Second-last chapter here, at Sunday as promised. The next is set to the Sunday after the next, I think, but do not take it too serious - I am both forgetful and impatient, so it can go either way.

Warning: Look in first chapter

Disclaimer: Look in first chapter

Now you just read on:

They sat by the table from earlier, the food still out and ready to be eaten. They were side by side, Austria readying his food and giving worried glances to the crying girl beside him. He had no real knowledge of how to handle her and instead waited for the worst of it to be over. She wasn't sobbing as bad now, so it was good. Apparently Prussia's remark hit her deeply. Inconsiderate idiot.

He took the first bite of his food, finally turning to look at her and talk to her. "Please calm down, Liechtenstein. I dislike when you are unhappy. It hurts the heart to see such a face filled with tears." When she didn't react he finally moved his hand to the side and laid it on her shoulder.

It seemed to have a magical effect, that small, physical contact. She started, making him flinch and draw back immediately, as if crying, starting small nations were white hot pieces of metal. But being reminded of the physical world she looked up, her faces streaked with tears and marked by her sadness. When they got eye contact she was fast to turn away, as if ashamed.

"I really did f-… destroy everything, didn't I?"

The expression on his face changed, deep sadness getting into it. It was the most expressive he had allowed himself to be since she came, and when he once more moved to touch her, actually taking his arm around her shoulder, he didn't flee back when she flinched. "Nein… Nein, I honestly do not believe it to be so. While we both probably disagree with many things she says, Elizaveta has been right about some things. He shouldn't control you. And throwing you out was too far."

The words were in no way comforting and Lily bit her lip, once more wanting to protect her B- Switzerland. Protect Switzerland from the insults these strangers put him through. She just didn't know that Austria wasn't a stranger like all the other people she could talk to about this.

"He overreacted. You cannot deny me that, dear Liechtenstein." His fingers stroked her shoulder like she was a valuable instrument. It was soothing, though overly delicate. "You know his temper. As far as I have seen Va-… Switzerland hasn't changed in the years since I knew him… at least not his foundation, his deeper personality. He has become colder, yes, and for that I am at fault."

There was a short blink and then Lily turned her head to the side, her tearful eyes looking up at him in confusion. Of course she knew they had been friends once. Long ago, far back before she had even come to be. But no one ever talked about it, and the only ones who seemed to truly know what had been going on were the two involved… and Vash didn't speak. Might be Austria…?

"But that is not what I wanted to say." No, apparently not. "What I intended to say is that with him it is possible it was a spur in the moment thing. He tends to be irrational when met with unexpected things and can react violently and over the top during them. But when he calms down, in a few days or so, it might be possible for you to get back to him. For that is what you truly want, isn't it?"

Liechtenstein seemed to brighten at the question while Austria finally drew back from her and continued to eat. Her eyes shone as she stared at the one person she found to maybe understand her and how she felt. "Yes. Yes, that is was I want. More than anything."

The aristocrat gave a nod. "I thought so, and I cannot blame you. Do eat, I can see your plate was left untouched. Did you truly neglect yourself just to go into my piano room? I play more than once a day, it could have waited." She turned away again, actually grabbing the food she had left and took a bite. It was as though only now she felt truly hungry.

As though this was the first time since she left her former home… her home? … that she felt happy. If just a little bit. "Do you really think… he would take me back? Even if I… didn't tell him…"

It became hard for Austria to answer, as he could feel how her mood had lightened. But as he had said, he was quite sure he knew Vash. He knew his stubbornness as well as he knew the man's care, and the slight she had put him through might have been too much… even though he would never have reacted so harshly to that back when they were together…

It might be the girl had meant and did mean more to him than Austria ever had, and if that was the case the aristocrat would envy her. But a part of him also wondered if that might have been one change in the Swiss compared to when they knew each other. That he had gotten even more overprotective… more overcaring… more observant… than he had been back in the days.

