Romano almost didn't believe the words he'd just heard. His mind seemed to replay what was just said in slow motion, so that it finally sank in. And yet he was weary. How much was remembered? It seemed too lucky to have some pictures spark all his memory back.

Spain wiped his teary eyes and pulled Romano down by his hands, hugging him tightly. "I remember how you grew up, and left me. I was so sad that day Romano. Having you around when you were little, it gave me such a sense of purpose. You were my first henchmen you know?" He pulled back a little and continued his story. "I may not have liked you very much at first-"

"Gee thanks."

"-but you grew on me because I knew that you needed me. I guess being your friend was just as good but do you remember that day we had a fight? You told me you didn't need me any more, that I was a waste of space..."

Romano blushed at the memory, he hadn't meant it, he just wanted to hurt Spain.

"Well that got me thinking. My economy is terrible at the moment, mi amigos are all busy with their lovers and I...I had no one. So I started to pretend that you were a child again. Then when I bought that doll at the car boot sale...I don't know, it became you slowly and surely. Sometimes I was able to see it as just a doll and other times I couldn't make the image of you disappear from it. And I liked that doll because it would never grow up. It would always need me." Spain curled up, his head rested on his knees. "It's my own fault. I should have told you that I was getting depressed over my own feeling of worthlessness and not locked myself in a fantasy world. Even now there are big patches missing in my memories. But oh Romano, I'm so sorry I put you through this."

"You idiot." Romano slapped the Spaniard, trying to knock some sense in to him. Spain looked up, surprised, too surprised to react to the strike. "I'll always need you, don't you see? All the nights I was alone, all the nights I was caring for you, all I wanted was you to get well soon so I could have you hold me again. Just like you always have. Don't ever do something stupid like think I don't need you, like nobody needs you, ever ever again. Because if you do I'll make you so sorry." He crossed his arms and pouted.

Spain smiled and uncurled, laughing he pinched Romano's cheeks (which earned him another slap to his hand) before pulling the Italian in for another hug. "Lo siento Romano. I'll remember. Te amo, tesoro."

All the tension, the stress and the worry, it seemed to melt away from Romano's bones. The Italian felt like a great weight had been lifted from his heart and his happiness knew no bounds and he hugged Spain as tightly as his strength would allow. "You bastard, ti amo."

A few weeks later, Spain was still going it for therapy sessions. As his memory improved he was able to re-account tales of his own depression and his plunge in to a world of fantasy. The place he was comfortable and happy, safe from the pain of reality.

Feliciano returned to the house and was so delighted by the Spaniard's recovery that he made them a feast of all the food he could make with the contents of the cupboards and fridge. A lot of it improvised and yet all tasting great. They ate until they were stuffed and fell asleep around the tv set.

On Spain and Romano's anniversay, the one that they hadn't before been able to celebrate due to Spain's onset of delusions, the couple were walking through arches lined with lights. They had just had a fantastic meal and Romano was patting his full stomach in content.

Only a few yards from the car, Spain stopped Romano and kissed him. "Hay idiot, people might see!" Romano blushed, looking around though there was no one at all near them.

Spain just chuckled and then rubbed the back of his head. "I don't have the money to buy you the proper things yet, and its not legal in most places, and we'll probably have to wait for a while but-"

"Spit it out already." Romano scowled and let Spain take his hands and hold them tight.

"What I'm trying to say is, Romano, will you marry me?"