On their way back from Ludwig's house Antonio and Lovino hardly spoke. They just sat in the car without even looking at each other.
Lovino was pissed off. That damn bastard made him forgive him, and he didn't even get to think about it first. What if he made a change now? What if he just told Antonio to stop the car right there and let him out? Could he do that?

Antonio parked the car to the hospital parking lot. They still had to go reassure Feliciano that his brother was all good now. Lovino didn't really want to go. He wanted to see his brother really badly, but he wanted to talk to him alone, without Antonio. What if all goes back to the way it used to be? What if he'd have to live in a lie and act like this never happened? What if it all happens again?

Feliciano lied alone on the bed of his hospital room. He had been very worried about his older brother being missing. He hadn't slept much lately, even though it was important for his well-being. There was a knock on the door and Antonio stepped in with someone with him.

''Ve!'' Feliciano recognized his brother. Lovino smiled and sat on the bed.

''How's it going? Long time no see.''

''Fratello! I'm glad to see you!'' He sat up and hugged Lovino. They smiled at each other when Feliciano released him.

It felt incredibly good to see his brother again. But Lovino was still feeling uneasy.

Antonio was still standing beside the door, unsure what to do now.

Feliciano's face got serious. ''So... what happened? Why could nobody find you?''

The question surprised both Antonio and Lovino.

''Ah, I... I escaped out of the window.'' He then answered. Antonio was watching him.

''Why would you escape like that? You know it's dangerous!'' Feliciano said, in a voice that sounded like a laugh, but it wasn't happy.

Lovino jumped off the bed and pointed at the confused looking Spaniard.

''Because he's a freaking bastard!'' Lovino suddenly regained the wrath towards Antonio from earlier. Antonio just looked at him with empty eyes.

Lovino read his thoughts from his eyes. I thought it was okay.

''You... you! CHIGI-!' He ran out of the room and pushed Antonio out of his way. The door shut behind him and Antonio and Feliciano were left in silence.

Antonio sighed and looked at the door.

''Feliciano... I don't expect you to forgive me for what I did to your brother, I just want you to understand that I never meant any of what I said. Please don't be angry anymore.'' He said and prepared to be yelled at.

But it never happened.

Feliciano just looked at him, puzzled. He didn't say anything in a long time. He just stared at Antonio.

When he finally opened his mouth, his voice was very quiet and sad.

''Hey... Toni.''

''Hm? What is it?''

''Thank you... for everything. I'm sorry it had to end in such a regrettable way.''

''What?''

''I don't think we should try to go back to how things used to be... It'd be best for us all to go our own ways.''

He smiled. A tear fell on his cheek.

Antonio stared at him for a long while. The truth hit him like a punch in the face. It couldn't ever be fixed. Even if they managed to get Lovino back home, it'd never be the same. That's not what Lovino wanted.

Dammit... without one phone call, none of this would ever have happened. Can you imagine it? What are the odds of one phone call at the wrong time destroying everything he held dear in his life? He'd have to go into an empty home every night. He'd have to eat dinner all alone. He'd have no one to say good night to, no one to love anymore.

Not his own little tomato.

How would he live on?

...

Lovino moved away. Feliciano moved away too, four months later when he finally was allowed to get out of hospital, but he still had to eat medicines every day. Lovino didn't talk to Antonio anymore. It was Feliciano who sent him letters telling him how he's been, but as time went on, they wrote each other less and less, until they stopped completely.

Lovino was completely over Antonio and he was trying to forget him. Trusting someone for so many years and then being betrayed by them always leaves scars. He still felt a strange emptiness in his new apartment when he woke up all alone, and sometimes he cried. But he was beginning to forget.

Feliciano had gotten over the change as well. He was doing good, and he was going to be better. He lived alone in a small house he found on a cheap price until he'd find someone he might want to live with, or at least get a good job and a better house. He had always predicted somewhere in the back of his head that something like this would happen in some point of time. It was just the time it had to happen. He had been surprised as hell. Was it his fault for getting sick like that all of a sudden?

...

One beautiful morning, Lovino was walking down the street with his hands in his pockets, going to the market to buy something to eat. As he crossed the road, he looked down on his feet, and bumped in to someone. He looked up and recognized the face.

''Lovino! How have you been?'' Antonio smiled at him.

''I've been fine... bastard.''

Antonio was really happy to see that Lovino was clearly becoming better.

''I hope the best for you, Lovino. Always.'' He smiled his usual bright smile. Lovino had almost forgot how encouraging it looked. ''I have to go now, so... Bye!'' He waved and ran away, leaving Lovino standing alone on the pavement.

He gazed after his old friend. He watched him go and even after he had completely disappeared in the distance, he still stood there.

After some time had passed, he finally turned around.

He smiled as he walked away to the other direction.

...

That's the end. I'm sorry for making this story unnecessarily long at times. Thank you for sticking with my story as long as you did, and

I hope you all have a really nice day.