Bonus chapter because I might not be able to update on Tuesday. It depends on school, really.


Oh! I hear Lovi downstairs! He's home now! I wonder where he went?

Addio!

Feliciano.

Feliciano closed his journal excitedly when he heard the front door close downstairs. Lovino was home again! He stood up, racing down the stairs to meet his brother. "Lovi, Lovi!"

The fifteen year old Italian smiled when he saw Feliciano come downstairs. "Hey there, Feli." He set down a dark green case, holding his arms out to hug his younger brother. Feliciano ran into his arms, laughing as Lovino spun him around.

"You're home again!"

"I was only gone for twenty minutes, at least."

"It's boring without you." Lovino rolled his eyes and chuckled, letting Feliciano go.

"I doubt that."

"It is! I hate it when you're not home."

"I can tell. So, Birthday boy, have you snuck around for your gifts?" Feliciano grinned and shook his head.

"Not this year! I promise not to snoop until you let me." Lovino narrowed his eyes playfully, not sure if he should take his brother's word. But it was hard to doubt the smiling ball of energy in front of him, especially with his face lit up so innocently.

"I'll take your word, but I'll know if the gifts have been moved." Feliciano nodded, glancing at the long case on the floor.

"What's that?" he asked, pointing at it.

"That," Lovino said, picking it up. "Is tonight's final surprise."

"Can I see?"

"Nope. Not until later tonight!" Lovino grinned and walked over to the living room with the case. Feliciano whined, following his brother.

"Please?" he begged, hopping on the balls of his feet. "Please, fratello?" Lovino shook his head as he opened the drawer to the china cabinet, laying the case inside.

"You can see it later." Lovino slid the drawer shut. "And don't try to sneak a peek inside. I have the key." The younger Italian sighed, defeated, and flopped onto the couch. Lovino headed for the kitchen, when he heard Feliciano call after him.

"Hey, Lovi?"

"Yeah?"

"Ti amo." Lovino turned around to see Feliciano sitting up with a big smile on his face. And Lovino couldn't help but smile back. He loved everything about his younger brother. From his art skills to his smile, Feliciano was an amazing person. Lovino knew that he sometimes spoke harshly to Feliciano, and that there were some days that he just wanted nothing to do with him, but he would never hate him. It was just ridiculous to hate someone as sweet as Feliciano.

"Ti amo, Feliciano." Lovino walked into the kitchen, the smile still on his face.

Evening's dinner was gnocchi that Lovino had cooked - though it took longer than usual since Feliciano kept trying to help - and a glass of red wine. Each year Feliciano insisted on a simple dinner, and each year Lovino complied. The cake each year was the same. A simple chocolate cake with a cherry on top. Feliciano wanted to keep his birthdays simple for Lovino, since it was he who set everything up, with Grandpa Arsenius helping occasionally.

After dinner and each had a slice of cake, Lovino let Feliciano hunt for his gifts, following him around the house in amusement.

"Cold," Lovino said as Feliciano stepped inside the bathroom. Feliciano turned around and ran down the hall. "Warm!" Feliciano stopped, backing up with a giggle. Lovino grinned as Feliciano neared the door to their break room. "Warmer, warmer..." Feliciano opened the door and went in, Lovino following.

The room was painted a light blue, with a desk in the corner and a couch pushed up against the left side of the wall. Feliciano walked over to the window, pushing the white curtains away with a gasp. "Lovi..."

"I know how much of an artist you are," Lovino began, leaning against the wall. "And I kept telling myself that a sketchbook can't last forever." Feliciano ran his fingers down the wood of the easel in front of him, his eyes drifting towards the packet of canvases leaning against the window along with a pack of brushes and paint. There was a wooden palette hanging from the top of the easel, Feliciano's initials engraved at the bottom.

"Thank you..." Feliciano turned around, grinning from ear to ear. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He ran over to Lovino and hugged him tightly. Lovino laughed, hugging him back.

