Final part

Antonio

3 hours later he landed in Italy. Now it was just a matter of getting back home. As he walked out of the terminal the side street was blocked by taxi's, he figured he'd hail one and drive the rest of the way back. Right as he was about to head in the direction of the nearest cab, someone caught his eye. Børre? No way! What was he doing here?

"One ride to South Italy, correct?" Børre's flat tone was never surprising as what came out of his mouth. Was he going to personally take him to Lovino? This was why Børre will always be the most mysterious of the Nordics, there's just no understanding anything he does.

He followed the stone faced Nordic into a black car parked around the corner. Antonio ushered into the back while Børre went around to the driver's seat.

"There's a change of clothes under your seat, get changed while we drive" Antonio bent down, and sure enough, wrapped in plastic was a suit with all the decorations, the tie, cufflinks, even new shoes! Was this really happening? It was all too dreamlike, did he fall asleep on the plane and this was all just some crazy dream? If so, he wished he'd just continue to sleep and not wake up, because he knew where this dream would lead and he wanted to see that ending.

The drive was a lot shorter than he thought it would be. Maybe it had something to do with the sudden excitement in his chest as he got closer and closer to home, to Lovino, that made a long distance seem like nothing at all. Børre however suddenly veered from the path toward Lovi's house, he immediately lost that elated feeling and felt panic, he was about to demand to know what he was doing, but he was cut off by the sound of his phone vibrating in his coat pocket. How did it get there?

He pulled it out and flipped it open, on the screen displayed "1 new text message", he opened it and it read as followed:

"Get ready soon Valentine, hitting the shower, come right in when you get here"

God he loved him.

Lovino

It felt poetic to send the same words he had gotten this morning, granted he wasn't going to take a shower, as he had already done so earlier, but it just felt like something he knew Antonio would appreciate, if not drive him crazy. He was beginning to feel a little nervous, he had never gone to such lengths before for Antonio, what if he didn't like all that he had done? Would he feel like he stole his thunder? Seeing as Antonio was the one that wanted to plan this night so perfectly. It was too late to undo everything, and he felt it was silly to worry about something like this, after all, he was practically Antonio's whole world, there wasn't anything he could do that his man wouldn't like. So what was he so nervous about?

He began to play with one of the roses set on the table, as he continued to wait for Antonio to walk through the doors.

Antonio

He was shaking, was it nerves? Anticipation? Desire? Whatever it was it shook his whole body, and he feared it would cause him to sweat and make him damp and gross. He tried to calm himself by doing little things like hum and tap his fingers and bounce his legs, but none of those things kept his mind entertained long enough, and when he asked if Børre could turn on the radio, he was given nothing but more silence, not even a glance through the rearview mirror. He would just have to try to survive for however much longer this drive would take.

The flight took so little time that the drive there now seemed like eternity. God he just wanted to see Lovino! He was so tired, and so hungry and all he wanted to do was spend enough time with Lovi to make up for past slights, if he could just make it and spend even 10 minutes doing something other than kiss him sleepily on the cheek, he would know he accomplished what he wanted to. And maybe next year, he could try this again, and maybe succeed this time. Just maybe.

After what felt like 20 hours, he could see it in sight, an old cathedral building in the distance. Large and very renaissance looking, with painted windows that looked like diamonds against the night sky as the light from inside shown out. Børre stopped the car and got out, and opened the door for Antonio to exit. Antonio was in awe and stopped paying attention to Børre as soon as he climbed out. Which didn't matter anyway, cause his job was now over, he was now free to go home and tell his family all the days adventures, and get an ear full of theirs as well. Antonio didn't even notice when Børre drove away, leaving him alone outside this stunning architecture.

He slowly proceeded to advance toward the entrance, and as he got closer he could hear music playing inside. Slow, romantic music, and now that he had gotten closer, and could see through the windows a bit, he saw that the illumination was not that of normal lights, but of candle light.

As he reached the door he grabbed hold of its large handles and pulled out. To say the scene was breathtaking would be a grotesque understatement, it was heaven, this, this was what heaven looked like.

