This is my plot but the characters are not mine

"What someone says."

What they think; you guess who.

Language used this chapter Italian and Austrian for general speech

Solo il Tempo

A little girl, in a white hat and chaotic tunic, cries as she leaves her home. Once her grandfather had fallen, in the fifth century, he had left her and her brother vulnerable to enemy attacks. They were lucky to have lasted as long as they did on their own, but it couldn't last forever. The countries she had once called brothers, now pick and tare her and her brother's country apart. Southern Italy Romano, her brother, is under Spain's rule. The little girl used to be under his rule too but…

She, Northern Italy Feliciana is being given to Austria as part of a treaty between Spain and him; he'll have full control over her politics and industry within her territories. Tears couldn't stop falling from her eyes no matter what she did to stop them. For a long time the little one had been avoiding all things connected to Holy Roman Empire; it sucks that Austria works with him.

Holy Roman Empire was a little older than Italy but was already very strong. He had blond hair true blue eyes with white skin, and he usually wore a black catholic tunic with puffy pants boots a cape, and a black hat with a gold oval pin and trim. She didn't know much about him personally, except how he wanted her to join his empire

Her and Romano were twins and look alike for the most part. Both have olive skin, chestnut brown hair (Romano's being a little darker) with one signature curl, and lovely amber-brown eyes. While growing up they never really got along; Romano being a jerk to his sister, because she was Grandpa Rome's favorite. Regardless of their past, both know they share pain with their people now, for how things are.

The carriage holding her suddenly caught a big bump, throwing the small Italian to the floor. She held back her sobs so as not to get in trouble with the driver; the little Italian curled into ball trying to hide away from the rest of the world. She didn't even notice her shoulder length hair had fallen out of her hat; spiraled around her head. She lay there crying till she fell asleep.

In the morning, a woman with green eyes long light brown hair in a black shin-length maid uniform and white apron shook her awake. Little Italy squeaked a bit away from the pretty lady, and then checked her surrounding. Cream-colored walls, no windows, the simple cotton and wool bed she was on, hardwood floor, one drawer set, and a table with a basin towel and pitcher on it. "Jó reggelt, hogyan érzi magát egy kicsit?" said the pretty maid. Italy then looked at the woman with confusion. "Um… what did you say…ah miss?" asked little Italy.

"OOhhhhhhh," the small country was then snagged into a tight hug, "You're so cute!" squealed the lady. After about five seconds, the unknown lady pulled away, enough for Feliciana to notice flowers in the lady's hair. "Well hello my name is Hungary, little one, what is yours?" Sacred but out of politeness, her grandfather taught her, she then answered, "My name is Italy."

Hungary smiled at Italy, she then started think about if she would have been like the child before her, if someone told her that she was a female sooner ~Dammit Prussia~. "Well we have about three hours before you have to met Austria, so how about a bath?" Italy nodded, took Miss. Hungary's hand and was led to the bath. On their way Feliciana had noticed how fast they had made it from the servants quarters to the beautiful halls, with large painting from landscapes to full body portraits.

It reminded her of home, and how she missed it. Hungary had started to notice Italy's sorrowed face, and knelt down to the child's level. "Italy." she said in all seriousness, making the little girl raise her eyes to Mrs. Hungry. "Y-yes?" what the woman said next helped Italy in so many ways at the time and the future, "Are you a boy or girl?"

Time Skip 7 months at Spain's house

Romano has been pretty much getting away with murder over at Spain's house, however ~Jerk Bastard, thinks dressing me up like a maid will help him any~ there were confutations. "Oye Romano, jou got a letter from - AYE dios mío! Qué diablos le pasó?" Spain only left Romano to clean this room an hour ago, and now it looked like he didn't do anything but make it worse.

Senor Spain had dark olive skin rich brown hair that was wavy and coffee brown eyes. He mostly sports a white long sleeved shirt tan pants and plain shoes. Spain is a hard worker, has a kind of lax personality, and loves his work and people.

"Coglione bastardo ti ho detto questo woud mordere voi in culo, but no you said 'Cleaning builds character,' EVERY-SINGLE type of manual labor builds character; back home Feli did the cleaning and cooking and was the perfect twin, I should be a saint for all the farming weeding and fertilizing I did! Ez egy csomó," and it was at that point Spain stopped Romano's monologuing. Any more and they wouldn't get anything done and skip a siesta for the day.

"Watch jour mouth little man, now I came en here to give jou a letter, or letters by how thick this es." Romano looked at the thick envelope with a green ribbon and seal, keeping all its contents from spilling out. The Spaniard sees the young country's face and finds some things he's never seen before: shock, sadness, and hope. While Spain was dazed, Romano snatched the envelope and ran to his room.

