Matthew received one last, rib crushing, hug from his brother before his family left the room. He hadn't been awake long but after talking with his dad, a doctor, and then the rest of his family, he was starting to feel exhausted. Despite that, he told his dad he wouldn't mind having a few visitors while there was still time left. Might as well get over being fawned over by Feliciano or whoever was there. He was preparing to assure his friends that nothing was their faults and that it was all on him.

Then Gilbert walked in.

For some reason, Matthew wasn't expecting Gilbert to be there at all, half expecting Gilbert to avoid him forever now that the big secret was out. Yet, here he was, standing in the doorway. For once, Gilbert's presence didn't fill the room. He looked small, fragile, his eyes were red from crying earlier, and his face was bruised. He looked as if he got the crap beat out of him emotionally and physically.

A smile smile formed onto Gilbert's face. He breathed, "Birdie."

Matthew felt his own smile creeping up his cheeks. "Gil."

As if Matthew's voice broke through an invisible force that was holding them back, Gilbert dashed across the room and pulled Matthew into a tight hug. Matthew returned the hug, trying to maintain composure enough to not cry - something made easier by the fact the he used what he hoped were all of his tears earlier with his family.

He whispered, "You're here."

As if he didn't hear, Gilbert pulled back and began surveying Matthew, running hands along his face and arms. "I'm so glad you're okay. God, I was scared." He continued until Matthew interrupted. "I can't believe you're actually here."

Gilbert stopped his rambling and leaned back to get a clear look at Matthew's shocked face, now sharing the expression. "Of course I'm here. I'll always be here for you." Matthew held the same expression openly showing how unprepared he was for the interaction.

Gilbert kept talking. "I was so worried. Waiting was horrible. I was beating myself up, Birdie, thinking about how maybe you'd be okay if I was just a little faster, if I ran after you instead of getting Ludwig to drive, if… There's a lot of ifs I haven't even considered, but you're awake! I was freaking out. After seeing all the blood, I really thought… I thought…" Gilbert looked down and shook his head as if a quick movement could erase the image from his mind.

"You came after me. And stayed here." Gilbert nodded along to Matthew's words. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"I don't get why you are here. I kind of get why you would come after me you're a good person but not why you are here."

Gilbert let out a shocked breath and went to sit back in the chair pulled up to the bed. "Why wouldn't I be? You're you. You're my Birdie. I'd come for much less."

Matthew shook his head in disbelief. "I overheard you and Elizaveta in the hall."

"Yeah." Gilbert felt his innards tighten with shame. Matthew peered at Gilbert feeling like there was more going on here.

"Look, it's not your fault. I always had my own problems." Matthew said the words he prepared for his other friends.

"I still feel bad."

"Look people do all kinds of stuff to impress people they like. I was just a bad choice."

Gilbert squinted in concentration, trying to understand everything Matthew was saying. "I don't know how telling your secret to someone was going to impress you, even I'm not dumb enough to think that. And you'll always be a good choice - baggage and all."

"I - what?" Matthew sputtered.

"You'll always be a good choice?"

"No, no. Before that. About telling my secret."

"I didn't mean to, and I didn't mean to make everything we have going on appear the way it did. Just Elizaveta wanted to help with the wooing and the relationship thing, and it was getting complicated not talking about it."

"Wooing?" Matthew rubbed at his face. "I'm really confused."

"I'm confused about you being confused if that means anything?" Matthew chuckled at how familiar their banter was even after everything that happened, causing Gilbert to smile as well. After all the emotions they both had gone through that day, it was nice to know things could still be the same between them.

Gilbert scratched at his face in thought. "Tell me what you think. About it from your point of view, anything you think is important. I promise not to interrupt. Then, I'll tell mine, because I feel like there is definitely something to clear up here."

Matthew looked at the back wall in thought, biting his lip nervously. Recognizing the tick, Gilbert suggested, "You don't have to start if you don't want to. It was just a thought."

Waving his hand, Matthew said absently, "I'm trying to think of what to tell, and the order of it all. I kind of figured stuff out after the fact, so it's hard to find a starting point and how to say it without feeling awkward." Gilbert nodded and waited quietly.

Letting out a breath to quell his nerves, Matthew began. "I'm going to tell it like a story."

"At the beginning of the year, I was going to kill myself. I cleaned my room diligently and had this grand plan. Then, I decided I wanted to clean out my locker too. People always forgot about me, and I wasn't sure how long my stuff would sit there and who would have to deal with it. So I walked to school on autopilot, just in my own thoughts. That's how instead of my locker, I ended up in second period. I kept going to class feeling shittier and shittier until lunch. That's when I decided to clean out my locker and head out." Matthew recalled the event with a frown, staring off blankly.

