Chapter 20

Gil adjusted his uniform in the mirror of his hotel room. It was his dress uniform, and it looked good on him. He smiled, looking at himself, brushing a stray piece of hair back with his hand. He smiled. He almost looked like his brother, just paler. He glanced back at the packages on the table in his room, perfectly wrapped in brown paper. He smiled again as he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," He turned to the door to see Cort's grinning face looking up at him. "Well?"

"Mama and my sisters are excited!" He looked down, "But… um… they were wondering if… maybe we could just eat at my house…" He put his hands in his pockets. "We… we don't' have… nice things for going to a restaurant…" He whispered, keeping his eyes on the floor.

Gil put his hand on the boy's shoulder, "I know." He smiled kindly, "That's why…" He motioned to the packages on the table.

Cort stared at them. "You… you…" He looked up at Gil, shocked.

Gil nodded. "Now, if you'll help me carry them downstairs, we can go to my car. He's going to drive us to your house, all right?"

Cort nodded, still staring at the packages. He ran up to them and helped Gil carry them to the car.

Gil motioned for the boy to sit next to him, which Cort did after petting the seat.

"It's really soft…" Cort whispered.

Gil laughed, nodding, "Yes it is."

Cort gave the driver directions to his house, which to Gil's amusement was less than three blocks from the hotel. They could have walked, but seeing Cort's excitement at riding in the car was worth it. Gil looked out the window at the house, it was the same house he'd seen the beautiful girl walk into earlier that day. The car parked along the street and the driver picked up the packages, carrying them behind Cort and Gil.

Cort ran in the door excitedly, Gil following behind him.

"Mama! Mama, we're here!" Cort ran up to her, taking her hand and pulling her towards Gil.

Gil nodded politely to her. "Hallo." He smiled, standing straight. "You have a very good son." He glanced down at Cort.

"Danke, Herr Beilschmidt." The older woman nodded.

Gil noticed her hair was streaked with grey, and her eyes were tired, but wise. Her hands were older than her face, aged from hard work. She was thin. He smiled at her kindly, "Please, call me Gilbert."

She smiled back, "And I'm Margot. You are very, very kind, Gilbert."

He nodded politely. "Now, I have reservations for us at the best place in town-"

"Danke, Gilbert, but-"

"Please," He held up his hand kindly, "Please excuse my boldness, but…" He motioned for the driver to bring the packages closer, setting them on the table.

Gil smiled as he saw Margot's eyes widen with shock. "Please, accept these as my gift to you."

"We don't deserve-"

"Cort said that your husband was killed in the war and that you lost a daughter… this is the very least I could possibly do." He smiled, turning his head as movement caught his eye. He had to force his jaw closed as the same girl he'd seen outside walked through one of the doors in the house.

"Gilbert," Margot smiled, motioning towards the girl, "This is my oldest daughter, Adelaide."

Adelaide walked up to him, smiling and nodding politely. Her smile was kind and warm. She looked at him with giant brown eyes, brushing her thick brunette behind her ear. "You are most welcome here, Herr B-"

"Gilbert. Please," He took her hand, bringing it to his lips, smiling as she looked away with a slight blush.

"You are welcome to call me Adelaide… Gilbert." She smiled, looking up at him again, a spark in her eyes.

Gil stood straight again, releasing Adelaide's hand almost reluctantly. He smiled as a young girl, who looked to be in her early teens, ran into the room and up to Margot.

"And this is Gisela." Margot nodded, "My youngest daughter."

Gil smirked, amused as Gisela extended her hand to shake his. He shook her hand firmly.

"So, did you fight in the war?" Gisela asked, excited.

Gil laughed at her forwardness, nodding, "Ja. Ja, I did."

"Will you tell me about it?" The girl's eyes grew wide with excitement.

"Gisela!" Margot corrected, kindly but sternly. She looked up at Gil, "I apologize."

Gil smiled, "No need. I understand." He turned to Gisela, "Maybe during dinner, if it wouldn't upset your mother." He nodded to Margot kindly.

"Danke." Margot smiled, nodding to him in return, "Now children, Gilbert has brought us all gifts." She motioned towards the table.

Gisela ran up to the packages, squealing with delight, with Cort following close behind her, looking for which package had their name on it.

Adelaide waited for a moment, turning to Gil again, "Danke, Gilbert." She smiled, looking up at him, the spark still in her eyes.

Gil smirked, watching her walk to the table, hoping she'd be pleased with the dress. He'd guessed at sizes, having asked Cort the girl's ages while he was at the hotel earlier in the day. He could see it would fit her well. "There is one for you as well, of course, Margot." He nodded to her kindly, "I will wait outside while you all change for dinner. Our reservations are for half an hour from now. My car will take us to dinner if that's all right."

