#best lawyer for property case | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

evans23 · 27 days ago

Text

RICKMAS 2024 - DAY 12 - MISSING MIRTH

Pairing : Hans Gruber x Reader OC

Summary : She misses him. She has no more joy in her life. Except for him. Their little son. But maybe Christmas miracle exists after all.

Tag(s)/Warning(s) : Angst. Mention of death. Depression. Mention of suicide.

A/N : Enjoy dear reader 😁

This is Part II of FALLING

Also read on AO3 - Wattpad

A card had arrived in September. A card with nothing on it. A card from Germany. Your heart had skipped several beats. You only knew two people in Germany: Hans and his brother.

Hans had died following the attack on the Nakatomi Tower. This simple thought brought tears to your eyes that had never lost their veil of sadness since that cursed day. You had always had doubts about who Hans was and that night, when in the house you shared in the outskirts of London you recognized him on television, your suspicions were confirmed. At the time, you did not know the exact nature of what he did for a living. Hans and you had a tacit agreement: you did not ask questions. Never.

You had tried, of course, but each time you had done it was the only time you had seen him get angry with you and Hans' anger was impressive. You had quickly stopped questioning him, being angry with him was something you didn't like to experience even if later in the night, to make up for it, Hans offered you your best sex.

His death had taken a toll on you. You were still tired, your eyes were surrounded by black bags and your smile no longer reached your gaze. The spark of life that had captivated Hans two years before had gone out.

If you continued to hold on day after day, it was for your son, a surprise gift from Hans, his only inheritance. Of course, no one could know who the father was and your family was very angry with you for having made a baby all by yourself. So you received very little help from them. Fortunately, Hans had thought of everything and his house in London as well as his English and Italian bank account had been put in your name.

Indeed, when he died, a lawyer came to find you accompanied by Simon, Hans' big brother. The two men had explained to you that Hans had prepared everything in case one day he didn't have to come back so that you wouldn't be left with nothing. The man was cunning and intelligent. He had many bank accounts in different parts of the world as well as many properties, all under false identities.

In order to have the full acquisition of the money and the house, you had to sign papers that ensured your silence. As if you would have been shouted from the rooftops that you had been the mistress of one of the most infamous terrorists ?

It was only a month later that you had discovered that you were pregnant. It was a surprise as you had always used contraception, but when the doctor had asked you if you wanted to keep the child or not, you knew that you could never be separated from this little being that was growing inside you. It was a piece of you and Hans, of the love that you had shared. That was all you had left of him.

Your son had celebrated his first birthday in July. It had been a sunny day that you had spent in Kensington Park, where it all began. You had then eaten cake for dinner and drank chocolate milkshakes until your stomach hurt. It had been a good day. One of the few where you had not cried thinking about his father.

Hans haunted your thoughts day and night. You had never realized how alone you were until you had him in your life. Of course, you had not been alone for long as eight months later the fruit of your love came into the world.

Your pregnancy had not been easy, between the incessant nausea, the swollen legs and the lack of support from your loved ones. But to your greatest surprise, one fine morning, you had found Simon on your doorstep. He had heard the good news, though he had refused to tell you how he had done it.

He had stayed by your side until your nephew was born, and then, as his brother knew how to do, he had disappeared without leaving you any news. You didn't even know where to find him, but it didn't matter, he knew where to find you.

So when the card had arrived, you had assumed it was from Simon. Did he want to meet you in Germany ?

There was no way you were traveling with such a young child. If Simon wanted to talk to you, he would have to come himself. Besides, you had started working part-time at a small local bakery and you didn't feel like asking for time off yet. Not that you needed to work, not with what Hans had left you, but it allowed you to get out of the house and take your mind off things for a short while. Meanwhile, your son was in daycare and you knew it was for the best because he was socializing while you were learning not to cling to him like a lifeline. This child couldn't grow up with your traumas.

However, two more cards had arrived inSeptember, four in October and eight in November. Finally, on December 13th, a final card had arrived, a funny Christmas card with a three-dimensional reindeer and with only one word written on it: Magdeburg.

In view of Simon's insistence, you had decided on a whim to pack up your and your son's things and had driven to the station where you had taken the train to Cologne. The five hours of train travel had passed like nothing. Your son had slept the entire journey to your great relief while you had tried, in vain, to immerse yourself in a book. Indeed, your mind had not stopped drifting to Hans. Hans, your tender lover who had taught you to love and to be loved.

