A/N Hello! Thanks for clicking on the story! I want to tell you guys that i finished this bad boy and will upload the final chapter after this one!

Enjoy! I own no one!

"Italy you can't go!"

"Mr. Austria is right! Spain will protect Romano and we will protect you! You can't go to war!"

"Var? Italy?"

"But…"

"No Italy, you will not go to war with Germany! Now go to your rooms and take a rest, you need to think over your decision."

Italy nodded and walked toward her original rooms and sat down on her bed. Her hair was cut extremely short and her voice had changed to a darker tone but she still looked like a female. She rubbed the fabric of her dress between her fingers, thinking about the conversation she had just finished with her 'parents'.

She had received a letter from her boss saying that she had to go to war with Germany, and although she was still very afraid of war, she wanted to go.

'But if I don't go, Romano will have to, and if he dies, I will be all alone…and if I stay here, he'll…I can't let Hungary and Austria go down with me…I need to grow up and be a big girl…I NEED to go to war…'

That night, armed with bag full of army clothes sent by her boss, food and blankets, Italy fled the safety of her home and went to train for war.

"She went…for me…" Romano looked at the struggling Italy with new eyes, softer eyes. He really never knew that she did half of the things she did for him.

Germany watched Italy struggle and decided that she was better now than before she met him. Although she tried, it wasn't her best and she was defiant to orders.

Italy and her troupe were in the forest late at night, Italy making dinner for her fellow soldiers when hands grabbed her and pulled her into a tomato box.

"Waa! Let me out!"

"We're sorry Italy! But we need to survive and if Germany gets distracted…"

"NO! PLEASE!" Italy started to push on the box lid, trying to lift it but they had nailed it down before running away, "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HERE TO DIE! I HAVE FAMILY! I…I…"

Italy stopped talking and instead stared at the lid. They left her to be attacked by Germany. Who wouldn't notice a random box in the middle of the woods?

"I need to get out of here." She laid down on her back and began to kick and punch the wood, loosening the lid little by little until she hit the side, pushing the box down the hill. She tumbled around in the box until finally hitting her head and blacking out until morning.

Italy was awoken when someone tapped on the box.

"Strange…who vould leave a box for me?"

"Hello! I am the magical tomato box fairy!"

As they watched Italy pretend to be the tomato box fairy, Romano was livid. "How fucking dare those bastards do that to mia sorella! Se mai vedere di nuovo quei bastardi, ti strappo la testa fuori!" Romano was so distracted that he didn't notice Italy getting kicked in the face by Germany.

"Roma, calm down!"

"No I will not!"

Germany just shook his head; how ashamed he was at his actions. How could he ever think that sweet, little Italy was a threat like when they first met?

"I think it's time we leave her memories now," England closed the memory but not fast enough. As Germany was going to follow England, a voice called out and stopped them from leaving.

"Germany hasn't changed at all; still so handsome from when we first met all those years ago..."

I remember it so clearly, it was a cold, cold day, bitter and intense. It was so cold, Hungary made me wear so many layers…

"It's so cold out here!" Hungary was putting a cloak on Italy and tying it when Italy bounced up and down, ready to get outside. "Alright Italy, stay warm, if you get cold, come inside and I'm make you some hot tea."

"Ok!" I wanted to draw snowflakes, but needed to see them first…

Italy wondered into the forest, her dress a pale green and brilliant white like the snow.

I remember the cloak was so warm and smelled of Holy Rome…I think Hungary made it from some of his robes as to not waste much money.

"Wow! Look at it!" Italy looked at everything around her, the winter had infected the once familiar woods that she loved to play in. The snow covered the branches which once had lively green leaves and icicles hung in rows on the branches.

"Wow…it is very beautiful…like something out of a story…" England said in awe.

Italy looked around until she saw a dark gray kitty in the snow; it looked at her for a little before twitching his tail and running away.

"Wait, come back!" Italy ran after the kitty, following it through the snow and ice. It wasn't until it jumped onto an ice covered lake that Italy stopped. She looked at the ice and slowly put her weight on it.

It didn't make any noise so she slowly made her way to the kitty in the middle of the small pond, "It's not safe here!"

