Hiya everyone! I'm sooo sorry for the long wait! XD I'm just not so sure about this fic... one minute I like it, and the next I don't. Gah! I just don't think I'm writing this correctly at all! Anyway, this chapter is better than the other two (I hope) so I hope it's okay. Don't worry- I won't ever stop writing this fic, I just gotta get over my critical self and write! lol Thank you for the review/favorites and such. It all keeps me going! Anyway, here's chapter 3 (or in Japan, that would be san! X3). Hope ya'll like it~


Would you tremble if I touched your lips?

Would you laugh, oh please tell me this…

9:00 PM- 19 August, 79 A.D.

"Conclamatio est…" Ludwig watched in silence as the soft words left Lovino's mouth. The oldest of the Vargas brothers reached forward and gently closed the eyes of their deceased father. Ludwig felt Feliciano's hand shaking as it took hold of his own. Although the boy's head was down, he could tell that Feliciano was crying softly. He squeezed his hand, hoping that it would give him even a little comfort in this horrible situation.

"Goodbye father…" Lovino said, sniffling and turning away from his father as the men of the town began the ceremonial duties, preparing him for burial.

"Ludwig," his name was said softly from Feliciano's mouth and he turned towards him. "Father always said… that he would be with us, even in the afterlife." For the first time since the ceremony began, the boy looked up at him, tears flowing down his face. Ludwig reached out to wipe Feliciano's tears away.

"Master…" Ludwig took on a surprisingly gentle tone as he caressed his cheeks. "You may not see or hear him, but he's here, always…"

"Ludwig," Feliciano engulfed him in a tight hug, clinging to him as the body was finally prepared. The whole way to the burial site, Feliciano held on to his hand, refusing to let him go. Even as Mr. Vargas's body was lowered into the ground, Feliciano was insistent at his side. Ludwig only wished that he could reverse time- that he could have saved the man before the cabinet had fallen on him. Now all he could do was protect the gift left behind from the man- his master, his Feliciano.

20 August, 79 A.D.

"I'm sorry to hear about Mr. Vargas." The chubby man in the marketplace said as he received the coins from Ludwig. "He was a good man."

"Yes," Ludwig simply replied, eyes not meeting the man's. "He will be missed."

"The ground shook so hard though…" Antonio piped up beside him, scratching his chin in confusion. "It's shook before, but not quite like that. You don't think-" He took a pause, as if he didn't want to even consider this a possibility. "That the gods are angry, do you?"

"Hmm…" The man pondered this with a solemn expression. "I'm not sure. It was probably just stronger than the others though. Don't worry about it too much." For some reason, Ludwig couldn't shake the feeling that something was going wrong. The other people in the city felt the same way, many of them leaving the town as soon as the tremors stopped. As they walked back to the Vargas home, Ludwig asked the question.

"Should we leave?" Even as he spoke, handfuls of people passed by them heading towards the exit of the town, little possessions in hand.

"Like them?" Antonio pointed their way before letting out a small laugh. "That man was right; it was probably just a one-time deal. We can't just leave because of something like that. I know that Lovino would be furious if you asked him." Ludwig couldn't deny that this was probably true, but if Feliciano wanted to leave, then he would. He figured that he should ask his master once they arrived. "I'm going to miss Mr. Vargas…" Antonio then said, mood darkening as he gazed down at his pot of tomatoes. "Really…"

Ludwig chose not to respond, although feeling the same way. If it wasn't for Mr. Vargas, then who knows where he would have been that day. Probably dead, never knowing Feliciano or even Antonio. It was too much to bear, and he pushed these thoughts aside. He had to remain strong. If he broke down then it would only make Feliciano feel worse.

"We're back!" Antonio called into the house as they walked into the door, putting on a happy face again. Feliciano walked up wearing a small smile, a piece of bread in his hands.

"Hello Antonio, Ludwig," he greeted, voice lacking most of its mirth. Ludwig noticed that Antonio's emerald gaze darted around the room, searching for his master.

"Where's Lovino this time?" He finally asked.

"He hasn't left his room at all today," Feliciano said with a sigh. "I didn't want to bother him so…" Antonio nodded in understanding as he strode towards the boy's room.

"Master," Ludwig took a seat, motioning for Feliciano to do the same as he brought up the idea. "I noticed that many people are leaving the town. I was wondering if you wanted to leave too." Short and to the point, just as he always was when proposing thoughts or notions.

