disclaimer: Hetalia. Not mine. Ever.

Where The Heart Is

Chapter Six: Halloween!

Romano gets up and quickly gets ready for his day with his uncle Romulus. "L-Lovi wait! Before you go-!" Antonio gets cut off by Romano slamming the front door shut. "I don't get it…what did I do wrong…?"

In town:

"Let's go here uncle Romulus!" Marcello exclaims and Feliciano nods, both latched onto Romulus' arms. "Ve~! This place has the best past!" Romulus laughs and looks behind them at Romano, who is silently trudging along. "Roma? What is wrong?" Romano looks at him and shakes his head. It is nothing." Romulus frowns and gets loose of the two younger boys before going to Romano. "Come on, tell uncle Romulus all about it!"

Romano looks at him skeptically for a moment before sighing. "Um…well…I would rather talk to Matthew or my brothers about this…no offense." A strange frown comes to Romulus' face. "Not to Antonio…?"" Romano scowls and looks away. "No not that fucking bastard." "Veeee~? Fratello and Antonio are fighting again?" Feliciano asks and Marcello rolls his eyes. "Of course they are. Aren't they always?" Romano glares darkly at Marcello. "It isn't one of those, Marcello." "Huh? Then what happened, fratello?" Marcello asks, now concerned.

"Ugh, it is nothing! Lets just go eat!" Romano grabs Romulus hand and drags him into the restaurant, followed by his brothers.

After lunch:

"Where do you want to go, Roma?" Romulus asks and Romano thinks for a moment. "The zoo…" He mumbles and Romulus smiles. "Ohh? You like animals?" Romano nods. "I like monkeys…especially the squirrel monkey I saw last time…" Feliciano smiles. "The monkey that Antonio showed you? You know people have them as pets? They rescue them and raise them!" Romano and Marcello stare at Feliciano in shock. "…You know something…?" The oldest brother asks and Marcello laughs. "It's a miracle!"

Romulus laugh and wraps an arm around Romano's shoulders, making the teen twitch. "Lets go then!" Feliciano and Marcello smile. "To the zoo, ve~!" "Yay!"

The zoo:

Romano sits on a bench and stares at the monkeys as Feliciano and Marcello play in a small tunnel nearby. "You know…if you like them so much, I could get you one." Romulus says and Romano bursts into laughter, shocking the uncle and random people passing by. "Pfffft! Are you serious! I don't want to own a wild animal! I'd rather have a dog or cat!" His uncle lights up. "Let's get you one of each!" Romano looks at him annoyed. "I do live with another person, you know. Besides, I don't have time to take care of an animal. I'm fine with the homicidal turtles for now." Romulus gasps. "Antonio is raising homicidal turtles!"

Romano looks at him blankly for a minute before staring at the monkeys again. "That's right…calling them that is only fun with him…because it makes him whine." A small smirk comes to the teen's face and Romulus scowls for a moment, until the other two brothers come over and wrap their arms around their older brother's neck. "Come play!" They chime in unison and Romano glares. "I'm not some damn baby! Go play by yourselves!"

Romulus smirks and scoops the teen up. "Now now Roma! Play with your brothers!" Romano goes bright red and struggles. "Let go! I'm not some kid!" "Yes you are, Roma. You're only fifteen. Now have fun." Romulus sets him in the tunnel with his bright-eyed brothers. "You're evil." Romano says and Romulus laughs. "Have fun boys!"

Feliciano and Marcello drag Romano around the tunnel, climbing the large walls and taking a bunch of pictures for awhile before they leave it and go back to the animals. "Veee~! I want a kitty like that one!" Feliciano coos and Romano rolls his eyes. "That's a lynx, you idiot. It would kill you." "I want a dolphin!" Marcello says happily and Romano twitches. "THAT'S EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS!"

