Author's Note: Hello there! Thanks for giving this fanfic a chance! This is currently my first fanfic that I'm publishing on this sight, so I'd be interested to hear what you think and what I could improve. Also, I've rated this fic T, because I don't think it's graphic enough for M. This might change in future, however, or if you guys think it should be higher rated.

I'm using human names for the characters, since they're human in this, so I'll put their names up at the start of each chapter!

Louise Beilschmidt: Nyo!Germany

Julchen Beilschmidt: Nyo!Prussia

Gilbert Beilschmidt: Prussia

Sophia Edelstein: Nyo!Austria

Roderich Edelstein: Austria

Elizaveta Hédérvàry: Hungary

Warnings: Mentions of war, bombings, death

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia, it belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya.

Please enjoy!

A sea breeze blew across the port, ruffling passers-by's hair and sending litter flying off into the distance. The tarmac was cracked, vines growing wild across old holiday villas. Bobbing in the water, boats waited for people to board them, the rich getting aboard safer and cleaner ones whereas the poor were forced to climb onto smaller ones with leaks and tape around them. Long lines of people were waiting to board them, the only men present being those under eighteen years of age.

In one of the longer lines, a young woman stood in line, holding a baby in her arms and a small boy's hand in her own free one. On her other side, a young girl gripped her shirt nervously. The lady's blond hair was cut short, barely reaching her shoulders, and her blue eyes were cold and weary. Her clothes were torn, a loosely fitted white shirt and green shorts ripped and dirty, and many visible areas of her body were covered in cuts and bruises.

The little ones by her side weren't faring any better. The little girl's long white hair was matted and her blue dress was ripped. Despite this, however, her eyes sparkled with energy.

The small boy was clinging onto the woman, his white hair dull and turning darker because of the dirt and mud clinging to it and his red eyes tired and exhausted. He was wearing a white shirt and black shorts that must, once upon a time, have been trousers.

The baby was wrapped in a blanket, eyes closed since he was sleeping.

"Mama, I'm tired. Can't you carry me?" the white haired boy whined in German.

"No, Gilbert, I can't. Just stay standing for a little longer, okay? Then you can sit down," his mother explained patiently with a small sigh.

"We've been walking for ages though!"

"I know. And you're a brave boy, aren't you?"

They moved forward, nearing the barge. A young woman called out to them.

"Louise! There you are! I've been looking for you!"

She had long dark brown hair and violet eyes and was wearing a white gown. Unlike the others in line, her clothes held very little rips or tears, suggesting her rich background. Two children stumbled after her: a boy with short black hair and violet eyes with large black glasses upon his nose and a girl with medium-long brown hair and bright green eyes.

"Sophia, what are you doing here? I thought you had reserved a ferry for you and Roderich," Louise frowned, confusion written on her face.

"I couldn't leave you and your little ones behind now, could I? Come on, there's room for everyone," without waiting for a response, the smaller lady dragged the older one with her.

Ignoring the glares and hostile mutters around them, they changed direction, heading for a large ship where a variety of people were waiting to board. They joined the queue, standing behind better off ladies and children.

"Thank you, Sophia," Louise turned to look at her friend, lifting her hand to wipe a few stray tears from the corners of her eyes.

"No problem. Anyway, Liz wouldn't stop crying at the idea that Gilbert wouldn't be with her."

"Was not!" the brown-haired girl protested.

"I bet you were! You couldn't live without the awesome me!" the white-haired toddler stuck his tongue out at her.

"Enough, children," the latter's mother scolded them before turning back to her friend, "Where's Erzsebet?"

Sophia's face grew grim and she shook her head.

"We lost her at the border. She asked me to take care of Liz."

"I see…" the blond gazed up at the sky, face contorted with grief.

"Next!" an officer called from the stairs.

"Sophie Edelstein. Accompanied by my son, Roderich Edelstein and some friends: Elizaveta Hédérváry, Louise Beilschmidt, her sons Gilbert Beilschmidt and Ludwig Beilschmidt and daughter Julchen Beilschmidt," the young woman announced.

"Papers?"

"Here," she passed him a folder, "Louise, do you have yours?"

"Here."

The officer studied them for a moment before nodding and stepping to the side.

"You may climb aboard. Remember to keep the baby quiet."

They quickly thanked him before walking up the staircase onto the boat. Inside, it was just as cold as outside, but at least there were plenty of seats. The small family chose an area next to the window, so that the children could look out.

