Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to my good friend Hopealanka who has been very sick recently.

Chapter Seventeen:

Part Two: Outcome

1815

Ludwig sat outside of the meeting room, kicking his feet anxiously as he waited for all of the adults to get out. To say he was not nervous would be a lie. Sweat covered his face and he felt the nearly uncontrollable urge to get up and start pacing back and forth, but he resisted. He did not want to do anything wrong and give the adults and leaders any reason to think of him as too childish or too immature. Impressions were very important, and the little German was determined to make a good one, to prove to everyone that he really was big enough to become his own country or at least to rule his lands by himself.

When an eternity passed—eternity being merely another five minutes— the doors opened and a flood of men came filing out. Ludwig hopped out of his chair almost immediately and began looking around for his diplomats and his brother. Several countries passed by him, Sweden looked down at him with his usual stern gaze, causing the little one to shrink back just a bit. Russia also came out and smiled that almost unsettling smile of his and ruffled the tiny blonde's hair affectionately before stalking off with an uncomfortable aura surrounding him that seemed to turn the air cold.

But before anyone else could say anything or look at the boy, Ludwig suddenly found himself being lifted into the air. It was such a surprise; the child couldn't help the yelp that escaped this throat. He did not stay tense too long as he knew almost instantly who it was that had grabbed him. "Keseseses! What are you doing here, West? Someone might step on you, you're so small."

The little blonde frowned, blushing furiously at the thought of being so small that no one would see him and would even step on him as if he were a little bug. "P-Please put me down, B-Bruder."

While Gilbert cackled loudly, soon enough the diplomats from the former Confederation of the Rhine came out. The old men stared down at their little personification resting in Prussia's arms. They looked a little disappointed even though a few of them tried to give him a smile, although they failed miserably. The old representatives never were ones to smile and laugh. To them, it was a little unsettling to see the personification of Prussia so close to their own. Who knew what the aggressive, war like powerhouse was whispering to the young nation when his own people were not present?

"Well, Herr kleiner," Maximilian Graf von Montgelas said in what Ludwig supposed was to be a friendly tone, but it did not turn out that way. Ludwig couldn't stop himself from snuggling closer to his brother. Von Montgelas was scary looking. "It looks likes like you will become another confederation after all."

Von Montgelas soon left, looking slightly disappointed with von Wintzingerode before Ludwig could have even said anything at all. Once the humans were gone and everyone else had filed out of the conference room, the boy turned to look up at his brother expectantly. "Did I do something wrong, Bruder?" he asked quietly.

"Of course not," Gilbert snorted, looking very pleased with himself for some reason. "Those old timers don't know how good they've got it. They're just pissed that they didn't get their way is all. But their lucky that me and my government are so awesome to them."

The younger German tried to make sense of what his brother was even talking about, but it was hard since he had not been allowed to attend any of the meetings—which really wasn't fair in his mind. But as he slowly processed the words, he began to frown. "Y-you mean that they're mad because I won't get to be my own country?"

It seemed to take the kingdom a moment to actually understand what his brother was talking about, but once he did, his face took on a troubled expression. "Oh…uh…yeah, well…um, no. I guess you don't get to be your own country yet, West. But don't worry! Your awesome big brother will watch out for you."

Once again, the younger nation didn't seem so pleased. "Why can't I?"

It was a simply question, one that seemed pretty straightforward to the small child, but from the way Gilbert was acting, Ludwig had to assume that it was not quite so easy. "West," Prussia sighed after a moment. "I know that you're a strong kid— hell, you've survived under France!— but the problem is just that. You're a kid. You're too small to be getting caught up in ruling your own self just yet."

"I'm not really that small!" Ludwig protested. "I have a lot of states in my confederation, a lot of land, all of which do not have their own representatives except me. I-I can be big, Bruder! I can be strong and be my own country!"

