A/N I know it doesn't seem it right now- but I PROMISE you this will be Spamano. I just need you guys to trust me a bit ^^

Antonio underestimated the time with which news would spread. It was immediate, students texting, whispering. Lovino, curled up in Antonio's chair, waiting in quiet concern for the older man to return, had doubted his ears at first. The noise had come slowly- a low buzzing in his ears that grew as the people talking came closer and closer. "Can you believe Señor Fernandez-Carriedo proposed like that!? I didn't even know they were together!" "Yeah, it was so romantic too, to do it in front of everyone like that! They must really love each other!"

Lovino's heart ran cold at the words, and began to ache, as though a cold ball of dread were forming in his throat, although he didn't know why. Tonio had proposed to Mister Beilschmidt? That explained where he had run off to, leaving Lovino all alone… once more that awful feeling that had filled the boys chest when Antonio had been on his date returned, stronger than ever. It curled around his stomach, and filled his throat, choking him on his own air. Jealousy. Toni was going to get married. He wouldn't want some stupid kid hanging around then, getting in the way of his time spent with his husband.

Lovino didn't notice he was crying until it was far too late to stop. His body shivered and shook as soft sobs fell from his lips. He was going to be thrown away again. Just like his mama and papa had. He had trusted Antonio! He had truly believed the Spanish man loved him, and would protect him. Now he just felt scared, insecure, and stupid.

Antonio hadn't even told him what he was planning. That was what hurt Lovino the most- he thought they told each other everything. Obviously he was wrong about that. The boy pulled his knees to his chin, sobbing brokenly. He didn't want Antonio to abandon him! Antonio was far better to him than his own papa had ever been! Clenching his fists tightly, Lovino made a promise to himself. He'd be the best boy he possibly could be! Then Antonio and Gilbert would want to keep him around right? And he supposed he could learn to like Gilbert. After all, if Antonio liked him, there had to be something very very special about the German man. That as what Lovino told himself as he set to work on one of the pages, colored pencil clutched in his hand. He didn't know when Antonio would be back, so he had to work fast!

Antonio hummed quietly, his fingers brushing through the silken locks on his fiances head. The man was curled up on his lover's lap, humming in contentment as Gilbert worked. The younger man's office provided little privacy, but it was better than nothing, Antonio thought, as he brushed his lips over Gilbert's temple. Gilbert's skin always felt so soft, so flawless. Antonio had searched every inch of that face more times than he could count, his fingers memorizing, and never once had he found a mark. There were no uneven pores, no zits, no pockmarks. Nothing. And Antonio honestly couldn't get enough of touching him.

His fingers paused a moment in their actions, and he could feel Gilbert tilting his head upwards towards him, the other mans fingers reaching out to capture his own, bringing them to plump, moist lips, as the German man pressed a tender kiss to the digits. "What's wrong, liebe? Before you even try to tell me nothing, I know it's not nothing. Your fingers did that little twitch they do when you're nervous." He told him softly.

Another pause, a sharp inhale as Antonio took a deep breath. Gilbert knew him so well, he mused, knew every movement and sign Antonio made. And the older man was nervous. He had one more question to ask- almost as big as the first, and maybe even more important. "Err.. nothing is wrong, Gilly." He began, nibbling his lip until he felt Gilbert's long, delicate fingers reach out to tenderly stroke over the spot, coaxing his teeth away. "I was just thinking... and I have one more question to ask." He explained. "Gilly… I want to adopt Lovino, if Romulus will give me the permission to do so. I want to buy a house with you, and get him out of that dorm room. We can have a nice big bedroom, just for us… his can be next to ours so when he has a bad dream he can come sleep with us… G-Gilly…" The next breath was shakier, and he forced himself to be brave. He really did want this but he was torn. "...we could raise him like our own."

