A/N Hello! I finished it! Are you guys proud yet? ^u^ I love you all and if you have any suggestions or requests for stories message me!

Enjoy! I own no one!

After a long embrace, Italy ran home with his gloves and into the arms of Hungary, who fussed over her wet clothes and flushed face.

"Italy, why are you so warm? Are you getting sick?" Hungary looked down and noticed something strange, "Italy…where is your ring? And where did you get those gloves?"

"…A boy…a boy named Ludwig…"

England ended it there, deciding that it had become too awkward for everyone there. Romano was furious, Spain was over the moon, Japan was quiet and Germany…

Germany was shell-shocked. He remembered that little girl and how lost and scared she was. How all he wanted was to help her. He had kissed her in a moment of selfish weakness, but to see it again from her side…it made him smile.

His heart started welling up, making him feel strange and dizzy inside, not that he minded at all. He liked the feeling of the bubbles dancing in his chest, the feeling of hope rising up that she was not mortal and that she still loved him.

But that's when the bubbles popped and he remembered all the rotten things he did to Italy. Yelling, degrading, it all fell into his brain and he felt himself sag greatly.

In his state, he barely heard the gleeful "Ve~" of a certain Italian.

"I'm here~ See? I told you I could get here before the meeting!" Italy's eyes were closed but she was excited. She proved to herself that she wasn't dependent on Germany to make sure she did the things she needed to do. However, when everyone was left staring at her, she looked at the clock on the wall making sure she wasn't late.

Five minutes til the meeting was supposed to start.

"Uh…what's wrong?"

Germany looked up and his blue eyes bore into Italy's head, making her gasp in shock and open her eyes. Fear filled her like a glass with water; she felt like they could see past her clothes and down to her body, where she was exposed and really weak.

Japan looked at her with understanding eyes, like he knew and accepted her secret, but everyone else stared…everyone, except for Romano.

"You!"

"Big brother?" She tried feigning innocence but found that it was difficult to put on the face she always needed. "What's a matter?"

"What's a matter?! You! You kept that secret for so long, never thinking to tell anyone?!"

Her eyes filled with tears and sadness and, to Germany's displeasure, pain. They knew.

"You traitor!" She screamed, letting her high pitched voice come through. She wiped her tears away with her sleeves, "I trusted you! You…you traitor! I hate you, Big Brother Spain!"

She spin in a tight circle and ran as fast as she could out of the room into the large hallway leading to the outside world. Germany ran after her, but found that by the time he got to the door to the hallway, Italy was gone.

Italy spent hours walking around, crying her eyes out, not letting anyone comfort her. All the women she met promised they'd make her happy, but all she could do was shrug them off and keep walking. She started hiding from all the countries, who skipped the meeting to find her. It was difficult, but she did it, certain that no one was following her home.

As she unlocked the front door, the smell of pasta greeted her and a smile broke through the sadness. But then she remembered, she didn't leave any pasta to cook while she was gone.

"Hallo, Italia…"

Italy slowly turned toward Germany standing in the doorway with the pot of freshly cooked pasta in his oven-mitt clad hands. He looked nervous and worried, which made Italy scared.

"I…I made some pasta…vhy don't you go change and ve'll eat?" Germany tried his hardest to maintain some normalcy, for his and Italy's sake.

Italy, more out of exhaustion then fear, did as he asked, changing into a more appropriate clothing choice for a lady. The dress was made by Hungary as a present for whenever she visited her and Austria. It was soft and pretty, but because she was afraid of the others knowing her secret, she never wore it.

As she walked down the stairs, Germany gave her a plate of pasta and poured a small glass of red wine. He was dressed in his business wear, but he hung up his suit jacket and loosened his tie to be more comfortable.

He pulled out a chair and let her sit and eat before asking questions. He didn't eat anything until she explained herself.

She explained everything that she did was for Romano so he wouldn't be taken or hurt and once the war was over, she was convinced that if anyone was to know that she was really a girl, Italy and Romano would be punished. She decided to keep the secret as much as she could, but she was glad that someone knew.

Germany sadly explained that Spain didn't tell him anything, that it was all England's magic that let them in on the secret. Italy sat there for a long time, thinking about how to react when a smile graced her face.

"Good…it makes it easier for me and Spain!"

Germany smiled as big as she did and found himself reaching for her hand. He pulled the offending hand away before she noticed and instead fished in his pocket for a small ring only suitable for a child.

Italy stared at it before running to her room and getting the white gloves, now a duller white due to age, the fabric had stretched to fit her hands now.

"…I guess I should return these now…"

"…Ja…me too…"

Quietly, Italy put his white gloves on his hands and he slipped the ring on the chain over her neck. In a small way, Italy felt like she parted with something more special than the ring. Like she gave Ludwig something more important than a pair of gloves.

"…"

"…"

"…Italy…I…"

She said nothing but she covered his mouth with her hand, leaning close. The intent was clear.

Germany pulled her hand away from his mouth and leaned closer, only brushing her lips gently. She smiled and brushed them back, the once soft lips that she remembered now were firm, but not hard.

They stayed like that for…who knew how long…they just held each other, calmly, happily…while England and the rest of the countries cheered from the meeting room. The window into Italy's mind had closed after England willed it to; he was glad something good came out of this mess.