[At The Start...]

[1848\1849]

Ludwig didn't know when it had begun, it had just happened.

Ludwig was born from the ashes of an ancient and shattered Empire forty years ago, he was born to be a little land without a real power because of the French Empire. He was born to be one of Francis Bonnefoy's new territories but someone was too awesome to let his new, adorable baby brother in the hands of the Holy Roman Empire's murderer. Ludwig, they have named him after his predecessor, was born to be nothing but Gilbert Beilschmidt's little hope and the Kingdom of Prussia had been his entire world during their years together.

Gilbert wasn't only his older brother, he was his father, he was his mother, he was his best friend even when the Prussian acted like the younger brother between them. When he was born, Roderich was sure that Gilbert would had never been able to take care of a baby boy. Gilbert used to hate babies, to be honest, but he had loved Ludwig. He had been with the younger one every time he needed him… and when he didn't need him, as well!

And Ludwig… Ludwig loved Gilbert.

He had stopped to say it when he was thirteen because he had completely turned in the stubborn person he would had been his entire life. But Ludwig loved Gilbert. He had always loved him because Gilbert was his world, his family, his everything. At first, it was a normal thing, Gilbert could be very tender with him when they were alone and Ludwig felt loved, felt important. He felt like every human in the world wants to feel.

Gilbert touched him and kissed him very often and Ludwig appreciated it because it was a good thing, when he was younger, he used to smile shyly every time Gilbert was particularly sweet with him. The things had changed during the years…

Ludwig had begun to feel uncomfortable when Gilbert was a little too tender with him, especially in front of other people. He had begun to refuse the gentle touches and the tender kisses, he had begun to stay alone the most of the time. Ludwig had begun to get nervous very often and it was worse when Gilbert was around trying to understand what was going wrong with him.

Ludwig didn't know how to explain it so he had just stopped to talk with his brother, he had isolate himself behind a world of silence and thoughts. Ludwig didn't like what he was, he didn't like to be the Prussia and the Austria's little toy, he didn't like to be Gilbert's child and Roderich's territory. He wasn't allowed to be himself and it pissed him off very much.

1848, he was fifteen when he rebelled against Roderich for the first time.

Ludwig was in Bavaria during the firsts rebel movements, Gilbert wasn't happy about it but he didn't try to stop him at first, Roderich did but Ludwig was firm enough to get a sort ofParliament. Ludwig wanted to be a nation, it was his dream, it was his right, he had just to fight to get it. He wanted to have a real homeland and he wanted it with Gilbert, not Roderich! It was the only Germany he could dream about, he didn't need nothing else.

"I'm sorry, West."

Yes, a dream.

"My king will never be ourking."

It was only a childish, shining dream.

"Tell me why! I wanted to give a great nation to you! I could give an Empire to you! I could make your king be the greatest man in Europe! It was my dream, it could be our dream! Why are you betraying me, Gilbert? Why you?"

The Kingdom of Prussia had said no. It has been Ludwig's condemn…

Ludwig had fought when Roderich had got back everything he had given, he had fought so hard that the Austrian had to ask Ivan's help to suppress him. Ludwig could be brave, Ludwig could be stubborn and strong… but if Roderich didn't want to get his hands dirty with him, Ivan didn't have to restrain himself.

Ludwig didn't remember Gilbert's face while his brother took care of his wounds, at the end of everything. He didn't remember it because he was too busy to stare at the fireplace next to them. "West…" Gilbert touched his red cheek gently, Ludwig didn't push his hand away only because he was too tired to fight against his older brother, right now. "West, I'm sorry…" He didn't have to say that, he just didn't. Ludwig stood up suddenly making Gilbert flinch.

"West?"

"I want to stay alone…" he muttered standing before the window.

Gilbert forced a smile, "the awesome me doesn't want to let his baby brother alone."

"But it didn't stop you to did it when I really needed you, bruder!" Ludwig replied glaring at his older brother. Gilbert's smile disappeared, "West, I tried to convince my king! You have to believe me!"

"I will believe you another time, I'm too tired now, okay?"

"Nein!" Gilbert exclaimed coming closer to the younger one, "West, I don't like to talk like an old kingdom but this time I have to! You are too young to really understand what you can or can't do and you were making something too great for your age!"

"You were sixteen when you have turned into a Kingdom."

"Sure! But I wasn't born forty years before!"

Ludwig sent him another cold gaze, Gilbert closed his fists. When did he turn so firm? When did he turn so rebel? When… When the hell did he turn taller than me?

"You didn't notice, maybe," Ludwig murmured coldly, "but I didn't want to do it alone! It could be a great step for me, yes, but I'm young not stupid! I wanted you with me because I knew I needed you!"

"You needed my awesomeness!" Gilbert giggled proudly but Ludwig didn't look so amused. The Prussian turned serious again and snorted taking his brother's face in his hands. "West, please… your time will come! I know it will come and when it'll happen, I will be with you."

"You'll be against me like everyone else, bruder."

