Author's Note: Well, danke! Danke for the very positive comments! Makes me happy~~~~ ^^
Edit: I was not happy with the last attempt at this chapter. Some of you were right. It was rushed, but I was rushed. So, I am going to try to make this chapter better, but it might be a fail. But still, Danke for the support anyways, it makes me happy!
Edit: I would have gotten this done sooner, but I kind of destroyed my computer screen. So I'm sorry for the delay, honestly. My updates may be slower because of this, and I feel terrible. Forgive me.
The months trickled by at a wonderfully slow pace. Gilbert had begun medical school, getting an early internship at the hospital. Valentin stayed at home most of the time. It had been nearly seven months since their engagement and they were both still preparing for their wedding, picking out colors and decorations and such. They still had yet to determine the set wedding date. Valentin was flipping through a wedding catalogue, looking at different types of glass wear, when he heard a rather painful thump. He turned his head in the direction of the sound, seeing Gilbert hunched over the granite counter top, face firmly planted in the binding of his text book. Valentin sighed softly, setting the still open catalogue down on the cushion next to him, standing up and walking into the open kitchen that was attached to the living room.
He placed his hands on Gilbert's shoulders, moving his thumbs in a comforting massage over his lover's shoulder blades. "You need a break Gil." he said in a hushed tone. Gilbert sat up with a groan, rubbing his eyes, "Ja, I know." he yawned, tilting his head back, enjoying the massage he was given. "You know, I was thinking. Your winter break is coming up. I wanted to take to somewhere." Valentin said, deepening his massage. "Mmm?" Gil murmured. "I was thinking….I don't know, some place." Valentin was hesitant. He was thinking about returning to Romania, but he was still fearful. He didn't want to be afraid of his homeland anymore, it pissed him off to no end. It was his home dammit! He wanted to go back, but fuck it all, he was too scared. "I'm tired." He whispered. "I'm going to bed. You should come with me." he said quietly, kissing Gilbert on the cheek. Gilbert nodded, putting his homework in his textbook to mark his place, slamming the book shut and following his lover to their bedroom for some much need rest.
"I-I don't know, Aleks." Valentin said as he sit at his brother's kitchen table. He and Gilbert had come over for a visit, mostly because Valentin wanted to talk with his brother about his conflicted feelings about Romania. Gilbert sit on the living room floor, playing with Konstantin, the little boy's laughter floating into the kitchen. Aleksander and Valentin sat at the table in the said room, cups of coffee and tea for Vali in front of them as Sofia flipped through a cookbook over at the counter near the sink. "Vali, you cant be afraid of Romania forever. It's your home. Besides, it was only those guys who thought the way they did. Everyone else in the Village is very grateful to our family. They respect us very much. No one else would dare hurt you the way those guys did. That, and they're locked up some place in the south of the country. They wouldn't be able to get out. Besides, besides, they wouldn't know you were coming." Aleksander assured and shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee.
Valentin sighed, "But-" he began, only to be cut off by his brother, "No buts! But what? What could you possibly but? That's all. It's done. I'm going for Christmas and I'm taking Sofi and Kosta. You should come , bring Gil. I'm sure Mama and Papa want to see you again and want to meet your…lovely fiancé." Aleks said, cup paused at his lips as he tried to think of a word to describe Gilbert. It wasn't that he didn't like him so much as, he…he was a little out there. Valentin thought a moment. Maybe he brother was right. And his parents could very well be ghosts, Valentin believing deeply in that, and if so, he wanted to see them again. "Well….I do miss the people. They do need someone to look after them…" Vali said hesitantly. "That's the spirit!" the older brother said with a grin. Kosta's giggles were heard from the living room. Aleks leaned back in his chair. "You better not be tainting my son's mind." he said in a dead serious tone, looking directly at Gilbert. "Was? I'm not!" Gilbert defended, throwing his arms up in innocence.
Aleks moved back into his original position. "Damn." Gilbert whispered under his breath. "Damn!" Konstantin yelled happily. "Kosta!" Aleksander yelled from the kitchen at hearing his son curse. Konstantin giggled furiously, Gilbert trying to get him to stop. "You cant copy Uncle Gil anymore, kay? He'll get in trouble!" he whispered, looking at the archway, watching for the boy's father.
It was late at night as Valentin and Gilbert lay in bed, the blonde being held closely to the German, still awake as he intently studied his lover's chest for a few silent moments before speaking up. "Aleks says I should go with him to Romania." It was a quiet, unsure statement, Valentin not looking up to meet his love's eyes. "Oh?" Gil asked with closed eyes. Valentin nodded stiffly. "He says it'll help me get over my fear of it. He said that they cant get me anyways, and I do miss my home country. He's going there for Christmas and taking the family." Gilbert stroked the blonde's hair gently as he listened. "Do you want to go?" he asked, opening his eyes and moving a strand of blonde from his lover's face. "I..I do, but I'm still a little scared. I'd want you to come with me though, if I do." Gilbert smiled softly at this. "I'd love to go if you do. I think your brother is right. It would be good for you, to get over the fear that is."
Valentin smiled softly, thinking. "Well…I would like to show you where I was born. Maybe, we could go. Stay for Christmas?" Gilbert nodded with small grin, "Sounds wunderbar." he kissed Valentin sweetly, the both snuggling into each other and falling asleep soon after.
