Notes: Hello all! Some of you may remember this fic from when I was originally writing it back in 2019. I had such a blast with it but the direction it went down was something I ended up not being too pleased with and so I thought I would rewrite it. Please know that 'Taking the Long Way' has not been abandoned. I am still working on things behind the scenes for that and hope to get it updated in the very near future because I am so excited for it. I just thought I would post this in the meantime since I have a good chunk of it saved on my computer and I do adore this fic so much. Happy reading!

Prologue

"Oma! Opa!"

Mathilde was out of the motorcar before she had time to stop her and all Liesl could do was smile as she watched her daughter run to her parents with her arms stretched as wide as they could go, her beautiful blonde curls tumbling down her back as her hat fell from her head. She crossed her arms as she leaned against the car for a moment, watching her father lift her into his arms and cover her face with kisses to make her laugh, but the faint whimper that came from inside told her that Louis was awake and warmth pooled in her chest when she peered through the window at him. Her little angel. He wasn't even a month old, yet he already had her and Tobias in the palm of his hand.

She opened the door to the backseat when Louis started to cry and shushed him as she lifted him into her arms, her lips brushing against his forehead as she fished around in her coat pocket for his pacifier before sliding it into his mouth. He relaxed then, curling a hand into her blouse as he cuddled up to her and his eyes drooped while he suckled, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she took the satchel from the footwell before closing the door and turning around to make her way over to her parents. "Let me get that, sweetheart, you have your hands full as it is." She heard her mother say as she started to bend down to pick up Mathilde's fallen hat, the two of them sharing a smile when she lifted her head to see her walking across the gravel to her.

"Thank you," She said when her mother handed her the hat. "Sorry, I did tell her to wait for me to get Louis out of the car."

"No, don't apologise, your father and I love that she's so excited to see us," Maria assured her before her attention moved to her sleeping grandson and she lifted a hand to the back of his head through his hat, her thumb stroking the wisps of dark hair that peeked out from beneath the brim. "Hopefully, this little one will love coming to visit us as much as his big sister does in a couple more years. I honestly can't believe how much he's grown since he was born, Liesl, he was such a tiny little thing! Has Tillie started warming up to him yet? I'll never forget the look on her face when you told her she had a little brother."

Liesl smirked. "She's coming around slowly, the darling, but I can't say that I see them being best friends any time soon. She likes to push him in his pram when we take little walks in the garden and she's started kissing his forehead before I put him down at night but that's about it. Tobias is worried she'll never fully warm up to him but I think she will as soon as he's big enough to actually do things. Father once told me that I refused to have anything to do with Kurt when he was a baby since I thought he was boring and did nothing but cry, but I was all over him when he started walking and wanting to join in my games. Hopefully, that's how things will work out for these two because I want them to have the same relationship we do."

"I'm sure they will. You just have to give it some time, it hasn't even been a month yet." Maria stroked her arm soothingly.

The sound of crunching gravel prompted them to look in the direction of the house and they smiled as they watch Georg walk towards them with Mathilde snoozing against his shoulder. "I'm good, I pride myself on that, but even I didn't think it was possible for me to tire a child out quite that fast." He teased as he gently ran a hand up and down the three-year-old's back.

"She was an absolute nightmare last night because she was so excited for our little trip down here," Liesl explained, bouncing Louis in her arms when he stirred. "It had to have been around eleven o'clock by the time I managed to get her to sleep and then she came and dove on Tobias and I at quarter-past six this morning, a whole hour before we actually needed to be up, and refused to let us go back to sleep because she was certain it would make us late and she knows how you detest people who aren't on time. If being woken so early wasn't bad enough, Louis actually slept until half-past eight this morning which meant that Tobias and I could have slept in for once. I don't mind though. We've been looking forward to this for a while."

"So have we," Georg ran a hand over her hair and leaned in to kiss her temple. "You stay away far too long, my darling."

