Hey guys! Look at that! We can be timely again! I should be cleaning my room and I'm terrified of my mom coming in and eating my head off, but I had to get this up! Dayum, I have nothing else much to say xD Love you all, review! Enjoy!

Chapter Four: Morning Wood

There are ways one wakes up in the morning, a number of ways. Some wake suddenly and sit up in bed saying something is not right. Sometimes you don't want to wake up at all and just lie there wishing you could go back to sleep. Then there are the times when a guy wakes up with morning wood after sleeping with his love curled into him completely naked... Or not multiple times. More like this faithful day in the life of Antonio Fernandez Carriedo. The day he woke up, quite happy to the feeling of Romano hugging his arm and radiating heat, then as the feeling in all of his limbs he realized his fifth limb was already up... Quite up.

Why was his-? Blinking and frowning he brought his head up to look down. Sure enough he could see his member standing straight as a rod. As Romano murmured something and nuzzled his shoulder Toni bit his bottom lip as said appendage twitched. Of all the days to wake up with morning wood, which it most certainly what it was. A number, though a low one, of days had been spent in this manner, curled up with the Italies. So why did he wake like this now? Well, it was a testament to the fact that it was not at the hands of Romano that this bodily state had occurred. If it hadn't happened before, than it couldn't be. Never mind that he had been especially cuddly on this night and morn… And especially naked.

Glancing about for a way to get out of this situation, frantic green eyes fell upon a cast aside pillow as his salvation. With some work he caught it off the floor and gently slid his arm from Romano's grasp to speedily put the pillow in its place. When the Italian nuzzled the cushion Antonio considered his work complete and quickly, quietly, left for the bathroom.

In 30 minutes or so Antonio was back, stealthily entering the room and retaking his place as Romano's pillow. After a short time of watching him, he pressed his nose into the brown hair. "Romanito," he cooed.

Still caught in the depths of slumber, Romano muttered and wrapped his arms around Spain's waist. He nuzzled the Spaniard shortly before mumbling, "Antonio."

Oh, how quickly his blood began running south again. But Antonio fought it back and smiled, pinching Lovi's cheek. "Romanito, you need to get up."

"Nooo," the Italian whined as he moved his cheek away from the pinching finger and nuzzled into Spain to hide the pichable area.

It was surprising that Spain was working so hard to wake Lovi up. Shouldn't he be overjoyed to have his charge cuddling with him again? But the fact that he was older now changed the nudity factor quote a bit. He felt like if he didn't wake Romano and this continued something bad would happen. So, he continued prodding the sleeping beast. This time round it was tickling of his side.

The continuous poking finally jarred Romano out of his sleep. "What the fuck are you doing?" He grumbled, elbowing Spain in the stomach harshly.

"Aaaah, Romanitooo," curling into a fetal position to protect his aching middle Antonio whined. "Me duele. I was just going to ask what you wanted for breakfast!"

Romano peeked his eyes open and blushed. "Oh... Sorry..." He yawned and sat up to stretch. "Can you make churros?"

When the sting of the blow subsided Toni sat up as well. "Churros? Sí, I can. Churros take a little while," he paused and looked to the slumbering Italy to laugh, "so many Ita-chan will have woken up by then, hm?"

"Want some help?" Romano asked shyly.

So before he had felt as if something irreversible would happen if Lovi continued nuzzling into him, but for now, Antonio forgot it in the happiness of the situation. Lovi was offering to help, and in such a cute way too! "Of course! I'd love help from mi Romanito!"

"Well I don't care what you would love!" Romano suddenly exclaimed as he shoved Spain off the bed and stood himself. He went over to the dresser and pulled on some boxers and pajama bottoms. "I'm just hungry so I want breakfast to get ready sooner, that's all!"

A Spanish gaze stayed on Romano as he moved about. Antonio didn't mind too much of being tossed to the floor. Here he sat cross legged to watch him. "But you don't want to ask Ita-chan to help to make it even faster?"

Romano scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Feliciano is useless in the morning, come on, everyone knows that. He'll be of no help and he'll just slow us down. Let the idiot sleep."

"That's not nice, Romanito."

"What?" Romano whined as he headed to the door. "I'm letting him sleep aren't I? Come on, I'm hungry!"