Margot nodded, "You are very kind."

"As I said, it's the least I can do." Gil nodded again, walking out the door. He leaned against the building with a deep sigh and a smirk. He tried not to think about Adelaide but found it both difficult and unpleasant. He lit a cigarette, hoping it would calm his mind. He'd just finished rubbing it into the sidewalk with his boot when the door of the house opened. Adelaide walked out first, and Gil offered her his arm. He looked at her. The dress fit her perfectly, it's soft green complimenting her slightly tan skin. His eyes fixed themselves along her collar bone, shoulder, and chest. A deep, twisted scar covered her, the memory of a horrible burn etched into her skin.

She noticed his glance, "When the city was…" She sighed deeply, "It happened during the war. It's healed now, and I barely notice it anymore."

Gil didn't believe her last sentence, but he nodded, "I'm so sorry," He shook his head with a sigh, "But I'm glad you survived."

She nodded, "As am I." She pushed her hair behind her ear again.

Gil noticed that the others had exited the house. He opened the door of the car for Adelaide first, then motioned for Gisela and Margot to join her, helping them into the car. He walked around the car with Cort, motioning for him to slide into the front seat, and Gil sat beside him, with Cort between him and the driver. Gil glanced back at the girls, "I hope it's not too uncomfortable." He smiled.

"Not at all," Margot smiled back.

They drove to the restaurant, and Gil tried to keep his eyes out the window. The destruction of the city was still painfully visible. He closed his eyes with a sigh as the wall became visible in the distance. He turned away. He couldn't look at it. He glanced back at the girls with a smile, then forward again, trying hard not to look out the window.

"What will we do when we get to the restaurant?" Cort asked, looking up at Gil.

Gil smiled at him, "Well, we'll go inside and they'll take us to our seats, ask us what we want to drink…"

"I'm too young to drink."

Gil chuckled, "Then you can ask for water or milk." He smirked.

"I'm not that little."

Gil laughed, grinning, "No," he smiled, "Not that little." He heard Gisela trying to stifle her own laughter behind him. "You look very nice, Cort." Gil smiled, motioning to Cort's navy colored suit.

Cort beamed, "It's perfect. Danke."

Gil nodded, looking forward out of the window, the wall out of view. They pulled to the door of the parking lot and Gil got out of the car, opening the door for Adelaide again, offering her his arm. They walked into the restaurant.

…

The dim streetlights lit the sidewalk in the darkness as the car parked at the door of Cort's family's house. Gil again opened Adelaide's door first, offering her his arm, helping her out of the car. He helped Margot out next, followed by Gisela, who almost pouted.

"What's wrong?" He asked her kindly.

"You didn't tell me any war stories." Gisela looked up at him, annoyed.

"Maybe some other time," he nodded to her.

Gisela sighed, frustrated, walking into the house as her mother opened the door, Cort following close behind her.

Gil turned to Adelaide, "I had a very good time," he smiled.

"So did I.. Gilbert," She looked up at him.

"I'll in the city for a while… may I see you again?"

"If you'd like…" She pushed her hair behind her ear again.

He smirked, taking her hand again, pulling it towards his lips.

Shots rang out across the city.

Gil fell to his knees, clutching his chest, gasping for breath suddenly, his whole body shaking with pain. He pressed his hand to his forehead, trying to think, trying to breathe. He coughed, quickly bringing his hand to his mouth to hide the blood he could taste.

Adelaide knelt next to him immediately, putting her arm over his shoulders, her other hand on his upper arm. "Gilbert?" Her voice was worried, almost panicked, "Mother!" She looked up towards the door.

Margot rushed out of the door and ran next to them, kneeling next to Gil. She looked up at Gil's driver, who had stepped out of the car. "Please, go get help!"

"Nein…" Gil shook his head, trying to swallow back the blood, crying out in pain again as another shot tore through the night. He pressed his hand over his mouth, choking on the blood that insisted on rising to his mouth. He coughed hard, trying to keep it down.

"Don't… it's all right," Margot's voice was reassuring and kind.

"I… I should… get back…"

More gunfire.

Gil felt Margot and Adelaide's arms around him as he almost fell forward. He coughed hard, letting the blood drip from his mouth onto the cement. He brought his hand to his forehead, breathing hard, pain tearing through him. He winced again as a final shot hit the body lying on the death strip, ending the pain for both of them. He looked up, panting, exhausted.

"Please… come inside," Adelaide, whispered, looking to her mother, who nodded.

