Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia, only this story concept. So... this chapter happened and I'm sorry. I'm just really sorry. Important notes at the bottom, so please read them. Thanks for reading and enjoy.

My god, why do I have to be such an idiot? I just ran away, I couldn't face him. Why can't I face him? What am I going to do? I kept wondering these and many other things as I ran towards the small park in our neighborhood. I remember the park fondly, especially the swings, as it was my comfort place from so long ago. When was the last time I had been there? How do I know the park is even still there?

My run slowed to walk as I got closer to where the park should be. I breathed a sigh of relief to see that it was still there, and empty. I went straight for the lone swing set, sitting on one carefully and flinching at the creaking it made. Slowly I moved back and forth, holding onto the chains, and thinking about everything I had done. In the past two weeks I had left my mother, found out my grandmother was dead, gained seven new family members, quit theatre, and found out my father wasn't actually dead.

My breathing quickened in pace as the events all came crashing down on me. I watched it materialize in front of me, becoming frost in the surprisingly cool air. My fists clenched the chains tighter, trying to keep me from falling off the swing. I felt weak and lightheaded as I realized how naïve I had been. What in the world made me think I could look after seven people, and Kiki too? What made me think it was ok to just leave the only home I had ever known? Why did I act like owning seven Hetalia characters was completely normal?

I let go of the chains holding up the swing and fell to my knees on the ground. My unfocused gaze never left the gravel beneath me and I made no motion to move, despite the sharp rocks cutting into my knees and palms. Hot tears fell through the cool air and onto the ground. I had to give them up. It was too stupid of me to think I could make them happy. They deserved so much better than me, they would be miserable if they stayed with me. How could I take care of them if I couldn't even get my own life together?

I would have to say goodbye to them, all of them. I hope Feli and Al can stay together; they really depend on each other. Will Lovi go to someone who will love him? What about Lovino, will his next owner prefer Feliciano over him? Mattie, will he be ignored or will the next one notice him as well? What about Ludwig? I didn't even get to spend as much time with him as I wanted to. He was so awkward at first. Oliver, poor Oliver, will the next one let him make cupcakes?

No, I couldn't think like that. I had to do what was better for them, they couldn't stay with me. Besides, with dad back, I'm pretty sure we'll be going back to mom. There just isn't any way for us to all stay together. I sit back on my legs, gravel cutting deeper into my exposed skin, and shakily pull out my phone. I open up my contacts and scroll down to the customer service number from the pamphlets. My thumb hesitates over the number, but eventually moves down to press it, when something hits me on the head.

I slowly turn my head to see what hit me. On the ground behind me I see a penny, just innocently laying there as if it didn't just hit me. I gingerly picked it up and looked around, vision blurred by the tears in my eyes. "You know you're a Jew, right?" a soft voice asks. My head whips around to see Carlson standing a few feet away. His usual cocky smile is replaced by one that is softer and gentle.

"I thought that was already established," I manage to say; choking out a laugh that forces more tears to fall. I pull myself up and back onto the swing, gesturing to Carlson to sit on the one next to me. "Here's your penny," I whisper, trying to hand it back to him.

Carlson sighs and sits down on the swing, shaking his head no. "I'll let you keep the penny for once," he replies. I nod and shove the penny in my pocket along with my phone. I swing back and forth, taking comfort in the friendly silence between us. My eyes wander around and only then do I realize how late it is. Street lamps illuminate the park, warding the darkness away from the sacred playing ground. "Can I give you a few senior words of wisdom?" Carlson asks, breaking the silence.

"Sure, it may be able to help me."

"No matter how messed up your life seems now, it won't matter in ten years. I don't know what you're going through, or even why you're in a creepy park so late at night, but that will always be true."

"You know, you're out here too. I could say the same thing."

"Shut up, you're a Jew. Anyway, even a year from now, you're going to look back on this and wonder what the hell you were doing. Wouldn't you rather look back on this time of your life and feel no regrets? That's what you have to be thinking about right now. You can't just focus on the short term picture, focus on the long term and try to have as much fun as you can. You're too young to be crying and having panic attacks in the middle of a park."

"You realize you're only a year older than me, right? Besides, how do you know it was a panic attack? Maybe it was just an extreme epiphany," I whisper, looking down at my hands. Carlson gives me a long hard look and sighs, shaking his head.

"Sarah that was no epiphany. That was a bad decision in the making. I could tell you were about to do something you would regret for the rest of your life."

"How do you know that? What if I was doing what was right for everyone around me? What if my actions would make them happy? What if sending them away, was the best thing for them?" I asked, fresh tears falling down my recently dried cheeks.

"If it was really forcing anyone to leave you, I doubt it would make them happy. You may be Jewish, but you're a good person."

"I think that may be the nicest thing you've ever said to me in all the time we've known each other," I tell him, laughing despite myself.

"What can I say? I'm just a douche bag, but I know when to tone it down a bit. That ability comes with age," he says cockily.

"Again, you're only a year older than me. How did you find me anyway?" I ask him. This was a pretty secluded park and I hadn't told anyone where I was going.

"Well, I was actually just walking around when I ran into the German. He asked me if I knew where you were and told me what had happened when I said no. He asked me to help everyone look before he ran off again. I remember you mentioning this park once, so I followed the signs around here till I found it," he replied, obviously proud of himself.

I stood up from the swing rapidly, eyes widened in alarm. "I'm sorry, but I have to go find them. They don't know this neighborhood at all. Thanks Carlson, I really do appreciate the wise words of a senior. I'll see you later," I say before running off. He waves at my retreating form until I disappear from view.

