Three days passed and Feliciano had recovered. His heart stabilized for the most part due to Romano restricting his exercise. They only went on five minute walks once a day. That was all. He hated it. He couldn't tolerate it. He barely ate five hundred calories a day, and he was still losing weight.

You've gained weight…

You're not exercising…

Everything you eat becomes fat in a second…

You're fat…

Feliciano couldn't stand the voices. Whenever Romano left the house, he would run to the bathroom and try to purge out everything that he had eaten in that day, or take diuretics or laxatives to get the food out of him.

Better out then in…

One day, when Romano wasn't home with him, he went to his bathroom, and pulled out his scale from under the cabinet. He hadn't been able to weigh himself the whole time Ludwig and Romano had been with him. He took a deep, shaky breath, and set it onto the carpeted floor. He looked at the scale, the only thing going through his mind was the thoughts.

It's going to have gone up from last time, you fatty.

I want it to be zero.

You need it to be zero.

Zero is perfect.

The voices repeated in his head over and over again until he gained the courage to step onto the scale. He had his eyes closed at first until he looked down and saw the weight.

110 lbs.

NO! That was ten pounds more than the last time he checked! He began to panic, pulling at his hair, clumps of it falling out between his fingers. He quickly grabbed the scale and rushed to a hard floor. He set it down again, and this time stripped till he was naked. He took another deep breath, and stepped on, staring at the numbers spinning, measuring out his weight.

96 lbs.

He sighed. How could there have been such a huge difference!? He smiled, and felt relieved.

"Bouno…" he grinned, and put the scale back into the cabinet under the sink in the upstairs bathroom. He put his clothes back on, and bundled up under his blankets on his bed again. He thought about why his weight was so high the first time he weighed himself. Other than the scale being on a different surface, he couldn't fathom why it changed so durastically, until it hit him. He was wearing two shirts, a sweater, a jacket, sweats, and two pairs of socks. He was that cold. That was over ten pounds of clothing wasn't it… He frowned. He couldn't go to the next meeting like that. He glanced over at his calendar.

October 10th.

"Wh-what!?" he yelped. Time flew so fast. The meeting was tomorrow. He'd have to go fly out to America where the meeting was at. He got up and out of bed, shivering from how cold he was still, despite sweating in his clothing. He would much rather sleep and drift away into a soothing dream…but now a day's his dreams were anything but. He frowned at the thought. He pulled a suit case out of the closet, and filled it with his best and favorite suits.

Before he put them in his suit case though, he began putting them on one by one, and examined how he looked in the mirror. The first one wasn't good.

Damn, look how fat you look in that! You can NOT wear that to the meeting. You'll look bigger than Russia and America combined! You pig! Go change right now!

He put on the second suit: a gorgeous Armani suit, his favorite company. He carefully put it on, and it hung on him as if he were wearing his grandfather's hand me down's. He looked in the mirror, and screeched in horror.

"Oh god...dio..no…" he pleaded, and put his hand against the mirror.

"How …how can I look so fat…I've lost three pounds…I…I should be skinny…please…dio…why!?" he screamed out to God, pleading to know why he didn't look how he wanted.

He began banging his fists on the mirror and on the walls, and began ripping the suit off of him, tearing it, ripping holes into it.

"I'M HIDEOUS!" he screamed, and began throwing himself against the wall, banging his head. He cried hysterically, and when he was clad only in his underwear he tried to calm down and put on another suit.

"Black. Black is a slimming color…I'll look okay in black…better than I do in anything else at least…" he frowned, but the corners of his lips twitched into a smile at the thought of looking good in at least one suit.

He scanned his closet for the perfect black ensemble, and finally found one he liked. He slipped it on, and again it was hanging on him like a child wearing their father's old clothing. He smiled.

"I don't look half bad in this…do I?" he grinned, and began packing his suit case. Suit after suit went in, seeing as he'd be there for about a week, he packed seven. He added some books, as well as an exercise mat, and pills. He made a checklist in his head.

-Heart burn pills …to calm the acid reflux…

-Mirilax…for when I eat too much…

-Weight loss pills…for obvious reasons…

The list wasn't long, but he needed to make sure he had all three things in order to "enjoy" his visit to America. He knew there would be food shoved in his face at every corner. Billboards. Commercials. Advertisements. Restaurants…fast food…everything . Every where he'd go he'd be confronted by food, and he'd have to do his best to deal with that.

He looked at the calendar, and thought about who'd be there. It was a simple G8 meeting, so it'd be the same as it usually was. America, England, France, Russia, Japan …oh, Canada…and Germany…

He's just going to tease you…

"I know…but I've got to go…he'll tease and scold me more if I don't show up at all…" he explained to himself.

"Great, now I'm talking to myself…I really am crazy…"

Hey, if you think you're crazy, you're not…crazy people don't think they're crazy.

