STOP. DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER BEFORE READING THIS PLEASE: If you have not read Midnight Dancers AND Midnight's Hymn before this (and not particularly in that order), it is STRONGLY recommended that you do otherwise you will NOT have the slightest idea what is going on. Please be sure to read both stories if you are interested in this one.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Any-who, to those who HAVE read both stories, please continue. I hope you enjoy this one! This is a spin-off story of Midnight Dancers that happens between MD and Midnight's Kiss. I happened to come up with this one day while sitting at home writing another story (which will be written by both turtle001 and I) so I just HAD to release this. I will be releasing the collaborative story soon, by the way. I just gotta work out some kinks and make sure it's nothing short of perfect.

Please let me know if I should continue this story! It would mean a great deal to me!

Updates will be slow because of school and whatnot.

Happy reading~

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.

WARNINGS: Language

Chapter One

Antonio slid inside the bedroom, padding across the room softly, eyeing the sleeping figure with careful emerald eyes that sparkled in the winter morning sun bursting through the window. He crept up to the bed, crouching down, and ready to pounce.

"The mighty hunter has cornered his prey…" he whispered with a smirk.

Springing into action—like a lion tackling a gazelle—he jumped into the air, landing on the slumbering Italian. The man in bed let out a small "oof!" in surprise and groaned at the sudden awakening.

"Good morning, Papa!" Antonio grinned brightly, sitting atop his father's stirring form.

Lovino couldn't help that small smile playing at his lips, chuckling at his son. "Good morning, Toni."

"What're we gonna do today, Papa? Are we gonna go to the park? Are we gonna go see Uncle Feli and Uncle Ludwig and Sienna?" Antonio rambled on and on, speaking at a thousand miles an hour.

"Whoa, slow down there, whirlwind. It's still early. Let's get something to eat before we plan out our day. Remember Alfred and Arthur? They're in town for Sienna's birthday this week so we might see them. Go get dressed and I'll start making breakfast," Lovino mussed Antonio's head of thick curls.

"I'll be back before you can even blink!" the boy scrambled out of bed and hurried out of the room to his own, bouncing on the balls of his feet with excitement.

Lovino sighed in amusement and rolled out of bed, heading downstairs to the kitchen after dressing himself for the day. Antonio soon returned to the room his father once occupied, blinking in confusion upon seeing it was vacant.

"Papa?" he looked around. "Oh! He must be downstairs!"

The boy turned heel but halted mid-step when a small trill from behind him resounded, causing him to face the room again. His eyes immediately darted to Lovino's cellphone resting on the nightstand which continued to shrill. Antonio grabbed it, staring at the unfamiliar number.

Should he answer it?

Maybe this one time wouldn't hurt…

"Hello?" he put it to his ear.

"H-Hello?" the person on the other end was clearly startled by hearing such a young voice. "Um, who am I speaking to?"

"My name is Antonio. Who are you, Miss?" the four-year-old answered innocently.

"Oh Antonio!" the woman laughed lightly. "This is your dad's boss. It's been quite a while since I last saw you! How old are you now? Five? Six?

"Nope! I'm four and a half! My birthday is February 12th!" the boy beamed, proud at himself for remembering such an important fact of his life.

"Well happy birthday to you! You're getting to be a big boy, aren't you?"

"Yup! Papa says I've grown taller!"

"That's just fantastic! Pretty soon, you'll be really tall! So Antonio, speaking of your father, is he around? It is very important that I talk to him."

"He's in the kitchen making breakfast. We're going to do all kinds of fun stuff today like go to the park and eat ice cream!" Antonio explained, toddling down the stairs.

"That sounds just splendid," the woman smiled from the other end of the line. "Do you mind if I talk to him for a little while?"

"Sure!" Antonio nodded.

"Toni, who are you talking to?" Lovino called from the kitchen.

"It's your boss, Papa! She says it's very important that she talks to you. What're you gonna talk about?" Antonio handed the phone over to his father.

"Uh, boring grown-up stuff. Listen, why don't you go watch TV until I get off the phone? This'll only take a second," Lovino said.

"Okay!" the boy ran off to the other room and Lovino waited to hear the sounds of cartoons before returning to the conversation. "Sorry about that. He's really excited about today."

"He's such a sweetheart, Lovino. If only my kids acted like that," the woman chuckled.

