Chapter 39

Everything was quiet, the air still and peaceful. Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting soft shadows around the room. Germany couldn't sleep. He laid on his bed looking straight up to the ceiling. He hadn't slept for days. He couldn't get the image of his brother's face out of his mind. He sighed, pressing his hands into his face and pushing back his messy hair. He couldn't sleep. He flipped the covers over and sat up, resting his head in his hands, his elbows on his knees. He looked up, hearing a knock at the door.

"Ja?" he pushed his hair back, standing.

The door opened slowly, a small, fiery red-headed country peeking around the stream of soft light.

Germany sighed, sitting back down on his bed, "Italy…"

Italy sighed, stepping closer to Germany, "You still can't sleep, can you?"

Germany shook his head, "Nein… I just…"

"You're worried about Prussia?" Italy sighed, barely phrasing it as a question.

Germany nodded, pushing his hair back again, "I have to do something. I have to… but I can't… America won't let me. There's nothing I can do, I can't protect him, I can't save him, I can't stop any of this from happening…"

Italy pulled Germany's hands away from his face, "Hey… you'll save him! I know you will! And America will help. He won't leave Gil there, I promise."

"Then why won't he do anything now!?" Germany pounded his fist into the bed, looking away from Italy.

"He's trying!" Italy sighed, putting his hand on Germany's shoulder, "He's really trying, I know he is!"

"Well, not hard enough… I don't know how much more time Gil has…"

Italy looked down, sighing deeply, "He… he really is dying?"

Germany looked down, nodding slowly, "I think he might be. He looks terrible…"

"You looked terrible after the war."

Germany sighed, looking back at Italy, "I'm just glad you came back."

Italy smiled, "I'm sorry I had to leave, but-"

"No, I don't blame you. You saw what was happening and you couldn't be part of it. I don't blame you at all. I'm just glad you came back when it was over."

Italy smiled, nodding, "Of course I came back! And Gil will come back too!" He grinned, hugging Germany's arm, "You'll see!"

Germany smiled at Italy then sighed, nodding, "I hope you're right, Italy… I really do…"

"And when he comes back, you'll take great care of him, and so will I! He'll be ok, I promise!" Italy grinned still, looking up at Germany, his big brown eyes full of hope.

Germany nodded again, "If you're sure." He wasn't sure.

Italy smiled, laying his head on Germany's shoulder, "I'm sure."

Germain let his head rest against Italy's, sighing deeply, letting the little country hug his arm.

"And when you get Gil back, I get to hug him second, ok?" Italy whispered, tired.

Germany nodded, closing his eyes, "Ja… right after me…" He sighed, lifting his head to look back at Italy. "Feli?" he whispered. No reply. "Italy?" he tried to look at the country's face. The red-head's eyes were closed, and his chest rose and fell with the rhythm of sleep. Germany smiled, picking him up and carrying him back to his room. He set him down on his bed and pulled the covers over him, brushing the red hair out of the country's face.

"Gute Nacht, Feli." Germany smiled, walking back to his own room and sitting on the bed. He sighed, laying down and pulling the covers over his legs. He turned, looking up at the ceiling again, and closed his eyes, trying to sleep, trying to dream about Prussia.

"Bruder, you're home!" He grinned, running up to his older brother, throwing his arms around the white-haired country's neck. He laughed as the white-haired country spun him around, then lifted him up into his arms.

"How's my Engelchen?" Prussia grinned, nuzzling Luddy's nose.

"Good! You're home!"

Prussia nodded, "So I am."

"Your face is hurt…" Luddy pouted, touching the scabbed over the cut in Prussia's cheek.

Prussia smiled, shaking his head, "Not very hurt. I'll be fine."

Luddy kissed the injury, laying his head on his brother's shoulder, "Why do you fight so much…" He asked after a long silence.

Prussia sighed, "Because I'm a soldier. And there's always a war to win."

"But you always come home hurt…"

"Not too hurt."

"Sometimes!" Luddy looked up, his youthfully chubby face frowning at his big brother, "Sometimes you come back very hurt. Carried hurt!"

Prussia nodded, "Yes, but not very often. And when I do, I have you to take care of me, don't I?"

Luddy nodded, grinning, "Ja! And someday I'll be strong like you! And I'll win wars and fight bad guys!"

"Yes you will," Prussia laughed, hugging his brother tighter. He carried him into their castle and set him down on the beautiful marble floor. He took his brother's hand and started walking up the stairs.

Ludwig followed close behind Prussia, looking up at him. He was so strong, so brave, and almost always won his battles. He wanted to be just like him.

