Chapter 14

Rome stood by Italy's bedside, his head bowed in exhaustion and grief. Switzerland and Japan had both been in to see his grandson since Rome had returned from battle, and according Romano some of the other Asian nations had been in to see Feliciano before then.

Romano...

Rome raised his head to look across the bed at where his other grandson was huddled by his twin's bedside, his head buried in his hands. Lovino hadn't left his brother's side since he had arrived at Switzerland's house, not even when Rome and the other fighters had returned from battle. It had been Germania and Prussia who had met Rome and Germany the moment they returned, Germania who had told him where Feli was.

Lovino had done nothing but watch over Feliciano... even if it hadn't been enough.

"You can yell again, you know," Romano mumbled. Rome looked back at the Italian, his brow furrowed in confusion when he saw Lovino watching him. "I know you're still angry... You think it's my fault."

Rome sighed and ran his hand through his hair, his eyes flickering over to where Italy lay quietly on the bed. "You should have stopped him," the ancient country murmured.

"I tried to," Lovino sighed. "Feli is very determined when he sets his mind on something. I couldn't stop him when I tried, so I decided to follow him. To make sure that he was safe."

"And how did that work out?" Rome snapped, his temper flaring. "I'm not in the mood to listen to your excuses, Romano. Feliciano died on your watch."

"They're not excuses, Grandpa," Romano growled. "And Feli's not a child. He might act like one most of the time, but he's not. He's been through wars before. He can make his own decisions."

"He died!" Rome yelled, finally losing his temper. "Feliciano is dead because you couldn't stop him, because you were too worried about that Spaniard to even think about the safety of your fratello-"

"Don't you bring Spagna into this!" Lovino snapped. "He raised me and looked after me while you were prancing around with Germania convincing all of us that you were dead. You talk about me not looking after my own flesh and blood? At least I've been with him through everything."

"Oh, really?" the ancient empire sneered. "Everything? You may accuse me of abandoning little Feli, Romano, but I have visited him over the years. I protected him during the second World War. And I must say that I hardly ever saw you with him. Where were you?"

Romano froze, his jaw working. The Italian glanced down at his fallen twin, his yellow eyes filling with tears. Rome felt his anger fade at the sight, guilt and remorse taking its place.

"Lovino-" he began.

Romano stood up abruptly, cutting off his grandfather's words. He walked away from the bed and paused once at the door to the bedroom, his head bowed.

"Figures you would only look after Feli," he muttered. "You always did like him better... You even took him with you, while you left me behind. You've always left me behind, haven't you Grandpa?"

"Lovi-" Rome tried again.

"I need some air," Lovino interrupted. The Italian stalked out of the room, shoving past the three countries that had gathered on the other side of the door.

Rome winced at the sight of Germania and Prussia, his eyes narrowing slightly when he saw Spain and Hungary standing beside Prussia.

"What do you three want?" the ancient empire asked wearily.

Germania only shook his head, his blue eyes disappointed. Spain wasn't so quiet.

"Bastard," the Spaniard hissed. "How dare you say those things to Lovi?"

"Don't stick your nose in things that aren't your business, boy," Rome snapped. "What happened between myself and Romano is a family matter."

"I am his family!" Spain yelled. The Spaniard took a step towards Rome, only to be held back by Prussia. "And Hungary and Austria are Feliciano's," Antonio continued, apparently oblivious to Prussia's restraints. "We watched over the brothers, we raised them when you weren't here. We took care of them; we know them! And you dare to think that you know them better than we do?"

"I-" Rome started, only to be cut off once more, this time by the Hungarian woman.

"Any one of us could have told you that Feli would have gone to help when he realized that he had set off the alarm," she said coolly. "He may be a horrible coward, but Italy has a deep sense of responsibility. When it really comes down to it, both of the Italies will fight for their own. Feli was fighting to protect you, Germania, and Germany."

"And Lovino was fighting for his brother," Spain added.

"I don't have to listen to this," Rome growled. "You can't tell me about my grandsons-"

"There are many things that you don't know about them," Prussia muttered, speaking for the first time since he entered the room. "My bruder could tell you hundreds of things about Feli and his brother, as could that Austrian prick and Hungary... Even France and I could tell you a few stories. Face it, Rome, you don't know them as well as you like to think."

