Chapter 22: Migraines

"Five more days…" She said looking at her little desk calendar and a smile spread on her face. "A lot of crazy things have happened, but I survived another year."

"What about Saturday?" Ferrowim asked from where he was on her bed, transparent to her and invisible to anyone else but the animals, who still couldn't see him but sense him.

"I don't believe the world is going to end the day before." She said waving it off. "Besides this happened before and all those times are false alarms." She said as she got dressed in her school uniform.

"I guess you're right." He said as Germany knocked the door, which the girl gave the nation permission to enter.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Ja! Just waiting for you."

"I'm sorry." Germany said as he scratched the back of his neck.

"It's okay, you're just under stress." She said. "It's not easy being a strong economical power in all Europe after all."

He chuckled as he nodded. "That's true." He held out his hand. "Komm, we better get to Austria's before he starts playing Mozart's Requiem."

She giggled as she grabbed his hand, leaving the invisible Ferrowim in the room.

"Nice man…" He said to no one in particular. "He makes a great dad." He smiled sadly. "Has it really been decades when I was created?" He nodded. "Of course it has."

He then started to look serious, as Blackie went attentive, followed by Lutz and Berlitz, while Aster and Gino looked confused. "Where are you, Brother… And what are you up to?" He asked himself as he disappeared from the room entirely, causing a lot of confusion with the animals in the room.

Prussia happened to walk by the open room to see the animals there. "Hey, what are you guys doing in here?"

0o0o0o0

Back with Germany and Fern-Lui, they arrived at Austria's house and they were greeted by the ever pleased Hungarian.

"Austria's in the piano room, you can't miss him." She told the girl as she nodded her understanding, said later to her adoptive vati, and headed to where the sound was coming from. "So are you or Italy picking her up?"

Germany rubbed his temple as he told her that Italy would be picking her up.

"Germany? Is everything okay?"

"Ja, just a bit of a migraine." He said.

"Try to drink water and don't push yourself too much." She said.

He nodded, thanked her, and headed on his way. 'Probably stop by to grab some pain killers.' He thought.

When it was her siesta, she was back in the dream room with Ferrowim.

"What's going on?"

"I found out the whereabouts of Brother."

"Really! Where is he?"

"That's the thing, he's still in Europe, but he's in a different time."

"He went back in time?"

"Aye."

"You know… when?"

"This is about three months after the Berlin Wall is put up."

"Wait… The wall was built… then the border was closed off in August of 1961… So…" She paused to think. "November 1961?"

"Aye."

"Why would he want to be there?"

"I still have no idea." He admitted. "But I got a feeling it's not good."

"What do you mean?"

"It's time for you to get up."

"Wait a-" She wasn't able to finish as she felt light once more.

She woke up and rubbed her eye. 'What the heck was that about?' She thought as she stared at the wall. 'Maybe I should ask Vati Deutschland und Onkle Prussia about that time… It might be painful for them though… Knowing what happened to Vati Deutschland at least…' She sighed. 'I don't like past demons…' She got up as she walked out of the room she was using for her siesta and found the two nations back in the piano room.

She carefully walked in while Austria was playing and sat next to Hungary, who smiled at her and held her on her lap as both listened to the Austrian playing.

0o0o0o0

After Italy picked her up and back in Germany's home, they were making dinner when Germany came into the house, causing his dogs to bark loudly in excitement to seeing their master.

"Quiet! All of you!" Germany snapped, making the dogs go quiet and looked as though they've been kicked.

Italy nearly dropped the bowl of salad that he was preparing, but grabbed it in time as he looked over at the kitchen doorway. "Ve… Papa Germania doesn't sound too happy."

"Sì…" Fern-Lui agreed, never hearing the nation snap at his dogs like that. 'He doesn't snap at Onkel like that when he gets annoying.' She thought.

When Germany walked to the doorway of the kitchen, he told the two that he won't join them for dinner and that he would be in the office if they really need him and left the two confused.

"Ve… I wonder if it's his headache."

"Headache?"

"Sì, it wasn't that bad a few days ago, but now it looks like it's getting worse…" Italy said, obviously sad about what's going on. "I make sure he gets enough rest and water, I even make sure to grab some headache medicine to help, but nothing seems to work."

She grew concerned for her adoptive vati and told the Italian that they should probably make a light soup for him. "He can't get better on an empty stomach." She said as they got down to work on the soup.

0o0o0o0

Once the soup was done, Italy took it up upon himself to deliver it to the nation. He went up to the door, knocked lightly on it while also saying the nation's name and saying it was him.

"Come in…" Was the German's response as the Italian entered the office. "What is it you want?"

