Hello again!
So I think I might be on a roll?

Well, not really, but I got another chapter for you guys!

Okay so this chapter is a tad shorter than the previous ones - I know. . . but I still think it works out well, right?

So to inform you all the cycle is about to restart. So next chapter will start of with Gil and the story should stay with this pattern. I may or may not include one or so chapter(s) with Lovino, but I'm not entirely sold on the idea just yet. I dont want to confuse you guys, so pretty much just expect that this will be the pattern from here on out.

I think that may have been all that I needed to say.

Hope you all enjoy!

As always, Hetalia and all respectable character (c) Hidekaz Himaruya

Don't Lean On Me (c) Bringmemisery

Chapter 4 - Getting to the Bottom

"Gilbert Beilschmidt," Arthur grumbled as he sat on his couch, "are you here to waste my time, or do you truly need something?"

"Well," Gil muttered, "I'm not really trying to waste time—"

"But?" Arthur rose his eyebrow."

"Hah," Alfred's voice rang from the kitchen, "butt."

Arthur placed his hand on his forehead, "For the love of God – Alfred, can you at least pretend to act your age?"

"What's my age again?" Alfred sang, "What's my age AGAIN?"

"I bloody hate him," Arthur groaned as Francis laughed, "Oh, can it, Frog. I hate you too."

"Must not hate me that much," Francis chuckled.

Arthur turned towards Gil who leaned against the wall, "Make it quick, Beilschmidt."

Gil scratched his ear, "I've had an idea."

"'Bout what?" Alfred mumbled as he walked over with a slice of bread in his mouth.

Gil smiled, "I need some assistance with this awesome plan that just came to me like, 20 minutes ago!"

"Right," Arthur rose his eyebrows, "Any day now, if you would."

"Patience, bro," Gil rose his hands, "I'm getting there. Okay, I think I've come up with a great way to get Lov and Tonio to hook up—"

"Gilbert," Arthur lashed out, "mind your own damn business. That is for them to settle – not you!"

"But, bro!" Gil pouted, "If we don't get involved, they won't get anywhere."

"Not our problem, "Arthur snapped, "Last I checked they are both adults. What does that mean? Oh right, they can make their own decisions. Whether anything does occur between the two of them is for them to figure out."

"Bro!" Gil groaned as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Arthur crossed his legs. He wasn't too sure if this was really what Gil came here for. Of course it did seem like something that he would come for, but it almost seemed like there was another reason. If this were really all he wanted, he could have called. Hell, he could have just text it to Francis. But if Antonio was the top priority . . . no, it still did not make sense!

"Dude," Alfred broke Arthur's thoughts, "They're into each other?"

"Not really," Arthur objected, "More one-sided, if you ask me."

Alfred cocked his head to the side, "One-sided? So like, one doesn't like the other one?"

Arthur nodded, "Precisely. Antonio has had affections towards Lovino since we were all young. Almost every other word that comes out of his mouth has to do something with Lovino. However, like I've tried to note to everyone, Lovino takes no interest in him. If anything, he's annoyed of the idiot. Which is why, Gilbert, that your so-called 'plan' may be unsuccessful and foolish."

"Still might work," Gil mumbled, "never know until you try it out, Bro."

"Don't hold your breath," Arthur retorted, "how about you put more effort into your own damned love life?"

Alfred laughed again as Gil's face reddened, "How about we don't talk about me?"

"I wanna talk about you," Alfred smiled, "ya dig someone, Gil?"

Gil took in a breath, "I do not. Crushes are stupid and only get you hurt. And I'm too awesome and have no time for the prissy, girly stuff."

Arthur leaned forward, "What's wrong, Gil? Can't we pry into your business?"

Gil shook his head, "Nein, I'm too awesome for this!"

"Well, Antonio's too stupid to be toyed with," Arthur said as he tugged his sleeve.

"Arthur," Peter chimed, "can I help pry into Antonio's love life?"

Arthur looked over to his brother, "What the hell do you think?"

"Yes!" Peter smiled.

"Bro," Gil yelled, "Peter can be my wingman! He can totes go undercover and get to the bottom of this!"
"No," Arthur sighed, "you will not. Did you not learn anything? But fine, if you want to get your hands dirty do it yourself. My brother will not aid you."

Both Peter and Gil protested, but Arthur ignored them.

Gil can be so childish.

Arthur took in a breath and scanned around the room, and noticed Flying Mint Bunny flitter about – not seeming to notice Arthur's eyes on him.

Silly rabbit.

