Ghiaccio finished brushing his teeth and was walking back from the bathroom when he saw Melone's door open. He walked over and stood in the doorway to see Melone reaching for a cup on his nightstand. The closer his hand got, the more wildly it shook. He stopped and lowered his hand. He set his face and began again, but from farther away this time. Still, the tremor in his hand worsened the closer he got to the cup.

Watching the scene broke his heart. So much was taken away from Melone, and Ghiaccio still didn't know the full extent to which the venom had affected him. Actually, when he thought about it, it had taken longer than usual for Melone to open that bottle of wine at dinner. Simple tasks seemed much harder now.

Ghiaccio snapped his fingers twice to let him know he was there. He gave Melone a confused look.

"Ghiaccio! Isn't it fascinating? It's an action tremor. They told me it's because the venom has delayed or messed up the relays from my brain to my hand." Ghiaccio walked over and sat next to Melone on the bed. He grabbed Melone's right hand and began to trace letters in his palm with his finger.

H-O-W L-O-N-G—

"How long have I had the shakes?" Ghiaccio nodded. "Since I woke up in the hospital."

Y-O-U S-H-O-O-K.

"When?"

S-L-E-E-P-I-N-G. He tried to keep his thoughts brief. This wasn't the most effective method of communication but he liked sitting shoulder to shoulder with Melone while he held his hand. So he dealt with the minor inconvenience of it.

"Oh, at the hospital. Sometimes I get resting tremors too. Everything about me is fucked up. More than usual," he chuckled.

Ghiaccio wrote two letters: N-O.

"You've always been kind to me. It means a lot to have you by my side." Melone's hand shook as he reached out to touch Ghiaccio's face. Ghiaccio didn't look up but decided to draw a heart on Melone's hand. He didn't know if Melone would know what he was drawing but he was so tired of not being able to express his love in any way. He wanted to speak so badly.

"What was that?" Melone asked. "I didn't understand what you wrote." Ghiaccio briefly panicked and then put his hands together under his cheek to pantomime sleep. "Oh, right. Of course, a moon. It is getting late. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. And don't worry, Ghia. We'll figure it out."

Ghiaccio mouthed the word, goodnight, then stood up.

"Goodnight." Ghiaccio walked toward the door. "Ghia? I'm really glad you're back. I missed you."

He nodded solemnly and left. Ghiaccio's heart raced in his chest hearing those words.

He went back to his room and crawled into bed. He laid there for several hours just listening to the silence. There were no snores from Pesci's room next door. There hadn't been any yelling or horseplay from Formaggio nor Prosciutto telling him to shut the hell up.

Ghiaccio looked at the mirror shoved in the corner facing the wall. He didn't know what possessed him to get out of bed and examine the old thing. He'd put it there to stop Illuso's spying, but now he turned it back and forth in the moonlight, searching. No one peered back from the other side. There was no threat of being watched, and that revelation filled him with sadness. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to cry.

Melone had been alone a whole week. His heart ached. How many times had Melone cried by himself? He always tried to be positive, probably to counterbalance Ghiaccio's anger and negativity, but with Ghiaccio in the hospital, had Melone been able to maintain that?

The house was too quiet. Melone had been right about that. He didn't know if it would be okay or not, he just didn't want to be alone anymore with his thoughts. He stood up, walked out of the room and across the hall. Ghiaccio stood before Melone's door and knocked. The door opened and Melone smiled.

"Hey, Ghia," Melone said. Ghiaccio gave an awkward, halfhearted wave. "Can't sleep?"

He shook his head.

"Me neither. Wanna talk?" He opened the door wider for Ghiaccio. "Well, maybe not talk cause you can't. You can just listen, I guess. Ow." Ghiaccio lightly smacked him on the arm as he walked into the room. He sat down on the bed as Melone flopped back down to lay on the other side.

Melone looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "I keep thinking they're gonna show up. Like they were out on a mission and just haven't come back yet." Ghiaccio faced him as he pulled his legs up to his chest. "I'm wondering when Giorno's gonna find out we lived. Hell, maybe he already knows. What's he gonna do then? Do you think he'll let us stay?" Melone looked over at Ghiaccio who just shrugged and shook his head.

"Probably not. I mean, we tried to kill him," Melone mused. Ghiaccio knew he wouldn't be similarly forgiving. Hell, he still wasn't. Giorno had tried to kill Melone and he was still disturbed with the damage Melone now had to endure.

"What if we left?"

Ghiaccio crawled closer and laid down next to him. The bed was small so their bodies touched. The physical contact was comforting and, if Ghiaccio was being honest, it was exactly what he came to Melone's room for.

Melone turned his head to look at him. Ghiaccio carefully mouthed the words, what would you do?

"What would I do? I don't know. Find something that didn't require me to kill, I guess. I'm good with computers." Melone smirked and so did Ghiaccio. They stared at each other as their smiles dissipated. "But I don't want to leave you."

Ghiaccio continued to look at him silently. He wanted so much to tell him he felt the same way. He didn't want to be anywhere but Melone's side. Not after that close call.

Melone continued, "If I left Passione... would you leave too?" Ghiaccio thought for a moment. What else did he have here if Melone left? He slowly nodded.

Melone turned onto his side to fully face him. "Would you come with me?"

Ghiaccio poked Melone's chest.

You—

Then he pointed to himself.

—Want me—

He pointed at Melone again.

—With you? He finished mouthing the words.

"Of course. You're my best friend, Ghiaccio. You're the only thing I have left that's keeping me going."

Ghiaccio pointed to himself and made a peace sign. Me too.

"If he lets us, do you wanna stay?" Melone asked quietly.

Ghiaccio pointed to Melone and then himself while he mouthed his response.

If you go, I go.

Melone smiled. "Yeah, okay. That sounds good to me." A piece of hair fell into his face as he laid there. Ghiaccio didn't think, his body simply moved to tuck the hair behind Melone's ear. "Thanks."

Ghiaccio pulled his hand away and nodded awkwardly. Melone put his hand over his.

"Hey," Melone said and Ghiaccio looked up. "I don't really wanna sleep alone tonight. I know that sounds weird, but will you stay here? Or at least until I fall asleep?"

Ghiaccio smiled warmly and nodded.

"Thanks, Ghi," Melone whispered. "Goodnight." He closed his eyes and snuggled his head into the pillow. Ghiaccio watched him for several moments just breathing. Melone had not removed his hand. Ghiaccio waited several more minutes before he slowly pulled his left hand out from beneath Melone's in order to place it under his own head. Then he moved his right hand up and slid it under Melone's so he could properly hold his hand. Melone didn't stir, so he went a step further and laced their fingers together. Ghiaccio mouthed I love you but could not muster the sound to give voice to his words.