"I got everything together, still drowning in my own shit, then, I ran into a door. That was my kind of luck on the regular, but what was different was that somebody came to help." Matthew glanced at Gilbert who, watching intently, swallowed at the mention of himself. Matthew chuckled remembering the next part. "I was so out of my comfort zone. You were loud and boisterous and asking if I was okay. You thought I was skipping class and wanted to skip with me despite not even knowing me. It knocked a huge wrench in my plans for the day, but I'm not one to turn away a sign when I'm given one. An albino coming out of nowhere to ask to skip school? Wasn't about to ignore that one.

"We had to go to my place, what with my overly heavy backpack and all, and you talked to me. It was so simple, but so good. At times, I forgot about everything. I felt normal for that moment. The issue came when we got home and my dad thought I was Alfred. I'm kind of sensitive to the twin mixup; it makes me feel invisible and forgotten. Now I realize it probably happened because skipping school is more something Alfred would do, but still. Something in me snapped, and I ran. At first, I wasn't sure where too, and then I realized I was heading to the bridge in town, everything else forgotten.

"I got tackled to the ground and asked to lunch before I even climbed the whole fence. Scared the shit out of me honestly, but, like I said, signs. For the longest time, I thought it was all a coincidence, as if you were my guardian angel and God was telling me it wasn't my time yet. I also thought you didn't know I was going to kill myself for the longest time, but with you tackling and how you acted when you saw my arms for the first time at the party, I started to figure it out. I never really acknowledged it to myself - the guardian angel thing was nicer - but the knowledge was there.

"Everything changed after that moment. I had friends. I had a best friend. I decided to try being better. Things improved slowly, and it was good," Matthew paused. He looked at Gilbert and gave him a small, sad smile. Gilbert sat on the edge of his chair, hands resting on the bed, eyes wide and absorbing everything he was being told.

"I had a crush on my best friend," Matthew shot a look at Gilbert, "but it was dumb because he liked someone else."

"What?" Gilbert demanded. His eyes flickered around Matthew's face searching for an answer.

"We said no interrupting. You'll have your turn," Matthew joked. Gilbert leaned back with his arms up. "Sorry. Continue."

"Where was I? Oh yeah, unrequited love," Matthew tried to lighten to mood, but Gilbert's face was still serious despite the joke.

"I was pretty sure my best friend liked someone else, his other best friend Elizaveta." Matthew shot Gilbert a look at the albino's sputtering. "Still my turn." Gilbert pursed his lips, ran a hand over his face, and, despite how much he looked like he wanted to talk, waved for Matthew to continue.

"It was only a theory at first. Our other friends didn't really see it, but also made comments about them bickering like a married couple. I mean, it's the classic story. Girl and boy are best friends. Girl and boy fall in love. I felt like I was slowly witnessing the fall in love part. It already felt like they had their own secret language that I couldn't understand. What with the way they seemed to communicate at lunch without talking, and how these small comments I couldn't even understand could cause big reactions.

"It didn't stop my crush though, and sometimes I felt like I could do something about it, others not so much. I also didn't want to ruin my friendship. Going out on a limb could ruin everything, and my life was in a delicate balance. A balance that wasn't very stable, considering how much I relapsed, but I was happy enough.

"Everything was going good for someone who almost killed themselves. Then, I made some mistakes. I got drunk and hit on my best friend at a party. I mistook his caring nature for something it wasn't. I kissed him at a park. It was our place, and we were opening up. It felt right to pull him in, so perfect, I don't know if I can regret doing that.

"At the time, I thought things were falling into place for me, that I was being paranoid about him liking his friend, that I did something good. I realized later I was wrong, and forced myself on him." Gilbert started to deny it, but all he got out was a no before Matthew shushed him so he could keep talking.

"It's okay, Gil. I really knew something was up when we went back to school. Away from the park, things felt so stiff and awkward. Not to mention I had no idea where we stood. My friend was talking to Elizaveta in the morning and at lunch, and they were being so serious about things they couldn't tell me.

"I guess this is the part where I mention what I knew about their friendship. They were close, but fought a lot. Apparently, at the beginning of the year, they had this big fight about you, I mean my friend, being selfish, but that it was the past. I was told it was a very bad fight though. Also a lot of what was going on I couldn't be told.

"Then I overheard you, I mean my friend… Oh, fuck it, why am I telling it that way. I overheard you and Elizaveta afterschool. You asked her what she knew about us. You told her you followed me the first day to show you that you could be a better person and stuff. You were telling her how things had gone too far between us and were probably about to ask how to end it all without hurting me when I freaked out."

Matthew looked at his hands, a few tears fell despite how much he had already cried that day. It felt more pathetic when everything was laid out like that.

"I was so dumb. I thought pure luck brought us together. I thought we had this thing and were becoming a thing. I was projecting. I should have known no one would want me like that. I was so so dumb. I should have realized if you knew what was wrong with me the entire time that you would feel obligated to treat me a certain way and not hurt me."

