Chapter One: The Return

Austria, Hungary, and Italy were visiting Germany's house. To put it more accurately, Austria and Hungary were visiting his house, Italy had just waltzed in when the door was open. The whole purpose of the meeting between Austria and Germany was to discuss the annexing of Austria a few years back around WWII. He and Austria had gotten into an argument over the phone about it but Austria wanted to talk it out in person.

Hungary came along to make sure things did not get out of hand since Germany and Austria both had a temper. She had even considered wearing her military clothes and not her usual dress to show she meant business. Although, the dress matched her green eyes better and Austria would have noticed more than Germany since he knew her best. So she settled on the dress today.

Austria was completely silent since the moment he got into the house. He had a lot on his mind and he wanted to get this straightened out without misunderstanding so he didn't have to deal with it later. His commonly neat dark brown hair was a mess today with more than the one cowlick he usually had. He needed to relax, when he got home he was going to play Beethoven's Appassionata sonata, eat dinner, and go to bed.

He sat there waiting for Germany to come back after he went to the kitchen to get beverages. He absent mindedly rolled up his left sleeve of his long purple jacket it take him long to see a hole near the crook of his arm. He frowned at it and made a mental note to patch it up later. Yet another thing he had to take care of today.

Italy was invested with the conversation he had struck up with Hungary. They were talking about when he was little. The good ol' days. Those were the days he was still getting picked on and when he was separated from his brother. He had a bittersweet relationship with those memories but whenever he talked about them with Hungary he missed them. He nonchalantly twisted his curl in his russet colored hair until it was straight, when he let go it bounced back in to its original position. He heard footsteps reverberating, getting closer to his location and he straightened his blue tie. He didn't want to get yelled at by Germany again for being unorganized.

Germany entered the room and set out some coffee for his guests on the table in the center of the room. He was tired from the morning's workout and hoped the coffee would give him some more energy. He took one of the cups from the table for himself. "It seems we should get down to business." Germany said taking his seat trying not to spill his own cup on his clothes. He was about to say something else when he heard a knock at the door.

All talking in the room ceased, most countries just walked into to Germany's house that he was friends with and he didn't know about anyone else coming over.

"Who could that be...?" He got up and started to leave the room feeling three sets of eyes on him until he walked into the hall where his front door was. He opened it tentatively. Before him stood a man slightly shorter than him. He wore boots and a long black cape. The hat he bore was odd to Germany; it was tall and had a gold rim. He reminded him of Austria if he was blonde with blue eyes and he gave up the glasses. Of course if this was Austria, he would've said something by now instead of looking at him with a half scared half serious expression.

"Can I help you..?" Germany glanced down at him he didn't seem like a country or was he? He couldn't tell.

"Yes, I was told that Italy would be here... I need to talk to her." He sounded completely serious in his strong European accent. Could he seriously believe that Italy was a girl? A small smile graced Germany's face.

"I'm sorry but Italy is a he not a she, you do mean Veneziano yes?"

The stranger stood stunned for a moment then relaxed. "I guess that makes sense. Yes I do mean Veneziano. I was told he'd be with a country named Germany. I hope he remembers me if not... That will be fine. I just wanted to explain." He looked down sad. Germany did not know what to do in this situation. Should he send this stranger away or let him in? He must be a country if he knew Italy, but what happened between them to bring this? This story, this person to his doorstep? I'll ask him this; if he is really a country I'll let him see Italy.

"If I may ask, what is your name?" There was a considerable pause as the stranger looked at the ground.

"I am the Holy Roman Empire, please let me see him." Now it was Germany's time to be stunned. That country disappeared long before Germany was even alive. Could it really be true? Mein Gott, I said if he was a country… but what do I make of this? The Roman Empire came back before too but it was never like this.

"Fine. Follow me." Germany walked inside of his house again Holy Rome following him as he closed the door behind them.