She sighed. "I know, father, but I swear it isn't out of choice. I never imagined we would be so busy when Tobias opened his practice, but everyone seems to want to be seen by him and the influx of patients over the past couple of weeks has been so overwhelming. Speaking of the practice, that's something I need to talk to you about. Tobias has managed to arrange cover for the weekend, but he has three more patients he needs to see face-to-face before he comes here and so he stayed behind. His last appointment is at four, so I was wondering if you would watch the children for me while I drive home to get him?"

"I don't mind going if that would make things easier," Georg shrugged. "I think you've done enough driving for one day."

"I couldn't ask that of you." She shook her head.

"You haven't asked. I'm offering. It's been a while since I last saw him, so we could stop at a public house for a drink."

"I think he would like that. All right, I'll give him a call later and let him know you'll be coming for him instead of me."

Georg nodded and turned his head to kiss Mathilde's brow. "Why don't we get these little ones upstairs so you can unpack?"

"Good idea. The last thing I need is her waking up and trying to help me out again." Liesl laughed.

"Oh, let me guess…" Maria smirked. "Her idea of helping is throwing all the clothes from the suitcase on the floor?"

"Mmm…" She hummed in response, watching her little girl nuzzle her father's neck. "I could never be angry at her though."

"She's an angel, that's why," Georg chuckled as he ran a hand along his granddaughter's back.

She couldn't argue with that. "That she is, father. That she is."

"Mutti, mutti, will you come and play with me?"

It was later that afternoon when Liesl and Maria were sitting together on the sofa, the rest of the children dotted around the room, and Liesl smiled when her little girl walked over to her. "Mutti would love to play with you, darling, but Louis hasn't quite finished his bottle yet," She explained, casting her gaze down at her son for a moment when he let out a gentle mewl. "I think Marta and Gretl said they were going to do some arts and crafts in the schoolroom, so why not go and ask them if you can do some too and then I'll come and get you once I'm done here? The time will pass much quicker, I promise you."

She was reluctant to do so, it was clear in the way she pouted and crossed her arms, but Mathilde agreed. "Oh, all right."

Neither Liesl nor Maria missed the way she scowled at her brother before turning on her heel and all but storming from the room. "She makes me more and more nervous for her teenage years with every day that passes," Liesl chuckled, shaking her head as she leaned back against the cushion behind her before turning her head in her mother's direction and watching her sip at her tea. "Unless this is her getting all her attitude out now and she's going to be an absolute dream when she's older."

"Do you really believe that?" Maria asked with a knowing smile.

"No, not in the slightest," Liesl confessed. "I hope she takes after her father as a teenager because I was a nightmare."

"Mmm, I never would have guessed. The frog in my pocket on my first day wasn't telling in the slightest."

"That was Friedrich and you know it!"

"Yes, but who was it who gave him the idea in the first place? That boy tells me more than you think he does."

Liesl gave her a good-natured roll of her eyes before moving closer to her when she wrapped an arm around her shoulders, her eyes closing when she gently kissed her brow. "Who do you think she'll become? I can never really make up my mind."

"Over the years, my darling, you have taught me that people can be very surprising," Maria admitted. "If someone had told me on my first day here that you and I would end up having the bond we have, I never would have believed it. I think you had decided, before you even met me, that you weren't going to like me and you had no qualms whatsoever about making that clear to me when we met. You were hurting back then though, my love, and I was meeting the Liesl you wanted me to meet rather than the real one. The real Liesl is one of the most kind, loving, compassionate people that I have ever known."

"Do you mean that?" Liesl asked, emotion coating her voice.

Maria nodded. "And I have no doubt that Mathilde, even if she does give you and Tobias a little trouble as she grows up, is going to turn out the same because she has you for a role model. You have so much love for her, both you and Tobias, and everything you do, you do with her best interests at heart and she'll come to see that for herself as she gets older. She might not appreciate it very much in the beginning because children rarely do, but I know she will when her life starts to change."

"Thank you, mother," Liesl sighed. "I think, at the moment, she's acting out for attention. I know what that's like."

"She will though, it's only natural. For three years, she was your sole focus and she was at the centre of everything you and Tobias did, but now there's a baby in the mix and she doesn't quite see why she has to share you with him," Maria replied. "Have either of you sat her down yet and had a real talk with her about this? Have you asked her to tell you how she feels?"

