Disclaimer: Nope

Summary: Innocence
Pairing: Possible GerIta if you want it, I personally just see them as friends.

A/N: I have made it a point to use these little challenges to stir my muse out of hibernation. The little turd has been asleep for far too long…
Definition taken from Dictionay . com. Try to think of this time frame as before cell phones and easy computer access. You'll understand.

Innocence: noun

Germany blinked down at the mess in the living room he came into; Pasta was thrown against the walls, wine had been poured into the carpet, dishes broken and furniture was turned over every which way, and random assortment of clothing hung from his ceiling fan. There was no way a natural disaster could have made this scene…only his older brother could have made this mess.
1. the quality or state of being innocent; freedom from sin or moral wrong.

Ludwig found Gilbert, the man was sprawled out on the stairs passed out, a broken beer bottle in his grasp and dried blood covered his knuckles, and the man still was wearing his clothes from the night before and seemed to have tripped on his shoe laces before passing out where he landed. Up the stairs he spotted a foot and familiar hair curl slowly rising and falling. Hurrying up to make sure the Italian was okay and not hurt, Ludwig soon came to realize the little man was also in cahoots with his brother if the missing jacket that was flying on his ceiling fan had any say in it.

Ludwig was surprisingly calm, oh the rage was there, it was swimming in his eyes, but he couldn't seem to explode in rage just yet. It was simmering and waiting for the precise moment to do so. Ludwig decided to make sure the rest of his house was still intact before waking his brother up. Carrying Feli to his bedroom, changing him into proper bed wear, and placing him down on his bed, so as to not get a cramp when he awoke, was a simple manner that came second nature to the German. As soon as he was certain his friend was comfortable he went to every room around the house to access the damage…he didn't like what he found.

2. freedom from legal or specific wrong; guiltlessness: "The prisoner proved his innocence."

In his guest bedroom he found Antonio and Romano curled on the bed with each other and their shirts missing (so that explained who's shirt that was in his fireplace and bookshelf) and Francis clinging onto the comforter at the foot of the bed. Oh Romano wasn't going to happy with that…Ludwig decided to leave them and finish his tour. His hallway was decorated with crude drawings and more spilled wine and beer. His boots crunched what appeared to be shards from one of his windows and the remains of one of his potted plants as he made way towards the bathroom down the hallway. He made a mental note to tie up the dogs in the backyard till the coast was clear. The bathroom was littered with magic marker deigns, streamers and a strange brown sticky substance smeared in the bathtub. Upon further inspection he made another note to not buy any more Nutella for at least a month. The list of damages was only climbing as the blonde made his way back down the stairs, over his brother, back into the kitchen, outside (all of his plants seemed to have added decorations of wine bottles and more streamers) and around to the front yard.

3. simplicity; absence of guile or cunning; naiveté.

"Welcome Home Ludwig" was spray painted on one of the Italian's white flags and was hung up on Ludwig's front door. The German could only stare in stunned silence. His whole house was destroyed, his yard was a complete and utter wreak and the only thing that was keeping him from literally killing every member in what was left of that house was the fact each body accounted for had signed the flag. Under the sign was a note and a little chick that was nestled in what looked like one of his old scarves. The creak of his boots as he slowly made his way up startled the little bird from his nap and a small, "Piyo!" welcomed him.

Gilbird took off from the scarf and landed on Ludwig's shoulder, cheeping to him almost telling him to take the note. The German did as he was told and began reading, the little chick soon migrating to his disheveled hair and making himself right at home.

Dear Little Bro,

When you get this Awesomely written letter you will have probably already missed most of this Awesome Party! We decided that since you were gone, having to deal with un-Awesome American for a whole week by yourself, that we would throw you the Most Epic and Awesome Party Ever! Feli-chan told us you would be home tonight but not sure what time, so Gilbird here will deliver your invitation so Hurry On Up!

There was some ink blots that obscured the rest of his brother's word, or it could have been beer, but the letter seemed to continue on from the other party goers.

