"You sure you don't want to come tonight?" Matthew asks as he drives down the snow dusted roads carefully, "It's just going to be me and Gil."

"I'm really sure." Alfred inhales slowly now thinking he should have stayed in bed instead of trying to go to school.

Matthew watches him in the corner of his eye, "Al, do you want me to turn back around? You don't have to go today."

The other twin manages a small smile, "Bro we're in the parking lot, besides it's not like we're going to do anything today anyway." What he doesn't want to say is he'd rather be here than home alone for the entire day with nothing but the TV to keep him company. "I'm fine really."

While Matthew doesn't believe him for a second he parks the Jeep and gets out, "Okay." They walk towards the school as the snow starts to fall around them, "It's pretty isn't it?" The older twin reaches his hand out watching the snowflakes melt on his palm, "What did Mama always say about snow again?"

Alfred thinks for a moment cramming his hands in his pocket seeing no one around, "Nothing is more delicate than a single snowflake and nothing as pure as light snowfall in late December." He looks towards the white sky, "She was right I guess…" He trails off for a moment as Matthew in turn looks up at the sky, "You miss her?"

The older twin's heart sinks deep in his chest as he looks towards the door, "Come on Al school's about to start." He trudges off towards the large doors knowing Alfred will follow and eventually drop his question like he always does. It's not that he doesn't miss his mother at all but it still feels raw and painful for him. While he was never truly close to his father, Matthew adored his mother and it hurt worse than he's willing to admit to anyone, even to himself.

Finally the bell forces him away from his thoughts for a moment and he turns to find his brother gone. He turns back around and walks on to his first class too absorbed in his own world to hear the loud laughter and snickering coming from just a hallway away let alone his brother's small cries calling out his name.

For Alfred the day seems to drag on forever and by the time it's his last period he's exhausted. He looks up only at the feel a hand on his, "Al, you don't look awesome."

To his surprise he looks up to see Gilbert staring down at him. Quickly Alfred moves his hand below the desk, "I'm fine Dude." The blonde forces a smile as Matthew sits beside him confused, "It's just a cold."

"Cold huh?" Gilbert stares down at him unconvinced until he sees Ms. Hedervary walk in, "Hey Ms. H." He smirks slightly as he takes his normal seat, "Are we going to read some more Romance as a Christmas present?"

She shoots a wicked glare his way before returning his smirk, "As much as I would love to read some Shakespearian love poems." She waits for the light moans to rise up before continuing, "I think for today we'll watch a movie instead."

Now Gilbert lets out a small laugh, "Romeo and Juliet? Midsummer's night dream...Two Gentlemen of Verona?"

The teacher blinks surprised by the last one, "Um…no." She quickly recovers, "I was thinking Frosty the Snowman but if you want to watch Romeo and Juliet we can do that one instead." She looks out at the shaking heads, "Good just what I thought."

She turns down the lights as Alfred lets out a sigh of relief, "Alfred?" Matthew whispers.

"Yeah Bro?" Alfred whispers back, "What's up?"

"Gil's coming home with us tonight is that okay with you?"

Alfred just nods, "I'll make dinner for us when you guys get home then." When his brother smiles and turns back to the movie Alfred closes his eyes hoping that will help ease his growing nausea. It's only when the movie ends and the bell rings does he open them and follow his brother and Gilbert out slowly. He sinks into the back seat as the two others sit up front.

"Birdie this movie is supposed to be awesome!" Gil lets out a deep laugh, "Way better than that Frosty shit. Man, I swear she just turned that one on just to piss me off."

Matthew now lets out a small laugh, "Well you do start it."

"What's your point?"

The driver just shrugs, "No point…no point at all."

Now Gilbert's eyes narrow slightly, "You're being a smartass aren't you?"

"Who me?" Matthew quickly parks and smiles at his old friend, "Would I do something like that?"

Gilbert jumps out and shakes his head, "Yes you would." He turns back toward Alfred and helps him out, "Right Alfred?"

