DPMP: Hi.

Prussia: That's it? Hi? That's all you're going to say?

DPMP: Yup.

Prussia: Weirdo… DPMP doesn't own Hetalia. I guess that's all that needs to be said…

The school day was a massive blur to all those related to the Gilbert incident. Alfred, Antonio, and Francis were hardly there at lunch, just talking amongst themselves. Matthew didn't return and wasn't answering Alfred's calls. Alfred was starting to worry for his twin, as was Francis.

"What is he was picked up by some sleaze and taken somewhere unknown and murdered?" Alfred fretted.

"He'll be fine, Alfred. Matthew can take care of himself," Antonio reassured him. Francis frowned but didn't say anything. His eyes echoed Alfred's worry, however.

"I'm sure that potato bastard found him and took him home for a good fuck," Lovino said, munching on his pizza. Alfred glared at the Italian before reaching up and stealing the pepperoni Lovino had placed in a pile on his plate. Francis stood up.

"I'll go look for him," he said. Everyone at the table stared at him.

"How are you getting out of class?" Antonio asked.

"If mon cher Mathieu can do it, so can I," Francis said, winking. His friends all watched him go.

"Do you think he'll succeed?" Lovino asked suddenly.

"If anybody can do it, Francis can," Alfred confirmed. "I mean, he somehow managed to get the gym teacher to let him tour the girls' locker rooms! The guy can do anything!"

A girl named Sylvaine, who happened to be walking past, made a disgusted noise and walked away faster, the red ribbons in her hair flowing behind her.

…(DPMP: Oh yeah, scene change!)…

Matthew checked his watch and stared at its face. Has it really passed three hours already? He looked at his phone. Numerous calls from Alfred and two from Antonio. The phone was on silent. No wonder he didn't answer any. Alfred must feel so worried…

He quickly dialed his brother's number and waited.

"Mattie!" his brother's relieved voice hit his ears. He held the phone away. "Oh my God, I'm so glad you're safe! Where are you? Francis is out looking for you! Are you hurt? You probably are!"

"Alfred…"

"I'll call the police and you just tell them who did it, okay? Don't die, Mattie, help is coming!"

"Alfred."

"Mattie, please tell me nobody touched you inappropriately! Were you mugged? Raped? You were raped, oh my God!"

"ALFRED!" Matthew yelled, ignoring the harsh looks several adults passing by gave him. "I'm fine, I'm at the bridge. I lost track of time!"

"O-oh. Well, I'll call Francis and let him know."

"Th-that's not really necessary-"

"He'll be around in a few minutes, okay? Hang tight!"

There was a click as Alfred hung up, not giving him a chance to speak. Matthew glared at his phone and stuffed it in his pocket, going back to the edge of the bridge and watching a boat pass from underneath him. It was only five minutes before he heard a car door slam shut.

"Mathieu!" Francis sighed with relief, running over to him and pulling him into a hug. "Don't scare me that, mon ami!"

"F-francis? Uh… Let go, please," Matthew said lamely. "You were worried?"

"Of course, mon petite chou," he said. "You ran away so broken, I thought you would get hurt if you weren't paying any attention."

"O-oh," Matthew said. "It's nothing, really… I stopped at the corner until I was finished crying and then came here."

"You stayed here for three hours?" Francis asked incredulously.

"Uh, yeah. I used to come here a lot to calm down. When I was little, the boats passing through made me feel superior and it made me feel better."

Matthew turned away and leaned over the edge again.

"It was always a thrill to me to see the water and boats so far down…"

Francis smiled and leaned over with him.

"You're right," he said. "It is certainly exciting. However… I can think of something more exciting."

"What's that?"

Francis reached over and cupped Matthew's face in his hand. Matthew immediately understood and blushed heavily as Francis started to lean in.

'What should I do? He's going to kiss me ohmyGod…' was all Matthew could think at the moment. Francis' eyes were closed as he slowly pressed his lips to his friend's.

Matthew's eyes, however, were wide open. He was blushing like mad, not really giving into the kiss but not stopping it from happening, either. It just happened.

Francis pulled away again, opening his eyes. There was a slight pink tinge to his cheeks, a high contrast to Matthew's intense red.

"F-francis?" Matthew whispered.

"Je t'aime," Francis whispered. "I knew you were special the first time I met you."

Matthew remained quiet as Francis kissed him again. This time, he closed his eyes and tried to feel the kiss. A woman and her husband passed by with curious looks on their faces.

"Aw, how sweet. I love how teenagers aren't afraid of their sexuality anymore," the woman cooed.

"I'm sure they get bullied sometimes, Eliza," the man replied, pushing up his glasses and pulling his wife along. "Besides, it could just be a fling."

Eliza rolled her eyes.

"Are you still hurt over Vash? It didn't work out, Roddy. That doesn't mean all relationships end. Look at us," she held up his left hand with her left, revealing two sparkling twin rings. "And I'm sure Vash is in a good relationship, too."

"I suppose you're right…" Rodereich turned and glanced back at the new couple a few feet away.

