A 2-3 part spamano fic. Also, as a note, "chiara" is Lovi's fake name so that people don't find out that they're gay lovers.

xxx

Lovino counts the days they've been apart up to the minutes. It was something you'll think Antonio would do but he quietly does it too. He counts the minute between the stars and how they pass each day from the glow of the moon to the shine of the sun. 79 days, 3 hours, 16 minutes.

He doesn't count the seconds, never the seconds. They went by too quickly, giving him hope that the other would be home already. So he let's the seconds tick by and the loneliness pass. It works well for him. But sometimes he can't help but wish that time did actually fly so that his Spaniard was safely back home with him.

Wars never end well. Not for the country, not for the people, and especially not for the soldiers. The destruction comes fast but the relief slow. Soldiers dying in them was nothing new, he knows this, but that was no consolation to him.

83 days, 14 hours, 29 minutes and he still looks through the kitchen window to see if there were any new mail for him. But no matter how much he prays the flag still lays. Occasionally he'll get something from his younger brother and grandpa but that was all the letters he would receive.

It wasn't until 95 days, 13 hours, and 18 minutes later while he was caring for their garden that he received something special. The moment the small envelope was in his hands he felt like he was walking in a dream. His name was scribbled onto it along with the name he has so longed to see.

Inside, the messy handwriting made his heart lept but in a soothing sort of way. It read:

Dear Chiara,
How have you been, my love? I am sorry I have not written to you for so long. Each day the work proves to be challenging and the rainy weather makes our training harder. The men here are much kinder than those at the previous camp and I was able to meet my old friend, Gilbert, here! It was very nice to see a familiar face again after so long. Though, if I had a choice, I would wish to see yours picture you've sent me helps plenty but what I wouldn't give to be next to you again. It's a dream I have on most nights when the day is over and the smell of gunpowder leaves my lungs. We would be together back home and there you'll be, laying beside me and I would run my hands through your dark, amber hair. No more burned gunpowder smell, no more sounds of canonc going off or the yelling of commands in the distance. I would sing to you and your breathing calms me. But enough of my dreams, I have good news, my love. They say we will be able to come home for a few days before we leave for our next location! We will leave a day before Christmas but at least I will be able to spend some time with you again. I miss you so very much, my heart. Te quiero.

- Eternally yours,
Antonio Fernandez Carriedo

Lovino reads it over and over again—-each time his heart beats faster and his worries lighten. Antonio was alive and he was coming home, that was all he needed to know. Tears started to form on his eyes but he wipes them away; hurrily going inside so that he could write something back. His steps were light and for a long time, his smile was true.