A/N: Ah look who finally got around to uploading the next chapter! Eeehhhh I am sorry! But fortunately I will be able to put in the last chapter much much sooner. Yes, there is one little part left and it will bring everything to an end. An epic end! So thank you everyone who is following and reading and reviewing, it means a lot to me! :) You guys are SO awesome!

"Gilbert! Hey, Gil!"

Gilbert halted in the middle of the path that ran right beside the fountains in Volkspark Friedrichshain. He had his hands stuffed deep into his jacket pockets, kicking little stones along as he wandered through the park in the crisp fall air.

Hearing footsteps hurrying to him from behind, Gilbert turned around, his face a bit weary and his lengthening hair disheveled.

"Gil, hey! It's been a while since I last saw you," Hungary was saying as he came to a stop in front of him, her long brunette hair pulled back into a ponytail that trailed down her left shoulder. She looked gorgeous, still youthful, and her large green eyes fiery.

Gilbert half smiled and shifted his weight, asking curiously, "Hey, Liz. What're you doing out here?"

Hungary shrugged her shoulders, her hand holding onto the strap of her shoulder bag.

"Roderich wanted to visit Ludwig and you, but you weren't at home," she explained. "Ludwig said you came to this park, so I offered to come find you. And here you are."

Waving his arm a bit, Gilbert nodded. "Here I am," he said with the faked air of a person presenting a prize.

Hungary tucked a stray lock of hair back behind her ear and let out a breathy chuckle, looking down at the ground for a moment then back up at her long-time friend. He was looking right back at her, his eyes digging deep into hers. She was not sure what he was hoping to find, but she was willing to bet it was some kind of recognition. Something that would tell him that everything was just one big joke and the abolishment never actually happened.

But as she looked deeper into his tired, eerie eyes, she also saw something else mildly surprising.

He had accepted it.

Gilbert had accepted his fate deep down, whether he truly wanted to or not. Hungary could not help but feel some remorse. Not very much, but a little bit. She hoped to God that this did not mean that Gilbert had given up.

But acceptance was far different than giving up. She knew that, too.

As long as it really was acceptance, and not Gilbert simply giving up, Hungary felt like he could at least go about the rest of his life in some peace.

"So, do you want to come back to the house with me?" Hungary finally asked after the momentary silence.

Gilbert tilted his head a bit and shrugged.

"I dunno… I'm kinda enjoying myself out here. It's a nice day."

Nodding, Hungary straightened up a little, telling him, "Oh, that's alright. If you want to spend time out here, then don't let me stop you." She let a small smile take over her features, "I wouldn't want to disturb your awesomeness."

Gilbert stuck his tongue out disapprovingly as her words dripped heavily with sarcasm, working a well-known smirk onto his own face.

"You are just jealous," Gilbert fired at her, "you always have been!"

Hungary gaped a bit, bemused, replying back, "I have not! You think everyone is just so jealous of you. But I'm going to be honest…" Hungary leaned in a bit closer, whispering ominously, "no one is!"

With a fake gasp and widened eyes, Gilbert quickly shook his head and leaped back. Hungary couldn't help but laugh again, glad to see the annoying quirky attitude returning to Gilbert since his abolishment. It was really a bit of a relief, even if she knew that it royally annoyed her most of the time. She had missed her friend.

"Well, I suppose if you're going to hang around out here, I best head back to my husband," Hungary told him with a nod.

Gilbert mock pouted and went quiet for a second, thinking about something, then suddenly his eyes lit up. Before Hungary could react to the sudden facial change, Gilbert had bounced back over and draped his arm across her shoulders, offering a small grin.

"I think I'll join you," he decided, "ole Roddy probably misses the most awesome person ever, and he needs to see me in order to continue moving on with life. So, I'll come back with you."

Hungary rolled her eyes and started walking down the path with him hanging over her.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You're so annoying."

Gilbert only laughed in response, kicking a few stones out of the way as they walked together through the park to get to the exit. Hungary took one more look up into his eye again, still seeing that old light sparking in them. But there was still that previous tiredness. Weariness.

He had worn down a bit from everything.

But in all reality, she could hardly blame him for wearing down by this point. But she had a feeling it would not truly keep him down.

It just isn't his style.