Title: Love's Aftermath
Pairings: Italy/Germany, Spain/Romano, Spain/Italy, France/Canada, England/America, Japan/Greece, Prussia/Hungary, Austria/Switzerland
Italy's pregnant, Germany's gone missing and Romano just won't quit, have these kids STILL not got their act together?
Chapter 12 - Love and Despair
'Oh God what am I doing? Stupid German bastard! He guilt tripped me into this!' Romano thought to himself as he very slowly and very carefully inched himself across the landing towards the top of the stairs, gazing down at the living room door which was slightly open, yet not enough for him to see inside. Romano could hear soft murmurs coming from inside Italy's bedroom but he ignored it, with a shaking hand he gripped the banister and slowly made his way down stairs, wincing each time his foot creaked the steps in the silence. His heart was pounding nervously as he finally got to the bottom of the stairs, moving cautiously in the darkness he came to the open door and stopped, taking a deep breath. 'Okay, oh God what the hell am I going to say to him? Why am I doing this?' Romano bit his lip, his heart beating furiously in his chest, he could hear it drumming in his ears. Ever so slowly he inched forwards, craning his neck around the door until he could just see the outline of Spain through the darkness, lying face down on the sofa. Deciding to just bite the bullet, the Italian took a sharp inhale and stepped into the room, Spain remained motionless, not having heard him. Romano gripped the edge of the door and pushed it closed, Spain sat up sharply at the sudden noise.
"R-Romano..." Spain stared at him from where he lay, mouth hanging open.
Romano rolled his eyes, "Close your mouth you'll catch a fly, idiot." he muttered softly, yet not quite as aggressive as he'd meant to.
Spain swallowed heavily, slowly sitting up, "What urm...what are you doing here?"
Romano bit his lip, crossing his arms, "I was...I was going to...I mean I wanted to urm..." the Italian shook his head, sighing, he was chickening out, "I just...wanted a glass of water." he muttered, hurriedly and awkwardly making his way past Spain into the kitchen, cursing himself irritably when the door closed behind him. 'For fuck sake! Why did I just do that? AHH! Just do what you were here to do idiot! Just go talk to him! What the hell is wrong with you?' Romano clutched his hair stressfully, shaking his head, '...God Spain is going to think I'm so stupid, oh well, I'll just go back up to bed and do this another time.' he sighed, quickly getting himself a glass of water he didn't even want before making his way back into the living room and heading for the door, not looking at Spain.
"Romano?" the Italian stopped, cringing slightly as his name was called, just before he reached for the door handle.
"...what?"
"...are you sure you only wanted to get some water?" Spain asked, bringing his legs up onto the sofa to cuddle his knees.
Romano cringed, Spain always seemed to know him so well, "...sì, I mean...I well I thought, maybe...urm..." the Italian grimaced at himself, why was he finding this so damn difficult?
Spain smiled sadly at him, "Do you want to sit down?" he asked softly, patting the space next to him on the sofa. Romano nodded with his back still to him, taking a few calming breaths before joining his ex on the sofa, blushing slightly at how awkward the whole thing seemed yet thanking the lord that the darkness meant that Spain couldn't see the pink tinge his cheeks. Spain shifted on the sofa to face him, smiling shyly even though the Italian wasn't looking at him, Romano kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, occasionally taking a tiny sip of water, just for something to do. After a few minutes of silence, Spain couldn't really take the awkwardness anymore, "So..." Romano sighed, leaning his head back against the sofa, "...I never asked...how have you been?"
"I've...been okay, I guess...how's school going?"
"Sì, it's been going well...though it's kind of empty now since...everyone's pretty much dropped out, even America and England have dropped out now." Romano muttered, like Spain he brought his knees up to his chest.
"Not everyone though...and I haven't technically dropped out..." Spain said softly, looking away awkwardly, Romano of course being the cause for him leaving the academy.
Romano nodded slowly, taking another sip of water, "...will you be coming back in September?"
Spain looked at him, blinking in surprise, "Oh well I hadn't really thought about it...I thought it would be awkward what with...you know..."
Romano placed his glass down on the side, hugging his knees tighter to himself, "Sì..."
"Romano..." Spain bit his lip, looking at the Italian sadly, "I know you're here to...talk about it...please just, stop with the awkward small talk, just say what you need to say please."
"I don't know what I want to say..." Romano said quietly, starting to chew on the corner of his thumb.
"Please Romano, just...just say whatever's on your mind." Spain scooted closer to him on the sofa, trying to get the Italian to look at him.
