AN: So..I love Fall Break. I don't think I've ever said that. It's a nice break to catch my breath this year, though. Yesterday was the performance and it's nice to unwind a bit before facing people at the school again because I'm worried it's all going to backfire on us and stuff with some of the content in the last play we did. But yeah, I hope it does some good, anyways. Aidrian's worried because I've been so jittery. I was all smiles yesterday after the play. I was on a performance high. That's what we call it in my drama club and in class. Because that's what it feels like.

Anyways, here's a new chapter for you guys.

To those who reviewed:

ThatRandomReview: They're okay, I suppose. It all depends on the book and what I have to write about. I love the character analysis stuff. And I know what you mean. But still..people change, huh? I know I felt so stupid for writing it that I had to justify it to myself before I could post the chapters. Oh well. It fits now.

Spamano4ever: That's so true.

Luvrainluv: It is nice, right? My school's Prussia did this yesterday on the bus while he was talking with me and Canada. Our Canada is currently still in middle school, and they have a fem!Prussia..who was sitting with the high school's Prussia - not a good combo..and he did this and it's just...he's who I base this Gilbert off of, ya know? I had to include it. And we do have a festival..this is the first year and it was some of the clubs who got the idea going. We don't know if it'll work out too well though..I hope it does. Ludwig is a hard character to write. I'm glad you think I'm managing well...

Enjoy.

Once the cold weather began to set in, things changed quite a bit. Things were so different this year from the previous one. For one, they weren't on edge about someone being hurt, and they were dealing with quite a few huge changes in their group itself. Sadik had disappeared from their group for a while after Hercales and him broke up, but he was back around again now. And Kiku had started hanging around with them as well. It was weird, so many people coming and going. But nobody said anything about it.

Lovino was glad that the group was so comfortable with one another, because it was something that made everyone settle down instead of getting all worked up when someone else joined their grouping for a while.

Once the Holidays started getting closer, Lovino let Feliciano have his fun with decorating ideas. Ludwig and Gilbert both seemed surprised at how excited Feliciano was about decorating for Christmas that year.
Feliciano kept giving Lovino pleading looks about certain things.

Lovino would only give him faint smiles and mumble a soft 'we'll see' before continuing with whatever he was doing.

Gilbert was highly amused at the back and forth pull between the brothers when it came to decorations. Feliciano's ideas were rather over the top and festive. Lovino's had a simple touch to them, but still seemed to be elegant. It took a bit before they came to meet middle ground. Ludwig generally stayed out of the fray when the brothers got going on.

However, school didn't get any better for the group. Lovino knew that most of the time, they would ignore things that were thrown at them by the other students, but it had gotten to where they were trying too hard to work together to remember that it wasn't worth getting mad over.

Gilbert spoke one Friday a few weeks away from break. "So, who's up for one last trip to the club before Holidays hit?"he asked.

Francis shook his head. "Count me out this time, mon ami. My family's refusing to let me head out with friends this weekend."he said.

Matthew sighed. "I suppose I'll go. Someone has to keep an eye out on you, after all."

Gilbert chuckled, but nodded in agreement with that statement.

Lovino gave Antonio an apologetic smile before he spoke. "I'm game."he said.

This got a few startled looks from the others, and Antonio rolled his eyes in response to the look that Lovino gave him.

Gilbert gave a teasing smile. "What happened to the sobriety promise you made to Antonio when you guys got together last year?"he asked. "Because I know you. If you come along, you'll end up drinking."

Lovino glared at him warningly.

Antonio spoke up. "He needs a night away from the stress. So long as he doesn't do anything he'll regret, it's fine."

Gilbert nodded and the subject was dropped.

That evening, Lovino rode with Matthew and Gilbert to the club in silence.

Once they entered the building, their air changed quite a bit. They found seats together, and chatted softly about how things had been going at the school. Matthew and Gilbert questioned Lovino quite a bit more about his time with the Mafia, curious to see how it had all shaped him.

After a while, the Prussian got up and went to get drinks. Matthew told him not to get anything alcoholic for him, since he had to drive them back home.

Once he'd came back, Lovino spoke softly. "So...you two realize that things are going to get a lot harder to handle at school starting next week, right?"

Gilbert frowned, but nodded. "Yeah. Unfortunately."

Matthew sighed. "Hopefully things don't get too bad,"he commented. "Things are already so close to falling apart as it is."

Silence fell between the three for a while, each of them focused on their own thoughts.

Lovino grimanced at the taste of the beer he'd been handed. It had been too long since he'd had one, he wasn't used to the taste or the burn anymore."

Gilbert noticed and laughed softly at the Italian's expression. "Oh, Lovi...you poor soul."he commented dryly.

Lovino flipped him off, but laughed as well. He was far too used to the Prussian's teasing to be offended.

Matthew smiled at this scene.

About an hour into the evening, someone came up to the table the three were at and spoke. "Roma, is that you?"

Lovino tensed and looked over, eyes guarded.

Mathias. Of course he'd manage to run into the Dane again soon. None of the students from the nordic area had been around in a while. They had all begun focusing more on what they were working on after last year's disaster area around this time.

Lovino offered a faint smile and shrugged. "What're you doing here?"

"Lukas decided that a night out wouldn't be too bad. But he won't let me get a drink."

"I don't blame him."Lovino commented. "You're worse than I am about alcohol."

Mathias gave him a look. "Why are you drinking?"he asked. "I thought you'd told Toni you wouldn't."

Lovino nodded. "He's fine with it. I've spoke with him about it already. Chill. 'S not your job to be looking after me,"

The Dane grinned at him. "Alright. So is everyone doing something together for the holidays?"

Lovino shrugged. "I think we've decided on meeting up at the community centre a few days after Christmas to do gift exchange and stuff."

"Alright. I'll see if I can't drag the others along,"

That evening after they got home, Feliciano frowned at his brother, who was a bit more snappish now that he had alcohol in his system.

He knew his brother would be alright, he just hoped that he didn't wake up with too much of a hangover the following morning or he'd be ready to kill something. He knew that mood too well, and Lovino would more than likely injure himself if someone didn't keep a close eye on him.

Here ya go.