"You idiot! Get out of there, forget about the stupid cat!" Romano was watching in fear, not anger. Pure fear.

"Kitty!" The cat waited for Italy who petted it once and pointed back to the snow, "We need to go over there, who knows how strong this ice is?"

The cat looked down and Italy picked it up, "I'll keep you warm and get you back to shore!" She put the cat in the crook of her arm and slowly made her way back to shore; the cat dared not to move from its spot.

Italy was almost there, about two feet away from the snow. "Almost there…"

"WHO ARE YOU?!"

Italy jumped and saw a boy dressed in white to match the snow; he wore a cloak as well and wore the iron cross on a necklace. His eyes were shadowed by his hood and he had his finger raised at her.

"I said, who are you?!"

"I…I…I!" The cat jumped from its spot and jumped into the forest. Italy forgot about the boy who had scared her, "Kitty!"

She picked up her feet to run, but the ice was weak where she was standing and decided to crack under her weight. She heard the cracking and fell forward onto the ice. She closed her eyes, waiting for the ice to break apart and let her go into the cold water.

But I didn't fall in; someone caught me…

"I got you!" Italy looked up and saw icy blue eyes, blonde hair and very pale skin, "Wrap your hands around my neck, I'm going to pick you up."

I remember that boy…he was so strong and he was able to carry me to shore, even when his boots were soaked with freezing cold water…

"What the hell were you thinking? The ice is never strong here, what were you doing out there?"

"This cat was out there and I wanted to save him…" tears prickled Italy's eyes; the boy stopped his rant and looked at her with softer eyes.

"Hey…vhat's wrong?" He reached for Italy, who jumped back and put her hands in front of her chest.

"Please don't hurt me, I'm lost and I just want to go home."

The boy smiled and gently took Italy's cold hands, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. My name is Ludwig…but my brother calls me Germany…"

"Just your brother? What about your friends?"

"…you're the only other person I've seen around here. My brother, Prussia, he found me, saved me…he said my country was gone and that I was dying, but he took me in, named me Germany…"

"That's so sad…I haven't seen my brother in a long time, but I live with my mother and father so I'm not so alone."

"I guess." Germany looked at Italy and opened his mouth a little, "I…I never got your name…"

"…my name? My name is…Feli…"

"Veli? Vhat a strange name…"

We stood there for a long time, long enough for the sun to start setting and for my hands to grow very cold.

"I…I have to go! It's so late!"

"Vait!" Italy stayed in one spot until Germany pulled his white gloves off and handed them to her, blushing ever so lightly, "Your hands are so cold…I vant to make sure you're warm…"

"But…how will I return them? Will we ever meet again?"

"No, there's no reason to…"

Italy stopped and pulled off the ring on her finger, putting it in Germany's hands. Germany looked at Italy with confusion, "Veli?"

"Now we do! So I can return the gloves and so I can have my ring back!"

"…than this is not goodbye?"

"No! At least not forever…"

Germany watched her put on the gloves and walk toward home when Italy turned around and shouted, "Germany!"

He looked back and only saw a blur of green before Italy hugged him. He caught her and looked down at her expecting eyes, "Vhat's wrong?"

"I wanted to say goodbye!"

"But we…

"Close your eyes!"

Although suspicious, Germany did as she said and she very slowly leaned in, eyes closed and kissed Germany. The young Germany opened his eyes as soon as he felt her there, but when the impulse came to push her away, his arms betrayed him and pulled her closer.

Italy smiled and kissed Germany again, wrapping his cloak around her as the wind blew harder.

When she leaned away from him, all he could do was hold onto her and blush pink.

"V-vhat vas that?"

"A kiss, silly!"

"B-but v-vhy?"

"…well…that's how I say goodbye to someone I want to see again someday, someone…special…"

"O-oh…t-thank you…"

"You're welcome…you know, you talk funny…but…I think I like it…"

"R-really?"

"Si!" Italy smiled and opened her eyes again. "I should leave soon…"

"…o-ok…goodbye…" Germany leaned in again and kissed Italy, surprising her momentarily before she kissed him back.