Italics are memories.

Human Names and Ages:

Romulus- Roman Empire/Grandpa Rome-60

Wolfgang-Germania-62

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Hetalia nor do I own the songs from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Ludwig saw the cross follow him down to the water. His vision was going black but the last thing he could see was a hand reaching out towards him.

A 13 year old Ludwig sat on the floor coloring on a piece of parchment while his mother polished a silver pendent she had created earlier that day.

"Mama, when's vati coming back," he asked.

"Soon I'm sure my darling."

"Mama?" Ludwig furrowed his brow and stopped drawing and looked over at her. "Why…why doesn't vati come by often?"

Serafina stopped polishing and looked over at her son. She put them aside and sat on the floor next to him, motioning him over to sit on her lap. "My little love, you know why. He's fighting a war right now."

"How come you two don't kiss like normal people?"

Serafina's eyes widened at this. "And how do you know what normal people kiss like?"

Ludwig blushed and fingered the fabric of his shirt with embarrassment. "I saw a couple kiss today. It's not how you and vati kiss. They kissed on the lips but you two only kiss each other on the cheeks or head."

The young mother sighed, "Well, it's not that your father and I don't love each other. We do, very much. As a matter of a fact he's my best friend. It's just that," Serafina sighed. "We do love each other very much just not in the way…normal couples do, I guess you could say." Ludwig raised an eyebrow at this making his mother sigh again. How on earth was she supposed to explain this to a child? "Your father married me to save me, my love."

"What? Why?! Where they going to hurt you, mama? Was he like a knight saving his princess in distress? I want to be a knight someday."

Serafina giggled and hugged her son closer to her. "Yes, I guess you can put it that way. As you know people tend to frown upon those who are…different. I'm different so you're papa married me so that people wouldn't hurt me for being different."

"Different how?" Ludwig cocked his head to the side cutely.

Serafina blushed deeply at this. How to explain?! She thought quietly for a moment and decided that, with her son, it was best to just say it. "I like…I like members of my own kind?"

"You mean French people? Vatis German isn't he? Is that why you two don't kiss on the lips?"

Serafina smiled and shook her head no. "I mean, my love, that I like members of my own gender."

"Oh." Ludwig fidgeted while he mauled over this new piece of information. "Does that mean that I wasn't made from love?"

"NO!" Ludwig chocked from being smothered into his mother chest tightly. "Don't think that for a second, Ludwig. You're father and I do love each other and you were definitely made from that love. I couldn't think of a better gift Gilbert could have given me, or I him, than you, my little treasure."

Ludwig grinned and hugged his mother back, trying to match the force to the best capability his stubby little arms could. "I'm just like you then, mama!"

"Hmm?"

"I like people of my own kind too!"

Serafina grinned and poked at his chubby cheek, "You do? Tell me then, little knight, which prince caught your eye?"

"I'm not sure who he is but I've seen him around Notre Dame. He's so cute mama!" Ludwig blushed but never felt happier. He'd been worried that something was wrong with him for finding the little boy that hung around the cathedral adorable. What with his red hair and light eyes that looked like honey and funny curl that bounced every time he ran around with his friends what wasn't to like. The boy had smiled at him once and waved and Ludwig had considered that as an invitation to go over. That is, until another boy that looked just like the other scowled at the blond and ushered the protesting redhead back into the cathedral. "Mama do you think-" He was interrupted by desperate knocking at the door.

Ludwig groaned when he felt being lifted into gangly arms. Through hazy consciousness he could make out voices.

"Don't drop him, Mathias!"

"Hey now, you asked for my help. I'm trying my best, Feli." Feli's here? Thought Ludwig.

"Mi dispiace, I know I'm just nervous."

"It's ok. I understand. Damn this guy's heavy, lead the way my prince"

"Sir," Malechai rode his horse to stand next to Wolfgang. "We've searched everywhere but there's no sign of the gypsy boy."

Wolfgang lowered his head in thought. "It can't be. I had the entire place surrounded; how on earth did he even escape the cathedral without us knowing? Unless…" He looked up at the tower where his charge resided. "Keep looking. I think I'm going to pay my charge a visit."

