Title: Love's Aftermath II

Pairings: Italy/Germany, England/America, Spain/Romano, France/Canada, Greece/Japan, Hungary/Prussia, Spain/Italy, Germany/Romano, Switzerland/Austria

Sequel to Love's Aftermath - They're no longer kids, but they've all got their own to deal with now. With their relationships being tested to the very limit and emotions pushed to the edge, did these guys ever get their act together?

Chapter 4 - Taking Responsibility

"Are we there yet daddy?"

"Shouldn't be too long now, princess."

"Ve, I can't wait! I can't wait!" Dresden sang happily, kicking her legs in the back seat of the car as Madrid sat silently in the car seat beside her.

Italy beamed, struggling to contain his own excitement in the front of the car. "I can't believe it's finally happened!"

"Don't get too excited now..." Germany said calmly, reaching over from the driver's seat to place a hand on his husband's knee.

Italy grabbed hold of Germany's hand, squeezing tightly. "I can't help it! Japan's having his little baby girl! It's amazing!" the Italian babbled nonsensically, practically bouncing in his seat. After another few moments he managed to calm down slightly and he simply sat whilst still clinging onto the German's hand. Italy smiled warmly. "I remember when Japan first told us he was pregnant..."

Germany tried to smile, glancing down at the map sat on the dash board as he tried to locate the hospital. "Ja...I wasn't expecting it so soon."

"I know! It's happened so fast." Italy said, shaking his head in bewilderment, "I'm so happy for them."

Germany nodded slowly, forehead creased as he contemplated asking his husband something. He slowed down for a red light, fingers drumming on top of the steering wheel. "Italy..."

"Sì?"

"Did...did you think..." Germany bit his lip in thought, then shook his head. "Nein, wait, it doesn't matter..." he muttered, setting off as the light changed to green.

Italy looked up curiously. "Ve? Do I think what?"

"Forget it, I'm just over thinking things..."

Italy frowned, tapping him in the side. "No, tell me."

Germany sighed slightly, reaching into his pocket for his mobile. "Did you think there was something...off, about the text we got from Greece this morning?" he asked cautiously, glancing next to him at the Italian.

Italy tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Umm...no, why? I thought it just said Japan's gone into labour."

Germany pushed his phone into Italy's hand. "Look at the message. I don't know, something about it sounded...off."

"Ve?" the Italian still looked quite puzzled as he unlocked the phone to take a look. He took a moment to coo over the fact that the German had set a picture of the Italian as his phone's background before he located the Grecian's text message; he read it out loud. "Japan's gone into labour and I've taken him to hospital, can you guys please get here ASAP?" Italy blinked slowly at the phone for a moment before looking up at the German. "What's wrong with it?"

Germany took his phone back, re-pocketing it. "I don't know he just...sounded like he really wants us there."

"They are our friends Germany." Italy said pointedly.

Germany sighed. "Ja I know it's just...not quite what I meant."

"Daddy..."

Italy turned around in his seat. "Sì sweetie?"

"Madrid dropped his blanket, I can't reach it!" Dresden said, straining to reach the floor of the car over her seatbelt to where her cousin had dropped his tomato blanket. Madrid sat watching her in dismay, also straining to reach but had even less of a chance of obtaining it whilst strapped into his car seat. Dresden pulled her arm out of the seatbelt to gain better access as she reached.

"Dresden put your seatbelt back on!" Germany said sharply, catching sight of her in the rear-view mirror.

Dresden frowned, slotting her arm back into place. "Sorry daddy..."

Italy smiled slightly, picking up the blanket he held it out to Madrid who clung onto in tightly. "...grazie." he mumbled softly, nuzzling his face into the soft cotton.

"So what did you mean then?" Italy asked, turning back to the German.

Germany sighed, slowing down for another light. "I meant he sounded as if he...needed us there, you know? He sounded...desperate."

"Maybe he's just desperate for us to see the baby." Italy suggested, shrugging slightly. "I sure am, I can't wait!"

"Ja well...just make sure you don't get too over excited, remember what happened when we went to see Romano und Spain when Madrid was born?" Germany asked, raising an eyebrow. "You were acting so crazy the doctor thought you had escaped from the psychiatric ward...he tried to take you back there."

Italy giggled slightly in his seat. "I know but it was for my little nephew! I'll be more calm this time, promise."

Germany shook his head, pulling up into a large car park of what looked like a hospital. "Ja well...I'll try und hope for the best."