"Nein!" Gilbert complained resting his forehead against his younger brother's one. "I will be with you when our time will come."

[1852]

Ludwig didn't know when it began, but he knew very well who made him realize it.

It was a day like everyone else, there was the sun outside and he wasn't depressed like he used to be very often ultimately. It had, at the end, a good day and Ludwig had learnt to appreciate that type of days. Gilbert had been with his king the most of time, like it happened very often since Ludwig had turned into a teen. The young German didn't complain, he was proud to see his brother focused on his duties, it was a very rare thing with Gilbert and Ludwig had always scolded him because of that since his childhood.

He was in his brother's study reading one of Gilbert's diaries. Ludwig didn't want to admit it but he liked them, inside them there was everything Gilbert had been before his birth, but the thought that his older brother had loved someone else during the centuries made him feel very nervous. Ludwig used to be a rational person and he couldn't be jealous of what had come before him, Gilbert couldn't betray him if he wasn't even born, yet!

But Ludwig couldn't help himself.

At the start, it had been a childish thing: the little Ludwig hated to see Gilbert alone with people who he didn't like. Francis and Antonio were a perfect example. Spain wasn't a real menace, he was a little too friendly but he was more childish than Gilbert. Francis! Francis was the real danger! Ludwig didn't like how he smiled to his brother, he didn't like how he stared at him! That man was vulgar, narcissist, pervert… Ludwig didn't want to see him around Gilbert and, at the end, he had said it to his brother.

Gilbert had laughed kissing him and holding him against his chest repeating how much he was adorable, Francis was in love with another person he added after a while, an English man. But it wasn't enough to make Ludwig like him.

Ludwig was already a teen when he realized who his real enemy was, the same man who made him realize how much he really loved Gilbert.

"Hi, Ludwig!"

He was already sixteen the day Ivan Braginski stepped inside his brother's study without be allowed to. Ludwig lifted his eyes from the diary on the wooden surface sending to the Russian a surprised expression. "I'm sorry," Ivan said without stopping to smile, "I was sure to find Gilbert, here."

"My brother is with his king, right now," Ludwig explained coldly closing the little book before his eyes and resting his shoulders against the chair's back, "you can talk with me, if you want."

Ivan came closer slowly traveling his eyes all around the room, "it's a warm day, why do you want to stay inside this room all alone?"

Ludwig snorted, "I'm not going to make you stay here waiting for my brother's return."

"Oh, come on, Ludwig!" Ivan said friendly sitting on the chair at the other side of the desk, "I had to punish you, it wasn't a personal thing."

"It's always a personal thing with you…" Ludwig muttered.

"Why? We're nations we are born to fight each other, right?" A cold smile, "oh sorry, you're not a real nation, yet!"

Ludwig was young, he was far away from the man he was born to be, he was impulsive and naïve, he was only sixteen, after all…

"Get out, now!" He shouted, his blue eyes were full of hate, "I don't allow you to see my brother anymore! If you will have some political affair to discuss, you will talk about it with me and only me!"

"Ludwig?" It was a strange thing to hear Gilbert call his real name, it was a dangerous thing, "what are you doing, Ludwig?" Gilbert asked clearer closing the study's door behind him. Ivan smiled diabolically at the younger blond when he saw all the firmness in those blue eyes disappear, Ludwig lowered his gaze feeling a wave of shame cross his mind and the Russian liked it very much. "Gilbert!" He exclaimed standing up and coming closer to the Kingdom of Prussia.

"Ivan…" Gilbert said smiling slightly, "what is the reason of your visit?"

Ivan laughed briefly, "there isn't enough awesomeness in my house, so I wanted to see you!"

Ludwig closed his fists tightly glaring at the Russian, he felt the urge to punch him, to hurt him, to hurt him verybadly!

Gilbert smiled brightly and Ludwig hated him, too. "I'm sorry, my old friend, but my Kingdom needs my entire awesomeness now, I can't give you such precious present."

"Of course…" Ivan leered lifting a hand to touch Gilbert's light hair. Ludwig widened his eyes in disbelief standing up slowly trying to restrain himself. Gilbert's smile disappeared, as well. "Nyet…" Ivan murmured coming closer, "don't stop to smile, I love your smile."

Ivan bent down a little more, Gilbert didn't react.

Ludwig did it at his place.

The Prussian didn't see it happen, he just find himself staring at Ivan who was pressing his right hand against his right cheek laughing crazily. He had to blink two times and then he saw Ludwig next to him, his cheeks were red and his right fist were still suspended in the air. "Ludwig!" He exclaimed but the younger blond ignored him completely. "It's my last warning…" Ludwig muttered looking down at the Russian and Ivan smiled amused standing up again, "you've learnt to attack decently, good boy!" He send another sweet gaze to Gilbert, "see you soon, white rabbit."

Gilbert suddenly blushed and Ludwig tried to punch the older blond again. "Don't you dare to come here another time or…!"

"Ludwig!" Gilbert shouted moving right in front of his younger brother as Ivan stepped outside of the room still laughing.

