AN:

Hello dear readers! I would like to start off by thanking you for attempting to read my story : )

I have just started watching Hetalia (as in 3 days ago), and though fairly inexperienced with the series, have already developed quite a liking for the GerxIta pairing. (It reminds me of Toboe and Tsume from wolf's rain-common, admit it, Germany looks like Tsume and Italy looks like Toboe!)

I can not say for certain that the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) IS Germany. The creators of Hetalia haven't really given a concrete answer for that theory, so all us fan girls, myself included, are just sort of gravitating around the hope that they are the same person. Please do not bother messaging me about how my writing is wrong because 'Germany is not HRE and can't ever be… blah blah blah.' Please keep in mind, this is a fan fiction, not a history textbook.

Let's just say in this story, Germany IS the HRE; but having lost everything he had and for being too injured and fallen apart, he doesn't remember anything of his past. That is why he does not recognize Italy. And Italy does not recognize Germany because he…..just doesn't? LOL

Anyways, the rest is history. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the read!

-Sunny

PS. REVIEWS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED! Reviews make the world go 'round, as they say. It will make me a very happy person and ensure updates -if they are wanted-

Chapter One

Ludwig was sitting on the bench outside in his backyard. His clean and well-worn overalls hugged his torso comfortably as he shifted his legs. Pleasant rays of sunlight warmed the back of his neck against the mild morning air.

Even though the book-marked page 374-sat comfortably in his palms, Ludwig's mind had long since strayed from the small, inky print on the papers. He found himself gazing nonchalantly across the garden and straight at a lone, pink flower standing tall in the middle of his lawn. He frowned. When had that gotten there? Surely it couldn't be Italy's doing-but knowing that little brat, it must have been him. Italy was always brining new kinds of weeds and strange things to Germany's place, in turn spreading foreign objects and plants all over his home. Germany really did need to tell Italy to stop pestering him so much.

Ludwig set the book down beside him after carefully folding the corner of the page he had been on. He leaned back, tilting his head towards the cloudless sky. Sometimes, he wondered if it were possible to be lost in the vast, blue depths, and what it would be like to simply float higher and higher, and never stop.

"Ve-ve-ve-ve!"

Germany grew rigid, snapping his head towards the intruding sound. Alas, he couldn't expect for the peace to last forever, that damn Italy-

It was not Italy. It had just been a bird.

"ve-ve-ve-v-ee!" A small blue jay, perched amiably atop the branch of a young apple tree, peered curiously down at the startled German. "veee-vee-ve!"

Ludwig frowned. Where was Italy? Usually the brat would be pestering him by now, running through his front door because of some trivial crisis, such as an untied shoelace or a caved-in tent. Sometimes, Italy would even be IN Germany's bed when he awoke in the morning.

Slightly bemused, the tall blond made his way into the house. He was feeling somewhat hungry, and the wurst he had in the morning had not quite filled him up. Perhaps he could attempt to make those rice balls Japan had taught him to make some time last week-they sounded filling and easy enough. But he did not want to make a mess in the kitchen at the thought of cleaning it up again, so he instead opted to sit himself on the couch with a cup of coffee.

Halfway through the mug, the shrill ring of his phone broke the air. 'Italy,' Germany thought, as he reached for the black telephone.

"Hel-"

"GERMANY!" A loud, bright voice busted through the line. "Ah~ Good Morning! I was just wondering if you were awake now! Oh-silly me-of course you're awake, or you wouldn't have picked up. Unless I woke you up-and if that's the case, I'M REALLY SORRY! Please don't hate me! Japan was warning me to try and not call you so much because he thinks that I will annoy you too much and you know how much I want to be good friends with you.."

"You are my good friend. Don't worry, Italy." Ludwig sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. 'Mein Gott!' "So what is it that you need this time? And please be specific. And make sure it's not something stupid like last time."

"Well actually, I was wondering if I could hop on over and borrow some tools from your toolshed, because Germany is so cool and everything he makes is cool so he must have lots of tools I can borrow."

"And why do you need these, 'tools', again?"

"Ve, my big brother Romano needs them! And he's being a bigger dick than usual and he won't leave me alone, so I need to give him what he needs and he'll stop bugging me so much! Germany, you must understand~"

It was possible for Italy to be annoyed? Germany learned something new that day. "er, okay. Just come on over now."

"OKAY! GRAZIE GERMANY!"

In a matter of minutes, Italy was standing inside Germany's house, his face flushed happily and panting slightly from running. There was a small scratch on his arm.

"what's the from?" Ludwig pointed out, taking Italy's arm into his hands and examining the wound."

"Ah! Well, you see-" Italy rubbed his head in embarrassment. "Switzerland kinda got angry at me for running across his lawn, so…"

Germany rolled his eyes. "Ah, that again. Honestly, you could have asked me to come pick you up. You should use that brain of yours some time."

The two made their way to the backyard. Germany kept a steady pace, listening in amusement to Italy's uneven footfalls against the ground.

"Here we are." Ludwig pulled out a small, silver key from his pockets and inserted it into the lock that secured his polished, red toolshed. The door clicked open obediently as he pulled it open with a creak. "Help yourself, just don't touch the-"

"WOW! COOL!" Italy, ignoring the German's warnings, waltzed into the dimly lit storage room. "You have everything in here Germany! But someone like you must know everything about making cool vehicles! How are Germans so smart in this field of work? It really does make up for the bad wurst~"

Ludwig slapped his palm to his face. Sighing heavily he shook his head. "Just don't leave this place a mess, I keep it organized, and I don't feel like having to rearrange things today. There's the gardening tools over there, if you need them-the rakes, scythes, lawnmower- and over there are just some- Italy?"

Feliciano stood, cold and stiff, in the middle of the room. Ludwig followed his gaze, his own landing on an ancient looking, worn brook rested against the back corner of the shed. The wood was faded, and the bristles dusty.

"Feliciano?"

"where did you get that, Germany?" the boy's voice sounded different-tiny and far away. Germany furrowed his eyebrows.

"Er, I don't actually remember. I've had it ever since I could remember. I should honestly throw it away, thought-it's useless. I just never got around to it, I guess."

But Feliciano was not listening. He stared from the broom, to the tall blond German standing behind him, and back to the broom, and back to Germany.

And suddenly, it all made sense.

Liked it? Didn't like it? Reviews are well loved! :D

Thanks for reading! Until next time, I hope!