Disclaimer: The usual. Don't own…not creator…not mine…etc.

Italy smiled. At last he had the key! Now everything would be wonderful! He could escape from this horrible mansion and go back home! Tears of joy filled his eyes. Or perhaps tears of sadness, but he couldn't imagine what he had to be sad about.

He took the stairs two at a time, hurrying to the front door. At last, he could escape. He had just fitted the key into the lock when an unfamiliar voice spoke from behind him.

"Wake up," it whispered.

Italy spun around, but there was no one there. Of course, he had come to this place alone, but for some reason, he was still certain that someone should be there with him. Who had spoken?

He decided to worry about it later, when he was free. He turned back to the door and began to turn the key.

"Ich liebe dich, Italia."

There it was again. That voice. Hearing it again, the voice sounded so familiar. It sounded like…

"Germany!" Italy whispered.

Of course! How could he have forgotten Germany? And Japan! And France! And China! And all the rest of the countries!

And Holy Rome.

Italy turned to run back up the stairs. It didn't matter what Holy Rome had said. Italy wouldn't let anyone else die for him. But the mansion was already disappearing, fading like smoke.

Of course! This was all a dream! He remembered the monster. He remembered that he couldn't fight it. But if it was all just a dream, then Holy Rome…

He didn't want to finish that thought.

"It's alright, Italy," Holy Rome's voice whispered out of the darkness.

And he was there. Holy Rome was there. And he was the only light in the stifling darkness that surrounded Italy. Italy choked back a sob and threw himself into Holy Rome's arms…

…only to find himself falling through the insubstantial mirage. He only barely kept himself from falling to the ground, or what passed as ground in this world of darkness. He turned back towards Holy Rome, only to find one of the terrible creatures in Holy Rome's place.

"We had a deal," the creature hissed.

"I know," Italy sobbed. "But, please, can't you-"

"A deal is a deal," the creature insisted. "Your life, for all of their lives. Incredibly generous of me, wasn't it?"

"But, I want to escape with all of them," Italy whispered. "I don't want to be alone."

The creature laughed. It was a harsh, cruel sound.

"So you'll watch them die, over and over again, until you find a loophole?" it asked. "There are no loopholes. Not in my realm. And each time you try again, I only become stronger. You know you're playing right into my hands, but you still keep coming. What a fool."

Italy couldn't reply. It was true. All of it. But what could he do? He had realized something. He didn't want to save only them. He wanted to save himself, too. Was that even possible?

"England is weak," the creature told him. "His powers have dwindled to nothing. If you die now, he won't be able to turn back time. He won't be able to save you. They'll have no choice but to leave. It's the only way you'll be able to save them. You won't have a chance like this again for a long time."

Italy felt like he couldn't breathe. Here, the monster was offering what he wanted. The others could all escape. The price was small. Only his own life. He could pay that price, couldn't he?

But then he thought back to all the others. They wouldn't give up. Even if Italy died, England would find a way to regain his magic, and turn back time. Italy knew that the only way he could help them escape was by escaping with them.

"No," he told the monster. "I can't accept that. No matter what happens, I'm going to make sure that we all escape. Because I need them, and they need me. But of course you wouldn't understand that."

"I understand better than you know," the creature hissed.

As it faded away, Italy was left breathless and confused. What did it mean? How could it understand what he was going through? And why had it let him win? Why was he still alive?

At least, he thought he was alive.

"Italy?"

Suddenly, Holy Rome was there, smiling and holding a hand toward Italy.

"Holy Rome!" Italy exclaimed.

This time, when he jumped into his friend's arms, he didn't fall through. Holy Rome held him tightly, hugging all the fear away.

"What happens now?" Italy asked.

"Now, you wake up," Holy Rome told him. "You've been sleeping for long enough."

Italy smiled at the thought of seeing his friends, but that smile vanished when something occurred to him.

"What about you?" he asked.

Holy Rome smiled.

"I'm just a dream," he whispered.

Italy shook his head.

"No! Holy Rome, you're more than that! And, I- I love you, too! So you can't leave me now!"

Holy Rome hugged him closer.

"You're right," he admitted. "I'm not a dream. More like… a memory. But I'm glad to hear you say that. I've been waiting to hear those words for a very long time. All the same, you can't live in a dream forever. Go, Italy."

"No, I can't leave you," Italy whispered. "Can't you come with me?"

"Little Italia," Holy Rome murmured. "You need to leave now. But don't worry. You'll see me again."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He let go of Holy Rome.

"Italia, please come back."

Italy smiled as he turned towards the sound of Germany's voice, following it back to the real world.

He opened his eyes.

"Italy!"

Germany's worried face was the first thing to come into view.

"Germany!"

Italy sat up and wrapped his arms tightly around Germany's neck.

"Thank you so much," he said.

"Um, you're welcome," Germany mumbled awkwardly.

"If it weren't for you, I would be dead right now," Italy told him.

"Hey, idiot! The potato bastard wasn't the only one worried about you!"

Italy smiled and reached one arm out to his brother, keeping the other tightly around Germany. Romano allowed himself to be pulled into a one-armed hug, although it was clear he was still unhappy being so close to Germany.

"Group hug!" Spain declared.

Italy laughed as he was buried in an avalanche of affection.

"Thanks, everyone," he whispered.

Author's note: Italy's finally awake! I'm not ending on a cliffhanger! Yay!

Happy New Year to everyone!