"Bruder… do you like me?" Luddy looked up at Prussia. He was worried. He wasn't strong, or brave like his big brother, he was too small.

Prussia stopped on the landing of the stairs, kneeling, putting his hands on Luddy's shoulders, "Of course I do. and don't you ever forget that. Okay? You're awesome, just like me. Just as awesome," he touched Luddy's nose quickly with a smile, "And you're going to be just as strong as I am one day."

"Some of the others don't like me…" Luddy looked down. The rest of their siblings were also much older than he was. Older, wiser, stronger, and he didn't want to bother them. He felt like he bothered them.

"Nein," Prussia shook his head, "They love you. Almost as much as I do," he smirked, "Trust me, they love you."

"If you're sure…."

"I'm sure," Prussia smiled.

Luddy looked up as his brother lifted his chin gently. He smiled, "Do we have time for a lesson?"

Prussia shook his head with a laugh, "No, silly, it's dark out!"

"Then can we play the game?" Luddy grinned.

Prussia thought for a moment dramatically, "Well… if you get ready for bed really, really fast, then maybe we'll have time to play the game."

Luddy grinned, nodding and running up the rest of the stairs into his room. He hurried into his pajamas and ran back towards the door, almost running into Prussia as he opened it.

"Hey there!" Prussia laughed, stopping his brother from crashing into him.

Luddy looked up at him with a giant grin, "Can we play the game now?"

Prussia nodded, stepping into the room and closing the door, "Ok, ready?"

Luddy smiled, standing with his right leg slightly back, bending his knees and holding crossed arms up in front of his chest.

Prussia stood, his left leg behind him, and put his hands on Luddy's arms by his elbows.

"Ready?" Prussia smiled.

Luddy nodded, his small childish face frowning in concentration.

Prussia pushed against Luddy's arms gently, pulling him to the one side, then the other, bringing him back to the center. "Are you sure you're ready?"

Luddy nodded.

"Close your eyes…" Prussia smiled.

Luddy obeyed, closing his eyes with a happy sigh.

"Let your feet anchor to the ground, feel your weight grow heavy. Don't let me push you over. If you take a step, take it carefully. Be aware of where you are, and hold steady."

Luddy nodded, biting his lips into his mouth to keep from grinning with excitement.

Prussia smiled, pushing against his brother's arms, shifting him, trying to push him off balance.

Luddy moved against the weight, trying to keep his feet firmly on the ground. He took a deliberate step back, not allowing himself to be pushed over.

Prussia grinned, taking his hands away from his brother's arms.

Luddy looked up at his brother, smiling back, "Did I do it?"

Prussia nodded, "Ja. You're getting much stronger, Luddy. Better every day."

"One day I'll be able to sword fight like you!"

Prussia nodded again, "Of course you will be. You'll be awesome!" He smiled, ruffling his brother's hair.

Luddy wrapped his arms around his brother's neck, resting his head on his shoulder. "Ich liebe dich, bruder…."

Prussia smiled, picking up his almost-sleeping brother, carrying him towards the bed. He lifted the covers and laid the little blond country into the bed, pulling the covers over him up to his chin. He kissed his forehead and turned to walk out of the room.

"Singst du? (Will you sing?)," Luddy whined sleepily, "Bitte?"

Prussia turned, laughing quietly, "You want me to sing? I thought you hated my voice?"

Luddy shook his head, "Mm mm, no I like it."

Prussia sighed with a smile, walking back to Luddy's bed and kneeling beside it, petting his little brother's hair.

Weißt du, wieviel Kinder frühe
stehn aus ihrem Bettlein auf,
daß sie ohne Sorg und Mühe
fröhlich sind im Tageslauf?
Gott im Himmel hat an allen
seine Lust, sein Wohlgefallen;
kennt auch dich und hat dich lieb,
kennt auch dich und hat dich lieb.

(Do you know how many children
Wake up early from their little beds,
Who are without worry and sorrow
And happy durring the day?
God in Heaven has everybody's
Joy and welfare in mind;
He knows you and loves you too,
He knows you and loves you too.)

Prussia smiled, petting soft blond hair and chubby round cheek. He saw his brother's chest rising and falling with the rhythm of sleep. He stood, kissing his forehead again. "Schlaf gut, Engelchen (Sleep well, little angel)."

