"Ve~ Luddy! Luddy, it's almost time to go to the meeting!" Italy called, coughing a bit as he sat perched on the top step of the staircase, dressed in slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie for the World Meeting they would be attending that day. The Italian twisted a handkerchief in his small hands nervously; today he was going to tell the other nations about his deadly illness and he was nervous. Right now only Germany, Romano, probably Spain, Austria, and Hungary knew.

Germany appeared next to Italy, extending a hand to the redhead, who took it and used it as assistance to get shakily to his feet. "We are not going to be late, Italien." Germany said, rolling his eyes a bit as he lifted the redhead into his arms. "Now hold still or I'll drop you down the stairs."

Italy giggled. "Luddy wouldn't do that to his Italy!" he said, wrapping thin arms around Germany's neck in an awkward hug, given their position.

The German frowned slightly. Italy's weight in his arms was almost feather light to him, a testament to the redhead's lack of appetite. Even with the long sleeved shirts that Italy had taken to wearing (probably because he got cold so easily) it was not hard to tell that the redhead had lost weight.

"Are you sure that you want to go to the meeting?" Germany asked. He was not a worrier, but when came to his ill lover, especially knowing that Italy was a bit feverish with a headache made Germany even more unwilling to risk his beloved redhead.

"Ve~ I told you Luddy, I feel fine, other then my headache, but that isn't too bad. Nothing worth skipping the meeting for." Italy said, giving a winning smile as Germany set him on his feet at the bottom of the staircase, wincing slightly as he gathered his feet beneath him.

"Just be careful, okay?" Germany said over his shoulder, going into the kitchen to grab an apple to slice as a snack to eat on the way to the meeting.

"'Kay!" Italy called from the living room.

He sliced the apple and put the slices in a small bowl along with some grapes before returning to where Italy was sitting on the couch, struggling to tie the laces on his shoes. Germany sighed, giving a small smile as he set down the bowl of fruit and knelt down to tie the redhead's shoelaces.

"Are you ready to go?" Germany asked as he finished with the redhead's shoelaces.

"Sì!" Italy bounced to his feet and stumbled. Germany lunged forward at the last second and grabbed the redhead's arm, helping Italy to regain his balance and not letting go until he was absolutely positive that the redhead would not fall.

"Okay, now let's go before you break something." Germany said, trying to pass the words off as humor, but in his mind he was adding 'like you' on to the end of the sentence.

"Ve~ Yes sir!" Italy said with a left hand salute, and Germany had to bite back a smile as the two nations headed to the car.

Germany flat out refused to let Italy drive anymore. Not because he was afraid of the redhead's driving (actually, he didn't really mind it), but because he was terrified that Italy would get dizzy or pass out when he was driving and crash. It was for that reason that Germany slid into the driver seat of his car and Italy made himself at home in the passenger seat, reclining the chair back slightly, looking rather pale and exhausted despite his claims of having actually gotten a substantial amount of sleep the night before.

"Go ahead and sleep if you would like." Germany said, seeing the redhead yawning quietly as he pulled out of the driveway. Italy was asleep before they even made it to the end of the street.

With his little companion asleep, Germany turned on the radio, something he rarely got to do because of Italy's near constant chattering when they were in the car. He turned the dial until he found a clear station and sat back contentedly, popping a slice of apple in his mouth.

The drive to where the meeting would be held did not take as long as Germany had initially feared, and when he pulled into a parking spot, his car was one of the first few in the parking lot. Germany got out of the car and stretched before going around to the passenger door and opening it for the Italian who was stirring, blinking up at Germany with sleep muddled honey eyes.

"V-Ve? Are we here?" Italy murmured sleepily, rubbing his eyes as Germany leaned across him to unhook his seatbelt.

"Ja, we're here." Germany said. "Please come on, Italien, it's time to go inside."

"Okay." Italy said, sliding out of the car and taking Germany's hand as they walked across the parking lot, holding a handkerchief to his mouth to muffle his quiet coughing and making sure that no blood remained on his face.

