Fffft. It's totally like 12:50 right now and will be one in the morning by the time I'm done formatting typing this and upload this. Staying up late on school nights FTW! XD I still have homework too ;D *thumbsup* Heehee~ Sooo, it's been a while since we've updated, eh? Ahha, sorry~ Life got busy! But we're back now! And with a Christmas chapter? In September? What the FrUUUK? XD Well, it's Christmas season in the fic world so DEAL WITH IT. Besides, holidays are important to get to what we aaaall want from these two~ ALSO! SuicideMonday was our 100th reviewer and requested an AU Tonixghost!Lovi oneshot. Go-chan and I decided to was too amazing of an idea to properly give justice as a simple oneshot. SOOO. We have a new fic! XD Check out Phantom Love if you have the time! Without further ado, Christmas in September! (Forgive the lame-o chapter title. I had to come up with it cause Go-chan fell asleep xD Oh hey! Look at that! It's 1 AM now! Man I'm psychic.)

Chapter Ten: No Mistletoe For the Grumpy

The Christmas season starts early in Spain. On the 8th of December citizens gather before the great show of gothic architecture that is the cathedral in Seville to watch los Seises, the dance of six. Course, it can get confusing to the physical manifestation of the country himself when nowadays it had been changed to ten elaborately dressed boys instead of the usual six. All the same it is a tradition for him to attend, and he also makes it a point to help out at the practices of the young men. But even by then the spirit is in the air, shops filled with themed decorations by mid-November. To most it truly begins on the 22nd of December, when students get out for break, with the Christmas lottery draw.

With all of the festivities Spain himself didn't have the time to start the decorating of his own home until a little less than a week or so before the big day itself. There was the normal Christmas Tree and the nativity scene, something they were very adamant about in his country. But this year there was a new addition to his walls this season, and that was a long serious of photographs and framed pictures. Now that he was in fact in a relationship with his Romano he had no personal quarrel with hanging said items he had found in an old trunk not long prior. All were, of course, Romano related. But only a few of the photos were taken without his knowledge! Er… A large, large majority, actually, as could be taken from the less than posed for situations shown in them. It was the frames though that presented the most interest to any person that happened upon them. All were aged paper, browned through the years and now protected within the glass. Each and every one was a different artwork from a childish hand, scribbles of paint, ink, anything a kid would have on hand over the centuries.

Now Spain stepped back from hanging his last drawing of Romano's, this one his favorite. The usual blush coated smile that came with his utter adoration overtook his face as he stared at it. Romano had drawn it during one of Spain's long absences while fighting on the open seas, obviously missing his Spanish caretaker for he had drawn them holding hands and eating tomatoes together. He had been horrible embarrassed when Spain found it upon his return.

"What the hell is all this shit?" Came from the doorway and a very red Romano. He had been out Christmas shopping with his brother only to come back to find this! His blush only increased as he stomped up to the drawing Spain was currently admiring. "Why do you still have this?"

"Hola Romanito!" Upon his return Romano was greeted as he always was, with a hug, smile, and kiss. "Did you have fun with Ita-chan?"

"Forget that! Why do you have this crap?" Romano pushed Spain off and glare at the wall.

He hadn't finished his hug! Spain pouted, eyes hurt. "It's not crap Lovi! It's mi Romanito's adorable drawings from when he was a niño." By the end he was back to smiling and hugging his little love.

"They aren't adorable dammit! They're ridiculous, horrible, and embarrassing!" Once again, the Spaniard was shoved away so Romano could take down the drawing. "All of them are coming down, now!"

"Oye!" With his shout Spain took the picture away to hug it close in a protective embrace. "Don't say that! They're great. I want to keep them up all the time I love them so much."

"No! They are coming down now and never going up again!" Romano moved onto the next picture and took that down too. "These are horrible wall decorations!"

"Stop!" Antonio implored him, stealing the second downed item as well. "Por favor, at least for Christmas!"

"Absolutely not!" Now the next item that Romano took down was passed to Antonio as the Spaniard unintentionally help Romano with his goal. "And what the hell is this?" He now came to a photo of him sleeping on the couch. When was this taken? "You bastard! Who said you could take pictures of me?"

The accused winced at the allegations against him. "But you were so cute!"

