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No Strings	By : Cyndiana Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Rammstein Views: 1858 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of Rammstein. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-No Strings
- 1
TITLE: No Strings
AUTHOR: Cyndiana
RATING: R for semi-graphic description of M/F sexuality, and language.
PAIRING: Till/Maja (the model/actress from the 1998 version of the “Du Riechst so Gut” video)
SYNOPSIS: One kiss changes two lives forever…
AUTHOR’S NOTES: This is real-person fic. The woman described here is the model/actress that was used in the DRSG 98 video. I know nothing about her, other than that her name was Maja. PLEASE don’t bombard me with e-mails telling me her life story, if you know it. I took what little I did know, and wrote an insignificant little FICTIONAL story around it. That’s all.
DISCLAIMER: A work of pure fiction. Not a statement of fact in any way. The characters of Zephyr, Kara, Katrina, the roadie, and Ash are all mine. All others are their own property.

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Maja pulled her long, black hair into a neat ponytail as she loaded the last of her suitcases into the taxi.

She sighed sadly as she looked back at her sister Kara, with Maja’s infant son, Zephyr, in her arms.

“I’ll be back soon, baby boy, I promise.” she said softly.

“Go on Maja, you’ll miss your flight! Just have a good time, and write if you find work.” Kara kidded her.

“I will. Bye!” Maja gave her sister and her son a quick embrace, and a soft kiss, and took her seat in the taxi.

It was a long flight from Los Angeles to Germany.

Maja sat, looking out the window, remembering the events that led her on this journey.

An old friend from school. A phone call. A plan.

“You could stay with me in Germany. There is bustling business for models, and if you are anywhere near as pretty as when I knew you, you’ll do just fine.”

Maja sighed. She was going farther from home than she’d ever been. And most certainly farther from her son that she’d ever been since he was born. But, she hoped that if she struck gold in Germany, she could build a gilded nest for him, and give him all the opportunities she never had growing up on a horse ranch in Georgia that barely broke even.

Maja was lost in thought when the captain came over the speaker.

“We are about to be landing at the Berlin International Airport. Please take your seats, fasten your seatbelts, and prepare for landing.”

The plane made its gentle descent down to the runway, and slowed to a stop.

Maja walked down the tunnel to the arrivals waiting, to be greeted by a comfortingly familiar face.

“Maja! Schatzi, look at you! Du bist so schön!” Katrina, her friend from school, shrieked.

Maja embraced her tightly.

“It’s so good to see you, Katzi!” Maja exclaimed, giving her a squeeze.

On the taxi ride home, they excitedly exchanged stories of their whereabouts and goings-on since high school.

“Where is your son?” Katrina asked.

“With my sister. If all goes well, I’ll be moving him here, one day.”

“Oh, he’d love it. Good schools, lots to do, and it’s so much safer than America.”

“It’d HAVE to be safer than L.A.” Maja mused, as the taxi slowed in front of Katrina’s flat.

Katrina got Maja settled in, and the sun hung heavy in the sky.

“I’m going to scurry on to bed, Katzi. I want to get an early start, so I’ll be bright-eyed and bushy tailed to find some kind of work in the morning.” Maja stated, yawning deeply.

“Ok, Engel. Guten Abend.” Katrina replied, kissing Maja’s cheek and retiring to her own room.

Maja dressed for bed, snuggled down under the covers, and hurried to sleep.

The next day, she showered and dressed and fixed herself up as nicely as she could manage. She grabbed a few of her portfolios, and headed down to the agencies that Katrina had recommended.

They were none too eager to hire American talent, irregardless of how fluent their German.

Maja sighed frustratedly, and walked into the last agency Katrina had suggested.

“Hallo? Kann ich dir hilfen?” a prim receptionist asked her.

“Ja, ich bin Maja, und ich…”

The woman’s expression went from sour to downright disdainful.

“The American model, ja?”

“Ja, I had the two o’clock appointment.”

The receptionist looked her up and down.

“Go on in, but you are wasting your time. He doesn’t like Americans.”

Maja sighed, took a deeper breath, and then entered the office.

“Hallo? Bist du Maja?” the man asked.

“Ja.” Maja said softly.

“You are from…Los Angeles?” he said, looking over her bio.

“Ja, I am.”

“Why are you wasting your time in Germany?” he asked flatly.

“I don’t feel it is wasting my time. I love Germany, and if I can secure steady work here, I’d like to live here…permanently.”

“Hmmm…” the man looked through her photos.

“Look, I do print work, catalogues, you name it, I just need a job.” Maja urged.

“Well, I’m sorry, but I’ve nothing for you. Go back to Los Angeles.” he replied, voice thick with venom.

Maja sighed, and turned to go when a very frazzled looking young man burst into the office.

“Sir! I am at my wit’s end!” he exclaimed.

“What is it David?” the man sighed.

“That band is STILL looking for a leading lady for their music video, and none of these girls are cutting it. They’re all beautiful, but none of them can ride horses, and they demand a woman who knows how to handle a horse!”

Maja’s lips curled into a knowing grin.

“You know, I grew up on a horse ranch in Georgia. I know how to ride a horse, care for a horse, and know everything there is to know about horses.” she said evenly.

“Well…Then…Follow David, he’ll take you to audition. You get the job, we’ll see about hiring you as one of our models.”

“Thank you so much, sir!”

“Go, before I change my mind, Maja!”

Maja followed the young man outside where a beautiful, white stallion clomped its hooves into the soft earth beneath it.

“Mount him, ride him around, and then pull him where his legs kick in the air.”

