Always With You

Chapter Two

The days fell into a swift pattern. He woke up in the morning in Alfred's hotel room, got dressed in clean clothes, went to the apartment and got Ludwig up, dressed, and fed. Then he would head back to the hotel and meet Alfred outside at the restaurant. They would eat breakfast together, and then go out and do business in the city. Gilbert had been surprised to discover that Alfred actually had some legitimate business reasons to be here.

Alfred had nodded when he asked about it over lunch one afternoon. "My father runs a major company in the US. I won't tell you which one, but suffice to say, we're looking to expand into new markets here in Europe, and he sent me to scout Berlin."

"Wouldn't your company have hired you a translator then?"

Alfred snorted. "The man couldn't translate worth shit. You're a much better translator."

After lunch, they would stroll the city. Alfred asked about other areas of Germany, and Gilbert gave him a vague overview of the country.

"But have you ever seen Bavaria?" Alfred asked one day.

"No. it's not like the soldier trains took us there for recreation-" He cut himself off suddenly.

Alfred paused in confusion, and Gilbert groaned. "I shouldn't have said that."

"I guessed you were a soldier in the war. You're not hiding anything from me." Alfred said. "I saw the Iron Cross the first night we met."

"Yeah, old family medal. Passed down on my dad's side of the family."

A soft noise of interest rose from the American.

"Did you fight in the war?" Gilbert asked, trying to distract from his own service record.

"No. My father sought a deferment for me. Only son, going to school, all that yada yada."

A nod as they walked through the streets, swiftly dropping their previous subject.

After playing tourist, they would have dinner, and then either more business or they would go and watch a show. Gilbert was amazed when they went to watch an orchestra and Alfred took him along.

He sat next to the American, listening to the symphonies of his countrymen. Beethoven, Wagner, and others. He let it wash over him like a flood, the same way his American benefactor was.

As night came to a close, they would make their way back to the hotel, and repeat the pattern again in the morning.

But today, about five days into his benefactor's visit, he needed to go shopping for food for his brother. He had left Alfred a note to that effect, and as soon as Ludwig was out the door, he went to his bedroom.

There was a small box he kept hidden among the floorboards. He pulled it up, setting the two new dollar bills inside and fishing out the change he had received the last time he had went shopping. He stood, tucking it into his jacket pocket, and then hid the box out of sight once more.

He walked down to the small store, glad the morning rush had already gone. The man looked up at him with a slight smile. "Ah, Gilbert Beilschmidt. I was starting to wonder when you might show up here again."

Gilbert didn't smile back at the man. "I got a translating job. Working my ass off." He muttered as the man began packing his usual order in brown paper. He looked around and added a small piece of peppermint candy to the order. He would need it in a few minutes.

The man chuckled when he saw Gilbert add that. "So we'll be taking the usual discount today?"

Gilbert didn't smile, simply glancing around as he nodded. No one else was in the shop. No one needed to see him.