"Fern-Lui and I made you some soup. Because you can't really work or get better with an empty stomach." He said softly, a bit scared and worried about his very dearest friend, and secretly more.

Germany looked up from the paper he was staring at for the last half hour and pointed to the vacant spot next to him. "Put it there." He said softly, finding his own usual tone to be graining on his already agitated nerves.

Italy placed the bowl on the mentioned spot and studied the man. "How are they? Your headache?"

"It developed into a migraine… Not so well…" He said as he leaned back against the chair, rubbing his temples. "Sleep doesn't help… I drank enough water to be waterlogged for a week… and the pain killers aren't affecting at all…"

"Should we… go see a doctor?"

"I already did… My boss noticed how off I was and sent me to see a doctor. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with me, and it doesn't seem to be any effect from my people, so I'm at a lost to what is going on." He rubbed his eyes before looking up to see a very concerned Italian. "I'm sorry if I scared you and Fern-Lui. I honestly didn't mean to snap the way I did…"

"I think they've forgotten that." Italy said with a small smile. "Fern-Lui is playing with them as we speak."

"That's good…" He sighed as he groaned and rubbed his temples. "I just want this to go away…"

"Maybe one of the nations can help? There's all sorts of remedies that science can't fully explain, and it's completely natural…"

"At this point I'm desperate for any relief…"

"Should I not sleep next to you tonight then?"

Germany sighed. 'Of all the things he asks.' He thought as he shook his head. "Only if I start snapping at you."

Italy smiled happily. 'What a relief! I was for sure that I would be kicked out if it was really bad! But I have to be really quiet like the last few days.'

Germany took a spoonful of the soup and sighed. "This is good."

"Ve~ I'm glad you like it. Fern-Lui and I made sure it has everything you need to feel better."

"Danke… to both of you… I'm sorry again for the way I acted earlier."

"It's okay, you didn't mean to." He said as he carefully hugged the other before heading towards the door. "Don't work too late. Even if sleep doesn't help, you should have a good night's rest. It's not good for your body if it doesn't rest."

Germany smiled as he nodded. "Ja. Thanks for reminding me."

Italy hummed as he left the other be. 'I hope he gets better soon, this is kinda freaking me out.' He thought as his verbal tick let out as he sighed.

0o0o0o0

Later that evening, Germany was done with at least half the work he was doing and decided to turn in. 'Can't have Italy worrying about me like the last few days.' He thought as he held his head. 'Gott… How long does a migraine usually lasts?' He was heading to his room when he saw the door to Fern-Lui's room slightly ajar. 'I haven't said good night to her for a few nights now…' He went into the room to see her curled up and fast asleep.

His dogs looked up at him as he petted each one, softly saying sorry for each one before leaning over the girl to place a kiss on top of her head. "Sweet dreams." He whispered as he headed to his room.

Ferrowim was in the room when he saw that and smiled softly. "Even in pain he can still show affection." He said as he exited the room and headed to the room where Germany just settled down into his side, looked at the very asleep Italy, kissed on top of the other nation's head with a bright blush on his cheeks, and settled to, attempt, to sleep. "I think this calls for a little magic." He said to himself as he went to the German's side and extended his hand over the other.

He whispered some words as the nation glowed slightly before gasping and the light disappeared, but it seemed to work as Germany seemed relaxed. But he looked at the other in fear. "Oh no…" He said quietly to himself, although no one can hear him to begin with besides the girl.

He put out both his hands over the nation, closed his eyes and chanted an ancient language, stressing every word as Germany's form started to glow again. This continued for five minutes before he stopped chanting and the glow faded once more. "That should keep it at bay… But it won't last long…" He sighed as he placed both hands over his face. "Dear Lord… He's doing to attempt to do that…"

He looked at the German with a sad expression. "I'm sorry you have to go through with this… The blame is on your boss after all… the boss that caused you so much suffering…" He sighed as he leaned up against the window, which of course the light went through him like the windows behind him, not leaving a shadow. "And now you may experience something far worse… Unless…" He seemed to have an idea, but then looked doubtful. "I can't do that… It's far too risky…"

He looked at the two nations on the bed once more, the unaware German turned over and wrapped an arm around the Italian, who in turn curled up more into the strong form. "Good Lord Almighty… Although I have sinned… Please show me a sign of what this sinner can do to save one who has also sinned but in a way that only the devil himself can impose on." He prayed as he went up to the nation once more and placed his hand on the nation's head, but not be able to feel anything from it as his hand went through like a ghost. "Probably for the best…" He exited out of the room and entered the girl's room, where he disappeared on the spot.