First off, I'm really sorry this took so long to update! I feel like this chapter is way too short to make up for my long hiatus, and we won't even talk about that thing I uploaded on Gilbert's birthday. It sucked. Big time. I am never posting one-shots I write in twenty minutes again... I just felt I needed to upload SOMETHING for his birthday because it was noon my time and NO ONE else had. Thus, I took it upon myself to get something up there...

Anywho, I really hate this chapter. Yeah, I don't like how it came out at all, but I couldn't think of anything else to fix it, either... So I can only hope you all enjoy it instead. I re-wrote the ending soooo many times. It's probably the only part of the chapter I really liked when I was done... But the good news is, I FINALLY know how I'm going to end this story, and depending on how I do it, that means 3-4 more chapters. Maybe five. It all depends on how things work out for this in the end, but I'm really happy people are still coming in and reading. Thank you all!

AND THANK YOU TO MY AWESOME BETA, Amethyst DragonRider, ONCE AGAIN!


pikaonix: Oh man, I'm really not that good... D: If you think I'm any good, you need to go read "Duties of an Austrian Maid". Seriously. That has to be my FAVOURITE PruAus fic... ever. But I'm both sorry and glad you cried. It's good to know I can get emotions across~ Thank you for reading!

MidoriNoKami:Oh man, six in the morning!? Silly, you should have slept! The story wasn't going anywhere... I'm glad I'm able to keep people in-character enough that people aren't getting upset. I've been really worried about that. Here's the next chapter!

AmericanKittyKat: I'm really glad you kept reading the story even through you were hesitant! I'm so glad my writing ended up proving it's worth to you. I love hearing that I've manage to create something to beat others original expectations. I hope that means I've gotten better... and hopefully this chapter won't disappoint too much.

Saiai Angel Alchemist: Secretly, deep down inside, we all love angst. And thank you! :D I really don't think my style is all that great, but I'm glad you like it. Was Up any good? I really want to see it myself.

Hazel-Beka: You know what? For every time you apologize it's going to take one more day for me to update. So ha. No more apologizing for you! Kesesesesesese! ...You know, I totally love how you seem to be the only one picking up on every little comic-reference I make in this story. I feel like I should give you an Awesome Award for that. Seriously. And I know how you feel about people always seeming to know "what to say". I really don't like it when something like that happens, and Ludwig and Roderich REALLY don't strike me as the type of people who would take well to seeing someone they care about in distress. Hopefully his past won't disappoint you in this chapter... I really didn't like how this came out at all, but I pray it pleases. (And don't worry, that ending was supposed to be slightly humourous and lighten the situation.)

Senaki Mira: Don't slap yourself... That must hurt. D: I'm sorry for the long wait, but here's the next chapter!

Himekun: I have a few reviews from you in a row. I'm glad you like it thus far. However, the bulk of the story is meant to be focused on Gilbert and Roderich, not so much Ludwig. I'm trying to both involve him, but not throw him in all over the place without reason. I hope this chapter which has a lot more of him is pleasing.

gwendal's wife: ...Roddy, seriously, you need to calm down. You'll never be able to handle the changes I made to How to Save a Life if this is how you're reacting to this chapter alone. Seriously. CALM, Roddy. CALM. Breathe! Or I won't upload anymore.

Silver and Gray: Okay, so I was totally wrong. You were the 100th review. -throws confetti all over you and other awesome things- I totally didn't even know I'd hit 100 until you told me and... holy shit, what an epic 100th review. It was so long... and you were so kind. -hugs- But don't worry, I won't be killing off Italia or anyone like that. But yeah, Fritz was Gilbo's salvation of sorts. Probably the only reason he didn't land himself in jail--and those Zombie movies totally rock. I love Shawn of the Dead the most myself. XD That is an epic movie right there. ...Gosh, there is sooo much I want to say in reply to your review, but I don't want to keep you here all day. T__T So I'll thank you again for the awesome review that totally made me day when I saw it.