"Don't thank me yet, you still have seven more gifts to find!" Feliciano drew back and ran off again.

In the end Feliciano found all of his gifts in under thirty minutes. He somehow always managed to find his gifts in record time. Lovino had a feeling that Feli found a few of the gifts before he had came home, but he didn't complain. It was worth seeing the look of excitement in Feliciano's eyes as he found a new cookbook, two albums from his favorite singer, and a copy of Wuthering Heights, A Tale of Two Cities, and Macbeth.

"How did you find Macbeth?" Feliciano asked, astonished. He enjoyed reading, and especially enjoyed Shakespeare's works. He always wanted to read Macbeth, but could never find a copy in libraries.

"A pawn shop had it," Lovino answered, sitting on the couch in the living room. "I pawned off a few items of mine." Feliciano stared wide eyed at his brother.

"Fratello!"

"What?"

"Why would you do that?"

"I knew how much you wanted to read it, so I gave them the rings I owned."

"Antonio's rings?" Lovino fell silent. "Lovi..."

"It's in the past. He's in the past. Look, I haven't even given you your last book." Lovino stood up and went to the china cabinet, standing on his toes to reach the top, and grabbed a book. He turned around to Feliciano and showed him the book. Feliciano's eyes widened in surprise.

"Alice in Wonderland."

"It's amazing what you can find up in the attic." Lovino smiled, handing the book to Feliciano. "I was digging around the other day and found it at the bottom of a box." Feliciano took it, cracking it open with a small smile. "It's still in good condition. You always knew how to treat books."

"Thank you, Lovi." Feliciano stood up from the couch and hugged Lovino. "You do so much for me. I wish there was something I could do in return!"

"Just stay happy. It's all I'm asking from you." Lovino hugged his brother tightly. "Hey, are you ready for your final gift?" Feliciano nodded. "Good. There's an outfit on your bed. Change into that, and then we'll head out." Feliciano pulled away, kissing Lovino on the cheek before running upstairs. Lovino smiled and followed, going to his own room to get ready.

A few minutes later he came out of his room, dressed in a camouflage pattern shirt and jeans. Feliciano stepped out into the hall, slightly confused but also excited, wearing the same outfit as Lovino. Lovino grinned and handed Feliciano a bright orange hat.

"Today's the day I take you out to hunt."

"Huh? Really?" Lovino nodded. Feliciano grinned, trying not to jump with joy. He let out a squeak of joy, hugging his brother yet again. "I'm so excited now! Wait." He drew back to look at Lovino. "Is that what was in the case?"

"Guns, yes. I'll teach you how to hold a small gun and how to shoot. Maybe next week we can bump up to hunting small animals." Feliciano again squeaked, this time jumping up and down. The two headed downstairs, Lovino going to the china cabinet to get the gun case. They left the house and headed to the car. Lovino unlocked the car, setting the case down in the backseat before hopping into the driver's seat. Feliciano slid into the passenger's side, his knee hopping with energy. "Excited?" Lovino asked.

"Yeah, and also a bit nervous," Feliciano admitted. "What if something bad happens?"

"Nothing bad will happen. Just remember to keep your hat on, in case there are other hunters. They might mistake you for a deer." Feliciano whimpered, shuddering at the thought of accidentally being shot.

"Have you ever been shot by accident?" he asked as they pulled out of the driveway.

"Well, I've been shot at by accident," Lovino said. "But that was because the damn bastardo was drunk." Feliciano laughed a bit, looking out the window as they drove. He was nervous, but knew that Lovino would keep him safe while they hunted.

"Hey, Lovi, have you ever caught anything?"

"Rabbits, turkeys, and deer, though I don't keep the meat. I did shoot a dog once when I mistook him for a wolf." Feliciano gasped, making Lovino glance over. "Something wrong?"

"A dog? Lovi, how could you?"