"We can only hope so." Somehow the thought of that kind of change made Austria feel sad… and he didn't understand why. "But if that's not the case… If he refuses to take you back…"

The man grew silent, his face turning away slightly. The actions got Liechtenstein to bite her lip, and though the thought he trailed off at was likely to hurt her she was too worried about the older nation – and too curious – to let it pass. "If so, then… then what?" Her eyes were glistening slightly.

The question got his attention back to her, and he looked nearly pain. "If he refuses to take you back and if he… shuns you. Just remember that you have been blessed to know him. V-… Switzerland is a peculiar man. He is as special as he is odd compared to the rest of us, and that marks him… But it also marks the few people who got to be close to him. The only two."

His hand moved to take hers, taking it. "It will hurt. It will hurt to lose him. He is a great man, even though he is so small. Like so many he has morale and ideas and thoughts, but… unlike most he stands up for them. He is… 'picky' with the people he chooses to care for, but the care he gives those goes beyond the one of any of I have met. He keeps his promises and he… He has that thing I can't explain. An… aura…?"

He looked to her to know if she understood and he found her nodding, much to his relief. That little thought had been with him for long and he had been frightened it might be some insane illusion his mind had created. But even without him elaborating she could understand… the only other person in the world that might understand him actually agreed.

"He feels… safe, somehow. Even though he isn't… expressive or… smiles or… anything… he feels safe. Like a person you can trust even though you don't even know him and he doesn't know you." Her voice was feeble as she moved her other hand to hold his too, stroking the back of it. It felt strong… from playing music, she guessed. "I felt it… even the very first time I saw him in the rain."

And there she just explained what he had been trying to explain to himself for the last hundreds of years. The smallest, saddest smile found his face. "Like… he was a person you are certain would never, ever hurt you. Who would never make the first strike even with that awful temper…"

The nod she gave was curt. Short and small. New tears formed in her eyes and she wiped them away with her sleeve again. "And now… I hurt him." She sniffled and looked up at Austria who was trying to get his handkerchief out of his pocket. "You say he keeps his promises, and I… I know you are right. But…" New tears. He gave her the piece of fabric and she used it, wiping it over her face with a pained expression. "He promised he would never hate me, and…"

Austria stared at her with a shocked expression. "He promised you that?" She gave him a sniffling nod and then the saddest smile settled in Austria's face, his eyes downcast. The composed man actually let her see the person hiding beneath the aristocratic appearance. For while it was a part of him, it didn't make him emotionless. "… Then I cannot believe he hates you."

The voice he used sounded utterly hopeless, as though he had no hope for her to ever be together with Switzerland again. And that despite the fact that the words he uttered should only fill her with hope. It was said with a voice so desperately drained and… and with a hint of longing.

That was when the pieces fit in her mind. "You still care for him, don't you?" she asked, looking at him again and once more holding his hand in both of hers. The look in his face was a mirror of the tone in his voice, so deeply depressed it hurt her heart nearly as much as her own pain.

The violet orbs just watched her a moment. Then they closed, and he slowly tried to collect himself and his composure. "I do not think it possible to not care for a person that you have just praised as much as I have praised him in the last few minutes. Yes. I care for him. I never stopped." He fixed the glasses upon his nose, his eyes suddenly faltering to look at the view outside the window. "V-… Switzerland taught me many things… He taught me to stand up for myself instead of just let others kick me around. He… he changed me, made me stronger, as though his strength is contagious."

And once more the Liechtensteiner understood exactly what he meant. "How much?"

"Pardon?"

"How much do you care for him?"

The man blinked, for a moment surprised. Her voice had suddenly become strong, and so had the look in the green eyes. Then he looked out the window again, staring at the view of his country. It was an odd question, he thought. Yet he was in no doubt. "I care enough to want to do everything to get him back. But Vash does… yes, Vash doesn't want me." He emphasized the name, breaking his own rule to not use it. A rule because it hurt. It just became four times harder when talking about him.

Then he looked at her again, and he once more saw that sudden strength in her gaze. For a moment they looked at each other, as though caught in silent conversation. As though Liechtenstein was demanding something. Then a smile spread on his face as he understood and he gave her a nod, making her smile as well. "Would you mind checking on my piano? I need to make a phone call."