Romano glared at his idiotic boyfriend and crossed his arms. "So? You can't just go around taking pictures of me! And when did you take this?"

It was one thing to take pictures of people without their knowledge but it was another entirely to know the exact moment due to your extreme obsession with the person. The result of such thoughts in a Spanish mind? Changing the subject! "Why can't I keep them up?"

"Because! They're embarrassing! Did I not just say this?" Romano was back to moving down the hall to continue taking pictures down.

"But I like them!" Once those he had been holding were safely placed on a table Antonio took a hold of Romano's wrist to stop his ascent down the hallway and path of destruction. "Leave them alone!"

"No! They're all coming down!"

"No they're not!"

Romano glared daggers at Spain and tore another picture down. "Yes. They are."

"I said stop!" With a glaring pout of his own Spain ripped the picture away from Romano as he had the others, difference being that this time he put it right back up. "They are staying."

"Oh they are not!" Like the brat he was, Romano took the picture right back down. "I'm not staying in this house if it's covered in this crap!"

"Romano, stop it. There's no reason to not have them up. Why can't I decorate my house as I want?"

"Because I won't stay here if it's decorated like this!" To prove how serious he was, Romano took down yet another photo and shook it in Spain's face. "I don't want to go around seeing my face and crappy old drawings everywhere I look!"

"But I do," why he was so upset and adamant about this whole thing Antonio didn't understand, but he was to in a way, and he didn't want to let this go. "Mi Romanito's face and art are cute and I like seeing them."

"Fine then!" Romano shoved the photo into Spain's arms and stomped back down the hall. "I'm going home!"

"Qué!" Not in a million years would Spain have thought that would be the conclusion his tomato would come to in this situation. "Don't do that!" Catching up with the Italian Spain pleaded with him. "Don't go!"

"Then take all this shit down!"

"But-But Romanito!" Why couldn't Spain have both?

"Exactly. I'm going home. I'll see you at the party tomorrow." With a huff, Romano turned his back to Spain and stomped out the door.

"No!" Before he could get much further than the patio outside the front door Romano was stopped by strong arms around him and whimpers. "It's bad enough that Ita-chan isn't here so I know he's safe," and indeed Spain, Romano, Germany, and others took turns spending time with the Italian or even spent the night at his house to make sure of his safety. None of them, least of all Spain, felt comfortable knowing he was on his own after the bombing but nothing could be done. It had been months since then, his house had been repaired, and there were no further attacks. "I don't want you gone," a pitiful sniff and nuzzle of Romano's hair, embracing him tightly from behind.

Dammit... Romano sighed and leaned back into Spain's tight hug. It was getting harder and harder to tell Spain to fuck off and continue with whatever he had been planning on doing before the idiot protested. Was it love that did this to him? It sure was annoying. "Whatever, but I'm still mad at you."

"So you're not going?"

"No you dunce!" Romano stomped on Spain's foot and huffed. "But I'm taking all the pictures down!"

After he had yelped and released Romano Spain began his hurt pout, "leave just a little?"

"You do that and I'm going to be even more mad."

With the falling of his shoulders came a sigh from Spain. He wanted to continue arguing, to get his way at least once in a confrontation with Romano, but he fought it back for the hope of in doing so keeping him there. Better to have him close and made than far off and in danger. Though it really wasn't that much better…

"Fine," he consented.

"Great!" With a smug grin, Romano headed back inside and resumed taking all the pictures down.

"J-Just don't get rid of them, okay?" With that last bit of hope he followed Romano in.

Romano rolled his eyes as he took down his victim and passed it to Spain. "As if you would let me."

And so Spain fell silent, obediently taking each removed frame into his awaiting hands to then place them safely away, far from any eyes, including his and Romano's. From that point he continued the silent treatment on the continued miffed Romano, though it wasn't quite intentional. The man just moped and pouted, sad Romano could get so upset when he obviously loved him to such an extent. Why would that birth annoyance? What was so wrong with showing his affection and remembering other times together?

True to his word, Romano remained annoyed with Spain the rest of the day following into the next morning. He would have probably started being a little nicer if it wasn't for the fact that Spain felt the need to mope. Really, was he asking to drag the disagreement out? Obviously. Romano was no about to apologize just to make the idiot stop moping, so he just ignored Spain, which made him pout more… It was a never ending cycle.

