If Rudy didn't Die

Chapter 9

Liesel's POV
I woke up by Rudy's side.
He had had a really bad nightmare. What it was about, I didn't know. I wasn't sure if I wanted to, either.
"Guten Tag, Book thief." He whispered.
"Guten Tag, Jesse Owens"
"Thank you for staying with me last night,"
"No problem. I never found out what that nightmare was about"
"I'll tell you at breakfast. It isn't something I would like to be reminded of this early in the morning, "
"Okay,"
I took that as my cue to leave and go to my room.
When I saw Rudy at breakfast, he didn't seem as scared. He looked good looking, almost.
"Are you okay now, Rudy?" I asked, still worried about him.
"I'm alright, danke. I'm guessing you want to know what it's about, ja?"
"Ja."
He sighed.
"Everyone I have loved was killed in front of me. By the führer. You were the last one. You were stuck in the ruins of Himmel street......... and I couldn't help you. You were screaming at me for help. But I couldn't do anything"
"Don't worry Saukerl. I'm here now. And they'll have to do more than that to get rid of me"
He smiled.
Suddenly the bürgemeister danced in.
".......the Saumensch and the Saukerl!"
He was singing.
What? That's Rudy's song!
Rudy seemed to be thinking the same thing, as he gave me a confused look.
"Herr Hermann, how do you know that song out of interest?"
"You were singing it last night. I must say, the lyrics are really good! Who was it aimed at, Rudy?"
"Um..........."
I looked away to hide my blush.
"You know, I'm not as strict and posh as people think I am. It is an act. So I get respect. I'm not like that all the time," the bürgemeister grinned.
"Well......" Rudy began to say.
Rudy's POV
Herr Hermann had heard my song.
Every single word.
Do I really want him to know that me and Liesel like each other?
Doesn't look like I have much choice...
"Well........"
I pause for a second.
Liesel gives me a look which says she doesn't care what he thinks.
"I wrote it about someone in this room. Who I've known for five years. Who is, one of the most annoying Saumenschs ever"
Liesel smacked me on the back of my head.
"But who deserves more than anyone else I've ever known,"
I grabbed her hand. Liesel smiled.
"Wait who is this again?" the bürgemeister said, looking confused.
"Liesel, of course!"
"Ja I'm not that stupid, boy!"
*Time Lapse to later that night*
I had spent the day with Liesel.
Seeing as it was our last day before we had to go to school, we went and spent most of the day by the lake, where we yelled "I HATE HITLER" all those months ago.
Obviously, we also visited the Ampher river, too, for it had become a special place for Liesel and I.
Somehow, I even managed to teach her to swim a bit.
I remember her face when she finally swam properly; a mix of triumph and relief.
Her Mama und Papa would be proud.
I wonder if they can see us up in heaven.
Once again, it was one of the things I thought I'd never know.
My last thought that day as I lay down was Liesel.
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A/n- so I decided that the story needed someone who wasn't miserable and would tease Rudy and Liesel, so, as I couldn't find a place to fit Alex in, I decided to make the bürgemeister more of an almost father figure to Rudy and Liesel.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that Max and Alex won't be in this story. They will be later on.