The albino looked like he was caught between a rock and a hard place before he seemed to swallow any soft feelings he mind may have had and steeled himself into a stern countenance. Seeing this transformation let the child know that he was fighting a losing battle. "No, Bruder," the kingdom's tone was unusually firm. "I know you can be strong, but right now you can't be your own country. You're still too small and your peoples' governments still a bit too unstable at the moment. Austria and I will look after you," a sour look crossed the Prussian's face as he said this, but it was only for a second.

"So…where will I live?" Ludwig asked. If his brother and Austria were going to be looking out for him, did that mean that he'd have to live with one of them? He certainly could not live with both of them at the same time!

Prussia looked unusually tried, but he seemed determined. What this all was about, the boy did not know. But the kingdom turned and began walking back into the conference room. Ludwig had not been allowed inside, but he stared with wide-eyed wonder at everything before him. He could not believe that this was where it all had taken place that this is where the fate of Europe had rested for the past year.

Gilbert sat his brother down gently before sitting down himself and stared at the boy seriously. "Okay, West, here's what's going to happen." Ludwig sat on the edge of his seat, giving his brother his full attention. "You are now Deutscher Bund. You make up all of the German states that have no personification, and you even make up some territories that do. Austria and I are also a part of this confederation, but we are going to be the ones looking out for you and everyone."

"I don't understand," the blonde frowned. "If you're a part of what I've become, doesn't that mean that, in a way, I'm supposed to rule over you?"

Something flashed in ruby eyes, but the child could not tell what. Had he made Gilbert angry, or was it something else? The younger German could not tell what it was, but his brother recovered soon enough and smiled down at the blonde. Although it was not really what anyone would call a smile, it was more just a show of baring teeth. It slightly frightened the child.

"You're dominion is over the states that formerly resided in the Holy Roman Empire before his dissolution," Gilbert explained. "In almost every aspect, you have now filled in where he has left off. Although Austria and I are part of the confederation by name, we have joined to help keep you going, and to help govern you so that you can learn and hopefully grow and prosper for your people. Do you understand?"

Slowly, the boy nodded his head. Although it was all so confusing and it almost seemed impossible for him to understand, there was a part of him that thought he did get it, like he'd lived in such a situation before…but of course he hadn't. He couldn't even remember where he'd been born or his life before waking up in the woods before Gilbert found him.

Although over the past several years Ludwig had gotten the impression that he could almost feel things or remember events that he had never actually lived through. It was the strangest feeling, almost déjà vu but it wasn't, not really. Ludwig had often wanted to ask his brother what it was, but did not want to embarrass himself, and while he had tried to look up information on it, he's search had thus far been a failure. Could one actually see and feel experiences from their predecessors? Was it possible for him to have a few of Holy Roman Empire's memories?

But they were not memories, not really. Just vague feelings that every once and a while confused Ludwig, but never actually moved him enough to cause great concern or inquisitiveness. He was simply curious as to why he sometimes found himself thinking one way while connecting it to the Holy Roman Empire.

Ludwig had decided months ago that it was probably possible that he was feeling some of the repercussions of his predecessor's influence. After all, they both governed over the same land, and it was possible that the Holy Roman Empire had left his own mark upon the land and people and now Ludwig was not feeling that old control.

So now, as he sat before his brother, wondering why he seemed to understand the way this crazy, confusing system worked, he put it up there with the remaining influence from the Holy Roman Empire. Being the heir of an Empire was quite perplexing and tiring Ludwig was discovering, but he believed it was doing a fair job of it so far. The child knew that should he have any real, legitimate questions, not ones that he could not even explain properly, then he could always ask his big brother for help.

"Good," the albino went on, missing completely the philosophical discussion his little brother had had with himself. "As for living arrangements…Well, Austria and I are very busy, as are some of the others in the confederation, and need to be present in our own lands at all times. However, you will be living in your own home, in your own lands, along with Liechtenstein and Luxembourg."

"But I want to live with you!" Ludwig interjected immediately, blue eyes wide. "I thought that once I came back from France I could live with you again!"

Coquelicot eyes softened and a flash of pain crossed the kingdom's features for an instant before the face went grim. "West, I know that this is going to be hard—on both of us—but this is what the council's decided."