You also wondered what his brother could possibly have to say to you to insist so much. Why couldn't he come? Was he in trouble? You didn't want to be mixed up in the dangerous world to which he belonged. You didn't want your son to be in danger because of his father and uncle's inheritance.

In Cologne, you had rented a car and driven to Magdeburg, but once there, you didn't know what to do, who to look for, where to go. You didn't have to wait long. You were in front of the Kriegerdenkmal with your son who needed to stretch his legs when your phone rang. A German number.

"Hello ?" you said carefully.

"You took your time [Y/N]," Simon's voice rang out.

"What do you want ? I'm traveling with a baby," you answered curtly.

Simon just chuckled.

"You have a room reserved at a small inn in the city under the name of Sarah Fears. You'll spend the night there," he ordered you.

"I'm afraid the name on my passport isn't Sarah Fears," you scoffed.

"It's a code name. The receptionist is one of my men. He'll give you new papers. Tomorrow, he'll go and bring back the car you rented while another one will be waiting for you. The GPS will already be programmed, you'll just have to follow the directions."

You didn't have time to say anything before he had already hung up. A minute later, your phone rang, a message from Simon with an address, that of the hostel you assumed.

The hostel, which reeked of Christmas, was stuck between two old dilapidated houses. Nothing that inspired confidence. However, you obeyed Simon and as expected, a man gave you new identity papers for you and your child as well as money.

"I need the car keys and your phone," he ordered you bluntly.

You hesitated for a second, asking him what all this was about, but he refused to answer, stating that he was following Simon's orders and that he didn't have to answer your questions. Frustrated, you handed him your keys and phone, in exchange for which he gave you a new one.

"Don't turn it on until you get permission from the boss," he said before leading you to your room.

You didn't like it much, but there wasn't much you could do. The room was small and musty, yet you didn't have a better option. You were in a foreign country in the middle of nowhere. You didn't speak German and you didn't have a cell phone anymore. Well, you did, you had a brand new, state-of-the-art one, but you weren't allowed to turn it on. You didn't know why, but something told you that it was better to listen to what you were told. You were in dangerous waters. The price to pay for having loved Hans, you thought bitterly.

The night was long, your son refusing to sleep and crying until exhaustion. He was now asleep in the back while you struggled to keep your eyes open. The GPS had indicated Liepzig. You didn't even know this name before this morning, but that was where you were going now.

You stopped in front of an old abandoned building. It was your destination apparently. Before leaving, the receptionist of the hostel had given you an envelope and told you not to open it until you arrived. So you opened it, eager to know what was inside. Another Christmas card, with a snowman with a smile more scary than friendly was inside. On the back were instructions. You had to leave the keys in the ignition, take your son and all your belongings, put the phone in the glove compartment as well as your old passport.

Worried, you wondered if you and your child were in danger. Did anyone know that Hans had a child? Was that why Simon was taking so many precautions ? Adrenaline, mixed with fear, invaded your body and you felt bile rise to your mouth. You took a sip of water, then you followed the instructions to the letter. In the glove compartment, there was another card, this one illustrated with a Santa Claus. On the back, Simon ordered you to enter the building.

You entered cautiously, holding your son tightly in your arms. Anxious, you wondered what you would do if this was all a trap. You didn't know how to fight and you didn't even have a knife on you, although you probably wouldn't have known how to use it other than to cut your hand. However, you were certain of one thing: Simon would not put his nephew in danger.

You waited for about twenty minutes inside the old building. You heard someone drive away mixed with the sounds of the city. After twenty long and interminable minutes, Simon came in.

"Simon," you said in a breath, "why all the mystery ?"

He didn't answer, just walked briskly towards you to grab his nephew.

"There's the little prince," he said with a smile.

Your son watched him, intrigued. After all, he had only met him once, when he was born.

"Simon ?" you insisted.

"Hush ! You'll get the answers in due time. In the meantime, don't ask any questions."

His authoritative tone and his gaze that left no room for discussion reminded you of Hans. Hans that you saw every day in the hazel eyes of your son who had also inherited his hooked nose and his predatory smile.

"You're going to stay at my place until the 24th."

"What ? No !" you cried.

You told him that you couldn't stay that long, that you had your life in London and your job.

"A job ?" Simon mocked, "my brother made sure you would never have to work again in your entire life, that you had money to do what you wanted, your art school if you wanted and you have fun playing the baker ?!"

His mocking tone didn't please you, but he didn't give you time to answer him as he was already heading towards the exit, your son still in his arms. Understanding that you had no other choice, you followed him, carrying your bags at arm's length.

