"W-What?" Feliciano's smile fell. "But, we can't..." he trailed off.
Lovino glanced over to Antonio, who looked like he was about to cry.
Jenny cleared her throat. "Why don't we talk about this in the office." she said, turning and guiding Romulus and the twins towards her office.
Chewing the sleeve of his jacket, Antonio watched Lovino walk away. As soon as the office door closed, Antonio folded his arms over his knees and rested his head atop them.
With a quiet sigh, Ludwig awkwardly placed a hand on the Spaniard's back.
Antonio shrugged his hand off, getting up and storming off to his room without a word.
He slammed his bedroom door and climbed onto his bed, crossing his legs and pulling the quilt over his head.
"Antonio?"
Damn. He hadn't noticed that Francis was in the room, laying on his stomach on his own bed, a book laying open in front of him.
"Antonio, what's the matter?" asked Francis, moving to sit on the bed next to his room mate.
Rubbing his eyes, Antonio shook his head. "Italy." he muttered.
Francis raised an eyebrow. "Context, please?"
Antonio tugged the quilt further around himself, wiping away more tears as the threatened to fall. "L-Lovino's grandfather is t-taking him and Feliciano to Italy." he choked, tucking himself away in his quilt.
"What?" Francis' eyes widened. "And they're going?"
"They're in the o-office talking about it."
"So, you don't know, then?"
Antonio shrugged.
With a sigh, Francis pulled the quilt off his room mate. "Then what are you crying about?"
"H-haven't you been listening?"
"Haven't you?"
When he got no reply, Francis folded his arms. "They're in the office talking about it, so they probably haven't decided yet. It's a bit silly to get upset over something that might not even happen."
Antonio sniffed, nodding slowly.
That's when they heard footsteps rushing up the stairs, passed their door and into the room three doors down.
Lovino and Feliciano's bedroom.
Antonio's gaze shifted from Francis to the door and back again.
Giving another short sigh, Francis got up and went back to his book. "Go and talk to him." he said.
Antonio bit his lip, thinking over what he would say. He rubbed his eyes a few more times before getting up and making his way to the bedroom Lovino shared with Feliciano.
"Lovino!"
He caught the attention of both twins, but Feliciano quickly looked away, going back to packing.
Packing.
Antonio felt his heart clench painfully. "Lovi..." He kept moving forward, grabbing the elder twin by the shoulders. "Say you're not leaving!"
Lovino tore himself out of the Spaniard's grasp. "What does it look like?" he muttered.
Antonio's eyes filled with tears. "But, I... I don't want you to leave."
Lovino tutted. "I thought you said you wouldn't mind it."
"That was when I thought you were only going to a different part of town, not to Italy!" Tears had started running down Antonio's cheeks again. "I might never see you again. How would I ever manage without you?"
"You got on fine before." was Lovino's response.
More hot tears spilled down Antonio's face. "But, I—"
"Antonio." Lovino turned with a glare. "We aregoing to Italy with Nonno."
"I—"
Lovino's hand shot up, silencing the weeping Spaniard. "For a holiday. Then we're coming back."
Antonio froze. He still had tears streaming down his face and his heart felt like it had been thrown into reverse. He didn't know what his feelings were doing. "A... A holiday?" he croaked.
"Two weeks." confirmed Lovino.
Without a second thought, Antonio threw himself at the elder Italian, pulling him into the tightest hug he could possibly manage.
Lovino stiffened, but didn't try to push the Spaniard away. "So, um..." he muttered awkwardly. "Can I finish packing now?"
Antonio laughed quietly, letting go of Lovino and leaving him and Feli to pack.
The whole of Apple Tree House, residents and care workers, gathered outside to see the boys off.
Feliciano refused to let go of Ludwig's waist. "I'm going to miss you so, so, so much!" he whined, burying his face in the German's chest.
"It's just for two weeks, Feliciano." muttered Ludwig, trying to ease the Italian's koala-like grip off him.
Sticking out his bottom lip, Feliciano peeked up at his best friend through his fringe. "But... Aren't you going to miss me?" He sniffled for effect.
"O-of course, I am!" Ludwig spluttered, awkwardly returning Feliciano's hug.
Gilbert laughed, joining the hug. "Way to make him uncomfortable, Feli-Fairy."
"Do you still call him that?" Lovino glared.
"Aww, do you want a nickname too?"
"We can call you Lovi-Lemon." Ivan suggested with a wide smile.
Antonio wrapped his arms around Lovino before he had a chance to shout. "You guys are stupid, everyone knows his nickname is Tomate." he said.
"THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THIS!"
Feliciano giggled as his brother struggled out of Antonio's hold, yelling in a garbled mix of English and Italian. He gasped when he felt someone pull him into a hug.
"I'm going to miss you very much, dear." said Elizabeta, as she began fussing with his fringe.
With a smile, Feliciano returned her hug. "I'll miss you too, mama. But like Ludwig said, it's only two weeks."
Elizabeta smiled, pressing a kiss to her self-appointed son's cheek. She turned to Lovino, who'd only just managed to free himself of Antonio. "Don't think you're escaping!" she chuckled, pulling him in for a hug. "I'll miss you, too." she bent down, kissing his cheek.
Lovino rubbed the spot she'd kissed with his sleeve. "I might miss you, as well..." he shifted awkwardly before standing up in his tip toes and whispering in her ear. "Mama."
Pulling away and taking a step back, Elizabeta covered her mouth, tears coming to her eyes. She smiled, wiping her eyes. "I'm a bit overwhelmed." she whispered, leaning back on Roderich, who curled an arm around her.
"Well," Lovino grabbed hold of Feliciano's hand. "I guess... we'll see you all in two weeks."
The twins climbed into the back of their grandfather's car, waving and watching the others wave back out the back window.
Two weeks to go until they'd be back home.
End note: Only the epilogue left now, guys. I hope the ending has left everyone happy.
The song for this chapter is No Place Like Home by Marianas Trench.
~Lolly xXx