Chapter 7

((AGAIN I AM SO FUCKING SORRY MY DEARS! DX I have been really fucked up lately, with fighting with an ex, fixing bonds between old friends and making new ones, plus I babysit my siblings EVERY morning and EVERY evening if necessary, but every morning definitely, not to mention I have 10 other chores I need to do *AKA all the housework but no matter* so I've been VERY tired and just lazing around. Then Shakespeare on the Green just started for me so I'm rehearsing for that with my group and we are doing "12th Night" this year~ Also I had an artistic boom recently where I've just been drawing really well and I've been trying to draw as much as possible and upload to DeviantArt *ShadowRulerz btw* But now FINALLY I present to you Chapter 7! With my new beta CJHDW! Thanks hun I really appreciate all your hard work tolerating a Romano like me~ Hahah she's my America~))

((Guys I'm sorry too cause school started shortly after getting this and I was getting a lot of tests and papers and I've been stressed I'm sorry please forgive the new beta. And if you see any mistakes that I've missed please please tell us thanks and enjoy~))

Chapter 7

As the light set, Lovino opened his eyes to a nurse gently shaking his shoulder.

"Sir? Is he awake?" Lovino bliked sleepily as he sat up.

"Mhm…he woke up in the middle of the night, he seemed okay." He muttered stretching. The nurse nodded and smiled.

"Good, we just need to take some tests and see how his wounds are healing." Lovino nodded and got up, sitting on a chair by the bed as more doctors came in. They took off the bandages and the Italian cringed at the small but deep wound. The hole itself was deep red, and the skin around it yellow and purple from the impact of the bullet. The skin on Antonio's abdomen was sweaty due to the bandage and it looked paler from lack of sunlight. Antonio didn't look good pale, Lovino hoped he would never him that pasty again. The doctors tested and whispered amongst themselves, giving each other either nods or shakes of heads, replacing bandages and not disturbing the sleeping Spaniard. Mostly because the idiot could sleep through fucking anything. Lovino remembered in high school a tornado hit New York, they had lived out in the country then, and Antonio didn't hear the storm OR the siren. Lovino had to run over and wake him up since he was home alone.

After about twenty minutes the kind nurse turned to him and smiled, her shoulder length blonde hair bobbing slightly.

"Mister Vargas it seems he is healing nicely. Mister Carriedo will be released tomorrow or the day after and should be healed by the nineteenth or twentieth. All he needs is sleep, he'll probably sleep a lot but he'll be okay. Just make sure he doesn't over exert himself." She then left quickly as her buzzer went off. She looked down at it and cursed lightly, sprinting down the hallway.

Lovino sighed in relief. It was going to be okay. It was all going to be okay. He glanced at Antonio on the bed, he was still sound asleep. His skin was gaining some of its color back, and his breathing was no longer labored as it had been the night before. Out of all the things to happen, Lovino did not expect this. A shooting. Though he should be used to it, shootings happened all the time in Italy. Standing up he grabbed some paper and wrote a note.

Antonio;

I'm going out for a bit. If I'm not here when you wake up don't panic, okay? I'll be back, I have to visit someone so don't stress yourself out, injured bastard.

- Lovino Vargas

PS:…..Ti amo.

Lovino checked his phone, December 16, 2012. He hoped his gift was still safe at Antonio's house, he had wrapped it in some wrapping paper and hid it behind Antonio's ash box of his first turtle. Grabbing his jacked he zipped it up and headed out to buy some flowers.

~1 hour later. Noon~

Stepping off of the bus Lovino held his flowers, ignoring all of the pitied stares as he walked through the cemetery. I don't need their pity. He pointed out to himself. The brunette walked past every grave stone, not bothering to look at the names. He knew the way like the back of his own hand. He kept walking for about twenty minutes, until he came to an old looking grave marker, right by a ditch that led into ravine filled with wild flowers during the spring and summer. It was beautiful. The cold December wind ruffled his hair and caused him to shiver. Kneeling down he set the small bouquet of lilies right in front of the stone. On it read;

Emanuelle & Maria Vargas

Born: 1968 Died: 1999 Born: 1970 Died: 1999

Although their bodies weren't here, Lovino still felt like they should have a grave in America, the letters were fading a bit, simply becoming an engraving instead of shiny black letters on the stone. He might have to save money with Feliciano to get the stone replaced. The Italian took a seat on the cold ground, no snow had settled under the old oak tree. He let the memories come back and he closed his eyes. When he was four, his mother had given him a toy car. She had painted a tomato on the side just for him. It was the first toy he could remember getting. He still remembered how his mother had smiled at his over-joyed cry. His father had helped him fix it countless times over the years as it broke from use.