"So impatient~ Can the chef get dressed too?"

"I'm not stopping you," Romano grumbled, already out the door and headed to the kitchen to get everything out for breakfast.

A giggle. Might as well get dressed and not keep a hungry Italian waiting. Especially this Italian. Oh how violent Romano could be. To save himself another elbow to the sternum or worse he made quick work of tugging on clean clothes and hurrying down to the kitchen to make churros and further bond with his friend. Laughs and jokes were born, normal things that are to be expected with Spain. Once they were finished Romano went to wake his twin and bring him down for breakfast. It took him a bit, but eventually Feliciano was awake and joyful as usual. Churros did that to people.

"Oooi! Guess who decided to grace you with his presence!" The front door burst open as the voice sounded, a certain albino waltzed into the kitchen barely seconds later. "Oh! Churros! Yum!"

Prussia grabbed a churro and stuffed it in his mouth as he hopped up onto the counter to sit. Following after him were two blonds, one looking rather peeved at his lover's antics and the other eyeing the shirtless Romano with a smirk.

"Bon matin," France purred with a wink as he helped himself to a churro and sat in an empty chair at the table.

"What the fuck are you guys doing here?" Romano grumbled from behind the churro he was nibbling on.

"We came to-"

"Doitsu!" Italy cut off his friend, hopping up to run over and hug him. Germany responded with a tint of pink and stiff pat on the head. "I haven't seen you in foreveer. Or Gilbert!" And he was at Prussia's side to gift him a hug as well.

"Are the churros good? Romanito made them with me~" Antonio cooed proudly, smiling bright at his friends. To most people this would be strange to have men barge into your house, friend or not, but Antonio was not most people. It was perfectly normal and even expected to receive just such a visit often, as well as to partake in the side of the visiting to the others.

"Ja! They're great!" Prussia exclaimed as he wrapped an arm around Italy's shoulder and asked quietly, "Hey Ita-chan, are we sure your brother didn't poison these?"

"I can hear you dammit!" Romano yelled, chucking a fork at the albino's face.

This only brought on a laughter fit from Prussia after he dodged the projectile. He hugged Italy close and leaned against him as he shook with laughter. In turn, Romano turned bright red and went back to eating his churros.

"Mon Lovino~" France purred with a smirk. "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, not impaling him with dining utensils."

"Shut up or you'll be the one impaled by dining utensils, bastard."

"Franny! Lovino can't be yours, he's already mine! I always call him mi Romanito, sí?" Antonio whined, hugging said Italians waist to nuzzle his cheek. "Romanito is mine, sí? Not Franny's?" With large eyes and lip drawn in a pout the Spaniard watched 'his' Italian for the answer. Germany watched the scene in faint annoyance, wondering if Antonio knew the implications behind what he spoke of.

"I'm not a fucking dog," Romano growled as he elbowed Spain. "So I can't be anybody's."

Despite saying this, his blush had deepened a shade and his heart was pounding in his ears. He had to keep a mental mantra going that Spain was just being stupid and meant nothing by it...

"So mean." Whimpering, Spain pulled away while holding his wounded body. "He keeps hitting me!"

"Don't hit Spain-nii!" Italy cried, leaving Prussia's side to bound over to Antonio and hug him in his stead.

"Well he deserves it so don't fucking hug him! You'll catch his stupid!" Romano pulled Italy away from Spain with a scowl.

France grinned and sang playfully, "Romie is jealous~"

"Am not!"

"But Romanito gets mad when I hug him, so why would he be jealous?" There was a tilt to Antonio's head as he asked this.

"Vee? Nii-chan lets me hug him." Italy said, doing so to prove his point. "Nii-chan, why can't Spain-nii hug you?"

"I don't want to catch his idiocy!" Romano yelled, pushing Italy off him. "And I'm not jealous!"

Prussia perked up at this comment and grinned. "So if you can catch some idiocy with hugs, I can't imagine how stupid you'd get if you had sex with him! Kesese."

"What?" Romano screeched as he whipped around to glare at the albino. He would have continued to yell but the smug look on Prussia's face sent the red Italian into incoherent and furious splutters.

"Bruder, don't talk about things like that," Germany murmured, a bit embarrassed for Prussia's using such things in conversation.

