A/N: Hello again! I'm back with another chapter, just to add a transition between chapters 2 and 4. I'm not sure who started using the text messages, but I've seen them in many fics. So, credits to the person who started using it. (I think it was MsHope) Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
I DO NOT OWN TSOM OR ANY CHARACTERS!
-typicallyali
Maria kissed her mother on the cheek. "I've missed you so much."
"We missed you too," Augusta patted her daughter on the cheek fondly, stealing a glance at her husband.
"Yes, we have," Karl nodded in agreement. "How's college?"
"It's alright," Maria said, smiling.
"Any boyfriends?" Augusta asked, her curiosity about her daughter's love life evident.
Maria's eyes widened before downcasting, and she chuckled to hide the guilt. "Uhm..."
Augusta raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Well, spill the beans, Maria. Anything interesting happening in the love department?"
Maria bit her lip. Should I tell them? No, not yet, she thought, Yes, wait- no. Tomorrow. She would tell them tomorrow.
"No, not really."
Her parents laughed before saying, "Don't worry, we're just teasing."
Maria let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding.
"I'll go upstairs and unpack," she said, going up the stairs.
She continued to walk until she reached her old room, trailing a hand down the Harry Potter poster that was taped on the door.
Carefully turning the doorknob, she stepped in. Her eyes scanned the posters on the wall, the photographs on her desk, the familiar comfort of her childhood belongings. The room seemed frozen in time, preserving the essence of her teenage years. The soft glow from the bedside lamp cast a warm ambiance, casting nostalgic shadows on the walls.
As she moved around, the creaking of the wooden floorboards echoed the passage of time. The scent of familiar perfume lingered in the air, evoking a sense of both melancholy and affection. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she sighed, immersed in the bittersweet nostalgia that enveloped her childhood sanctuary.
Maria turned around and picked up a stuffed teddy bear. Oh, the memories she had shared with this bear! It had a small, plump cuddly body with soft fur. Its friendly face had round eyes, a small stitched nose, and big round ears.
She hugged it, suddenly feeling the urge to cry. Maria ran her fingers through its fur, recalling countless nights of whispered secrets and shared dreams. The teddy bear, worn but cherished, symbolized a timeless connection to her past.
Overwhelmed by emotions, Maria sank into the familiarity of her old haven, exploring the tangible traces of her adolescence. Each object held a story, and she found herself lost in the narrative of her own history, a history woven into the fabric of her room.
The creaks and sighs of the room became a comforting melody, echoing the unspoken words of her memories. As she held the teddy bear close, Maria felt a profound gratitude for the sanctuary that had shaped her.
Tomorrow could wait. Tonight, she would revel in the embrace of nostalgia and the enduring comfort of her childhood refuge.
"Mom? Dad?" Maria found her parents in the living room, reading a newspaper together.
"Yes?" Her mother asked, still not looking up from the newspaper.
"Mutti, Vati," Maria whispered, sitting down on the armchair across from the sofa. "Please look at me."
Her parents shared a look before turning to their daughter immediately; they hadn't heard Maria call them by that in 10 years.
"Okay," Karl softly said, "We're looking."
"Thank you," Maria avoided eye contact, "Please don't get mad at me; I didn't do it on purpose."
She focused on the ground, tears pooling in her eyes. "I- I'm pregnant."
Augusta and Karl's expressions shifted, registering Maria's words.
"I'm sorry," Maria repeated, "I'm sorry."
Another moment of silence.
"I know that this isn't what you hoped for; I didn't mean to let you down."
Augusta had been part of the church community ever since Maria was born. Growing up in a household where faith played a central role, Maria knew that both her parents held conservative views, particularly when it came to matters of relationships and intimacy. The revelation of Maria's pregnancy hung in the air, a stark contrast to the values ingrained in their family and the teachings of the church.
Never in a million years would Augusta imagine her daughter would be sobbing in front of her, confessing a secret that she had been hiding. Yet, here she was.
"Come here," she said gently, opening her arms to Maria.
"I'm really sorry," Maria sobbed into her mother's shoulder, "Please forgive me."
"It's okay," Augusta looked at her husband, who was still processing the news. "Shh..."
Karl examined the mother and daughter, moving towards them and wrapping his arms around them.
That night, Maria stared at the untouched contact that she had drunkenly named: 'Ge Or g'
She tapped on it, renaming the contact to: 'Georg' and typing a message.
Maria: Hi, I know it's late but I told my parents the news this morning.
She shook her head, putting her phone down. Why would he respond? It was 2 AM.
Then she got a notification.
Georg: So proud of you.
Maria: You're awake?
Georg: I wasn't until you texted me, liebling.
Maria: Stop!
He chuckled, she is adorable.
Georg: I was waiting for you to text me, and I'm at my parents' house too.
Maria: Did you tell them?
Georg: Yes.
Maria: What did they say?
Georg: They wanted to meet you.
Maria: Meet me?
Georg: Well, isn't it right that they should?
Maria: Yes, you're right. How about tomorrow, I could bring my parents too.
Georg: I don't think we have any plans tomorrow, so maybe, I could confirm with you in the morning.
Maria: It is the morning, silly.
Georg: Ah, well, when the sun comes out.
Maria: Ok.
Georg: How did yours react?
Maria: I got super emotional and started to cry, and they both cried too. In case you didn't know, my mom is part of the church community and she's super controversial about those things.
She had told him before, that night at the bar. Little did she know, he remembered everything, everything they did, everything she told him.
Georg: It's okay to be emotional.
Maria: Are you genuinely saying that or are you saying that just because I'm carrying your child?
Georg: A little bit of both? Anyway, get some sleep and I'll confirm it with you in the morning.
Maria: Good night.
Georg: Good night, liebling.
"I love you," he added under his breath, turning his phone off.
A/N: If I'm being honest, that was a bit challenging for me to write (haha!) I don't know how I feel about this. I still hope you enjoyed this, I might update in the next few days or next week (if I'm not too busy). Feel free to review and give feedback, I'm open to criticism!