't use."

"Great," Rudy said. He kicked the dirt under his feet. "Shall we be heading back?"

"What?" said Liesel. "I was hoping we could rob some houses and break some windows first."

Rudy's crooked smile grew on his face. He pointed towards dark house a couple yards away. "I say we rob that house. You get the goods and I'll get all their food."

Liesel shook her head but laughed. "Years older and you still are hopelessly in love with food."

Rudy looked over at Liesel. They were slowly walking away from Himmel Street- away from the memorial board. "You know what they say- when you find true love, you never let go."

He intertwined his fingers with hers.

And even in the cold night- his hand had enough warmth for an entire village.

They tromped threw the streets as if they had to fight inches of snow, but in all honesty, none of them wanted to leave the other.

"Hey, Liesel," said Rudy.

Liesel looked over at him.

His eyes sparkled. "Want to race?"

Liesel stopped in her tracks. They were headed into a straight road empty road that led them into the town. "You sure you don't want me to go easy on you because of you leg?"

Rudy cracked his knuckles and got down into the starting position. "I'm getting you back for that, Saumensch."

Liesel placed her hands on the icy street and got into the same position as Rudy. She pushed her hair back. "Up until the far tree?"

"Up until the far tree," replied Rudy.

Liesel swallowed. "On your marks, get set… go!"

Liesel legs flew from the ground as she plunged threw the air- barely touching the roads. From the corner of her eyes she could see Rudy slowly catching up to her.

She pushed harder.

But it was no use, Rudy's legs were twice as fast as hers. He was well past her.

He touched the tree about three seconds before Liesel did. She had almost slammed herself into the tree's large trunk.

They were panting heavily, but Rudy still found the breath to say, "HA!"

Liesel was laughing, her breath was dancing in the air.

Rudy came towards her and put his arm around her neck. "That was fun, wasn't it?"

"That's because you won!" Liesel exclaimed.

Rudy planted a soft kiss on Liesel's red cheeks. His lips were comforting. "Exactly!"

They walked home.

As soon as they reached the front door of the Hermann, Liesel looked sadly into Rudy's eyes and said, "I wish you could stay."

The wind rustled everything around them. Liesel blonde hair encompassed her face.

Rudy pushed the hair past her eyes with his cold fingers. "I wish I could," he said. "But I have to get up early tomorrow," he frowned and looked up at the sky, "today, I mean."

Liesel made a face. "What are you gong to do?"

"Oh," Rudy said. He rubbed his nose with his right hand. "Nothing-I'm just helping my father at work."

Liesel sighed. "Couldn't you help him another day?"

Rudy exhaled and kissed Liesel on the forehead. "No, my love, I can't. But I will see you tomorrow in the afternoon?"

Liesel nodded. "Tomorrow in the afternoon," she consented.

Liesel placed her arms around him and gently kissed him on the lips. His lips were cold, but they brought a bundle of warmth inside of her.

Rudy placed his forehead on hers. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too."

Liesel watched him as he let go of her hands, walked down the pathway of the Hermann's and immersed into the dark of the night.

She was to enter back into the house.

But she felt all giddy from the night with Rudy.

She was high on adrenaline, dazed from his love.

Confused from the heat she felt and the cold outside.

She almost didn't notice the the rustling of the bushes.

Her head jerked towards the source of the noise- the far left end of the house.

It was just the wind, Liesel. She told herself.

The wind was picking up speed and condensing. The dark night was turning darker.

Liesel walked towards the library window making sure each step was close to inaudible. Without hurrying, she opened the window with both of her hands until the top. She suddenly realized she couldn't fit the open paint can through the window without spilling some paint all over the library floor. She had no choice but to leave it outside.

And she promised herself that she would sneak it inside once the Hermann's had left for their Sunday morning meetings.

Liesel slid her legs through the window opening and pushed her head right through. The temperature inside was so much more warmer that it made Liesel drowsy.

The sudden warmth of the house unconsciously pulled her towards her bed where she drifted into a deep sleep- a sleep full of peace and safety.

A sleep she had never fallen into before.

On most Sunday mornings, Liesel was woken by the first rays of the sun gently hitting her cheeks and the smell of fresh bread and jam from the cooking breakfast. She would hear the radio silently play downstairs and the small voices of the Hermann's chatting about their day plans. A book would always be lying on the foot of Liesel's bed.

But not this morning.

A grey blanket was hovering over her that morning. Liesel's stomach was in knots.

Liesel could not smell coffee, bread, or fresh jam from the kitchen. But she could hear voices. Not the soft, humble, light conversation tones of the Hermann's. It was more dense, louder, and faster.

Liesel hurried downstairs.

When she got to the bottom of the steps- her body froze.

Frau Hermann was the first person she saw. Her eyes were worn out from tears and her face was swollen. The mayor stood right next to her. His face was as stiff, and his jaw was clenched tightly.

Right next to them were two men in dark uniforms with small notepads who were whispering in harsh voices to each other.

Ilsa caught Liesel's eye and immediately wiped her own. "Oh, Liesel," she said, her voice was hollow.

Liesel anxiously looked around her view space. "What's- what's going on?"

Ilsa bit her lip and looked at the ground. When she looked up again, the veins in her eyes had turned bright red.

She took a deep breath in. "There was another break in."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review your thoughts, questions, and comments! I'd love to answer them! I will definitely update sooner than before, I promise!

-Emma