She whispered into the horse’s ear, “Ok, baby, do this for me, and you’ll get the biggest bag of sweet oats you have ever seen…”

She slipped her foot into the stirrup, and followed David’s commands to the letter.

“You are hired!” David exclaimed, relieved to have filled the position.

“Danke, so viel!” Maja replied.

“Be at this address by 2 am for hair, makeup and wardrobe. Don’t blow this.” David warned.

Maja and Katrina celebrated most of the evening.

“I can’t believe it! Do you know which band?” Katrina asked, pouring Maja another glass of wine.

“Something with an ‘R’…Ramm…something…”

“Rammstein?!” Katrina exclaimed.

“Ja, that was it.”

“Oh my God, Maja, they are amazing. And good looking, the whole lot of them. You will fall in love with them, I promise you.” Katrina mused.

“Well, that’s good to know. My God, it’s getting a bit late. I’ve got to get to bed so I can be gorgeous.” Maja said with a giggle.

“Goodnight.” Katrina said, kissing Maja’s cheek.

Two a.m., next morning, Maja arrived on-set, right on time.

“Ok, you’re the girl, right?” a stage hand asked, flustered.

“Ja, I’m Maja. The agency hired me.”

“Ok, go to that trailer, get your clothes, hair and face on, quickly.”

Maja scurried, and climbed into the trailer, taking her seat in the chair.

The stylist was just starting to work on her complicated hair piece arrangement when a short, smiling man took the chair beside her.

“You must be the girl.” he said, smiling, sipping from a bottle of water.

“Ja, my name is Maja, and yours?”

“Paul.”

“With the band?”

“Ja. You don’t know of us?”

“No. I am American. I will learn quickly today, though, ja?”

Paul smiled, and then got wrapped up in conversation with his stylist and a camera that chronicled the event.

Maja’s hair and makeup was finished, and after she dressed in her elaborate gown, she was led to complete her first scenes.

It didn’t take many takes to complete them, and she was afforded quite a bit of idle time until her big, romantic kissing scene with the lead singer she hadn’t yet seen.

She walked around the grounds, taking in the scenery until a form that mirrored her own caught her eye.

It mirrored her in dress, but not in form. This was a bulkier, shorter-haired version of her.

She approached the stranger.

“Hallo.” he said, looking quite obviously perturbed.

“Hallo. I’m Maja.” she said, extending a hand.

“Richard.” he said, taking her hand, and shaking it gently.

“Aren’t you freezing?” she asked him.

“My balls off, yes.” he spat through chattering teeth, then blushed when he realized what he’d just said.

“I’d be freezing mine off too, if I had any.” Maja chuckled.

Richard smiled a bit more warmly at her, glad to have such friendly company.

“So, what is this all about? I kiss your lead singer and turn into a man?” Maja giggled, indicating to Richard’s dress.

“Basically, yes. We are a werewolf of 6 different personalities. Well, seven, once you come into the picture. It changes into each band member throughout the course of the video, then, after Till and you make love, you turn into me. Isn’t that exciting?”

“After we do what?” Maja asked, growing a bit nervous.

“It’s nothing. It’s not an outright sex scene. You slip off a stocking, give Till horny eyes, dog heads pop out of his shoulders, and that’s about it.”

Maja burst into giggles.

“You guys have imagination, that’s for certain.”

Richard smiled broadly. “It wasn’t our idea, but it suits us.”

“So, his name is Till?” Maja asked, changing the subject.

“Ja. It must be so odd for you to have to kiss someone whose name you don’t even know.”

“That’s putting it lightly. Or someone I’ve never seen. I’m so nervous. I mean, what if there’s no chemistry?”

Richard smiled, and looked Maja over a bit.

“Trust me, chemistry won’t be a problem.”

Maja blushed visibly.

Till emerged from wardrobe, wringing his hands nervously, then scolding himself for doing so, risking ruining the makeup that paled them.

He was terrified about the scene he was about to film. What if he didn’t like the girl? Bah, if she was beautiful, that wouldn’t be a problem. What if she didn’t like him?

Till was about to grab Richard and discuss changing roles when a voice called to him.

“Till, come on, we need to get this shot in before sunrise!” the director called.
Till nodded, took a deep breath, and trudged his way up the hill.

Then, he saw her…

Fair and gorgeous, smiling broadly as she and Richard conversed animatedly, stopping at points to share a hearty laugh.

Till smiled a tom-cat grin. She would do, he thought to himself.

The crew set up the large, over glorified showerheads that would make the “rain” for this all-important scene.

“Maja, it’s time.” a stage hand said, leading her to her mark.

It was then, for the first time, that she saw him.

His eyes were cast downward, and as big and brawny as he was, he seemed shrunken into himself, smaller than a kitten.

When his eyes glanced upward, she could see a fragile tenderness in them, even through the milky-white contacts and mask that obscured them.

Till swallowed the lump in his throat, and took to his knee.

The rain poured down, and the scene played on.

Till rose to his feet, and stood, face to face with Maja.

Maja felt her pulse quicken, and her skin flushed as she lifted her hand to Till’s mask.

She eased it off, dropping it to the ground, and she felt a gasp escape her lips.

He was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen.

Her lips were drawn to his like magnets to metal, as they united in a frantic kiss.

She wanted to keep kissing him until the sun rose, but her fancy was shattered as the director yelled, “Cut!”

And, that was it.

Till laughed shyly, and so did Maja.

And it was off to do her last scene with him.

Maja knew she’d have to give “horny eyes”, as Richard so eloquently explained…

…but it wouldn’t be acting.