Dämon wrung his gloved hands to ease his nerves but nothing helped. It'd been a week since he last heard from Feliciano and it was driving him mad with worry. Just moments ago he had helped Antonio out the Cathedral with the three dogs that Ludwig left behind. He wasn't sure where he was going but thought nothing of it. Perhaps he was going to go find Lovino. Dämon felt envious of Antonio. He could go seek out his friend without fear of being caught but he couldn't. He sighed and climbed up the stairs to his dormitory.

Arthur was first to notice that Francis was trembling with fear as he over looked the burning city. "Pray tell, Frog, are you alright?"

"Non mon ami, I am not. My poor Feli is out there somewhere. What if he's been captured? What if he's being flogged? Worse yet! What if Wolfgang is-"

"Hush now," hissed Arthur. He motioned his head to Dämon as the albino made his way to the ghosts.

"Any sign of him you guys," he asked.

"No, but Francis here sure seems worried," muttered Alfred who was munching on some candy. "Something about getting captured and being flogged and Wolfgang occupying his vital regions."

"I never said that last bit you little brat," hissed Francis.

"But you were going to," replied the youngest blond with a cheeky grin. "Besides, this is Feliciano we're talking about. His brother wouldn't let him get captured so easily."

Arthur nodded in agreement, "Not to mention Feli himself is a slippery little bugger. It's hard to catch him."

"Right! He's no doubt three steps ahead of the game and safely tucked away out of harm's way."

Dämon nodded slowly, "I guess you're right."

"Of course I am. I'm a hero you know. I'm sure when things cool down he'll be running back to see you."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because he likes you, silly." Arthur said with a smile. Francis stayed quiet.

Dämon, however grinned, "You really think so?"

"Of course," replied both of the younger blonds. Alfred dug around the basket of food he'd found in Antonio's room and pulled out some meat cheese and bread, making himself a sandwich.

Arthur ruffled Dämon's platinum locks with affection, "We always did think you were adorable."

Alfred looked up from his sandwich and spoke with a full mouth, "I thought I was the cute one."

"No, you're the stupid one with a big mouth," scolded Francis still peeved about what the young specter said.

"What are you saying exactly?"

Arthur waved them off and pulled Dämon back inside, "Take it from us, kid. You're on in a million. There's no way he can resist you." Francis frowned and kept to himself.

The younger ghost finished his sandwich, "Clearly guys in shiny armor aren't his type. Why look out there. Paris. The city of lovers is glowing this evening. True, that's because it's on fire but still, there's l'amour. Somewhere out there in the night, his heart is also alight. And I know the guy he just might be burning for." Dämon chuckled and shook his head at Alfred who took his hands in his own and twirled him around the room, "A guy like you, he's never known, kid. A guy like you a guy does not meet every day." He stopped them in front of a mirror, "You've got a look that's all your own, kid. Could there be two like you? No way!"

Arthur nodded eagerly, "Those other guys that he could dangle all look the same from every boring point of view. You're a surprise from every angle." He joined in the dance with Alfred and Dämon, "Mon Dieu above he's gotta love a guy like you!"

Alfred pulled out a deck of cards and shuffled them in his ghostly hands, "A guy like you gets extra credit because it's true you've got a certain something more." He handed him the ace of hearts.

"You see that face, you don't forget it." Arthur rubbed his palm against the albino's cheeks affectionately making the other blush. "Want something new? That's you for sure! We all have gaped at some Adonis."

The young spectacled ghost grinned and pulled Dämon away from the Brit. "But then we crave a meal more nourishing to chew. And since your skin glows like the moon shine, no question of he's gotta love a guy like you!"

Not to be outdone by his little comrade, Arthur sat at an old piano in the corner of the room, "Call me a hopeless romantic but Dämon, I feel it. He wants you so any moment he'll walk through that door for a guy so swell a guy like you." Alfred looked at Francis who hovered solemnly over them and gave him a look. "With all you bring him I'll tell you Dämon, a fool could tell it's why he fell for you-know-who!" Dämon's eyes glittered with hope and happiness and he looked over to the figurine of Feli. Francis saw this and groaned to himself, covering his face with his hands.

Arthur and Alfred exchanged glances but kept singing to their friend, "You'll ring the bell; you're the bell ringer!" Alfred jumped up and dragged Francis down to them. Arthur gave him a look and nudged him.