Gilbert shook his head in disbelief. "You couldn't be more wrong if you tried."

"You don't have to keep being nice, Gil. It's not your fault."

"Stop that self-pity crap. It doesn't look good on you."

"But -"

Gilbert held up a hand to stop him and stated, "It is my turn to talk. I held myself back while you talked, and you have no idea how fucking hard that was, so it is my turn to tell the story. And I do not feel bad for showing you how you are so wrong it hurts."

He continued quickly, before Matthew could speak up again like his face was indicating. "I'll start by clearing up the most important thing. I do not like Elizaveta. There is no secret crush or any crush at all. She's like my sister, and that's disgusting."

Matthew breathed, "What?"

Gilbert smirked. "I wasn't lying when I said you were very wrong. But, uh, I guess there's a lot more to clear up too, so I'll also start from the beginning. I just wanted you to know off the bat that none of that was true."

Matthew shook his head in disbelief. He wanted to talk. He had so many questions, but Gilbert shot him a look that silenced him.

"You were right earlier. It is hard to figure out the best way to explain it." He bit his lip. "Okay." He clapped and leaned forward. "The very first day. You walked into second period late, and I saw you. Like I really saw you for the first time. I usually skip, as seen by how I had to do that makeup quiz, or zone out in that class. But when you came in late, I got the chance to actually see you. You have no idea how cute you are, do you Birdie?" Gilbert shot his friend a smirk trying to keep the tone light and avoid the upcoming heavy topics. A blush spread across Matthew's cheeks.

Gilbert sighed, "You also looked sad. I guess I never really liked how you look when you're sad. I feel it in my chest." He patted himself twice. "I wanted to talk to you after class, but didn't get the chance. I was avoiding everyone at lunch later. Just having an off day and some shitty luck. Not to mention that things were still kind of tense with some of my friends from that beginning of the year fight you mentioned. I was doing the thing where I try to be really good but get angsty about it, you know.

"But my luck changed, because who did I see walking down the hall but the cute kid from second period. I tried calling out to you, but I didn't know your name, so I guess you didn't hear. Then you ran into that door." Gilbert chuckled at the memory.

"I was thinking, 'Oh my God. Here is my chance to be impressive.' I'm not going to lie, I was also thinking about how Elizaveta told me I was a pompous, self-absorbed ass, and I was thinking how I could prove not really her wrong, but more myself. The whole thing felt like a sign that she was right, and I was given a chance to be a better person. A cute guy happens to need a little cheering up on a bad day right after I get lectured about helping others? That seemed like a sign to me."

They shared a look at Gilbert repeating what Matthew had said earlier. His eyes softened as he tried to convey his feelings in his face. "I still believe it, you know." Matthew took a slow, deep breath, eye still locked on Gilbert's.

Gilbert continued, "I got attached to you fast, if you couldn't tell. I really did think you were skipping, and I just wanted to have fun with you. I didn't realize what was going down until you ran off. God, I exploded on Arthur. I can't believe he lets me hang around. I called him a bastard and all kinds of stuff."

"You what?" Matthew exclaimed. He knew they said some harsh words, but not quite what Gilbert was saying.

Gilbert scratched behind his head admitting, "Yeah, I called him a bushy-eyed bastard I think? Then I said he was a horrible father or something. I don't really remember all of what I said versus what I was thinking, but I did yell some insults."

"You really don't do things halfway."

"I absolutely do not. Now, it's still my turn so shush." Matthew mimed zipping his mouth shut.

"He took the insults, because he felt like shit. Uh, then Francis came, and I saw them kissing. That's not important to the story, but I helped me rationalize trying to woo you later on. I knew you wouldn't get homophobic or anything. But that's not the point!

"I, uh, I also snooped through your room. I never told you about it, but I did. I was hoping that I'd get some sort of clue about where you went. I found your razor blades," his voice drifted to a murmur. Matthew fiddled with the sheets, not meeting his eyes. "I got really worried, and felt out of my element. When we all split up to go looking for you, I wanted to go into town to where the bridge was and had Francis drop me off while he drove to the rink. I showed the blades to Francis, but I felt like he didn't think that you'd do that. Despite that, I still had a gut feeling.

"I still remember seeing you on the bridge. Just like in the hall, I tried calling to you, and you didn't hear. I panicked, sprinted, and tackled you to the ground. I wasn't sure how you'd take the whole snooping in your room thing, so I just pretended nothing was wrong. We had a great lunch and the start to a friendship.

"I spent a long time debating telling you what I knew and asking you about the blades, but I just couldn't figure out how to do it. The closer we got, the harder it got. Sometimes I forgot about it completely and didn't think it was important anymore. I mean, you were alive and seemed mostly okay. It didn't start eating at me more until I really wanted to make a move

"Which was early, by the way. I wanted to get with you pretty early and spent way to long just biding my time." He met Matthew's surprised expression. "You didn't realize it did you?"