She only barely knew his name, but she wanted him. Not only for his breath-taking good looks, but for the mystery he kept locked away behind those downcast eyes.

She wanted to break through him, shatter his resistance, lay him bare and love him until he hid no longer.

They went through the scene with no issues.

Even with a large, latex, prosthetic wolf head attached to his shoulder, Maja still wanted him.

She wanted the lights, the cameras, the crew to fade away, leaving only she and the man who now worked his way atop her.

“Cut! Wunderbar!” the director shouted.

Maja shot the ending scene, and then dressed back into her street clothes to head to Katrina‘s flat.

As she awaited the taxi that was to take her, she felt a hand grip her shoulder.

She turned slowly to be met, for the first time, with the most beautiful, golden-green eyes she’d ever seen.

“Do you have any plans for the evening?” Till asked softly.

“You know what? I don’t believe I do.”

“I would love it if you would join me for dinner this evening.”

Maja blushed softly, feeling quite flattered.

“I would love to. Here’s my friend’s address.” Maja began, taking a pen and paper from her purse and writing it down, “What time can I expect you?”

“8 pm.” Till answered softly.

“See you then.” Maja replied, kissing Till’s cheek softly, then turning to go as her taxi pulled up.

Till smiled softly, caressing his cheek, where she‘d kissed it.

Promptly at eight a cab pulled up outside Katrina’s flat.

“Is that HIM?” Katrina asked, just on the verge of squealing.

“Ja, it’s him. Calm yourself! Remember, he’s a work colleague, not some piece of veal for you to devour.” Maja teased.

“I know, I know.” Katrina replied with a giggle.

Then, the doorbell rang.

Katrina jumped a good three feet upward.

“My God, Katzi, I’m the one going on a date with him! I’m the one who should be nervous.” Maja giggled.

“Are you?”

“Well, we got the nasty business of the first kiss out of the way, and he still asked me out. I take it things are going well enough thus far. So, no, oddly enough I’m pretty calm.” Maja mused as the bell rang again.

Katrina ordered Maja back upstairs.

“What? Why?”

“You have to make your grand entrance, now go!” Katrina ordered.

Katrina waited until Maja was safely out of sight before opening the door.

“Hallo?” she asked meekly.

“Hallo. Ich bin Till, ist Maja hier?”

“Ein minuten…” Katrina replied, sticking her head on the other side of the door, allowing herself to swoon a bit, “Oh, Maja, are you ready? Your date has arrived.”

Maja NOW felt nervous, and took two good breaths before descending the stairs.

She wore a spaghetti-strap, slinky, long black velveteen dress and strappy black stilettos.

Till was speechless.

Maja eyed him, dressed quite differently from when she’d last seen him. Instead of Victorian garb, and a codpiece, he was dressed in crisp, new black jeans over well-shined combat boots and a black turtleneck sweater.

Maja smiled as she crossed the foyer to stand in front of him.

Till handed her a small bouquet of roses.

“I heard in your country men traditionally give flowers to their dates, so here you are.” he said softly.

Maja giggled a bit.

“Well, they are supposed to, but they rarely do. But, thank you. I love them.”

Katrina took them, to put them in some water.

“You kids have fun, and don’t stay out too late; else the creatures of the night may get you.”

Till and Maja left in the taxi for a café just down a bit from Katrina’s.

After a delicious meal, and good conversation, they walked through a nearby park.

“So, are you liking Germany so far?” Till asked.

“I love it. I hope to stay, for good.” Maja answered.

“It’s a good country. She’s had her faults, but she always overcomes them.” Till mused, with a sigh.

Till stopped, and Maja followed suit.

She hadn’t noticed, but they’d just walked into a vast rose garden.

“Wow…This is beautiful…” she gasped in awe, as small lights illuminated the various rose bushes.

“I like it here…I come here a lot to think.” Till spoke softly.

Maja took to sniffing the various blooms, and Till swallowed hard before making his move.

He placed his hand, flat palmed, over the small of her back.

He glided it up over the smooth velvet of her dress, and gripped her shoulder softly, spinning her around.

She smiled softly, and closed her eyes as his fingers drew over her petal blush cheek.

His hands clasped her waist, and drew her into a soft kiss.

His lips were soft and sensual, and not expectant of anything. Just savoring every second that passed.

Till looked into Maja’s eyes, scanning them for any sign of rejection, refusal.

He saw none.

He smiled shyly, then slid out of his long coat, letting it fall to the ground, then spreading it out.

Maja would never allow herself such indiscretion before, but with him, in this place, at this moment, she wanted nothing else.

She laid down on top of his coat, reveling in the softness of the grass beneath it.
Till lay atop her, kissing and sucking at her ivory throat.

Maja gripped his hair, sighing and tingling, longing to make love to him.

Till slipped out of his sweater, and Maja reached out, kneading the muscular pecs, drawing her thumbs over his nipples, pinching them softly, causing Till to moan gently, then kiss her passionately.

He ran his large, strong hands along her feline form, gripping the hem of her dress and pulling it slowly up, then over her head, laying it beside them.

His lips brushed over each of her nipples, then he licked and sucked at them, while his hands caressed her body with loving tenderness.

He gripped each side of her panties, easing them down her thighs, and past her ankles.

His eyes met hers, and he smiled softly as he kissed his way down her abdomen, then to each milky white thigh, then settled between, his lips and tongue bringing Maja to a shuddering frenzy.

She locked her fingers into his hair, raising her hips, calling his name and sobbing in delight.

