Ave Maria
The cold night air chilled the soft musician's fingers. He walked, or more liked paced, on the wooden porch outside of his girlfriend's house, dark coat and a white scarf on his thin figure.
Austria's hands shook violently as he held a small dark blue box in his hand. He let out a shaky breath, he didn't want to make a fool of himself tonight.
Not tonight.
Please, not the night he wanted to propose.
Ever since he thought of the idea of his marriage with his girlfriend, he had been acting especially clumsy.
Like the week before, he had taken Hungary to one of the best restaurants that he knew of. It was a bit unoriginal but he had no other ideas and thought that this would be the best place to propose. She insisted that they go to another place, perhaps one less expensive, but he insisted that the go there. The walls were a beautiful shade of beige and the curtains were accented with a deep red, round tables covered with pure white cloths and clear glassware. A simple bouquet of red roses stood, proudly in the middle of the table, in between Hungary and Austria. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, not being used to such places, but kept a smile on her face for his sake. He ordered for the both of them and they quietly talked about what they usually did, memories, hopes, dreams and other things. When they both finished their dinner, he stood to kneel at her side but as he did so, a waiter was walking behind him with an expensive glass of red wine. The rich wine spilled onto Austria's crisp white shirt, staining from his shoulder to his side. They both apologized profoundly as Hungary watched from a distance, smiling on the inside at how clumsy her lover was. When they left, Austria's face was almost as red as the stain on his shirt. Hungary noticed at how embarrassed he was and stopped to hold his face in her hands. Her small hands wrapped around his jawline, and her eyes forced him to meet with hers. She smiled and kissed his cheek, the very edge of their lips just brushing against each other. Then she took his hand and lead him back home. He silently smiled with relief that she didn't think that he was a fool.
The man held the box in his palm again and opened it, revealing the small ring he bought just for this night. Oh when he saw that ring, he knew it would be perfect for her. Her slim fingers would make it even look more beautiful.
Austria couldn't take much longer of the anxiety and restlessness that he felt, he would have to propose and he would have to do it soon...
"Roderich? You ready?"
He whipped around to see Hungary closing the door behind her and stuttered, "Y-yes..." as he quickly slipped the box into his pocket.
Austria felt his heart skip a beat.
Her hair fell gracefully over her shoulders, her cheeks painted with pink, and a bright smile on her face. Her body was covered with her white coat and a blue scarf covering the soft skin on her neck while her head was was kept warm with a matching beanie. Austria felt his face pinken slightly and his violet eyes shine.
He nervously smiled and held out his hand.
"Let's go."
Light snow began to fall around the two lovers, as the cold air made their skin flush.
The streets in Vienna where quiet at night, people inside of their warm houses, keeping out the cold. Despite the late night, the street light shone brightly and illuminated the small city. Austria and Hungary silently enjoyed each other's presence and held hands as they walked over the untouched snow.
Thought on the outside, he seemed calm, Austria's mind was going crazy on the inside.
When should he do it?
How?
With what? (Oh right, the ring)
Will she agree?
What if she doesn't say yes?
What would he do?
What would SHE do?
Ah, yes, he could see the disaster in his mind. He would kneel on one knee and hold up the ring and his dignity for sacrifice. She would raise and eyebrow and give a look of disapproval. She would shake her head, knock the ring out his hand and stomp away, leaving him in the wet snow.
"Roderich?" said a small voice that shook him out of his thoughts. He looked down at his petite girlfriend who had a look of confusion on her cute face. "What's wrong?"
"Oh it's nothing...Lizzy."
"Wow, you usually don't call me by my nickname."
"Well, tonight isn't like any other night...", he whispered.
"What was that hun?"
"Nothing, nothing."
He smiled at her and gave her a small kiss on her cheek. She only smiled back and watched the snow fall from the sky, holding his hand tighter.
They walked by small homes of families that lived in Vienna, looking inside the windows as they passed. Some of the homes were empty, families gone for the weekend or visiting other people while others were filled with people, laughing and smiling as food and drinks were passed around. Austria smiled at these people, wishing that he would have a family like that someday, he's lived for hundreds of years, he was getting old soon. Hungary also smiled at the cheerful scene, she watched one of the women in the window holding a small baby in her arms and she silently wished she had a little life like that in her arms.
"Roddy, do you ever want to have kids?"
Austria turned suddenly, very red in the face, "W-w-what are you asking?"
She laughed at her boyfriend's timidness and said, "I'm just asking if you would ever want to raise a child...you know, like a father."
"Oh," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "Yes, I really would like that. I always wanted a family."
"Someday..." she said leaning her head on his shoulder. He got nervous again and took her by the hand down the street again. "Ahh...Let's go over here, Elizaveta."