The Romanian shook slightly in his seat on the plane. Even though Gilbert held his hand, he still felt uneasy. The only thing he had to distract him was his nephew Konstantin who popped up from his seat in between his parents behind Valentin to chat, only to be pulled back down again, and then reappear every ten minuets. No matter how many reassurances Valentin received, he was still uneasy about returning to the place that scarred him for life. But he figured both his brother and fiancé were right. Maybe returning could help him overcome this fear. He still wasn't too keen on the idea. "Vali, it'll be okay. I wont let anyone hurt you. I promise." Gilbert tried to comfort, squeezing his lover's hand gently. Valentin nodded. "Da. Thanks, Gil." he forced a small smile. He really didn't want to think about it as much as possible.
After boarding their second plane and finally landing Romania, Valentin gripped the steering wheel of the rental car as he followed his brother in his own. "Vali, everything is going to be okay. Try not to stress too much." Gilbert tried again, rubbing his lover's thigh gently. Valentin nodded, taking a deep breath, but didn't relax his white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. It took a near eight hours to arrive at the village from the airport in Sibiu.
When they arrived in the village of Trandafir Alb (White Rose), everything was covered in a beautiful blanket of snow. The small homes that were lined side by side, small gaps wide enough for a child to pass through were, scattered like a child's toys on the floor, small shops and stalls, displays of winter food here and there, even a small deli with roasted pigs and beef hanging in its window, the village's citizens roaming about, stopping to gawk at the cars passing through, some smiling and waving when they realized who it was. The people truly did miss their care takers, the murder of two of them had devastated them, and Valentin's departure for years only worsened that. But now they were back and people were happy. The same could not be said for Valentin on the other hand.
The two cars pulled up to the castle after what seemed like forever to just get there. "Wow!~~" Konstantin squealed, bursting from the car to stare at the huge castle. Alb Castelul (White Castle ). All of them gawked at the beauty of the stone built wonder. It was massive with its pointed maroon roofs and dark gray brick walls. There were many windows that were scattered neatly within the deep gray stone. A balcony here and there on the top third floor around the building. The lawn surrounding it spanned acres, a forest in the backyard, everything covered in snow.
Valentin got out silently, standing in the open door of the car, looking at the dormant castle with tears in his eyes. Gilbert was busy getting the luggage out of the trunk when he noticed Valentin on the brink of crying. "Va-" he began, but before he could finish, Valentin rushed back into the car slamming the door and locking himself inside. He dropped the luggage and rushed to the diver's side window. "Valentin!" his shouts muffled by the window. "Valentin! Open the door! What's wrong?" Valentin shook his head, blonde locks flailing around. "I cant!" he shouted back. "You can, just hit the button!" Gilbert directed, pointing downwards towards the button to unlock the door.
Again Valentin shook his head furiously, "No! I cant! I cant go in there!" he shouted again, pressing his hands to his eyes. Gilbert slumped, shouting something Vali couldn't hear to Aleksander, who appeared momentarily. He knocked on the glass, "Vali. Come out. Remember the train station? Vali, everything will be okay. You wanted to come back when you were young, here we are. Come out, and come inside. Neither me, nor Gilbert are going to let you stay in this car all night." Again the blonde shook his head. Both Aleksander and Gilbert groaned. Then, a little hand appeared behind the glass, a little finger tapping on it. Aleksander picked up the owner of that little hand. "Uncle Vali!" Konstantin wailed, "Come out! I want to play hide an seek in the big castle but I don't want to play if you wont! Please?" He begged, putting both hands on the window and pouting.
Valentin sighed, putting his own hand on one of his nephew's, the window separating them. He bit his lip and nodded. Hesitantly he unlocked the door and got out, Gilbert smiling and hugging him tightly. "I'm sorry." Vali mumbled, hugging back. Konstantin cheered, "Yay! Can we go play now? The castle looks big! I bet there are a lot of good hiding spots!" he squealed. Valentin scoffed lightheartedly. "Da, we can go play." he said. "Yay!" Kosta threw his arms up, jumping out of his father's arms, "C'mon Mommy! We're going to play hide and seek! Daddy's it!" with that, the little boy burst into the house to find a hiding spot, only to run back out yelling, "There's people in there!" Valentin, who was still hugging onto Gilbert, gave his brother a look. "That's okay, Kosta! They work here! Go hide and Daddy will come find you!" Aleksander shouted back through cupped hands. Kosta nodded with a wide grin, running back inside.
"I called the servants before hand." Aleks told his brother with a wave of his hand. "Well, don't just stand there! Go hide!" he said, urging the others to go find a hiding place. Sofia and Gilbert laughed, Valentin just smiled. The German and Bulgarian woman headed inside to join the game, Valentin hesitant to follow. "Go on Vali. It's okay." Aleksander said with a smile. Vali nodded a small smile gracing his lips and he walked inside, a few servants coming out to bring out the luggage as Aleks began to count.
Author's Note: Okay, so I redid this chapter and I hope you guys like it a little better.
Side note: Please take the poll on my profile. I need to know what Gilbird's human name should be. That or you can tell me in a review. The choices are:
Still Gilbird (but that'd be weird if he were human)
Frederick/Fritz (after Old Fritz)
Or Gilbert (Jr.)
I REALLY need to know. So far I have two votes for Frederick (Fritz as a nickname) but it's very important for my next story, pleeeeease please tell me what you think. I MUST KNOW!
Side, side note: my computer is fucked up so I'll probably be updating slower. Sad.
Also, if anyone wants to do any fanart for this or Fear Holds You Back, that'd be awesome!