Matthew shook his head no and Gilbert chuckled. "We are both so clueless. I've liked you for a long time, and put off doing anything about it for a long time. First, I wanted you to be okay and have other stable friendships. Then, I got it in my head that maybe you weren't gay, and wouldn't that be awkward? Elizaveta told me off about that one pretty quick. A lot of waiting came down to me not wanting to risk our friendship and loose you. I don't know what would have happened if I fucked up and lost you.

A silence filled the room as they both took in the extent of what Gilbert was saying. Matthew blinked quickly feeling his eyes begin to water. Gilbert sighed and continued talking.

"But, uh, I'm starting to skip around. Basically, I liked you and was unsure about you liking me. I would talk to Elizaveta about it a lot. For a while, I told her to leave it alone. There's a good chance all that secret language stuff you talked about was her teasing me about liking you.

"There's a lot to say about feelings and times I thought you were reciprocating, but that's less important. Basically, I like you, and we talked about stuff I don't talk about with anyone and things felt so perfect at times I didn't want to risk something that awesome.

"A lot changed after the first time we went to the park together. I don't know if you remember, but we talked about our families. I never felt like someone understood me as much as you did in that moment. After you got the call and left, that's when I knew I was completely screwed. The next morning, I admitted to Elizaveta that I had feelings for you and wanted her help doing something about it.

"We didn't really do much at first. The plan was to scope things out, and then, to slowly hint at me being available and interested. It didn't work very well, but I was still worried about risking our friendship or pressuring you, since we were so close and you kind of met everyone else through me.

"The tipping point may have been the party, I think. I mean, I was already trying to woo you, and Elizaveta was helping a little. She approved my clothes that night and never stopped harassing me about how you were tutoring me in French, because she tricked me into admitting that I thought it was hot when you spoke French." Gilbert closed his eyes for a moment realizing he was rambling and admitting to some unawesome things. When he opened them Matthew was blushing.

"How did I not realized that?" Matthew was dumbfounded. He was nervous and hating himself when Gilbert was experiencing all that? The world was very different from someone else's eyes apparently.

Gilbert shrugged. "I'm awesome and didn't want you to know, but, let's forget about me oversharing and get back to the main point."

"At the party I was already pretty set on trying to get you to fall in love with me, which now feels a little ridiculous in hindsight knowing that you felt the same, but it is what it is. That night I finally figured out that you might be capable of feeling the same, what with the way you were all over me." Gilbert smirked.

Matthew ran his hands over his face, groaning, "Oh God."

"Don't worry. It was adorable, and a good night. I got confidence in my own feelings and ability to woo you. Like always, we got deep in the weirdest moment, but that also helped me. After talking outside, I felt like I didn't need to confess what all I knew and about the first day we met. Now, i realize I was dumb, but in that moment, it felt like we were on the same page.

Gilbert began speaking faster to change the topic to something lighter once he saw the broken look on Matthew's face.

"Then, at the end of the night I kissed you on the forehead, and Ludwig of all people was the one to point out that that was a more than a friend kind of move. That's why I was hanging out with Elizaveta so much after that night - I wanted to be prepared in case you confronted me.

"You never did force the issue, so I kept with the plan of trying to get together using Elizaveta's help. Like the day we fought at lunch about having a crush? It was about you, but I was mad she didn't tell me what she was doing beforehand and it it felt like it would have cornered you to admit it in front of everyone else.

"But it was all okay, because we hung out at the park. I was telling you how important you were to me, and, suddenly, you were saying it back. Then, you were kissing me. God, it was amazing. Everything about that afternoon was amazing."

Gilbert paused reveling in the memory of a good day. Thinking of what to say next, his eyes began to water.

"Next time I saw you, I was nervous. We didn't talk about what any of it meant, and I still didn't want to pressure you or anything. I wanted to play it cool. I mean, everyone knew something happened because Ludwig told Feli I came home happy, but still. It seemed like you were having an off day, too."

Gilbert looked at his hands and murmured, "I knew you were having an off day."

"Suddenly, I started worrying about everything from before, about how I knew all about the suicide attempt and the blades. I felt like I was using you. Elizaveta couldn't understand why I wasn't being straightforward with you about what I wanted relationship-wise. After school, I was telling her about everything that scared me. I thought that since all our big confessions happened in these high emotion times and with everything I knew, that I was manipulating you or something. I never wanted to hurt you."

Gilbert wiped his face, unsure of when he actually started crying.

Matthew spoke up softly, "You were explaining why you had to be careful? ...and thought I didn't like you?"

"I don't know. I was worried you would feel obligated or that I was making you like me because of the way everything progressed. I guess it's kind of dumb thinking about it now."

"It's nice to be cared for."

