Snow White

The next day, Gilbert had made breakfast himself, waking up early in the morning to do so. He fried the eggs in a pan, sunny side up, and sprinkled water on the top before he lidded it, then took out another pan for the mini sausages. He simmered them in pomegranate molasses, enjoying the sound of the pine nuts within them pop.

His father came down, holding a drowsy Ludwig in his arms, and smiled at Gilbert's handiwork.

"Are those for Roderich?"

"Yup! How'd you know?"

"Just a guess."

His father smiled knowingly, setting Ludwig down at the breakfast table and walking over to snatch a sausage.

"Mmmmph! You're making those ones mommy used to make?"

"Yup!"

Herr Beilschmidt nodded, a bit amused by his son's excitement.

"Well, they look done. You should hurry, before one of Roderich's maid's come in and try to feed him their own breakfast. Here— let me help."

They packed the sausages and eggs into bowls and wrapped it with thin layers of cloth, then set it inside the small picnic basket that hid in the cupboards. Gilbert struggled for a moment, trying to find a comfortable position to hold the slightly heavy basket of food without tipping everything over, and when he did, he slapped on his hat and made way towards the Edelstein manor across the street.

When he got there, he set the basket down in front of Roderich's door, then knocked. There was a soft voice on the other side, and Gilbert assumed that it was Roderich telling him to come in, and so he did.

"Hey, Snow Knight! Look! I made some sausages and eggs!"

Roderich was on his side, Momo in his grasp, and he peaked over the pages. He eyed the basket, and gave a genuinely confused look.

"Gilbert, is that a picnic basket?"

"Yup!"

"Does that mean we're going on a picnic?"

Gilbert's heart nearly leapt out of his chest as he heard the excitement and awe in Roderich's voice, and he felt guilty.

"I... Well, I wasn't actually planning on that. And didn't you just get back from the hospital?"

Roderich set down the book on the bedside table, rolling the covers off and kicking his feet to the other side, his nightgown wrinkling. He stood up, taking a moment to assure that he was balanced to himself, and turned around, smiling.

"I don't think I'm going to fall over just because we ate breakfast outside. We won't be out very long anyways, right? Let's go and eat in the meadow! Can we, Gilbert?"

It was then that Gilbert saw the desperation in Roderich's eyes, his need for escape, because Roderich has never acted like this before. He wouldn't act like this, Gilbert knew, even if he's only known Roderich for a short time.

He sucked in a breath, forgetting about asking permission from Herr Edelstein, and smiled.

"Yeah! Let's go!"