Spain sat outside on the veranda of his mansion. He looked out onto the grass to see his little brother Lovino playing with a bocce ball. He smiled at the delightful little five year old boy. The boy, who was more commonly known as Romano to all the staff, and others around him was a trouble maker, and he wanted things done his way. Spain would often give in to the boy, because it was just in his nature to do anything for his little brother. The two lived in Spain's large mansion along with Netherlands. Belgium would stop by, but she really couldn't be in the same house as Spain and her brother for an extended amount of time, it was most irksome. Most of the time Spain was able to spend some time with the little boy, but other times he was extremely busy. Romano at times had a bit of an attitude about him. He would say things that were not appropriate, and Spain being the "cool" big brother would often ignore these comments, or simply not even hear them. The boy looked up at Antonio and waved to him.
"Big brother, big brother! Come and play with a me!" The child stood with an adorable expression upon his face. Spain had dressed the little boy in a white shirt, and little brown knickerbockers. He also had bare feet, since playing in the grass was not going to hurt his feet. He was getting awfully dirty however.
Standing up, Spain walked over to the child with a sigh. He was extremely tired and being it was mid afternoon, he felt like he was due for a nap. The child had wet the bed in the middle of the night, and woke him up with his wailing. Spain had to sit with him, after of course having the maids change the bedding. After the boy went to sleep, Spain tossed and turned, but managed to get a couple of hours.
"Little brother…its time you had your Spanish lesson, so come along, enough of the playing, and come inside." He stood awaiting the child, but saying that to a five year old was difficult. The child stood his ground, and did not want to move. Raising an eyebrow he called out to his little brother. "Hey! I said come inside!"
The child who was very brazen in his age stuck a tongue out at his older brother, and turned around. Sitting on the ground he played with the ball, rolling it back and fourth. The Spaniard just shrugged his shoulders and went back towards the mansion. Looking back at the boy, he smiled and shook his head. He gave the child some time and walked inside, it wouldn't be too long before he would be dragging the brat inside kicking and screaming.
Meanwhile in another area, around the Mediterranean sea, Ancient Rome, or Sandrino was with his young grandson Feliciano. The two would often spend their time painting, enjoying fine food, traveling, and just having a wonderful time together. Sandrino was extremely good looking, and would often make it known to many of the women around he was very available. He also angered an old time rival of his named Germania. Germania, or known as Willahelm used to be a body guard for Rome, but things became hectic, and he was now stopping at nothing to rid the land of Ancient Rome. Sandrino was careless and often got into trouble late in the night with the women he was around. Ancient Greece was somehow his favorite. She would often come in the middle of the night. This was of course after Feliciano was tucked into bed.
Feliciano was special in some sort. He was the younger brother of Lovino. The little boy was four years old and simply adorable. The two were separated because Ancient Rome got along better with the younger of the two Italics. Spain resented Sandrino because he knew Feliciano would inherit the empire. Italy is too little to understand any of it.
One afternoon, after a bout of painting and drawing, Sandrino lay down in the grass with his grandson looking into the sky. He had started feeling sick, and was not sure how to tell his offspring that his empire was crumbling, and he would not be around much longer. Something like this for little Feliciano to understand take a lifetime to explain. The little boy looked up at him and looked worried.
"Grandfather…can you stay with me for always?" He crawled up and lay on the man's chest. Heaving up and down, Rome cradled the boy's head, and had a tear in his eye.
"I will be around with you for as long as I am able. Come now, let us have something to eat." He went to stand up when the little boy pulled at his hand.
"Grandfather…Grandfather…can we have my favorite?" The child grabbed the man's tunic and smiled up. "I want pasta!" The boy jumped up and down, and Rome put his hand on the boy's head.
"Yes of course, let us go inside."
"Veeeeee! Yes Grandfather!" The two walked into Sandrino's home, and they were served a merry banquet of delicious macaroni and red sauce full of chunky tomatoes.
Spain was now slightly irritated at the little Lovino who had not been happy to come inside and begin his Spanish lesson. He had taken down the hall of the mansion and confined himself to his quarters. Antonio sat at the table, across from him was Belgium. She was such a delight to be around, and Spain had a rather large crush on her. She liked to help around the mansion, even though Spain had more than enough help. She liked to do the laundry, and loved to spend time with Romano.
"So Antonio, do you wish for me to run and fetch the little monster?" She winked at him as he sat sipping his beer.
