Prussia looked up at the nation, and HRE grabbed his brother's pant leg, standing next to him.
"Um Vati…are you very mad at us?" The boy bit his lower lip, and Ludwig had the same look, but started to get very upset. Germania did not need this right now, and responded.
"Well…I am not pleased with your appearances…I told you both to stay away from the pit, and you did not listen." He put his finger to his temple, and closed his eyes. "Okay…this is what is going to happen…the both of you are punished…go inside, and go to each of your corners…go right now." He pointed inside, and without being told twice, Gilbert and Ludwig both ran inside, and hurried to the corners.
Seeing as that was done, Germania turned around and walked to the sink. He had to remove the soot that was tracked in the house, and he got to work doing that with a wet rag. Once that was done, he smiled. With the boys in their time out spots, he did not have to watch their every move. He still needed to prepare the children's breakfast because he needed them out of his hair. Taking out a skillet, he brought the eggs to the stove and cracked a couple in. While those cooked, he started a small fire in the chimney and put some thick slices of bread on top of a grill.
Gilbert who was leaning against the wall sulking suddenly perked up by smelling the delicious food cooking. He turned his head and looked over to his Vati. The nation was occupied and hadn't noticed the child. Gilbert, being ever so curious, walked from his spot, and went to the table, poking his head over. His little nose sniffing. Germania turned around, and held a wooden spatula in his hand.
"Gilbert…what are you doing out of your corner?"
"Something smells yummy Vati…is it my breakfast?" The boy was so adorably curious, and he had no concept for punishment at times. The elder nation shook his head and then looked over to the other well behaved child.
"Ludwig…come over to the table young man…" He then turned to the other. "Gilbert…stay right there."
Ludwig walked over and stood next to his brother. With the two boys now ready to eat, Germania walked over to them. He stood with his arms crossed.
"Show me your hands." He waited as Gilbert and Ludwig both backed up from the table, and held out their little hands.
They were soot covered, and grubby. There was also charcoal on their faces, and some on their hair. Shaking his head, Germania knew this was going to be a situation in cleaning.
"I told you I didn't have time for this…you both need a bath, and you are not to have anything to eat until you are clean. Come with me." He held out a hand, but Gilbert halted him.
"Vati! Wait…we already cleaned up…we did good. Look…look out there, outside, I wiped my hands on the towel, and I cleaned Ludie's hands too! Look…we did good!" The boy pointed to the just recently washed sheets that Germania had just hung out to dry not twenty minutes ago. He dropped the wooden cooking implement in his hand, and ran to the window.
"No…oh…its just…oh no…" Turning around, slightly enraged, but keeping his calm demeanor, he gritted his teeth. "Gilbert…Ludwig…those were my freshly laundered linens…I just got them dry!"
Gilbert looking at his Vati with upset eyes, just had to be the one to say something. He stepped forward.
"Vati! How were we supposed to clean up and get ready for breakfast? You said you didn't have time to give us a bath!" The boy held up his hands in exasperation. Germania went to respond, but he closed his mouth.
As bold as the child was with his response, he did make an excellent point, but still…this was something that could not go unpunished, because the boys had no business getting dirty to begin with.
"No…you were not supposed to touch the fire pit, and you know better than to wipe your little hands on clean linens." He knelt down to the boy and pulled him close. Gilbert gulped, and started to push himself away from the nation, but Germania held him tightly. "Stop it Gilbert!" He held him under his arm, and swatted at the child's clothed backside.
Gilbert burst into tears and started to stamp his feet. This was futile since it only earned him harder smacks. Ludwig watched and stuck two fingers in his mouth, while holding his backside firmly, as he knew he would be spanked next.
"Vati! Owwww….wahhh….stop it now! Vati it hurts…please stop!"
Gilbert tried to wiggle free, but the nation had a strong hold on him. Germania had to make the boy understand that there are repercussions for causing mischief. He would have thought the child knew this, but with Gilbert being five…it was only a matter of time before he found himself over his Vati's knee. Giving him one more slap, he then let him up. Gilbert backed away and clung to his bottom and did a little dance, trying to relieve the sting.
"Vati…that wasn't fair…its not fair! No its not…" The child yelled while sobbing large tears down his face. Willahelm pointed to the child's usual corner.
"Go…to the corner, go right now Gilbert." He did not look away from the boy, and waited. Gilbert wiped his eyes, and slowly turned around, going to his usual spot. Germania then turned his attention to his youngest. "Come here little one."
Ludwig gulped and shuffled over to his Vati, and was put over the nation's knee. He was given a lighter spanking, but it still made the child cry out. He gripped the man's pants, and kept his head down. Once Willahelm was done, he set the boy to his feet. He didn't make the younger of the two stand in the corner, he just picked him up and held the boy. Ludwig cried into his shoulders and held the man's chest.
The little nation continued crying, and Germania served up Gilbert's breakfast, Ludwig's breakfast, and his own. He took each plate to the table, while all the long holding the sobbing boy. Once this was done, he looked to the boy in the corner.
"Come here Gilbert, your breakfast is ready." He sat down at the table, with Ludwig sitting in his lap. The sniffling younger nation took pieces of his toast and put it in his mouth chewing softly.
Prussia walked over to the table, shuffling his feet. He was hungry, but upset still. He should have listened to his Vati. Arriving to the table, he pulled himself up to his seat, and took a fork, cutting into his egg. Germania looked at him, and then at the smaller boy. The three ate in silence. Once in a while, Gilbert would sniff. He hated being spanked when he had not meant to be naughty, but he knew that Vati would always know something was up. Once the plates were empty, Germania let Ludwig down, and the boy ran over to his blocks that adorned the floor. Gilbert stayed at the table, picking at the splintered wood. He had a sour look upon his face. Germania walked to the sink basin and started to wash, but turned slightly to see the child.
"Gilbert…why are you still sitting there, and why the sour face?" He turned back to the dishes as he needed to get them washed, and then give the children a bath.
"Um…I was just thinking Vati…can we have a picnic in the park?" The boy traced little swirls with his finger in the table, and then looked up at the elder nation.
Germania was always astounded at what came out of the boy's mouth because even after a punishment, and the boy would have a semi upset look upon his face, he would always find some other way to carry on with conversation. Willahelm just smiled.
"Oh little one…always with the silly little ideas. Get down from your seat, and get ready for your bath. I will be ready as soon as these dishes are washed. Go play with Ludwig in the meantime." He turned around and started the scrubbing. As he washed, he felt a tug on his tunic. Looking down, he saw the curious eyes of Prussia. Raising an eyebrow, Germania spoke. "Ja?"
"Vati…you didn't say anything? I want a picnic!" The boy's red eyes stared into his Vati, and there was nothing that could be done about it. Sighing, Germania wiped his sudsy hands on the side of his pants.
"Alright…perhaps if we have the time. I really must get you two bathed…look at you." He nipped at the boy's cheek with his thumb and forefinger and the boy giggled. "Go now Gilbert…go play, I will be done shortly."
The boy ran over to his brother, and Germania continued to wash the rest of the plates. He hummed a slight little tune. When he was finished, he looked over at the boys. It seemed like the soot that was all over them had magically gotten worse, almost like it was caked on more. He walked over to both children and stood before them. Ludwig kept playing, and Gilbert looked up.
"Alright…come along you two. If we are indeed going to have a picnic…I need to get you two washed, and then we need to get ready." He held out a hand. Ludwig stood up and grabbed the man's hand, and now they were both waiting for Gilbert. The boy had something to say.
"Vati…if we have a picnic outside…won't we get dirty? Its outside. You know, there is grass…sitting on the grass will be dirty!" The boy was just trying to prolong from getting a bath.
"Come on Gilbert…the sooner you have a bath, the soon we can go."
Gilbert was not going to complain, he walked up to his Vati, and took the man's hand. With both children in tow, he walked to the washroom, and set both boys aside. Germania undressed Ludwig, while Gilbert undressed himself. Willahelm stood against at the state of both children in their bare appearances. Not only had they got soot all over their hands, and hair, but some had managed to get underneath the clothing, staining Ludwig's chest, and Gilbert's little stomach.
"Oh you two…" Said Germania shaking his head. He smiled to himself and put a hand into the water, feeling the tepid temperature. It seemed alright, and he took hold of Ludwig first and lifted the child into the basin. The he reached out for Gilbert.
With both boys splashing in the water, very little washing was getting accomplished. Germania had to cease some of the infernal playing. He gave them both a stern look, and scrubbed Gilbert's hair first. Bubbles were forming. He then got some soap into Ludwig's hair, and the boy laughed.
"Stand up Gilbert, I need to scrub off that dreadful soot. I had better never catch you…either of you doing something like that again. Very, very naughty to have caused such a mess." He smiled though, making sure to alert the boys that he was not angry anymore.
Once the bath was over, he had two towels and wrapped the boys in them. Making sure they were both cozy and dry, he lead them down to their bedroom and opened the wardrobe to see what they would be wearing. He decided on something easy going and comfortable. Gilbert was put into a little green tunic, and Gilbert in a light blue one. After they were dressed, Germania had the two follow him, and he had them wait in his own bedroom.
"I just have to change my shirt, and then we will go. Hold on for a moment you two." He nodded to both boys as they stood waiting. He walked to his wardrobe and changed his shirt. Turning back around, he looked down at the two. "Come now boys, let us head outside, and we'll have a nice day."
"Okay Vati! But we need a picnic basket, and a blanket, and we need food…what kind of food are we going to have? My stomach is slightly jumping with little bugs…its like jumping a lot."
Not knowing where the appetite came with a five year old, Germania listened to the child's needs very closely. He looked over to Ludwig who was of course being as quiet as a mouse.
"Little one…what do you want? Anything special?" He leaned down putting his hands down to him knees.
"Um…Vati I want…I want sweet cookies…and um…yeah…cookies." He jumped up and down, sticking two fingers into his mouth.
"Okay…well then we need to go into town, and see about getting some things first. Come, take my hand you two."
The boys held up their hands, embracing the elder, and went to walk out the door. Before they could even leave the area, Gilbert pointed to a figure approaching them.
"Look, look Vati its Mister Rome! And….oh oh! Look Vati…he has a little boy with him, looks it's a friend for us to play with. Oh Vati!" Gilbert wriggled himself out of Germania's grip.
Looking up, Willahelm just shook his head. It would be another day of hell. He saw Rome standing there with a little boy who looked around the same age as Gilbert, if not maybe a year younger. This must have been the mysterious Feliciano that the other nation had always talked about. The handsome man looked down holding the boy's hand, and then back up at Germania.
"Hello Willahelm…just wanted to come around…show little Feli your house…and you know…perhaps see what the three of you are up to today."
Gilbert and Ludwig stared at the boy and muttered little words. Pushing them slightly forward, having taught them never to be rude.
"Hello Sandrino…very good to see you and Feliciano is it?" He held out a hand. "Hello little one…I have been told much about you."
The boy smiled, and slightly hid behind Rome, but then the elder nation pulled him around, and made him greet the children.
"Come now Feli…don't be shy. Say hello."
"Hi…it's a very nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. These here are my boys…this is Gilbert, and this is Ludwig."
Little Italy bowed, and then taking his grandfather's hand, he waited to see what would happen next.
"So…eh, what were the three of you planning to do today?" Said Rome as he looked to Germania with a smile.
The nation looked down at the two children, and was placed in a slight conundrum. Now he had to invite the two…and it would most likely be an awkward situation.
"Eh…we were going to have a picnic…" He gazed into the handsome man's eyes. "Would you care to join us…I think the boys would be delighted."
He waited for an answer, but was pretty sure he knew that Rome would say yes.