Ludwig was really glad he had been invited here.
It was only seven years ago, when he and his boss had agreed to a closer co-operation between him and Francis. It was a small step but he believed that it had been the right one. Never again should something like World War II happen and he knew that he was the one responsible for that. Although he had wanted to prove himself a worthy ally for the West he hadn't dared to be the one to do the first step.
He had been so happy when Francis came to ask him for an Union, even though it was only for economical reasons. It had been the first time in years when he hadn't been treated as the criminal he knew he was.
It was astonishing, that Francis was the one to propose that. Francis of all people, with whom he had been sworn enemies for over 80 years. Ludwig didn't question Francis notion. He was just glad that someone was willingly to take him out of his isolation this soon and quickly agreed to anything Francis proposed.
It was surprisingly nice working together with him. Ludwig was sure to gain a little of the trust the other Europeans had had in him back after he had destroyed it so vilely. Even though both, he and Francis, had been suspecting towards each other at first, they started to feel better around each other, better that they had ever felt around the other. Francis, too, had been to a ruff time and now loosing more and more influence over the last few years gave him an even harder time. But at last, the tow of them started to act friendly towards one another, for the first time since the beginning 19th century, a time Ludwig barely remembered. Both believed that if there was to be peace in Europe for the first time in millenniums, first there had to be peace between them.
Though only one year after deciding a co-operation between them, the plan for a Union which included all of Western Europe failed due to Arthur's veto. Ludwig still feared that this may had happened because of him, but again, it was Francis who cheered him up.
To his dear Feliciano Ludwig had had no contact since the war and even at official meetings between their bosses they tried to avoid each other. He did not dare to think of the little Italian since it hurt so much. And again it had been up to Francis to cheer in his dark hours. Now, the self-declared county of love had even opened him a way to be more with his dear Feliciano again, the one person in the world he longed for most.
Today the final treaties should be signed in Rome and they, besides Francis, him and the both Italian brothers also the BeNeLux countries, would form a community to prevent any future war between them and to get a common market.
Everyone was being so nice, much nicer Ludwig had expected them to be still thinking that he didn't deserve this. He had always to remind himself not to distrust them though. He knew that he was getting back on his feet again now thanks to Alfred's kind help and that he could rely on said American who had proven himself a friend so short after Ludwig becoming an official county again. Every move he made on political stage was being thought thew, was being thought about how Alfred might react to what it did and then to do as the American wished. Only too good he knew that without help, he would be Ivan's next victim. He wanted to be part of the Western World so much that he choose that even above getting back together with his brother.
Ludwig needed the others more than they needed him, at least that's what he thought. Of course he knew deep down that Alfred was using him as a shield against communism, but he didn't care. This way, he could at least be of use to anyone and perhaps repay a bit of his debt. He always had questioned his value after what he had done to so many people. Everyday he had to find an excuse to go on living. But still he could sense the fear the others had of him, all the cold shoulders he was getting from anyone but Francis.
"Why are you pulling that face again, Allemagne?", a familiar voice asked him, pulling him out of his thoughts. Ludwig didn't even have to look up to know that the French man was standing in front of him, looking at him in disapproval and something other Ludwig didn't quite being able to put his finger on.
"I was thinking", he replied.
"Come on, you think too much. The only thing it does is leaving wrinkles on your young face. Besides, sweet Feliciano has organized some really delicious wine to celebrate the treaty and I don't want to miss that", Francis said, flipping his long blond hair back, before taking Ludwig's hand and leading him towards room where the other five were waiting for them.
Francis had been right, Ludwig had to give him at least that much. The wine was really tasty, even Ludwig, being not much of a wine drinker himself, could tell that. Since he had moved to a region where more wine was drunken than beer he had started to drink wine occasionally but not that often as for example Francis or the two Italians did. But still he liked beer more.
