A/N: This chapter was inspired by the songs Without You by Rosario Dawson and Adam Pascal and Heavy in Your Arms by Florence and the Machine, it's not exactly a well known song, but it is rather enjoyable.

Just Another Day

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 2: Without You

The pain that flooded Emily's system was nothing compared to the sheer relief that Hy was okay. She wondered if this was how her father had felt after he pushed her, this relief at saving someone so beloved and joy that they would live, the darkness taking her as she heard the shout of her name. She tried to tell him it was alright, but her limbs felt heavy, she couldn't move, and the black spots filling her vision finally pulled her under as she heard the sound of approaching sirens.

How long had it been since she was hit?

Hy paced in the emergency room. Emily had pushed him out of the way of a speeding oncoming car. She took a full frontal hit, he had heard the cracking of her ribs and that horrifying sound of her body hitting the pavement. It was horrifying, to see her, to be unable to move her because he didn't know how serious the blow to the head was and in most cases moving the injured person could lead to worse injuries like a punctured lung.

He thought of their fight, how stupidly selfish he had been as she had been selfless, how unimportant it seemed now that she was so injured for him. Hy had never felt so conflicted. He had known that his love for Emily was so deep inside of him he doubted he'd have ever forgotten her if that had truly been the end of their relationship. Just the same as he knew he probably never would have found another relationship because he loved her and wanted her for himself. Hy wanted Emily to marry him, wanted to ask her and if she said yes…well Hy would be the happiest in his life.

The thought of a family with Emily, her humming those strange songs and calling it having a diverse selection like her heritage while doing things around their home, her with a child on her waist as she smiled at him and welcomed him home…they felt heavy. The thoughts reminded him of how she had once told him love never felt quite like a blessing because it was a double-edged sword. It hurt and brought such feelings of elation, but right now he understood. It condemns people, two people get hurt, two people make compromises, two people are needed for the relationship to work, and it was a heavy burden to carry but worth it if it lasted.

"Hy!"

He turned to the woman who called his name. He looked at her puzzled. "Madeline?"

"How is she? Why didn't you call? Why'd I have to find out from the nurse?"

Oh. She was here for Emily. Hy had completely forgotten to call any of her family and friends to inform them of the accident.

Madeline studied him. "You're in shock."

Probably, actually that would make a lot of sense, because he really didn't know what to do with himself. Madeline chose to take hold of his arm and lead him to a chair, forcing him to sit down. She retrieved a bottle of water from a vending machine and looked at him sternly as he was about to refuse. "Drink it, Hy. Emily won't be pleased if you fall apart. She'll worry about you more than herself and she won't let herself get better if she finds out you aren't taking care of yourself."

Hy grunted, grudgingly admitting the truth to the statement. Emily would do that.

"You should call her friends, I…I don't think I can right now."

Madeline nodded in understanding as she set about doing just that before sitting next to him.

"She'll be okay. She's strong, she'll pull through."

"I'm more worried about what condition she'll be in," Hy admitted.

Madeline looked away. There was no guarantee on Emily's condition. She remained silent as they sat and waited for new of Emily.

"Family of Emily Jones?"

It seemed like so long ago that the doctors had taken her into surgery. How long had they been waiting? Hy looked around and some of Emily's friends had shown up while he had been distracted, his thoughts plagued with his worry for Emily. Elizabeth's eyes were bloodshot, Felicia was crying into her sister Lovina's shoulder, Lovina was pale and had a grip on Antonia's hand, both the Beilschmidt siblings had turned up and were talking softly to the others, well the younger one was. Gil was next to Madeline who stood with Francine and Elizabeth, the former speaking softly to the latter.

Madeline stepped forward. "That'd be me. I'm her half sister. How is she doctor, and I'd appreciate the truth, please don't try to sugar coat it."

