Then I was Young and Unafraid

They arrive in Bern an hour later than Germany expected. He blamed it on the detours the small Austrian caused; first, for a car seat and change of clothes, then the bathroom (again), for lunch, and a second bathroom break twenty minutes from Switzerland's home. Having finally arrived, Germany got out of his car and shook his head at how the small brunette slept on.

Opening the back door, he unbuckled the boy and lifted him out. Still soundly asleep, Austria somehow continued to keep his hold on the children's book he'd bought to keep him occupied on the drive. Putting a hand on the tiny back, the blond attempted to rouse the boy; instead, he seemed to put him into a deeper rest. Sighing, he finished with his car and began the trek up to Switzerland's home.

At the door, Ludwig rang the doorbell; in the moment he had before Vash answered, the blond gave one last attempt to reviving the child.

"Vake up," He demanded.

The small head turned and with another second, lifted up. "Are ve here? Are ve about to see Schweiz?"

"Ja," Germany agreed. "Down you go now," he told Austria. Setting the boy down, he had to spring up as the door fell back to reveal a rather irate blond.

Glowering at him, Switzerland remarked; "You are late."

"Blame him," Ludwig grumbled; hand gesturing to the little boy.

For the first time, the Swiss man looked down. His reaction was instantaneous, He fell back in the least dignified heap Germany had ever seen. His face was pale and eyes large as his gaze stayed locked on the tiny boy peering back at him.

"S-Schweiz?" Austria murmured. Unlike his old ally who'd fallen into dumb silence, the small boy had a visceral reaction. "That's not him! That's not Vash! It's not! It's not! It's notit'snotit'snot-" Germany scooped the boy into his arms, cutting off the screams and pummeling of his knees. Anger fading away, the Austrian just sobbed.

The blond knew little about comforting children, but he could see that letting him lay limp in his arms would not and was not helping. Instead, he brought him close allowing tiny arms to wrap and choke him as Austria's trembling died down with his crying. Eventually, the tiny brunette finished. Prying him away, he saw that the boy had exhausted himself.

"Do you have a place ve can lay him down?" Germany inquired of Switzerland.

Up on his shaky knees, the other, slighter man nodded and guided them into his home. Taking them down the hall and through a room, the Swiss pointed to a couch. "Put him there, ve'll be able to keep an eye on the junge from the dining room that vay."

Germany skirted his gaze, he was satisfied to see a table set just past the threshold of what he assumed to be the dining room. "Ja okay;" he agreed. Putting the brunette down, he didn't expect a tiny hand to grasp at his sleeve.

"Vhat is it Österreich?"

Mottled eyes stared up. Silent. Conveying.

Ludwig sighed. "I'll bring you something to eat soon, alright?" The hand fell away and Austria turned himself toward the sofa's back, fingers gripping at his book as a makeshift teddy or pillow. Once certain he wasn't in need of him any longer, the German rose up to join the slighter man. "Lead the way," he commanded.

Switzerland brought them to the dinning room, then to the kitchen, Germany was immediately picked out by the man's sister's eyes. "Hello Ludwig," she smiled.

"Deutschland and I have important things to discuss," her brother broke in. "There is a junge in the next room, vould you mind putting together a plate for him?"

Though she looked confused, Liechtenstein nodded. "Of course bruder," she agreed; already reaching for a plate.

"Danke Eva*." He said, dismissing her.

The teenager swiftly put together a plate for the boy, and likely herself, before leaving the two nations to talk. After a moment, blue met green and Switzerland inquired; "How did he end up like that?"

Leaning back against the counter, the taller shook his head. "Ich weiß nicht," he admitted unhappily. "I found him outside my room this morning and..." he shrugged.

"Vhy did you bring him here?"

The younger met the other's strained expression. "He vished to see you, vould you have liked me to tell him no? To sprout distrust of me, my bruder? I hoped vith conceding to his request I could buy myself sometime...and collaborate vith someone about vhat should be done."

Shaking his head, Vash ran his hand through his hair; gaze on the ground. "Gott.." he cussed. "Gottverdammt!" Pushing away and walking away, the man's open eyes found Ludwig's "I can't do this! I can't!"

"I know you aren't close-"

Switzerland scoffed. "I hate him!" He roared. "I don't vant him here!"

Germany swung out, grabbing the man by his shoulders. "Vhat you vant isn't important!" He growled, "That bub vants you and until this is fixed, ve vill keep him calm and safe! He has millionen of people depending on his survival! If anything goes falsch-!"

Pupils dilated, the other said nothing.

Liechtenstein's voice drifted in;

A farmer went trotting

Upon his gray mare;

bumpety, bumpety, bump!

With his daughter behind him,

So rosy and fair;

Lumpety, lumpety, lump!

A raven cried "Croak!"

And they all tumbled down...**

Stealing himself back, the shorter man turned. "You got him a book of nursery rhymes? How old do you think he is?" He grumbled as he reached for a cup and filled it with beer.

Germany stared at the man's back. "He is a junge, nation or no, I thought it vould please him."

There was a snort. "You might have gotten treated like a kind from time to time..." tossing back his drink, Switzerland spun around facing him. "Not us, though. Ve vere already vaist-high in bodies and blood at that age."

Looking back at the other, Ludwig was made to bow his head. He knew life was brutish for nations, even more so for the elder among them...but what harm did he cause by appealing to the small Austrian's childish fancies? Lifting his eyes once more, he demanded; "Then vhy can't ve deny to give him a bit of boyhood now? Vhat harm does it cause? Tell me Schweiz."

Switzerland had no answer other than to grunt and begin on another beer.

Another chapter, what do you guys think? I feel like I should warn you that thing may lag in the coming weeks, though, because my parents are divorcing and well...I might not always be up to writing.

To reviewer, PirateANDelf; thanks. It means a lot. As do the follows and favorites...but reviews, you know, are just doubly great. I think I'll offer the prize I always do with my other multi-chapter fics. If I have ten reviews by chapter five, reviewer eleven will get a one-shot of their choosing in any of the fandoms I have previously written (cross-overs are included in this).

thanks for reading, please review!

*Eva, along with Erica/Erika, Sisia, and Elise are all human names Himaruya is considering for Liechtenstein. Out of the list, Eva was my favorite and it will be the name I use for her in this fic and all my future fics.

**The rhyme in italics is German in origin and is called Hoppe Hoppe Reiter.

Words:

Ja-Yes

Bub-Boy

Junge-Boy

Danke-Thanks

Bruder-Brother

Falsch-Wrong

Millionen-Millions

Österreich-Austria

Schweiz-Swizterland

Deutschland-Germany

Gottverdammt-Goddammit

Ich weiß nicht-I don't Know

All German for this fic is from Google Translate.

*Thanks so, so much to Mite for the corrections of my German!*