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Chapter 1: Realidad y fantasía

"Lovi." He said lifting the Italian's head gently so that he could look into those milk chocolate eyes. "I don't care about your past. We all have scars that we want to stay covered, but if you stayed I would help you slowly heal them."

"You are just saying that."

"I mean every word. I've always meant it. Nothing that you could do to make me take back those words. Because there's only one thing I need to know."

"What is that?"

"If you love me?"

"I do."

Antonio woke from the pleasant dream. No memory. It wasn't a dream at all. Even if it still felt like one. He had said those things and meant each word. And when they kissed passionately in the sand he felt as if he was on cloud nine. Lovino had admitted that he loved him. Love. It was too good to be true. From the very beginning he knew he felt strongly about Lovino. Knew that he loved him. Love! Lovino loved him! Antonio knew he should be doing back flips, besides the lack of ability there was something else keeping him from doing it. Lovino. Spending two months together had taught him that nothing was easy when it came to the hot-tempered Italian. There was no saying what would happen now. If things could've gone his way they would've said 'I love you' and live happily ever after. It was how he always thought things like this would end, like a fairy tale. Fairy tale endings didn't seem like a reality with Lovino , though he would be lying if he didn't want to see him in a princess style wedding dress.

"If only." He thought as he looked around his empty room.

If this was a fairytale Lovino would be besides him right now and he would shower chaste kisses all over the sleeping Italian's face. No. This definitely wasn't a fairy tale. It was reality. Fear gripped on to him at that thought. Reality had never been kind to him. Growing up with a silver spoon in his mouth made it hard to have a clear understanding of reality. Harsh reality where parents couldn't always be there. Where people die and don't return. Where there wasn't a godmother to come and make everything all better. Worst of all in reality love couldn't conquer harsh realities. Realities that he refused to believe. Ultimately he refused to believe love couldn't overcome anything.

"I would do anything for Lovino." He thought as he walked silently into the living room.

The sleeping forms of his friends still occupied the space. With the early morning sun he didn't have to strain his eyes to make out who was who. On the couch was Arthur with a protective arm around Alfred, no doubt keeping him from falling off. Tucked between the couch and the nearest wall was a medium fort built out of the extra couch cushions. He could see two pairs of legs sticking out from the fort. There was no shred of doubt in his mind that it was Gilbert and Matthew's legs, after all there was a piece of paper that said fort awesome taped to the entrance. Further away from the fort slept Roderich , face composed as ever despite Francis snoring loudly only a few inches away. In the corner was Elizabeta and the last person he saw was Ludwig sleeping alone. He could've sworn Feliciano had gone to bed with Ludwig. And where was Lovino? He tried to not freak out as he looked again for the sleeping twins.

"They're not here. Where could they've gone? They couldn't have left. Could they?" He thought as he moved into the kitchen.

This didn't make sense at all. When Lovino said that he loved him , he had thought it meant they were staying here.

"Why would they leave after all?" He thought as he paced back and forth, as silently as possible.

He couldn't wake up the others. Not now. Not while he was trying to figure out just what was going on.

"I'm over reacting. I'm over reacting." He thought again and again.

He tried to think back. Think back to everything that happened yesterday. Of course he remembered playing in the sand with everyone. Remembered how his heart painfully stopped when he saw the large scar on Lovino's back. Remembered how he traced the scar thinking that there was no way it was a an accident or self-inflicted wound. And thought that he would kill the bastard that did that to him. And he couldn't forget when they kissed on the sand, but everything after wards was a blur. He did recall trying to catch a fish bare handed to show off and failing miserably. After that nothing. He didn't remember Lovino saying anything about them leaving nor did he remember Lovino saying that they were staying.

"How am I supposed to know if they left or not?"He thought frustrated.

He refused to believe that Lovino would leave without a word. If anything Feliciano would've said something. So why? Why was there no letter left behind?

"Why?"

He could feel tears threatening to fall. He wouldn't let things end like this. He wouldn't break down like a baby. Nothing good came from acting like a helpless infant. If he lost all hope now there would be no way to get Lovino that was something he wouldn't let happen. He would chase Lovino to the ends of the earth if it meant they could be together.

"I will go after you." He thought as he picked up his phone from the counter, where he had left it last night.

There was no need for him to see the buttons as he speed dialed Lovino. As the phone rang he hoped that Lovino had taken the phone with him. Hoped that Lovino would pick up.

