A/N: Yay! I finally remembered this! Just want to thank everyone who commented and Favorited this story, you're what kept me writing. Also thanks to americalover94 for all the editing she did for me. Sorry for the delayed up date, second semester decided to punch me in the face. Also, sorry for how long this is getting, I meant it to be 4 parts, but here we are at part 4 and still quite a ways from the climax.
No more rambling and onto the story! Please comment and enjoy.
"Feliciano…I- I think you should leave," Ludwig whispered, trying to ignore the pain in Feliciano's eyes. A silence fell over the room, so much so that Feliciano almost heard Gilbert's snoring.
"No," the Italian said surely gripping the mug tightly between his fingers. "Not until I do what I came for." His voice came out oddly, far too serious, but it needed to be for what he planned to say. Ludwig started to interrupt and inquire about his reason, but Feliciano stopped him with a solemn face. Standing in the silence, the Italian thought back on his reasoning for the walk (run) here.
It was that time of year again. People were buying flowers or Baci Perugina and singing songs of love. The color red covered almost every floral-smelling market place. As wishful women stared at rings in shop windows, lovers made plans and walked hand in hand. Walking through the street, anyone could feel the excitement and happiness of the crowd. Almost everyone was preparing happily for Valentine's Day (only two days away). In fact, the only person not bubbly dancing through the streets with a pretty girl was Feliciano.
He knew there was a time when he too had joined in the festivities, adoring the loving feel of the day. But, it had been nearly sixty years sense his last real celebration and the last time he was even home on the day. Spending Valentine's Day alone only brought back bad memories for Feliciano, but he never could bring himself to be with a pretty girl. Sure he thought about it a few times, but it only made him think of Ludwig.
They had not spoken since that day when the Berlin wall came down and even then they only shared a few nice words. Feliciano knew he should not have expected much more, he had been a horrible friend to the man. During the Second World War, the strong German had saved him so many times without many complaints. All Feliciano did to repay this was betray him and surrender to the Allies and even then Ludwig had come to protect him. Lovino had explained that the German troops were not there to protect him, but to invade his home. Still, Feliciano believed it was really to protect him from the Allies. Now, it was sixty years later and he had no one to call when he could not tie his shoes or when he ran out of water to make pasta. In fact he did not really have any one to call, ever. Sure he had Kiku, Antonio, Francis, Roderich, Elizaveta, Gilbert, Alfred and many others that he liked to hang out with, but they did not come running like Ludwig used to.
That, however, was not the issue at hand. Today he needed to find somewhere to go so he would not be home and alone on Valentine's Day. He started with his brother.
"Ciao," surprisingly, it was Antonio who answered.
"Big Brother Antonio?" Feliciano asked happily sitting up.
"Feliciano? How are you? Did you want to talk to your brother? What about?" Antonio sounded excited and happy, like he had just won a fabulous prize. From behind him Feliciano heard some cursing from his brother as he yelled, "we needed to finish packing Tomato Bastard, don't go fucking answering the phone like you live here Damn it!"
"Oh calm down Lovino, it's just your brother," the Spaniard replayed softly as Lovino cursed and yelled at the sweet voice to stop molesting him.
"Are you going somewhere?" Feliciano asked, after hearing about packing, with a sad tone.
"Yes, yes. We are going to a resort in my home. I finally got Lovino to agree to spend Valentine's Day with me! Isn't that wonderful!" Antonio's tone immediately changed to that of a child before Christmas as he almost sang his reply.
That took both Lovino and Antonio off his list. "I hope you have fun, I'll let you get back to packing." Feliciano tried to sound cheery, but failed.
"Oh Feliciano. I forgot, you usually spend Valentine's with one of us. I'm sorry. I know you don't like being alone, why don't you try Francis?" Antonio's tone once again did a one eighty and he seemed quite hushed (no doubt trying to keep another reason to cancel out of Lovino's ears). As much as Feliciano loved Big Brother Francis, spending Valentine's with him usually got very awkward.
"It's fine, I have a bunch of people I can call. Have fun with Lovino and tell him I hope he has fun too."
"Will do, see you later!" Antonio giggled into the phone as he hung up before Lovino could start cursing about the packing again. Feliciano smiled as he reassured himself of all the other people he could call.
