The thought of going back to living a casual life had all seemed so wonderful for both of the two.

Both Gilbert and Ivan have had their expectations about how it would be like. One special expectation, coming from Gilbert, was that they would often cuddle together by the fire. And it was met as soon as they had placed their baggage in the bedroom.

Both men have moved downstairs, simply ignoring their growling stomachs, to let the situation and atmosphere sink in. Ivan had first started to find life in the old firewood he had stacked by the fireplace, poking gently at some ashes to make place for the new wood-cubes. He eventually threw a burning paper onto the whole bunch, and then, threw some oil on it, so it would burn. As expected, only from the Russian, though, the flames burst up, and caught the rest of the wood, making the fire lively and dancing, until it would set itself properly into the wood, burning quietly. As soon as he was sure it was burning, the Russian stood up, and turned his attention to his curious lover, who looked around at the different things in the livingroom.

This would be a room he would spend most of his time in.. Not that he would mind...

The whole room was pampered with rich, warm colours, cushions well taken care of, and beautiful decorations. Much Russian, and much European, the same fashion as his brother would sport at home, in the summer. He stashed away all the nice things for the winter, not wanting it to loose it's "feel".

Gilbert never really understood what he mean by it, but looking at Ivan's home, a house decorated and set up to actually be in, and not only to be a place to sleep, Gilbert slowly started to understand the phrase.

He turned to Ivan as he noticed Ivan had so to him, and smiled slightly, putting down the smallest of the Matryoshka in which he was holding. It was smaller than a rock used on ice, to not slip, so he was careful to make sure it wouldn't fall down. Because, clearly, they had to vacuum clean later, and it would be bad if a little piece of a precious collection was to be lost in such a way.

Ivan smiled softly as Gilbert started to move over to him, rather silently, letting the fire be background music. It crackled softly, as the two men had settled themselves in the couch in front of it, sighing contently. Gilbert had settled into Ivan's lap, and was lying onto him, letting his head rest in the others neck. Ivan, rested his head against the others, folding his arms around him, in a warm, soft embrace. Gilbert did seem to love this, nuzzling to the others cheek as he started to get warmer.

Soon, the crackling of the firewood had become more present to the others ears, and when they gave one small look to the fireplace, it seemed the fire had burned out into nothing more but dark ashes. It was still warm, however, no visible flames. Ivan sighed a bit as soon as he acknowledged this, and released his grip around Gilbert, whom, in response, got off him. Their stomachs had broken the silence a few times, but they had been too cosy to part until now.

"I'll go and make some food." The Russian said, wandering over to the kitchen, to start to make something.

Gilbert just nodded, still in the couch, and turned around slowly, to see how it was outside. It was snowing rather gently, and the faint lights from the city Ivan lived by lit up the sky, as well, showed the snow that was falling in that area as well. It looked almost like something of a fairytale.

Thinking he should keep it warm, the male simply jumped down from the couch, and onto the floor, and started to gently poke at the wood with a firewood-pick, hoping it would stir up in flames again. However, when it did not, Gilbert threw another cube of wood onto it, and threw in another match. It soon caught flames again, slowly, but surely. He then got up, and proceeded to look around.

He wandered over to a quite pretty table, staring onto the several decorations that stood there. He lifted his head after inspecting them, and noticed a few picture frames hanging on the wall over the table, with a picture of three.

Gilbert inspected it as well, and thought to himself, perhaps the two women standing by his Russian lover was his sisters.

His thoughts was interrupted by a yawn, and soon, he just shock his head, and headed over to the kitchen.

Ivan was apparently warming up some frozen dumplings, putting a bunch of them into boiling water. Noticing Gilbert as he had just thrown the bag away, Ivan smiled softly, and joined Gilbert by the kitchen table, playing cards until their food was done.

Food eaten up, and the window closed in the bedroom, Gilbert slipped under the covers rather quickly, shivering slightly from the cold. He took a glance to his lover, who, a bit more calmly, joined him, and moved up close. He stretched out his arm, and without a word, had Gilbert in them. Gilbert simply snuggled close up to him as he was hugged, enjoying the warmth from the other. He couldn't help but to let a little smile creep onto his lips, as he leaned a bit back, and faced the Russian.

And as soon as he did, the Russian placed his lips against his, and Gilbert just let the surprise freeze for later, as he kissed back, the gentleness tickling at his lips. However, both were too tired to take it further, so, they pulled back, just about at the same time, and rested their heads against the pillow. Though, Gilbert didn't get much of it, as he used Ivan's arm instead. However, it didn't matter for any of them, and the warmth got both of them to fall asleep. However, it took slightly longer with Ivan.

He ended up lying for a good forty minutes, thinking about how things would be, and what they should do in the future. As they had all day for themselves, it could quickly get boring to simply stay at home. Ivan did have TV, but, as usual, it was mostly Russian. And it would take a while for Gilbert to learn it.

He sighed slightly, reminding himself to check if his gaming machine worked. He remembered he had an extra controller to get more items on LBP2, so they could play such.

He sighed as his mind trailed off to getting a job.

Such would be fine, as long as he didn't have to work with anything industrial again. Perhaps something calm, like a shop. At least, he had to get paid a bit more than he already had been, due to Gilbert.

However, it wouldn't bother him at all. As long as Gilbert was happy, he would be. Even if he had a nagging grandmother for a boss.

However, soon, his mind went silent, and he finally drifted back to sleep.

The next day, the two had started planning.

Planning about what to do, and when to do it.

And today, was cleaning day.

So, both Ivan and Gilbert was running around in the house, getting it nice and clean for the time forward. Ivan got the job to hang out the rugs, and beat the dust out of them, in which, left the snow grey underneath the balcony on the second floor.

He also saw a few kopeck lying in the snow, which he hurried down to get.

Gilbert was washing the bedroom, something he actually enjoyed. He dusted off all the nice decorations, and took down the curtains, for wash. He continued on, humming a rather soft tune to himself.

And just as he was about to finish, Gilbert jumped up as something grabbed around him. That "something" was Ivan, grinning ever so slightly. He had just gotten done with warming the Pirozchki, something Gilbert actually knew he was doing, as he had looked to him later.

"Lunch time?"

"Da!" Ivan replied, in a very happy tone, his grin still present, but faded as he leaned down, and kissed Gilbert's neck, feeling how warm he had gotten from the work. It was a loving gesture that Gilbert haven't quite yet gotten used to, so it resulted in a slight blush, and Ivan's head aching after Gilbert hitting it with his own.

Huffing, Gilbert went downstairs, taking Ivan's hand to get him to follow.

They ate, and continued their work, their day ending with both crashing in bed, and falling asleep quicker than one would think.

And the next day, they went shopping, both for new things, and food. As soon as they arrived home from that, they started to set things in place. It took them all day, due to new curtains, new bedsheets, and having to wait for them to get washed. Their day ended as the second one.

And so, the two started their life together, living casually together, without any problems, what so ever. Else from a few fights, mostly silly ones, things went well.

Ivan got himself a job in a cosy shop, eventually taking over for the boss, and continued to run the shop. Gilbert got a job as well, earning quite the money. He worked as a translator, and soon, as a German teacher in a Russian school.

However, every time they would come home from their day, they would always make some food, cuddle a bit, and have their fun together. And never regret one second about any of it.

End.