Determined to last longer than Spain, Romano stayed clear of his puppy dog eyes and napped while he went about getting ready for the party later that day. And really, Romano was preparing for the party too! The last time he fell asleep at a Christmas part France almost raped him. Though, Spain would probably kill France if he even tried now, but Romano still wasn't going to take that chance. Besides, the local Christmas parties were almost as hectic as the international ones.

Every year, in a year of peace that is, the countries would get together and celebrate the holiday season. There was always the massive international party that everyone was invited to, the location changed from house to house each year. But, such massive parties were not very good to spend time with close friends and family, which was why the majority of nations hosted parties for those they really wanted to spend the Christmas season with. Out of all the smaller parties, the European one tended to be the largest.

This year, Austria was hosting the party, but the normal chain of invitations was still the same. He invited Switzerland, which meant Liechtenstein was invited as well, Hungary, who extended her invitation to Poland, who extended his invitation to Lithuania, who extended his invitation to his brothers (and Russia would often try to crash the parties if the Baltics showed), the Italies, Spain, who invited the Netherlands, Belgium, and France because no one else would invite him (France would then try to get England to come every year, but he always declined to reluctantly spend time with his British Isles brothers), and Germany, which meant Prussia would be coming too, much to Austria's distaste.

But surely not as much as a few choice fashion experts would the outfit in which Spain was situated. "Romanito, we're going to be late!" The Spaniard said, leaning down to prod the Italians face, wrinkling his loose bright green pants and tightening the collar of the red turtle neck sweater beneath one of the most hideous Christmas themed sweater vests of all time sporting a light up nose for the Rudolph depicted on it.

Olive eyes opened to stare at the atrocious red nose and quickly closed again. "Fuck," Romano groaned, desperately hoping he was dreaming. "Tell me you are not wearing that to the party."

"Hmm?" Standing straight Spain looked down at his shirt with a blink of his eyes and tilt of his head. "Sí?"

"I am not going anywhere with you if you are wearing that." With a heavy sigh, Romano sat up and frowned. "Change. Now."

"Bu-But Lovi!" Spain actually hugged himself as if to protect the cute reindeer from Romano's disapproving eyes. "I like it!"

Oh god. Was he really going to turn this into a fight too? "You look like a fool. Take it off."

"I don't want to."

"Okay fine! I'm not going to the party with you!" Scowling, Romano got to his feet and stomped out of the room.

Acts of tsundereness. Tiny fits here and there over physical contact. Blushes in response to affection. They were all so very cute. To a point. They were almost all annoying to him when both men were younger, then he found each adorable in their own way. To an extent. Honestly, Romano was pushing those boundaries of Spain's retarded love for his ways. Getting angry and staying angry for things that, frankly, were just how Spain was. Refusing to do things like a little brat if he didn't get his way. Over what? Decorations and sweater vests?

It had been years since Spain truly felt like a parent to Romano. But now it came back in the way that an adult gives into the childs demands if only to get on with life, though hardly without annoyance on their part. "Alright, I'm taking it off," called in a Spanish sigh, footsteps heading off to the bedroom so he could remove the disgusting show of Christmas cheer that Romano just seemed to hate.

Romano's stomps came to a halt and a pleased grin tugged at his lips. Heh, he won this time without a big fight. If Spain just listened to him like this all the time, things would be so much quieter! Though he sounded rather put-off... Oh it was Spain, he would be over it by the time he got back downstairs. But... Just in case... Looking around slyly, Romano made his way into the kitchen and started putting the dishes Spain cooked in bags so they would be easier to carry.

Now only wearing his pants and sweater Spain was back, rolling up his sleeves and silently helping Romano with his work before moving everything to the car, his quiet continuing even during the length of the ride, which left a fidgety and nervous Romano in the passenger seat, desperately trying to figure out how to placate the obviously peeved Spaniard. He had yet to come up with a solution by the time they arrived at Austria's house and had to suffer the awkward walk of silence up to the doorstep and ring the doorbell.

