Gilbert Nightray usually woke up very early, but today was especially important and so the noirette was up at the crack of dawn. He fought back any sleepiness left in him and practically leaped off the bed, grabbing a blue ribbon from his night-table and swiftly tying his hair up in a messy ponytail, barely holding the uncontrollable black curls in place. He splashed his face with cold water and stared at his determined reflection. After so many years, Gil was finally going to do it.

The mornings were usually a bit chilly but that didn't seem to matter to the golden-eyes man as he rolled up the sleeves of the shirt he had chosen to wear for the day. It was a normal button up white shirt that went nicely with his usual black pants and boots. He didn't put on his usual coat though, and instead slipped a blue apron over his head. It had taken a lot of willpower and convincing but Gil had decided that it was about time.
He smiled to himself as he walking into the kitchen, opening cupboards and taking out everything that was necessary. If he were to be honest, he would have to admit that he was ready to burst from all the built-up emotions inside him. He was nervous, worried, scared and at the same time excited. He couldn't help the strange mix of feelings, that was just how Gil was. Besides, no one could blame him. After all, today he was going to confess to his best friend. He hummed as he got all the ingredients together.

Gilbert sighed, remembering fondly. He'd loved Oz since he met him, maybe it wasn't romantic at first, and he wasn't sure when it shifted to that kind of love, but that was what it had been for at least the last 10 years. That was a lot of time to be in love with someone. Which is why, after this long with Oz at his side again (along with that stupid rabbit he brought back with him) he was finally allowing himself to be honest with both himself and his most precious. Gil wasn't sure how Oz would react, but as he saw it, it was too late to turn back.

That was how, on a gentle Valentine's Day morning, Gilbert found himself preparing chocolate in a cliche heart shape, his entire body trembling from anticipation and his hopes set high on the outcome of everything.

A few hours later Gil untie his apron, putting it back in its rightful place and pulled his hair free again. He felt satisfied with the result of his work, especially considering he'd never attempted to make something of that nature before and just hoped he'd hidden it well enough that Break wouldn't find it and eat it before it even got to Oz. Gil groaned at the thought and slipped on his usual coat, running a hand through his jet-black locks as he went to wake Oz and Alice.

...

The annoyance was evident on Gilbert's face. His eyebrow twitched as he approached the sleeping teens, Oz spread out with a dorky look on his face and Alice with her arms wrapped around Oz's lower waist, her face showing a stupidly happy look that matched Oz's and she drooled all over the blond's sleeping shirt. The older man sighed and got to work trying to pry Alice from Oz, which didn't prove to be an easy task considering both of them were ridiculously deep sleepers. Gil wasn't very content with this set-up. It was bad enough that two different-sex teenagers of the same age were allowed to sleep in the same room together, but that the stupid rabbit always managed to worm her way into Oz's bed was just downright unnecessary, especially considering the brunette had her own bed just steps away.

Despite feeling a little bothered by it though, Gil didn't exactly feel jealous either. It was obvious those two were attached to each other on a deep level, but he'd never seen signs of them loving each other as more than friends... even brothers. Yes, that was exactly how they acted, like siblings. Gil couldn't help but smile as he thought about how kind and gentle Oz was to Ada when they were small, and how he was like that now with Alice. Knowing this had made things a lot easier on Gilbert. He never felt jealous anymore, and while he did feel a little left-out once in a while, they were at peace.

Gil picked up Alice bridal style, intending to put her down on her own bed and have her wake up properly there. He set her down gently, watching in amusement as she complained in her sleep to no one in particular as he brushed a few loose strands of her long brunette hair out of her face. She mumbled unintelligibly to which Gil scoffed. He used to dislike her, he honestly did. In fact, there was a time when he considered killing her in order to relieve Oz's pain and break their contract.

Now though, he felt a lot more comfortable with the loud girl, he'd even grown attached to her. He still didn't quite get what Oz loved so much about her but he considered her an important friend too. He'd definitely protect her as he did Oz and she would probably do the same for him.

"Mm...? Gil...? Is it morning already?" Oz's sleepy voice cut through his thoughts along with the sound of shuffling. The golden-eyed man glanced back just to meet with the sight of an obviously still half-asleep Oz rubbing at his left eye with one hand, his clothes messy and his hair in much the same state.

"Yeah." He said smoothly, pinching Alice's cheek just hard enough for her to react. "Breakfast is ready so come down when you and the stupid rabbit are done getting ready for the day." Gil instructed, satisfied as Alice opened one eye, her face displaying obvious annoyance at the way the man had chosen to wake her.