Francis looked to see Dämon looking at him with a smile and he forced one onto his face, "When he wants oo-la-la, and he wants you la-la, he will discover, guy, you're one heck of a guy." The other two ghosts joined in, "Who wouldn't love a guy like you? You got a lot, the rest have not. So he's gotta love a guy like you!"

"Angelo," a meek voice resonated in the room from the doorway. Alfred nudged him and winked before hovering above the wooden beams with the other ghosts. Francis looked down gravely and bit his lip when he saw Feliciano enter hesitantly. "Angelo, are you there?"

Dämon beamed and ran to give him a hug, "Thank goodness you're ok, Feli. I was worried sick."

Feliciano smiled at him, though his eyes seemed troubled and blood shot as if he had been crying. Dämon's smile slowly vanished. "What's wrong?"

"I know you've helped me so much already, my friend, but I need to ask for one more favor."

"Sure! Anything," Dämon turned to the door when he heard a groan and his heart sank. A tall blond man panted as he lugged in an unconscious Ludwig. He furrowed his brows and turned to Feliciano who gave him a pleading look.

"Please help us hide him. He's a fugitive like me. Wolfgang sentenced him to death after he refused to set a poor farmer's house on fire in the outskirts of town. He rushed in to save him and a bear cub but was hurt when he tried to escape. Please Angelo," Feli grasped onto Dämon's hands and tears resurfaced to his eyes. Alfred gasped in terror at what he heard. Farm house? Bear cub? The only person he knew with those two things was…his baby brother. He felt Arthur's hand on his shoulder and he momentarily relaxed. Feli said that Blondie…Ludwig saved him.

Dämon sighed and motioned him to bring Ludwig to a closet in his dormitory.

Ludwig stared at the door and peaked open to see who it was. He recognized Sebastian; he was one of his parent's friends from the army. He opened the door to greet him but froze when he saw his mother crying in his arms.

"Mama?"

Both adults froze and Serafina ran to her son, holding onto his slender shoulders and looked at him through teal eyes. "Ludwig, honey you have to go pack your bag. Only take things you really need."

"Mama what's going on? Why's daddy's soldier friend here? What happened to daddy?"

"Baby, please go do as I say."

"Serafina, Luddy needs to know. It's best he knows now," interrupted Sebastion.

"No! Honey, I beg of you go do as I say."

"Mommy!"

"Now!" Ludwig nodded and scurried to his room. He left his door open and pulled out a leather bag, stuffing it with clothes and some of his toys. He ran to his tin and pulled out an iron cross necklace that his father had made for him, with his mom's help of course. He smiled at the pendant for it reminded him of their love, a bit crooked and not perfect but beautiful never the less. Ludwig fastened it around his neck and grabbed his teddy bear before running back to his living room. Sebastian waited while his mother was getting her things ready.

Sebastian looked nervous but smiled down at his best friend's son. Ludwig liked this man. He was very kind and funny, much like his mother. Speaking of which, Ludwig looked around to make sure the coast was clear before clearing his throat.

"I can't tell you, Luddy. Your mother will kill me."

"I won't tell."

"Trust me, kid. She'll know I told you."

It wasn't till they were safe in Germany, in his family's summer home, that he learned the truth about their departure from Paris.

Ludwig stood rigidly in his mother's embrace, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Vati…V-vati.."

"I'm sorry for making you wait my darling. Please forgive me."

"How?"

"You're father died, protecting all that he loved and what he believed in."

Ludwig grunted in pain. Mathias accidentally dropped him unceremoniously on the ground which earned him a glare from the gypsy prince. "Sorry."

The blond ex-soldier stirred awake and looked up to see Feli's amber eyes look down into his own. He smiled. "Feli, I'm glad you're safe." He reached up and pulled his glove off with his teeth before cupping Feli's smooth dirty cheek making it turn pink. "I've waited a whole week to do that."

"You shouldn't move, amore." He pulled out a bottle of wine and pulled the cork out with his teeth.

"Oh good, I could use a drink." Feli snorted and pulled back the man's shirt to expose the wound before pouring the wine into it. Ludwig gave out a small hiss. "Or not."

Mathias rocked back on the balls of his heals and his stomach rumbled making him grin sheepishly. "Um, say, Angylo, you uh...don't happen to have any grub laying around do you?"