The party host opened the door to a strange sight indeed. Spain was not smiling (was it 2012 already?) and Romano looked almost ashamed for some reason. Something drastic must have happened between them for this to be happening... "Merry Christmas Lovino, Antonio... Thank you for coming... May I take you dishes Antonio?"

"No, gracias. You must be busy with host-y duties," the Spain lookalike replied, act increasing a tad in quality in his offered smile for the sake of being polite.

When Austria stepped aside to allow the two in Spain was right off on a beeline to set his plates out, Hungary catching up to him to help as the head of the whole food situation, the breaking apart of the task leaving it relatively easy and less time consuming to then open the curly headed man up to mill about among the other guests.

"What did you do to him Lovino?" Austria asked, looking down at Romano with wide eyes. He couldn't recall the last time Spain was in such a mood, let alone if he ever had been during the Christmas season.

Romano scowled and resisted the urge to kick Austria. "I didn't do anything dammit! The bastard is just a big baby! Leave me alone!" With a huff, he stomped off to talk with Belgium, leaving a confused Austria to shake his head and wander over to Hungary to get her opinion.

Shaking her head sadly, Hungary watched Spain approach Poland and his group to strike up a conversation. One of her favorite male nations - besides Austria of course - she had quickly noted the lack of joy. Thus she turned to the host just as he reached her after greeting the new arrivals. "What did Lovi do this time?" The brunette asked, stern.

"That's what I asked," Austria sighed, not batting an eye at his ex-spouse's astute eye. "He just called Antonio stupid and stomped off."

"As expected I suppose," Hungary murmured in response and looked back to see the couple split among the fellow partygoers, "Doesn't help though... Probably just something aggravating enough to even make Antonio angry. He gets the award in finding out how to do that. And now he doesn't want to apologize or anything."

Austria sighed and pulled his glasses off to clean them, a nervous habit of his. "Why is it I have a bad feeling about this?"

"Because surely the earth has been tipped off its axis? There is a serious imbalance when Spain is more than a little upset." After she gave the offered explanation to Austria's negative vibe again the woman turned her gaze to the pair. Shoulders rose in a deep breath.

"I'll see what I can get out of the little one," as parting words before she left Austria in favor of Belgium and an Italian brother, former receiving her hopeful smile as means of requesting assistance without exchanging words.

Unlike Hungary, Austria neither had the willingness to approach anyone about his or her problems or the freedom to at the moment. He was still a host, no matter what was going on with his friends. He could talk to Spain later...

The silent exchange was unnoticed by the Italian subject for he was too busy glaring at Spain across the room. Who gave him permission to be so moody anyways?

"Hey Lovino," Hungary broke through his mental rant in greeting, "How are you?"

Romano started and looked to Hungary questioningly. If she hadn't said his name, he would have thought she mistook him for Italy... "I'm fine?"

Tilt of her head towards Spain, "and Antonio?"

"Being stupid," he grumbled sullenly in response.

"What's new." Maybe laughing and joking would ease him into a more talkative mood. One could only hope. "A different sort of stupidity lately?"

"He's being pissy and childish!"

"Looks more sad than pissy to me..."

Romano huffed and crossed his arms. "Okay maybe he's peeved that I wouldn't let him wear a stupid sweater, but he's the one who's being a child about it!"

"You wouldn't let him wear what he wanted?"

Why did she have to say it like that? "Of course! He looked like an idiot!"

A laugh, "When doesn't he?"

"Yeah well I didn't want to be seen with him when he was wearing it!"

"So you are saying you'd be embarrassed by being seen with him when he's being himself." And now she was beginning to question the depth of Spain's patience, having to deal with this day in and day out.

Romano frowned and nibbled on his bottom lip. "That's not what I meant..."

"Hmm?"

Red tinted Romano's cheeks as he looked the ground. "I just wanted him to look nice, that's all!"

Oh she could see it now, the whole scene. "But what you said was more like that it looked stupid." Now they were getting somewhere! She smiled. "Get it now?"

"But it did look stupid..."

"Your sense of stupid is different than his. Rather, he doesn't have one."

Exactly! Now she was starting to understand! "That's my point! Why should he be upset then?"

"Why should someone be upset when the person they love says they look stupid?"

Romano sighed and glared at the ground. Dammit this conversation was just going in circles! "Whatever! I call him stupid all the time, he's the one making a big deal about it!"

