Bonjour everyone! So last night crashed or something so I couldn't upload this chapter. So I got to spend the entire day at school thinking of ways to edit it and stuff... mostly I thought about the next chapter. YAY GerIta! Again this is my first ever fanfiction, so be warned I'm really new at this whole thing. THANK YOU for reading!

OCCUPIED: A Tale from World War Two

A Hetalia work by Count OCD

Chapter 9

The Netherlands opened the back door and headed out with Denmark and Norway on his heels. He felt the rain start to drip from the sky, and he heard thunder in the distance. He walked over to the bench and tapped on the mound of dirt with the latch. One, two, three times. The mound opened up and a man's head popped up.

"Come, there is a storm coming. You could drown if this cellar fills with water." The Netherlands put out his hand. The man took it and crawled out of the cellar. He motioned for the other people in the cellar to follow him.

Denmark tried to stifle his gasp. Out of the cellar came almost thirty people. Elderly couples. Two mothers with children, a few teenagers who reminded Denmark painfully of Iceland. He hadn't known so many people were here. He'd had the impression that the cellar could hold maybe one family, but seeing all these people made him worry. Where were they going to put them all?

One of the mothers carried two small children. Twins? And tried to pull another girl by the hand. Denmark watched as Norway walked over and took the hand of the child and led her next to her mother. Denmark helped herd the whole procession through the ever worsening rainstorm into the back of the house. The Netherlands led the group up the stairs and turned right, towards his room.

The rain was starting to come down pretty hard now. Germany held the handle of the umbrella tighter as he walked through the rain. Italy was walking next to him, huddled close. The sunset was blotted out by the rain clouds, but the dark clouds still let through some sun, allowing angelic beams of light to poke through the rain. It was beautiful.

"You know," Italy started, "When I was younger, Miss Hungary would tell me stories about guardian angels. They look down from heaven in beams of light, just like those." He pointed to the streaks of light. "She said that people who loved you, when they died, would sit up there and make sure you were safe. They'd watch you and make sure your life was a happy one! I wonder if my guardian angel can see me now?"

Ah yes, Germany thought, His Grandfather, the Mighty Rome. I met him… That was interesting. Germany had never told Italy about the time he had met his grandfather. "I met him once."

Italy stopped walking. "What do you mean?" He whispered.

Germany suddenly felt uncomfortable, "Your grandfather, Rome, he visited me one night back in-"

"Oh." Italy looked upset. "No that's- Grandpa Rome is more like Romano's guardian angel." Italy looked down at the ground. He splashed his boot through a puddle.

"What do you mean?" Germany tried to take Italy's hand in his. Because that's what friends do, right?

Italy took Germany's hand, put it to his lips, and kissed it. He pulled it over to his chest and looked into Germany's face. "When I was little, there was another boy. He looked a lot like you do, Germany." Italy smiled sadly at Germany. "We played a lot as kids, and I- well... but one day he just… disappeared. I don't know what happened to him."

"I'm sorry, Italy. I-"

"She always told me he was up in heaven, smiling down at me. She said he'd want me to live a happy life, even if it was without him." Tears started to form in his eyes. Germany didn't know what to do.

"Well, are you happy now?" Germany nervously hoped he hadn't just made the situation worse.

"It's better now." Italy smiled up at Germany, his eyelashes were wet with tears. "Because now I have Japan and America and my brothers," he put his hand on Germany's face, "and you, Germany."

Germany looked into Italy's sad, but smiling face. He wondered for a moment what his life would be like if he hadn't met Italy. He'd consumed so much of Germany's life at this point, Germany could hardly imagine a life without him. Sure sometimes he had to get away from Italy's shenanigans, but he always came back. Germany put his hand on Italy's shoulder. "Italy, I know I've promised you this before, but I will never leave you." Not like that boy left you.

Italy grabbed the hand Germany had put on his shoulder and moved it to his face, holding it there he said. "Germany?" He got onto his toes, Germany was almost eight inches taller than him, but he reached his arms around Germany's neck. "I love you." Italy leaned his face towards Germany's and kissed him.

Germany was so shocked he dropped his umbrella. But after a second of disbelief he started to lean into Italy's embrace. He moved his one hand around Italy's waist and his other up to Italy's neck. They stood there together for a long moment. When Italy pulled away from Germany, both of them soaking wet from the rain, they looked into each other's eyes for a long moment. Italy's redish hair was so damp it looked brown, and Germany could feel his bangs start to fall out of place over his forehead.

"I'm sorry, Germany…" Italy put his head on Germany's chest.

"Why?" Germany put his hand under Italy's chin, he looked back into Italy's teary face.

"Your boss… he'd never, you'd never be able to-" Italy's sentence was cut off by a dry sob. "I know you can't love me." He whispered. "You don't have to say anything." Italy started to turn around to walk away, but Germany grabbed his hand. Blushing profusely he said:

"They're only human, Italy. Times will change and we'll be able to be together."

"Really?" Italy grabbed Germany around the waist. "Oh Thank you, Germany!"

Germany pulled off his coat and propped it over his head. Italy ducked under and they walked back to Germany's house, Germany's dog followed them.

They walked back in silence. Germany reached to open the front door when Italy put his hand on left arm where Germany had to wear the red-orange armband his boss had given him with his uniform. "Germany?"

Germany looked down at Italy. "Jah?"

"You said times would change, and that we'd be able to be together then, right?"

"Jah."

"But… would things change if we win?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if we win the war, then we'll expand our empires right? Japan gets Asia, my boss has me conquering Africa-,"

Germany almost laughed. Italy conquering Africa? More like Italy holding a place in line and waiting for Germany to conquer Africa for them.

"-and you're taking over Europe, but… if we just expand our spheres of influence, things will stay the same, just they'll be the same everywhere!" Italy's voice was gradually turning to a higher, more panicked pitch. "I don't want things to be the same! I want things to change." He stopped for a moment then whispered. "What if I don't want to win this war?"

Germany put his hand on Italy's cheek, his pale skin seemed to glow through the rain against Italy's tanned face. "We have to win, Italy. That's our job." He sighed. "But, when this is all over, after we've won, what do you think of uniting our empires?"

"We're already- wait, like, actual unification?" Italy seemed surprised.

"Jah. It would be the beginning of a united world, and…" He smiled down at Italy.

"Germany I'd love to!" Italy threw his arms over Germany and kissed him again.

ATHOOUR'S NOTES: Yes. I do think that often when countries were unified the two countries were 'married'. (Like Austria-Hungary) Not always, but I thought this would be a cute insight to how countries might propose to one another.

ALSO: Last chance to guess who Lavone is! (A hint: She is a puppet state, but she is not German, she's French.)