Then I was Young and Unafraid

Walking through the halls, Switzerland muttered to himself about taxes and citizens and he probably would have continued to if a the grande sound of electric notes hadn't captured his ear. Half-irritated and half-nervous, the blond corrected his feet and headed for Austria's designated piano room. Stopping in front of the closed door, the man wondered if he had begun closing it when he play today or yesterday; when had Austria regained the sense to hide his personal ambitions? It had only been a few days ago he left the room open to invite in others to listen and enjoy music as he did. He'd invited in Switzerland.

Grabbing the brass knob, he yanked the door open and heard the music cut of abruptly. The boy turned and looked at him. Silent, the blond frowned at the keyboard and at the child's ill-fitting clothes. Had he grown more? Maybe a little, he wanted to think.

"Vhat are you doing?"

Austria's eyes went to his keyboard. "I am practicing," he said.

Scowling at his evasiveness, the man sneered. "Really? You're here practicing when you could be helping Eva vith chores? Something that's actually important?"

"Nein!" The boy snapped back, face flushed. "This is important! It's important to me! And Liechtenstein told me to go play after ve cleaned up after breakfast!"

Taking a step in, Vash scoffed. "Don't tell me you actually listened to her! She's too nice for her own good and you know it! You should have insisted on helping!"

"Vhy are you being so mean!?"

Switzerland paused. "You expect everyone else to do vork vithout thanks and then you act like a spoilit child vhen they leave you, vhy do you think I'm being so 'mean'?"

Austria curled in on himself and didn't look at the blond. "Danke then, danke for letting me stay here, danke for feeding me, and danke for being my friend for a little vhile." Lifting his head, his knuckled at his eyes beneath his glasses. "Are you happy now Schweiz? Have I finally shown you enough gratitude?"

The man doesn't answer right away. Austria called him his friend. When was the last time he did that? Not since...not since everything fell to pieces between them as children. Approaching the boy, he took painful note of how he flinched as he knelt next to Austria. "You...you consider me your friend?" He inquired quietly.

"I did," the child agreed. "Vhen I vas smaller I vould have called you my friend, now? You hate me and I don't know."

Taking one of the smaller hands, Switzerland pleaded with him. "Hey, I'll show you I can still be your friend, alright? You just have to treat me as an equal like you did vhen-" He stopped himself. How stupid was the blond going to be? Austria didn't remember their time as children together...

"Vhen ve vere both bubs?" Austria finished shyly. "So that vas real? I've been dreaming of a blond boy and myself...I thought maybe it could be you."

Stunned, the blond just stared open mouthed. Wondering when Austria began to remember and why. Was it because he was closer to those memories in his young body? Was it because of the magic? Or was it because he'd been staying with Switzerland...Seeing that the man wasn't going to say anything because he was much too shocked to, the boy felt like he needed to cite particular moments from his dreams.

"I saw you, you picked me up after I lost a battle and then there vere several times vhere you tried to teach me how to fight-not that any those moments ever vent vell. Schweiz, that vas you right? I can't see vho else it could possibly be..."

Putting a hand on the boy's knee the blond smiled slightly. "Ja,"he replied. "That vas me." Suddenly ashamed and uncomfortable as the past weeks come back to him, the man dropped his stare. "I...I'm sorry."

"About vhat?"

Switzerland blinked. "About how I treated you! I vas absolutely Schrecklich to you!"

"I vas because I treated you like a servant and then forgot about you, right? I deserved it." Austria argued. "I get it now and I understand...I just didn't see vhy you vere being mean now after you had been almost my friend again. I thought," his lip warbled. "I thought maybe you'd forgiven me...but it's okay that you haven't."

Not stopping himself, Switzerland brought Austria into a hug. "Oh you little idiot, I don't think I ever hated you! I vas just so Wütend vith you and then having to face it all vith you staying in my house...it's just built up."

"I really am sorry about how I treated you before, though."

Letting the boy go, the blond laughed a little. "You aren't the first to take someone else for granted."

"But I shouldn't have done that to you," Austria insisted. "You had been my friend and I did that to you." The child sniffled a little, "Then to make it even vorse, I forgot you too!"

The reminder stung. But not so badly that he couldn't see how apologetic Austria was about it. Bumping up the boy's chin, Switzerland smiled at him. "Hey now, look, I forgive you. It's okay! Okay? All I've vanted is for you to recognize vhat you did and you have. I can't say I'm still not angry vith you, but it's not so bad anymore. You said it yourself, you consider me a friend right?"

Wearily, the brunette nodded.

Squeezing his shoulder, the other whispered; "Vell, I consider you a friend too. And to be a friend I'm going to have to forgive you. And that's vhat I'm doing right now, so, Roderich I forgive you."

The child threw his arms around his neck. "Danke Vash! I'll be good friend this time! I promise I'll never forget you again and never ever vill I treat you like a servant."

"Don't vorry, I believe you." Switzerland told the brunette as he patted his back. All would be well from here on out.

The two are finally on the mend (or are they?) what did you think of this chapter?

To reviewers, Katie-Kat1129 and Violonforte, thanks a lot guys! You are the best!

Thanks again everyone for reading and pretty please review!

Words:

Ja-Yes

Bub-Boy

Nein-No

Danke-Thanks

Wütend-Angry

Schrecklich-Horrible

Schweiz-Switzerland

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