I run the path to our house first, hoping to find one of them along the way. Unfortunately, by the time I get to the house, none of them have shown up. I burst through the unlocked front door, eyes scanning the room for them, before I see my father. He is sitting on the couch, head in his hands, and looks on edge. "Dad, have any of them come back yet?" I ask him quickly. His head whips up and a smile of relief spreads over his face when he sees me.

"No, I think they are still out there looking for you. Why don't you stay here with me to wait for them?" he suggests. He pats the couch seat next to him, inviting me to sit with him.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go back out and look for them. Wait, where's Kiki?" I ask, realizing she wasn't here.

"She went out with them. She said something about being worried for her big sister. Now, Sarah, come sit down and wait with me. They will come back eventually," he says again, grabbing my wrist. I look up into his eyes and see the deep set worry. I almost let him drag me to the couch, but come to my senses before I can.

"No, I can't, I have to go out and look for them. They could be in danger and could need me. How could you not be worried about your youngest daughter being out at this time of night?" I scream at him.

"Of course I'm worried about her, but I finally have you back too. Please, don't go back out there, I can't lose you. Please," he pleaded. I took a step back and another; this wasn't the father I had known. My father would have been out there, looking for his children, not sitting in this house waiting for them to come to him. He would have let nothing stop him from getting his beloved children back.

"I'm sorry dad, but I have to go."

"If you walk out that door, I can't guarantee that I'll be here when you get back," he says coldly. I looked him in the eyes again and gasped. His eyes were devoid of any emotion, there was no spark of life that I remembered. I then realize the father I knew was gone and had been ever since he got into that car so long ago.

"I'm sorry, but they're my family too. I have to find them," I tell him. I grab a jacket and run out the door, pulling it on as I go. I run back the way I came, going past the park, and look for them. I really hope they're all together, that they didn't split up. The next ten minutes are spent in a panicked frenzy, the worst possible scenarios running through my head. My eyes gaze out into the darkness and random patches of light from the street lamps.

Finally, finally, I see all of them standing beneath a streetlight together, illuminated by the harsh bulb above them. My run slows to a walk and I find myself frozen in the darkness a few feet away from them. I can't hear what they're saying, but they look angry and worried. Feli is clutching Al and Lovi while crying loudly, while the other two look close to tears. Ludwig and Lovino are arguing and pointing in different directions. Kiki is crying onto Oliver's shoulder who is trying to soothe her. Mattie is trying to soothe Kiki and the three teens and calm down Ludwig and Lovino at the same time.

Against my own will I take a step back. Wait, what am I doing? They're right there, and they have been looking for me this whole time. Why aren't I running over there to make them feel better? Because it's my fault they're like this. I don't deserve their worry, especially if I am the reason they are like this. Why did I even run in the first place, if it was going to cause them this much pain? What am I doing?

I take another step back, right onto a random stick which cracks loudly in the night. Eight heads look in my direction, alerted by the crack of the stick, and their faces melt into relief to see me standing there. They all run towards me and surround me in a giant hug, nearly crushing me between them all.

"Mutti, we were so worried!"

"Mama why did you run away from us?"

"Sissy, I'm so sorry for everything I've ever done, just don't run away again."

"Poppet, I was so worried about you. When we get home you're going to have to taste test all my cupcakes."

"Dammit cupcake freak, are you trying to kill mama? We just got her back!"

"Ragazza, it was so stupid of you to run away! What the hell were you thinking?"

"Liebe, we were all so worried about you. What in the world were you thinking?!"

"Maple, I was really worried about you. Are you okay? I'll make you some pancakes when we get home, ok?"

"Guys, guys, calm down. All that matters is we're all safe now," I tell them. I somehow get them to all calm down and let me go from the bone crushing hug. "Are you guys ok? It's really late at night, what were you thinking?" I ask them.

"Dammit ragazza, we could say the same thing about you!" Lovino yells angrily. He sounds angry, but his pout and the worry in his eyes speak the truth.

"Lovino is right poppet, it was so stupid of you to run away like that," Oliver chimed in, eyebrows furrowed together.

"What were you thinking liebe?" Ludwig asked. I chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of my neck before telling them. I left out the part about nearly calling customer services, that could be told another day, and told them everything else.

"Well, as long as you're safe now Maple," Mattie says, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Mama, will you sing for us again?" Feli asked excitedly.

"Hush Feli, mama must be tired, don't be stupid." Lovi scolded, making Feli tear up slightly.

"Hey, don't call Feli stupid. I'm sure Mutti will sing for us later Feli," Al said, defending and calming Feli down at the same time.

"Hey sissy, I'm really tired," Kiki yawns from Oliver's arms. I smile slightly, opening my arms to take her from Oliver. She sighs contentedly and snuggles into my shoulder, falling asleep almost instantly. I manage to get everyone's attention and pull them all in for one more hug. When we pull away I smile at them happily, any trace of doubt completely gone from my mind.

"Hey guys, let's go home."

...so that happened. I have a few questions for y'all. You realize this is the last chapter, right? Do you want an epilogue? Are you ok with the way this ended? I hope it was worth the read for y'all. Now, important information coming up next!

CONTEST TIME: The person who answers the next question correctly will get to request any kind of Hetalia fic they want. It can be a reader insert or it can be a ship fic. It can be any alternate universe, except cardverse since I don't know anything about that one, and can have any rating. It will be completely up to the winner. Now, you're question is: What was the very first fanfic I posted and which character was it about? The first one to answer correctly will win and will get a PM from me. Good luck, may the force be with you, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Thanks for staying loyal everyone, comment your thoughts and contest answer, and go live your life, because you never want to look back with regret.