To say Gilbert was surprised would be greatly underreacting. His jaw fell open, and Antonio could almost hear the others brain trying to process all he had just said. "A-adopt-?" He squeaked out, quite unlike himself. His brain reeled as he tried to think clearly. Antonio wanted to adopt Lovino. But that didn't make any sense right? He could have sworn he had seen more in Antonio's face towards the boy. Did neither Antonio nor Lovino see it? There was no way that both of them could be so oblivious, right? Gilbert felt a momentary twinge of guilt inside himself. He shouldn't be so happy about that, but he was. This could be a good solution. Yes. They'd adopt Lovino, Antonio could still look after the boy, and Gilbert would be able to kiss his beloved again, to hold him close. Married. They were getting married.

However, hearing the second part, his face softened, one hand reaching up to gingerly cradle the others cheek, thumb brushing over the tanned skin. "Toni… liebe…" Gilbert's voice was soft with concern. "Are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you can handle this? If this is too fast for you, we can wait."

Antonio shook his head without hesitation. "I want this, Gilly. More than anything." He swore. "Really, I do. You don't have to worry about me." Hearing those words of confirmation, that Antonio really wanted this, Gilbert nodded his head. "Alright, we'll go talk to Romulus about adopting Lovino." He relented. How could he ever say no to this sweet, innocent man? He couldn't. Not after this beautiful proposal. "Is Lovino still all alone in your classroom?" He asked. Antonio gave a little nod of confirmation. "Well tell you what. This class is over in two minutes and I know for a fact Feliciano has a spare. Why don't we see if he'll go keep Lovino company while we talk to their grandfather?"

"That sounds good, I don't want Lovinito to be all alone, and they seem to be bonding well lately!"

Gilbert nodded, calling the boy over. "Feliciano, come here, please!"

The younger Vargas brother looked up from here he was standing beside a tall blonde boy nodding his head as he started to run towards the two. What could Mister Beilschmidt want with him? Standing in the doorway, panting, the golden eyed boy looked the two over. "His big brother Toni!" He chirped cheerfully, although he didn't feel half as cheerful as he looked. He had been almost certain… he and grandpa both. Even now, he was almost certain the teacher was in love with his brother. They just seemed to both be too dense to see it. "Congratulations!" He chirped to the two, although it sounded just slightly forced. Antonio tilted his head towards the voice, as Gilbert spoke. "Feliciano we have to go talk to your grandfather a moment. You have a spare now right?" Feliciano nodded. "Would you be able to go stay with Lovinito while we do? He's been alone the whole period, and he isn't really used to being alone yet." Antonio explained.

"Si, si, of course, I'll go stay with Lovi." He hummed out, turning on his heel and walking out of the gym. Poor Lovino. Feliciano knew this was going to hurt his beloved brother a lot. When he finally reached Antonio's classroom, he was immediately alerted to the soft sobbing that echoed through the empty room. "Lovi?" He asked, panic in his voice as he ran to his brothers side rubbing the older boys back comfortingly. "Fratellone, what's wrong? Shhh….shhh.. it's ok… you're safe. It's alright, Feli's right here." He cooed out gently.

Lovino's head shot up at his brothers voice, and all at once, he had moved from the chair, catapulting into the younger teens arms, clinging on tightly as he sobbed into his brother's chest. Feliciano was stunned, his concern only growing. Lovino never acted like this and if he was letting Feliciano see him weak, something had to be very wrong.

"Hurts!" He sobbed out weakly, his tears dampening the others shirt. "He's not going to want me anymore! I'll be a good boy, a good boy! I don't want to lose another papa, Feli!"

Feliciano's face softened, as he cradled his brother close, stroking over his back. "Is that what you consider big brother Toni, Lovi? Like a Papa?" He asked gently, sighing softly when he felt the little nod against his chest. "Lovi listen to me." He said softly tilting the older boys face up and kissing his head. "Don't cry… Toni isn't going to leave you just because he's getting married. He wouldn't do that to you, fratellone." He swore. Lovino gave a weak nod, and Feliciano could only pray everything would work out as he held his sobbing brother to him protectively.