The next memory was when his father had made him a tomato shaped pillow. Feli had gotten a turtle shaped one. Lovino smiled bitterly,, he didn't have many memories of them. The rest were normal family memories, sitting by the fire, having his mother or father read him and Feliciano a bed time story, the time father burned the pasta by mistake, Christmas and birthdays. Unfortunately it all led back to that one memory.

The men handling him, the blood pouring from his parents chest, the police's pitied looks as they stared at him. Somewhere along the way he had found his toy car, smashed, stepped on, and this time no one could repair it. Lovino never got to cry at first about his parents. He had to make sure Feliciano grew up normally, nobody deserved to have that memory haunting them. Every night Lovino would sleep with his younger brother, telling him stories and holding him, making him forget.

Today, Lovino knew this is for a fact, if you asked Feliciano what happened to his parents, all he could tell you is that they were murdered. Only Lovino could tell the tale detail for detail. Lovino was glad. Feliciano didn't remember, high school came, and he woke up most nights in a cold sweat, that dream of the night replaying in his head. He knew it had messed him up some mentally, but he knew how to keep stable and not go insane.

The young Italian had never been so grateful when Antonio came to him the next day;

~Flashback~

Lovino was sitting on a park bench in his front yard by the fountain, the cool spring air causing him to shiver. The fountain spit water and the grass felt soft under his feet. He was moving to America in one week, with his grandfather and brother. The young brunette wiped his eyes as he felt someone sit next to him.

"Hola Lovi~" A soft voice said. Looking over Lovino saw his friend Antonio.

"C-Ciao bastard…" He muttered. He teared up again, he would have to leave his only friend.

"I heard about you moving to America…" Antonio said sadly, scooting closer.

"Si, what about it?" Lovino growled.

"I'll miss you too much…" Lovino rolled his eyes.

"Stupid bastard, you'll find someone else to play pirates with…" Antonio hugged him.

"I won't have to, I'm going too~!"

"C-Che!?"

"I talked to my parents! And they're going to move to New York too! Bring the business with us, make more money!" Antonio said happily The Italian stared, touched.

"Y-You'd leave Italy for me?" he whispered.

"Si! We left Spain to bring our business here, so we'll take it to America too!" Lovino couldn't help but smile a bit and hug the other tightly.

"Grazie…..grazie mille…." He said, voice choked.

End Flashback~

It was the first time Lovino actually smiled truly at Antonio, he was so glad he had come over. On the plane Lovino had been scared, never having flown before. Antonio had held him during takeoff, and let him sleep most of the way. He remembered the small glares he would get from Mr. Carriedo before seeing his fake smile.

Before he knew it Lovino had been sitting there for over an hour, his skin was covered with goose bumps and cold to the touch. Standing up he stretched, rearranged the flowers again and said a gentle goodbye to his parents before kissing both of their names on the stone.

"Ve…fratello?" Turning around Lovino saw his younger brother. Feliciano had some flowers too, cornflowers.

"Hey Feli…" he greeted softly. The younger Vargas simply walked over and hugged the other tightly, being careful of the flowers. Blinking away tears he sighed in relief.

"I'm-a so glad you're alright…" He whimpered. Lovino hugged him back, sighing.

"Idiota, I'm fine…" He replied softly.

"W-What about A-Antonio?" Feliciano asked, gazing at his brother worriedly.

"He's fine too, he's being released tomorrow or the day after. 19th at latest." Sighing in relief Feliciano pulled away. He wiped his eyes and set his flowers down next to Lovino's.

"Rest well Mama and Papa~" He said quietly. Lovino could only watch his little twin like brother. He seemed so mature, standing straight and still, a solemn look on his face, he seemed older than Lovino, not twenty years old.

