Chapter 2

The empty train came to a stop. The now drowsy Ludwig looked out the window to see that they have finally reached their destination. He looked down at the little Italian boy. Feliciano was still asleep and showed no sign of awkening. Not wanting to wake him up, Ludwig picked him up and carried him on his back. He made sure that the boy's arms were around his neck and held on to his legs tightly so we wouldn't fall off. He casually walked off the train. Outside was painful to see. It was just as dreadful as Feliciano's home, only this time, it had a bit more houses and buildings. A few people could be seen trying to clean out the filth in this town. Most kids were sick and terribly injured. All the adults were weak and thin, but no matter what condition, everyone pitched in to help.

Ludwig sighed, but he kept walking. He was glad that Feliciano was asleep. He didn't want him to see this town and its condition. The last thing he wanted was the boy to start crying again. Every step he took, there was always something crakcing under his feet or dirt that stuck to the bottom of his boot. It was completely dark, past midnight, but Ludwig didn't care. He knew Roderich would probably be awake. Grumpy but awake. The man wouldn't want a speck of dirt to be left in his house, so he would no doubt probably be kept up for multiple nights trying to clean. It wasn't Roderich being awake that was worrying Ludwig though, convincing him to raise a three-year-old was the problem. He knew his friend for a long time, so he was well aware that asking him to raise a child was going to be a pain. Roderich wasn't one to be the caring and generous one. In all honesty, Ludwig wasn't really one either, but he knew that with a few words, he might be able to convince his friend to take Feliciano in.

On his way to his friend's house, he realized that the figure on his back was shifting a little. He turned his head as much as he could. Feliciano was shifting a bit and rubbing his eyes. Ludwig turned his head back so he could look forward again. Without paying any attention, he had ran into another man. The German man didn't fall, but the other man took a hard landing on the ground.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" shouted the man. He started to pick up all of the items he had dropped. By the looks of it, they were all photos. A little girl who was behind him helped as well. Ludwig place Feliciano down and helped the two with the pictures by gathering some of them up. He had assumed that they were probably related. They both had blond hair, a nice mix of blue and green eyes, and they were both rather short.

"Are you okay, Big Brother?" asked the little girl.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Once all the photos were stacked in his arms, he sat back up, as did the other two. Ludwig placed Feliciano back on his back. The Italian was still tired frim their trip, so he was kind of oblivious as to what was going on.

"Are you okay?" asked Ludwig, "I didn't mean to run into you like that, I was just a little focused on the boy here." The man looked at the back of Ludwig to look at Feliciano as he was resting his eyes a bit.

"It's fine, I guess. Say, haven't I've seen you around before? I swear you look familiar. Are you a friend of Roderich?"

"Ja, I am. Actually, I'm heading over there right now. But I have to say, I don't recall your name."

"Vash Zwingli. And this is my sister, Lili." The little girl that stood next to him bowed her head a little to greet Ludwig.

"I'm Ludwig. And this is... actually, I never caught his name." Ludwig was trying to think back when they first met. Not once did Ludwig even bother to ask for his name. Well now he felt terrible. Here he was trying to make him feel welcomed, and all this time he didn't do so much as to ask for his name. What a wonderful move, Ludwig.

Ludwig sighed at his failure. "I'm sorry, I actaully don't know his name."

"So you just picked up a boy from the streets? Isn't that kidnapping?"

"N-No! You see, he was the only survivor where he came from, so I decided to take him in." Ludwig tried to make it sound believable, but he could tell that this man wasn't all too convinced.

"It's okay, Brother," said Lili sweetly, "I think we should believe him. Little kids everywhere are losing their parents. I think what this man did was noble." Lili smiled softly. She looked at Feliciano like he was an adorable newborn puppy. Lili truly was a kind girl, even from the eyes of Ludwig.

"After all," she stated, "Isn't that smiliar to how you found me all those years ago?"

Vash sighed and smiled a bit. "You do have a point," he said. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I was being a bit too stingy." The corner of Ludiwg's lips came up a little. He was thankful for the little girl.

"Say," started Vash again, "You said you were heading over to Roderich's, correct?" Ludwig nodded. "Do me a favor, and give these to him." He handed Ludwig a couple of photos. "I've been meaning to give these back to him, I just haven't had the chance." Ludwig glanced at the photos and took them, placing them in his pocket carefully.

"No problem," said Ludwig.

"Thanks. Well, if you'll excuse us, we must be going now." Vash and Lili headed off to where ever they were going to. Ludiwg thought back to what he had said. "Actually, I never caught his name." Could this be true? He thought back once more. He really never did get the boy's name. "Great," he thought, "now he probably thinks I'm a jerk." He kept walking toward Roderich's house. He thought that now was probably a good time to catch Feliciano's name.

"Hey, kid. Wake up."

"Hm?" Feliciano rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Are we there?"

"No, I have a question for you actually."

"Oh really? What is it?"

"I never did catch your name. Could you tell me what it is?"

Feliciano gasped. Had he really not told him his name? He thought back to where they first met. Wow, now he felt terrible. This man was trying to be nice to him and give him shelter, and all this time, he didn't even tell him his own name.

"My name is Feliciano," he answered. Ludwig smiled a bit. Not only was it a pretty name, but the fact that he now knows it just made him feel fulfilled.

"Okay, that's all I needed. Thank you." Feliciano smiled and closed his eyes.

After about thirty more minutes of walking, they finally reached their destination. They were finally at Roderich's house.

Ludwig knocked on Roderich's door exactly five times and stepped back a bit.

"Hey, Feliciano, it's time to wake up. We're here." Feliciano lifted his head up to see that they had finally made it to his friend's house. Ludwig placed Feliciano down on the ground so he was standing on his own two feet. He knocked five more times once more.

After a few moments, someone finally answered the door. There, stood a man with dirt on his clothes and glasses that were slightly tilted. His white button-up shirt had sleeves that were rolled up to his elbow. He was wearing casual trousers, as the men nowadays usually do.

"Ludwig? What are you doing here? And who is that?" asked Roderich.

"I'll explain, but first, may I come in?"

Roderich looked hesitant at first, but he nodded and said, "Very well." He opened the door wider for the both of them. As expected, their house was rather dirty. It wasn't a complete disaster though, Roderich liked to keep things clean.

"Feliciano, why don't you go and look around, okay?" Feliciano nodded and walked off into the rather large house.

"So what is this about?" Roderich asked. "Who is that little boy?" He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you see, I have a favor to ask of you."

"I think I see where this is going."

"Please raise the kid!" Ludwig begged. He folded his hands and shut his eyes tightly.

"I'm not surprised you would ask me that, but I still can't believe you would even consider asking me to do such a thing."

"I know it's kind of out of the blue-"

"Oh no. It's not out of the blue, it's completely unnecessary!" Roderich was getting annoyed.

"I know it's a lot, but please! He has no where else to go!"

"I don't care! Look, I know that you helped me out by protecting me in this war, I thank you for that. But don't you think that just because you helped me ou in a war, that means I raise a kid?"

"Look, it's a lot, I know, but think about it. I helped you, now you help me. I'll be there to help in every way I can, but please do this for me?"

Roderich looked annoyed, but he sighed. "Fine, I'll help. But I swear, you better not ask em for any more favors!"

"I won't, I promise!"

"Okay, fine, consider it done." Ludwig could almost jump for joy. He was overjoyed that he convinced him.

"Finally. I hope you're happy, Feliciano, I really do."

AU:

I got to go right now, guys. Bye! Thank you for reviews!