Set during World War II in Germany, all of this may not be accurate. I do not own Hetalia.

Lilli Zwingli lived in a small German town with her older brother, and two cousins. Her oldest cousin, Gilbert, ran the local bar, and her brother, Vash, and her other cousin, Ludwig, were both soldiers. Gilbert had at one time been a soldier, but when his left arm had to be amputated, they released him from service.

It always infuriated her that her family was wrecked by the war. Her father was also a soldier, until he was shot on the Western front. Her mother had been taken away after she had said something against the Führer. This whole war was stupid. Of course she couldn't voice her opinions to her family. Ludwig seemed to be brainwashed. All he ever talked about was the Nazi party.

Her dark thoughts were interrupted by Gilbert calling to her from the bar. Their home was above the bar. "Lilli! Can you come and help me clean up before we close?"

"Yes." She quietly answered, standing up from her bed, and changing out of her nightgown into a cotton dress she had been planning on wearing the next day. Slowly, she descended the rickety wooden steps, so as to not trip. "I'm here." She didn't care much for the bar, it always smelled odd, and the men disgusted her.

Gilbert popped his head out from behind the door leading to the kitchen. "Well hurry up." Despite his gruff words, he had a grin on his face. Lilli trotted into the kitchen, and set about washing the cups and plates. "Tomorrow, some prisoners are coming to help us out."

At Lilli's surprised look, he shrugged. "Some French are coming to work."

"Okay." It was better than Russians. She was taught that Russians were blood thirsty and cruel, she wasn't sure if that was right, but she didn't have any contact with the world outside of Germany.

"Better than the Russians." Gilbert darkly chuckled. He looked at where his left arm used to be. "You know, at one point, I thought I was in love with a Russian woman." His red eyes stared off into space, as he relived a past romance.

"Really?" Lilli prompted. Gilbert never really talked about his soldier life, and when he did, it was interesting.

"Ja." He sighed, running a hand through his white hair. "But that was a long time ago." it couldn't have been too long ago, he was only twenty-four. "Looks like we got done fast!" He noted.

Lilli looked at the stacks of cups still left. "But-"

"You can head onto bed." Gilbert dismissed, interrupting her. "I'll see you tomorrow. Go ahead and write some more letters to Vash and Ludwig."

"Okay." Lilli wanted to hear more, but he looked like he needed some private time, so she passed through the now empty bar, and headed back up the stairs. She sat at her wooden desk that used to be her mother's and pulled out a piece of stationery.

Dear Vash,

How are you? Are you staying warm? I hope so. Some French are coming tomorrow to help Gilbert. I'm doing fine; I have a high grade in most of my classes. The only thing I haven't been getting is math. Yesterday, Herr Edelstein said he would teach me how to play the piano on weekends. I know you aren't on good terms with him, but he seems very nice. I hope you get to go on leave soon. I miss you.

Love Lilli.

She tucked her letter into an envelope, and carefully put it in her book. Ludwig hadn't written in a while, but she decided to write to him too.

Dear Ludwig,

I wish this war would end soon, so we could have you and Vash home.

Scowling, she crumpled up the page. She couldn't send that to Ludwig. His loyalties lied elsewhere, and this could be seen as traitorous. What to do with the letter? Her green eyes settled on the candle burning on the desk, and without a seconds thought, she held the paper over the flame, and watched it burn. Soon, she was only holding a small piece of paper, which she tucked into the back of her book.

Dear Ludwig,

Hallo cousin. When's your next leave? Maybe it will coincide with Vash's and we can all be together.

That was also dangerous. It seemed like she was eager for the war. The best solution she could think of was just not to write him. She repeated what she had done to the other letter, and got ready for bed. Her soft blonde hair was tied into twin braids, and she stared longingly into the mirror. She was fifteen, and still looked like a little girl. If Vash was here he would tell her that she was being silly, and not to try and grow up too fast.

…

Her sleeping the previous night had been fitful. They were filled with nightmares of Ludwig giving her up to the authorities for being against the Führer. Of course she hadn't done more than think one or two bad thoughts, but it still scared her.

If her late mother was there, she would laugh, and tell her not to worry. That mama would protect her, but her mama couldn't even protect herself.

"Lilli! Breakfast!" She pulled herself out of bed, and put on the dress she had worn late last night. Her plaits still looked fine, so she went into their home's kitchen, and sat at the table.

Gilbert smiled, and handed her a plate with fried potatoes on it. She returned the smile, and dug in.

"The French arrived earlier, and they're moving some stuff around downstairs." Gilbert drawled.

"What if they try and escape?" Lilli worried, thinking of a strange man bursting into the room, and hurting either her or Gilbert. Her eldest cousin had always been a fighter, but losing his arm had affected him greatly.

He shook his head. "They would be caught in seconds"

Probably gunned down.

Lilli wiped her mouth, and set the plate in the sink. "I need to get to school." She would have to pass the prisoners to get out of the house.

"I'll walk you a ways." Gilbert offered, also putting his dishes up.

The pair went down the stairs, Lilli in front, Gilbert behind her. At the bottom of the stairs, Lilli stopped to look at the foreigners. Only one was in sight, the others must have been in the kitchen.

He turned to look at her, his blue eyes sparkled, even though there was blood caked in his wavy longish blonde hair. He was very pretty, Lilli had to admit. Not fit for a soldier. His mouth opened, and she heard what sounded like an attempt at German.

Quizzically, she looked back to Gilbert. His face was grim, and he ushered her out. All of her thoughts on the way to school were devoted to the Frenchman.

Wonder who the dude is? *Sarcasm* Like? Hate? Found something wrong? You should review.