Ciao to everyone! This chapter took me longer than I expected but here it is! I want to thank you all, as I said before this is my very first story and the reviews you wrote really were able to make my day and, moreover, they made me want to continue it. Also, I have appreciated that some of you favorited and/or followed it! Grazie mille! (Thank you very much!) I have a lot of plans for this story which involve other countries too!

My special "thank you" goes to PridexWretchedluver4ever, Fezzes64 and lenluv139.

Chapter four: Blue meets Amber, again

You grow up, my little Italy…

He shifted a strand of hair from the young Italian's face and, carefully, caressed his overheated cheek. His touch was gentle, he didn't want to wake him up. Some hours before, he had found him exhausted on the floor, right under the window, with his cheeks wet of tears. He didn't had the heart to leave him there so he kindly had lifted him and had placed the boy on the bed.

Was it my fault you were crying?

Another caress, maybe the hundredth. He couldn't tell how long he had been staring at him and how many times he had shifted the same strand of hair from his sweaty face. To tell the truth, it didn't matter to him, as long as the young Italian was next to him.

Italy…

Said boy turned on his belly, letting out a small Ve. His back was completely drenched in sweat. Previously, he had thought about undressing him but he hadn't been able to do so. The mere idea of removing the apron he was wearing, and the clothes below, had made him flustered.

I'm sorry about that but… What if you did wake up? It would have been awkward! I mean, I'm a man and you are a sweet and cute little girl… What did you would have thought of me?

He didn't know yet that Italy was a boy. He had disappeared before he had the possibility to see him growing up and so he had missed Austria's discovery. To him, the sleeping figure lying on the bed, was a young lady in the problematic years of her adolescence.

A roar coming from outside diverted him from his thoughts. He has never heard something like that before, so he stood up and peeped out of the window. Right in the courtyard, two strangers were dismounting from a red vehicle.

Who are they and what is that red thing?

He was surprised but then, when one of them removed his helmet, he was even more.

Wait a moment… I-Italy's sister? She has grown up a little too masculine! If I didn't know better I would had mistaken her for a boy!

A smile appeared on his lips. Obviously, he was unaware that Romano too was actually a boy.

Who are you talking with? He reminds me someone… but who?

He focused on the tallest of the two, who has just removed his helmet and was giving it to the other. It was frustrating for him not being able to recall who he was, since he was sure he had seen him before. Few moments went by in contemplation.

Spain!

He hit the palm of his left hand with the bottom of his fist.

Yes, now I remember! I saw you only few times but I am sure I am right. I wonder what are you doing here…

The duo disappeared from the view, bringing the motorcycle with them. With nothing else to watch, he came back to the spot he was in before the interruption. Italy was still asleep.

I am glad you haven't grown up like your sister has…

He gently patted the back of the boy's head.

Metal sounds, followed by wooden ones, came from downstairs. Apparently, Romano and Spain had entered in the house. Intrigued, he tried to eavesdrop what the pair was saying, failing. He couldn't catch a single word but only muffled mutterings.

Well… I hope they won't do too much noises. My little Italy needs her beauty sleep.

At that very moment, Veneziano stretched his arms and made a strange sound.

Oh my! She is waking up! Calm down, breathe…

"Ve~!"

The young Italian opened his amber eyes and the first thing he saw was the blurred silhouette of a blond man, who was looking at him with fierce determination.

"EEK! G-Germany you are scaring!" he squawked, hiding his head under the pillow. "Don't hurt me, I swear I'll learn how to do my shoelaces!"

Germany? Who is Germany?

"Italy… I am not Germany so don't be afraid of me, I won't harm you." He was sincere, he would never do such thing intentionally. In order to prove him that he didn't have bad intentions, he put an hand on the boy's shoulder. At the gesture, Italy ceased to shake and lifted his head to look at the blond.

"Uh?" He blinked a few times and then paled. "H-H-Holy R-R-o-ome?"

He gave to him the most reassuring smile he could muster. "Yes my dear sweet Italy, it's me. Sorry for - " but he wasn't able to finish the phrase. The young boy literally jumped on him.

"Holy Rome! Holy Rome!" he wailed on his chest. "It's really you! Holy Rome!" he clenched his finger around the black fabric of the cape he wore. "I've missed you so bad…" He sniffed.

"Hush my little Italy, hush… don't cry, I'm here now." said the blond hugging the younger. He rested his check on the top of his head. They were lying on the bed, Italy on top.

"I-I-I'm so h-happy!" He sobbed. "I-I-I can't stop c-c - "

Somewhere downstairs, a metal object fell on the ground clattering. Soon it was followed by a loud "MERDA!"

"W-what was that?" Veneziano asked, wiping off some tears with the back of his hand as he sat on Holy Rome's thighs.

Her voice is so strange… but maybe it is due to all the crying.

"I think it was your sister. She and Spain arrived here some minutes ago." he said leaning on his elbows.

"My sister?" the brown-haired boy seemed puzzled. "Holy Rome, are you referring to big sister Hungary perhaps?"

"No. I was referring to Romano." he answered seriously.

At his words Italy was initially took aback but then he started to chuckle. Every second passed by, the chuckles grew in intensity, until they became a true laugh.

What did I say wrong?