"Lovino?" He asked desperately as the phone clicked.

"Who else would it be?"

"¡Gracias a dios! where are you? Is Feliciano with you? Are you two okay? What happened?"

"What no 'good morning'? You could at least say good morning before barging me with questions this early."

"Lo siento. Good morning."

"It was until you called."

Antonio didn't take the comment to heart. It was only playful banter.

"Where are you?"He asked, this time more calmly.

"Not in the apartment. Feliciano is with me."

"You left?" His heart sank as he said these words.

"Sì. We did leave the apartment."

"Why didn't you wake me up before you left? You didn't even leave a letter." Tears fell as he spoke. There was no longer use keeping the sorrow out of his voice. "Crying won't fix this." He scolded himself.

"Are you crying?" Lovino asked in an almost concern tone.

"I am." He said, wiping the tears.

"Antonio?" Asked a sleepy Ludwig.

"Lo siento. Did I wake you?"

"Nein...What's wrong?"

"Lovino and Feliciano are gone." He sniffled.

Ludwig's sleepy face instantly transformed into a pained face. He had seen this face only once before. That face brought back unpleasant memories he didn't feel like revisiting.

"Bastard! Did you forget that I was on the phone with you?! I will hang up right now!" Lovino's voice blasted through the phone.

"Don't hang up!" He said in a panic. "Where are you?"

"Why?"

"Because Ludwig and I are coming after you two." He said while looking at Ludwig, who gave him a nod.

"You're a complete idiota. We could be hours away from your apartment. Are you willing to chase after us now?"

"It doesn't matter how far you are. I will chase after you until I bring you back and Ludwig will do the same for Feliciano."

"He would?" It was Feliciano's voice now.

"I wouldn't do anything less." Ludwig said, taking over the phone. "Feliciano... I know you had to leave ,but I thought I had time to say a last good morning or even goodbye."

"Mi dispiace." He heard Feliciano say.

"I need to say goodbye." Ludwig continued. " But not like this. I want to hold you once more before letting you go."

This had to be the most emotion he'd seen from his stern face friend. He felt the same as Ludwig. He too wanted to hold Lovino one last time. Wanted to look into those milk chocolate eyes. Wanted to kiss those tender lips that voiced not so tender words. Wanted to tell Lovino that he loved him one last time. And then handcuff Lovino's hand to his own so they could never be apart. Handcuffs probably wouldn't hold Lovino, still he would at least try it.

"Please ...Feliciano we need to know where you are." Ludwig said.

The line went silent. Fearing that their only method of communication was somehow cut off he snatched the phone.

"Lovino?" He asked nervously.

"Good bye."

The line clicked off. He wanted to break down. Ludwig's face looked just as shocked as his own face probably was.

"It won't end like this." He heard Ludwig mumble.

"We will get them back. We just have to find out where they went."

"You should start by looking behind you." Lovino's voice said.

"Lovino?" He said turning around.

"Feliciano?" Ludwig said.

"I...thought."

"Well you thought wrong."Lovino scoffed.

"Mi dispiace." Feliciano said, diving into Ludwig's arms.

They both were dumbfounded. He figured the twins were halfway to another town and yet here they were.

"You didn't leave?" He asked.

"Of course we didn't. come potrei lasciarti? "

"We thought.."

"I'm not a big enough ass to leave forever without saying goodbye."

"But you said you weren't in the apartment."

"I wasn't. I didn't think talking with Feliciano out on the balcony would be a big deal. You two idiotas were the ones who jumped to conclusions."

"I should've told you where we were." Feliciano said.

"A lovers spat this early in the morning?"Asked Gilbert as he walked into the kitchen. "Guten Morgen."

"Guten Morgen. Did we wake anyone else?" Ludwig asked.

"No. I just got up to begin breakfast. The others look as if they could sleep through anything. So what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Lovino said.

"Come on tell your Madre." Gilbert said outstretching his arms.

Everyone's eyebrows,except Lovino's and Gilbert's, raised in unison. Lovino's face had a mix of embarrassment and anger.

"Shut up! You are not my Madre!"

"Es tut mir leid. It's too early for jokes. I do want to know what's wrong." Gilbert said in a concern tone.

"Nothing's wrong. These dumbasses thought I would take feliciano and leave without a word."

"I'm glad you didn't." Gilbert said with a smile.

