Gilbert sat on his bed restless, he ran his finger down Gilbird's soft back, the bird leaned against his finger loving the attention.

"Gilbird, I'm so bored this is totally unawesome."

Then, Gilbert heard something like sirens, he pulled back the drapes and saw an ambulance pull up at Matthews house, his heart started to beat fast.

'What happened?! He didn't cut to the point he lost a lot of blood did he? God please don't let that be true!' He quickly jumped off his bed causing Gilbird to start freaking out. Gilbert put on his shoes and ran out the door, but the ambulance didn't stop at Matthew's house. Instead it went toward the old cemetery. Stopping right at the edge, a few paramedics jumped out and ran off into the cemetery, one ran toward Matthew's house Gilbert followed as the paramedic walked in the door.

"How did you find him." The paramedic asked

"He wasn't breathing, and he was cut up pretty bad." Matthew's dad answered in a hushed tone

Gilbert walked in, the paramedic looked at him quizzically.

"What is going on?" Gilbert asked concerned "Is Matthew okay?!"

"He's fine." Assured the paramedic

Gilberts furrowed his eyebrows, it was obviously a lie, he turned and ran out of the house to the cemetery letting the door slam shut behind him he ran even if the rain lightly stung his face. He came to the edge of the cemetery taking a breath before continuing, the paramedics were around his friend lifting him onto a stretcher, and had him hooked up to oxygen, he looked horrible, his golden hair was tangled, blood covered his hands and sweatshirt, his pale lips were once again blue. Gilbert knew better than every person there, it had been here and it had attacked Matthew. After the paramedics had left Gilbert was still in the cemetery, near the spot that Matthew had been just a little bit ago, he walked around the angel until something caught his eye, just under the angel's arm was kumajiro, he picked up the stuffed polar bear.

"I wonder what you saw." He said to the bear "Damn I'm starting to act like Birdie talking to stuffed animals and all." He said to himself

Matthew's eyes fluttered open, all he could see is white. 'Where am I!? Am I dead?!' He pulled himself up fast but was pushed back down by gentle hands. He looked up and could make out the outline of a woman with chocolate brown hair,

"Hello matthew, I see you have woken up. Would you like your glasses?" she asked
"Yes, please." he said quietly "Where am I?"
"Just at the hospital Matthew." she continued "Your dad found you beat up pretty bad."

The hospital that was the last place he needed to be, what if the staff found out about Matthew's current insomnia? Or what if she attacked him again, or what if one of his hallucinations striked? They would ship him to the mental ward and he wouldn't see Gilbert until it got better, which it probably wouldn't.

'Stop putting yourself down Matthew.' A voice said.

'Don't listen to him Matthew he is lying they will find out and you will never Gil-albino-head again.' A second voice chimed.

'Could you not!' The first voice yelled.
'Could I not what?' The other laughed.
"Matthew, you have a visitor, oh yes here are your glasses." She said placing his glasses gently on his face till they rested against the bridge of his nose.
"Thank you." He said as she walked out.
Gilbert peeked around the door and shoved something behind his back before fully walking in, he walked to the edge of the bed and leaned down to Matthew.
"Mattie you look horrible." He said greeting the canadian with a peck on the cheek
"Thanks Gil I could say the same to you."

Gilbert did look horrible, his eyes were a bit red and puffy and he looked like he hadn't slept in days, Matthew didn't say anything because he knew that the albino was too 'awesome' to actually tell what had really happened.

Then Gilbert pulled out the thing behind his back, kumajiro laid in his hands around his neck was a ribbon. Matthew reached out and gently took the bear from the other boy's hands.

"I fixed him up." Gilbert said as Matthew buried his head into the animals fur. "He was covered in blood when I found him."

Matthew wrapped his arms around the albinos neck and pulled himself into the other's chest, Gilbert smiled and wrapped his arms around Matthew's back.

"Thank you so much Gil." he said
"You're welcome Birdie."
Matthew let go of Gilbert and leaned back against his pillow, and held kumajiro in his arms. Gilbert slid into the chair next to the bed, slouching against the back of it he tensed up a bit when footsteps came down the hall, sitting straight up he watched the door, until Matthew's father walked in. He stopped short of Matthew's bed to stare angrily at Gilbert before slicking back a loose hair from in front of his face.
"Hey Bud how are you?" He asked, grabbing the blonde's hand gently.
"Good I guess." Matthew answered.
"That's good, I'm going to the store, do you want anything?"
"No, I'm fine."