Liesl thought for a moment before shaking her head. "No, we're always telling her that we love her and Louis the same, but I honestly never thought to ask her how she feels about all this. I suppose I assumed that she was okay since she never said."

"He and your father will be on their way back by now, I should imagine," Maria gave her a squeeze and ran her hand along her arm. "When they get here, why not give Louis to me and I'll settle him for you while you both take Tillie upstairs and speak with her away from the others? She may not feel as comfortable opening up about her feelings with all of us around."

"That sounds like a good idea, but are you sure you don't mind?"

"Not in the slightest. Honestly, I've been desperate for a cuddle with him since you got here."

"You had better get one in then once he's done with his feed," Liesl teased. "Father won't put him down once he has him."

"Don't I know it," Maria muttered before she and her daughter shared a chuckle. "I love you so much, you know."

"I do know," Liesl assured her, leaning in to brush a kiss against her cheek. "And I love you just as much."

"You can go back to playing with Marta and Gretl in a minute, sweetheart, but there's something that mutti and vati would like to speak to you about before you do," Liesl said as she sat down on the bed, she and her husband exchanging a glance as he picked their little girl up and sat her on his knee in his wheelchair. "You're not in any sort of trouble, we promise, it's just that he and I have noticed you haven't really been yourself since Louis was born and we wanted to have a talk about it."

At her words, Mathilde cuddled closer to her father and closed her eyes as she buried her head beneath his chin with a huff.

A tell-tale sign she was nervous if ever there was one.

Running a comforting hand up and down her back, Tobias dropped his lips to her crown and lingered for a time to breathe her in before pulling back to look at his wife. He could tell that she was slightly unsure as to how to approach the question, so he thought for a moment before easing their daughter away from him and stroking her face when she looked up at him. "Sweet-pea, your mutti and I were around your age when our little brothers were born and she and I weren't all that happy about it either," He revealed. "Our parents used to give us all their attention and then when they were born, it felt like they were always so busy taking care of them and they never really had much time for us. Have you ever felt that way about us?"

Mathilde, with tears in her eyes, nodded slowly. "Louis cries all the time. He never shares with me."

"Louis cries because that's the only way he knows how to tell mutti and I when he needs something, Tillie, he's too little to use proper words like we do at the moment," He explained. "I know he cries a lot and I understand that it can be annoying when we have to stop playing games with you to go and see to him, but he needs us to do absolutely everything for him for the time being. As he learns to do things for himself as he grows up, he won't cry nearly as much as he does now and mutti and I will have much more time to spend with you and do the things you want to do. Do you think you could try and be a little more patient with him? If you like, you could even help us take care of him because you might end up finding it fun!"

"But what can I do, vati?" She asked.

Speaking up at last, Liesl swept a hand over her little girl's curls. "He always has his last bottle at bedtime, so you could get into bed with us and feed him. His favourite thing to do while he eats is snuggle, so you would get to feed and cuddle with him at the same time! He would love it too, I have no doubt, because he adores his big sister. You mean the world to him."

"I do?" Mathilde gasped with happiness. "How do you know?"

"Because his eyes sparkle whenever he hears your voice and he looks around whenever you enter a room." Liesl told her.

She beamed. "I do love Louis, mutti."

"Oh, I know, I never doubted that for a minute," Liesl assured her with a smile. "You need to bond with him a little, is all."

"Maybe I can go and have a cuddle with him!" She suggested.

Tobias gave her a squeeze and buried a kiss in her hair. "What a wonderful idea! Shall we go and find Oma and Opa then?"

She nodded before hopping out of his lap and heading for the door, he and Liesl shaking their heads when she ran out into the hallway. "Are you sure you want to come through? You must be exhausted after today, so if you would rather rest…"

"My darling, you and I have been over this. I refuse to let being stuck in this chair turn me into an invalid." He grumbled.

She gave him a silent nod. "I apologize."

"No, I'm sorry," He sighed, extending his hand to her and smiling when she took it before pressing her lips to the back of his palm. "You're concerned, I know that, and I adore you for it. Honestly, I'm surprised you've put up with me this long."