"It's pronounced Angelo, Mathias," murmured Feliciano as he concentrated on stitching up Ludwig. "And don't be rude."

"But I haven't eaten in days."

"I have some food if you like. Come on," Dämon ushered the Dane to his workbench to feed him, not wanting to see the blood.

Feli stood back to admire his work when he noticed Ludwig's eyes on him, "What?"

"Aren't you going to kiss it?"

Feliciano smirked, "And here I thought you needed to drink the wine for it to affect your brain."

"I'm serious Feli. I'd like for you to," whispered Ludwig. Feli smiled and kissed him on his shoulder. "My heart hurts too Feli." Feli placed a kiss over his heart. "My head too, from where your friend dropped me." The prince kissed his forehead and pulled away when he heard him sniffle. He had tears in his blue eyes and he kissed them away too before kissing his nose and finally his mouth.

"I love you, Feliciano. I know it's strange 'cause we just met for real just recently and we haven't interacted much but this past week has been hell for me as I'm sure it's been for you. I can't explain why but I do."

Feli snuggled next to him, mindful of the wounded shoulder, "Met for real? Did that time in Notre Dame not count?"

"Well, I don't know if you remember, but you once waved at a blond boy with blue eyes so many years ago."

"So you were the kid that my brother warned me about. The one would stalk me when he thought I didn't notice."

Ludwig groaned in embarrassment but Feliciano kissed at his neck affectionately. "Don't worry I thought you were cute too. It didn't cross my mind that I'd meet you again though. As for love, I love you too. Hmm, guess we were matched by someone of great importance that fate brought us back together."

"Fate? Feli, fate isn't a logical reason to explain what's going on between us."

"Someone very dear to me once said that in matters of the heart, logic and reason are unwelcomed," he said with a grin. "Besides, don't argue. We're together now and that's all that matters right?" He felt his heart soar when he saw Ludwig cast him a huge smile only to falter when he saw that he had stopped smiling.

"What's wrong?"

"Please forgive me for causing you all this grief. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's my stupid grandfather…no that stupid Minister Wolfgang. He's the cause of all this grief. Paris is burning; you and your people are suffering as are many civilians. My f-father," Ludwig's eyes watered up and he rolled over, ignoring the sharp pain in shoulder to cry into Feli's neck. "Feli, that man killed my father."

The prince held tightly to the blond in his arms and kissed his head again. A few minutes past when Ludwig finally looked up to see Feliciano admiring him and they both came in for a sweet kiss. Lips moving against one another, shy tongues slipping past each other; both were so engrossed in one another that they didn't notice the poor albino whimper in the shadow before turning away.

Dämon had never felt this bad since the festival of fools, well no. He expected the people's reaction but this-this was different. He felt sick and he crumbled onto his stool next to the Dane who was wolfing down cheese and bread. Mathias swallowed his food, "Are you ok, Angelo?"

"Perfect." He wasn't though. His heart felt like it had melted and was slowly sinking into his stomach like heavy lead, leaving his chest feel hallow. He pulled out the ace of hearts and ripped it clean in the middle before tossing it onto the ground. 'I knew I'd never know that warm and loving glow, though I might wish with all my might. No face as hideous as my face was ever met for heaven's light.' Francis's heart broke for his friend and he scowled at the other two blonds who were holding each other weeping silently in guilt, before sighing. He couldn't really blame them they were only children themselves and never knew what love truly felt like. He did. He knew what it felt like. He looked over at Feliciano. He knew exactly what it felt like.

They separated from each other and Feliciano moved to stand but Ludwig tightened his hold on the prince. "Please don't leave me."

"You'll be safe here, mio amore. You need to rest and get better."

"But I'm not tired, Liebling. Can't I go with you?"

"It's too risky for you to move now." Feli smiled fondly down at his lover who was desperately fighting sleep. "Sleep. It'll be ok." He gently removed Ludwig's arms from around his waist and tucked him snugly.

"Aster?!"

"He is safe as well. You'll see him soon."

"Ok. Gute Nacht, Liebling."

