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IN BETWEEN

When Elizabeta turned twenty eight she just knew that things were changing. From beside her, still sleeping soundly, Roderich sighed deeply. They'd been married right out of high school, ten years together through thick and thin.

There was no passion.

So, as she sat up silently and tip toed out the room, as she dressed in the front hall and grabbed her bag from the coat closet she felt no remorse in leaving just for a little while, maybe a few days to clear her head. A passionless marriage, the fights had worn them both out horribly. Roderich wanted children, Roderich wanted to move his widowed mother into the house, Roderich wanted her to be a better wife more feminine and less outspoken. Of course he had never actually said that, he had never told her that her opinions had annoyed him, but his silence had spoken louder then if he had shouted.

Elizabeta did not want to have children quite yet she was still young she was still in her prime. Twenty eight didn't mean that she had to have a child-and Roderich was never at home anyway. Why would she have a child if it meant quitting a good job and staying home alone? Oh right, his mother. He wanted Brunhilde to live with them.

There was no way in hell she would live with that monster-Brunhilde Edelstein was never satisfied with Elizabeta. The house was never clean enough. Elizabeta's clothes were too tight. Why did Elizabeta always have to wear pants? Didn't she own dresses and skirts? It was not acceptable to work amongst men in a police station Oh, Elizabeta, I know a fantastic cooking instructor. I will give you his number.

There was no way that Elizabeta would live with that woman, worse yet have a child be partially raised by Brunhilde.

She drove as the sun began to peek over the horizon, her car amongst the few on the gray highway, the windows were down the fresh smelling dew clung to her nostrils filling the car with mornings scent. Now she understood what Sadiq had meant about waking with the sun. It was refreshing.

As she pulled off the highway and onto the main road she found herself in a familiar place. She remembered the crossing here, the train tracks. She passed a street of small mom and pops stores surprised that she saw her old classmate Ivan Braginski standing at the drug store having a cigarette. She pulled to the side and parked along the street beside him. Climbing out of the car she greeted him with a smile. It only took two waves for him to realize who she was.

"If it isn't Mrs. Edelstein," He extended his hand. "It has been a very long time."

"It has," she agreed shaking his large hand.

He appeared so much taller then she remembered. His round face was squared with no indication that it was ever rounded in baby fat as it had been ten years ago. His shoulders were broad and muscular especially noticeable under the V-neck green sweater-he appeared quite handsome. "What are you doing here so early? Waiting for the drugstore to open?"

"I own it." He said matter of factly. "Papa has left it to me after he died."

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that." She said earnestly. She remembered the serious old man who worked behind the counter with his thick white mustache.

She, Gilbert and Ludwig would go to the drugstore every Saturday. Sometimes they would tease Ivan, sometimes they would by cold cola but mostly it was to spy on Mr. Braginski who everyone called General Winter. Mr. Braginski was no fool however and would shoo them away but not before giving them penny candies and an alarmingly warm smile.

"When did he pass?"

"Just last year." He said. "I was surprised to not see you at the funeral-Roderich mentioned that you were too busy working to go though he sent your love. But, the fact that you have asked means that he lied when he said that you knew, yes? He has lied to you."

Ivan had a way about him apparently he hadn't really changed all that much. His voice was still sweet and his eyes were still bright and curious. He always had a way of talking down to Elizabeta that infuriated her although this time she was angrier at her husband. How dare he not say anything about Mr. Braginski's death?

"I'm sorry I had no idea. I wonder why Roderich would lie."

"Oh, Gilbert did say that Roderich would not pass the message. I guess he was right."

At the mention of Gilbert, Elizabeta's heart pace increased.

"Gilbert?"

"Oh yes." Ivan said. "He was very upset that you did not go to the funeral. Your grandmother was also upset by this but did not complain. I think that it was Ludwig who called Roderich. You might want to ask him."

Ludwig. Another name she had not heard in a very long time.

"How is Ludwig?"

"Married."

"Married?!" It seemed impossible that the stringy young boy from her memories could be married but, it had been ten years, he was an adult. "Anyone that I know?"

"Oh yes," Ivan said. He looked at his watch and tsked. "Let us go inside, we can talk about this in my office."

"But don't you have to open the store?"

"Not today." He said. "It's Sunday. You remember, the store is closed on Sundays."

