A/N: So here it is...

Warnings: Germancest feels

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia, nor responsibility for your fangirling


(July 11, 1990)

"So, that wraps up this meeting. Any questions?" Alfred stood at the head of the desk, straightening his own area and looking around. To his left was Matthew, and his right was Francis. Halfway down the left side was Ludwig, followed by Herakles, Mathias, and finally Gilbert. The albino's hand was fiddling in his pocket nervous, aching to wrap his hands around the object, and also his brother's face to kiss him soundly on the mouth. His breath was coming out in shaky pants now, heart beating like a jackrabbit. Slowly he stood up, sneaking closer to Ludwig. It was now or never.

3.

2.

"Okay, well, have a safe trip back, and-"

1.

"Ludwig? Can I ask you something?" The others turned around confusedly, his new position next to his brother startling them into curiosity.

"Can it wait until we adjourn?" Ludwig whispered in reply, barely noticing his brother's breathing, and how nervous he looked.

"No, I need to do this now." Everyone was staring, even little Liechtenstein, and he didn't think he could handle the pressure, but he had to, he had to be strong and resolute, and prove to everyone, and to himself that it wasn't a waste of time and that he'd see his decision through til the end. But it was so hard. He never thought he'd do it. His fingers made their way through his hair a few times, body slowly increasing in temperature. They were getting anxious, and how would Ludwig feel about this? He was the center of attention. He couldn't even remember what he was going to say, mind pulling a blank each time he tried to recite it in his head, but they were gone, all of his words.

Nothing showed affection like speaking from the heart.

Damn his typed paper, damn his memory, damn his recitation.

"Willyoumarryme?" He could feel his face burning, and his ears almost imploded from the silence that followed. A solid minute passed. He couldn't even look the blonde in the eyes. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for the next words that came out of his mouth. "I know I'm not the type for marriage and shit, but I really do love you, and...I don't want to lose you again like before the wall. And I just want to make you smile because you're my bruderlein und mein engel, und der einzige i an meiner Seite sehen können*" he rambled in German. It was easier if only Ludwig knew. Ludwig and Roderich and Vash, and Lilli. "And you're the only one I can see in my bed at night and the only one I'll want there, and I want to sing you to sleep and go grocery shopping with you, and help you with your work and raise a family for God's sake, I just..." he sighed, looking up finally. "I just really want to be with you, for the rest of our lives, okay?"

He didn't know when he had walked up to Ludwig, nor when he had taken his hand and got on one knee. He was too busy running his mouth, thinking of any good reason to possibly sway his brother's opinion. He could faintly hear cooing in the background, and some sort of clicking. Someone tapping his foot? No, there were flashes of light too. He blinked confusedly and focused again on his brother, eyes turning up hopefully into blue ones, who stared back. Gilbert didn't even consider the fact that Ludwig might decline.

"I-I bought a ring too!" he said, fumbling in his pocket. He dropped the case in his haste, but recovered, opening the small velvet cover to reveal the wedding band. No flashy diamonds, no fancy metals. Stainless steel with two gemstones, sapphire and ruby, alternating around the band. "Mine will be gold, like your hair! I just need to get more money to buy it, because things things ain't cheap you know, hehe!" A nervous laugh escaped him, and his smile faltered. Ludwig didn't say yes. He was standing there. Red in the face.

Embarrassed.

"Oh God...Oh God Ludwig I'm so sorry...I should have known you wouldn't have wanted this..."

"Gilbert, I-"

"I should have given us more time, or taken you out more, or told you I loved you more, or-" Ludwig laughed lightly, and wiped his eyes.

"Yes, Gilbert", he whispered, holding Gilbert's face in his hands and kissing him tenderly. The blonde held Gilbert's gaze, smiling. "Yes, yes, a million times yes!" Slowly, a smile bloomed on Gilbert's face, and he was crushed in a tight hug and being lifted up into the air. It wasn't long before he was lacking air and gasping for breath. But he dealt with it, for his brother's sake. He opened his eyes, smiling at the sight that greeted him.

Alfred was clicking away at his camera phone, with a smiling and cooing Matthew behind him, while Francis swooned in the background, gabbling to Arthur about "true love" and the like nonsense. Arthur was steadily trying to ignore him, though it was hard when the Frenchman had a iron grip on his shoulder. China, Japan, and Russia were standing silently in the background, small smiles on their faces. Everyone else was cheering and clapping, some plucking the petals off of the decorative, polyester flowers, and throwing them over the couples heads in joy. It only served as a happy reminder of their soon to be union.

No one could call it a surprise, the actions they took when they arrived home. Francis would have called it natural. The couple lay sprawled in their bed, eyes closed and breathing contently. The floor was decorated with pillows and sheets, and the door was thrown wide open, as was the window to air out the hot room. One could only suppose the sex was good, by the lazy smile adorning the albino's face, and the slight pink in Ludwig's cheeks.

"We should get engaged more often," Gilbert said lazily, "if the sex is this good." Ludwig let a lazy smile play across his lips, which moved to their partners only inches away.

"Oh but wouldn't that be lovely~" The blonde shuffled over, arms entwining with the white ones, and pressing himself closer to his fiancee. It was a moment before he heard a soft humming.

"What song is that?" he inquired.

"Hm? Oh, it's called "If you could only see". An American song, naturally." Gilbert smiled. "'If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says, when she says she loves me'." Ludwig seemed puzzled, but then a smile dawned on his face.

"I do love you." he said with a smile. His fingers traced lazy patterns over the pale chest, gazing at the ring. Gilbert noticed.

"Do you like it? Thought it fit, y'know, for us."

"Ja, it's really pretty." He smiled fondly, twisting it on his ring finger. "I thought rings for men were supposed to be bands. No jewels."

"Stereotypes. Guys can have sparkles. 'Specially if they're gay~" he said with a smirk, laughing at the light thump that landed on his chest.

"Look who's talking about stereotypes," Ludwig scoffed, nestling back down and dragging the sheet up more as the wind howled. Gil got up and closed it.

"Eh, 'm special. 'Cause I'm engaged to you now", he said, a grin on his face. He picked up his boxers from the floor and pulled them on, throwing a pair of sweats onto the bed. Carefully he got back in, wrapping an arm around his lover as he pulled on the pants.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything at first. I was just overwhelmed." Ludwig settled back down, resting his head on the pale chest as his hair was played with.

"Heh, I was just worried you were going to say no." He tilted his head, resting his lips on Ludwig's temple in an impromptu kiss. "I can't believe we're actually going to get married", he murmured, kissing the area tenderly, showering love on his smiling lover.

"We have to think about wedding plans", the blonde said with a yawn. Food, a venue, theme, chapel? How many guests? Do we want gifts? No, we don't need anything.

"Nah, not now. Let's just enjoooooy the glow of finally being engaged..." Gilbert replied, yawning in response. Arms wrapped around each other, they finally fell into a content sleep.

A figure stood in the kitchen, humming and flipping pancakes. His brother came in behind him.

"They're married now." The first man froze, and an acrid scent filled the air.

The pancakes turned to charred ashes.

A/N: Well, now we've got some angst in here. I'll let you guys guess as to what's happening, and who the mystery people are...

Review please!

*the only one i can see by my side