Romano blushed again at the closeness yet kept his eyes fixed solidly on the wall in front of him, "I said I don't know! Stupid bastard..." Romano hissed, then cringed at himself for before unnecessarily mean.
"You must have some idea...otherwise why would you have come down here?" Spain persisted.
Romano bit his lip, daring to glance at the Spaniard, which he immediately regretted as he found that he couldn't look away again, "I don't know, I wanted to talk but I don't know what to say...what should I say?"
"Just say what's in your heart..."
Romano glared at him, "Don't be so disgusting." he grumbled, blushing harder.
Spain looked at him sadly, scooting back down the sofa away from him, "Sorry..."
Romano softened, immediately wanting to go to him but refraining himself from doing so, "It's okay...look Spain." he turned on the sofa to face him, glad for the darkness that surrounded them making it easier to talk to the Spaniard, "I wanted to talk about what happened with Veneziano but...I don't know how to start."
"Say whatever you need to say Romano...and I'll listen."
"Okay..." Romano rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, biting his bottom lip, "I know that when it happened...you know, with you and Veneziano...we were broken up but it still...it just..." the Italian sighed, wrapping his arms protectively around his legs, "It still hurt...even though you were single and it was fair game, it hurt a lot you know? I mean it would have hurt no matter who it was, but because it was Veneziano..." Romano bit his thumb again, tears building in his eyes, "It just made it a whole lot worse...because I-I have I don't know...some kind of brother issues." he shrugged, sniffling slightly, "...which wasn't your fault because I never told you, but I've always felt second best to Veneziano, like I was never as good as him or never as liked as him..." Romano stopped for a moment to quickly wipe away a tear, "...and-and when I found out you'd slept with him I just, I thought it was true...that it'd happened because I really am second best to him, that he can have anything I want because he-he's so much cuter and-and more likeable and..." the Italian's voice was growing rapidly more high pitched, tears starting to pour from his eyes.
Spain's own eyes were rapidly filling with tears as he watched Romano emotionally break down, "Romano..." he scooted closer to him once more, so they were sat directly in front of each other but Spain wasn't sure whether to touch him or not, even if it was just a comforting gesture.
Romano wiped his eyes, looking away, "...and I just felt so betrayed because I...I've never had Veneziano take something like that from me...he'd always had more friends than me and been more liked than me by grandpa Rome but I-I always thought that you were mine..." he looked up at Spain, tears were starting to spill from the Spaniards eyes as well as his own, "...then I just thought, how could Spain do this to me? Veneziano never knows what he's doing...but you do." Romano gazed at Spain, they were close enough to see each other clearly in the dark, dark green orbs boring into his own, "...and it hurt most of all because I've never been in lo-"
Spain felt his heart skip a painful beat as the Italian suddenly stopped mid sentence, quickly looking away from the Spaniard, "Go on..." Spain urged, reaching out a shaking hand to touch his shoulder.
Romano glanced at the hand on his shoulder, heart thudding nervously in his chest, "...I...I was hurt because you'd slept with him and...and..." he swallowed heavily, gazing back at Spain, "...and I felt venerable, because I'd...never been in love before." he finished softly, voice barely audible, blushing heavily.
Spain couldn't help the grin that made its way onto his face, despite the tears still pouring down his cheeks, "Romano I could spend an eternity apologising to you and giving you a million reasons why you are in no way second best to your brother, but I have to know...are you still in love?" Spain asked, the hand on his shoulder making it's face to Romano's face, gently cupping his cheek, stroking his thumb along his soft skin, wiping away the tears.
Romano glanced at the hand, the blush refusing to die down as Spain stroked his face, "...th-that depends."
"Depends on what?" Spain asked softly, leaning closer to him.
Romano gulped slightly as he caught Spain's eyes again, those beautiful, deep green eyes, "...are you?"
"I always have..." Spain murmured softly, bringing his other hand up to cup Romano's face, pressing their lips together in a soft kiss. Romano was momentarily thrown off guard and blushed heavily, trying to bat Spain away. Spain was persistent, he slid his hands delicately through Romano's dark locks, pressing their lips more firmly together until the Italian stopped squirming and began kissing him back.
Spain never thought he could ever be more happy, Romano was kissing him! Enthusiastically too the Spaniard noted as Romano began exploring Spain's hair with his fingers tips, tongue stroking gently across his bottom lip, silently asking for entrance into his mouth. Spain granted him this access, grunting softly as their kiss deepened, wrapping one arm around his lower back as they both sat up on their knees to give themselves easier access to each other's bodies. Romano's hands stayed weaved into Spain's messy locks as the Spaniard began to tug at the hem of his shirt, breaking their kiss momentarily to pull it off over his head.