But, the list only shrunk more and more as the day turned to night. Kiku had apologized for having too many Manga deadlines coming up to be able to entertain. Roderich had not even bothered to answer after four calls (probably playing rejection songs on the piano). Elizaveta had giggled about Gilbert inviting her somewhere secret, taking the both of them off the list. Calling Alfred he hoped that maybe his rather new friend would be available.
"The Hero speaking," Alfred answered in his usual excited tone.
"Ciao, Alfred. It's Feliciano." he tried to sound lively, but he had been calling people for hours and felt very tired.
"Yo, what's up Dude? How ya' been? Long time no talk!" Alfred seemed busy, but willing to forget his duties.
"Everything with me's good, how about you?" It was hard to keep up with the small talk, he really just wanted to ask if the American was busy for Valentine's Day, be rejected, hang up and then pout some more.
"I'm actually off the walls right now! Artie's coming to New York to spend Valentine's Day with me! Don't tell him I told you though, he gets all flustered about us dating." At least Feliciano was spared the fake apologize, too bad this meant another two people were off his list. He did not really understand why Arthur would be flustered; everyone had been placing bets about when it would happen. Feliciano smiled realizing he had won against Kiku.
"Oh, that's good to hear. Hope you two have fun. I shouldn't keep you, talk aga-"
"Wait why'd you call?" Too bad Alfred decided to be observant today. Most everyone else had just let him hang up to absorbed in their happiness to bother asking.
"Oh, no reason, just board I guess." He did not really feel like explaining his feelings for Valentine's Day, again.
"Yeah, me too. So what are you doing for Valentine's Day? Got anyone to hang with?" Feliciano heard the other man sigh and drop down on some sort of cushion.
"I don't really like Valentine's Day, and I'm still trying to find somewhere to go," he said before realizing it would open the exact can of worms he intended to leave closed.
"Why would you go anywhere? I heard your place is awesome this time of year. Plus you got plenty of hot girls to pick from." He seemed genuinely interested in the response so Feliciano decided to elaborate. By the time he finished the sixty year long story, Feliciano was in tears and mostly babbling. Alfred, who had yet to finish a six inch pile of paper work, listened quietly responding only when necessary.
"Dude, that's ruff. I've always been wondering what happened between you guys. You seemed to be conjoined at the hip back then." Alfred sighed lying back on his sofa as Feliciano gained control of his sobbing. "But, I don't think I'm the one you should be telling all this to, ya' know."
"W-what do you mean?" The Italian's voice was shaking and caught between deep breaths.
"Well, I'm just saying this from experience, but it never goes well when you hide your feelings from someone. It's not good for anyone involved," Alfred explained as he thought back on the many years of skipping around his feelings for Arthur. "Honestly, I think you need to talk to Ludwig about this."
"VE~ I-I don't know-"
"Seriously dude, I-hell-everyone sees the way he looks at you in every meeting. He obviously misses you, maybe he's thinking the same stuff you are. You won't know if ya' don't ask." Smiling, the American thought back on the day he finally got a date with Arthur.
"You-you, really think so?" Feliciano spoke suddenly, dragging Alfred from his blissful daydream.
"Huh… Oh yeah, yeah! Definitely, why don't you go there now! Just run on over and tell him all this. See what he says!" Maybe Alfred was slightly on cloud nine for the coming holiday with his new boyfriend, but he still thought the idea was good.
"I don't know. It's almost 10 over here. Wow, we've been talking so long." Feliciano was not crying any more, and seemed more concerned about talking to his American friend for over three hours.
"Haha, it's cool. Got me out of paper work for another day, but don't change the subject. As the Hero, I have a responsibility to make sure everyone's happy. So hurry and take care of it," earnestly, Alfred continued to cheer Feliciano on until the Italian found himself grabbing his jacket and heading out in the outfit he had worn for a siesta earlier that day.
Feliciano stood staring at the carpet beneath Ludwig's feet, gripping his mug so tightly the German feared it would break. Gathering as much courage as humanly possible for the cowardly brunette, Feliciano forced his gaze to Ludwig's deep blue eyes.
"I want to say I'm sorry."
A/N: Yeah, yeah another cliff hanger. Sorry, please don't shoot me. But please do comment! When I know I got people reading I like to write faster heehee.