Chapter 3

Italy silently slid the back door open, cursing himself for not remembering to lock the door on his way out. He felt the weight of the day bruising his shoulders as he shed his coat and threw it onto the couch. There was a little grumble and the Italian had to stifle a shriek as a figure emerged in the dark.

"Oh my goodness you scared the gelato out of me!" Italy sighed when he recognized the figure, clutching his thundering heart. "What are you-?"

America launched from the couch, grabbed Italy by the waist and pulled him down into a bruising kiss. Italy sighed sadly against Alfred's lips. He was still feeling guilty from what happened earlier. But he leaned in and looped his arms around the blond nation's neck, tilting his head back for better access. The duo separated, and Alfred rested his hand on the older county's cheek.

"I'm so sorry please don't leave again!" He whispered, pressing their foreheads together, looking down intensely into the brunette's chocolate eyes. "I love you."

"Alfred," Italy soothed, running his hand through America's blond locks, knowing it turned the cerulean-eyed nation into a docile little puppy. "Sh, calm down sweetie." The Italian nation cooed, rubbing his nose against American's, causing the blond to practically purr at the Italian nation's gentle touch.

"Sorry." The blonde whined, Italy smiled softly and planted a light kiss on the younger nation's nose.

Italy pressed their cheeks together, relieved at finally just being close to America. But guilt and fear was still crawling throughout his veins. There was no way the American could find out where he had gone tonight.

Alfred rubbed his pale cheek against Feliciano's tan one. Italy turned and gave the blond another quick kiss on the cheek. "Lets go upstairs to bed, ok?" America whispered drowsily, blindly grabbing for Feli's.

"Mhm." The auburn-haired nation agreed, allowing the younger country to lead him upstairs to their room.

They didn't bother to change into their nightclothes. Instead the duo resigned and crawled underneath the plethora of blankets. Italy hummed serenely as Alfred pulled him flushed against his chest. Feliciano put one hand over the American's heart and entwined their legs together.

Feliciano smiled as Alfred gifted him with a feather-light kiss on the lips before the younger country buried his face in Italy's auburn locks, murmuring softly. "Goodnight Feli."

Italy reinforced his grip on America, his heart squeezing painfully in his chest. It had been an insane day of emotional turmoil and confusion; he just wanted it to end. So he laughed softly and whispered almost indistinctly into America's ear. "Night Al. I love you."

He had made the right decision after all.

Hadn't he?

...

Alfred woke up slowly, light filtering through the open shades of a window. He blinked his cerulean eyes several times before he groaned weakly at the drowsiness weighing on the back of his mind. He shifted slightly, pulling the blankets up to his chin. He realized through his bleary, half-asleep state that Italy was curled up next to him, the brunette's head pressing against his chest.

America smiled a little and kissed Feli's shining hair softly, hoping he wouldn't wake him up just yet. He just wanted to snuggle up with his boyfriend in peace for a little longer before they had to face the consequences of last night. He tried to force thoughts of the night before out of his mind as he wrapped his arms around Feliciano's petite figure.

As he lay there however, questions kept popping up in the blond nation's mind. Where did Italy go last night? Why did he come back so late? He sighed and shifted his head so his lips were pressed against the brunette's forehead. He didn't want to fight; he hated to fight with Italy. It always made him feel guilty and nothing good ever came out of it. A fight only spelled hurt feelings and lonely nights, so the pair tried to avoid them if at all possible.

But this one was obviously unavoidable, the blonde wanted to know where Italy had gone, and Italy wanted to know where he had gone. He inhaled sharply, trying to force down the pain that squeezed his heart at the thought of how he had stormed out last night. He just couldn't handle how pissed he felt. Germany had broken Italy's heart. He didn't have any right to come after him now, especially after he had moved on. It wasn't fair to either of them.

Then a sudden thought struck him. Alfred hadn't asked how the kiss had happened. He gripped Italy tighter as the thought crossed his mind. What had happened exactly…?

