lost ~completed~

chapter 27

Gilbert remained in the hospital for a day before he was released with a pair of crutches, an eye patch and some heavy pain medication.

Ludwig carried his medicine as Elizaveta helped Gilbert walk outside. His knee was still in a brace to keep it from moving. He loved having the eye patch saying it brought back old memories of the 'good ol' pirate days.' Arthur didn't comment on it much to Gilbert's disappointment.

Being in America was like rubbing salt on Arthur's wounds. It didn't help that Francis was missing and that Feliciano could be doing God-knows-what to him. He was worried sick for Francis. He couldn't stand the thought of losing him after he had already lost Alfred. He didn't know if he could live without the both of them; he had loved them both so much. Much more than he would have first thought before these horrible circumstances.

Gilbert felt bad for the Brit but he didn't know what to say. Arthur and Yao seemed to be sticking together. They found comfort in knowing that they weren't the only one who lost loved ones. They didn't talk much to each other; nothing needed to be said. They just stood by each other surrounded by a dreary, hopeless feeling. Regardless, their two negatives made a positive and they were able to draw comfort from their dreary feelings.

Sadly, it didn't have the same affect for the others. Eventually everyone would glance back as if to check on them. Quietness soon filled the already stuffy air and stuffed up their throats.

They all agreed to catch a bus to take them to the docks rather than walk there. After being stuck in the hospital for what feels like forever, what they all really wanted to do was take a walk in fresh air. However, considering Gilbert's leg, they decided a bus would be more efficient and less harmful.

They all coughed up enough American money to pay for all of their boat fairs to get back to the main land. Arthur stared across the water silently throughout the entire boat ride. He kept his emerald gaze fixed on the horizon as if in a trance. No one dared bother him or drag him from his trance. Yao had a similar look but only looked down at the dirty planks of the boat as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world or as if the markings on the wood could tell him what was going to happen in the future.

The other passengers on the boat noticed their solemn look. One little girl who only looked to be six walked up to Gilbert curiously. "What happened to you ?" she asked in an innocent voice that Gilbert had almost forgotten. He could just barely remember the times when he and Elizaveta sounded that innocent, or anyone else for that matter. Times had changed and would continue changing; hopefully they changed for the better this time.

"We were camping." Gilbert only replied. He was able to muster a smirk for the little girl who smiled that he was actually talking and smiling at her.

"Why ?" she asked. Gilbert chuckled softly. What and why seemed to be a child's favorite word. It brought so many memories back into his mind that he couldn't help but smile. He remembered raising Ludwig as a little boy.

"Because I like to camp. All awesome people like to camp." Gilbert told her, still chuckling under his breath. Memories of his life as the Great Prussia came back to his mind. He remembered living in the woods. It was a rough life but it was his life. He enjoyed living amongst the wildness; living off of the things he caught and made for himself.

Ludwig and Elizaveta glanced over at him, glad that he was acting a little bit like himself and seemed to have lost his hopelessness.

"I don't like to camp." the girl retorted. Elizaveta chuckled softly as Gilbert raised a pale eyebrow.

"Is that so ? Well you're still pretty awesome, kid. Not as awesome as myself but you seem pretty awesome." Gilbert said smirking his classic smirk.

"Are you a pirate ?" the girl asked, staring at his eye patch in wonder. Gilbert just chuckled, glancing at Arthur but disappointed that he didn't look over.

"Ja. I'm part of a pirate band on Nantucket Island." Gilbert told her.

"Do you have a parrot that sits on your shoulder?"

"Yep."

"Do you like gold ?"

"Totally."

Elizaveta chuckled as the little girl fired questions at Gilbert with eyes as wide as saucers. Gilbert just answered her, smirk never fading from his face. He seemed to actually be enjoying himself around the little girl.

There was something about her innocence that all the countries envied. They longed for the time when they had been like that and didn't have a care in the world. They were only worried about their clothing or hair or if the weather would be nice to play in. Now, burdens weighed their shoulders down and shackled them to reality like a prison ball chained to a prisoner's foot. They were trapped. They could not escape.

Eventually, the little girl's parents called her and she had to leave. The boat made it to the main land and everyone departed, heading to their own destinations.

"We should find a bus to take us to Washington." Ludwig suggested after everyone had regrouped.

"Wait, can we be safe there ?" Gilbert asked. He leaned on his crutches casually. He locked his hand with Elizaveta who smiled happily. Talking with the girl had lightened the load on his shoulders. He felt reenergized; like he could take on the day.

He glanced over at the people who were the quietest as of lately; Arthur, Yao, Kiku and Mei. "What do you guys think ?" he asked, trying to draw them into the conversation.

Arthur and Yao only shrugged. Kiku and Mei looked over, thoughtfully. "It would be a long bus ride. I do not know if we have enough money for everyone." Kiku stated.

"Doesn't anyone think it's strange that America is still same even though its representation is dead?" Roderick asked. He too hadn't spoken in a while. He didn't want to speak to much about their plans. It was still a soft subject for him since he used to be Feliciano's boss.

A long silence followed Roderick's observation. He had made a valid point. Nothing seemed to be wrong with America at all. Alfred's death should have triggered some kind of reaction.

"Let's not worry about that, right now." Ludwig regrouped everyone, "We need to focus instead of getting to someplace safe where we can discuss plans. Washington D.C would provide adequate protection as well as access to some military plans."

"You have a point." Kiku nodded.

"We can't afford a bus trip, we don't have a car, and planes are out of the question, same with walking. What else do we have ?" Elizaveta asked.

The others were silent. One could almost hear their brains trying to think of a solution.

"We're countries aren't we ? We can call the capital and request vehicles." Arthur said quietly. Heads swiveled to look at him. Pleased by his input, Gilbert smirked.

"Great idea, Artie!" Gilbert exclaimed. "Anyone got a phone ?"

Everyone's phone had been either lost or destroyed in the plane crash. "Ok, then let's ask to borrow a phone!"

They sent Roderick to ask for a phone since he was the most polite. A nice young lady agreed and lent him his phone. He dialed the number from memory and quietly spoke with a lady. After a short conversation he hung up and politely thanked the lady who lent him his phone. She blushed and hurried off while Roderick returned.

"A few cars will pick us up in 30-45 minutes. In that time, they said we should meet them by the police station." Roderick informed them.

The others agreed, glad that their plans were starting to come together. Soon enough, this mess would be over and they could start to try to live their lives again as if it had never happened; despite the loss of a few of their friends.

What they were not aware of was that Mattie had sent some men to Nantucket and the surrounding area to search in case they weren't dead.