Buon Giorno! That's hello! This is going to be a oneshot, a little break from 365 Days

Don't worry, it's still involved with hetalia. It's hetaoni, actually! Which brings me to the disclaimer!

I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING FROM HETALIA, HETAONI, OR ANYTHING ELSE. JUST LE PLOT IS MINE.

Now, let's start.

(Oh yeah! I suggest you listen to "Vanity" or "All Hope Is Lost" while reading this. both are Hetaoni OSTs..I actually got the idea from one of the songs.

A/N: I just realized "Call" is also a good song, too, but mostly for the ending.)

Italy could never forget the time spent in the mansion. He could never let the horrors of what happened within its walls slip from his memory. No matter how much he tried, he simply couldn't.

It haunted him, those memories. They would sneak up on him when he least expected it. Quick flashes of unspeakable horrors would attack him, causing him to fear even after they had all gotten out. Those horrific memories would creep on him when he would sleep, manifesting themselves into painful nightmares, often of which he could not escape from. They would wake him up in the middle of the night, and cause him to doubt his safety. Tonight was of no exception.

A loud, frightened gasp pierced the silence. Amber eyes, bulging out their sockets in utter fear, searched the room frantically, ferally. Trying to quell his rapidly thumping heart, the brunette reached over to switch on the lamp, which sat on his desk. For a split second, as light flooded into the room, Feliciano's body froze up, his hand clenching the blanket in petrified fear.

To the average person, if they had walked in, they would simply see a bedroom, with nothing of out the ordinary.

For Italy, he saw a room full of the crimson blood of his friends, and heard the bone-chilling sound of the monster's footsteps, as it grew louder by the moment. But none was worse than the memory. This time, it was from the first time loop, where Germany, his best friend, and his brother, Prussia. Italy wished he could run away, but his body simply sat there, petrified in unimaginable fear. Feliciano could only watch, watch as the heartbreaking recollection replayed before him.

To say the scene was heart-wrenching would be an understatement.

Italy had found the two brothers slumped against the wall. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he stared at the two in both shock and disbelief. Why? Why didn't they just do what they said they would?

"We got back with the key," Prussia's voice cracked as he spoke. Even as his blood pooled around his body, he managed to crack a faint smile. He wasn't going to die without one.

Veneziano, on the other hand, couldn't help but sob. Seeing the two like this ripped his already weeping heart to shreds. He felt it was his fault. He should have protected them. He should have stopped them. There were so many "should have"s. He had made another mistake. But instead of him, everyone else had to pay for it. With their lives.

"Hey, don't cry Feli," Germany coughed out,flecks of vermilion spraying out his mouth. "We risked our lives and went through so much trouble to get that back."

"Why did you lie to me?" He wailed, his legs shaking as he collapsed to his knees. "You only said you were going to look around! Why? ..Why?" His voice grew thicker with sobs each time, cracking at the end as he sniffled.

"Ah..Yes..Well, it's mostly the same reason you didn't tell us that everyone else was dead." The blond's eyes glimmered with pain and sadness, as well as unshed tears. Ah, but Germany never cried. He never would, not even now.

"You...knew?" His breath caught in his throat as he stared at the two. Mixed emotions punched him in the face, with staggering strength. Guilt. Sadness. Frustration. But the last one was certainly the worst; heartbreak.

"Kesese," Prussia spoke up again. "Well now, bruder...Why don't we take a little rest...I'm really..tired." The albino's voice began to grow softer, his eyelids beginning to hood over his ruby eyes.

"You're right...You go on ahead, I'll catch up later," the blond replied, a thin line of blood dripping from his lips. Italy's hands clenched in desperation. They can't leave! Not yet! I'll be alone..All alone.

"Why?! No! No, I can't do this anymore! I'm staying with you!" The brunette shouted, the cascade of tears falling faster.

"Feli.." He murmured softly, his breathing beginning to grow more and more labored. "Anyone..who disobeys..will run ten..laps."

"Hey..if you don't...hurry up..he'll keep..adding..more..." Prussia whispered. His smile gave a slight twitch, before going still once more.

"Fine! I'll run! I'll run ten laps! But..then I'll run away..and you'll have to..catch me." The Italian cried out, squeezing his eyes shut. He knew this was real, that they weren't going to come back, but he had a naive hope that they would. That they would, somehow, pull through.

"Gil- ?" He couldn't even finish his sentence, as one last, soft exhale came from the albino. Then..Nothing. No heartbeat, no breathing, no anything. He was eternally still. Ludwig was not long after, following his older brother as he, too, was lost.

"L-Ludwig?" Feliciano stammered, his bloodshot eyes wide with shock, before his body trembled in realization. "Ludwig!" He threw himself into his chest, sobbing harder than he ever thought possible. He whimpered and lamented, even after he earned a headache so bad he thought his skull would split.

Ludwig and Gilbert was lost. Gone. Forever.

When it was all over, a strangled cry tore its way out of his throat. Throwing the sheets back, he shakily rose to his feet, making his way to the bathroom across the hall. As he shut the door behind him, Feliciano leaned heavily on the counter. Looking down, he gazed at his small, dainty hands. Sinking to the floor, he covered his face with his petite palms, taking deep breaths. It didn't help this time.