"Some good it did," Gilbert muttered.

"Gilbert, are you blaming everything on yourself?"

Wincing at the accusation, Gilbert admitted, "I'm trying not to?"

Matthew sighed, "Well, at least you're being honest." He shifted in the bed so sit up more. "It's not by the way."

"I know. It's just still fresh, and I have to come to terms with it."

Matthew nodded then scooted over more and patted the bed for Gilbert to sit next to him. Once Gilbert sat down, Matthew dried his cheeks with his hands. Gilbert closed his eyes and let out a breath composing himself.

Matthew stated, "I can't believe how dumb we are."

"I can believe how dumb I am, but you're my tutor." Gilbert opened his eyes to meet Matthew's.

Matthew cracked a small smile one hand still on Gilbert's cheek. "The world is crazy, eh?"

"Very."

Matthew began tracing his fingers across Gilbert's face. "What happened to your face? I wasn't out long enough for you to get into that much trouble."

"Ah, well, Alfred is stronger than he looks."

"Alfred did this?"

"It's okay. We worked it out."

"Really?" Matthew said incedulously.

"Apparently, all we needed was a few punches and a little yelling to get along."

"I've missed so much."

"Not really." Gilbert shifted and grabbed the hand Matthew was resting on the bed. "Everyone is just happy that you're okay and was really worried."

"I never meant to make people worry."

"Birdie, everyone needs to have people worry about them. That's how caring works. Besides, I've been worrying for a long time." Gilbert began to rub his thumb back and forth on Matthew's hand.

"You've always liked me haven't you?"

Gilbert licked his lips. "Yes."

"This whole time you've been trying to woo me?"

Gilbert swallowed. "Yes."

"And the entire time I also was freaking out thinking I had an unrequited crush?"

Gilbert's lips twitched. "Apparently."

"And even though you were trying to woo me, I was the one who made a move and initiated a kiss."

"Birdie, you're just awesome that way."

"Gill," Matthew paused searching his friend's face. "I'm trying to ask you to kiss me."

Gilbert's eyes widened. "Oh."

Matthew's lips twitched. "So?"

A grin grew on Gilbert's face rivaling the one on Matthew's. He leaned down and kissed Matthew. Slowly, he slid his hands so that one was resting on Matthew's hip and the other holding himself up so that they could kiss comfortably while sitting side by side. Matthew moved the hand that was on Gilbert's face to run it through his hair and pull Gilbert closer.

They pulled apart slowly, eyes meeting. Matthew could feel Gilbert's heavy breath ghost across his lips.

"Birdie…" Matthew hummed in acknowledgement. Gilbert swallowed; his eyes shifted to appear more serious, more intense. Matthew bit his lip. Gilbert's eyes flickered between Matthew's lips and his gaze.

"I, um, Birdie, I lo -" Matthew covered Gilbert's mouth with his hand stopping any sound or confession from coming out.

Matthew gave Gilbert a sheepish look. "Let's not say anything like that here, on this day. Like you said, high emotions and all."

Slowly, Matthew lowered his hand from Gilbert's face revealing a partially opened mouth.

"One day I'll have good timing," Gilbert joked.

"We have a lot of time to work on it." Gilbert grinned at Matthew's statement, understanding the unsaid.

"For the time being, I'm just going to do this." He leaned in and kissed Matthew for a second time - this time faster and more forceful, the delicacy of their earlier kiss no longer needed.

A squeal broke through the mostly silent hospital room. Matthew jumped away from Gilbert as much as he was capable of jumping away while sitting on the bed. Both boys turned towards the door and the source on the sound in one fast movement.

In the doorway, Elizaveta stood looking absolutely gleeful. To her left Feliciano was looking on with a similar expression. Antonio stood behind the two looking just as happy. Their remaining friends - Ludwig, Roderich, and Lovino - stood farther back purposely looking away from the scene in front of them.

"This is a lot of people for one room," Matthew commented unsure of how to handle this new development.

Feliciano ran forward to hug Matthew talking a mile a minute. "I'm so glad you're okay. We were all worried." On and on and on.

Elizaveta was still grinning. "I'm glad you guys worked everything out."

The rest of the group began verbalizing their affirmations, mostly focusing on how they were glad Matthew was okay. As the group began to lul in talking Matthew commented, "This is a little overwhelming."

Roderich crossed his arms and looked at his friends. "I told you coming in at one time was a bad idea."

Antonio retorted, "Well, we couldn't decide on an order, and visiting hours aren't for much longer."

Ludwig met Matthew's eyes and nodded minutely. Then, he ordered, "Let's let Matthew have some time to himself. We can visit tomorrow or later on." Matthew smiled and mouthed a small thank you to Ludwig.

As the group of teens said their goodbyes and feel betters, Ludwig gestured them out of the room leaving just Gilbert and Matthew behind alone once again.

