It was now only two months until Spain and Elena's baby arrived. Spain had told Romano that the child will come in about four mouths and so far, everything was going by slowly. But things were getting worse for Romano. Now with the soon arrival of the baby, Spain and Elena have gotten more excited and spending less and less time with Romano. Romano had been excited before, but now he was getting annoyed by all the excitement over the baby. Now he just wanted everything to go back to normal, but he wasn't sure if it was ever going to be the same again. Now everything that Romano did that no one ever complained about before, was now getting scolded about.

Yesterday Elena was knitting and Romano came in the room and started to play with the ball of yarn that Elena was knitting with. Every time he pulled and yanked the yarn Elena would frown and tell him to stop it. Of course, Romano never listened to anybody and went back at yanking and pulling.

It really set Elena on edge and she tapped Romano's hand and sent him out the room. She never did that before. Usually, like Spain, she let Romano do whatever he wanted.

It wasn't just her, of course. Spain got upset with him that evening when he was washing the dishes. Romano tried talking with him, but Spain didn't pay much attention. He had a lot on his mind, but Romano took it seriously and thought that Spain was ignoring him on purpose. In anger and desperation to get attention, Romano kicked hard at Spain's leg. However, Spain got really upset with Romano and sent him to his room with a little spank. It didn't hurt, but it was enough to make Romano understand that Spain was serious. Never before had Spain been so angry.

Romano just didn't understand it. He was sitting on the porch that morning, thinking about what to do about Spain and Elena. Why are they so angry with him lately? They never complained before. Where they getting tired of his company? Romano didn't want to think the worst and tried pushing the thought out of his mind.

Spain came out and walked to the tomato garden. He didn't even pat Romano on the head as he walked by! He usually did that whenever he was out here. Was Spain still angry with him from last night, or did he just not notice him?

He still felt awkward about last night, but Romano decided to raise his voice.

"Hey...uh...Spain?" Spain looked up from the garden and smiled like the sun.

"Si, Romano?" his smiled would normally make Romano gag, but he was too worried about his parents to think about gagging.

"Are you'a...still mad at me?" he asked in a tiny voice that Spain almost couldn't hear him. Spain stood up and wiped his brow.

"No. Why?" Romano didn't respond, only looked down at the dirt. Spain raised an eyebrow and walked over to the porch. He put his hands on his hips.

"What's wrong, nino? Are you feeling sick?"

"No, I'a just..."

"Come here," Spain said as he sat down beside him. "What's troubling my little nino?"

"It's just...you and Elena are being so mean lately. You get mad at me over everything I'a do." Romano began to sniffle and wipe his nose. Spain put his arm around his son.

"No, Romano. We're not trying to be mean to you. You've just been acting moody lately and it's gone a little out of control," Spain tried to explain. Romano glared at him. He didn't want to believe him.

"No!" he shouted as he slapped Spain across his arm. That was a mistake because Spain grabbed his arm.

"Romano! Stop it, now!" he said, anger in his tone. Romano froze and stared into the angry green of Spain's eyes.
Spain realized that he had scared Romano and he softened to sadness.

"Romano, I'm really sorry," he tried to apologize. Romano ran away and out the yard, crying.

"I'a knew it! You'a hate me! You only care about yourselves and that stupido bambini!"

"Wait, Romano! Come back!" Spain called after him. But Romano didn't turn around.

Elena heard Spain calling Romano back and walked out.

"What's going on?"

"It's Romano! He ran away! I'm going after him!" Spain told her. Elena looked concerned.

"Oh dear. I hope he's okay. Please bring him back, Spain. He could get lost and hurt!"

"Si, I will," Spain nodded to her before running after Romano. Elena shook her head.

"Please don't do anything stupid out there, Romano," she hopped silently.

Romano sniffled as he ran farther from Spain's casa. All he wanted was to be away from Spain and Elena. Everything's been terrible lately. Why did Spain and Elena have to have a baby? Wasn't HE their baby? Wondering about it only made him madder. He began to slow to a walk. He heard thunder and knew that it was going to rain soon. He better find some shelter or he could get sick. He wasn't going back to the casa. Never again. He found a shop that was beginning to open and hid himself under the cart that was holding vegetables. He sat down and buried his face in his knees, starting to whimper and cry as the sky grew darker...

"Romano!" Spain cried as he searched the town for his little boy. "Romano, please come out. I'm sorry. Please?" There was no replay. Spain felt a raindrop fall on his cheek and he looked up at the dark sky.

"What? Rain? No! It can't rain yet, I still have to find my nino!" He ran through the streets, calling Romano. Raindrops were beginning to fall and thunder boomed the sky, but Spain didn't stop. He wasn't going to stop until he found Romano. As he approached a food store, he heard soft cries come from underneath the cart. Spain knelt down and peeked under the cart. There was Romano, crying and had his face buried. Spain smiled and sighed a relief.

"Romano! You're okay. I was so worried about you. Come back to the casa, si?"

"No!" Romano cried as he slapped away Spain's hand that was trying to reach him. "Go away! You'a hate me! I'a know it!"

"Romano, I don't hate you."

"Don'ta lie!" Romano said, glaring at him.

"I'm not lying," Spain said. He knew that Romano was hurt, but he had to get him home before things got worse. "Come on," he told the boy as he put his arm around him, despite the boy's struggling to get away from him.

"We got to get you home before this rain gets worse," Spain told him as he held the boy close. Romano continued to sniffle and cry.

"I'a don't want'a to go home! I'a don't belong there! All you care about is that stupido bambini!"

"No, Romano. Elena and I care about you so, so much. I was very scared when you ran away from me. I didn't want you to get hurt. That's why I came after you."

"You'a are just saying that to make'a me feel better! I'a hate you!" Romano wiped his eyes, and Spain gave him a cuddle.

"Come home. You can't run away, it won't solve any problems and it would just make you even more sad and angry. Besides, you are going to be a big brother soon and the baby will need a role model. Elena and I can't take care of the baby by ourselves, you know. It'll need a big brother to protect it and teach it all its brother knows."

"Okay," Romano said as he wiped away a tear, "but'a I won't like'a it." He put his arms around Spain and gave him a hug.