When she felt like she couldn’t take anymore, Till furthered her blissful suffering by sliding two agile fingers inside, finding her most sensitive spot and focusing all his attentions there.

With a shudder, a sigh, and a shout Maja crashed into rapture, her back arching high.

Climax afforded her the strength to roll them both so she now held her place atop Till.

She unzipped his jeans, then blushed when she saw he wasn’t wearing underwear.

She slid her hand within, stroking him to life as her lips and tongue wrestled with his own.

Not wanting to wait any longer, Till slid his jeans around his hips, then gripped Maja by her own hips, drawing her right where he craved her to be.

She gripped him, easing him inside of her.

She cried aloud as he filled her adeptly, and she began to ease herself down to take all of him.

She placed Till’s hands on her ass, allowing him to guide her how he wanted her.

He thrust softly, letting her feel every inch sliding into and out of her.

When his upward thrust went as far inside as it could go, he withdrew completely, repeating the motion over and over.

His lips nipped and sucked at her nipples as he increased the force and speed of his thrusts.

They both called aloud as the passion built up between them, and compounded, and they became lost in each other.

Maja gasped and sobbed as he once again brought her to the edge of irreversible bliss.

She threw her head back, calling into the night as her inner walls gripped Till inside her, sending him cascading over the edge, filling her, calling out.

Maja collapsed atop him, and he kissed her cheek tenderly, his hands caressing her sweat slicked back.

Maja suddenly realized the weight of what they’d just done.

“I…I never…on a first date…ever…” she tried to explain, furiously ashamed.

“Shh…It’s fine. I believe you.” Till soothed, rubbing his nose against hers, kissing her softly.

They both dressed, stopping at the edge of the park to hail a cab.

As they stood on Katrina’s stoop, they kissed madly.

“I…have to go to sleep, Tillchen. But, please…Breakfast…tomorrow?” Maja asked between kisses.

“Ja…Certainly…” Till whispered in her ear.

Maja stepped inside, closing the door, leaning against it and sighing.

Katrina tip-toed down the stairs.

“I hate to shatter your revelry, but Kara just called. Zephyr’s really sick. I called the airport and a flight is leaving in a couple of hours if you want to get back.”

Maja gasped, then hurriedly packed her things, now consumed with fear over her son’s condition.

She hurried to the airport, taking the next flight home.

Till should have been the last thing on her mind, but he was all she thought about on the long flight home.

She hoped Katrina would explain things for her in the morning.

****************************************************

Bright and early the next day, Till awoke with a new spring in his step.

He might hate relationships, but for some reason he LOVED falling in love.

He knocked at Katrina’s door, growing a bit more sobered as no one was answering.

Finally, Katrina appeared.

“Oh, Till! Hallo!” she announced, shocked to see him.

“Is Maja here?” he asked her.

“No, she had to take a late flight back to America. Her son is ill.”

“Her…son?” Till asked.

“Ja. Oh she didn’t…tell you? Oh no…” Katrina gasped.

“No, it’s fine, thank you.”

Till turned to go, feeling very used and put down.

He left before Katrina could explain Maja had a son all right, but her son had no father to speak of.

************************************************************

Months passed, and after adding her recent video work to her resume, Maja was able to secure fresh jobs in Los Angeles.

She didn’t see sense in trying to leave anymore.

Besides, she had begun seeing a roadie for a local band, and was about to follow him on tour.

Life wasn’t all bad.

But, it certainly wasn’t all good, either.

She knew something was missing, but she didn’t care to realize what.

She had her son, she had a lover. Life was…tolerable.

She and her boyfriend arrived at the first venue of his employer’s tour, Family Values.

She met the other bands, got to know them. A few of them recognized her from her recent print work.

After the first show wrapped, and the bands wandered around the backstage area, Maja decided to take a look around.

Around a corner she heard familiar voices speaking in a familiar tongue that was certainly not English.

All she had to see was his back.

His broad, sweat glistened back.

Memories of that night flooded her mind, and she was transported to that night, the smell of rose blossoms and lust, the lights, the stars, and him.

Her feet held her fast.

Her heart slammed against her ribcage, as if it wanted to break free, and foist itself into his hands.

She wanted to turn away, to forget, to move on, but her very lips betrayed her.

“Till!” she called out.

His eyes lit up with recognition.

“Maja?” he asked softly, turning to face her.

She smiled, and Till eyed her with disdain.

“Till, what…what’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer. He turned and walked away, leaving Richard standing there, quite confused.

Maja felt sick to her stomach.

Why was he acting that way?

Richard eyed Maja with pity.

“What is wrong with him, Richard? What did I do wrong?”

Richard signaled for her to come closer.

“He’s angry because you never told him you had a son. And, he figured you were cheating on your husband, and used him to do it.” Richard explained.

“But, Richard, I have no husband…Never have…Oh no…” Maja gasped.

Richard laughed softly.

“It’s ok. I’ll explain it for you. And now?”

“Now I’m…Seeing someone, but it is FAR from serious.”

“Good.”

“But, let me explain it to Till. It’s my mess, after all.”

Richard nodded, pointing Maja in Till’s direction.

She tapped softly at the dressing room door.

“Who is it?” Till asked sharply.

“It’s Maja. Please, let me in. I have to explain something to you.”

Till sighed, then let her in.

“Make it quick. We leave in an hour and a half.” Till said coldly.

“I have a son, this is true. But, Till…My son’s father died before he was born. I’ve raised my son alone since he was born.”

Till’s stern expression softened.

“Truthfully?”