"He has his moments," Lovino continued bustling about the kitchen. "So you said it's important that you talk to me? What's going on?"

"Well, there's a gentleman here that would like to speak to you about your upcoming novel that's ready to be released. He absolutely loved the previous one and would like to meet you personally—maybe even get your book sold on a wider scale. This could take a few hours at the least."

"But I thought you said nothing was going on today. Antonio and I made plans already," Lovino didn't like where this was going in the slightest.

"Plans go astray sometimes, Lovino. It's just the way the world works. Listen: if you do this, you'll be able to further provide for yourselves—more so, your son. This'll only benefit you both. The cost of one measly day cannot possibly compare to what'll be in store for you in the future. Sacrifices must be made."

"One day if you don't count the other hundreds of other days I've had to miss because something came up. I can't keep doing this to him. I can't keep letting him down," Lovino made sure to speak in hushed tones so as not to alarm his son in the next room.

"Let me put it to you this way: if you don't come, your novel won't be put in stores which mean a cut in your salary. I don't want to do that but this just the publicity our company needs. I'll expect you here within the hour, Lovino. Don't let me down."

Click.

Lovino hung up and set the phone on the counter, attempting to quell the temper he had learned to control over the years. That manipulative, selfish, pompous wench! Lovino had half a mind not to show up and spend the day with Antonio (as promised) but the other half was telling him to go and get it over with. If it benefitted Antonio then that was all the reason he should need, right?

Nonetheless, he didn't want to be the absent father or in this case, the absent parent.

Sighing at his made decision, Lovino dialed a different number this time, waiting impatiently for the other person to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Arthur? Sorry to call on such short notice."

"It's fine. Is something the matter? You don't sound well."

"You're right, I'm not. Listen, I have some exigent business to take care of back at the office and I'll be gone most of the day. Do you think you or Alfred could do me a huge favor and watch Antonio for a while? Feliciano and Ludwig are busy so I can't ask them. I understand if you can't. This isn't exactly what you'd look forward to when on vacation."

"It's no trouble at all. I'm sure Alfred would be delighted to. He's been asking about the little guy and Sienna since we got here. He'll be over shortly."

"Thanks."

The conversation ended on that note and Lovino finished making breakfast for the two of them while trying to corral his words. How was he going to explain this to Antonio? He hated seeing the bright fire in the boy's eyes diminish to a dull flame whenever he was told the Italian had to go in to work. He hated seeing that smile fade into a frown or his tiny shoulders slump.

He hated that woman. He swore she did this on purpose.

"Antonio, breakfast is ready," Lovino called, setting the two plates on the table.

The boy soon made an appearance, sliding easily into the chair and sitting on his knees so he would be the appropriate height to eat. Antonio began scarfing down his food and Lovino had to tell him more than once to slow down and that he'll get a stomachache if he ate too fast.

"How come you're not eating, Papa?" Antonio swallowed his mouthful of breakfast, glancing between his father and the nearly untouched plate.

"Oh," Lovino said, seeming to have forgotten it was even there. "I'm just not that hungry anymore."

"But you need to eat so you can get big and strong!" Antonio gave the reason Lovino told him because the boy refused to eat his vegetables at times.

"Sorry, son, but I'm already big and strong," Lovino chuckled, placing his hand atop Antonio's head, earning a pout from the boy. "It won't make too much of a difference."

"Okay…"

"But once you're done eating, I'll need to talk to you, all right? It's important," Lovino removed himself and his plate from the table.

Antonio watched his father disappear into the kitchen and then up the stairs, not at all liking the weight that was settling on his heart. He never was fond of these "talks" he and his daddy had from time to time. It meant something happened or was going to happen. Antonio pushed his plate away. He wasn't very hungry anymore…

A knock at the door caught his attention and his father hurried to answer it, oddly already having his shoes on and jacket on. He didn't like where this was headed at all.

"Glad you could make it on such short notice," his father stepped aside to let the visitor in.

"It was no problem at all, dude—I uh, mean, Mr. Vargas," the boisterous teenager let out a nervous laugh after that, just hearing his father's voice reprimanding him for being so "improper."

"Just call me Lovino," the Italian shut the door before the winter blew itself inside the house.

"All right, sure," Alfred nodded. "So where is the little tyke?"

"Alfred!" Antonio ran up and hugged the teen's leg.

"Hey there!" Alfred picked up the boy and spun him around, Antonio giggling madly. "Man, you've gotten so big since the last time I saw you!"