The doctor sighed. "Your sister is a very lucky young woman. She has two broken ribs and four fractured, multiple contusions, but no internal bleeding. In fact the most worrisome injury is the head wound and we won't know how bad that is until she wakes up, but at the moment we are keeping her in a coma and have taken a few scans to ascertain the damage she sustained."

Madeline let out a sigh. "She always was hard-headed," she joked weakly, getting a few choked up laughs from the others in the group.

"I would recommend you all return home to rest and return tomorrow to visit," the doctor informed them.

"May I see her before I leave?" Hy asked.

The doctor was about to deny him, but he stared at the young man. He knew that look. His daughter wore that look whenever she was around her husband, he had worn that look every day when he looked at his wife. He nodded. "I must warn you, it will be difficult to see her in such a condition."

"I know." Hy really did know. He had always expected that maybe one day something like this would happen, but he had also expected the call to be about the worst and he'd be identifying Emily's body. The scenario of her surviving was in a way worse. It meant she had suffered for helping someone and all that pain and helplessness would frustrate her and hurt her even more.

Time passed. Days and weeks went by, Emily was no closer to waking from her coma than the day she had been hit. It hurt Hy to see her like that. Tubes, IVs, bandages, and all, just still and unmoving, it was almost like she had died, but she hadn't, and he was waiting for her to wake up. Without her everything seemed to move so slowly, life that had seemed so bright because of her smile, her laugh and how enthused she always was, now seemed dull and inadequate.

Emily returned to consciousness slowly, she there was pain and her eyes were blinded as she opened them. Idly she wondered how long she had been asleep. The events raced back to her and her heart raced, the persistent beeping of the heart rate monitor picking up on her panic and she jolted, before she found herself being pushed back down and held down for sedation. She tried to fight but fell back into darkness. She never noticed Hy in the room watching her sadly, nor the look of love and concern he held for her.

The next time Emily awoke she opened he eyes slowly; she blinked persistently and allowed her eyes to adjust. She was in a hospital. She was still alive. She had survived where she would have been more than happy to give up her life for Hy's in exchange for knowing she would never have to live without him after that fight. This time she blinked to fight the tears that threatened to fall. How could she possible choose to live without him? After the fight, after what was said and what she had done in saving him, there was no way he hadn't stayed by her side if only out of regret and guilt and she couldn't live with him staying with her out of feelings like that. It would just hurt them both even more.

She felt heavy, like a weight had settled over her as she came to a conclusion that would break her heart and set Hy free without any of that. All she had to do was wait and that was something she was familiar enough with it came easily. She closed her eyes, tired and worn.

"Emily?"

She twitched as she heard her name called, blinking awake again as she looked towards the voice. "Emily, come on, wake up, that's it," the voice coaxed.

"Tch, should have known she'd be too lazy to even see her friends."

"That's not nice sorella…"

"Neither is pretending to sleep when you have guests."

"Ve~? How do you know Emily is pretending?"

"Loud…" Emily tried to say, but it was harsh and guttural from the lack of use.

Elizabeth came into her view and put some ice chips against her lips letting them melt and the water slowly trickle down her throat. "Don't try to speak just yet. You've been hurt badly."

Emily looked at Elizabeth confused. This was the only chance she'd have to try and pull this off. "What are you talking about? What happened?"

Elizabeth jolted as if shocked but continued to help with the ice chips as she bit her bottom lip thoughtfully for a moment. "What do you remember?"

"The party we had to celebrate the upcoming presentation for the company."

It was a safe memory that happened less than a week before she had met Hy. Or at least she thinks as much. The memories are too jumbled and honestly she wasn't sure how much was real. The mere idea of a relationship made her want to laugh at herself mockingly. It would never work. She would never have that sort of happiness because sooner or later it would end when whoever she was with ultimately realized she would not give up her heroic tendencies.

The others fell silent a bit confused by Emily's memory loss. Sure the doctors had said it was a possibility, but they hadn't taken that seriously because Emily had never forgotten anything she believed was important. Hy had been part of everything that made her happy. Lovina looked at Emily a bit longer and Emily's eyes must have shown her confusion because Lovina turned her back and went to go get the doctor.