~0~

"There he is!" Italy said excitedly, coming to a sudden halt just in the entrance to an adjoining corridor to the one they had just been down. The receptionist in the main entrance had not been allowed to give them any information about Japan, but had told them that his partner should be somewhere in the hospital...and Italy and Germany had spent the last twenty minutes or so searching for him.

"Finally..." Germany sighed in relief as he followed Italy over, holding onto Dresden's hand. The German turned his attention to the entrance of the brightly lit corridor to where Italy was pointing...and was unmistakably confused and just a little concerned. Greece was sat on the floor in the middle of the corridor, his back pressed against the wall as his arms cradled his knees against his chest.

Italy wasted no time in rushing over to him, still clinging tightly to Madrid as he bounded up to the Grecian. "Greece! We're here! How are you? How's Japan? Where's your little girl? Why didn't you answer your phone when we called?" he stammered excitedly, beaming down at Greece even though he didn't look up.

Germany hurriedly joined them, forehead creased with concern at the sight of the dismal Grecian. "Greece? Is everything okay?" he asked softly.

Dresden let go of Germany's hand so she could gently tug on the Grecian's sleeve. "...uncie Greece? Can we see the baby?"

Germany took her hand again and gently pulled her away, moving her to Italy's side so he could kneel down to talk to the Grecian. "Greece..." he said much more firmly this time, gently tapping his shoulder. "What's happened? Is everything okay?"

Greece slowly lifted his head, his eyes met the German's but there was nothing behind them; his mind was clearly elsewhere. "I don't know..." he whispered quietly, bringing his hand up to his chin so he could bite down on his knuckle.

"Wha..." Italy stared down at him in confusion. "What's wrong?"

Greece closed his eyes, biting down had on the back of his hand as he spoke. "Japan...they made me leave him." he choked out the muffled response.

"What?" Germany asked; he reached out and gently pulled the Grecian's hand away from his face. "Greece, tell us what happened." he said firmly; the Grecian's hand completely limp in his own.

Greece bit his lip, eyes focused on a spot on the floor. "...they wouldn't let me stay with him, something went wrong...they won't tell me, and they told me I had to leave..."

"You mean...whilst Japan was having his operation?" Germany asked softly with concern.

Greece nodded slowly, "Yeah...everything was going fine, then...then the doctors started panicking and saying things and..." the Grecian swallowed a lump in his throat, threading a hand into his matted hair. "...and then a couple of nurses told me I needed to leave, and they dragged me out and..." he breathed in sharply, trying to get himself under control as his voice rapidly grew in pitch. "...Japan looked so scared Germany." he whispered, bottom lip trembling. "He called after me...and I just left him...I promised him I'd stay with him, and I left him."

Germany stared at him, still filled with deep concern as he listened to the Grecian's story. Italy gently tapped him on the shoulder. "Germany? What's going on?" he asked softly, not having quite heard Greece from where he was standing with the kids.

"Is everything okay daddy?" Dresden asked, clinging onto Italy's hand.

Germany opened his mouth to answer when a man in a long white coat appeared beside them. "Excuse me, are you Japan's partner?"

Greece looked up at the doctor in question, slowly getting to his feet. "Yes, can you tell me what's going on?"

Germany cleared his throat, getting up he gently manoeuvred Italy towards the other end of the corridor. "Italy why don't you take the kids to the cafe upstairs to get some drinks, I'll stay here with Greece."

"Okay, come on you two." Italy said softly, hitching Madrid up higher onto his chest as left to find the staircase with Dresden.

Germany waited until he was gone before addressing the doctor; he knew Italy was too sensitive to handle what might have happened to Japan and he wanted to hear it first in order to soften the blow for him. "Is everything alright doctor?"

The man let his eyes scan down over the clip board he was holding before looking up at the Grecian. "Mr Greece, as I'm sure you're aware by the...events that took place in the operating theatre-"

"You mean when you made me leave my husband's side." Greece almost growled, causing Germany to jump in surprise at the unexpected outburst from the usually passive Grecian.

"For your safety, and his." the doctor said calmly before continuing. "As I was saying, I'm afraid there were a few...complications, with his surgery that were unavoidable."

"...what complications?" Germany asked softly after a few moments of silence; the Grecian seemingly silenced with dread.

"Well...as with any type of surgery, there are always risks of infection and severe blood loss. In your husband's case Mr Greece, I'm afraid it was much worse." the doctor waited for any kind of response, but was answered with two distressed faces waiting to be told the whole story. "Whilst there was some severe blood loss during the surgery, which is easily treated; I'm afraid that Mr Japan also contracted an infection, and we discovered that his body has reacted very negatively to the anaesthesia we gave him during surgery, which would explain whilst we were unable to treat it."