"Okay, see you later." He said, kissing the top of the blonde's head.

As he walked out he looked at Gilbert with a glare once again, 'Sheesh what is this guy's problem with me?' Gilbert wondered, slouching back into his chair as the man exited the room. He looked at Matthew who had already fallen asleep. Gilbert reached over and gently removed the other boy's glasses setting them on the side table, and tucked kuma under Matthew's limp arm. 'I wish I could tell him what he means to me.' Gilbert thought closing his own eyes.

Matthew was back at the lake, was the hospital a dream? Did that all really happen or is this a dream? As thoughts raced through his head he realized he had already walked into the water, his legs seemed to act on their own, now he was chest deep. Something lingered around his ankles, Matthew sniffled a bit and tears started to form in his eyes. He knew his fate, it was all too much for him. What if he couldn't wake up this time? What if they find his cold body in the lonely hospital room and wonder how he drowned in his sleep without leaving his bed. Then, he felt a tug on his leg. He shut his eyes tight preparing himself, and another tug came. He was under the water. As he thrashed, water was forced down his throat. He tried to send it back out- he really did- it burned as it rushed into his lungs. He wanted to scream so bad, his body was numb and weak. Things began to blur and there was a laugh as he blacked out, feeling a dull pain in his arm and then it was all black.
Matthew shot up and he covered his mouth as he coughed up the water. Gilbert sat up immediately from his sleep and jumped to help the other. When all the water was coughed up or most of it, the Canadian was shaking. Gilbert looked down at the other while comforting him and saw something that shocked him.

"Mattie, what the hell happened to your arm?" He asked looking at the boy. "Who did this and when?"
Matthew looked hesitantly looked at his arm, marks that looked like a message were carved into the flesh, it was sloppy and unreadable, tears filled the Canadians eyes and he started to stand, Gilbert held his hair back and rubbed circles on the other's back as he threw up the contents of his stomach.
"Why me Gil?" He cried onto the albino's shoulder. "How come I have to be tortured?"
"I don't know Mattie, I'm sorry."
"Matthew~"
Matthew jumped clinging to the albino. "I can hear her Gil! She's calling my name, she is after me!"
"No she's not Matthew." Gilbert cooed stroking the blonde's hair "It's going to be okay, I promise."

Gilbert stood taking the blonde with him. "You are just tired." Gilbert said trying to comfort his friend. He sat the Canadian back on the bed. "I'll be right back."

And with that Gilbert walked out, Matthew picked up Kumajiro and hugged him tightly against him, running his fingers across the toys fur.
"Who are you?" Matthew jumped, who was talking to him? He looked around the room until he settled on the one thing left, kumajiro.
"I'm Matthew." He said
"I'm Kumajiro, where is that nice red-eyed kid?"
"Gilbert?" He asked the bear, who nodded in response "He went to go talk to someone."
"Oh, I'm hungry, do you have maple syrup?" It asked his eyes looked at him pleadingly

"No I don't"
"Aw but you smell like maple syrup." Protested the bear "So you must have some."
Matthew kept trying to explain to the bear how he didn't have any maple syrup, the bear had to stop to ask who he was a few times, but Matthew seemed almost comforted by talking to the bear.
"Who are you talking to Birdie?" Gilbert asked, walking into the room.
"Kuma." He replied, holding the bear tightly to his chest.
Gilbert sat down on the edge of the Canadian's hospital bed and grabbed his hands and held them lightly in his own.
"Matthew." He said, looking into the boy's eyes. "Kuma can't talk."
Matthew looked at him, puzzled. Then he looked at the bear, then back at Gilbert.
"No he was just talking to me."
"Whatever you do don't talk like that to the nurses." He said, shaking Matthew gently. "If you do, they will think you're mad, and you will never come home."
"Okay." Matthew said, sadly.

Gilbert sat in Matthew's hospital room for the rest of the day, Matthew fell asleep a few times, more times than not Matthew had a bad dream and he would cough up water. Much to Gilbert's delight he didn't talk about Kuma for the rest of the day, and the nurse also said he could leave once his belongings were packed up.