The back room of the office was just as Elizabeta remembered it from the brief time she'd been there. She had been thirteen, the back tire of her bicycle had blown out and she had fallen scrapping her knee. Gilbert had been full of worry, taking her in his arms and shouting for help.

It had been Mr. Braginski and Mrs. Lorinaitis, who owned the grocery store just next door that had helped her into Mr. Braginski's office. He had patched up her knee as Gilbert and Ludwig nervously stood by her. "There all better, да?"

There was the thick brown oak desk, the thick leather chair that looked just as worn the first time around and a tall filing cabinet just beside it with alphabet magnets on it holding pictures of Ivan and his father in place.

There were more pictures on the desk and toy cars. A picture of Ivan in a black suit beside a beautiful Asian woman in a wedding dress. Her eyes were the color of caramel and her skin looked like snow. It was hard, Elizabeta thought, to picture someone who was always as creepy as Ivan, to have such a beautiful wife.

The picture beside it was of two children, a girl who looked like her mother with bright violet eyes like Ivan and a boy who was identical to him with warm brown eyes both wore Ivan's smile.

"You have a lovely family," Elizabeta said picking up the framed picture. "Your children and wife are quite lovely."

"Thank you." He gestured to the comfortable plush chair behind the desk for her to sit as he fiddled with the coffee maker. "I come on Sundays to waste time. Yao Yao takes the children to her sister Meimei's home on Sundays. I don't like to be at home alone."

"I see."

"So, why have you decided to come back to this small town?" He asked handing her a freshly brewed cup of coffee. "You and Roderich were very quick to move to the city after you were married." He took a seat at the small chair in front of his desk; it seemed ready to break under his great weight. "If I am not mistaken, Ludwig mentioned that you do not keep in touch."

"I've been preoccupied." She said taking a sip. She was glad that he had not added any sweetener. Somehow he had known how she liked her coffee, bitter and black. "And with Roderich and I moving constantly it has been a little hard to keep in touch with anyone. You mentioned that Ludwig was married? Is it anyone I know?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I think I have a picture here somewhere." He riffled through the desk drawer for a minute or two finally pulling out a thick envelop. He flipped it opened and handed her the pictures. "You remembered Felicia Vargas don't you?"

"Feli? He married Feli?" The images of the small Italian girl came to her mind dressed in a green ruffled dress and bonnet wild curl sticking out no matter what she tried to do with it. Bright smile, always pasta this pasta that. "How did that happen?"

"Well," Ivan tilted his head back in thought. "It was during college-Ludwig and I had become close to friends during the time. My father had always liked him and had given him a part time job here and Felicia worked with him. After she graduated high school during the summer of Ludwig's second year she decided to marry him if that makes sense. I think it shocked Ludwig more then anyone else when she declared it over the store speakerphone. Father was very amused by it."

The pictures spoke a thousand words. Young Felicia Vargas dressed in a puffy white princess gown with no sleeves with her long hair curled just so and handing half down her back. There were others too.

Arthur Kirkland with his then (maybe now who knows), girlfriend Allie Jones were laughing with Felicia in the picture while Lovina Vargas and Antonio Carriedo were dancing in the background. In another picture Elizabeta saw Ivan and his wife smiling into the camera each holding a toddler, the girl squirming in Ivan's arms as the little boy smiled brightly with his arms hugging his mother's neck.

Tori Lorinaitis and her then (maybe still) boyfriend Feliks Lukasiewics were posed with Ludwig and Francis in another picture. Another depicted her grandmother Anya and Feli dancing with Im Yong-Soo and a very grown up and handsome Heracles Karpusi (Elizabeta had remembered him being very lazy and chubby when they were in school).

It was the last picture that nearly caused her to drop the pictures.

"I like this one." She said.

"I thought you would." Ivan replied.

The picture was horribly taken and the very tip of someone's thumb was visible at the very edge of the picture. Ludwig was being head locked, his blond hair mussed as an annoyed expression had taken over his face except his eyes which showed that he was actually amused. Gilbert smiled down at his brother with his trademark obnoxious grin. His eyes were warm, proud and almost filled with tears as he stared at his little brother.

"No one told me." She said suddenly. "No one told me about the wedding. I would have gone but no one called me not even my grandmother no one said a word."

