Hello my loves~ I realized, while I've written a lot for 2p, I haven't actually finished any of it so I can't post it yet, but I really wanted to post some more. So here's the first installment of a 2p series where I show how the 2p countries came to be the way they were. Why they differ so much from their 1p counterparts.

It's mostly headcanon stuff and actually some will be very vague on the actual history taking place because when I looked at timelines, a lot of it didn't make sense as far as Hetalia is concerned. I did add in things here and there, so please don't take this too seriously now XD I did a little bit of research, so it's not making it all up! Anyways, please enjoy!

warning::: slight gore, 2p! (seriously, i don't want comments on how they are out of character again XD)

Cracked

Smile: Romano's Story

Young Romano smiled to himself, looking up at his powerful and strong grandfather. Romulus was the most powerful man he'd ever seen! He had conquered a ton of land for the people he represented. His job was his everything. Romano couldn't wait to be just like him when he got older.

For as long as he could remember it had been him and his grandfather. But right now, they were about to be parted.

He adjusted his clothing and clung to his grandfather's arm. Romulus looked down at the child and smiled lightly, "You're my secret weapon today, Romano. Today we're finally going to expand further north into that Germania's territory. You will take his brat hostage."

Romano tilted his head. He knew his grandfather's enemy had several children, however only two lived with him. There was the child younger than he and the one older than him.

"Which one, grandfather?"

"The baby. With him in our hands, Germania wouldn't dare attack us. If he lost his legacy, he would be devastated. The future of his land would go down in flames."

Romano looked slightly confused. He'd been alive himself for a hundred years or so, but had not physically aged passed that of a six year old child. His mentality was a bit further than most his physical age, but was still that of a child. So the thought of hurting another close to his age seemed a little … barbaric.

"Do not mess up, do not let them catch you and do not go soft. You are of the purest Roman blood, my blood. You are the grandson of the great Roman Empire. You will not fail me, understood?" Romulus glared lightly. He loved his grandson, but he had to make sure this child could one day rule the empire with an iron fist.

Romano nodded. He would do anything to make his grandfather proud.

He was given a sword and was sent off into the trees. Romulus watched and smiled lightly. Now his real mission began.

Romano ran through the trees, shivering lightly as the air grew colder. He had to make his grandfather proud! He had to do this. He had to.

However, the child would never make it to his destination. He was ambushed thirty minutes out by the very man his father was trying to take down.

"Isn't this?" the man with long hair and dark purple eyes glared.

A few men walked into the clearing from behind him, "Who?"

"This child is the grandson of the man we're searching for." He picked Romano up by the back of his shirt and held him in front of his face. The fear in the child's eyes was evident.

The men grinned, "So what do we do with him?"

"First we render him useless. Maybe cut out his tongue or eyes. Then we use him to take down Rome." Germania growled lightly.

Romano felt a cold ice wash through his veins, "No!" he reached for his sword, but fumbled and dropped it.

Germania growled again and took out a hunting knife, which he used to cut a strip of Romano's clothing away. He quickly used the strips to bind the child's wrists and gag him.

"Let's find that man. It's high time he learn to stay out of our territory."

Romano's world spiraled out of control. He'd failed his grandfather. Now he found himself in the exact same spot the other child was supposed to be. He might die now. He might be slaughtered in front of his grandfather!

Tears ran down his face silently as they trekked through the thinned forest. The child began to hear the murmurs of men, all speaking Latin, which meant is was the Roman army marching through the forest. He wanted to scream out, reveal the position of the Germanic men, but he couldn't. He couldn't even save his people.

Everything after was a blur. He heard the screams of men, the clashing of metal, the smell of blood.

"Germania!"

"Rome!"

"Romano?"

Germania laughed as his men fought the army back. He held up the bound child.

"Thought you could get to me by using him to sneak into our territory? Really, Rome? You hate me so much that you would send your only grandchild into my land?" Germania grabbed the hunting knife and held it to Romano's neck, "Did you suspect that he would fail whatever mission you gave him? Did you suspect that I would kill him before your eyes? He may be like us, but his mind and body are not tied with loyal people yet. I could end the Roman's now. You will fall, he will be dead. We will take your land for our own!"

Romulus growled and his amethyst eyes glared as he grabbed his weapon and ran forward. Germania was forced to throw Romano to the ground as he engaged in battle with his mortal enemy.

Romano wanted nothing more than to get up and help his grandfather, but all he could do was stand and slowly move away from the battle.