Holy Rome waited patiently for the Italian to calm down. It took him some time.

"Ve~! Romano isn't a girl!" he smiled. "Sorry if I laughed before but you made me though about fratello in a drag-queen costume!" A little snicker. "By the way Holy Rome, why did you think he was a girl?"

"WHAT?! She isn't a girl?" the older one was speechless.

"Nope. He is a boy, just like me and you! Ve~!"

His blue eyes popped out. Suddenly he forgot how to breathe.

What?! My sweet little Italy is a boy? When did it happen? N-no, calm down. Think about it, you had observed her a lot of time: while she was doing her chores, while she painted, while she ate… and she was a girl! This is a joke, yes. She is making fun of you.

"Are you alright Holy Rome? You seem a little pale! Are you hungry?" Veneziano inquired, getting closer to his face. "Ve~?"

She would have no reason to lie to me… No she, err, he, yes, he is telling the truth. Italy is a boy. Does it make any difference to me? He is still the same person I fell in love with after all.

Their eyes met, blue and amber finally together after centuries.

So beautiful… Do I really care if these eyes belong to a man instead of a woman? Is it wrong if the answer is that it doesn't matter to me?

"No, everything is fine." he said softly, answering at both the questions. Italy smiled happily. It was in that very instant that the blond noticed the position they were in. He blushed furiously. "Erhm… well, I don't feel my legs anymore. Can you, you know, erhm… get up?"

"Oh, sorry! I didn't noticed…" he apologized, sitting on the bed.

Hurry up! Change subject!

"You were crying before. May I ask you why?"

Moron!

Holy Rome mentally slapped himself. Veneziano frowned sorrowfully. "Last night, fratello and I had a discussion. Well, he shouted at me and I was too shocked to say a word…" he said while playing with the edge of his apron. "But what he had told to me is the truth…"

"What did he said?" he asked approaching to him.

"That I am a nuisance to everyone, a burden. That I am stupid and useless and - "

"Please stop." The blonde pleaded. "Romano isn't right."

"No." he shook his head. "You have seen it with your eyes! When I woke up and I saw you, I hid under the pillow like a coward! I'm pathetic…"

"First, you thought I was that German-boy. Second, if I were you I would have been scared too! I mean, you wake up and someone is watching you! It's creepy…" he mentally slapped himself again. Italy looked at him. "What I am trying to say to you is that is normal to be scared, it's a natural protection for us! Some people act cool but I am one hundred percent sure that even them are afraid of something."

"But at least they don't run away or cry for help."

"This is because you saw what happens when someone achieve too much power. You told me about your grandfather Rome, I remember it clearly. His scars… You are strong Italy but you are too much afraid that something like that would happen to you too. That's the reason you had started to underestimate yourself and years after years you believed even more in your own lie." He put an hand on the boy's shoulder. "Look at me in the eyes. You are gorgeous. Your voice, your food, your paintings, your architecture… I can go on for hours. I don't know why Romano had told you that you are a nuisance but believe me when I say that you aren't."

Italy's eyes were filled of tears. "Grazie… I-I needed it…" he softly hugged the blond. "I'm glad you are here, Holy Rome…"

The older one kissed the top of the brown-haired boy's head. "Go take a bath, it will help you to relax a little. I'll wait for you here, I promise."

Veneziano nodded. "Ve~! I'll be right back!" he exclaimed happily picking up some clothes.

That's my Italy!

Once he was alone he took some minutes to look around.

This room sure is messy… it'd better if I put some order in here!

Holy Rome stood up from the bed and actually started to gather all the clothes and the other things that were on the floor. He lingered on a pair of white pants.

They are so different from the ones you gave me last time…

Afraid that Italy could enter and found him staring at his underwear, he put them away and went to remove the shoes from the desk. There, he found a sketchbook. Intrigued he flipped it open.

Italy sure knows how to draw!

On the sheet of paper there was a colorful portrait of the two Italian brothers. They were in a sunny garden and the younger was looking at the other with supreme admiration. He turned the page. Another picture of the two, this time they were eating spaghetti. Holy Rome smiled at their tomato-stained faces. In the following draw, instead, there were three men, sat around a bonfire, on a beach. One of them was doubtless Italy but he didn't dwell much on him. He was focused on the blond one.

What? Could this man be me?

In the footer there was a caption.

"Me, Japan and Germany during our shipwreck."

Oh…

A little disappointed, he flipped through the remaining pages. They were all full of many others portraits of Germany.

"Holy Rome?" Veneziano asked worriedly. Apparently he had come back while he was lost in his thoughts. "Are you going to stay here only for today, am I right?"

He placed the sketchbook on the desk. "Yes, you are."

"It's better if we have breakfast then."

Aw! Just one day to stay together? I'm awful! Well, I hope they will spend well their time… But where in the world is Germany? Don't worry, just three or four chapter and he will make his appearance! Yes, I know, I've already said that I'm awful, there is no need to tell me that I am.

Ehrm…

Since we are in theme, I take this opportunity to tell you that next week I'm going to attend the university so I will not be able to update this story as fast as I did before. Sorry!

Said this here we go with the translations:

Merda: shit

Fratello: brother

Grazie: thank you

By the way, happy Saint Valentine!