Somebody-chan: You shouldn't curse, Somebody. There are children around. Somewhere. I hope you like this chapter, and I'm sorry about Fritz. D: A lot of people are really sad I killed him off... -feels like a jerk-

Sara: Poor Prussia indeed... And Ludwig is a totally awesome little brother. I wish I had a brother like him. Or a brother at all, really. ...Or a sibling. -only child-

Naomi Hansen:
I know! I never add author's notes after the chapters. I was surprised with myself. :O I hope I didn't shock you too badly~

Flair-of-fire:
DX I'm sorry! I hope I didn't kill off your favourite character or something... D: I'm really glad you like how the story is going! -happy- It's good to know I'm not moving too slow or anything, but I'm glad I managed to slow down, as well.

GASP: Um, actually, it was a friend of mine who told me that. She's been to Berlin and has studied German for four years, so I took her word for it (I don't see why she'd lie) but for all I know, it's probably wrong. And be nice to the Berliner's. D: Don't be mean to them because we American's had a silly president who felt he was a jelly doughnut.

Azeeza: And I updated agaaaaaain. DX I'm sorry that took so long. -feels bad for giving crap chapter after long wait-

Il fiore: Oh gosh... It can't have been that good. I doubt it was one of the most beautiful things you've ever read. I'm... really not that good, but thank you! I'm sorry it made you cry, but I'm glad it was good enough to get an emotional reaction~


Chapter Eight

"Gilbert…?" Roderich called out for what felt like the one hundredth time since he'd come up the stairs to try and persuade the albino to come downstairs for breakfast.

The sounds of Ludwig cooking downstairs could be heard faintly near the stairs, and the light smell of pancakes filled the house. It had been a poorly conducted method the two had devised the night previous in hopes of swaying Gilbert's mood to their advantage with his favourite food, but it didn't seem to be working in the least. Roderich had been upstairs for almost an hour now (or at least long enough to fill the kitchen with more pancakes than Ludwig knew what to do with and go through an entire bag of flower) and he had yet to get any form of response from Gilbert. His bedroom door remained stubbornly locked, and no sound came from the other side.

"Gilbert, please, this is ridiculous. You haven't come out of that room for a week. I know you've your own bathroom in there and you're able to clean yourself, but you need fresh air. This isn't healthy!" Roderich paused, pressing his ear to the door in a desperate attempt to hear any form of sound from the silverette, but he was greeted with only the sound of paws against the wood floor inside as Adler moved across the room.

"Gilbert… You can't keep Adler in there. He needs to use the bathroom and eat! Unlike you, he can't last as long by starving himself." It was a futile argument and the Austrian knew it. The albino had been allowing Adler in and out of his room at intervals that neither Roderich nor Ludwig could figure out. The two had taken turns monitoring the door for an entire day once when they were both home, hoping to catch him in the act, but much to their disappointment the plan failed. Gilbert had simply kept his door shut and not allowed Adler in at all until they'd both left the hallway.

"…Please open the door…" Roderich murmured in a final attempt as he leaned against the wooden barrier. His hand hung limply on the doorknob "Gil, please… This is ridiculous. I know you're upset, but please… Ludwig and I only want to help you. We're worried, Gilbert. You're killing yourself over this… I know it's painful, but you can't… you can't keep doing this! What would herr Frederick say if he saw you treating yourself like this?"

Something behind the door moved, and Roderich's head snapped up, looking at the door eagerly. He could hear footsteps from inside, human footsteps, which, at the very least, meant that Gilbert was listening to him. The door shifted slightly, as if someone were pressing weight on it from the inside, and the Austrian tried the doorknob once more, only to find it hadn't been unlocked at all. At least he's moving… the brunette thought with a sigh as he backed away from the door, fixing it with a glare as if it had just offended him. …That's better than nothing.


"He's not going to eat, is he?" Ludwig asked as he stepped out of the kitchen and watched as a dejected Roderich shook his head.

A week had passed since the phone call delivering the news of Frederick's death. No news had come from his family since, and despite Ludwig's best efforts to get in contact with someone in Berlin to gain and news of a funeral, he was turned down each time. Even the hospital proved useless in the end, and it left the German frustrated beyond belief.

If Hetalia Academy hadn't taken attendance so seriously, he would have booked the first plane he could to Germany to take his brother, but it was hard enough convincing the school that his brother wasn't skipping class and at home, gravely ill. He could only thank the heavens his brother's handwriting was neater than people gave him credit for, which made it easy to forge when needed—but as most assignments were to be typed, this made it easier for him. Roderich had originally scolded him for doing Gilbert's homework, but by the middle of the week, the brunette had made it a habit of joining Ludwig in the evenings when they were sure the albino was asleep to assist in the combined workload of three student's assignments.

