-29-

"Gilbert is alive?" She screamed at Ivan.

"What makes you believe this?"

"I heard that song! That song he has whistled since I first met him! You lied to me!" Elizaveta barked and ran towards the Russian about to punch him in the face. Ivan grabbed her arms and laughed.

"Are we trying to revolt again?" Ivan laughed.

"I will show you a revolt!"

"I would relish in making you regret-

"IVAN!" A loud voice boomed into the beautifully dressed room.

"Why isn't it my little snow rabbit?"

"Prussia?" She smiled victoriously.

"No one is to say that name!" Ivan roared and slapped the country to the ground, no noise emitted from her.

Gilbert chuckled and felt something ping inside him, it was support. Even if it was just from one person. It was one extra person thinking of him and pushing him forward.

"Ivan, why don't you" He paused and saw her bright green eyes looking up at him, she was broken…but still glued together. His heart sank, it was the same image of how she looked when he came to her rescue back in the war. He had to protect her…he had to make sure she survived. " come with me." He finished.

"Come with you?" Ivan laughed.

"I have missed you as of late. Is this where you have been?"

Ivan smiled and was now blinded with lust "Does my Snow Rabbit want me?"

Elizaveta's eyes widened and she looked at Gilbert, she bit her lip and watched as Gilbert lead Ivan away. But before he left, he made sure to take one good look at her just in case, he winked at her. This made her heart sink, it became fully obvious what Gilbert was doing. Elizaveta made an effort to write Roderich.

Dearest Roderich,

How are you? I hope all is well in Austria. I am doing fine, I do miss you though. Your music is far more soothing then this polka that Ivan plays. I do have good news. Gilbert is alive! He looks badly injured though. He still where's the cross, this means Prussia cannot be fully gone, am I right? You must tell the allies that he is protecting me alright? He…sacrificed himself tonight for my sake…please make sure to get this information to them! I love you Roderich.

Love
Elizaveta.


Gilbert lead the Russian to his room, Ivan never took an easy on him. He was always very rough and violent with him. Thus the reasons for all the marks and scars. It wasn't a pretty sight in his opinion at least. Ivan moved like a lion amongst a antelope. There was no stopping or pausing for a break, the claws sunk into his body and pulled everything out of the body. This now shell froze and crumbled to pieces as he wreaked havoc on his broken body.

"You like that don't you my little rabbit?"

Gilbert didn't say anything, he only panted heavily with a gurgling noise from blood in his mouth. The blood always poured out of him when this happened.

"Your so beautiful with blood on your body."

Gilbert felt as his opening were being stretched and all he could do was let out a whisping gasp. He clenched the material below him tightly until his knuckles were white.

Gilbert knew, this was his fate forever. To disappear was to easy, to let go was to easy. To lay still and not make a sound was the hardest thing on the planet. Above anything he wanted to beat the crap out of the Russian and make him suffer. But he had no support for that, he had no strength for it no motivation or anything to even push himself.

This would continue for an hour that felt like decades.

-

1959 January 31st

"Happy New Year!" Alfred shouted in the mansion that was bigger then anything Ludwig had ever owned.

Ludwig smiled and clapped his hands as the ball continued. He watched as everyone took there shoes off and danced. The 50's were strange in America, it was his first time ever into the country. Arthur was completely drunk at the bar and France and Spain were dancing like bafoons. Roderich walked over to him with a smile, he was holding a glass.

"Your German, taste this?"

The German tasted the beer from the glass bottle and immediately pulled away laughing.

"W-what is this sad excuse for beer?"

"Thought you would get a chuckle from that. Yuengling" Roderich smiled " Its good to see you smile."

"Yeah, its been a while." He noted. " What are your plans for the new year?"

Roderich sighed " To help you get back on your feet." He smiled.

"yeah…good luck with that." Ludwig sipped the beer.

"Well look at this little Nazi rally."

A voice chuckled, Roderich rolled his eyes and turned back. Ludwig " What the hell is that ab-" He stopped mid-sentence " G-gilbert!" He laughed.