Gilbert stood and smirked. "Told you everyone was worried."

"I, uh, yeah."

"I'll head out too. Maybe let your family hang out with you some more. And I'll make sure they don't bombard you again. Ludwig will help."

Relief spread through Matthew. "Thanks. I'm exhausted, and that was a lot."

Gilbert turned to leave, but paused. He turned around swiftly, walked up to Matthew, and pecked him on the lips briefly. "This is a thing."

Matthew looked on with wide eyes.

Gilbert continued, "We have a thing - a romantic thing. You can think of a label or wait for one, but I don't want to leave without reassuring you that I have feelings, and we have a thing. Not making that mistake twice."

Smiling, Matthew agreed, "We do indeed have a romantic thing."

"Awesome."

They stared at each other for a moment.

"Make sure my family keeps you updated on all this." Matthew gestured to the room.

"I'll harass them. Promise."

Matthew nodded and bit his lip. Gilbert leaned forward to kiss his cheek and ruffle his hair.

"See you soon, Birdie."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Gilbert left the room. Matthew leaned back in bed, utterly exhausted. His feelings were still a whirlwind, and he wanted to get his head on straight before being transferred the next day.

For once, he felt confident in the positive changes on the horizon.

Mid-May: Roughly 7 Months Later

At the sound of the car door opening, Arthur put down the book he was reading. Matthew closed the door behind him and began fiddling with the seatbelt that somehow was always tangled.

"Did you have a good session?" Arthur asked already putting the car into drive.

"It was average, but average recently has been good. So yes."

Arthur smiled reassuringly. "That's good to hear. Did she say anything else about the medication?"

Matthew shrugged. "Nothing really. It's working and no more side effects, so I'm staying on the same dosage."

"Great."

"Yeah. She also told me I should be more proud of how my school year ended up considering," Matthew admitted, finally at a point where he felt comfortable sharing with his dad.

Arthur eyed his son. "You should. Missing so much school at the end of the first semester and being able to still finish the year is a big accomplishment."

"I guess. Just sucked because of how my grades turned out."

"It won't matter. You showed you were an amazing student by finishing, and if you're worried about colleges you'll mention it in the application. I can show you how."

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "I'm always learning something about you."

Arthur shrugged. "I'm full of parental knowledge. Now all I have to do is get Alfred to listen too."

Matthew laughed at the jab at his twin. In the past, a comment like that would make him feel lesser. Now, he's learned to accept the split attention better. It's slow going some days but good.

"Francis said he'll have time to make snacks for your friends, so we don't have to stop by the store anymore. Maybe we'll actually get there before you're friends do. Because God forbid they ever show up a few minutes late."

"Ludwig keeps them on time."

"That he does."

Arthur leaned over to turn up the music that beforehand was just a muffled thrum of guitar riffs and vocals. In an attempt to bond more, Arthur had been sharing more of his interests with Matthew. Oddly enough, it came in the form Arthur sharing old punk music that Matthew would never believe his dad still listened to or listened to ever at all. It was nice being able to see multiple sides of Arthur. Somehow, learning that his strict father was so multifaceted helped Matthew come to term with the complexities of himself.

Matthew leaned back and closed his eyes, letting the offbeat drumming and wailing vocals flow over him - who knew such a thrashing of instruments could be relaxing? He needed to get out of post-therapy headspace and into a social one.

Normally, he had more time to himself post-session, but he had to reschedule for a Thursday since his exam schedule made things weird. Plans for an end-of-the-year party had been made long before the change, so he just had to accept it. At least this session wasn't as emotionally guelling as the earlier ones, and being social was just a bar-b-q as his own house.

He still believed Francis wanted to host a little get together to celebrate Matthew actually finishing and to be some sort of idealized version of how the end of the year could be a new start for him, especially since it was for Matthew's friend group, and Alfred was only inviting one friend. Francis was a romantic that way.

When they pulled into the driveway, an extra car was parked on the street.

"It is 4:50, and we said 5:00 didn't we?"

Matthew hid a grin. "Yep."

Arthur groaned. "Please tell your friends that 5:00 means 5:00 and showing up fifteen minutes early is not actually polite. That is a myth."

"Next time, say it starts at 5:15."

"Sassing makes you sound like your papa." Matthew laughed at they got out of the car.

He used his own key to unlock the front door with Arthur not far behind. Matthew paused noting that the tightness in his gut that sometimes manifested before large social events was absent. It would be a good evening.

Inside, the two of them followed the sound of voices into the kitchen. Francis was busy taking food out of the oven. Feliciano had been put to work stirring something, likely for a dessert, with the help of Ludwig, who looked awkward. Lovino was sitting on the counter, eating a handful of chips and glaring at Ludwig.

Matthew smiled at his friends already figuring out how the three of them ended up here: Feliciano wanting to help cook, forcing Ludwig to participate, and Lovino not wanting to leave the two of them alone even if Francis was there.