Antonio held Gilbert's hand tightly as they sat in the office, nervousness filling him. What if Romulus said no? The Spanish man had been thinking about this for the past month, his mind racing as he held Lovino in the dead of the night. He wanted to be Lovino's papa, for was no other explanation he could find for why he was so protective. For why his heart beat so fast when the boys voice filled with pride, or joy. And what about how you feel when he touches your face, when those gentle hands stroke through your hair. Do you feel like a Papa then? Antonio shook the thoughts from his head. Those thoughts had been coming a lot lately, and there was more truth in them than he cared to admit. He'd know Lovino's touch apart from anyone elses. Those hands soothed him, calmed him, protected him as much as he protected the boy they belonged to. It scared him- and made him even more determined that he wanted to go through with this. Maybe then they'd stop.

Romulus smiled at Gilbert, reaching out and ruffling Antonio's dark curls. He had known Gilbert ever since the boy was a child, he was the grandson of Romulus' good friend. "How can I help you boys today?" He asked. "Also.." A chuckle slipped from the older mans throat. "I hear congratulations are in order?"

Gilbert grinned widely, nodding as he brushed his thumb over the back of Antonio's hand. He knew his fiance was nervous and understandably so. "Yeah! Toni proposed to me this morning, isn't that awesome?"

No. Romulus most certainly did not think it was awesome. His heart panged with sympathy and concern for his poor little grandson. He could only imagine how upset poor Lovino was right now. He knew how the boy thought, knew he was probably thinking Antonio would abandon him now. Romulus had to admit, he himself was greatly disappointed. He'd been so happy watching the two get closer, seeing his grandson blossom like he'd always hoped he would. Still, he kept his voice cheery. "That's wonderful, congratulations boys! I just know you two will have a happy marriage! Now then, what do you need?" He questioned.
Antonio flinched slightly, picking up the slightly bitter tone in the mans voice. Not being able to read body language, Antonio had learned long ago to analyze voices and pick out tones that people tried to hide. And Romulus definitely sounded upset. Had he done something wrong? Something to make the man mad at him? He truly hoped not, he didn't want anything making the man not want to allow him to adopt Lovino.

Gilbert, of course, didn't even notice continuing on. "We were thinking- we're getting married now, right? And we aren't exactly going to be able to have a kid of our own, not to mention neither of us really has the time or capability to look after a baby-" This time he noticed the flinch, and had the good graces to be apologetic, leaning over to kiss his fiances head. "Sorry, I don't have the capabilities and Toni doesn't really have the time so we were thinking…"

Romulus raised a brow, eyeing the two. "Yes? Do go on Gilbert you know how much I hate it when you ramble."

There it was again. That little flash of irritation that only Antonio could hear. He took a deep breath and held it as Gilbert continued.

"We'd like to adopt Lovino."

The silence seemed to drag on forever, and Antonio couldn't help the heavy feeling of fear that overwhelmed him. Romulus was going to say no, he as to say-

"...Alright."

Antonio's head immediately shot up towards the man. "Alright?" He questioned.

Romulus sighed, stabbing his fingers through his curls. He wanted what was best for Lovino, and at least Antonio still seemed set on caring for him. This could be the only way- Romulus knew he didn't have the knowledge or capability to care for the sightless boy. Nor would Lovino e receptive to anyone but Antonio. "On two conditions." He said firmly. "You talk to Lovino and make sure he is alright with this, and you take just as good care of him as you have been. You know I won't take any excuses if my little grandson gets hurt."

"Yes sir, I understand!" Antonio chirped excitedly, hugging onto Gilberts arm in his joy. It was happening! It was really happening. He was going to be Lovino's papa. "I'll take the best care of him, and be a wonderful Papa, I promise!" He swore. "Oh Gilly! I'm so happy!"

All Romulus could do was silently pray this would make his little grandson happy.