"I was considering that," Feliciano admitted, nibbling on the piece of bread. "It's just hard to leave Father here… I want to leave, but…"

"I see… We'll stay here then." He replied curtly, going along with the boy's decision. He then changed the topic to a brighter one, hoping to remove the tension between them and bring the smile back to Feliciano's face. They talked about times of the past and all of the crazy things they had done throughout the years. "Ja, and then you always had to sneak off." He said, remembering all the times that his master ran away when he was in trouble.

Feliciano laughed softly in response, the smile finally appearing on his face. "You always talk so funny, Ludwig!" The blonde looked confused, not noticing anything strange in the way you spoke. "You always say 'Ja'!" The hazel eyed boy imitated his tone, narrowing his eyes in the way Ludwig always seemed to do.

Ludwig froze momentarily in response before chuckling at the funny sight of Feliciano trying to glare. To him, it looked more like a pout and narrowed gaze. "Well, if I remember correctly, when you were young, you talked strangely as well. Always saying 'Ve'."

"Ve~" Feliciano said, mood now lifted considerably, jumping up and down in his seat. "And you always got annoyed when I did that!" Even now, Ludwig felt a rising tension in his forehead, his left eye twitching in irritation. "See?"

"Ja…" Feliciano giggled at that, now looking much more like his normally sunny self.

"Thank you, Ludwig!" He suddenly said, jumping up and giving the man a huge hug.

Ludwig sputtered mutely in response, never one to get accustomed to Feliciano's random displays of affection. "For being here for me…" Feliciano said, voice muffled slightly as he nestled his face in the shoulder of Ludwig's tunic. "You always make me feel better." The warm sensation racked through Ludwig's brain as he returned the hug and Feliciano continued to praise him. Ludwig knew that he could deny his feelings no longer. Try as he must, he couldn't push away this feeling- this wonderful, strange, new surge of heat that came only when he was around Feliciano. He was shocked yet again as Feliciano pulled back, face slightly pink as he hesitated, hazel meeting cerulean, before leaning towards him and kissing him chastely on the cheek. Ludwig gawked in shock and his heart pounded within his chest. Feliciano hid his face on Ludwig's chest, for once being silent. He knew without a doubt now that he was in love with Feliciano Vargas, his master. His hands pulled at the cloth covering Feliciano's back, bringing him closer. He would never reveal his feelings, he couldn't, but the thought of Feliciano loving another frightened him as much as when the ground shook two days before.

()

"Master!" Antonio said as he knocked on Lovino's door. "Feliciano said-"

"Go away!" Was his only answer. The strange thing was that Lovino's voice sounded a bit different than usual. Antonio faltered, hand pressed against the door.

"Are you okay?" He asked as shuffling was heard from within the room.

"Are you deaf? I said stay out! GO!" Antonio sighed, deciding against his better judgment to leave him alone. It was just as he turned away that he heard the sound- a small cough.

"Lovi?" Antonio asked nervously, knowing what the sound meant. Before he could even open the door, he heard more coughs, terrible choking sounds coming from the room. Antonio tore open the door to see Lovino slumped on his bed, body shaking with each of his raspy breaths as he tried to still the coughing. Antonio rushed towards him, rubbing his back, speaking gentle words, doing anything he could think of to calm him down. After an agonizing minute, Lovino finally quieted down, refusing to face him even as his breaths came out labored and shallow.

"Get out," he said in a weak voice muffled with congestion, form shaking slightly.

"How long have you been sick?" He asked, refusing to let this go.

"A few days…" He said, falling in a heap upon the bed, back facing Antonio. It was then that it hit him- the water. It was cold and he had fallen into the water a few days ago. It must have gotten him sick. He laid a hand against Lovino's forehead, even as the brunette struggled weakly to push it away. Antonio noticed that his skin was hot and upon closer inspection, he saw that his face was flushed.

"You have a fever…" Antonio jumped up, wrapping the blankets in a cocoon around Lovino. "I'm going to get the doctor." It was the only thing he could do at the moment. Besides, he knew the town doctor, a man named Servius, personally and he was a skilled doctor that he could trust.

"Don't." Lovino protested, snatching his wrist before he could leave. "I'm fine. I don't need a doctor."

"You do!" Antonio insisted, removing the hand from his wrist and squeezing it gently, only for Lovino to pull it back with a look of disgust on his face. "You're running a fever! I'll get Servius, remember him? He took care of Feliciano when he got sick in-"

"No, bastard!" Lovino twisted in the sheets, glaring up at him. "If you go, then Feliciano will find out!" This quieted Antonio as he gazed questionably at him. "H-he'll worry…" Lovino muttered, averting his gaze and pulling the covers up defensively around himself.