"Yes, yes…go get him. I think he is making up excuses. He had better knock it off right quick, or I'll take my switch to the back of his legs, and I mean it!" He actually hadn't meant it, never ever even laying a hand on the boy. He shrugged, and set the empty glass down and let out an atrocious belch. Belgium gave him a less than appealing glare.
"That was disgusting Antonio. Ugh, very well, I will go get him, but you are not to switch the little cherub, he is so adorably cute to punish!" She got up from the table and walked by Spain. Running her hand through his hair, he closed his eyes and took it in. He thought she was simply delightful.
The mansion was big. Something that Antonio was very proud to have under his control. The mansion however was an annoyance to little Romano. Sometimes the little boy would have to use the toilet, and end up having an accident. Something his big brother would excuse for the meantime, but he had warned the child that it must never happen again.
Belgium walked down the massive corridors of the mansion. Romano's quarters were in the South wing of the mansion. The little boy was often alone, and liked to be confined to his room. She approached the door and knocked on it lightly. There was some noise, and a small little voice yelled to her.
"Go away…I hate you a' so much!"
This coming from a little boy was not acceptable, but Belgium was not going to scold him. She opened the door and walked in. Turning his attention to the intrusion, he was about to say something, but his attitude changed when he saw her. He quickly jumped off the bed from where he was sulking and ran into her arms.
"Malicia…Malicia I am so happy to see you!" He hugged her so tightly, she had to return the favor, and picked him up into her arms.
"Oh Lovino…lovely little boy…I just want to hug you to death!" The female nation held the boy tightly, and then set him down. Giving him a firm stare, she spoke. "Now your big brother has requested you to come down and start your Spanish lesson. I am not going to have any trouble am I?" Giving him a smile, the boy recoiled and started to get upset.
"No! No, I don't want to learn the Spanish. I want to stay here with you, and I want you to read me a story…a story about my Grandfather!" The boy buried his head into her stomach and she just looked down. She had no idea what he was feeling.
After a delicious meal, Grandfather Rome began to feel slightly faint, and walked towards his quarters. Before he went though, he knelt down to his beloved grandson.
"Feliciano, go paint something nice for me…I am going to lay down for a little while. Okay?" The gentle and handsome man smiled, and patted the child on the head. Italy smiled and nodded to his beloved Grandfather. He quickly ran outside to where his paints and paper were. The Roman Empire was crumbling…and it was happening whether the child knew it or not.
Germania had somehow arrived and was ready to end it all the handsome Sandrino. He watched as the little Italy left, and the larger nation lay on his bed. This would be his moment.
Austria also happened to be close at bay. He had known that Ancient Rome was indeed not feeling well, and he would be there to sweep in and apprehend Italy for his own. Within moments, as Rome lay, Germania walked into the room bearing a mighty blade. He approached the bed where his former friend was. Rome looked up with nothing in his eyes.
"Willahelm…perche sei venuto?" The man said with little energy. He coughed and not having a chance to even react, he was stabbed to death. Germania held the blade firmly and made sure the man breathed no more. With this done, he calmly walked out of the home. It wasn't long until he would be dead too, but this was something he had wanted. Austria who had witnessed smiled to himself. Gazing through a window, he then looked over to where the boy might arrive.
Feliciano skipped outside and it was an eerie silence. The birds had stopped chirping, and he seemed to just scoff it off, because nothing normally upset the boy. He grabbed his paints, and brushes and was about to go back inside when a shadow formed where he was standing. He looked up to see the eyes of Roderich looking down on him. Frightened and dropping all he hold in his hands, he went to escape, but was snatched up. The boy could do nothing but cry and kick to try to flee. Austria held him tightly and responded.
"Escape is futile my little nation…the Roman Empire had fallen…and you belong to me!" These words leaving the larger nation's lips made the boy go limp, like putty in his hands. Italy burst into tears, and would not believe the information that was given to him.
"No! No, Grandfather! He can't be gone…he was going to lie down for a nap, and…and he asked me to paint for him!"
Austria took the child and brought him to the home of Holy Roman Empire. Once there, the child was set on the ground, where he sobbed rather loudly. Roderich did not know what to do, so he left the child nation there on the floor.
"Your Grandfather? Oh Romano…" She had no idea what to say about him. Quickly changing the subject, she grabbed the boy's hand, and looked down upon him. "Come on…I will see if your big brother will hold off your Spanish lesson, and you and I can go and pick tomatoes okay?"
This seemed to get the child right out of his funk. He immediately perked up and the two walked out into the dinning area. Spain was still sitting at the table, legs up, drinking his beer. He watched the two walk in and gave a semi glare to the child. Belgium held his hand tightly, and continued walking. Spain stopped both of them.