Arthur looked over to Gil, "Did you really come to discuss this, or is there something more you wish to speak of?"

Gil stared at Arthur, "What do you mean?"

"Exactly as I said. Is this all that you wanted?"

Gil smiled for a moment, then his eyes fell to the floor, "Now that you mention it. There is one other thing that I could tell you."

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows, "Go on."

Gil smirked, "Remember that dream I was telling you guys about yesterday?"

Arthur nodded, "So you are worried about it."

"Worried?" Gil laughed, "I'm too great to worry. I was just thinking. Maybe that dream meant something?"

"Like a premonition?" Arthur's fascination grew.

"Mon amor," Francis muttered, "don't get too excited now. It's Gil we're talking about."

"Danke," Gil grunted, "As I was saying. Ja, like a premonition, but I can't figure out what it means."

"Gilbert," Arthur questioned, "can you explain exactly what happened?"

"Well, I woke up to someone yelling," Gil walked about, "and for some reason my leg was broken, or something. So I left my room and I got to the staircase, and I saw Roderich unconscious and bloody. Then I went downstairs, got pushed down, and mein chandelier fell on me."

"Duuuuude!" Alfred shouted, "That's one seriously epic dream! Last night I had a dream I turned into a burrito."

"Dammit, Alfred," Arthur screamed, "Stay quiet for five minutes!"

Alfred laughed as he headed over to the kitchen once more.

Arthur shook his head and turned to Gil, "Well, a dream like that could just be a simple night terror. However, if you can recall that I too had a peculiar dream the same night. My dream was in regards to some event that occurred to you, Gil. You were injured – gravely injured. Francis and I had gotten a call from Ludwig that you were under emergency care. And I remember trying to contact Antonio, but for some reason I was unable to. It was quite bizarre, to be frank."

"Mon cher," Francis whispered, "how can this be? Two different people having a corresponding dream? It's unheard of."

"True," Arthur nodded, "however, there is a connection. This could possibly mean exactly like you stated – this could be a premonition of sorts. The only problems are that we are but two people, and it could simply be a strange coincidence. Or we may have discovered something that may be coming."

"So what you're saying, bro," Gil frowned, "the awesome me is going to be crippled?!"

"Possibly," Arthur exhaled, "or someone else might. We should stay alert."

"Arthur?" Peter rose his hand, "why would something like that happen to Gil? Or anyone else really?"

"No idea, to be honest," Arthur stood up and paced the floor, "there could be someone who is playing with fire. Someone who may be around something, or even someone dangerous."

"Bro," Gil furrowed his brows, "it's not like we have enemies. Hell, we hardly even have friends!"

"Does not matter whether we have friends or not," Arthur noted, "a person does not have to be the reason behind this. It could be that some terrible event occurs out of the blue. A sort of wrong-place-wrong-time, if you will."

"Cette est terrible," Francis pouted, "I could not imagine if someone really was to do such a dreadful thing as harming one of us."

"Dude!" Alfred's voice echoed from the kitchen, "We're out of milk!"

Arthur shot a glance to the kitchen, "That is impossible. Did you not just pour from a full container morning?"

"Yeah, about that," Alfred laughed, "I drank it all."

"Damn glutton," Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose, "well, bare without it. I am not going to purchase more if you're simply going to drown in it."

"Dude," Alfred said as he came back to the living room with a bowl of cereal, "think I can turn into a cow with all the milk I drank?"

"Are you not one already?" Arthur smirked, causing Alfred to stick his tongue out.

"Gil," Arthur turned toward the Prussian, "In the odd chance that someone could be behind this, is there anyone who comes to mind?"

Gil shook his head, "Nothing is coming to be, bro. I mean, the most dangerous person I know is like Basch or something, but he's not trying to hurt us."

Arthur brought his index finger to his lips. It wouldn't make sense if there really was someone who wanted to harm them. They didn't have enemies. But, there had to be something.

Maybe someone did have enemies?

But the question was: whom?

Arthur continued to pace when he looked over to Francis.

"Frog, did you have any strange dreams?"

The Frenchman shook his head, "not even one."

Arthur stopped, "what about Antonio?"

"What about him?" Gil questioned.

"Perhaps he may have had a dream?"

"Didn't tell me anything," Gil muttered, "if he did, he would have said something."

"He could be hiding it," Arthur responded, "unfortunately, he is very good at keeping something this vital to himself. Perhaps we should ring him up?"

Gil pulled out his phone when a crash came from upstairs.

Arthur shot his eyes to the staircase. His heart beat pounded in his chest.