Gilbert woke up, the morning air drifted into his room from the gap in his window he sat up gently rubbing his eye before tossing off his covers off of himself. Gilbird still was asleep on his perch in the corner. Gilbert yanked on a shirt and tossed a red and black plaid scarf around his neck and walked out slowly shutting the door behind him. He creeped through the hall until he was at the front door he slipped on his shoes and quietly opened the door careful not to wake his brother and Opa. The morning air was foggy as always, giving the forest beyond it an eerie feel. Gilbert dashed to Matthew's house to avoid the rain that started to drizzle and bounce off the leaves. He walked up to the door opening it slowly. He then shut it behind him so it wouldn't slam shut. He walked up the stairs and to Matthew's door. He walked in to find Matthew sitting in his bed trying not to fall asleep.

"Good morning Gil."
"Matthew you look horrible. Why won't you sleep?" He said, sitting on the end of the bed. "You can get really sick from not sleeping."

"But if I sleep she will get me." He said, looking at Gilbert frantically. "I'm scared."

"Why don't you spend the night at Gilbert's?" A voice added.

Matthew looked down and Gilbert followed his gaze. "I don't know kuma."

"What?" Gilbert asked.

"Kuma suggests that I stay at your house." Matthew whispered quieter than normal with his cheeks dusted with pink.
"Thats fine." Gilbert said ruffling Matthew's hair. "I just have to notify my opa, then you can stay over."

"Gil-" Matthew asked quietly.
"What birdie?"
"What if shes after you, too?" Matthew looked at Gilbert with his eyes full of question and concern.
"She won't." Gilbert replied 'At least I hope she doesn't. Damn, what am I saying? For all I know it could all be in his mind.'

Gilbert looked across the room to the window. Outside it was still foggy, but it wasn't raining at least, like it had been for the last couple of days. He could see the lake in clear view where the fog had lifted in several spots.
"Matthew?"

Matthew looked at the albino 'He's being serious. I mean he never calls me Matthew.' He thought.
"What Gil?"
"Why are you so afraid of the water?" The question that Matthew had been dreading.
"I don't really know." He started twirling his thumbs around each other awkwardly. "I guess it started when I was young. I had a brother his name was Alfred, he was the kind of boy you expected to grow up and play for the high school football team, out going, and he was a nice person, but he didn't notice me. My dad didn't notice me that often either. Then one day my dad decided to take us fishing out on a lake when we were on our boat. Alfred moved too fast and knocked the boat over. I almost drowned and through the water I-I could see him struggling." Matthew's eyes began to water "He looked l-like he was in pain, and he reached for me like I could help but I couldn't I was too weak. I-I watched my older brother drown that day. I feel like its my fault that I couldn't help him."

Matthew broke down in sobs, stuffing his face into kuma's fur. The sobs rattled the blonde's small frame violently. Gilbert hugged the Canadian close to him, stroking his hair and shushing him, trying to calm his friend down.
"It's not your fault Birdie, you couldn't have done anything. You were too young."
Gilbert on the outside was comforting and loving but on the inside he was thinking about Matthew's story. It sounded realistic but didn't explain this ghost that was following him.

"Matthew?" Matthew's dad walked in and looked at the scene before him "What is going on? Why are you here? And why aren't you asleep, Matthew?"

"I invited him over." Matthew said, slowly looking down to hide his tears from the man in front of him "And I didn't take my pill."
"Pill?!" Gilbert hissed at Matthew "You didn't tell me about any pills!"
Matthew's father shook his head "Whatever. Next time, don't invite anyone without asking and you are taking your damn pill tonight." He said angrily, walking back to his room to get ready for work.

"Now tell me about these pills." Gilbert said looking at Matthew.

Matthew looked down "My dad told the nurse I don't ever sleep and she suggested to try to use over the counter sleeping pills and if they don't work, see a doctor." He said. "But I think they make my dreams worse."

"Matthew they are trying to help you."
"No, they are trying to hurt me. I know it." Matthew whispered distastefully.

"Don't be paranoid. They are trying to help you, your hallucinations will get worse if you don't sleep."