"Perdon? I believe I asked you to bring the child down for his studies…wherever are the two of you going?"
"I am taking him out to pick some tomatoes. After that, we will have him study." Malicia seemed very sure of herself. She then walked outside with the child. Spain on the other hand sat upright at the table and was about to object when he glanced at the paper, and noticed some horrifying news.
"Breaking news of the Roman Empire crumbles. There is no evidence whether or not anything has been saved, or whether there will be new power to the Empire. Italy has now been overtaken with Austria. More news on this world wide phenomenon in later days…"
Spain smashed a fist down on the table. He had not been close to his Grandfather, but still…he was upset that Romano was not going to be able to see him ever again. He looked outside towards the window and saw the happy little child picking tomatoes, and Belgium helping. He smirked, but could not help but feel slightly upset. He got up and walked towards the outside. Lovino ran towards his brother with many tomatoes in his hands. Malicia held a basket, and walked to him as well.
"Big brother…look what I picked…can we eat them?" He looked into the older nation's eyes, and was very concerned about the future of these delicious red treasures.
"Ah…we need to get your Spanish lesson…then we will make something with the tomatoes." He smiled down, but apparently this was the wrong thing to say to the boy. Romano held his composure and smiled back.
'Big brother, can you come here please to me?" The little boy made a come hither to his brother. Spain walked over reluctantly and leaned down. Before he knew it, a juicy fat tomato was smashed in the nation's face, and a giggling little boy ran away. "Big brother is so stupid…stupid bastard!" The child pranced around laughing hysterically.
Belgium was shocked and appalled by the way little Romano had treated his brother, and was even more shocked on how Spain just stood doing nothing. She motioned for him to try and say something. Antonio had always kept a cool demeanor about himself, but this time, something needed to be done. He rubbed his arm across his face and the tomato juice was wiped away. Slightly more agitated he excused himself and walked inside to the mansion to retrieve something of importance.
Feliciano was still crying as he lay on the floor. He suddenly felt a warm and kind presence by him. The little boy looked up and saw a female nation. Her name was Hungary…and she stayed with Austria as an aid, and anything else that he needed.
"Little Italy…come here little one…we'll change your clothes. Its been a long day. Come on darling." She held out her hand, and the frightened boy embraced it, and walked with her to a large bedroom. This was where he was going to be staying. He smiled…feeling slightly better.
"Thank you for being so kind…I'm…I'm Feliciano…and I miss Grandfather." He started to get teary eyes again, but they were dried as Hungary pulled him over to her, and held a tissue to his face.
"Come, put this on…it will make you very handsome." She put on a small little frock and apron. The little boy, who was delighted as could be danced around in his new clothes. Seeing this, she was very happy, and started laughing. They had caused quite bit of noise, as all of a sudden Austria walked to the room, and stood in the doorway with a stern look upon his face. Not addressing the child, he turned to Hungary.
"Elizabeta…has the child settled?" Looking sullen and very straight faced, Hungary smiled at him. She knew about his hard exterior, and still liked him very much. Austria blushed only slightly.
"Yes Roderich…Italy is dressed, and perhaps we will both get on to some dusting. Tell me…where is Holy Roman Empire?"
"He is busy in his quarters. Anyway…yes why don't you introduce the child to a cloth…I will be in the parlor…playing a new piece. Dinner will be at seven." He nodded to the two, and walked out of the room. Hungary gazed at him with doe eyes, and then looked down at the boy.
"He plays the piano little one…and is very good at it. Perhaps once we are done, he will play for us, but only after we are done. Come along."
The two walked down to the library. The large room combined many books, works of art, and fine artifacts. Italy looked around in awe. Hungary smiled, pat his head, and then got to work. The boy followed through, and copied everything she was doing.
The room did not take long to sparkle. Once they were done, beautiful music was coming out of the room in which Roderich was sitting in. he was playing a piece by Haydn, Adagio in G major. The piece was played to perfection. Italy held hands with Hungary and when the two walked in, it was a delightful classical ambience in the air. The little nation felt like dancing, but stayed back in the doorway. Elizabeta walked in, and waved on the child, but he stayed back. She sat down next to Roderich as he sat with eyes closed. Laying a head on his shoulders, she took in the full tune. He then suddenly stopped, and his eyes rest upon the little Vargas.
"Come little one, do not be afraid…come over here and listen to the music." He continued playing, and this gave Italy piece and acceptance. He toddled over, and stood at the side of Hungary. Smiling, he was feeling much better.