Gilbert had that motherly tone. Growing up together he had heard that tne used over and over again towards Ludwig. Now that they were older Gilbert rarely spoke in that tone. In all honesty he missed it. Even though Elizabeta was the only female in their group of friends Gilbert was more of a mother figure. And there were times he secretly wished Gilbert was his mother. Antonio loved his parents dearly, but with their careers he was constantly alone. Felt as if his parents didn't have time for him. Back then Gilbert had been his ray of sunshine. Gilbert had even allowed him to share his mother. Gilbert's mother was the definition of a loving mother. Always smiling. Always cooking food for them. Always asking how was their day. Always checking to see if they needed anything. He'd felt so jealous when he compared to his own mother. And when she died he felt as if he lost his own mother. While he wept over her death Gilbert had simply wrapped a hand around Ludwig. Not one tear fell from Gilbert's eyes during the funeral. Gilbert was strong. Strong like his mother and each day since he could see more and more of her within Gilbert.

"I should really start breakfast. Would you like to help me Lovino?"Gilbert asked.

"We would!" Feliciano answered.

"Who said you could volunteer me?" Lovino complained.

"I would love the extra help. I'm not use to this kitchen or cooking for this large of a group." Gilbert said.

"Please fratello. Ludi you'll help us won't you?"

"Nein."

"Why?"

"West isn't kitchen savvy." Gilbert said.

"Huh?"

"He can't cook." Lovino explained.

"Anyone can cook. It just takes practice. I could teach you." Feliciano said.

"No thank you."

"What about you Antonio?"

"Me?"

"It is your kitchen." Lovino said.

"You didn't seem to have any trouble the last time you cooked in here."He said.

"Fucking idiota."

In the back of his mind he felt as if he was being kicked. Kicked hard as if to tell him that he was blowing this chance with Lovino right now.

"I'm more of a sweets guy,but I'll try help you the best I can." He said with a smile.

"I appreciate the why don't you start waking everyone up. We don't want them sleeping half the day away again." Gilbert said.

"Alright."

"Watch out for Elizabeta's left hook."

He felt sad for Ludwig. Ever since his parent's death he noticed how Ludwig would avoid the kitchen. He couldn't blame Ludwig for knew how the Beilschmids died from overhearing his parents talking about it. Sometimes he wished he hadn't overheard that conversation. Wished he had stayed in the dark instead of revisiting the harsh truth now and then. He couldn't even begin to imagine how it was for Ludwig to face that reality everyday.

"If you are going to help us stop spacing out." Lovino said.

"Lo siento."

Cooking alongside Lovino was an interesting experience. They didn't cook like a couple. One of the earliest and fondest memory of his parents was the memory of them cooking together. Back before his parents time had become dictated by their jobs they had spent a long time cooking together. Swaying back and forth to the music as they cooked side by side. He could still clearly see his father take his mother;s arm and twirl her before turning back to cooking. Still could hear his mother's cheerful laughter. That was the way he wanted to be with his special someone. Being in the kitchen with Lovino wasn't at all like his parents. Once again life didn't live up to his fantasy. This however, didn't mean that it couldn't become a reality.

"Don't even think about it." Lovino said harshly.

"I wasn't going to do anything." He lied.

"Bull shit. If you don't want to get another headbutt I suggest you keep your hands to yourself."

"Are you psychic?" He asked, amazed that Lovino knew he was going to do something before he did it.

"I don't have to be in order to know you were going to do something stupid." Lovino said, letting out a sigh before continuing. "Come over here. I'll teach you something about cooking, but you have to keep your hands to yourself."

"I can do that." He said moving closer and placing a kiss on Lovino's cheek.

"And lips. Keep your lips to yourself."Lovino said, a tinge of red glossed over his cheeks.

"I'm just showing you my love for you." He said,leaning in for another kiss.

"No." Lovino said lifting a wooden spoon between them. "Not in front of Feliciano."

"He didn't see." He said, quickly glancing at Feliciano and Gilbert who looked to be in their own cooking world.

"Not in front of him." Lovino repeated as he lightly slapped Antonio on the forehead with the wooden spoon.

"Not in front of Feliciano I got it." He said rubbing his forehead. " To make things fair, I'm going to kiss you twice as much when Feliciano's not around."He whispered into Lovino's ear.