Even though he seemed fully calm on the outside the simple thought of picking up the phone and press that number made his heart beat like the hooves of a galloping horse. Liechtenstein had moved to the piano room already, and though he felt uncomfortable there was no way he would back down from their silent agreement.

V-Switzerland was probably at work anyway. He always worked, and he would do so at this hour as well. So the phone wouldn't be picked up anyway, if everything was according to the norm. He lifted the hand piece of the old fashioned phone to his ear and pressed the number.

It beeped. And beeped again. Another beep…

"Yes, this is Vash Zwingli's house. Who am I talking to?"

That was his voice, and though contorted by the phone Austria got a sudden feeling something was… was… wrong. Even if the man sounded like he always did… or tried to. There was something in the edge, even though it might just be the phone that did it…

"This is Austria calling. I would like to inform you that a young, female nation arrived at my doorstep last night." And now Austria noted how he suddenly had a scolding voice. And he already now figured out this was about to go very wrong.

"And?"

The voice sounded uncaring. That peeved the aristocrat enormously. "And I heard what happened."

"So?"

"I would like to tell you that you are overreacting."

"So?"

"It would be best if you came over here and talked to her instead of hiding back home."

"…" There was a long silence then, where he could hear some deep breathing. From what Austria could feel the Swiss was getting angrier by the second. Silence still, no yelling yet. He began thinking he might be successful in his mission. Then he was proven wrong.

"And?"

Now Roderich was the one getting angry. "And I think you owe her to treat her better. She is a fine, young lady and deserves better than-"

"How many times have you been married?"

The musician blinked, taken off guard by the question. Then he sneered, his temper getting worse, and unlike with Gilbert Vash was often able to really anger him. "That has nothing to do with this."

"Exactly – like you have nothing to do with what is going on between her and me!"

"I have when she comes to my doorstep, soaked to the bone in rain and feeling like shit!" he snarled before the man could cut off the phone, not noticing the word he had used.

"Thank you for getting that stupid, prissy façade away. But what she does is none of my business."

"Unfortunate you didn't think so before this happened."

"What the fuck are you saying?!"

"I'm saying that you are at fault for all of this, so don't you dare blame or punish her for anything!"

The scene Liechtenstein came in to see was a very amusing one. At some point the anger had drained out of the two fighters, or at least the female fighter who had been the most furious to begin with. It might have something to do with the fact that she was sitting on his back with him on the floor and had one of his arms wrenched onto his back while the yellow bird was chirping wildly and had a lock of her brown hair in its mouth – hair that was pulled at fiercely, like it could make her move from its owner. In the corner laid the pan, its wooden handle broken.

No instruments had been damaged in the making of that scene.

The girl couldn't help but giggle when she saw the scene, causing both of them to look at her. Then Prussia frowned at her, looking displeased. "Don't laugh! Zhis iz not funny!" he demanded, trying to squirm away from the brunette. "Get her off me!"

The squirming earned him a press against his caught arm, making the Prussian whine and fight harder to get free. "Oh, stop whining," the Hungarian giggled, sounding innocent but looking anything but. Obviously she was satisfied with being on top, knowing her female body was a disadvantage and therefore twice as happy that she could still make men fall beneath her feet.

"Let me go, wench! You're so unawesome!" He kicked out, trying to hit her back but doing nothing but looking like a fish caught on land, helpless and miserable. Above him Gilbird was still trying to drag the woman away by the single lock of hair. "I don't understand why zhe hell anyone would ever want to have sex with you. You'd do it only to steal zheir cocks! Does Specs even still have his? You have to be a lezbian!"

She pressed a little harder against his arm, a determined look on her face. "Excuse me, Gil, I don't think I really heard what you were saying~" He opened his mouth to answer, obviously fighting the pain in his shoulder by the treatment. Then she pushed another little bit harder to get her point across and suddenly… a deep, throaty moan escaped his lips.