"But why?" the child asked again, not seeing any complications that could possibly arise from him living with his older brother. This was the only thing Ludwig had wanted since before France had ever come to take him away. It wasn't fair!

Gilbert sighed before running a hand through his niveous hair. "There's nothing more I'd rather do then take you away to Prussia this very instant, West, and fight back anyone who'd ever want to take you away from me. But there are rules that must be adhered to. Part of being your own nation, country or kingdom, is sometimes doing things you might not want to, but doing what needs to be done for your people and your lands. And while I'd like nothing more than for you to come live with me, we can't have that. The other countries would see it as my taking control and dominating you and your peoples. An idea like that is scary to them, especially with something like Napoleon hitting Europe again! Do you understand?" the Prussian asked gently.

Frustrated, angry tears welled up in the boy's eyes and he scowled darkly at the injustice of it all. "No," he said resentfully, willfully not seeing what was so plainly laid out before him.

The older brother sighed, running a frustrated hand once again through his hair. "Listen West, I know this isn't what either of us want, but we can't always get what we want. Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to. And right now, what's best for your people and land is for you to go along with this so that there's no more fighting. I'll still come see you almost every day, and you'll still have Liechtenstein to play with, ja?"

The little blonde pouted for a moment, scowling up at his brother before he looked away. "I…I guess you're right…"

"Of course I am," Prussia said almost instantly, but then softened. He must have realized that he was still talking to his little brother. "I'll still see you almost every day, West. And Austria and I are going to arrange times when you can come and stay at our houses, so it won't be that bad, right?"

"I guess not," the child surrendered. "But you will come see me every day?"

"I will unless something urgent happens…and even then, know that it'd have to be something big to keep me away from seeing you!"

Standing up in his chair, the little boy jumped into his brother's lap and hugged the Prussian close. "I don't like this, Bruder…But I have to do it?"

With his arms around the albino, Ludwig could feel the other tense. "Ja, West. You have to do this…I'm sorry."

Holding his brother closer to him, Ludwig buried his face into his brother chest, not caring for the moment that he was not being very mature. All he wanted to do right now was have his brother all to himself. Because it seemed that soon enough, he wouldn't be able to have him around much…

oOoOoOo

The last day of the congress finally came, and soon all of the countries were off, leaving to go back home or to the battle. Netherlands and Belgium had had to rush home, while France was close behind, looking quite embarrassed and worried about his old emperor attacking again. The others that left were either quite pleased with the outcome of the gathering as a while or hated it. Still others there were in the middle, pleased some aspects of events while not liking others. But whatever their feelings on the matter, they were all anxious for Napoleon to no longer be a factor in causing concern so they could all just go home and relax for even a little while.

"Well, I suppose this went well," Britain said as he mounted his horse, his envoy ready to make the long journey towards England. "I daresay, the king will at least be pleased to have Hanover."

"Indeed," Roderich nodded politely. It had been a long day for the Austrian, seeing everyone off.

"I'm sure," Gilbert smiled up tightly at the redcoat. Hanover was a loss that the Prussian was quite annoyed over.

"You came out with a substantial amount of land, didn't you?" Arthur asked, not really looking all that interested, but seeming to think it polite to ask after bragging about his own piece of German territory.

"Ja," the albino nodded, unable to help the wolfish smile that lit his features. "I deserve it after everything France put me through."

"Yes, I suppose he did take a lot before, didn't he? Well, good then," the blonde nodded. "Well, I'm off to look in on the troops at Waterloo before I head back home. God, it feels like I haven't been there in ages!"

"War keeps many men from home," Prussia nodded before stepping back a pace. "Auf Wiedersehen, Großbritannien. Tell old von Blücher to kick some French ass for me!"

"Safe journey," Austria nodded once, frowning at his companion's language.

Although the redcoat looked exasperated with the crude statement, he did nod once. "I shall. Goodbye then." And with that, Arthur spurred his horse forward, riding away with his men right behind him.