"Papa says I've grown a few inches! I'll be taller than you someday, Alfie!" Antonio grinned once he was set to his feet again.

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, short-stack," Alfred laughed.

"You still talk funny, Alfie," the boy beamed.

Alfred stuck his tongue out playfully at Antonio and the act was returned by the Spanish four-year-old. Lovino then took this time to kneel down in front of his son to be at eye level with him.

"Antonio?"

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Remember the lady you were talking to on the phone earlier? Well she says I have to go to work now for a few hours."

"But… you said…" Antonio started, feeling his eyes beginning to water. "Y-You said we'd spend the day together… just the t-two of us…"

"I know, Toni, and I'm sorry. You know I don't want to leave any more than you want me to," Lovino placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'll be back before you know it. Alfred here is going to take care of you until I come home."

Antonio shook his head, "No… no, I want you to stay here, too!"

"Toni, I can't stay. I would if I could… I just can't," Lovino tried reasoning with his son.

Warm, thick tears raged down Antonio's cheeks and he said the first words that came to his broken heart.

"I hate you! I wish you were never my daddy!"

Antonio raced upstairs and to his bedroom, slamming the door and leaving Alfred and Lovino in perpetual silence. The Italian struggled to stop the pained expression from crossing his features and took a deep breath to bring himself together. Could he not do one thing right by his son? Why did he have to keep messing everything up? It was just mistake after mistake with him! First Marcello and now this. He knew he wasn't cut out for this parent business.

Alfred, being the oblivious person he was, simply watched the staircase as if he expected Antonio to come rushing back down again.

"I should be back before the day is over. I don't imagine the meeting being that long but my boss is a complete bitch. Call me if you have any problems," Lovino didn't even wait for the teenager's response before leaving the house.

The December air nipped at him, brushing his cheeks crimson and icing his battered heart. The breeze made his eyes damp eyes sting with remorse, not able to push out what Antonio had said to him. His son hated him. He had told Feli the day he had found the infant in the tomato garden that this would happen!

He knew he would be right at some point.

He just didn't want it to be this soon.

He should've never told Antonio to leave that dreadful night. None of this would be happening if he had. Antonio deserved so much better than this. Lovino sniffled once, quietly, and left his house entirely, missing the sullen emeralds staring at him from the frosty window.

Antonio watched his father leave, secretly hoping that the man would change his mind and turn around to apologize for once again disappointing him. But that didn't happen. His daddy left anyway! Didn't he care that their entire day was ruined? Didn't he care that he broke his fragile heart?

"He left me…" Antonio mumbled. "He doesn't care…"

The boy buried his face in his tomato pillow, staining it with his tears. He didn't even notice when Alfred had come in and sat down beside him some time later. It could've been an hour or more for all he cared.

"Hey champ. Are you hungry yet? It's almost lunch time," the American teen offered in a calm voice.

So he had been up here for a while.

"No. I'm not hungry," Antonio curled further into himself. "I don't want to do anything today…"

"Hmm, well, if you don't wanna go outside then maybe we can do something fun inside. Let's see… oh!" Alfred snapped his fingers upon remembering. "I've got this really cool book I borrowed from my dad! You wanna see it?"

Antonio sat up, his interest minutely piqued.

"Sit tight. I'll be right back," Alfred hurried down the stairs again, returning in record time with a heavy-looking, dusty, old book.

The boy scooted himself to the edge of the bed beside Alfred, gazing on with curious eyes. Alfred plopped the book in his lap, commenting on how light it was. Antonio begged to differ. It looked like it weighed a ton! What else caught Antonio's eye was that it had intricate circular symbols designed in the leather cover. They could've been letters for all he knew.

"This is my dad's. He's always been interested in magic and fairytales like that so I went down in the basement and borrowed this from him to see if it's all true. Wanna look?" Alfred explained.

"S-Sure…" Antonio nodded hesitantly, catching a peculiar vibe from the book.

Alfred was about to open it but sighed in frustration upon seeing the lock holding the object shut from prying eyes such as the teenager's.

"I need to find a paperclip or something. I'll be back in a jiffy!" Alfred bolted out of the room again.

While waiting, Antonio lifted the book into his lap and ran his tiny hands across the cover, tracing over each of the circles with a finger. There was a quiet click and the book suddenly burst open, flying through the hundreds of pages before halting on a particular one.

