Hallo again! I just wanted to say thank you for the review and views 3 I'm glad people enjoy this, and I'd love to continue it. This chapter has Romano, so sorry for any cursing. Germany in denial is the cutest Germany.

Ludwig awoke again to find Feliciano in the same position as before, curled on top of his chest, preventing movement. Well. Either this was actually happening, or Ludwig had lost his sanity in the seas. To be honest, Ludwig had thought yesterday was some dream of his subconscious mind. While Feliciano's distinct anatomy and functionality appealed to the scientific part of his mind, the rational thought processes determined that such an occurrence was likely to have been documented before, and therefore impossible. Assuming that it was a dream, he let Feliciano do whatever he wished...including sleep on him. Oh. With the reality of his position finally sinking in, Ludwig realized his survival depended upon the aid of this very strange, yet very real creature before him.

Wasser. Oh, Gott, it must have been nearly two days since he'd drank anything. Ludwig knew enough from his survival manuals to avoid drinking the seawater, the high salt content would cause the water to diffuse out of his cells, effectively dehydrating him, just allowing him to die faster. Perhaps Feliciano might have some container he could use to boil the salt out of the water. It was a long shot, but what choices did he really have?

Gently, Ludwig prodded Feliciano's thin stomach. "Feliciano. Feliciano, please wake up."

Yawning and stretching, amber eyes worked open to stare lazily at the pinned man. Giggling slightly, Feliciano used his tail to roll off Ludwig to the adjacent dune, straightening up his human half. Ludwig's breath caught in his throat a little as he took in the way those copper locks reflected the sun...not that he was attracted or anything, he simply appreciated the aesthetically pleasing qualities of this marine life form. Yes, that was it.

"Ve, Ludwig!" Feliciano's huff brought Ludwig back from his thoughts, "Did you need something?"

"Oh, yes. I was wondering if you had a bowl or pot or something so I could boil some water..."

Feliciano blinked at him curiously. "Why ever would you need to do that? Can't you use the seawater?"

Ludwig ducked his head, he had never been one for social interaction, and Feliciano's innocent mannerisms stifled him.

"Well, there's too much salt in the water for me to drink, but if I boil the water in a covered container, the salt will leave and solidify."

Feliciano's eyes widened in amazement. "Oh wow! Luddy's so smart! Does that mean that water on land has no salt?!"

"Yeah, it's called fresh water..."

Feliciano instantly put his hands on his hips and stuck out his chest, striking a gallant superman pose, before slithering to the water's edge.

"Well don't you worry! Because Nonno likes to collect things that fall off boats, so I bet he has a bowel!"

Ludwig's face flushed bright red at this statement. "Um, Feliciano, it's called a bowl, not a bowel."

But I'm sure your Nonno has one of those too.

With that being said, Feliciano dived under the sea and rocketed off in the direction of his home sandbar.

Feliciano had been away for a little over two days, not at all an unusual occurrence for the ditzy merman. Nonno always fretted, but Lovino seemed to enjoy the silence, saying it gave him more time to converse with his lovable sea turtle, Antonio. What was up with that anyways? Lovino always seemed annoyed with the turtle's affections, but kept him around anyhow.

At last, Feliciano slid up onto their sandbar, to find only Lovino cuddling his little pet. He let out a girly shriek at Feliciano's approach, hiding the turtle behind his back.

"Hey bastard! Don't sneak up on me like that!" He spat angrily, causing Feliciano to flinch back in fear. "What where you doing out for two days anyway? Nonno had an aneurysm or some shit."

Feliciano quickly covered his face with his hands. "Ah! Lovino I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just made a new friend is all, please don't hit me!"

Lovino just scoffed. "Ha! Who would ever be friends with a dope like you? And for fuck's sake, put your hands down, I'm not gonna hit you. Yet."

Feliciano stuttered at this question, practically melting under his brother's harsh glare. He couldn't very well tell Lovino about Ludwig, he'd surely prevent Feliciano from seeing Ludwig again, which may very well result in his only friend's death.