The question was eating slowly away at America's conscious. So much so he managed to pluck up the courage to wake up the slumbering Italian, wanting to get answers so they could just move on.

So, gently as he could, the American nation untangled himself from Italy and placed his hands on his boyfriend's shoulders and shook.

The brunette groaned a little and slowly slid his shimmering eyelids open, revealing clouded chocolate brown eyes. "Morning." He yawned, rubbing one of his eyes in a way that made Alfred's lips curl into a tiny smile. He couldn't resist propping himself up by his elbow, leaning in, and kissing Italy softly on the lips. This caused the Italian to smile softly up at the blond with his chocolate eyes shining in the golden sunlight.

And then the awkward set in. "So, um…"

"I'll start." The blonde said abruptly, taking one of Italy's hands and fiddling with the brunette's slim fingers, stroking their soft exterior. A nervous habit. Feliciano shifted so he was on his stomach and moved closer to Alfred, allowing him to fiddle distractedly with his hand. Alfred's smile widened very briefly, then he took a deep breath and began. "I'm so sorry for running off on you last night. I'm sorry for overreacting, and I'm sorry I made you worry." He murmured still looking down at his hands fiddling with Italy's tan fingers. He saw Italy nod and he replied softly.

"I'm sorry for the kiss, and I'm sorry for disappearing as well." Italy shifted slightly closer to America.

"Let me go first, ok?." Alfred insisted, moving his blue eyes to finally meet his lustrous brown eyes. "I can't apologize enough for running out on you. I'm sorry I just needed some air. But I know you hate being left alone, so I'm sorry."

"It's ok, I did run off too." He admitted, looking down at Alfred's still working fingers. "Where did you end up going?"

"The range." He replied without hesitation. "I shoot sometimes when I get upset."

"I know." Alfred noted his fiddling with the brunette's was getting more rapid. "But it was late, wasn't it closed?" Alfred nodded silently and his gaze turned back down to his fingers. "But you left right away, where did you get the gun?"

Alfred shrugged. "I carry one with me on hand."

Feliciano froze for just a moment. "Oh... I don't know how I feel about that."

He didn't want to argue about this. He just wanted to get this whole Germany thing out of the way. He bit his tongue and buried to urge to fight for his right to bear arms in favor of the argument at hand. "Never mind that. Where did you run off to last night?" He asked grumpily, abruptly dropping the brunette's hand.

Italy had that pouty frown that fixed itself on his face whenever he got upset during an argument. "I-I didn't really go anywhere. I ended up falling asleep in the field and woke up because I was cold." He said shakily.

Alfred's eyes widened, concern blotting out his anger. "Oh my gosh! Are you alright?" He placed a hand hurriedly to Italy's forehead. "You're not gonna get sick are you? Because the last time Iggy was sick he almost died! And my burgers didn't even help!" His voice had returned to it's usual high pitched, childlike tone.

Italy nodded, gently removing America's hand from his forehead. "I was cold, but I'm alright. I'm not going to get sick, and I'm not going to die." He assured flatly.

The brunette went on to explain the events that led up to Germany kissing him. Alfred visibly shook with fury, his momentary freakout forgotten. How dare that German bastard touch his boyfriend after he told him that there was nothing there anymore? He glared angrily at the blue blankets below him.

Alfred seized up as Italy grabbed his hand again, recognizing the touch the blond nation relaxed and gave the nation's hand a quick squeeze. "I'm so sorry Al."

"No. You shouldn't be saying that, it's Germany that should be apologizing." Italy leaned forward and kissed him on the side of the mouth. He sighed knowing Feliciano only did that when he was trying to calm him down. Which it did when he was mildly frustrated. Right now though, he was beyond pissed. Not at Italy necessarily, mostly at Germany and at himself.

Italy wrapped his arms around America's torso and the blonde looked down but Italy wasn't looking up. He had a faraway gaze in his wide, concerned chocolate eyes. It tugged at America's heart to see the Italian nation looking so forlorn. He wrapped his arms around Feli, kissing the top of the older nation's head.