Ludwig took a deep breath turning around but Gilbert grabbed his wrist to stop him, "what the hell were you doing?"

The younger brother answered with a firm gaze.

"What the hell were you doing, West? Do you understand what is your position? Do you understand that you were offending an Empire! For Christ's sake, West! Those stupid things can turn into a war if you don't act properly!"

"I'm not the first one to be arrogant with an Empire, here!" Ludwig replied hastily.

"You little shit!" Gilbert exclaimed, "I'm an adult, I'm a Kingdom, I'm able to take care of myself!"

"Me too!"

"You?" Gilbert laughed, "you were less childish when you were a baby, West! What the hell is happened to the too mature boy I've used to love?"

Ludwig almost pouted, "maybe, you didn't love him enough…" He didn't mean it, he really didn't mean it but he was so frustrated, so angry. Ludwig didn't see the slap come, but he felt it clearly against his right cheek. He didn't react, he just widened his eyes in disbelief while he stared up at his older brother who looked scared more than him. "Gilbert?" He called worried but the older one turned around hiding his face in his hands, "why did you make me do that, West?"

"Gilbert…" Ludwig came closer resting a hand on his brother's shoulder, "Gilbert, it was my fault! I've been a stupid, arrogant child!"

"Of course you've been! I'm too awesome to be treated in this way…"

"Gilbert…" Ludwig shook his head but he really wanted to hit it against the nearest wall, "Gilbert, please…" He made his brother turn around and Gilbert hid his face against his shoulder, "you can't try to act like an Empire if you are still a child, West."

"I'm sorry, Gilbert, I'm really sorry!"

"Don't you understand?" Gilbert pushed himself away slightly looking up at his younger brother, he wasn't crying but his gorgeous red eyes were full of tears. Ludwig really hated himself for that. "If something would happen to you, I would die! Don't you understand?"

Ludwig understood, he understood very clearly because he felt the same thing, "But I would die if you would let someone else touch you," He murmured without thinking about it. Gilbert stiffened not understanding entirely, he forced a smile, "No one will be able to take me away from you."

Ludwig shook his head, "no, you don't understand."

"West?"

"I turn crazy only reading about Friedrich and you inside your diaries…" He muttered blushing deeply, "I wasn't even born but you don't know how much it hurts."

Gilbert widened his eyes taking a step back.

"I swear, Gilbert, I swear! If you will let someone else touch you I will kill him… I will kill him!"

"West…" The albino tried to smile again, "you're so young, you're confused, it's normal."

Ludwig bit his lower lip, "Ja, of course…" he muttered walking away, Gilbert didn't stop him.

It was the first and only time that Ludwig tried to explain his feelings to himself and his brother. He had to wait for years before to be able to face his forbidden desire again.

[1862]

Ludwig was seventeen the second time he tried to fight for his dream.

"Are… Are you serious, sir?" The teenager asked with a smile full of hope and Otto von Bismarck smiled too placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I will do everything is in my power to help you to become what you're born to be, young one!"

Gilbert smiled brightly at his little brother over his Canceler's shoulder and Ludwig smiling back, his blue eyes were full of emotion and he was so ashamed of himself to have doubted. Gilbert had kept his promise, Ludwig had to wait more than a decades but his brother hadn't abandoned him. Gilbert was with him! At the end, Gilbert had reached out to take his hand and walk by his side along the golden road of their future glory!

"Danke…" Ludwig said sincerely, "danke!"

An Empire! A real home! His and Gilbert's Empire! His and Gilbert's home! Yes, it was too early to be sure of the victory but he had dreamed about that day so much time to think about a hypothetical defeat! Ludwig wasn't born to be a loser and Gilbert would had never accepted to become one because of his younger brother. The teenager was ready to everything to reach that dream. Everything! And if God didn't want to let him win, he would had died trying!

Ludwig wanted only to have Gilbert with him, if they could be together, they could be unbeatable. Ludwig had always been sure of that and he wasn't going to change his mind very soon! And when they would had turned into the new German Empire, he would had stared down at Francis and Ivan making them regret the day they had dared to touch what existed only to be his!

It had been one of the most important day of his life!

[1864]

It was humiliating.

"Come on, boy, take a deep breath!" Roderich said somewhere behind him.

It was very humiliating!

Ludwig pressed a hand against his mouth trying to not vomit another time. "It's alright! Don't be ashamed of yourself, it's your first real war!" Roderich reassured him stroking his back slowly to make him calm down but it pissed Ludwig off more than before. He was tired to hear about how much he was young! He was growing up very quickly to be a nation and he didn't want the pity of one of them, especially not Austria. "I'm fine…" he muttered standing up and taking a deep breath.

It wasn't because of the war! Yes, he wasn't pleased to see the death right before his eyes! He wasn't pleased to see his own people treated like they were nothing but pieces of meat but… but… the most terrible thing had been seeing Gilbert die in his arms! He hit his fist against the wall next to him and Roderich rested a hand on his shoulder fatherly, "it's not your fault! Gilbert has never been careful during a battle, he can't really die e he knows that so he uses to act in this way. It's not your fault!"

