Niki: I notice i'm slowly making longer and longer chapters. Anyways, please review, this is Gillian's true personality. she wasn't thinking straight in the forest, and now she is, no hate mail please, you don't have to like it.

Chapter Summary: Gillian learns what is going on in the world. Later, the secret to why Mathew was so quiet is revealed.

Warning: Coarse Language, Mild Adult Themes.

Disclaimer: I wish APH was mine . but like they say, "The Cake is a LIE" (- I also wish i owned Portal)


Gillian's eyes fluttered open weakly. The air smelled of disinfectants and latex. She felt like vomiting. Her eyes searched the room, resting on a window, a door, and a heart monitor, before coming to a stop on a figure in a chair. She blinked the sleep away from her eyes and tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her. Groaning, the laid back against the too soft pillow and tried to get a better look at the person next to her. He was dressed in a black getup that was obviously some form of sneak suit. His arms and legs were crossed in patience and his head was angled downwards obstructing her view of his face. But she didn't need to see it. The bright auburn of his hair instantly gave his identity away.

"Italy," her voice croaked out the question.

His form suddenly tensed and he looked up, those golden eyes flashing at the last second to hide something.

Fear?

Why was he afraid of her. She hadn't done anything. In fact he was the one that had brought her to this place. She sat up, this time ignoring the nauseous feeling that threatened to make her stomach flip. After a few seconds it went away and she sighed in relief.

"Don't stress yourself, your condition will only get worse," the man said. His voice cleanly masking all traces of what she had seen.

"I'm not trying to, but my neck is killing me. What do they make these pillows out of, dog fur?" She looked down at her arms and went to reach for the thin tubes sticking into her skin. A firm hand grabbed hers and held her back.

"You don't want to injure yourself further. And just ripping them out will definitely cause internal tearing," Italy ordered. He sounded so guarded. Like there was something that he was trying to keep from her.

Gillian was beginning to get irritated, "Okay look dude, I don't know what compelled you to stick me in this place, but I'm not enjoying it. So either get me out or let me do it myself," she said just short of snapping.

His eyes glanced out the window only faintly. But he was definitely looking for or watching something. "Alright. Just let me check you out, I don't want it to look suspicious. You should be recovered enough to be allowed to go now anyway."

He got up to leave but her hand shot out, gripping his arm firmly and not daring to let go until she had what she wanted. "You don't want what to look suspicious, what are you talking about? Who are you and why did you bring me here? What the fuck is going on? Tell me why you bothered to save me in the first place?" She was just short of yelling and was about to go ballistic. Her mood did not seem to phase him at all but she caught the second glance out the window.

"Why do you keep looking out the window!" She finally snapped having enough of this bullshit. He wasn't answering her and if he thought she was going to let him just waltz on out of here like he owned the joint he was dead wrong. His eyes widened as she ripped out the IVs and threw the thin sad excuse for a blanket off. She was dressed in one of those gowns that patients always wore. Searching the room she found her clothes folded and stacked up on a chair in a corner. She picked them up, tore off the gown and got her real clothes on quickly.

She wanted out of this place. It was suffocating her with it's too clean toxic fumes and plain white walls. Once she was sure there were no more of the heart beat stickers on her she opened the window and jumped out.

Good thing it was only on the second floor.

She timed her roll and the impact was spread evenly throughout her body so she wouldn't break anything. She heard Italy curse something in Italian and was up and running before he could follow. Though he was probably a lot faster than her, she figured she still had the advantage of knowing the alleyways like the back of her hand.

Wait, how did she know that? She had never seen this place before but once she entered the dark cramped areas she knew exactly where to go.

And why did she always end up running away from everything? She wasn't a coward but something compelled her to just keep going and not stop.

She dodged around startled couples huddling in the shadows and hopped over sleeping obstructions. Close to five minutes later she was out of breath and leaning against a wall panting.

That should have gotten rid of that freak.

But she was wrong. Oh how she was dead wrong. He jumped from the rooftop of the building she was leaning on and landed right in front of her. She gasped as he stood just inches away from her glaring coldly. His once golden eyes now a dark brown. She did her best to glare back but faltered when her throat started rasping out coughs.

His posture softened while she was practically hacking up a lung. Did he find this funny? She sweared if he was laughing she would break his nose. When her lungs finally managed to take a full breath she looked up to find his arms crossed patiently again.

"Now if you will learn patience, I will explain what is going on." He said calmly waiting for her reaction,

Her blood red eyes narrowed hostilely. "Do not talk to me like I'm brain dead," she snapped. He obviously was not expecting that reaction because he flinched, glancing around. "And why the hell do you keep looking around like you're being watched?"

"Because I don't know if I am."

Something softened inside of her. Understanding? Sympathy? It didn't matter right now but she would be sure to look into it later. "Well then, would you at least explain to me what is going on?"

He nodded and motioned for her to sit down. This was obviously going to be a long story.

"Okay, to start with, 176 years ago you died-"

"Yeah I understand that much but what is going on right now?"

He placed a finger over her lips silencing them. "Let me finish, 176 years ago you died. A terrorist group was blamed for it and everyone moved on. Except me and Lovino. You see my best friend Ludwig also died before you, and it too was marked as a terrorist attack. Lovino started watching everyone for little hints, trying to pinpoint which nation had killed you two. It all boiled down to Ivan. Do you know who the people I have mentioned so far are?"