The point of interest sat in his seat with a pathetic whimper. Now even his friends were going on this idiocy tangent. "Me duele," he sniffed.

"Although," France said in a thoughtful tone. "If hugs give idiocy then maybe sex gives Antonio's happiness. Lovi you absolutely must have sex with him so you won't be such a grouchy boy."

"Shut up!"

"Can we get off the subject of intercourse, bitte?" This was getting to be too much for Ludwig as well.

"Hmm? Sex with Spain-nii makes you happy? Nii-chan, you need to have sex with Spain-nii almost all the time!" Italy exclaimed. "That would be really tiring though..." Germany did a facepalm at his friend's addition. Was etiquette really dead these days?

"Kesese! Lovi the nympho!"

"Mio Dio! Shut up!" Romano stood abruptly and glared daggers at everyone. "What the fuck is wrong with you guys?"

France grinned and stood as well. "Lovino~ I think all this anger coming from you is sexual frustration. While you obviously don't want to chance it with Antonio, I'm all open~"

If it was possible, Romano's eyes would have jumped out of their sockets out of pure shock. So dumbfounded was he, France was able to wrap his arms around the Italian's waist and kiss his neck before Romano freaked.

"What the fuck? Get off! Rapist bastard!" Romano swiftly elbowed France in the stomach before running off.

It had been years since Antonio had a good fight and felt any blood lust at all. The latter seemed to be coming back with a vengeance these days. First at the Italians' being attacked and hurt, now at the mere thought of Romano sleeping with France and the scene that had just transpired before him. Below tilted and faintly furrowed brows that gave his slight inner confusion a good showing to the world were green eyes ablaze with anger. It soon passed, though, as quickly as it had come. Surprised at himself, Toni hoped no one had seen it. Antonio was never angry with Francis. Any attempts at remembering this happening before were interrupted by Italy's whines.

"Doitsu, come get gelato with me! We ran out and I want some!"

"Italia, you don't need any sugar... Glaub mir." Germany muttered.

"Aww West, take the kid to get some gelato!" Prussia jumped off the counter to hang on Spain. "This one probably needs a break from Italian antics."

"Grazie GilGil~" Italy squealed, tugging the sighing German out of the house.

"Why would I need a break from Ita-chan and Romanito?" Antonio asked, glancing up to Prussia, still feeling the effects of his confusion.

"Well surely the only person you could stand spending so much time with is the awesome me!" Prussia laughed as he grabbed another churro. "How has it been with-"

"You lying bastard!" Romano ran into the kitchen, red from running and breathing slightly hitched. "You're a lying bastard!"

Blink blink. What was Romano yelling about now? "Qué?"

"There are no termites! The rooms are perfectly fine!"

For a second Antonio was blank. Darn it... He'd been caught. Quick, he needs a comeback! "Romanito, I said not to go into the other rooms! You're lucky you weren't eaten!" ... Hit and miss. Fail.

"Oh shut it. Be happy I'm not going to shoot you!" Romano twirled around and stomped back upstairs as he yelled, "I'm moving us to another room!"

"Bu-But Romaniitooooo!" The wails of a forgotten kitten couldn't have been more pitiful. Antonio sniffled. "But I only got a few nights actually in there with you..." Whimpers now.

Prussia burst into laughter and pat Spain on the back. "Nice one Antonio!"

"Just a few? Mon Dieu no way you can seduce him now!" France added with a coy smirk.

"But I thought evil termites were a good excuse!" Antonio cried, turning in his chair to hug Prussia's waist.

"Yeah and Francis isn't a whore," Prussia chuckled as he pat Spain's head. "Come on, did you really think you could get away with sleeping with Lovi?"

"Well I have been for the past few nights! And he has been having bad dreams and snuggles with me after waking up, so it has been good. It was ruined a little bit because of how I woke up this morning, but still... He didn't want to wake up and kept snuggling me. I thought that meant he liked it! GilGiiil!" It was a flurry of words from the Spanish mouth, thus the string of Spanish that followed it about never understanding and such.

This caught France's attention. While Prussia continued laughing like a maniac, France stared at his flustered friend curiously. "How you woke up?"

"Sí, I woke up with... Ah, what do you call it in English? Morning tree?"