It wasn't true! Gilbert had ordered him to stay with the second line, because he wasn't expert enough to fight with the first one and his brother didn't want to waste his soldiers' life to satisfy a teenager's stupid tantrum. Gilbert was right! He was right, damn it! But Ludwig had to act like an idiot hero, he had to demonstrate to no one that he was the best soldier of Europe, sure! Why was he so stupid?

"Can I see him?" Ludwig asked weakly staring at dead corpses before him. "Sure…" Roderich said gently, "follow me."

Ludwig did, he didn't say another word, he walked silently towards the tents where some of the infantry's soldiers were taking their injured companions. Ludwig covered his mouth and nose with his hand to restrain the urge to vomit again, the smell of blood was too strong! Gilbert was in there, laying on a sort of litter in the deepest corner of that damned place, his eyes were closed, his uniform was dirty because of the mud and the blood but Ludwig closed his eyes sighing in relief when he notice that his brother's chest was moving slightly. "Are you Ludwig?" The doctor next to him asked, Ludwig nodded without taking his eyes off of Gilbert's face, "he had called your name until he had passed away again…"

Ludwig felt something hurt inside him, he knelt down taking Gilbert's hand gently in his. He wanted to cry but not in front of Roderich and the doctor so he just took another deep breath focusing on his brother's slow, too slow, breath. "He will wake up very soon…" Roderich said behind him, the doctor was disappeared but Ludwig didn't care. He kissed his brother's hand one, two, three times. "West…" Gilbert whispered so weakly that Ludwig thought to have imagined it but, when he lifted his eyes, his older brother was looking at him behind his half-closed eyelids.

"Gilbert!" He exclaimed smiling and resting a hand on his brother's cheek. Gilbert leaned in the touch sighing deeply, "are you fine?" he asked and Ludwig bit his lower lip to not cry. "Someone has protected me…" he almost babbled bending down to kiss his brother's forehead sweetly, "forgive me, Gilbert. Forgive me!"

Gilbert smiled weakly, "you don't like to follow orders, you got it from me…"

"Why, Gilbert?" He asked resting his head on the litter next to his brother's, "I'm a nation, too. I can't die, why did you move between me and those soldiers?"

Gilbert tried to laugh but it hurt so he stopped, " do you think that it's an easy thing to feel the death, West?" He said taking a deep breath, "I was seven when I'm died the first time…" Ludwig held his breath widening his eyes in surprise, "I would do everything to not make you know that feeling…"

Ludwig closed his eyes resting his forehead against his brother's one, he didn't restrain himself anymore, he cried while his brother kissed his eyelids and stroked his dirty hair gently.

I won't make you die anymore, Gilbert! I promise…

"I'm going to find some clean clothes, Ludwig," Roderich said and the younger one nodded absently taking a bucket of water next to the litter. Gilbert shook his head weakly, "you don't have to do that, West…"

"I want to do that!" Ludwig replied, "I won't let you be touched by a careless stranger!" He looked up at Roderich, the Austrian nodded closing the curtains around Gilbert's litter to give them some privacy. "Come on, bruder…" Ludwig said beginning to unbutton the albino's shirt but the Prussia shook his head again trying to grab his younger brother's wrist.

"Gilbert, don't be so stubborn!"

"You're the stubborn one between us!" Gilbert replied smiling and Ludwig smiled back tearing the dirty shirt's fabric to undress Gilbert's body without moving him too much. Ludwig immerged a clean cloth in the water and the he looked up at his brother's face, "it'll be cold."

Gilbert nodded and Ludwig placed the wet cloth against his shoulder making him jolt a little, "I'm fine…" Gilbert muttered when Ludwig stared down at him worried. The younger one nodded cleaning the right shoulder and the right arm slowly, stopping only to immerge the cloth inside the bucket full of water. Gilbert closed his eyes sighing in relief while Ludwig took care of his chest, his stomach and his other arm. Ludwig placed the cloth inside the bucket, at the end, staring at Gilbert's trousers insecurely. He decided to begin with his boots and then he took a deep breath moving at the end of the litter to open his brother's belt.

Gilbert opened his eyes, "West?" He called confused.

"Lift your hips a little, bruder."

"West, what are you doing?"

"You have wounds on your legs, as well! I have to clean them!"

Gilbert snorted and obeyed, Ludwig freed him from his trousers leaving him on the litter in all his naked glory. Gilbert wasn't shy, he had undress himself before his little brother's eyes a lot of times but it had happened inside their house, before the bath or at the end of the day. Not in a stinky tent, during a war and Gilbert hated to be the bloody mess he was right now. "I didn't want you to see me like this…" Gilbert muttered looking at the curtains around them.

Ludwig shook his head trying to not stare at his brother's naked body, "don't be ashamed of yourself…"

"Why? It's a humiliating thing!"

