A week later, little Feliciano was standing on the front porch with a suitcase almost as large as he was. Lovino was clinging to him with tears in his eyes, never wanting to let go of his precious brother. A young-looking woman in her twenties was standing on the porch steps, her green dress billowing in the faint breeze. During normal circumstances, the two twins would be complimenting her on her beautiful, long hair or her stunning green eyes, but right now Lovino thought she looked like the ugliest witch for taking away his brother.

Gilbert was standing behind the two of them. The boy had caused a lot of trouble around the house since the Italian family got there, but secretly Lovi was grateful to have Gilbert around. He was like a punching bag that he could yell at to take out his frustrations on. For some reason, though, Gilbert never took the words that flooded from the emotional boy's mouth seriously. He would just yell something about being awesome and run away laughing.

Soon, the twins were pried away from each other, both of them gazing at each other with puffy and teary eyes. "Arrivederci…" Feliciano whispered as the lady, Elizaveta, picked up his suitcase and led him down the driveway to the waiting car. Lovino reached out for Feli, but he was already climbing into the car. Romulus, Lovino, and Gilbert watched as Feliciano looked out the window, pressing his hand to the glass.

Lovi stayed sitting on the swing even after the other two had gone in. Feliciano must have been out of town by then, the elder twin supposed. He wondered when he'd get to see his little brother again. Hopefully it wouldn't be long. Lovino didn't know if he could survive without his twin next to him at all times.

He thought back to Feliciano's hand pressed against the window. Even now, he felt his fingers twitch with longing. Lovino wanted to feel his brother's hand in his own like usual. Hazel eyes brimming with tears, Lovi looked at the ground as he pushed the swing back and forth gently. "I miss you already, fratello." He sighed quietly.

Gilbert sat next to Lovino on the porch swing. He was so unusually quiet that Lovino hadn't heard him coming. He hadn't even heard the door's usual creak as it opened and closed. "Are you alright?" Gilbert asked softly. "I used to have a little brother. He disappeared one day. Vati and I supposed he got kidnapped when no one could find him and he never came back. I miss him. I can't say I know how you feel, though. You've been with Feliciano since you were born."

Lovi looked at the German boy with wide eyes. "You had a brother, too?" He couldn't quite comprehend that the annoying, egotistical seven-year-old in front of him was actually just a sad, worried big brother. "I'm sorry about what happened to him. I bet you were a good brother. Even though you're nothing but a damn bastard with potato breath now." He couldn't resist teasing the other.

Gilbert just smiled. "I was an awesome brother. The best there was. I always used to carry him around the house and Vati and I would make stew for him when he got sick! It was a lot of fun to play hide-and-seek with him because he would always make a bunch of noise and lose. I just miss him a lot."

Before Lovi knew what was going on, his fingers that were still twitching were enveloped in a slightly larger, pale hand. "But you can be my new little brother!" Gilbert was now looking at Lovino with a smile. Even being that young, Lovino saw that the large grin the older boy was giving him hid desperation. He didn't quite have the heart to say no.

That's why, when it got dark, Lovi let Gilbert carry him inside. He wanted to yell at the German and scream that he could walk by himself, but he bit his lip to keep back the stinging insults. That's why, when Romulus demanded that the two go to bed, Lovi let Gilbert tuck him in and kiss his forehead the way Lovino always kissed Feliciano's. That's why, when Lovino had a nightmare from being separated from his twin for the first time in his life, he allowed Gilbert to climb into his bed, slip under his covers, and pull him close. Lovino fell asleep curled up, his face buried in Gilbert's chest, listening to the older boy's heartbeat.

"You can't take him away from me!" Gilbert screeched when Romulus explained why he had started packing Lovino's items again. Romulus ignored the troublesome albino, continuing to fold Lovino's clothes neatly and store them in the same box they'd arrived in with an exasperated sigh. "You can't!"

Lovi was sitting up in bed, watching with slight fear as Gilbert's face and neck grew red with rage. He balled up his fists, his skin turning even whiter with how tight he gripped his hands. Lovino noticed the tears building up in the corners of Gil's eyes, but he couldn't tell if they were tears of pure anger or sadness that his new little brother was being taken away from him as well.

When Romulus didn't respond, Gilbert stormed out of the room still in his pajamas. Lovi winced when he heard screaming ensue. "Vati, you can't let that man take away my little brother! My first little brother was taken away; you can't let him take away my new one! It's only been a week, Vati, why can't Lovi stay longer?!"

A more quiet voice spoke. "They will not be moving very far away, Gilbert, I can assure you. I am very sorry you've taken such a liking to Lovino and he has to go away, but you'll still be able to meet up and play. He will be enrolling in your school next year as well, so you two will not be apart very much. School is about to start anyway."

"But Vati! He's a year younger; I won't be able to see him except at lunch and break! That's less than an hour every day! Here I can see him all day every day! And what if he gets picked on? Who's going to stop those idiots from hurting my bruder?!" Gilbert's voice only got louder and filled with more anger as he went on.

"I guess you will just have to make do, then, Gilbert. That's all the advice I can give. You know we can't support them for long anyway, especially in winter." By then, Lovino had his face buried in his pillow. He didn't want to leave Gilbert and he definitely didn't want to go to school. Not because of the bullies, he could take care of himself, but because he never was very good at making friends. He always ended up insulting them and they would run away crying.

With that, Gilbert came back into the room with his eyes starting to get puffy as he wiped away his tears. "I tried, bruder. I tried to make Vati let you stay, but he's stupid and won't let you. I'll see you at school, though! I'll even walk you there and back every day to make sure you don't get taken away from me! Don't worry, big brother Gilbert will make sure everything is okay!"

Despite the current situation, Lovino couldn't help but to smile.