Not now. Simply not now.

"G-guys," Alfred stammered, "what was that?"

Arthur furrowed his brows, "If that nasty buggart is in my room, I will destroy it."

"Bro," Gil asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Think Art's got ghost probs," Alfred informed him.

"Ghost?" Gil questioned, "Like, dead people that stay on earth."

"I'll be back," Arthur said as he approached the stairs.

As he was about to place his foot on the first step, on the very top he saw it.

Standing there.

Smiling.

His heart beat continued to pace as it giggled. If the others could see it, they would all fall for its child's play. Mostly due to the fact that it took the shape of just that – a child. No older than Peter. The attire it chose to display had to have been circa early 1900s. Quite believable for a nasty varmint.

The spirit smiled as it stared at Arthur – almost piercing though him.

"Arthur," it questioned with a smile, "you brought some friends?"

"Leave them be," Arthur snapped.

The child frowned, "but I want to play with them."

"Behave for once and maybe I will play a game with you later."

The child looked past him, down to the group below. Another smile curling its lips.

"That one," it pointed, "he looks like loads of fun."

Arthur blinked a few times before he peered over his shoulder. It was clear the spirit was pointing at Gil – he was the only one farthest from the group.

Arthur shot back to the spirit, "No! He is entirely off limits! Leave at once before I cast you out!"

The spirit once again frowned before it dissipated.

Arthur took a deep breath before he returned to the group. His eyes shifted until they fell on Alfred. The American was flushed, and he didn't appear to blink once.

"Alfred?" Arthur asked, "Are you alright?"

"The hell was that?" The American whispered.

"Take no notice to it," Arthur stated, "it's just that buggart I was mentioning earlier. It's left now, and hopefully it stays that way."

"Dude," Alfred's eyes met Arthurs, "what was that?"

"In the blazes are you muttering about?" Arthur rolled his eyes, "Gil, were you not about to call Antonio?"

Gil looked down at his phone, then back up, "what were you talking to?"

Arthur ran his hand through his hair, "for the last bloody time, ignore it and call Antonio."

Gil frowned as he tapped his phone screen a few times, then pressed it against his ear.

Arthur sat beside his brother and asked, "you alright."

"I suppose," Peter replied, "at least it didn't want me this time."

Arthur nodded, "I need to rid of that beast."

"Arthur," Francis questioned, "is something truly in your house?"

"Unfortunately," Arthur sank in the couch, "and it's taken a liking to Gil."

Peter stared at the floor as Arthur looked over to Gil once more.

Arthur noticed Gil frown as he pulled his phone away from his ear.

"Did he not pick up?" Arthur asked.

The Prussian shook his head, "he's probably busy with wor-"

Fear consumed his eyes as he stared back down at his phone.

"Verdammt!" He shrieked as he shoved his phone into his pocket, "I've got to go!

"What's your hurry?" Arthur furrowed his brow.

"Bro," Gil said as he opened the front door, "I'm totes gonna be late for work!"

"Gil!" Francis gasped as Gil shut the door behind him, "Why did he come over if he knew he worked tonight?"

Arthur gave Francis a look, "Did you not tell him to come here?"

Francis crinkled his nose, and Arthur stood up once more. His eyes fell on the American once more. Alfred's face remained flushed, and his eyes appeared unfocused. Arthur tilted his head as he approached.

"Alfred?" He whispered, "Are you alright? You seem . . . quite distant."

Alfred continued to stare off, "You said that thing was male, right?"

"No," Arthur tensed, "I said it was an it. What has that anything to do with—"

"I saw it," Alfred breathed, "that boy. That boy standing at the top of the staircase. I-I thought it was just my imagination, but then you started to talk to him. Was he . . . really there?"

Arthur's stomach lurched as he forced a laugh, "What do you mean, you saw it? There is no way you could have seen it. Nobody ever does."

"But I did," Alfred looked up, "he was on the staircase. Talking to you. He was so tiny. God, it was like watching a movie. . ."

Arthur's heart rate paced. Never in his life would he have thought that someone else could see them. Sure, he heard stories of people who could see them – his friend Lukas could. But someone so different, so young, so naïve had to live with that blasted curse as well.

Arthur placed his hand upon the boy's shoulder, "Let it bother you not. I understand how strange it is. As long as you speak not to it as Peter and myself have, it will not bother you. Do you understand?"

Alfred nodded, and Arthur removed his hand.

The boy had to have been traumatized, but there wasn't a thing Arthur could do about it.

How could he possibly help someone when he was so lost himself?