Germania yelled out in rage as he drove his sword right into Romulus' stomach. Romano felt his world come crashing down around him. All he knew, all he had, fell to his knees before the Germanic barbarian. Blood spilled from his lips and down the front of his chest armor, which seemed to prove useless.

"I have won. Rome has fallen." Germania pulled the sword free.

Romano didn't stay another moment. He took off through the trees and didn't stop running until his legs gave out on him. He stumbled and fell into the dirt, letting the tears go. They ran down his face, blurring his golden eyes completely. It was over … his life was over.

His world turned dark as night came. The child shivered and his arms were numb and sore from the ties that held them.

"Oh god …" he heard a woman's voice. The child was lifted from the dirt and carried into a home where he was cut free from his binding. It wasn't too soon after that he found himself sleeping.

When he had awoken, he still felt the empty pain of losing his grandfather. It was a terrible pain. He let the tears fall. A woman walked up to him and smiled softly, "So you awaken?" she took a wet cloth and dabbed his forehead and cheeks, "I was worried when I found you in the dirt."

Romano turned away and looked to the wall behind him. The memories were still fresh in his mind. Maybe if he'd been faster or better at the job he'd been given … maybe if he'd let Germania kill him as a sacrifice …

"You've been through a lot, haven't you? I heard about the terrible loss we took yesterday … it's sad that a child was out there …" she whispered, pushing his light brown hair from his face.

He remained silent, even when she tried to give him something to eat.

"Little one, I know what you must have experienced was horrible … but here's some advice: Life is a terrible thing … we live, worry and go through so much pain … only to die in the end. Life is so short … we have to smile during the bad times, and enjoy what little good we do have." The woman smiled, "My husband died in a battle not long ago … he left me with nothing so I was forced to live way out here in the outskirts of Rome, but every day, there's a beautiful sunrise. Every evening there is a gorgeous sunset. If I were to live in mourning and regret, I would inevitably shorten my own life span. So don't worry, sweet child, life seems bleak right now, but if you just smile and take life on, living with no regret, you will be happy."

Romano looked at her, into her soft hazel eyes and thought over her words. They sat for what seemed like an eternity before he let a smile pull his lips.

The woman smiled as well and cleaned his face up.

He let loose and opened up to the woman, allowing her to take care of him while helping her out around the home. She showed him how to make beautiful clothing and what colors went well as well as what could be used to dye the fabrics.

A few years passed and she found it increasingly strange that he never aged a year, but grew smarter with the things she taught.

"Romano, sweet child, could you go clean up your mess from earlier?" she asked the child.

He looked up from the yard and nodded, "Of course, Domitia." He rose from his seat and walked into the sitting room to grab up the bowls of dyes she'd taught him to make. Romano balanced the bowls in his arms as he walked outside. He stumbled on the step and tumbled into the dirt. The water and plant mixtures fell down on top of his head and the bowls shattered around him.

"Romano?" Domitia quickly made her way outside to where he was, "Oh my … are you okay?"

The child merely looked up and smiled, "I'm fine, thank you. I'm just a bit … colorful …"

She helped him dab it off his face, "Well it seems it's only the lemon mixture that got you."

Romano laughed softly and ran his fingers through his hair, letting the liquid drain off the back.

Later that day, Domitia had him helping her in the garden. They laughed and joked, and enjoyed everything despite the bright sun. However, as night fell, Domitia couldn't stop staring at Romano.

"What?" he asked, pulling some cloth down from the clothing line and folding it into a basket.

"Your hair, sweet child … it's completely yellow!" she laughed softly. They walked inside and she handed him a polished metal disk. He stared at his reflection and gasped as she was right, his hair was as golden as those men up north who'd taken everything from him.

But … he liked it … it felt … more like him … a new him. He was now a different person. Domitia had taught him that life was supposed to be fun. What was more fun than living forever with that logic, right? He would live a very long time and have more fun than thought imaginable.

"Well … I like it!" Romano laughed lightly.

Around him and Domitia, the former Roman Empire was falling to pieces. The barbarians from the north were getting further inland. It was all going to hell.

Domitia died a few years after taking Romano in, leaving him alone again. However, this time he smiled, knowing that woman had changed his outlook on life.

He packed up what he would need before travelling north. He had also learned the secret to keeping his hair this color. Lemons that Domitia had imported from another place could be juiced and when he stayed in the sun, the mixture lightened his hair considerably from its usual dull light brown.

Romano took to the roads and traveled through the city of Rome. This was his city now, right? These were his people. They looked on him with disdain, most likely due to his hair color. He could easily blend in with the Germanic men that plagued parts of the country.