He chuckled at that, and decided he'd be strong, and go to the meeting anyways.

He left a note for Romano in the kitchen on the fridge, hanging it by a magnet that read "Deutschland", from one of his visits to Germany. He smiled at it, and thought back to all the good times he and Ludwig had.

It couldn't have all been teasing..it couldn't have been. Ludwig really did like him…as a friend right? They really were friends…at least that was what he tried to tell himself before his thoughts interrupted him again.

Don't be an idiot.

You know he hates you.

Who could even be friends with you?

Who would WANT to be friends with you!?

You're a fat , stupid, slob…no one loves you…

No one wants you…

No one wants to see you, or be near you…

Especially not someone as perfect as Ludwig.

Speaking of Ludwig….you should start doing weights…you're starting to get flabby…you need some definition on you. He'd like to see you strong…maybe you'd impress him. Maybe he'd at least want to be a real friend then…

"That's a good idea…maybe I should get a gym membership…I really should get some muscle…the more muscle you've got the harder it is to gain fat…" he noted. He practically knew everything about weight loss and weight gain…all the facts, and the myths.

He smiled softly, thinking about how great he'd look after he began working out with weights, and left the house in a cheery mood. Feeling good about himself for once. He always felt good about himself when he thought about the future in a positive (positive to him) way. About how skinny he'd be…how handsome…how amazing, and strong he'd be. How he'd show everyone just how great he is…how he's just as great as his grandfather…better than him…better than his brother…he'd show everyone that he's the best in the world.

He walked down the small streets and left Venice. He arrived to the airport and was given looks by many people passing by. When he sat down at his terminal after buying his ticket, a small little old woman came up to talk to him. She sat next to him and took his hand comfortingly.

"I'm so sorry for your loss…" she said softly. Feli raised an eyebrow. Very confused.

"Excuse me, miss? I…I've not lost anyone…you're mistaken…" he chuckled softly, and a little bit sadly, feeling guilty for having mistaken the woman. She looked confused as well.

"But you look so sad…and your eyes are so sunken…you're so pale…and your outfit…you just look like you're heading off to a funeral, son…" she explained to him. "I'm sorry for assuming…that was very rude of me…"

"Oh non, miss…it's okay…we all mess up here and there…I do that a lot…I'm the champion at messing up and saying the wrong things." He laughed, putting on that fake, plastic like smile.

"I'm sure that's not true…you look much too nice and smart to do anything wrong…at least not as often as you say you do." She comforted, squeezing his hand lightly in her old, wrinkled one.

"You're too kind, miss…so why are you heading off to America?" he asked politely, trying to keep conversation. He loved talking to elderly people. They always had such great stories…he was very envious of them too…he often wished that he could grow old like they did…but he knew that was a silly thing to wish for. He should be happy that he was lucky enough to be immortal.

"Oh? I'm just heading away to visit my grandchildren…they decided they wanted to go to university in the states…so I'm paying them a visit." She smiled, and pulled out some pictures from her purse, and showed them off to Feliciano.

The two of them chatted until they boarded the plane, Feliciano helping her with her carry-on, and helped her board the plane as well, making sure she got into her seat safely, and that no one bothered her. He even decided to switch seats with one of the passengers so that he could keep her company. They continued talking, and being kind to one another.

Feliciano loved being nice…he honestly did love people…especially little old people like this lady. They were always so kind to him…that is…until they somehow found out that he tended to like men…most of them didn't approve…but somehow it came up in conversation with this woman, and she treated him just as she had the whole trip. It made him smile, and feel normal.

"My grandson is …well..like you…" she smiled. "He's a good boy…he's a lovely boy…how old are you? You look to be about his age…you could meet him maybe!" she cheered, trying to match make him and her grandson together.

He chuckled, and blushed deeply.

"I'm honored miss…really I am…but I have feelings for someone right now…not like they like me back…"

"Well…that's okay…but…how about you just meet him…he's a very good boy…" she said again. Feliciano thought about it. Maybe he'd enjoy meeting him…just to have a friend at least…if this boy, well, young man, was anything like his grandmother, he'd love to meet him.

"Okay…I'll give him a shot." He smiled. What would the harm be? A nice, casual thing…nothing serious…he'd never be able to give anyone his heart, seeing as Ludwig still had it…

"That's fantastic! You'll love him…he's too adorable…well..handsome…" she smiled at him, squeezing his hand again. "He's picking me up, so it'll be a good chance for you two to meet…would you like a ride to where you're going?" she asked him.

"Oh, miss…that'd be wonderful…thank you so much!" he grinned, and squeezed her hand right back. After a few more minutes of talking, she yawned, and fell asleep on Feliciano's shoulder. He smiled at that, feeling like he did good…making him feel good about himself again. Two in one day…two times feeling good…

Maybe being a good person out weighs being skinny… he thought to himself…No…that's not true…that'd never be true…

You can be both, Feliciano…you've only got a little bit more to go…you can make it…you'll do great! You'll be skinny, and nice…and kind, and handsome and beautiful! Everything you want…you've just got to work for it!