"Why until the 24th ?" you asked as you settled into the passenger seat.

"You ask a lot of questions. Hans was right about that," he replied playfully.

"And you never answer my questions. Like him," you retorted sharply, triggering a small laugh from the man.

Simon's villa was every bit as good as the one Hans had left you. It was a huge building, lit by huge windows and whose garden was adorned with a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. Everything exuded luxury from the walls to the ceiling to the furniture that decorated each room and that must have been worth more than a month's salary that you earned when you worked as a souvenir saleswoman.

Simon showed you the room that you would share with your son until the following week. And time passed slowly. Very slowly. Simon was rarely at home, but men stood guard all around the house that you were not allowed to leave under any circumstances, which only fuelled your anxiety. He refused to tell you if you were under threat and you had stopped insisting, tired of being confronted with a wall of silence. But finally, the 24th arrived.

"What a sad Christmas it's going to be," you said to no one but yourself as you watched your son play on Simon's out-of-control carpet, a carpet on which he had spilled your coffee a few hours before to your great satisfaction as you were so annoyed by him.

"Is that so ?" Simon's voice made you jump.

You shrugged without even turning to him.

"I think it's going to be the best Christmas of your lives for both of you," he said laughing.

You finally deigned to look at him. The man looked nothing like Hans physically. He had dark eyes, salt and pepper hair and a nose that was nothing distinctive. On the other hand, he had the same charisma and the same proud and confident posture as his brother.

"I have a gift for you," he added with a playful smile.

"Explanations, I hope," you replied sarcastically.

He chuckled at your cheekiness but he didn't say anything else. Instead, he asked you to take the cell phone that you still weren't allowed to turn on, the things that were particularly important to you, and leave everything else behind.

"Simon," you whispered as he prepared to leave the room, "I understand that you can't tell me anything but... are my parents in danger ? If men are after me, they could hurt my parents," you explained, genuinely worried.

His face softened when he assured you that you didn't have to worry about them and that if you wanted to contact them, there would surely be a way to find a solution later. For the moment, he thought you were on vacation in France with a friend and he received news from you regularly. Or at least he thought that it was you who sent them messages every day when it was actually Simon.

You didn't try to find out more, knowing that it was useless and that you were safer that way. Instead, you did as he asked, gathering the few things that had belonged to Hans and that you carried everywhere with you to remind you, even if you didn't need them. You did the same with your child's things, Simon having told you that you didn't have to worry if you forgot anything because everything you needed would be provided to you in due time.

You were going to leave at night, so you had time to do what you wanted during the day, which was nothing. There wasn't much to do at Simon's place except snooze in front of the TV or read books. Except that the vast majority of his library was in German, much to your dismay. You had thought that a cultured man like him would have a wider selection of books in English or French. Your son was easier to entertain, everything fascinated him in his uncle's big house which was the perfect playground for a child looking for mischief to do with his expensive vases and his Persian rugs most of which now had stains of vomit or other undetermined fluids.

It was only at 11pm that Simon came home to pick you up. You felt a mixture of emotions ranging from fear to annoyance to anger. Yet another day without knowing what was happening in your life. A life over which you had no control since that December 13th. Yet another night where your child was not going to have a proper night, yet another night where your stomach was going to turn and turn, making you sick with worry.

"Believe me, you're going to thank me after tonight," Simon said in a cold voice when you had expressed your displeasure to him.

You snorted, doubting that it was true, yet, once again, you obeyed him not without grumbling, but that was the only difficulty you posed for his greatest relief. Your irritation amused him more than anything else, you were at the end of your tether, so it was easy to get angry and he often teased you on purpose just to see you transform into a little fury, eyes flashing and words as sharp as a blade. It was in those moments, when you came out of your torpor, that he saw what Hans had seen in you and that he understood why his brother had fallen in love with you so easily. If you had not belonged to his brother, he could have fallen in love too.

You rolled for half an hour under the indistinct babbling of your son that Simon maintained by answering imaginary questions, to the great pleasure of his nephew who was listening. You stopped in Schkeuditz. A town you knew all too well. It was where Hans, or at least a tombstone with Hans' name on it, was laid to rest.

"Simon, why are we here ?" you asked when he stopped in front of the cemetery.

The man didn't answer. Instead, he handed you a card. Another stupid Christmas card with reindeer dancing around a sleigh. On the back, coordinates. You arched an eyebrow as he laughed at your expense.