"Heart's Desire Spell," Antonio read aloud. "Make your dreams come true."

The boy couldn't help but grin. This is just what he needed! Once he did this, everything would be back to normal again! All of the magic and wizards he saw on TV were real! It was almost too good to be true!

"Think of your wish and say this three times," Antonio scanned over the text and followed the instructions given. Time to test how good of a reader he really was. "This simple wish is mine to cast; a magic spell to make it last; I close my eyes a little shiver; this wish for me, now please deliver."

Antonio looked around, searching for any obvious changes.

"Found one!" Alfred grinned but it drooped when he saw the book open in Antonio's lap. "You opened it already? You're good, kid. Is there any cool stuff in here?"

"No. Just fairytales," Antonio hoisted the book off to the side and laid down, his back to Alfred again.

The teenager didn't think it would be the best idea to ask why Antonio was behaving in such a way and merely gathered the book again, heading for the door.

"I'll be downstairs if you need anything," Alfred said, exiting the room moments after.

I just want everything to be back to normal, Antonio thought, glowering at the wall with his fiery eyes. I wish everything to be the way it was.

The boy's eyes soon slipped closed, overcome by sudden exhaustion.

"How'd he do?" Lovino asked upon entering his home near five in the afternoon, looking absolutely worn out and having been through hell. In a sense, that is what he endured.

"He stayed up in his room most of the day. He came down to eat a little bit of the sandwich I made him and went right back upstairs. He slept a lot. I think he's still sleeping."

"All right. Thanks again, Alfred. How much do I owe you?"

"Don't even worry about it," Alfred grinned. "I didn't mind babysitting."

Lovino nodded slowly, removing his coat and shoes caked in snow.

"Are you okay? You look—"

"Like shit?" Lovino's tone was curt.

"Uh, yeah. Like that," Alfred laughed nervously. "I guess I'll be going. I'll see you at Sienna's party!"

The Italian nodded once, "Don't do anything stupid on your way back. The roads are getting bad. You want me to drive you there?"

"Nah. I'll be fine. You get some rest. You look like you need it, dude. Good night!" Alfred shut the door and the sound of his car pulling out of the driveway and heading down the street soon faded.

Lovino trudged upstairs, stopping outside Antonio's room, contemplating whether or not he should go in. He sighed, opening the bedroom door quietly so as not to disturb his son. The Italian covered Antonio with another blanket, noting how much the boy was shivering.

He leaned over and kissed Antonio's head softly, vanishing from the room like a phantom. Lovino threw himself on his own bed, not understanding where this lethargy erupted from. It didn't make any sense… why was he so tired?

Forest green eyes fluttered shut.

Maybe he would have a clear mind after a night's rest.

The sun peeking through the curtains is what woke him and not the rambunctious boy he was used to seeing every morning. Lovino immediately sat up once realizing this small abnormality. Glancing at the clock, Lovino rubbed his temples.

10:30.

They had overslept.

Where was Antonio? He was usually up and running around by this time, dragging Lovino all around town—oh. They had an argument last night. That's probably why his son had yet to make an appearance.

"He can't hide out all day," Lovino climbed out of bed and stretched, rubbing the last remnants of sleep from his olive eyes. He travelled down the hall, stopping once more outside Antonio's room and knocked. "Toni, it's time to get up."

Silence.

"Antonio," the Italian knocked once again. "Are you up yet?"

The young father was about to enter the room when the sound of singing met his ears. And it was a song he knew all too well being sung by a rich voice he heard so many times.

"Ven amor

Me siento débil cuando estoy sin ti

Y me hago fuerte cuando estas aquí

Sin ti yo ya no sé que es vivir

Mi vida es un túnel sin tu luz

Quiero pasar más tiempo junto a ti

Recuperar las noches que perdí

Vencer el miedo inmenso de morir

Y ser eterno junto a ti."

Lovino carefully rounded the corner to the kitchen and his breath caught in his throat at the sight before him. A young man with perfectly tanned skin, chestnut curls of hair and the brightest, most gorgeous emerald eyes Lovino had ever seen in his life was roaming about the kitchen preparing breakfast.

It took a moment for the man to notice Lovino's presence but when he did, his face was lit up with a painfully familiar grin.

"Good morning, querido!"

Antonio.

Antonio Carriedo was back.

And Antonio Vargas was nowhere to be found.