The next morning Ludwig woke up to quietness. Getting up he saw that both of his parents had already left. He walked downstairs and made himself a bowl of cereal. He sat there quietly and checked his messages. There was nothing. He opened the group chat between him, Emma, Arthur, and Alfred. Slowly he typed the phrase. Hi guys, I've decided to come out to my parents, before quickly deleting it.

Once he was done his breakfast, Ludwig changed into work out clothes. He got his headphones and plugged them into his phone. He walked outside and felt a cold breeze. He smiled a little. Taking a deep breath in he started running. Not even knowing where he going. He just kept running. The cold breeze blew across his body and he didn't even care. Occasionally he would pass someone either running as well or just walking their dog. He didn't take to much notice of them and just ran past them.

After about running for about an hour, Ludwig realized he was at the small park a little ways away from his house. Currently, it was almost empty. Quietly he walked to the back of the park, where he found an empty park bench.

"Am I really going to do this?" he asked himself as he stared off. He sighed and leaned back on the bench. Looking around he saw almost no one around him. He stood up and started heading home.

"So Gilbert is coming tomorrow right?" Karla asked as the three of them sat in the living room

"He should be." Wolfgang didn't bother to look up from the newspaper he was reading.

"Well, I think he and Lizzie are starting to get serious."

"Do you think he'll spend Thanksgiving with her?"

"It's a possibility," Karla said quietly.

"Mom, Gilbert knows you'd kill him if he didn't show up," Ludwig said placing the book he was reading down.

"And I'm sure if he and Lizzie are as serious as you believe he'd invite her over."

Karla jumped up and ran into the next room. A few minutes later she came out holding an old photo album. "If she does come it's a perfect opportunity to show off baby pictures."

"Really Mom?"

"What you boys were the two cutest babies in the world."

"I'm sure every mother says that about her children."

"You know your mother Ludwig." Wolfgang put down the newspaper. "If there's an excuse to show off baby photos your mother will take it. I'm sure when you have children your wife will do the same thing."

"I'm not sure about that," Ludwig said albeit a little quiet. His parents looked at him. "Okay Ludwig, you can do this."

"Because, because I'm not sure if I want children." Ludwig smiled awkwardly. "Dang it."

"That's understandable." Karla opened up the photo album. "If you don't have any that's okay."

Ludwig remained quiet. He picked up his book and stood up.

"I'm going upstairs," Ludwig muttered quickly. "I have some work I have to do."

"Okay dear, don't stress yourself out."

Ludwig smiled and walked upstairs. Once in his room, he opened his laptop and a document. He stared at it for a moment. Not doing anything with it. HE looked over and saw his phone sitting there.

Hi Feliciano is it alright if I ask you something, personal?

How personal?

Well, It's just I've been thinking about coming out to my parents. He slowly typed out the next part. I was wondering, how did you come out to yours?

The little read button came up next to his message. He saw Feliciano starting to type something but quickly stopped. Ludwig stared at his phone watching the little typing bubble appear and disappear With every second he felt his heart beat faster and faster.

I told them when we were sitting around at the table. Sorry but I have to go, wish I could chat longer.

Ludwig sighed and leaned back on his bed. He started typing on his computer. Focusing on each word. He wrote a for few minutes before looking at what he wrote. He groaned after seeing that the last few sentences were just a jumble of random words. He closed his laptop and placed it back in its case. He laid down and a stared at the ceiling for who knows how long.

Next thing Ludwig knew he was surrounded by darkness. He took a few steps forward and saw the silhouettes of his parents. They were standing next to each other with their back facing to him. Ludwig ran up to them and reached for them but they stepped away from him. He froze in place and stood there. He looked down.

"Mom, Father is everything alright?" Ludwig said trying to walk closer to them.

"I didn't raise a gay son," his father said. At the moment Ludwig heard his mother starting to sob. Ludwig gasped and took a step back.

"No, no I'm still the same son you raised," Ludwig said starting to walk closer to them. His mother knelt down and started sobbing louder.

"What happened to my boy?" His mother cried loudly.

"Mom, mom I'm right here!"

"You are not our son!" His father yelled. Ludwig fell backward. He felt tears starting to build up in his eyes.

"No please I'm still your son." Ludwig cried as his parents disappeared. "Please don't leave me I love you!"

Ludwig stood back up and started to run over to where they would. Before he could reach out for them he ran into something. Looking up he saw a giant brown door. He felt around but could not find a doorknob anywhere. He turned around and saw he was now surrounded by walls. Ludwig started shaking and felt the door behind him.

"Let me out," he yelled as he tried to open it again. "Please let me out!"

"Only you can." Someone said in the either. Ludwig looked around but saw no one. "You have to tell them the truth to be free."

"But you heard them, they don't want a gay son." Ludwig felt tears forming in his eyes. "If I tell them, I-I'll be alone."

"You won't be," the voice morphed into multiple ones. Ludwig walked closer to them but was soon greeted by a blinding light. "We promise."

Ludwig jolted up in his bed. He breathed heavily and started to look around. There he was in his room. In his own bed. With his closest closed. Looking out the window he saw that it was now morning. Quietly he walked downstairs and peered into the kitchen.

"Good morning dear," Karla said turning away from the coffee maker. She walked up and kissed him on the cheek. "You went to bed rather early last night."