"It was an accident!"

"Did you try to save him?"

"Well, uh, it was sort of a fatal shot."

"Lovi!"

"Well, geez, I'm sorry!" Feliciano pouted, glaring out the window. Lovino rolled his eyes and drove, his eyes on the road.

It had been a minute or two of silence, when Lovino heard Feliciano ask in a quiet voice "Did you at least bury it?"

"Yeah," Lovino replied. "I buried him underneath an oak tree. I can show you the burial area if you want."

"Yes, please." Lovino smiled and reached over, taking Feliciano's hand.

"I have a feeling you're going to be a great shot." Feliciano grinned.

"Well, I am going to learn from you!" The two laughed, their hands resting together on the armrest between them.

It wasn't for another hour until they reached the hunting woods. Feliciano hopped out and stretched, looking up at the starry sky. "Will we be able to hunt so late?" he asked, turning to Lovino. The other Italian got the gun case from the car and nodded as he locked the doors.

"Yeah, I brought flashlights. Like I said earlier, keep your hat on so no one accidentally shoots you." Feliciano nodded and followed Lovino to a cabin. Once inside, Lovino started to show him the basics: how to hold a small gun, how to load it, and how to take it apart and put it back together. Feliciano was a fast learner, taking apart a small gun and quickly putting it back together.

Lovino then decided it was a good time for practice shots. The two headed outside and walked on a path into the woods. Lovino led his younger brother to a clearing, pointing at a tree that had a target nailed on. "That's your target. We're going to practice on that."

Lovino showed Feliciano how to shoot, standing behind him as Feliciano pulled the trigger. He knew that the kickback would be strong, and was there as Feliciano stumbled back. "Whoa!"

"I gotcha, don't worry!" Lovino caught Feliciano and chuckled. "Forgot to tell you about the kickback. But with a couple more shots, you'll get used to it."

After a while, Lovino walked off, telling Feliciano to stay in the clearing until he returned. As Lovino walked around, keeping an eye out for any game, he listened for the gunshots from Feliciano. Everything was fine, until the shots stopped. Lovino frowned and listened. There wasn't another gunshot. "Feli?" He headed back to the clearing. "Feli!" He started to run, when he saw something move to his left.

Lovino stopped and crouched, raising his rifle. The target moved again before staying still. Lovino took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. With a soft zip, the bullet hit the target...and Lovino heard a loud shriek. He recognized it as Feliciano's.

Dropping the rifle, Lovino ran to where he had heard the shriek. He found Feliciano on the ground where he had shot, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "Feliciano!" Lovino knelt down, trying not to panic. He had shot his brother. He had shot his own brother.

"I saw a rabbit," Feliciano mumbled with a wince, looking up at his older brother with teary eyes. "And I had went to follow it, but my hat dropped and I couldn't find it. Then something hit my arm and it hurts. It really hurts..."

"I know, I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you." Lovino bit his lip, looking away when Feliciano's face fell.

"You?" he whispered. "You shot me?"

"It was by accident! I swear I didn't mean it!"

"I...I just want to go home, please." Feliciano's voice cracked, and he gripped his shoulder tighter with a wince. Lovino picked him up, walking back to where he had dropped his rifle and picking that up.

"I'm so, so, sorry, Feli."

"It's okay...Let's just go home."

"After I fix you up." Lovino carried Feliciano back to the cabin. Lovino went in and set Feliciano gently on the counter in the kitchen. He walked away, coming back with a first aid kit. Feliciano took off the shirt, showing the bullet hole that definitely needed suturing.

"Fratello?"

"Yeah, Feli?" Lovino looked up at Feliciano as he pressed a rag against the wound to stop the bleeding.

"I don't like those guns," Feliciano muttered.

"I'll lock them away when we go home. They won't be seen again."

"Promise?" Lovino smiled, kissing Feliciano on the nose.

"Promise. Now, let's get you cleaned up."