The Matthew's face was beet red as he and Francis hugged. He hid his face in Francis' chest. Francis whispered sweet nothings into his hair and swayed them back and forth.

"Of course I am," Elizabeta smiled.

…(DPMP: Whoo, time jump!)…

The door was shut harshly, announcing the youngest of the household and his boyfriend have arrived. They were met by a long-haired man in the hallway.

"Opa," Ludwig greeted him.

"H-hello, sir! I-I mean, gu-guten T-tag," Feliciano piped up nervously. The old man wasn't on great terms with his own grandfather, so Feliciano tried to make the blonde like him.

"Hello, Ludwig… and Vargas boy," Grandfather Beilschmidt nodded. He turned to his grandson. "What happened to your bruder? Er wurde trauernden."

"Ah, vierseihen Sie mir, Opa," Ludwig sighed, "but that is not my place to say."

The old man grunted but didn't bother to ask any further. Instead, he walked over to the door.

"There's been trouble at work. I'll be home late. Cook what you want, and keep your bruder in check," he said.

"Bye," Feliciano waved pitifully. Ludwig started to walk down the hall, past his room, and to the door at the end of the hallway. He rapped his knuckles hard on the door.

"Gilbert, we need to talk," he called out.

"No we don't," came the muffled reply. His voice was layered with sleep and frustration.

"Please, bruder, come on out. I'm not angry with you, just confused."

Feliciano could have echoed that last sentence. Gilbert was a nice guy, why was he so depressed? Thinking back to when he first met the albino, he remembered being a little frightened at seeing the blood red eyes and hair the color of snow. It was startling, to say the least. However, when the silverette opened his mouth, it wasn't a curse or a harsh statement that reached the Italian's ears.

"You're cute," was all he said.

So Gilbert wasn't that bad a guy, right?

"G-gilbert…" Feliciano called out hesitantly. "I-I know you don't want to talk, but please, at least come out and let us know you're okay. You owe us that much."

There was a heavy silence, and then footsteps. The door swung open, startling Feli.

"B-bruder," Gilbert sobbed. "Feliciano… I'm so sorry!"

Ludwig reached over and his brother accepted the hug, crushing his arms around the larger torso.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Gilbert chanted.

"Shh, it's okay," Ludwig whispered. "We would never turn against you, ever."

Feliciano was quiet. He didn't speak a word to Ludwig and Gilbert after Ludwig's last statement.

Why was he here? He was a traitor. He was the main reason why Gilbert was sulking in his room in the first place. He didn't deserve someone as nice as Ludwig.

The last time either of them have ever seen Gilbert break down like this was the beginning of middle school, where the only one being bullied out of the three was Feliciano. Ludwig felt sorry for him and allowed himself to become Feliciano's unofficial body guard. One day, when they were at Ludwig's house, an old man by the name of Uncle Fritz had walked into the room with a tray of sweets. Old Fritz wasn't really the Beilschmidt boys' uncle, but a close friend of their grandfather. Gilbert looked up to him with utmost respect. However, the albino's cheery expression changed when Old Fritz dropped the tray suddenly and clenched his chest, falling to the floor.

That was the first time the three had ever seen a man die right before them. It haunted Feliciano in his sleep sometimes. Not as much as Gilbert's face when he refused to let go of the body even when paramedics tried to take the old man away. He had been screaming, his bloody eyes streaming with tears. It wasn't long before the boy fainted, and then the paramedics pried him off and took the body away.

But now, Feliciano knew what he could do to help. He could leave.

"I-I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I… I told Francis and Antonio about Gilbert cutting himself. I didn't want… I didn't want to hurt you…"

"Feliciano?" Ludwig asked stupidly, staring at him. Feliciano didn't meet his eyes and instead looked at his feet.

"They threatened me. But that wasn't worth… It wasn't worth ruining your life like that. I don't deserve kindness. I wouldn't be surprised if you kick me out now…" Feliciano clenched his fists and tried not to cry. A tear escaped and betrayed him.

Gilbert let go of his brother and hugged Feliciano.

"How did they threaten you?" he asked when he pulled away.

"Th-they… Francis k-kissed me. Then he threatened to do it again and tell Ludwig I was cheating," Feliciano admitted. Ludwig's blood boiled but he kept a calm face.

"It wasn't your fault," Gilbert decided. "Your relationship is something you treasure. I'm sure if someone threatened to hurt Luddy I would betray someone else, too."

"Thank you for understanding," Feliciano sighed. "I'm really, really sorry, though."

"It doesn't matter. You two would have found out anyways. My only complaint would be that I wish I was the one to reveal it, not some idiot in school."

"Still, I owe you," Feliciano admitted.

"Some food would be good," Ludwig said suddenly. His face betrayed his discomfort.

"Sure, Luddy… Pasta?" the Italian cheered up.

"Sure…" Ludwig sighed. Everything was normal now, he guessed… But he noticed Gilbert frowning still.

DPMP: Okay! That's it for this chapter! This fic is going to be relatively short…

Prussia: Why am I still upset? West forgave me, Italy's come clean…

DPMP: You're forgetting someone…

Prussia: Who?

Canada: -facepalm-