Here you go, guys, the final chapter. Overflowing with total cheese and absolutely teeming with gayness. I'm so lame hahaha I'm sorry I suck at happy things. =))) Have fun reading and please do leave a review! Thank you so much for sticking with me through this fic all the way until the end. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.
The eye of the sun peeks in through sheer curtains, bathing two figures in the bright bisque hue of the light morning glow. The peaceful quiet remains undisturbed amidst the faint rustle of sheets and light snores escaping the figure that lay beside the young model. Ludwig turns and shifts to his side, the increscent distance between them growing more and more evident with his every small move.
"Mm… you're already up?" the young artist mumbles, brushing away the sands of sleep that dusted the corners of his eyes. He flashes the German a warm smile, cheeks crinkling as he grins." Ve~ what are you thinking about, Ludwig?"
"Du weißt," the model starts, "that girl…I think I found her. Only, she wasn't a 'girl' after all. It was you, wasn't it? You were the one from my dreams. You were the one from my memories."
He remembers the first time he laid his eyes on the man at the foot of his doorstep; vividly recalls the distinct blonde of his hair and the blue of his eyes. It was like being caught in a dream, Feliciano thinks, where memories overlap and overpower the facts, and where the longing of nostalgia blurs the line between fantasy and reality.
"Ve~ I'm sorry, " Feliciano says, smiling amidst his tears as he lets out a small breath. The warmth surges through his body like the great tide, his eyes flooded and features overpowered as the bright blush of red flushes his cheeks. "Well, I wasn't really sure at first, you know," the Italian confesses, "but with each passing day I spent with you, the idea just became more and more real until it reached the point that I wanted to try placing a bet on these things… After all that I've gone through, I didn't think that I would have anything more to lose."
The model shrinks the space of their breadth as he rests his forehead on the other's own, hand falling onto the cross that hung from the artist's neck. "And this," Ludwig whispers, "this was mine before, wasn't it?"
"Si, you gave it to me," Feliciano admits with a nod. "And I've kept it with me ever since. We promised to meet again after that, and we did. It's my good luck charm, remember?"
"Ah, so we did…" Ludwig says as his voice trails off momentarily. "But if you knew from the start, then why did you pretend to not know anything?"
"I was afraid I'd scare you off if I told you," the artist admits. "But you know, Ludwig, I didn't lie when I told you when I wished for you and that 'girl' to find happiness. I was waiting, you know. I was always waiting."
"Danke," the model says, a gentle smile falling on his features. "Thank you for waiting for me, Feliciano."
-x-
"Ehi, Ludwig," Feliciano calls out, as his figure lay sprawled on the mattress. "Remember when I gave you orders to go find the 'girl' back then?"
"Ja?" the model replies, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"Well," he says sheepishly, "we kinda forgot some stuff…"
"The flowers?"
"No, " Feliciano replies as he rises from the bed, wincing slightly from the toll of the sudden action on his hips. "The pasta."
Ludwig stops and stares, chuckles and laughs, and all of a sudden, the whole world seems so much brighter.
"Well," the blonde says, stealing a glance on his watch by the nightstand, "there are still three hours left until the museum opens. Would you mind if I used the telephone? And if you'd like, we could go out for some pasta now before we attend your show."
The brunette buttons his polo shirt up, tugging his pants back on quickly and without much grace. "Sicuramente, you can go invite Gil to the show too, if you want. Fratello is staying with Big Brother Antonio, so don't worry about him entering the living room. As for me, I want to cook, so let me go get things started. Aspetta un momento!" Feliciano hollers out the room as he makes his way past the door and into the kitchen.
-x-
The sound of the ringing telephone is enough to rouse the young Prussian from his sleep. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he picks the phone up and answers groggily, "Guten morgen. Beilschmidt residence."
"Bruder."
"Yo, li'l bro!" he greets, his veneer of a sleepy façade falling entirely. "What's up mein bruderlein? Where were you? Did you get mugged or something?"
"Nein, Gilbert. It's nothing of that sort. I'm all right. But I need to ask a favor from you. I have an event to attend to in three hours and I need you to deliver me some fresh clothes."
"'Fess up, Lud. Did you spend the night at some chick's place?" the Prussian suggests, laughing all the while. "Hast du es? Did you get laid? Kesesese!"
The younger German reddens, coughing slightly to clear his throat. "Uhm," he tries to evade. "I'll need some fresh clothes for an event I have to attend to in three hours. Could you bring them over to the Vargas' apartment, bruder?"
"Was?!" the albino exclaims in disbelief. "So you're at little Feli's place right now?" He smiles all the while, sensing the familiarity in the tone of that child; reminding him of the little boy he once knew, always trying to conceal the illimitable happiness brought about by the brief mention of the other's name.
"Ja, ich bin."
He knew it was a good idea to send Ludwig here in his stead from the very start. His plan had been set in motion, the results have finally blossomed forth, and Gilbert is just all too happy that things have worked out. "So," the Prussian prods on. "How are you two now?" Gilbert asks, his tone implying that he knows so much more; carrying with it so much more meaning beyond its words. It is sly, coy, and expectant.
"It wasn't exactly as I had expected things to be," Ludwig replies, "but I found 'her,' bruder."
"Found who?"
Ludwig smiles as he speaks into the receiver; his voice gentle and warm as he replies to his older brother.
"My most beloved person."
-x-
Because love doesn't need grandiose confessions of affection, all extravagant with fireworks and parades and rose bouquets; nor does it take a multitude of heroic acts and epic deeds, nor wild goose-chases and lavish gifts, to exist – no. It has always been there. Since the very beginning of time it has existed, and only lies still, waiting patiently to let itself be realized.
It is in the little moments. Those fleeting seconds, quick and short as they may be – when touches linger on for longer than they should, when the presence of arms is made more meaningful in an embrace, when gazes are transfixed on another's small smiles, and when kisses are exchanged in warm, heated breaths – that love is made present. Love happens anywhere and at any time. The moments don't have to be perfect. In fact, this moment isn't perfect. It's far from even the remotest idea of what "perfect" can be.
But hey – it works.
This is it.
This is their moment.
This is their happy ending.
And they wouldn't have it any other way.
Translations:
[Italian]
Si– yes
ehi – hey
Sicuramente – sure
Fratello - - brother
Aspetta un momento – Wait a minute!
[German]
Du weißt – you know…
Danke – thank you
Ja – yes
Guten morgen –good morning
Bruder –brother
Mein bruderlein – my little brother
Hast du es – did you do it
Was – what
Ich bin – I am