Spain took a few moments to stop and just stare at the Italian's exposed chest, soft, pale skin now free for him to do with as he wished. Romano blushed as Spain examined him, resisting the intense urge to wrap his arms around himself and cover up. The Spaniard licked his lips slowly before diving down and attaching his mouth to Romano's neck, compelled to bite down hard, drawing a sharp gasp from the Italian who pushed up against Spain's shoulders, "W-What are you doing?" he growled, glaring at Spain as he sat up.
"I don't know...I just really had to bite you." Spain said, laughing slightly, grinning goofily.
Romano fought the urge to smile, continuing to glare at him, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I don't know...you're in love with me, it's weird..." Spain laughed again, circling his arms around Romano's waist, pulling him onto his lap. Romano blushed furiously, burying his head in Spain's shoulder, the Spaniard smiled, gently stroking his fingers through his hair, "...in a good way though, I mean I really am happy Romano..." he kissed the top of his head gently, "...and this means you've forgiven me right?"
"Sì..." Romano mumbled softly, playing with a few of the buttons on Spain's shirt, letting them come undone.
"...are you okay?"
Romano nodded, gently tracing his fingers along the bare skin now exposed to him, "Sì I was just thinking..."
"...what about?"
"About what happened, I mean...did Veneziano, you know...to you? I mean..." Romano blushed, not wanting to say it, he feared what he might find out.
Spain looked perplexed for a moment before smiling softly, "No, he didn't...my ass still belongs to you."
"Good." Romano growled, diving on top of Spain, pushing him back into the sofa as their lips locked once more, much more aggressively this time, tongues colliding together, hands gripping each other's hair as they released all the built up sexual desires and frustrations they'd been holding back since the day they broke up.
Spain's hand reaches for Romano's chin and he guided their mouths together, letting his tongue flow into the other boy's mouth, marvelling at how well they fit together. His free hand found and relieved Romano's erection from the constraints of his pants and he hissed as the Spaniard took hold of it loosely in his hand.
"Y-You bastard." Romano growled, thrusting into that playful hand.
"What?" Spain asked innocently, giving him a gentle tug.
Romano bit his lip, stifling a moan, "You're teasing me..."
"...only a little." he said playfully, stroking him a few moments longer before Spain's arms were pinned down against the sofa by the Italian who was scowling down at him.
"Hey, I take control when it comes to sex, you know that." Romano growled, leaning low to return the harsh bite to the neck Spain had given him before.
Spain gasped, biting down hard on his bottom lip to stop from crying out, "O-Okay...you're the boss."
"Damn right I am." Romano said with a smirk, soothing the place he bit him with gently kisses, moving across his neck up to his jaw line before pressing their lips back together. Spain kissed him deeply as their clothes seemed to melt away, they were lying on the sofa, Romano above Spain. That long lean, tanned body stretched below the slender paler one, Romano gazed down at Spain through the darkness, reaching between them to tug on his length, gripping tightly, pressing the thumb to the tip to inflict soft murmurs of pleasure from the teen. Spain parted his legs, ready to accept his lover into his body.
Romano never let their kiss break once as he slipped one hand down to tease the entrance to his body, pressing a finger against his opening before pushing it into the tight channel, eventually adding a second one. Spain turned his head away, eyes clenched shut against the tight pressure of those two probing digits, slowly driving him insane, "Now, Romano..." he begged, breath coming out in short pants, "...do it now."
Romano slowly nodded, accepting this as confirmation and moved into position, guiding himself and slowly sinking into his lover. They both cried out in unison, Romano a moan, Spain more of a whimper as one hand wrapped around Romano's neck and the other rested on his shoulder briefly before moving into the soft mop of dark brown hair. Romano dropped his head down to plant a kiss on Spain's parted mouth, swallowing the soft gasps. The Italian begins thrusting slowly, creating a steady rhythm, moving slowly back and forth, supporting most of his weight on his elbows, and Spain meeting each measured thrust, eyes fluttering with each meeting to his prostate. "Oh, God...Romano..." he whispered, gasping for breath, "...Romano." he swallowed heavily, "...so good..."
"I know..." Romano moved faster, almost frantically. "...oh God, Spain, I know..."
"Love you...I love you so much, Romano...oh...God, I'm so close..."
