So, I apologize for how long it took to get this one up. But I also must apologize ahead of time for the next chapter. It might take even longer. So for now, just enjoy this chapter and please, please, please, review to give feedback. I love to hear what my wonderful reader's think. Thanks for putting up with this story and remember, I don't own hetalia and never will.

For a few days, Elizabeta was true to her word. She didn't go see Gilbert again. She never even left her house. She found herself reading for hours a day. Roderich stayed in his piano room and ignored her completely. This wasn't abnormal, though.

Then, the routine was stopped when a letter was delivered. Elizabeta was sitting in the dining room when he walked in with the small slip of paper. She looked up when he came to stand beside her chair.

"Elizabeta, I have to go to Vienna for about two weeks to deal with some business affairs." he announced, suddenly. "I have received a letter from my cousin calling me there."

"I understand." she whispered. "When are we leaving?"

"I'll be leaving at first thing tomorrow. You will be staying here." he corrected her. "I just thought I should tell you."

"Oh, I see." Elizabeta looked down slightly disappointed. She'd been hoping for a change of scenery, but that wasn't going to happen, apparently.

The next morning the couple woke early and ate breakfast together. Afterwards, Elizabeta said goodbye to her husband and went back to her normal routine. She went outside onto the patio and started reading, as usual.

A few hours into the book, her attention was diverted by an all too familiar voice near the road. She lifted her eyes to see a tall albino walking down the road accompanied by two other men whom she didn't recognize.

"I swear to you, I'm really worried about her. I haven't seen her in about two or three days. I'm seriously worried what that aristocrat did to her." she heard Gilbert say. He looked very depressed, shoulders slumped, head low.

The other two looked at him for a second before the brunette smiled and patted his back. "I'm sure she's fine, amigo. I heard he left on business. Maybe she's with him."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Gilbert replied.

Elizabeta realized with a start that they were probably talking about her. This was confirmed when the trio started walking towards her house. Gilbert saw her and broke into a run. She stood up and backed up to the door.

"Elizabeta! Wait!" he shouted, gaining her attention again.

She turned to look at him just coming up the porch steps. He paused and stared at her as his friends caught up.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, sounding harsher than she intended.

"I'm sorry, but I was so worried. Elizabeta, I just want to help you out. I can tell something's going on." he answered.

Her eyes moved from him to his two companions: one a slightly shorter brunette, the other a thin blonde who was strangely holding a rose. The blonde man smiled at her flirtatiously.

"Oh…" Gilbert followed her gaze. "This is Antonio and Francis." he said pointing to the men in turn. The blonde, identified as Francis, winked at her. Antonio simply gave a small wave, a big smile on his face.

"Gil, why did you bring two strange men to my house?" she asked, green eyes focusing back on her childhood friend.

"They wanted to come." he said simply.

"For moral support." Antonio added.

"Just leave." she whispered before turning back around and opening the door. She slipped inside and started to shut it.

Gilbert ran forward and grabbed the edge of the door before it closed. "Wait, I'm sorry. It might not have been the smartest move. Please, don't go yet. I haven't seen you in a while."

She glared out of the crack in the door at him. "I've already told you, I'm not supposed to associate with you anymore."

"Well, if the rumors are true, the rich pansy isn't even here so he'll never know. And what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

"No, I can't." she whispered. "He'll find out somehow. He'll be angry. I don't want you here."

Gilbert turned to his friends. "You two go home. I need to talk to Elizabeta alone."

"Of course, Gilbert. Just let us know how it all unfolds." Francis said, walking off. Antonio followed after giving his albino friend a supportive smile.

Then, the man pushed open the door all the way, despite the Hungarian's efforts to stop him. She started to protest, but he ignored her and stepped into the house.

"It's a nice place." he said looking around.

"Get out." the other said coolly.

"No. I want to know why you've been avoiding me."

"I've already told you this, Gil. It feels like a million times already. Roderich doesn't want me to see you. I have to listen to my husband."

"Why should he care? It's not like we're in a relationship. We're just friends."

"He's suspicious. And it doesn't matter why. It just matters that he said it, so that settles it."

