Chapter Text
Five o’clock finally rolled around after a dragged out week. For once, Klaiver couldn’t wait for the weekend. Finally, he was able to see that lovely old woman again and without Sebastian to ruin the surprise for his birthday.
A soft knock got Klavier out of his mind fog as his partner invited himself in his office.
“I’ll call you when I get there.” Sebastian walked over to the desk. “I’ve never been to an amusement park before. Are you sure you don’t want to come with? Justine said it was okay.”
“Nein, been there twenty too many times,” Klavier honestly replied. He hated that damned amusement park, probably more than Herr Samurai did. “Viel Spaß!”
“Thanks! I’ll bring you back a souvenir. What would you like?”
“If they have dog toys, Vongole could really use another one.”
“I doubt they’ll have that. For you, specifically?”
“Hmm, I just normally buy what I need or want at any given time. You know that.” Klavier paused, “You don’t need to stress getting anything for me, ja?”
“If you say so. I’ll see if I can find Vongole anything, but I doubt it. Are we still going to Oregon next week?”
“Of course, liebling. I wouldn’t cancel that for anything.” Klavier reassures him, “Don’t keep Frau Courtney waiting, I’ll speak to you in a couple hours, ja?”
“Okay, I love you, Klav.” Sebastian kissed his partner’s cheek as he left the room.
“Ich liebe dich auch.”
*
The traffic was easy to navigate through with his beautiful hog, even with it backed up on the freeway. The warm wind March brought hit Klavier’s face as he drove to the retirement home he had spent a couple afternoons at since he got that fated email.
At first, they met to discuss how to get Clara and what she wanted for the bear. What she wanted for the bear was nothing serious: just a few merchandise items from the Gavinner’s line and his time. Her son was supposed to bring it and he had forgotten the last couple times, but the lovely grandwoman was so thrilled to have company. Klavier had found himself more excited to just talk to her. He reminded himself to ask if he could visit after this was done.
No one visited her, apparently. The woman that composed the entire score of each ballet Sebastian’s mother was in, and who spent too much love for the troupe had to beg her children to visit. That made Klavier’s fragile heart break when he heard that. Would he end up like that one day? Regardless of all his achievements, would he also be that alone?
It was supposed to be one visit, but it turned into a weekly visit as he just came to check on her. However, since he wouldn’t be able to come next weekend, the two decided to exchange what they initially talked about since she was so close to the end of her life. The elephant in the room that she wasn’t going to make it to the end of the following month echoed through their lively conversations.
In his bag was some signed merchandise and a Gavinner’s bracelet he got for the elderly woman specifically. She had mentioned her granddaughter had loved the band and had wanted some merch, but now it was difficult to find.
Klavier now regretted stopping band merchandise after the band’s drummer untimely passing. Perhaps he would continue making merchandise after this. He would ask Dayran if he was okay with it, after all, it was both of their call. No matter how awkward that conversation will be...
He drove up to the retirement home and checked himself in with the receptionist, who did seem stunned he was here out of all places. He walked with the nurse over to an old woman sitting in a wheelchair, looking out of the window. Klavier walked in and waved as he slid in the seat next to her.
“Guten Tag, Sophia.” Klavier smiled as the elderly woman’s eyes lit up.
“Hello, Klavier.” Sophia greeted, pronouncing his name completely wrong, but she was too kind.
He never bothered to correct her as she was always so polite and sweet, but it did amuse him a little bit. In her lap was a beautiful teddy bear, adorned in a purple tutu and wearing a little crown. It looked a bit worn due to age, but Klavier had recognized it from the picture she had sent. It was her.
Clara, the star of the Nutcracker.
“How are you doing?”
“I am alright. My son and my granddaughters came to visit to drop off your bear. Thank you for everything, young man. I did want to ask why you wanted her so badly. I wouldn’t expect someone like yourself to be an avid bear collector.”
“Oh, it’s for my partner,” Klavier confessed. “He had one of the original Clara’s but his father destroyed it and I decided to find it.”
“You’re a kind man.” Sophia smiled, “Shame his father destroyed it. Is he a child of one of the troupe members?”
“His mutt...mother was Gloria.” Klavier reminded himself to speak fluent English to Sophia: the first time they met, the peppered German just ended up confusing her.
“Oh, Gloria.” Her face dropped immediately.
“I should have mentioned it sooner.”
“It’s quite alright. I understand. I didn’t ask.” Sophia smiled a bit, “She was such a lovely young woman regardless of what life thrusted on her. Her parents were truly disgusting people to marry her off to her husband for ten thousand dollars…”
Klavier paused, looking down. Of course, he had no faith Blaise married on his own but the fact he bought her was just gut wrenching.
