Thanks to Yaoi-Is-Life-and-Love and Praise's waterfall for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 68

It was late afternoon on Friday when Romulus received a call from the hospital. He listened for a while, before rushing off to find Marcello and Feliciano.

He wasn't too surprised to see them sitting in front of the TV. Though they were staring at the screen, it was clear to Romulus that they weren't watching. Their thoughts were occupied by their brother. Ever since he told them to get out of their rooms, this was the place where they stayed.

"Get ready," Romulus instructed.

It was telling that they didn't even bother to get dressed out of their pyjamas.

"Why?" Feliciano asked listlessly.

"The hospital called," Romulus replied. "They just gave Lovino his last dose. He should be waking up in a few hours. You don't want him to wake up in the hospital alone, do you?"

There were two winds blowing past Romulus, and the sounds of rolling thunder as the two teens raced to their rooms. Romulus smiled, before he turned off the TV. In a few hours, the last of their number would join the realm of the wakeful again, and then they only had to focus on Lovino getting better.

He should also probably call his mother later to inform her, but it might be better to do so after Lovino was already awake.

…

"Like, are you serious?!" Feliks exclaimed as he stared at the phone screen.

Feliks's father had sent him a simple text, explaining that Lovino received his last dose of the anaesthesia and that he would be able to wake up within the next few hours. There was also a message saying that only Lovino's family would be able to see him that evening, but the rest of their friends could visit the next day.

Feliks immediately forwarded the text to the others, and he was surprised by how swiftly their responses came in.

That's amazing!

That's great!

So, we're visiting tomorrow, right?

Of course! Are we going to bring the gifts?

Since we can't do it today, we should have the party tomorrow.

The hospital might not be keen on us bringing food.

Then we'll make a plan.

Feliks smiled. He wondered what Lovino's reaction would be if he could see all of the concern dedicated by their friends. A far cry from when the two met each other, that was for sure. And perhaps Feliks could convince Lovino to actually join the group on WhatsApp. After all of this, Lovino still couldn't be worried about being bullied this way.

…

Gupta rushed into the kitchen, and at first he was a bit surprised to see that his mother was busy baking cookies, before deciding that the news he wished to share took priority over the cookies.

"Gupta, what is it?" Eshe asked.

"Feliks just gave us good news," Gupta said, breaking out into a smile. "They gave Lovino the last dose, and he should be waking up in a few hours."

"That's great!" Eshe exclaimed. "That is wonderful news. I suppose you're going to go visit him tomorrow?"

"That's the plan, if you don't mind. We were hoping to have the party there."

"As long as the hospital doesn't object, I don't see why not. Do you have a gift for everyone?"

"Yes. But, I think I want to get something extra for Lovino."

"Of course. The shops will close soon. I'll drive you."

Gupta smiled in relief. The previous day, everything was dark and gloomy. But now, finally, there was a bit of sunshine through the dark clouds.

…

"If there's anything, be sure to call the nurse," Fryderyk said. "Also, call when he wakes up. We'll need to do a few tests to make sure everything is alright with him when he's awake. Among other things, we'll need to check to make sure he doesn't have any brain damage."

Romulus nodded in understanding as he took his seat next to Lovino's bed, his other two sons on the other side.

"How long do you think this is going to take?" Marcello asked.

"Hard to say," Fryderyk said. "It might take one hour, might take more. I hope you came prepared to wait."

"Don't worry," Romulus said, raising his book.

Fryderyk smiled before he left, and Romulus opened his book while Marcello and Feliciano went on their phones.

He recalled the previous day, where Camille and that other boy, Ludwig, had come for a visit. They wanted to apologise to Marcello, who didn't blame them for their brothers wanting to kill Lovino. Feliciano just wanted to know what Francis and Gilbert were doing, and wasn't pleased to know that they had been released from jail, though they were placed under house arrest. He would have preferred for them to rot in prison.