Gilbert watched on, feeling anxious and frustrated that he wasn't going out on the field again to fight that bastard Napoleon. But he couldn't be in two places at once, and he needed to be here with West at the moment. Let Britain have the headache of running after the troops for a bit. Besides, Gilbert still had some business he needed to take care of here…

"Can we talk?" the Prussian said once the British were out of sight, grabbed Austria by the bicep. "By which I mean you will talk with me."

The brunette turned to regard the other German kingdom coolly, looking whole unimpressed by the slight display of aggression. "Gaining land back seems to have boosted your ego, Preußen," he said disinterestedly. "It shows with your pitiful demonstrate of barbaric belligerence."

The other growled low in his throat, but did not say anything. Instead, Gilbert dragged the aristocrat away, hardly noticing that the other was having a bit of a difficult time trying not to stumble. Once they were away from the house and in the garden, the albino turned on his host quickly before the other had a chance to open his mouth. "It's about West," he said simply.

Roderich, who had indeed begun to say something, snapped his mouth closed again quickly, taking a moment to think. "Oh?" he asked at last. "What about Deutscher Bund?"

"What do you think? He's unhappy with the outcome of the congress," Prussia snapped testily. "He's confused about everything that's going on, what exactly his function is as this new confederation, and more specifically, he's upset that he's not allowed to live with me."

The brunette's brow creased ever so slightly, his face becoming pensive. "This can't be helped, Gilbert, you know that."

The albino snorted in exasperation. "Sure, I understand that, but he doesn't. Come on, Roderich! He's still a child! He's too little to understand the complexities of government, especially since he's representing a collective of little states that have no personification but him. Isn't there some way that—"

"Absolutely not!" the Austria hissed. "You know perfectly well that if Ludwig ever lived with you more than a month the other nations would have a heart-attack just thinking about what all you're filling the boy's head up with."

"What the hell, Roderich!" Gilbert finally lost his patience. "What do you think I'd tell the boy? Huh? 'You and I shall become greater than Napoleon'?" he pitched his voice, trying to sound like a ghost. When he finished, he rolled his eyes. "Please! Give me some credit. I'm not a monster, you know."

For just a moment, it looked as though the Austria wasn't going to say anything as he raised an eyebrow skeptically, insulting the Prussian greatly. "You might not think so, but that's exactly what the other nations would think. Do you really not see that, Prussia? Tell me truthfully that you did not see the nervousness in everyone's eyes, their fear at the mere thought that there might be a Germany. You own quite a substantial bit of land in the boy's territory," Roderich went on after calming himself a bit. "For him to live with you would seem like you were taking over him, something I and many others would not stand for."

"I understand that," the other replied tersely. "But if you know my real intentions, and that I just want West to live with me, and you vouched for me, saying that I wasn't trying to be aggressive—"

"It would look like you and I went in together to take advantage of the boy," the pianist shook his head. "No, we must stick to the arrangements that have been made. If you were so opposed to the idea of West not living with you, you should have voiced your concerns in the meeting."

"You know as well as I do that I couldn't have," Gilbert spat. "Humans don't fully understand us and our thoughts and feelings. They wouldn't have understood that I simply wanted my brother back. That I have no interest in him other than personal."

"The trouble with you, Prussia, is that your personal wants always leak into your ambitious goals for your country. No, I'm afraid that this arrangement of him coming to visit the two of us would have to suffice for the time being," Roderich took off his glasses and cleaned them carefully on his handkerchief. "He still does not remember anything of his past, so we will have to reeducate him, teach him everything that he'll need to know to become this confederation. After all, the goal of his entire meeting was to put Europe back the way it was before France decided to get too bold."

Although he really did understand all of the logic, the reasoning behind everyone keeping his brother away from him, Gilbert was still angry. He honestly didn't care about putting Europe back the way it was because that was impossible. Even he knew that much. Everyone else was just diluting themselves with such hopes. "That's going to be hard considering that putting Europe back to the way it was would require Holy Roman Empire." The brunette flinched visibly, but Prussia continued his attack. "Funny, I can't seem to remember exactly why he isn't here anymore, can you, Österreich?"