That's when the tears began.

It started as one drop, sliding down his skin like mildew does a leaf. Then another, and another, until a cascade of water began to drip down his face. How pitiful, He thought, trying to wipe the tears away, only for more to arise. Everyone else had moved on. Why can't I? Why can't I let it go?

It was true. A couple months after escaping the haunted mansion, everyone was slowly turning back to their old selves. Kiku was "sensing the mood" once more, though he seemed alert much more often. Alfred was still obnoxious, but was overprotective now. Arthur still made bad food,or rather, tried, even though he no longer had eyesight. Even Ludwig was back to his usual strict self, though he seemed stiffer. Everyone was on the road to become happy once again.

Except Feliciano.

He had changed, shattered even. Nobody knew the full damage the mansion had done on him, because he hid it well enough. But soon, he couldn't hide it anymore. It started with the lack of sleep, due to nightmares. Whenever he came in with bloodshot eyes, he'd make up an excuse, like he stayed up too late making pasta. He would flash his trademarked smile, and they would all assume he was okay. As days turned into weeks, and weeks to months, the excuses had begun to wear, even he tried making better ones. People were beginning to realize; Something was wrong with little Feli, a lot more than what he was letting on.

Germany was the first to notice the slow, albeit startling change. Four months after they escaped, Feliciano began to drift away from him. Instead of always sleeping in the same bed with him, Feliciano would rest in the smaller guest room, alone. At first, he thought he simply needed time, so he left him be. He didn't know how much of a mistake it was.

Spain was next. At world meetings, Feliciano didn't smile as brightly as he used to. His usually innocent, sparkling eyes were dulled and vacant, as if there was no emotion running through them at all. He didn't shout out "Pasta!" anymore either, but instead, he'd stare out the window. On rare occasions, he could have sworn he saw a lone tear slide down the Italian's cheek.

Romano was the last to find out. The only way he discovered it was when he had stumbled upon him one night. He had been staying over for a weekend. Hearing a noise, Lovino went to try and find out what it was. When investigated, it turned out to be Feliciano, curled up in the corner of the bathroom. Lovino had never seen his younger brother so distraught in his life.

While Veneziano sniveled, the wooden door began to open. A soft creak sounded, before someone spoke.

"Hello?" A deep, gruff voice sounded.

The Italian's head shut up at the sound. In that moment, tear filled amber met shocked sky blue. Before he could speak, a pair of large arms enveloped his diminutive form. Shocked, Italy froze for a few moments, before he reluctantly began to lean into the embrace, a single word coming from his lips.

"Luddy...?" He choked out, using Germany's personal nickname. Italy's voice sounded like a half sob, half gasp, as his slender arms wrapped tightly around the other's back, clenching fistfuls of fabric tightly in his grasp. He held on for dear life, fearful that if he let go, then Germany might leave him, and the nightmarish memory would come true once more. He didn't want that to happen. He was sure his heart wouldn't be able to take another blow like that. Such a thing would be the end of him.

The sight broke the German's consolidated heart to pieces. How much? He asked himself. How long? How much did he have to go through in that mansion? How many times did he see us..Germany didn't have the heart to finish the last question. Veneziano never told them all, in detail, of the many time loops he had to venture through to save them. He never explained to them how many times he watched everyone get murdered, right before his very eyes. He never spoke about it, and no one ever asked. They knew some things were better left unsaid.

"Shh...It's OK. It's OK, Feli." He cooed gently, tracing invisible, lazy circles on his small, heaving back.

"I..I watched you die," He whispered, slowly lifting his head to stare into cerulean orbs. "I saw you die..And Prussia, and Japan, and France, and..and-" He couldn't finish, as a gut-wrenching sob erupted from him, choking off his words. He buried his face in Deutschland's chest once more, his body trembling. Ludwig could only stare in utter, complete shock at what the smaller boy had said to him. How much had he been through? Lifting his head up from his chest, Germany held his chin, forcing the boy to look up at him.

"Feli.." He whispered faintly, staring deeply into his eyes. "It's OK. We're all OK. We're alive now, and that's all that matters."

"I'm scared, Ludwig.." Italy confessed, hiccuping as he focused on the latter. "I can still you guys screaming..I still see the blood, and your bodies..I never should have told you about the mansion," He sniffled, wiping away his tears furiously. He choked up for a few moments, but continued on with glassy eyes.

"You all kept dying. Every time. That monster would always pick you all off, one by one..I wanted to help, but you just kept protecting me...It cost you all your lives! After you and Prussia died..I was alone. I was all alone, Ludwig! I was scared. I didn't know what to do...Everyone..Everyone died, and matter how many times I rewinded time, I kept making mistakes! I was so usele-!"

Before he could finish the sentence, Germany cut him off with a sharp voice.