The blonde teen nods slowly as Matthew shoots him a look, "Whose side are you on? Al you're my brother you can't take his side!"

"Well you can be a smartass. And I'm not on anyone's side." He walks up the stairs and opens the door, "That I'll admit anyway." He walks up to his room as his stomach does a quick flip, "Anyway I'll see you guys later." He hears them leave soon after and he lets out a light moan, "Shit…"

He kicks off his shoes and lies down as his nausea hits him hard, "Fuck." The teen's able to make it to the bathroom before he loses what's left of his lunch in the toilet, "Uhh." He lies back on the bathroom tile and closes his eyes before another wave hits him hard sending him back to the toilet. "Damn it…" He moans sitting back down on the cold floor unable and unwilling to move as he feels the same feeling rising up again, "Damn it."

The jeep finally pulls up and parks as the snow finally stops falling, "So Birdie what did I tell you? That was awesome!" Gilbert lets out a deep laugh as he follows Matthew up the stairs, "Not as awesome as me but still good."

Matthew rolls his eyes playfully, "Gil nothing can be as awesome as you."

"Don't I know it…" Gilbert stops for a moment, "Smartass."

Now Matthew lets out a laugh before noticing his brother's not on his usual spot on the couch, "Hey Alfred we're home." He calls out only to be answered by silence, "Alfred?" He's hit with dread as he looks up the stairs, "Alfie…you home Bro?"

"Birdie, what's up?" Gilbert turns his attention towards the steps, "You know he did look like shit maybe he's just asleep."

Just as Gilbert says it Matthew's racing up the steps towards his brother's bedroom to find it empty, "Crap…"

Gilbert joins him at the doorway, "Relax Birdie he's just out. Now I have to take a quick piss then we can grab some more popcorn." He walks down the hallway but stops at the bathroom doorway, "Matthew!" The Albino quickly disappears into the small bathroom where the younger twin is laying on the floor, "Shit…"

Instantly Matthew is by his side, "Help me take him back to his room." Gingerly he picks up his brother's arm as Alfred lets out a light moan, "It's okay Alfie. You just need a good night's sleep." Matthew gives him a reassuring smile, "You'll be fine tomorrow." Both teens carefully rest Alfred down on his bed, "You want anything?"

Alfred wraps the blankets around himself as his brother tentatively touches his warm forehead, "No…"

"Okay but if you need anything just call me." Matthew quietly closes the door before turning to his best friend, "Damn it."

"Wow I know you're worried when you actually swear." Gilbert looks back at the door, "We could call your Dad."

Matthew fights the urge to roll his eyes, "Yeah no. He's still in Great Britain so that's not going to help." He leans against the wall, "Could we call your Mom?"

"Same problem, she's out of town visiting my little brother at his military school thing. And I'll be damned if I have to call my Dad and his new girlfriend." Gilbert shakes his head, "Not that he'd do anything anyway, stupid bastard."

"Then I guess I'll watch him tonight until our Uncle comes over tomorrow." Matthew folds his arms looking at Gilbert for a moment, "So…if your Mom's out of town and you refuse to stay with your Dad...you want to stay for the week?"

"What just so I can help babysit with you?" Gilbert lets out a small snicker, "What kind of awesome friend would I be if I said no? So what should I make for dinner?"

"You cook?"

"What kind of smartass question is that? Of course the awesome me can cook." Gilbert walks back down the stairs, "Just for that I'm going to make you some awesome…I don't know what yet but I'll figure something out."

Matthew sighs, "Just don't burn the kitchen down." He turns back to his brother's door and opens it again to see his twin curled up tight, "You hungry?"

He's answered by a low mutter, "Do I have to answer that?"

"No…I'll bring you some toast later." He close the door again as Alfred mutters a thank you. He quickly turns his attention back to the Albino now alone in his kitchen, "Gil what are you making?"

"Um…something awesome."

Matthew looks in as Gilbert takes out a dozen eggs and a large bowl of flour, "Maple…"