"No, it's not…"

"What is it?"

"A gesture of love…"

Gilbert widened his eyes staring at his baby brother, but Ludwig was too busy to take care of his legs to look back. The albino smiled happily relaxing against the litter, "Ja, it sounds good…"

Roderich came back a little later with a clean nightshirt, "It's the only thing I found…"

It didn't matter. Ludwig helped Gilbert to wear it and then he wrapped a warm blanket around his body, "Ludwig, you…" Roderich tried. "Ludwig will stay with me," Gilbert said. Roderich blinked, "but… Gilbert, your soldiers…"

"My soldiers aren't a group of sheets, they know what to do with or without me and they still have their general with them!" Gilbert didn't want to think about his little brother alone in the battlefield, he would had preferred to fight wearing only that nightshirt, instead! But Roderich sighed deeply and nodded quickly leaving the two brothers alone. "I could fight!" Ludwig replied.

"Not without me!" Gilbert exclaimed angrily resting on his side, "Lay down with me."

"I'm dirty!"

"I don't fucking care, West! Lay down and don't complain anymore!"

Ludwig moved slowly to not hurt his brother's weak body, he rested on the litter behind Gilbert wrapping an arm around his waist safely. Gilbert covered that hand with his own sighing tiredly, "don't you dare to run away after I'll fall asleep."

Ludwig smiling briefly, "never…"


"West?" A gentle voice called, Ludwig grunted something in his sleep while five gentle fingers began to run through his hair, "West?" Two warm lips on his neck and the young German flinched opening his eyes. That voice giggled, those lips curled up into a smile, "West…" Gilbert called again moving closer to his little brother resting his forehead against Ludwig's one. "Gilbert?" Ludwig blinked two times, "are you fine?"

The curtains around them were disappeared, the smell of blood was disappeared, too, and the litter under them had turned into a royal bed. There were only candles and silence around them, Ludwig blinked again, "what the hell…?"

"West?" Gilbert wrapped his arms around his neck pulling his little brother towards him, Ludwig looked down and widened his eyes: where was his uniform? Where was Gilbert's nightshirt? Why were they completely naked on that bed? Well… not completely naked, Gilbert was holding the blanket against his chest but his legs were free and Ludwig stared down at them while Gilbert began to kiss his neck slowly and Ludwig push him away gently staring down at his surprised face, "what are you doing, West?" He asked smiling and kissing his cheek.

"Am I dreaming?" The younger one asked and Gilbert pulled him closer kissing his lips chastely, "maybe…" Another kiss, "but it's a good dream, right?"

Ludwig was still confused and insecure, Gilbert pushed him against the mattress moving on the top of his body, the blanked fell slowly, leaving the awesome Kingdom of Prussia with nothing over him but his own pale skin. Ludwig stared up in complete awe travelling his hands over the soft thighs, "Gott…" he murmured smiling slightly, "you're so perfect, Gilbert."

Gilbert smiled leaning down to kiss him on the mouth, "and do you want me, West?"

"Ja…" Ludwig whispered wrapping his arms around his brother's body, "you don't know how long I've waited for you."

"Why did you wait?" Gilbert asked gently brushing his fingertips over his face, "I'm yours, I've always been yours, West. You have made me wait for you, too."

"I'm so sorry, Gilbert…" Ludwig grabbed his hips pushing him against the bed inverting their positions, "you're my older brother, you've taken care of me since my birth, I was too naïve to understand how much I loved you. I was so confused, I had lost myself, Gilbert… I was in love with my older brother and I was sure to be only a child for him... I was so afraid to see someone else next to you, Gilbert! No one can touch you! You're mine… you're mine only mine… you're mine…"

Ludwig wanted it to last forever, he and Gilbert alone…between Gilbert's legs, with Gilbert's arms around his neck, he and Gilbert's lips against his mouth. Ludwig and Gilbert…

Nothing more, nothing less.

Ludwig and Gilbert.

"Gilbert… Ich… Ich…"

When Ludwig opened his eyes the curtains were around them again and the smell of blood was stronger than before. It was dark and silent around them a Ludwig liked it very much, he couldn't bear to hear his soldiers' scream and cry. "It is the war, you wanted to see it. You're here now and your brother need you so stop to act like a spoiled brat…" He muttered to himself lifting his body on his right elbow to check Gilbert's condition. His older brother was serenely asleep but his usually pale cheeks were red, so red that Ludwig could notice it in the darkness clearly.

The teenager brushed his fingertips against Gilbert's face: he was warm. Ludwig sat up on the litter trying to not wake his brother up, he found the bucket where he had left it with the cloth on the edge. Ludwig reached out grabbing it and bringing it to his brother's face, Gilbert moved slightly opening his eyes slowly, "West?"

"You're burning up, bruder…" Ludwig murmured brushing the cloth against the albino's face and against the back of his neck, "better?"

Gilbert nodded.

"Why do you have fever? Your wounds look fine…"

"It's not because of the wounds…" Gilbert said smiling weakly.