Romulus laughs and places a hand on Romano's shoulder. "Isn't there a wild animal that you would really love to own if you could?" "The squirrel monkey, right fratello!" Marcello asks and Romano shakes his head. "No…if I could have any animal, and know they would never revert to their wild ways and hurt me or others I don't want them to, it would be a wolf…" Romulus looks at him amused. "A wolf, huh? Why a wolf?" Romano looks at his uncle. "They like their privacy, but work well with others they trust. Their families are close and they are monogamous for their entire life. B-but most of all…they're…fluffy…" The teen mumbles the last part as a blush spreads across his face.

"Oh Roma that is adorable! I thought you were going to say it was because of their fangs or something!" Romulus coos, hugging the now struggling boy tightly. "G-get off! Its not adorable! And who the hell would use fangs for a reason! Lots of animals have fangs!" "Fratello is so cute~!" His brothers teas in unison and Romano glares at them. "CUT THAT OUT OR I'LL STAB YOU BOTH WITH A SPOON!"

Romulus gasps and lets him go. "Don't threaten your brothers, Roma! And you cant stab people with spoons! It's impossible!" Romano straightens out his clothes and rolls his eyes. "Maybe for you…" He looks at his watch and sighs. "We need to head to Matthew's and change for tonight." Feliciano smiles. "Yay! Haunted mansion!"

Matthew's house:

Romano comes out in a pout, wearing a white catholic robe with red accents. "Um…why am I in this?" Francis looks over to him and pouts as well. "Oui, why are you in that! It hides your beautiful body so criminally!" Romano pales and backs away from Francis. "On second thought….I'm fine with this." Francis pouts before pulling his hair into a ponytail and completing his eighteenth century French gentleman ensemble.

"Where are the others? Boys come out so we can see your clothes!" The blonde calls and Romano twitches, noticing the glint in Francis' eyes. "S-someone get out here now, damnit!" Gilbert comes out in a black devil hoodie, with the horns and tail built into it. "I'm ready." Francis and Romano look at him unamused, before responding in unison. "Lame." "Shut up! This is all I need to look awesome for Halloween! It has the horns and tail, what more do you want!" Gilbert scowls, looking to the door Matthew is behind.

"Are you ready yet, birdie?" He calls and Matthew comes out of his room, a halo on his head and around his neck. He is wearing a blue coat over a white short-sleeved lace-up top with attached flowing arm slips and a small pair of fake wings. "…This…is this to little?" Matthew asks and Gilbert stares in silent awe. "Stop drooling, Gilbert. It looks fine, Matthew." Romano says and Francis nods. "IT would be better without the coat though. Show off your lovely body Mathieu! Right Gilbert?"

Gilbert silently nods and Matthew blushes. "B-but its cold out!" Francis smirks. "Gil will keep you warm, right~?" Romano twitches and elbows Francis in the gut. "THAT IS YOUR COUSIN!" Francis goes to say something before Feliciano and Ludwig come out dressed as werewolves. "Tada~!" Feliciano cheers as Ludwig stares at his paws in slight embarrassment. "We match~! Isn't that cool!" The Italian boy coos and Romano twitches. "It's…something…"

Soon Peter and Marcello come out in their outfits. Peter is in a witches outfit and Marcello is dressed as a zombie. "Isn't Peter cute~? I told him to wear a cheerleader outfit but he and Tino said no…" Marcello says and Peter blushes, glaring at him. "I am a boy Marcello! A! BOY!" Feliciano smiles at them. "You both look so cute~!" Romano smiles at them and nods. "Wow! Even fratello agrees! You two must look really cute then, huh!" Feliciano teases and Romano rolls his eyes. "Idiot…"

"Hey…where is Antonio? Shouldn't he be with us all?" Gilbert asks and Francis sighs. "HE said he had business to attend to and that he will meet us at the school." Romano scowls and looks away. "Business with Katyusha, no doubt…" Francis smirks to himself. "Ah yes…Antonio has known her quite wellfor years, you know." Romano frowns and heads to the door. "Are we leaving or not?" "Ve~! Lets go! Lets go!" Feliciano cheers and Marcello nods, both dragging their respective boyfriends out as the others follow.

