Edited to make it clear that Gilbert and Elizabeta were together
Anyway, this is my new story. This is family centric, with minor parings, including pruhun. Multi chaptered epic! But not really an epic.
MY BROTHER
"My mother was a stern woman, but possessed great warmth once you got to know her…"
The funeral had been small, and quiet, and not very extravagant, based in their home in Hamburg, though Gilbert had gone all out on the floral decorations. Expensive lilies from the finest florists decorated the funeral, Gilbert had thought that would be what his mother had wanted.
When he finished his speech and had a small round of applause, his girlfriend, Elizabeta came over and patted his back. "That was a lovely speech Gilbert, your mother would've been proud."
Gilbert shrugged. "I have many awesome qualities, and that includes writing." He said, and tried to crack a grin but Elizabeta could tell it was forced.
She smiled and gave him a hug, and Gilbert appreciated the warmth of her embrace.
The day after the funeral, Gilbert sat in his mother's room, and sighed.
27 Years old was too young to lose both parents; his father had died five years before hand from a heart attack, his mother from succumbed to terminal breast cancer.
Elizabeta knocked on the door and entered the room. "I finished labelling what we could throw out…" she looked at Gilbert. "We don't have to the bedroom if you don't want to."
Gilbert shook himself. "No, it's better if we do it now, otherwise I'll avoid doing it, and then that will delay selling the house…"
Elizabeta nodded, and the two set about clearing the wardrobe. "Check the pockets for valuables" Elizabeta said, and Gilbert nodded. He found piles of shoes at the bottom, many of which were broken, too small for his mother or vastly out of date; his mother did take ages in throwing things away… Gilbert found himself smiling, as he recalled a memory of his mother arguing with his father, when she wanted to keep this telephone that they had had since the 80s, and his father wanted to throw it out to avoid clutter. They were a mismatched pair, in that manner, but they seemed to love eachother very much.
Gilbert had a loving childhood, and was grateful for his parents. They made him feel loved and appreciated despite being albino, and made sure he always had self-confidence.
Elizabeta noticed Gilbert smiling, and Elizabeta inwardly smiled, happy that Gilbert was not dwelling on dour moments.
As Gilbert cleared away the shoes, he found two wooden boxes buried underneath the pile. He lifted them up, and looked in one, and smiled to see baby pictures of himself.
"Oh god, I was a fat baby" he said, and Elizabeta looked down and laughed.
"Now you're just lanky" she teased, and Gilbert stuck his tongue out at her. He continued looking through the box, and found christening photos, baby jewellery, wedding photos and a golden locket that his father had bought his mother when they were young sweethearts.
"How sweet" Elizabeta said.
"Do you think it's right to be looking though this?" Gilbert asked, nervously.
"She left the house to you, her property is yours now, you decide. It can't be anything horrific, can it?" Elizabeta laughed.
Gilbert picked up the other box, and opened it. He saw inside the photo of another baby, this one newborn, and one that he didn't recognise.
"Who…?" he thought, to himself, it certainly wasn't him, and this baby had light hair, unlike the browns of his parents or his cousin from Austria. He racked his brain, then looked through the rest of the box.
He found a letter.
Dear Christian and Andrea
I am begging you to adopt Ludwig. I know that you are trying to forget his existence, but I plead you to give him a family life with Gilbert. I cannot care for him, and I regret this, but I think you can. I want him to be with blood relatives. It is clear to me you are wonderful parents who love their young son very much, and I want that life for Ludwig. I think it would be best that I pass him over to you now, instead of me putting him into the system.
Signed,
Jennifer Schmidt.
Contact me, please. O*********
Gilbert felt his breath hitch. What?
What?
Blood relative?
Gilbert was mind was scrambled, this revelation was astounding.
Elizabeta was clearing out drawers when she saw Gilbert tipping out the box. "What you doing, honey?"
"I-erm- I'm trying to find- erm" Gilbert couldn't get his words straight. "More about this boy- in the photos." He said.
The box didn't contain much more, except from a small note which had the name of an adoption agency on it, and another letter.
Dear Christopher and Andrea.
I am greatly annoyed you are not returning my phone calls. I understand that this is a shock, especially to Andrea, but I went to great trouble trying to contact you in the first place, I feel you deserved to know that Christopher is having another child.
I have decided to keep the baby because though I'm not even a religious person, it feels right to have the baby.
I have given up work as a prostitute and begun work as a cleaner, and I need you to know that I plan to give up the baby for adoption, but you are my first choice.
I hope that perhaps you will consider meeting me in person this time, and we can discuss any future plans.
Signed, Jennifer Schmidt.
Contact me: 0*******
What…
WHAT!
"WHAT THE FUCK!" Gilbert shouted, and startled Elizabeta, who had been looking at the photo of the baby- Ludwig.
"What's wrong!?" she exclaimed, and Gilbert stood up.
"According to this letter, dad had another son! With a prostitute!"
Elizabeta gaped. "What…!?"
Gilbert had tears welling up inside of him. He was feeling rage, extreme rage, and anger and sadness and confusion and goodness knows what else. He wanted to cry.
Tense seconds passed, and Elizabeta looked lost for words. Finally, Gilbert spoke. "I have a brother." He said.
Elizabeta snapped out of the daze they had both been enveloped in and hugged Gilbert. "According to those letters, you do."
Gilbert began sobbing, which he had done a lot of those past few weeks.
"I just don't understand how they didn't tell me. I thought I was an only child. Turns out…" Gilbert said the next morning. They had left the house, taking both boxes with them, and had returned to their apartment in silence. The next morning, Gilbert was staring into his coffee with shock.
"Gilbert, we don't know the whole story, we don't even know that she's telling the truth"
"Why would they keep the letters if they didn't think it was theirs- or dads!" he said, and Elizabeta nodded.
She touched him on the shoulder. "I'm just saying, we shouldn't jump to conclusions."
Gilbert hummed softly.
Gilbert bounded around the kitchen, a cape around his shoulders, a truly terrifying evil villain, wrecking havoc as he went.
Which involved running into his mother's legs.
His mother squealed, and batted Gilbert away. "Gilbert! I making dinner, don't distract me! Play somewhere else, please"
"But its boring playing on my own!"
"Ill play with you later."
"If I had a little brother to play with that'd be awesome!"
His mother flinched. "Gilbert, please!"
"I want a little brother! My friends at school have little brothers, can we get one!" he jumped up and down. "I want a little brother! I want a little brother!"
"Gilbert! Don't make such demands, not of peoples personal lives." His mother snapped at him. She seemed rather upset at the same time. "Go to your room!"
Gilbert scrunched his face up, nearly crying. "But-!"
"GILBERT, NOW!"
Gilbert ran to his room, and buried his face into his pillow. What did he do?
END OF CHAPTER 1!
This is my new story, My Brother! Please review/favourite if you like and leave constructive criticism. This will be a family centred story and pairings will be minor.