(( Hello! Next chapter! It shall be interesting… Indeed. Only one more after this one!

Sorry this took a while to post! I did a complete turn around with some of my plans for my future, blah blah, you're probably not interested. I just wanted to apologize, and etc. Thank all things magical for summer…

By the way, there's another version of this chapter. It was bad, so I rewrote it. The contents of that chapter will be my secret, forever…

Awynays, Chapter 3 commence! ))

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Italy sat on Germany's lap, facing him with a hand gripping his shoulder. He could feel it getting harder to breathe, the fear of facing what was on the other side of that door chasing the air away. He knew exactly who it was.

Noticing the state of fright written all over his partner's face, Ludwig gave Veneciano a comforting hug. "It's okay," he quietly said. Easing Italy off his lap, he went to stand up. Germany used a hand to rake his messed-up hair back into his usual slick hairdo.

Italy stared up at the other. This man… He carried the intimidation of Holy Roman Empire, yet the strength of Germany. It was a scary combination, yet he somehow felt safe. Very safe.

"What about your headache? I don't want you to get hurt," Veneciano couldn't help but worry.

"I might be in a bit of pain… I may be a bit confused… I'm having a hard time fitting the pieces of my memory together… But I know that whether I'm Holy Roman Empire or Germany, I want to protect you," he admitted, a bit bashful.

"I know you're in there!" They heard Prussia shouting through the closed door. "Open the damned door before I bust it down!"

The threat had cut off anything the two wanted to share at that moment. As Ludwig's attention had turned in the direction of the door, he felt a hand lightly grab his arm. His gaze snapped right down, though the sudden movement didn't make the throbbing better.

Italy has moved to hold his forearm, seeking comfort, his face turned down to the floor. "You… don't have to go," he quietly said, his voice betraying him by giving a slight quiver. "We could run away. It's really easy, I know how to. …You don't have to answer the door. Please…"

Germany let out a pained sigh as he felt as though someone had wrapped their fingers around his heart and squeezed. Hard.

He used his free arm's hand to place a reassuring touch on Italy's hand. "…I won't run." Italy's tearing eyes looked up to meet his in surprise, sadness, and fear. Germany continued, "There was this one time that I ran away. A long, long time ago. It was the biggest mistake that I ever made."

At his face went a bit redder, he abruptly turned away to go answer to his irate brother. Germany felt something light fall against his back and follow him. Despite the fact that Ludwig was a bit sweaty, Italy had joined him by clinging to his back, keeping a loose grip on a fold in the other's tank top. Both couldn't help but crack a slight smile, though neither could see it, during this situation.

Italy flinched as he heard the sound of the door's lock being unlatched by Ludwig.

Gathering the courage to defend what he had wrongfully left behind so long ago, Holy Roman Empire opened up the barrier that was separating him and the man who sheltered him after the 30 years war.

Gilbert stood there in front of him, looking extremely upset. His expression softened a little when he saw that it was his brother who came to answer him. Yet, he remained steadfast in his resolution to stop this nonsense.

"You're awake," he said with a grin like that of a madman trying to sway company to his side. "I was afraid that something bad would happen to you."

Ludwig's eyes narrowed. "What sort of bad?" he asked.

Prussia didn't like the look in Ludwig's eyes. Not at all. "You were sick in bed. I came back and you were gone. Wouldn't any brother be worried?" he persuaded him.

"And how did you know I was here?"

With a frown, Gilbert dug his hand into his pocket. He pulled a scrap of paper with Italy's signature on it, and swiftly tossed it to the ground at the other's feet with a disdainful look. He stared at the man hiding behind Germany, who was avoiding eye contact at all costs. "Wild guess," Prussia answered sarcastically, turning his attention back to West. "Now, won't you come home? I know how to take care of you."

"Like you have… for all these years," Ludwig let out. There was something in his tone…

"Yes…"

"Taking care of me, huh? Taking care of my memories, too," he replied, glaring at his older brother.

Prussia grimaced, knowing he had been caught. Somehow… somehow he had remembered?! He thought of a response quickly. "I was just trying to help you. You were such a mess back then. Whenever you start to remember something, you are put through so much pain. I was trying to help."

"What do you mean?" Ludwig asked. "You weren't helping me, you were making me forget my past. You made me forget who I am! I am Holy Roman Empire! I may have become Germany, but that didn't mean that you had to suppress my memories!"

"Look," Gilbert interjected, with a frightening amount of anger and acid put into one small word. "I didn't just suddenly wipe your memory. You forgot your past by yourself. I only came and picked up the pieces, making you something bigger and better. I may have tried to prevent you from remembering things during the little 'episodes' that followed that. I admit that. But you were much better off forgetting what you left behind."

Germany felt Italy sag a bit behind him, not saying a word. "Brother…" he tried to argue.

"You were better off forgetting, and just staying that way! You didn't need to be that whiny little brat anymore, I gave you more important things," Gilbert went on, looking dangerous.

"You can't just make people forget who they are. You held a big piece of me away. That's unforgivable," Ludwig determined, asserting himself.

Something in Prussia snapped. He wore an expression of pure fury as he saw what he had built up come crashing down. In a very sudden movement, he had reached under Ludwig's arm to grab Veneciano's head, bury fingers into his hair, and yank him out into the open.

He gave a harsh cry of pain as he stumbled forward. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't kill me! I'll do anything!" Italy pleaded.

Tired of his sickeningly annoying voice, Gilbert threw him downwards by his grip on his hair right before West could seize him. Veneciano hit the stone hard with a horrible thud and went still. "It's your fault!" Prussia shrieked as Ludwig fell forward a bit too late to catch his partner.