Germany led Italy by the hand as they entered the meeting place, passing the few nations that were already there. England was reading through a notebook, muttering quietly to himself, thick eyebrows furrowed in concentration. France was stalking England, peeking around the corner at the shorter nation. Russia was walking down the hall and giving off an ominous aura, and Germany felt Italy press closer until the silver haired nation was past them. Japan was sitting calmly at the large conference table; hands folded neatly, eyes dull and expressionless as normal. Various other nations were wandering around, trying to kill time waiting for the start of the meeting.

With a quiet sigh, Germany and Italy took their seats at the conference table. Germany pulled out a paperback book to read while Italy sketched quietly in the small sketchpad he had brought with him, humming under his breath as he drew. Within an hour, all the nations had assembled and the meeting had started.

"Do you know when you will tell them?" Germany murmured quietly to Italy during a particular disruption involving stories of England drinking, arguments, and an incident involving France parading around the conference room naked with a cleverly placed rose.

"A-After the break. When they can't ask so many questions." Italy's voice caught nervously, and Germany felt the redhead take his hand under the table.

"Are you okay?" Germany asked, frowning slightly. It seemed to him that Italy looked paler, and every time one of the nations yelled Italy winced like their voices were hurting him. Germany hoped to himself that he was simply imagining it.

"Sì, I'm fine." Italy said quietly as the other nations coaxed France into putting his clothes on again. Germany nodded slightly, left with no choice but to believe the fragile redhead, and stood to get the meeting back on track.

When break time rolled around, Germany had a headache of his own, and little to no progress had been made in progressing on the agenda. Germany sighed in frustration, standing to leave the hall. Italy stood too, very quiet and not saying a word.

That was the first clue. Germany was beginning to figure out that when something was seriously wrong; Italy would go quiet, not speaking at all. With a nervous glance at his lover, Germany's fears were confirmed. Italy was dead white, a look of panic growing in his lovely honey eyes. Germany's stomach clenched.

"Italy?" Germany said softly, touching the redhead's shoulder and making him jump before turning to Germany.

"Germany!" Italy gasped, the look of panic spreading from his eyes. "Germany please help! Something is really wrong!"

No sooner did the words fall from the Italian's lips did those fearful honey eyes seem to glaze over, his face went blank, almost as if he had passed out standing up with is eyes open. Then the tiny body crumpled, hitting the ground and jerking as though someone invisible was electrocuting him. He was having a seizure! Germany's body reacted instantly, without any conscious thought. He shoved the nearby chairs out of the way of the redhead's flailing limbs and dropped to his knees beside the seizing Italian and shoving his wallet between Italy's teeth to keep the redhead from accidentally biting his tongue. Germany moved back slightly to avoid being hit by the spastic limbs, but using his hands to keep Italy's head still, to keep him from striking his head on the ground.

To Germany, Italy's seizure seemed to go on forever, but after about a minute or two, Italy's body finally stilled, eyelids fluttering closed immediately, chest rising and falling fairly evenly.

With a deep shuddering breath, Germany sat back, knees drawn up and his hands moving to clench in his blond hair, eyes closed as the shock wore off and he faced the crushing terror of what had just happened. He could hear the other nations raising questions and words of concern, and he groaned quietly. He would have to explain everything to them. As soon as he had some resemblance of self control back.

A hand on Germany's shoulder made the blonde look up in surprise to see England looking down at him with an expression of concern in his green eyes. "Are you okay, old chap?" the Brit asked.

"I… um… J-Ja…" Germany stuttered, scrambling to his feet and lifting the redhead off the floor, cradling the tiny body in his arms. Now he turned and literally faced the rest of the world.

Mostly everyone was staring in shock and horror. Hungary was crying into Austria's chest, and the aristocrat had his arms around the shaking woman. Italy's little brother, Seborga, was on his knees, hugging a little girl that Germany recognized as Sicily, the youngest of the Italian nation representatives. Romano was seated firmly; arms crossed in an attempt to hide the shaky spasms in his muscles, looking shocked. Germany knew that Romano and Italy shared a link that allowed Romano access to Italy's feelings and even some of his memories, though on a smaller scale, and Germany hadn't even paused to consider what Italy's illness was doing to his big brother. Then America's stunned, not quite as loud as usual voice broke into his thoughts.

"Dude…" America breathed. "What the hell just happened…?"

