AN- At the beginning Romano really hates on Germany, but that's just how he is. In no way shape or form do I actually think that about Germans; in fact, I am part German…

Last Chapter Translations:
Ich liebe dich mein kleiner italiener- I love you my little Italian

ALSO, thank you to bandgeek5100 for being the only one to favorite my story.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN

"This is ridiculous mio fratello, why must we deal with these potato loving, German bastardi" Lovino asked his younger brother. When there was no answer he looked at the boy, he was fiddling with the chain around his neck distractedly. "WHY ARE YOU SPACING OUT?" Lovino yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Ah, sorry Lovi Please don't hate me!" the younger man cried, his tears tugging at Lovino's heart. Sighing he sat down next to his brother.

"Feli, how did you ever become general like this?" he sighed and put his arm around Feliciano, knowing full well that it was because, despite how he looked and acted he was strong. "Anyways, wipe your eyes before those German douches get here and see you whining all over the place."

As soon as Feliciano had finished drying his eyes with the rough sleeve of his jacket the double doors to the room slammed open, two men in similar uniforms marched into the room. Their uniforms held multiple medals all of them just as impressive as the last. However that's not what caught Feliciano's eyes, it was the blonde he seemed so familiar yet his eyes seemed cold and he had the demeanor of a man without many friends. He remained straight and at attention even when his white haired accompaniment relaxed.

"Hallo, I am Gilbert the commander of the East German Task Force," the white haired man said, and though his tone was friendly but his blood red eyes glinted making him seem almost malicious. "and this is mein bruder West Germany's Task Force commander, Ludwig." Feliciano's eyes widened a bit trying to get a glance at the blonds face, but he looked as though he was purposely hiding underneath the hat. This was Germany; surely they had a lot of tall and well built, blonde men named Ludwig here so it couldn't be his Ludwig.

Feliciano mental y flinched at the thought his Ludwig, the Ludwig he'd loved was never actually his and that'd been proven that morning so long ago when he woke up to an empty bed that morning. Even the note didn't tell him much about why his lover had left, nor had it said that there was ever any love aimed towards the Italian. Though the he still wore the cross that'd been left alongside the note he still felt that the love he'd experienced that summer was one-sided on his part, and was completely unable to do anything about it.

When Lovino nudged him, he realized that he'd been spacing out. "Umm, I am General Vargas and this is mio fratello Commander Lovino Vargas" he introduced himself. As the four shook hands he realized that the blonde was more obviously hiding his face.

"Well it will certainly be a pleasure working with you" Gilbert said as he raked his eyes up and down the Vargas brothers, he just couldn't see what about Italian men that held his younger brothers attention; well actually just one, the one whose photo was still in his brothers wallet, even now that ten years have passed. He sighed, the boy probably was married by now and had forgotten about the very thing that kept Ludwig—the boy he'd practically raised from birth- from getting married and having kids. Of course Ludwig – and everyone else for that matter—didn't know about what he thought about the whole situation, it would ruin his image as the awesome Gilbert and he couldn't have that.

He had just gone back to checking out the two, when his brother spoke up for the first time since entering the room just 15 minutes before. All he was talking about was the training schedule, and rules that the Italian army needed to know, as well as things like where the sleeping and eating quarters were located; all stuff he'd heard before or knew instinctively. What was odd though was the fact that every so often he would pull his hat down a little to cover his face more. As well the smaller Italian was obviously trying to get a good look at his face. What was going on here? Did they know each other?

Looking closely at the very unbelievably small looking general. When they first entered the room, he had been wiping tears from his eyes. Now he stood staring at Ludwig, who was often described as terrifying; all the while he played with a necklace. The necklace as he realized was the Eisernes Kreuz, it was an older version with silver lining the onyx cross. His own Eisernes Kreuz was the more modern blue and silver, the last time the government had issued a black and silver was around 20 years after the Third Reich ended a particularly disturbing piece of his country's history. So why did this small Italian man have one?

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Ludwig stood just outside of the ornate double doors, waiting for his brother to catch up. He'd already taken a peek inside at the room at the two men standing there. Both men were small with a lock of hair that seemed as though it was defying gravity. Not showing how surprised he was when the angry looking one screamed he backed out of the room as the other began to cry. Was the entire Italian army like this? Perhaps training their armies together was a poor choice. He turned when he heard the tell tale sounds of heavy boots hitting the marble floor.

"Bruder? Are you waiting for me? Such a good boy!" he was used to his older brothers taunting and jokes by now that he didn't even blink when his brother used a voice that normal people would reserve only for talking to pets and newborn children.

"Are you finally done hitting on the secretary now?" he asked his tone as serious as always.

"Nope!" his brother exclaimed grinning. "She's coming to the bar with me tonight. You coming too?" Ludwig looked at his brother trying to gauge if he was serious or not. There was absolutely no way that he was going to join Gilbert, Francis, and Antonio. Those three were a recipe for disorder and destruction that he'd had no part in since joining the army. He shook his head, partly in response to the invitation, however mostly to shake the memory of his first love.

He opened the door and walked stiffly into the room. Once again he peaked at the two men standing next to the conference table that they normally held Task Force meetings at. The smaller of the two was playing with something around his neck. Ludwig was about to follow his brothers example by removing his hat. however as he reached up to do so he saw the small one look at him even more so intently than what he himself had done. This allowed him to catch a glimpse of the necklace just as the other boy Lovino introduced him.

Commander Feliciano Vargas

It couldn't be him Ludwig thought, however he found himself pulling the visor down further onto his face successfully hiding his eyes and facial structure from view of Feliciano. He explained where things were, rules, and that if they needed him to just ask anyone who wore the Eisernes Kreuz if they needed any help. With that he marched from the room quickly, not hearing the nearly soundless walker behind him.

Mio Fratello- My Brother
Bastardi- Bastards
Mein Bruder- My Brother
Eisernes Kreuz- Iron Cross (a German uniform decoration)