This chapter is dedicated to HaloHeart for making me smile and encouraging me to continue this


The beginning of December delivered what was promised as the soft white flakes fell and covered the ground in a blanket of snow. The school bus pulled into the bay in town and the drabble of students wandered out into the cold snuggled up in large coats, hats, scarves and other winter clothing. Seeing as it would soon be Christmas the students had come to do some present shopping as so to get the needed gifts before heading home for the winter holiday that was to occur soon.

"Alright, let's get the shopping done quickly and then we can have a snowball fight!" the hero was once again quick to voice his opinion. Mathew laughed a little and sighed, feeling a little down that he and his brother would have to separate after becoming so close. Edging closer to Alfred, the boy noticed and hooking his twin's arm, laughed "Come on Mattie, let's go! We are wasting perfectly good snow!"

"I know, I know Alfred, please slow down you'll pull me over!" he protested as he attempted to keep his balance on the ice hiding under the white blanket. Finally after ten minutes the boy slowed down and the twins came to walk side by side along the pavement looking in shop windows every so often.

"What do you think Mum would like?" Mathew asked, leaning gently onto the window of the jewellery shop smiling softly.

"I don't know…don't care."

"Come on Alfred…we will get it together so all you have to do is give an opinion," he then noticed his brother about to make a shrewd remark so countered "A nice one! And write your name on the card, nothing more…" he sighed.

"Neither of them deserve anything…"

"I know but we need to be the bigger people…and be mature"

Rolling his eyes he pretended to have an interest in the things his brother was picking out and eventually they agreed on a small ring. Shortly after the same enthusiasm was shown when shopping for their father's gift, even when their parents were together Alfred never showed interest in the gifts that they had to buy for birthdays and Christmas but now it was just even more of a chore. Once parental shopping was out of the way Mathew noticed Arthur across the road with Lovino who was looking rather bored and it wasn't immediately obvious why they were together.

"His brother asked me to keep him occupied." Arthur explained as they sat at the table in a café while Lovino and Alfred were fetching the order. Alfred's job was to stop Lovino from strangling the staff for not knowing how to serve coffee.

"Feliciano is buying his present?" Mathew asked and Arthur nodded

"Lovino says he got Feli's present a while back something about it's perfect for him, but he still seems to be anxious to buy something for someone." he commented and Mathew raised his eyebrows.

"Oh really?" he laughed a little, he did find his friend's behaviour peculiar at times like this, so many secrets when it seems like common sense to come out with the truth.

"Here's the fucking coffee" the grumpy Italian commented as he sat down grumbling to himself.

"So you already have your brother's present?" Mathew perked up and Lovino turned taking a few seconds to register he was being spoken to.

"Yeah…" he sighed "And now my brother is off shopping with the potato sucker…bet they're making out somewhere…"

"Ludwig? Ah, him and Feliciano would make a cute couple." Alfred laughed and then cringed as the glare of the Italian next to him bore into his face.

"Well I bought all you guys stuff months ago…"

"So who are you buying for today?" Mathew asked curious and innocent eyed. Lovino went bright red.

"NO ONE IN PARTICULAR SO DROP IT!"

"We weren't even prying!" Alfred yelled

"Well you were going to so call it a warning!" Lovino huffed and sunk lower into the seat sulking.

~~ Flutter with the Fairies~~

The Blond haired German knocked back the pills and swallowed them with water coughing a little at the bitter taste.

"Come on Bruder you know you have to take them…" Gilbert sighed tucking the rest of the medicine into his inner coat pocket and zipping it up shivering a little from the exposure to the cold. Feliciano walked out of the shop they were sat outside off looking really happy for himself.

"I found it! I found the most perfect thing!" he declared rushing over to the brother, "Ludwig you still feeling bad? We can go back to the school if you want…"

"No Feliciano I am ok…me and bruder want to see somewhere before we head back to school" he smiled weakly, the Italian looked at him with a sad yet interested look in his eyes.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked nudging closer to Ludwig.

"Well…we used to live round here Feli." Gilbert spoke rubbing the back of his neck with his hand and staring off down the street.

Ludwig looked at Feliciano and seeing the look that appeared in the boy's eyes, tried his best to divert the boy's interest in their lives.

Three blocks later proved how ineffective this was.

"So you lived on the streets?" the Italian seemed to freak over this.

"Looks its fine Feliciano" Ludwig compromised but he seemed unconvinced.

"But it's why you're ill! Don't worry though Nurse Feliciano will keep you safe and better!"

"And I'll be Doctor Gilbert, the most awesome doctor that ever lived" the albino perked up laughing. His brother moaned and rubbed the sides of his temples.

"If I wake up and you two are standing over me playing doctor I will freak" he grumbled and walked ahead. Feliciano ran after him and hooked his arm. Ludwig flinched slightly but relaxed at the touch as the three continued to walk away.

~~forever with family~~

"What are you looking for mon ami?" Francis asked sick to death at the sight of the hobby store the Spaniard had pulled them into. He looked over, face pouted in thought.

