Living Happily After

64: So?

Gilbert stood up and turned so that he would be facing Violet.

Without anything to say, he slowly removed his shirt, showing his undershirt, then he removed that too.

Violet looked at his face, confused, but she stayed silent.

Then, Gilbert unwrapped the bandages from his arm. It showed...a prosthetic, just like the one Violet had. Gilbert looked at Violet, looking if she had any reaction on this. But she didn't say anything.

"So..." Gilbert spoke, but other than that, he didn't really know what to say.

Even though he always knew what to say in dire situations, he didn't know what would be suitable to say in this situation.

Violet stood up, and carefully examined his arm, or rather, lack there of.

Then she simply said, "Does it hurt?"

He replied with a, "No."

Silence was in the air, that was when only actions were made, no words were spoken, for there was no need.

Violet carefully hugged Gilbert as she stepped closer to him. She leaned her head on his chest.

Gilbert slowly hugged back, and laid his head gently on top of hers. He swayed his legs a bit, making Violet follow along.

"Now, we're going to stand out even more in public if we were to let our scars be shown bare..." Violet mumbled.

"Since when did you care about what the public thinks?" He said.

"I never did. But it'd still look quite funny." Violet chuckled.

"Mm...and why is that?" Gilbert asked.

"Well...I mean, we look more and more similar to those characters from that children's fantasy book that Mr. Oscar made." Violet said.

Gilbert thought about it, and then laughed out loud unassumingly, "Haha-hahh, well I guess so. It would seem as we are auditioning for the play itself ha...ha." He laughed, putting his hand on his mouth to calm himself.

Violet smiled, she looked at Gilbert adoringly.

"...What?" Gilbert slightly smirked. "Are you looking at how handsome my face has become?"

Violet, this time, was the one to put her hands on her mouth to control herself. "How did you learn how to speak like that? Although I admit, you are quite handsome."

"Sorry, I just thought it would be the perfect time to try that. My colleagues from Gardarik have made some comments about how to get a woman. Sometimes I wonder if they have forgetten I'm a married man." Gilbert explained.

Violet just smiled again.

"...What? Is there something on my face?"

"Actually yes, your beard has intrigued me." Violet said.

"Really? Is it bad? Should I shave it off?" Gilbert asked.

"It's fine if you keep it, it's fine if you don't. It's just that...I'm glad you're home." Violet said, putting her hands on his face, carefully tracing the new scars that have been acquired.

Gilbert put both of her hands down to his chest and abdomen, and then to his now prosthetic arm.

"...now we're the same..." Gilbert whispered, as if, if he said it any louder it would change the meaning of his words.

Violet slowly nodded.

"...how did this happen, you told me it only got slashed, it wasn't cut off." She asked.

"The knife...it was rusty and quite dirty. When I got treated, the doctor said the wound got infected, they opted to try to clean it up, but the infection didn't leave and letting time pass just took its toll on me.

So they told me, they had to cut it off and risk me dying of infection after the cut and post-op, or they just let it be and leave me to die anyway. So I told them to just cut it off, it was better off that way anyway. There was less of a possibility of dying if I did."

"Now you're here." Violet stated.

"And now I'm here." Gilbert replicated.

"And Jones' in prison?"

"He is sentenced to life until his trial."

"And his gang? And Bianca?"

"The few who have already committed undeniable crimes like assault and battery were given 3 years in jail. The others, including Bianca, are sentenced in prison for 1 year plus community service hours. After their release, they're not allowed to leave Gardarik for 6 months. It seems Gardarik has its own laws." He said, putting his undershirt and shirt back on.

"Oh, how about the recent cuts and bruises you have?" Violet asked.

"Well, recently I was given a simple task to scout out some of the darker alleys in the area. Apparently there were still some members that weren't found and one thing led to another, and in the end they failed and they're awaiting trials now." Gilbert said, fumbling with the buttons on his shirt.

Violet helped him with the buttons.

"Thanks."

Violet nodded, "We can go stroll outside now right?"

"Definitely."

"Then let's get downstairs cleaned up and then go. I've gotten so used to smelling wood that I might not remember what it feels like to remember fresh air." Violet said, walking towards the door.

Gilbert smiled, and looked at her adoringly.

"Then we should head outside before you forget, it's beautiful out."

(A/N: I'm sorry if it's not to your liking, but this is supposed to be a slice of life of their lives together, with a dash of romance, if they want to be. I hope you liked it! Comment what you would like to ask them for the next Q&A! Thank you very much for your time!)