But also, Feliciano didn't blame the siblings for what was done. That wouldn't have helped anyone.

Romulus glanced down before stroking the hair away from Lovino's eyes. He looked as though he had a bit more colour now, though the bruise still stood out sharply. Lovino would carry that around for a while. And he would be restricted to a liquid diet for a while, according to the nurse.

Romulus might want to check to see if there was some way he could help his son in that regard.

…

Pain. That was the first thing that Lovino grew aware of. It was hard to pinpoint where the source of the pain came from. It might have been easier to say that his entire body was in pain.

He also recognised the scent of a place he'd hoped not to visit again for a long time. The hospital. Did something happen? Was he in an accident? Why was he in the hospital? He couldn't remember.

He could hear voices, though they were muffled and their words were unintelligible. Still, he couldn't help but think that they sounded familiar. He just needed to figure out where he'd heard them before.

He was floating in a sea of darkness, and it took him a long while to realise that he was asleep. When he felt pressure on his front and back, he figured that he was on the verge of waking up. But he wasn't ready yet. He was just so tired…

The voices were speaking again, and they were clearer than before, but he still couldn't identify them. He wanted to focus on those voices…

"…hungry?"

That was the first clear thing he could hear. It sounded like his father. Was he asking if Lovino was hungry, or was he speaking to his brothers? The smell of the hospital came back to him, and he realised that his father was speaking to his brothers. If he was in the hospital, then they would take care of him.

He could focus more now. His head hurt, and his stomach hurt. He tried to think about what could have happened, but…

Please!

His own voice, echoing in his head. He felt a surge of fear. Did he have a run-in with those three again? That was the only reason why he would beg like that.

"…be back soon."

That sounded like Marcello. Was he speaking to Lovino? What was going on? Why… Why couldn't he wake up?

Lovino could feel something on his hand. Another, larger hand. His father's. The thumb was gently stroking. He tried to squeeze back, but the first time didn't work. The second time, he could only twitch. And the third time… He thought he managed it the third time.

"Lovino?" Romulus's voice spoke to him.

He tried to open his eyes, but it was as though he forgot how to do so. He eventually saw a sliver of light, and he tried to go further like that. He just wanted to wake up. He wanted to figure out what was going on.

"Don't force it," Romulus said. "We're all waiting for you to wake up, but take your time."

He felt gentle fingers stroking his face, and he leaned into them. He tried to open his eyes again, and this time he managed it for a moment, before his eyes fell shut again.

"Can you hear me?" Romulus asked.

Lovino tried to open his eyes again, and asides from being too bright, he could see the blurry figure that was his father.

"Si," he whispered. "I hear you."

He didn't know what happened to his voice. And he didn't know why he was so tired.

"Thank goodness," Romulus whispered, and to Lovino's confusion, he started to kiss his knuckles. "We were all so worried about you."

"What… what happened?" Lovino asked. He looked around. "Why am I in the hospital?"

"What can you remember?"

Lovino frowned, thinking hard. He remembered going for a walk. He wanted to buy the gifts for his friends. And then…

His mind went blank.

He tried to sit up, only to immediately cry out in pain as his stomach burned in protest. His father gently pushed him down again.

"Take it easy," Romulus said. "You were stabbed three times. You're going to take some time to heal."

Lovino's eyes widened.

"S-stabbed?" he repeated.

Romulus nodded his head, looking sombre.

"Those three did this to you," Romulus said. "You've been in a coma for two days."

Lovino felt cold. After his father mentioned it, he remembered that afternoon at the bridge. He trembled as everything replayed in his mind. The cold looks in their eyes… The casual way they treated everything…

"Vino!"

He didn't even react when he heard his twin's voice, but he cried out in shock when he was suddenly jolted. Feliciano and Marcello were looking at him with pained expressions.

"Are you alright?" Marcello asked. "Did we hurt you?"

Lovino nodded, and the two reluctantly pulled away from him.