The celebration itself was rather stiff like always on those occasions. Even though they like, or at least didn't hate each other, they didn't fully trust each other due to centuries of fighting. Well, maybe one person in that room did hate all the others, but everyone was used to Lovino getting angry at nothing and sulking occasionally. He had come anyway, most likely because of his little brother begging him to come. Ludwig by all means avoided to look Feliciano in the eye. The treason almost 15 years ago, even though he could understand it now, still did hurt too much.
Thinking of that again, he gulped down all the rest of his wine. At first, he hadn't noticed, but that sweet red wine indeed was an alcoholic beverage and contained quiet a bit of it. Just now, he didn't care about that. On the contrary, yet it was even pleasant because he could drown his pain in that wine, at least a bit of it. He didn't plan on getting really drunk. Francis refilled his glass almost in the same moment, Ludwig had emptied it.
During the whole celebration, Francis was a help to Ludwig, someone he could talk to without getting accusing looks, someone he had started to trust over the last few years even though it still felt strange. Around France he now, for the first time in over half a century, felt like being taken care of, not being distrusted or even feared.
And Francis did take care of him very well, so well it was easy for Ludwig to think of him as a friend; not because his boss told him so but because he wanted to. At the end of the celebration, when the others went home on their own and only the two of them were left, they went out for a walk to get the alcohol out of their system. The chilly night air did them good and Rome was a beautiful city for a walk.
"All the antique buildings around here make me feel like wandering through the past", Francis suddenly said. "It's a beautiful city, non?"
"Indeed it is, the whole country is", Ludwig said. And nobody knows the northern part of it as good as you, non?, Francis added in thoughts. "But Paris is still more beautiful than Rome", Ludwig added, blushing slightly.
"So?" Francis raised an eyebrow. "Is that how you really feel about it, mon petit Louis? Don't try to impress me with compliments, mon cher. I invented being charming and you... ah, well, let's just say it's not really your cup of tea. You know, showing feelings and such." Francis laughed at the blushing German. He always had his fun while making the other feel uncomfortable talking about his favorite subject, L'Amour. But he didn't just aim at making the stiff German blush, he was also interested in making in the answer to his questions. "Well, my dear, is there anyone... special in your life? You can tell big brother France, I won't give you away to her – or him by all means." There he went again.
The flush on Ludwig's cheeks became more intense and his ears ware almost burning. So easy to read little Louis's mind, Francis thought. But to his great disappointment, Ludwig lied: "No, there's no one."
"Come on, don't lie. I won't tell. What about... say...Feliciano?", Francis teased.
Ludwig flinched from the sound of that name. "... was. But that's then and now's now.",he replied in a low voice.
"So now there is someone else?", the Frenchman went on.
"No", was the quick reply. After thinking about it though, Ludwig admitted: "Well, I don't know. All I know is, that it's not Feliciano anymore. Maybe there is someone else, but I can't tell."
"O ho ho, mon petit Louis can't tell. And if he could, about who would he tell me?", Francis laughed. But he was serious with this question. He was interested in the answer, more than anything else. He had cursed himself so often in the last few years that he had never before noticed how handsome and sexy his eastern neighbor could be when he wanted to. Which happened way to seldom in the Frenchman's opinion. Now, when he finally had noticed that the not-so-little blond was quite desirable, everything went his way without having to do anything. Gilbert was too far away to interfere and had problems of his own, and little Feliciano had hurt poor Louis so badly that they didn't even talk to each other anymore.
They had now reached the banks of the Tiber River. The water glittered in the starlight as they both watched the water pass by, Ludwig still fighting with himself to bare his soul to Francis.
With a final sight, he gave up.
"If I was able to tell you, who it was and if I was sure about what I feel... it'd be you, I love, Francis..."
A/N: So, how did you like it? I would be very thankful for reviews.
I plan on three more chapters, maybe four depends on how much time and ideas I have for this. But since I'm currently in love with this pairing even though it's by no means one of my top three favorites it looks good for this story to be finished one day (soon). Rating will go up after future chapters.