Chapter 4

There was a huge pop as the very first of the fireworks went off, and Alfred realized he couldn't bear to stay there a moment longer. He couldn't watch Italy kiss Germany while something as romantic as fireworks went off in the background. He couldn't watch Italy return the German's affections with love in his eyes.

He held back a sob, and ran off before the scene in his head could unfold, not realizing there was tears in his eyes until they were rolling rapidly down his cheeks illuminated by the bright fireworks. He rounded the corner and took off his glasses, rubbed his red eyes, and leaned against the house.

A particularly loud cry of awe woke him from his stupor. He needed to get that image out of his head. His leg brushed up against something and a loud clinking echo beneath him he looked down at a six-pack of beer. Alcohol was as good a way as any to forget.

...

America laughed obnoxiously, beer drizzling down his chin. The drunk blond yelled obnoxiously to no one in particular. "Dude! This was like… a really awesome party. I jus…" Alfred's eyes narrowed as he saw Germany walking towards him, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.

He glared aggressively at Germany as he approached him. "Hello Germany." He said with forced drunken enthusiasm. "Are you enjoying yourself?" He accused.

The Germanic nation's eyes narrowed and his crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I thought I asked you to stay away from Italy. He tells me that the two of you have been close these past few weeks." He growled, taking an intimidating step closer.

"Can you like, not do this right now?" Alfred slurred, his cerulean eyes screaming murder. "I can hang around with Italy all I like dingus." He took a shaky step closer to Ludwig, accusation clear in his eyes. "Unless you think you somehow have authority over him. Admit it Germany, you've invaded Italy, haven't you?" he snapped, new courage found in the alcohol now burning through his system.

This sent the German country reeling back. "Excuse me?" He exclaimed, causing a few eyes to snap at attention.

"You heard me." Alfred's eyes burned. "Are you threatening Italy? That's why you don't want me around him isn't it?" Germany's jaw tightened. His fists shook at his sides as his face turned bright red in anger.

Ludwig opened his mouth angrily, but before any sound uttered America's fist connected with his jaw. Germany's head snapped back from the force of America's fist. The cerulean eyed-blond stumbled forward on his uncoordinated feet. "Ass!" He yelled, as the Germanic nation looked up, his eyes burning and a hand on his now bruising jaw.

"Why you little" the German leaped into the air and his fist connected with the American's face. The American felt blood begin to drip down his face like a faucet. He gripped the front of Germany's shirt and planted his elbow in his stomach.

At once, every surrounding country began shouting and crowding the two blonds. America and Germany were both locked in a violent fistfight. After what felt like an eternity of throwing blow after blow, Alfred felt someone lock his or her arms around his middle and tug him insistently backwards. He yelled as he was ripped from the other blue-eyed nation. He bucked against whoever's arms were restraining him.

He noticed someone else wrap his or her arms around Germany and pull him backwards. They were still dangerously close, so much so that America leaned back, about to throw everything he had into one last punch just before another figure obscured his view of the other struggling nation, severing any chance of contact between the two. It took him a moment in his state to realize it was Italy standing in between them, shaking like a leaf. He stopped struggling and looked up towards Italy's face but his head was turned towards Germany.

Italy's head began to swivel between the two as he yelled. "Stop! Please stop fighting!"

Both country's stopped struggling in their captor's grasps. Everyone was shocked into absolute silence due to one of the most cowardly countries standing in between two of the strongest nations. Everyone was completely still, as if the moment would shatter if someone breathed too hard.

Once everyone was equal-tempered (whether by choice or by shock) Italy turned walked calmly towards Germany, helped him to his feet and into the house. There was an awkward silence in which nobody knew what to do or what was happening until Italy reappeared and walked towards Alfred.

The blond looked him desperately in the eye, but the brunette wasn't back looking at him. He had a faraway look in his gaze, as if he was preoccupied. The American country felt guilt prick his gut as Feliciano took Alfred by the hands and helped him to his feet. The blond looked around. All eyes were on him and he found that it was England who had been restraining him. The dirty blond Englishman gave him a scolding look before Alfred was led off by Italy into his house.

Italy took America by the hand and walked into the hallway on the right. The blond still swaying slightly from the alcohol. Italy led a still stunned America to his bathroom. He gently sat him down on the toilet, still not looking at him.

The brunette's grip reinforced itself on Alfred's hands and finally their eyes locked. "Alfred." He said gently, his chocolate eyes full of concern. America felt a weight settle in his stomach, anticipating Italy to ask why it was he had attacked his best friend and most likely his new boyfriend.

So he was completely unprepared he was for what he actually said. "Are you ok?" His eyes widened, but he quickly recovered and silently nodded. "Ok, I'm going to check on Germany and then I'm going to come back and clean you up. Ok?"

He nodded again as the brunette gently let go of his hands and quietly closed the door behind him. It felt like years he was sitting alone in the bathroom, feeling like a complete ass. He gripped the back of his neck and growled, frustrated. He felt awful for attacking what must have been Feliciano's new boyfriend.

He felt half relieved, half miserable when Italy walked back through the door and strode over to the sink. The brunette wet a washcloth and turned towards Alfred, a determined look on his face as he leaned closer to the American.