“Ja, absolute truth.”

Till laughed softly at himself for being so distrusting.

“So, that’s why you had to leave so suddenly?”

“Ja. I’m sorry, I should have tried to get a message to you, something…”

“No…Shhh…” Till hushed her, pulling her into a soft kiss.

No more words were spoken between them as Till lifted her up onto the makeup table, and after pulling away all constricting clothing, began to make love to Maja slowly, kissing her, holding her close.

Maja wrapped her legs around his waist, taking him into her as far as he could go, crying out as he led her to her ecstasy.

He soon followed, his head on her shoulder as he sobbed in delight.

They dressed quickly, hurrying to board their respective busses to journey to the next destination.

In the hallway, Maja’s boyfriend grabbed her arm.

“Where have you been?!” he hissed, as Till stopped, watching the scene unfold.

“Nowhere. I’m ready to leave now.”

“You’d better fucking be, you almost made us late, and almost cost me a job!” he shouted, causing Maja to flinch.

It didn’t take long for Till to realize what this man was to Maja.

He felt used all over again.

With a scoff, he turned and stormed out of the arena.

“No, Till, wait!” Maja called after him.

“Leave him alone, and get on the bus!” Maja’s boyfriend called.

“Get your fucking hands off me, I’m not your property!” Maja shouted, with a slap across his face.

She ran out the door, calling after Till.

“Till, wait! It’s not…He was nothing serious to me, I swear it!”

Till turned to face her, crossing the distance between them with broad, angry strides.

“You are making a scene!” he hissed.

“So what if I am? Till, he’s nothing to me. Don’t you get it? I love YOU, Till! I love you…” she sobbed.

Till was taken aback, but regained his normal disdain.

“The only women I love are my mother, and my daughters. You are neither. Goodbye, Maja.” he spoke softly, voice tinged with ice, as he turned and boarded his bus, leaving Maja to sob, feeling cold and empty.

It was only a short flight back to Los Angeles, but it felt like forever.

Try as she might, Maja couldn’t stop crying.

She did love Till. She loved him from the first moment their lips touched. But, now he thought her a whore. He thought she’d used him…And she knew she’d never convince him otherwise.

Back in L.A., she did a few more print ads, nothing major.

But one was destined to set her life on a new path.

His name was Ash. He was a photographer’s assistant.

They met, and hit it off quickly.

Maja thought she’d found the man to wrench Till free from her heart and mind, and for a while he did.

He even convinced her to uproot herself and her eight year old son to New York city.

Then, one night fate’s plan set in motion.

She and Ash stole a rare moment to have a dinner out.

He had a gleam in his eye that intrigued Maja.

“Maja…” Ash began, “I know we’ve only been together a few months, but I know all that I need to know to decide that…Well, I love you Maja, so much, and I was wondering if you’d…marry me?”

And with that, he brought out a small black velvet box, the housed a sizeable diamond ring.

Maja gasped, unable to speak as tears flooded her eyes.

“Ash, I…I…Wow…”

“Just say yes, Maja…”

Suddenly, a face pervaded her mind.

It was him…He heart reminded her who it TRULY belonged to.

“I…can’t yet, Ash. I’m not saying no, I’m saying…Let me take care of a couple of things. I’ll let you know in two days.” she said softly, handing him his ring.

“Sure Maja, take all the time you need.”

After Ash went to sleep, Maja rifled through her things until she found Richard’s mobile number that he’d given her a few years back.

She hoped it still worked.

“Hallo?” a sleepy voice called.

“Richard? It’s…it’s Maja.”

“Maja, hallo, how are you?”

“I am, doing pretty well, actually, but I don’t have time to visit, I’m sorry. I need to know where I can find Till.”

Richard yawned on the other end of the line, then after a soft smack, told Maja what she wanted to know.

“Thanks, Richard. “

“You bet…” Richard said, falling asleep again, hanging up the phone just before he did.

Maja took the next flight out…

Paris, France…

City of lovers…

She hoped.

She arrived at the hotel, and spoke with the concierge.

“I am here to see Till Lindemann.” she told him.

“One moment, Mademoiselle.” the concierge began, dialing Till’s room, “Hallo, Monsieur Lindemann? Oui, I have a young lady here to see you.”

He once again addressed Maja, “Your name?”

“Just tell him Maja.”

“Her name is Maja. Like Madonna, I guess…she gave me no last name. Uh-huh. Oui Monsieur.”

Maja waited impatiently.

“He says he doesn’t want to see you.”

“That’s just…! Well, you call him back and tell him to grow up and speak to me!” Maja hissed.

“I am sorry Mademoiselle, but you’ll just have to leave.”

“I’ll do no such thing.”

Maja pulled out her mobile, and got a hold of Richard, telling him to command his vocalist to allow her five minutes.

In moments, the front desk phone rang.

“Bonjour! Oui Monsieur Lindemann.” the concierge hung up, “He’ll see you.”

“That’s what I thought. Thank you.”

Maja tapped on the suite door softly.

“You have five minutes, not one second more. And only that because my guitarist seems to think you are some sort of human being.” Till called from behind the door.

“Let me in, Till.” Maja plead softly.

“The door is unlocked. Let yourself in.”

Maja opened the door, and entered the room to see Till sitting on the balcony, a vision in the dark of the night, the glisten of the moonlight and sparkle of stars.

Maja approached with caution, leaving plenty of space between them.

“Your time is wasting, Maja.” Till chided.

“I know you’ll never believe me, but I meant it with all my heart when I told you I loved you. I still love you, which is why I’m even here.”

