AN: I GOT A MEDAL OF AWESOMENESS! 8'D YAY!

Today was a beautiful day.

Not because it was sprinkling (but he really did love days like those, made him feel alive) and not because today was the day of Prussia's unification ("January 18! Don't forget that!") He declared today a beautiful day because he was going home.

Home, home on the range! Where the buffalo roam—Okay, enough with that song.

Anyways, maybe he was feeling a bit more like his cocky and usual arrogant self, but he threw a wink at the new nurse that had brought him his clothes, loving the way she would giggle to herself and coyly wave at him.

Aw yes, the thrill of the game! He almost forgot how good it was.

Ah, it wasn't as good without Francis and Antonio by his side, but he could live with it. Meeting Annie and Francille, it was a very good thing indeed. The first thing on his to-do list was to call them up and just catch up on good time's sake. No talking about jobs, girls, or sex. Just good ol' best friends, having a good ol' time on the phone.

Now, the first step towards that was to get dressed.

Gilbert sucked down a low groan of pain as he pulled his old shirt over his head. He rubbed the top of his head, that little area throbbing. Damn headache, damn side effects, you can't bring this Prussian down today! He clenched his fist and reminded him to move slowly as he bent down to pick up his pants.

He realized with mixed emotions that he didn't need to wear his belt.

Maybe I should lay off the pancakes now. Gilbert scoffed at that thought, throwing his belt into the polyester bag the hospital lent to him. He fingered the last bottle of his meds, frowning to himself before grimacing and slipping it into his bag. It pained him to think that he still had to be drugged outside the hospital, but at least nobody would notice if he skipped a day… or a week. "God, I can't wait until I'm out of here. No more nurses watching me to make sure I take my meds and no more obnoxious doctor popping in on me randomly!"

His cheer of joy was cut short by, "I'm sorry to pop in so randomly. I must be so obnoxious, huh? You know, because I'm doing my job properly." Mr. Williams smiled at him as Gilbert weakly waved at him. "Anyways, you still have to take your medicine so here," He handed two extra bottles to Gil, "Two pills a day, no more and no less. Come back every week for a check up."

He made a face at the pills and faked a gag before wincing at the sharp pain that shot through his head like an arrow. Damn that hurt. "I have a headache, Doc. Anything for that?"

"Yeah, half a Tylenol." His doctor beckoned a nurse over, muttering something to her before she nodded and left to the medicine cabinet. She came back shortly after, muttering something under her breath as she handed them over to Gilbert and left.

"Remember, only half. Anymore and you might be having a worse case of side effects."

Gil's lip pulled back at the notion of having an even worse headache. And here he thought that this headache was bad, he's definitely not going to be overdosing on it or anything. He took the pill, it leaving this weird powdery residue in his mouth. Ew. "What happens if the pain doesn't go away?"

"Sleep it off."

Even I could have thought of that. Gilbert suddenly realized where Matthew got his rough-edges from. "Wow…" He mumbled under his breath as he opened up his other pill and took it dry like he usually does. "You know, you kind of remind me of somebody who's been in the army before."

"Never been in the army—"

"Ha—"

"—My wife used to be a Marine though. Is that good enough for you?"

Woah, Matthew is a Marine brat? Never knew. "Used to be?" He asked, closing the top of his bag to sling it over his shoulder. He tried to make his way through the door, but Matthew's father was blocking the exit. Gil cursed to himself, trying to see if he could inch past the older man, but there was no room. Dammit, Matt must have taken his slender frame from his mother. There was something he never though he would be thinking to himself. "Hey, Doc, could you move a little bit—"

"He never told you about his mother?"

"No." Gilbert answered, looking up to meet those blue eyes. He suddenly realized that if Mr. Williams was German instead of French, had slicked back his hair, and fixed that sloped posture… he could easily pass as his baby brother. Okay, maybe not so much as my baby brother… "Um, why? What happened to her?"

"You should ask him. If he didn't tell you then he's just not ready to tell you." The man smiled down at his patient before gently turning his around and guiding him over to the bed. "So… I heard that you were friends with my son." That jesting tone in his voice didn't seem to really quell Gilbert's rabbit-hopping nerves.

"Yeeeaaaah… why?"

"Oh… I don't know, I find it rather cute. He always had a hard time making friends."

