Hello, this is my first fanfic and I hope you'll enjoy reading it! ^^

I've never written any sad stories or that stuff, so feel free to tell me on how to improve on writing.

I won't be updating very much because I'm going to have a load of tests coming this month, but I promise that I won't abandon it :)

Oh yes,pleaaase review cuz I love reviews :D

And now, please enjoyyyy~

Chapter 1

January 18th, 2008

Bright rays of sunlight scattered through the dusty window of the hospital ward. The heart rate monitor echoed steadily in the white empty room, tidy and clean. Too clean, for Gilbert Beilschmidt's taste.

Gilbert laid on the white bed, surrounded by machines and tubes. A bag of medication was suspended above his head, its liquid seeping quietly through his central line into his veins.

He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. Today was his 20th birthday and he was spending it a hospital.
In fact, almost everyday was spent in the hospital for Gilbert. He'd rather be at school now.

Damn.

The albino only knew it recently, that he was gonna die. He used to be the strongest in elementary school, the only one daring to climb the flagpole with Elizabeta Hedervary, his longtime childhood rival and friend.

Speaking of Eliza, where is she?
wondered Gilbert, eyeing the clock ticking on the corner of the room.

That girl better not forget my birthday

Just then, the door opens a crack and a pair of stony blue eyes peered in. It was Gilbert's brother, Ludwig, who was easily recognizable with that tall, sturdy figure.

"Oi, Luddy! " Gilbert grinned, his mouth cracking a smile ever since he finished his surgery.

"Tag, Gil. Are you OK?" asked Ludwig, staring at his brother's blood red eyes, ever so energetic and powerful while his were the entire opposite, tired and filled with sorrow at the sight of his frail brother.

"As always, bruder! Only a loser would feel sorry for himself on his birthday!" joked Gilbert, lifting himself up from the white sheets.

"I brought you something, "Ludwig said as he handed Gilbert a paper bag from his backpack, "Ah...hope it isn't too old fashioned for you."

Gilbert shook the bag and emptied the contents on his lap, "Whoa, Luddy, where'dya find this stuff? "

An old wooden photo frame lay on the bedsheets, holding a photo taking place back in their childhood. 8 year old Gilbert was climbing towards the top of a tree while a 4 year old Ludwig was straggling behind on a lower branch.

"Mutti sent me these yesterday,"
explained Ludwig, "thought that you ought to have it, you know."

"Hah! I'm always the awesome one at the top! "Gilbert bursted into a loud rasp, then he sighed, "I wish that I could still do that."

Ludwig frowned, "If you climb another tree again Mutti will kill you, you almost broke your neck after falling out of that tree, "then he pointed to the bag, "there's more. "

Gilbert reached inside the bag, then retrieved a pair of iron crosses, smiling, "Oh I remember this," Then he handed a cross to his brother, "this one's yours, Lud."

Ludwig looked at him with surprise,"How can you tell?"

"Mine is chipped at the corner,"
explained Gilbert, running his fragile finger over the frayed edges of his cross and holding it to the end of his sharp nose.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door and Elizabeta's muffled voice sounded, "May I come in?"

Ludwig got up and opened the door for Eliza as she wandered in cautiously, eyeing the frail young albino sitting upright on the bed, "G-Gil? Is that you?"

Gilbert smirked, "Don't recognize me after my AWESOME transplant?"

Ludwig frowned, "Bruder, this is no time for jokes."

Gilbert laughed his usual raspy laugh and rested his feet on the bed table on the end of the bed, "Why can't you guys just calm down a bit, you're even more worried than me, "then he added with a hint of sarcasm, "Its not like I'm dying now, you know."

"This is enough bruder!" yelled Ludwig as both Gil and Eliza flinched, "How can you make jokes about death?!"

Then he sighed, covering his forehead warily with his hand, "Please Gil, for my sake."

Then Eliza spoke, her usually cheery voice was dull and cracked with guilt,"I'm sorry, Gil...that I didn't come to visit you last week when you..."she trailed off, then caught her voice again,smiling bitterly, "I was in Vienna with Roderich and I thought you'd be awesome enough to handle being all alone and stuff, but now I've decided to stay here for a month just to help you out a bit."

Then she reached into her purse, "Oh,and I got you something from Vienna. "

Gilbert frowned, "I don't want anything from Austria."

Eliza sighed and threw a floppy package wrapped with red and green paper to him as Gilbert commented hastily,"Christmas just passed. Have you been reusing that cheapskate's wrapping paper again?"

Eliza grimaced and crossed her arms,"Roderich is not a cheapskate, and I got the paper myself, you idiot."

Gilbert ignored her comment and tore the paper apart, revealing a white woollen jumper with a yellow chick on the back. Then Eliza added embarrassedly, "I just learnt how to knit so...yeah. Heard that you like birds, and sorry if it's too ugly."

Gilbert tossed the jumper to the end of the bed and scoffed,"You're such a girl, Lizzy."

"I AM a girl, Gil,"retorted Eliza as she picked up the jumper, folding it again,
"and treat things with more respect, please."

A loud knock on the door was followed by a nurse carrying a bunch of reports,"This is Gilbert Beilschmidt, yes? The doctor will have a checkup on you in ten minutes."

Gilbert groaned as Eliza put the jumper onto the white table sitting next to the bed,"Catch you later, Gil."

Ludwig nodded in agreement, "And I have a few lessons to take back at campus."

The room was silent as the nurse checked her watch and broke the silence,"The doctor shall be ready now."

Everyone gave an uneven, silent nod to Gilbert as they left the room, leaving him alone again.

Alone as he always was.

The doctor dressed in a pure white coat came in and took Gilbert's blood pressure. He stuck a few more needles into his frail body, causing him to flinch.

He hated needles.

Then he lay down according to the doctor's instructions and closed his eyes, falling asleep to the heart-rate monitor's resounding beep.

Beep

Beep

Beep...