"But you almost did, remember?" He had pushed his not dying out of his mind but it was brought to light by her brief statement. A sudden blanket of self loathing overcame him though he didn't really show it. "You were so absorbed in achieving your dream of a perfect world that you were nearly killed in the process." Her green eyes darkened in remembrance of that day. "I was really scared when I heard of it y'know. I thought, maybe, I'd have just lost one of my closest friends without even being able to say goodbye." Neither of them spoke in the moments after she finished. I'm so sorry, Elizá. If they were alone he wouldn't have hesitated to pull her into a hug. But they were not alone so he simply and gently took one of her hands into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"I honestly don't know why I didn't die when I should have. Perhaps I still have some unfinished business to attend to, like watching over Ludwig or something." He smiled light heartedly to try to alleviate her distress he caused. It had the opposite effect. Her typically olive complexion was reddening around her nose, cheeks, and eyes. She rose and excused herself.

"I'm afraid I got some makeup in my eye. Pardon me while I go to the restroom." Italy and the others were bewildered as Gilbert followed suit. Her arms swayed as she walked to stand in the hallway. It was quiet between them before they heard the gang beginning to chat once more. He stood in front of her, watching a sole tear fall from her eye. When he was about to speak she grabbed his wrist and brought him to the bottom steps of the stairs to the second floor. She made him take a seat by giving him a shove before sitting beside him.

"I'm sorry." Gilbert said as he looked askance. She sniffled and wiped her cheek.

"For what? Almost dying or the part where you said you'd do it again?" The air around them hung stagnant and seemed to burn his throat and made him teary-eyed. "Or-Or was it the smile you gave me after trying to make light of the situation? The one that apparently broke my cool." Feeling his heart sink and combating the urge to punch himself made his throat burn to the point where he couldn't respond. He simply reached over and pulled her into a big hug and nuzzled his face in her neck. At this point he let some liquid melancholy fall from his ruby eyes. On his back he could feel her hands gripping his shirt. "Don't you do this to me. Don't play with my feelings, Gilbert. You know how weak my heart is." It was true, though she didn't showcase it, she was one to take things personally and keep it bottled up, trying to be strong. All he could do was hug her harder, as if he wished to envelope all of her. His short burst of crocodile tears was over but he stayed into the tight hug because she was still silently sobbing against his shoulder. Slowly he rubbed her back, feeling her chest rise and fall with her breaths.

"I'm sorry I'm-" such a fool.

"Shut up and just hold me." She snapped before he could finish his statement. At her brusque demand he rebelliously undid their hug to stare into her eyes. He held her far enough away to look at her face completely. His hands cupped her cheeks. Her eyes, they were puffy and her cheeks were tearstained. She had retracted her arms to press them up against her chest in a protective manner. She looked so fragile, it was the Hungary that only Austria saw. A vulnerable, beautiful young woman who was now before him. He had eavesdropped on the couple when they didn't notice he was there. She would have never shown this side of her to him else Prussia ran his mouth. Her mouth, it was a light pink. Her pouting lips covered in tears and lip gloss. In a rush of passion he kissed her.

It was a long soulful kiss to her forehead. "You're strong Elizá. I know you are vulnerable right now and I am very honored for you to have shown this side of you to me after so long. Dankeschön, Elizá." He peered down at her as she gratefully placed her hands on top of his.

"Thanks, it's really my fault though. I don't know why I got so emotional. I'm sorry."

"Nein, nein. It's not your fault, Elizávétá. If anything its mine. I wasn't thinking and blurted out things that were triggering." She took a breath so as to protest. "Uh uh uh, shh. No more words about this." He pulled her close to himself. "Just hush and let me hold you." Hell yeah, rico suave over here. Ja, who's the smoothest one of all? The awesome Gil that's who. The manly me. He smiled triumphantly because dhe couldn't see. Oh wait, how long will this hug last? He patted her back. I wonder if she's done this before Austria. The curiosity gnawed his patience away and one of his brows furrowed.

"Hey, Elizá." She grunted in response. He took it as a go ahead for his next question. "Has Roddy ever held you like this?" The words seemed to flow directly from his soul and smoothly out his mouth. His heart was in his sleeve. He held his breath, he sucked in Elizás sweet scent, feeling like he never wanted this moment to end.

"What do you you mean?" She wondered while her face was pressed against his shoulder. He could feel her suddenly freeze at his words. A sigh escaped him as he held her.

"Well, has he ever held you in his arms while you cried over me?" That last bit is pushing it.