"No," Ivan was back at the small counter pouring himself more coffee. "I didn't think you would have been told."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh Elizabeta, you seem to not understand what I am trying to say to you. Isn't it obvious, that Roderich has been a little less then honest with you?" He sat at the small chair again this time he wasn't smiling. "I understand why he said nothing I understand why he was willing to not take a chance of you coming back here." He said. "And though I understand it I do not have to like it."

"Understand what? My husband has lied to me, he's been withholding information. You understand well I don't. I love Ludwig he's like a brother to me! How Ludwig must have felt getting married without me there if he cared at all. What is there to understand?" The pictures were slammed on the desk. Anger bubbled to the surface. How could Roderich do this to her?

How could he not say anything?

"Elizabeta, it is because of Gilbert."

"what?"

The phone began to ring ending what perhaps would have been a stream of questions directed at Ivan from Elizabeta. He picked up the phone and held it to his ear holding up a hand for Elizabeta to wait patiently. "Allo? Just the man I wanted to call, you will never guess who I have sitting here in front of me-what? Oh my...no don't say that you don't have to go there she is here, yes right here. Since this morning, no Roderich is not with her."

"It is for you." Ivan passed her the phone.

"Hello?"

'Beta...it's you isn't it?'

There was no one else in that room except Elizabeta and the strained obviously matured voice of Gilbert Beilschmidt-even Ivan became nothing back background noise. Her grandmother's words returned to her, words she had never given a second thought to in the past ten years: "...perhaps young Gilbert is realizing that he misses what he never knew he wanted..."

"Hello Gilbert."

"Maybe you are beginning to realize the same."

It was an agonizing moment before he began to speak. 'Beta, it's been...a very long time. How are you?'

"What? Not calling to tell me how awesome you are and how much I should have been missing you?" She joked on the phone, her mind bringing up images of the lithe arrogant silver haired young man she had left behind once she married.

'Like I said, it's been a long time Beta. I've changed.'

"Who are you and what have you done to Gilbert Beilschmidt? This is not the arrogant idiot that I know and despise."

He laughed on the other line, deep and raspy not the "kesesesese" that she had known as a girl. He suddenly sounded like a man and she realized she didn't like it. 'Oh I'm that guy alright, I just haven't gone on one of my arrogant rants since Ludwig moved out and got hitched a few years back.' He said.

"Oh?"

'He's got kids you know three rambunctious lunatics, all girls.'

The image of the large muscled man in the wedding photos that had been Ludwig, surrounded by three blond Felicia's came to Elizabeta's mind. "Daughters? Poor Ludwig."

'Yeah he likes to say the same thing only he actually likes all the attention. It's always Papa I love you, this and Papa can you hold my hand, that and then there's the Papa hug hug. He loves it.'

She giggled into the phone, this man made her spirits lift with just his voice and suddenly she was reminded of the arrogant boy she met when she was ten years old, the boy with the bleeding ear, bruised eyes and smirking split lip.

Where had the time all gone?

"What about your wife?" She asked. She didn't notice the look that crossed Ivan's face. "She must be tired of you." She waited for him to tell her about his wife with bated breath her chest aching at the very thought of Gilbert belonging to someone else, though she couldn't understand why it would hurt her.

'I never married.' He said simply, easing into the conversation now in the way someone would explain something to a slow child. 'Got no kids either didn't see the point.'

"Oh, well that's too bad." She said though internally she was immensely relived. "In love with someone who doesn't love you back? It's a man isn't it? It's Francis."

'Oh yeah, ha ha, you got me there.' He joked.

She was amazed at how easily they had fallen into rapport with one another, even after ten years they still joked and teased.

'Listen, Beta, there's something I have to tell you but I can't do it on the phone.' He said. 'I'll meet you at the drugstore and take you out to lunch, unless Ivan's already fed you.'

"Oh he hasn't, not yet anyway." She gave Ivan a look. "Though I half expect penny candies in a paper bag, you know, like back in the day."

'Heh, yeah I remember.' He said and she imagined him smiling. 'I'll see you in ten.'

He hung up the phone before she got a word in edge wise.

"So I take it that Gilbert is coming to get you?" Ivan asked. "Well since his work is located just around the corner we must make quick work right now."

"What?"

Ivan stood and gestured toward the door.

"Penny candies my dear. Let me take you back seventeen years."