“I’ve been told it’s not necessarily socially unacceptable, but Gloria was told when she was nineteen. With no say of her own, she was going to be married off to him and had to leave the troupe. After weeks of begging, she was allowed to stay in, but had to stay married to that monster. Up until she disappeared when her little boy was...I think he was five.”
“Ja, I heard no one ever figured out what happened to her and the statute of limitations hit before anyone knew he was even remotely responsible.” Klavier tried to bite his lip not to cry. What a horrible story...
“I always wondered if he was involved.” Sophia sighed. “She’s gone to heaven, hasn’t she?”
“Ja, I’m afraid she’s no longer on earth.” Klavier admitted as he looked away.
The day they found her body, Sebastian called Klavier screaming and wailing on the phone, an inconsolable mess. Klavier immediately flew to Germany to comfort his friend. Sebastian spoke nothing of the situation and kept trying to distract himself instead of grieving properly. That was so long ago now…
Sophia gripped Clara close as she spoke.
“She led everything with the stories on stage. She had such pristine balance and grace that made every performance so wonderful, even with the slip ups. Audiences would flock to just see her. She was beloved by many. The press. The fans. Her troupe. I wish I had been more strict with how her fans interacted with her. Perhaps…” Sophia took a deep breath of air to stop the tears as she looked down, “Perhaps we could have helped her when she needed it.”
“I don’t think there was much you could do.” Klavier pouted, “Please know that you were there for her when she needed you. That’s all that mattered.”
Sophia smiled again, wiping a tear from her eye.
“I am just glad Sebastian turned out to love ballet as much as his mother. I’m so happy to hear I’m giving Clara to someone who cares.” Sophia handed the bear over to Klavier.
Sebastian wasn’t actually a fan of ballet, but Klavier didn’t bother to correct her as he gripped the bear. It was so soft in his own shaking hands. Klavier placed the bear on his lap as he rummaged through the merchandise and placed it on the table in Sophia’s room. He clipped the bracelet on Sophia’s hand.
“Oh, thank you. This bracelet is beautiful. I haven’t been gifted jewelry since my husband passed away. Oh, and of course, the other stuff. My granddaughter will be so happy to see these. Oh, a vinyl CD. I wonder if she will use that. You know kids and phones these days.”
Klavier just smiled as she stared at the vinyl, confused why he had brought that. It was one of the few merchandises he had extras of, and one of the highest demand when they were in print. He placed Clara inside of the bag.
“I’ll miss you, young man.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, since you upheld your deal, I figured you’ll be too busy to visit me again.”
“I wouldn’t mind stopping by again. I could even bring Sebastian to meet you. I think he would be happy to meet someone who knew his mother.”
“Oh, that would be just lovely.”
*
Klavier went back to the apartment, opening the door to flick on the lights to see Sebastian on the couch, arms crossed. He had an angry look in his eyes, and Klavier just looked at him with complete confusion.
“I was just about to call you, liebling. Is...everything alright?”
“Oh, were you?” Sebastian’s voice broke, “What the hell? You keep leaving for two hours every other day for the last few weeks. What’s going on?”
Klavier’s face dropped as he was forced to play his hand. He knew that he wanted Clara to be a surprise birthday present, but the fury in Sebastian’s eyes wouldn’t calm down until he explained himself. Guess it would have to be an early one instead. Klavier dug through his bag and pulled out Clara, placing her on the coffee table. Sebastian’s fury turned into shame as he slunk on the couch, not even touching the bear as he looked away.
“I had spent time with the old woman that wanted to give me this bear. She only asked for company for the last little bit in exchange. I am so sorry, liebling, I should have told you. I just wanted to surprise you.”
“Surprise...me?” Sebastian asked. “Oh, this was my birthday gift, wasn’t it?”
Klavier nodded as he saw Sebastian’s face fall, turning into a sobbing mess. Klavier walked over and rubbed his shoulder, holding him close as Sebastian kept apologizing over and over in Klavier’s shoulder.
“I mess everything up…” Sebastian hiccuped as Klavier hushed him.
“Nein, nein. It’s on me. I should have let you know. I know you dislike surprises like this.” Klavier played with Sebastian’s curl as he began to calm down, “I hope you can forgive me. What are you still doing here? Aren’t you still going to that amusement park?”
“Yeah, but John got really sick and he had to stay home. Justine said we’ll go later since he has the flu. I’m gonna check on him tomorrow. After that, I came here and you weren’t home and my mind started running before thinking logically.” Sebastian sighed, “I thought you found someone else after I was alone here for a couple hours…I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions.”
Vongole walked over to Clara and sniffed the teddy bear. Sebastian rose his head and grabbed the stuffed animal before the dog could knock it down.
