AN: Hello! It's 5:11 and I can't really sleep so I've decided to write another chapter. Hopefully this whole thing will become finished really quickly. I actually have an outline. If it goes right, this story will end around the 16 chapter mark.

Onward

It's been exactly two weeks since Gil had helped Lovino with his maths homework. Two weeks and two days since he was told the terrifying news of him only having three more months. But that seemed like a lifetime ago. Seven years, eight months, three days since his parents died.

Lovi shook his head, concentrating on eating the food in front of him. It was mushy and tasteless and it made his proper Italian taste buds weep in misery. He couldn't believe what he was being made to eat. It was horrifying! He needed the nutrients though and he knew it. No matter how much he detested the food, Lovi had to make sure he stayed healthy enough to live the few months that were being gifted to him.

The brunette looked over at the clock. Just after two. He wasn't sure what time Gil would be there—n-not that he was waiting for him or anything—but it made him feel antsy. Lovi decided to finish the last of an assignment for Health he decided to put off till last minute. It was honestly cruel that he had to take the course considering what he was going through, but when he was signing up for senior year curriculum, he didn't think he'd be going through it. Then again, he doubted the school would even care. It was a compulsory course. Like most things, Lovi didn't get a choice.

"'Write a ten page paper on how you can change your lifestyle to become a healthier and happier person. Examples may include changing your eating habits and exercising more.' What? Can I write 'Not get cancer'?" Lovi stared at the paper. He wondered how poor his grade would be if he just didn't write the paper. His more rational thought was Can I get a different assignment? He didn't want to be coddled, no, but this was near painful.

He took out his notebook and started writing anyway, his thoughts being overtaken by clichéd "I can eat breakfast and go for a jog every morning" type answers, words flowing easily. He barely heard the door open and hardly acknowledged his brother setting more books and missed papers on the table next to his bed before setting himself down in the chair next to the window. His favourite spot.

Gil lifted his head from his arms. He listened to Ludwig tell Fritz about how he managed to take someone out on the wrestling team, despite being much smaller in size. He was proud of his baby brother, though he supposed he shouldn't say baby any longer. At sixteen, Ludwig stood taller than him by nearly a foot and outweighed him by at least fifty pounds, though Gil was sure that it was all muscle. Gil was just tiny, something about him having the weird genetic disorder affecting his stature or some shit. He didn't pay much attention.

He probably should have.

Gil looked around the room, trying to find something to fill the silence other than the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. He was antsy for some reason. He didn't know what, but he didn't like the feeling at all. It felt as though someone was watching him, and in his nineteen years, he only felt that twice before: when his parents died, and when he rushed toward the room he was currently in two years prior. He hated the feeling.

"Ludwig, I'm going to get some water…" He mumbled an excuse to get out of the room. He knew it didn't make sense; Gil hardly drank water. He hated the metallic taste. But he wanted out. He had overheard the nurses talking with the doctors when he walked in. Fritz was worsening, and there was no longer anything he could do about it.

"Doctor Jones? Frederick William's chances of recovering from the coma are slimming down to less than ten percent. Should we cut his supplies off?" a pretty blonde nurse asked. Gil couldn't remember her name. Something similar to Natalie? It didn't matter.

"If there is no change within the next week, we will. You know how miracles happen, Natalya." Ah, that was it. The doctor continued, his face solemn. "Besides, the kid that keeps coming back deserves a chance to at least say goodbye if there is truly nothing we can do."

He tried to breathe the second he got out of the room but choked. It was suffocating. He was suffocating. Being in the hospital was too much; he had to get out. Get out for a long while. He couldn't fake that he was strong enough to deal with another person dying, strong enough to take care of the brother who wouldn't be old enough to raise himself for a couple of years. Gil didn't even take care of himself that well; how was he supposed to feed Ludwig and keep a house over them? The old man was pretty well off, but even Gil wasn't blind to know that there were family members that would fight him hard to get the money and home away from him. He wasn't sure if he was willing to put up much of a fight for a house that filled him with memories of someone who may not even be there much longer.

He shook his thoughts clear. He couldn't give up now. Gil had to stay moving, no matter how hard it was. He had to keep his promise to his parents that he would take care of Ludwig. He wondered idly how the blond would react if he knew of that promise. The younger would probably scold him, assisting that he could take care of himself. He would repeatedly remind Gil that he was unable to cook more than sausage and would end up starving if it wasn't for Ludwig being around. It was true though.

A small smile crept at the side of his lips, calming him.

"Fratello?"

"What is it, Feli?" Lovino looked up from his book. He had lost focus on his assignment and decided to read one of the many books that were "donated" to him in sympathy and pity.

"I won't be able to come visit for the next couple of days," Feli said lowly. He looked away, feeling slightly guilty. "I… My grades slipped a bit and Nonno wants me to focus on my courses a little bit more. Even art has slipped…"

"Nonno is right. You should pay more attention to your studies. I'll still be here when your marks are back up, prometto." It stung a bit, but Lovi knew Feli would stay with him if he had the option. He'd ask Giulio if Feli could perhaps study with him a bit, like he was before.

