My eyes open slowly as dawn breaks through my room and my new creation stares back at me, fully dry now. I get up, put it under my bed then shuffle my way to the door, unlock it, and continue my way to the kitchen. Everything is quiet and I don't know if it's because everyone is asleep or if they are working. I grab out a bowl, the milk, and a box of cereal. Last night was a bit intense, I normally don't finish a painting that quickly, but I was really inspired to create something beautiful.
I sit down with my food at the dining table while thinking about what else I am going to paint. Am I even going to paint again? Why should I, it's not like my paintings will ever go big. But if I can't work as a painter or artist, what could I do?
Gino hops onto the chair next to me and starts purring. I smile at him and start to pet his head. No matter what I can have my Gino cheer me up.
Ludwig walks into the room and sits across from me at the table. We sit in silence while I eat my cereal. He sits there with his hands clamped together and covering his mouth.
"How are you?" He finally asks. I set down my spoon and wipe my mouth.
"I'm good, how are you?" I ask smiling at him. His expression doesn't soften and his gaze holds steady.
"I'm fine, but I'm worried about you. You scared me last night." I continue eating my cereal. "I'm serious Feliciano. I didn't mean to… I upset Gil as well but I've just been really high strung lately."
"I understand," I interrupt before he can say anymore, "You didn't upset me, Gil calling me a bimbo just made me snap a little and I let out my emotions. No big deal." I look back up at him to see Ludwig teary eyed. It moved me, I hadn't seen him this upset in a while.
"I spent time listening to you outside your room because I was scared; then I tried to talk to Gil but he refused to talk to me so I tried going back to bed but I couldn't stop thinking of you so I kept checking up on you about once every hour until a little after you went to sleep." His eyes have dark circles under them, proving his story true. I feel bad now that I made him worry that much, and after all he did for me. He probably feels worse than ever.
"Is Gil still not talking to you?" He nods. "Let me go talk to him, alright?"
"You don't have to, this is my fight not yours." I give him a genuine smile.
"Luddy, it's alright, let me do this to apologize for last night~" He sighs and goes back to his bedroom. I quickly start to boil some water. I rummage through the fridge and find the wurst.
I put the sauerkraut carefully onto the plate next to the bratwurst. I pick up the plate and make my way to Gilberts room and knock on the door.
"Go the fuck away!" He yells. I chuckle softly at the childlike tantrum he is throwing.
"It's Feliciano, I have something for you." There's a small pause before the door cracks open slightly to check if what I'm saying is true. I hold the plate up and he quickly opens the door.
"Man I'm starving!" I smile at him.
"I figured. We didn't get to eat dinner last night, and I felt bad so I decided to make you breakfast to apologize." He takes the plate and starts eating. "Ludwig is sorry too. He didn't mean to be rude to you he was just worried about me but he still loves you all the same. I honestly didn't mind if you didn't join me in prayer because it's your choice, Luddy just wanted me to feel more at home. I think you should at least hear what he has to say to you. Alright?" He finishes eating his food and looks at me.
"Alright, I'll listen… Only because it's my brother and this is his house." He gets up and walks to his brothers room and knocks on the door. Ludwig opens and leans against the doorframe.
"Hey Lud. I heard you had something to tell me?" He nods.
"You may be older than me but you can act like such a little kid. But you're my brother and I will always love you. I'm sorry for last night and I ask for your forgiveness."
Gil smiles at his younger brother and gives him a hug. "Of course I forgive you." I walk up to both of them and join in on the hug.
"Hey Gil?" I ask. We separate and he looks at me.
"What is it?" I look at him with a smile.
"I would like to talk to my parents again, but only if you will join me." Ludwig stares in shock at what I just said.
"After all I went through to get you out of there you want to go back!?"
"Do you trust me?" I ask Ludwig. He gives a sigh then nods in agreement. The three of us get into the car and head off to the hospital.
We enter the hospital and walk up to the front desk.
"Good day sirs, do you have an appointment?" She says with a smile on her face.
"No, but we would like to see Dr. Edelstein whenever possible. Just tell him Feliciano wants to speak to him." She steps away from her desk and vanishes into the hallways. The three of us take a seat and wait until a nurse, not much after the receptionist left, calls for us. We get up and follow her to where my father is. She takes us to a door.
"They're in here." She walks away. We open the door to find my parents sitting next to each other on one end of the table. On the other side there is only one seat, I take it and the others stand next to me, similar to if they were my body guards.