"Matthew!" Both Francis and Feliciano greeted.

"Hey, guys," Matthew greeted everyone in the kitchen.

Arthur walked around Matthew to put his bag on the counter, receiving a quick cheek-kiss from Francis. "Ludwig, tip for the future. Gentlemen show up on time, not early."

A dust of pink showed on Ludwig's cheek. "We were worried about traffic."

Arthur huffed but his lips still quirked in amusement. "Sure. And where's the rest of the crew?" Arthur addressed Ludwig in a way that everyone knew that by crew he meant Gilbert.

Francis shot Matthew a grin and winked. "He wanted to wait upstairs in Matthew's room since he wasn't interested in cooking."

"And you decided that was okay?"

Francis shrugged nonchalantly faking indifference. "Didn't see a problem with it. If Matthew doesn't want to help cook either he can go up there." Arthur's eyebrow twitched.

Matthew shifted his weight from one foot to the other and bit his lip to hide his smile. This was a debate that had been happening for a while now. At this point, he was surprised neither of them have caved on their views, but, knowing his parents, the bickering was some sort of pseudo-flirting.

The debate came down to allowing Matthew to be alone with his boyfriend in a bedroom setting. To Matthew the disagreement was moot considering that he spent tons of time with Gilbert alone before they officially dated. He supposed it mattered more when Francis was your dad and liked the idea of pushing you together in as many romantic situations as possible. Though if he did that because he didn't care about any possible physical closeness between his son and his son's boyfriend or because he liked to harass Arthur "if you're going to be in your room, you better keep that door wide open" Kirkland, Matthew hadn't the slightest clue.

While both of his parents bickered about the appropriateness of letting romantically involved teenagers sit along in a bedroom, Matthew spoke up. "I'm going to see what Alfred is up to." Before anyone could stop him, he left the kitchen and began climbing the stairs.

Alfred's voice distinctly carried out of the first room on the left once Matthew made it to the top of the stairs. He leaned in the doorway. Alfred was sitting on the floor next to his friend Kiku, and Elizaveta was lounging on the coach behind them, watching the TV intently and shaking Kiku's shoulder in excitement.

"Hey." Matthew tried to speak up to get their attention but his voice barely carried at all. Instead of walking away, he cleared his throat and tried again. "Hey, guys!"

"Mattie!" Alfred flung his hands in the air in excitement.

Elizaveta exclaimed, "You have to see this game Kiku has!"

Matthew took a few steps in to peer at the screen. From the artwork alone, he could tell it was some sort of Japanese dating sim - something he understood Elizaveta and Kiku being into but not Alfred.

As if reading his thoughts, Alfred explained, "It looks cute, but is very spooky."

Addressing Kiku, Matthew questioned, "Showing Alfred a 'spooky' game?"

Kiku shrugged, but his upturned lips let Matthew know that he knew exactly what he was doing and was enjoying every second of it.

"You can sit next to me if you wanna play with us buuut," Elizaveta shifted and waggled her eyebrows, "Gilbert's in your room."

Matthew rolled his eyes and turned to go to his room. Alfred looked conflicted for a moment, but, after glancing once at the TV, settled on saying, "Leave the door open."

"Whatever." Matthew waved him off as he went to his room.

For as much as his family joked about the door, it was closed when he walked up to it. After all this time, Gilbert still never learned to completely respect authority. Matthew walked in and shut the door behind himself. Maybe Gilbert was rubbing off on him.

Inside the room, Gilbert had made himself comfortable as if this space was as much his as his own room. He was on the bed laying on his back. One hand was holding his phone above his face; the other was petting Matthew's stuffed polar bear, Kuma, which Gilbert had resting on his chest.

Matthew smiled, "Looks like Kuma still likes you."

"Shit!" Gilbert jolted. "Birdie, you are evil and use all your evil just to sneak up on me. Not cool."

"And you are wearing shoes on my bed, so we're even." Matthew sat down on the bed. "Now scoot." Gilbert shifted to give Matthew room and to sit up with his back against the wall.

"How you doing, Birdie?" Gilbert put an arm around Matthew's shoulder. Matthew leaned into him. "I'm good. It was a good session today."

"Good to hear."

"Arthur's a little annoyed you couldn't stop Ludwig from showing up early."

Gilbert laughed. "He can take that up with him."

"And also that you listened to Francis and came up here."

Gilbert smirked. "Francis is always on my side. Besides, it's a group social thing tonight and I needed to guarantee at least a little bit of alone time."

"I can't believe no one realizes you're the biggest sap ever."

"And they never will because we don't do pda."

"Doesn't stop you."

Gilbert shrugged. "I know what I can get away with."

"Really now?"

"Yeah, exhibit A." Gilbert leaned down and kissed Matthew.