"...unable?" Greece echoed softly, face paling.

"We're doing everything we can, you're husband is stable but at the moment we've been unable to get any response from him."

Greece couldn't speak, his jaw kept twitching as if wanting to, but couldn't find the words. Germany bit his lip, gently placing an arm around the Grecian's shoulders. "...Greece, are you going to be okay?"

Greece stayed silent, as if he hadn't even registered the German talking to him. The doctor continued. "Now, as for your child, she's perfectly-"

"I want to see him." Greece said suddenly, "Can you take me to him?"

The doctor looked thrown off guard for a moment before nodding. "Oh, of course, I'll show you his room." he said, doubling checking the clipboard for the correct room number before he lead the two men back down the corridor. Germany stayed a few steps behind, not wanting to over step his boundaries. He himself was having a hard time grasping the concept that one of his closest friend's lives was seriously in danger...so he couldn't possibly imagine how Greece must be coping with it.

They were eventually lead to a room a few corridors down, where the doctor held open the door for them. "...if anything happens call one of the nurses." the doctor muttered softly to the German as the Grecian pushed his way inside. Germany nodded, promptly following him in and softly closing the door shut behind them.

Greece slowed down the closer he got to Japan's bed. There the Asian lay, completely and utterly motionless in the hospital bed; his eyes closed shut, face considerably paler than usual. He was hooked up to a electrocardiograph, which beeped occasionally to signify Japan's slow, unsteady heartbeat. The Grecian fell to his knees at Japan's bedside; the sight of his husband's frail form, lifeless and inanimate, was enough to wrench his own heart from his chest.

"Japan..." Greece gasped softly, reaching a shaking hand out to trace his fingers delicately across the Asian's cheek, as if some how willing him to wake. The Asian remained in a state of complete comatose, unresponsive to his husband's presence.

"Greece..." Germany said softly, wanting to say something reassuringly but not knowing what he could possibly say to make the circumstances any better.

The Grecian choked out a sudden sob, tears rapidly filling and then immediately spilling from his eyes. "J-Japan, please...please wake up..." Greece cried, collapsing onto his husband's chest he let his tears shed down his face, soaking the sheets on the narrow hospital bed. "Oh God...please no, no this can't be happening!" he almost shouted, bunching his hands into the sheets as he sobbed, shoulders shaking as he struggled to contain himself; Greece's entire world was crashing down, as if a million daggers were piercing his fragile heart.

Germany could only watch in shock from the foot of the bed. He'd never seen the Grecian's so distraught, or even mildly upset, but then again, he'd never had a reason to be so in the past. "Greece...everything will be okay." Germany assured him softly.

Greece slowly pulled back, his face bright red as a waterfall of tears continued to rain down. "T-This is all m-my fault..." he sobbed, still clinging to the Asian. "He asked me, no, begged me to stay! I promised I wouldn't leave his side...I let him down."

"Greece that had nothing at all to do with this." Germany said firmly, "None of this is your fault do you hear me?"

Greece bit his lip, choking out another sob. "I left him…I left him and he needed me!"

"Greece…there wasn't anything you could have done, the doctors told you to leave, you didn't have a choice!" Germany insisted, but his reasons fell on deaf ears.

Greece sniffed, taking hold of Japan's hand beneath the sheets. "I'm so sorry Japan...I'll keep my promise okay? I'll stay here with you...until you're alright." he said determinedly, leaning down to kiss his forehead, letting his tears silently drip onto his husband's lifeless face.

The German didn't know what to do. He was torn between staying and enduring the heartbreaking sight before him or leaving and not having a clue what he could possibly do. A soft knock on the door broke him out of this dilemma. "Mr Greece?" a nurse poked her head into the room, looking around curiously. "Oh hello." she said when she spotted the German by the foot of the bed. The nurse stepped into the room, cradling something small wrapped up in a pink blanket. "Are you a relative of the couple?"

"Uhh nein, I'm a family friend...Germany." he said, eyes drifting down to the bundle in her arms. "...is that Japan's daughter?"

The nurse smiled softly. "Yes, I'm terribly sorry to do this now under the circumstances..." she said, glancing at the Asian; Greece hadn't looked up once to acknowledge her presence. "But I've brought her here so Mr Greece can take her home...Athens, I think is what they wanted to name her yes?"