It was an attempt to wound the other man, and nothing else. For an instant, the Austrian's indifference faded into a shroud of pain, a look of such sorrow that for a moment, just one moment, Gilbert found himself feeling sorry for his rival and wishing he hadn't said anything at all. But all too soon, Roderich recomposed his features in a weak attempt at looking calm and collected. It didn't work. The pain still very much shown in his violet eyes.

"Yes," the other said calmly, his voice wavered only slightly. "In fact, I can remember."

And with that, Austria walked away from Prussia, almost running Gilbert noted, and into the house. That evening, as he watched the children play with each other, the kingdom could not help but recall his harshness and wish that he could somehow alleviate the fault he felt. And it was only that evening when Roderich refused to come to dinner, saying that he had some pressing matters to attend to with his Emperor, that the albino thought that perhaps he had made a mistake.

As he went to bed that night, Ludwig snuggled up against him, Gilbert couldn't help but wonder how it made Roderich feel that the little boy that he had once loved as much as a brother now preferred the albino over him.

oOoOoOo

The next day, Roderich felt tired and miserable. Prussia's words had rung in his ears the course of the night, leaving the empire defenseless against the attacks of the guilt that he still tried to bury away and hide from. It was not easy, especially since he still left a portrait of his Gerwig in his chambers, as a reminder of the boy that he had loved so dearly, staring down at him almost accusingly. There were times when Roderich contemplated taking the picture down, but then he was afraid that he would be disrespecting the memory of the child Ludwig had been. And besides, he deserved the self-reproach since he was directly responsible for Holy Roman Empire's demise.

With a sigh, Austria rubbed his temples tiredly, feeling the comings of a migraine beginning. The conversation with Prussia had been terribly upsetting, especially since the albino had not been wrong. The point about the humans was particularly unsettling for Roderich at the moment while his thoughts were on Holy Rome. No one had ever asked him if he was all right with the fact that they were forcing him to kill his own little brother! No one had asked him if it was fine to betray the boy and leave him out for France! If Prussia hadn't found the child...

Yes. That was one frustrating point that always come back to slap Austria in the face. Despite his love for the Holy Roman Empire, despite him having lived with the child for years and years, having basically raised the boy, he had not been the one to help Gerwig when he needed it most. It was not Austria who came to the child's rescue, but Prussia. Loathsome, self-centered, egotistical Prussia. The very thought of it was disgusting, and now that sweet, slightly demanding boy that Roderich had loved now loved Prussia so much more.

"You're not looking so well this morning," a quiet voice said from behind.

"I wouldn't think so," the other responded blandly, once again retreating behind his mask of apathy.

"You did not sleep well?" Hungary asked gently, hugging the stony man from behind. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong." Austria sat up and pulled out of his wife's embrace, not wanting such tender contact at the moment.

"You did not come to dinner last night," Elizabeta continued, not all that put out by her husband's attitude. She had lived long enough with him to know his moods, to know when he was hurting. "Prussia said you had a talk last night. Was it about Ludwig?"

How his wife could know that, guess so accurately with such little information was beyond Roderich. He was certain that Gilbert wasn't stupid enough to confess to Hungary that he'd said some hurtful things, so that meant that the woman had come to this conclusion herself. There were times, however, when Roderich did appreciated his wife's perceptiveness; especially if it was for something he did not really want to get into too much detail.

With an annoyed sigh, Austria nodded, trying to build up his act disinterest again. "Yes."

"And he said something about Ludwig that upset you?"

Really the woman was too nosy for her own wellbeing. "I suppose...in a way."

There was a long moment of silence in which Hungary just looked at her husband thoughtfully; smaragdine eyes alight with concentration and pity. "He said something about Holy Rome."

It wasn't a question. She knew that that was probably the only really thing Prussia could bother him with at the moment considering how well the empire had come out after the congress. It was frustrating how well she could read him, especially since no one else really could. It was unnerving, and even upsetting in a way. But at the moment, Roderich was relieved, relieved that he didn't have to say anything.