She released some of the pressure from his shoulder, staring at him for a moment. There was a deep silence in the room. Gilbert's pale face flushed a deep red and he seemed to be trying to hide it from her, pressing it against the floor. Then the Hungarian laughed, long and hard and loud. "What was that?" she grinned, staring down at him again.

"Nozhing."

"Oh, really?" She pressed again, experimenting, and then reached the same point of pressure as before. Prussia's back arched, as if he was trying to escape, his lips firmly closed and his teeth biting down said lips. It didn't stop it, though. Another moan came and he closed his eyes, flushing even deeper. That shouldn't be possible, though.

"Is that 'nozhing'?" the Hungarian laughed, letting his shoulder be relieved for a moment only to do it again. Either it was to be sure or… well, she was probably just having fun. In the doorway Lily stood, staring, not understanding what they were doing…

Another moan broke through the albino's closed mouth and his ears began flushing as well. She looked down at him, a crooked smile on her face though there was a smile as well. "Are you serious, Gil? I thought it was only Germany." She relieved the shoulder again, raising an eyebrow.

"…"

"Oh, come on, don't do that. Seriously. Besides, it's cute."

"It'z not cute." Another giggle from the woman topping him and she pressed again, just for the kicks of hearing him moan. "Seriously, woman, you'll break zhe shoulder!" the Prussian yelled miserably, struggling again and giving himself more pain in the process. Damn that stupid bitch.

Finally the confusion got too much for the young nation and she spoke. "What are you doing?"

Both of them turned their heads to stare at her, apparently having forgotten that she was there. Then it was Hungary's turn to blush, feeling embarrassed, and as Prussia started grinning she let go of his arm, letting him get it in a more comfortable position with a deep groan. The Hungarian looked down on him, fighting off her blush. "I thought you would have told her."

"Oi! We aren't nearly zhat far in our relacionship!" This got Hungary to look at him in a mix of confusion and surprise. Prussia didn't see, still lying on his stomach. "I'm not trying to break zhe girl, she iz too precious. 'Sides, it'z not the Awesome Me's responsibility!"

"…" The Hungarian looked at him for a moment. Then she snorted in amusement, shaking her head slightly. "You expect Switzerland to do it? I know I don't know him that well, but he seems even more awkward than your brother." Lily was still staring at them in confusion, not understanding.

"I will in time, if we ever get that far! It'z not like I plan on starting with her right around zhe corner! She'z still even unused to zhe kizzing!" At this the girl began blushing. Once more Prussia tried to get Hungary off, this time having both hands in front of him and pushing at the floor.

"It's incredible Francis hasn't gotten a hold of her. I guess Switzerland is better at his job than I could imagine…" She let herself be slowly lifted from the ground, now more or less sitting on the struggling Prussia like he was a horse. The woman was thoughtful and surprised. "Honestly, I didn't know she didn't know…"

A beginning sour face spread over Lily's face even though she usually wasn't an angry person, but they were talking about her like she wasn't there and they had talked about Prussia kissing her, which already made her embarrassed. "What are you talking about?!"

This was finally the moment Hungary stood from the Prussian, dusting off her dress. Not even standing yet the Prussian began rubbing his now aching shoulder, looking utterly pained and trying to sit in a way that wouldn't reveal too much of what went on in his pants after the Hungarian's treatment. It was obvious the woman was the one to explain. "Well, dear, I don't think this is the time fo-"

"Do you even hear your own voice?! I can't believe you to say that!" All of them, Prussia, Hungary, Liechtenstein, stopped what they were doing to stare back out the room. That was Austria. It was Austria yelling. What the hell did that even mean? "No, don't you dare say tha-! I to-! Let me finish speaking! You are being rude! You are being beyond rude right now!"

"Wh-what is going on?" Prussia asked, slowly getting to his feet. He was grimacing from pain and now that he stood you could see growing bruises on the side of his face that had been down towards the floor.

"I know you don't care about that, but- Stop interrupting!"

