Re: Blood and Iron

Chapter 47  A Long Awaited Return to a Peaceful Life

Bruno returned home immediately after visiting the Kaiser for the sake of his most recent promotion. And the moment he entered the door, he was greeted by his young girls who ran up to him and hugged his legs. Seeking to be lifted into the air by their father who had just returned after being away for several months.

"Daddy's home!"

A simple and fatherly smile formed on Bruno's face as he lifted his oldest and youngest children into the air. Hugging them both, as he kissed their foreheads, while asking the one simple question he always did whenever he came home.

Whether he was away for months at a time for the sake of a deployment, or gone for the duration of the day while performing his duties at the Central Division of German High Command.

"I'm back! Did you two behave yourselves while your father was gone?"

There was a guilty look on Eva's face as she looked away from her father. For the most part, while Bruno was in Manchuria she had behaved herself, but her impatience grew with each passing day, and eventually she began to act out.

Because of this, Bruno stared at the girl with an inquisitive gaze. He was about to interrogate the girl about why she was behaving so suspiciously when his younger daughter interrupted him.

"I was a good girl…."

Bruno chuckled when he heard this and patted the girl's hair. He was about to compliment her for her good behavior when Heidi entered the room with a stern expression. She was wearing an apron, and had a wooden spoon in her hand, while covered in flour.

A sight which was unusual considering how excellent and clean of a cook she was. The woman was quick to holler at the oldest of their children, who had been rather mischievous. You see, when Heidi told her children that their father would be coming home today they became quite excited. Especially his two daughters who he spoiled quite excessively.

However, as the hours passed, and there was still no sight of the man, even well into the evening. Eva had lost her patience and began to throw a tantrum as a result. In doing so, she caused a mess with a pot of a cooking flour as she broke out into a fit, demanding to see her beloved father. As a result, Heidi had smacked the girl on the bottom with the wooden spoon in her hand, and was in the middle of doing so when Bruno entered the home. Only for her to get distracted. The result of which was Eva escaping from her grasp and running to see Bruno who was ignorant of all of this. Because of this incident, Heidi's face had a fearsome expression which was so grave that even Bruno felt slightly intimidated as the mother of his children yelled at their two daughters who were currently in her husband's hand. Responding to Elsa's comments about being a good girl, while angrily eying her older sister.

"That is precisely makes one of you! Now come here Eva, you still have yet to clean up the mess you made. You will have to wait to speak to your father until after you clean up this mess! Elsa, go fetch your brother. The two of you are free to hang out with your father until Eva has finished making amends for her poor choices!"

Eva looked up at her father with puppy dog eyes and crocodile tears. She didn't want to leave his arms, especially after how long she had waited for him to return home. So much so that she tried to get the man to overrule her mother on her behalf. He was, after all the one who always showed leniency to her and her little sister, right?"

"Daddy, Eva is sorry, please don't make her clean up! You just got home!"

As furious as his wife was at the girl, Bruno could never stay angry at his daughters. And because of this, he chuckled, finding the whole situation rather adorable. He placed the girl on the ground, while still holding onto her sister something which caused Eva to pout.

That is until, Bruno bent down and patted her golden hair. While giving her a lecture in the way that the little girl responded too much more positively than her mother's spanking. "Eva, when you have done something wrong you need to apologize, and make amends with the person you have behaved inappropriately to. I don't know what exactly has gotten your mother in such a fuss, but I have a few ideas based upon the state she is in. So how about you go help her clean up whatever mess you have made, and be a good girl for your old man, okay?" Previously, when Heidi had attempted to discipline Eva, she had stubbornly refused to admit any wrong doing, or clean up her mess. But after her father's "scolding" she couldn't help but walk back to the kitchen with her head hanging low as she apologized to her mother, before beginning to tidy up the kitchen. "I'm sorry mommy...."

Once Eva was out of sight, Heidi herself broke out into a pout, as she averted her gaze from her husband, who was grinning like a damn fool while spoiling their other daughter. She couldn't help but mutter beneath her breath before entering the kitchen to help Eva with the cleanup.

"Honestly... You spoil the girls too much!" Despite Heidi's harsh tone, she silently admitted in her own mind that she saw the way Bruno spoiled their daughters to be quite appealing. Dinner would naturally be late because of this little incident. Something that Bruno honestly didn't mind too much, considering the fact that he had just gotten home after a long journey at sea. Especially after Heidi made sure to fetch him a liter of beer for his troubles while he waited. In the mean time Bruno sat in the family room on his comfy leather sofa and regaled his other two children with tales of his visit to Japan and the Emperor's palace. Naturally, Bruno did not mention anything about the war in Manchuria which he had participated in.

Not only were his kids not old enough to hear such gruesome stories, but frankly he did not like thinking about the war while he was away from it. After all, his home was his place of peace. Even after all the stress he had endured at Port Arthur and the following Battle of Mukden. Bruno felt at ease when around his family.

After a brief wait, dinner was on the table, and Eva genuinely appeared sorry for what she had done. Because of this, they were able to have a nice, albeit delayed, home-cooked meal together as a family. Which was the first time they were able to do so in a long time.

Once dinner was completed, the family played a few games before Bruno and Heidi made sure that their kids were properly prepared for bed. Where Bruno alone would tuck them in and read them bedtime stories. Before finally emerging in his own bedroom where his wife was waiting for him on their marital bed.

She appeared as if she wanted something, something Bruno knew all too well. Despite the fatigue he was currently suffering from, and the ache in his bones after a long campaign, which was followed by an even more tiresome journey. Bruno somehow found the strength to get the deed done. Where he would spoon with his loving wife, ultimately falling asleep in each other's arms.

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The next morning, Bruno was surprised to find that he had overslept. Not that it was a big deal, he had been given a sufficient amount of leave after all. And yet, despite this, he liked to maintain a regular sleep schedule.

Even so, Heidi entered the room with a tray in her hands, one that was designed to rest on the bed. On it was a plate of the most perfectly cooked breakfast Bruno had ever seen. Along with a glass of milk. She wore a pretty and warm smile as she welcomed Bruno back to the realm of the living.

"Good morning sleepyhead… I know you like to wake up at the crack of dawn, but you were so tired last night. I felt like you could use the extra sleep. To make up for this, I prepared your favorite breakfast just for you.

How about you take some time to wake up a little and enjoy your meal? You don't need to worry about me or the kids. We will be waiting for you downstairs when you are ready!"

Bruno could only thank his wife with a loving kiss, as he assured her he would be down before long.

"Thanks, I'll be down in a bit. You entertain the kids for me in the meantime, okay?"

Heidi smiled and nodded her head as she promised to do just that before leaving Bruno alone. He looked at his hands, which had yet to shake after returning home from the Kaiser's palace. And in that moment he had the briefest thought about the war, before pushing it aside entirely.

For the first time in a very long time, the man felt no need to smoke, nor suffered from any anxiety. There was nothing but peace and serenity here in his mind. After all, he was finally home, and for the time being free from any worries. Of course, that would all change the moment he left the safety of these walls and returned to his post. But that would not occur for at least another two weeks. And until then, Bruno would continue to enjoy his wholesome life with his loving family.