"Really now? I never would have known." He rolled his eyes as he took a seat on the bed again. And here he hoped that he would never have to sit on this bed ever again. It was rather uncomfortable now that he thought about it.

"Yeah, he tends to get a bit nosy and gets into other people's business."

What? Matt? Are we talking about the same person? "Really?"

"Ah, well, you know how teenagers are."

"I do?"

"Anyways, he's going to be helping me in taking care of you. Now you're really lucky, most of my patients don't get twenty-four access to my home phone number, but since you're his friend… I'll make an exception this time." Gilbert watched in confused silence as the other scribbled down their home phone number in barely legible handwriting. Sheesh, He thought as he took the offered number and slipped it into his pocket, Is bad handwriting a requirement in doctors?

"So where is he anyways?"

All Gilbert could catch was a soft 'Like hell if I know' from his doctor before he upped and left the other to his own devices. Gil took the opportunity presented to him to get one last look at the room where he's been spending his last week or so in.

He cracked into a wicked grin.

He didn't even look back as he walked out of the room.

As soon as he stepped out of those doors, the last thing he ever expected was somebody to bashfully thrust a cornflower into his chest. He grinned at Matthew as he carefully pried the flower out of those clenched fists and brushed back his own hair to nestle the thing behind his ear.

"How do I look? Awesome right?"

"The… blue really compliments your freakishly pale hair."

Gilbert just laughed and readjusted the strap that was beginning to dig a rut into his skin. He started walking, Matthew following suit and farther away from the hospital they went. Both didn't talk, Matt too worried about saying something awkward that might ruin the mood and Gil… well, he just wanted to get home and call up the one person on his mind.

He cast a sidelong glance over at his companion who was still following after him like an obedient pup as the duo neared the first street crossing. Gil quickly pushed the button, tongue sticking out in disgust before he wiped his hands on his pants. Whatever that sticky substance was, he didn't want to know. It wasn't long before the silly red flashing picture of the walking stickman showed up and Gilbert took a step off the curb. Matthew's step matched his perfectly.

He felt like an ecstatic owner of a new puppy. A cute little yellow lab puppy who just seemed a little bit lost and just a little bit cuddly. Okay, cross that out, he looked really cuddly. As Gilbert pressed the button of yet another streetlight, he decided that now was better than later.

"Are you planning on coming home with me or something?"

"H-Huh?"

What stopped him from squishing Matt's cheeks between his palms and cooing at that face, he didn't know. Just play it cool. He tried to calmly tell himself as all the cells in his body tried to reorganize themselves. "Well you know, you're pretty much just trailing after me at this point. Want to come over to my house for awhile?"

Maybe it was the side effects, but he had the uncanny feeling that he was back in high school again.

Nervous, sweating, the jitters… either that or he was smoking too much back then.

"My house isn't so far from here."

"Well, if it's not too much of a problem or anyth—"

"Awesome!" Gilbert's hand slammed against the button in his hasty excitement. Matthew was coming to his house. Matt was coming to his house, oh crap! What the hell did his house even look like at this time and moment? His hand repeatedly smashed the poor button.

Matthew could just imagine the drawing on there was sobbing about being such a doormat.

"Ha ha, Gil? Y-You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm totally fine. Why'd you ask?"

The blonde continued watching as Gilbert mercilessly continued punching the button with his fingers. "Oh you know… some things just make me wonder." Gil's eyes followed the other's gaze to where he was still going at the button and he quickly slipped his hand into his pockets, embarrassed look on his face.

"I'm just a bit excited."

"A bit? I never noticed Gil."

"Oh shut up," He snorted, sticking his tongue out playfully to which Matthew sniggered. "I haven't been home in awhile, m'kay? I'm a bit curious to see what it'll look like."

"I'm pretty sure it'll look the same as before."

"No, not when you have a roommate as obnoxious and messy as mine."

"Woah, you have a—"

His question was drowned at the sudden panicked scream that managed to escape Gilbert's lips. Random babbling and nonsense came from his lips as those red eyes suddenly took on a wild look. "Oh my God! Mein Gott! I-I left him in his cage all this time!" His hands gripped his hair as he struggled to think of different outcomes for the scene playing over and over in his mind.

He can't be dead. He just can't be.