"Ohoho~ a little woody were you?"

"Morning wood! That's it! Sí, so that was the only bad thing. But now that will be the only time I get to sleep with them..." Down to just pouting, Antonio had his eyes on the table.

"Kesese! Sleeping with the grumpy tomato turned you on! You're so sex deprived anything gets you going!" Prussia burst into another laughing fit with that said.

"Quué? I don't understand." The gaze shifted up to the cackling Prussian with large puppy eyes.

"What's the not understand Mr. Country of Passion?" France asked with a smirk.

Señor 'Country of Passion' turned to Monsieur 'Country of Love.' "That sleeping with mi amigitos turns me on! It doesn't!" He laughed now, at the strangeness of the idea. "I know everyone calls me a pedo, but that doesn't mean anything."

There was silence as Prussia suddenly stopped laughing to look up at Spain. His gaze shifted to France with a frown. "Uuh Antonio? Why would you not be turned on by Lovi?"

"Oui... I thought you wouldn't be part of the oblivious group..."

"The oblivious group? Like Gil was?" Tilt of his head, green eyes blinking blankly. "Why would I be in that?

"Mon Dieu he is!" France sighed deeply. "I can't believe this."

"No! I'm not oblivious! I don't not know I love Romanito like Gil did Luddy! I just don't plan on carrying around hickeys from him or anything like Gil and Luddy."

France cocked his head and asked, "Don't plan or don't want to? There's a difference."

"Dont want to. He's mi Romanito, I wouldn't do that."

"Talk to me again when you don't have dreams of your Lovino dearest~" France said smugly.

"Franny! You said you wouldn't talk about that ever again!" Now they were purposely making fun of him.

"Oh non, I did? Je suis désolé mon cher!" France said with a laugh.

Prussia yawned and scratched his head thoughtfully. "Really Toni though... You don't wanna fuck Lovi?"

"No, I don't want to fuck Romanito. Is that so hard to believe?" Here he sighed and twirled his cross pendant, I habit of his when he wasn't his full happy self. "He's mi Romanito."

"D'accord, whatever you say," France sighed with a small smile.

"You bastard!" Romano stomped down the stairs in to the kitchen in a huff. "I can't find any sheets for the bed."

"So I guess you'll just have to sleep with me, sí?" The moment Romano returned Antonio brightened, smiling hopefully at him.

Romano scoffed and crossed his arms. "Uh, no. You find me clean ones. I'm not sleeping with you again you lying bastard."

"I'm sorry Romanito." With a sincerely apologetic voice Antonio stood and walked over to hug the upset Italian. "I didn't mean to lie. I just wanted to sleep with my cute Amigitos and be with them."

"Oh get off," Romano growled. He pushed the idiot off and moved away. "You're a lying idiot. I don't want to sleep with lying idiots!"

"But Romanito did cuddle with me and say my name in his sleep~" Toni cooed, approaching him again, slowly.

"Ohoho~ did he now?"

"What? No! I didn't!" Romano started backing up, eyes wide and bright red. "You-You must have still been dreaming!"

"No, Romanito was dreaming! I wonder what about. It was better than the first, it seems…" The advance of Spain on Southern Italy stopped so the attacker could pause and tilt his head. Does saying someone's name in your sleep mean you're dreaming about them?

"Having dreams while cuddling into Antonio, huh Lovi?" Prussia snickered and winked. "Wonder what you were dreaming about."

Romano deepened yet another shade of red and spluttered as he ran back upstairs, Spanish laughter trailing behind him and a Spaniard right behind it. "Alright, alright, I'll help you get a room ready Romanito~"

"Guess we're not welcome anymore," Prussia said with a laugh to France. He eyed the plate of leftover churros and grinned. "Might as well take come compensation for such a lame visit! Let's go find West and Ita-chan!"

As the two left the house, Spain and Romano were busy finding some sheet. Of course, this meant Spain looking as Romano pouted and followed him around. The Italian was extremely cross and really wanted to kick Spain as hard as he could, but settled for glaring holes into his back. Such an idiot!

