Ya know, I'm just going to stop apologizing for how late I am with these updates. I have a life, and I'm typing, like, five other stories on top of this one. So you will get updates when I have time to update. Simple as that! So I'm going to stop saying "I'm sorry, I'll try to get the next one up sooner" when that isn't going to happen in reality due to life. I don't wanna lie to all of you nice people, but I do know that these updates aren't going to be fast, so they're just gonna happen when they happen.

Besides that, enjoy! =) And remember how owning these characters would mean the end of the world, so that means I don't own them! XD

~~~ Chapter 4 ~~~

The routine of coming in, in the morning, to train Aldrich's vocal cords, then in the afternoon leading into the night coming back in and teaching Aldrich sign was becoming so comfortable and enjoyable Augustus had a hard time calling his job work. Being around the blond was becoming so much fun it felt more like he was playing with a friend.

Aldrich's speech therapy was coming along great and his sign was even better. The two could have regular conversations with each other and Aldrich was getting even better than the doctor himself. Now Aldrich could at least say simple words, but he would get into a coughing fit if he pushed himself too hard.

Augustus now sat in his usual chair right next to his favorite, and only, patient. They were working on his speech therapy at the moment and all seemed to be going well. The most the blond could manage without sounding like he was going to throw-up a hairball was a simple "hi". But today Aldrich was determined to at least say his name. He's been telling himself since day one, that his name was going to be the easiest thing to say and he was going to get it today damn it! It's been a freakin' month for crying out loud! He should be doing better!

"Alright, let's try again," Dr. Vargas smiled as he gave the blond a glass of water.

The blond nodded in thanks and took a quick sip before taking a deep breath to try again. His golden locked draped in front of his face as he reached into his memory to remember his voice; the sound of it, what it felt like to speak, all of the above.

Aldrich opened his mouth and mouthed his name, but nothing came out but air, once again. Before Dr. Vargas had a chance to even comment, his patient tried again. But instead of just air leaving his lungs, sound did as well. It was only a simple "Al . . ." but it was still enough to make the doctor's face light up in joy.

"Wonderful! You're so close, I can feel it!" the Italian exclaimed.

The German, however, didn't pay much attention to the man. He was staring at his lap with his fists clenched. He was determined to get it today; he would not stop until he did. Taking another breath he mouthed his name once for a sort of practice. He then let the air out of his lungs and willed his vocal cords to produce sound while mouthing his name.

"Aldrich."

The two were silent. Aldrich's eyes widened as did Dr. Vargas'. Neither of them knew what to say or what to do. Aldrich clenched his fists. He should be rejoicing, but he wasn't for some reason. Augustus should be patting himself on the back for doing a good job, but he wasn't. They both sat as still as possible. Others could be heard through the walls, they were busy with work as they walked down the halls chatting. Their room had never felt more silent.

Dr. Vargas was about to say something when the door opened. Elizabeta entered with a clipboard in hand and a smile on her face. "Mr. Beilschmidt, you have visitors," she said sweetly while looking at her clipboard, "They say they're your . . . sons. . ." When she finally looked up, she saw Roma flapping his mouth like a fish out of water and the blond as white as the sheets under him. "Is something wrong?" she asked tilting her head.

It took a second for one of them to respond, for they were both still in shock. Dr. Vargas was the first to react. He simply shook his head and offered a forced smile to Elizabeta. He got up from his seat and exited the room. In all reality, he was pleased at what he accomplished but was in too much of a shock to do anything and he didn't know why. He didn't even know what the word had meant, and it wasn't like this was the first thing the blond has ever said. When the other uttered a simple greeting Augustus was bouncing off the walls. But this time it was different. Even the other man had a smile on his face when that happened, but this time it seemed like he said a devil's curse. The Roman had never seen so much blood drain from someone's face so quickly.

Augustus exited the room and left the other to cope on his own, and whoever his visitors were. Later, when the doctor will return to tutor the other in his sign language, he'll ask about what the other had said.

Elizabeta fallowed the Roman out of the room to fetch the German's visitors. Aldrich just sat in his bed, dumbfounded at the whole situation. He should be cheering with excitement, or in his case smiling, but all he can really think about is where to go from here? What is his next goal? Being able to say his name was all he could really think about and his been his goal since the beginning, now that he's accomplished said goal what is he going to strive for next? He didn't have a clue.

His thoughts were interrupted when the door reopened and his once quiet room burst into noise.

"Gott Luddy, it's not like I'm sucking face with her or anything. What's wrong with a little conversation?"

"We're not here for 'conversation' bruder."

"Ja, but that doesn't mean I still can't get some hot chicks number!"

"Gil, you're in a relationship!"

