A/N: Hello mein leiblings. I'm so sorry about how slow updates have been as of late. Zenkaikon and post con depression really messed with me and my beta's schedule so yeah. But we're working hard to get back on track. I'm very happy about all the positive feedback that the last chapter got an di hope that this one gets just as much if not more. So yeah, I have something else i really want to say and some big news that I want to share with you guys but I'll leave that for the end of the chapter since I know you all probably just want to get on to the story so I'll get right to it.

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Himapapa I am not worthy. I am not worthy at all.

Chapter XXIX

~Time skip~

~3 Weeks later~

Gilbert's POV

I pull at the collar of my shirt and look at my reflection in the dresser mirror in front of me. I'm wearing a nice button down shirt. The deep red color matches my eyes nicely, though at the moment, I'm a bit too nervous to care about how nice my eyes look. My black dress pants are held up by a simple black leather belt, and my shirt is, for once, tucked in neatly. My combat boots have been temporarily traded for a pair of nice shoes, borrowed from Opa. My silver hair has been brushed and forced down into looking at least somewhat neat.

Silver cuff links glint in the light on my wrists. Their shape is that of the Prussian Eagle. They're a special heirloom from my mother's side of the family. When Opa gave them to me for my sixteenth birthday, he told me that they were always passed to the eldest child in the family. Mein mutti had apparently left them for me in her will with instructions that they be given to me when I turned sixteen years old. I only ever wear them for special occasions, like today. Today is the day when the final verdict for Birdie's case against Carlos is to be announced. I'm more nervous now then I've been in a long time.

I sigh and attempt to put my tie on with one hand, failing miserably. My left arm is in a sling, since my shoulder is still healing. I can't play music, but the doctor said that I should be able to play with no problem once it's fully healed. I don't mind it too much, except that getting dressed is painful and annoying.

There's a knock on my door and Opa enters after I say it's open. He chuckles lightly upon seeing me grow more and more frustrated and tangled up with my tie. He takes it from me gently and helps me to put it on properly before smoothing down my hair, as it had gotten messed up from my struggle. Once done, he rests his hand lightly upon my uninjured shoulder.

"How are you feeling?" he asks me.

"Pretty good. A bit sore, but it's nothing I can't handle," I tell him, grinning as I jokingly add, "I am your grandson, after all. All those fighting lessons and training sessions with West would have been a huge waste if I didn't at least learn how to handle a little pain."

He just nods, but knowing him as well as I do, I can easily see the hint of sadness that passes through his eyes. I'm a bit confused by it, since it's rare for him to be upset.

"What's wrong, Opa?" I inquire.

Sighing, he says, "Ich can't hide much from you und your bruder anymore can Ich?"

"Not really; we know you too well," I reply, smiling a bit.

He gives me a small smile as his hand moves to rest against the side of my neck. His thumb strokes my jaw softly, almost as if I'm made of glass and will break if he isn't care full.

"With every passing day, you und your bruder remind me more of your parents. Ludwig is so much like your Vater, Even trying to be a lawyer like him, like Ich would be ashamed of him for being anything else," he tells me.

I chuckle lightly. "Ja, even though he's way more comfortable in an apron and covered with flour than in a stuffy suit with a briefcase."

Opa nods and continues. "You, though... you are so much like your mutti. Ich see so much of her in you, every day. You received so much more from her than your hair und eyes."

Confused by his words, I give him a questioning look. I don't see how I'm like mein mutti. From what I remember, she was kind, gentle, and sweet, whereas I'm loud and obnoxious, and most people find me annoying. I just don't see how I'm like her at all. Seeing confusion written plainly on my face, Opa explains.

"When Ich met your mutti for the first time, to say Ich was shocked would be a severe understatement. She was such a free spirit, so wild and different. Ich never thought her relationship with you vater would last for very long, to be honest. Yet the more Ich watched the two of them together, the more Ich began to see just how much of a perfect match she was for him. He was always a very quiet und orderly person, yet when they were together, he began to open up and become more relaxed. She brought out a side of him that no one else could. He smiled more and would only ever truly laugh when she was with him. It was clear that she brought him a happiness like no other. With time, she even made her way into my own heart, und by the time your vater proposed to her, she was already like a daughter to me. She never let herself be bothered with what other people thought of her, and she gave a smile that would instantly light up a room to any person who looked her way. She had such a life to her that it was impossible to be sad when she was near.

When you were born, you gave us all a scare when you weren't breathing, but once you began to cry, Ich could tell that you were going to be like her. Even as a baby less than a minute old, you refused to die. You had her will. As Ich watched you grow, you became more und more like her. You had the same free spirit, the same bright smile, und the same feeling of life about you. When she und your vater passed, it left you, though. It didn't vanish completely, but it became muted. It only showed itself when you would play your music with Friedrich, but it once again left after his passing. Lately, though, ever since you met Matthew, Ich have seen it returning. Ich cannot voice how happy it makes me to see you finally becoming yourself again. Matthew has finally brought you back home to us, and though you've faced many hardships, I know that you two are meant for each other. I hope you will stand together against many challenges to come in the future," he tells me. I'm shocked, and stare at him for a moment before I smile up at him.