"E-eh...fratello...he's very nice, see, and he doesn't seem to mind me talking, a-and he's very big and strong, and so you needn't worry, okay?"

Lovino narrowed his eyes, and drew himself forward, hovering condescendingly over Feliciano's face.

"Feli, look at me. Now tell me who this bastard is. As dumb as you are, I care about your safety, okay?"

"No. Fratello, he's my friend and please just let me see him again! I promise it'll be okay."

Lovino gripped his shoulders hard, looking directly into Feliciano's eyes. Feliciano could see the concern written all over his brother's face.

"Fratellino, please. At least tell me his name. I care about you, just please."

Lovino's intense gaze left Feliciano's mouth dry, as he stumbled to find the right words to say. Slipping out of his brother's tight grip, he made a beeline for Nonno's collection of human objects. Selecting a pot that he deemed appropriate, he turned back to face his brother.

"His name is Ludwig. Now can I go?"

Lovino's eyes lit up with rage. "Hey! That bastard doesn't sound like anyone we know! And where the fuck do you think you're going with that pot, back to him?"

Feliciano waded into the water, turning back to face his brother one more time before diving in.

"Si. It's for boiling water to drink." With that, he was gone under the waves.

Lovino couldn't believe the nerve of his dumb little brother. What could be so bad about his new friend that he didn't want to share? And what the hell was boiling? Why couldn't he just drink the water plain? Unless...

Lovino knew his brother's head was full of fantasies and daydreams, but he sincerely hoped his next insight was false. Only a land creature needed special water to drink. And Feliciano would only be able to communicate with one form of land creature...

"Oh dio mio! I better find Nonno fast!"

Meanwhile, Feliciano had already made his way back to Ludwig with his prize. While awaiting Feliciano's return, Ludwig had set himself upon the task of rekindling last night's fire. Ludwig had thanked Feliciano graciously, and quickly set about the task of boiling water while Feliciano scouted out more fish for them to eat. When all was said and done, Ludwig allowed Feliciano a taste of the fresh water.

"Wow! This stuff tastes so funny! It almost doesn't taste like anything at all!"

Ludwig couldn't suppress his blush. Feliciano was just too cute in his innocence...Wait, cute?! Ludwig decided to drown these thoughts with conversation.

"So, ah, Feliciano. What made you decide to help me anyways? I-I mean, weren't you afraid that I would trap you or something?"

Feliciano's gaze rested on Ludwig, and his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Well, I always wanted to meet a human...," Feliciano drifted off, then added quietly, "...and I couldn't let anyone die, especially since you'd been so nice to me..."

Ludwig nearly started at those words. No one had ever called him nice before. Gilbert had always said he had a stick up his ass, and Elizabeta just told him to 'loosen up and meet somebody', while Rodreich insisted that Ludwig ought to be even more proper and cultured. To be honest, he'd never had much contact with other kids through his school career, choosing instead to focus on grades to gain his dream job. At work, he acted he always acted professionally to his colleagues, to leave a good impression. And while he always did, he supposed that this was not the way to make friends.

Did this mean Feliciano was his first true friend? But then why did he feel so strange in his presence, and blush at his innocent statements? Ludwig wasn't sure, but he didn't think friends were supposed to do that to each other. At least Gilbert never blushed around Elizebeta or Rodreich. Ludwig turned to face Feliciano again.

"A-ah, danke Feliciano. No one's ever called me nice before." Ludwig could feel the heat rising to his cheeks again.

Feliciano practically squealed with delight, and then threw himself at Ludwig, surrounding him in a huge hug.

"Oh yay! I'm so glad Luddy likes me! Can I sleep with you again?"

I like him? Ludwig may have been looking too far into that, but he felt his heartbeat increase anyhow. He supposed Feliciano just didn't know what he was implying, but sleeping with the merman next to him seemed to be the best option for staying warm through the nights. This time, however, Feliciano aligned himself upon Ludwig's chest so as to pet his thin blond hair, and quietly whispered.

"You're really cute, y'know?"

Ludwig's heart nearly stopped.

Fluffy stuff up next oh boy! And a meddling Romano.