It would be lying (and lying is bad) to say that Matthew wasn't scared. He was quite worried about the spectacle that Gilbert was performing, most cars slowing to watch his friend's panic-induced babbling. "Come on Gil, calm down. I-I'm sure he's—," Matthew reached out for the man, hoping to calm his nerves. He instantly regretted it when the Prussian grabbed his hand in a bruising hold and flew off with him.

He tried to ignore the honking, screeching, and screaming of the drivers as they flew past right in front of them.

It was easier said than done.

It was embarrassing, absolutely embarrassing.

The worst thing he had ever experienced in all his years on Earth.

His face burned even more just thinking about it: He had broken down into uncontrollable sobbing in front of Gil while he was in the middle of arguing with some driver who almost crashed into them.

Matthew was just standing there, listening to Gilbert scream and lecture the driver about how the pedestrian's always have the right of way and snapping at the young driver about where he got his driver's license. Then he looked at the car, the damage done to the brand spankin' new thing… so familiar and recognizable.

He could remember the feeling of pure terror slowly building up, coiling itself around his heart like a snake ready to strike as the adrenaline drained out his body. He was scared. He couldn't breath. He was scared. He couldn't think. He was scared.

Gilbert asked him if he was okay, but he didn't answer. Everybody fell quiet as he slowly started to lose himself. And then Gil snapped. He quietly told him that he should go to his apartment; that he needed to use the bathroom. As he left he could hear Gilbert explode, targeting the driver.

Embarrassing, he didn't need somebody to protect him like he was some princess. He just wants to scream and yell out into the world, but something is holding him back.

He still is scared.

"I look like crap." Matthew says aloud as he looks at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His usually somewhat tame hair was sticking up in all directions, this way and that from the run and his eyes were puffy from his breakdown. He nose wrinkles in distaste and he turns the faucet and washes his face.

The door opens and in Gilbert sticks his head. "You okay?"

"I'm okay." The blonde turns off the water and wipes his face on the towel. "How about you, are you okay?"

"Eh, I've been better. I made two people cry today. Not even close to my all time best so," He shrugged, "it's pretty depressing."

"You made that guy cry? God, what'd he ever do to you? You were the one who ran when the sign told you not to."

The other shrugged again as he went to stand by Matt. He tipped his head to the side as he stared at his own reflection. He looked rather different for some reason? Was it the not-smiling blonde next to him? Probably was, well, he's going to have to fix that.

"I lost my flower…"

"I noticed when it hit me in the face."

"Can you get me a new one? It oh-so complimented my hair color." Gilbert grinned at Matt's reflection, could see the beginnings of a smile on the other's face. It wasn't much, but at least it was something and Gil was glad for that.

"Of course Gilbert, cause a pretty blue flower really makes you more sure of your manhood."

"Hey!"

"So where's your roommate?"

"Oh, such a good question Watson! Where'd you go? Harvard?" He joked, leaving the bathroom to go and stand in the intersection of all the rooms. Matthew soon followed, stopping by his side and looking around. Considering the type of person Gilbert was, all the rooms are actually very tidy. It was like Hurricane Tidy came by and swept all the undesirables out.

"Well, he didn't escape his cage. That much I know." Gilbert said, feeling mixed feelings of both anxiety and relief. The house is clean meaning that Gilbird didn't escape, but that means that somebody took him out. Now who would do that?

"You taught him how to get out of his cage?"

"Just in case there's a fire or something. Don't look at me like that."

"I'm not looking at you in any way." Matthew argued, watching Gil as he walked away. He followed only when he realized that the other was going out. "Hey, Gil! Wait!" He called out as Gil held the door open for him. "What about your uh, pet? What are we going to do?"

He locked the door, slipping his key into his pants. "We're gonna go visit Bella."

"Bella?"

"Landlord." Gil went to the stairs, climbing down the three flights with practiced grace compared to Matthew who seemed to stumble every other step. As they turned the corner, the Canadian could see a compact house set apart from the apartments. There were flyers plastered over the wall and the mailbox had some papers sticking out of it.

He lingered in the background as Gilbert knocked one the door, it opening in record time to reveal a disheveled woman. Her eyes instantly brightened when she realized that it was Gilbert. She exclaimed something in some language that Matthew couldn't recognize, but Gil seemed to know what she was saying, responding in the same language.

She disappeared into her home, coming back later with a shoebox with breathing holes.