"So?"

Before anything else could get out of hand, Aldrich cleared his throat. The two immediately shut their mouths and turned their heads toward the elder like they've done a hundred times. The two boys that entered the room – well the two would argue that they were men but Aldrich would always see them as children – stood by the door just staring at the blond in bed.

The taller of the two that just entered could've been Aldrich's twin, if Aldrich was younger and got a haircut. The boy had the same blond hair and the same stern face. Aldrich will admit that the boy was better built than himself, but another difference was his icy eyes. The blue orbs scanned the room diligently, calculatingly. He was a stern young man, and very mature for his age and has been since he was small.

The older of the two, however, is a different story. His skin so pale it would put a vampire to shame. He had the hair of an old man without the balding but styled in a messy fashion. He wasn't a scrawny thing, but nowhere near as muscular as the blond. He had a snarky look on his face like he was up to no good and he most likely was. The thing that really made the boy stand out though was his eyes. Completely opposite of the other boy's, his eyes were blood red. They made quick glances everywhere, trying to absorb everything at once, but the information didn't get past his irises.

Aldrich smiled fondly at both. It hasn't been that long since he saw his two sons but it was enough to miss them both dearly.

The German wasn't usually sympathetic, but he would make an exception just this once. He opened his arms, inviting the two into a hug. Both boys smiled and went to their father and wrapped their arms around his slimmer figure.

Aldrich pulled back and ruffled both boys hair. His older red eyed son smiled widely at the gesture, while his younger blond grunted with displeasure. He pulled them further back to get a good look at them. They both didn't change much, or at all to an untrained eye, but they both looked more tired but nothing to fret over.

Breaking the silence, because he couldn't stand silence, the older of the two piped up, "So Vati, how have you been? Luddy's been crying since you left!"

His blue eyed son glared at his older brother. "If anything, you were the one wining about it being 'too quiet in this stuffy house without the quietest man on earth'," he quoted.

"What?! I would never say anything that lame and unawesome!" his other son argued.

Just like I never left, Aldrich thought to himself.

The two kept at it and Aldrich watched his sons bicker. Gilbert would never grow up and mature. Ludwig would never let out his inner child. They really were opposites but it could've been worse; they could've hated each other. On the contrary, Aldrich has never seen two brothers closer.

He didn't know why he did this but he took a deep breath and did the best to try and block out the two boys words. He mouthed 'Gilbert' once, for practice. Taking one more breath, he spoke, "Gil. . ."

Both boys' voices fell silent, almost like they forgot that their father was there. Aldrich smiled up to both of his sons, then looked to Gilbert and repeated with a bit more confidence, "Gil. . ." It wasn't as impressive as his earlier display, but he could only do so much. One syllable words were becoming easier and easier. It wasn't his son's full name, but a nickname that others often called him and it was enough to get the job done.

Gilbert just looked at his father unable to do anything else.

Aldrich looked over to his other son and said in barely a whisper, "Lud . . ."

The other's blue eyes widened.

Aldrich felt bad that he couldn't say their full names, but the two didn't seem to mind at all. Gilbert was the first to really react. A smile grew on his face and patted his father's back roughly, "Wow Vati! I guess I'm gonna have to take back what I said about you being the quietest man on earth!" He then laughed his signature laugh that sometimes drove both blonds crazy.

The two then talked about what Aldrich missed while in the hospital. It was nothing really worth mentioning; nothing exciting. However, the blond didn't mind, he was just happy to spend time with his sons.

Dr. Vargas rounded the corner, head buried in papers, and almost missed his favorite German brothers. Gilbert and Ludwig sat in a waiting area talking to one another in hushed tones. His sweet little Feliciano was good friends with Ludwig, and the German was at his house frequently.

The brunet was about to go over to the two to strike up a fun conversation, until he examined the atmosphere, which he did far too little. The first thing that caught him off guard was how quiet the two were. Ludwig wasn't quite as loud as he, but he knew that Gilbert was a party animal and would always have a voice as big and disastrous as a hurricane. Seeing the two talking like normal people was off putting. Then the doctor saw the two's faces; bother were twisted in sorrow.

What could have them so down? Is a relative of theirs here? Augustus thought. He walked over to the two with less spirit than he normally would.

Ludwig has his head in his hands and Gilbert talked to his brother with a caring and sad tone. It was odd to hear, but Augustus supposed that even the most arrogant of people can have a heart.

Putting on a brave face, Dr. Vargas greeted the two, "Hello boys, what brings you here?" He asked out of his growing curiosity. He realized that it might not be his place to ask, but he considered the two family so it was okay, right?

The blond brought his head up from his hands to see the Italian's concerned face. His expression lightened up a bit as he replied, "Roma. It's good to see you."