"What the hell seaweed head?" She muttered, sitting up and giving him a lazy kick to push him away from her space. "That's no way to wake a lady." Alice said, a smirk appearing on her face.

Gilbert rolled his eyes at her stupid imitation of Sharon (who'd been spending the last three weeks attempting to turn Alice into a proper lady) and walked to the doorway, glancing back and glaring slightly as he said.
"If either of you fall asleep again or you don't come down in 15 minutes I will come get you." He threatened, trying his best to look scary so they'd take him seriously for once. Both teenagers looked at each other before dropping back down onto their beds simultaneously, obviously not even slightly intimidated by the poor man. Gilbert sighed and walked out, closing the door behind him again.
...

It was at least another 20 minutes before Alice and Oz finally came down to breakfast. Or at least Alice did, dragging a half-dead Oz (not literally obviously) along with her. Break and Sharon, who had already arrived at the table by then watched with slight amusement but didn't comment as this wasn't anything new. Sometimes Alice dragged Oz, sometimes Oz dragged Alice, there were even times when neither teen came down at all, missing breakfast only to spend their first 40 minutes awake whining for Gil to make them breakfast no matter how late it was.

"Oi, wake up, you're heavy." Alice said, none too softly as she gave Oz a friendly wack in the head. She gently shoved him off her shoulder and sat down beside Sharon, giving everyone at the table a general 'good morning'.

"I aaam awake." Oz muttered as he sat down beside Gil. Everyone ate in silence for a while, with the exception of Sharon's occasional scolding towards Alice's horrible table manners until Oz gasped suddenly. He looked up to see his friends watching him curiously, wondering what the outburst was about. He glanced at Gil and asked hurriedly. "What day is today Gil?"

"February 14th." Gil replied quickly. Why did Oz ask? Was he aware of the date for any sort of special reason.

"Ah, I knew it..." Oz muttered. Gilbert couldn't be sure but he thought he saw a hint of a blush on Oz's face. The blond looked at Alice and they shared a moment of unspoken understanding before Alice nodded simply and stood up from her seat.

"Well it's about time." The brunette said.

"Time for what?" Gilbert asked, raising an eyebrow. Alice glanced at him, flashing him that smirk again.

"Time that we get going of course." She said simply. "I have to pick up some things from the market and you..." She pointed a gloved finger at Gil as if to clarify. "...Are coming with me." And just like that she turned around, her hair fluttering behind her as she began to walk away.

"W-what?" Gilbert stammered. "Why the hell do I have to go? Go on your own!" He said. He couldn't just go out, he had to prepare for his incredibly important confession.

"I don't remember asking if you wanted to come." Alice stated, turning back around to face him and crossing her arms. Her violet eyes shined with something he couldn't quite identify. He scowled, hating that she always acted superior and bossed him around like this. Gilbert opened his mouth to protest, his golden eyes narrowed, but he was cut off.

"Gilbert-sama! You cannot leave a lady to wander the streets on her own! Accompany her PLEASE." Sharon said quickly, her magenta eyes glaring in the man's direction. It was obvious she wouldn't take no for an answer and Gil was pretty sure there was no way he was getting out of it so he sighed and stood up as well. What he didn't see was the grateful gaze Oz shot Alice and the smile the girl returned him as she walked out of the room.

"Oz, you're not coming?" Gilbert questioned, looking at the blond.

"Uh, no, I'd like to take advantage and get a couple of things done." He responded, flashing Gil his usual smile. The black haired man narrowed his eyes and studied the boy briefly. Gil sighed and gave a small nod in approval, turning around and pretending he didn't see the light blush that had settled on Oz's pale cheeks, barely noticeable.
...

Their adventure was brief and slightly awkward, they were both walking side-by-side through the various shops and tents that were all displaying different goods; food, clothing, toys, collectibles. There seemed to be no end to the different merchants yelling about discounts and offers at the top of their lungs and little kids wailing and begging their tired parents for different objects that had caught their eye.

"Oi, baka usagi*, where is this thing you supposedly had to pick up?" Gilbert asked after a few good minutes of them walking seemingly aimlessly. Alice glanced at him and scuffed.

"Just a little farther, Seaweed Head, quit your damn whining." She then turned back to the front and kept walking. If Gilbert hadn't known any better he would have guessed she and Oz were up to something but he was confident that his master wasn't as troublesome as this girl. Maybe a bit mischievous... very mischievous.

