Chapter 6

AN: Hey readers! Silly me thought that today was Tuesday and didn't have the chapter finished! But I refused to make you wait another day for this chapter! So here it is!

"So explain to me again why I'm shopping for a ring." Gilbert asked as he looked at all the rings in the glass case.

"Because you are going to ask the love of your life to be with you forever!" Francis squealed.

Gilbert looked at Antonio, waiting for him to repeat what Francis said. The trio had worked out a plan so that when they were in public they could talk freely and not look crazy. Antonio sighed and repeated what Francis in the same squeal.

Gilbert chuckled, "you're almost too good at that squeal!"

Heat rose to Antonio's face as he pointed to a ring at random. "How about that one?"

Francis groaned and Gilbert face palmed. The ring that the Spaniard had pointed to had a gold band with a ruby and a small emerald in the shape of a tomato.

"Only you would pick out a ring like that!" Gilbert smirked.

"What? It's a beautifully delicious tomato ring!" Antonio explained, confused by his friend's reactions.

Gilbert fought back laughter, "alright, whatever you say!"

Gilbert continued to look over the rings when one caught his eye. It had a silver band with a single gold maple leaf in the middle. Francis followed Gilbert's line of sight until he saw the ring.

It's perfect." Francis whispered.

"No, no, no!"Francis yelled frustrated.

The trio had gone straight to Gilbert's after they had found the engagement ring. Antonio had been watching the "gentlemen" lessons for more than two hours and so far Gilbert hadn't improved in the manners area.

"I don't see why this matters! When am I ever going to decide which fork to use for which salad? Or which spoon I need for dessert!" Gilbert yelled equally frustrated.

"Okay, I can tell you that you are never going to be able to pull this off by yourself..." Francis stopped as he looked absently at the roof. "I'm just going to have to come with you Mon ami."

"Where?" Gilbert asked. Then it dawned on him. "No! You are not tagging along when I try to propose to Matthew!"

"But why not? You and Antonio were there when I proposed to Joan..." Francis trailed off.

Gilbert sighed, "Fine! But no making any weird faces at me or saying weird things and Antonio has to be somewhere where he won't be seen."

Francis and Antonio cheered as they high fived each other.

"I already have the perfect idea for the proposal!" Francis said excitedly.

"I can't wait to hear it." Gilbert replied sarcastically.

"It has to be something low key and not too flashy." Francis started.

"Whoa wait! You? Not wanting to do anything flashy? Are you sure you ain't dead?" Gilbert cut him off.

Francis glared at Gilbert and continued. "You will take him to that bakery where you met."

"It was a cafe." Gilbert cut in.

"You will order that hazelnut mochaccino,"

"Maple latte."

"MAPLE LATTE for him, not because you are an asinine pig but because you just know that he would order it even though it costs like, seven dollars."

"Six dollars."

"And then you will find a table in the back so that you will have some privacy and then you will propose!" Francis finished.

"That sounds great!" Antonio smiled, "But I don't know where I'm going to hide if you go where no one can see you."

"Try the bushes." Francis said as he rolled his eyes. "I hear they are very comfortable."

"That is an awesome idea! Not the shrub thing but the proposal." Gilbert said as he pondered the idea.

"Here is your phone! Now go call him and make the date!" Francis ordered as he pushed the phone into Gilbert's hands.

Gilbert dialed Matthew's number and waited.

"Hello?"

"Hey Birdie! What are you doing this awesome Saturday?"

Gilbert straightened his tie for the fifth time as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He had an hour until he had to meet Matthew at the cafe. He patted his pocket, checking for the millionth time to make sure that the ring was still there.

Gilbert stopped. The ring wasn't there.

"No, no, no!" Gilbert panicked.

He ran for the jeans that he had left on the floor and turned both pockets inside out; nothing there.

"This can't happen now!" Gilbert yelled as he kicked his bed.

"Why are you yelling brudder?" Ludwig asked as he poked his head into the room.

"I lost the ring I was going to give to birdie!" Gilbert explained close to tears.

Ludwig instantly went over to his brother and wrapped him in a hug. Ludwig had only seen his brother cry once when they were very little. It was after the accident that took the lives of both their parents and forced the brothers into separate foster homes. Whatever this ring meant, Ludwig knew that it had to be important to make his brother cry.

"Don't worry brudder. We will find it." Ludwig stated as he walked out of the room. "I'll check the bathroom and the kitchen."

Gilbert turned back to his bed room. He knelt on his hands and knees and looked under his bed. When he straightened up he was face to face with Francis.

"I hope you aren't planning to take my baby back here after you propose. I may be from the country of love but I have to say I find that kind of tacky." Francis stated with an impish grin.

"I lost the ring." Gilbert stated.

Francis frowned, "you mean the ring on your desk?"

"YES! THE RING ON MY DESK!" Gilbert yelled. "Wait, what?"

Francis pointed to Gilbert's desk as he turned to look. Sitting in its black box was the engagement ring. Gilbert fell back on the floor and gave a sigh of relief.

"How could I not see that?" Gilbert asked exasperated.

"I have no clue. What I want to know is if you are really going to wear a suit to a cafe?" Francis asked almost appalled.

Gilbert looked down at the suit, "Well then what should I wear?"

"Try that red hoody that matches your eyes and some jeans." Francis suggested.

Gilbert hurriedly changed and turned for Francis's inspection. Gilbert frowned, Francis wasn't there. Gilbert shrugged thinking that Francis had probably gotten bored. He checked his watch and left for the cafe.

Gilbert waited at the table and looked at his watch for the third time. Matthew was now half an hour late. Gilbert reached for his phone and was about to dial Matthew's number when it started ringing, it was Matthew.

"Hello?" Gilbert answered.

"Gil? You have to come to the hospital right now!" Matthew said between a sob.

"Why? What's wrong?" Gilbert said as he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"It's Francis..." Matthew sobbed.

AN: Sorry everyone! This was supposed to be a happy feely chapter but the characters wanted to work on their own! Please review I would love to know what you guys think!

Also, because this is October and Halloween is just around the corner I am working on a horror one shot that will be out on Halloween!