With the door locked for privacy, he opened the envelope to find his letters from Feliciana from the past seven months.

Dear Romano,

I'm sorry I couldn't write to you, back in 1559, but things kept stealing my free time; I even had to skip a meal a few times. Today I had met my boss Mr. Austria; he has full control of my territory's politics and industry now. But before I met him I met another country just like me; her name is Hungry but I call her Mrs. Hungary. Also she didn't even know if I was girl or boy. Anyway she had told me that most female countries don't last long because the other male countries think we are easy picking for land and exploitation. She also thought she was a boy when she was our age, but believes that's what helped her last so long. So while she gave me a bath I thought, maybe, so we look less weak, I could be a boy. I tried it on boss and he believed it! I'll keep this up till we are strong again or have an ally big and strong like grandpa. Till I'm aloud to send you this I'll write you a letter for every day I can't send you one… and please let me do this for our people.

PS: I cut my hair

With Love, Feli~

The little boy then read through the rest of his sister's letters. Each one with something new that either made her happy or cry. This Austria guy was very strict and was kind of married to Mrs. Hungary. She liked him but Feli often questioned their marriage to herself because of how Mrs. Hungary talked about this other guy who was Holy Rome's older brother, luckily Feli hasn't seen him or Holy Rome ~Idiota, Austria is allied with that impostore! ~ Overall Mrs. Hungary was a very nice lady, who can be a tomboy at times.

A knock was heard at the door then a voice, "Chico, jou okay?" Romano growled, "Go away, you tomato lover!"

"Now is that any way to talk to someone."

"Who said you were a person?"

"No one so let me rephrase 'Now is that any way to talk to a country.'"

"What do you want?"~He usefully loses his cool by now. ~

"Can I come en, jou didn't look so good earlier."

Romano decided to let him in just to indulge the Spaniard. After the little Italian sat up on his bed, Spain got to talk, "So who exactly sent those letters?" The small country didn't know what to say for a while. His sister's plan was crazy, but there was truth in it. Grandpa Rome said that since this was world a patriarchy, powerful females were under constant threat and attack. Sighing, Romano looked up at the Spaniard "My brother just sent me letters with a crazy idea, how he is, and other sappy stuff. I guess I \missed the idiota."

"Well es normal to miss the people jou love. I'm glad to know jour okay though." when Spain said this, Romano started to blush.

"Oh, jou look like a tomato now!"

"È pomodoro amorevole bastardo coglione!"

"Ahhh, jou got even redder!"

"Get outta my room!"

~Sono con voi la mia sorella. ~

Back at Austria's house 2 weeks later

Little Italy went through most of 'his' days cleaning cooking and helping Mrs. Hungary. However since Mr. Austria thought Italy was a girl at first till 'he' said otherwise, and now 'he' is stuck wearing girl's clothes making it difficult for 'him' to be a boy (Austria was to cheap to get Italy boy clothes). "Italy a letter can in for you today," said Mrs. Hungary, "and look, it came all the vay from Spain."

"Perfetto! Can I read it now please?" the small child stared at 'his' sister/mother figure with pleading eyes. "Alright, but you have to write your response later, Austria isn't in the mood for lolly-gagging." Feli nodded, was handed the letter and ran off to 'his' room. Sitting on 'his' bed, 'he' opened 'his' brother's letter.

Dear Feliciana,

This is stupid but for our people keep doing what you must and I'll do the same. Also… CHE IMPOSTORE è alleato con l'Austria, so be on guard. Oh and I'm fine not that your letters asked anything about that but I'll forgive you, since you are an idiota. Anyway, I've heard recently that your so-called boss is oppressing our people. I can't really do much, so see what you can do. Burn this letter after you read it, and I told Spain ~the tomato bastard~ that your name is Feliciano. Also don't be so 'girly'.

Ps: Be safe

From, Romano

XXX, XX, 1714

Italy sat there smiling; 'his' brother was okay, and agreed with 'him'. 'He ' didn't even notice the tears of joy coming out of 'his' eyes. After rubbing 'his' them dry, little Italy ran as fast as 'he' could to the kitchen fireplace. Once there, 'he' kissed the letter goodbye, and put it in the fire. When all 'his' chores were done, 'he' went to the library to write back Romano.

Dear Romano,

I got your letter and I know Holy Rome is allied with Mr. Austria; I'm just lucky I haven't seen him around at all lately. Anyway, I'll try to ask Mr. Austria about our people. Everyone was busy today; trying to make this mansion even more glamorous than it is; kind of reminds me of home. Keep getting information on our people, we need them together or we'll lose everything. Maybe if we get the city-states stronger, then we can have support to fight back our enemy's with. All we need to do for now is use our time to grow; Holy Rome might fall and make our plans easier. If he wants to be big like Grandpa Rome then he should be ready for the fall.