School:

They all arrive at the school and meet up with a beaming Antonio. "Oh? You didn't bring Katyusha?" Romano asks and Antonio pales a little. "N-no…did you want me to?" The rest of the group groans and heads into the school, followed by Antonio and Romano. "Lovi, why are you so upset with me? Is it because I didn't introduce you to Katyusha sooner? I figured you wouldn't care!" Antonio asks and Romano glares. "I don't care! It's your business who you date! But…! B-but…" Romano looks down, upset. "If she makes you forget about me…then you must not really…care-I mean-! I don't care! I just-! It's just-!" Antonio stares at Romano wide-eyed.

"Romano…you're jealous…of Katyusha?" The Spaniard ask and Romano glares. "I'm not jealous!" "He's jealous." Kiku says, dressed as a fox spirit with Nate dressed as Frankenstein. "Totally jealous…" Nate agrees as they go up tot the others ahead of Antonio and Romano. "Wait…did you say I was dating Katyusha?" Antonio asks and Romano nods. "Aren't you? You kissed her hand, she has a key to your house, Francis said you've known each other 'quite wellfor years'…and she's beautiful…" Romano says and Antonio smiles. "I'm not dating her. I kissed her hand because she believes a true gentleman does that. Which is also why she was so appalled when you shook her hand yesterday. Bitched about it for an hour. Also, she doesn't have my key, I leave the door unlocked. And of course I've known her really well for years, she helped me get my gardening business off the ground. Also…" Antonio's face darkens a little, smile still eerily on his face. "I didn't tell her about you on purpose. She has a thing for young boy and would eat you up. So don't get to close to her, ok?"

Romano stares at him blankly. "Are you serious…?" "Yes, there is nothing that could make me forget you, Lovi~!" Antonio says cheerfully and Romano twitches. "NOT THAT IDIOTO! YOU LEAVE OUR DOOR UNLOCKED WHEN WE LEAVE!" He yells and accidentally punches a student dressed as a mummy. "Ow!" "Oh! S-sorry Vash!" Romano says and Antonio laughs, pulling the boy into a hug. "I'll lock it from now on. So is everything ok now, Lovi?" "I-I was fine before as well, you know!" Antonio nods and Romano goes to push him away. "Get off of me or I'll do some sort of physical harm to you with a utensil of the spoon variety." "Someone is getting lazy with their threats!" The Spaniard teases before Alfred comes up dressed as a serial killer with a chainsaw. "BWAHAHAH!"

"CH-CHIIIGIIII!" Romano cries out and clings to Antonio. "Oh my, Lovi! You're hugging me!" Antonio coos as he slips Alfred a twenty dollar bill. "Are you two coming or are you just going to cling to each other all night!" Gilbert calls out and Romano and Antonio quickly run over to them, Romano kicking Gilbert in the shin. "SHUT UP ALBINO BASTARD!"

Matthew laughs and goes to tease Romano when another student wielding an axe comes up. "AHHH!" Romano and Matthew scream, clinging to each other as Gilbert and Antonio pout. "They weren't suppose to cling to each other…" Gilbert groans and Antonio nods sadly. "This wasn't the plan at all…" "Uwahhh! Marcello I'm scared!" Peter cries, clinging to the smirking Marcello. "Its ok Peter." "Ve~! Ludwig!" Feliciano cries and Ludwig holds him. "You're fine, Feliciano." Gilbert and Antonio fume at the sight. "This is bullshit." "This is so fucking UNAWESOME!"

The group continues through the school, Francis taking advantage of moments when others are panicking to grab said person's ass. "STOP! TOUCHING! OUR! ASSES!" Gilbert fumes and Francis laughs. "You're just jealous because I have gotten farther with Mathieu than you!" "HE'S YOUR COUSIN! HAVE A LIMIT!" "You guys…" Matthew says nervously as they continue to fight. "Oh whatever!" Gilbert groans and wraps an arm around Matthew's shoulders. "I'm watching him for the rest of the night!" "How is that any different from every other day?" Francis teases.

