It was a quiet evening in the now Braun-Hoover household.
After being married for 2 years, Reiner and Bertholdt preferred nights in cozied up on the couch or trivia night with the Springers and Galliards at the local brewery.
"So your saying this movie is a metaphor for getting your period?" Reiner asked.
"Well that and parents learning how to let their kids grow and be their own person...and being able to change into a panda is pretty cool" Berthdolt said, continuing to massage Reiner's scalp.
"So..." Reiner said looking up at Berthdolt. "The house is empty, Gabi won't be home until 11:30.."
"Aren't we an old married couple now so we don't do that kind of stuff anymore..." Bertholdt said slyly.
Right as he was about to kiss Reiner the back door slammed shut.
Reiner fell off the couch and Bertholdt jumped up ready to fight what he thought was an intruder.
The door opened again. "Gabi please just listen!!!"
"Oh f*ck off Falco!"
"Gabi!!"
Reiner and Bertholdt quickly jumped up to see Gabi storming up the stairs and Falco standing at the foot of the stairwell stunned.
The three cringed as Gabi's bedroom door slammed.
Bertholdt and Reiner turned to look at Falco, with a "what did you do look?"
"I'll grab the baseball bat" Reiner said.
"No Mr. Braun or Hoover it's not like that, I promise. If Gabi would just let me expalin..."
"You aren't going anywhere near her" Reiner said sternly.
"Reiner..." Bertholdt gave his husband a look. "How about you go talk to Gabi and I'll chat with Falco here. Figure out what happened"
"But..."
"Reiner"
Reiner let out a sigh, knowing Bertholdt was probably making the best suggestion, he headed upstairs.
"Falco why don't you and I go into the kitchen"
Falco nodded
************************************************
Reiner gently knocked on Gabi's door.
"Gab? Can we talk?"
He didn't get an answer but he could here crying through the door.
"Gabi, I'm coming in" Reiner opened the door. Gabi was sitting on the floor, holding her knees to close to her.
Reiner's face fell a bit and he sat down beside his 17-old-cousin, putting his arm around her.
"What happened? Do I need to kill Falco?"
Gabi sniffled and shook her head.
"Well you don't have to tell me, I can just sit her with you" Reiner said softly.
Gabi let her head fall against Reiner's arm.
"It all started over a cat."
****************************************************
"A cat?" Bertholdt asked raising an eyebrow. "Or did you call her something that is a nickname for a cat?"
Falco's eyes went wide shaking his head. "No nothing like that!! We decided to go get some ice cream and on the way we saw a stray cat."
****************************************************
"You two fought over a stray cat...like who got to keep it?"
"No, l wanted to leave it alone. Falco wanted to take it to the shelter, or at least get it some water"
Reiner was still confused.
"I laughed at him"
*****************************************************
"A little odd she laughed seeing as she likes animals..." Bertholdt said.
"It wasn't the rescue part it was the water part, she laughed at me because she said cats can't drink water, they only drink milk"
Bertholdt couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Yeah sometimes Gabi isn't the sharpest tool in the shed"
"And she doesn't like to be wrong either" Falco said putting his head in his hands.
***************************************************
"You got mad because he corrected you?"
"Not exactly, but Reiner I am know cats drink milk, I see it in the cartoons" Gabi said wiping her eyes.
"I mean yeah sometimes but water it's probably best for a cat. I hope you aren't planning on getting one in the future..."
Gabi started crying again.
His eyes widened, he had her somewhat calm, and now he was scratching his head at what he said wrong.
**************************************************
"So she didn't get that mad at being wrong, so what happened?"
"Well I told Gabi that she shouldn't get a cat in her future. Some how she took that as me trying to break up with her"
Bertholdt leaned back against the kitchen counter. "You know Gabi has a gold medal in mental gymnastic, but some of that stems from losing her parents back in middle school. She's had a similar fear that me and Reiner were going to leave her at some orphanage because we were getting married."
Falco's face fell. "That explains why she was so anxious about you guys getting married, and..."
"You see it now, it may seem kinda silly but it made her feel like you didn't want a future with her. Which I will say as seniors in high school, it's ok to not think that far ahead."
"I know and that's why what I did next probably ruined any chance at that"
***************************************************
"He said 'that's really cool'" Gabi sobbed. "I told him I loved him and that's what he said"
Gabi buried her head into her knees crying.
"Gabi...um did you just kinda blurt it out to him"
Gabi looked up, her eyes wet and red. "Maybe..."
Reiner let out a sigh. "Gabi did I ever tell you about the first time Bertholdt told me
He loved me?"
Gabi shook her head.
"We were about your age or so..."
**************************************************
"I had known for a while, but was too scared to say anything to him. Was scared he wouldn't feel the same way or I was saying it too soon. But I thought I would make a big romantic thing out of it, but one night that all changed"
"Was a cat involved?" Falco asked.
Bertholdt laughed, "no, but Mario Kart was, Reiner and I were playing and we finally beat rainbow road and in my excitement..."
****************************************************
"He just shouts it out" Reiner said laughing. 'F*ck yeah Reiner, I love you'
"And you know what I did?"
Gabi shook her head.
"I called him a idiot, thought he was joking, and if not I didn't know how to react"
Gabi sniffled. "Well that's because you're an idiot."
Reiner rolled his eyes. "Not the point. Anyways it started a huge fight. Bertholdt leaving in tears. We didn't talk for two days"
***************************************************
"So what happened?"
"Well once Reiner had sometime to work out his feelings and really process what I said. He showed up at my house two days later with my favorite candy. He kissed me right on my front porch, really pissed my homophobic neighbors off, and told me he loved me too."
Falco looked at his hands.
"Now that you have had a some time to think things over...do you know how you feel?"
Falco let out a sigh, a slow smile creeping across his face.
**************************************************
Gabi and Reiner heard a car pull away.
"I'm guessing Falco had to make curfew."
Gabi said sadly. "I hate the idea of the night ending with us mad at each other"
"Maybe it's good to give him space, let him collect his thoughts like Bertholdt did with me"
Gabi let out a heavy sigh. "I guess so"
"Well how about we go down stairs and make some hot chocolate?" Reiner suggested standing up.
He offered Gabi his hand.
"As long as we have enough whipped cream" Gabi said.
The two made their way down stairs into the kitchen. "Bert?"
No answer.
"Maybe he drove Falco home?" Gabi suggested.
"Guess so" Reiner said reaching into the fridge for milk.
About 20 minutes later Gabi and Reiner were on the couch, mugs in hands, watching Rush Hour when the back door opened.
"Guess Bert's home" Reiner said.
"Gabi Braun!"
Gabi set her mug down and stood up to see Falco standing their holding a bag of cool ranch Doritos and flowers that looked fresh picked from the Reiner and Bertholdt's garden.
"Falco...."
"Gabi...I know we are young, and I'm sorry if I hurt you by laughing, I just wasn't expecting that, but Gabi....I love you too"
Gabi stood stunned for a bit. Then her face broke out into a grin.
"Falco!" She rushed into his arms. "I.."
Falco cut her off with a kiss.
After a few moments Reiner cleared his throat.
The pair were red in the face.
"So what's with the Doritos?" Gabi asked with a giggle.
"Well I got some advice that I should bring you your favorite treat, and since you don't have that big of a sweet tooth"
Gabi laughed and kissed Falco again.
"I love you Gabi"
"I love you too Falco"
Stay tuned for the epilogue