Rome sighed and buried his face in his hands, his shoulders slumped.

"I know," he mumbled, his voice muffled by his hands. "I knew when I left them that I would miss so many things... But I've tried to protect my grandsons. That's all I've ever done-"

"You've protected Feli," Spain interrutped harshly, his emerald eyes burning with fury. "Not Lovi. You might have saved Italy from battles in World War II, but you left Lovi to fend for himself. Where were you when Turkey tried to kidnap him, Señor Rome? Where were you when France attacked my country to get to him? Where were you when Austria tore little Lovi away from his brother and handed him over to me?"

Rome stared at the Spaniard, his mouth gaping open slightly. Spain snorted and turned away in disgust, his legs carrying him in the direction that Romano had fled. "I'm going to go and find Lovi."

Hungary sighed and touched Prussia's shoulder briefly before she also turned away.

"I'd better go and make sure that no one else needs my help," she murmured. "I'll be back later to see Italy."

Prussia nodded and glanced at Germania, who nodded. The ancient German walked over to where Rome sat and roughly hauled the Roman to his feet.

"Come on," Germania murmured. "You need to get some air."

Rome glanced up at Germania, his eyes pained. "I really messed up, didn't I?"

"Ja," his companion admitted truthfully. "But that is the good thing about being countries, isn't it? We always have the chance to make things better."

"How?" Rome asked brokenly, his eyes locked on the place where Romano had disappeared from his sight. "I didn't realize how much I was neglecting Lovino," he muttered. "I thought that he would be alright on his own... He was always the strongest. I thought that Feli needed me more..."

"Maybe you should explain that to him, then," Germania suggested. "After you both calm down."

Rome sighed in defeat and allowed the ancient German to lead him out of the room, his eyes flickering back to Feliciano.

"Feli-," he began.

"Gilbert will watch him," Germania said quickly. "Come on, Roma."

Prussia waited until the two ancient countries had left the room before he looked down at Feliciano, his red eyes narrowing when he saw the slight rise and fall of Italy's chest.

"How long are you going to pretend to be asleep, kid?" he asked with a hint of amusement.

Italy's eyes fluttered open, a small smile flickering across his lips.

"Ve~ was it that obvious?" he asked sleepily.

"Well, I knew, but then again I'm totally awesome," Prussia smirked. "I don't think anyone else noticed... except maybe Vati."

Feliciano nodded thoughtfully, his green eyes darkening when he looked at the door that both his brother and grandfather had disappeared through. "I didn't know that I would make them so worried," he murmured.

"You worried them before you even died, to tell you the truth," Gilbert muttered. "Rome was almost having a heart attack the entire time, and I've never seen West run so fast."

Italy shot up into a sitting position at the mention of Germany, his eyes wide. "Ve~ is Germany okay? He's safe?"

"Ja," Prussia assured him. "West is fine. He's worried sick about you and convinced that this mess is his fault, but he's fine."

Italy frowned, his eyes sweeping the room as if he expected Germany to jump out of a closet or something. "Where is he?"

Prussia hesitated, his red eyes hesitant beneath his white hair. Germany had told him not to do anything that would worry Italy... but, since when had he ever listened to his little brother?

"West is hanging out near Switzy's lake," he replied. "He... wanted to come and make sure that you were okay but... he thought that you would be angry at him."

Feliciano's frown deepened, his expression unusually thoughtful. "Help me up," he murmured after a moment.

Gilbert started and stared at the Italian, convinced that he had heard wrong. "Uh, what?"

"Help me up," Italy said again, his face determined. "I need to go and see Ludwig."

Prussia hesitated for a moment, not really sure what he should do. Italy shouldn't be moving yet, right? I mean, the kid had died less than twenty four hours ago. Prussia didn't want to get the Italian hurt... and he didn't want to face Germany and Hugary's fury if he did something wrong.

"If you don't help me, I'll go by myself," Italy said sweetly, guessing the Prussian's thoughts.

Gilbert chuckled and reached down to help the slender Italian out of bed, his hands pulling one of Italy's arms over his shoulder.

"I can't believe that West still thinks your so innocent," he muttered.

Italy smiled innocently at Prussia as the nation helped him out of the room, ignoring the pain that came with every movement. "Ve~ don't you think I'm innocent, Prussia?"