As they continue around the school Romano suddenly disappears. "Lovi! Lovi, where did you go?" Antonio calls out and everyone begins to look around. "Romano!" "Oi, Romano! Where did you go!" They head into an empty classroom after seeing a shadow that looks like the boy's in the room. Once inside the door slams shut and they hear it lock. "Wh…is this part of the haunted mansion? Feliciano asks wearily and Matthew shakes his head. "I know the plans inside and out and locking people in an empty room isn't-!" He gets cut off by a chair flying across the room. "AH! What was that!" Matthew exclaims, grabbing onto Gilbert.

"I've gooot yooouuuuu." A voice moans eerily and they all tense up. "This iss paayyyybaaack…." The voice says and a hand suddenly grabs Nate's arm, making the teen to gasp and everyone to scream. "WH-WHAT THE HELL!" Ludwig yells and the lights suddenly come on, revealing Romano. He is sitting on a desk with an arm draped over Marcello and Peter's shoulders. "I said I'd get payback." Romano points out as everyone glares at him. "With the kids help!" Gilbert asks and Romano shakes his head. "No, but I didn't want them involved so I whispered in their ears and set them aside."

Antonio looks at Romano and smiles. "You like playing pranks?" Romano shrugs. "Only as payback…but I'll tell you one thing…I did enjoy the fear on all your faces." "Just like his father…" Francis mutters and Antonio frowns for a second, before grinning at the boy. "How cruel, Lovi~! Yet strangely adorable!" Antonio coos and Romano twitches, getting down. "Don't call me cute, you creeper." Feliciano and Matthew go up to Romano, patting him on the back. "Very impressive Romano, you scared the shit out of us!" "Ve~! Fratello is so cool!" Romano shrugs. "I got the idea after watching a Japanese horror movie with Kiku." Kiku smiles. "Well, our country is genius with horror."

Later:

They exit the school and head to get something to eat. "Lovi you are adorable in that catholic robe~!" Antonio coos as they walk down the street. "I do not. So stop antagonizing me. Not all of us could dress up as sexy pirates." Romano says and everyone holds in their snickers. "I'm a sexy pirate, huh?" Antonio asks amused and Romano gasps. "No! Damnit! Shut up!" Romano yells before they enter the empty eatery. "Hello, how may I help you?" A very bored looking blond boy with a cross shaped hair clip asks. "Hey Tore! So this is why you weren't at the haunted mansion, huh!" Feliciano asks and Tore nods.

They make their orders and sit down. Matthew, Gilbert, Romano, Antonio and Francis is one booth and Feliciano, Ludwig, Peter and Marcello in one behind them. "Well…anyone want to try my energy drink?" Francis asks and Romano perks up. "I've never had an energy drink…" The blonde perks up. "Reeaaalllyyyy?" "Yeah…" Romano says and Francis hands him the large can. "Have it all!" The other guys gulp nervously as Romano obeys.

A whole can of energy drink later:

"Gaaahhhhh! I'm so hungry! Are you hungry Matthew!" Romano asks quickly and Matthew laughs. "Yeah, I'm-!" "I'M STARVING! Which is weird, because, you know, uncle Romulus bought us a big lunch! Then again I couldn't really eat it because I was busy worrying about…stuff…!" Francis watches the boy ramble on in amusement. "GAH! I'M BORED!" Romano groans and Francis smirks.

"Might I suggest a game?" the Frenchman asks and everyone goes silent while Romano perks up. "Yes! Lets play a game! No…wait…I'll play the game with Matthew! So what's the game!" Romano asks and everyone gets nervous. "Gay chicken." Francis says and Romano giggles. Yes, giggles. "What is that? Getting on your bikes in tu-tu's and seeing who will turn first?" He suddenly gets a very serious look on his face. "Because I'll do it. And win. I never loose." "Well…gay chicken isn't like normal chicken, Romano! You and another boy move in to kiss and whoever pulls away is the loser. Alright?" Francis says and Romano smirks. "I can do that!"

