Sorry about the long wait. Really. The last few months have been tough. Work and school was killing me, then more recently I had to attend a funeral. Gah! Why does life hat me so much!

Okay. I don't own hetalia. Trust me. The world would know if I did.

"Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead."

Benjamin Franklin

Ch. 3: Time for a Nice Quiet Chat

*Spain's house*

He looked around for at least the 27th time. It was a nice quiet neighborhood. No one seemed to even care that the German was still standing on the front porch of one of the houses or the fact that he kept glancing about him.

Germany sighed. Why was he even doing this again? Oh, right. Peace of mind. He sighed again. He really wasn't sure what he was expecting. South Italy hated him...Or at least it seemed that way to him and half the world. And yet, here he was. Standing in front of the door to Spain's house holding an inner debate to knock or not to know. Now there was a question.

Sighing one last time, he sent a quick prayer up, then raised his hand and knocked. The sound of shuffling feet and a shout that sounded to much like 'Keep your hands to yourself Tomato Bastard', the door swung open to reveal the still ever so happy Spain.

Spain's smile didn't even seem to falter as a Romano continued shouting obscenities at him.

"Oh? Germany?" Spain smiling faced melted into a curious one as he stared at the blond on his doorstep. "If you're looking for Feli, he's not here. I would think~"

"I'm nod here aboud North Idaly. I vas acdually vondering if I could speak vith South Idaly." He kept his voice calm as both of the houses occupants went quiet.

"What do want with me, potato bastard?" Romano's voice was as full of curiosity as it was full of hatred. Not that he understood the last emotion.

"I vas vondering if you could dransulade someding for me. Id has been a vhile since I have had do speak Idalian and I believe I am oud of pracdice." Oh, how that hurt his pride. But when it came to Romano, best to give him the truth and not give the easily angered Italian a reason to get all riled up.

The both brunettes just stared at him in disbelief, while Germany could feel his face start to heat up. This was not what he was expecting. No not at all.

"If now is nod a good dime I could come back lader."

"No! No. Please, come in!" Spain made an overly dramatic gesture with his hands before stepping out of the way. "This way!"

Germany followed the happy Spaniard into the living room with a curious Italian grumbling softly from behind. Once everyone was sitting down and Antonio had seen to getting everyone drinks, Germany pulled out a crisply folded piece of paper and passed it over to Lovino.

Lovino made a show of unfolding the paper as slow as possible in a way that said 'I don't care about you.' Dark brown eyes scanned the neatly written passage. His hands beginning to shake halfway through.

"Where did you hear this?" The elder Italian's eyes never left the page.

"Feliciano locked himself in my room afder I asked him to led my finish some paper work. I vend to apologize only to find de door shud and a voice coming from vithin. As I vas aboud to knock I heard Feli say dad."

The look on Romano's face was not encouraging. Not at all. The color had drained from his face, his eyes were slightly glassy, and his hands were shaking.

"A-are y-you sure this i-is what you heard?" Well that was not helping.

"Ja." Cerulean eyes stared calmly at the startled Italian.

"Oh? Lovi, what's wrong?" Two sets of eyes watched as Spain took the paper from South Italy and read it to himself.

"Germany, there is no way that mono y pequeño Feli would never say something like this. I should know!" There was that grin again. That stupidly happy grin.

Romano stared at his lap. "No. Lei non farebbe. Those closest to him never know." The softness of the loud Italians voice caused his companion to stare at him with wide eyes. "He never shows who he is. Potato bastard, I suggest you forget everything you heard. It will not serve you any good to remember or to dwell on it. You don't want to get involved."

Ludwig and Antonio could only stare at Lovino. Neither had ever heard him so serious. The three were so caught up in their conversation that they hadn't noticed the front door open or close.

"Ve~! I came to visit big brother Spain and Romano, but I didn't expect to see Germany here too!" The voice sounded so innocent, so genuine, but it was enough to snap the room's three occupants out of their previous trance.

"Feli! It's so nice of you to visit!" (Of course) Spain was the first to recover. The two stood talking, well Italy was talking. Spain was fawning over him. South Italy and Germany sat looking at each other, before Romano switched back to his normal personality and began to criticize him, his brother, and Antonio.

"Ve~! Ve~! Ho un'idea meravigliosa! Germany said he'd go out to eat with me," South Italy started to yell at the blond man, but Italy kept going, "But I just got a better idea! Why don't all four of us go out to eat! Hm? Isn't it just a idea fantastica?"

Spain agreed almost immediately, forgetting the earlier conversation completely, South Italy made it sound as if Spain was dragging him along, which he was, and Germany had already agreed.

When all the arrangements had been made and goodbyes were said, each nation made their way home, save for Lovino who said he was being held hostage by an idiotic tomato bastard. Feliciano closed the door to his house behind him with a quiet thump. His eyes narrowed as a small smile crept onto his face. His thoughts were nowhere any sane person would want to come close to.

"So Ludwig heard me, did he? Ve~ Lovi told him to. Not in so many words, but still. I'll have to deal with that brother of mine. Ve~! Si! We should really have a nice talk before dinner tomorrow! I can't wait! As for Germany, I'll have to deal with him another way. Although, if he finds out, I guess I will have to make sure he doesn't go spoiling my fun." The brunette laughed.

It had been so long since anyone had come close to finding out. It seemed to him that he had become lax in those years since. It was nice to have a challenge every now and again. Yes. That was what this was a challenge. A game. Just like this war with the Russian mafia. It was all just a game to stifle his boredom. Life had became a game. A reason to keep going. To keep moving forward. Gaining strength. It was nothing more then a game of cat and mouse. Of chess. A reason when he had no other reason. Sure he could have used his brother as a reason to live, but when had his brother ever cared. Oh, yes. When he had found out what kind of monster his younger brother had become. But he was no monster. No he was merely a broken man living in a broken man playing a game with all those who claimed to be unbroken. The smile grew wider.

"Lasciare i giochi iniziano."

There! Done! Uploaded! Happy? Anyway here's chapter 3. You didn't think that Italy wouldn't make an appearance did you? Of course you didn't! How'd you like the insight into why Italy is the way he is? Bet you can't wait until the next chapter! Neither can I! Well see ya then!

Lovi: That was a quick authors note.

JG: Of course. I have personal stuff to deal with.

Lovi: Like what?

JG: Like two other fics to keep writing.

Lovi:...

JG: I thought so.

Translations

Ja – Yes (German)

Mono y pequeño – Cute and little (Spanish)

Lei non farebbe – No you would not (Italian)

Ho un'idea meravigliosa – I have a wonderful idea (Italian)

Idea fantastica – Fantastic idea (Italian)

Si – Yes (Italian)

Lasciare i giochi iniziano. – Let the games begin (Italian)

Names:

Ludwig – Germany

Feliciano – Italy

Romano – Lovino/South Italy/Lovi

Antonio – Spain