“Highly unlikely, but do continue…” Till spat sarcastically.

“I have been with someone for a few months now. He has asked me to marry him. But, I know I could never be happy living my life with this big ‘what if?’ hanging over me. I can’t live wondering what would have happened if I’d only fought for you. So, here it is, Till. All you have to do is say three words…Just tell me you love me, and he is gone. He is gone, and I’m yours.”

Till hung his head low, his heart aching. He truly loved Maja, but he feared, like every other woman he’d ever given his heart to, she couldn’t be trusted.

He crossed the distance between them, cupping her cheek in his hand.

“Maja I…”

Maja’s breath caught in her throat, her heart fluttered…

“…I hope you’re both VERY happy together.”

Crash…

“We will be, I assure you!” Maja shouted, “Now that I know you and I would never have been more than a fling!”

Maja fled the room, sobbing, aching from the resolution she faced.

Till knew in his heart that is how it had to be.

Ash awaited Maja’s return home.

He met her as she came off the plane.

“Yes, Ash. Your answer is yes.” she said evenly.

*****************************************************************************

Maja was lost in a flurry of wedding plans, and jugging her suddenly bustling career.

Ash had become a full-time photographer, and after taking some shots of her that made it into some very high profile fashion magazines, they both profited.

“I’m going to be late again, sweetheart.” Ash announced over the phone to Maja.

“Ok, how late?”

“I’ll be back about 8 pm, I have a few more shots I need to finish.”

“Ok, I’ll make a quick trip to the store and buy something for dinner.”

“Mmm…Sounds lovely darling, see you as soon as I can.”

“Ok, I love you…”

She was answered by a broken connection.

Zephyr was staying with a friend that night, so it was just Maja alone browsing the aisles of the gourmet market.

She eyed the produce section. Ash was a strict vegan, so anything she cooked had to be animal-free and wholly organic.

She eyed a bag of carrots to assure they were organically grown, when she saw a familiar form out of the corner of her eye.

She knew who it was immediately when he began to speak to an employee in fractured English.

“Excuse me, please, are these sausages made from soy?” he asked, accent thick as he was.

The woman assured him they were, and Maja approached slowly.

“What’s a stud like you doing in a country like this?” she teased.

He turned, and smiled as soon as he recognized her.

“Maja, hallo!” he greeted her excitedly, embracing her.

“Small world! What ARE you doing here?” she replied.

“I live here. Well, I live in Manhattan.”

“You’re kidding! What ever brought you to these shores?”

“Marriage.”

“You’re married?” Maja shrieked excitedly.

“Was…It didn’t work out…”

“Oh, Engel, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. It was on good terms. But, I love Manhattan, so I decided to stay. Speaking of home, I need to get there. But, would you like to meet up in an hour for some coffee, catch up?”

“Ja, that would be great.”

“Ok, meet me here in a hour then.” he said, handing her a matchbook from his favorite café.

“Will do, bye!”

Maja bought her groceries, took them home, put them away, freshened up, and hurried to the café.

Richard sat, taking long draws off his cigarette, scratching a space between two black spikes of hair.

Maja waved to him, and sat, ordering her coffee.

“So, it’s been a while, Maja.” he said softly, offering her a cigarette.

“No, thank you. Ja, it has been. So, wow, you live here in Manhattan. What about Manhattan drew you to stay?”

“Well, it wasn’t a something, it was a someone.” Richard said with a blush.

“Oh?”

“Ja…” Richard replied as their coffees arrived with a plate of chocolate-dipped biscottis.

“I’m here for a someone, too.”

“Oh? Anyone I know?”

“I doubt it. He’s my fiancé. We’re getting married soon.”

“Congratulations, darling! Well, I can’t marry my someone, but it makes little difference, since marriage doesn’t agree with me anyways.” Richard said, dunking a biscotti, and taking a bite.

“Why can’t you marry your…?” Maja began, and it slowly dawned on her what Richard meant.

Richard grinned as he saw realization spread over her face.

“Ja, he is wonderful. So full of life, he takes my breath away.”

“Oh, Richard, I’m so happy for you! So, tell me more about this gentleman.”

“Well, I met him just after I divorced my wife. He had just gotten divorced, too, and we sort of bonded over that. Then, he told me he was gay, and we…sort of bonded over that, too.” Richard spoke with a coy grin.

Maja giggled a bit as she sipped her coffee.

“But, he’s a photographer, and so busy these days. He’s always gone, but he assures me he’ll take a vacation next month so we can spend some time together.”

“Sounds lovely, Richard. My fiancée is a photographer, too.”

“Wow! A coincidence!” Richard said with a smile.

“Ja, I guess there are a lot of photographers in New York.”

“Oh ja, there’s a lot of EVERYTHING here.”

Maja nodded in agreement as she sipped her coffee.

“Till misses you.” Richard said matter-of-factly.

“What?”

“Till misses you. Terribly. Gut-wrenchingly.”

“And I am to do WHAT with that information?”

“Nothing. Just… Know it, you know, in case…”

“Well, I am very much in love with my fiancée, and we have a bright future ahead of us.”

“I’m sure you do.” Richard said with a soft smile.

“Enough about me, just where do you and your someone plan to go on your vacation?”

“We’re thinking about Jamaica. He does have a shoot coming up there, but he says it’s only for a couple of hours a day, then the rest of the time is all mine.”

“Sounds like fun.” Maja began, as she looked at her watch, “Oh, hun, it’s getting late, and I have to cook dinner tonight. But, we HAVE to do this again!”