"Ludwig?" the Austrian called quietly, pulling the blond out of his thoughts as the two moved back into the kitchen. "…Just who was that man to Gilbert?"

Ludwig was silent, the look on his face faltering slightly as he glanced at the brunette. "…A friend," he mumbled, "Frederick was an important friend to him."

"You're not telling me something." Roderich frowned as he crossed his arms. "Why is this man's death so important? I remember when your parents died, Ludwig, and he didn't so much as flinch or show the slightest signs of remorse. Why does this man's death haunt him?"

"…It isn't my place to say," the German murmured with a shake of his head. "I don't have the right to tell you anything about it. If you want to know… you have to ask him."

"He isn't speaking to either of us! Barely a word all week, and he's eaten close to nothing. This isn't healthy! He's going to kill himself, and you're doing nothing to help him!"

"What do you think I should do?!" Ludwig snapped, glaring at the brunette. "If I knew anything that might help him, don't you think I'd be doing it!?"

"Yes, I can see you're putting quite a fair amount of effort into it!" the Austrian replied, his tone sharp. "You've barely spoken to him at all!"

"And what have you done!?"

"At least I'm trying to talk to him instead of tricking him into drinking drugged water!"

Ludwig's eyes flashed dangerously and he stepped forward, flexing his fingers around the spatula he'd been using to flip pancakes. It was shaking dangerously under the German's grip, threatening to snap under the pressure, and for a moment, the brunette thought of taking a step back in fear of it being used on him. "He wouldn't be sleeping otherwise, and we both know it!"

"So drugging his worries away for a few hours is the better answer?!"

"You'd rather he was awake all night and suffering!?"

Roderich faltered slightly, his mouth twisting as he tried to form the right words. Of course he didn't want Gilbert to suffer, but using drugs, and slipping them into his water without telling the silverette none-the-less, wasn't the best way to do things. It was wrong, he knew it, but he had yet to come up with a better idea himself. "That isn't what I want at all, and you know that. I don't want Gilbert in pain anymore than you do, but—"

"All my life Gilbert has taken care of me… He's thrown all his efforts into making sure that I was happy! He cast aside his own wants and desires—everything—just to spend time with me and see to it that I always had a smile on my face…" Ludwig was advancing forward again, making Roderich take several steps back in shock. The strong plastic of the spatula was emitting a small whining noise under the pressure of Ludwig's grip.

The brunette was sure it was going to snap at any moment, and a voice somewhere in the back of his head suggested he take the utensil before it suffered and unfair end, but Roderich didn't dare get within arm's reach of the German in front of him. Not right now.

"And now, the one time, the one time, it's finally him who needs someone…I can't…I can't do anything for him. All I can do is watch him suffer… and hate myself more and more each day knowing he's in pain and I'm too much of a dummkopf to make it go away…"

"Ludwig…" Roderich bit his lip, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him. Ludwig likely loved Gilbert just as much, if not more, than he did (albeit in different ways, or so he hoped) and knew him worlds better. As an only child, he couldn't even begin to imagine the pain of watching your own brother suffer. "Ludwig, I—"

"You're both a fucking dummkopf…" a tired voice called from the entrance of the living room, making the two males whip around in shock.

"G-Gilbert!?"

"Bruder…" Ludwig stepped forward, his arm extending out toward the other but stopping halfway, as if worried Gilbert might suddenly dart back up the stairs if he made any movements that were too sudden.

With a heavy sigh, the albino walked further into the room, Adler at his heels. The dog let out a small huff and nudged the silverette's knee quietly, looking up at him expectantly.

"…Yeah, that's fine."

Roderich raised an eyebrow, opening his mouth to ask how he'd understood the wolf-like creature in the first place, when two fuzzy paws pushed against his chest and caused him to topple backward into a chair. "Wha…!?"

"West, go turn whatever is on in the kitchen off and get back in here."

Ludwig only nodded quietly; he couldn't find the voice or will to raise any protests. He left the room and returned shortly after, the abused spatula no longer in his hand, and took a seat in the chair beside Roderich, looking up at his brother as he waited for him to speak.

