On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Italy fidgeted nervously, tugging on the lacy part of his apron that Mr Austria insisted he wear. Holy Rome had been acted strangely… well more strangely than he normally did and Italy was worried. He had tried to make Holy Rome feel better by making him pasta and checking his forehead like Miss Hungary did when he got sick. Only that confused Italy even more because Holy Rome would go bright red and run off, leaving Italy behind… all alone…
The cross-dressing boy sat down and curled himself into a ball as tears streamed down his face at the thought of his one true love leaving him all alone.
"Italy!"
The Italian raised their head and glanced around to where the smiling blonde boy, but as Holy Rome rested his blue eyes on Italy's face his smile dropped.
"W-why are you crying? I don't want you to cry! D-did I do something wrong?" Holy Rome panicked, immediately running up to Italy and cupping his face in between two paint spattered hands.
"I-I don't want you to leave me!" Italy wailed clutching to Holy Rome feeling the other boy stiffen, then relax under his hug. Holy Rome awkwardly hugged him back murmuring comforting words into his ear.
"I have something for you," Holy Rome told Italy as they broke apart and the Empire began to lead the nation back down the same path that he had just walked up.
"I have to leave Italy. How else will I become stronger so I can protect you? So I have something to always remind you of me!"
Italy opened his eyes and gazed upon the tiny sapling in the dark pot as a miniature bird cheeped and fluttered around his head.
"Veeeee~ Thank you Holy Rome!"
He glomped the other and rubbed his cheek against his, gently placing a childlike kiss on it.
"I will never truly leave you, Italy."
000ooo000
"Italy! Italy? Vhat are you doing?"
Italy jerked backwards and snapped his head round to gaze upon Germany's worried face as he slipped out of his memories of Holy Rome.
"Veeeeee~ I was just thinking. Shall I make pasta?"
"In a moment Italy. I have somezing I vant to show you."
Italy smiled up at his friend as he ran after the taller man hugging him from behind when he finally managed to catch up to Germany.
"Merry Christmas Italy," Germany mumbled awkwardly, pulling Italy gently from behind him in order to face his present.
Italy's eyes widened as a fully grown pear tree towered over him and a partridge landed gently on his head, pecking at his head.
"Waaaaaaa! Germany! Please don't leave me!" Italy wailed throwing his arms around Germany, startling the partridge back to the sanctuary of the pear tree.
"I will never truly leave you, Italy."
…A partridge in a pear tree.