The boy knew where he was going. He was headed back to the small home he and his grandfather once shared. Hopefully it was still unoccupied. If not … he would smile as he kicked them out. It was his home after all.

Romano stepped up to the doorway and took a deep breath. He heard voices inside, but it wouldn't stop him.

Yet, the person the voice belonged to shocked him. His grandfather, while seemed older and worn, was leaned against a wall with a child a few years younger than Romano sitting in his lap.

The child had dark hair, with a similar curl to Romano's on the opposite side of his head. He turned and his dark purple eyes widened.

Romulus turned and his eyes widened as well, "Romano? I thought you had died."

"Me? I saw that Germanic man run you through. You're the one who was supposedly dead." Romano felt the dark feeling rising up in him, but Domitia's words soothed him and he smiled, "It's not like I care, though~ It seems you're alive now and I've been replaced~" he grinned and walked over to the smaller child, "Romano Jr?"

"Veneziano." The child muttered, looking up.

Romulus stared at Romano warily, having sensed the change in the child's attitude, "He's your little brother. I found him in a small village on the water up north. The Barbarians had run them off the land. He was born from there. I thought it was because the land needed someone to replace my supposed dead grandson. Where were you?" his eyes were quite angry and accusing.

Romano leaned against the wall with a piece of fruit in his hands, "After you were … defeated … I ran as fast as possible back towards Rome. I was found by a woman; she took me in and treated me like her child. When she died, I realized that even if I look like I'm seven, I'm still the next one to inherit this landmass. I had to return to Rome. It's who I am."

"Not anymore. You have to share it with your brother." Romulus sighed, setting the five year old child on the floor.

The elder brother shrugged, "That's fine. It's nice having a brother~"

"What happened to your hair? How the hell did you manage to change it like that?"

"It's nothing~ I just did, I like it, it makes me different!" he laughed, setting the fruit down, "Anyway, I'm going to take a small nap."

As the years passed quickly, Romulus disappeared completely one day, leaving the boys to fend for themselves.

It seemed like forever before the small family was ripped apart again. A rude man had come along and had taken the boys into his home, only to give Romano away, claiming that he was being taken into another part of the world.

He kept the smile on his face, even though his heart fell. What would happen to his land? Or even his little brother?

The man that claimed to own him was a dark entity all his own. The Kingdom of Spain. This teen seemed ruthless. He was physically fourteen, but had a heart already made of cold steel.

"You belong to me now. Austria gave you to me. You'll do my chores and do as I say. Anything you do that I disapprove of is going to be met with the strictest punishment. I run a tight ship, figuratively and literally. My Queen will be treated with respect." The young teen explained.

Romano just smiled, "You know, you should smile more. It makes life better!"

Spain turned to him with his cold lavender eyes. He said nothing as he left Romano to his own devices.

This country was much different from what he was used to. He was forced to learn Spanish to appease the stick in the mud, but he had a ton of fun messing with him, and the two other land masses he was forced to stay with. Belgium and Netherlands were brother and sister. Belgium hated the Spanish castle, hated the people around her and constantly threatened to kill Spain; while Netherlands followed Romano's thought process. Life was about being happy and loving. He was very touchy feely and happy all the time.

Romano found it enjoyable to tease Spain, but it mostly ended up in getting flogged. A smile. Just smile.

Through everything, the boy continued to smile and laugh.

Finally, a day that he had been hoping for came: Italy was being reunited. He would finally see his little brother after such a long time. He would be his own country, well … with Veneziano of course!

However … this didn't turn out as well as he'd hoped. The innocent child he'd left behind glared at him with intense hatred in his dark eyes.

"Great. It's you." Veneziano growled.

Romano laughed musically and draped his arm over Veneziano's shoulders, "Oh come now, little brother, you missed me! I missed you and your cute little face~ and look how big you are now!"

Veneziano shoved him away, "I will kill you." He pulled out a hidden knife and held it to Romano's face.

Romano grinned, "Well … how rude! Oh well … I can deal with it~ Love you, Venni~"

"Don't call me that!"

Romano came to enjoy life even more when easier ways to dye his hair and better designs in fashion were invented. He loved every aspect of life, including messing with his former boss, little brother, and his best friend, England.

No matter what hardships came his way, he just smiled. Even when it came down to killing anyone that stood in his way, he just smiled.

Lame ending is lame, but It's not their full life stories, just the few events that shaped their personalities

Anyway, if you have a head canon event that made a character how they were, let me know and I'll see if I can incorporate or use it in their story! I'm always open to ideas and requests! Even story ideas!

~Lady Pyrien