"The only reason I'm down here is because I didn't want to listen to the two of you shouting through the floors," Gilbert began, holding up a hand to stop their protests as they both tried to speak at once. "I've… not been fair to you two this week. West, I know the Old Man was a friend of yours, too, and I haven't exactly been the best brother… or boyfriend after I got the news."

"Gilbert…" Roderich started, glancing at Ludwig, who nodded. "That's alright, we understand. You were—"

"—acting like a little kid." Gilbert cut in with a sigh, taking a seat on the couch. Adler quickly joined him on the cushions, ignoring Ludwig's faint whimper as he settled his furry body down and placed his head in the silverette's lap. "Just… shut up, Roddy. Let me speak, or I'm not going to get this all out and I'll end up feeling sorry for myself and moping around the house for Gott knows how long. Just… let me ramble for a bit—West, that goes for you too."

Several seconds of silence passed between the three as Gilbert waited for either of them to argue. When they didn't, he sighed and leaned back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. "West, you already know most of this story, and you can add to it if you want, but don't bother sugar-coating anything. It's the past, and it isn't ever going to change, as fucked up as it was…"

"Bruder… if you don't want to tell him anything, I—"

"I can handle it…" Gilbert flashed his younger brother a weak smile before shifting his gaze to the brunette. "I know you and everyone else is just dying to know what the hell it was that went on in our past, and I know you're not some stupid rumour spreading chick, but if anything I tell you leaves this room—that includes going to Lizzy—I won't hesitate to hand you over to Francis, gift-wrapped, and drugged off your ass with a bottle of little blue pills. Understand?"

The Austrian gulped, his eyes widening a fraction. He wasn't sure if he should be hurt that Gilbert even considered that he might tell someone anything he had said on the idea of confidence, or concerned that he would pull through with such a threat, as there was no doubt that he would do it without a hint of regret.

"I… Of course! Gilbert, why would I—"

"I know you wouldn't. Just forget the threat then, you've got nothing to worry about. So, just shut up and listen." Alder let out a small whine and shifted closer to his master, nuzzling the silverette in the stomach. A pale hand absently stroked the canine's ears, earning another nuzzle before he began to speak.

The explanation started with Gilbert's dream of a few nights ago, a sad smile gracing his features as he remembered the day he'd met "Grampa" Fritz for the first time. His eyes sparkled with a dull fondness as a hand moved to play with a charm hanging around his neck in the shape of an iron cross. The pleasant story of the dream, however, quickly faded into something much more painful, and there were several points in the telling of the events that Gilbert had to stop and regain the proper use of his voice before continuing. By the time he was done, Adler's body was resting in Ludwig's lap, with his middle across the Gilbert's and his head in Roderich's.

Frederick, or as Gilbert had called him, Grampa Fritz, had been the boy's neighbor back in the old country when they'd lived in Germany. The elderly man was unearthly kind and gentle, and his house had been something of a second home to Gilbert, as the Weillschmidt household had never been very welcoming toward the older of the two brothers. Because of his albinism, the silverette's birth had been seen as a curse rather than a blessing, and his parents had paid him very little mind. They made it a point to only have the absolute minimal amount of interaction that was needed to keep him healthy until he could fend for himself.

Ludwig, however, had been very different.

When Ludwig was born, his parents showered the beautiful blue-eyed blond with affection. They regarded him as an angel, and the complete opposite of Gilbert, whom they said was demonic in appearance. Both parents adored the younger brother, and his 'normalcy' compared to Gilbert had been a huge relief. However, where most children would have developed hate for the pampered sibling, Gilbert quickly took advantage of their parents' busy work schedule and pushed his way into his brother's life. At first, this had only been to spite his parents, and to take pleasure in the idea that Ludwig had grown attached to him rather than them, but the young Ludwig's innocent mind and sweet personality worked its way into the albino's heart, and Gilbert's plan was quickly thwarted as he gladly stepped up to his position as an older brother.

Still, the fact remained that, while Ludwig had grown up showered with love and affection, Gilbert had not. Of course, despite his unusual appearance, the silverette was a beautiful child and very popular at school, but the difference between love and admiration was too great to close the empty void that his parents had left. Frederick, however, had filled that quickly. Fritz had shown Gilbert the love that no one else had, and even to Ludwig, who, at the time was too young to fully understand what that meant, it was easy to see that the two had a special bond. Frederick had been the father, mentor, and friend that Gilbert had so desperately needed throughout his life, and the old man had more than welcomed the albino into his.

