Well, here's the next chapter. There are only going to be a few more chapters after this one and I will try to get them out soon (lies right ? yeah, yeah ,I know, sorry...)
Anyways, I always look forward to reviews and thank everyone for reading my crap. Also a big thanks to my beta without whom I would be lost :)
Chapter 25 - Better Times ?
Lovino couldn't believe he was on La Isola del Giglio again. After their initial escape from Han Fei-Zi they couldn't decide where to go so the isolated island was chosen. Antonio was still recovering and it would be weeks if not months before he would be better so the island was the perfect place for him to recover.
They had arrived on the island a week ago, in the middle of the night, and had remained unknown to the rest of the island residents. Now however, as the sun started to lower on the horizon, Lovino was glared at with harsh eyes from passersby as he waited on the docks for Arthur to arrive.
They had contacted Arthur briefly to inform him that they would be on the island. In turn Arthur had said that he would come to the island.
Lovino fidgeted as he waited for the ferry boat to dock.
Arthur was the only passenger that got off the ferry.
"Lovino, thanks for coming to meet me." Arthur said as he approached.
"No problem, but let's leave now." Lovino said quickly, grabbing Arthur's hand and tugging him away from the docks.
Arthur went along with it and soon they were walking along the long winding trail that led to the uninhabited part of the island where Lovino's home was.
"I can take that for you if you want." Lovino proposed pointing to Arthur's luggage, "It's a long walk to the house."
"I'm fine thanks."
"Okay."
They set into a comfortable silence and walked, sweat starting to form above their brows as the sun started to dip below the water.
"Almost there." Lovino said, pointing up towards the chimney of the house which just peaked above the trees.
Once they came into view of the house Arthur gasped,
"Your home is beautiful."
"Thank you. It was my mother's."
Lovino climbed the porch steps and pushed open the wooden door.
"I'm back!" Lovino called out and went down the hall to the kitchen, motioning Arthur to follow him.
Lovino pushed open the kitchen door and found Gilbert and Matthew seated at the table, cups of coffee in front of them.
Matthew rose.
"Hello," he said, extending his hand out to Arthur, "I'm Matthew. You must be Arthur."
"Yes, I'm Arthur. Nice to meet you."
The two shook hands.
Gilbert stood up and came up to Arthur grinning from ear to ear.
"Kese Kese Kese, Arthur, long time no see."
"Same to you Gilbert." Arthur said before addressing Matthew, "I don't know how well you know Gilbert, but my advice to you is to stay away from him."
Arthur smiled.
Matthew laughed and Arthur wondered if his comment, which he had only meant in a half joking manner, was that funny.
"Ummm, Gilbert's my boyfriend." Matthew explained, and to prove his point he pecked Gilbert on the cheek.
Arthur's bushy eyebrows rose as high as they would go.
"I never would have guessed..." Arthur trailed off as he recalled what Gilbert had been like the last time he had visited. He had been irresponsible, insensitive and well, downright childish. The fact that Gilbert was involved with someone who appeared to be the exact opposite of him was very surprising to Arthur.
"Either way, good for you Gilbert, Matthew." Arthur said, quickly recovering from the shock.
The awkward silence that followed was shortly interrupted by Lovino who cleared his throat.
"I need to check on Antonio." he said, then turned to Arthur "And I imagine you want to see Francis."
Arthur nodded his head and followed Lovino down a hall and up a flight of stairs. Lovino pointed to one of the doors.
"He's in there."
Arthur thanked him and pushed open the door.
Lovino smiled and disappeared up the next flight of stairs, wanting to check on Antonio.
Francis lay asleep in a huge four poster bed with deep red velvet and satin drapes.
His face was bruised and his arm and hand were in a cast.
Tears welled up in Arthur's eyes as he approached Francis.
He sat on the bed and stroked Francis's cheek, the tears spilling from his eyes onto Francis's face.
Francis shifted and opened his eyes.
"Arthure... you are here."
Arthur smiled through his tears.
"Yes."
Francis smiled and lifted his still functioning hand to wipe away Arthur's tears.
"Ne pleure pas voyons. I am fine."
"N-n-no you are not!" Arthur retorted, "You could have died!"
"Non, I would not have died. I had to see you again first."
Arthur cried and held Francis's hand.
"I promised you I would come back. Plus, look; now I'm a hero! I saved Antonio. So stop crying and give me a kiss bon dieu!" Francis said, puckering his lips.
Arthur laughed and descended down on Francis's lips, kissing him passionately.
After this Arthur climbed into bed with Francis, lying next to him. He surveyed the room that had crimson red wall and mahogany furniture.
He laughed.
"Hmm, what's so funny?" Francis questioned.
"This is the perfect room for you." Arthur smiled.
Francis looked around.
"Oui, it iz ze color of l'amour."
Arthur laughed as he remembered how much he had hated Francis's comments on love and sex when they had first met. Now he found these comments endearing.
"So, tell me how did you break your arm?" Arthur asked to change the subject.
Francis sat up as best he could and puffed out his chest like a peacock, obviously ready to give Arthur every detail on his heroic rescue of Antonio.
Arthur leaned back and prepared to listen to what was probably going to be a very, very long story.
Lovino bounded up the stairs and pulled down the ladder to the trap door in the ceiling. He climbed up quickly and found that Antonio was just as he'd left him, still in his bed.
He approached the bed and sat, taking Antonio's hand in his. He sat for a while and then started to change Antonio's bandages, disinfecting the healing bullet wounds.
Antonio had been stable ever since being revived in the helicopter but he hadn't woken up. So, every day, Lovino would check on him, waiting to see if he might miraculously come to.
Just as Lovino was finishing with the bandages a knock came from the trap door.
"Come in."
Matthew came in.
"How's he holding up?"
"Same as before."
"Oh, and the wounds, are they healing?"
"Yes."
"That's good. Anyways, I just came up to inform you that dinner's ready."
"Okay, thanks."
Matthew lifted the trap door and turned around to look at Lovino.
"Oh and Lovino, thank you for letting us stay in your home."
Lovino smiled sadly.
"It's the least I could do to repay you for all your help."
Matthew smiled and closed the trap door behind him.
Matthew arrived in the kitchen where Gilbert was busy setting out plates. He sat down and sighed.
"Vhat's wrong?" Gilbert asked.
"It's Lovino. I'm worried about him. Antonio isn't waking up." Matthew explained.
"Antonio vill make it. He's always been very though." Gilbert reassured but apparently it didn't seem to be enough to convince Matthew.
"You know I met him when I vas six years old, in the city I used to live in, right after Luddy and I were adopted. He vas taking a beating for a kleines Mädchen who had stolen something. I found out a short while after that that he lived in the orphanage. I sought him out and we became friends right away."
"Really. I didn't know Antonio was an orphan."
"Yes, and he was also very serious around everyone except Francis and I. Seeing him so relaxed around everyone and being so open and loving is really a new thing." Gilbert said a smile of his face. "And it's thanks to Lovino."
Matthew smiled, now happy and looking forward to better days with Antonio, Lovino, Arthur, Francis and of course Gilbert.
Translations
- Ne pleure pas voyons. - Now, don't cry.
- Bon dieu - good god / for god's sake
- l'amour - love
- Kleines Mädchen - little girl
Oh, I forgot to mention this but if anyone's interested in a different couple from the story for a new story (following that couple) let me know. I love requests too and I ship... well, almost every hetalia couple imaginable :)