Chapter 2

Alright! Two down! Thirteen more to go!

Germany felt Italy reach for his hand, gripping it tightly, and saw the tears threatening to spill.

Germany could relate but he knew he had to be strong for Veneziano. He needed it, this happened once every year.

But the pain that had come with the scars he had now were still fresh in his mind.

"D-Doitsu?" Italy sniffed and looked up at the Germanic nation.

"Yes Italy?" Germany turned to face his friends as they walked. He needed to get Italy somewhere quiet, away from everybody else.

"I…I-I'm so s-sorry." Italy gulped in air and Germany sat him down under a tree and the beginning of the forest they'd been walking too. "F-For l-leaving Y-You h-hate me don't you?"

Germany sat down beside the emotional nation and let him cry into his shoulder. "Italy, we go over this every year. I don't hate you."

"Th-Thank you Germany." Italy hugged the stoic nation and Germany awkwardly hugged him back.

It had been years since that time. But Germany had never been mad at Italy. He'd known it was for the best. He'd never been mad, he couldn`t be mad at Veneziano. He'd known what was coming.

He knew Hitler had seen it too; he'd just refused to acknowledge it. He'd put Germany and his people through so much, too much. Germany knew it wasn't right for Italy and his brother to have to go through that, that was why he'd let Italy go. It wasn't right.

Germany just wished he'd been able to do the same as Italy, to get his people away from the suffering. They'd been through too much.

Wished he hadn't been so greedy and so revenge driven to do the things he had.

"G-Germany?" Italy looked up at him. "Ve~? Are you okay?"

Germany nodded slowly. "Ja. I'm fine Italy. Just…remembering."

Italy buried his face into Germany's shirt again. "Me too."

*FLASHBACK*

Germany ignored the pain of his injuries as Italy hugged him hard. "D-Doitsu…P-please d-don't be m-mad. B-But I h-have too." He stuttered, unsure of what to say.

Germany ran a hand through Italy's hair to comfort him. "I know, Italy, I know."

Italy looked up at him with a guilty expression. "You do?"

Germany nodded. "Ja. No go. I'll see you when all this is over alright?"

"Pinky promise?"

Germany nodded reassuringly and held up his pinky to Italy's, interlocking them. "I promise."

Italy smiled sadly. "Thank you Germany."

Germany nodded slowly, not sure of what to do and carefully pried Italy off of him. "You need to go now."

"But Ger-" Italy began and Germany cut him off.

"Go. Please Italy, just go."

Italy turned and took a few steps forward, looking back and waving farewell with tears running down his cheeks before disappearing.

Part of him wanted Italy to turn around and run back.

But the rest of Germany knew this was for the best.

*END FLASHBACK*

Quietly Germany spoke and Italy joined him halfway through. "Between the crosses row on row."