"Fratello? It's kind of cold, should we head back?" Feliciano nodded and stood up after he himself kissed the names in respect.

"Sí, I'll drive you to the hospital, you're all over the news you know~ 'Local Italian man protects boyfriend from brother in domestic fight.' There isn't much talk, but people seem to be inspired, especially on tumblr! You should see how many young teens are honoring you!"

"Inspired…Ah…I don't want to be a fucking hero!" Lovino groaned, walking out of the cemetery. Feliciano giggled.

"I don't think you will be~ it seems like people are just proud, and that they know they can fight back now if needed." Sighing the two brothers continued to the car.

"Ve, don't worry fratellone, life will go back to normal soon~" Nodding Lovino opened the passenger door, sitting down. Once they started driving Lovino began to think, looking over he spoke up.

"Did I do the right thing Feli? Getting two people arrested? I mean, Antonio will probably never see his brother and father again." He explained. He was glad the madness had ended, but the fact that he had gotten two people arrested made him feel guilty. Feliciano cast a glance at his older brother and sighed, giving him a sad smile. His brother looked disheveled, guilt flooded his eyes.

"Yes, I think you did the right thing, don't feel guilty, if they hadn't been arrested, well…they might have tried again. So I think you did a great thing." He said, pulling into the hospital parking lot. Nodding Lovino got out, stretching.

"Alright, I guess I'm just fucking confused, it's been a long week…"

""Hehe, I know Fratello, it'll all be okay~" Nodding the brunette headed inside, seeing it had been well over two hours. It was past two now. Heading inside he quickly ran to the elevator and rode to the tenth floor. Once by the door he heard voices inside and stopped.

"Ah, mon ami I am so glad you are alright~" It was Francis.

"Ja! Jesus I zhought ve had lost you!" Gilbert exclaimed. Deciding to play on his phone a bit Lovino let Antonio have some time with his friends. The Italian took out his phone and went onto the news page, sure enough under 'Other Stories' there was the tale; "Local Italian man protects boyfriend from brother in domestic fight." Smiling he shut off the screen. Look like Alvarez won't be too happy about this. He smirked. He heard Gilbert laugh again as he came out of the room.

"Kesesesese~! Ja, I can do zhat for you Toni! It's in your garage Ja? Okay, I'll take it home!"

"Bring it back Christmas Eve! Antonio called. Nodding Gilbert saw Lovino and smirked.

"Man, you've got an awesome boyfriend Lovino, glad you saved him~" He said, giving him a quick hug the German ran down the hall.

Giving a light chuckled Lovino walked inside the room, Antonio was being hugged by Francis.

"Oh mon ami! Merci beacoup for saving Antoine!" He cooed, groaning he squirmed.

"Get off idiot! Of course I fucking saved him! He's my boyfriend!" he yelled. Laughing Francis broke away, stepping back and letting Lovino approach the bed.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked quietly. Antonio smiled, though it was a bit strained.

"I'm okay, it doesn't hurt as much~" Antonio said. Lovino smiled a bit and sat next to him.

"Good, mia dispiace, I had to go visit someone…" He murmured. The Spaniard gave him an understanding look and nodded.

"I know, I'm just glad you're okay, you know how I worry…." Lovino nodded.

"Sí, I know. So, do you need anything?" Lovino asked, running a hand through Antonio's hair. Smiling Antonio gave a smile and nodded.

"Sí, could you go grab me a tomato from the cafeteria?" He asked, Lovino nodded and stood up.

"Sí, I'm a bit hungry too. I'll be back~" He said before leaving.

Antonio smiled and relaxed into the hard hospital bed, he couldn't wait to be released.

"So, Antoine, what is this 'plan' you were talking about?" Francis asked, Antonio perked up and grinned.

"Francis, I need you to get me to a ring store by New Years Eve~" He said. Blinking the Frenchman scratched his head.

"A…ring store? Mon ami, I don't think Lovino will be letting you out of his sight until you heal…" He admitted sadly. The Spaniard only grinned.

"That is where you are wrong mi amigo~! You see, Lovino has work from the twentieth to the twenty third! During those days he will be working overtime to get Christmas AND New Year's off! So, during those three days, you have to sneak me out of the house~" He explained.

Blinking Francis soon got the idea and smiled widely.