"I don't understand, bruder."

"My borders…" Gilbert muttered sleepily, "they are changing…"


The preliminaries of a peace treaty with Denmark were signed two days later, on 1 August 1864: their enemy renounced to all his rights in the duchies in favour of Roderich's Empire and Gilbert's Kingdom. "We did it!" Gilbert exclaimed at the end of the meeting, Ludwig smiled, "Great! Let's go home now, West! We need to rest a little and I've to write everything about our first war together."

"Is it so important for you?" Ludwig asked and the Austrian next to them didn't fail to notice the light in his blue eyes.

"Important?" Gilbert laughed loudly, "it was the most awesome thing of the history until now! We can stay together on the battlefield, now. Isn't it awesome?"

"Ja, awesome…" Ludwig muttered watching Gilbert's smiling face like it was the most beautiful thing in the world, Roderich observed the scene silently until the Prussian kissed his younger brother's cheek and walked out of the room humming something and repeating the word awesomewith every step, he sighed in relief when the door closed.

"Oh, Roderich…" Ludwig came closer to him blushing a little, "I need to thank you…" He said sincerely holding out his right hand.

"For what?" The Austrian asked staring down at that hand without touching it.

"Because I know you are not happy about my unification idea so… Thank you to be here."

Roderich closed his eyes sadly shaking his head slowly, he looked up at the confused teenager before him looking for the courage to talk, "did you really believe him?"

Ludwig blinked, "I'm sorry, I don't understand…"

"Do you really think that Gilbert is here for you, Ludwig?"

Ludwig froze, his expression didn't change but he held his breath for a while, "bruder is fighting to help me…"

Roderich sighed deeply "it helps Gilbert and me, it doesn't help you at all, Ludwig."

The younger one frowned staring at his formal older brother, "I've fought with you two!" He exclaimed. "Yes, my dear boy, but no one has talked about you at the end of this war," Roderich said sadly, "you're nothing for the ancient kingdoms or empires of Europe, Ludwig. You're my and Gilbert's propriety. It wasn't for your, it was to make us, your guardians, stronger," a pause, "and it makes you weaker…"

Ludwig shook his head slowly, "this is my plan to create a new German Empire, Österreich!" He exclaimed angrily, "what are you trying to do? You want to make me believe that Gilbert is pretending to help me when he is fighting only for himself, right?"

"Exactly, Ludwig…"

"It's a lie…"

Roderich lowered his eyes nodding with a deadly serious expression on his face, "and your feelings for Gilbert aren't a lie, right?"

Ludwig widened his blue eyes taking a step back terrified, "I don't know what are you talking about…" He tried.

"You're so young, you're so impulsive and honest. Gilbert is probably the only one that doesn't understand, yet!"

"Gilbert didn't have to know!"

"Oh… so it is true."

Ludwig could barely breath, his heart was exploding, his hands were shaking, he wanted to run but something was blocking him.

"You continue to believe him because of your feelings for him. They don't make you see the clear truth."

"Gilbert isn't using me!" Ludwig said firmly, "he is using you to betray you later, it's different!"

Roderich laughed briefly, "you have fought against me and Gilbert has abandoned you because his King was afraid of me. What make you think that it will be different this time?"

Ludwig lost his firmness for a while, he stared down at the pavement trying to find a good answer, a good reason to justify Gilbert's words and deny Roderich's ones. "He made me a promise…" It was childish, stupid, irrational, but it was the only thing he had. Roderich shook his head again, "you were a smart child, Ludwig, I was proud of you but you had let the devil seduce you like everyone else…"

Ludwig's heart skipped a beat, "who?"

"A lot of men… nations and human…"


Ludwig didn't know how long he walked around the city's street, he didn't stop even when it began to rain, he wanted to cry but he felt empty, like a broken doll. He didn't feel the cold or his wet clothes, he felt nothing but the emptiness. It was night when he reached the palace that had become their house during those months of war. It wasn't a familiar place but Ludwig's feet knew where they had to go, the emptiness disappeared only when he opened a bedroom's door finding Gilbert sat on the edge of the bed with a terrified expression on his face, "Ludwig?"

Not West, Ludwig…

"Ludwig?" He called again standing up and coming closer, "where the hell you were?" He almost shouted grabbing his younger brother's arms, Ludwig didn't react. It hurt very much…

"You were walking under the rain, West?" Gilbert pulled him inside making him sit on a chair next to the fireplace, "you've to undress…" the older one muttered bending down to take his jacket off. It hurt very much… too much…

"Don't touch me!" Ludwig shouted pushing Gilbert's hands away. "We-West?" Gilbert called surprised.

"And stop to call me like this! I'm not a child anymore!"

"West…"

"Stop it, I said."

"Ludwig!" Gilbert shouted back at the end, "what the hell is wrong with you, now? I was at the tavern with our men, we wanted celebrate our first victory together but no one knows where you were… you've scared me!"

Ludwig sent him a venomous gaze, "your men, your celebration, yourvictory!"