He had underestimated just how many candles it took to illuminate this old building, but now that he over looked the hall, the walls and the chandelier covered ceilings, nearly every inch of spare room was drowning in flower petals, wax and dancing flames. Sitting in the middle of the room, as he stopped admiring the number of candles, was a large wooden table. Decorated luxuriously with a stunning assortment of Italian and Spanish cuisine. The table had no candles, but instead was adorned with wine bottles that had been emptied and filled with assorted colored glass pebbles and wrapped inside of each strands of lights that made the bottles look like they held fairies.

It was an unbelievable sight, but the one thing he wanted to see more than anything was not there. And as he began to scan the great hall again, he caught something out of the corner of his eye. Before it was Børre, so this time it has to be;

Lovino

He watched from the balcony as Antonio scanned in pure awe of the old cathedrals insides. From the sheer number of candles to the elaborate feast he had laid out on the table. All his work had led up to this moment, and Antonio did not fail to bring the expressions of wonderment that he had hoped for. He felt proud of himself, but not the same pride he had felt earlier by leaving Antonio speechless. No, this pride came from somewhere far more special, and he would treasure it for as long as he could. But the feeling that overtook him the most was love.

No one would know just how much they've had to overcome together, not just as what they are, but even as who they are. And no matter their past, Antonio has always been by his side, protecting him, caring for him, teaching him, loving him. For all these years, and even though he has not always shown Antonio the best side of himself, he's tried to be as close to what Antonio could want him to be, he wanted that more than anything, for him to be all that Antonio could ever want. Not his brother, not any other cute nation, not any of his old friends who mean so much to him, no, just him, all he wanted was for Antonio to only and forever love him.

Tonight was just another memory the two of them would share, nothing more and nothing less.

Antonio/Lovino

He decided it was time to descend the stairs and join his lover on the floor.

Antonio continued to scan the room for his Lovi.

This seemed more dramatic than he had thought it would be.

He still couldn't find him through all the candles.

How many stairs were there in this damn place?

Lovi really over did the candles, he couldn't see anything!

Arhg! What the hell! This place was terrible Id-

"Found you."

Lovino stopped just short of the last few steps, his eyes caught on Antonio's, whose eyes were ablaze.

One would perhaps describe the look between them as scandalous, or perhaps passionate, who knows. But all Lovino knew is that, as soon as the flare had sparked in Antonio's eyes, just as quickly did they go out. Not because he suddenly lost all passion, but because it was Lovino who could see how tired Antonio was from his day.

Despite all the work, all the planning, and all the buy-offs, the results were the same. It was late, not close to midnight, but still past 8 and since he had been up since before the sun rose making chocolate for everyone, it took its toll.

No matter how hard either of them had tried to make it to the other, this Valentine's Day was the same.

But rather than be mad, or upset, Lovino just laughed. It caught Antonio off guard, and inquired what he found so funny.

"Nothing, hey bastard, let's go home"

Every ounce of energy Antonio had left wanted to push forth and refuse such a suggestion. For Lovi's wonderful work to go to waste sounded atrocious! And yet, the look on his face doused his refusals, and all he could muster was to take Lovino's hand and let him lead him through the doors, and out toward his car.

Home

They had made it back to Lovino's place just around 10, Antonio looked as though he was battling sleep in a war for the ages. They slowly walked into the house, and through the hallway toward Lovino's bedroom, not turning on a single light and not bothering to stop to do anything.

Lovino flopped Antonio on his bed and reached down to help him get comfortable, taking his shoes and tie off, slipping him out of his suit jacket and tucking the blanket around him.

Antonio motioned for Lovino to lay beside him. Antonio watched with lidded eyes as Lovino took off his own shoes and jacket, and stripped down to his undershirt and boxers, and then slid into the blankets next to Antonio.

As Lovino got comfortable against Antonio, he whispered I love you.

And before he slid off to sleep, Antonio left a sleepy kiss on his lovers cheek.