Matthew looked horrified at the very thought of sleep. "If I sleep, she can hurt me," His voice started to tremble and his eyes watered behind his glasses. Gilbert sighed, patting the Canadian's back, attempting to comfort the sad Canadian.
The Prussian stood up and pulled Matthew to his feet. "How about we go down stairs and make some pancakes?" Matthew smiled weakly and nodded as Gilbert walked him down the stairs to the kitchen. Matthew slowly walked over to the cabinet and grabbed out a mixing bowl. Gilbert went to the fridge and got the needed ingredients before going in search of the flour. Once they had gathered all their ingredients, they started to get to work on making the batter. The two of them messed around a bit, giggling and throwing a pinch of flour at each other till they were each covered in it. Matthew pulled out a pan and placed it on the stove and turned on the heat. He brushed his hand against his arm, still trying to remove the flour.

"Where do you keep spatulas?" Gilbert asked attempting to help.
"In the third drawer." Matthew pointed out as he poured some batter into the pan. Gilbert handed Matthew the spatula and pretty soon they had a stack of pancakes on each plate. Matthew handed Gilbert some maple syrup to put on his pancakes. He looked at it for a while before turning back to Matthew "Hey Birdie does this stuff taste good?" Matthew was shocked.

"Good?" Matthew asked "It's the key to happiness!" Gilbert looked at the Canadian before smiling and putting the syrup on the pancake "Okay if you say so Birdie."

Gilbert cut a small square out of the pancake, "Oh my gosh Birdie, I swear these are the best pancakes I've ever had."

Matthew blushed, smiling slightly "Thank you Gil."

After they had finished the pancakes, Gilbert was explaining to Matthew how he could eat his pancakes everyday for the rest of his life. Matthew looked at his hands and back to Gilbert, and Gilbert continued his rant, stating the pancakes were almost as awesome as him. Then, Matthew noticed the maple syrup on the corner of the albino's lips.

"G-gil?" Matthew mumbled.

"Yes Birdie."

"You have a bit of-" Matthew sighed, leaning forward and kissing the corner of Gilbert's lips. He pulled away blushing, looking down at his hands. Gilbert smiled.

"Thank you, Matthew."

"Y-you're welcome." He stuttered.

Gilbert stood up and walked to the sink taking the dishes with him, he quickly rinsed them off and placed them in the dishwasher. He moved the curtain aside to look out the window, a hand touched his he turned to see the owner, Matthew stood there looking down at the floor, he removed his hand and Gilbert placed the curtain back.

"What's wrong Birdie?"
Matthew looked nervously at Gilbert, before grabbing the albino's jacket and kissing him gently. Gilbert smiled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around the Canadian. Their lips parted gently against one another, Matthew's hand moved to the back of Gilbert's head and entangled his fingers in his hair, Matthew brushed his tongue across Gilberts lips. Gilbert slightly opened his mouth, brushing his own tongue against the Canadian's. The albino pulled away gently kissing the corner of the blonde's lips and trailed the kisses down his neck.

"Gil?" Gilbert jumped and let go of the curtain. "Are you ok? You were spacing out." Matthew asked.

"Um, yeah i just didn't sleep very well last night."

"Ok." Matthew said heading into his living room. Gilbert just stood there thinking, 'How was that a dream? It was way too real! But wait...Damn I'm stupid. I obviously have a crush on Matthew. Gilbert Awesome Beilschmidt, you can be a real idiot sometimes.' He shook his head and walked into the living room sitting down next to Matthew, avoiding eye contact to avoid feeling awkward.

"Hey Gil, do you want to play a bored game?"

Gilbert looked at Matthew and smiled. "Sure Birdie." Matthew stood up and walked to a closet and reached up into the top and pulled down candy land.

"Sorry this is all I have."
"It's fine birdie." Gilbert said sitting on the carpet. He and the Canadian reached for the box and their hands touched for a brief moment before Gilbert pulled away blushing. Matthew looked down and pulled the lid of the box and started unpacking the rest of the game.

They set out the board game, Gilbert picked the red gingerbread man and Matthew picked blue. As Gilbert set his gingerbread man down at the starting square he notice names written on the corner of the board. "Hey Birdie, did you know about this?" Matthew peered down the at the game, he pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose.
On the board were three names James, Madeline, and Edith. Edith was poorly scribbled out with a black crayon but was still visible. "No, but then again this is the first time I've gotten this out." He looked at the names again "James is my dad, I don't know who the others are."

"That's ok, let's just play." Gilbert said smiling but in his head he was thinking 'Why did someone try to blackout Edith's name?'

"Damn it!" Gilbert said as Matthew finished the game first, again. "How come I keep losing!?"
"I'm just good at this game, I guess." Matthew shrugged.