Gilbert frowned, "what the hell are you talking about?" He came closer to touch his shoulder but Ludwig flinched, "I'm nothing for the Europe, right?"

"Now… but very soon…"

"I'm nothing for you, right?"

Gilbert froze, he widened his eyes in disbelief, "after all I've done for you…"

"You've taken for yourself a new territory!" Ludwig replied standing up and throwing the wet jacked on the pavement, "you're stronger and I'm weaker. There is nothing for me in your plan, right?"

Gilbert blinked, "did you talk with Roderich?"

"It doesn't matter…" Ludwig growled stopping before the great window of the room, "it doesn't matter!"

"That man is a piece of shirt, Ludwig!" Gilbert shouted walking towards him, "you're doubting me because of him! I… I… Where the hell was he during the last half-century? He used your land, he used you while I…"

"While you did the same," Ludwig finished turning towards him, "I'm alive, it can be dangerous to give power to me, right? But it's so good to have a territory to use, right?"

"You're delirious, West!" Gilbert tried to turn around but Ludwig grabbed his wrist pushing him against the wall, "I'm stronger than you physically, my dear bruder," he said coldly, his blue eyes were empty. "Ludwig, what's wrong with you?" Gilbert asked again firmly without trying to free himself, "Prussia has used your land, it's true! But I was there when you were crying, I was there when you were afraid of something! I've taken care of you! I loved you… I love you…"

Ludwig bit his lower lip closing his eyes and resting his forehead against Gilbert's one tiredly, the albino took his face in his hands sighing deeply, "welcome back…"

"He said you're using me."

"He is a bastard!" Gilbert kissed his forehead.

"He is in love with you…" Gilbert's heart skipped a beat, he looked up, Ludwig looked back, he opened his mouth but he didn't have the time to talk, "and he is not the only one…"

Ludwig bent down slowly, Gilbert pressed his back against the wall, they didn't stop to look at each other. Why don't you stop me? Their nose touched and Ludwig stopped, why don't you stop me, bruder? Gilbert stared at him confused, we're are brothers… we can't be lovers, you've to stop me! It doesn't matter how much I want it, it's wrong! It's wrong, Gilbert!Ludwig held his breath for a while, he tried to recompose himself but when he tried to turn around he found Gilbert's hand on his cheek.

"Kiss me…"

It was a dream, it had to be a dream.

"Kiss me…"

It couldn't… be… real…

Leaning in, before Ludwig had the chance to protest, Gilbert pressed his lips against Ludwig's, fisting the hair at the back of his head with one hand, pressing his palm firmly against his chest. The younger one didn't react for a while wrapping his arms around Gilbert's body holding him closer deepening the contact between their mouths sucking Gilbert's lower lip gently. The albino opened his mouth slightly making their tongues met half-way and wrapping his arms around the blonde's neck.

They continued to touch each other passionately and hesitantly at the same time, everything was so new, so forbidden, so damned beautiful! They stopped only when they found themselves out of air. Ludwig was into a trance, he held Gilbert closer to his chest while the Prussian brushed his fingertips against his owns lips.

"No one have to touch you but me," Ludwig murmured between Gilbert's hair.

"I don't belong to anyone, Ludwig. You know it," Gilbert replied grinning against his little brother's shoulder. Ludwig grabbed his chin forcing him to look up at him, Gilbert's arrogant expression was still there at its place. He smiled, "at the end of this story you will be mine, in a way or another…" He whispered against Gilbert's lips.


[1945]

"Louise, watch out!" Ludwig exclaimed grabbing his child under her arms. Gilbert laughed holding his knees against his chest, "relax, West! If she'll lose her balance, she'll fall inside the water!"

"You are the one inside the tub, you can hold her!" Ludwig replied annoyed while Louise sneezed two times and her father widened his eyes, "okay, out! Out! You are all clean now, stop to play with the water!" Ludwig turned around to take a towel and Gilbert reached out to brush back his child's wet hair, "you're Papa's little copy like this!"

"Stand up, Louise!" Ludwig said and the girl obeyed allowing her father to wrap the towel around her body and lift her up, "Gilbert, you will catch a cold…"

"West, you're her father, not mine!" Gilbert exclaimed annoyed resting his arms on the tub's edge staring at his lover while he dried their baby girl gently, "Papa, it's cold!" Louise exclaimed when Ludwig throw her towel away, the German smiled kissing her cheek, "be patient, little one!" He took her in his arms again moving her on the table.

Gilbert sighed deeply stepping out of the tub and taking another towel to dry himself. Ludwig turned around slightly staring at Gilbert's naked body while Louise tried to button up her shirt all alone, the older one didn't notice his gaze continuing what he was doing almost absently. Ludwig smiled slightly: Gilbert was beautiful just like he remember him. They hadn't touched each other for six years and Ludwig had to admit that he missed that body against his own very much.

They hadn't made love for six years, it sounded like a stupid thing, now.