Was Spain actually in a cold sweat beneath his twitchy smile? Of course not! He wasn't frightened of the upset Italian trailing behind him. Of course he wasn't! Maybe just a little… "Here we go!" The Spaniard exclaimed to break the ice. That cold, hard ice. He had come to one of his guest rooms in which there were a few old chests holding linens and the like. Almost scared to leave his back open Antonio may have pulled out the sheets a little too quickly before he turned to Romano. "These are the newest to be cleaned! They'll work better for mi amigitos," with this he was off down the hall to a bedroom near his. When reached, he enlisted Romano in helping him make the bed.

Reluctantly, Romano joined him at the bed and grabbed once side of the sheet to pull over his side of the bed. As he did so, he grumbled under his breath about the idiocy of his friend. "Total idiot, wanting me to sleep with him. I'm not a damned child anymore, I can sleep by myself dammit. Idiot, total idiot."

"Always calling me that, Romanito," Spain murmured, more to himself than in a whine or reprimand. He really was always calling him names. Antonio paused in his movements to tilt his head. This scene was strangely familiar… What had triggered this strange nostalgia?

A blink and it was there before his eyes. It was this scenario, Lovino's words. This had happened before, years ago. When they were both younger, then Lovino only a child and still Spain's charge. Then Spain still always annoyed with his antics and sour personality. A smile played on his lips.

"You say you're old enough to have your own bed, room even, but you still wet the bed and don't do as you're told," the Spaniard grumbled as he tucked in the sheets. Then he had been shorter, appearing to be in his teens, making him also a bit scrawny. This was hidden by his loose tan colored top though, with its faintly puffed sleeves at the top. Brows were furrowed a tad in annoyance. Why was South Italy doing this? Insisting on his own room and being a brat about it too. Not that he wasn't a brat about anything else.

Romano's little face instantly flushed bright red as he leaped onto the half-made bed, messing up what little progress Spain had. With his arms crossed, he glared up at Spain now that he was a good foot taller thanks to the bed. "I don't wet the bed! You do! And why should I listen to you? You're an idiot! I AM old enough to have my own room!"

"Why would I wet the bed?" An incredulous sigh and unintentional mimicking of the crossed arms looked. "Get off the bed if you want it for tonight. Otherwise you're the idiot for not letting me make it for you like I do everything else." Always, he was always doing the things he had asked the kid to do. That and cleaning up the messes he made when Romano tried to do them. Sometimes Spain really wondered why he had gotten this child.

Romano paused then sullenly slid off the bed, knowing when he lost a battle. But, he couldn't help but grumble, "You're still the idiot."

"Sí, I'm an idiot," Spain said, 'for always giving in and doing what you want,' he added mentally as he worked. Glancing back at the boy, something of his bright smile appeared as he turned back to the bed. Oh yeah, that's why he kept Romano around. He was adorable. That pouty face was just too cute. "There are some fresh tomatoes in the kitchen. Did you know this?"

Caught off guard by the sudden topic change, Romano's eyes lit up and he raced out of the room. Once down the hall, he slowed as he realized how stupid he was acting. Flushing, he ran back to his new room and yelled at Spain, "I'm not running to the kitchen because I'm excited, just to let you know! I don't care about your stupid tomatoes! I just want to get away from you and the kitchen seems like a good place to be!"

Not waiting for a response, Romano dashed down the hall once more. In the kitchen, he allowed himself to smile brightly at the sight of shining tomatoes on the counter. He grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the tomatoes, using it to pull himself onto the counter and sit next to the basket. Taking a tomato off of the top of the pile, Romano bit into it happily. Tomatoes and his own room! Could this day get any better?

It was strange to be alone in his large bed. Antonio was so used to having the little heat box that was Romano right next to him. It didn't help that with the loss of his personal heater came a cold rainy night. A frown touched his lips as he pulled the blankets tighter around himself, sighing at the knowledge that it may take him a while to fall asleep with how loud the thunder was. Would his charge already be sleeping through this? At another crack of lightning, Spain shrugged it off.

The pounding rain and rumbling skies muffled out the whimpers from the neighboring room. Little Romano was curled up in a nest of sheets he had made, quivering and jumping at every flash of light through the night sky. Why did it have to be raining tonight of all nights? Thunder was terrifying! At yet another loud crash, Romano yelped and hid his face in a pillow, tears now freely streaming down his cheeks. Dammit! Why wasn't the bastard Spain in here comforting him?

