A/N: First of all, thanks for picking this fanfiction! I will try to update regularly if you guys promise to review~! Anyways... As a warning, I just want you guys to remember that North Italy IS an adult, and can be mature at times. (Think of the time when Britain/England captured him and Romano: He seemed pretty level headed, and pretty much lectured Roma for being so submissive.) In this fic, I WILL have a more matured Veneziano, so expect him to be rational, and intelligent... To an extent anyways. Romano is also a bit on the "dere" side of tsundere, (He has a TON of "tsun" moments though, don't worry...) so him and his brother are about on the same level. I guess it could be called "OOC", but I think they're pretty in character, especially considering the situation they'll be in. ;) Also, I don't want flames, but constructive criticism is definitely appreciated! Now, getting down to the nitty gritty... I think this will be pretty straightforward, but if you need clarification at all, leave a review, or PM me, and I'll answer. Oh, and this fic is NOT set in an AU or anything, but uses human names, as well as nation names. When the story is being told from one of the Italies' point of view, I'll call them by their respective names, Veneziano or Romano, since that's what they seem to go by when interacting with each other in the anime. In 3rd person chapters however, I may alternate between different names, like using South and North Italy, Romano and Veneziano, or Lovino and Feliciano. If it's too confusing, I'll change it.

~•~•~Prologue~•~•~

Lovino Vargas yawned widely as he stretched out his arms, grateful for the expansive room he sat in.

"Veni," he began, his voice still a bit cracked from under-use, "What day is it?"

His younger brother Feliciano Vargas, turned to him, trying to avoid looking out of the apartment window and at the scene unfolding directly below it.

"Ve~! Well, according to this," He pulled out his new cellphone from the back pocket of his black jeans and looked at it for a moment before continuing, "It's April 9th." Feliciano then glanced out the window that he had been trying so hard to ignore, and announced, "Roma, there are a lot of people gathering out there."

His brother shifted anxiously. "Well, we are big news right now." Again, the italian repositioned his slender legs so that his right was lazily slung across his left. "I mean, it isn't every day that two nations that have been missing for just under four years show up without warning. They probably think this will be the story of the century."

Northern Italy smiled, though through his seemingly happy emotional mask, his southern brother could see the damage that the past four yeas had inflicted on him. Lovino knew that the once-immature teen had experienced things that would have scared even the most hardened war veteran into submission. But somehow, Feliciano had stayed strong in their most desperate time.

Lovino gave his head a mental shake. 'There's no sense in thinking like that now...'

"Ve~! Hey big brother, that means that we're the center of attention now, right?" Feliciano's smile widened, and for a moment, showed genuine happiness.

Romano chuckled darkly, quickly erasing his brother's smile. "That isn't a good thing Veneziano. Do you really want the media breathing down your neck, all day, every day until they are done leeching off all of this?" The olive-skinned italian made a vague gesture with his hands. "When they are finished Veni, do you know what they'll do with you?"

Feliciano shook his head, a blank look on his face.

"They'll throw you away like a piece of garbage!" Lovino knew that he was being hard on his little brother, but he didn't want Feliciano to be exploited in such a way.

"But Romano..." Northern Italy whined, pouting a little.

His older brother groaned in annoyance. "If you really want to talk about it so badly, go talk with the potato bastard. I'm sure he could put up with you long enough for you to explain yourself."

Veneziano nearly knocked his older brother off the couch with the force of his hug. "Ve~! Romano, you're so smart~! Why didn't I think of going to visit Germany?" He grinned widely once again. "But, of course you'll have to come with me too, fratello!"

Lovino let out an indignant huff. "Of course not!" He scoffed, pushing his over-eager brother off, and crossing his arms. "You go by yourself! I don't want to have anything to do with that damn potato eater!"

By the time he had finished his sentence, Feliciano was already dragging Lovino out of the room by his hands.

"Come on Romano!" He shouted enthusiastically as they forced their way through the mobs of reporters and camera crews, finally ending up at Feliciano's car.

Speaking quickly, Lovino growled, "How do you expect us to get out of here Veneziano? We're surrounded by those bastards!"

Feliciano laughed shakily, "Trust me Roma, I know what I'm doing."

And with that, he revved the engine and sped directly across the front lawn, into the street. After nearly being t-boned by a large truck, which blared it's horn as it swerved, and almost hit by three other cars as Italy drove through incoming traffic, Lovino relinquished his grip on the leather seat beneath him and turned to his brother. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING YOU CRAZY BASTARDO?! YOU ALMOST KILLED US! Ay, Veneziano, NEVER do that again!"

Feliciano didn't reply, and his brother could see his chest was rising and falling rapidly.

"Hey Veneziano, let me drive." Lovino said quietly. It wasn't a suggestion; it was a command.

"Y-yes fratello." Italy said shakily, pulling into the nearest gas station and putting the car into park.

"That was insane Veni." Lovino said softly, shifting gears and keeping his eyes occupied with the road ahead of them.

Feliciano drew a shuddering breath. "I know."

The rest of their trip was dull, with few words exchanged between the brothers, both because they had to take turns alternating between driving and sleeping, and the fact that neither of them had anything of importance to say. Those four years had taught them to not waste your breath on meaningless drabble.

Soon they arrived at Germany's house, and they pulled into the long driveway. It had taken quite a long time to drive there, and it was now night time.

"I wonder if the potato bastard is even awake." Lovino wondered aloud.

Feliciano unceremoniously rammed the knocker into the door, and Lovino could hear it echoing throughout the house.

The door opened a crack, and Ludwig poked his head out.

"Italy? Where... H-how did... C-come in!" He opened the door fully, the warm light streaming out of the house momentarily blinding the two italians.

Germany lead them through the hall, and past a sleeping Prussian who was passed out on the couch, to a good-sized sitting room with two large, comfy looking recliners and another small couch. Feliciano and Lovino took the love seat, while Germany plopped down into one of the recliners.

"So..." The german began, running a hand through his golden-blond hair, "Where have you been for the past four years?" He was directing his question mainly at Northern Italy, but Romano knew that Germany had acknowledged his disappearance as well. Even if they didn't exactly get along, they were both nations, and if there was a threat to them, then it was not only his concern.

"Well, it all started when Romano and I went to that world meeting..."