"Feliciano." Rod says to me. "What is it that you want to talk about after the stunt you pulled."
"Mother, father, I don't want our relationship to be like this. I want to be able to talk to you guys and I want the same for Lovino. But you have to understand that neither of us will be doctors, we won't take over your business, and we will live the kind of lives we want."
Roderich's facial features intensify. "And what kind of life do you speak of?"
"You know exactly what I mean, mama saw it when we were young, why can't you accept it like she does?" Roderich stands up and slams his hands on the table.
"Tell me!" Gil and Luddy move into a more defensive positions in response to his anger.
"It's fine guys…" I take a moment to prepare myself. "You need to accept the fact that we are gay, because I miss you. I miss playing the piano with you, before all of this trouble started. I miss cooking with the both of you and being able to say that I have parents. You need to stop trying to shape us like who you are and let us be our own people. Then we both will be happier." He sits back down in his seat.
"... I miss those times with you as well… You know, for not being a doctor, you are smart." He gives us a small smile.
"That brings me to my second request." Everyone stares at me questioningly. "Gilbert trained to be a doctor but never took the test. I ask you make him your apprentice~"
"Seriously?" Gil asks me.
I smile and say "Of course~" My parents look at each other with a smile and nod in agreement.
"If that is what you wish." They say together.
We go back home, everything finally alright. I call Lovi and tell him the good news about our parents. He still isn't that excited to meet them again but he will in time.
All is well with the world now. I am back with my parents, and I am with Ludwig and we are happy together. Gilbert found a job. The only thing left is me.
"I still need a job guys, but what could I do?" The three of us think over the question with consideration until a rumble disrupts us.
"Hehe, sorry I guess I'm hungry." Gil says. "What's for dinner anyway? I love your cooking!"
"That's it!" Ludwig spurts. We stare at him in surprise. "You can open a restaurant, your cooking is amazing and I'm sure you have some home family recipes to use." That's a really good idea because I do have a skill for cooking.
"I love that idea~! I could even turn my old home into it! It hasn't sold yet and it'd be the perfect place for it!" I smile at the thought of being able to work in the old home.
A few months have passed since the idea was first proposed, but now I turned my old house into an amazing restaurant! Right now we're at home and I'm cooking dinner of course. My brother walks into the kitchen with something in his hands.
"Brother, is this yours?" He asks. It's the painting I made awhile ago.
"Yes, it is. Where did you find it?" I ask him.
"Under the bed. Gino was under there and I ended up finding this..." He hands me the painting and I reexamine it after all the time has passed. I remember the night I painted it. Luddy walks into the room and asks about what we're holding.
"I painted this the night we fought at dinner." He takes a look at it.
"I like it." He says smiling. "You know where this would look good?" He asks.
"Where?"
"In your restaurant." I smile at him.
"I think that is a wonderful idea." I lean in and give him a kiss.
The next day I find an empty spot on my wall and hang it up.
We walk through the door and up to a table where we all sit down in our own seats.
"Daddy, this is your place?" A little girl asks.
"Yes, this is one of my shops." I respond with a sweet smile.
"Yay! Daddy has a fancy place!" Says an older boy as a waiter comes out and brings everyone water.
"He sure does." Luddy says as he wraps an arm around him.
"Did I ever tell you kids how I ended up with my shop?" They both shake their heads no.
"It started one day long ago, when I first met your father. I was an artist, but something happened and I ended up losing my shop and my home. Your father, being the caring person that he is, took me in and helped me and your uncle Lovino. One day they suggested I open a restaurant because of my cooking skills. Well, I did just that! But the real important thing was a painting I made was hung on one of the walls. Once my place started getting famous a very rich person walked in and sat at a table near the painting. Once he saw it he loved it and bought it from me! So that inspired me to continue making art, and that is how I earned my important thing about this story is that you should never give up on your dreams, and more importantly, yourself. I know you kids will grow up to do great things, all you have to do is believe in yourself."
"Woah, Daddy is so cool!" Berlin, who looks just like Luddy, states.
"Yeah!" Florence giggles. She is so cute and looks just like her daddy! Well, me~ "Daddy is the coolest!"
Everything can happen once you start believing in yourself. You can conquer unbelievable obstacles and overcome the darkest of scenarios. There is only one this you must remember.
Believe.