The man was silent for a moment before finally, he nodded. "He did," he admitted softly. "But nothing he said was untrue."

"That doesn't make it not hurtful," Hungary kissed the top of her husband's head.

Smiling bitterly, Roderich nodded. "No, no it doesn't."

The couple remained silent for a moment before Elizabeta went and sat down on her husband's lap hugging him close. "Don't worry so much, my love. Everything worked out in the end. Gerwig is alive, and he is well. Do not blame yourself for what has happened. It was not your fault. I am sure that even if the boy still remembered, he would not blame you. He knew what it was to be one of our kind. He knew what it meant to be a personification and the duties that are sometimes forced upon us."

The two sat still in Austria's study for a little while longer, just hugging each other close, Roderich relishing the comfort he did not ask for but was given, before he froze. Now that no one was talking, he could hear something, something that was coming from the parlor…Someone was playing his piano!

"What the hell?" he growled, standing up, effectively causing the Hungarian to hop up, lest she fall to the floor.

"Roderich, please," she begged, knowing that her husband was about to go into a fit and likely harm someone.

"If it's that damned Prussian, I swear I'll kill him," he muttered very unsophisticatedly under his breath. Had he not been so furious that someone was touching his piano, Austria might have noticed that the sounds being brought forth from the instrument were not the crude noise of one merely striking the ivory keys, but were in fact the result of practiced fingers gently caressing the instrument, tenderly coaxing it to produce a lovely sound.

Opening the door to the parlor, Roderich was about to lay into whomever was bold enough—or rather, stupid enough— to dare touch his precious piano, when he literally stopped dead in his track. He was suddenly slapped in the face with the reality that the music being played had rhythm to it, actually had a steady melody being played, and was in fact quite lovely.

He stood there dumb for a few moments before he was brought back down to earth when something was tugging at his pants leg. Looking down, Austria beheld a pair of watery celadon eyes staring up at him worried. "I-I told him not to touch it, but he didn't listen to me," Lilie whispered mournfully.

Looking away from the girl, aubergine eyes finally made their way to the piano where they spied a tiny blonde sitting on the piano bench, feet dangling down while little hands were gliding over the keys. If Austria had been stunned before, he was completely flabbergasted now. Even while his mind was not functioning, Roderich found himself walking towards his instrument stupidly, not knowing, or caring, if his wife or Lilie were following him.

Mutely, Roderich watched as the small German, who did not seem to realize his audience had grown beyond Liechtenstein, continued to play. Once the last note was struck, and Ludwig ended the piece, Roderich found himself clapping enthusiastically. A large, stupid smile had at some point plastered itself onto his face.

"Bravo!" he cried passionately, truly happy. "Bravo!"

Ludwig jumped horribly before turning around with large azure eyes wide with fear even as a dark blush spread across the boy's face. "M-Mr. Austria, sir!" he yelped. "I-I'm so sorry! I-I didn't m-mean to play the p-pianoforte. L-Lilie and I were just playing hide and seek, and when I came in I s-saw the piano and I…well…I-I just wanted to touch a key."

Had it been anyone else, and had Ludwig not been able to actually play anything on the instrument, Roderich would have thrown a fit and probably punished the child severely. But since it was Ludwig playing, and he had actually played a real song…

"That is quite all right, my boy." Austria sat himself down next to the child, taking the little blonde by surprise. "Come, why didn't you tell me you could play? What song was that?"

It was the first time that Ludwig had displayed any talents that he had known as Gerwig that Roderich had seen, and he was ecstatic. Roderich had taught Holy Rome to play, and if Ludwig remembered how to play, then maybe all hope was not lost! Maybe the boy would soon remember how they had loved each other, and how much they had gone through many things together?

"I-I didn't know I could play," Ludwig looked down at his hands nervously, his blush ever present. "A-and I-I don't really know what that song was."