"Yeah but it's in good fun or can be seen as cute. Now you're getting truly angry behind it in telling him he's not allowed to be himself. That'd be like him telling you you can't cuss anymore." Dizzy, getting dizzy in this circling conversation of stupid.

"Dammit! Whatever! He'll get over it when he gets over it! I'm getting something to eat!" With a loud huff and red cheeks puffed out in a pout, Romano stomped over to the food table.

Seeing the rampaging nation, Austria looked to Hungary from across the room and raised a brow, silently asking her how it went, getting a shrug and roll of the eyes in reply. No one but Italy and Spain can deal with Romano well.

Sighing heavily, Austria considered going over to Spain and attempting to talk with him when his front door burst open, a certain loudmouth albino announcing upon his stepping into the house that he had arrived. "Gilbert!" Austria yelled, forgetting about Spain for now as he stomped over to his rude friend... of sorts. "Have you yet to learn proper manners?"

Once Prussia had arrived the evening wore on with little more problems, with the exception of a few frying pans to the heads of France and Prussia, a few broken fights by the threat of a gun-wielding Switzerland, and a fashion argument between Belgium and Poland. But really, these were just normal happenings. It had been some time since the last risen conflict that Spain finally approached his host. The entire party Romano had been avoiding him – actually it was more of the two blatantly avoiding the other only to be conspicuous spies in the evasion – and his conversations with others would be interrupted some way or another. Besides Romano, Austria was then the only one he had yet to converse with.

"Are you alright, mi amigo?" Spain asked, noting how few and far between these moments of lacking clashes were at these parties.

Austria smiled tiredly and looked up from cleaning his glasses. He had to keep reminding himself this would be the last time in a long time their party would be held in his house. Someone else got to deal with the heart failure this group caused next year. He just had to survive the rest of the night... "Getting by," the aristocrat sighed, and then realized just then who was talking to them. "What about you Antonio? Why aren't you enjoying the party with Romano?"

Oh the dreaded question. That question. Question that made the smile he'd had, at least a small one, fall. "Because..."

As much as Austria would rather leave the conversation at that and stop prying, he knew Hungary would give him grief later for not trying to help his friend. Biting back another sigh, Austria gave a small smile and stated, "Surely it can't be worse than anything else he's ever done."

"But he's being so extreme about it! Saying he's going to his house when I put his old drawings up, saying he won't come here when I wore a Christmas sweater," the barred explanation came in whines.

That was extreme? For Romano, it sounded almost subdued, especially considering Spain used to come over crying about Romano with bruises from where the little nation headbutted him. "What else does he have to threaten you with? Besides Antonio, you give into his threats so he knows they will work and will continue to use them. He has been for years."

"What else am I supposed to do?" Mumbling, Spain looked at the floor in a pout. "I just put up his adorable drawings..."

Drawings... Adorable... Austria... "Oye!" He brightened for the first time, green eyes shining a hint. "He'd be okay with Ita-chans! Do you have any from when he was little?"

"I suppose I do..." Austria frowned at the sudden change of topic, but felt a tad better seeing Spain be a little more himself. Perhaps Italy's old paintings would cheer him up? "I'm sure Elizaveta will know where they are."

"Sí sí! Gracias~" Hugs were more Spains style than pouting, and his prim friend received a deserved one just then before the hugger was off trying to find the female mentioned by huggee.

So occupied was Spain in his new goal and previous goal of avoiding Romano, he failed to notice how much alcohol the little Italian had consumed over the course of the party. At first, his inebriated state wasn't noticeable. He went about yelling at stupid potato bastards and running away from French perverts, just a tad louder than usual. But the fact he couldn't run and hide behind Spain (he had his pride dammit!) made Romano just run to the drink table and down more wine. By the time Spain was running off to find Hungary, Romano was wasted.

Unlike popular belief, Romano was not an angry, well angrier, drunk. Rather, his drunken state was one of the few things he truly shared with his brother. Both of the Italians started to grow lethargic as alcohol took hold of their body. It didn't matter how much sleep they had, once they got drunk enough, they became too tired to keep their eyelids open, let alone stand.

