Symphony for the Lost

Nostalgic

I felt like I had been in that hospital for decades.
But at least I had Gil.
He entered every morning when visiting hours began and left only when the nurses kicked him out. He was the only thing making this time bearable.
"Did you take time off your job just to see me?" I asked on the last day.
"I took a night shift so I could come."
"You must have been missing a lot of sleep."
"Ja."
No wonder he spent most of his time here curled up in my lap, snoring away like there was no tomorrow.
"You're such an idiot." I rolled my eyes, but I was happy. I think almost dying kinda kicked me into a state of living life to the fullest and appreciating what people did for me instead of brushing it off as a burden. I hadn't been sad once since coming to the hospital.
Well, with the exception of the nights when Gilbert and Alfred and Jean-Paul were gone. I didn't like feeling lonely.
Which was why I planned to treat Gilbert right and to put my all into our relationship.
"We're still going drinking with your brother and his boyfriend tonight, aren't we?"
"Ja. Vhy? Do jou vant me to cancel?"
"No!!! I want to get drunk and meet your brother!"
"Jou're not getting drunk any time soon. Jou just got out of zhe hospital."
"You just want somebody to keep an eye out for you while you get so wasted you can't even say your name."
Gilbert chuckled and kissed me on the cheek.
"Ew, guys. Get a room!" Alfred stepped in, covering his eyes.
"Ve had a room until jou got here."
Jean-Paul shuffled in behind my brother, hair sticking up on the side. He must not have gotten a good night of sleep.
Maybe he was worried about me.
Or maybe he didn't like Alfred's stupid, yellow guest room either.
"Are you all packed?" The teen asked, scanning the room.
"I would be, if you jerks didn't buy me so many teddy bears."
"Most of the ones I gave you were stolen from Alfred's guest room." Jean-Paul admitted. He held his hand against the side of his mouth, whispering so that only me and Gil could hear. "They were starting into my soul."
I laughed at this and Alfred pouted.
"Just let me throw a few more things in my bag and we can head out."
The others nodded and I stuffed a few more bears into the duffle Gil brought for me. Seriously, guys? Why all the bears?
"Done." I declared with a pride I really didn't need to have. My brother threw his arm over my shoulder and swooped me out of the room, my entourage in tow.
We were passing by the front desk when I saw him.
He wasn't hard to miss, being the only one in the room taller than me and Al.
I stopped in my tracks and my family's eyes all landed on me.
"Vhat's wrong?" Gilbert reached out to touch my shoulder but I was moving forward before he could reach me.
Except I wasn't moving toward the exit.
I was moving toward him. Toward...
"Ivan?"
The Russian turned his head toward me, squinting before he recognized my face.
"Matvey?"
"It's been so long!" I smiled as Alfred, Gil, and Jean caught up to me.
"Who's this?" Al asked.
"Oh...Ivan and me were in the same foster home..." I admitted. "And...he's Jean-Paul's father..."