Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

A trade agreement brings the Holy Roman Empire back.

Eventually HRE and Italy, with hinted Germany x Italy. Other minor pairings.

So this is a kink meme fill that I got really lazy about. (don't look at me like that...) Anyway, de-anon with apologies to the OP and readers for taking so damn long. It's still not done yet.


Prologue

It seemed like a simple enough document. Agree that there was a recognized neutral zone on the Rhine so that trade between France and Germany would be smoother. France often referred to the proclamation as 'the gentle easing into a lover.' Germany called it the Recognition of an Autonomous Zone for Neutral Trade. He had more to lose than France with the deal, as it included a small town, on his side of the river, which had stood there even before he had become a nation. It even had its own castle. But on the whole the deal was to his liking, concrete and meticulously explained.

He had only to sign his name and finalize the deal, but a feeling struck him. It was lighter than dread but still heavier than an inkling of paranoia. He felt a chill run down his spine.

But the feeling left as soon as it came.

He signed with a flourish.

"So glad we could come together like this," France commented slyly, signing his own name.

"You never change, do you?"

The people of the little autonomous region were less than pleased, however. Their way of life had been changed abruptly and they were left scrambling to enact governance over their little area. Truth be told the town was a small one with a tiny town's square. There were but two things the town had to boast about- an old castle and a decent port, which had made it Germany's choice in the first place.

However, the people of this town had no idea how to go on without a governing body. True, they would no longer have to pay taxes, but they would no longer receive government services either. This caused much outrage. They had been urged to work with government officials to make their town into a joint territory of France and Germany. French and German officials delegated for days on the matter. However, with so much debate between the two parties, the inhabitants of the town finally said, 'To Hell with it all' and established their own government. France and Germany were powerless to do anything about it. They had declared it an autonomous zone after all. And since the town depended on trade to survive, there was really no reason to see it as a threat.

"So it all worked out for the best," France smirked, seated behind a cup of coffee in the town's only restaurant.

"Finally." Germany sighed and took a long gulp of his own coffee. The disquiet of the town's people had been an unexpected drawback of the plan, though he could have hit himself for not expecting it.

"Indeed. It did take too long." France pouted, but soon his expression lit up to hold all the zeal of someone overly satisfied. "But now we have a lovely little place that is a product of the both of us. It is like our darling child, wouldn't you agree?"

"Not exactly ours," Germany muttered, as bitterly as the coffee.

"Ours enough." France held up his mug and Germany, surprising himself, gave France a toast. Although it was morning, Germany wondered why he had not ordered some kind of alcoholic beverage instead.

He could not have seen the child who had appeared at a window of the castle. A child whose eyes were filled with resentment, wonder and most of all, longing.


A/N: I posted it here because the formatting is way easier on me. If you have any questions ask.