Four: Gifts

Ludwig still didn't know why Vash actually decided to drag him back to his home with him, but he was indebted to him regardless of his reasons.

He knew he had been a mess the past several years- wait, who was he kidding. He was still a mess. First it had been his growing doubts about dieser Mann the longer that blasted war dragged on, then it was finding out exactly what those pathetic things had been doing to his people for the crime of existing, and finally it had been those pathetisch Nationen that had decided to basically sentence his brother to death because of his crimes.

Thankfully, he had been able to save Gilbert by giving up some of his land to him, but then Russland had taken him away, only allowing them to see each other once a year. If that wasn't bad enough, no one had had any contact with Aneta since the communists had seized control. Even if he was able to bring himself to apologize to his sister, he wouldn't be able to. The same went for the other nations behind that blasted 'Iron Curtain'. He couldn't look any of them in the face anyway, but knowing that he didn't even have the option of apologizing...

The only countries actually involved in the war to even seem to care how he was doing was Mikkel and Alfred. He would never be able to thank the two of them enough for reaching out to him and making sure that he didn't do anything he would regret, even if it would not be permanent.

When Mikkel said that he wouldn't be able to visit for a couple months because his boss, under his own influence, decided to set up a meeting with the other four Nordics to 'improve relations between their countries' (he wondered why Mikkel even bothered trying to convince him he had nothing to do with it), he was admittedly a bit crushed. His second oldest brother's frequent visits were one of the two things that had been keeping him sane since the end of the war, and he was worried that just having Alfred call every other day wouldn't be enough.

Thankfully, Vash had, for some reason he doubted anyone would ever be able to decipher, decided to bring him to his home in Zurich. As much as he didn't want to admit it, it was probably the best thing for him.

Just forcing him out of his house- something that Mikkel was a bit too nice to do- had been something that helped him more than anyone had probably expected. His mind also thanked Vash for his... interesting ways of waking him from a nightmare, though the rest of his body felt like giving the Swiss a taste of his own medicine.

There was also the fact that the Swiss nation made any visitors to his home help with any chores to pay for any expenses. That made certain that he couldn't just mope around all day.

He did wish that Lili was around, but he couldn't fault her for wanting to help Roderich. He'd be a hypocrite if he did.

Yes, he would never be able to repay Vash for helping him.


Ludwig was making dinner one night about three weeks after he had been dragged to Zurich when the door was slammed open by the second-oldest Germanic. "Vash! Why didn't you tell me that you dragged Lud with you back here?"

Sighing and taking off the pink apron Lili had given him as a gift several decades ago, Ludwig wiped his hands off and went into the hallway just in time to see Vash throw something at the Dane. "I left a note, Mikkel," the Swiss man said, glaring at him.

Mikkel just whined, saying, "But what if someone stole it? How would I know where he was then?"

"You could've just asked America. I told him."

"But what if-"

At that point, Mikkel was cut off by Berwald coming up behind him and slapping him on the head. "Park the car before getting out," the Swede said.

Mikkel blinked. "I thought I did..."

Instead of blowing up at him like the other two thought he would, Berwald just sighed, shocking both Ludwig and Vash. After nudging the Dane out of the doorway, he shut the door with one hand, keeping the other cradled around something covered with an orange piece of fabric. After a moment, he noticed Ludwig standing silently by the kitchen door. Mikkel didn't, having run off to use the bathroom.

After a moment of awkward silence, Berwald cleared his throat and said, "Hello, Ludwig."

"Berwald," Ludwig replied, not knowing what to say.

The German heard something come from whatever was in his arms and inquired, "What is that?"

"Gift," the Swede said, removing the fabric to reveal a puppy that he placed in his arms.

Ludwig stared at the black and god Hovawart, who stared back at him with wide eyes. After a moment, the puppy barked and licked his face while wagging his tail. Despite himself, he smiled a bit as he said, "Thank you."

"It was nothing," Berwald said. "Sorry I haven't visited before."

"It's fine," the German said, sitting down while petting the dog. "Have you named it yet?"

"Nej."

It was at that point that Vash spoke up. "One dog? One?"

The two nations and puppy stared at him, confused, though he didn't seem to notice as he grabbed his keys and walked out the door.


Mikkel sighed in relief as he exited the bathroom. Why there were not more places to stop on the road was a mystery and needed to be corrected for the sake of people all around the world.

He stopped dead at the entrance to the living room, shocked at the scene.

Ludwig was smiling as he played with the puppy he and Berwald had found. Don't get him wrong, he was happy that the German seemed not to be wallowing in guilt at the moment, but it was still a bit shocking.

After a moment, he shook his head and smiled as he fully walked in the living room. "So, I guess Berry had a good idea when he picked up the puppy!"

"Stop calling me that," Berwald muttered, though the other two ignored him.

"Ja, I do," Ludwig said, rubbing the puppy's stomach, causing him to pant and wag his tail wildly. "Thank you again, Berwald."

"Don't have to thank me every other minute," the Swede muttered.

Mikkel sat down in front of his youngest brother and patted the Hovawart on his head. "You named it yet?"

Ludwig nodded. "He's Berlitz."

"Nice name!" After a minute of admiring the newly named Berlitz, he suddenly realized someone was missing. "Where'd Vash go?"

"I don't know," the German said at the same time that Berwald shrugged.

Ludwig suddenly frowned. "I need to finish dinner," he said, though it was clear that he didn't want to leave Berlitz yet.

"I know! I'll make dinner while-"

"Nej."

"Nein."

Mikkel blinked at the vehement objections he received. "But-"

"I'll make it," Berwald said, getting up and walking to the kitchen.

Mikkel proceeded to pout for precisely eighteen seconds before Berlitz regained his attention, causing the Dane to coo in Danish about how cute he was.


Vash finally came back after they had eaten dinner, placing a basket with two more puppies- a German Shepherd and a Dachshund- in front of Ludwig. "There. He has friends now."

The other three looked at him, confused out of their minds. "Um... Vash, why did you get two more puppies?" Mikkel asked.

The Swiss rolled his eyes. "Animals need friends. I was going to just get one, but then one of them wouldn't have a friend, so you get two. You're welcome."

On that note, he turned and walked into the kitchen to get himself some food, leaving his brothers to realize, yet again, exactly how weird he was.


Translations:

Dieser Mann (German) - That man

Pathetisch Nationen (German) - Pathetic nations

Russland (German) - Russia

Nej (Swedish) - No

Nein (German) - No

Remember when Vash said "Don't take any wild animals, even if they're cute. And if you do then take two because they deserve to have friends"? That and finding out that it's illegal to have only one guinea pig in Switzerland made me think up the scene where he is so annoyed that Ludwig only got one dog that he goes out and finds another two puppies.

Oh, and Ludwig is not 100 percent better. He's getting there, but he still has a long way to go.

I also don't believe Gilbert is dying. My headcanon is, instead of just becoming East Germany, Ludwig actually gave part of his land to him, making them both personifications of Germany in the present day, like how there's two Italies.

I also came up with the idea that Ludwig came up with the one argument that would get Russia to listen to him: he doesn't want to be separated from his brother. As crazy as Russia is, especially in this time period, what he said made him think of how he'd feel if he was in his shoes, making him give permission for the two of them to meet once a year in East Berlin.

You guys may disagree, but this is just how I see it.

You know, I really don't like this chapter. I'm sorry for not updating this and the giving you this. Next chapter will be better, I promise.