Italy looked over to the German sitting at the kitchen table. The room was already filled with the mouth-watering scent of pasta and tomato-sauce. In contrast to the rest of the house the kitchen was very modern with shining surfaces and a huge fridge. Ludwig hadn't said a single word since he had left the living-room 20 minutes ago. "Ve~ I don't understand. What's wrong with big brother France meeting your… well… daughter?" Blue eyes glared dangerously at the brown-haired Italian and caused him to retreat back to the stove and the bubbling pots. He always felt so self-conscious under those eyes and he could feel them burning on his skin even though he broke the eye-contact in favor of stirring the hot sauce. "I am sorry Italy." Germany leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of his chest. With a deep sigh he slowly started talking. "These are hard times, Feli. The world economy isn't what it used to be just a few years ago. I can't allow myself any weaknesses and loosing territory is definitive a weakness."

The smaller man carefully filled three plates with delicious pasta. He handed one of them to Ludwig and placed the other two on the table. As he sat down beside his friend he asked. "So, you think big brother would steal Saarland?" The blond used a fork to aimlessly poke through his lunch before impaling a few noodles with more force then necessary. "Oh ja. It wouldn't be the first time. He already tried it two times. After the First World War he occupied Saarland and included her into his nation. She came back crying and I took her in again. A few years later, after World War Two, he tried to pull the same thing off again but the other Allies stopped him. So Saara only fell under French jurisdiction but stayed part of my nation. Gott, das Mädchen lernt einfach nicht dazu. (God, the girl doesn't learn anything.)" While listening Italy had gobbled down half of his pasta. He looked up from his plate to examine the others face. It was still handsome with a strong jaw-line and wonderful lips. Feliciano's tongue darted out to wet his own. The only things worrying him were the dark shadows under Ludwig's eyes. He hadn't noticed them before. Was Germany getting sick? Maybe he really had some economic problems. He wanted to help, like Ludwig always helped him but all he could think of at the moment was "Don't worry. Everything is going to be alright. I'm sure of it." Germany tiredly returned his smile the hand next to his plate moving as if he wanted to touch Italy's fingers but he stopped before their skin could touch instead turning around as the kitchen door opened to reveal Pala and her bird. Ludwig shook his head in silent dismissal and continued to eat. The girl took the chair an Italy's other side and tried a fork full of pasta. "Hm, it's very good Italy." The nation beamed with happiness. He loved to cook for others and even more if they liked his food. "But do you know what would go well with it?" She got up and walked over to one of the cabinets on the wall. "Ve~ What?" "A glass of red wine." When she came back to the two men Italy could see she was carrying an expensive looking bottle of wine. "You drink wine?" He accepted a glass with the deep red beverage which was shimmering like liquefied rubies. "Why so surprised?" Pala sat down again and nipped on her wine. Feliciano did the same and enjoyed the fruity taste of it. "Ve~ Ludwig doesn't like vino, so I assumed…" The girl laughed which caused her soft hair to fall back over her shoulders. "I like beer too but sometimes I prefer wine. You know I'm famous for my vineyards along the Rhine." She picked a noodle from her plate fed it to her Elwetritsche which sat on the table between her and the young man. He smiled and finished his lunch in a few heartbeats.

"Pala, after you finish your lunch I want you to bring Saarland home." Ludwig suddenly said pushing away his almost untouched pasta. The girl pouted slightly but nodded her head.

-oOo-

In the afternoon Italy used the time Germany was doing paperwork in his office to settle down in one of the upstairs guest bedrooms. He hadn't brought anything from his house but after rummaging through the wardrobe in the guestroom he found the clothes he had left at Germany's main house in Berlin after his last visit. He could see a lake from his window. Maybe he could walk there tomorrow and take a swim and maybe he could convince Ludwig to join him. He giggled and let the sunrays that fell through the open window warm his face. After a few minutes he decided to sit down on the sill and watch the birds or people passing by.

But not much time had passed when the peaceful silence in and around the house was disturbed by loud and dry coughing. It startled Italy who was dozing off leaning against the window frame. He squeaked "Veeee~" and fell to the floor with a loud thump. When another coughing fit could be heard from downstairs he got up rubbing his throbbing backside. "Ahi! (ouch!)"

Feliciano followed the noise still rubbing his bum while descending the stairs. This didn't sound good, not at all. It was a scratchy and unpleasant sound and Italy's hand was shaking as he reached out for the doorknob to enter the spacious office. Germany was standing there coughing and heavily leaning on a massive wooden desk for support. His face was pain stricken, his eyes closed tightly. Just as Italy entered the room with an unsure step and the parquet creaked under his weight Ludwig's supporting hand slipped from the edge of the desktop and his knees gave out under him. Honey-colored eyes went wide and the smaller nation rushed through the room to sling his arms around the blonde's waist and support his weight for him before he could hit his head on the hard wooden surface. He groaned under the load of the muscular body and he knew for a fact that he couldn't support Germany for long, so he did the only thing he could think of and let his friend slowly glide to the floor before collapsing next to him. "Ve~ Germany can you hear me?" His voice shook like his hands and the rest of his body. Ludwig opened his eyes; they were dull and unfocused but still searching his face. Before he could answer his body cramped with a new series of coughs. Italy was pale and didn't know what to do so his wide and round eyes scanned the room for anything that could be helpful. Maybe he should call somebody? He tried to get up but before he got to his feet cold fingers closed around his wrist and held him in place. "Ludwig?"

"Help me up, Feliciano." This voice that was so familiar to Italy sounded way to thin and weak. "No, you shouldn't move. I'll call for help." He replied smoothing back wet strands of blond hair. Ludwig's forehead felt hot to the touch, a hint of sweat covering it. It was an unnerving contrast to his icy-cold fingers. "No, I'm fine. Just help me up." Italy wasn't convinced at all. "Ve~ Lud…" "Italy stop it and do what I've told you." The German said stubbornly. He sighed and slung one of Germany's arms around his neck. With all his strength he pulled the German to his feet. After the job was done sweat was dripping from both their faces. "It seems I have worked a bit too much these last days. I should rest a bit." The blond was swaying on his feet and Italy couldn't let go of his hand for fear that the tall man would fall again. "I'll help you upstairs." Feliciano cautiously tucked on his hand. "No, Feliciano. I'm fine. I can go by myself." Germany freed his hand from the Italian's grasp and turned towards the door. "Ve~ But you should be careful. I mean you just collap…"

"I slipped. It's ok, Feli." The German vanished through the door-frame and the small nation could hear the stairs creaking under heavy steps. He was exhausted from supporting Ludwig and he was more than confused about Germany's behavior. Why wouldn't he let Italy help him when he was obviously under pain? Didn't he trust Italy enough to admit such a thing? Maybe he thought the nation was too weak to help him anyway. Tears gathered in the Italian's eyes.

"Scheiße!" A loud thud came from the hallway. A single tear rolled down Italy's cheek as he hurried towards the staircase. Ludwig had almost made it to the first floor before his legs betrayed him again. "Idiota." The murmured word escaped the Italian's mouth. Blood was trickling down the side of the fair-haired nations face. He seemed to have hit his head on the ironwork handrail. This time he didn't turn down Feliciano's hand.

Nevertheless the Italian couldn't ignore the feeling of hurt that was gnawing on his heart. Was a bleeding gash necessary for Germany to accept his help?

What could have happened to cause this? We will see in the next chapter ;) I hope you liked it.

Yes, Pala is not very happy about her job because Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate don't go well together (that's actually quite true in some regions XD )

And I know it's annoying but I can't hold myself back. Please review *German puppy dog eyes*

Love you :*