"Do you want me to teach you or not?" Lovino said, cheeks a tomato red.

"So what has the Awesome Gilbert made us for breakfast?" Elizabeta asked as she entered the kitchen.

"Nothing but the awesome-est breakfast spread ever!" Gilbert said puffing out his chest.

It still amazed Antonio how fast Gilbert would change from 'mother Gilbert' to the so called leader of the Bad Touch Trio at the mention of awesome and his name in the same sentence.

"Don't you think he has a big enough head already?" Ludwig said.

"Oh really? Well this big head can just feed your portion of food to Gilbird." Gilbert said, at which Gilbird chirped with delight.

"That's not very kind." Matthew said.

"I was only joking. Guten Morgen." Gilbert said ,quickly kissing Matthew on the forehead.

"So where's my breakfast?" Alfred asked,loudly.

"Alfred." Arthur scolded.

"I too wish to know what fine cuisine we shall be dining on." Francis said, walking in with Roderich.

"I have to get a bigger kitchen." He thought at the sight of everyone crammed in the area like sardines in a can trying to speak over one another.

"Will everyone just SHUT UP! Do you dumbasses have to make so much noise in the morning?" Lovino yelled. "Get out of the fucking kitchen!"

"I know everyone is hungry,but we need to calm down. Once we get the food set up everyone can make their own plate." He said calmly.

Thankfully the mob of hungry guest dispearst. He didn't like acting like a leader. Never had he thought of himself as a leader. Yet it was necessary to act like one in the moment. It would be one heck of a story to tell police if Lovino decided to go on a murderous rampage because of his friends making too much noise.

"You handled that very well." Gilbert said, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Perhaps you should be the Trio's leader."

"You and I know very well that would never happen." He said.

"He couldn't even lead a band of monkeys." Lovino said as he set the large bowl of scrambled eggs on the table.

"I have you know I was the best leader those monkeys have ever seen. Even taught them how to salsa." He said doing a quick salsa move.

"Is that true?" Feliciano asked, eyes sparkling with admiration.

"No. I did have a pet monkey once, he was a stuffed animal though... And he was one heck of a dance partner... I named him.. I'll stop talking now." He said ,looking at Lovino's not too happy face.

"That's probably the best idea I've heard from you." Lovino said.

"I for one think you are too hard on yourself Antonio. You could be a leader if you put your mind to it." Gilbert said.

"Of course that would require him to have a brain."Lovino remarked.

"I guess I'm just a brainless scarecrow."

It was probably one of the wittiest things he had said in his life. It made him proud to pull such an old reference,but one look of Lovino's quizzical face told him it had gone right over the Italian's head.

"Never mind." He said ,placing the last dish on the packed table.

"Breakfast is ready!" Feliciano announced.

In less than a blink of an eye there was a line. Lovino and himself somehow managed not to be last in line. He figured it was only because Elizabeta was busy getting ready that they didn't end up being last. Like a gentleman he had offered to let her cut ahead ,but she refused for whatever reason. He hoped that there would be enough food for them by the mountain of pancakes Matthew had taken and the two plates Alfred was attempting to balance.

"Do you want me to make your plate?" He asked Lovino once they reached the start of the buffet line.

"I can make my own plate." Lovino said snatching a plate off the table.

"I was just trying to be nice." He mumbled.

"Ouch! What the heck!" Lovino said glaring at Elizabeta.

"I'm so sorry Lovino. I didn't mean to kick you." Elizabeta said with the smile Antonio knew meant she was lying.

"Stupid woman... Ouch!"

"There goes my leg again. I must've slept on it wrong or something. Antonio could you get me some of that fruit salad?"

"Sure."

"Get it yourself." Lovino said at the same time.

"Lovino what has gotten into you?" He asked as he reached for the ladle in the fruit salad bowl.

"I don't like it." Lovino said almost inaudibly.

"Is this enough?" He asked Elizabeta ,pretending to not have heard Lovino's quiet words.

"That's fine. Thank you. Be sure to sit by me okay Lovino." Elizabeta said before running off into the living room to join the others.

"I hate that woman." Lovino said, grabbing some fruit salad for himself.

"No you don't."

"You can't say who I hate and who I don't."

"I wasn't saying that. I just know you don't hate her."

"You can think whatever you want."

"Alright. Come on let's join the others." He said quickly kissing Lovino on the lips.

