AN: Okay... I know I said that this would be the last chapter but... IT ISN'T! I blame the characters. They just wont let it end! So without further ado... here is chapter 11!
Chapter 11
"I think that I'm finally getting the hang of this!" Francis exclaimed.
He thrust his hand forward and concentrated, his face turning red.
Joan moaned, "Do we really have to do this now?"
Francis gave a breathy laugh, still concentrating. "I would hate to leave a lady unsatisfied so what would you rather do instead?"
Joan's face turned pink. "Well... we haven't seen each other for a while...how about we just talk."
Francis put his hand down, "Fine! I will stop imagining things and having it magically appearing!"
Out of boredom Francis had been thinking about Arthur and how he was coping with everything. Ever since the divorce they tried to remain friends so that Matthew, Alfred and Michelle wouldn't have to pick sides. He then thought about Arthur's cooking, his scones to be specific, and just like that there they were in front of him. Francis poked them and instantly jumped back.
Joan looked at him quizzically, "Where did these come from?"
Francis gave a less then manly squeal when Joan reached to grab one. "Don't touch those! Don't you recognize them?"
Joan looked down at the pastries then back at Francis. "They're scones."
"But not just ANY scones," Francis shivered. "They are Arthur's scones!"
"Oh." Joan said finally understanding. "So...what should we do with them?"
"Burn them, even more than they already are!" Francis stated.
The words were barely out of his mouth when the scones burst into flames making the couple jump farther away from them.
Francis smiled at the memory. Ever since then he had been trying to make a house that would be perfect for the two of them.
"So what would you like to talk about?" Francis asked.
"Let's go on a date."
"What?" Francis asked surprised. Usually he had been the one begging her to go on a date.
"Let's go on a date." Joan repeated. "But not one of those cheesy ones, how about we go to that place where we first met?"
Francis thought for a second. "You mean the bakery?"
"Exactly!" Joan smiled.
"You ordered that hazelnut mochaccino..." Francis recalled.
"And you offered to pay for it even though it cost seven dollars." Joan laughed.
"Well I couldn't have let a beautiful girl like you pay for it!"
"You didn't even know me!" Joan shook her head.
Francis looked at Joan and smiled, "It didn't matter then and it doesn't matter now..."
The night was cool and clear with a full moon covering the earth with a pale silvery light. Francis and Joan walked through the woods behind Gilbert's house laughing as they recalled all of the things that they had done when they were alive and together. They came across a small creek running through the trees. Francis knelt down and splashed water towards Joan who laughed and pushed him into the water. Before Francis could stand up Joan ran, disappearing into the trees. Francis stood up and ran after her stopping in his tracks when he almost caught up to her. She stood in the middle of a clearing, staring up at the moon.
"Promise me..." Joan sang just loud enough for Francis to hear. The tune was a haunting melody. "When you see, a white rose you'll think of me... I love you so. Never let go. I will be...your ghost of a rose."
She turned towards Francis and smiled, "Do you remember that song? It was the first one I ever sang to you."
"Yes..." Francis started then stopped when a twig broke behind him.
"I knew I heard singing out here!" a familiar voice yelled.
"Amigo... I think that you're going crazy. He's not coming back."
"He won't if we just sit by his bed and feel sorry for ourselves! I'm tired of letting everyone I care about leave me! My parents, Ludwig, even Old Fritz broke his promise and he left me! I'm not letting Francis do the same thing!"
"Promise? You mean the nickname thing?" Antonio asked.
Gilbert gave Antonio a look that told him that it wasn't just that. But the look was soon disguised with his trademark smirk. "Yes, I need to know my awesome nickname!"
"Well let's go back to the house for now; I'm freezing my butt off!" Antonio suggested as he pulled his jacket tighter around him.
"Okay, we better not freeze your butt off; Lovino might not forgive me if I did!" Gilbert laughed.
The two walked back the way they came leaving Francis and Joan alone again. Francis stared after them with a sad, thoughtful look on his face. The happiness that he had felt moments earlier was long gone. Francis knew that Gilbert found it hard to trust others when so many had left him. He remembered the night that Old Fritz went to go pick up a pizza for supper and never came back.
They still didn't know what happened to him.
Gilbert went for days without eating, talking or even sleeping. All he did was stare out the window watching the cars that passed. Francis and Antonio tried everything to get Gilbert to return to his former obnoxious self but all he did was stare pass them.
Finally Francis snapped when he saw Ludwig crying in the corner after he tried to talk to Gilbert.
"How is staring out a window going to help bring Old Fritz back! You are so weak to let something like this get you down!" Francis screamed. "What about your little brother? What about Ludwig?"
"Francis!" Antonio yelled cutting off Francis's rant.
Francis looked down at Gilbert and saw the tears that slowly made their way down his cheeks.
"Ludwig..." Gilbert whispered. Suddenly his head snapped up, grabbing Francis by the front of his shirt Gilbert demanded, "Where is Ludwig?"
"In his room."
Gilbert bolted out the door, Antonio and Francis close behind. The door Ludwig's room was closed muffling Gilbert's voice. Antonio pushed the door open just a crack and they peered in. Gilbert was on his knees holding his brother in his arms; both were crying.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." Gilbert sobbed.
Francis sighed and turned to Joan, "Let's go home..."
They held hands and immediately they were back in Limbo.
"I better get back to making the house..." Francis said his voice sounding far off.
Joan stared after him not sure if she should stop him or let him be. A rumbling from above made Joan look up into the sky. Dark, angry clouds covered the sky and the wind picked up to a roar. Joan looked back at Francis who didn't seem to notice the storm.
"I can't let it end like this..." Joan whispered.
AN: So for the people who did not catch on... when Francis was talking about the first time he and Joan had met he is actually describing the date in chapter 6. I thought that it was cute but really sad that he got the two first meetings mixed up! So for you lucky readers there will be another chapter! Please review!
