Ciao everyone! Guess what? I have finally finished to write this chapter! It took me a lot of time to complete it because I wasn't satisfied with the Romano-Spain part till few hours ago. I have rewritten that part 'oh so many times' that I almost can tell it by heart! I swear! The first time it looked like the grumpy Italian has some hormonal disturb… I couldn't post it!

By the way, I hope you'll enjoy it.

My special 'Grazie' went to kara-hime24, to Fezzes64 and to everyone that had favorite or followed my story.

Chapter five: pancakes, orange juice and strawberry jam

"What had that poor orange possibly done in its life to gain such a horrible death?" asked Spain to his friend after seeing him pressing violently the fruit on the squeezer. "Are you afraid it will come back to life in order to suck all the vitamin C from your little Italian body?" he kept on, stretching his arms in front of him, in a very zombie manner. Then, with a rough voice, he added "Vitamin C! Vitamin C!" while getting closer to the shorter boy, who in response threw what had remained of the orange straight at his face.

"Shut up Spain! I don't need any more stupid around me, I have already lot of them" snapped the younger one, the tiredness was clear in his appearance. The other cleaned his face with the edge of the apron he was wearing before to speak.

"Mi pequeño tomate, I know you are jaded but you shouldn't be so damn serious all the time or you'll risk to have premature wrinkles on your forehead!" he replied while trashing the battered fruit. "And, moreover, it isn't healthy!"

"Don't tell me what I have to do! I'm not a fucking child anymore!" blurted out impulsively the Italian but then, after seeing a flash of hurt in the taller boy's eyes, he softly added "I'm sorry Spain, I really didn't mean it" he apologized while trying to avoid his gaze. "I don't know how is it possible but every time I say something is always the wrong thing to say at that very moment. I'm only able to make troubles for everyone with this bad mouth of mine, just like yesterday with Veneziano. I should learn how to control myself…" he confessed embarrassed. The Spaniard remained silent.

Oh Roma, you always say such things when you are sleepy…

Romano went to wash his hands. After few seconds he came back to the counter and filled the pitcher with the orange juice he had made before. "Now, stop being there doing nothing and hand me that pan!" he exclaimed, restoring his usual tone of voice and pretending he had said nothing previously.

"Here" said Spain handing him the pan. "Don't blame yourself too much, Romano. Being blunt and outspoken is what makes you unique. Well, sometimes you ought to think twice before to speak but I love the grumpy Italian that you are, really!" he exclaimed, trying to cheer the boy up. "Even if I want you to smile more often. Trust me when I say that you are so cute when you do it!" announced in the end the Spaniard, beaming with joy.

Almost immediately, the younger boy blushed furiously. "What are you saying? I am not cute, I'm a man and men aren't cute, damn! Shitty bastard, you ruined it!" he roared, grabbing the pan. "And listen carefully to what I'm going to say" he threated the other with the steel object in his right hand "I will not smile for you! Ever!"

"Whoa! Roma, calm down!" exclaimed alarmed Spain, raising his arms to protect his chest. "Do you remember what you said just mere minutes ago?" he asked.

"Yes, I remember it very well" growled Romano. "but is hard to control myself when a retarded like you provokes me!"

"I'm not a retarded. You know, you should show more respect for the one that took care of you when you were a child" he said pouting. At his words, the scowl on his friend's forehead grew bigger.

"You were a pain in the ass most of the time" replied the Italian gnashing his teeth "You wanted me to do chores and be polite and, moreover, you have never believed me when I said it was a squirrel that had pissed in my bed and not me!"

"But Roma, how could I believe such thing?"

Romano, using all the force that had remained in his tired body, yelled "You should have!" Then he added, almost whispering "But thank you for everything, I suppose".

Saying that Spain was surprised was an understatement. Hearing such words coming out from the boy's mouth was such an infrequent thing that he didn't know how to react properly, especially when it wasn't expected at all. He had known the Italian for centuries but he was still able to take him off guard. That was one of the reason why he liked him so much. In that very moment he felt the urge to grab his professional camera from his knapsack on the counter and to take a photo of Romano. And so he did.

It will go straight in my personal album of you, mi querido…

"You sure look like a retarded right now…" observed the boy, blinking few times.

"But look at it Roma! You came out pretty well! You are so cute!" he smashed the screen of the camera straight on his nose.

"Take that thing off my face at once!" said Romano staving off the annoying object. "Can't you see that - CHIGIII!" he suddenly shrieked interrupting his speech in the middle of the sentence. Next moment, he was bending himself at an angle of ninety degrees and dropping the pan at the floor, while his hands ran quickly at his chest and strongly clutched the fabric of the apron he was wearing. "MERDA!" he shouted loudly. Spain worriedly, rushed at his side.

"Dios mio Romano, are you hurt?" he asked anxiously. "What's happening?"

"NGH… it-it's that bastard…" panted Romano.

"Who?" inquired the Spaniard. "Please, tell to Boss Spain who dared to hurt you!" he pleaded.

"Veneziano! That bastard is awake and fucking happy!" exclaimed the younger one lifting his head. Surprisingly he was smiling.

At first Spain was confused but then he remembered that the two Italian brothers shared a very special bond, thanks to which they could feel each other's emotions when they were relatively strong. Or at least that was what his friend had told him. "So that's why you are smiling like you have never done before! Oh Roma, you really got me worried! I think I'm going to cry…" he said relieved.

