AN: Guten Tag!

Here is the new chapter.

To those who reviewed:

Spamano4ever: I get the feeling I should be offended by that first bit..but I can't bring myself to. And well..with how I've been updating..it's not much of a wait for new chapters. But I'm glad you like it, even if you hate me for hurting Lovi or whatever.

ThatRandomReview: No, I know I am. And actually..taking into consideration that I am basing that knowledge off of personal experience, a harsh, harsh blow to the stomach can cause that to become normal in some cases. With Lovi..well, his parents were always fighting. Feli and him did get hurt a lot because of that at times. It'll be shown later on in the story, promise.

GothicKitty1313: Eh..Kinda. More like Vash's overprotective side is kicking in and he's going to make sure that his "little brothers" stay safe, especially Lovi, since he's already hurt.

Enjoy.

The man stared at Vash, a cold glare showing.

Vash didn't flinch under the stare. In fact, he met it evenly.

Lovino knew what would get Vash to back down, to stop and go back to normal. But he didn't want to do it because he knew he'd never live it down. But he had to do something or the Swiss would get killed for standing up for him.

By that time, other people had begun to realize that something was going on.

The resource officer, who was a friend of Vash's parents, stayed out of the way, but passed something to Roderich and motioned for him to pass it to Vash.

Roderich knew exactly what was going to happen and he moved to put the package in the Swiss's back pocket so he could stay out of it.

The man didn't even bother looking away from Vash to glare at the Austrian. Because nothing really mattered to him other than getting his business here done. "Listen kid, I don't know who you think you are, but this doesn't involve you, so get out of my way."

"Like hell it doesn't involve me. That's my little brother you're messing with, so you need to back off. The minute you decided to show up here today, it became my business."Vash snapped.

Lovino hid his face in Antonio's shirt. He hated this. The fighting, the memories, the fact that Vash was opening himself up to get hurt like this.

But just before the man could move, Vash had taken the case from his pocket and let the actual case drop.

Feliciano gasped. A gun. Why the hell would anyone hand the Swiss a gun? Do they want a death.

But Vash didn't look back at the younger Italian's gasp. He kept the gun focused straight between the man's eyes. "You can leave on your own, or you can leave in an ambulence in a body bag. Your choice."

The man hesitated and took a half step forward, but Vash cocked the gun, letting the man know he was dead serious about shooting him.

Just before the Swiss could shoot, Lovino looked up and spoke. "Bruder, halt! Don't shoot. Please."

Vash didn't pull the trigger. Mostly because of Lovino's voice startling him. But the man figured out that Vash would do it if he tried to mess with Lovino and left without another word.

The Swiss nodded, uncocking the gun and putting it back in it's holder. He handed it back to the officer with a nod before he moved to kneel in front of Lovino. He sighed and wiped the tears falling down his cheeks away. He knew he'd scared the younger boy from how he was shaking. "I'm sorry, Lovi. I'm so, so sorry."

Feliciano was perfectly okay. He was talking with Ludwig quietly.

Vash sighed. "I know..I took that too far for your likings. But..I don't want you to get hurt worse than you already are."he said quietly.

Lovino moved and pulled his honourary brother into a tight hug, sobbing against his chest. "Please don't do that..you'll be taken away..."

Antonio's heart went out to the Italian as he once again realized that Lovino was only a child who'd grown up too fast to protect his brother.

Vash sighed. "I know, I know, I know. But I'd never, ever leave Feli and you out there on your own."he whispered to the crying Italian. "But.."

Lovino's sobs tore at the Swiss's heart. Lovino had never cried around him. And he had most certainly never seen the Italian so scared before.

Lovino didn't go to first block. None of them did. None of them could bring themselves to move. Vash stayed put while Lovino cried, soothing him quietly.

Feliciano had moved to help and currently had hold of one of Lovino's hands.

As soon as Lovino pulled back, it became clear that he couldn't breathe.

Vash sighed and made Feliciano drop his brother's hand. "Hey, Lovi, I need you to do me a favor, okay?"

Lovino met Vash's eyes.

Antonio tilted his head, but he knew that the panic had set in, so he stayed out of it.

Nobody said a word. One of the school's free teachers was standing nearby, keeping an eye on the group, ready to help at any moment's notice.

Vash took hold of Lovino's hand. "I want you to match my breathing, think you can do that?"

Panic attacks. Matthew caught on then and tensed up. Lovino had never had a panic attack before.

Lovino nodded once and did as Vash had asked of him.

Vash was gentle as he coaxed Lovino through his panic attack, but he couldn't do anything further than that. The group never moved. Lovino ended up slumping back against Antonio again, and the Spaniard wrapped his arms tightly around Lovino's waist. "Get some rest, Lovi."he whispered.

Lovino was already drifting by that point.

As soon as he was out, Gilbert spoke. "Would you have actually shot, Vash?"he asked, looking to the Swiss.

"I would have."Vash answered. "Nobody fucks with my family like that and gets away with it. And after seeing how terrified Lovino was? I would've killed him in a heartbeat, just to keep Lovi and Feli safe,"

Antonio sighed. "I'm going to take him home after he wakes back up. I don't want to scare him or anything."

The others nodded. The day had already hurt Lovino a lot. The panic attack had proven that.

Vash was watching Antonio play with Lovino's hair gently and he half smiled. "You really love mein kleiner bruder, don't you?"

Antonio nodded. "I'd do anything for him,"he whispered.

Vash smiled faintly. "So long as you don't hurt him, you're okay."

Nothing more was said on the matter and nobody bothered to break the silence until class ended.

A few people shot looks at the group, like they were insane or something. But others gave pitying looks or looks of understanding. Like they got why Lovino was like he was now.

Lovino's breathing became quieter as he woke up slightly at the sudden noise surrounding him. He blinked, but then he cuddled closer to Antonio and drifted back to sleep.

_S&S_-

After that point, things settled down. Lovino healed quickly and the group went back to normal.

Everyone was a bit hesitant to let Lovino go out on his own. But they relented after a while.

Lovino had managed to find a part time job, so now he and Feliciano had a stable income and were getting back on their feet again. Vash had taken them in until they were fully ready to stand on their own again, playing the part of foster brother perfectly.

December came around and the cold hit full force. Lovino, who had always hated the cold, stayed buddled up constantly. He and Feliciano had a habit they fulfilled - handmaking christmas gifts for the others.

The group made plans to get together on Christmas, spend it together.

Still, Lovino came in grinning the week before Christmas break. He was a bit behind the others due to the fact that he'd had to pull back from the others to talk to his boss over the phone on the way to school that morning. "Alright, guys, good news and bad news."he said.

Gilbert huffed. "Bad news first."

"I have to work Christmas eve so I can't come over until late."Lovino said.

"And the good news?"Feliciano asked.

Lovino grinned. "I got a promotion."he said softly. "Meaning soon, we'll be back on our own feet again, Feli."

Antonio chuckled. His boyfriend got excited easily. It was adorable.

Feliciano smiled at his brother. "That's great,"he said softly. "Stinks that you have work on Christmas eve, though. What about our traditions?"

"We'll still do them. Just a bit later,"Lovino promised.

Things had settled quite a bit indeed, and nobody was willing to complain.

Antonio smiled faintly. Matthew and Gilbert had dropped out of the conversation and were talking - almost arguing - quietly.

After a while, Gilbert grinned, pecking Matthew on the lips and letting the two of them rejoin the conversation in the group. Further plans for Christmas.

It wasn't bad. The times had changed drasticly, it seemed.

Here. And I will be doing a Christmas episode. If there's anything in particular you wish to see in the story, let me know!