The day after El Apasionado Caballero promised to prove his love to Romano, Spain made his first personal appearance at Romano's house in months. Romano, who hadn't been expecting him, had even answered the door when he rang the bell. His eyes went wide when he saw Spain standing there, smiling hopefully, a bottle of Romano's favorite wine in one hand and his favorite chocolate in the other.

"Romano… I'm so glad you're home and that you answered the door!" Spain said, sound slightly breathless. "I was kind of worried you'd ignore me again!"

Romano, who wasn't feeling especially well that day, simply stared at him blankly, his brain struggling to decide on the best course of action. His instinct was to slam the door in his face, but something gave him pause as he took in Spain's appearance for the first time in so long. He had never really thought about it before, but Spain kind of looked like El Apasionado Caballero. They had the same general build, the hair style and color was similar, even their eyes were almost the same color. Huh, what a weird coincidence.

"…What the hell do you want?" Romano asked grumpily. He'd tried to put more snarl in his voice, but his throat was sore and it had come out just sounding sort of sullen.

"I just wanted to talk to you a little," Spain said. "Maybe we could go inside?"

"No way, I know what'll happen if I let you in," Romano scoffed. "You'll refuse to leave unless I call the cops on your stupid ass. Actually, I don't wanna see that fucking idiotic face of yours at all. Looking at it is making me sick."

Romano began to close the door, but Spain stuck his foot in the way, blocking it. The detective tried to kick him in the shin hard enough so that he would pull it away in pain, but Spain was determined.

"Wait! Please, Romano, just hear me out! I'm not interested in Ita!"

"The fuck you're not! You said it right in front of me! Did you think I was deaf and wouldn't hear it? Now get your damn foot out of the door or I'll break it!"

"I just said he was cute! That doesn't mean I prefer him! You're a thousand times cuter, Romano! A million times cuter! I love you more than anyone else in the world!"

Those final words caused Romano to freeze. Was it his mind playing tricks on him, or were those the exact words El Apasionado Caballero had said to him last night?

"What… was that last thing you just said?" Romano asked.

"Um… I love you more than anyone else in the world?" Spain repeated, looking as though he was kind of afraid he'd said something wrong.

Romano stared at him long and hard. He had heard correctly the first time; those were, without a doubt, the exact same words he had heard from El Apasionado Caballero. What did this mean? Did they know each other? Had Spain followed him on the job and heard him say it, gotten jealous and was now trying to sway him with the enemy's words? Then again, it wasn't a particularly unusual turn of phrase. Perhaps it was just another coincidence.

"What, so you think you can just say some nice words and I'll fall into your arms?" Romano sniffed. "Think again, dumb ass. If you expect me to believe it, I gotta see proof. Not that it'll make any difference now; I've got so many people beating down my door to prove their love for me, I don't have time for stupid bastards who already ruined their chances. Now go away; I'm busy."

Romano tried to close the door again, but Spain's foot was still blocking it.

"What kind of proof do you want?" Spain asked. "Please, Romanito. I'll do anything."

"How the hell should I know?" Romano griped. "If you really give a shit about me, I'm sure you'll think of something."

With that, Romano pushed Spain's foot out of the way and slammed the door in his face. Spain blinked at the off-white barrier that now separated him and his true love for a moment before it swung open again. Romano snatched the wine and chocolate from him and slammed the door once more. Spain didn't know what to make of this. He couldn't say that that confrontation had gone especially well, but he hadn't really expected it to.

Actually, it had gone better than he had expected. He had at least been able to get a few words in before Romano shut the door on him. Not only that, but Romano had accepted his gifts, hadn't completely shut him down and though Spain had taken a risk by repeating what he had said last night as El Apasionado Caballero, Romano hadn't seemed all that suspicious of him. Could he take this to mean that he was victorious? Filled with renewed hope, Spain got back into his car, whistling a happy tune.

On the day that Romano received El Apasionado Caballero's next calling card a week later, he had had every intention of staying home from work. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so awful; perhaps it hadn't been since he'd broken his leg saving Spain's sorry ass. The thermometer beeped, signaling that it had gotten a read on his temperature, and he took it out of his mouth to stare at it blearily. Thirty-nine degrees Celsius (approx. 102 degrees Fahrenheit); no wonder he felt like shit.

Romano snatched a tissue from the box on his bedside table and muffled what felt like his hundredth sneeze since he'd awoken half an hour ago. He was no doctor, but he was pretty sure he had the flu. Such was his misery that he could hardly even appreciate the fact that he had a legitimate reason to skip work (as opposed to the fake ones he usually gave when he didn't feel like going in). Romano coughed and groped around on the table for his cell phone so that he could call himself in sick.

