Heimat AU: Mikey's Rescue

Chapter One: The Rescue

*THIRD PERSON POV*

Lauren was driving her van, her daughter Maia asleep in the back. She had had a stressful day. It was days like these that she wished that Maia's father could still be around. Maia was the light of her life, and she felt like she was depriving her of that.

There were days she worried she was depriving her of everything. Being a parent and providing and trying to give her happiness. It was a hard thing to do, at times.

Maia shifted, snored. She was sleeping contentedly. Unaware of the turmoil going on in her mother. "Where is this road?" She muttered. It was a dark night. Rain was pelting her windshield. There was no use, she would have to stop for the night.

Sighing, she pulled the van along the curb. Thunder boomed out and even made her jump a little. She usually found solace in storms. But tonight was not her night. Maia had wanted to make a quick pit stop, but they simply hadn't had the time. Her disappointment burning and both had become irritated.

Lauren sighed again; some days were just more stressful than others.

The rain let up a bit, but thunder boomed, and lightening lit up the van. Lauren looked back and seen Maia fast asleep, still. The girl loved storms. They couldn't wake her.

It was almost the end of October, soon the rain would be turning to snow.

Suddenly a different sound came to Lauren's ears. The back window must have been left cracked open. She strained again. It sounded like a scream.

Lauren quickly rolled down her driver window and listened intently. The thunder was deafening. Was she just hearing things?

When there was no more sounds, Lauren gave up and rolled her window up. She gave in and went to bed.

***

Lauren's intentions were to drive off at dawn, however her tiredness had other intentions. She woke at nine and was groggy. Maia was already up and dressed and looking out the window. "Ma..." She sounded funny, upset.

Lauren shot up and went to her daughter. "What's wrong?"

"Ma that woman is being mean to that boy!" Maia was definitely upset. She was shaking her head and watching intensely. "She's hurting him!"

Lauren felt her stomach drop. She couldn't take the thought of anyone being hurt, let alone a child. She knelt down and looked out the window where her daughter was. She seen a tiny, black haired, child looking absolutely terrified as a woman brought her hand across his cheek.

Absolutely not.

"Maia, you stay in this van. Don't unlock the doors until I come back, okay?"

Maia nodded, she had tears falling down her cheeks. She couldn't understand what she was witnessing.

Lauren quickly exited her van, not thinking of anything else except to help that terrified child. She could hear the woman yelling at him. "You're an evil boy!" He made a noise of fear. "And you can just stay out here for the rest of the day and night for sneaking those crumbs! You can just learn to sleep out here if you remain ungrateful for the bed, we give you!"

Before Lauren had even reached them, the woman stormed back into her house and slammed the door. The little boy was shaking like a leaf and trying very hard not to cry. He noticed the woman approaching, with wide and terrified eyes.