"No, he's not dead!" Italy cried.

The voice hissed, "Stop lying to yourself."

"No...NO. NO!" Italy screamed, falling to his knees, "NO NO NO NO NO!"

"I told you, you only have yourself to blame."

Italy looked into the dead eyes of Germany and let out a sob so loud his chest hurt, "Why?"

The voice rang harshly in his ears, "He died saving you."

Italy's breathing became shallow as he saw everything happen again, right before his eyes. Germany pushing him to the ground taking the wrath of enemy fire, unable to get down in time. Italy had been shot, too. But only once in the shoulder. It hurt, but the pain of a ragged bullet wound didn't compare to the pain of watching his closest friend get shot to death in front of his eyes. He loved Germany, and thanks to Italy's own foolishness he'd lost him. He saw every single bullet hit Germany in slow motion, every single horrible bullet from the first to the last. He didn't collapse until after six bullets had passed through his body, but he was hit by at least seven more on his way down. Then while on the ground he was shot ten more times due to laying out in the open, unlike Italy who'd been pushed down into a shallow ditch that smelled like blood and gun powder. He had lain there for hours until things became quiet, losing blood and staring at his dear, dead friend just out of his reach outside the ditch he'd pushed Italy into in a desperate attempt to save his life.

Italy screamed, horrified by the memory.

"Maybe if you would have just surrendered, this wouldn't have happened. He wouldn't have had to save you."

Italy shuddered, "I didn't want t-to surrender th-this time...I w-wanted to b-b-be useful. I wanted to h-help G-Germany. I th-thought-"

"You thought you could actually win this war? You thought you had a chance? Look at what thinking got you," The voice became angry, "YOU'VE KILLED HIM, AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO DIE TOO, THERE'S NO ONE HERE TO PROTECT YOU NOW!"

Italy's crying became so violent he couldn't properly form words, "N-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-oo! I...m-m-m-ean...d-d-dint m-mean. F-f-fault-t. M-m-m-m-my. A-all m-m-mine!"

"That's right. It's all your fault."

He couldn't take it, everything he felt at that moment hurt as if someone had shot him twenty-three times. He wanted to crawl over to Germany and join him. It was only a matter of time before Italy would be dead, too. Either bled out or killed in a battle without Germany to protect or guide him. Everything he felt at that moment could only be summed up in one sound.

Italy screamed at the top of his lungs, waking himself up. The first thing he saw was Germany's startled, concerned face. He latched on to him full force, so glad to see him alive and well. His started sobbing uncontrollably, every breath escaping his lungs fast and horribly shaky.

Germany, Germany's alive! It was just a dream, just a horrible horrible dream. He's okay, he's right here. I'm safe, he's safe. Everyone's safe.

Italy stayed tightly wound around Germany for a little while, until he remembered that he wasn't supposed to be in Germany's bed and that Germany had never been a fan of violent hugs. Or any hugs, for that matter. Italy released him quickly, and got out of the bed, apologizing, "Scusa, G-Germania, I know I shouldn't have s-snuck into y-your room."

Italy looked at his face, it was filled with pity and concern, surprisingly enough.

"Nein, it's okay. Just lay back down, it's too late for you to go all the way home."

He's not mad at me? Why isn't he mad at me?

Italy gratefully crawled back into the warm bed, making sure to stay on the very edge as far as possible from Germany, afraid of invading his personal bubble again. He just lay there tensely curled up into a ball.

What if I have another nightmare? What if it's even worse?

"Germany?"

Germany replied in a strangely gentle tone, "Ja?"

Italy turned to face him, looking into his worried, blue eyes, "I don't think I can get back to sleep."

Germany sighed, "Just try, okay?"

Italy nodded wearily and shut his eyes slowly, afraid that if he visually parted with Germany the bad dreams would instantly return. Suddenly everything became warn and safe. More warm as safe as they'd ever been while drifting off to sleep.