So the sulking Italian found himself couch with a mug, he long past ditched small wine glasses, of wine. He felt like crying dammit and it was all stupid Spain's fault! Why did he have to start acting like he had a backbone now? Fucking idiot... Romano sniffled and yawned before drinking heavily from his mug.

And yet, while Spain remained oblivious to what his lover was up to, his friends were not. Like the helpful best friends they were, France and Prussia immediately burst into laughter once they got Spain to explain the reason for his funk. But, in the middle of their laughter, they came to a silent agreement to help Spain out. They were best friends after all. And what better time to fix a situation then with a sleepy Romano?

Grinning his usual lecherous smile, France seated himself next to Romano and wrapped his arm around his shoulders. When the only protests he received were sleepy grumbles and a glare, the blond happily pulled Romano into him. "Mon cher! Why ever are you upset at a Christmas party?"

"Fuck off you rapist," Romano growled, hiding his face behind his mug as he drank more of his wine.

"I'll gladly fuck you~"

What he had in his mouth was instantly spit back into his mug as Romano coughed and spluttered, finally trying to make an attempt to get out of France's hold. "Go away!"

France laughed and only pulled Romano closer to nuzzle his hair. "Ah but Romanito! I want to help you! Don't you want to go home with Antonio and stop this silly fight?"

Romano's squirming ceased and he looked up cautiously at the man he fear his entire life and still continued to fear. "You want to help?"

"Oui! Oui! Big brother France wants to help and-"

"I'm not letting you in my pants."

Gasping in mock shock, France shook his head and said dramatically, "I would never suggest such a thing! Antonio would have my head on a platter if I ever took your virginity! Though I'm not saying I don't want it…"

"Sh-sh-shut up!" Romano yelped, red instantly consuming his entire face. "Who said anything about me being a virgin? I'm not a virgin dammit!"

"Of course you aren't," France said dismissively, waving his hand about to signify the change in topic. "But that doesn't matter right now. What did you do to successfully put a damper in Antonio's Christmas spirit and piss him off?"

Romano sighed and took another heavy drink from his mug before going into his explanation, filled with off-topic rants and breaks to continue drinking his wine. By the time he was done, Romano's mug was sitting, empty, on the coffee table and the drunk Italian was half-asleep while leaning into France. "He's so stuuuuupid."

"Yes, so stupid," France snickered as he started stroking Romano's hair. Jeez, why didn't he get Romano drunk ages ago before Spain became possessive? Ah but he shouldn't be thinking that now. "So isn't the answer rather obvious? Just make up some stupid apology and he'll forgive… you…"

The entire purpose of coming over to Romano was ultimately defeated now, but France couldn't help but smile. Before Romano could hear the solution to his problems, he passed out, cuddled into France as he would Spain. It was these few moments France actually understood what Spain saw in the pissy Italian. But great, what was he supposed to do now?

France sighed and looked around to see if anyone was around to take care of Romano, but was pleased to see no one had wandered into the small parlor Romano had set base in. Well, he couldn't just leave Romano all by himself, now could he? Not to mention he couldn't have fun harassing anyone. Italy was with Germany, so he was out of question. Hungary was present, so Austria was also off limits. Spain was only fun to harass when Romano was there to tease. England had to be stupid and always spend time with his crappy brothers. Yes, France really had nothing better to do than snuggle with his best friend's boyfriend. Eh, Spain would understand. Laughing to himself, France continued stroking Romano's hair.

Anger is an interesting thing, it really is. It is an emotion that appears in a wide variety of situations and gives rise to an even greater number of results. Crimes of passion can be the most violent. Ever wonder why Spain is called the Country of Passion?

"I'll give them to you when you leave," Hungary patted Spain on the back as the two moved from a storage room in Austria's house back to the area in which the party was to be kept spanning a few rooms. They had spent a bit of time looking through the old works of art done by the more artistic of the Italian twins. A few were pulled from the stacks by Spain, quickly fending off any internal comments that they were the least detailed ones and thus reminded him of his own at home from a different hand. He didn't want to lose them or get them dirty with food or drink, so he agreed to the nice ladies words.

He had been feeling lighter and sunnier than when he came to the party, he had. That fell quickly.

"… Romanito?"

Why was his Romano cuddling into France like that?