"I won't let him find out," Antonio vowed before leaving the room, determined to find Servius.

"Where are you going, Antonio?" The slave turned at the sound of his name and saw Ludwig in the hallway. He noted that Feliciano wasn't with him and questioned this. "He's taking a nap." Ludwig said, crossing his arms.

"Oh, good." Antonio walked past him, wanting to make Lovino feel better as quickly as possible. "Make sure that Feliciano stays out of Lovino's room, okay?" He asked as he opened the door, only for Ludwig to follow.

"Stay away? And why's that?" There certainly was not going around the point when he was with Ludwig. The blonde always had to have the answers to everything, even when the answers were hard to give.

"Lovino's sick… he doesn't want Feliciano to worry, so don't tell him." Ludwig nodded in understanding, lingering behind.

"Ja, I'll make sure that he doesn't know."

And with that answer, Antonio left, passing through the crowd of people in the direction of Servius's house. He knocked three times on the door. "Hello?" He asked when he received only silence in return. He opened the door and walked inside to find the house empty. "Servius?" He went into room after room, but no one was in the house. "Serv-"

"He isn't here right now," a man said from out of nowhere. Antonio jumped at the sudden voice and turned to see one of the doctor's slaves.

"Where is he? I need his help! My master is-"

"He left. Said he wanted to stay safe after the ground shook so violently." What was up with this guy and interrupting him all the time? Antonio sighed in frustration.

"But he's the only doctor that I trust in the town! Please-"

"I can't do anything. I don't even know where he is, sir. All I have is my orders- to stay and watch over the house while he's gone."

"But-"

"That's all I can tell you." Antonio stormed out of the house, now worrying. How was he going to get medicine for Lovino? Sure, he could always find another doctor, but many of them didn't have very good reputations as of late. He paced up and down the street, not knowing what to do when he saw a herbal man on the corner, a bag of spices in his hand. "Sir!" He asked, running up to the man. "My master is ill, is there anything you can give me to make his cough and fever better?"

The small man smiled up at him, presenting him with a plant. "Try this."

He looked down at the plant in confusion. "What is this, sir?"

"It's called, Borage. It should help reduce his fever." The kind man said him, refusing to make Antonio pay for the herb.

"Thank you so much!" He said, smile appearing on his face now that he had hope. He strode home in a hurry, kicking the door open and walking past Ludwig.

"Where is Servius?" He asked, looking for the doctor who wasn't there.

"Gone," He replied. "He left when the ground shook."

"Oh…"

Antonio then entered Lovino's room, finding his master in the same position he was in when he had left. "Lovi," he said in a gentle voice, coaxing him awake.

"What?" He asked, voice weak and small as he sat up.

"You need to take this," Antonio crushed the plant into small pieces, placing them into a cup of water and passing it to the sick boy. Lovino saw the liquid and took it, sipping it greedily until it was all gone. "There…" He set the cup on the cabinet next to Lovino's bed, setting him in a comfortable position on his bed. "You'll feel better now," he stroked his hair, finding it surprisingly soft and Lovino merely hummed softly in response. He sat by his side for a few minutes, before finally speaking up. "Lovi?"

"What do you want?" He asked, voice lacking its usual power as he shifted towards Antonio's warm hand, shaking as if he was cold, even if his body was so hot. Antonio smiled and wrapped him into a hug, and for the second time, Lovino didn't pull away.

"Get better, okay?" He said, rubbing small circles on his master's back.

"Why do you care so much?" Lovino asked after moments of silence, head placed in the crook of Antonio's neck.

"Because I love you," He admitted, the words leaving his mouth for the first time. He felt Romano's heartbeat rush below him. Seconds trickled by and for a while, Antonio was certain that he wouldn't get an answer. Lovino's body trembled slightly and Antonio gaped, certain that he was crying. "Lovi-" He was cut short when Lovino let out a laugh, body shaking as he did so. "What?"

"You don't mean that, idiot." He said, pulling away from Antonio's embrace and facing away from him on the bed again. "Stupid…" He yawned, pulling up the covers.

"I do. I love you, Lovino. I love you," the words came out like a mantra as he gained courage and leaned forward, pressing a small kiss to Lovino's forehead. "I love you."

"Shut up!" Lovino yelled as loudly as he could, hiding his blushing face from view. One day, Antonio would make Lovino believe him.

()

"Ludwig," Feliciano finally came out of his room, rubbing his eyes after such a long nap.

"Hello, master." Ludwig said, feeling slightly nervous around the boy after he realized how he truly felt.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," Feliciano said, looking downwards. "You're more than a slave to me, Ludwig…" Ludwig could feel his breathing stop. "You're my friend."