"Umm...I don't think Greece is really ready to go home..." he said softly, letting his eyes fall on the distraught Grecian.

"Well I'm afraid someone needs to take her, our hospital policy states that we only accommodate newborns over night who have health issues...as she's perfectly healthy I'm afraid she can't stay with us any longer than necessary." the nurse said, holding out the child towards the blond.

Germany looked quite awkward as he took the baby, holding her securely in his arms. "But I don't think Greece is prepared for that, not with the state he's in."

"Well do they have any relatives that could come and collect her, or family friends? I'm sorry Mr Germany, but she can't stay with us, you'll just have to talk to Mr Greece." the nurse said apologetically before briskly leaving them again.

Greece still hadn't looked up from where he was nuzzling Japan, still crying silently. Germany gazed down at the bundle in his arms, carefully pushing back the blanket to see her face. Athens had a smattering of black coloured hair and a pair a bright green eyes that stared back up at him.

The German looked up at the Grecian, clearing his throat. "Greece...I've got your daughter here." the Grecian said nothing, still focused intently on his husband. Germany tried again. "Don't...don't you want to hold her?"

"No."

Germany blinked in surprise at the sharp outburst. "What? Greece...this is your child, you've not even seen her yet don't you want to hold her?" Greece shook his head firmly, gently stroking the back of Japan's hand. Germany just stared at him, still cradling Athens. "Greece, you need to take her home."

"I don't want to." Greece muttered, kissing the back of the Asian's hand. "I need to stay here with Japan."

"Greece stop this." Germany said, taking a step closer to the bed. "I know how upset you must be about this. But your little girl needs you."

Greece shook his head, tears still dripping down onto the Asian's cheeks, making it seem as if they were both crying. "I can't."

"Greece this isn't an option, you have to take her." Germany tried again, making his way towards the Grecian. "Greece-"

"NO!" Greece bellowed, whipping around to glare at the German, stopping him in his tracks. "Don't even think about bringing her near me!" he yelled, not even allowing himself a single glance at his daughter in the German's arms. Greece let out a shuddering sigh, letting his eyes close he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. "...my husband is the one who needs me; I'm staying here until he wakes up." he said calmly, voice wavering as tears started to re-form in his eyes.

Germany just watched with wide eyes as Greece went back to Japan's side, no intention of even acknowledging his daughter's presence, let alone taking her home with him. The blond dithered uncomfortably beside the bed for several long moments, unsure of what to do. When Greece showed absolutely no signs of paying attention to anything other that Japan, did Germany silently leave the room with Athens in his arms.

He leant back against the wall in the hospital corridor as his thought about what he could possibly do now. Germany glanced down at the baby in his arms, she'd fallen fast asleep. 'Typical for Greece's child to do that even through all that noise...' he thought, gently rocking her in his arms.

"Germany!" the blond looked up as his own husband rounded the corner and found him. "There you are, I thought I'd lost you; the cafe was closed and you weren't where we left you." he skipped over to him, eyes immediately focused on the bundle in his arms. The Italian gasped softly when he and the kids finally reached him. "Is that her? Can I hold her?" he asked excitedly, gently placing Madrid down on the floor where he took hold of Dresden's hand. Germany nodded slowly, carefully handing her over. Italy bit his lip, gazing down at her sweet sleeping face. "Awwww...she's so adorable!"

"I want to see! I want to see!" Dresden whined, tugging on the Italian's trouser leg. "Daddy let me see the baby!"

Italy smiled, crouching down to show the kids. "Isn't she pretty?"

"Awww..." Dresden cooed softly, holding out her arms. "Can I hold her?"

"You're a bit young to hold the baby sweetie." Italy said, gently ruffling her hair. He smiled up at the German, looking slightly confused at the weird look his husband had on his face. "Ve? Germany are you okay?" he asked, standing back up.

Germany sighed deeply, leaning back against the wall. "Nein...Italy there's a bit of a dilemma..."

"What is it?"

Germany glanced down at the kids, leaning closer to the Italian, speaking softly so they couldn't hear. "Japan is...not well, Italy."

Italy's eyes immediately filled with concern. "Will he be okay?"

Germany bit his lip but forced himself to nod. "Ja, he'll be fine...but as you can imagine Greece is in a bad state about it...und he doesn't want to accept his responsibilities and take Athens home, he wants to stay here with Japan."

"Oh...can't the nurses look after her?" Italy asked, gently tickling her stomach with his index finger.