"I was rather tired last night." Ludwig walked over to the fridge and pulled out a carton of juice. Slowly he poured himself a glass.

"Gilbert should be here by four o'clock. If his girlfriend will be with him I don't know."

"Is Father sleeping in?" Ludwig asked before taking a sip of his juice.

"Yes, sleeping in." Karla laughed and used air quotes as she said that. Ludwig smiled and walked into the living. Currently, there was a talk show on with the host talking about the parade that was to start soon.

"This gets cheesier and cheesier every year."

"I know but I can't help but watch it every year." Karla shook her head.

The two heard footsteps coming from the stairs. Wolfgang soon walked from around the corner.

"Welp, there goes another failed attempt to sleep in," He said as he walked in. "Somethings I think the only good thing about today is the extra day off a year."

"You have all the federate holiday off." Karla handed him a coffee mug.

"And I enjoy every second of it."

"Hey, family guess who's back!" Gilbert yelled as he pushed the door open.

"Gilbert you're home," Karla said running up and hugging him. Gilbert walked into the living. He saw Ludwig sitting on the living room table reading. "Glad to see you're finally home West."

"Nice to see you too," Ludwig removed his brother's arm from around him.

"Come on you don't miss me?" Gilbert sat down and leaned on the table.

"I do miss you." Ludwig didn't look up from his book.

"It's so nice to have everyone home." Karla sat down next at the last empty seat. "I miss the days when you boys were little."

"Mom we can't help it." Gilbert threw his arm around Ludwig. "You're little boys are now big strong men."

"No, you two are my little boys. No matter what."

Slowly Ludwig put his book down. His mom started to tease Gilbert. Ludwig looked over and saw his father smirk a bit. Karla started laughing a little and his brother glared at her. Ludwig took his water bottle and took a small sip of it.

"Should I say something now?" Ludwig thought to himself as his mother and brother started to argue with each other. "No, no, I shouldn't."

"Can you two please stop fighting?" Wolfgang requested after a few minutes of fighting.

"Alright." Karla straightened herself up a little. "So Gilbert how is your relationship with Lizzie going?"

Gilbert sat up a little. Ludwig turned to face the conversation. "It's been going well. We've had a few dates."

"Can I see a picture of her?"

"Of course." Gilbert pulled out his phone and looked through it a bit. After a few seconds, he handed her it.

"Oh, she's pretty." Karla showed the picture to Wolfgang.

"If they ask you something, tell them." Ludwig looked around and caught his parents smiling and nodding. "They're not going to ask. There's no point."

"How did you two meet again?" Wolfgang as Karla handed back the phone

"Pssh we shared a few classes in college and kept in touch after graduation." Gilbert paused for a few seconds. "After a bit, we started getting drinks together and then it became more serious."

"Interesting."

"They're definitely going to ask you. Just bite the bullet and tell them already!"

"Well, she's really pretty and seems super nice. I hope things are going well for you."

"Yup they totally are." Gilbert smiled a bit weakly.

"Say something you have too!"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course mom."

"Gilbert, I've told you and Ludwig plenty of times to be honest with us."

"Which you are currently not being."

"Stop it I am." Ludwig closed his eyes and looked away from everyone else.

"A relationship needs two things to work."

"Mom I don't need a lecture," Gilbert whispered.

"Those are trust and more importantly honesty. Without honesty, there is nothing to build on. This includes your relationship with all of us."

"You need to tell them."

"I can't. I can't." Ludwig started thinking to himself. "I can't. I can't. I can't."

Ludwig started repeating it over and over again in his mind. He felt his breathing getting heavier. Leaning back on his and looking down. He could still hear the conversation going on. Over time he heard it getting quieter and his thoughts getting louder.

"Ludwig honey are you okay?" Ludwig looked up and saw his mother next to him with her arm on his shoulder.

"What do you mean?" Ludwig asked quietly.

"You were saying 'I can't' over and over again. Is something wrong?"

"I, I haven't been completely honest with you." Ludwig looked down a little. He looked up slowly and everyone looking at him. He felt like he was still crying. "The truth is, I'm gay."

"I knew it," Gilbert said.

Ludwig chose to ignore him and focus on his parents. Both were silent. His mother had stepped back and was looking down. Ludwig turned to his father who was appeared to be staring off. The seconds ticked by no one said a word. After about two minutes Ludwig stood up and turned around.

"I"ll, I'll be upstairs," He said with his back to them. Slowly he started to walk away. Getting slower with each step. He kept his head down the other time. Before he started to go up the stairs, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning his head slightly he saw that t was his father.

"Ludwig."

"I'm sorry Father." Ludwig started to hold back tears. He kept facing away from his father and stared off. "I know this isn't what you want in a son but you can't change this. It's part of who I am."

"Ludwig, please look at me."

Reluctantly Ludwig turned around. Before he could say anything his father embraced him. Ludwig stood there in silence.

"My son I could never ever be ashamed of you." Wolfgang stepped back to look at his son.

"But I'm."

"That doesn't matter you are my son. And I love you, no matter who you love."

Ludwig stared at his father. Wolf gang at him warmly before hugging him again. This time Ludwig hugged him back. He couldn't hold it back and let the tears flow from his eyes. A few moments later his mother walked over. She smiled at him before joining the hug. As he was there Ludwig couldn't help but smile. For the first time in a while, he felt truly happy.