Gilbert hated going shopping. If he had money, he'd be spending it on cooler things than groceries. That was probably why he didn't have money.

The store had people, and he had to spend money on things he didn't want, but he needed. Like soap, and shampoo, and razors. And milk. Luddy had given him a list, and money. It was so that Gilbert would feel useful, be useful, and not withering around his house all day, alone.

No one had bothered to read Gilbert's mind, and so everything was stored at opposite ends of the store, making to entire ordeal a loathsome trek from aisle to aisle. Not that he wasn't accustomed to it.

"Go faster!" Luddy whined from his race car that was actually just a shopping cart. And not even the cool one that actually looked like a race car. It was a plain, ordinary, plastic cart, and Luddy couldn't fit in the designated child's seat anymore.

"You know, I love it when you demand things in that tone of voice." said Gilbert, sarcastically, still retaining his one mile an hour speed.

"Please?" Luddy revised.

Smart kid, Gilbert thought. Of course, because he's my brother. "Nice try, Luddy. But that doesn't change the fact that this cart is really heavy, and I can't charge around the store with you. It would be dangerous."

"A knight like in the fairy tales wouldn't be scared." Ludwig muttered sullenly.

"Yeah, well life isn't a fairy tale, if you hadn't noticed." Gilbert said, as he grabbed a gallon of milk.

"It should be."

"Yeah. It should." The brothers stopped pensively, thinking deeply, and staring towards a tower of paper towel rolls.

Gilbert looked back at the produce section, his daydream, or memory slinking away. We were just kids. I don't think we should have gone through so much. But I hope I kept Luddy normal. I shouldn't be doing this in a grocery store, he finished, feelings tears forming.

And why on earth would he want pasta?

Gilbert passed through the check-out line with his armful of groceries. The cashier babbled, but he wasn't in the mood. After paying quickly, he left.

The sky had abandoned light, and the parking lot was moist with falling rain. Some spots on the black asphalt gleamed with its borrowed light, reflected from streetlamps, like diamonds, and seeming to burn like an orange fire beneath the wet ground.

Gilbert couldn't remember where he had parked his car, but the darkness was so beautiful, and rain-filled, that he almost wanted to stay there anyway. He could lean against the storefront on the sidewalk, beneath the overhanging store roof, and sleep, or watch people run out to their cars shielding groceries, some with rain gear, others without. It was a nice thought, but easily deglamorized if you accounted being hauled off by police for loitering. And he couldn't just leave Ludwig. After all, what would he do without a crate of oranges, and ten ballpoint pens?

He found his car by pressing the magic car keys button. Luddy had taught him that. It was useful, especially for the inept.

The interior of Ludwig's car was cold with the settling air of night, and a storm. Gilbert shivered slightly as he got into the driver's seat. He drove, the night making the boring little town less unsightly, seeing as you couldn't see half of it, and the deep blue of the sky make everything a little prettier.

Gilbert unloaded the bags from the car, and found out what the pasta had been about: they had company.

Feliks was dripping on his doorstep, and a large, pink raincoat was draped over Feli.

"Hey. We're kind of running away for a bit, mind if we stay here?"

"What!" Gilbert nearly dropped the bags into a mud puddle.

"Well, I already told Ludwig. And here we are. Surprise!" Feliks grinned weakly.

"Oh. Yeah, okay. I'll unlock the door then." He made his way clumsily around them, and managed to open the door while gripping three full, plastic grocery bags in one hand. He allowed Feliks and Feliciano to brushed past him, the collective rain water from their clothing collecting on his shirt. He closed the door with one hand.

"Luddy, I'm home! And also, Feliks's here with Feli." He turned to the two evacuees, but specifically at Feliks. "You're going to have to explain this to me now."

"Yeah. Long story short, taking care of Feli in my house got really complicated,because I don't necessarily own my house. Actually, I'm renting. And the people I was renting from didn't want any legal trouble with the Adoption Agency, just in case something came up and they got dragged into it. Pretty stupid, but now my rent is on suspension. I'm allowed to move back in as long as I don't have Feli with me. So I was going to settle that out of town, and then go back up. But I only have to be here for a night. I can go back up. Toris would let me stay with him too. And maybe Lizzy. I'll try not to burden you."

"You won't burden us." Ludwig said, stepping into the room.

"But where will I live?" Feli said. His voice was so unsuspecting and sweet, as if some part of him still hoped that he could stay.

"They're here now." Gilbert told Lizzy over the phone.

"It's just like then." she whispered. Gilbert decided that he didn't need to really know what she meant.

"Feliks is on a vacation. So it's not like you'll have to watch Feli, or anything. I just thought that you should know."

"Okay. I see. Tell them I said hi."

"I will. Goodnight!"

"'Night, Gilbert."

Thank you for reading! Please review.

Adorable Luddy is adorable. I regret nothing.

Guest Review

Guest: Thank you! Michelle is based on my counselor, who was very nice too.