“That’s not a toy, Vongole.” Sebastian pulled the bear close as he looked at the beautiful bear.
It was almost exactly like the bear he had all those years ago. This Clara had a little wear and tear, but it was still just as beautiful as he remembered her to be. Though it wasn’t the same, he could just feel the complete feeling he had with his mother so close in spirit. Now, he would never let anyone hurt Clara again.
“Thank you,” Sebastian held her near his chest. “Who did you end up getting this from? I assume that’s where you’ve been.”
“Ja. Her name is Sophia. She was the conductor for the troupe and the wife of the person who ran it.” Klavier smiled a bit, “She is a lovely elderly woman that has family that doesn’t see her. I told her I’d see her again. Now that the secret is out, would you like to come with? She really wanted to meet you.”
Sebastian’s head looked up at Klavier as he smiled. “Yeah, I think I would like that a lot.”
*
After a beautiful weekend in Portland and an eventful, delightful weekend at the amusement park, Sebastian had gone to work with Klavier on his hog that day to go visit Sophia. No matter how scary motorcycles were.
It had been a long day, but now they began to drive down to the retirement center.
Sebastian had brought Clara and the Nutcracker with him to show Sophia. They had spoken briefly on the phone, her soft tone of one of a grandparent Sebastian had imagined he wanted when he was younger.
Getting Clara had helped only a bit with his grief. Sebastian was overall relieved to keep his promise to his mother, but his therapist suggested that he should meet the woman that knew his mother to possibly get better closure.
He was at first reluctant, knowing how badly his parents' relationship was and what it did to the troupe, but after that call with the elderly woman, Sebastian was sort of excited. Nervous, but definitely curious.
Klavier pulled up in the parking lot as Sebastian got off, following his partner to the building’s entrance. After the initial check in, they both followed the nurse as his hands were shaking. Was it from the nerve damage from the burns his father inflicted on his hands as a child? Or just the fact he finally was going to meet someone who possibly faulted him for what happened to his mother?
“You ready?” Klavier whispered as he gripped Sebastian’s hand.
Sebastian took a deep breath, nodding as he opened the door to see a lovely old woman in a wheelchair, enjoying some classical music on the radio. The two walked in to sit across from the old woman. She smiled as she caught eyes with Sebastian.
“Oh, you look so much like my Gloria. You must be Sebastian.”
Hearing that, Sebastian was surprised as Sophia beamed. Most people noted that Sebastian looked more like his father, which was something he couldn’t even deny. He sat down in the chair with a small smile on his face.
“I’m so glad to finally meet you. I tried again and again to see you as a baby, but your father…” Sophia trailed off, looking away, “You know how he is. Please, tell me about yourself.”
Sebastian didn’t know where to begin, so he started around his teenage years. He talked for a while about what he went through, but tried to focus on the positive parts for the elderly woman. He explained that his mentor had taken him in after his father was imprisoned and his life got a lot better moving to Europe to study under Miss...eh hem...Mrs. Von Karma. Or was it now Fey?
He couldn’t remember which last name she took after she married Mrs. Fey.
“What made you come back?” Sophia finally asked as Sebastian’s eyes lit up.
“Oh, I was actually taking a case here to help Mr. Edgeworth, after all, I owed him for what he did, and got paired up with Klavier. I was about to leave afterwards, but we got really close and had a discussion and I decided to stay here. We started dating shortly afterward.”
“That’s so sweet.” Sophia’s eyes relaxed as she looked at Klavier, “Oh, those rings are new!”
“Ja, he proposed in Oregon.”
Sebastian smiled as he went off about the proposal at the International Rose Gardens. Klavier smiled a bit as he noticed that Sebastian was talking to Sophia as they had known each other for years. He then brought out the Nutcracker and Clara, placing them next to each other.
“Thank you so much for giving me your Clara. It meant everything to get her again.” Sebastian smiled. Sophia leaned forward as she looked at the Nutcracker.
“Yes, that one was Gloria’s. I sewed that little flower on his hat for her namesake. Each of our troupe got different small designs on each one.” Sophia examined the bear as she handed it back after a moment, “What happened to Gloria’s Clara? Klavier told me your father...”
Sebastian looked down as he took a deep breath, explaining what happened as Sophia frowned. She grabbed his hand, gripping it.
“Oh, you poor child. I am sure you’ve heard this, but it isn’t your fault. Thank you for trying to help take care of them. Just promise me you’ll pass them along to your children.” Sophia smiled as Sebastian nodded.
Though it was unlikely by this point he would have children of his own, he would definitely cherish the bears and pass it down to children he got close to and he knew he couldn’t let this lovely woman down.
After all, Clara and the Nutcracker were reunited at last.