"Fucking idiot," he whined pitifully. Spain knew he was afraid of thunder! Spain should be right there to press him into his chest and stroke his hair, ignoring all halfhearted protests. But he wasn't. The idiot was nowhere to be seen and Romano couldn't build the courage to leave the safety of his blankets.

Finally, it was fear of being alone that made Romano jump off the bed, keeping his heaping pile of blankets wrapped around himself. He quickly ran through the darkened hall and into Spain's room, his blankets trailing behind him. With a small knock to give warning of his entrance, Romano stood in the doorway awkwardly.

"Hey Spain… It's not that I want to-" He started to say when there was another flash of lightning and thunderous explosion, causing the whole house to shake. Romano yelped and ran across the room to dive into Spain's bed. Shaking all over, the little nation hugged his caretaker as if his life depended on it.

Said caretaker blinked down at the thing trembling as it clung to him. Hadn't Romano been the one to so adamantly-? Oh… Oh! How stupid of him! Romano didn't like thunder, like most children. He felt a bit bad for not realizing this, but Antonio knew the only reason it had been in his knowledge prior was because Romano would do this every time it stormed. Without him quivering in his bed Antonio had forgotten.

"Shhh, niño. Es bien," he soothed, a bit sleepily, as he hugged a frightened Italian to his chest while petting his hair, "es bien."

"I'd be fine sleeping by myself any other night," Romano whimpered, more telling himself such a fact rather than Spain. He whined and held Spain tighter in his little arms as thunder sounded yet again.

To this Antonio chuckled lightly. "Sí, I know. It's just for tonight."

In the present Antonio stood, beaming at Romano. "Mi Romanito was such a cute niño~"

"What the fuck are you talking about you dolt?" Romano asked with a scowl. "You're such an idiot. I swear, it's a miracle you can get dressed in the morning."

"I'm dressed now, sí?" Spain asked, looking down at himself just to make sure like the idiot he was. Satisfied upon seeing himself fully clothed, he looked back up to Romano. "I can get dressed in the morning!"

"Oh forget it," Romano grumbled as he spread out the blanket and fluffed the pillows. Proud with his work, Romano nodded and placed his hands on his hips. "There! Now I don't have to sleep with an idiot!"

"But Romanito calls Ita-chan an idiot sometimes," the Spaniard pondered. After this there day went on fairly uneventful for a time. Italy returned in time for lunch, satisfied with his few hours spent alongside Germany. He was puzzled about the changing of rooms, and posed protests, all of which were shot down by his twin until he eventually gave up in favor of breaking in the new bed via siesta. It wasn't until after lunch, in the late afternoon about, that something again occurred. At the sound of his home phone ringing, Antonio moved from his spot before the kitchen sink to answer it upon seeing it was Prussia.

"Hola, GilGil!" He greeted. "What's up?"

"Antonio!" Prussia all but yelled into the phone. "Have you seen Fritz? Is he there? Was he with me when I was over? He's missing and I don't know where he is! Is he there?"

"Fritz?" Antonio repeated. Gilberts chick? "No, I haven't seen him… Lo siento, I don't remember if you were with him or not…" But Gilbert sounded worried alright, and understandably so. Pulling the phone from his hear, he called out. "Ita-chan, Romanito! Have you seen GilGil's pollito anywhere? Do you know if he was with him when they came over?"

From his spot on the couch, flipping through television channels, Romano yelled in response, "No! And tell that idiot to take better care of his pets, jeez!"

"I haven't seen him either, sorry!" Italy called also.

A bit of a frown as Spain turned back to the phone. "Lo siento, amigo, but we haven't seen him."

"Fuck. Well if you see him or remember anything, please call. I think I'll come over later to look around if he doesn't show up soon." Prussia sighed shakily and hung up.

Romano scoffed and turned the tv off, thinking about maybe just taking a nap since nothing was on. "I wouldn't be surprised if the thing was in that bird best he calls hair."

"I hope he's okay," Antonio said sadly as he went into the living room. "GilGil is really close to Fritz…"

"Oh he'll be fine," Romano said with a roll of his eyes. Everything always ended up working out for that albino bastard. He was the last person Romano would expect to get in a steady relationship with his true love... Eyes gliding slyly to Spain for a split second, Romano flushed lightly and reprimanded himself mentally. He was thinking crazy stuff! "Hey! What are you making for dinner?"