He stood over him, unsure of what to do. Well, one thing immediately came to mind. Germany quickly straightened back, grabbed Gilbert by the collar, and punched him in the jaw as hard as he could.

Prussia staggered backwards, managing to stay on his feet somehow. He had a look of shock and surprise written all over his paling face as he stared up at Ludwig, a drop of blood escaping his split lip. This was the last thing he expected. The very last thing. No, he didn't even consider that West would try to hurt him. The thought never crossed his mind.

Yet he felt the stinging and the ache from the punch as his brother was kneeling over that damned Italian.

"West," he let out, not willing to accept this.

"Go away. I'm not your toy anymore," he instantly received as a reply. Ludwig didn't even look at him when he said that.

His own adopted brother was collecting Veneciano gently into his arms to carry him back inside. Gilbert tried to tell him to wait, but his voice seemed to leave him. For the first time, Ludwig had his back turned to him as he slowly walked back into Italy's house.

Germany left him behind, closing the door behind himself while being careful not to drop the other. Maybe… he would consider talking to Gilbert again. After he cooled down. Although Holy Roman Empire was seething, Germany couldn't help but think about who took care of him all this time. It took a lot of control not to open the door again.

Though, he felt his heart skip a beat in fear. Veneciano was unconscious, a drop of blood escaping from a scuff on his forehead from hitting the ground so hard.

Holy Roman Empire was panicking, while Germany knew what to do in this sort of situation. It was so hard to balance things. Holy Roman Empire kept him from opening the door again, but Germany was keeping him from freaking out and hurting Italy more. He knew that he had changed from that personality, but now it was resurfacing after not seeing the light of day for so long.

Ludwig carefully walked to the bathroom down the hall. As soon as he was in, though it killed him to do so, he sat Veneciano down on the floor to lean back against the edge of his tub. Germany went to rummage around in the cabinets to find the first aid kit. He found it, using some sterilizing ointment and a bandaid to cover the small lesion. Ludwig left momentarily to grab some ice, wrap it in a clean dishtowel, and bring it back.

As gingerly as he could, he held the makeshift pack of ice over the bump forming on Italy's upper forehead. He stayed like that for a few minutes, staring at the other with intense worry.

Finally, Veneciano stirred. He winced a bit, then cracked open his eyes to look at Germany. "I'm sorry," he quietly whined, making the other realize that he was coherent. "I made Prussia mad… And I was knocked out… And you're taking care of me even though you're sick," he quietly said.

Ludwig took away the ice, and went to embrace Italy, who was limp in return. "No, it's okay. I'm alright," he said, even though his headache had worsened a bit over that commotion. "Don't be sorry."

Veneciano sighed dejectedly. He couldn't do anything for his beloved Holy Roman Empire… It was so disappointing.

"Are you alright? Should I take you to a doctor? You might get a concussion," Ludwig offered.

"No, I'm okay," Italy quietly said. "… I'm sorry."

Germany gave him a light shake. "Didn't I tell you to stop it? I'm sorry about my brother." That was one thing he had trouble letting go of. Prussia wasn't really his brother. He was so used to calling him that. Should he stop now?

"I'm tired," Veneciano said. He looked up with his reassuringly vacant smile. "Carry me."

Ludwig looked a bit surprised. This sent his two sides into turmoil again. Nonetheless, he scooped up Italy and stood up, his partner wrapping his arms around his neck.

…

Germany had taken Italy to his bed. He helped him get comfortable by taking off his nice pants and unbuttoning his shirt. Holy Roman Empire was getting really riled up and embarrassed, though his modern self was used to such a thing. That still didn't keep a heavy blush from spreading across his face.

"Where are you going?" Italy asked as the other was going to leave.

"I'm going to sleep," he simply answered, looking confused.

His host shook his head in displeasure. "You can't take one more step. You look so exhausted, you're going to fall over again," he said. "Come sleep with me."

Ludwig looked really taken aback. The side of him that wasn't used to having his privacy invaded was surprised beyond belief. "B-but-"

Veneciano grabbed onto his arm and pulled back as hard as he could. As tired and as ill as he felt, Germany wasn't able to resist. He fell down on the bed beside Italy, who in turn got up and adjusted him into a comfortable position. He then lay back down and pulled the covers over the both of them.

Ludwig was as tense as he could be, looking so shy and embarrassed through the dark. Italy reached up to feel the other's forehead.

"You're still feverish. I might take you to the doctor tomorrow," he playfully threatened, copying what his guest had said in the bathroom earlier. Ludwig just stiffly nodded in return.

With a worried sigh, Veneciano cuddled up to him. Yet, he couldn't help but feel better right away. For he knew that right in front of him was his first love. Holy Roman Empire had come back to him. And even better, he was Germany!

With another sigh, this time of contentment, he started to drift off to sleep.

A minute or two passed until Ludwig let out, "… Chibitalia?"

"Hn?" he mumbled in return as a response.

"Well… would you… um…… If I wasn't Holy Roman Empire, or if I hadn't remembered… would you still love me? Would you love… Germany?" he very hesitantly and quietly asked.

Veneciano woke right back up, and looked up at the man who was avoiding eye contact. He was silent for an agonizing moment or two.

"Yes," he answered with warmth that radiated like the sun. "Germany has always been there for me. Yet, I will always love Holy Roman Empire. It's confusing… But I love Ludwig no matter who he is."

Ludwig smiled with relief, and with happiness as Italy snuggled up against him again, this time to really fall asleep.

Through his shyness, he went to wrap an arm around his partner as he gave a slight snore.

The headache pain was lessening, allowing his to fall asleep peacefully in no time.

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(( Only one more chapter after this! Don't worry; I'll get it posted quicker this time. See you then! ))