"Hey West, what's that crap your drinking. Didn't I teach you not to drink American!"

Before Gilbert could get the final word out Ludwig was up from his seat hugging him, Gilbert chuckled and returned the embrace gladly. The two held there position longer then a normal embrace, Ludwig nuzzled into his neck and gripped his back tightly.

"My god, Gilbert…your skin and bones."

"Gilbert!" A friendly accented voice chirped over the crowd.

"I have to go." Gilbert pulled away.

"Wait…please.." Ludwig spoke breathlessly.

"Ludwig…I…can't."

"If you go I don't know when I will see you again?"

"Don't worry this is a party right? I am sure I will see you again ok? Love-

"There you are, should have guessed it. My little rabbit is swift is he not Ludwig?"

"He has to be to survive." Ludwig smiled.

"Or not." Ivan grinned.

Alfred broke the silence and intervened " SOooooo you guys have arrived. Sorry for the" He laughed swishing his hand " this weather is like vacation isn't it to you?" Alfred laughed and looked at Gilbert. "Can we let them be for the night?" Alfred urged.

Ivan gave a look to Gilbert and smiled at Alfred " A late present, snow rabbit." he motioned to Ludwig.

Gilbert was weary about moving, but then dashed forward leaving Ivan's side and grabbed Ludwig's arm. He pulled his younger brother away and just dragged the bigger man to the farthest part of the room. Ludwig questioned his brother and finally stopped in his tracks " Gilbert! Where are we going?"

"How many marks do you have?"

"What?"

"How much money!"

"I don't know, Alfred controls my-

"Fuck."Gilbert scolded.

"What is going on?"

"I wanted to just leave…just run away and go somewhere far maybe even here in the states. I now have a chance Ludwig! I can go!"

"G-gilbert…you can't just leave your people behind they depe-

"They are not mine anymore!" Gilbert barked with tears in his eyes. Ludwig's eyes widened and he couldn't help but see all the emotion erupt from his brother " I can't" He bit his lip breathing heavy " I can't just hope things will be ok in the future." He fell forward to his knees and against the wall. " Do you know" He breathed heavy " Do you know what it feels like to watch your capitol being taken from you? Do you know how it feels to watch the very pride of your home being destroyed!"

"Gil…come on get up."

"I just" He paused and leaned his head back against the wall " I just want to be free."

Gilbert began to laugh and took his brothers hand "You still wear the necklace." Gilbert laughed and shook his head " You are quite loyal."

"Gilbert your scaring me. Are you ok?"

"Ludwig if I were to say yes, it would be a lie."

"Please just tell me you are doing a little better?" He asked.

"I have learned to survive, I know what to say to get my way and I know how to keep my heart beating…its not easy."

"Is he still going through with the castle?"

"Of course!" He scowled gripping his stomach. " Plans start…this spring." He stopped and sat up and looked at Ludwig " How have things in Germany been? Does Alfred control everything you do?"

"No, no. He just helps me out a lot. He is a good man and is truthfully one of the only nations who have forgiven me."

"Still beating your self up?"

"Well..when we are at a party like this. Yes. When I am in Germany? No."

"Why here? You should stand ta-

"He is here." Ludwig growled at his brother.

"He?"

"The president of Isreal. Do you know how awkward that is? Do you understand how god damn-

"I'll shake his hand for you." Gilbert laughed.

"Shut up Gil, its not about being embarrassed. Its about respect."

"I guess, do you see me looking guilty of anything?"

"Well…no…but-

"Just let it be." Gilbert nodded " Besides what is the chance of him coming up to you?"

"Slim to none, but…still I hate it."

Gilbert rolled his eyes "You are stubborn as always. Let the Jews have there crappy land." Gilbert laughed "Let them rot for all I care."

"Gilbert! SH!"

"I am not a fucking nation any more! I can say what ever the fuck I want Ludwig!"