Why was his Romano showing affection to someone besides him?

Fact of the Italian's inebriation escaping him, or any real explanation for the sight before him really, things moved quickly past him. First Spain was standing in the doorway of the cozy parlor looking upon Romano curled against France whilst his hair was pet. Second Spain was advancing to the sofa. Quickly. Third he was ripping the offending hand – hell, the entire offending body – of the Frenchman and tossing it aside. Fourth he was pulling Romano towards him.

"My Romano."

France fell to the ground in an ungainly heap, caught completely off guard by Spain's attack. This was what he got for not leaving Romano all by himself? Jeez! "Merde Antonio," he grumbled, slowly getting back to his feet. He looked to Romano and rolled his eyes. The brat was still dead asleep. "He's drunk, if you cared to notice while ignoring him. I was trying to get him to apologize to you and he fell asleep. Mon Dieu, it's not like I was even groping him!"

"So!" Defensively he tightened his hold around the Italian in question. That most certainly did not give him a license to cuddle with Romano. Nothing gave anyone the right to when they weren't Spain. "He isn't very cuddly in the first place, when he is it has to be with me!"

"D'accord, d'accord!" France held his hands up in a gesture of peace. Goodness, who knew Spain was this possessive. "Maybe you shouldn't have left him to get drunk all by himself then! Dieu... I'll leave you alone then." With a dramatic sigh, France left the room to go complain to Prussia.

Evil Romano stealing Frenchman gone, mission accomplished, proceed to post-battle recovery. "Romanito?" Spain ventured, sitting him back down on the couch. "Romanito?"

Ever so slowly, Romano stirred from his drunken sleep. His eyelids fluttered lethargically until they stayed halfway open. As recognition hit, so did confusion. Wait... When did Spain show up? Wasn't he talking with France? Ugh that was too much thinking. With a small groan, Romano buried his face into Spain, wanting more than anything to just go back to sleep. And he received his wish. Tired of being angry, tired of pouting, Spain smiled and nuzzled his little bratty love.

Normally he would have preferred to stay and help clean after the party – if he wasn't already tipsy, which was more often than not the case – especially when it was at a friends, but with the addition of a drunk Italian into the equation the result changed. Rather, he left early, bidding Austria a good night and thanks for the invite, as well as an apology to France and thanks to him for the help. In thought he also thanked the alcohol that made it possible for him to cuddle with Romano that night with no arguments.

Romano awoke the next morning with a killer headache. Whether it had to do with his hangover or the hour he woke up at, he wasn't sure. All the sleepy Italian knew was that his head felt like someone took a sledgehammer to it and that Spain was trying to get out of bed. Letting out a long whine, Romano wrapped his arms around Spain's waist and hugged him tight. "Where are you going?" He groaned groggily, getting giggles and a kiss to the head in return.

"To make you something that'll make your hangover go away? Oh, and maybe a present~"

"Can't you just stay here?" Romano looked up shyly and added quickly, "Just for a bit. If you want to."

"Hm," in questioning and tilt of his head, then a smile and nod followed by a kiss. "Sí," all too willingly he was back in bed snuggling him.

Smiling, Romano nuzzled into Spain's chest. He was tempted to fall back asleep, but knew he had to get something done before he chickened out or his stupid 'pride' decided to kick back in. With a small sigh, Romano pulled his face away from Spain just enough so he could be heard. "Sorry..."

Sometimes Spain thought he could use Southern Italian apologies as a currency they were so rare. Seriously! But instead of sticking it in his wallet he gave it a smile and kiss to the forehead with a short but far reaching, "Te amo."

Cheeks tinted pink, Romano rolled onto his stomach to better kiss his idiot. He lay back down, half of him on Spain's chest, and mumbled, "Ti amo..."

Grinning and laughing. How Spain should be. All was right with the world. He nuzzled his tomato keeping up both. "Now can I get mi Romanito's present?"

"But that means I have to get up and get yours..."

"No no! Romanito doesn't feel good, so he can't get up. I want to get his to make him feel better!"

Romano sighed and looked away as he muttered, "Do what you want."

"You'll like it!" Spain promised then went off quickly to find his Christmas present, returning in no time with a clear wrapped basket. "You don't even have to open it." The gift itself was obvious through the wrapping, bright red and green lettering on bottles telling of tomato scented bath products easy to read.

