Hey! Happy new year!

Sorry that this is a bit late, but i didn't have any time.

Enjoy (please)!

Ludwig Beilschmidt was currently sitting on a bench just outside the airbase, wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into. Not only was the training program being moved from the European base to the American one (because of the lack of personnel), but he also knew that at least two out of the five recruits on the program was complete airheads. Moreover, to make matters worse, one of the airheads was his brother. It wasn't like he didn't like Gilbert, because he did. He just found it difficult to be around him, not to mention actually training him. And the Italian wasn't much better. Well, he was easier to get along with, and he did have certain qualities. He just wasn't exactly… soldier material.

"Captain?"

Ludwig looked up. The person talking was Kiku Honda, him and Feliciano Vargas being the new recruits going to America. Ludwig quite liked the man. He was a small Japanese guy with black hair, and he always followed orders. In addition, he didn't speak much, and he (in comparison to the airheads) actually had some good potential.

"The plane is getting ready sir." Kiku said, indicating the small machine that would transport them. "We should probably get on board sir."

Ludwig gave a nod and stood up. It really was a small plane, but of course, that couldn't be helped. They only were three people after all. Him, Honda and-

"Ve~! Ludwig! Kiku!" A happy looking man jumped out of the plane, and started waving enthusiastically. "Over heeeere!"

"V-Vargas-san." The Japanese said, startled by his comrades behavior. "You really shouldn't address captain Beilschmidt like that."

"Ve~ Ludwig doesn't mind, right Ludwig?"

Ludwig gave a sigh, and looked from the small plane that he would be spending the next couple of hours in, to the dumpkophf he would be spending them with. This was going to be a long trip.

"NO FUCKING WAY!" Gilbert shouted furiously "The awesome me is NOT taking lessons from freaking Ludwig!"

"Calm down Gilbert, he can't be that bad." Alfred said with a nervous laugh. If this `Ludwig´ guy could make Gilbert act like this…

"It's not that bad, it's worse than that bad!" Gilberts voice had risen to a shriek. He was walking around the hospital room, biting his fingernails and swearing like a sailor. "He's just so… so… UN-AWESOME!"

"Gilbert, that's not even a real word!"

"SHUT UP!"

Ludwig shuddered. For a brief moment, he got the unpleasant feeling, that someone far away had just insulted him. But of course, that was just his imagination. He looked at the sleeping Feliciano in the seat next to him, and gave a small smile. After an hour of nonstop talking, the happy Italian had dozed off to the sound of the airplane. He looked serious in his sleep, and once in a while he would mumble some Italian words that Ludwig wouldn't understand. He didn't mind though. Actually, Ludwig thought that the serious face suited the Italian quite well, though he wondered what kind of dreams could bring that expression to the otherwise happy looking face. He couldn't understand how a guy like this could've gotten involved with shady types like the mafia or the Frenchfather. What could they possibly want from this guy?

"Captain?" Kiku asked, interrupting Ludwig's chain of thoughts. "Can I ask a question sir?"

"S-sure." Ludwig said, a bit surprised by Kiku's sudden talkativeness. The other man usually didn't speak unless he was asked a question.

The Japanese bit his lip and started gazing out the window. "Why did you bring him?" he asked hesitantly, and made a small wave at the sleeping Italian. "He's not exactly suited for… well, anything."

Ludwig gave a tired sigh. "Honestly, I don't know. I just… I just couldn't leave him to be dragged back into the mafia. Not when he's so desperate to escape that."

There was a short pause before Kiku answered.

"…I see." He said, and returned to staring out the window.

They both kept quiet for the rest of the flight, as the sun began to set in the horizon.

Gilbert entered his apartment, and threw the keys at the little table in the small hallway. He had finally been released from the hospital after being stitched up (and after he stopped threatening to jump out the window, if Ludwig entered the country). Alfred had offered him a ride home, but he had declined awesomely. He wasn't in the mood for noisy company.

"Girlbird!" He shouted, as he made his way through the messy living room (why bother to clean up, it wasn't like he had a girlfriend or anything). He had to make his way around big piles of dirty clothes and trash. "Gilbird, I'm home!"

He reached the big birdcage in the corner of the room, where his yellow canary, Gilbird, seemed to be happy to see him. His little friend was flying around his cage, greeting Gilbert with little `piyo´ sounds.

"Khesesesese!" Gilbert laughed, and opened the cage to let Gilbird out. "You've missed me little guy?"

"Piyo!" the bird flew in a circle around Gilbert and settled on his head. Gilbert laughed and went out to grab a beer from the fridge. Then he made his way (through the mess) back to the couch, where he bumped down with a satisfied sigh.

"Guess what Gilbird?" Gilbert said, turning on the TV and flicking trough the channels, "My brother Ludwig is coming to town. You two haven't been introduced yet. If he touch any of my stuff you're allowed to pick on him."

"Piyo?"

"Ja, you can scratch him to."

"Piyo!"

Mathias gave a frustrated sigh and closed his book. He simply could not concentrate on reading. He wasn't able to sleep either. Moreover, without Gilbert and Alfred to entertain him, the room seemed awfully empty and dark. The clock on the bedside table flashed and shifted to 1 a.m. Mathias really needed to get some sleep soon. Kirkland had insisted that he would have to show up to training tomorrow, so he had to be bright and ready. Breaking a leg apparently didn't count as an excuse to stay home. Mathias made a tired sound at the thought, and turned over.

`Clonk´

The small sound made Mathias jump, and abruptly pulled him out of his self-pity. He had forgotten all about the book that had been lying in his lab and it had fallen to the ground. It had landed open on the very first page, where the dedication was written in a neat handwriting. Mathias picked up the book and reread the words that he had already memorized.

Dear Idiot

I wanted to give you this, even though I doubt you know how to read.

At least it'll keep you entertained on the plane.

Make sure you don't die in some random bar in America will you?

I don't really care if you want to write me a letter or something, so my address's written in the back.

Lykke til I Amerika

Lukas

Mathias smiled. He had gotten the book when he was 15, on the day before his family moved to America. It was a collection of Danish fairy tales by H. C. Andersen. When he woke up and went to get the paper, it was lying on his doorstep. Lukas hadn't come to say goodbye, and Mathias had been quite angry at him. At first he had thought that it was a weird present, and he hadn't even opened the book for a couple of months, but now, it had grown to be one of his most treasured items. He had written many letters to that address over the years, even when the answers stopped coming. And he hadn't died in some random bar. Not yet at least.

Lykke til i Amerika = Good luck in America in Norwegian.

There wasn't that much Alfred or Arthur in this chapter, but i hope it worked.

And if any of the characters are ooc, i'm soory, but it's the first time i'm writing all of them. :)