Unfortunately, because of his parent's treatment, Gilbert had quickly learned to keep his feelings hidden outside of Frederick's house, especially after their parent's death. He had vowed to follow the example of kindness he'd been shown and make sure his brother's life was far better than his own. The silverette had always tried to be so strong for Ludwig and to be the young blond's pillar of strength whenever he needed one, and now, while he didn't say it directly, that strength had crumbled, falling to the floor in a pile of dust and rubble.

The story was shorter than Roderich expected, but not nearly as happy as he'd hoped. While parental love hadn't exactly been something he knew particularly well, he had at least known something close to it. His musical talent had earned him his parent's love—if not that, at least their respect—but the story the silverette told left him wishing he'd been a little more grateful he'd gotten that.

Adler's nose poked absently at Roderich's hand as he glanced toward the two brothers. Gilbert appeared to be in a complete daze, while Ludwig looked emotionally torn. The blond hadn't spoken a word since his brother had started the story, and the musician could only guess that it was guilt and sorrow keeping him silent. Despite everything that had been done, it didn't appear as if there had ever been a point in time in which Gilbert blamed Ludwig for their parent's treatment, and he doubted the silverette ever would.

"Gilbert, I…" Roderich trailed off, at a complete loss for what to say. The albino had gone through so much in his life, but he still held the ability to joke and smile as if nothing were wrong. It awed the Austrian that anyone could manage to pull through such a feat and still keep standing. He felt weak in comparison.

"You don't have to say anything…" Gilbert said with a small shrug. His eyes were focused somewhere near the floor as his fingers absently brushed through the fine hairs of Adler's coat. "I've… gotten over my past for the most part. So my parents were shitty, so are yours, but at least mine are gone and I can move on. You still have to deal with your dad's crap every time you go back to that house."

"Don't turn this to me…" the brunette muttered softly as he placed a hand on Gilbert's cheek, tilting the albino's head toward his own. "You have every right to be upset and hurt right now, and don't even begin to think you must deny yourself that. Ludwig and I have both been so worried about you this week… You haven't spoken to us up until now, and we hadn't seen you step out of your room for days. We… we were scared, yes, but Gilbert… I know you believe that you have to be strong for your brother and myself, however…"

"...Let us be your strength for now." Ludwig's deep voice suddenly cut in as he stood up and moved to kneel in front of his brother and Roderich. His face was set into a look of determination, placing a hand on Gilbert's knee before he continued speaking. "You've… you've always been there for me, Gilbert. You always put your efforts into making sure I'm happy. Even if you take the time to tease me at every chance you get, you've never once made me feel unhappy or miserable in my life. When our parents died… you dropped everything in your life to see that I was alright and… I'm so grateful for it. I doubt I'd have made it this far if I didn't have you with me, but… I now I want to return that favour. I want to be your strength now, if only for a week, or even a few days. I… want to help you. …bitte."

"I'd like to help you as well. In any way I can, no matter what it is, you can come to me. You've saved me from myself and the world around me so many times, Gilbert." Roderich smiled gently as he moved his hand to rest on Gilbert's other knee when Adler pulled back with an annoyed huff. "I owe you my eternal gratitude for simply being the wonderful, albeit slightly eccentric, person that you are."

"You're both a pair of saps…" Gilbert murmured with a shake of his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "But… thank you."

Roderich let out a muffled cry of surprise as an arm wrapped around his neck and tugged him to the floor. Ludwig's shoulder was digging into his back and the German was letting out muffled protests just as surprised as own, neither expecting the sudden embrace from the albino.

"Of course…" Roderich muttered, bringing a hand up to rest on Gilbert's arm. "We've always been here for you, Gil… Always."

"We always will be…" Ludwig added, awkwardly returning his brother's embrace. "Always."


"Are you… sure I should be here?" Roderich asked Ludwig quietly as he tugged at the black tie around his neck. "I've never met this man before, and I hold no connections to him or his family. I feel as if I'm intruding."