"I want to make my presents this year" he smiled and threw his arms in the air and Francis could have sworn he saw sparkles and flowers erupt around the cheerful teen.

"Right…well good luck?" he offered, eyebrow raised. The boy nodded and headed off disappearing into the shelves to make his purchase. Francis smiled a little and leant back against the shelf letting his mind wander as he waited for the male to get back.

"Francis"

The French teen jumped as he whipped round and saw the Russian looming over him.

"Q-Quoi? Is there something you need boss?" he asked swallowing his stutter as best he could.

"do me a favour and round up everyone…I have one last task for you all before the holidays" he smiled a large fang filled smile "then meet me at the town square" he petted the male's head and headed out the shop. Antonio walked towards them again with bags in his arms.

"What was that about?" he asked eyes narrowing as he watched Ivan leave.

"I'm not quite sure…" was all Francis replied.

~~flutter with the fairies~~

"So….this is it?" Feliciano asked feeling his heart drop. In front of the three of them was a large motel complex. The building was practically hanging on by one brick, it had long been out of use and ferns and grasses all over the place.

"Yeah…home sweet home" Gilbert smiled sadly and in a nostalgic manner. It had been the first time in a while since they had been back there.

"We grew up here…ever since I can remember…" Ludwig whispered a little then jumped hearing the rattle of metal "Bruder what are you doing?"

"Going in … you want to show Feli where we lived right?"

Ludwig looked to Feli who was fiddling with his coat "You don't have to…"

"N-no…I want to…" he rushed after them as they walked further into the courtyard that used to be a car park and up the stairs at the far end. As they walked past the rows of discoloured doors until they reached one coloured in crayon. Feliciano smiled at the childish drawings and the name Ludwig and Gilbert written by the different drawings.

"You drew this Luddy?" Feli perked up lightly running a finger over the crude drawing glancing up to see the boy blush "it's really good!" he hopped up and leant on him laughing.

Gilbert laughed and pushed open the door revealing a quite tidy motel room with a double bed in the middle sofa at one end and a bathroom although the door looked boarded up.

"There is a family of rats in there…" Ludwig muttered,

"They sure can fight…" Gilbert remarked walking in and leaning on the wall near the door watching his brother moved over to the bed lying down.

"Wow…so you lived at least with a roof over your head" Feliciano spoke absentmindedly then realising the words that came out of his mouth he clamped a hand over it looking shocked. Ludwig sat up and blinked at the worried Italian. "I am so sorry I didn't mean…"

"It's ok; we know… this life is a little different from yours anyway."

"I admire you for living here…"

"W-what? R-really?"

"Si…you've probably had more of a life in one day than I have in all my life."

Gilbert raised an eyebrow. Could there be any more sexual tension in the room? He thought, seeing the nervous nature of the two "I am going to stand outside a bit, memories…getting to the awesome me" he spoke shuffling outside and closing the door.

Now left alone Ludwig stood up and clear his throat "Feliciano…please forgive me but I won't get to do this when we get back to school and I don't want to you to leave for Christmas without this occurring!" he kinda yelled and the Italian blinked confused.

"Ve?" he watched bewildered as the German leant forward and kiss his lips softly snapping up right looking slightly flustered over it. Feliciano went bright red and cautiously ghosted a finger over his lips seemingly taking in what had just happened. He smiled and looked up at Ludwig seemingly in thought.

"F-Feli?" he asked a little worried by the calm response of the usually cheerful boy. He smiled and slowly climbed onto the rusted bed hearing the spring creaked as weight was pushed onto one or two spring coils.

Pushing his fringe from his face he looked at his feet them leant forward and returned the kiss.

"Sorry…I couldn't reach you without standing on my tip toes, and I have weak ankles ve~" he laughed a little and put his hands onto Ludwig's shoulders. Ludwig couldn't help but smile, they both looked away as if checking the room and then both leant into the other and kiss for a third time but with deeper intent.

Gilbert was leant on the railing outside looking at the cloud filled sky wondering if leaving the room was a good idea. He began to imagine the floor collapsing and other things although he decided it was best not to tempt fate into doing anything drastic…

"Gilbert!"

He looked down to see a young girl in a long pink coat, white tights and pink boots came running over.

"Lily?" he blinked as she panted and looked up smiling, she turned away towards the gates

"Big Brother! He's in here!"

The Albino blinked as Vash entered the motel area in long dark green coat, trusted rifle under his arm. "Gilbert have you been here the whole time?"

"Yes Vash I have, I was thinking of planning our honeymoon here!" he scoffed. Vash growled and narrowed his eyes

"Look red eye, we have a problem!"

Gilbert paled a little. This did not sound good.

"What is it?" he leant forward carefully on the rotting rail.

"Boss wants us all to meet at the town square…one last job before we leave…"


Hi, this is samstar1990's beta mystmoon92. She has no internets so I'm uploading this for her. She can still get email though, so please review and encourage her to continue!