Prussia snorted. "Nope. Not at all."

It didn't take long for Antonio to find Lovino.

The older Italian had taken refuge in Switzerland's basically abandoned kitchen, his dark head nearly hidden behind the doors of the fridge as he searched for tomatoes. Spain paused in the entrance of the kitchen, remembering the times he had found Romano in his own kitchen after a particularly stressful day for Southern Italy. It broke his heart to see his little Lovi so upset...

"Are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to help me look for tomatoes, bastard?" Lovino snapped, not looking up from his search in the fridge.

Antonio blinked in surprise and walked slowly forward, his eyes searching the back of Lovino's head as if it would tell him what to do.

"I'm sure Vash has tomatoes," he murmured soothingly, trying to asses the Italian's mood.

Romano snorted. "I don't see any," he muttered, his voice cracking slightly. "I don't see any fucking tomato... Stupid bastard, doesn't even have the decency to put tomatoes in here... But of course he has pasta... Everybody has pasta in case Feli comes over..."

Spain put a hand on Romano's shoulder, his heart aching when he felt the Italian tremble with suppressed sobs.

"Lovi..." he murmured. "Mi querido Lovi... Está bien..."

"No it's not," Lovino argued thickly. "I-I totally lost it in there, Tonio... Even when he's right and Feli is dead I can't take it! Dammit, why do I always get so jealous of mio fratello?"

"No," Antonio whispered, his hand tightening on the Italian's shoulder. The Spaniard wound his other arm around the Italian's waist and gently pulled him away from the fridge, his foot lightly pushing the door of the fridge shut. "No, Lovino, you can't blame it all on yourself. Everyone understands you and Feliciano's relationship-"

"Everyone thinks I'm an ass," Romano interrupted. "And they're right... Sono un asino a tutti. No wonder they all like Feli better... He's so nice and sweet and all that crap..."

"I don't like Feliciano better," Spain said quietly.

Lovino stiffened and glanced over his shoulder, his yellow eyes vulnerable.

"I don't see how you can't," he muttered. "I treat you like shit, Spagna, and we both know it."

"But you love me," Antonio whispered, his voice awed. "You've taken care of me when no one else did, and when everything falls apart you've always been there for me. Feli is sweet, but he is not mi amor. Yo sólo te quiero," he murmured in the Italian's ear, his voice husky with emotion.

Romano blushed furiously, failing to hide the smile that flickered across his lips at the older country's words. "You mean it?" he murmured.

Spain smiled wryly and pulled the Italian around to face him, his hand reaching up to gently tug at Romano's curl as he pressed his lips against the Italian's. "Si... Te amo, Lovi," he gasped against the younger country's lips.

Lovino moaned and leaned into the Spaniard, his hands resting against Spain's chest, his lips moving in sync with Antonio's. Spain smiled and pulled Romano onto the floor with him,his leg moving up between the Italian's thighs. Romano gasped, allowing Spain's tongue entrance into his mouth. The Italian shivered in longing and pressed himself flush against the Spaniard, his hands going to the top button on Spain's shirt...

"Honhonhon~ Way to go, Antoine! I must say, I didn't think that you had it in you."

Spain felt Romano stiffen, a low sigh breaking through the Spaniard's lips when he saw the furious flush creeping up the Italian's cheeks. Antonio sighed and braced himself for the stream of Italian curses that he knew was going to come.

Lovino didn't disappoint.

Hey! Yep, I decided to put some fluff in here! Don't worry, there will be plenty more to come in the next few... I'm thinking some GerIta, USUK, and RusCan... heeheeeheee. Oh, and for all you Rome fans out there, sorry I made him act like a bit of a jerk in this chapter. Please don't attack me!

I'll try and update again soon, okay? In the meantime... Review! Please? (thanks to everyone who's read/reviewed so far, you guys make me smile!)

Translations:

(Spanish) Mi querido Lovi... Está bien..- My dear Lovi... It's okay

(Italian) Mio fratello- My brother

(Italian) Sono un asino a tutti- I'm an ass to everybody

(Spanish) Mi amor- My love

(Spanish) Yo sólo te quiero- I only love you

(Spanish) Te amo- I love you