Tears were back in Lily's eyes. Guess things were going wrong. Again. "He… He's talking to Bruder." She didn't notice what term she had used about him. It didn't matter… what mattered was that she had made two adult men start a fight.

"That's- Silence! It's because I care about her, and I know you do, too, so stop acting like that!" The two looked at her, seeing how the tears grew thicker. Then Hungary moved forward and hugged her. "I refuse to believe you have grown this cold! No, don't you dare hang up on-"

"It's not your fault," Hungary promised, holding her against her breasts with a hand holding the back of her head. The girl began clinging to her, sobs slowly starting to course through her body. "There is no reason to cry." Behind her Prussia was watching, and he slowly seemed to understand just how serious it was. "It's nearly always like this when he starts talk to Switzer-"

Heavy, hammering footsteps had resounded through the halls and now Roderich came marching in, his hand immediately pointing back where he came. He looked… no, mad wasn't even the word. Not furious, either. He was caught in a fit of rage. "Heraus jetzt! Alles heraus!"

Hungary didn't hesitate to follow orders, dragging the Liechtensteiner out as well. Though it was a rare to see him like that she knew Austria was deadly when he was in this mood – if he just fought in battles as he did in this mood he would be invincible. Unfortunately he didn't, which meant they had to be divorced. Prussia wasn't as eager to follow orders, though. "A-aber, Rod, ich-"

He shouldn't have. Austria wasn't in the mood. The musician's hands, strong from the amount of use they had each and every day on his instruments, grabbed the back of the albino's neck and threw him through the door. "Nein!" was all the answer the man gave and Prussia slammed against the door on the other side of the hall. Then Austria slammed the door closed, Gilbird only just escaping.

The silence left behind the slam was ear piercing. With a groan Prussia got to his feet, and he managed just as the sound of a violin being played so harshly you would think the musician was trying to saw the instrument over cut through the door. "Damn, zhis is such an unawesome day," the man mumbled. It didn't stop him from going for the two females, though, grimacing every time he used his shoulder and cursing everything in his mind.

In the living room he found them hugging, the girl having her hands in front of her face. She had just gotten a hope that things would go back to normal. Now that was destroyed as well, and it seemed to hurt even more than it did the first time he denied her. Prussia plumbed down on the chair on the other side of the couch table just when the girl spoke. "I'm never going back home, am I?"

The Prussian saw the smallest grimace on Hungary's face. Then he heard her answer, stroking the girl's hair and trying to be understanding. It didn't go well. "We are here for you, dear. You don't have to be sad." The woman had no hope about the kindness of Switzerland. Prussia noted this. He knew he wasn't much better, but… "We will take care of you. You don't have to go back."

… but it was so clear. She didn't understand. Even though Prussia didn't believe the Swiss to be more than a gun-wielding, overprotective maniac the woman couldn't understand. And so Prussia moved forward, pushing the table out of the way uncaringly and showed the little girl that he knew at least a little of what she was going through.

"Lily…" His voice was quiet. It was absolutely calm and silent as he crouched down on the floor in front of her, staring into the hands that covered her face. The Hungarian sent him a warning glance, daring him to fuck up again, but Prussia ignored it. It wasn't his plan. "Lily, look into my eyes."

For a long moment she didn't. Hungary was about to say something, and this time it was Prussia who gave a warning glance. Then the girl responded, looking down at him, into his eyes. "I have a brother, too. Ludwig." He looked at her. When his voice was calm and silent like this his accent nearly disappeared fully. "I'd die without him. Not just because if he died the country we share would fall apart. He was the one who saved my life by offering me a part of it, anyway, even though it all is called 'Germany' and he controls it. Besides, I have recovered enough strength to hold at least my old territories together, I think. I could survive the country shattering if he disappeared… Nein, it's not that. Without him… without Luddy my life would be empty."

There was a short pause. Both the women stared at him as he crouched there in front of her, his hands on the dress where it covered her knees. Hungary was looking absolutely confused and nearly horrified… Liechtenstein was silent, tears still falling over her cheeks.