"Wh-what?" Romano sat up in disbelief and took the basket from Spain's hands to stare at it in disbelief. How did he find these? Wait... "You remembered that?" The now human-tomato squeaked in shock and embarrassment.

"Sí! I always remember what makes mi Romanito happy."

"Y-you're an idiot!" Romano set the basket aside to hide his face in his hands. Dammit! How was he supposed to give his lame gift now? Spain must have spent forever trying to find something so strange!

"Qué?" Did he not like it? Was it a hangover headache? "Lovi, what's wrong?" Spain whined, hurriedly pulling Romano's hands from his face to access his face for a sign of the wrongness in the situation.

Romano scowled and ducked his head to hide behind his bangs. Great, he was blushing even more! Knowing if he kept silent things would get worse, Romano mumbled, "My present isn't all the special compared to this..."

"No!" He was worrying about that? It actually made Spain laugh and hug him. "Anything from mi Romanito is special~"

"Oh shut up, you would say that when I gave you mudpies. That means nothing." Romano pulled away and slowly slid out of their bed. He pulled on a pair of boxers and pointed to Spain. "Stay!"

As quick as his heavy limbs would allow him, Romano made his way to the living room. Hidden in one of the drawers of one of the coffee tables was an envelope. Present in hand, Romano was about to head back to their room when a thought occurred to him... It would be embarrassing... But...

Romano returned to the bedroom a little later and with more items than planned. Everything was now in a gift bag he found in the closet while retrieving his last minute addition. Already blushing, he sat down next to Spain and shoved the bag into his arms. "Open the envelope first!"

Spain did as he was instructed and set the bag aside to gently open what he assumed would be a card. Rather, there was a collection of little slips of paper. Curiously, he took one out to see a very cutsie designed coupon for 'One Kiss.' Before he could question the gift, Romano was already talking.

"I-I didn't know what to get you, so-so I asked Feli! He was giving me stupid ideas like pasta and saying all you wanted was me, so I yelled at him and told him I couldn't really give myself as a gift… So he came up with this stupid idea of affection coupons that you can use whenever and I'm not allowed to complain about it…" He paused, the blushed even more as he added. "I didn't design them either! He employed Japan to make them cause he's good with cutsie shit and stuff…" Ever so slowly, olive eyes looked up to gauge Spain's reaction, this being not a single word but instead a tackle and showering of kisses and nuzzles in a more physical showing of how he liked his gift.

"Th-that's not it!" Romano gasped, futilely trying to escape the smothering he was receiving.

"Qué? There's more?" Very unwilling to release his victim at this juncture, Spain brought them both up to sit again and kept a hold of Romano as he continued into the gifted bag, which contained items Spain thought he would never be able to see again.

"I suppose they're not that embarrassing," Romano grumbled as Spain pulled out one of his old paintings that had been shoved into a closet along with the other framed photos and paintings.

This time it wasn't a glomp. Now, it was a faintly teary tight embrace. Spain nuzzled his blushing little Santa Claus with a great deal of love. "Gracias, mi Romanito." Kiss, "best Christmas ever~"

"Y-yeah, well I bet you'll just say that next year too," Romano mumbled, burying his face into Spain as he hugged him back. "Buon Natale..."

"Of course I will. Because every Christmas with mi Romanito is the best Christmas ever." And to prove this he kissed his Romanito's head, bearing a wholly contented smile. "Feliz Navidad."

End of Chapter Ten

Aaand we're back peeps! School royally f'd up our fic writing for a bit. Then once the groove was understood we're back to working on it in class! xD Totally helps that a bunch of my teachs let us use phones with Internet access - like my beloved iPhone Ferdy~ - in class for research and online quizzes and stuff. So they see it and they don't care. Another just like, 'don't see it, don't hear it, don't care.'

Teehee x3 Lovin' me my Spamano action lately for some reason. They're just so cute. If you agree, check out the Youtube vid Spamano- It's Disgusting by Liliasa. I mentioned it last chapter but was scared to give specifics in case advertising wasn't appreciated. Also, calling all Spamano fans! Check out our new story, neh? ;3