For some reason, Ludwig felt a sinking feeling at the word, friend. "Right… Feliciano," he said, watching as his master brightened considerably at this.

"Ludwig? I want to show you something!" He said out of nowhere, grabbing Ludwig's hand and slipping on his sandals before tugging him outside. "Come on!"

"Where are we going?" Ludwig asked as he was practically dragged down the street. Feliciano only continued smiling, the curl on the side of his head bobbing up and down with each step that he took. They walked onwards for a while, actually leaving the city and heading towards a place Ludwig had never been to before. He gazed around and took in the pretty surroundings. Now that they were out of the city, everything seemed so peaceful and quiet. The only sounds were the soft padding of their shoes hitting the grass and the rustling of trees in the afternoon breeze. They walked past many trees before climbing up a hill.

"We're here!" Feliciano said, plopping down on the soft grass. Ludwig stood, frozen in awe at the scene before him. The setting sun set its orange light upon the side of Mount Vesuivius that stood powerful in the distance. The sky seemed vast and beautiful in this light, with no buildings to obscure the view. And then there was Feliciano, gazing up at Ludwig with his innocent smile, auburn hair swaying slightly and chocolate eyes sparkling as if lit up by the sun itself. Yes. It was beautiful. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

"I like it," was all he could say, sitting down next to Feliciano and picking at the grass beside him.

"I'm glad…" Feliciano said, gazing at the mountain in the distance. "Father used to bring me here when I was little. All the time…" A sad look came upon his face and his eyes looked distant, as if he was reliving those times that he spent up where with Mr. Vargas. He could picture it- little Feliciano with his adorable laugh and constant "Ve~"s up here with the man, always so happy. Now, times have changed, but that childish purity still seemed to remain with Feliciano, even now. "You know… I think father's happy. Maybe he's in a place like this," his outstretched hand sketched the scenery before him. "And he's with mother now. And they're singing and holding hands. On a hill… in the sunset…" The picture was just so beautiful that Ludwig found himself in awe, looking up at Feliciano. "Nothing to hold them back. And mother's better again. She's holding him close, so happy…" A lone tear slipped down Feliciano's face, and he wiped it away quickly. "So happy…"

"Of course they're happy," Ludwig said, placing a hand on Feliciano's shoulder. He didn't know what else to say, but then Feliciano gazed up at him, the smile appearing again.

"And they want us to be happy too." There was that kind Feliciano he knew, the kind Feliciano that was now leaning with his head on Ludwig's shoulder. "And Ludwig?" The words came out almost as a question, as if he was nervous to say it.

"Ja?"

"Being with you makes me happy…" Those words rang in Ludwig's heart, pulling at him as he looked down at his most precious Feliciano. He froze when he noticed how close they were, as Feliciano leaned up towards him just as he gazed downward. Their noses were mere inches apart and for seconds, time seemed to stand still.

"Ludwig…" He said, voice gentle as he leaned up further still.

"Feli-" He was halted when the boy closed the gap between them, soft lips meeting his. Ludwig wasn't sure what was happening, it was like he was falling, he was falling and the only thing holding him up, glued to the moment was cute, adorable, innocent Feliciano with his soft skin and his warm lips- lips that were now glued to his. He pulled him close, deepening the kiss and never wanting to pull away.

"Ludwig," his name came softly from Feliciano when he finally moved away for air. Sapphire eyes that had always seemed so cold now overflowed with emotion, and Feliciano felt himself blushing at this, eyes never leaving his.

"I love you," Ludwig finally said the words, kissing Feliciano's forehead. "I love you so much…"

Feliciano looked the happiest that Ludwig had ever seen him and he uttered a small "Ve." "I love you too, Ludwig." And from that moment on, Ludwig decided that he would forever remember this night, this special night spent with only him and Feliciano on that hill, the daunting figure of Mount Vesuvius in the background.


Alrightie! Well, that's the end! Umm... This chapter took me such a long time to write because of all the stuff I had to look up. -.- Gosh... had to figure out how they dealt with their dead, if they had any cures to colds, what medicines they had, what the doctors were like and so on and so forth. So, that stuff should be kinda (KINDA) accurate! lol Please, please, PLEASE review and let me know what you guys think! Like I said, I'm not sure if I'm doing an okay job on this fic or not, so any input would be greatly appreciated!

Totally Random Fact about Pompeii yo-People didn't wear togas all the time, contrary to popular belief. They were only worn on formal occasions as they were a pain in the neck to wear.

See ya'll on chapter 4! Laters!