A/N: Because I am a WOMAN, I can stay up to work on this number here. Yippee!

Oh, oh… And by the way…. This one's a heartwrencher, so keep a Kleenex box around! ::peace-fingers::

It had been four days. Four days since Kiku had found him on the bathroom floor unconscious. The Asian gasped, and started to get Ludwig, only to discover that he was already just a few feet behind.

The sight shocked him, like nothing had ever shocked him before. However, Ludwig was still able to mask his emotions enough to take charge of the situation. He immediately got to his knees, took the tiny, naked brunette into his arms, and began barking out orders to Kiku to get help.

Once Kiku was gone, however, Ludwig had to force himself not to break down. He held the boy closer to his chest, gritting his teeth to fight the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Feliciano…"

0.0.0

In those four days, they had taken Feliciano to the doctor. In those four days, they had discovered the awful truth. It broke Ludwig's heart the very moment he heard that terrible sentence. In an instant, his life, his being, his very world, was shattered, all by those few, cold words.

Feliciano had just over a month left to live.

As much as the fact utterly destroyed Ludwig, Feliciano didn't seem to mind much. He just smiled in his peaceful, innocent way, saying that it couldn't be helped.

One thing did immediately enter his mind, however.

"Ve… I really need to tell Nii-chan, huh?

0.0.0

"Eh, I'll be there in… Whenever I want to, damnit, don't rush me!" The elder Italian was as bitter and angry as usual. So unsuspecting…

"Soon, though?" the younger asked hopefully.

"Meh," said Lovino. "Maybe. Even if I left right now, it'd take me awhile. So don't sit by the door waiting for me like a sad puppy! I know you, Veneziano!"

"Ve… Okay."

Lovino hung up.

Why did Feliciano's brother always have to be so harsh?

0.0.0

Ludwig honestly hadn't slept since he and Kiku had found Feliciano. And as he lay down that night, he was sure that he wasn't going to now, either. Too many thoughts were running through his head. What would happen when he had to lose Feliciano? As hard as it was to admit, Ludwig couldn't live without that adorable, hyperactive Italian to annoy him, yet somehow always manage to make him smile. The sheer thought of it… Ludwig shuddered.

And worse still… What would happen very soon, if not was happening at that very moment, when Feliciano started feeling the pain? What would happen when his body ached so agonizingly, when he was so weak, all he could do was cry out for help? And what if Ludwig was the only one there to help him? Ludwig had always had trouble with comforting people…

And then, as if on cue, his bedroom door creaked open.

"Ve… Doitsu…" Feliciano stood at the door uncertainly, hugging a pillow. "Can I sleep with you? My stomach hurts…"

Ludwig sighed, lifting the covers a bit. "Sure. Get in."

Feliciano obeyed, climbing in next to him hesitantly. "It really does hurt…" he said, as if in apology.

"I know."

There was a long silence. Feliciano was uncharacteristically respecting Ludwig's personal space, for the first time ever. That, and the fact that Ludwig could literally feel him trembling from a few inches away, meant that something was seriously wrong.

After Ludwig decided that he couldn't take it anymore, he wrapped an arm around Feliciano's shoulders, awkwardly tangling fingers in his hair.

"You'll be alright," he said quietly.

A/N: ;A;

Awww, fue tan triste y dulce! Me encanta GerIta~!

I'm learning Spanish so that I can be Antonio. Yah. I'm orsum. -3-