"Is there even a way to be good at candyland?" Gilbert asked.
"I don't think so." Matthew laughed as he started packing up the game.
"God, I love your laugh." Matthew stopped laughing and looked at Gilbert,

"What?" He asked

"Nothing, hey I have to go, James will be home in like five minutes, right?" Gilbert said nervously standing up.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Matthew replied.

Gilbert waved to his friend and walked out the door allowing the screen door to slam behind him again, the rain splashed against his pale skin as he walked across the sand, he looked toward the lake, a figure stood in the water, fog shrouded the person on the lake, Gilbert knew it was a good idea to be on the lake during fog.

"Hey!"

The figure moved, turning toward the sound of Gilbert's voice before turning back and jumping into the dark water. Gilbert passed what he had seen off as a figment of his imagination. There wasn't anyone for miles besides Matthew's family. He continued walking flicking his hair out of his crimson eyes, shoving his hands into his pockets tiredly, he walked up the stairs to the door. opening it enough to stick his head inside the door.

"Opa!" he waited a bit before a reply came.

"Was?"

"Can I take the car?" Gilbert asked

"Ja." His grandfather replied from the other room "Careful though, there are slick spots."
"Ja, was auch immer." He yelled back reaching in the door grabbing the keys out of the key basket.
The albino shut the door gently heading back down the stairs, his feet hit the gravel and it crunched under his shoe as he headed toward the garage door. Then he opened the door to a truck, he opened the door and jumped in, he pulled the seat belt over his body and buckled it. He slid the key into the key fob and turned it forward, the car roared to life with a gentle hum. He changed the gear and headed out.

The albino turned the final corner leading him into town, he passed the empty shops, until he came to the library, he parked the truck out front and casually walked into the library.

He walked up to a desk in the back of the library, where a woman whose name tag read Alice peered at him over the rim of her cherry red glasses with emerald green eyes, small freckles stood out upon her nose. She tugged on her tie nervously, her blonde hair fell slightly into her face.

"How can I be of assistance, sir?" She asked politely in a british accent.

"Could you help me find any newspaper articles about paranormal activity or a person named Edith?"

"Sure, love," She said standing up, flattening her skirt and straightening her sweater vest. She walked into a back room motioning for Gilbert to follow her. She walked against the back wall opening up a file cabinet and sorting through the newspaper clippings and documents.

she turned holding a file. "This is what you're looking for." She said, showing him a file labeled 'Unsolved'.

She pulled a chair out of a table against the wall, and pulled out a chair on the opposite end of the table. She sat down and opened the manilla folder, pulling out newspaper clippings, pictures, and documents.

"This was a pretty big case." She started. "A house burst into flames in the middle of the night June of 1986."

Gilbert looked at the blonde intently listening to her story. "No suspects, no witnesses, no evidence of arson, and no bodies."

"No bodies?" Gilbert asked.

"Yes, there was a family that lived at the house, they all perished, there was a girl our age, her body, nor her parent's bodies were found. It's pretty sad really." she said gently running her manicured finger over the picture of a smiling girl. "My mum said there was a candlelight vigil, she was visiting her american cousins during the time." She sighed. "Would you like me to photocopy this for you?"

"Yes please." Gilbert said back.

She quickly placed the documents and newspapers on the copy machine and copied each paper, she grabbed the stapler and stapled the papers together.

"Here." She said handing the papers to him "Enjoy." She said with slight sarcasm as Gilbert took the papers and walked away.

"Thank you, Alice." He smiled as Alice blushed and crossed her arms.

He walked over to the shelves that housed the paranormal books grabbing the one that looked most promising and checked that out.

Gilbert tucked the book and paper under his arm to shield it from the rain as he walked down the steps to the lonely truck, he took out his keys with his free hand and unlocked the drivers side door, he climbed in shaking the water out of his hair before placing the book and papers on the passenger seat and started the car, making his way back home.

A/N sucky chapter with horrible cliffhanger is sucky, sorry I've just been so busy as of late with constant holidays and my love life and depression and all that fun shit. So the chapters will be really slow, I'm going on yet another holiday and School starts a few weeks after I get back.

IM SO SORRY oh btw I have a tumblr it's the same as my TheAmazingEngland

EDIT: I accidentally got some stuff mixed up and stuff so hopefully i fixed it