"These are the coordinates of Hans' grave. Go there. Stay there until someone comes to get you, then you'll follow his instructions as well as you've followed mine so far. Are we okay ?"

"No! No! Explain! I'm scared, I don't know what you're getting me into, but I'm not alone, there's a child here with me! Are we in danger? Simon, I need to know..."

"Hush !" he cut you off, "if I didn't trust the person who's coming to meet you, I wouldn't let you and my nephew get out of this car. I know what I'm doing. Don't be afraid, trust me," he said firmly.

You still weren't convinced and tears welled up in your eyes.

"Come on, come on, don't cry. Trust me. All these days spent here in Germany are part of the plan. But I'm not the one who's going to explain all that to you. I don't have time. Now, be a good girl, get out of this car, take your son and go to Hans' grave."

You nodded, swallowing back your tears, and complied. Before leaving the car, Simon had allowed you to finally turn on the cell phone. He told you that you couldn't turn it on before in case you tried to get in touch with your family.

"Why let me do it now ? I could call them right now," you told him defiantly.

"No, you won't. I trust you. You'll wait until you receive further instructions before using it," he told you seriously.

You were now using it to light your way through the tombstones. You finally reached Hans's, one of the only ones that wasn't decorated with flowers. You tried your best not to cry as your son looked around intrigued.

You didn'tYou didn't have to wait long to see a large figure walking towards you. You shone your phone at the stranger, but immediately dropped it. If you hadn't had your son in your arms, you probably would have collapsed to the ground.

The newcomer picked up the phone, a cheeky smile gracing his distinguished face.

"Hallo, mein leibe."

You shivered, and, unable to hold it in any longer, you let out a loud sob.

"Hans !" you managed to say.

"It's me, mein leibe."

"But... What ? The tower ?! I saw you on TV... And Simon... I..." you struggled, unable to string two words together or form a proper sentence, almost crying.

"I'll explain everything to you, but not here, mein leibe, follow me."

You followed him without hesitation, your head swarming with questions. Your son had finally fallen asleep, his head resting on your shoulder and was completely oblivious to what was happening at the moment.

Hans made you get into a spacious Audi. You settled into the front seat, your son still asleep in your arms.

"Hans, it's really you," you whispered as you watched him carefully.

It was him. Despite the scar that crossed his left cheek, he was still the same man with the same black hair and hooked nose that he shared with his son.

"How is that possible ?" you asked as he started the car.

"It's a long story. I know what they said in the press, that I had fallen from the top of the tower, foiled by this McClan, it was a good story, a story that held water. It allowed me to disappear more easily."

"Disappear more easily ? Disappear ?" you repeated, raising your voice.

"Mein leibe, when you steal 600 million dollars it's better to be dead..."

"And me !" you cut him off harshly, "you thought of me ?! Two years Hans ! You left me two years without any news ! I was heartbroken, I wanted to die ! I would have died if it hadn't been for our..." you interrupted yourself, your throat tight with grief.

"Mein leibe, there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of you. And I had men to watch over you."

"What ?" you said, stunned.

"You didn't really think that I was going to leave my most precious possession unattended ? Everything was set up with Simon to ensure your safety well before the events at Nakatomi Tower."

You couldn't believe it, shaken by what he had just told you.

"Was your fake fall from the tower part of the plan ?"

Hans remained silent and suddenly hysterical, you started hitting his shoulder with your small, not very thick fist.

"I hate you ! I hate you Hans ! You had no right to do such a thing to me. You say you love me but you're nothing but a liar. You broke my heart, your death, your fake death, almost killed me."

"Mein leibe, it would never be certain. Simon was watching over you in the shadows and he would never have allowed this to happen. But when we found out about your pregnancy, then we knew that you were going to cling to this child like a lifeline. I was relieved, it gave me time to put everything in place for the next stage of our lives."

You stopped pounding his shoulder with your fist to look at him with wide eyes.

"And who says I still want you in my life? "

"Mein leibe, you can lie to yourself but not to me. I can read you like the first day."

"Bastard !" You shouted.

"You can insult me as much as you want if it makes you feel better, but now that I've found you and my son, I'll never let you go again."

You said nothing, your mixed feelings preventing you from thinking rationally. Hans took advantage of your silence to explain to you what happened after Nakatomi Tower. How he had reached a doctor in the pay of people like him to treat him without asking questions. How he had managed to launder the money he had stolen and how, for two years, he had been forgotten by everyone so that he could arrange the future of both of you. Of all three of you.