“Of course!” Richard replied, extending his arms.

Maja rose, embracing him tightly.

“Until later.”

“Ja.” Richard said as Maja hurried home.

Ash was an hour late, crawling in at 9 pm.

Dinner was waiting in the over, and Maja was fast asleep on the couch.

“Sweetheart, I’m home.” he whispered in her ear.

“Ash, baby, hi. Ran later than you thought, huh?” she said softly, wiping sleep out of her eyes.

“I am so sorry, I hurried, baby, but some things take time.”

“I know, I’m not angry. Let’s have dinner, hmm?”

Maja heated everything, and served them both. They ate quietly.

“Oh, baby, I have to take off for a couple of weeks next month.”

“Oh?” Maja asked, nibbling at her meal.

“Ja, I have a shoot I have to go to.”

“Where at?”

“Jamaica…”

Maja stopped cutting her soy pseudo-chicken cutlet.

“Really?”

“Ja. It’ll be two weeks, and I’ll be home.”

“Well, why don’t I go with you?” she ventured.

Ash grew visibly pale.

“No, honey, stay here and worry about the wedding. I promise you, I’ll make it up on our honeymoon.”

Maja choked back tears.

“Uhm…I saw an old friend today.” she began.

“Oh really, who?”

“His name’s Richard.”

Ash grew even paler.

“Oh?”

“Ja. Seems we are both involved with photographers, isn’t that a coincidence?”

“Quite…”

“And he’s going with his photographer to Jamaica, on a shoot. For two weeks…Next month.”

Maja urged information out of him. She knew what her heart was screaming at her, but her mind egged her on, hoping for any proof her suspicions were wrong.

“Hmm…” Ash mused, scrambling for an alibi, “Well, there will be more than one photographer there; he must be involved with one of the others.”

“Multiple photogs on one shoot? On-location, at that? Wow, that costs a pretty penny!” Maja mocked surprise.

“Well, they want a variety of shots to choose from, love.”

Now, she knew. She knew it was all lies.

“Are you fucking Richard?”

“What?” Ash asked, shaken.

“Are you gay, and are you fucking Richard? The truth!”

“I don’t know what you’re…” Ash began, as Maja rose, slamming her chair under the table.

“Come ON, Ash…At least respect me enough to be honest!”

“Ok, yes, Maja, are you happy? I’m sorry. I met him just after we moved, I had no idea you even knew each other. I tried, Maja, I tried to stop…But I couldn’t. I was going to take him with me to Jamaica and break up with him. I swear it!”

“Don’t bother. He’s all yours. I’m moving back to L.A.”

“Maja, please!”

“Fuck you, Ash! Fuck you!”

Maja took the next week to pack up she and Zephyr’s things.

She returned to L.A., vowing to never, EVER love another man again.

**********************************************************

Ash confessed everything to Richard, even telling him about Maja.

Richard was furious on the one hand, but relieved on the other.

Now, nothing stood in the way.

Till had decided to stay with Richard, to nurse him through his bitter break-up. Till well knew that the only thing a broken-hearted man has are his friends.

“Seems both men and women are heartless, hmm?” Till asked Richard as they watched obnoxious American television in Richard’s sitting room.

“It’s universal, I’m afraid. But I’m not as worried for myself as for poor Maja.” Richard spoke deliberately, nibbling on popcorn.

“What does she have to do with anything?” Till asked, voice audibly bitter.

“Well, she was the woman he was engaged to, isn’t that awful? I mean, if you had told her you loved her in Paris, would’ve saved her heart ache…”

“Richard, don’t even start on me…You’ve been on my ass over that since it happened. Let it go!”

“No, you know what? I won’t! What did Maja do to you that was so awful? Not wait for you? I mean, you got pissed because you ASSUMED she had a husband, only to find out she’d never even been married and her son’s father was dead. THEN, you are reunited in some beautiful cosmic coincidence and she happens to be somewhat-but-not-really seeing someone, and you go off the deep end! Then, oh and here’s the clincher, HERR Lindemann…Someone asks her to marry them, and she in her infinite loving kindness flies across the fucking globe to give you, who certainly doesn’t deserve it, one last chance to be with her. She asked your PERMISSION to get married to someone else! And you blew it, Till, fucking BLEW it! And now, she is more brokenhearted than she has ever been, I’d well imagine, and this is your last chance. Your last chance to tell her how you feel before she grows so cold she never lets you in again.”

Till just blinked in disbelief as Richard’s chest heaved.

“All right, fine, what I’m I supposed to do, hmm?”

“OUR ex told me she’s moved back to L.A. Get your brawny ass on a plane, get to L.A. and find her. You find her, and you ask her to marry you, or so help me I will strangle you with my own bare hands.”

Till laughed softly, “Ok, fine. But if she says no, that’s it. No more.”

“No arguments here.”

“Are you going to be ok?”

“Bah…I’ll be fine. Just go!” Richard urged, kissing Till’s cheek.

Till hoped in his heart he wasn’t too late.

*****************************************************************

Maja came off her first shoot while back in town, and plopped down in her sister’s large easy chair.

“Long day?” Kara asked her, handing her a beer and sitting on the couch.

“Ja. Where’s Zep?”

“He’s at his friend’s house.”

“A friend? We just moved!”

“Well, he’s a likeable kid.”

“I guess so.”

“Oh, this came for you today.” Kara remembered, retrieving a large, flat, brown-paper wrapped package, handing it to Maja.

“Oh? Where’s it from.”

“It doesn’t say.”