"I still don't want you hanging out with Germany anymore." Italy visibly wilted but Alfred sighed. "Look I gave it a chance and look what happened, even with Japan there."

Italy sighed and squeezed his eyes shut. He sat there in silence for a while. Finally, he murmured softly, as though asking this physically hurt him. "What if we only hung out if you were with me? That way we could all try and get along."

Alfred felt a jab of awkwardness in the pit of his stomach. He considered himself a social butterfly, but Germany? He didn't think so. "But he hates me." And I hate him. He thought privately, knowing saying it would only cause more problems.

"I know." He sighed, and looked up at the blonde nation. "And I know that sounds really bad, but I hate losing friends. I just feel like if I lose Germany, I'll lose Japan and I'm already losing-" Italy broke off looking a little bit shocked before he squeaked. "I'm so sorry just forget it."

"No, I understand. You and Romano have been distant lately and this was the first time you've hung out with Japan in months. I think I can handle it every now and again." He hesitated before adding. "As long as it's like, once every few months."

Italy looked up and smiled at his boyfriend, his eyes brightened considerably, his smile caused Alfred to also let one slip, his lips curling up without his consent. "Grazie Alfred." He planted a small kiss on the blond nation's cheek before he rested his head over the American's shoulder; both sensing the argument was coming to a close.

"That wasn't so painful." Italy sighed sliding his eyelids closed and nuzzling into America's shoulder. "I don't think it was too bad. I forgive you for last night." He sounded exhausted as he shifted closer the American. Alfred smiled despite the angry irritation still stinging his skin.

"I forgive you too. Can we move on?" He begged gripping the older country tighter. "After I give Germany a piece of my mind?" He added, not wanting to leave that loose end unraveled.

Italy lifted his head off his shoulder, placing it instead over his chest so his ear was resting again over Alfred's beating heart and said reluctantly. "Si. But can you please do it with words? I don't want you fighting over me."

"He didn't use words when he touched you." He snarled firing up at once. "And you're worth fighting for."

"That doesn't make me feel any better about it." Feli whimpered.

"...alright." Al conceded, hating the sad note in Italy's exhausted voice. "Damn this is a mess."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I just have to talk to Germany and we'll get this whole thing settled and done with." Alfred gripped Italy's chin lightly and turned his head so their eyes locked and he smiled brightly down at the little nation. "Then we can move past this completely."

Italy smiled jovially up at his boyfriend and pecked Alfred's lips happily. The blonde nation unlocked their hands, slipped his fingers through Italy's auburn hair and pulled Feli into a much more passionate kiss, missing the Italian nation's closeness in the recent hours. Italy didn't hesitate to loop his arms around America's neck and began to kiss back, sliding his eyelids closed.

Alfred leaned down, about to deepen the kiss before his stomach growled obnoxiously, causing the blond to freeze in his actions and his face to burn with embarrassment. Italy pulled away and giggled cutely before pressing his palm against America's soft cheek. "Time for breakfast I think." He smiled softly and grabbed the blond nation by the hand, dragging the larger nation to his feet.

The duo walked downstairs and Italy began cooking them some eggs and bacon for breakfast. Alfred admired his boyfriend from afar, his blue eyes glittering in adoration and he realized, his eyes widening as he did so, there was no way he wanted to lose him. He knew what he had to do.

He had to talk to Japan. Today. As soon as possible. He wanted to know why the raven-haired man had left his boyfriend alone after he had asked him to stay and help him out. He needed answers.

(AN):

Sorry this is so short guys! Usually my chapters are pretty long so this one feels a little sad . I promise things will pick up in the next chapter, which will be longer. I posted this a little early because I'm going to be gone all of tomorrow. Expect the next chapter (or a one-shot) next Saturday!

Thanks for the views and reviews! (Even if I can't look at my views right now, is having a moment and I can't look at them ;-; hopefully they get my email eventually!)