Allemagne

I hope you had a wonderful time with my cher Alfred. Your dear brother and l'amour missed you so much! Do get this in good health and if you need some "advice" to help you with little Italy let me know. I am not the-

Germany stopped reading at that point. He skipped down a few lines and was presented with detailed words of what to do in bed that he never wanted to hear from France. Ever. Again. Ludwig didn't know if he wanted to cry at this point of go inside and kill them still.

Amigo!

It's been a long time! Your brother said you were coming back and was throwing a party! I brought over some of my tomatoes and they should be in the fridge if my little Lovi doesn't eat them all by the end of the night. You should come down and visit some time! I'll say this now before I forget but do come over anytime!

Ludwig raised his eyebrow at the scribbled lines that ended Antonio's note, but he figured Romano had grabbed the pen from his hand.

YOU DAMN POTATO BASTARD! STAY AWAY FROM MY BROTHER AND MY TOMATOES!

….Yes, that was most certainly Romano. Sighing Ludwig was almost scared of what the next letter would contain. He almost wagered it would have something to do with Pasta.

Dear Germany

I'm so glad you will be coming home today! I made you the best and biggest bowl of pasta Ever so we could share it! He knew it. Pasta. Gil and I were going to go out, but then I remembered you were coming home so we didn't want you lonely! Everyone was so excited to know you were coming home! We all missed you because Germany is so smart and brave! We hope Gilbird finds you soon so you can come home faster and we can all have fun together!

We Miss You!

Love,

Feliciano Vargas

4. lack of knowledge or understanding.

Ludwig's rage settled down. They were all expecting him home last night. Each and every one of them was expecting him to walk up and see the signs last night and enjoy the night all together. He could have prevented the mess and destruction. Gilbird chirped from his nestled bed and flew down nudging a flyer that was hidden in his scarf. Bending down he noticed it was a schedule of flights and one of the flights was his own.

His flight had been delayed in New York because of weather trouble, but he didn't think to contact Italy or his brother. He had figured they would be okay for one more day by themselves. That they were having a fun time without his overbearing rules and watchful gaze but it seemed they had set this up for him. A gentle, "Piyo~" reached his ears and Ludwig sighed heavily.

"What a mess…."

"Ludwig…?" Blue eyes looked up sharply to see a set of chocolate eyes curiously peering at him from the open front door. "Ludwig!" Soon two arms were wrapped around his neck and a familiar feeling of being hugged tightly came from the little Italian that was now attached to him.

"Ludwig's home! Ludwig's Home! Now we can have pasta together, and both Gilbert and Ludwig can go out to the bar together and we can all go out and play together and and Ludwig You'll never guess what! France-nii and Big Brother Spain and even Romano came to tell you welcome home!" The excited rambles of the Italian turned somber as he pulled away slightly looking sadly into the German's eyes. "but…but you didn't come home last night. We waited, but you didn't come home and then Gilbird said you were going to be late, so we started the party without you…We're sorry Ludwig. We were going to wait for you…"

Ludwig was at a loss now. Speechless really. They were worried about him…They all came together to wait for his return.

"I'm sorry Feliciano. My flight was delayed. I did not mean for you all to worry, but why didn't you just read the flyer my brother's bird brought back?"

"Flyer?" Ludwig held up the flyer that clearly indicated his flight was delayed.

"Really? Why didn't you say so Gilbird?"

"Piyo~ Piyo~"

"Really?"

"Wait, you can understand him?"

"Of course I can! Gilbird said Gil was too excited to listen to him though…You can't hear him Ludwig?"

"Never mind that…Feliciano, you know that even though my flight was delayed that doesn't mean you can wreck my home." The Italian quickly paled.

5. harmlessness; innocuousness.

Ludwig had just finished feeding his dogs when he walked in taking in the scene of a much cleaner kitchen than what he had seen when he first walked in this morning. Waking up his brother and his friends was an easy task, and it was even easier to convince them all to clean the mess they had made when he gently reminded them of all the possible charges he could have made. As soon as the work was done they all quickly left, explaining prior engagements needing to attend to. The only ones who stayed was of course Italy, who was currently dancing in his kitchen making what looked like some sort of pasta. Ludwig would never understand the small Italian and his innocent nature,

"Ve~ Ludwig! The pastas almost done! Come sit down!"

But he wouldn't sell it for anything in the world.