"For better, for worse, Tobias…" She reminded him, standing from the bed and leaning down to catch him in a tender kiss. She allowed it to linger for a time, for him to rest his hands on her waist as she stroked her thumb against the baby hairs on his neck, but she soon pulled back again and leaned her forehead against his. "I know it bothers you that you can't run after her, but what you need to remember is that you being in a chair is all she's ever known and she loves you for who you are."

"And you?" He asked, a question he had asked her countless times since that fateful day almost four years ago.

"You give me all I desire and you are the father of my children," She reminded him. "My love for you knows no bounds."

"What a relief," He smiled before accepting another kiss from her. "Come on, we should go."

She smiled and pushed a hand through her hair. "This time, I'll do my best not to run you into that wall."

"If you would, it would be much appreciated," He teased. "Two practically useless legs is enough, thank you very much."

"And you call our daughter a drama queen." She tutted, beginning to wheel him from their bedroom.

"She has to get it from somewhere," He pointed out. "And I like to think she learned from the best."

Shaking her head in response, she kissed the back of his neck and continued on down the through the house in search of their little girl.

Allowing her husband to bear almost all his weight on her that night, Liesl swept her thumb across his knuckles as he took several shaky steps towards the bed before all but collapsing onto it and leaning against the headboard. She gave him a little time to rest before aiding him in lifting his legs onto the mattress and covering them with the quilt, a sigh leaving her as she turned on the lamp on his nightstand. After three-and-a-half years of doing this, she had learned to mask her emotions, but it never got any easier. He was twenty-two, for goodness' sake. Before the accident, they had spent many a long night going on and on about all they wanted to see and do together, but they had been robbed of the chance to do almost any of them.

No, not they, him.

He was the one who had been robbed of the chance to do the things he loved and it angered her beyond belief.

He wanted to run around with their little girl, to be able to play with her the way other fathers played with their children, but that would never be an option for him. He found it enough of a struggle to get in and out of his wheelchair day-to-day.

Not a day went by that she didn't think about the person who caused him to have to live like this.

The stupid, reckless, person that decided it would be a good idea to go for a drive after drinking himself into oblivion.

He had met a worse fate than Tobias, not having made it out alive, but she honestly felt he'd had a lucky escape.

He didn't have to live the way her husband had to live.

He didn't have to feel as useless or as much of a burden as her husband felt.

There were very, very few people she hated with all her heart and soul, but he would always be at the very top of that list.

"Those must be some very loud thoughts if I can hear them from all the way over here," Tobias muttered from where he sat in bed, his voice pulling her from those thoughts before she turned out the bedroom light and walked back across the room with tears in her eyes. She watched him pull back the quilt before he opened his arms to her and she got into bed, instantly falling into them, and a tear trickled down her cheek when her head found his chest. "There's no need to be upset, Liesl…"

"How can you say that when so much has been taken away from you?" She cried. "All you have is me and the children."

"And you and the children are the only thing I want," He soothed, waiting for her to tilt her head back on his chest before kissing her temple. "Have you forgotten how much you and I had to go through in order to get to this point? It seemed as though the world was against us at one point and that things would never work out the way that we wanted them to, but it worked out all right in the end because we had each other. We persevered, sweetheart, we wouldn't let your father or your grandmother or even my accident come between us. I love you more now than ever before thanks to all we went through."

Her bottom lip trembled uncontrollably. "We did go through a lot, didn't we?"

"More than any couple should ever have to," He agreed. "But that only made us stronger."

She nodded. "It did. Looking back, I can't believe I ever thought you would walk away when I told you about Tillie."

"I know. What on earth were you thinking?" He chuckled, kissing her forehead. "It's been quite the journey, hasn't it?"

"It has," She draped an arm over his stomach, nestling deeper into his arms. "The greatest journey I've ever been on…"

Notes: Thank you so much for taking the time to read this little prologue! Writing it really helped get me more excited for the rest of the fic and I hope that you liked it too. I would be so grateful if you left a review to let me know what you think if you have the time. Thank you for the support and I will see you soon!