"I love you so much, Spain. So goddamn much!" Romano growled, also close but he held back, and it took every fibre of his being not to come right then and there, not to empty himself completely inside the warmth around him. Suddenly, with great strength and willpower, Romano pulled out and slid down Spain's body.
With startled, questioning eyes, Spain watched as Romano nestled himself between his tanned thighs and began to pepper him with kisses and licks, before finally pulling him into his mouth and sucking him savagely, holding tight to those muscled legs.
Spain groaned out in pleasure, gripping the Italian's shoulders enough to leave marks, soon he was emptying himself down Romano's throat, and Romano resumed his place between the Spaniard's thighs, sliding inside him, thrusting into him frantically once more, groaning deeply at the warm heat that surrounded him until he too was spilling himself into the body below him with enough force that left both of them breathless and shuddering. With ragged breaths, Spain reached up to cling to Romano, panting heavily against his bare shoulder, hands stroking his sodden locks.
Very slowly, Romano pulled out of him, resting heavily against Spain's body, letting his full weight rest on top of the man he loved, the man he trusted with his life, pressing soft kisses against his skin, he wasn't sure if he was kissing his shoulder or his neck, just so long as he was kissing him, making him know how much he truly cared.
"I love you Romano..." Spain whispered softly, cuddling him close, his usual cheerful grin resuming its place after so long of being vanquished.
"...I love you too." Romano muttered softly, closing his eyes as he whispered something incoherent.
"Hm?"
"...I said I shouldn't have stayed mad for so long...I should have done this months ago." Romano mumbled, finding Spain's hand in the dark, lacing their fingers together.
"...you needed time to forgive me, I understand, I'm not proud of what I did...but I'm so happy you've forgiven me and we can...go back to the way things were?" Spain asked questioningly, hope apparent in his voice.
"Sì...I'd like that."
Spain beamed, squeezing his arms tightly around his boyfriend, "Gracias, and to answer what you asked before, yes...I'll come back to school with you in September."
"...hmm..." Romano mumbled quietly, starting to doze off.
Spain smiled lovingly, gently petting his hair, "Sleep tight my angel."
~0~
"Italy...I want to know what had you so upset before." Germany said, getting straight to the point as he came back into their room after his little pep talk with Romano.
Italy sat up in bed, looking confused for a moment before remembering, "Oh...that."
"Ja that..." Germany approached him, sitting himself down on the edge of the bed to face him, "When I mentioned we were giving the child away, you went all quiet und you looked upset...why's that?"
Italy shrugged, biting his lip, "...no reason."
Germany sighed, "Italy there clearly is a reason." he reached for his boyfriend's hand, taking it in his own, "You can tell me anything Italy, please, I want to know."
Italy shrugged again, letting his other hand come to rest on his bump, "Nothing Germany...I'm glad it's going to a good h-home." Italy's voice wavered on the last word and he turned away, biting down hard on his bottom lip to stop himself crying.
Germany watched him carefully, "Oh gott." he sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose, "...you're not okay with this are you?"
Italy sniffed, shaking his head, "...it's our baby Germany..." he whispered, gently caressing his baby bump, tears starting to leak from his eyes.
"Oh gott Italy..." Germany groaned in frustration, resting his head in his hands.
"It's ours Germany, our little baby, why do we have to give it away?"
"Italy why are you suddenly deciding this?" the German asked in bewilderment, thinking back to just a few months ago when Italy was happily prepared to give up the child.
"B-Because it's ours! I just...I feel it Germany..." he continued to rub his bump, biting his lip, "...it's right here, I can feel the baby, it kicks Germany! When it kicks I-I know it's a little person...our little person."
"Oh mein gott..." Germany stood up off the bed, clutching his hair, shaking his head, "Italy you're growing attached, you're forming a bond with it...Italy you can't form a bond with it!"
"Why not? It's our baby Germany! Why do we have to give it away?" Italy asked, tears shining with tears.
"Italy, we've already promised this child to a couple who are expecting it, we can't just turn around und tell them they can't have it." the German knelt in front of the bed, gently taking hold of his hands, "Don't you understand? It's not ours Italy, it's theirs-"
"No!" Italy said desperately, shaking his head in denial, "It's ours Germany! It's our baby and I want to keep it!"
"Italy..." Germany clutched at his hair again, forehead wrinkling in frustration, "You don't understand, we can't change our minds on this, it's too late now, the couple are probably already preparing for the arrival of the child."
"Well they can have someone else's!"
"It's not as simple as that-"
"I want our baby!"
