I AM BACK BABY!

And I'm updating early because I have a math test Monday and need all of Sunday to prepare. As usual, updates are Sundays and Thursdays.

This book will be dealing with short snippets as the disease that one of them has is very progressive over time. The nature of this illness is not very noticeable over the course of one year as opposed to the course of a decade. If you are sensitive to the disease (you'll learn about it next chapter!) please don't read this sequel. This is a very sensitive topic and my grandfather is battling it right now, and writing about it is helping me cope.

I only see my grandfather once a year, so I saw his descent into the disease at a yearly pace, so that's how I will tell this story. Every chapter or so is 'one year later' because that's how I've experienced it. The chapters will be between 800 to 1,800 words most likely.

You have been warned.

~Awesome Maple

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 1

"Gilbert?" Matt called from the kitchen, "Did you forget to lock the car again?"

Gilbert thought for a moment, searching his memory, then remembered that oops, he had. Again.

"Yeah, I did," Gilbert walked into the kitchen, fresh out of bed and ready to eat breakfast, "sorry."

"Why are you still in your pyjamas?" Matt scolded, and waved the spatula at the clock, which was mounted on the wall after a quick inspection of his husband, "We have twenty minutes to eat and then leave to see Ludwig!"

"Right!" Gilbert ran out of the kitchen as fast as a 57-year-old man could run, and got changed. When he was back down, pancakes were hot and ready to be eaten. He ate hastily, his husband watching him, concerned.

"What?" Gilbert raised his pale eyebrows, "Is there something wrong?"

"No," Matt waved his hand and finished eating his own breakfast, "we're just going to be a little late, that's all."

That was a lie. Matt was getting worried about Gilbert because since he was 55, Gilbert had become somewhat forgetful. At first it was little things, like forgetting where he'd put the car keys, but last year he was forgetting to lock the car door, and he was forgetting to turn off the oven. Fairly normal… I mean… This is normal, right? Matt asked himself, this is what happens with old age—you tend to forget things.

"Everything okay honey?" Gilbert wrapped his arms around his Canadian husband's waist and kissing his cheek. Matt nodded.

"Let's go then!" Gilbert said gleefully, and grabbed his coat. They had gone to Canada (at their country place, by a lake) for the Christmas holidays, and although it was only mid-November, there was snow on the ground already. Matt shrugged and followed Gilbert's lead, heading for the car. They were to stay in Canada for two weeks before heading back down to the States. They'd been stuck with an early break—hey, somebody has to be ready for an emergency on Christmas day! This year it was their turn.

Gilbert threw him the keys; "You can drive," Matt grinned, and then grimaced. He loved driving, but it was Canadian winter. He'd asked Gilbert to get the winter tires put on, but forgetting seemed to be a 'thing' with Gilbert, now.

"So…" Matt began as he pulled out of their driveway, "When we get back, I think you're due for a doctor's appointment."

"No I'm not!" Gilbert growled, "You act like something's wrong! I'm fine."

"Whatever you say," Matt shrugged.

Oskar and his two younger siblings waited patiently at uncle Ludwig's home. They weren't so young anymore—in fact, they were already 42, 38 and 36 years old. The three children were all married, with children, but had decided to come alone for the family meeting. There was also the fact that Ludwig's house wasn't able to hold very many people.

"They're here!" Freida called suddenly. She was a daddy's girl—but don't let that fool you! She had pursued hockey as a career and identified as genderfluid. (She decided to continue using female pronouns). Because of this genderfluidity, she sometimes identified as male and the NHL decided that she was quick, strong and skilled enough to go into men's hockey, much to Matt's pleasure. She also became a top-notch goalie.

Oskar, Freida and Niklas ran outside into the snow and hugged their adoptive fathers. Matt told Gilbert to go ahead, and he kept his children outside for just another minute so that he could talk to them.

"Guys," Matt looked at all of them in they eye, "dad is getting old, and he is starting to become forgetful, okay?" They all nodded.

"So be patient," Matt told them and they all nodded again before heading back inside the quaint house.

"How are you all doing?" Matt asked as they gathered around the living room, enjoying their hot chocolate. It was wonderful to see the whole family together like this.

"Let's go in a circle," Ludwig suggested, so Freida started off the conversation.

"I've been moved to the Montréal Canadiens hockey team," she grinned, and Matt nudged her with his elbow and congratulated her and she continued, "and the contract pays even better than the last one!"

"How's Christopher?" Gilbert grinned, and the room became very tense and awkward. Gilbert frowned as everybody's eyes settled on him. "What?" he asked, confused as hell.

"I divorced him last year dad," Freida bit her lip and frowned in concern, "don't you remember?"

"You…" Gilbert frowned harder, "You did?" Everybody nodded.

"Excuse us for a moment," Matt took his aged husband by the elbow and led him into the hall.

"What the hell was that?" Matt asked, worriedly.

"Sorry for not remembering that small detail!" Gilbert rubbed his eyes and leading him to the kitchen to set down his finished hot chocolate.

"Small detail?" Matt asked in disbelief, "Can't you remember when she came home with Niklas and Oskar? She was a mess!"

Gilbert thought long and hard before remembering a hazy memory, and nodded slowly, "Yeah, I remember now."

"I really, really think you need to see a doctor honey," Matt said softly, and Gilbert, seeing his husband's face concerned, nodded.

"Okay," he sighed, "let's go."

The two walked back to the living room where their family was talking, and Matt told them they had to leave early, to which an uncomfortable silence followed. Which was then followed by hugs and tearful goodbyes as the two men left the cozy home.

"It'll be okay honey," Matt smiled hopefully, taking his mittened hand in Gilbert's for a brief second at a stoplight before driving home. Gilbert nodded.

But they both had a feeling that something was horribly, horribly wrong.

TO BE CONTINUED...

There you have it! You've probably guessed what he has. Trip to the doctor's next chapter... Good luck!

Love,

~Awesome Maple