She had never heard of Lovino before but a little thinking and it didn't take long to come back to her. And if Lovino was Italy's brother then Italy was-

Feliciano

She nodded as gears clicked to place in her head and fragments of memories came trickling back.

"He was found out and started World War Three. We managed to defeat him but just barely. He seemed to just retreat like he was saving us for later. Anyway close to fifty years later he approached me and my brother and tried to make us join him. At first we refused, but he knew that since we are both Italy we both hurt if one is injured. He smashed my brother's ribs in expecting it to kill him. I agreed to go with him if he would leave Lovino alone. So he did. Literally. He left him in the meeting room to bleed out and suffer. Luckily someone found him and got him to a hospital quickly. I was in pain for almost a full month which Ivan definitely was not expecting. Anyway, I have not heard of or seen of any of the outside nations since. Also, we are in the beginning of World War Four that Ivan is not risking to lose. He is not going all out just yet, but he also isn't staying anonymous. Hey, are you still following?"

Her gaze had wandered to a couple in a corner down the ally who weren't doing anything.. well.. 'coupley'. They were just sitting there, and she could see the glint that said they were watching out the corner of their eyes.

"Um, remember how you said you might be watched?"

"Yeah? What about it?'

"Well, I think they are watching us."

Italy's eyes widened and he looked over right when they stepped from the shadows holding shotguns. Probably fully loaded to.

"Shit, run!"

And they did. Italy stayed ahead leading Gillian through narrow turnoffs she never would have thought were even there. They came out of one alleyway into the middle of an outside shopping mall. Quickly blending in with oblivious passersby, they lost their pursuers. They stopped at an emergency exit and Italy stooped down to disable the alarm. Once that was accomplished he pushed open the heavy block of metal and slipped back into the alleyways. "I need to get you to Ivan quickly. If I don't we risk getting ambushed aga-"

She didn't let him finish, "Whoa whoa whoa, hold on. Take a step back there buckarroo. You want to take me to the psychotically deranged and mentally insane fucker that murdered not only me but you best friend, permanently maimed your brother, and forced you to join him because he is a greedy whore that wants the world and nothing less? I'm sorry but forgive me when I say 'Hell to the no!' There is no way I'm going to let you just waltz in there with me all like top of the mornin' to ya mate, I brought you the Prussia you killed last time so you can go right ahead and kill err again! Yeah, that is really flattering Italy, you know that? Sure fine plan you got there. But what happe-"

Italy had her pressed up to the wall. Lips moving against hers. Her eyes widened and she tried to push him away to no avail.

So she did the next best thing.

Angling herself just right she rested her foot flat against his stomach and kicked him away.

"Is that what you do to shut someone up?" she asked trying to sound livid but knew he wouldn't buy it.

And then she felt something warm trickle down her arm.

She looked down at the cut, and then at Italy's hand. He had used one of his tranquilizers on her. She looked at him shocked and noticed his eyes were full of regret.

"I'm so sorry. I really am truly sorry."

She tried to grab the wall as her legs failed her. Suddenly one of Italy's arms were around her while the other caught her at the knees. He held her like a child looking into her eyes holding back tears.

She knew he probably hadn't wanted to drug her, but her resistance had forced him to. Or maybe Ivan had placed a deadline on him and he was already running late. That could be what the ambush was. A way of saying 'hurry up'.

Her eyes closed and she was pulled into a dark cold sleep.


Ivan sat at the table drumming his fingers in boredom. Suddenly the door opened Mathew was shoved in rather roughly. It closed again before the boy could get off the ground.

"Ah, Matvey, you have what I asked for, da?"

The Canadian trembled in fear and backed up against the wall.

"Y-yes, but p-pl-please don't hurt them." He cried trying to get as far away from Ivan as possible.

The Russian man had no time for his stuttering so her rose and crossed the room. He leaned down grabbing Mathew by the throat and lifted him to the point that his feet barely touched the ground.

"I want you to tell me what they know, and what they are doing." He dropped the boy and watched as he coughed and gasped for air. It didn't take long for him to compose himself, which Ivan was pleased about. He would hate to hurt the...delicate...child.

"They know about Prussia. They want to use him to bring back the country of Germany. They are going to use Gilbird to find him," Mathew said quickly wanting this to be over with.

Ivan smiled. "Thank you, now you may go."

He seemed relieved that he didn't need to stay in the room any longer and scrambled to the door.

"Oh and Matvey?"

Canada froze right before he opened the door and turned around. "Y-yes?"

"You may not go back to your country. You will be staying here from now on."

"B-but, n.. no... you s-said-" and then the door opened dragging a crying flailing Mathew out of the room.

Ivan smiled and sat back down at the table watching the single sunflower in the vase. "Things seem to be turning out quite nicely, da?"

A flower petal fell from the dying plant and landed on the steel surface. Including it, there were now five of them.

Five petals wilting and drying.

Five nations that dared to oppose him.

Five victims... now who will be next?


Niki: Yeah Gillian, you go girl.

Next Chapter: Gillian wakes up in a hotel room just outside of Moscow. Arthur looks for Gilbird but things don't go so well.