"We were so scared, Vino," Feliciano said. "You… you almost died. Again! And this time…"

"I know," Lovino sighed. "A coma for two days. W-wait… That means… Today's Friday! My friends…"

"Are worried about you," Romulus said. "Feliks has been checking in constantly. Which reminds me, we should probably let the doctors know you're awake."

Lovino watched as his father pressed the call button, and a few seconds later a nurse arrived. Lovino noted with some amusement that it was Nurse Tino.

"Oh, he's awake!" Tino said. "I'll go call doctor Fryderyk."

The nurse disappeared, and Lovino smiled in amusement.

"He can't pronounce the name, can he?" he asked.

"How are you feeling?" Marcello asked. "Seriously?"

"Tired," Lovino said. "Sore. And my mouth feels like sandpaper. But… we were supposed to have that party tonight…"

"No one was able to throw a party with you here," Romulus said. "Your nonna is also worried about you. And your uncles and aunts."

"They've been calling Papa a lot to ask him how you're doing," Feliciano explained.

"So… what are we going to do about Christmas?" Lovino asked.

"Well, the trip to Italy's been cancelled," Romulus sighed. "We'll most likely be spending Christmas in the hospital with you."

"I'm sorry…" Lovino whispered.

"None of this is your fault. You were attacked. You're the victim here, and no one is blaming you. Also, the police have been involved. Until you're well enough to testify in court, those three are under house arrest."

Lovino blinked in surprise. Did he hear correctly?

Before he could ask his father more about it, Fryderyk rushed in. He smiled when he saw Lovino.

"Glad to see you're awake," he said. "Feliks will be thrilled. So, how are you feeling?"

"Tired," Lovino said.

"Well, you did receive a lot of anaesthesia for the last two days. I'd be more surprised if you said you're not tired."

Lovino winced a bit when the doctor shone a light into his eyes, before nodding in satisfaction.

"Pupil contraction is normal," he muttered. "Hungry? Thirsty?"

Lovino paused for a moment.

"Thirsty," he said. "Not really hungry."

"You did get some nourishments earlier," Fryderyk mused. "I'll go tell the nurse to bring you some water. Just be careful when you drink it. Are you feeling nauseous?"

"A little."

"That's also normal of anaesthesia. We should probably help him sit up."

Lovino winced when the two adults helped him sit up, adjusting his pillows as they went along. Eventually he was sitting upright, and he could feel the nausea subside a little.

"I'll ask the nurses to bring you something for the nausea too," Fryderyk said. "Not that there's really something to throw up at this point. Also, you'll be placed on a liquid diet. Your intestines suffered from the stab wounds, and it would take some time to recover."

Lovino nodded, before he yawned. Fryderyk gave him a sympathetic look.

"We'll have to wait for the nausea to be gone before you can get some sleep," Fryderyk said. "At this point in time, even if there's nothing in your stomach, the mere act of retching would be extremely painful for you."

There was one time when Lovino was sick where he threw up so frequently that his stomach was actually stiff, as though he'd done a few hundred sit-ups. Just the thought of that made his muscles tense, and he winced in pain.

"Right," he said. "That would be total crap."

Fryderyk gave a wry smile in amusement, before he turned to Romulus.

"Keep him awake for a few minutes," he instructed. "At least until the nausea's passed."

"Of course," Romulus said.

Fryderyk gave Lovino a smile.

"Feliks will be relieved to hear you're awake," he said.

"When can I see my friends?" Lovino asked.

"If you feel up to it, I'm sure they'll be happy to see you tomorrow. But for now, just rest and take it easy, okay?"

Lovino nodded. Fryderyk gave one last smile before he departed, allowing the family to have their space. Lovino felt awkward. He had no idea what to say.

"Francis and the others were arrested," Marcello explained. "Camille and Ludwig said that they spent the night in jail, before their parents decided to pay their bails. They're under house arrest now, at least until you can testify in court."

"Why?" Lovino asked. "Why do I have to testify in court?"