The noirette shook his head, thinking any further would just get him worrying again. They kept on like this for a few more minutes until Alice stopped and turned to Gilbert.

"That should be enough." She said, grinning as if she knew something Gilbert couldn't hope to comprehend. And he really was confused, what was enough? Wasn't the whole point of this to get whatever the hell it was that Alice needed to desperately. Instead he was met only with her smirk and a sudden wave of irritation.

"Okay what the hell Stupid Rabbit?" Gil demanded.

"I was just buying Oz some time." She shrugged. "I didn't actually need anything, I lied about that."

"Buying time? For what?" Gilbert glared at the girl, nothing irritated him more than the wordless way Oz and her could communicate, almost effortlessly.

"I'd like to take advantage and get a couple of things done."

Oz's words came back to him then. Maybe Oz just needed some privacy for something? That was why Alice had effectively gotten Gil and herself out, so that the boy would be able to get whatever he had to do done without the two of them clinging to him and pestering Oz they usually did? It made sense but at the same time it piped his curiosity further, after all Oz loved spending time with them and even if he had things to do he'd always find a way to get the two of them to interact and 'help' him in their own way. Like the time Oz was planning a surprise party for Echo's birthday, he had somehow gotten Alice to help him make decorations and Gil had baked a cute and surprisingly girly cake.

He chuckled at this memory, remembering the way Echo had reacted like a scared cat when both Alice and Oz jumped out at her and trapped her in a crushing hug. Alice had been especially nice to the girl that day, in her own awkward Alice way.

"I don't know. He didn't exactly tell me, though I have an idea." Alice finally responded, snapping him out of his thoughts. She stared at him intently.

"You have an idea?"

"Did your brain finally he a fuse from too much thinking? It's valentine's day isn't it? Only a moron wouldn't be able to guess what Oz is up to."

Gil stared right back at her, golden eyes softening. He still didn't get it but he could see now that even Alice could be considerate. He would have liked to dwell on that longer and praise the girl but his brain demanded to focus back on Oz. Oz. Oz.

Because for him, it was all about Oz.

"Let's head back now. I'm sure he's had plenty of time, right?" Gilbert asked, sticking a cigarette in his mouth and adjusting his hat.

"I guess." Alice responded simply, pouting a bit as if she had been expecting a different response and turned back around, in the direction of the Reinsworth's.

The walked in just in time to see Oz scurrying out of the kitchen holding something in his arms with a death grip as if his life depended on it.

"Oz!" Gilbert called out to him. The boy stopped half-way to the stairs and looked back at the raven, looking like a deer in headlights, or as Gilbert thought of at that time, a rabbit who's just stumbled into a wolf.

"O-oh! Gil... Alice... you're back already?" Oz asked, turning around and swiftly hiding whatever he had been holding behind his back. "That was quick." He smiled widely.

"Yeah... what are you doing?" Gilbert asked, narrowing his eyes. He didn't miss the way Oz suddenly seemed very uncomfortable.

"That is... I was just..." The blond was suddenly struggling to give a straight answer.
Gilbert would have pried further but a sudden pain at his ribs shut him up quick. He glanced sideways to glare at Alice who was jabbing her ankle into his side. She was giving him a meaningful glare to which he decided to listen. He sighed.

"Nevermind, you don't have to tell me." Gilbert said quickly, noting the grateful look in his eyes.
Oz turned back around then and started heading up the stairs again. Alice automatically slipped past Gilbert and practically ran up the stairs with Oz, smiling at him and saying something to which Oz laughed.
Gilbert had seen enough though, when Oz had turned to reply to Alice he'd caught a glimpse of pink paper wrapped around a fairly sized box. It seemed Gil wasn't the only one who'd decided on making chocolates this Valentine's.
...

A/N: Hi! If you've read any of my stuff before you'll know that when it comes to Pandora Hearts I've only ever written ElliOz fics, since they are my OTP, but since I'm out of school right now and I have a lot of fics I want to write for that pairing I suddenly had the urge to change it up a little, and this is the result.

if you follow me on tumblr or have spoken to me somewhere before you'll know I do not support GilxOz, though I acknowledge the romance is valid on gil's part. That's why it's like this here but I clarify , it is a GilAlice. Right now I'm focusing a little too much on Oz because I want to really point out what Gil is feeling or thinking but that's gonna change. As for why I'm adding so much interaction between Alice and Oz, it's just necessary. because of who they are and it would be ooc otherwise. I do warn there will bebrief elliotxoz but this time its for the plot!

anways this is gonna be a two shot so please stick around if you're interested.