He couldn't believe it, he thought as he stood outside the place he had been through hell in, it couldn't be real. As much as he wanted to believe it, the sun, the sky, the presence of all his friends, all alive, all breathing… he couldn't bring himself too.

There had been too many times, too many deaths, too many memories. It had to be a trick, a dream...

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Italy… no, Feliciano, turned his head. All of his friends were behind him, all with different things going on in their minds.

But he met their eyes and saw every single one of them was facing the same doubt he was. They were all trying to reassure each other that it was over.

To Feliciano, it seemed, there were two conflicting parts of his mind, one denying what he saw, that whispered, again, you must go back again. Then there was the other, the one he wanted so desperately to believe that told him, it's real, everything is going to be fine now.

He was starting to believe the first voice, but then the Italian felt the key in his hand. It was as real as anything else, as solid as could be, and that's when it really hit him.

They were free.

Tears ran down his face, and for the first time since they had entered that horrid mansion, he laughed. He actually laughed. It was not forced or part of his act. It was genuine.

The other countries saw this and it seemed to make it sink in for them as well. There was a chorus of laughs and cheers. Many of them were hugging the others, hardly being able to control their happiness. Most of them were crying right along with him. It was amazing, all of them together. The feeling of freedom was overwhelming.

Feliciano felt two arms wrap around him. He opened his eyes and immediately knew it was Lovino. His brother laughed. That was something he hadn't heard in… who knows how long.

"We won fratellino." Feliciano nodded, knowing exactly what he meant and returned the rare hug. The two stayed like that for a while and when Lovino let go, he was, well… red as a tomato. But he was still smiling.

The other nations who had been fighting from outside the mansion joined them. The world was united together. He wanted it to stay like this.

Ludwig walked to Feliciano, his blue eyes glinting with tears. He smiled and said the one thing every one of them could wait no longer to hear.

"Let's go home."

They set off together, leaving the mansion behind.

Hi, this is the first fanfic i've posted. I'm thinking about continuing it. Tell me what you think, but please don't criticize me... too be gentle. Leave me the will to write more fanfictions.