He acknowledged his thoughts, and decided to sleep as well, resting his head back on the seat, and drifted off for the next six hours.

When the plane finally landed, Feliciano again helped the little old woman out of the plane and out into the airport so they could find her grandson. When she pointed him out to Feli, he blushed. He was very handsome indeed. Opposite of Ludwig though, in many ways. He had green eyes, and dark brown, nearly black, hair. He was slim, and tall, but not built like Ludwig was other than the height.

"Marco…this is my new friend, Feliciano…Feliciano, this is my grandson Marco." She said, and blushed a bit more. He smiled at him, and held out his hand for Marco to shake, which he did. They all got into Marco's car, and drove off to the hotel Feli'd be staying at, which just so happened to be where the meeting would be held at, as well as where Marco and his grandmother would be staying.

They all chatted, and had a good time together driving to the hotel, and they both helped out the grandmother get situated in their room. After they were settled into their rooms, she insisted that Marco and Feliciano go out for a dinner date together. Feli was a bit hesitant, but Marco was very excited to accept. He took Feli's hand in a friendly manner, and led him out of the hotel, already feeling a bit attached to the other. He was very close to his grandmother, and thus anyone who treated her well was a good person in his book.

As they walked to the hotel restaurant, they talked about everything under the sun, and while they sat to eat, they continued. That is…until Ludwig and his brother Gilbert entered. They made eye contact three seconds after Ludwig walked in, and he blushed even deeper. Gilbert saw Feli, and decided to sit at the table next to them. Feli sighed, feeling awkward, but Marco was very happy to see new faces, and have an opportunity to make new friends.

When the waiter came, he took the order from all four of them. Feliciano just ordered water. No one bothered Feliciano about that other than Ludwig.

"Feliciano..are you sure that's all you want?" he asked, remembering that Feliciano just got over the flu…or so he thought.

He didn't know what to say, so he just turned his head, trying his best to ignore him.

He's only pointing that out because he's trying to tease you…you're only getting water? He must think you're such a prick! Like you don't think this restaurant has good food or something…he must hate you even more, because you think you're so high and mighty.

Feli sighed, and excused himself from the table. He left for the bathroom to wash his face, and clear his head. Without him knowing, Ludwig decided to follow after him.

He opened the bathroom door, and found Feliciano to be the only one in there. He took a step towards him, and grabbed onto his arm so he couldn't leave.

"Feli…are you feeling any better?" he asked hopefully.

"Si…I am…now leave me alone…" he mumbled.

"I'm not going to leave my best friend alone…I don't care if you don't consider me to be that anymore…but you are my best friend, Feli…I care about you…I worry about you…I'm so sorry for what I did to you…it'll never happen again…I shouldn't have done that…I shouldn't have assumed that…that you liked it…" he blushed, and hid his face in his hands, embarrassed.

Feliciano looked over to him. "W-what? " he asked, confused. "Of…of course I liked it…but you were being a jerk…teasing me…being mean…you were trying to make fun of me…" he whimpered, growing sad again ,remembering the events that happened between them.

"Feli…I'd never tease you…ever…Feliciano…please believe me…I'd never do that to you…" he begged the other to understand…to believe him.

Feliciano just got up, and walked to the door, leaving him without a word. Ludwig quickly followed after him, saying his name, trying to get his attention.

"Feli…Feliciano…DAMMIT! ITALY WOULD YOU STOP WALKING AWAY FROM ME!" he yelled, growing frustrated. He grabbed Italy's arm, and yanked at him, pulling him close, and making him face him. Feliciano was shaking in his grip, scared from him yelling. Where was a white flag when you needed one?

"V-ve! Don't hurt me, I'm sorry!" he yelped as a reflex. Ludwig's grip on him stayed just as tight, and he stared at him with just as much intensity.

"I'm not going to hurt you…Feliciano…please…hear me out!" he begged. By this time, the whole restaurant was watching them, making Feli feel very uncomfortable.

They're all thinking about how fat you are…how ugly you are…how sick, and disgusting you are…Ludwig is thinking the same.

"Feliciano..please…believe me when I say…I love you… "he said in a soft, but very loud voice, loud enough to make the whole restaurant hear. There were sounds of gasps, applause, cheers, and scoffs of disgust at the same time. Feliciano just stood there looking at him with wide, terrified eyes. Finally, Ludwig's grip loosened on him.

"Well…?" he asked, hoping to get a good response.

He didn't. Feliciano pulled himself free from Ludwig, and ran away, out of the restaurant, crying.

Who could love you?