"Go to hell, Spain…" swore Romano in a whisper, still with the huge smile on his face. Said one took another photo. "Why the hell did I ask him to help me?" he wondered out loud.

"I'm glad you are fine, tomate" said softly the other patting the boy's head. "I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you…" he confessed.

The Italian's cheeks became completely red. "S-stop saying nonsense and prepare those damned toast! And don't forget about the cappuccino!" he stuttered before collecting the pan from the floor. "I'll make pancakes. Don't disturb me, understood?"

"Claro" answered Spain.

One way or another you smiled, in the end… and I took a photo!

The rest of the breakfast preparation passed in a relatively quiet atmosphere, the only audible sounds were the clattering of the pans and of the other kitchen tools and the cappuccino being prepared. When everything was almost ready, the duo heard someone approaching.

"Aren't there too many steps for just one person?" asked the Spaniard to Romano, who seemed as confused as him. Few seconds later Veneziano and a very familiar man entered in the kitchen.

"Ve~! Don't you smell something good too?" asked happily Veneziano to the blond boy next to him. Said one was going to answer when Spain and Romano came into his view. The little Italian, noticing that something was off, followed his gaze. "Spain! Romano! What are you doing here?" he inquired smiling but then, suddenly, he saddened and hid behind the blond. "Oh… Romano… ve~ I…" he babbled.

"I'm not going to ask you why the potato bastard is here or why the hell he is wearing such old-fashioned clothes, unless he tried to involve you in some perverted game with him. Did he try?" asked Romano to his brother. The 'potato bastard' flushed embarrassed while Spain was a little thoughtful.

I don't know Tomate, but something is wrong with him. I don't think that boy is Germany… wait a moment! Perverted game?

"Italy's sis-ehrm-brother, you have my word of honor that I didn't try to do anything of that kind with Italy" replied the tallest in place of the scared Italian.

"I wasn't talking with you, jerk!" exclaimed frustrated Romano, glaring at the upset German. Then, addressing again to his brother, he calmly added "Veneziano, I have something important to tell you. So come here and sit down, please". Trembling, he did what he had been ordered.

"Ve~ Romano…"

"I don't intend to repeat myself, so listen carefully and don't interrupt me, okay?" The youngest nodded. "Good. Yesterday was one of the worst day of my life: it was excessively hot and the air conditioner hasn't been running for the whole night so I couldn't sleep at all. This, and the fact that I haven't eaten almost anything, led to a massive migraine. I know that it is a lame excuse but the only reason I told you those harsh words was that I was completely pissed off. You didn't do anything wrong, it's all my fault. I am truly sorry fratello. If I could, I would go back in time and shut the fuck up" he confessed earnestly. "I had also asked Spain to help me because I'm not good at apologizing and so we made you breakfast. Here, drink the cappuccino". He laid a cup, filled with the hot dark liquid, in front of the boy. "You are the best little brother I could ask for, I don't want to lose you…"

Veneziano, who had been quiet during the whole speech, stood up. There was a shadow over his eyes and so it was impossible to guess what was passing in his head.

"Veneziano…"

"How..."

The older brother remained silent, fearing for the worst case scenario possible.

"How could I not forgive you?" exclaimed happily the boy, showing his bright smile to the world. "You are my brother and I'll always love you, no matter of what. And I know for sure that you care for me too. Just take a look at what you did for me today: you called Spain to help you to prepare breakfast, and I know how hard is for you to ask someone for help; you apologize to me, an even difficult task to accomplice for you, and moreover you were able to make me feel important!" Overwhelmed with joy, he grabbed his brother in a crushing-ribs hug and wailed an "I love you fratello!" at his chest. Romano let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "But you were right…" he added afterwards. "I have to be stronger because I don't want to be a burden anymore. Next week I'll go talk with our boss and let's see what will happen! Ve~"

"You two are too impossibly cute!" yelled ecstatic Spain before taking several photos of the two brothers while hugging. "Blondie, can you blench a little? You are in the shot!"

"Eh? In the shot of what?" he asked looking around perplexed.

"AH! Romano what's wrong?" exclaimed suddenly Veneziano, full with worry. The Spaniard laid the camera on the counter and went to check his friend up.

"Nothing to be worried about Italy, he's just fallen asleep" he said while trying to lift the boy in his arms in a bridal style. "I'll take him to bed. You two, please, go on with the breakfast. ¡Buen provecho!" he bid smiling.

"Ve~ ! Thank you Spain, for everything!" said radiantly the Italian.

"Yes, thank you very much Spain. I have really appreciated what you had done for the two boys" thanked the blond man.

"You are welcome!" offered Spain. Then, he left the kitchen with Romano still fast asleep in his arms. However, he was within earshot when he heard Veneziano say out loud "Buon appetito, Holy Rome!"

DAAAAN! What will happen next? More countries are going to make their appearance. Which ones? Stay tuned and you'll know! Ciao!

Translations:

Mi pequeño tomate: my little tomato

Mi querido: my dear

Merda: shit

Dios mio: my God

Claro: clear

Fratello: brother

¡Buen provecho! / Buon appetito! : enjoy your meal!