The cerulean-eyed country made no protests as Feli began gently washing the blood and beer off his face. Italy seemed completely concentrated on what he was doing. Meanwhile America was looking the Italian country directly in his chocolate eyes, entranced by the concentrated look swimming within them.

America grabbed Italy's arm as the country pulled back to wash the dirty cloth. He blushed as he pulled the brunette towards him, desperately wanting Feli closer. The brunette set down the still wet cloth and looked down; but Alfred wasn't having any of it. He took the Italian by the chin and tilted his head up. "Look at me." He whispered, seeing the Italian nation's eyes flicker up to stare into his own.

Italy gasped as America pulled him into his lap and tilted his head up to plant an open mouthed kiss on Italy's lips. Alfred swallowed Feli's shocked cry and used this opportunity to slide his tongue in the brunette's mouth. Italy stood rigid as the American kissed him passionately. After a few more moments in the American's arms he whimpered and pulled away. His head tilted down, his hair acting as a veil over his face as he murmured. "Why did you do that?"

Alfred's hand slid into Feliciano's auburn hair at the back of his head. "Italy, can you look at me please?" He repeated.

"How do I know you won't kiss me again?" Italy's voice was shaking. That stung, but Alfred was determined as he once again tilted the brunette's head up. Italy's watery eyes met his cerulean and America cupped his cheek.

"I think I'm in love with you." Italy's chocolate eyes swelled with unreadable emotion swimming in his illustrious orbs. The Mediterranean nation, however, just nodded and slid out of the American's lap, tears swimming in his huge eyes.

"I have to go America." The Mediterranean nation whispered and quickly retreated from the room. Alfred whimpered as Italy left him alone to drown in his guilt.

...

Alfred groaned, holding his throbbing head in his hand as he opened his rapidly watering eyes against the blinding sun. His whole body was also still aching from his scrape with Germany last night, but it didn't hold a candle to his still painful hangover. Beneath him were was his familiar leather couch. How he had gotten there was far beyond him at this point.

He sat up and groped blindly around for his missing glasses on the coffee table beside him. He yelped as someone yelled, rather too loudly into his ear. "What the bloody hell did your dumbass do last night America!" England's shrill voice pierced through Alfred's ears like a thousand knives.

"Dude, just shhhhh!" America hissed softly, pressing his palms into his ears to muffle the Englishman's voice. "Too fuckin' loud bro."

England smacked the blond upside the head causing his head even more throbbing pain. He yelped again as Great Britain yelled. "What did you do you bloody idiot! I leave you alone for five minutes and you ruin my entire plan, get blind-ass drunk and start a fight with Germany! Must you insist upon befouling everything that I do even when I'm just trying to help you?" Alfred looked up with confused and pained blue eyes.

"What are you talking about Iggy?" He breathed, placing a hand on his throbbing forehead. "I don't even know what happened yesterday. I thought it would be you who could tell me that."

"Hey guys, how about we all just have some pancakes and calm down eh?" a soft voice called.

Alfred glanced towards the sound and smiled happily despite the pain still throbbing throughout his head. "Mattie! When did you get here bro?"

Canada frowned, his violet eyes filling with hurt. "I got here last night. I helped out with dinner and set the table." America somehow managed to feel about ten times worse. He hated it when he didn't notice his little brother and it always stung to know he had missed a moment, any moment with his younger twin.

"I-I'm so sorry Matthew. I was really distracted last night and I did a lot of stupid stuff and-" He rambled, desperate for the Canadian to understand.

"Oh it's ok Al! Don't worry aboot it eh. I could see you were-" he giggled, rather girlishly. "Preoccupied most of the night." England scoffed, shattering the moment.

"You dumbass. You blew everything out of the water! I can't believe your stupidity Alfred!" He glared dangerously down at the now cowering nation. "Tell me why Italy left this house looking like you murdered a litter of kittens, and why you thought it was just a brilliant idea to go and get in a fist fight with Germany!"

"I-I." Alfred stuttered, trying to remember through the haze of pain clouding his memory. An image of him pulling Italy forward and kissing him entered America's mind, and it all came back to him. "Oh! I remember now- Ugh, I'm such a jackass." He muttered.

"Aww Alfred, don't be too hard on yourself." Canada soothed, walking back in with a stack of buttered pancakes, a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin. "Have some breakfast and calm down." America smiled and took the stack from his little brother along with the glass and bottle.

"Thanks Matt." He sighed, gratitude filling his chest like calm water as he swallowed the pills and downed the glass of water.

"You're welcome." The Canadian nation smiled at his older brother and England sighed, collapsing down in a nearby chair.

"Just tell me what you did already idiot!" England shouted as Canada left the room for more pancakes. "Everything was going fine until-"

"Until Germany kissed Italy during the fireworks." Alfred sighed, surprising himself by how calm he sounded.

England reeled back, his acid eyes widening with shock. "What? Tell me everything you bloody wanker." He snapped, recovering quickly as the Canadian nation walked back through into the living room with two more huge stacks of pancakes.