From, Feliciano

XXX, XX, 1714

~Se solo sapesse~ after looking over the letter a couple times, 'he' went to go seal it in an envelope. Once that was done, 'he' went to 'his' room placing the letter on 'his' dresser, and went to get some dinner. ~For once, please have pasta, oh…~ "Mrs. Hungary! What are we having for dinner?" Hungary had just finished her chores for the day; her husband was also being more of a prick than usual. "Well Italy I'm not so sure, but knowing the cooks here it won't be pasta." She smiled at the little one's pouting face ~so cute! ~

Time Skip to 1736

Italy and Romano kept sending letters for about twenty-two years straight. Not much progress was made, but the City States did gain power in that time even if it was only enough to gain the common people's support. As it is said, Grandpa Rome wasn't made in a day. However economically, they've been stagnated since 1699. To make matters direr, Austria keeps imposing taxes so high it's just like France.

A lucky break was when one of the more rebellious City-states, the Kingdom of Naples, got a Spanish king in 1734; taxes went down by a great margin for them. In that same year, Sicily was fully taken into Spain's care and is now seeing better days than back in 1720, when they were under permanent, German-born solder hold.

~Romano was very mad about that…~

~BASTARDI patate alimentari! ~

Well today, another turn of events will now set the real stage of this story… "AAHHHHH, I'm so sorry; I'll do anything, just please don't hit me…" After a very long time, full of battles and concurring, Holy Rome had finally come home to find the one thing he had wanted there. However, he was so overwhelmed with jitters that he ran away to his room. Even though terrified, Italy wondered what was wrong with him.

While in Holy Rome's room, he sat on his bed hugging a random pink pillow. Unable to control himself, he started to roll around his bed and make what only be described as: 'The Sounds of Joy' (No Dirty Mind Folks). In the weeks that followed Italy was stalked by Holy Rome. 'He' had told Romano about it, and all that can be said is that the southern Italian boy has a very colorful vocabulary ~Quel piccolo figlio di puttana! Se vedo che impostore bastardo; sarà a presto! ~

Today, Italy's breakfast was nastier than usual and opted not to eat it. This happened every so often, that the 'boy' would comb the kitchen for scraps. When he looked in the scrap box, all 'he' found was a bunch of moldy bread, "Bleh, no way am I eating this crap." Unknown to Italy, Holy Rome was walking by the open door to the kitchen with his food, and heard what the small country said. An idea then came into his head.

It was then, Italy smelled something good and that of the food kind. Outside the kitchen door, on the floor, was a bowl of food. 'He' didn't care that it was on the floor, where it came from, or even what it was; all that mattered was that it smelled really good! From behind a nearby corner, Holy Rome watched Italy hoping the country would be satisfied. After taking a bite the little Italian said, "This doesn't taste very good," and poor Holy Rome was crestfallen, "but it's better than what I've had this whole time."

Just like that, Holy Roman Empire had a spring in his step as he walked off, knowing what he did for Italy. However, the young empire wasn't the only one who saw little Italy eat the food. "Well, what do we have here," 'he' knew that voice, "a little mouse." it was Mr. Austria.

Austria has charcoal black hair brown eyes with purple shading and cream like skin. He often wore a long deep blue coat that had short puff sleeves, a white long shirt with puffs by the cuffs, dark gray puff pants, and knee high black boots. He is very strict and is all about discipline, but Austria is very passionate about music while being a genius in his own right.

"Every time I turn my back, you steal my food." Austria then picked up the child by the collar and started to walk to the dark room of time out for Italy.

"Sorry…"

"That still doesn't excuse you for what you did."

"But, I was hungry…"

"That's no excuse!"

Once they were at the door for the room, Austria opened it and through little Italy inside. "Now, you will stay in here till you've learned your lesson." All 'he' did was nod. Holy Rome was just walking by when he saw what happened to his Italy, but he couldn't do anything as the door to that dark room closed.

About an hour later Italy wailed, "I'm so hungry!" Holy Rome was still there so when he heard the Italian, he went to get some food. In the dark, Italy sighed ~It's soo dark, and I'm soo hungry~ 'he's' been in here for what might be about an hour and fifth-teen minutes, and 'he' didn't even get to finish the food from earlier. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, "Hmmm? Who's there?" The door cracks open for Italy to see Holy Rome. "AAHHHHH!"

The boy frowned at the reaction he got, so he manned up and changed it. "Why do you always do that?"

"Do w-what?"