"What are you doing?"Lovino quietly shrieked.

"Feliciano wasn't around. " He said, quickly moving into the living room before Lovino decided to smack him.

"Antonio!" Feliciano said as he grabbed his arm like a three-year old, almost making him drop his plate.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. I just wanted to ask if you and Lovino would sit by Ludwig and I."

"Sure. No problem." He said, letting Feliciano drag him to where Ludwig was sitting in the large circle on the ground.

Lovino didn't look at all pleased by this. Perhaps it was because with this sitting arrangement Lovino would either be sitting besides Elizabeta or Ludwig. Lovino's angry scowl made him so nervous. He scooted closer to Ludwig,who too was probably nervous under that indifferent face. It felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place the moment Lovino sat down. All he could think of was ways not to further upset Lovino while he pretended to listen to the chatting from the opposite side of the circle.

"I'm glad you decided to sit by me." Elizabeta greeted Lovino.

"It wasn't my choice." Lovino said, glaring at Antonio.

"I was the one who asked Antonio if you two could sit with us." Feliciano said.

"We could switch places if you want." Ludwig offered.

"And watch you make eyes at my fratello from a distance? No I'll stay right here."

"Lovino when do you leave?" Roderich asked from the other side of the circle.

"Why can't wait to get rid of me?"

There was a tinge of malice within their words. This wasn't the first time he sensed the tension between the didn't completely understand why there was tension between them to begin with.

"I was merely curious." Roderich said in a rather smug tone.

"I was wondering the same thing to be honest. It's a shame you two are leaving I did enjoy getting to know the both of you."Arthur said.

"Yeah. You two seem like cool dudes. I wanted to hang out some more." Alfred said.

"You will stay long enough to visit my mother right?" Francis asked.

"Of course we are."Feliciano answered.

"Remind me to give you your scrapbook before you leave."Elizabeta said.

"I will."

"It's going to be strange to not have you around the house." Gilbert said. "Actually I've gotten use to having the both of you in house. It's going to be so empty with only Ludwig and I again."

"At least Ludwig will have his dog to keep him company." Francis said.

"We still have to meet your dog." Matthew said.

"We all do." Elizabeta jumped in.

"Maybe I should get a dog." He said.

"What dog would be dumb enough to be your pet?" Lovino said.

"The dog that came to our school."

"Didn't that dog bite you?" Elizabeta asked.

"It was scared. I still could 'adopt' it like Ludwig did."

"I don't think so." Lovino said.

"No offense ,but I don't think you are responsible enough to take care of a dog."Gilbert said as he fed Gilbrid a small piece of toast.

"Well how else am I supposed to do once Lovino leaves? Lay around eating tubs of ice cream while watching TV like in those sappy movies?"

"If you do could you invite me? I love ice cream! It's the next best thing to cheeseburgers." Alfred said.

"Alfred you are being rude." Arthur scolded.

"What it's true."

"That's not the point."

"You could own a gold-fish instead." Matthew politely suggested.

"I want to have a dog. The dog that came to our school." He said.

"Why do you want to have that dumb dog anyway?" Lovino asked.

"Because it reminds me of you. It has your eyes." He said, staring into those milk chocolate eyes.

"Well good fucking luck getting that dog."

Lovino was right, as always. He would need all the luck in the world to find that dog. After the school incident it seemed to disappear. And even if he found the dog there was no saying if it would let itself be his pet or if it belonged to the strange man whose business card he still had laying about the house somewhere. He would have to give up on the dog. That would be the only thing he would give up on. Lovino was an entirely different matter. There would be nothing he wouldn't say or do to keep Lovino by his side.

Before he knew it they were no longer sitting in his apartment in a circle happily chatting. They were now standing in front of the hospital. The hospital wasn't a place he liked at all. In fact he was afraid of it. To him the hospital was a place that gave him the biggest dose of harsh reality. Growing up he was taught that hospitals were wonderful places that healed people and every nurse was a kind a smiling person. For a long time he had wanted to become a doctor. Wanted to heal people with a smile on his face, that was until his first and last visit to a real that visit alone he had witnessed more than any child should've seen. He had seen nurses pushing a bloody patient down the hall. Seen a grown woman scream as a needle was slid beneath her skin. Worst of all he saw an old man die. The visit had given him nightmares for years and a lifelong phobia. Throwing the dream of becoming a doctor in the trash he had told himself he would never enter a hospital again. And yet here he was.

