It was only nine in the morning when Italy barged into Germany's room demanding something. Unusual, because he could usually wait until noon.

"Doitsu, Doitsu!" Italy ran in and paced over to Germany, who was writing something in official looking handwriting at his desk. "I have something to say!"

Germany took a deep breath and gave his attention to Italy. "Yes?"

"We didn't do anything Christmas related yesterday!" Italy huffed. "Think about it! Nothing!"

Maybe you didn't... Germany mused.

"Just what are you proposing we do, then, since I know you won't leave me alone until I bend to your will?" Germany would've rather done something productive like training, or filling out quarterly reports, but Italy just wouldn't give it a rest. It didn't matter; the holidays were almost over anyway. As much as it pained him, Germany imagined they had a few more days to waste.

"Well, while you were out doing volunteer work," Italy repeated the bogus excuse Germany had given him yesterday so he could sneak out and get shopping done. "I went to a DVD rental shop! I've got at least nine hours of Christmas miracles on these DVDs, and we're not leaving this building until we finish each and every one!"

Germany let Italy tow him into one of their many rooms with huge monitors, all which doubled as televisions. Only one room had a television and a comfortable sofa, and that's the one Italy chose. Apparently, when Germany wasn't watching, Italy had prepared popcorn and drinks and pasta, all spread out over the coffee table. Feeding the first of many disks to come into the DVD player, Italy set Germany on the couch and crawled on top of him. Germany made an effort to struggle, but Italy was not moving from his spot.

Just as Italy had ordered, they watched them all. At the end of everyone, Italy would be in tears and Germany would have to comfort him until Italy stopped crying and go on to the next movie. Though Germany normally detested these sorts of movies, the kind where "oh, no one believes in Christmas" and "we have to save Christmas for everyone!" and everything that happens is the very essence of the word 'predictable'. But, as much as he hated to admit it, there were rare moments during some of the movies where he could feel his heart tugging in sympathy, if only just a little. Watching them with Italy made it different, made it better. He actually enjoyed it, something that would have never happened if he hadn't have watched them with Italy.

They spent an entire morning glued to the screen, hypnotized by the passing cheesy Christmas scenes. The only times they left the room were to get breakfast and lunch and for bathroom breaks, never while the movie was playing. They would even take bathroom breaks together and when they would get back to the room, Italy would crawl back on top of Germany. Germany got used to it after a while.

Just as Italy had promised, a full nine hours passed until they were done with every one of the movies. Almost anyone else besides Italy or Germany would've committed suicide by then, but Germany was always unusually patient when it came to Italy. That's not to say all that television didn't affect him, though. Nearly drowning in Hollywood Christmas cheer, Germany was gasping for breath once the movies were over. However, Italy was another story.

"Doitsu," Italy called over to him. "I'm hungry again. What time is it?"

Germany stepped into the hallway to check the clock hanging in the wall. "It's a little after six. And my brain feels like pudding."

"Can we go out to eat?" Italy begged. "Pleeeeaaaaase?"

Germany wasn't really in the mood to cook, and Italy was fine with it. Germany's wallet didn't disagree, either. "Sure, why not?" he approved. "Where do you feel like going?"

"I know, I know! China's place!" Italy yipped. "Like in A Christmas Story!"

Germany thought carefully. "Good choice. Give me half an hour and we'll leave, okay? There are some things that need some finishing up."

"Okay!" Italy trotted out of the room, humming to himself. Germany would have gone back to his room and finished his quarterly report. He would have cleared of his desk before they left. He would have cleared out the empty beer bottles from his enormous beer stash. But, before he could do any of those things, the phone rang.

"Axis Powers," Germany answered the phone solemnly. Someday, he would install Caller ID. It was on his to do list.

"Doitsu, how's it going?" Obviously, it was America. "You seem to have gotten over your hangover spell! Good for you!"

"How did you know we had hangovers?" Germany interrogated.

"Oh, come on!" America laughed loudly. "You guys looked awful, of course you were gonna get hangovers!"

"..."

"In any case, you guys were a riot, man! You should've seen it!" America recalled the events like it was one big, magic circus.

"Was...was it really that humiliating?" Germany blushed slightly, still unable to remember.

"Man, you sound like you don't remember a thing!" America laughed, then grew silent. "Wait...you don't really..."

Germany didn't say a word.

"You're serious? Wow, this is a shocker." America shook his head, but Germany couldn't tell that from the phone. "Then you don't remember anything? Not even a little bit?"

"...unfortunately." Germany admitted.

"Well..." America trailed off, deep in thought. "I guess this means I'll have to tell you myself."

Germany gulped. "Tell me...what?"

It only took a matter of minutes to tell the whole story.

"Italy what?" Germany couldn't tell left from right. All the color drained out of him, first his hair, his face, then his clothes, until he was just a black and white husk of his former self.

"Calm down Doitsu, just calm down," America tried to soothe him, but it was like trying to calm down a rhinoceros. It just couldn't be done. "Think about it; both of you were highly intoxicated. There's always a chance that what Italy said wasn't true."

"But...this is...I mean! What?" Germany couldn't find the right words to convey his feelings, and he probably never would. "It's not like I have anything against Italy, he's...fun, and can cook...and can take the dullest of dull situations and make it seem interesting...but I mean, really! Love?"

"It is strange, isn't it?" America commented.

"And you're sure he used those exact words?"

"I've probably never been surer of anything in my entire life!"

"Mein gott...what am I supposed to do?" Germany hadn't felt this confused since...well, ever.

"Well, if Italy hasn't brought it up since then, then I'd take his lead and pretend it never happened." America did his best to counsel the distressed Germany. "That's the best advice I can give."

"Easy for you to say."

"You know...there is one more possibility."

"Lay it on me, I've got nothing to lose at this point."

America cleared his throat. "There's the chance that Italy was speaking from the bottom of his heart."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean that he doesn't even realize his feelings yet. That he was telling the truth, but he doesn't know that he feels that way just yet."

Italy called out from the hallway. "Doitsu~! Doitsu, are you ready to go yet?"

"I forgot!" Germany spat quietly into the phone. "I have to take Italy out to eat."

He explained to America.

"Good luck. And keep your chin up! I still think he was too drunk to know what he was saying! Act like you did before I called you."

"Well, here goes nothing." They both hung up.

Putting his boots on a little slower than usual, trudging down the stairs, missing the strength to open the car door, Germany had an impossible amount of thought swirling in his mind like a blender. Italy kept asking him what was wrong, but Germany couldn't answer him. He couldn't even look Italy in the face without feeling like his face was melting off.

Eventually, they did arrive to China's restaurant, aptly named 'China's restaurant'. Naturally, China, being the gentlemen that he was, greeted both the countries at the door.

"Aha! So even the tough Germany has a soft spot for Chinese food, aru?" China snickered to himself. He took their coats away and led them inside. The restaurant was set up in a buffet style, convenient for all those Chinese food fanatics. Grabbing two plates and handing one to Germany (who was still thinking, and Italy had to step on Germany's foot to get his attention) they wandered around, searching for the food they wanted to eat until the entire plate was full. They found the fortune cookie bucket, and Germany, still in a daze, grabbed a large handful of six cookies and stuffed them in his pocket. Italy, trying to follow Germany's example, did the same. His hand could only hold three. They found a table (only it was really just Italy dragging around a husk of Germany) and sat down, and Germany was still knee deep in thought and daydreams.

"I need to go to the restroom." Germany suddenly announced.

"Don't be long!" Italy waved to Germany as he left the table. Germany stared at Italy in emotional confusion. Did he really say that? Did he really say that he loved me? Why?

With clouds of anguish hanging over him, he walked into the bathroom. He was surprisingly the only person there. He didn't really need to use it, he just needed time to think without Italy being there. He leaned against the wall in emotional pain equivalent to the physical pain from hangover from yesterday.

Germany furrowed his eyebrows and sighed, placing his face in his hands. Dread hung over him like a plague. He put his hands in his pockets and remembered the fortune cookies. He was pretty hungry, and in an attempt to distract himself, he pulled a cookie out and slipped it out from the plastic. Germany trusted his solitude enough to talk to himself. "Is it true? Did Italy really love me?" Germany ate the cookie and read the fortune.

DON'T BE OVERLY SUSPICIOUS WHERE IT'S NOT WARRANTED

"What do you mean not warranted?" Germany protested. "I mean, America wouldn't have any reason to lie to me."

Germany stared up at the bathroom ceiling. It wasn't a pretty sight. "Besides... dating another guy...it just...wouldn't work. I could never get used to it." Germany opened another cookie and read the fortune.

LEARN TO BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS, DAY BY DAY

Germany scoffed at the fortune, but softened. "Fortune cookie, what should I do?" He ate another cookie and read the slip of paper.

FOLLOW YOUR HEART

"My...heart?" Germany wondered. "I'd never really thought about that. I guess Italy...he is kind of charming, in a way..."

Meanwhile, waiting for Germany to come back, Italy opened one of his fortune cookies and read the paper.

AN ADMIRER FINDS YOU CHARMING

"Eh~? Really? No way! I have an admirer!" Italy tried to imagine what he might look like.

Germany needed more answers. "Well, say I do tell Italy I love him. There's no way I could meet his needs. He... he deserves a better boyfriend than me. He needs someone who can make him happy." Germany cracked open another fortune and read it.

QUALITY COUNTS AND YOU'VE GOT IT

Germany laughed. "Thanks." But Germany wasn't done just yet. "Well, what about STDs and stuff like that?" Germany blushed like crazy, thinking about how insane he must be to be thinking this far ahead. "I've never even kissed a girl, for God's sake!" He nearly ripped open the fortune cookie to get to the precious cargo inside.

GOOD HEALTH WILL BE YOURS FOR A LONG TIME

Germany exhaled. Suddenly, a smile spread across his face. "Well, what's in it for me, hmm?" Germany crossed his arms. "Italy gets a new boyfriend, apparently the one he dreams about when he's drunk. What about me? What happens to ol' Germany?" He opened his penultimate fortune cookie.

SATIUSFACTION IS A FULL REWARD

Germany laughed so hard, tears formed in his eyes. "Satisfaction, eh?" Germany felt relieved, for some reason. He couldn't believe he was taking advice from a fortune cookie, but at least now the five tons that had been piled up on his stomach were all gone. He almost felt like a new man, but that would be pushing it. "Well, thanks anyway, fortune cookie. It's good to know that someone really does have the answers for everything." He ate his very last fortune cookie.

NO PROBLEM

The rest of the night was smooth sailing. Germany went back to his table, a pouting Italy scolding him for making him wait. Plus, all of Germany's food was cold. Germany felt refreshed, he could laugh along with Italy now and all the color had returned to his face. He had practically rediscovered himself. He had never, ever felt this good before. It was totally new to him, but he could tell that he could get used to it.

Italy revealed another fortune. "'The coming few days will bring winds of change to your life.'" Italy read aloud from his cookie. "Hmm...Doitsu, does it mean good change or bad change?"

Germany stuffed half of the food on his plate in his mouth and swallowed. "I'm willing to bet it means good change for sure."

"Doitsu, Doitsu, look!" Italy chirped as he opened his last fortune cookie. "It says, 'a great day lies ahead in the not too distant horizon'. I think it means Christmas! Do you think so, too?"

"Of course," Germany replied, smiling a genuine, relaxed smile at Italy. "This Christmas will be the best Christmas ever, right?"

Italy grinned like a schoolgirl and giggled. "Of course!" Germany ruffled Italy's hair.

China watched from far away at his podium, daydreaming. It was a growing habit recently. "Man," China mumbled to himself. "Those too make a great couple together."

He bit on his pen. "I'm almost jealous, aru."

America was sitting in his chair, wondering just how his new buddy Germany was doing. He was honestly worried about him. "Knowing Doitsu, he probably found away to keep the situation under control by now." America mused. "That's the Doitsu we all know and love."

If America had ever found out Germany had used fortune cookies, America would've kicked Germany's ass already.