walks into the room to fetch his glasses, and pauses when he sees the kid on the couch. Oh...ohmygott. West is a tiny kid! He grins in excitement, before making himself calm long enough to drape a blanket over_

_him. Oh, this was the best. Ever.

shifts a bit in his sleep but doesn't wake up only snuggling into the blanket.

grins at that, and sneaks out. He runs upstairs and starts to rummage through old...old old boxes. He finds West's old toys and blankets, and pulls a few of them out. They're all worn and so incredibly old, but

_luckily not falling apart.

stirs a little in his sleep now. He trembles a bit as if he were having a nightmare.

heads downstairs to place more blankets and toys around him, and pauses when he spots him. Dropping everything, he heads over and carefully strokes his hair, murmuring in German.

calms down at that and subconsciously reaches for Gilbert's hand.

carefully takes West's tiny little hand in his own, and smiles. He might get to do this over again. Actually be a good brother this time around.

wakes up a little bit when he feels a warm hand around his. "Gil-gilbert?"

strokes his hair. "Jaa, it's me. Don't freak out, okay? You kinda...shrunk again. Fuck you are so cute..."

sits up rubbing his eye with his only free hand. He glances at Gilbert's hand around his and his lips thin. He can't even summon the energy to be angry, frustrated or irritated. He let's out a sigh. "I never

catch a break..."

would pull tiny West into his lap, but he's sure the other is frustrated right now. "Sorry, West." He's really not...at all. "Maybe it gets worse before it gets better?"

he might as well...it really couldn't get worse. "Now I really can't go out alone."

shrugs. "That's not so bad, is it? I mean now you're small enough that I can piggyback everywhere." Oh yes, he would have so much fun with this.

pouts, because he hasn't learned how to frown yet. "But I can't do have the things I used to be able too."

to squish him, ohmygott. "Well...that's what you have me for."

fixes the shirt around his small frame. It would have to act as some sort of clothing or else he'd be walking around naked. He flushes. "Actually....could you take me upstairs...?"

does an internal fistpump at the request. "Jaa, sure West." He bundles West up in blankets like a baby, and picks him up, and augh nostalgia.

flushes a darker red but grasps onto Gil's shirt just to feel anchored. "Danke."

isn't even discreet about cuddling West to his chest as he carries him up the stairs. "Got out all your old toys and stuff."

had notices that but doesn't mind. "You do know that I'm just physically small....not mentally....right?"

shrugs. "Jaa, but you know. In case."

a feeling that Gilbert just wanted to take the toys out for old time sake. He tugs on his shirt. "Here...put me down here." He was in front of his closet exactly where he needed to be.

holds onto him for a little longer. "Are you sure? I can get you like...a stool or something." He just wants to cuddle him a little bit longer.

can tell. "If you really want to keep me in your arms Gilbert, open the door and on the floor beside my work shoes is a box of children's clothes...can you grab that for me?"

him for his intuition, dear gott. He hefts West into his one arm, going into the closet, and...he doesn't even have to dig, the box is right there. "Why do you have kids clothes?"

smiles lightly. "This isn't the first time. Francis took me out shopping last time."

pulls out the box, taking it and West both over to the bed, and opens it up. "Where was I when this happened? That long ass trip I had to go on?"

nods as he just settles in Gilbert's arms. He glances at the box. "Did you want to pick out my clothes?"

can't believe West is humouring him so much. "Really?" He goes through the clothes, picking out a cute tiny pair of jeans, and hums. "Wow...I can't even pick anything cute, Francis is so fashionable." By cute,

_he meant embarassing.

Embarrassing* ]

nods at that. "Ja, pick them out." He was glad he couldn't pick out anything embarrassing although he wouldn't put it pass Gilbert to go but some though.

probably would. He picks out a shirt and sweater -it was cold outside!- and spreads them out on the bed. "What do you think?"

glances at them trying to wiggle out of the blanket to put them on. "Good choice."

lets him go, and can't believe how...chubby West's cheeks are, oh Gott.

slips out of the large shirt to quickly pull on the clothes happy with the velcro and pushy buttons. He fixes the clothes before fixing his messy hair. "How do I look?"

reaches forward to mess up his hair. "Adorable. Can I take pictures?"

pouts and fixes it again. "Do you have too?"

like the mistake made was asking him that question. "Yes. I have to. Or I will explode, and your tiny little body will have to clean up my remains." He pinches Ludwig's cheeks, before getting up to fetch the _

_camera.

sits on the bed not at all pleased but knowing he can't get away with not letting his brother take his desired pictures. The cheek pinching would get old fast.

cackles happily, turning around and snapping a picture. Aww West is so cute all pouty and stuff.

flushes at the picture and the cackle as he slides off the bed and starts to trot out of the room. Maybe he could make an escape.

picks him up around the torso with one arm, ecstatic that he can do this again. "Where are you going?"

flushes as he clings onto the arm. He makes an 'oomph' sound when he was picked up. "Away from the camera."

grins, snapping another picture as he carries West downstairs. "Not going to happen. You hungry?"

pouts but doesn't complain much. "Maybe a little. Are you going to cook?"

sits West down on the countertop. "Ja, sure. What do you wanna eat?"

has to pause to think. "Let's bake some bread." He had always admired Gil's bread making abilities.

perks up at that. "Bread sounds great! " He starts to gather the ingredients, putting around the kitchen.

watches him rummage around. "Can I help?"

shakes his head. "Nah, You sit put. Do you want any kind of bread in particular?"

nods. "Prussian Rye Bread~"

grins at that. "Ja? Is this a craving, or nostalgia?"

smiles lightly. "Nostalgia."