"Where are we going?" Julchen, the oldest, asked.

"Somewhere safe."

"But where?"

"I don't know."

The six year old pouted, unhappy with the answer, and sat down, folding her arms against her chest.

"Stop sulking, dear."

"I'm not sulking," she huffed.

"Why do we have to leave? And will mother join us?" Elizaveta looked up at the two adults, allowing a slither of her native tongue, Hungarian, to blend into her words.

"Because it isn't safe here."

"What about mother?"

"Maybe…" the brown-haired person didn't meet her eyes.

A loud announcement blasted through the speakers, declaring that they were now leaving and for everyone to stay calm during the trip.

All around the room, families were gathered in little groups, some without children, and others without their wives or husbands. A small group of Asian looking children were walking around with no adult to guide them, appearing to be scared. Noticing this, Sophie called them over.

"Come here, little ones! Come and join us!"

They hesitated before the oldest, a little boy of about eight years old dragged her brothers and sister towards them.

"Hello there, where are your parents?" the Austrian woman smiled warmly at them.

The children looked around at each other blankly. Finally, the tallest of the lot turned to the adults in front of him. He shook his head and muttered something in a different language.

"Do you understand us?"

Again, a blank look. They had obviously lost their parents after getting on board, otherwise there was no way they would have been allowed on the ship. However, any further questioning was taken to a halt as the ferry started to move.

Families hugged each other tightly, small glimmers of hope in their eyes. They were being led to safety! Finally the nightmare would be over!

The foreign stowaways had also used this moment of distraction to disappear from sight.

The journey passed in silence. Despite how much the German and Hungarian little ones wanted to talk, they were silenced by the adults. Every now and then, the loud engines of planes could be heard, causing everyone to clutch each other tighter, fear slowly taking hold of them. Some travellers were knelt on the ground, praying some invisible god to come and save them, to let them reach their destination safely, others were crying softly, begging their deaf enemies to let them live.

Suddenly, an extremely loud airplane flew over them. They all tensed. Then, without warning, an explosion sounded from the boiler room. The smell of smoke and the warmth of flames enveloped the passengers, as did panic.

Some people collapsed to the floor, taking over by despair, others tried to escape.

"Julchen, take your brothers, Roderich and Elizaveta to the escape boats! Hurry now!" Louise ordered her oldest daughter.

"But what about you?" the albino turned to her mother in horror.

"Don't worry about me! Just go! Now! I love you!" the blond-haired woman was now crying.

Julchen nodded solemnly before taking her baby brother in her arms and dragging the two boys with her, hoping the girl would follow them. She then ran, ran like she had never run before. She had a mission. She had to get her brothers to safety. She had to save her family. Then she could go back and help her mother. Not before.

"Come on, everyone! Run faster!" she screamed as another explosion rocked the boat.

The Asian children they had met earlier caught up with them. The two eldest exchanged a glance, and although they didn't speak the same language, they understood exactly what the other wanted.

"This way! Follow me!" the girl called, turning into a narrow corridor.

She had no idea where she was going, but this seemed better than the ongoing violence ahead. They kept on running, charging down corridors, abruptly changing routes. Finally, the twelve-year-old caught a glimpse of something bright and red. A boat!

"This way! There's a boat over here!" she pointed towards the thing.

However, before they could reach it, the youngest girl fell to the floor.

"Mei!" the Chinese boy yelled, panic in his voice.

In a split second, the baby had been placed in Gilbert's arms and Julchen had turned around and grabbed the black-haired girl's hand.

"Get up!" she shouted, pulling her with her.

All of a sudden, a shaking above them caused cracks to appear in the ceiling. It was then that the twelve year old realised the truth. Her fearful red eyes met the long-haired child's scared amber ones.

Please take care of my brothers for me.

And then she pushed Mei into the boat, losing her balance just as the ceiling came falling down on her.

"Julchen!" Gilbert screamed in terror as his sister was crushed by the weight upon her.

"C-o-m-e," the eldest boy pulled him into the boat.

It fell into the water with a splash, leaving nine solitary children all alone in the middle of the ocean. Above them, more planes joined the scene, shooting each other and causing the ship, burning and choking whoever was still inside, to sink into the depths of the sea, never to be found again.

And amongst the wreckage, a strand of white hair stuck out from the debris. The body it belonged to was beyond recognition.