Then she managed to speak with the smallest, most feeble voice. "I-I thought you… that you hated each other."

The red eyes moved downwards, the fingers on one hand starting to play with the frills of the pink dress. He didn't really like talking about this… really, really not… but in her situation he would have been a mess as well. "Hate… love… I don't know, really…" For once the always cheerful, mocking, noisy voice was serious and saddened. Accompanied by the tones of the angry violin it all seemed so serious and painful.

He raised his gaze again, finding her green orbs, and his voice got stronger for a moment. "It'z just…" And then he sighed, all air escaping his chest. "Y'know… we are like opposites. We are ice and fire, and it is not hard to figure out who's what. But… At least I love him… I don't know if he loves me, but I… I really love mein Kleiner Bruder." He still played with her dress, and once more he looked down, not able to look at them. Being all emotional was embarrassing, and he was fighting with the thought of himself being 'weak' and 'girly' and 'totally unawesome'.

"Right now… zhe man you have thought would love you endlessly, your Bruder in anything but blood, seems to hate you… Our situations are quite similar. Yet you love him as I love my own one." The frills of the dress and a band that hung down with it got twirled around his finger. He looked endlessly uncomfortable, and yet he spoke to make her feel better.

"You have often said that your Bruder isn't cold and cruel but the kindest man in zhe world. You still think so, ja?" He didn't look up to see her nod. It would be too embarrassing to look anyone in the eyes right now, but he still got the nod just inside his field of vision. Yes. She thought so. "I still don't believe you, Lily… so… might it not be that you should prove it?"

For a moment she blinked, not understanding him. How could she ever prove it to him? Especially in this situation? Then Prussia reached for the phone Roderich had just been shouting into, his arm passing Hungary in the process, and as he got the hand piece he held it towards her. "B-but… But Mr. Austria just called him…"

"Ja, he did." The red eyes were still on the ground, unable to face the two of them. This was even more embarrassing than getting himself revealed as a masochist. The hand piece floated in between them, resting in his hand. "But Rod is Rod, Lily. He's not you."

The two females stared down at him, both pairs of green eyes wide and filled with confusion and shock. The Prussian still crouched in front of her, the prideful man for once looking small and even fragile as the red eyes were focused on a dented spot on the wooden floor. There was a slight flush on his face… the slightest sign embarrassment… from the things he had just told.

It would be an understatement to say that Hungary was stunned by the things he had just said and the emotions he had just exposed. She had known him since forever – he was one of the first people she remembered besides that cursed Turkey – and yet she had never seen him like this, or doing anything like this, letting himself become what both he and she felt like nothing in front of other people. They were too hard even if Hungary's womanhood made her a little more able.

The woman had even doubted whether or not he was even capable of feeling things like these.

For him to do this was a first. In front of anyone, really, and Hungary didn't doubt that. The question of why he would do it now sprouted in her mind as he sat there, his bird now having flown onto his shoulder, pressing its face towards the crook of his neck to up his mood. It was only now that she began understanding just how much the girl beside her meant to him.

It was already clear that something was different by the way he seemingly wasn't pushing the innocent nation into having sex with him. That was what you would expect him to want from her, as he wanted from any former partner – but those he had changed the moment he got what he wanted, not even talking much with them. If they spoke at all. They were used and thrown away like trash, and Hungary had seen him do it without looking back for a single moment.

He might as well have lied when he said he didn't plan to 'right around zhe corner'. That was what Hungary waved it off as, for Gilbert lied more easily than he spoke truth at times. But it was all too clear he only told these things now because he wanted to relieve the girl from as much pain as he possibly could. He wanted her to be happy, and to do that he… he told what he had told them now.

He actually exposed himself, against the very nature of him and his German kin. Austria was much the same as him, even though he had moments where he seemed more human than the others, and Germany was far worse than any of them. It was as though it laid in their very nature to be… cold.

But Prussia wasn't cold towards her. He really… really, truly cared for her.