ruffles his hair as he's walking by to fetch the pan. "You loved it when you were a kid, too."

flushes. "With you...ja, of course."

glances over, a little surprised. "What do you mean, with me?"

hums a bit. "Even when I wanted you to treat me like an adult you gave me a bit of a childhood that at the time I didn't appreciate but I do now...thank you." Gilbert was also a slave driver but he

knew when to be a sibling too.

blinks at that, he always felt like..he'd never given West enough of a childhood. "You're welcome. I mean...I can at least give you a little more this time around, right?"

smiles lightly. "Except I'm actually an adult right now. How much of a childhood could I really have?"

siiiiiiighs. "Well jaaa, but you can like...relive your childhood, or whatever. Right?"

gives him an odd look. "Nein...I don't think it quite works that way."

hums. "I guess not...but you can still have fun."

wouldn't call this fun but would pretend for Gilbert.

starts to make the dough, mixing in all the ingredients. "Anything you want to do?"

can't think of anything he can do at this age. "What's available to do for the both of us at my age and yours?"

can think of lots of things, but he doubts West would want to go play in the park, or anything like that. "Uh...soccer?"

laughs a little. "Ja, we can definitely do that. What did you want to do with me at this age?"

wanted to do everything. Dress him up in cute clothes, play tag, carry West around on his shoulders, show him off to the world...everything.

_"Uh....wanna go out for ice cream?"

doesn't think that's a bad idea. "Ja, I'd like that."

cheers. "Great. I'll get the wallet, you just stay..." He picked up his brother, settling him on his shoulders. "There."

looks a little surprised before grasping his hair to balance him. "What about the bread?"

runs back, and pops it into the oven. "Done. Let's go."

has to cling into him tighter when he does that so as not to fall off.

doesn't mind. He grabs his keys on his way out, carrying West down the road on his shoulders.

rests his chin on the top of his head. It was almost liking riding a horse except Gilbert.

toting West around like this, it's fun.

doesn't mind at all. He wraps his arms around Gilbert's forehead.

grins broadly when a few of the ladies they pass by coo at Ludwig. "Aw West, you still got it!"

flushes a bit. "I think the attention is completely different in nature this time."

shrugs slightly. "Whatever, you still have ladies cooing over you."

glances down at him. "Are you sure they aren't cooing at you for taking care of me?"

hums at that. "Nah. I don't have a whole lot of luck with the ladies. Probably at your for being cute."

smiles lightly. "I think you should give yourself more credit than that."

glances up at him. "Nah. I mean here and there, but once they get to know me, they bolt. I have better luck with guys, I think."

hums a bit, he was starting to feel guilty about Eliza again.

wasn't referring to her. Just..most women in general stayed clear of him the second he opened his mouth. With humans anyways, he never wanted anything serious. A one night stand here and there, _

_nothing to fret over.

was thinking about her because she would have easily stayed with him and Ludwig had gotten in between them.

would scold him. If he and Eliza were happy together, then that was that. As a nation, it wouldn't be hard for Gilbert to find someone eventually. If he even felt like finding one, he was fine as it was.

buries his face in Gilbert's hair.

spots the shop up ahead. "Doing okay up there, West?"

shifts a little. "Jaaa." He replies softly.

hooks his fingers around West's ankles, more as a support to keep him there. "Gut. Cause we're here, what do you want? Sprinkles?"

laughs. "Chocolate is good."

glances up at him. "Chocolate with chocolate sprinkles?"

resigns to his fate. "Ja, sure. With chocolate sprinkles." It seemed Gilbert really wanted him to have it with sprinkles.

knows for a fact that kids like sprinkles. "Sweet." He ordered two cones, both chocolate with sprinkles.

is not actually a kid though. He takes the cone when it's finally offered to him, enjoying it and the sprinkles.

knows that, but he likes to pretend West is actually a kid again. It makes him all sorts of happy.

glances down at him. "Are you sure you want me eating this while on your shoulders?"

glances up. "Are you going to drip it all over my hair?"

isn't sure. "Maybe...I'll try not too."

doesn't really care either way. That's what shampoo is for. "Then that's fine. Eat away."

keeps a hold of his hair as he enjoys his ice cream in silence.

eats his ice cream happily as well. He's obviously not as skilled as his brother, and is dripping all over his hand.

manages to finish it without incident and glances down at Gilbert. "Maybe we should have been more worried about you."

sticks his tongue out at West, while trying to lick his hand clean. "I'm fiiiine."

sees that and only laughs resting his cheek on Gilbert's head. He yawns.

smiles softly. He misses this, West...needing him. "Tired?"

hums softly his body sagging against Gilbert. He forgot how tired this body got after a while. "I'm okay..." But it was clear how tired he sounded.

smiles at that. "Come on, let's go home. Take a siesta or whatever those guys do."

can't help his eyes from fluttering closed. There's a moment were he begins to teeter sideways.

swears quietly. He shoves the cone into his mouth, and carefully takes West down, letting him rest against his shoulder.

shifts when he's moved settling against Gilbert's shoulder and wrapping an arm around his neck before shifting again and pressing his small head against the other side if his neck.

holds him close and gentle, and just...sighs. Fuck, he missed this...

is sleeping quite peacefully.

carries him home gently, shushing the dogs when they come out to greet them.

tightens his grip on Gilbert exhaling softly.

lifts a hand to cradle his head. He knows West is a toddler, not a baby, but he's feeling overly protective. He carries West up the stairs and into the room quietly.

is quite comfortable against Gilbert. He won't want to be separated.

awkwardly flops them both onto the bed, West still sleeping on his chest. He settles on his back, and shuts his eyes because...well why not. He could use a nap too.

snuggles against him and naps peacefully.