"Oh my GOD!" Was all Matt could understand before Gilbert started rambling in another tongue. The German ripped off the top of the box, revealing something small and yellow. He could tell that it wasn't good by that panicked look on his face as he hollered at his landlord, the woman yelling right back at him. The bickering lasted for a good four minutes before Bella finally had enough and snapped something and pointed at the rows of apartments. Gilbert stuck his tongue out at her before stalking off rejoin Matthew, grabbing the yellow thing and sticking it the top of his head.

Matt soon realized that it was a bird.

A bird was on Gilbert's head.

Oh God was it dead?

"G-Gil… is he… alive?"

He grumbled something under his breath, something that Matthew could understand. The albino plucked Gilbird off his head, looking him over more closely before cradling the bird close to his chest. "Ah, he's not dead. Thank God."

"Ah, why was he in a shoebox?"

"She didn't have a bird cage to use so she used that instead."

"Why didn't she just go get your cage? She has the master key…"

The older man scoffed, placing the bird back on his head. Matt could see the little thing shift itself into a more comfortable position. "Ah, well, Gilbird—this cute little fellow—he tends to be really…" He looked uncomfortable as he searched for the proper word, "He's really destructive. He already tore up her wallpaper when she went to the grocery store two days ago."

Matt looked at the tiny bird in a new light. That little thing could cause that much damage? It sent shivers down his spine as the two hiked up the stairs. God, how can Gil live with a pet like that? Gilbert unlocked the door, ushering the slightly shorter male in. "Well we managed to kill," His red eyes roamed about his living room for the clock. I swear, that thing keeps mo—Oh. There it is. "About an hour. Wow."

"Wait, where's your clock. What time is it, eh?"

"See that thing up there? In the corner? That's the clock."

"What thing? I can't see it. Your wallpaper keeps distracting me."

"What? It's not distracting. I got it in a good bargain."

"I-It's yellow-green with white stripes and clover prints!"

"It's awesome!"

There was no way he could win this argument (Gilbert started talking about how it was exactly like his blog's background), but it didn't stop Matthew from standing there sputtering like a broken sprinkler. "Y-You know what? I'm hungry so I'm going to go make some food for us." He walked out of the living room, albeit a bit stiffly and stopped when he reached the kitchen. He sighed in relief.

Thank God, Gilbert's gaudy sense in wallpapers didn't make it to the kitchen (It was a nice shade of purple with faint eggplant prints). It was a bit smaller than he was used to, but he could make do. He took an encouraging huff before he set to work. Now, where were the pots and pans?

He jumped over his couch, landing with a grunt before he groped about for the remote. He found it under a fleecy pillow that he couldn't ever remember buying ("Seriously, when did I buy this?" He mumbled to himself as he chucked it over his head). He propped himself up on his elbow as he searched through all the shows.

Nothing caught his attention. He really should get an extension pack. He could smell something cooking. It smelled good. Gil let out a small hum as he quietly got up, creeping over to where Matthew was busing himself.

"What'cha doing~?" He rested his hands on the boy's shoulder, lightly drumming his fingers. A small jolt of joy slinked its way through his body when he realized that if he leaned forward just a bit more, he could kiss that small patch of skin at the nape of Matt's neck… Just a bit more…

"Making food~" Matthew's shifting snapped Gil out of his daydream, realizing with a flushed face that he almost did kiss Matt's neck. Matt continues with what he's doing, never noticing how a pair of red eyes watched him in earnest interest. He quickly chopped some asparagus, dropping the little bits into the pot. Gil continues watching him, slowly pressing himself to the smaller framed man as Matt continues working. It was when Matt reached for the potatoes that he spoke again.

"Can I help~?"

"No." He turned around, a small gasp escaping when he ended up chest-to-chest with the other man. His face flushed red as he gently nudged the unfazed man away. "I can take care of this myself, go do something productive. Like finding better wallpaper for your living room."

"Wow, fine. Be that way." He stuck his tongue out at the young blonde, Matt returning it before going back to his work. Gilbert lingered at his spot behind Matt for just a few more seconds, moving away when could see that the Canadian was getting uncomfortable.

Down the hall and to the right he went, stopping to close his bedroom's door behind him. The bed dipped down under his weight, the empty prescription bottle rolling to him along with some stray pills. He picked them up and tossed them away into his waste bin. He scratched the side of his nose, eyes resting on his cell that sat on his bed stand. Should I call him? "Hey, Gilbird, buddy… do you think I should call Francis?"