Smiling kindly down at the child that he had patiently taught for years, Austria looked away from the boy and took pulled out some sheet music. "That was Prelude in C by Johann Sebastian Bach," he explained. "He is perhaps the greatest German composer. He was born inSachsen-Eisenach in 1685. He was a very prolific writer, I must say, and truly one of the greatest composers the Holy Roman Empire turned out."

Ludwig looked like he was drinking in the information studiously, but cocked his head to the side in thought. "I-is that why I can play the piano? Because I now control the lands of the Holy Roman Empire?"

Roderich sat frozen for a moment, not really knowing what to say. Normally, just because you were the heir to someone else's land and people didn't mean that you inherited their gifts as well!... Although you could, perhaps, show some of the same signs of talent. But because Ludwig had been Holy Rome himself, and it seemed that some of the talents and abilities had leaked over into his new incarnation. It shouldn't really have been as surprising as it was, but Austria was still a bit astonished. And where had the boy come up with this logic?

And with that thought, Roderich was in a very sensitive situation. He could either tell the truth or he could lie. Telling the truth would require telling all of the truth, and both he and Gilbert had decided that that would not be wise for the time being. But to lie would be willfully misleading the boy into believing all kinds of falsehoods that could potentially be harmful for him in the future…

"Yes," the pianist said before he truly realized he was talking at all. "Perhaps in part," he tried to cover up his hurried reply. "Now, let's see if you can't play something else. Can you read music?"

"I don't know," Ludwig shrugged, amazed that he hadn't gotten yelled at.

Again, a smile softened Austria's stern features. "Then let's see, shall we? Look here. What is this note?" he pointed to the note that rested on the very middle line in the treble cleft.

The little boy sat a moment, face contorting into concentration, before his usually dulled eyes brightened into something brilliant, and for a moment, Roderich was certain that Gerwig was back. "A 'B'!" Ludwig exclaimed, looking up to the brunette, eyes sparkling and desperately seeking approval.

"That's right," Roderich nodded. "What kind of 'B'?"

Just like any practiced musician, Ludwig looked to the left at the first bar. "'B' flat?"

"In what cleft?"

"Treble?"

"And what key is this written in?" He was pushing, Roderich knew, but since the boy seemed to be remembering the instrument and music was serious business…

This seemed to quiet the child's quick replies now as he stared at the key signature dutifully. As Austria watched, he could have sworn that the boy was literally flipping through files in his head to come up with the correct answer. The child would make an excellent academic if he put that analytical mind to it.

"'C' sharp minor?" at last Ludwig gave his answer.

"Is that a question or an answer?" Roderich raised a stern brow.

"'C' sharp minor," the child stated more firmly this time.

Allowing a slight smile to grace his lips once more, Austria nodded. "Now, let us see how good you are at sight reading."

"Oh, Roderich!" Elizabeta was now sitting close to the piano with Lilie in her lap. "Have him play that one song. You know, the one that was written about fourteen years ago by that one contemporary man."

There were many songs that had been written "about" fourteen years ago by composers that were trying to get their feet in the door, and although the vague request annoyed Roderich by how little Hungary kept up with all of the rising and big name composers, because it was Hungary, he knew which one she was talking about. "Yes, my dear, that's the one I was having him look at."

The woman must have realized that she was annoying her husband, and wisely shut her mouth, though she still wore a slightly devilish smirk, finding it enjoying to pester him so.

"All right, Ludwig, I want to see if you can't play this song," Roderich set the score up for the child. "This is a relatively new piece, only fourteen-years-old, written by a composer that's still around, called Ludwig van Beethoven. Whenever you're ready, you may begin."

Ludwig looked up at his teacher in dismayed. "I-I can't play," he squeaked.

"And why not?" Austria asked, frowning. "You were just playing a moment ago."

"B-but there's so many people here now."

The boy was nervous? Well, that had never really been a problem with Gerwig…or if it had been, the boy had always covered it up so well. It was just another reminder that this child, despite being identical to Holy Rome in looks, was not the same boy he had been.