Maja eyed it cautiously, then took a deep breath, opening it slowly.

“Well, it’s not a bomb.” Maja teased, pushing back layers of white tissue paper, exposing red velvet underneath.

“What IS that?” Kara asked.

Maja pulled it from the package, and unfolded it.

It was a red velvet dress…

…not just ANY red velvet dress, but the same one she wore that day…

“That looks like the dress from that video shoot!” Kara marveled.

“It…IS…It’s the exact same one…” Maja observed.

“Is there a note?” Kara asked eagerly.

At the bottom of the package was an envelope with a handwritten note on it:

“Return to where it all began if you desire your fairy tale ending.”

Maja scoffed. “It’s probably Richard playing a joke on me.”

She opened the envelope to find a first class plane ticket to Germany, and hotel information for five-star accommodations, reserved for her.

“That’s some joke!” Kara marveled.

“I’m not going.” Maja declared.

“You have to! Come on, even if it’s Richard, that’s a first class ticket to Germany and a stay at a five-star hotel. People enter contests that don’t win that! Go, have a good time. I’ll watch Zep for you.”

“FINE, I’ll go. But I won’t stay more than a day or two.”

“But the hotel is for a week’s stay…”

“You heard me.”

“Fine, fine, just go. Pack your shit and go, and call me to tell me what’s up.” Kara ordered.

Maja’s mind whirred the whole flight.

What did that cryptic note mean?

Where WHAT all began?

The plane landed, and she arrived at the hotel.

“Frau…?” the concierge asked her.

“Just Maja, bitte.”

“Maja, there is a package waiting here for you.”

He handed it to her, and she took it to her room before opening it.

She sat on her bed, tearing the brown paper wrapping.

It was a box about 1.5 square feet around.

Under more white tissue, like the last package, were two long, white stockings, dainty Victorian shoes, and red rose hair picks.

And, another note:

“I hope you brought the dress. Meet me tonight, where it all began, when the sky is dark. Dress accordingly, and you shall have your happily-ever-after.”

Maja knew something urged her to bring the dress along.

She showered, and dressed in the familiar garb.

She carefully curled her ebony locks, and pinned them up, decorating them with the hair picks.

She powdered her face and chest until she was elegantly pale, and painted her lips bright crimson.

She fought back tears as the memories danced in her head…The kiss…The kiss that changed her life…The kiss that broke her heart…

She changed her mind, she couldn’t go. She didn’t even know where she was GOING!

Just then, there was a tapping at her door.

“Fraulein, there is transport here awaiting you.”

“Oh…” she began, “I’ll be right down.”
She had no idea what was unfolding, but the mystery made her tingle.

She sprayed on perfume, and stepped out of the grand, gilded revolving door that served as the hotel’s entrance.

Outside, an elegant white carriage awaited her, complete with a grand, white stallion and driver dressed in Victorian costumerie.

The driver stepped down, helping her into the carriage.

“It will be a short trip, Fraulein.”

“All right…Thank you.” she replied, feeling utterly clueless.

He didn’t exaggerate. In mere moments, it seemed, they were quite certainly where it all began.

That very same castle.

The driver stopped the carriage, hopped down, and tied his horse securely to a tree.

He walked around, helping Maja out of the carriage.

“Please, follow me, Fraulein.” he asked.

He led her over grassy hills, past dozens of trees, until they reached a clearing.

"That's him. I'll be at the carriage when you're ready to leave."

Maja nodded, and saw Till, dressed the same as he was last time they were both here, on one knee, face covered with a mask, just as he was then.

She crossed the distance between them, eyeing him.

“Ok, cute Till, but it’s not going to work. I gave you your chance, and you blew it.”

Till said nothing, only raised a handkerchief identical to the one he held before.

“Ok, I’ll play your game…” she began, growing suspicious.

She clasped his hand, just the same as before, and guided him to his feet.

She took the handkerchief, but found it to be much heavier than the last one.

She examined it, to find where a red rose was embroidered, a very large, very HEAVY platinum and diamond ring was sewn with a few threads to the handkerchief.

“Till? What?”

Till slipped off his mask.

“I love you, Maja. I’ve loved you ever since we both stood, right here, where we stand now. I held you accountable for the sins of…other women that had crossed my path, and I was wrong, Maja. All I’m asking for is the rest of your life to make it up to you.”

Tears streamed down Maja’s cheeks.

“You think you can just summon me here, and bribe me with this…HUGE fucking ring, and I’ll fall into your arms swooning? You were an asshole, Till!”

“I know I am. But, I’m an asshole who thinks the world of you, and with the ring comes my heart, but unlike that ring, there are no strings attached to it. It’s yours.”

Maja sobbed and laughed all at once.

She pulled the ring from the handkerchief.

“I’m not accepting it yet, but I really need this handkerchief!” she joked, as Till took it from her, wiping her eyes.

“Ich liebe dich, Maja…Heirate mich…”

Maja kissed Till with all the passion of the first time.

But, this time there was no rain, no cameras, no crew…

…Just they two…

Till slipped the ring on her finger, and kissed her hand.

He nuzzled her cheek, laughing softly in her ear.

“What’s so funny?”

Till eyed her furtively.

“Shall I send the carriage driver away, so we can reenact another memorable scene of our forgettable video?”

Maja giggled too, blushing softly.

“By all means, but leave the wolves out of it. I’ve not had my rabies shot.”

Till laughed great and deep, and carried her up the castle stairs to do just as he suggested.

And carried her to the fairy tale ending he promised.

DIE ENDE
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No Strings