He lead her to an emtpy street corner, where the light passing through the stainedglass of a church gave a light blue taint to the air.
They both sat down on the edge of the church's stairs and watched the snow fall to the ground.
"Ummm...Elizaveta, I've been wanting to ask you something for a while now..."
"Hmm? Oh sure, go ahead."
He looked up at his lover, her beautiful face lightly glowing in the light of the stained glass.
Her hair framing her lovely face, red lips barely touching one another.
Then her emerald green eyes turned from the sky straight into Austria's eyes, never blinking.
...
The door quietly opened as a small figure popped into the room.
"Austria?"
He looked up from his piano sheets to the young man his doorway, "Ah, Holy Rome, how can I help you?"
"I have conquered another country, Austria. She shall be under my rule now."
"She? "
"Yes, Miss Hungary. Please show her what she is to do in the house and where she will sleep."
"I understand."
As soon as Holy Rome left, another person came into the room, a young lady.
"You are Miss Hungary, I assume..." he said standing, "It is my pleasure, I am Austria."
The young woman did not say anything, instead only stared at the ground.
He walked closer to her, "I believe that you are still in shock from being under the Holy Roman Empire's rule. I understand. Please follow me to your room."
He took a candle and lead the quiet young lady up the stairs. He looked back to find Hungary still looking down at the ground, carelessly.
Austria opened the door and let the woman step in.
"Here is where you will be sleeping. Please make your self comfortable. Do not be afraid to ask me if you need anything, my own room is just down the hall."
He didn't wait for a reply as he walked out the door.
But just before the door closed, he swore he could have heard a small "thank you".
Austria smiled.
...
"Austria? What did you want to tell me?"
"Ohh..I..."
He wasn't focusing! This was one of the most important nights of his life,he needed to concentrate!
"Elizaveta...I wanted to ask you-"
...
His body ached with pain.
He was being taken down piece, by piece.
"Mr. Austria?"
It was her again. Her lovely face half hidden by the dark shadows. Dirt from the battlefield stained her skin, how dare people bleed on her when she fought them?
"Hungary..."
She picked up his head from the ground and placed her apron underneath it.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."
"Hungary, please don't blame yourself."
She laughed lightly, "Same old Austria..."
...
He let out a deep breath and looked straight into her eyes.
"Elizaveta, I love you. I always have. Even when we were kids and I always was beat up by you, I knew that you were something special and I would never let you go. When we were both under the Holy Roman Empire's rule, I always wanted to tell you how much I cared about you..."
...
Austria turned the wheels on his wheelchair as he passed his bedroom. He made his way to his bed and attempted to climb on it. He still wasn't used to being in this situation, it had only been a few months after the war, he awoke from his coma 2 weeks ago and had to be in a chair for a while.
"Need help?" The familiar figure stood in the door way
He smiled sadly. "It's okay, I can handle it."
Slowly he climbed onto the bed, he sat on the edge and looked up at her with tears in his eyes.
He silently held his head in his hands as quiet sobs shook his body.
She sat along with him and held him, "Don't worry. We'll be okay."
...
"You've always been there for me. We've lived over 21 centuries, but you are the only person that has ever seen me as a person not a nation. Elizaveta, we have seen two world wars, revolutions and our nation's unification and separation. But you are only one that I can say I have loved. We both know that we will live forever, and I want to spend the rest of that time with you. Roderich wants to spend his life with you, not Austria.
Elizaveta, Will you marry me?"
Austria kneeled infront of Hungary, gently offering the ring in his palm.
...
"That one is the milky way, isn't it?"
The two lovers laid on the grass, watching the night sky on a hot summer night. He didn't know how she convinced him to take a walk and how it lead to them laying on the ground.
Fireflies flew above them, occasionally shining on their soft skin. He adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose and glanced at the young woman next to him.
"You know, our leaders want us to get married."
"...I know."
"I'm sorry, if it were up to me, I wouldn't force you to do anything."
"I know and that's okay. We're nations before we're people, right?"
"Yes."
"Someday I want to marry for love, you know? Just don't know when..."
"That's alright, you will know when the time comes."
...
"Yes."
Tears filled her own eyes.
"Yes."
She brought her hands over her own heart.
"Of course, Roderich. I love you. Yes, I want to marry you."
Austria smiled and placed the ring on her own hand. He kissed her lips shyly, "I love you."
Hungary hugged Austria and both of them fell to the ground. "I love you too"
They got up and almost walked on air back to their home as the light snow continued to fall around them.
As they did, Hungary thought of how she would have the wedding she's always wanted with the man that she's always dreamed of and held the shining ring close to her heart.
And there it is! Hope you like it! :D
Reviews = Life.