So even though she disapproved of getting the Liechtensteiner back in the overprotective claws of the Swiss, the Hungarian was unable to resist much more and she took the phone from the pale man's hand and gave it to Liechtenstein. "Call him. Talk to him. See if it helps. Do something of the sort." For she didn't actually know what the girl should say. "Try."

Apparently getting the last bit of encouragement was all the girl needed to decide and she grabbed the hand piece and moved over so she could reach the buttons and press the numbers on that ancient phone. Left behind her was Prussia. He didn't follow her movements. Instead he let himself fall down on his bottom and hug his knees, beginning to sulk over what he had just said with his bird trying to comfort him.

"It didn't help with Mr. Austria and Switzerland," she muttered again just as she had before, showing her doubt as she put the phone against her ear, waiting silently for it to be picked up.

"Well, that's different. They hate each other," Prussia muttered, sounding utterly dark and a tiny bit childish. He didn't look at them, making a great point of not doing so.

"Yeah they do," Hungary continued when the albino didn't speak further. "It was bound to go wrong the moment Roderich picked up the phone. He should have known."

He was hoping, the girl thought, feeling guilty that she had gotten the man into it. Once more the other two showed just how little they knew of Vash… and apparently also of Austria. They don't hate each other. At least… one of them doesn't…

For a short second her thoughts caught her and she nearly forgot the phone in her hand and the beeping it caused in her ear. Those two seemed to be complicated people and neither of her current companions seemed to understand that there was more than one shade. Or Hungary probably did in the case of Roderich. Just not… when it concerned the relationship between the two.

A sudden click sounded. And then a voice she didn't believe she had missed just this much. "Yes, this is Vash Zwingli's house. Who am I talking to?" She could hear it in his voice – to her it was so clear, even though there was the mechanical twist of the machine. Many would probably not be able to hear it even if they talked to him in person. But the voice was strained. Roderich wasn't the only one affected by the argument on the phone, it seemed.

"Br-Bruder…" She said it. Did she really say it? To him? It had become nearly okay in her mind again, but… to him? Her breathing shivered as she felt the silence from him, even if they weren't together. Dead silence, as though there were miles between them in more than physical distance. All she could hear was his breathing, and she could nearly see the look in his eyes as his emotions slammed against her through the phone. But it wasn't anger.

It was pain. She wasn't, in any way, in doubt that the look in those sharp, green eyes was anything but overwhelming pain.

That made her sad. It burdened her heart… It burdened it far more than the guilt of hurting Austria by making him call Vash for her. The pain in her brother's silence was like the weight of one of his mountains settling upon her big, innocent heart. "Vash? W-why aren't you at work?"

"…"

"V-Vash… Switzerland… Speak to me."

"…"

It didn't change. Panic tried and managed to catch her, showing in her eyes. For yet another time the deep green orbs she owned were clouded by tears. Why was she crying all the time? It helped nothing! All it did was making others feel responsible to make her happy again!

"Vash! Talk to me, say something, please! I want to hear your voice. Tell me. Tell me that you don't want to be with me. Just say it, please!" The breathing in the phone got heavier and she heard an odd, sliding sound. She didn't understand what it was as her fingers grabbed harder around the phone. "I want to know what you feel, and if that is really what you feel…"

Tears fell over her cheeks as her voice, formerly strengthened with a mix of determination, desperation and panic, fell into nothing. The emotion in her, or rather the one she could feel from him, deepened. The pain, hurt… w-was that fear? The tears became thicker but she dried them away again, not wanting to cry anymore. Her brother… He was…

When she finally spoke again, her voice was quiet. The still falling water on her cheeks didn't reflect in the tone. It was calm and strong even as the tears, that ever-haunting sign of weakness, fell. "If that is really what you feel and what you want… I accept it. But I have to hear it from your own mouth in your voice." Her eyes were on the phone, hoping and begging for him to answer.

"…" Another moment of silence. The breathing became faster, strained, as though it was hard for him to get air down. Was he angry as well? That was the way he usually breathed when he fought to restrain himself. When he wanted to hit someone but had to stop to keep his neutrality. Without the need to keep his neutrality she knew he would have been in half a million wars, and she believed enough in him to say he would have won them all.