"Just pretend that you are alone and concentrate on the music, and only the music," Austria instructed. "This is a safe environment, and I am merely here to help and instruct you if you need it. Shall I count off and give you a tempo?"

The little confederation looked several shades paler than before, but nodded all the same. Nodding once, Roderich patted his knee to give the tempo— he had long ago put away his metronome— and hummed the first two measures so that the child would have a sense of how the piece was to be played. Once he was finished and counted off, Ludwig began to play.

And once more, Roderich was not disappointed. Ludwig's hands flowed over the keys, a bit hesitantly, but that could be easily corrected. The same went for the slight change in tempo every once and a while. There were a few wrong notes here and there, but they were few and far in between, mostly due to the fact that the child's hands were so small he couldn't rightly stretch them over the expanse of the keys. And this was sight reading, after all, and Roderich was sure that with enough practice, Ludwig would be an excellent musician. But all in all, the music that the child produced was lovely, and truly moving.

When the child managed to finish the piece— sweating profusely and red as a cardinal's robes!— Hungary and Lilie were clapping, smiling happily for their amateur pianist. "Oh, very, very good!" Elizabeta beamed. "That was very well done!"

The boy looked immensely relieved, but turned worried eyes up to his teacher, waiting for Roderich's verdict, because it was the only one that really mattered, and Austria drank that trust and need for approval greedily.

"It was…acceptable," Roderich nodded, loving the feeling of teaching and grading his old student again. "It was done well for sight reading. You and I shall have to practice more together, and I will give you some music so you can practice when you're away and at home."

"So, wait," a voice from the door way caused the happy little group to turn. Gilbert was standing there looking surprised. "That was West playing? That wasn't you?" he stared at Austria.

The two kingdoms stared at one another, a silent battle of wills going on between the two, both of them feeling oddly protective and dominate over Ludwig, even over something so simple as piano lessons. "It wasn't," Roderich replied smoothly. "He's got talent, and I am merely helping him do something with it."

"That's good," Gilbert nodded, giving his brother a smile. "It sounded great!" But when he turned back to Austria the smile was gone without a trace, and cinnabar eyes darkened and narrowed in warning. "He really should be getting along though. I'm going to be starting his lessons today now that everything is over with."

"That's all very well," Roderich nodded, violaceous orbs glaring right back. "He will come and join you after his music lesson."

And once again, the rivalrous air that had thus far been put aside between the two Germanic powers was back with full force as Austria and Prussia glowered at each other viciously. Both countries wanted dominion over the German Confederation, and both men wanted the glory of the child's attention. And while Hungary looked on worriedly, Ludwig knew that there was something going on, but not understanding that he was causing trouble yet again.

Author's Note: Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't updated for a while. The bad thing about studying history and English is I have a LOT of papers to do… But I do hope that this was a good enough update for the time being. It was a little hard to write… But now we've reestablished Gilbert and Roderich's glorious rivalry again!

History: The Congress of Vienna ended on June of 1815, just before Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo for the final time. At the Congress of Vienna, Napoleon was declared an outlaw, and once he returned to cause some trouble, the allies from before sent their armies to crush him completely…which they did at Waterloo thanks to the Prussians, British, the Netherlands, and a few German states. Also, Hanover came under the control of Britain after the congress.

Maximilian Graf von Montgelas and von Wintzingerode were two representatives from German states at the Congress. The former was actually quite scary looking to me, hence Ludwig's reaction at the beginning.

The two songs mentioned in here, Prelude in C and Moonlight Sonata, are both very famous. The first, written by Bach, was estimated to have been composed in 1710 of 1720. The second, Piano Sonata No. 14 or more famously known as Moonlight Sonata was written in 1801 by Beethoven in Hungary (I thought that's why she would like it so much…). There are both relatively simple songs (ones that I'm sure a child like Ludwig could play) and they were both written by good German composers…Yes, I'm calling Beethoven German…because he was. Sorry Austria.

The rest of the history should have been explained well enough in the story. If you have any questions, leave me a review and I'll reply back to hopefully give you some answers. :)

Thanks everyone!