The kiss was awkward at first due to Matthew laughing through it, but once his amusement died down, it became more heated. Gilbert pushed Matthew's shoulders flat against the bed and crawled on top of him. Matthew's hands gripped Gilbert's hair, pulling him as close as possible, while Gilbert ran his hands up Matthew's side causing him to groan into the kiss.

Gilbert pulled away just enough to whisper against Matthew's lips, "See, I know just how much I can get away with."

Breathing heavily, Matthew retorted, "Shut up." Gripping Gilbert's hair tightly, he pulled Gilbert back for a kiss, nipping at his lip briefly. This time, Gilbert moaned into the kiss. They continued for another minute, before a knock on the door interrupted them.

Swiftly, Matthew pushed Gilbert off of his and sat up. Gilbert glared at the door as it opened revealing Alfred who was exaggeratedly covering his eyes with his hands.

"Are you decent? I don't want to see anything."

Matthew groaned. "Please stop that."

Gilbert complained, "Great timing."

Alfred abandoned covering his eyes to point an accusing finger at Gilbert. "Hey! It is my job to protect my brother's virtue."

Matthew covered his face with his hands muffling the words, "Please stop."

Alfred lowers his hand. "Also, the rest of your friends are here, and dad was going to start setting food outside, so you guys need to head down soon."

Before walking away, Alfred opened the door all the way, patted it. Then, turned around to point two fingers at Gilbert. "No funny business." Then, he was gone.

"My family is the most embarrassing family ever."

Gilbert stood up and stretched. "They're not too bad. They just care."

Matthew thought back to all the times he had been told his family cared about him. "I want to wait a few minutes before heading down."

Gilbert smirked. "I feel that." He plopped down in Matthew's desk chair and looked around the room. "Have I told you I like all the new drawings you've been doing?" Said drawings were laying on the desk; the ones Matthew considered better tacked over the walls.

"Yeah? So does my therapist."

Gilbert paused. They talked about treatment some, but often times Matthew tried to avoid any details pertaining to his treatment and everything that happened the past school year.

"Well, they are good, and you've been wiping out art like crazy. It's awesome."

"It's good for me, and I have more energy to do it."

Gilbert smiled. "You really feel like you're doing better don't you?"

Matthew walked to stand next to Gilbert. "Most days I do, yeah. It's, uh, hard to talk about still, and it's such a deeply ingrained thing, but things have been looking up. Using the methods from therapy and stuff made dealing better, too, I guess."

Matthew paused by a drawing he did what felt like forever ago of a labyrinth. "Sometimes, I still wonder about how things could have gone differently. If everyone would be different. How they would be different. If things would be good or bad, but then I think of things more holistically, like, actually holistically, and I feel dumb for questioning anything at all." He traced the labyrinth drawing thoughtfully.

Gilbert stood and put a hand on Matthew's shoulder. "I think about it too, but you already know how I feel about everything - what happened and everything in between."

Matthew's lips twitched. He did know. After many deep conversations late at night or at the park they still frequented, he very much knew. He knew how Gilbert still viewed their first meeting as some divine intervention at times, about how he feels they make the most out of each other as if two fucked up teens together make two emotionally well and societally adapted teens, about the L word Matthew likes to pretend Gilbert doesn't hint at or whisper when he thinks Matthew can't hear. He thinks about how fondly he remembers those times and clings to the almosts because somehow he knows they carry more weight than if they were.

He leaned over and pecked Gilbert on the cheek. "I think I'm ready to go downstairs now."

Gilbert ran a hand through Matthew's hair straightening it. "Good, because you have friends, family, food, and a dad who will freak out if we are up here much longer waiting for you to grace your guests with your presence."

Matthew looked down to hide his grin, trying not to give Gilbert the satisfaction that his cheesy jokes are in fact funny. Quickly, before he began to laugh, he left his room, Gilbert following behind still trying and succeeding in making jokes.

Heading towards the stairs, voices from below echoed and bounced off the walls from people waiting for Matthew so that they could eat.

With his head hanging low, unsuccessfully hiding his smile from Gilbert, he walked on.

A/N: The End.

After all these years and many promises, it is done. I hope you all enjoyed the conclusion to probably the most personal and favorite project I've ever done (and I graduated art school). I can't even begin to explain the plethora of emotions churning inside me at finishing.

Thank you all for reading. For those who stuck with me, I recognize all your usernames always and have appreciated the support. For all the newbies, I'm glad you got the chance to read and see my writing progress in this one story. Don't be strangers. I'm just an IM away and on tumblr with the same username.

If you stick around, I'll be uploading the prequel one of these days - I'm aiming for 80,000 words and want to be more than half done before post. I'm also going to dig up all my unfinished, shorter works from back in the day to complete. So if you enjoy my writing, stick around.

You all are great. I feel very accomplished, and you will hear from me soon.