"Ah~ you are a sneaky one~ And when you are going to propose?"

"New year's eve!"

"Bon! Shall I make reservations for you two? Maybe a romantic spot?...Although Paris would 'ave been a better choice but NO matter! I shall get you and our little Lovino a reservation at a fabulous restaurant! Then you can decide where to propose!" Hearing this made Antonio smile.

"Lovino loves to watch the ball drop, I'll get us a spot right in front of it! When the clock strikes zero, I'll propose!" He said dreamily. Giggling Francis clapped his hands and nodded

"Oui! Oui! C'est bon! You are wonderful Toni! I know 'e will love it!" Francis exclaimed. Antonio nodded.

"I hope he loves it too~"

~Lovino's POV~

Lovino sighed as he finally snatched a decent looking tomato.

"Stupid America…damn tomatoes aren't worth shit here…" He muttered, approaching the checkout counter.

"Oh hello~" Looking out, Lovino saw the nurse from earlier.

"Oh, c-ciao~" he said. The nurse smiled.

"You're that man from Antonio's room right"

"Sí."

"Ah, Antonio is an old friend of mine, let me pay~" She offered. Surprised he nodded and handed her the tomato. Smiling she gladly paid for it and handed it back to him.

"Grazie, you didn't have to though…" He said. The blonde gave a cat like smile and chuckled.

"I know, but it's the least I can do really, as an old high school friend I figured healing him would be my way to repay him~"

"Repay?" She nodded, starting to walk with the Italian.

"When we were in high school, Antonio and I both worked at the same Ice cream parlor~ I went to an all-girls school, while he went to your school." Lovino nodded.

"One day, he looked quite upset, so I asked him what was wrong; Antonio said his parents had been pressuring him to get a girlfriend, but he was too afraid to tell them he didn't like girls!" Lovino opened the elevator, he could see where this was going.

"Anyways, I offered to be his fake girlfriend, I did have a crush on him…but he said he couldn't, he would feel so guilty if you saw" Blinking Lovino nodded.

"That makes sense…so what did he do?" The Belgian girl smiled.

"We remained close friends and he stayed single" Walking down the hall Lovino couldn't help but admire his lover. He would have given in under that pressure…

"Oh! By the way, what's your name?"

"Lovino Vargas."

"Thanks, my name is Bella, some just call me Bell though~" Bella stated, approaching the door. Lovino nodded.

"Alright, well grazie Bella~"

"Anytime!" She called, walking toward another patient's room.

Smiling lightly Lovino nodded and cleaned off the tomato before entering the room.

"I'm back." He said approaching the bed. Antonio smiled widely at him, causing the Italian to blush.

"Here, it's a shitty tomato I warn you."

"Aww Lovi, it can't be that bad~"

"It's American! Of course it is! Nothing compares to home grown tomatoes from Italy." He scowled. Antonio just laughed and took the red fruit, taking a small bite, swallowing he gave the fruit an odd look.

"Well…it could be worse~" He chuckled. Rolling his eyes, Lovino sat in his chair by the bed, gently taking his lover's hand and holding it.

"So, when are you being released?" Lovino asked. Shrugging, the injured brunette took another bite.

"Well, I'm guessing tomorrow the fifteenth, or the sixteenth. It depends on how fast I heal the doctor said." Seeming satisfied with the answer Lovino nodded and cracked his sore neck.

"I'm just fucking glad you're okay…" He whispered. Antonio smiled softly, rubbing Lovino's knuckles with his thumb.

"Me too, I would hate to leave you behind, we have so much to look forward to~" He said softly.

"Like what?"

"Hm, you'll see~" Blinking Lovino sighed, Antonio must have planned something again.

"Alright bastard~ I'll wait~" He said smiling softly. Antonio beamed, kissing his forehead.

"You won't regret it mi amor~ That I promise~"

((OMFG THAT TOOK FOREVER! I finally got off my lazy ass and typed this fucker! And on July 12th through the 20th I'll be in IRELAND WHOOOOOOOO! So while I'm there I'll write Chapter 8 on the plane, in the Hostel when I have time~ :3 Hope you enjoyed it! Sorry if the release dates got messed up DX I'm a horrible writer at times!))