"Antonio are you alright?"Gilbert asked in a concern tone.

"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked nervously. "Where's Lovino?"

"Talking with Feliciano. Do you want me to call him over?"

"Please."

It was all he could bring himself to say right now. Panic was spreading throughout his body. It was taking every ounce in his body to keep himself from shaking. He knew that if he didn't calm down he would be admitted into the hospital,which didn't calm him at all.

"You look like shit what's wrong?" Lovino asked.

"Nothing that you being by me won't fix." He said taking hold of Lovino's hand.

"You're shaking?"

"It's perfectly normal to shake when you're afraid."He said with a shy smile.

"Scared?"

"Terrified actually."

"Well doesn't that make me feel so much better."

"Huh?"

"I've never been to a hospital before."

"Are you scared?"

"I'm nervous now that I know you are. You were suppose to be the one to tell me that there was nothing to worry about and drag me inside just like all those other times."

"Lo siento. We'll just have to brave it together." He said , giving a reassuring squeeze.

"I spoke to the people in charge of visitation. We can all go visit ,but since they aren't use to this many people visiting they asked that we keep the noise down and to not bother any patience." Francis announced. "Come with me quietly. Nothing's worse than getting kicked out of a hospital."

Edging their way to the back of the group, they hand in hand into the one place that haunted him for majority of his life. He was so happy that Lovino hadn't removed their hand lock. If he didn't have Lovino's hand in his own he wouldn't know how he would make his way through this terrifying place. All he could do was focus on their interlocking fingers. If he didn't there wouldn't be anything keeping him from having a full-blown panic attack. The circulation within his fingers were painfully cut off when the group moved closer to the elevators. He could slap himself for forgetting Lovino's fear of elevators.

"Are you two coming in?" Elizabeta asked, trying to make more room in the confined area.

"Is there any stairs?" He asked.

"Why?" Francis asked.

"There's barely enough room for us and I need the exercise."

"Exercise? You two took the stairs all weekend and we walked here. If you ask me that's too much exercise." Alfred said.

"Where are the fucking stairs?" Lovino asked in a hushed tone.

"That door over there. We'll be on the third floor." Francis said before letting the metal doors close.

"We should get started on those stairs." He said moving towards the door that plainly said stairs.

"Mi dispiace." Lovino said as they started up the first flight.

"Don't worry about it. It's not like we have to climb twenty flights of stairs. I'm the one who should be apologizing for making this place seem like a horrible place on your first visit. This stairwell is nice though."

"Why does this place scare you?"

" I had a bad experience when I was younger and basically decided not to come back here."

"But you did."

"I did."

"Why?"

"I did it for Francis. Sometimes you have to face the thing you fear for someone else's sake. It's like you and Feliciano. You would do anything for him right? Even if it meant doing something that scares you like ride an elevator."

"I would but that's because he is my fratello."

"In some strange way Francis and Gilbert are my 're a trio, always by each other no matter what. We've gone to hell and back together. Although we do keep some things to ourselves we know almost everything about one another. I may be an only child ,but those guys are my brothers no matter what blood runs in our veins and I would do anything for them."

" You three make strange siblings."

The comment made it impossible to not burst into laughter. He knew long ago how strange their 'family' was. It didn't matter how strange it was because he loved his friends like family , loved this family and that's all that mattered.

"You know I'm glad we did this. Taking the stairs is much better than riding that dumb elevator. We wouldn't be able to talk like this in there."

"Especially with Alfred's loud mouth."

"Taking the stairs is really nice actually, just don't make me climb more than five flights or I will die."

"Maybe some time I will." Lovino said with a smirk.

"You know what's another thing good about taking the stairs?" He said cupping Lovino's face. "No one is here to see this." He whispered before placing his lips on Lovino's.

There were no words strong enough to explain how it felt to kiss Lovino in this moment. They were alone, away from the rest of the world. His heart was leaping in his chest. If he could he would stay like this with Lovino forever. That couldn't be a reality though. They had to meet up with the rest of the group. Slowly he broke the kiss.

"Antonio..."

"Lo siento. I just have to get as many kisses from you as possible before you leave. Come on the group is waiting." He said opening the door to the third floor.