"Are you blind, you bloody git?!" England snapped at his ex colony. "Obviously Italy is very sick! Isn't that right, Germany?"

Germany nodded, swallowing hard before speaking. "J-Ja… He had actually been planning to tell you after the break…" His voice faltered and died, but Germany was still too upset about what had happened to really care.

"What's wrong with my fratello?" Seborga spoke up, sounding as though he were fighting back tears, and Hungary broke away from Austria to hug the younger nation, her hug also including little Sicily, who didn't speak a word, eyes wide.

"Please Germany, can you tell us what's going on?" England asked, still standing by the taller nation.

"There is no easy way to say this…" Germany said, summoning up the strength needed to get through this without his voice breaking. "Italy has always been beloved. No nation particularly hates him; everyone here seems to have a bit of a soft spot for him. Now what I'm about to tell you, some of the nations here already know, but it's time to tell the rest of the world. During the Second World War, Italy came to me. He told me… He told me that he was dying…"

"What?!"

"That's impossible!"

"Nations can't die! Only the empires died when they fell!"

"No…"

"Italy…"

"Please… Tell us that this is some kind of joke!"

"Hush, the lot of you!" England yelled, silencing the cried of anger and despair. "If you all keep carrying on then how the hell are we suppose to get more information?!" The short British man turned back to Germany. "Go on."

"I know it is hard to believe, but it's true." Germany said, his voice just loud enough to carry through the room. "It's been a few years, seven to be exact, since Italy told me, and I have watched his health plummet over the years. I can tell you as a witness that Italy does not have much time left… His lungs and throat bleed, so he coughs blood constantly, and he can get nosebleeds so easily. Sometimes even the slightest pressure on his body can hurt him, and his strength and appetite are gone. He can get so dizzy he can't stand or he'll black out, and runs dangerous fevers. Two weeks ago I found him in tears because he was too weak to climb the stairs anymore."

This time, when Germany stopped speaking, silence fell over the entire room. Not even the littler micronations were making a sound.

"What about… this?" Finland piped up, fidgeting with his hands and gesturing at Italy. "Has he had seizures before…?"

"No." Germany said, worry settling in his stomach like a rock. "He has never had seizures before this."

Germany shifted Italy's feather weight slightly, holding the Italian closer as the other nations made sounds of sympathy. Some of them began to cry, and Japan stepped forward to stand with his former allies.

"Italy-kun does not look well, Germany-san." Japan said in his ever stoic and emotionless voice. "You should take him to a hospital."

"I can't." Germany said. "From the start, he told me he doesn't want anymore doctors, any more hospitals." Germany coughed slightly, trying to speak around the lump in his throat.

"I am so very sorry, Germany." England said, a shadow falling across his face. "First what happened with your brother, and now this? Neither of you deserve this."

Germany's throat closed tighter, and tears began to blur at his vision. "I-If you'll excuse me, I should take him home."

With that, Germany rushed out of the meeting place, his Italian's limp body cradled protectively in his arms and tears blinding his vision.

.~*~.

Late that night, Germany lay with Italy curled against him. The Italian had woken not long after they had returned home, and after talking on the phone briefly with his brother, the redhead was content to just lay in silence with Germany, neither of them really watching the show on the television that Germany had moved upstairs for Italy to watch when at home alone.

"So you told them, Luddy?" Italy broke the silence, weaving his fingers through Germany's as he spoke.

"Ja, I told them." Germany said, bringing their conjoined hands up and pressing his lips to the back of Italy's hand.

Italy pulled away from Germany slightly and grabbed a few tissues, holding them to his mouth as he coughed painfully, eyes screwed closed. Then he tossed the bloody tissue into the trashcan and nestled against Germany once again.

"Are you tired, Fels?" Germany asked softly, running a hand gently over Italy's cheek. "Go ahead, close your eyes. I'll see you when you wake."

"Ti amo…" Italy whispered softly as he drifted off to sleep.

Germany closed his eyes tight for a moment. He was so afraid that if he fell asleep, then Italy would die in the night without Germany getting to say good bye. So he situated himself to watch over his lover until dawn, whispering three words filled with fear and love and heartbreak.

"Ich liebe dich…"