"We were just visiting our father," Gilbert said all too calmly.

"You're father's here? Oh, I'm sorry. Perhaps I can meet him sometime, si?" Roma said trying to keep the mood light.

"Ja," Gilbert said with a smile.

"I don't mean to pry, but why is he here?" the Italian asked.

"He lost his voice a while ago, and he's here for some treatment thing the nurse won't tell me about," Gilbert explained while he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Lost his voice?" Roma asked as his eyebrows shot up. That sounded strangely familiar.

"Yeah, I don't know the technical term though." How did he not see it before? They were the spitting image of him! "If you happen to drop by a patient named Aldrich Beilschmidt tell him you're one of our good friends, okay? I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

"Dio mio!" Roma said with a laugh. That's what his blond patient had said; his name. Aldrich, hu? Well it certainly was an odd name but it made sense. His sons were German and so was he; must be a traditional German name.

"Your father is my patient, my only patient at the moment, actually. He's been making great progress don't you think?" the brunet said excitedly.

"Ja! He even said our names! Well only part, but hey at least it's something!" the albino said cheerfully. That was the Gilbert Roma knew, the happy, 'nothing-will-get-me-down' kid.

Roma laughed at the albino. His attention then turned to the younger brother. He was always quiet, but somehow he seemed even more so. It might have to do with his father, but Roma wasn't one-hundred percent sure.

An idea suddenly clicked in his head, granted it might not be a good one but it was work related so that was a plus. Besides, he might not be able to see the boys again for a while and now was the perfect chance, but the location was defiantly not.

"Would you boys come with me to my office? I have a question for you, but this might not be the most appropriate place," Augustus asked professionally.

It was odd for the two boys to hear that tone with him considering all they ever hear out of the older man was rants on food, pretty women, and his 'epic' past. The two exchanged glances with each other then agreed. Dr. Vargas led the two down all the winding hallways until they reached his office.

Roma sat at his desk and the two boys occupied the two chairs that were in front of him. Roma smiled at both boys and said, "Like my office? It's nice, si?"

"It's a bit boring if you ask me. . ." Gilbert muttered as he looked around the dimly lit room. His brother elbowed him, but didn't say anymore. "What? I'm just saying that my room is so much more awesome than this stuffy box." Roma did admit that it wasn't the most exciting room in the whole hospital, but it served its purpose: a place to stash away all the paperwork he will never do.

"It isn't much, but at least it's something," Roma agreed. His voice went back to that serious tone that both had the boys on edge. It almost felt like they were back in school, about to be scolded by a teacher. "But I didn't invite you boys here to talk about that, actually you might not even want to talk to me at all."

Both boys tilted their heads in confusion. The Italian rubbed his hands together nervously and continued, "This may not be my place to ask, but can you tell me how your father lost his voice."

Gilbert's eyebrows shot up and Ludwig grew a look of horror on his face. The blond looked toward the ground, not saying a word. Gilbert turned to his younger brother with worry. The subject had always been a hard one, especially for the younger blond. Ludwig could hardly recall the event, but the albino remembered it like it was yesterday. Even though Ludwig had a hard time keeping the memory, it was still a sore subject.

"I understand why you wouldn't want to tell me, but if I knew the reason behind why your father lost his voice it might help him regain it. His illness is emotional, mental, and physical; knowing the back story would really help in the emotional part of his healing process," Roma did his best to explain.

He really meant every word, really, but a part of him was just curious as hell. He wanted to help his blond patient fully recover, but he also wanted to befriend him (and other things too, but that will be for later).

Gilbert saw the importance and the logic behind it and was about to retell the story, but his brother held him back. Ludwig feared reliving that day, in any shape or form.

"Lud," the red eyed German said breaking the silence. The younger didn't respond, he just kept his head between his knees and his hands folded. "Ludwig," he pressed, "We have to tell him."

The other German was quiet for a moment and responded to his brother in German. His voice was kept low but it seemed unnecessary considering that Roma had no clue what the other was saying anyway. The albino responded in German as well and the two went back and forth in an arguing tone. Eventually Gilbert said something that made the blond speechless. Ludwig then folded his arms across his chest and slumped into his seat, pouting like a little kid.

Gilbert gave his younger brother one last look before he took a deep breath and said, "Alright, I'll tell you what happened."

Everything that is in italics that you probably don't understand is German, if you didn't know. I was going to actually write out the German bros conversation that was in German but then I though, "Hm, don't know how to speak German" and I also thought, "Google Translate isn't the best tool to use for this..." so I decided, "Fuck it!" and just did the simple version!

Thanks for reading everyone!