When Elise awoke the next morning, she was eager to get started on the day. She rolled out of bed around eight and had two hours to get ready before her second meeting with Lovino. After putting on a blue dress, shorter than her usual preference in dresses, some short boots, and loosely tying her dark blue ribbon in her hair. She put the papers sitting underneath her mattress in her bag and then she went to the garage to find yesterday's driver. The driver was waiting there, unoccupied and Elise shyly tapped her shoulder.
"Excuse me ma'am," Elise said shyly, "I was wondering if you could drive me to another, er, date?"
The woman laughed and clapped her on the shoulder. "Sure thing sweetie," she said smiling down at her.
Elise and the driver made small talk as they drove to the café, and when they arrived Elise politely asked to be picked up in two hours. The woman agreed, saying "have fun," with a wink. Elise wondered what she meant by that wink but pushed it to the back of her mind as she entered the café.
Lovino was waiting for her, alone this time. She joined him at the table pulled the papers from her bag. He smiled at her and said, "You look lovely today, Elise."
Elise blushed. "Thank you."
They made small talk and ordered coffee. They laughed as they sat together, eager to start a new future of peace. The thought of no more pointless deaths brought them bliss and they were happy in each other's company.
They then spent nearly the whole two hours working and had almost lost track of time when the driver arrived. Elise rushed to put the papers back in her bag and gave Lovino a quick hug before rushing out to the car. As Elise buckled her seat belt the driver looked at her in the rearview mirror and, cocking an eyebrow, asked, "So did you two, you know?"
Elise didn't know and quietly asked, "Did we what?"
The driver laughed, "You know, the do, the frickle frackle, sex?"
Elise was offended at the mere possibility of this and said, "Why of course not. I would never!"
The driver laughed. "At least tell me you two used protection?"
Flabbergasted, Elise babbled, "We did not! I mean we didn't have sex not that we didn't use protection, which we didn't because we didn't have sex but you know. I mean if we did have sex obviously we would use protection, but we didn't."
"Sure, whatever you say," the driver said as she started the car and started driving back to the estate.
When they arrived, Elise thanked the driver made a quick stop in her room to drop off her papers before running to her brother's office. As she opened the door she saw her brother talking to a tall, white haired man. It took her a moment to recognize this man as her Uncle Gilbert. Gilbert spun around and saw Elise.
"Ellie," Gilbert cheered, "how are you doing my favorite niece? Your pops told me to check on you while I was here. Are you having fun?"
Elise nodded, confused about his presence in Zurich. "I am good," she said quietly.
Gilbert gripped Elise's small shoulder and for once had a serious expression on his face. "I was just talking to Basch here about your little bro's condition, not lookin' too good, really," he said, almost looking sad.
Elise was shocked to hear this news. She had thought Edwin was doing well. "What does that mean, 'not looking too good,' I thought he was doing well?" she asked, distressed.
Gilbert looked down solemnly. "He's going to die, Elise, very soon. As he was next in line for boss, I came here to ask Basch to reconsider being boss."
Tears welled up in Elise's eyes. Her little brother was going to die, that little hope she clung to was gone. Basch rushed to her side and gave her a tight hug. Elise blinked the tears away and put on a brave face. She turned to Basch. "And what did you say to becoming boss?"
Basch shook his head, "I could never do it. I turned him down."
Gilbert took Elise's hand and bowed his head, just barely looking up at her. "I'm so sorry," he said.
Elise shook her head. "It's fine, I'm fine. I'm going to go." She turned and dashed from the room.
Gilbert followed after her. "Ellie, wait," he called. "Just let me spend some time with you, okay?"
Elise clutched his shirt and leaned against him. After a short period of silence, Gilbert heard quiet sobs coming from Elise. It really had bothered her. Learning she would lose her brother crushed her and she wet his shirt with her tears. Gilbert stood there as she cried, petting his niece's hair.
When Elise was done crying, Gilbert held her small hand in his and escorted her to her room. They sat together until Elise was ready to talk again. "Thank you, Uncle Gilbert," she mumbled, "I don't know what I'd do without you." She gave him a tight hug and he squeezed her tiny shoulders.
"I promise I'll always be here, Ellie." He said ruffling her hair. Gilbert left and went to sleep in the guest bedroom on the other side of the house.
As night fell, Elise called home and talked to Edwin. They laughed together and Edwin seemed happy. He was never told anything of his condition and it seemed ignorance really was bliss. Elise was overjoyed to hear him laugh and talk about his art. But every time he coughed Elise remembered and was concerned for her dear brother's health. As they ended the call Elise reminded him she loved him very much and Edwin laughed and said "I love you too, big sister, and I always will."
Elise cried again that night, but eventually she fell asleep. She dreamt of Edwin living happily in a world without war.
[as always a review or two would be amazing and loved]