"Why did you wait two years Hans ? Didn't you want to meet your son ?" you asked in your voice weakened by emotion.

"Of course I did, but I was afraid of putting you in danger. I waited, patiently, for the right moment."

"How did you know it was now ?"

"Simon," he simply said.

You drove all night until you reached France. There, you drove to a small house in the countryside, far from any human existence.

"Can I ?" Hans asked when you wanted to pick up your son and take him inside.

You nodded and watched with affection as he gently lifted his child, his eyes filled with an indefinable emotion. He carried him to the living room and set him down on the couch.

"He's beautiful," Hans murmured.

"He looks just like you."

"I hope he has your soft heart," he replied sincerely.

"And now Hans ?"

"The choice is up to you. Either you decide to stay with me, or you leave. But I won't let you take my son from me."

"What about me ? Do I matter to you or are you just here for him ?"

"[Y/N], mein leibe... I wanted to give you the illusion of having a choice."

You shook your head in disbelief. However, he didn't need to make you feel like you had the right to choose, because you would always choose him no matter what. You and your heart were completely his.

"Where are we going ?"

Hans pulled out a stuffed koala from the inside pocket of his jacket that he had planned to give to your child.

"Australia," he said cheerfully.

"Australia ?"

"You're always cold there, you'll always be warm," he said playfully.

"We're going to have to change identities ?"

"I've already planned it all out."

"I don't have my name to say about my next name ?" You teased, well only half-heartedly.

"You can choose whatever name you like, mein leibe, but your last name will be Marston."

"Marston ?" you repeated stupidly.

"My new identity is Elliott Marston and I thought you'd like to be Elliott's wife."

You froze, your mouth half-open.

"Are you proposing to me ?"

Hans laughed.

"I'm afraid you won't be able to have a conventional princess wedding."

"I never wanted a princess wedding," you said under your breath.

"So ?"

"So ?" You repeated.

"So, do you want to be Mrs. Marston ?"

You nodded frantically.

"Yes ! Hans, yes !"

You threw yourself into his arms and he caught you laughing, kissing the top of your head.

"Well, that's settled Mrs. Marston, we're leaving for Australia in two days to start our new lives."

A whimper caught your attention. A muffled "mommy" came from you and you rushed to your son before he started crying at not seeing you as he woke up in a place completely unfamiliar to him.

Hans watched you interact with the child in the doorway, unsure of what to do. You held out your hand to invite him closer, which he did cautiously so as not to scare the child.

"Hans, let me introduce you to Christopher, your son," you said with emotion.

You had dreamed of this moment for so long, a moment you thought you would never get to experience. Hans sat down next to you and you handed him the child who was watching him with a mixture of wariness and curiosity. Finally, he rested his head against Hans' chest, his thumb in his mouth and you smiled affectionately. It was the most beautiful thing you had ever seen. Hans, although stoic as usual, couldn't stop the pride and love from flooding his usually cold and calculating gaze.

"My son," he whispered as he kissed the top of his head, "I promise to give you the best that life has to offer. You and your mother will never want for anything, you both have my word."

You leaned down to gently kiss the man who had made you come alive the moment you met him, the one who could break you in an instant if he were to disappear.

"Hans, I'm so happy that you're here with us. With Christopher, I was someone again, but without you, I'm nothing."

"Mein leibe, we'll never be apart again, I promise."

He dug into his pocket to pull out a small square box that he handed to you.

"I'm sorry I'm not doing this by the book, but I have a precious package in my hands," he whispered, kissing the top of Christopher's head.

You opened the box to find the most beautiful emerald sitting on a gold band.

"Hans, it's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you, mein leibe."

He placed a soft kiss on your lips before setting Christopher down on the ground, who was starting to get agitated, annoyed by the lack of attention towards him. Hans held you close and you let yourself fall against his chest, sighing contentedly as you both watched with affection your son playing with his stuffed koala.

"Merry Christmas, mein leibe," Hans whispered in your ear.

"Merry Christmas Hans," you replied as you snuggled a little closer to him.

"The best of all," Hans whispered, "and I can't wait for the next one in the middle of a beach surrounded by the two loves of my life."

Finally, you thought happily, Christmas miracles really did exist and this year that had started with some missing mirth was finally heralding a bright future.

#alan rickman #hans gruber x oc #hans gruber x reader #hans gruber #die hard #evans23 #rickmas2024

20 notes · View notes