He had just selected the number from speed dial and brought the phone up to his ear when a man's voice, apparently a recording, began to speak to him. Romano didn't even realize who that voice belonged to until the man identified himself at the end of the recording.

"I will be stealing the necklace of Queen Alexandria IV from the Chiarina City Exhibition Hall tonight at 9. Love, El Apasionado Caballero."

Then the phone began to ring, connecting him to the number he had originally dialed. If he'd had the presence of mind, he would have voiced his disgust that it was Officer France who answered (even though he'd called England's secretary, Seychelles), but as it was, it took Romano a full second or so to even remember why he'd called.

"Hello, is anyone there?" Apparently Romano was breathing heavily into the phone while he tried to gather his thoughts because France's next line was "If you called for phone sex, you'll have to call back at my personal number. As much as the idea of doing it at work in front of my boss's office excites me, I do value my job."

Romano was so run down that he didn't even have the energy to snap at France to die in a fire for that disgusting comment.

"It's Detective Vargas," he croaked. "I feel like shit so I'm not coming to work today."

"I'm honestly sorry to hear that," France said. "It's a lot more difficult to reconstruct your delectable appearance in that Cupid costume from last week in my mind without you standing in front of me. I suppose I shall just have to jerk off under my desk to something else today."

"There was something else…" Romano continued, hardly having heard France's comment over the throbbing of his own head. "What was it…?"

"Eh…? You're… you're really going to let that go without cussing me out?" France asked in genuine surprise. "Hey, are you ok? You're not dying, are you?"

"I might be." Romano sneezed again and blew his nose. "Ugh, fucking flu…"

"Wait right there; Big Brother will come over and take care of you," France offered, a sly tone in his voice.

"I don't need you, perverted bastard," Romano wheezed. "Anyway, quit distracting me. There was something important I was supposed to… Oh yeah, that damn thief is stealing some necklace from the exhibition hall at nine tonight."

"El Apasionado Caballero, eh? The detective's illicit love interest."

"Sh-shut the hell up… What the hell do you know anyway…"

"I'm French, mon cher. I know love when I see it, and the two of you obviously have it bad for each other. Do you intend to allow someone else to go after your lover tonight while you are out sick? I hear Officer Germany has been itching to take control of this case."

Romano squeezed his burning eyes shut and pushed his sweaty bangs wearily back from his feverish face. He had never missed one of El Apasionado Caballero's capers. Was he seriously going to let someone else take over for this one, especially that damn potato bastard of all people? His pride said "hell no", his aching, bone-tired body said "why not?", and his heart was leaning ever so slightly toward his pride's opinion. What kind of detective would he be if he just left this up that macho potato?

"The hell I'm letting that happen. I'll sleep all day and by the time nine comes, I'll be able to catch that shitty thief like normal. Tell that potato bastard to go fuck himself."

"If you're sure, mon ami," France said, examining his nails. "Do you want me to come and pick you up tonight? I don't think it would be wise for you to drive yourself if you're as sick as you sound."

Had it been anyone but his best friend that Romano was chasing, France would never have nudged Romano into making his usual appearance tonight when he was clearly very ill. But Spain had been pining for Romano for so long, and France thought perhaps Spain could use Romano's current state to his advantage in the game of trying to win his heart. He felt a bit guilty about manipulating the detective, but it was in the name of love, which made it ok in his book.

"F…fine," Romano mumbled.

France winced and held the phone away from his ear when the detective began coughing loudly and painfully.

"Then I shall pick you up at your place at 8:40. Be ready by then."

"Yeah, yeah… Whatever."

"Have a good rest, mon ami."

Romano snapped his cell phone shut. Why was his room so cold? He wanted to go get himself another blanket and maybe some hot coffee, but just stumbling into the bathroom attached to his bedroom to get the thermometer had been such a draining chore that simply thinking of the distance between his room and the kitchen exhausted him.

If only there were someone who cared about him enough to be willing to drop what they were doing and come attend to his every need. Spain's face drifted across his thoughts. Spain was an idiot, but he was good about following orders and playing fetch; Romano had already experienced his passable service when his leg had been broken. But he couldn't just call him up and ask him to come over. That would be too awkward. Besides, if Spain loved him as much as he claimed to then he should know instinctively when Romano needed him.

Romano sighed wearily, aggravating his sore, scratchy throat and sending himself into a coughing fit. The thought of calling El Apasionado Caballero also occurred to him briefly, but he had no idea how to contact him and knew that the thief couldn't risk coming out in broad daylight. Romano pulled his knees up to his chest and closed his eyes. Perhaps he would just call Italy. He could bring over some of that delicious tomato soup from his café.

Romano decided that he would ask his brother just as soon as he could muster the energy to open his eyes and press his speed dial number. He just needed to take a little breather and then he would do it. Mere moments later, Romano had drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Romano didn't know what time it was when that infernal light pierced his eyelids. He moaned and tried to sniffle, but his nose was completely stuffed up and he just ended up coughing hoarsely. Wanting to escape the harsh light, Romano tried to burrow into his sweat-damp blankets, but it seemed that the person who had turned on the lights had other plans for him. To his relief, his unwelcome visitor didn't pull the blankets away, but he did start to shake him gently.

"Romano," a man's voice addressed him softly. "Big Brother is here to pick you up. Wake up or we're going to be late for our meeting with El Apasionado Caballero."

"G' 'way," Romano croaked. "'M sleepin'."

The blankets were peeled away from him, and Romano clamped his eyes shut against the glare. France laid a hand on Romano's forehead and frowned.

"Maybe we should forget it for tonight," he muttered, mostly to himself. "Your fever feels pretty serious."

"…No…" Romano said. "I can't let that… that stupid… that damn potato… I have to be… If I'm not there, that stupid thief will think… Help me up…"

France couldn't help smiling slightly. As foul-mouthed and dishonest with his own feelings as Romano was, he sure was cute sometimes. He'd be even cuter if he was mine… Ah, but this love is just too sweet to get in the way of, France thought. You owe me big time, Spain, you lucky bastard.

"Stay in bed and let Big Brother take care of everything," he ordered. "I'll see that you still get to keep your meeting with your beloved thief."

With that, France stood from where he had been seated on the edge of Romano's bed and made to leave, digging his cell phone out of his pocket as he closed the bedroom door behind him.

"Where are you…? G-get back here, you bastard…"

But it was too late; France was gone. Romano gritted his teeth. If that jerk of a pervert wasn't going to help him get to the exhibition hall, Romano would just have to get himself there somehow. He thought he could make it if he just took things slow. The first thing he needed to do was put on his uniform.

Romano rolled out of bed and put his feet on the floor. The detective regretted it instantly as his head began to spin ferociously. It was so bad that he almost called it quits right then and there. I can't give up, Romano told himself stubbornly. What if tonight's the night he's going to show me what he looks like under his mask? Knowing that chicken shit bastard, he probably won't… Even if he does, I bet he's butt-ugly… Not that that matters since I'm just going to arrest him! Either way, I can't let that fucking potato dick take over his investigation!

With renewed determination, Romano forced himself unsteadily to his feet.

El Apasionado Caballero looked up at the towering exhibition hall before him with a cocksure smile. Things had been busy lately; he'd had a string of stage performances last week that had kept him from this job. It felt good to don the old thieving costume again. And he couldn't wait to see what kind of trap Romano had waiting for him this time. He hoped it was as sexy as the last one. It'd taken all his willpower not to jump the detective right there in the gallery.

The thief was just about to shoot his grappling hook up to the roof when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Curious, El Apasionado Caballero dug it out. There was a text from France. Change of plans. Don't bother with the exhibition hall—Romano is waiting for you at his house. Hurry.

This puzzled El Apasionado Caballero. Why would Romano be at this house? He had always seemed so eager to face him and show off his new traps wherever El Apasionado Caballero dictated. Was he tired of their little game of cat and mouse? Would he demand to know his identity tonight once and for all? And why did he need to hurry?

Well, if France said that was what he needed to do, then El Apasionado Caballero would do it. France was his friend, after all, and he trusted him. El Apasionado Caballero slipped his phone back into his pocket and set his course for Romano's house.

It was useless. No matter how he tried, Romano couldn't stand up again, even if he tried to pull himself up using the wall. He had simply expended all his energy. It was so cold to be only half dressed and without his blankets. Romano had been trying to pull on his uniform as he made his way to the door, but he had still been fumbling with the buttons when his knees had given out on him. His hat was lying on the floor a few inches away and he'd forgotten his pants in his closet.

Romano wondered if he was late. Probably; he felt as though he'd been lying here forever. Would El Apasionado Caballero even bother waiting for him or would he just steal the necklace and not even notice that he was missing? Romano shivered and sneezed several times in quick succession. He needed a tissue but he couldn't get up and get one. That stupid bastard France had just gone and left him. What was going to happen to him? Would he die in his own house, too weak and sick to get himself the things he needed to survive?

Romano was so busy fretting over the possibility of a really pathetic and embarrassing death that he didn't even hear the sound of the front door opening and closing. In fact, he didn't realize that he was no longer alone until warm hands took hold of his shoulders and turned him face-up, simultaneously pulling him closer so that his head rested in the intruder's lap. Suddenly he found himself looking up into a very familiar-looking half-black, half-white-masked face.

"Romano… are you ok? What happened?" El Apasionado Caballero asked worriedly. He cupped the detective's cheek gently and gasped at the severity of the heat that radiated from it. "Oh, my poor, sweet little tomato! You're burning up! Don't tell me you were going to come and meet me like this?"

Romano wanted to tell him that of course he'd been planning to come and what kind of shoddy detective did he think he was, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything when his throat was hurting so badly. Instead, he just clutched weakly at El Apasionado Caballero's slacks. The thief scooped him into his arms and stood with him. Romano's eyes slipped shut in relief, his arms curling hesitantly around El Apasionado Caballero's warm body. He wasn't warm enough to keep Romano from shivering, but it was a definite improvement from being on the floor.

"Why don't we forget about that necklace and get my cute little tomato detective back into bed where he belongs?" El Apasionado Caballero suggested softly, kissing the shell of his ear.

Romano would have blushed if his fever hadn't already made his face scarlet. Once again, El Apasionado Caballero was abandoning a treasure for his sake. What kind of thief cared more about the person who was trying to arrest him than the valuables he was trying to steal? El Apasionado Caballero was an utter failure of a thief if ever Romano had seen one. He intended to tell him that, but he was just so tired. Romano rested his cheek on the thief's shoulder and sighed shakily.

El Apasionado Caballero carried Romano into his room and lowered him into a chair so that he could change the clammy, sweat-damp blankets on the bed for fresh ones. He was just lifting the pile to take to the laundry room when something small and metallic fell from them with a soft clink. El Apasionado Caballero crouched down to examine the item. It was his tomato-shaped cloak fastener, the one Romano had ripped from his costume a few weeks ago. Did Romano sleep with it? El Apasionado Caballero couldn't help smiling at the thought.

Once the new sheets were in place, El Apasionado Caballero went to help Romano back into bed. He paused when he realized that the detective was still half-wearing his uniform. That wouldn't do. He laid Romano on the bed and dug a pair of sweat pants and a sweatshirt out of the closet.

El Apasionado Caballero brought the garments back to Romano who had already dozed off, and swallowed hard, the color rising in his cheeks as he took in the detective's appearance. He hadn't really noticed before because he'd been so worried, but Romano was half-naked right now. The only things he was wearing were a pair of boxers and his dressy police jacket which was completely open. If he factored in Romano's flushed, velvety skin, prone position and the fact that he was asleep, and he was even more irresistible that usual. How easy would it be to take advantage of this situation?

El Apasionado Caballero fantasized about this for a moment until Romano sneezed, jerking him back to reality. He shook his head vigorously as if to clear all the impure thoughts from it. What on earth was wrong with him, thinking of such a thing when his true love was so sick and in need of his help? The only thing he should be taking advantage of right now was this opportunity to earn some points in Romano's book. Reining in his desires, El Apasionado Caballero dressed Romano carefully and pulled the sheets up to his chin.

Romano's eyelids fluttered open when El Apasionado Caballero smoothed his hair away from his face for him and his eyes scanned the ceiling dazedly. El Apasionado Caballero took his hand and squeezed it gently. Romano turned his face towards him, then frowned faintly.

"You still here?" he wheezed.

"Of course, my little tomato," El Apasionado Caballero said with a small smile. "I came to take care of you."

Romano sighed and closed his eyes again. Somehow, this situation felt wrong and it was making him uneasy. But that didn't make sense; El Apasionado Caballero was once again showing him that he would turn his nose up at something that would bring him a heap of money in order to be there for him. That should have made him happy. But for some reason, there was only one person's name resounding in his head, and it wasn't the one that it should be, logically speaking.

"Is there anything you want me to bring you?" El Apasionado Caballero asked.

"S…Sp…" Romano mumbled the rest of the word so quietly that El Apasionado Caballero missed it.

"…Eh? What did you say, Romano?"

"I want… I w-want Spain…"

El Apasionado Caballero could hardly believe what he was hearing. Perhaps his ears were playing tricks on him.

"I want Spain…"

No, he'd said it again, and this time the thief heard him clearly, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Romano was asking for his true identity. He felt as though his heart would burst with happiness.

"You want Spain, huh?" El Apasionado Caballero confirmed, grinning like a loon. "I see… I guess he's better than me, isn't he? And a thousand times cooler. And more handsome! Maaan, I don't stand a chance, do I?"

Romano's only reply was a deep and painful-sounding cough.

"I'll go get him, then," El Apasionado Caballero promised. "Hold on, my little tomato."

The thief turned, intending to wait until Romano fell asleep again before borrowing a pair of the baggiest clothes Romano owned (the normal sized stuff was a bit too tight and short for him) and changing identities. But then he realized that Romano was mumbling something just as his consciousness began to slip away again.

"Th…thanks…"

El Apasionado Caballero almost swooned, but caught himself just in time to preserve his smooth, charming image. Instead, his grin just widened.

"No, Romano, thank you," he whispered.