Germany returned home quickly, sighing in relief when he heard soft breathing from the guest room. Quietly he snuck into his own room and laid down, falling into a fitful sleep as he waited for the inevitable conversation to come.
He was awakened by the sound of someone shuffling around in the living room and the door unlocking. Shooting from his bed he was out the door in an instant, finding Belle standing by the door with her bags. They both paused and stared at each other awkwardly until he finally spoke.
"Good morning."
"Good morning…"
"I'm…I'm sorry about yesterday…"
"It's alright, you were drunk."
"No, it isn't alright. I should not have acted that way and for that I am sorry."
"I forgive you…"
"…Are you leaving?"
"Yes…I was thinking about going home today."
"Oh…"
They both spoke at the same time.
"Listen, I-"
They both stopped and Germany nodded for her to speak.
"Listen, I know that over time the two of us have…grown fond of each other…but Japan spoke with me and I understand that this wouldn't be right."
He looked at the floor and exhaled slowly. She continued to speak while he digested the fact that she really did have feelings for him.
"I'm not immortal…I will die, and I can die in many ways. It wouldn't be fair to you, that's why there is a rule. To prevent mishaps…"
Germany walked forward until he was standing in front of her, words he had wanted to tell her all week pouring from his mouth before he could stop them.
"I don't care about the rule, and I don't care about what the other Countries think. I never felt free until I met you and I would be an idiot to let you walk out that door. If this is a mistake, then I plan on making it."
"But I'll-"
He pulled her into a hug. He had never hugged her, though she had hugged him once. The feeling of her arms wrapping around his chest to hug him back crumbled the last bit of nervousness that had been permeating his mind.
"I don't care! I don't care if you get older, and I want to hold your hand in mine when you draw your last breath. I don't want to look back and wonder what it might have been like! I would rather have you and lose you to death than watch you walk out this door!"
She looked up at him and swallowed hard.
"And Prussia said you weren't eloquent."
"I guess that is one of the things that meeting you has changed."
"I don't know what to say…"
"Say you'll stay awhile…that we can give this a try."
"I would be daft to turn down an offer like that."
Germany smiled, hugging her tightly to him. To hell with what the others thought. He would face the consequences and keep her by his side, because he too would be daft to turn down such an offer. They would try, and no matter what happened he vowed to never regret his decision.