Germany opened his eyes, daylight peeking in through his open window. He sighed, pressing his hands into his face. He looked at the clock. 5 am. He stood slowly, not awake yet. He walked to his closet, sighing as he looked through all the military green. He rarely wore his uniform anymore. He'd tried so hard and worked for so long to prove to everyone that he'd changed since the war that wearing a military uniform seemed unproductive. He took a grey suit and white shirt from the hanger, setting it on the bed. He changed quickly, pulling on a pair of leather boots. He couldn't give up his boots. He walked into the attached bathroom and gelled his hair back, exactly the same as he always did. He sighed. He was skipping his morning run, his body and mind too tired to focus on anything. He would work. Work always helped. His country was finally doing well again. His people weren't starving, they weren't dying. An 'Economic Miracle' they were calling it: 'Wirtschaftswunder'. He walked out of his room to find Italy already in the kitchen cooking.

"What are you doing up so early, Feli?" Germany asked, concerned. Italy never woke up early, not for anything or anyone.

"To make you breakfast!" Italy grinned, concentrating on frying the meat he was making specifically for the blonde country.

"Italy… you didn't have to-"

"No! You were upset last night! You're still upset. I know I can't fix everything, but I can try to cheer you up!" Italy smiled back at him, turning back to the meat as if looking away for a second was cause it to burn.

Germany smiled, "Danke, Feli."

Italy motioned to the table he had set with two plates. He gave all the meat to Germany and brought the tray of Crostata from the oven where it was staying warm.

"Ta da!" Italy grinned, gesturing towards the food.

Germany smiled again, "Again, Danke."

Italy nodded, still grinning, and sat beside Germany, "So I did cheer you up?"

Germany nodded slightly, "Ja. A little bit."

"We'll help Gil. I promise. He'll be ok, I know he will. You won't let Russia…" Italy stopped himself, seeing Germany's expression change, "Ludwig?"

Germany shook his head, "No, it's ok. It's ok, it just… it scares me."

"Me too…" Italy sighed, "Gil's my friend… I know it's not the same, but…"

Germany sighed, patting Italy's shoulder, "I know. I know, you're trying to help…"

"He's a good big brother. He's tough. Just like you! He'll be ok." Italy smiled reassuringly, trying to give Germany some hope.

Germany nodded, "Ja. Ja, I'm sure he will be. America will help when he can…"

"Maybe… you could find out how he's doing without America's help?"

"And how would I do that?" Germany put his elbow on the table, resting his head in his hand.

"I don't know… but it's easier for you to cross the wall than it is for him, isn't it? Maybe America would let you? You could visit him? Maybe?"

Germany looked back at Italy, "I don't think Russia would allow that…"

"Maybe someone else could go! Someone you trust!"

Germany sighed deeply, trying to think, "There was a young man… he said he wanted to help. He said he wanted to help us take down the wall. He was passionate, brave, willing to do anything. He offered to be a spy. He was so young I turned him down, the kid was maybe 16? Too young to be a soldier…"

"Young enough to not draw much suspicion once he's across though."

Germany nodded, "True. I just… I don't want to put any more men in danger…"

Italy sighed, "I know. But if he wants to go, and he could help Gil…"

Germany nodded again, "Ja. I'll talk to him again today," he stood.

"Food first!" Italy stopped him, concerned.

"Oh, right!" Germany smiled at Italy, sitting back down and tasting the food. It was fantastic. He smiled again, "It's very good," he turned back to the plate, scarfing down as much food as he could as fast as he could. He stood finally, clearing his plate to the sink.

"I'll clean up," Italy stood too, carrying his plate, "You have a lot to do I think…"

Germany nodded, wiping his hands, still chewing his last bite. He waved goodbye to Italy for the day and walked into his office. He didn't bother to sit down, flipping through stacks of papers, looking for the name of the young potential spy.

Cort Müller

A/N: Another chapter up today! I got a chance to write while on set since I have very little to do this week! And a HAPPY CHAPTER! More Young Luddy and Big Brother Prussia! yay! The fencing training game they play is actually one I learned from my own fencing master! I think it's quite fun, and definitely improved my balance!

A twist for you all at the end, also showing some of the progression of time with it as well. Surprise! You didn't think I was done with this family, did you? ;)

Thank you guys so much for reviewing! I got SO MANY reviews on the last chapter and it made me so happy! A much lighter chapter here, though still with depth I hope. Germany is very upset and concerned about his big brother (who he loves very very much, obviously), and Italy can only comfort him so much... :(

As always, reviews are deeply appreciated! I love you all! Cookies, hugs, and lemonaide for all of you! Let's throw in some M&M's too. M&M's are important! :D