His hand grabbed onto Lovino's the second they stepped out onto the floor. Being in the stairwell had made him completely forget about where he was. Seeing the nurses moving about automatically caused his body to start panicking again. He had to be strong. Had to make it look as though nothing was wrong. That was impossible, especially with the lack of air he felt in his lungs. He could feel Lovino helping him move along the laminated tile floors to their group. Then he felt Lovino's hand leave his,which made his heart crash.

"Glad that you could finally join us." Roderich said.

"Fuck off." Lovino mumbled.

"What is your deal with him?" He asked in a whisper.

"You should ask him that. He's the one being an ass." Lovino whispered back.

"Play nice for now please."

"Don't I always?"

"Follow me . Remember to keep the noise level down." Francis said, leading the group down the hall a short distance.

The room was barely big enough to fit all of them. Lying on the bed in the center of the room was undoubtedly Francis's mother. She had the same blond long hair and fair skin. A beautiful woman despite the oxygen mask on her mouth, IV protruding from her arm, and the heart monitor showing her steady heart beat. He didn't want this to be Francis's reality. When he had thought of Francis's mother he had imagined someone like Gilbert's mother; beautiful, happy, a good cook, someone who loved their family. Not this. He couldn't imagine this. Didn't want to imagine this for his friend,his brother. Panic. He was panicking again. And Lovino's hand was no longer there to give him strength.

"Mother these are my friends..."

That's all he heard before everything became silent. Dizziness was now playing with his senses. All over he felt numb as his world slowly became nothing but a blurry mess. The only thing he could make out anymore was concern milk chocolate eyes, silently asking if he was alright. He wanted to tell Lovino that he was fine,but his mouth wouldn't form a single word.

"I think he needs some air." He heard Lovino say,though it sounded as if he was underwater.

Barely conscious he felt Lovino lead him out to the hall. Air seemed to rush into his lungs the moment he stepped out of the room. The blurs slowly faded back to various colors and shapes. Ears picking up the sounds around him. It was no longer like a horrible silent movie.

"Gracias." He said taking deep breaths.

"Are you alright?"

"I will be." He said taking hold of Lovino's hand yet again.

"You better be or I'll kick your ass."

"Haven't you hear of the saying ' don't kick a man while he's down'?"

"I haven't." Lovino said with a smirk.

"Gracias. I really don't think I could handle going through this by myself."

"Your friends would've helped you."

"They would've ,but I'm glad it was you who helped me." He said running a hand through Lovino's hair. "Te amo." He whispered.

Although he still felt like he was running on a half tank of oxygen he pressed his lips onto Lovino's. Kissing him passionately. Not caring just how oxygen starved his lungs felt.

"We shouldn't be doing this here." Lovino said pushing him away.

"I don't want to worry about where I am when I kiss you. I only have to worry about when it'll be the last kiss." He said pushing aside a strand of hair from Lovino's face.

"This won't be the last kiss."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure Feliciano will be telling the group the good news soon."

"Good news?"

"We're staying."

"Staying?" He asked, unsure if he was hearing any of this correctly.

"That's what I said didn't I?" Lovino said in an annoyed tone,

"Staying for one more day?"

"No."

"How long?"

"How long would you like me to stay?"

"Forever would be nice."

"Then I'll stay forever."

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Author notes:

Hello everyone I'm back! I know this was a short chapter ,but it's only the first chapter so don't get your underwear in a twist. It took me a pretty long time to come up with a decent beginning. Beginnings are one of the hardest parts of a story. I hope you didn't mind that I basically started from where I left off in the first book. I just didn't want to put some strange time-lapse and having to explain what happened or simply going into it without creating a bridge between the books. Anyway I hope you liked it.

Thank you to everyone for reading my first story! Your support makes this possible. I hope you all will enjoy the sequel just as much as the first book. I enjoyed reading all your reviews for the final chapter. And I had such a big fangirling moment when I read I found out I had a Fanboy on board. God of the Tsukuyomi thank you for making the decision to join this ship. Thank you all for everything. Thank you!

Translations:

Spanish:

Realidad y fantasía- reality and fantasy

Lo siento- I'm sorry

Gracias- thank you

¡Gracias a dios!- thank god

te amo- I love you

Italian:

Fratello-brother

Mi dispiace- I'm sorry

Madre- mother

idiota- idiot

Come potrei lasciarti? - how could I leave you?

sì - yes

German:

Guten Morgen-Good morning

es tut mir leid- I'm sorry