.~.~.~.~.

"Roma…" South Italy stirred slightly, clenching his eyes tighter shut.

"Romano…"

Dammit, who was calling for him at this hour? Granted, he had no idea what time it was, but he wanted to sleep so it was early enough!

"Romano! Wake up!" THUMP!

"GAH!" He jolted awake, thrust out of dreamland when a gigantic weight suddenly deposited itself around his waist, knocking the wind right out of him.

"Romano! Thank goodness you're awake! You were sleeping like the dead, it took me forever to wake you, but you were making sad sounds and it sounded like you were having a nightmare so I couldn't just let you sleep…"

…Wait. He knew that voice. But it couldn't be…

South Italy looked down to meet bright green eyes that all rational parts of his mind said he would never see again.

"S-Spain?" Surely this was an illusion, something made up by his sleep deprived mind. He was hallucinating…wasn't he?

He stared at Spain for a moment before blinking and shaking his head, but those green eyes only slid shut and opened again, curious and worried.

"Yes?" Spain answered, cocking his head to the side slightly like he always did when he was confused about something. The familiarity tore at his heart. It couldn't be, but…

It was. Antonio was alive.

"Are you okay? Usually you're yelling at me and telling me to get off by now…not that I mind, I like holding you, but…" He squeezed his arms tighter around South Italy's waist for emphasis, expression growing more concerned.

Despite himself, tears welled up in South Italy's eyes, blurring his vision and making his throat constrict as his heart leapt up into it.

He was alive. It was too good to be true.

"Wah! Don't cry! Was the dream really that scary? It's okay! Tell me about it, Boss Spain will make it better!"

"Shhhh-Shut up, i-idiot…" South Italy choked out through the tears, for once accepting Spain's smothering.

He had never thought he would miss Spain's touch this much.

.~.~.~.~.