"You're not." Ludwig assured the brunette, slapping his hand away from the tie. "And even if you feel like you're intruding on the family, you're not here for them. We both came for Gilbert's sake, and if anyone feels the need to complain about it, they can talk to me. I don't want my brother alone with a bunch of people who couldn't care less if he'd shown up or not."

Roderich nodded silently and walked over to the door of the room he stood in with Ludwig. Through a small window toward the top, he could see the main lobby with ease. He spotted Gilbert in the corner standing away from the rest of the family quickly, his snow-white hair standing out against the sea of black suits and dark-brown hair and hats around him. The musician's stomach clenched painfully and he grabbed the doorknob, glancing at Ludwig as if asking for silent permission to leave the room.

"Don't wait for me…" the blond muttered, reaching for another glass of water on the table beside him. "Go to Gilbert, I'll be out in a moment."

"Ludwig?"

"I just need a few moments to myself."

Biting his lip, the Austrian hesitated beside the door for a moment before nodding slowly and stepping outside. He trusted Ludwig not to do something stupid alone, but Roderich couldn't help but feel guilty at the lack of comfort the younger of the two brother's had received since the phone call a week ago. Between the two of them, he and Ludwig had spent more time at Gilbert's side than alone, and rarely saved any time to themselves.

"I'll see you soon, then. The service starts in a few minutes… I'll let Gilbert know you're coming."

"Thanks… See you soon."


The service passed by without trouble. Gilbert joined the family at the front in the second row with Ludwig on his left and Roderich his right. As the priest spoke, both felt a light tug at their sides as Gilbert intertwined his hands with one of their own. His eyes had remained dry for majority of the service with a pained look on his face, but little more.

When it had come time for them to walk past the casket for final goodbyes, the albino had refused to leave the comfort of either of his companions. Gilbert buried his face in Roderich's shoulder after first glancing down at the unmoving face of his beloved father-figure. People behind them peered at the silverette in faint annoyance when he didn't move, but Ludwig quickly kept them quiet with a glare of his own and a protective hand on his brother's shoulder.

"…Gilbert," the blond said gently after nearly minutes had passed. "We should move on. Others want to see him as well."

Gilbert only grunted quietly in response and pulled away from Roderich's shoulder, following his brother in silence as they made their way back to their seats. Tears were silently forming in the albino's eyes, but Roderich was ready with a handful of tissues, gently brushing them under Gilbert's cheeks as they say down. Ludwig took both his brother's hands in his own, trying vainly to provide the comfort he didn't know how to give, and they were both rewarded for it as the silverette pressed a brief kiss to Roderich's lips, and a gentle affectionate one to his brother's forehead.

"Danke…" he muttered in a low tone, offering them both a small smile. "For coming with me..."

"Thank your brother," Roderich said in a low tone, trying not to talk over a family member at the podium. "He was the one who insisted we both come with you. I… I admit, I thought that we would get in the way originally."

Gilbert shook his head, the ghost of a smile forming on his lips as he took each of their nearest hands in his own and gave them a small squeeze. "Neither of you are ever in the way, that's my job. You're my family, and I'd have probably done some pretty stupid shit if it hadn't been for you two."

"…I'd disagree if I weren't convinced it was true." Ludwig said in a serious tone from Gilbert's left. "I know his death as hurt you, Gilbert… but don't think for a moment yours wouldn't hurt us. You're lucky we didn't break that damned door of yours down."

"So that's what the slamming noise was…" the albino muttered, giving Roderich a weak but amused grin. "I thought one of the dogs had run into the door or something. You're really not too good with physical strength, are you?"

"Th-that…!" Blushing heavily, the Austrian turned away in a flustered huff before he crossed his arms and tried to focus on what was being said in the front of the room. A priest had just taken the podium and begun the final words of the day. Soon the cars would be pulled around outside, and they would be taken to the burial ground. Gilbert had already made the request that they didn't join the others in the graveyard; he wanted to visit the grave alone without a large crowd around him.

When the priest finished, various family members slowly made their way out of the room in groups as they made their way toward their cars. Gilbert remained silently in his seat, his eyes trained on the casket at the front of the room until it was shut for the final time and moved away. Beside him, Ludwig gave his knee a comforting squeeze. The younger of the brothers had known how badly Gilbert wanted to help in carrying the casket, but Frederick's family had been less than willing to allow the silverette to help. None of them had taken well to the old man's odd adoration with him, and most of the direct family saw him as an intruder, while the more distant family had been welcoming.