"Nein. They can't...hence the dilemma, there's no relatives or family friends to take her und Greece won't so much as look at her." Germany said, sighing again. "I think he's pushing the blame for Japan's current condition onto his daughter..."

Italy was silent for a moment, still poking her tummy until he suddenly perked up. "Oh! I know!" he said, eyes shining with excitement. "We'll take her!"

Germany stared at him. "...what?"

"We'll take her! Until Japan's okay and Greece feels better." Italy said happily, gently rocking her in his arms as if it was all sorted.

Germany sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Italy, we can't just take somebody else's child."

"Ve? Why not? We're family friends." Italy pointed out. "We still have most of Dresden's baby stuff, so it'll be fine!"

"We're keeping her? Yay! I get a sister!" Dresden cheered from under their feet, hugging the German around the waist.

Germany looked utterly bewildered, gently patting her arms. "Italy you can't be serious, we're not taking her!"

"Why not?"

"Because it's not our responsibility Italy."

"But who else will do it?"

"We'll just have to make Greece come to his senses." Germany said firmly, even though he shuddered at the thought of going back in there with the Grecian being in such an unpredictable state. "We shouldn't have to feel obligated Italy."

Italy looked at him pleadingly, still gently rocking Athens. "But Germanyyyy..." he whined, leaning into the German's chest. "Greece is upset! And they're our friends; it's the right thing to do Germany, it's a nice thing to do for them."

Germany sighed irritably. "Italy, we don't know how long Japan will-" he stopped mid sentence when the Italian's face fell...he couldn't upset his husband with such distressing concepts. He sighed again, slowly shaking his head. "Good gott I can't believe I'm doing this..." he muttered, gently placing his hands on Italy's arms. "Fine. We'll take her."

"Yay! Grazie Germany!" Italy beamed, kissing his cheek. "It'll be fine, look how quiet she is." he said, holding out the sleeping baby towards him. "We won't even know she's there, and when Japan's all better we'll give her back!"

Germany rolled his eyes, gently ruffling the Italian's hair. "You und your damn irresistible face..."

Italy beamed, kissing him again. "It'll be fine Germany; I'll go find a nurse and ask if there's any papers we need to sign so we can take her." he said, pushing Athens into his husband's arms he took off down a corridor to find someone.

Germany sighed, collapsing back into the wall, still carefully holding onto Athens. Madrid bit his lip, hiding behind Dresden as she hugging the German's waist again. "Daddy, what's the matter?"

"Nothing princess." Germany muttered, gently patting the top of her head. "I'm just tired..."

"Are we really keeping her daddy?" she asked, beaming up at him, reaching up on her tiptoes to see Athens again.

"Ja...for now I guess we are."

~0~

England yawned tiredly, rubbing his eyes as he scrambled around in the medicine cabinet. "Bloody hell, there must be something in here to settle my stomach..." he muttered, searching through the various medicines and bottles of pills.

"England?" the Brit jumped slightly, slamming the cabinet shut as the American appeared behind him in the bathroom doorway.

"Y-Yes?" he asked, spinning around to smile innocently at his husband.

America raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe. "Looking for something?"

"Just...toothpaste." England said vaguely, feigning searching around the bathroom for a moment before picking it up off the side of sink. "It's okay, I found it!"

America rolled his eyes, "Dude would you stop trying to hide it from me? I know you're sick."

"I'm not sick America, I just couldn't find the toothpaste."

"You are so full of crap." America muttered, wandering up to hug him from behind. "England I know you've been feeling ill for ages now, you can't hide it from me."

"I'm not ill, it's just a little...indigestion or something. " England said softly, fiddling with the toothpaste in his hands.

"Why do you never tell me when you're not feeling well? I'll take you to see a doctor."

"No doctors." England said firmly. "I'm fine America, I'll take a pain killer and everything will be okay."

"I thought it was indigestion?"

"Pain killers heal all." England said with a slight smirk, kissing the tip of America's nose. "Honestly, I'm fine, is Milan in bed?"

"Yeah he is." America said, wandering back over to the doorway. "Hurry up and take your drugs and come downstairs, we've still gotta cuddle while watching a good movie!"

England smiled, "Alright, alright..." he muttered, opening the cabinet again.

America grinned, "Oh yeah, England."

England glanced back at him. "Hm?"

"You might as well put that toothpaste down, Brits don't brush their teeth!" he quipped hurriedly before darting out the door, laughing to himself.

"You little git!"

I be British, therefore allowed to make that joke

Reviews are love :)