"What are we talking aboot eh?" He asked, putting one of the stacks of pancakes in front of the British country.

England thanked the Canadian before commenting. "America fucked up big time last night with his crush-"

"Italy, right? You two are so cute together." Canada cooed, making the American feel even guiltier. "Oh! I'm so sorry Britain! Please continue."

England waved it off and gestured back towards America. "That's quite alright Matthew. Alfred, do tell us all about what happened." He said, throughly vexed.

Said nation glared and accused, in a rather high-pitched voice. "What did you mean by 'I ruined your entire plan'?"

Great Britain looked away and said casually. "I was just, oh you know. Keeping Germany preoccupied all night so you could have the night alone with Italy." America gawked, and Canada gasped, but before either could fully recover from their shock at the other nation's audacity, he plowed on. "But of course you did something to screw it up. So do tell how you managed it."

Alfred glared, coughed and began slowly explaining the night beginning to end. At first of course, it was almost cheesy in how romantic the night had begun. The two had talked almost all night and Alfred had stars in his eyes as he described how easy talking with the little brunette was. Mattie gave many breathless 'aw's while Britain rolled his eyes, mirth carefully hidden in his eyes.

But a scowl formed on the American's handsome features as he told them about Japan telling Italy that Germany needed to see him. At this point the former empire jumped to his feet, abandoning his half-eaten pancakes, and yelled. "Blast it! So this is his fault!"

Alfred blinked. "What are you talking about?"

America's former relation huffed and crossed his arms angrily across his chest before spitting. "I asked for Japan's help to get you and Italy together. That bloody git must've been working against me the whole damn time!"

Canada choked on his pancakes and said, shocked. "You got Japan in on this?"

"Of course. I needed help and he was Alfred's friend so I figured-"

"Oh my gosh, stop interfering with my life already!" America yelled shrilly, his face going bright red with embarrassment. "I don't need help with this!"

England laughed bitterly. "You idiot. Of course you need my help. You are in denial and Italy is a country that is simply not going to stay single forever. Besides it worked didn't it? Everything was going alright until-"

"Until Germany kissed Italy." Canada gasped and Britain nodded.

"Yes, you were mentioning that earlier. What the hell did you do?" the Brit said, his acid eyes boring into America. "I thought the night was going well."

The American nation went on to explain how he had wanted to watch the fireworks with Italy (receiving many squeals from his younger brother which only made him more embarrassed) and had gone off to look for him after he left. He scowled as he told Canada and England about him walking in on a kiss, and about him turning to drinking to try and scrub the image from his mind.

This caused tears to form in Matthew's eyes and he reached for his older twin's hand saying softly. "Alfred, you really shouldn't drink when you're so upset eh. Nothing good ever comes from it, and it makes you really scary."

America flushed red with guilt as the Canadian nation let his hand go. He was starting to feel like absolute shit right about then when Britain sighed and said softly. "I understand Alfred. Just tell us what happened after Italy took you both outside."

The American looked up at the British nation, shocked by his understanding tone. Pain dulled his cerulean orbs as he recalled what happened next. "He took me to the bathroom to get me cleaned up a bit and check up on me. Of course-" He snorted bitterly. "he checked on Germany first."

Canada could sense America's mood and said rather reasonably. "Well of course he would. You up and attacked him out of nowhere. I'm surprised he didn't start screaming at you right then and there."

Alfred's fist's shook at his sides and he took an angry bite from his pancakes. He knew the Canadian was right, but he didn't feel any less angry about it. "Yeah, he got all the blood off me then," He took a deep breath, preparing for the onslaught. "I kissed him."

Both countries at once began protesting loudly, neither heard over the others noise. Alfred desperately covered his ears, his lingering hangover causing him to cringe but he yelled as loud as he could. "I was drunk ok!" The two blondes stopped talking and instead glared identically at America. "I was hurt and I wanted his attention. He was right there and I couldn't help myself I kinda." He took another deep, praying he would be spared too much criticism. "Told him I might have been in love with him."

Alfred clapped his hands over his ears as both Matthew and Arthur began berating the American for his stupidity. He cried over the two blondes' yells. "I'm sorry! I know I'm being an ass!" Canada's yells ceased, and Great Britain scoffed angrily, but fell silent as the American went on. "But I just had, a super shitty night and I don't need this right now. Can I just eat my food and have a few minutes to myself?"

Canada's violet eyes widened and filled with tears while Britain just snorted and crossed his arms across his chest. "I'm so sorry Al!" The blond Canadian leaned in and hugged his older brother. Alfred sighed, and relaxed into the younger nation's embrace.

"Whatever. You can't run away from your problems forever wanker." England muttered, taking another bite of his pancakes as America parted from Canada to send Britain a scathing glare. "And don't look at me like that Yank, it's your life that's messed up not mine."

The American nation just rolled his eyes and the trio all turned back to their pancakes in silence. America sighed silently cursing the awkwardness he had created in what had been a friendly atmosphere.

(AN):

Happy Fourth of July! I thought it would be fitting to post something a little early as a little Fourth of July gift. Happy Birthday Al!

Thank you guys so much for all the lovely reviews! It means so much! :D