Happy birthday Shar! I love you so much! Hope you've had a great seventeen years, and I hope the rest of your days are just as great, if not better. (Oh, and to warn you, they may be very OOC. Love you! 3)

o0o

So many words hung in the air, but both Italy and Germany had trouble finding the right ones to say. At first the kiss had been accidental (an innocent kiss on the cheek missed,) but at the moment their lips touched, a strange emotion overwhelmed both men, deepening the kiss into a beautiful something that left both of them breathless in each other's arms. But, as suddenly as the emotion came, it left. With an embarrassed sound, Germany released Italy and jumped back. Muttering something about making battle plans, Germany beat a retreat that would give Italians a run for their money and left poor Italy standing all alone and confused. He placed two fingers to his lips. The kiss didn't faze him, since he had known he had feelings for Germany for a long time, but Germany's reaction left him stunned and on the verge of heartbreak. The older man might as well have punched him in the stomach, for Italy felt his very breath leave him.

He stood alone for a while, his head spinning from a combination of confusion and hurt, wondering if he should follow Germany into his place, or turn tail and go home. Even after deciding to stay, it took almost an hour for him to pick up his feet, walk through the façade and enter the building. With his head down, tears stinging his eyes, he practically ran up the stairs to the guest room (which he had never used, as he usually slept in the same room as Germany.) He closed the door behind him as quietly as possible, and then plopped down on the bed, hiding his face in a pillow. He cried. He cried until his throat ached and his eyes were devoid of tears. Even after he became too tired to cry anymore, sleep didn't find him. He turned uncomfortably in the sheets, couldn't find an angle in which to lay his head, and spun the evening's events around in his mind. The kiss had felt so nice, so…right. How was it that Germany hadn't felt the same way? How could he have run off without even talking about it? For a horrifying minute he wondered if Germany was as bad as Romano had always told him. But no, Germany was his friend. He was a good person. He was just…just…

Italy didn't know what to think. He didn't want to think. He wanted to sleep. But it seemed impossible without Germany's warm body beside him, or without the sound of the other man's steady breathing to lull him to sleep. Outside, the sound of rain pattered against the roof and clouds darkened the new light of the rising sun. For a while, Italy didn't move. Then suddenly a thought hit him. Big Brother France knew a lot about dealings in love, maybe he could help. With a new, glimmering shred of hope, Italy changed out of his wrinkled clothes and changed into his usual blue outfit. Then quietly, he made his way down the stairs careful not to awaken anyone sleeping (or alert Germany that he was awake, as the blonde was up at the crack of dawn if not earlier.)

When Italy arrived at France's he was tired but determined. He marched into the house, not bothering to knock and went to find his big brother. He found him in the study, reading a book with a glass of wine on the table beside him. Without hesitation, Italy jumped into France's lap.

"Big Brother!" he cried, and began to relate the previous day's incident, waving his arms and speaking so quickly that the whole story sounded like one word. France, although disgusted that the wurst eating German came anywhere near his cute younger brother, listened to the entire story with a bleeding heart. How many times had he been turned down? How many potential lovers had broken his heart? Before Italy could fully finish his story, France leapt up, knocking Italy to the floor.

"Italy," he started. "Although your taste in men is questionable, I make it my new mission in life to make sure that you win the heart of that potato boiling bastard!" Italy jumped to his feet.

"You really mean that Big Brother?" France smiled in response.

"Why, but of course! Now, here's what we'll do…"

o0o

So that's it for now. Once again, happy birthday Shar. I love you tons!

And yes, I will make a second part. Don't even ask. xD