"Those three tried to kill you, Lovino," Romulus said. "They tried it before, right? What's stopping them from trying again? This time… With your testimony, they can be locked away, and they'll never have to bother you again."

Lovino averted his gaze. The idea of not being bothered again certainly sounded appealing. And he knew that his father was right. They tried before, and they would try again. They really hated him that much. Enough to seek him out. To plan a murder, and make it look like suicide.

Lovino didn't realise that he was trembling until Feliciano grabbed his hand.

"You're not alone, Vino," Feliciano said. "We're with you, and your friends will be there for you too. And it's about time those three get punished for all the things they did to you."

Lovino closed his eyes. Justice. That was the thing he'd wanted for a long time. For those in authority to see that the three of them weren't these angels they pretended to be. He wanted others to realise how evil they were, and how cruelly they would treat him. And, more than everything, he didn't want to be the one punished for the things they did to him. He realised that they wouldn't be escaping this time. They tried to kill him, and the police were already involved.

But even more than punishment, what Lovino wanted was peace. Now that he knew that they would hunt him down in order to try to kill him, he realised that he wouldn't be able to leave the house without looking over his shoulder. He would be afraid that every time he went to walk Chiara, they would be waiting for him, hoping to finish what they started. And what would they do to his dog?

However…

"What about Miguel?" Lovino asked. "He and Antonio are cousins. H-how would this…?"

"I don't know about Miguel," Marcello said, "but I know that Camille and Ludwig had lost all sympathy for their brothers. The way they see it, they deserved to be punished."

"Which they do," Feliciano spat.

…

Miguel smiled when he saw the message. Lovino was awake. Finally!

He couldn't wait to see Lovino the next day. He wanted to make sure that Lovino wasn't afraid of him again, like he was at the beginning of their acquaintanceship. He didn't want all of their hard work to be for nothing. If it turned out that Lovino could see nothing but his cousin again, then Miguel would do his best to make Lovino comfortable with him again.

He wasn't a fool. He knew that regardless of whether or not Lovino saw Antonio whenever he looked at Miguel, it would still take a long time for the Italian to heal. This was beyond bullying. This was an act of pure hatred, one that almost cost Lovino his life. If he hadn't managed to call his father to help him…

Miguel had never lost a friend before. When he was little, he had trouble making any. His inability to connect with people made it impossible. Yao was his first friend, and then his circle only grew with Vlad, Gupta, Heracles, and now Feliks and Lovino. His friends were precious to him, more than anyone could ever know. Yes, he'd had his fair share of nightmares where he would lose one or more of them. Where they would tell him that they were tired of him. But never had he thought that he might lose a friend because of an attempted murder.

Especially with Antonio being responsible.

He supposed that he shouldn't be surprised. Antonio was largely the reason why he struggled to connect with kids his age when he was younger. Partly because he didn't know what to do, and partly because he was afraid of getting hurt in some way.

He wasn't bullied in the same way Lovino was. But that didn't mean that Antonio didn't make things difficult for him. And now, one last time, Antonio had hurt both of them in one fell swoop.

Antonio didn't exactly bully Miguel, but he was mostly oblivious to the ways he hurt his cousin. The only exception was when Antonio was angry, since he doesn't have the capacity to control his anger. Miguel only received apologies from Antonio when the adults could see this happening, and sometimes Miguel would also fight back. Miguel's experiences with his cousin made it difficult for him to interact with the other kids, especially since he's more introverted than Antonio is. He's what one would call a social introvert: He has a strong urge to socialise, but lacks the confidence to just go to someone. That's also why his friends are so important to him.

Also, I need to stay away from bookstores for a while. Especially Bargain Books. Two words: book sale. Just to give an example: A book that's normally R240 being available for R70. Books are expensive here. For context, Jodi Picoult's new book is R343, and that's just the paperback version. I am running out of space on my bookshelf. And considering I've added more than a dozen books in three weeks… It's kind of understandable.