Elizabeta stood in front the small tombstone, the words Gilbert Beilschmidt etched in stone. It had been a while since she last visited the grave, since the country of Prussia dissolved and his place as a nation among the others gone. His brother was the one who quietly told her the news, remembering the day. There was a small funeral, few who attended the memorial before leaving one by one, Elizabeta standing beside Ludwig before taking her own leave. Since then she had been silent on the matter, never bringing up the subject among the others nor was the name mentioned when she paid the occasional visit to the young German. It was a small relief knowing that no one seemed to ever bring up such a topic to her, though Elizabeta was sure that there were whispers when she wasn't around. She had remained strong when hearing the news, unmoving during the funeral service and since then focused on the wellbeing of her people and her own future as a country. It was the duty she carried, very much so like the duty of the others; her own faltering moments would only hinder that, Elizabeta working hard to bring peace back into her own country. Time passed on and the countries were once again at peace with each other. Time passed on and she could finally visit the ex-nation's final resting place.

She narrowed her eyes at the modest stone, the cornflowers she had bought this morning to rest on top of the grave.

"I still hate you." She muttered. "For going off like that and getting yourself killed. And you think just because you're like this that I would forgive you?" The words were coming out now. Anger was often the Hungarian's default reaction to whatever Gilbert did.

"Egotistical, selfish asshole," she continued, aware that she had crossed her arms tightly across her chest to refrain from shaking, "bothering me for God knows how long. A real pain in the ass. To everyone, actually. Even in your grave, you still annoy me. I've already taken the time and effort out of my day for this, you know. And..." A pause.

"And...you were my best friend."

She felt like she was at a confessional. Might as well be.

"An obnoxious one, but we were children together. Said to become the strongest ones there ever would be. It was hard for me, it really was...I had the strength and the tact, but it was never enough. Got myself ruined by that damned Ottoman Empire, worked under another household...I should bring it up now you got even more annoying than usual during that time. But I never gave up. I kept my end of the bargain, Gilbert. Perhaps not the strongest, but I'm still here. And where are you? Your strength, all those things you tell me about being the strongest and coming back to take what's yours? You liar. You've gone and left all that behind." The words were spat out.

"We're not like the others on this earth...a nation just disappears, you're not even under this fucking dirt. As far as I know, I'm complaining to nothing but air...you're laughing at me, aren't you?" Her voice had softened, her eyes downcast.

"It's infuriating. Even if you were an asshole, someone like you to just resign to your fate, God, I wanted you to scream and fight back, something, anything, but no, you just...you just accepted it. Well, if you're listening, I could imagine what you'd be doing right now. Laughing, saying something like I've gone soft or something, saying this kind of shit to you. Are you with Germania and Rome now? Magyar, surely he's there as well?" She was finding it harder to talk. Sooner or later Elizabeta would have to be honest, to say what she really wanted to say to him.

"You...well. I suppose you're at peace now. Funny, isn't it? Someone like you associated with that kind of word. I still find it hard to accept, though others seem to be moving on. Ludwig's stubborn like me, he doesn't show it but he thinks about you a lot. Fine, I admit it, your name crosses my mind every so often. You'd probably be hoping that I came here to cry and beg for you to come back, but I know better than that." Despite what she was saying, she could feel a single tear rolling down her cheek, her voice broken down to a whisper.

"I miss you, you idiot."


((Part two will be up in a bit!))