"We should go…" Roderich muttered in a quiet tone. "I doubt they want us to wait around in the room when there is no reason to be here any longer. We should head back to our hotel for now."


"Will be he alright?"

"He'll be fine…" Ludwig nodded quietly, leaning against the tree he stood under with Roderich. The German's sapphire eyes were locked on his brother's figure several yards away kneeling in front of a grave, his pale lips moving quickly with words he couldn't hear from where he stood. "He said he wanted to talk to Frederick alone for a while… I believe he deserves that much without us breathing down his neck. Gilbert wouldn't do anything stupid, not over that man's grave."

"…I never quite realized how strong your brother was, Ludwig." Roderich mused, crossing his arms as he leaned against the tree beside the other. "While his means of coping over the past week were… less than healthy, he has held himself together quite well since he pulled himself out of his room."

"Gilbert has held himself so high for so long…" the blond sighed, "I'm not surprised he fell as hard as he did at all. If anything, it surprises me that it only took him a week to recover. He has held all his sadness in for so long… Almost twenty years of emotional buildup… I don't know how he's able to move around as he is now."

"You're lucky…" the Austrian said with a small smile. "I would give anything to have a brother like Gilbert growing up. Though I suppose that would make me greedy… I have him now. There is little more I could ask for."

"You have him now, don't you?" Ludwig asked, glancing at the brunette beside him. "You've had him at your side for a very long time, Roderich, even if you failed to notice it." His tone turned almost bitter at the end, making Roderich wince in guilt.

"Ludwig, I…"

"It doesn't matter…" Ludwig cut him off. "The point is, he has you now… and I'm glad. I admit… I was jealous at first. I've… had grown accustomed to having my brother's attention focused on myself more often than not, and it was childish of me to expect or want it for longer. I, err…"

Roderich laughed quietly and shoot his head. The child-like pout on Ludwig's lips was so unlike him, and the brunette couldn't help but smile. The bond between brothers was truly a wonderful thing, and the musician found himself replicating the feelings of jealous as he allowed his mind to wonder what it would be like had Gilbert been his own brother. "I suppose, in the end, we can only be grateful for what we have."

"Indeed…" the German nodded quietly.

"Heeeey! Roderich!"

Both tree-dwellers jumped as Gilbert's loud voice called across the graveyard. Roderich's glasses slide several inches down his nose and he scurried to push them back up as he pushed off the tree and stepped forward.

"Don't just stare at me, get over here! I want to introduce you!"

The musician froze, eyes wide as he glanced back at Ludwig, silently asking what he should do. With a shrug, the German motioned for Roderich to go to his brother and took his place against the tree once more. "You don't have to wait for my permission to go, Roderich. He wants you over there."

"I… yes. Of course. I, ah, I'm coming, Gilbert."

Quickening his pace, the brunette hurried over to the grave the albino was sitting in front of and knelt down beside him, bowing his head respectfully. Violet hues gazed at the writing embedded into the stone, and Roderich couldn't push away the feeling of sadness that washed over him as he played the name over and over in his head. This man had done so much for Gilbert, given him more than anyone else, and yet this was his reward. An early death he didn't deserve and a lonely grave.

"I, ah… Good afternoon, herr William. It… it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Gilbert has told me many things about—"

"You're too formal, Roddy." Gilbert said, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, the old man would have scolded you for that. Just talk to him like you would a friend."

"O-oh, I see… then, ah…"

"Calm down, Roderich…" the silverette snorted and took Roderich's hand lightly in his own, turning back to face the tombstone before them. "Hey, old man… I know it's a bit late, but… this is Roderich. I know you were always nagging me about meeting him, especially this past month. I… I was going to introduce you two when you came to visit this summer, but…" he trailed off with a shaky sigh. "Guess it's a little late for that, huh?"

"Gilbert…"

"But I kept my promise in the end, right?" Gilbert intertwined his fingers with Roderich's and held their hands up, kissing the back of the brunette's. "I wish you two could have met face to face. You'd have loved him. He's got a bit of stick up his ass sometimes, but—"

"Gilbert! I do not have a sick up anything!"