Gil was too weak to argue. He let the two girls help him up, and practically drag him into the house. He steadied himself at their table, before collapsing into a chair. He looked at his hand, it was bloody. He glanced at the wooden table where he'd left a bloody print. He sighed, shaking his head, still almost gasping for breath. "I'm… sorry…" He whispered, swallowing hard.

"No, please, it's all right," Margot reassured, reaching for a cloth, wiping the blood from the table.

Adelaide brought another wet cloth to Gil, holding it out to him, her hands trembling.

He took it, wiping his hands and his face. "Danke…" he whispered, still shaking himself. He looked up at Adelaide. She didn't look as upset as he'd expected her too. She's seen too much of war for that, he told himself. He glanced back at Margot. "I should go…" He tried to stand, almost falling again before Adelaide caught him, helping him back into the chair.

"You're staying here at least until you can stand," Adelaide's voice was firm.

Gil nodded, too weak to argue, he leaned against the table, resting his head in his hand. He glanced over at Cort, who stood at the very back of the room, shocked.

"Are… are you all right?" The boy whispered, terrified.

Gil nodded, his breathing finally slowing to an almost normal pace. His heart still pounded, and his body ached. "I'm fine. Just…" He didn't know how to explain, so he said nothing.

"What happened?" Adelaide asked, bringing a glass of water to Gil, setting it down beside him. She nodded to her mother who went to change into her working clothes again.

"Never mind…" Gil took a drink of the water. It didn't help.

"You were coughing blood… you… you collapsed! How can you say you're all right?" She put her hand on his, looking into his face, fear in her own.

Gil sighed, "I… Just… old war injuries."

"Old war injuries?" she repeated, unconvinced.

He nodded, "Yeah. That's all."

"I don't believe you."

He sighed. This wasn't how he'd planned the evening to end. "I'm all right. I promise," he looked up at her.

She bit her lip, looking into his face. She nodded, "All right, "I'll believe you…" She said reluctantly.

"Danke." He took another drink of the water, trying to steady his hands. He looked back up at Margot as she reentered the room, "Danke. It seems I'm the one who owes you thanks now."

She shook her head, "After all you've done? Please, this is only common kindness." She put her hand on Adelaide's shoulder, "Adelaide, go change, I'll wait here with Gilbert."

Adelaide nodded, "Yes, Mama," she stood, walking into her room, glancing back at Gil before she closed the door.

"So, GDR, were you going to tell me?"

Gil looked up at her, stunned, too shocked to speak.

"Some of us still know that you and the others exist," she smiled.

Gil sighed, looking away again. He had nothing to say.

"What happened out there?" She whispered, putting her hand on his shoulder.

He wasn't sure how much he wanted to tell her. He looked up into her face. He would trust her. He had to trust someone. "The wall. Whenever they kill someone… I can feel it."

"That's horrible. Does this always happen?"

Gil shook his head, "No. Countries can only feel their people dying if they know it's happening… and sometimes after it does if they find out…" He winced again, trying to get Poland's words out of his head, "Some… of us have to deal with more than others. It's worse in the city. I'm closer to them…" he sighed.

"So, they killed someone tonight?" Margot's voice was low, worried.

Gil nodded, "Three, actually."

Margot sighed, "Do you know who they were?"

Gil shook his head. "No. I just… know how they died."

"Please… tell me it was at least quick?"

He heard tears in her voice, "You… you knew them?" he whispered back.

She nodded, "Yes. I did. I prayed they would make it across… but…" she didn't say anything more. "Are you all right?"

He nodded again, "I will be, ja." He sighed, resting his forehead against his hand again, "Please… don't tell anyone who I am?"

"Even Adelaide? I'm not blind you know," She smiled again, knowingly.

Gil smirked, then sighed, rubbing his eyes, "Fine. I don't care who knows. You can tell Adelaide…" he sighed, this was absolutely not how he'd planned this evening to end.

"Tell me what?" Adelaide said, walking into the room, back into her working dress.

"Gil?" Margot turned to him, motioning for him to speak.

He sighed deeply, "Well…"

A/N: Well... that could have gone better... but it also could have gone worse. Poor Gil. Also yeah... in case it wasn't obvious. He likes Adelaide. We'll see how that goes later on. (It will be interesting I can tell you that. I'm still calling this a non-pairing fic, for a reason though... *hints all the hints*)

This will almost assuredly be my last update for about a week, as I will be on vacation! I will return after that with more updates however! I already know where everythign is going, and I'm super excited about it! It's going to be REALLY hard not writing every day! *cries*

Reviewers will be given hugs, cookies, and more cookies! Thank you Kattie! I'm glad you liked the chapter! Also, Prussia himself rewviewing! Danke. ;) I'm glad you think it's awesome. ;) Thanks to all the regular reviewers! You guys rock!