"Gilbert, its not the point. You think I am a holy Zionist now! NO! But I am trying to get you back and staying anti-sematic will not do it."

"You want the truth?"


Ivan thrust into Gilberts arched body and finally made a finishing groan. The Russian rolled off of the now limp body of the Prussian and laughed.

"You are such a good boy."

Gilbert rolled his eyes and bit his lip. Ivan continued " Cut off ties with him."

"With who?"

"Ludwig."

"Like I will listen to that!"

"If you do not, I will make sure that the first place I test my nuclear weapons on is Germany."

"You wouldn't." Gilbert sat up.

"Oh I would." Ivan sat up and looked back at Gilbert with a cold grin.

"W-why! Where does that get you!" Gilbert yelled in excruciating anguish.

"Because I am in love with you Gilbert."

Gilbert furrowed his eyebrows and couldn't help but let his jaw drop. He shook his head in confusion " W-what?"

"I am in love with you Gilbert." Ivan's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward and took the other mans lips into his own.

Gilbert tightened his lips and pushed Ivan away. " This is love to you!" Ivan looked puzzled.

"Isn't it?"

"Are your actions really as cold as your weather!" Gilbert barked.

"Gilbert, I don't care if you love me. That doesn't mean anything to me," He turned away and rose to his feet " Your mine. That is a given." His accented tongue was spoken in waves of sarcasm. " But it is hard to keep hold of you, if I cannot control every part of you."

"You do though!"

"This is why I am destroying the castle, this is why I am branding the very soil of that good for nothing Prussian excuse for architecture with my hammer and sickle."He paused gesturing " The house of soviets." Ivan turned back to Gilbert to see tears forming at the corners of his eyes " Right now I need to own you, love will come. One day you will thank me for taking you." He sat back down next to Gilbert and brought his hands to his face " One day you will thank me for getting rid of all your responsibilities and taking them from your shoulders." Ivan kissed Gilberts quivering lips.

He smiled at Gilberts lips returning the kiss when suddenly he felt something different, he pulled back quickly in pain and brought his hand to his lips. He glared down at the blood on his fingers and looked up at Gilbert.

"I will NEVER thank you for taking all I worked and made my own." He spoke with an obvious lump in his throat. Tears fell down his cheeks " I will NEVER."

"But love will come. Its only natural." The Russian smiled.

Gilbert fell back on the mattress and Ivan continued " You are to let him go. Stop this foolish Diary channel you have with him and let him go."

Gilbert bit his lip " I can't."

"You can and you will."

"I can't…he is the only reason I have lived this long."

"I need him to leave you and me alone for as long as possible."

"And you will not harm him?" Gilbert asked.

"He will stay safe as long as he is not a threat." Ivan assured.


" The truth is" He paused and looked up into the blue eyes of his brother and was about to continue when the lights went low and all that was seen was a countdown from 20. Gilbert jumped up and kissed his brother in the dark room. Ludwig struggled but loosened his shoulders and returned the kiss.

"TEN! NINE"

The countdown went unnoticed as the two brothers kissed passionately. Everything was a blur in noise and life was moving like a slow motion scene in a movie. The music began to play loudly and everyone cheered on the new year. Even China cheered on, it wasn't about customs or cultures it was about having a good time…but for Ludwig and Gilbert. It was something more, it was just a moment. Only a moment, a breath that both of them wanted to hold.

The two pulled away slowly and Gilbert opened his fluttered eyes and spoke lowly " I can't see you for a while."

"Gilbert?"

"Its not my choice."

"I know that." Ludwig spoke quietly.

"He has made it very hard to visit you, or even get this to you…" He pulled out the diary he had been passing back and forth to him " This is the last I can give you for a while."

"Gilbert you know I lo-

"There you are, let us make our leave my dear snow rabbit" Ivan spoke looking at Ludwig.

"Ivan we just-

"That is fine, I am finished here. Take care Ludwig."

"Wait, Gilbert I-

"I know Ludwig." He smiled if only a little and left with Ivan.