"—he's a really awesome person. West seems to like him enough, and it's nice to know those two get along. Ah, but you haven't seen West in a while, either, huh?" He grinned and waved his free hand in the air. "West! You get over here, too! Come say hi to the old man!"

Ludwig grunted quietly and made his way over to the other two, taking the empty space on his other side of his brother. "You shouldn't shout in a graveyard, Gilbert. It's rude…"

"Yeah, well, I bet all these old geezers could use a little noise once in a while. It's like someone turns the damn sound off when you come into one of these things."

"These 'things' are—"

"Yeah, yeah… Calm down, West. Don't lecture me here. He probably loves all this noise instead of people sobbing over him like they were yesterday."

"…You cried as well, Gilbert." Ludwig muttered in a low, almost sympathetic tone. "There is nothing wrong with…"

"I never said there was. I just said he needed something better than tears." Standing up, the silverette looked toward the sky with a small sigh. Dark clouds had started to form, and a musty smell rode on the wind.

"We should head back. It's going to rain soon." Roderich said, rolling back on his ankles to push himself up. "We don't want to be caught out here in the storm."

Ludwig glanced back toward the grave and sighed quietly, reaching out a hand to brush it over the stone. The look on his face one of sorrow; even if Frederick had been more important to his brother, the old man had been kind to him as well, and they both owed him a great debt. "…Thank you for watching over my brother when I could not," he muttered. "Back then, and even now. Please continue to make sure he's safe."

"What are you mumbling about, West? Let's go."

"Fine, fine…" Ludwig stood up and started after his brother, sighing. "I swear, Gilbert, you have no patience once when it comes to other people…"

Behind the two brothers, Roderich lingered beside the grave momentarily, giving the stone an uneasy look. With a quick look over his shoulder, the brunette bowed deeply, placing a hand on top of the tombstone. "…I'll watch over him. I know that we've never met formally before, but I promise you that I will take care of Gilbert as best I can. I know he does that for me… and I'll do all in my power to return that favour double to both him and his brother."

As he turned to walk away, the breeze around him picked up, making the brunette shiver. Wrapping his arms around himself, he shook the hair from his face and stepped forward, freezing as he heard a soft voice on the wind whisper, "Thank you, Roderich…"

"Wh-wha…"

"Roderich!" Ludwig called out in a loud voice, waving from several yards away. "It's starting to sprinkle. Please hurry."

Shaking his head, the Austrian hurried forward to join the two brothers. "I-I apologize. I thought… I heard something."

"Heard something?" the younger brother frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm… not sure." Roderich admitted uneasily. "I'm not fully sure I heard it either. It… No, the cold must be getting to me. I—"

"…I'd like to get something to eat." Gilbert suddenly said, making the other two stop and stare at his back in shock as he passed them. "I could really use a fuckin' beer. And something to eat—wurst sounds awesome right now. Or maybe pizza. Shit, I don't care, just something warm and greasy. Better yet, is there a pancake place around here?"

"…Wh-what?" Ludwig and Roderich stammered in the same bewildered tone.

"Food?" the albino repeated, giving the other two an odd look. "You know, you eat it? I'd like some. I haven't eaten a decent meal in over a week. Those pancakes and sandwiches you guys left were pretty awesome, but I never finished them. I'm hungry."

With a grin, Gilbert turned away from his brother and Roderich and started toward the car, humming quietly to himself.

"…It looks like he's finally starting to cheer up again." Roderich said quietly, shaking his head. "I didn't think this would do that much for him."

"I think what upset him the most… was that he never got to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?"

"You'd be surprised how much a simple goodbye can put someone to rest. Gilbert would talk to Frederick all the time through letters on the phone. Or maybe… just being here has helped. Gilbert always listened to him, no matter what it was; Frederick could get him to do almost anything on command."

"You think seeing his 'father', for lack of a better term, made him realize what he's been doing this week?"

"Who knows… I've never understood my brother's mind."

"…I'm not sure we're supposed to."

"West! Roderich! The Awesome isn't getting any less hungry here! Don't make me start eating the seats!"

"Wh—Gilbert! Don't chew on the car! It's a rental!"

"LEATHER IS DELICIOUS!"

"GILBERT!"