Then, I do something that I haven't done in many years. I step forward and hug him, a bit awkwardly with my arm being in a sling and all, but it's the first hug I've given him in a long time. I press my face into his chest and force myself to keep from pulling away. He freezes for a moment, no doubt surprised by my sudden affection, the kind that I haven't shown since I was little. After a moment, however, he relaxes and wraps his arms gently around me in return. I'm shaking a bit, and his fingers run through my hair as I whisper, "Opa, to tell you the truth, I'm scared. What if something goes wrong today? What if Carlos is set free? What if they choose to lock up me and Ivan instead? There's just so much that could go wrong."

Opa pulls back a bit and lifts my chin so that he can look me in the eye.

"Gilbert Katte Beilschmidt, Ich assure you that no matter what happens today, you will always have the leibe und support of us behind you. We will not allow anyone to hurt you und Matthew any further. You are both very precious to us. Don't you ever forget this. Do you understand?"

A sense of immense pride fills me upon hearing his assurances. I smile a bit and nod, responding, "Ja, I understand, Opa. I swear, I won't ever forget, no matter what happens."

Returning my smile, he cleans my face of tears like he would when I was small and says, "Gut. Now come on. We must hurry und leave. Ludwig is already waiting in the car. We'll be late if we don't leave now."

I nod again, a new-found determination filling me. We climb into the car and head off toward the courthouse, where the case is finally to be closed, bringing a much awaited end to all of this madness.

Matthew's POV

I pace nervously back and forth in the area just outside the courtroom where the trial is going to be held. Alfred and Ivan are sitting on a bench that rests against the wall. Both are nervous, but they are much better at hiding it than I am. Then again, they have each other here to hold onto for a sense of assurance. I don't have Gilbert here to help keep me together. He should be here already, but he's not. I can't stop shaking as millions of thoughts and worries about what could go wrong and why Gilbert isn't here already flash through, only serving to upset me more as I pace, unable to stay still.

I'm almost to the point of hyperventilating from worry, so nervous that I don't notice the sound of quick footsteps approaching me.

"Birdie!" I hear. Turning around so fast that I almost give myself whiplash, I see Gil rushing down the hall towards me.

"Bear!" I cry out, running to meet him, ignoring how loud my voice and footsteps are in the echoing hall. Upon reaching him, I throw my arms around his chest, doing my best to not upset his injuries. Pressing my face into his uninjured shoulder, I whisper, "I was scared that something had happened to you."

I feel his chest shaking as he chuckles. He puts his hand under my chin , lifting my face to place a light kiss on my lips.

"Nope, just a bit late. I'm sorry for making you worry. Nothing could keep me from being here. I want to be there when they sentence that arschloche to life in prison. Well... and I kind of have to be here, since I'm in the trial and all."

"Well, having you here helps me. I'm so nervous that I can barely stand, but when you're at my side, my nerves are much calmer."

My words bring a soft smile to Bear's lips. He gives me another chaste kiss on my lips, saying, "Gut."

Gil's family approaches us, his grandfather speaking up. "Hallo, Matthew. How are you fairing?"

"I'm doing well, much better now that Gil's here," I reply, hugging Bear's arm.

"Gut," he says with a tiny smile, "Where are your parents?"

"They're inside already," I tell him, pointing to the courtroom doors, "They said that they'll come and get me, Al, and Ivan once they call everyone in."

He nods. "I believe I will join them, then."

"No need; you can all come in. It's about to start, "Arthur interrupts, coming out into the hall.

We all nod, an air of seriousness falling over us like a heavy, almost suffocating blanket as everyone follows him back into the room. Bear and I are left as the last two in the hall. He wraps his uninjured arm around my waist and pulls me close.

He presses a kiss to my temple and whispers against my skin, "It's gonna be okay, Birdie. I promise. I'm gonna be right here besides you the whole time. So just relax, alright?"

I nod my head, lace my fingers together with his, and with an air of new calmness now that we have each other at our sides, we step into the courtroom together.

End of Chapter XXIX

A/N: Well, I hope you guys liked this chapter. Next we finally find out what is going to happen to Carlos and if Ivan will be punished for hurting Matthew for so long and if Gil will be punished for shooting Carlos, so please stay tuned for more to come.

On a different note I have two things I would like to tell you. First is that you guys are amazing, and that without you being here and supporting this story through all of your reviews and feedback this would have never come as far as it has. I may be the author of this story, but you guys are the reason I never gave up on this. I appreciate every single review and I reply to every single one that I can. I love every one that I get, the ones that are short and sweet to the ones that are long paragraphs and even the really silly ones. Each and every one of them is so incredibly special to me, you have no idea. So thank youi to all of my readers. To everyone who has ever reviewed, to those who reviewed once, to those who review with each chapter, and to those who've never reviewed at all. You are all so amazing and wonderful and this story would not be possible without you. You have my utmost thanks.

Second, I wanted to share a wonderful bit of news with you guys. I now have an amazing and beautiful Girlfriend. You guys mean a lot to me and I wanted to share that with you. So yeah that's it. I look forward to all your reviews and look forward to bringing you more. Just letting you all know also the chapter after this one will be the last one, I have however written an Epilogue. That one might take a while to get out because it is very long. But yeah only two more to go then this will finally be over. It's been an amazing journey to write this and I look forward to seeing it through to the very end.

As always a word from my fantastic Beta Sakura414:

Wow... twenty-nine chapters and I still haven't figured out what to say in these things. Socially awkward beta is socially awkward... =.=

You're still awesome cause you're my socially awkward beta.

Until next time my dears.

Wolf-chan out