"Nien! Italien, you've made no mistakes! You did everything right! Please, stop blaming yourself over it! We're alive, aren't we?!" Ludwig shouted, his crystal eyes widened as the words left his lips. As he stared down at the younger, smaller male, the brunette slowly lifted his head, as large golden eyes aligned with his.

Veneziano let out a meek gasp as he saw Ludwig. Something was out of the ordinary. He never thought he'd see this before, and yet, here it was. He certainly wasn't prepared for them.

Tears. Ludwig was crying.

The German who never let his emotions run unchecked, was now crying.

Crying. For him.

They pooled up in the blond's eyes, threatening to spill out in a moments notice. Yet they didn't drip down his cheeks just yet, but instead stung at the German's eyes, pestering him to let them out. Opening his mouth, Ludwig found no words to speak, and closed it once more. When he tried again, he found his voice once more. "

"You..Dummkopf," His voice caught on itself as he shook his head. Crushing the smaller boy to his chest, he took a deep breath, as he battled hard to quell his own emotions and keep them in check once more. He nuzzled his nose in Italy's soft, warm, auburn colored hair, inhaling deeply. Pulling his head away slowly, he grabbed Feliciano's hand tightly.

"H-Hey! What are yo-" He couldn't finish as Germany placed his softer, dainter hand on his ebony shaded tank top, pressing against his chest, right above his heart. Placing his larger, rougher hand over Italy's, Germany spoke yet again.

"Nien..You feel it...don't you?" He asked, glaring at the ground. A light blush tinged his cheeks as he looked up at the boy in front of him. His eyes then bore into Feliciano's with such emotion that it took the Italian by surprise. "You feel my heart, right? It's beating, Feli. It's proof that I'm alive. It's proof that I'm not going to disappear. You didn't make any mistakes, OK? It's not your fault, none of it is. We chose to go into that mansion, on our own accord. Don't blame yourself for it. You don't have to be afraid anymore. I don't know what you had to see in that mansion, or how many times you had to watch me, or Gilbert, on anyone else die," He took a deep breath, before gripping the brunette's hand tightly.

"But it's over now. I'll make sure you never have to endure something like that again. I'll protect you, Italien. We all will. You don't have to carry this burden alone. We'll shoulder this weight with you. All of us,together."

"He's right," Another voice came from the door. Looking over, Italy's eyes widened yet again in surprise. Leaning on the doorframe, with his arms crossed, stood an albino, wearing his signature smirk. But he wasn't alone, oh no. On the opposite side was a brunette, with forest green eyes, and a stubborn curl, staring down at the two sitting on the floor. His eyes lacked the usual spite for Ludwig, but it was only because the situation was so serious. Behind him was Spain, and even Japan.

"I kinda called everyone over here, while you guys were having your moment," Prussia scratched his cheek, his smile twitching nervously. "Calling Spain lead to bringing your brother, which lead to Japan finding out, and now, most of the others are coming over too. You should have told us about it, Italy-chan. What my bruder said is right; We'll all protect you."

"We'll help you get through this," Japan spoke, giving a small smile at Italy.

"Yeah, that potato bastard was right. You should tell us when you're feeling like this, chigi," Romano chimed in, giving a small sigh at the end.

"Oi, hermano menor," Spain spoke. Making his way to the front of the door. "Everything else is in the past now. We're here, and that's all that matters. I think it's time you learned how to smile more naturally again." Italy could already feel tears welling up in his honey colored eyes once again, as his attention was then directed to Ludwig once more as he coughed.

"See, Feli?" He asked gently, slowly letting him go from the embrace. "We're all here for you. You don't need to be fight this all alone. We're all in this. Together." The smaller male nodded, before doing the unexpected. Wavering for a small moment, he hardened his resolve, and then flung himself towards Ludwig.

As he pressed his soft lips against Germany's he kissed him, right in front of everyone. The tears he held in for so long began to stream gently down the blonde's cheeks as Lovino's eyes widened to the point of saucers, before he turned away, grumbling out obscenities. Japan looked on in surprise, and, sensing the mood, looked elsewhere, to give the couple some privacy. Prussia and Spain cheered as they high-fived each other, as Italy wrapped his arms around Ludwig's neck. Germany didn't respond for a few moments, but when he did, he crushed the Italian to his chest, pressing his lips against his.

Pulling away, the tears that Feliciano held in began to break free, as a large, incandescent smile grew on his face. It wasn't a fake one anymore. For the first time since they had left the mansion, little Italy could finally smile.

And that night was the first one of many where he could finally sleep peacefully. For if his friends were with him, he wouldn't have to fear that they might disappear one day. They were right there, beside him.

And there was no place he'd rather be.

Translations!

Dummkopf = "Idiot"

Hermano menor= "Little brother"

Well, I hoped you enjoyed this little Hetaoni Fanfic! There's probably a ton of inaccuracies, but...I tried! I kinda thought about this as I was listening to one of the many Hetaoni OSTs, and thought, "Well hey, there's not that many fanfics on how the countries cope after the whole 'death mansion' thing, and I doubt there's any for Italy's point of view. So why not write one?" Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it.

Please Review, favorite, and or follow! Ja ne! (Japanese for "Goodbye")