So I just remembered that it's been some time now that I've uploaded a chapter of the FF.
Here ya go. I hope you'll like it, though there are still some chapters missing~
Giotto was sitting in the green and fragrant grass right beneath the old tree on top of the hill nearby the house. The sun was shining and beside some small white fluffy clouds the sky was bright blue. It was warm and some butterflies were searching for their way through the air. High above in the branches of the tree he could hear a squirrel cracking some nuts and the birds were chirping and singing with lovely voices.
It was hard to tell with words how much he actually loved this place. The nature was untouched, almost wild and beside the noise of some animals it was silent. There was no one nearby his hyperintuition would actually notice and Alaude had become as calm as he had remembered him during the last couple of month. However Giotto himself had also changed a lot during that time. He had not only calmed down, but he had also started to forgive himself about what had happened six years ago. The location and the landscape and of course Alaude's company were balm for his soul. He also looked much better. His pale skin had darkened lightly and his eyes were shining with joy and happiness. He also had gained some weight and was now just looking healthy again.
Happily he kept looking in the book which he was holding in his hand. He had started to read pretty much since they had arrived here. Alaude actually already had to bring new books for him from town. However since it was difficult to get that many Italian books Alaude sometimes translated the books he brought from town or he just directly read them out to Giotto. Like that the Italian had started to enjoy every single day.
He just turned to the next page when he heard a very familiar sound from the street below and a wide smile appeared on his face. It was the sound of horse shoes that came closer slowly. Giotto quickly closed the book and jumped on his feet, making the squirrel in the branches over him squeak in surprise. But he couldn't care less about the small animal. He took off and almost ran through the soft grass and into the forest. He already knew the trees, lining the small path that lead from the hill towards the street and so he of course arrived there just in time when the tall black horse came trotting down the street, carrying the blonde French on his back.
Giotto lifted his arm and waved at him, receiving a soft smile which he returned with a very wide one. Impatiently he decided not to wait for Alaude to arrive at his side and so he quickly went down the street in order to get to him even faster. When Giotto was finally there Alaude stopped the horse that of course waited well-behaved for his rider to signal him to move on.
"You're back." Giotto said out of breath but with a happy smile on his face.
"Yes, I am back." Alaude answered, granting his lover a short but soft smile. "I hope you enjoyed your day?"
"Yes, it was wonderful. The weather has been so nice these days. I hope it'll stay like that much longer." He responded.
Alaude just nodded and took a quick glance to the blue sky.
"I guess it should stay like that for a couple of more days." His eyes were returning to Giotto, examining the man who had made such a splendid recovery. "I've got something for you."
At these words Giotto's eyes widened in curiosity.
"You did? What is it?" He wondered, looking at Alaude like a little child, making him chuckle lightly.
"I'll show you at the house." He said, taking his foot out of the stirrup and offering Giotto his hand. "Come on I'll give you a ride."
The Italian smiled and of course didn't hesitate a second to take Alaude's hand. He also put one foot in the stirrup and quickly got up on the horse right behind Alaude. Gently he wrapped one arm around the French's waist, still smiling happily while Alaude pushed the horse forward in order to get them both home.
Once they've finally had taken care of the horse, they went inside the house and it obviously was rather hard for Giotto not to bother Alaude too much about what he had brought for him from town. Yet, Giotto didn't want to behave like a mere child and so he waited patiently until Alaude had unpacked the food and the housewares he had bought at town. In the end just a small box remained on the kitchen table and the Italian looked at it curiously.
"Is that it?" He wondered and pointed at the box, making Alaude smile lightly again.
"Yes, it is. Go ahead." The French offered him, keeping an eye on the man in order to see his reaction.
Meanwhile Giotto opened the box, finding sweets and pastries inside that, obviously for Giotto, were from Italy.
"There is an Italian in town now, making some of these. I thought you might like them. I know you at least always did in the past." Alaude said cautiously, hoping for a positive reaction.
However for a moment he thought Giotto didn't like this small surprise since the man kept looking at the sweets and pastries without showing any reaction, but then he looked at Alaude, giving him a smile. It was a true smile also glancing in his eyes and so Alaude knew that he had really made Giotto a delight.
"Thank you so much." The Italian said, taking one of the pastries and quickly eating it up, humming with pleasure. "It tastes lovely. They're really well done." And with that he ate another one, making Alaude smile.
"I'm glad you like them. But you shouldn't eat them all right now or you won't be hungry for diner anymore." He warned his lover, earning caught look.
"Of course, I am sorry." Giotto said, closing the box again in order to keep the sweets and pastries for later on.
"Giotto, I brought you something else as well." Alaude started before Giotto was able to leave the room. He gave the French a puzzled look.
"What is it?" He wondered, but Alaude already took something from his pocket, handing it over to Giotto.
The man took himself a second in order to look at the formal paper he was holding in his hands. It was obviously a passport and there was his photography on it. He also noticed that the language was French.
"Is it a passport?" He wondered, still not sure about it, but Alaude nodded.
"Yes, a French one. Like that you'll be able to return to Europe without any problem any time you want. I thought it might be a good idea and it's also safer in general. You really shouldn't stay here in America without having a passport." He explained the smaller one.
"Yes, I see." He responded, still looking at the paper. "Édouard Dashiell Juste?" He looked at Alaude questioning. "Is that my new name?"
"Well, I had to decide for something though it is just on the paper. You should only make it use for travels anyway. In the end you'll be the one to decide how you want the people to call you." He responded. "You don't like it? I can get it changed."
"Édouard. It's the French version of Eduardo, isn't it? That was my grandfather's name." Giotto asked. Alaude just nodded silently not sure whether Giotto actually liked the decision he had made or not.
"What about Dashiell?" He kept on asking about the name on his passport.
"Well, Dashiell is made up from de ciel which means from the sky and you should know about Juste since it is my real name's last name." He explained hesitatingly while Giotto looked at him with rather big eyes. "You know I'll go back tomorrow and request a new passport from my man. Then you can decide for the name yourself"
He was just about to take back the passport from the Italian when he quickly pulled it back, shaking his head.
"No, I do really love the name. Thank you very much, Alaude." He leant closer to the taller man, giving him a soft kiss in order to thank him for this precious gesture that made him even happier than he had already been. Just like many other days in his life he'd probably never forget this one when Alaude had just given him his own name. It almost felt like they were together now officially.
However this was just one of a few happy memorable days stacking up against a lot more bad ones. Though Giotto was sure that from now on the happy days would outbalance the bad ones. It just had to be like that because from now on he'd finally follow his own desires and with that he wrapped his arms around Alaude's neck in order to pull the tall man closer to him.