Then something happened. Something unexpected, something different. One moment he was breathing like that, apparently trying to hold himself back. The next a choked sound came out of the phone, replacing the troubled breathing for the smallest moment, and it made her mind and heart freeze and her eyes widen. "Li-Lil…-"

...

"H-he… he cut me off…"

Her voice was shaking, her lips quivering as she stood with her mouth half open. Then she began breathing again, her lungs regaining the memory of how to function, and the exact same sound as she had just heard from the phone fell over her lips. It spread to the room. Small drops fell from her chin and cheeks and down onto the fabric of her dress as the hand holding the phone slowly moved to hang limply down her side. The sound she just made… the same sound as he had uttered…

It was a sob.

Her insides still felt frozen when Gilbert spoke, continuingly refusing to look at either of them. "I guess he really is a bastard, then…" He didn't even sound happy that his feelings were right. Why should he be happy? Lily… 'zhe little lily'… She had been filled with agony by his actions. Both of the spectators could see and feel that.

Hungary was just about to speak as well, but Liechtenstein came first. "N-no. It's not that… I… I think… I think Bruder… might be crying…" The girl's eyes moved to them, to look at them and watch their reactions. In both of their faces the same form of disbelief that had filled the Hungarian woman when Prussia had admitted to feel showed. The albino had even turned his head to her.

"Are you serious?" The Prussian just had to ask her. There was no way he could believe her – no way. But still she nodded, recovering slowly from the horrifying realization she had just faced. It meant she really thought he was feeling bad… and if he should at least try to act like he knew how she felt and be considerate and all that shit, then he had to say what he was about to say.

"We're going over there, then." Surprisingly Hungary spoke his words before him, and she went against her own wishes in doing so. She wanted more than anything to keep the girl, for neither of the two had much hope in the Swiss and no one could deny that he was too protective of the small, young nation. And about as many would agree it wasn't fitting for a girl her age to be caged.

Still the girl wished and wanted to be with him, and no matter what Hungary thought of that, she couldn't just say no. Then she would be no better than the man she wanted to protect the girl from and that was stupid. Besides, she had a few things she wanted to tell him – even if she was ready to drop at least some of those things if he really was crying. Even though she didn't believe that to be the case. That man seemed to be carved of burning stone – his tears would probably boil away before they even fell.

But it meant at least twice as much to Liechtenstein that it was Hungary who said those words, and after recovering a bit more from the agony she had just been through she put down the phone and gave the Hungarian the hug of the century. It was as though she tried to squeeze life right out of the woman, pressing herself against the other's bigger body.

"Do you really mean that?" a timid voice asked, and the green fabric of the Hungarian's dress began to wet where the girl pressed her face against Elizaveta's stomach. It took her a moment to recover, but when she did Hungary got a smile on her face. A hand was placed upon the blond hair of the smaller one holding her. It seemed she just made the girl… happy.

Really, truly happy.

"I do," she promised quietly, brushing the other's hair with gentle fingers.

Beside them the Prussian had scrambled to his feet, and now he watched them with an extremely bored expression. Either his own outbreak of emotions was gone, or he had put it away for them to no longer see. "Are we going, zhen?" he snapped, crossing his arms impatiently.

None can be surprised that Hungary answered by scowling. "We are, impatient bastard. Stop acting like a child." The Liechtensteiner released herself and looked up into the Hungarian's green eyes for a moment, seeing the growing anger. Then she realized the violin was still getting tortured in the room they had come from and she looked over her shoulder.

"Sh-shouldn't we…?"

"No," Hungary said and shook her head. "He will just worsen the situation. It is bad enough already." And of course she was right about that.

Once more - remember to give Malentia credit as well. This had not happened without her.

Also, they will be going to Switzerland in the next chapter, which is also the last. He was here a little, through the phone, and I will be the first to admit that he was a bit of an ass. Forgive him. Love him anyway. Look fearfully forward to next chapter.

Enjoy in joy