"You're right, that doesn't matter. What matters is why you think you have to obey every one of his silly commandments. He can't force you to do anything, Eli. Unless, he's you know…" Gilbert trailed off.

"Unless, he's what?"

"Is he beating you?" he asked bluntly.

Elizabeta stared at her friend for a second. She felt tears come to her eyes before quickly blinking them away. "No, of course not." she said, her voice breaking near the end.

"Then, why are you crying?" Gilbert asked taking a step toward her.

"I'm not!" she shouted, turning away and wiping her eyes. It did no good, however, as tears started to flow from her eyes.

Gilbert hesitantly placed his hands on her shoulders. She immediately tensed up, flinching a bit.

"Don't cry." he whispered. "Look, I just want to help. You need help, Elizabeta."

"I don't need help!" she shouted, her voice starting to get weaker. "I just want to be left alone."

"I'm not just going to stand by while I know he's hurting you."

Elizabeta pulled away and turned on the albino, planning on yelling at him again. Just as she was opening her mouth, the protest caught in her throat and was replaced by a pathetic sob. She found herself stepping forward to be embraced by her friend as she sobbed into his chest.

Gilbert made no attempt to calm her, just gently held her close allowing her to cry it out. She lost all rational thought when he kissed the top of her head. Her watery green eyes rose to meet his bright red ones and without thinking, he leaned down and pressed their lips together in a soft kiss.

She pulled back suddenly, a hand rising to her lips, and stared up at Gilbert with a shocked expression. He stared back at her, a similar look on his face.

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"I don't really know. It just seemed like the right thing to do." he answered.

"How did you come to the conclusion to kiss a married woman?" she almost shrieked at him. "What if Roderich finds out about this?"

"He won't!" Gilbert insisted. "Look, there's no one here. It'll be fine."

"How can you say it'll be fine!?"

"Calm down." he said and stepped forward to place his hand on her shoulders.

"I will not calm down." she insisted. "Gil, can't you see that this is wrong?"

"No it's not. Look, Eli, I love you."

She blushed heavily, her face almost matching the color of his eyes. "You what?"

"I love you. I've loved you since you first walked back into my life that day at the market place. Please, just listen to reason. You don't have to stay with him. I'll take you away from here. We'll go to Russia if we have to. I don't care. I can't sit back and wait for him to hurt you again. Or worse, kill you."

"I just can't believe you actually…" she trailed off.

"Well believe it. Because it's true. I just want you to see that. I want you to come with me. I don't even care if you love me back or not." Gilbert stopped seeing the tears rise in her eyes again. "I didn't mean to make you cry, Eli. I'm sorry."

"Shut up, Gil." she said before stepping forward to hug him again. He hugged her back. "Stay with me?" she whispered quietly, looking up at him.

"I will if that's what you want." he whispered back just as quietly.

Simultaneously, the two inclined their faces toward each other. Their lips pressed together softly. Elizabeta closed her eyes and felt her arms reach up to wrap around his neck. It was the first time she had actually enjoyed this type of intimacy with someone. With Roderich it was always forced on her.

With her mind lost in the sea of thoughts, Elizabeta didn't notice at first when Gilbert released her from the kiss, grabbed her hand, and started to pull her toward the stairs. By the time she came to her senses, they were already halfway up.

She stopped for a second. Gilbert turned to her, slight confusion in his eyes. She mirrored his expression. He nodded in understanding.

"We don't have to do anything today. Or ever if you don't want to." he said, smiling a little.

"No, I…" she trailed off uncertainly. Her eyes drifted over his shoulder, up the stairs, and to the door that led to her and Roderich's bedroom. Then, she let her eyes meet with his again.

"It's okay." he whispered.

"No, I want this." she said suddenly. "Come on."

She took the lead and pulled him upstairs to the bedroom.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'm sure." she whispered.

With that being said, Gilbert kissed her again and she kissed him back. She allowed herself a small smile as he pushed her down on the bed and she submitted herself to this man whom she had known since childhood. And as he returned her smile then kissed her again she realized that maybe she just might love him too.