A Bittersweet Arrival

The air in the dimly lit room was thick with anticipation as Angela Wagner, pale and fragile, lay on the sterile hospital bed. Sweat glistened on her forehead as she clutched Gunther Wagner's hand tightly, seeking solace in his presence. The room buzzed with the hushed whispers of doctors and nurses, their expressions masked with a mix of concern and determination.

"Gunther," Angela whispered, her voice weak but filled with love. "Promise me you'll take care of our child, no matter what."

Gunther's heart tightened as he fought back tears, his grip on Angela's hand tightening in response. "I promise, Angela. I'll protect our child with everything I have."

The doctors, their faces masked by worry, exchanged anxious glances. One stepped forward, his voice laced with sorrow. "Gunther, we must prepare you for the possibility of complications. Angela's condition is critical. We'll do everything in our power, but the situation is dire."

Gunther's eyes welled up with tears, and his voice trembled with fear. "You have to save her, Doctor. Please, I can't lose her."

As the doctors hurriedly prepared for the birth, Angela's pain intensified, causing her to gasp for breath. Gunther leaned in closer, his voice filled with a mixture of desperation and love. "Stay with me, Angela. Don't you dare give up."

Angela managed a weak smile through her pain, her hand caressing Gunther's cheek. "I love you, Gunther. Always."

Time seemed to slow as the doctors worked tirelessly to bring new life into the world. With each passing moment, the room grew heavier with the weight of both hope and impending tragedy. The cries of anguish mixed with the sterile scent of the hospital, creating an atmosphere filled with both joy and sorrow.

Finally, the sound of a newborn baby's cry pierced the air, a small glimmer of hope amid the darkness. Gunther's eyes widened, his emotions mingling between relief and heartache. His gaze shifted between the tiny bundle in the doctor's arms and his fading wife, Angela, who had given everything to bring their child into the world.

Tears streamed down Gunther's face as he held his newborn son, cradling him with a mixture of joy and profound grief. "You're here, little one," he whispered, his voice filled with bittersweet tenderness. "Your mother would have been so proud."

As Angela's life slipped away, Gunther's heart shattered. He kissed her forehead one last time, whispering a final goodbye, before turning his attention to the life that lay in his arms. The weight of loss and responsibility pressed heavily upon him, fueling a determination to protect his son, Hans, at all costs.

In this heart-wrenching moment of tragedy and new beginnings, Gunther Wagner's resolve solidified. The grief and loss would become the foundation of his unwavering devotion to his son, shaping the path that would ultimately lead to Hans' defiant spirit and his future choices.

As Gunther cradled his newborn son in his arms, he felt both an overwhelming surge of love and an indescribable pain in his heart. With cautious steps, he approached the nurse standing nearby, her eyes filled with empathy and compassion.

"Excuse me," Gunther's voice quivered, his words barely a whisper. "I need to name my son."

The nurse nodded gently, her voice soft. "Of course, sir. What name have you chosen?"

Gunther paused for a moment, his gaze shifting between the fragile life in his arms and the fading memories of his beloved Angela. With a mixture of determination and sadness, he replied, "Hans. His name shall be Hans Wagner."

As Gunther turned back to the doctor, the weight of grief and confusion pressed upon him. His voice trembled as he posed the question that haunted his thoughts. "But... why? Why did my wife die, Doctor?"

The doctor's eyes met Gunther's, filled with a mix of anxiety and sorrow. He took a deep breath, grappling with the gravity of the situation. "Gunther, I'm so sorry," he began, his voice heavy with the weight of the truth. "It appears that an injury Angela sustained before her pregnancy caused internal complications. The stress on her body during the birth... it was too much."

Gunther's heart sank as the doctor's words settled in. His fists clenched, anger mingling with grief as he struggled to comprehend the unfairness of it all. The knowledge that mutants, in one way or another, had taken his beloved Angela from him fueled his growing disdain for their existence.

The scene fades to black, leaving Gunther standing there, his mind swirling with a mix of emotions—love for his son, sorrow for his wife's untimely demise, and a smoldering hatred towards mutants.

.... "Father, how did Mother die?" Hans' voice trembled with a mix of curiosity and sadness.

Gunther's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at his son, his emotions swirling beneath a surface of anger. "It was the mutants, Hans," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "Those abominations took your mother away from us."

Hans, sensing the anger in his father's words, understood the pain that lay behind them. He turned his gaze towards his half-finished bottle of Nuka-Cola, the carbonation bubbles dancing in the glass.

"Okay, Father," Hans responded, his voice steady but tinged with determination. "Can I use the laser rifle? I want to help you hunt mutants."

Gunther's initial anger softened for a moment, and he let out a heavy sigh. "Fine, Hans. It's your tenth birthday after all," he conceded reluctantly. He mustered a small smile, reminiscent of happier times. "Your mother... she loved energy weaponry. It would make her proud to see you wielding it." ....