A bit lost with the change of subject, Spain turned to Romano blankly. "Qué? Oh… I just drained the pasta for spaghetti."

"Hm that's decent," Romano mumbled as he curled up on the couch. It was a really good thing he wasn't going to sleep with Spain anymore. Just being with him these past few days was bad enough, but coupled with falling asleep in his arms? Ignoring little voices in the back of his head was getting difficult... Yes, it was a very good thing that he was going to have a bed to himself tonight.

As he often did, Spain took Romanos word for it. The frown lifted into a smile. Because that's what Antonio was, an idiot that at times couldn't read people properly. "Alright. I'll just finish dinner then." And he was back in the kitchen.

As the residents of Spain's house ate their dinner and went about their nightly routine, the phone rang several more time with Prussia still asking his about his chick. Eventually, Romano got fed up enough to pick up the phone and yell at the albino before hanging up and unplugging the phone. With a final goodnight to their host, the Italian brother settled into their room. Once snug under their blankets, they quickly fell into the recesses of sleep.

Unfortunately for Romano, sleep did not provide the escape he desired. Just as every other night, horrid dreams plagued his sleeping mind. He was stuck in the limbo land of not fully asleep or fully awake as he twisted and turned, trying ever so desperately to run away from his demons. His dreams took a turn for the worse without Spain there to wake him and comfort him. Soon it was no longer about the attack on his house and he dreamt of fanciful yet terrifying scenarios.

His dream-self was running from faceless demons when he fell into a vast body of water. He couldn't move as the water rushed past him and explosions lit up the dark spaces around him. Drowning… Drowning…

Gasping for air, Romano sat up in bed, frantically looking around the room to assure himself it all had been a dream. He glanced to the clock on the bedside and groaned. It was such an ungodly hour and the sleep he had gotten so far wasn't decent sleep. With a sigh, the Italian slowly slid back down under his covers, trying to think of anything but his nightmares. As time passed just staring at the clock, he finally sighed in defeat. There was no way he was going to fall asleep like this.

Begrudgingly, Romano pulled a blanket off the bed and wrapped hit around his naked and quivering frame as he tiptoes out of the room. He was going to hate himself for doing this in the morning, but he really wanted to get at least a few hours of decent sleep and this seemed like the only way to achieve such a goal… Quiet as he could be, Romano made his way down the hall and into Spain's room. He went up to the side of the bed and crouched down next to the slumbering figure.

"Hey," he hissed, poking Spain harshly.

At first the attacked started at the rough treatment. Then, once awake, he responded sleepily. "Quuué?" The word was drawled out in lethargy. While one fist rubbed one another green eye opened, if just halfway, to peer up at the attacker. "Romanito? What is it?"

Not daring to meet Spain's eyes, Romano stared at the wall with his red cheeks puffed in a pout. "I had a bad dream again... I can't fall back asleep... Could I sleep with... you?"

It seemed for a moment that Spain did not comprehend what Romano was saying, for he simply stared at him with his one eye half lidded. But then he slid beneath the covers further along the mattress to allow room for the extra body. Then, he raised the blankets with one arm. "Always, mi Romanito." A groggy smile.

"Grazie..." Romano slid under the covers and curled into Spain shyly. "Don't get the wrong idea or anything... It's just this once."

A wider smile now. "Sí, I know." It was always just this once. It was always telling him he was an idiot. Country bumpkin or not, Spain understood some things about his Romanito. Maybe he never would get some of his other antics, but that didn't matter. What he did understand he loved, and what he didn't he often found himself admitting he loved even more.

"Te amo, Romanito."

"Yeah yeah," Romano grumbled, feeling the pulls of sleep already now that he was in Spain's arms. "Ti amo... Good night Antonio... Ti amo."

End of Chapter Four

Originally this and the last chapter were gonna be one, but hey, whatevs ^^ Research for it was hilarious xD at my lunch table there are a good amount of guys, so I randomly asked them about morning wood. Oh, the hilarity that ensued

Glaub mir = Believe me

pollito = chick

O.o that's, like, no translations at all…