"Yell, whenever you see me."

"You're scary."

"I don't mean to!"

'Eep'

"Sorry…"

"… It's okay…"

They stayed like that for a while, just standing in silence. "Here… I can't let you starve," said Holy Rome, looking away from Italy, has he presented a basket with a cover over it. Curious the little Italian took the gift, "Grazie." Lifting the cover, Italy saw what she's been craving for a really, really long time. "PASTA; OOhhhhhhh, how I miss thy! Grazie Santo Roma, grazie!"

Full blush combs over Holy Rome's face, ~so cute~ Italy's smile, eye's, even that odd little curl. ~Why is it heart shaped… why do I like you Italy? ~ "Bruber, who's your little friend?" the boy jumped out of his thoughts, and turned to meet his older brother's red eyes. "Prussia! What are you doing here?" Steam was practically coming out of Holy Rome's ears from embarrassment, and a little bit of anger.

~So this is Mr. Prussia… his eyes are pretty but not like…~ "I came to see you, and as of two hours ago your friend. Hi, my name is Prussia, aren't I awesome; anyway what's your name?" Snapping out her daze Italy answered, "My name is Italy, it is nice to meet you Mr. Prussia." 'He' was about to do a curtsy, but changed 'his' mind.

Mr. Prussia had light tan skin red eyes and platinum blonde hair. He was wearing a hat similar to Holy Roman Empire's, a long sleeved black coat that stopped just above the knee with red folded cuffs gold trim and buttons, white pants ascot and gloves, black boots, and lastly a red cape. The smile on his face was hiding something.

"What business do you have with Italy?" Holy Rome knew that when his older brother took an interest in a country, it was to concur or something along the lines of battle. "Chill little bruder, I'm only going to ask Italy a couple of questions, and all Italy has to do is answer honestly. You alright with that Italy?" said Prussia as he knelt down to the child's level. 'He' nodded.

"Why are you here? Last I heard your country was under Spain's control."

"I have a brother who's the southern half of our country, so me and him are split between Spain and Austria."

"Oh thanks thought I vas going crazy when I heard there were two Italy's"

"Your welcome."

"Now, are you a boy or girl?"

"W-what?"

"I know you heard me clearly, so answer." Italy didn't know what to do, she was scared, and this man's eyes would see truth if she lied. "Italy why a-are you c-crying?" ~ I am? ~ Her hand touched her damp face she didn't even know she had. Holy Rome didn't know what his brother was doing, but it wasn't right if Italy was crying. "Bruder bitte aufhören, Italien nicht zu beantworten." Prussia raised a brow to his little brother, "Do you know if Italy is a boy or a girl?"

The boy had control over an empire and can go toe to toe with that Ottomans, but he can't stop wishing for Italy at his side. "No, I don't and it's driving me insane! Should I ask, should I not ask? What if he is a she and don't like me, or she is a he and thinks I'm weird for it! Either way I lose Italy!" ~someone who can be my friend…~ Holy Roman Empire may be all-powerful, but he's still a child.

Italy didn't know that's why Holy Rome chased her for so long…~Kinda creepy, but he's still sweet. ~ "Well Italy, what is your answer?" Prussia wasn't letting up even after what his brother said, earning a glare from Holy Rome. Whipping her eyes from the tears she answered.

"I'm a girl, but for my people and home, I'll have to be a boy."

"Prussia!" all eyes went to the voice that was Mrs. Hungary. "What are you doing here?" The lady was pissed and wasn't afraid to show it while she walked towards them. "I came to visit my little bruder, what's wrong with that?" Hungary stopped in front of Prussia "I would like a word with you," she sheathed, but remembered the children were there, "in private." Sighing, Prussia agreed and walked away with Mrs. Hungary.

"He still loves her…"

"What makes you say that Italy, big brother doesn't really like the mushy stuff?"

"Oh… well his eyes, when they saw Miss. Hungary they were soft but sad… Maybe she misses him…"

"She must be very good at hiding it, or she can really hold a grudge."

Silence seemed to be around the young empire and the Italian whenever things got awkward. "Say Italy… who else knows, about you?" She looked at Holy Rome; his eyes were full of worry, but for who was her question. "Mrs. Hungary gave me the idea, and big brother is okay with it."

"But why, why would you pretend to be a boy?"

"I am not strong like you or Grandpa Rome; I'm weak as it is and if people knew that I'm a girl they'll think I'm even weaker."

Poor Italy, she has to make this work till she's strong on her own or… ~that's it! ~ "Italy, for as long it takes I'll protect you, even if it's just me." The girl looked in the young empire's eyes and saw a friend. "Si," so Italy took his hand, "grazie."