Matthew laughs when Romano faces him. "Lets play!" Romano exclaims and Matthew shrugs. "Why not?" They both lean in, the three men sharing a stall with them staring in awe. Before their noses can touch Matthew head butts Romano. "Owww! What the hell!" Romano groans and Matthew laughs. "You really are competitive! You weren't going to pull away, were you?" Matthew asks as Romano rubs his forehead and pouts at his friend. "Of course not. I knew you would. Which is why I have won! Coward!" Matthew twitches. "Oh HELL no! That's it! We're going agai-!" Gilbert quickly moves over and scoops Matthew up, setting him down next to himself as Antonio moves to sit by Romano.

"That's it! No more energy drinks for you! Ever!" Antonio exclaims and Gilbert nods. "Aww…but its fun~!" Francis whines and gets glares at by the other two men. "Here's your food." The platinum blonde haired little brother of Tore says as he hands them their meals. "Thanks Mari~! You're so adorable~! Kaoru is so lucky~!" Romano coos and everyone stares at him in shock before Antonio begins twitching. "NEVER. AGAIN."

After diner:

Romano's buzz has faded and he's now exhausted. "Hn…I hate you Francis…I'm now exhausted and even almost kissed my best friend! Not to mention Mari probably thinks I have a thing for him, which I don't, and now Kaoru will kick my ass! Fucking lame!" Gilbert, Antonio, and Matthew nod as the other boys look at them confused. "When did you do that?" Marcello asks and Francis smirks. "While you children were eating your food." Romano scowls. "I still don't see why theirs came first…"

Antonio shrugs and goes to pat him on the shoulder when Romano trips over his robe. "OW! SHIT!" Romano hisses and Antonio gasps. "Are you ok!" "Yeah…" Antonio helps Romano up, making the boy hiss in pain and fall back to the ground with a whimper. "Damnit…I think I twisted my ankle…" "Fratello!" Marcello and Feliciano exclaim and Romano rolls his eyes. "I'm fine, just cant walk on it…" Ludwig comes up and wordlessly picks up Romano. "Eh! Excuse you potato bastard!" Romano yells before Ludwig places him on Antonio's waiting back. "Gracias, Ludwig!" Antonio says as Romano wraps his arms around the man's neck and pouts into his hair. "Grazie…potato bastard…" The teen mumbles and Ludwig smiles at him.

At home:

Antonio lays Romano on the couch. "Anything you want? Water? Soda? Ice cream? Candy?" Romano rolls his eyes. "I'm fine. Idiota." Antonio smiles and sits down with him. "Alright Lovi, just tell me when you're tired." Romano nods and turns on the TV. "Don't expect it to be anytime soon." Antonio nods and watches TV with the boy until about half an hour later when Romano falls asleep, his head landing on Antonio's shoulder before quickly falling into his lap. "Buenas noches, Lovi."

a/n: Romulus is trying to buy Romano's love. Naturally. Because we all know if your personality doesnt get someone then the gifts you can buy them will. The lesson of the story: Dont play gay chicken after finishing your first whole bottle of AMP. or any energy drink. BAAAAD BAAAAD! but sooooo fuuunnnn...as long as you have a mattie who will pull away or head butt you. And i got yelled at for this by someone. for the record...I AM NOT HINTING AT MATTIE AND ROMANO! i just put that in there bc me and a friend played it and it was fun and i figured 'hey! mattie and lovi could play it! how cute would that be!' so yeah...i'm NOT hinting at them being together. No. Way. In. Hell. but seriously...gay chicken is as fun as normal chicken. (Both of which i always win bc im to competitive) you should totally play it some time! ALL OF YOU GO PLAY BOTH OF THOSE CHICKEN GAMES! and for those of you who dont know...normal chicken is riding on your bike into another person and whoever turns away looses. IT IS FUN! LISTEN TO MY BAD INFLUENCE AND DOOOO IIIIIT!