"Yes." His heart sunk but he had a feeling she would say that. "Don't let your overflowing hubris show but yes, I have cried over you before." I don't know whether to be happy or sad, probably sad. He held her closer and began to pat her hair. He took a whiff of it. It smelled of supple, ripe berries and of course there was a subtle hint of cornflower. "You really worry me sometimes, you germanic ass." She took a breath before continuing. "But you wouldn't be you if you didn't and unlike some people, you never seem to change as time goes by."

"What do you mean?"Surely she must be comparing me to someone else. No one can compare to me though. "It seems you are comparing me to someone, may I ask who?" It'll probably be that douchenozzle musician.

"Well no- I mean, yeah I was comparing you to someone but you're not even in the same league so it's irrelevant. You're my best childhood friend and he's my ex-husband, I can't simply compare you both." So it was Roderich the Prick. Of course it was. It just had to be the man who I grew deathly jealous of.

"It was Austria then, huh?" She didn't speak but he knew she had heard him. "There's one thing I'm confused about. When you said we weren't in the same league, what did you mean?" We're both men afterall, me a little more so than him obviously.

"He's my ex-husband and you're my best friend. What more do I have to differentiate?"

"We're both men and you're a woman. The only difference is how you view us."

"...What are you trying to say?" His heart was beating furiously in his stomach and he had an extreme want to make it stop. He felt supremely vulnerable and he didn't like it. His unease made him edgy.

"You're too clever to be this dense, think long and hard about it while I go to the bathroom." He really did have to go, he hadn't really gone all day. When he was done and washed his hands, he stared at himself in the mirror. There was a tear line through the foundation under his eyes. He cringed as he touched them, he looked like a down right mess. His eyes were red from crying. The eyeliner Hungary had put on him wasn't really running but it was smudged. He looked like a raggedy albino raccoon. Oi, I look terrible. He stood silently in front of the mirror above the sink. I don't want to go out and face what I started, how did it even get to this point? Today was supposed to be light hearted fun and then she had to go and start crying. Now it's going to be awkward between us. I'm pretty sure she's realized I have a thing for her. I have to be a man and face this like one. I've fought wars, I should be able to handle this. He took a deep breath and exited the bathroom. She was no longer at the stairs which made his neck hairs stand on edge. What if she went and told everyone, I'll be ruined for sure. Knowing her she'd ask for advice. Fearing the worst he tip toed into the living room.

Hungary was chatting with France and giving tips to Liech as she continued to work on him. Italy noticed Prussia was entering the room and made hand gestures to Colby to also take note that he had returned.

"Welcome back, Gil. Sure did take you a long time to- oh my." She took a double take when she saw the horrendous state of his makeup job.

"Oh wow, Gilbert. How'd you manage to screw up your makeup so bad, fréré." Francis asked in shock though his eyes switched to Hungary for a split second as if he could infer what happened. For better or for worse, Gilbert knew that the frenchman was fully aware of the situation. He glanced over to Elizá who appeared to be in the same boat as him, her throat swallowing from anxiety. "You should just wash it all off. Sorry Hun-" He almost slipped up and called her Hungary. She simply shrugged it off and gave him the go ahead. Alright. He was relieved to be able to get rid of all the make up gunk on his face. Staring at himself in the mirror, his mind began to wander.

What if she didn't figure it out though? Maybe she let it fly right over her head as usual, ja that sounds reasonable. It's truly a shame though because my attempts to get my feelings across always prove futile to the point that they're petty. A distraught frown made its home on his face. Now that he was alone his mind raced so fast that all he could feel was numb. He rubbed his chin, there was nearly no stubble. Perhaps she likes her men rough and tumbled. But Austria is clean-cut and clean-shaven. He's probably never had facial hair in his whole life. I've had facial hair since before I found baby Ludwig. He sighed. He's grown up so much. I used to be his tough and unbeatable older brother. But look at me now, I'm a parasite in his house. What a shame I've become. If it wasn't for my reckless abandon then Elizávétá wouldn't have cried so much over me. Poor Hungary. I'm so so sorry, my dear daffodile. if only you would turn to glance behind and see how hard and long I've been silently in love with you. I almost died for the idea of making a perfect world for you, but you wouldn't know that. Nor France nor Spain know that because I've told no one. Not even Ludwig. If I told you now, I'm sure you'd blame yourself and cry some more. I don't want to cause your tears, I'd rather shelter you here in my arms. His eyes cast down to peer at them, almost simultaneously his attention was diverted. Oh wow, I need to work out again, maybe I'll do it tonight. Ja, I'll ask Ludwig if he wants to join me.

'Moron Notes::::::

Hope you like the next upcoming chapters. Love you guys!