Pyo, pyo!

"I have no idea what you actually mean, but I'll take that as a yes." He scooped up his phone with one swipe of the arm. The little bells attached to them jingled as Gil laid back onto his bed, the cell's lit screen the only light in this room. "I haven't called him in five years," He said as Gilbird fluttered down to rest on his chest, "Do you think it'll be really weird to call him?"

Pyo!

"Hmn… you're right, I should stop being such a girl and just call him." Little chirps rang out as he pressed in Francis's number. "I mean, who wouldn't want to get a call from me? It's me!" Gil laughed, it coming out more forced than he intended. "But you know… what happens if he doesn't remember me or something?" He can hear the phone ringing. "God, maybe this is just a bad move—" The ringing stopped, a voice he hadn't heard in a long time answering.

"Bonjour?"

"H-Hey Francis…"

Matthew smiled to himself from where he stood, resting against Gilbert's door, carrying the soup he made on a tray. He could hear the rustling of bed sheets as the German moved to get into a more comfortable position and his smile grew bigger. "Took him long enough." He mumbled to himself as he walked away.

Seemed like he was eating by himself today.

"Who is this?"

"You don't recognize me Frenchy?"

"Gilbert, is this really you?"

He laughed. "Who else would it be? The Tooth Fairy?"

He could hear the Frenchman's silky laughter on the other side of the phone. At least some things about Francis didn't change; his laugh has always calmed him down. "I honestly gave up on waiting for your call. I would have called you, but it seems that you got a new cell."

"Yeah, I accidently dropped it into my ice cream." The two friends laughed simultaneously. Gilbert scratched at his pale hair, stopping the scratching when he went a bit too strong and probably made a scab. "So what's up?"

"I got married, Gil."

"What?" When did that happen? I missed my best friend's wedding?

"Yeah, about two years back." He could just hear the proud note in Francis's voice. "You won't be able to guess who's my lovely hubby."

"Arthur."

"Am I that readable?" The Frenchman chuckled and Gilbert could hear some background noise. Sounded like an oven being opened or something. "But I have some problems, Gil. I met her. I met the perfect one."

"Damn."

"Oui. Her name is Jeanne and she's the cutest thing I have ever seen. I don't know what to do." There was a pause and a sigh before Francis's voice started up again. "Arthur doesn't seem to like her very much, but I don't know why. It seems like Jeanne only gets along well with me."

Now Gilbert was feeling a bit left behind. Arthur knew about Jeanne? Arthur participates in threesomes? Gilbert faked a gag at the image that came to mind. No, no. Not that Arthur, I can't see him doing that. "Frenchy, I'm a bit confu—"

"Ah! I just got the cutest picture of those two!" Francis's voice came out loud through his phone. So loud that Gil held it away from his ear. Something was going on in the background. He could hear… Arthur screaming. Why was that not surprising? "Ah, Arthur is so aggressive sometimes~" He could hear Francis call out and he was pretty sure it wasn't directed at him… but it didn't make it less disturbing.

"ARGH, don't need that mental image."

"Hon hon hon~ Hold on! Hold on! I'm sending the picture over to you! I don't know why Arthur is so upset about it. It's absolutely adorable!" And like clockwork a small notice went up alerting Gilbert to a new message. He opened it up and he couldn't help but smile a bit.

There was Arthur, plain ol' Arthur, sitting on this huge green armchair and there was a little girl, her wavy blonde hair cut very short, leaning upwards towards the man. Her face was scrunched up into a pursed look; her lips puckered out and what was touching her lips were Arthur's own.

"That's actually pretty damn cute."

"Isn't it? It's the first time Jeanne has even showed affection towards her other papa." Francis's laugh was louder than the banging on the door. Gilbert could safely assume that Francis was hiding in the bathroom. That man always hid in the bathrooms when they were little whenever they chased by bullies. It wasn't always effective, but still Francis kept hiding there. "So what's going on over on your side? Did you find somebody yet?"

"I'll save that for another phone conversation. You just reminded me that my somebody's been making food for me. He's probably out there eating by himself and that's not awesome."

"Awwww~"

"Oh shut up." He snapped into the phone, but it still didn't get rid of the playful undertone. "Anyways, gotta go. I'll call you again."

"You better. Bye Gilbert, 'till next time."

"Till next time."

Click.