~ Day 4: December 4~

It was late in the evening when Romano arrived home. He had been out all day, running all over the place trying to get things done. It was a rare day when he actually worked, and if there was one thing he had learned from it, it was that he hates work.

"No wonder I don't do this crap, I'm fucking exhausted."

"Well maybe if you did it more often, you wouldn't have as much to do." His brother chimes in from the kitchen, the distinct smell of tomato sauce and white wine wafting from the room.

"Shut up! It's not like you're any better!" He yells in reply. "Wake me up when that pasta's done!"

"Fine."

After making sure he was heard, Romano flops onto the soft white couch in their living room. "A nap is long overdue." Closing his eyes, he welcomes the quiet and calm of sleep.

...(350 years ago)...

"Roma!" A voice calls out to him, disrupting his sleep.

"Roma!" There it was again.

"Roma! Wake up!" Blinking open his bleary eyes, they immediately connect with bright green and narrow.

"How many times do I have to tell you to not fucking wake me?!" He snaps, glaring at the girl above him.

"Sorry Roma, but it's late!"

"Whatever, lady. Go away."

"But Roma-"

"And don't call me that! Only that bastard can."

"Fine but come down for breakfast." Belgium closes his door behind him

"Hmmph." Romano, although indignant, rude and an overall asshole, did like to eat. A lot. So of course he hurried to breakfast that day, like always. And if Belgium was there, that meant breakfast would be good.

"What's for breakfast, lady?"

"I made waffles with blueberries!" she replied, smiling as she handed him a plate with a stack of the warm pastries, still steaming and fresh.

"Sounds disgusting." But Romano ate every bite because in reality it was delicious. And he knew that. After pushing his plate aside, the little boy jumped down from his chair and pointed at Belgium. "Th-they weren't bad. I like your waffles. I'm going outside. Clean that up." Turning he marched through the door.

Belgium watched him go. "Lately he seems more and more down."

"How do ya tell?" Netherlands had entered the room behind her, his ever-present scowl slightly confused.

"I just can. He misses Spain. So do I. I'm gonna go cheer him up."

"Huh? What about the dishes?"

"Clean them up?"

"But-"

"For me?"

"...Fine but you owe me. Cash."

"What?! Oh, fine! Stingy!" She sticks out her tongue before walking out.

Meanwhile, Romano had found and was playing with a small round ball that was a muted red and gold. He had used to play with it with Spain before he had one day left it outside. He couldn't find it, and after Spain had left, he hadn't wanted to. But now he was rolling it about aimlessly, watching the sun rise over the rolling hills. As he watched a small bird peck at a hole in the ground, a voice came from behind him.

"Whatcha doing?"

Romano jumped a bit, his ball rolling out of his hands. As he turned around, it began to bounce down the hill.

"What do you want." He says grudgingly upon recognizing Belgium.

"Just wanted to chat some. Shouldn't you get your ball?"

"My ball?" He looked just in time to see it roll all the way down the hill, quite fast now that it picked up speed, before falling into the lake at it's base, it's speed propelling out in the water.

"No!" Romano yelled, running down after it.

"That was a gift, you idiot!" He cried, reaching the waters edge. "And I can't swim!"

Watching it float away, it's red and gold colors growing smaller was familiar to Romano. It was just like when Spain had left. He had stood and watched the boat grow farther and farther away on the sea, the red and gold flag growing fainter until it disappeared on the horizon, along with Spain. Again. As his vision began to blur, a shape jumped into the lake beside him, the array of water drops hitting him.

"What-?" Rubbing his eyes, he watched as Belgium swam out to the little ball, grabbing it before heading back. Standing up in front of him, her clothes soaked and dripping wet, she smiled, handing it to him.

"I'm sorry for making you almost lose your ball, so don't cry Romano." His face growing red, Romano stammered back

"I-I wasn't, stupid. It's the water from when you splashed me." Belgium laughed.

"Alright, if you say so." Sitting down beside him, she hugged her knees to her chest, smiling at him. "That must be important to you."

"N-not really. It was just a random present. It'd be ungrateful to lose it."

"Spain gave that to you, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"You miss him, don't you?"

"No! Why would I miss that stupid bastard? That's childish." She laughed, patting his head.

"It's okay, y'know. You're still young, you're allowed to be a little selfish. You can miss him all you want." When Romano doesn't respond, she spoke up again. "Can I tell you a story, Romano?"

"It better be short."

"When I was a little girl, many years ago, I met Spain. He was one of the happiest, cheeriest people I had ever met. I really loved talking to him and being with him. But one day, he said he had to leave. He had to go back to his own country with his envoy. I was really upset and I, unlike you, asked him to stay. He didn't, but you know what he said? He'd come back. And he did. Just like how he will this time."

"You don't know that. I bet he abandoned me. Just like that bastard grandpa. Just like that prissy Austria. Just like my own brother."

"Oh Roma! No one's abandoned you! Most of your grandfather's empire was in the North, that's all. And he had to travel back and forth a lot. He needed someone he could trust to rule, right? And Austria was just trying to maintain Europe's balance of power. And your brother is too young to do anything about what happened. And Spain hasn't abandoned you either! I wasn't supposed to tell you this, but…"

"Tell me what?"

"Spain sent a letter to me a week ago announcing his return. He wanted it to be a surprise."

"...really?"

"Really."

"When's he coming back? N-not that I care or anything."

"Well… today?"

"What?"

"ROOOOMAAAAAA~!" A loud voice echoed from behind them, back by the house. "Netherlands said you were back here! Where are you?" Glancing, at Belgium, Romano looked at her pleadingly.

"Go ahead." she chuckled. Leaping up, Romano bolted over the hill. She laughed harder when she heard the loud thwump of Romano's telltale headbutt and Spain's groan of pain.

"That hurt, Roma." He whined, rubbing his sore stomach from where he sat on the ground. "Why do you always do that?" Feeling a weight on his lap, he opened his eyes to see Romano sitting on him, staring up at him. Blushing, Romano muttered just loud enough for Spain to hear him

"Welcome home, bastard." The look of surprise quickly morphed into one of happiness.

"Que lindo! Like a tomato!" He cried, hugging Romano tightly.

"Shut up, you damn bastard!" Romano yelled, struggling halfheartedly.

"It's good to be back. I missed you too, Roma. Were you lonely?"

Thinking of Belgium's smiling face, he muttered quietly "Not that much."

...present day

"Romano! The food is ready!" Romano awoke to Italy's voice carrying from the kitchen.

"Yeah, yeah!" He yelled back. Rubbing his back as he stood, he yawned, grumbling "I haven't had a dream like that in a while. Now I want waffles."


A/N: This pairing is Romano x Belgium, for those of you who couldn't tell. It was requested, so I did it. don't really ship them, so I made it more of a brother-sister thing, but I hope that still works. I enjoyed writing this one a lot. Romano is a fun character to write. So is England, but he won't be in this until later.

The balance of power thing is something my ap euro teacher pretty much drilled into our brains. So, Mr. O'Neill, that's for you!

The phrase here was in the flashback, one word changed, but it means virtually the same thing and it's not confusing if you know the phrase.

Thanks for reading guys! I hope I'll see everyone tomorrow! Please review!