Always With You

Chapter Five

Ludwig didn't look at his brother the next morning when he stumbled into the kitchen. He had seen far too much last night.

He stayed silent as Gilbert began to eat his breakfast, afraid to speak. Gilbert glanced at all the food they had now covering the kitchen counter.

Alfred had paid for all of this.

He pulled out a notebook and began to write something down.

"Gilbert-"

"Quiet."

He went silent again, and Gilbert pulled the piece of paper off of the notebook, tucking it into his own pocket. "Go to Eva and Vash's house and if- if Vash isn't there, bring Eva back here. I need to talk to her."

Ludwig nodded, and then did as asked.

Eva stared sadly at Gilbert after he had sent Ludwig out of the room. She was in his old jacket, shivering.

"Is Vash..." He finally asked, but got no farther. Tears began to drip down her face as she nodded.

"I paid... for him to be buried... with mutti and vati..." She whispered. "But now I have nothing."

Gilbert said nothing, and then reached over and set a hand on her arm. "Eva... if I could get you and Ludwig out of the country, would you leave? Would you start a new life in America? Treat my brother as your brother? Teach him English the way I know Vash was teaching you?"

She nodded again, and Gilbert sighed. "Please stay here for the next few days then. I hope you don't mind sleeping on the floor."

***

Alfred was just sitting down for breakfast when the sound of the chair across from him being moved echoed across the pavement. He looked up to find Gilbert sitting there, staring at him.

"Gilbert-"

"Please, let me speak."

Alfred paused, and then nodded. Gilbert took a deep breath.

"I can't leave Germany. I was born here, and I plan on dying here. But I know two young people who deserve a chance for a better life, and I want them to have it. If you were sincere in your offer to take Ludwig and me to America, then please take Ludwig and Eva instead."

There was a long stretch of silence, and then Alfred spoke.

"I came here for business, but also because Alice and I realized that... that one of us... that I... was infertile. I was upset, so I used this trip as an opportunity to disappear and drink my sorrows away. To have an affair. I thought it would make me happy."

"Has it?" Gilbert said, although he obviously knew the answer.

Alfred shook his head.

Gilbert nodded, and then spoke of his own troubles. "My parents, as I told you, died in the flu. Dad had been in failing health, but mom had been so strong. Derrick was dead from the war. I'd had a girlfriend, but she got married while I was off fighting. Some Austrian. I never heard from her again. The only reason I kept going was Ludwig. I couldn't leave him on his own."

Alfred nodded, and they allowed the silence to fill in the gaps again. Finally, he spoke.

"I'll take them both to America. My wife would happily call them her own."

"Thank you." Gilbert said, standing to leave, but a hand caught his wrist.

"Gilbert, you and the boy don't have to be separated. I'm willing to pay for you as well. My wife and I will take Eva, and you can start a new life with Ludwig."