The doctor ushered everyone out informing them that he would like to speak to Emily alone for a few minutes and do a quick check up to make sure everything was all alright.

The doctor was a short man with mischievous hazel eyes and light brown hair. "Hello Emily, I am Dr. James Hill and I have been assigned to your recovery."

Emily smiled at him. "Thank you, but I'm not entirely sure of the details Dr. Hill. What happened? Why am I here?"

"Your friend told me the last thing you remember was a party that happened a few months ago. Normally I believe it best to slowly allow your memory to come back, as the trauma from the accident could be potentially preventing you from remembering. In your case however, I am uncertain as to if you have lost the time or if your memories are there, but just jumbled," he explained.

"Is there a difference?"

Dr. Hill frowned a bit. "Not usually, but in your case I would like to know if there is anything that feels out of place. You know your name, birthday, and things about your friends correct?"

Emily nodded. "I've known them too long not to know those things."

The doctor nodded. "That is why I find it interesting your memory is missing important information from your recent way of life."

Emily frowned again. "I don't understand."

The doctor shook his head. "You have had a very worried young man asking after you, but I think it best if you allow him to speak with you himself. You pushed him out of the way of the car and were injured in his place."

"I'd have done that for anybody," Emily protested.

The doctor shrugged helplessly. "I think it best the two of you sort things out amongst yourselves. I'm going to let you rest and let in the young man I was telling you about."

Hy walked into the room, his eyes bloodshot and wide. He looked so relieved to see her and Emily couldn't remember the last time anyone looked at her like that, like she was special and his whole world revolved around her. She wondered if this was how Sarah felt in the movie Labyrinth where Jareth offers her the very thing she wants most and she has to deny him. She wonders if her eyes are as that cruel as she stares at him blankly.

Her memory was foggy. Yes she remembered Hy, she knew his name and knew how they met, but random glimpses into their friendship are hardly enough to put together the relationship they had apparently had before the accident. Not to mention she didn't quite know the dates or the timeline revolving around whatever they had either.

Hy stared at Emily whose eyes had widened with surprise and he stared at her confused. Why was she surprised? Surely she knew he loved her? That he cared about her even if they had fought just before the accident.

"Emily?"

"…yes?"

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, I think. Everyone keeps asking questions and looking at me strange, like I've forgotten something important."

"You think?"

"My memories are fuzzy, like I remember meeting you and becoming friends but not the exact events prior to the accident or the accident itself. Thank you, for coming to see me and spending so much time with me. I'm glad you've been part of my life."

Hy stared at her completely at a loss but she kept speaking and each word hurt as she tore his world apart. "You don't have to stay anymore. I'll recover soon and you don't have to feel bad about me being hurt. I'm always happy to save someone. Being a hero is a thankless job, ya know?"

Emily said it with a smile on her face and Hy couldn't help but feel rejected. How had things come to this? Hy turned around and walked out the door, his mind reeling, and never saw the look of genuine sadness, regret, acceptance, longing, and hope that maybe by letting him go Hy would find a way to be happy, even if that wasn't with her.

I was a heavy heart to carry
My beloved was weighed down
My arms around his neck
My fingers laced to crown

I was a heavy heart to carry
My feet dragged across the ground
And he took me to the river
Where he slowly let me drown

My love has concrete feet
My love's an iron ball
Wrapped around your ankles
Over the waterfall

I'm so heavy, heavy
Heavy in your arms
I'm so heavy, heavy
Heavy in your arms

And is it worth the wait
All this killing time?
Are you strong enough to stand?
Protecting both your heart and mine?

Florence and The Machine, Heavy in Your Arms

A/N: This was supposed to come out last weekend. Minor family drama and a smidge of both writers block prevented its posting and this chapter idea ended up being slightly longer than I thought it would.