"I've done, Papa! I've done!" Louise exclaimed happily and Ludwig looked at her again, "very good, little one! Lift your legs…" He buttoned up her little skirt and then he moved her down on the pavement. Gilbert was wrapping a towel around his waist. Ludwig watched down at his daughter another time: Louise had seen his uniform's hat and she was focusing on it. He caressed her short hair gently and then he walked closer to his lover. Gilbert didn't turn around and Louise was too busy to play with her father's hat to look at them.

Gilbert stiffened when he felt two familiar hands on his hips and two familiar lips against his neck, "I miss you…" A familiar warm voice whispered right in his ear. Gilbert smiled, "there is your daughter inside this room…"

"She is training…"

They both turned around to see their little angel while she tried to not make the uniform's hat fall over her blue eyes, "she will surpass you very soon!" Gilbert said giggling.

"Of course! She's your daughter, too," Ludwig said frustrated and kissed Gilbert's cheek holding him against his chest, "I miss you…"

"You're repeating yourself, West."

"It's the truth…"

"The Aryan girls weren't enough for you, were they?" Gilbert asked venomously and Ludwig stared down at him, "I've not been with anyone else…"

"Sure!" Gilbert said sarcastically pushing him away and wearing his shirt.

Ludwig frowned, "Gilbert, I'm serious!"

"I am, too," Gilbert replied sending him a cold gaze, "you were too busy to play the dark lord's role, right?"

"I'm saying to you that I miss to… to…" Ludwig looked at their daughter lowering his voice, "I miss to make love with you, I miss to feel alive, I miss to feel human."

Gilbert shook his head kneeling down to pull up his trousers, "I didn't miss you, at all!"

Ludwig sighed deeply smiling slightly.

"I'm serious!" The albino added seeing his expression, "I was fucking happy during my lonely and cold nights…"

"Language! You're in front of our child!"

"And I was fucking happy when I turned around to touch you but I found only an untouched pillow next to me."

"Gilbert…" Ludwig wrapped his arms around his older brother's waist and Gilbert grabbed his hands, "I didn't miss you at all…" Gilbert repeated but his voice was shaking and Ludwig held him closer. "Mama?" They looked down at the baby girl in front of them, the hat was still on her head and her blue eyes were full of sadness. Gilbert shook his head quickly trying to smile again. "No, no, Louise…" He murmured taking her in his arms, "Mama was thinking about how much he missed Papa, but it's alright," He kissed her cheek sweetly, "because Papa is here with me and you now, my little princess."

Louise pouted, "I'm not a princess!" She fussed grabbing the big hat on her head with both her hands, "I'm a soldier like Papa and Mama!"

Ludwig's smile disappeared, Gilbert frowned. They looked at each other for a while, Gilbert was the first one to laugh.

"Mama!"

"You're right! You're right, love!" Gilbert said cuddling her a little more, "it's our fault, I guess…"

"She couldn't be a little capricious girl," Ludwig commented caressing his child's hair.

"Sure! Because I'm an awesome Mama, right baby girl?" Gilbert asked pressing his forehead against his daughter's, Louise laughed happily while Gilbert kissed her once, twice, three times, "and you're my awesome little soldier girl and you're so awesome thanks to me and the awesome me alone, ja!"

Ludwig snorted, "If I remember correctly we were two…"

Gilbert pouted, "but I've done the hardest part of the work, my dear West!"

"And you've done it awesomely…" Ludwig murmured staring at their little child who could barely look back at him because of that hat but Louise smiled anyway and the blond looked at his lover with that expression of gratitude that Gilbert had seen on his face since their baby girl's birth. He smiled, "Like always, West! Like always…"


A.N. Hello girls! This is the second chapter with the start of the the scond story-line. Something about Roderich: he barely appears here but he will be be importat very soon and what Ludwig said about he being in love with Gilbert it's not a delirious thing!

We have a first kiss, yes! But Ludwig and Gilbert's love story won't be so easy like it looks right now, be ready for the angst very soon! And, like someone made me notice, if Louise is born at the start of the German Empire, Ludwig had to be a very young father... it will be another important thing very soon U.U!

Reviews make me very happy, leave me one if you have something to say and thanks to the reviewers, readers of the first chapter! See you soon!

History-Notes:

-1848: the Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, were a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation. They demonstrated the popular desire for increased political freedom, liberal state policies, democracy, nationalism, and freedom from censorship. In the end, the conservative aristocracy defeated it, forcing many liberals into exile.

-1849: German unification had been one of the major objectives during the widespread revolutions of 1848–49 In April 1849, the Frankfurt Parliament offered the title of Emperor to the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm IV. The Prussian king, fearing the opposition of the other German princes and the military intervention of Austria and Russia, refused to accept this popular mandate. Thus, the Frankfurt Parliament ended in failure for the German liberals.

-1862: on 23 September 1862, Otto von Bismarck becomes Minister-President and Foreign Minister.

-1864: Second Schleswig War, Denmark fought Prussia and Austria, it was fought for control of the duchies because of succession disputes concerning the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg.