*Poll update: Romano's winning the war with five votes for five! Vote, Ita-chan lovers, vote!

The next month was the best month of my life. I was in love, I was in Italy (the most romantic country ever), and I was surrounded by wonderful people…and Romano.

The morning that all changed (just giving you a heads up) was exactly a month from the events of New Year's. I guess you could say I had a boyfriend, but Italy and I never said it out loud. By all the "I love yous" and kisses going around, we never had to say it.

I was making breakfast, which in this case was pancakes, when Italy walked in, glad to be alive, as usual.

"Good morning, Bella~!" He smiled at him and continued cooking.

"…I feel a little weird doing this," I muttered.

"Hmm?" Italy wandered over next to me, concerned by my upset expression.

"Huh? Oh, nothing." I stared back at my food on the stove and groaned. "It's just that I'm being the perfect stereotype for a woman in this time: being in the kitchen all the time."

Italy looked at me like he couldn't imagine a woman doing anything else. "But that's where women are supposed to be."

"I will hit you with this frying pan," I threatened, gripping the handle.

Italy held up his hands in surrender. "I'm kidding!" he laughed.

"Oh, you'd better be." I slid the pancakes onto a plate and carried them to the table, sitting down in front of them. "Are you sure you don't have time to eat?"

"No," Italy sighed. "I have to leave because I promised Germany I'd go see him for training. I'm hungry, though…"

I eyed my breakfast guiltily. "I won't eat in front of you, then."

"It's fine!" Italy kissed my cheek. "Go ahead."

I attempted to keep my stomach from growling as I grabbed the bologna and placed it on one pancake. I flipped the other on top and ate it like a sandwich. (My cousin from Lucca would eat them like that from what I'd heard.)

I heard a faint ringing noise. When I noticed Italy didn't realize someone was calling, I said, "Your phone is ringing."

"Oh, grazie!" Italy ran upstairs and I heard a click. There was muffled speaking and then silence. For some reason, I got worried, so I set down my food and tip-toed up the stairs, walking into the room. Italy was standing with a shocked expression, still on the phone.

"B-But… No, I can't, not now- …But I have Bella to take care of-" His head bowed as he apparently lost the argument. "Yes, sir, I understand. I'm on my way."

He hung up silently and didn't even acknowledge my existence. Actually, it took me a while to realize Romano had followed me and was by my side.

"Is something wrong?" I asked hesitantly, taking a step forward.

"…I have to leave," Italy muttered.

"Where?" Romano asked intently.

"They need me somewhere else."

"Ah, that's okay," I assured him. "You can just come back. You travel pretty fast, anyway."

"I'll be gone for a long time," Italy sighed. "A few months."

"A few months, huh?" I caught a disappointed look cross Romano's face. "You going into battle or something?"

"Maybe," Italy shrugged. "And Germany's going too, but we'll be separated."

Romano and I exchanged glances. He was going to be alone for a few months without even Germany? I wasn't sure he could handle it.

"I'll come with you," I offered.

"No," Italy declined. "No offence, but you aren't really the war type."

"But neither are you!" I crossed my arms and pouted like a child.

"…I have to get my stuff." Italy stepped into his bedroom, with me and his brother following, and reached under his bed, pulling out a suitcase.

"Let me help you," I offered, breaking the silence.

"I'm already packed," Italy replied sadly. "It was just in case something like this happened."

"…This means we won't go to Carnevale together," I realized.

"Sorry," Italy said quietly. "But this will be my first time missing it too. So…"

After a long pause of tension, Italy went downstairs, with, again, me and Romano close behind. Italy stopped at the door and turned to me as I speed-walked over to him.

"You don't have to go," I protested desperately, attempting to keep it together. "It's not a big deal-"

"Not a big deal?" Italy repeated angrily. "This is war, not traveling around for fun."

I winced at that. He'd never spoke to me – to anyone – like that before. "I was just trying to help."

"I know." He set down his suitcase and pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry. It's just stressful."

"I know," I sighed. "Just try to be safe."

I gave him as passionate a kiss I had left. I rested my head against his chest and cried. Right in front of me was the thing I desired most in the world and it was leaving without warning. I wanted him to stay with me here. I knew very well he'd be coming back. It'd just be for a while…right?

I could feel Romano gazing at me sympathetically as his brother stroked my hair in an effort to calm me down. I sniffed several times before I took a step back, ending the embrace. I reluctantly reached for the clasp of my necklace and undid it, handing it to Italy.

"…" He simply stared at it. I knew what he was thinking. It was my prized possession, the only thing I had from my world. So why was I giving it to him?

"To remember me by," I said, recalling Italy's words from earlier.

He frowned at it sadly and clutched it in his fist. "…Bye."

"Bye." Romano and I watched as he picked up his things and opened the door, pausing before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

"…He'll be okay, right?" I asked Romano.

"He's a wimp and a crybaby, but he's a country after all," Romano answered.

"How come you didn't say anything to him?!" I practically screamed at him in a fit of rage and sadness. "He's leaving and we won't see him for a long time!"

"We've been separated lots of times," Romano shrugged. "He was just worried about you. He knew I'd be fine."

I gave a simple, "Oh." Why wasn't he being his normal mean crude self?

"I guess I'll go finish my food or something," I murmured, turning away from him to go to the kitchen. Before I could take more than three steps, I felt an arm wrap around my waist and pull me close.

"What the heck?!" I let out a muffled scream as I tried pulling away from his grasp. "Seriously, get off!"

At that, he spun me around by my shoulders, just like Italy did at New Year's. Before I knew it, Romano leaned in and kissed me. And I don't mean like a quick kiss good-bye with your grandparents or anything. I meant the kind that made your mind went blank. I practically went limp in his arms since I couldn't process anything other than "wow." Once he decided it was time to let go, he ended the kiss, but held me by my arms as I gave him a bewildered stare.

"You," he finally said. "should go out with me."

*Oh, Roma, you playa! Sorry I couldn't update as much. Not only is school getting worse, but something is soooooo wrong with my computer!

Romano: Nah, she's just lazy.

Shut up, playa! Anyway, at the end of the story (or the Astrid one, whichever one ends first) I'm going to give you a few choices of which FanFic you want me to write next. Here are the three you can start choosing from (not these are not official names, just other "dimensions"):

The Cat Dimension

Ludwig was a kid getting out of school and looking for colleges. Normal. Too normal. But that changed when a young Italian ran in crying during a thunderstorm, inviting his brother too. Ludwig is informed by them that they are cats with human souls, able to transform into a person at will, but the younger one wants him to be his Master! To make matters worse, two dogs named Antonio and Gilbert force themselves into the conflict, making Ludwig their Master as well. Can he get these stupid animals off his back before things get chaotic?

The Cooking Dimension (crossover of "Kitchen Princess")

Feliciano moved from an orphanage to Seika Academy to seek his Flan Prince, a boy who saved him from drowning. Led only by a spoon left by the mysterious savior, he comes to the school with only his excellent cooking skills. He meets Ludwig and Gilbert, the director's sons, Antonio, an exchange student, and a variety of other boys, but Feliciano only has one thing on his mind: could one of them be his Flan Prince?

The Zodiac Dimension (crossover of "Zodiac P.I")

Feliciano was you're average kid…if average meant solving crimes for the American police with a deck of cards under the pseudo name "Spica". But these cards each have a soul: the soul of the Zodiac. Feliciano always figured these cards were nothing but tools, but when his Taurus (Germany) and Gemini (Romano) get sealed into their cards, Feliciano realizes he has more than crime to worry about.

P.S. The Zodiac Dimension also has Vega (Spain) and Sirius (Holy Rome) as main characters.*