"Well you can't HAVE IT!" Germany thundered, losing his temper, slamming his fist into the bedside table. Italy cowered away slightly, tears starting to rain down his cheeks, he let out a soft sob before turning over in the bed, curling up under the covers. Germany bit his lip, feeling intense guilt flood through him, "Italy I'm sorry..." he clambered into the bed beside him, gently hugging him from behind, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell Italy..." he pressed a soft kiss to the back of his neck, hands gently rubbing Italy's large stomach.
Italy sniffed, wiping his eyes, "I-I want to keep it Germany..."
"I know Italy, but we're not at all prepared for this, I mean do you know anything about raising a child?"
Italy shrugged, chewing his nails slightly, "I could learn..."
"Italy, I love you ja? You're the only person I'd ever want to have a child with, but we're so young Italy, you're only seventeen-"
"Canada was sixteen." Italy pointed out, carefully rolling over to face the German in the bed, "...and I'll be really mature! Honest..."
"Italy it's not convenient right now, we could always have another when we're older."
Italy shook his head, tears pooling in his eyes again, "But this is our baby Germany...how can you just want to give it away?" he took Germany's hand and rested it on his bump, "Can't you feel it? When it kicks you at night it's saying hello to its daddy, it's real Germany, it's your baby and it wants to see its daddy."
Germany sighed deeply, gently rubbing Italy's stomach, "Italy...you've obviously grown an attachment because you have this thing growing inside you, you feel it all the time und you've formed a bond with it, I haven't...but we can't deny a couple this child after we already promised it to them."
"But we don't know them, what if they're not suitable parents? What if they're horrible to it?"
"Italy I'm sure the adoption agency does background und checks und home visits to make sure the potential parents are suitable...I'm sure the child will be very happy with them."
The Italian was silent for a moment, slowly shaking his head, "...how can I possibly give it up when I see it's face for the first time?" Italy whispered, tears making their way down his cheeks.
Germany gently wiped them for him, "Just think about the smile on the couples faces when we give them this child they want, a child they want so much more than us...then you'll realise it was worth it." he smiled reassuringly, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead, "...now get some sleep ja? You need your rest."
Italy nodded slowly, feeling oddly distant and cold even as the German cuddled him close in bed, '...but they don't want it more than me...I want this more than anything in the world...why can't Germany see that?'
~3 months later~
"America I can't believe you left this until the last minute!" England said irritably, searching through a rack of ties to find a suitable one before throwing about seven of them onto the pile of clothes the American was already weighed down with.
"Oh yeah and when did you get yours?"
"I got mine almost two months ago!" England snapped, pushing him towards the changing rooms.
"Hey hey hold on! I gotta see which stuff I wanna try on first." America dumped the pile of clothes onto the floor and began searching through it.
England sighed, "Try it all on America, that's why I picked them out for you." he shook his head, gathering the clothes up into his arms, "Really America, it's your brother's wedding in two days, how could you not be bothered to buy a suit? You're the best man for Christ sake!"
"Hey I've been busy!" America pouted, disappearing into a changing room with one of the suits England picked out, "...which tie should I wear?"
"Urm..." England searched through the ties until he came across a red one, "Wear this one." he threw it over the wall into America's cubicle, "I'm wearing a blue one so it'll look nice together." the Brit waited a few minutes until his boyfriend was done changing before he stepped out to show him. England's irritation was suddenly forgotten as he took in the sight of his American, and how unbelievably handsome he looked in a black suit and red tie, "You look lovely."
"Great, I don't have to try on the others do I?"
"No, I think you look good enough." England smiled, enveloping the taller man in a hug, "...I'm so excited."
"For the wedding?"
"Well yes, but the other thing as well."
America grinned, cuddling England close, "Oh yeah! I know right? It's gonna be awesome! We're gonna make such great dads..."
"I hope so."
"I know so...how long until it's born?"
England bit his lip in thought, "I think they must be at least nine months pregnant by now, or very close, we'll probably get a call any day now."
America beamed, bouncing on his heels in excitement, "I can't wait, I really can't! We'll have to go to the hospital to visit the person giving birth to it."
"Yes we'll do that, first lets just concentrate on your brother's wedding okay? You have a speech prepared right?"
America looked at him blankly, "...urm..." he grinned innocently at his boyfriend.
England rolled his eyes fondly, "Come on lets get home, I'll help you with it."
Dun dun dun...I think we can all guess what has happened here XD
Ahh drama how I love you so~
I think I promised some Spain/Romano smut, not sure, well even if I didn't there it is for your enjoyment XD
Reviews are love :)