The innocent Italian smiled sadly at him. "I hope so, Lo." He hadn't used the nickname in years, but it felt right this time.

Truth be told, he needed to spend more time with his boyfriend. Because of how long he'd been helping to keep Lovi calm and happy, Feli barely had time to even say hello to Ludwig, even in school. He didn't like the thought, and feared that if he stayed away too long, the other would move on without him. Sure he knew about Fritz, but he also knew that Ludwig didn't really see him as more than an authority figure. Hardly a father.

He pecked Lovi's cheek and went back to reading, his eyes dimming from the onslaught of emotions. He kept wondering if he was doing the right thing, but deep down he knew he was. Lovi wouldn't be there for him all the time now. He had to make sure someone was still there with him, keeping him strong and balanced, even if that meant not being with Lovi while his last days drew ever closer.

Gil stepped into Lovino's room, knocking gently. The Italian's eyes were closed, a book lying open in front of him. He seemed peaceful, serene. It seemed to Gil that nothing would be able to hurt him. Nothing on the outside, anyway.

He moved to the bed, listening to the steady breathing. He knew it was creepy, but Gil couldn't look away. He couldn't avert his eyes. It was calming, knowing that a person in front of him actually had the chance to wake up.

Lovi stirred slightly, a small noise of discomfort escaping his lips. Drowsy hazel orbs opened slowly, dark lashes fluttering against cheeks that wouldn't be nearly that pallor on someone healthy. He looked around the room before taking in the sight of Gil. "Morning…"

"It's nearly seven, you shit-stick," Gil replied quietly. He grinned at the scowl that was placed on the other's face. "How are you feeling?"

"My body is heavy…"

"That's expected." The albino sighed, knowing that he'd have to return to see Fritz soon. Don't get him wrong; he wanted to. He just didn't want to see his father so unresponsive. He hated being so useless, so unnecessarily in the way.

What could he do to save both men?

"Are you okay?" Lovino's voice echoed in his ears. Gil frowned. Was he?

"Ja, don't worry so much."

The answer didn't appease Lovino's fears at all. Something was wrong. The other wasn't smiling nearly as much as normal. He almost missed it. Almost.

"How is your father?" he whispered, keeping his voice low to not startle Gil with the question. He had learnt about Gil's past during breaks in their tutoring sessions. It seemed that he and the man were close, closer than any adoptive families he had ever heard of being.

"He's the same," was the gruff reply. The emotion in Gil's voice was tight. Lovi felt guilty instantly. The other probably wanted to visit him to keep his thoughts off the other and the brunette managed to screw it up.

It's like that's all he knew how to do anymore.

He wanted to die faster, wanted to stop burdening those who remained in his life.

As a last resort to change the subject, Lovi asked about Gil's graduation and they started talking about the ruby-eyed boy's dreams. It turned out that Gil wanted to go to university, but he was unable to attend at the moment due to not being able to leave Ludwig. Lovi learned that Gil wanted to become an archaeologist, wanted to dig up remainders of the old State of Prussia and its past. He wanted to find the truth behind the militarist country. Lovi was in awe. If there was one thing Gil was passionate about, it was Prussia, a country that most people, at least the newer generation, probably didn't even know existed, and the ones that did, would die away soon.

Gil kept rambling about the dissolved nation, but Lovi didn't really pay attention. He focused more on the excitement rather than what was being said. It made him happy, knowing that his… friend? Was Gil a friend?... had something to keep him going in life.

"Hey, I need to get back."

Wait, already? It was only… Nine. When did visiting hours end? Lovi couldn't remember.

"Okay. I have a maths assignment again due in a couple of days so…"

"Lo, you don't need to use homework as an excuse to visit." How did Gil know the nickname? Damn you, Feliciano! Annoying fuck probably mentioned it around Ludwig. Ugh. He could feel his face burning slightly. No one but family ever called him that. It had sentimental. Lovino brought himself back when he heard Gil clear his throat to continue. "I'll always come to annoy you. That's a promise. It seems you need more of them in your life."

Lovino was going to kill his loudmouth brother.

"Goodnight, Lovino!"

With that the boy left, presumably to find his brother and take him home. The smile that ghosted Lovino's lips were, unknown to him, mirrored on Gil's own.

Maybe they had reached happiness with each other that they both previously thought was impossible in their situations.

AN: Chapter 4 is now complete. I keep going back and changing some stuff in the outline so it's already not following my guidelines, but it should still be around 16 chapters, no more than 20.

I can honestly say "thank you Zoe!" for helping me with some facts about the disease. I did it report in middle-school health class on leukemia but it seems that I've forgotten the majority of the facts. Hopefully I don't insult anyone accidentally;;;

Translations:

Nonno – Grandpa

Per favore – Please

Fratello - Brother

Prometto - Promise