"Buonanotte, amore." He kissed the sleeping blond once more before moving out. He found Mathias and Dämon sitting in the work bench. Dämon had his head down staring at his hands. "I can never thank you enough for this, Angelo." Feliciano hugged the albino from behind.

Dämon leaned pressed against the older man's chest and closed his eyes, "Don't mention it, Feli. I promise I'll keep him safe for you." Feli's eyes glittered with happiness and he reached around to place two kisses up Dämon's cheeks in gratitude.

Mathias looked out the window when he heard a carriage arrive. "My prince we should get going. Wolfgang is here! Thank you for the meal, Angylo." The Dane made a rush for the stairs dragging Feli behind him by the hand.

"It's pronounced Angelo, Mathias. I swear you're saying it like that to annoy me." Dämon chuckled when he heard Mathias obnoxious laugh followed by a yelp. Would he have been as cheerful as the Dane had he been born normal? Maybe. He remembered that Wolfgang was coming and scurried to find a place to hide Ludwig, thinking fast he dragged the unconscious blond and shoved him under the work bench. As he moved to pull down the table cloth he noticed that the blond had an iron cross necklace around his neck and another in his clenched fingers. Before he could give it another thought he pulled the table cloth down and fidgeted with his figurines as his master entered the room.

"O-Oh! Hello, m-m-master. I wasn't expecting you today."

Wolfgang smiled, baring his straight teeth, "I'm never too busy to share a meal with you boy. I've brought us a little treat." He sat while Dämon rushed to bring the dinnerware. The elder man made a show of looking around the room, "Something is different in here." He pulled out a loaf of bread and a jar of honey, smothering his slice of bread with a tiny amount while he watched the albino scoop a large spoonful on to his slice of bread anxiously.

"Is there, sir?"

"Yes," he bit into his bread and chewed thoughtfully. "Is something the matter boy?"

"Um, no, master. Why do you ask?"

"You're not eating. And here I thought that you loved sweets."

Dämon's eyes widened when he felt Ludwig shift underneath him releasing a groan. He bit into his bread and gave a satisfied groan making his master raise an eyebrow. He coughed and kicked Ludwig when he released another grown. "Heh, this had honey comb, huh?"

"Hmm. I know what's different here. You're hiding something from me."

"I-"

"Don't deny it, Dämon. This little figurine is new isn't it?"

"Y-yes, master."

"I know what you did."

"Sir?"

Wolfgang fixed his cold eyes on his charge and stabbed at Mini-Feliciano with a dagger, "You helped him escape didn't you?! And now all of Paris is burning because of you!"

Dämon looked up with wide red eyes, "He was kind to me master."

"You idiot! That wasn't kindness that was cunning! He's a gypsy and Gypsies aren't capable of true love. He tricked you and used you and now he's free to exploit all of Paris and spread his heathen ways. Think boy, think of you mother!"

The Albino curled into himself and cried softly to himself. It wasn't true! It wasn't! Feli is kind, he wasn't using me. He's kind. Right?

The elder man looked down at his dagger then at his charge and smiled. "No matter, my son. I know that you are not entirely to blame. What chance could a poor ghost like you have against his necromancer ways? I know where he and his filth are hiding. I'll take care of this and then things will return back to its natural order." Wolfgang set aflame the figurine and tossed it to the ground. "He'll be out of our lives soon enough."

"What do you mean, master?"

"I mean that I will free you from his evil spell. Tomorrow at dawn I will attack the Court of Miracles with a thousand men." With that, the minister retreated back to his carriage.

Dämon stared at the figurine and dread filled his stomach. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "We need to find the Court of Miracles and warn them, Dämon."

"Huh?"

"We need to warn Feli and the others. Come one we don't have time to waste."

I wanted to give some more information on Germany's past, explain some things about his parent's marriage and why his father reacted the way he did when he learned about Prussia's mom. Also, yes, France did love Italy in that way when growing up but never told him because he knew that Italy only saw him as an older brother. Again I did look at this multiple times but grammar errors are bound to escape me...I'm sorry for that. I hope you enjoy and reviews are always nice =3

VivaAmerica: lol yes, and now here you have another ^_^. I actually already finished plotting the story, its only a matter of typing it out and such.

kara-hime 24: Heh ^_^' I changed Germany's age so he could be a bit younger, 28. Thank you for the review. It means alot =3