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Seven years since Newt did what he did, trying to end the world, seven years since he threw away what him and Hermann had.
Seven years since the PPDC arrested Newt for war crimes, seven long years for Hermann.
Of course it never felt like seven years really, mostly because he's been busy.
And not busy in the way you would think, he wasn't helping the PPDC with Kaiju's, he wasn't stuffed in some lab somewhere.
No he was back in Germany, in his little two bedroom house that he brought from his hard earn work.
But he wasn't alone, it's quite funny how life works, how he loses Newt, loses the person who challenges him. The person who makes him think, but then life brings him back.
But in a different form, their son.
Yes Hermann and Newts son, Hermann still couldn't believe it.
I mean he didn't believe it when the five tests he took came back positive, or when his doctors confirmed it.
He didn't believe it not for a second, he didn't believe it even when he was shown the heartbeat.
It took him awhile to come to terms with it, maybe it was because the world was ending for the umpteenth millionth time.
Or the fact that Newt was possessed by some alien creature.
He never told him either, he had so many opportunities to just spit it out.
But he never did, not even when Newt had his hands wrapped around his throat.
Because Hermann was willing to die, because out of everyone on this planet. He would understand if it was Newt that was gonna kill him.
Of course when he imagined Newt killing him it wasn't well he was pregnant with their child or well he's possessed.
No how he imagined it was simple really, like a fit of rage from either him driving Newt up the wall or arguing about breakfast cereals and which one is the best.
Frosted Flakes or Kelloggs.
Which yes Hermann now knows that one is actually the brand and the other is just the type of ceral.
When you have a kid who's IQ is higher than yours and Newts combined, you learn things quite quickly.
But anyway not the point, the point is yes Hermann tried telling him.
Like about fifty times yes he kept count, but he never could spit it out.
So he kept it to himself, never telling him.
Hermann hated doing it all alone, especially in the early days.
Hell even when he was still pregnant, now that was something Hermann never wants to experience again.
His old injury flared up something awful from all the extra weight, and he had to learn how to reuse his cane during those long, long months.
9 months his ass, it was definitely 10 months and it was fucking awful.
Not because of the baby, but the whole growing it thing.
He felt like a fish tank or a bloated washed up whale about to explode.
He hated it was a passion, the only good thing about it was the ultrasounds he had.
Which he had a lot of, because of his age at the time, and well his entire medical history.
He enjoyed watching the little alien move around, seeing it squirm or sucking it's thumb.
That was really fucking werid to be completely frank.
But what was even more bizarre, when he could feel it from the outside. He felt like he was in that movie from the 70s, the ones where the alien bursts out from the chest.
Yes he's seen that, mostly because of Newt and his childish taste in movies.
No he didn't think the fetus would burst out of him, but it felt like that.
In true Newts child fashion, it hated opera music but loved rock and roll.
And I mean loved it, Hermann had to put up with Led Zeppelin for the last few months of its growing period.
But the growing period did come to an end, thank god. After ten long grueling months, actually it was ten months, four days, two minutes, and six seconds.
To be exact, yes he kept track.
Every good scientist does.
But then came the worst part, the whole delivering aspect of life.
First off how do woman do this multiple times? How do they put themselves through that torture?
After the first twelve hours, he wanted to freaking stab his own eyes out.
Mostly because he was the dumb dumb as Newt would say, and decided to do it natural.
Because he has a high pain tolerance.
Spoiler alert, he does not.
He learned that the hard way, especially after a long thirty six hours, ten minutes, and twelve seconds.
When it happened, he wasn't the only one crying.
Don't tell anyone he was crying, he'll hit you with his cane.
His and Newts progeny was born, a son which Hermann had zero idea about, mostly because he wanted it to be a surprise.
Considering this is going to be the only child he ever has.
But that day was the day, he realized what was happening to him.
When they put him on his chest, and he cried and cried.
That's when he realized, that all of his and Newts arguments led to this moment.
To this little person, who will grow into something absolutely amazing.
Something Hermann couldn't wait to see, which totally didn't make him cry.
Anyway, naming him was difficult because Newt wasn't there to offer his insight. Which wouldn't have been that insightful anyway.
He in one of his letters they sent back and forth outright said, he'd name his child either Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, King Kong, to name a few.
Hermann was definitely not naming a child King Kong.
So he settled with the name Luca, but to honor Newt and his strange ways his full name is Luca Rodan Gottlieb.
Because Rodan is the only one that sounds semi normal, yes he does realize he named their son after a giant pterodactyl thing. But that's not point.
The first few months with Luca were hard, but they figured it out together.
Hell they've been figuring it out together for the past seven years.
Which leads to today.
Today is a normal day, at least that's what Hermann keeps telling himself.
---
Today he was finally telling Newt about Luca, they were finally letting Hermann see him face to face.
Not through a window with a telephone, but actually face to face.
Of course they wouldn't be alone, there would be other prisoners visiting their families.
But it was a start.
But first Hermann had to get Luca to school, which isn't hard because the kid is eager to learn.
It was him, Hermann has never been a morning person, and with public school you had to be up at the ass crack of dawn.
Which usually Luca was up before Herman, helping himself to a bowl of Frosted Flakes.
Another thing that makes him Newts, other than looking like him, the eyes were Hermanns, his nose, but everything else was just Newt.
Including those glasses on his face, which he lost and or broke multiple times.
Explaining that to the eye doctor was fun.
But anyway Hermann offered to cook him breakfast every morning, well nursing a heavy caffeinated cup of tea. Because him and coffee never got along to well.
But Luca would always answer, his mouth full of frosted flakes:
"I'm good pa, if I get hungry I'll grab something from the cafeteria."
In which Hermann who was falling asleep leaning against his cane, would answer:
"Don't talk with your mouth full Luca."
Hermann after that made himself toast, plain toast, which always creeped Newt out. Because who the hell eats plain toast.
Minus Hermann.
Well he eats his sad breakfast, he packs Luca lunch always making sure he has a balanced lunch.
Even though Hermann knows that the kid is gonna trash half of it, and or trade his lunch for some fruit rollups lets be honest here.
Because again, mini version of Newt.
But he really does try.
He asks Luca for his opinion, so hopefully he won't trade it or trash it.
"Turkey, roast beef, or baloney?"
Luca looked up from his third bowl of cereal, looking absolutely offended which made him look more like his father.
Especially with his glasses slipping down his face.
"What about a fluffernutter?"
Hermann just shook his head trying not to laugh, because again Newt.
That man survived off of fruit rollups and fluffernutters, that and the occasional goldfish cracker.
"You already had them three times this week, what about we compromise, and instead of carrots and or celery. I'll put in goldfish crackers."
That usually worked, because bribery worked with Newt, so obviously it would work with his son.
Usually, Luca is very smart for his age.
"Fine, baloney."
That made Hermann smile, he would prepare the kids lunch, even being gracious and slipping in a cosmic brownie. Because it was the nearing the end of the week, and Luca has been doing really good in school.
As Hermann put everything in baggies, slipping them into his lunch box, he looked over his shoulder at Luca who was cleaning up after himself going to put the Frosted Flakes away.
"Did you do your homework?"
Luca made a sound, which was a mixture of a breath and a laugh.
He walked into the pantry before he spoke:
"I could have done it in my sleep pa, it was super easy. Honestly I thought school would be more challenging."
Hermann loved hearing that, now Luca was in public school not private school like Hermann was growing up. Because private school was absolute hell for Hermann, it was full of privileged rich brats, who found a Hermann a perfect punching bag.
Yea he was not putting his baby through that, so he settled with public school. Because yes bullying still happens, but not as heinous as private school.
Of course Luca was in grade two, he could go a couple grades higher, but again Hermann wanted his son to enjoy school not find it a form of torture, so he kept him in the grade two, but it came with it's flaws aka Luca finding it boring.
Which Hermann knew would happen, but as Luca gets older he'll have a better time picking different classes, instead of being confined to the one.
Hermann grabbed Luca's backpack from off the chair, carefully slipping his lunchbox in with the rest of his stuff.
"I know L, I promise as you get older it will get more challenging. Now lets get you ready for school."
The rest of the morning would be spent getting Luca ready for the day, thankfully his fashion sense also came from his dad. He usually tried to wear the mismatched stuff he could find in his closet.
Like today he decided to wear a Spiderman shirt, which Hermann doesn't understand but Luca likes it so whatever, khaki shorts, an UGG boot, with a sneaker.
Lets just say that lasted roughly a minute, before Hermann politely told him no.
After about ten minutes explaining why he can't wear that out in public, they settled with the Spiderman shirt, jeans, and both pair of sneakers.
Hermann had to compromise with the socks, Luca decided to wear Christmas and Halloween socks together, one foot had reindeer on it, the other had a jack-o'-lantern.
But Hermann decided to just let him have it. Because they needed to be out the door three minutes ago.
Hermann grabbed the house keys, putting Luca's backpack on his back, he kept a good grip on his cane well ushering Luca out the door.
They were making good time, because usually it took them ten minutes to get out the door.
So three minutes was good.
---
They walked to school, it was good for Hermann and Luca quite enjoyed it as well, it gave him more time to draw.
Another thing from Newt, well for Hermann walking Luca to school was good exercise for his leg.
And he likes the fresh air, the sound of the birds, the rising of the sun.
Which never gets old for Hermann, even in his old age.
Okay he's not that old, but he feels like it sometimes at least compaired to Luca.
The kid was spunky, smart, outgoing, and had more energy than Hermann thought was possible.
But it's good, it gives Hermann something to do, something to focus on.
If he didn't have Luca, he'd probably be in some stuffy lab slowly killing himself trying to solve other peoples problems.
But he doesn't try to focus on the what if, he just tries to focus on what's right in front of him.
And that's Luca.
Who was currently drawing well walking, that was another thing he was an amazing multitasker, again something from Newt.
Little habits he did, were all Hermann but big things he did, little ticks were all Newt.
Like their was no denying who his father was.
Except the only person who knows the truth are Hermann, Raleigh, Tendo, and Mako.
They are the only ones that know, not because Hermann is ashamed of Luca, quite the opposite actually.
He was protecting him, he knows what the public, the world would do to him, if they knew the truth.
And Hermann just couldn't do that Luca, so he kept his parentage a secret, a very well kept secret.
One that Luca was allowed into, because Hermann never wanted him to be ashamed of his father, and his mistakes.
He wanted Luca to be proud of him, proud of his accomplishments, proud of the man he was leading up to what he did.
Because Hermann even though he pretended that he wasn't proud of Newt, and his idiot ways. He was, god he was so proud of him. He just wishes that Newt wasn't so fucking stupid.
Abusing drifting like that, so just like a parent of a child who's other parent is drug addict. He's very open and honest about Newt, to Luca.
He doesn't baby him about it, or sugar coat it. He made sure that Luca knew what Newt did was awful, heinous even.
Because he didn't want Luca going on the Internet and finding it out from there, because that's just a recipe for disaster, so many articles, so many accusations, it was better if it came from the person who loved him the most.
Because hell Hermann wins that award right out the gate, Luca is proof of that.
Hermann snapped out of his head, he rested his hand on Luca's head his silent way of getting attention.
Luca looked up at him, he smiles softly.
"What you drawing?"
Luca just showed him his sketch book, Hermann took a breath seeing it was a Kaiju.
He knows that Luca won't turn out like Newt, become a Kaiju groupie, become so obsessed he starts drifting with them.
Hermann knows Luca knows better, because of how he raised him, how he is raising.
But it's a parents job to worry.
"It's a monster, I saw it on TV, how it rampaged through Hong Kong."
Hermann smiles looking at the picture, it was a very good drawing and he remembers the Kaiju attack he's referring to.
He remembers Luca seeing it, he was flipping through the TV trying to find something to watch, and the news channel covering the story popped onto the screen.
He didn't quickly change the channel, he let his son watch the broadcast because he couldn't baby him forever, even though he wanted to.
But Hermann was breathing a little easier, because Luca referred to them as monsters and not Kaiju.
But he's seven, so there was that.
"What you think of them?"
Luca just shrugged, tapping his pen against his sketch book.
He took a second before speaking, working on his drawing.
"Their evil, bad whatever. Their destroying our world, and they took my dad."
He sounded hurt when he said that, Hermann just put his free arm around him giving him a sideways hug.
His rule of public affection wasn't extended to Luca, for obvious reasons.
"They did, you really want to meet your dad don't you?"
Luca just nodded, all he had was a few pictures, some audio recordings, and like one video.
He actually wanted to meet him, even though he knew it probably wasn't safe for him.
He just wanted his family to be together.
"Of course pa, I know he made some awful mistakes. But we can't completely blame him, you know. It wasn't just him, those things were inside his head."
Luca hit his sketch book with the pen a little harder.
The next thing that came out of Luca's mouth nearly made Hermann freeze.
"Does he know about me?"
Hermann just stopped, he got down to his level which took a second, he pushed his glasses back on his face.
He grabbed Luca's little hands, he just ran his thumb against his little knuckles.
"No baby he doesn't, because he was so sick when I was pregnant with you. I felt like if I told him, he would have fought against getting the help he needed, he needed the help more than knowing about you. But if he knew, he would have love you, so much my little man, you are the best experiment we ever did."
Luca just hugged him tightly, almost knocking Hermann off balance, Hermann carefully hugged him back.
He patted his little back giving him a second.
They stayed there a solid two minutes, before they started walking again.
The rest of the walk was in silence, which was probably for the best.
Luca had put his sketch book in his backpack, taking Hermanns free hand.
Once they got to the school grounds, Hermann handed Luca his backpack, he carefully put it on his back.
"You have a good day okay? I might be a little late, I'm visiting your dad. I'm going to finally tell him okay, no more secrets alright?"
Luca nodded, he gave Hermann a sideways hug, he hugged him pretty tightly.
Which Hermann needed at this moment.
"I love you pa, so much."
Hermann just gently kissed him on the top of his head, trying not to mess up his hair.
"No I love you."
Luca smiles, he sees his friends waving at him to come to them.
Hermann noticed it first before him, because he's very observant. He always has been, it was something he learned in his time with Newt.
"Go, have a good day."
And with that Luca took off like a bullet, which made Hermann smile brightly.
He watched as Luca made it about ten feet from him before turning around, he started waving.
Which made Hermann laugh, he just waved until Luca disappeared into the sea of children.
He stuck around for about five minutes, before he headed home.
---
Hermann made it home safe and sound, he cleaned and cleaned nervous habit of his.
He then went looking for pictures of Luca, wanting Newt to see the kids life, because it wasn't fair for him to just see one picture.
He deserves more, so he went digging through his memory box. He actually almost started crying, because he found Luca's hospital bracelet from the day he was born.
It read: "Boy, August 19th 2035, 1:19 am, Hermann Gottlieb."
Hermann decided to take it as well, to show Newt as well, just in case he wanted proof or something.
He spent two hours picking out stuff to show Newt, he then proceeded to clean some more.
After that he sat in the car for thirty minutes.
Then he left, he got there a little after a eleven, and after he was promised by the Warden that everything between him and Newt was confidential he went with the guard. His heart beating a million miles a minute.
He fiddled with the guest badge he was given, which he stuck on his coat.
He hasn't visited Newt in two months, so he shouldn't be to nervous. But he was, this was a huge visit.
A very important one at that.
Because how do you tell someone they have a child?
A smart, kind, and caring child.
God only knows, he snapped out of his head by the guard pretending to cough.
He just looked at Hermann making sure he was ready, in which he nodded.
Because he's as ready as he's gonna be.
The guard proceeded to lead him into the cafeteria, and there he was.
Looking as handsome as ever, his Newt, the father of his child.
Hermann took a deep breath, as he made his way over to him. He sat across from him, watching as life comes to Newts eyes.
He put his hands up, well as much as could with being handcuffed to the table.
"Hermann, I didn't think you'd come back. It's been two months. You look nervous, I'm not gonna bite for the most part."
Hermann just rolled his eyes getting comfortable, still the same old Newt through and through.
Minus his glasses, Hermann missed his glasses at times.
He tried to calm his nerves before speaking.
"I'm not nervous, I just need to tell you something, something that I've been keeping from you for the past seven years give or take."
The intrigue was painted across Newts face, he began to wonder what it could possibly be.
He first looked at Hermanns left hand, seeing if their was a wedding band on his finger. But nothing, that wasn't it.
He did notice Hermann was skinnier than the last time he saw him, was he sick?
But instead of answering like a normal person, he decided to be a smartass.
"Did they finally find that stick up your ass?"
Newt started laughing, but Hermann didn't, he didn't even react, he just seemed to get more nervous.
Which started to make Newt nervous, because usually he can get some type of reaction out of Hermann from his stupid joke.
"Oh this is serious, what is it Herms?"
Hermann decided to ignore the nickname for this once, he would let it slide, he felt as Newt put his hand on his hand.
How his thumb rubbed across his knuckles.
"I'm just going to get the cat out of the bag."
Hermann digged around in his coat pocket, he found the up to date picture of Luca.
He took a deep breath before he put the picture on the table, he faced it towards Newt watching his facial reactions.
"Newton this is our son, he's seven now. I know you probably have so many questions, questions I'll answer."
Newt felt his mouth go dry, he felt the shock wash over him as he looked at the picture of smiling Luca.
How much he looked like him, he did some mental math realizing that when he attempted to strangle Hermann, that Hermann was pregnant during that.
He felt he was gonna be sick, either from shock or other emotions.
He doesn't know why he spits this out, but he does, probably the shock.
"No, that can't be. We don't have a son. You would tell me, you always told me everything, you were always painfully blunt, and that's what I love about you Herms, I was the one who kept everything inside, you were the one who was honest."
Hermann deserved that, he knows he does. Because he's not wrong, from their letters, to the Shatterdome, to after that. He was always honest, painfully honest.
So why wouldn't have he said something, he wishes he could answer that question.
Because he wasn't even sure himself.
So instead of answering, he just pulled out pictures from Luca's seven years of life, including a ultrasound picture.
He even showed him the hospital bracelet.
"I wasn't honest with you back then, but I am being honest to you now, and this is him. Newt he's brilliant, so brilliant he puts me and you to shame. It's been crazy just watching him turn into a little person, everyday he's more and more like you. The little things he does are me, his eyes, his nose are mine. But everything else all you, he loves to draw like you, he loves to nitpick with me like you, his fashion sense is all you. Which I bet your thankful for."
Newt laughs at that through the tears, he just looks at the all the pictures getting emotional, because this boy was his and Hermanns he could tell, hell you would have to be blind not to notice.
He hates that he missed so much, he hates that he abused drifting like he did. Because if he hadn't he would have gotten to see all of this.
He missed everything, Hermanns pregnancy, he'd pay to see that, was that mean? The birth, every first from rolling over, walking, talking, getting to watch this little human become a person.
This was karma, this was his punishment. He deserved this.
"I understand why you didn't me, I get it. Does he know about me?"
Hermann wipes his eyes nodding, he collected his stuff letting Newt have one to look at.
His heart was warm seeing as the way Newt looked at the picture, the regret, the sorrow, the happiness.
"He does, he loves you so much. He wants to meet you so bad. But he's to little, and I don't think it's a good idea, not just because of you. But I'm protecting him, you don't know what they would to do him, if anyone other than close friends knew the truth."
Newt knew, and he knew it was for the best at least for right now that he doesn't meet his boy, even though he wants to so badly.
He just stares at the picture feeling so much emotion.
"I understand that as well, it's good your protecting him. What's his name?"
Hermann knew that question was gonna come up eventually, he was surprised that it wasn't the first thing that Newt spit out.
"His name is Luca Rodan Gottlieb."
Newt loved that name, he thought it was awesome.
It was a perfect name for a kid with them as parents, but he just blinked at Hermann realizing that Luca had a Kaiju as a middle name.
Godzillas right hand man, to be exact.
"Rodan? Dr. Gottlieb were you feeling alright? You do realize that's a Kaiju right?"
Hermann rolled his eyes knowing that was coming, that's why he didn't spit out the name right away.
Because Newt would have been well him.
"Yes I'm well aware, he's the giant pterodactyl one. I wanted to honor you in some way and Rodan was the only normal sounding one. I was not naming our kid Godzilla."
Newt pretended to act offended, because he thought Godzilla was a decent sounding name.
The mood between them seemed to get lighter, it was like the good old days after the world tried to end the first time.
Before Newt went and got stupid.
"I think Godzilla is a perfect name Herms, I love you so much you know that."
Hermann didn't say anything he just gently kissed him, but a guard whistling got Hermann to back away which made Newt snort.
He looked towards the guard, giving him a look that screamed "Seriously dude."
"Sorry about that, their prudes in here."
Hermann just snorts, he carefully took the picture from Newt, who looked upset but he tried to hide it. Hermann just squeezed his hand.
Both of them knew Newt probably would never get to meet Luca at least until he's an adult, mostly for Luca's safety.
But Hermann wouldn't keep him in the dark.
There would be no more secrets between them ever again.