Chapter 5 is here! These following chapters (from 5 to 9, probably), will show you more of Romano's soft spot for Liechtenstein, some interactions between England and Austria, and some of the Bad Touch Trio, until we come to a revelation and more dramatic chapter, but I'm not giving out any spoilers xD This fic, as you can probably tell by now, will be much shorter than Darkness and Light, but I'm working hard on it nonetheless. Writing Romano's POV proved to be hard, but quite fun :D And yes, we'll have Veneziano's POV soon.

Replying to reviews:

Everyone: I'd like to say that I'm not going to change this into a reader insert, no matter what. As a matter of fact, I'm not going to be writing any reader inserts (or any stories with OCs, or putting myself into the story) either. If you like those kinds of stories, then I'm not the right author for you. I personally write fanfics because I enjoy seeing the characters' interactions with each other when put in a certain situation, and I like to think out the characters' thoughts and actions. But I most definitely do not like putting new characters that don't belong in the story, because then the whole fic becomes unreal (to me), and it isn't something that I enjoy doing. I write because of the characters I love, not because I want to put myself, or a perfect OC, or a reader into the story. So if this isn't what you want, then there are many other fics out there that fit into this category, but I'm not one of them. And being a newbie, I don't want to jump into that bandwagon, thanks :D

Eva of Moonstone; Ayumi Kudou; and some unnamed others: Yes, I'll be doing a JapLiech one shot. So now I have EngLiech and JapLiech on my plate xD And England... well, I think he's starting to think more carefully about his plan and realize that it isn't as fool-proof as he thought. Or maybe he's just got a bad feeling in his stomach from eating so many horrible tasting scones. (No offense, England. I still love you ^^) That's for you guys to intepret.

Flying mint bunny girl: That's a very, very, very small GerIta-ish mention, but I got that from that one episode where Germany kisses Italy after him demanding a hug or something, I don't remember very clearly. It just goes to show how tolerant of Italy Germany can be xD

Liechtenstein's lover: I voted for ChinaLiech, Spamano, and AmerIta, because those are my personal favorite characters :D

Gothic-Romantic99: Thank you for the detailed reviews =^.^= I appreciate them a lot. Glad to have you with us.

Sparkly Pandas: I laughed so hard at your little skit, but well, I always do. And I agree that England's scones are not really for eating... I really like seeing the Italian brothers with Liechtenstein for some reason, and I'd like it if there were more of these on Fanfiction, lol.

And now... for our awaited chapter...

V. Not just a weak maid

Romano wondered what was up with him.

Although he had apologized to Liechtenstein, throughout the next two weeks heading into the end of October, his emotions kept jumping around like crazy. One day he'd help her around the house, and the next he would just ignore her like the first day. He didn't mean to do it, really, but whenever she spoke to him and he wanted to say something nice in response, he'd think about how uncharacteristic of him that was, and retort something completely uncalled for. Shit, was he going crazy?

He was also starting to have a collection of dreams. Whenever he laid down his head, he'd see the pigtailed blonde girl and the two identical boys. He wondered if his dreams were supposed to mean anything, and if he had been having them since before his memory loss. And then he'd wonder when the memories would come back. The doctor, who he had been introduced to as China, had supposedly told him that they would return soon, but the possibilities didn't seem very bright. And something inside him, deep inside a part where he would never admit existed, hoped that his memories wouldn't return. He didn't know who he had been before, but he knew that the faint memories Spain had used to help him get by were enough for him to survive. He just didn't want to be back like before, because... because... of her.

But of course, he'd never admit that, not even to himself.

"Romano!" Spain suddenly called from his doorway, startling Romano from his little unrealistic daydream. He turned back from the window and made a point to glare at Spain, hoping that his cheeks weren't as pink as he thought.

"What, tomato bastard?" He huffed. A head of blonde hair suddenly peeked out from behind Spain, and Romano had to shift his gaze away to avoid... what? What was he trying to avoid? There was nothing wrong with Liechtenstein, and he knew that... The blush instantly returned to his cheeks.

"Liechtenstein's going to the market to get some food for dinner, and I think you should come with her." Spain said cheerfully. Was the bastard always so cheerful?

"Why? She has no problem going by herself."

"We-ell," Spain grinned. "My boss wants me to visit Belgium next week, on business, and I won't be back until the week after that." He gestured to Liechtenstein. "Liechtenstein will be taking care of you, so I just want you to be better friends with each other." Spain smiled; tilting his head slightly to the side, and Liechtenstein peeked out from where Spain was hogging the doorway and set her emerald eyes on Romano.

"It's ok if you don't want to come, Master Romano. I don't want to cause you trouble." She said quietly, and there was a look that flickered in her eyes that made him soften up, just a little.

"Alright, bastard, I'll come." He said. "Just so you would stop nagging." He quickly added.

"You'd come? Great!" Liechtenstein sent him a smile, and then bounced away just as cheerfully as Spain would. "I'll be waiting downstairs."

Romano noticed Spain's fond glance after Liechtenstein, and then got up off his perch beside the window to follow Liechtenstein down the stairs. Brushing past Spain, he heard his little whisper.

"Behave yourself, ok?" The chuckle that followed made Romano flush in irritation. It wasn't as if he would do anything bad. With a determined glare, Romano pushed past Spain and descended down the spiral stairs. He found Liechtenstein standing by the open doors, and walked over toward her. She opened her mouth to say something, but he ushered her out the doorway. He didn't want Spain to see them leaving, because he'd just remark something completely irrelevant and embarrassing about him.

Romano marched down the pathway and turned left, determined to lead Liechtenstein and prove that he didn't need anyone 'taking care' of him while Spain was gone.

"Romano? The market's this way." Liechtenstein's voice came from somewhere behind him. Slowly, he turned around and scowled.

"I knew that."

Romano had to settle for following Liechtenstein as she led the way to the marketplace. But surprisingly, she dropped back a few paces until she was just by his side.

"Romano?" Liechtenstein suddenly spoke up. Her face seemed tense and troubled, and she wasn't looking at him. Damn it, what had he done?

"Si?" He answered hesitantly, narrowing his eyes. If he was to be worried about her, then so be it. He might ignore her at times, but it didn't mean he wanted to be mean. He did care, even if he'd never say that out loud. And she wasn't the tomato bastard or the potato bastard, anyway.

"I... You've been ignoring me a lot lately and..." She stopped walking and finally looked up at him. "I just want to know why." Her emerald eyes full of hurt and confusion made him feel like he was a terrible monster.

Those eyes... Romano avoided her gaze. He just couldn't tell her 'Well, I avoid you because I don't want to become too attached, because you'll be gone when my memory's back.' He didn't know how to response, and she looked expectant of an answer.

"It isn't your fault or anything." He told her.

"Right." Liechtenstein replied. "Well then, let's go to the market."

"I mean it. It isn't your fault. You didn't do anything wrong." No, it's me and my dickish attitude.

Liechtenstein didn't reply but kept walking on, and Romano eventually followed.

The market was already crowded when they arrived. Romano assumed that it was a Spanish style market, because he didn't quite remember ever being there before, and he also couldn't make out much of the words.

"Hello, Miss Lilli." The man at the cabbage stall greeted Liechtenstein with a large smile. Liechtenstein must have gone to the market a lot for the sellers to know her so well.

"Good evening." She smiled back at him, and leaned over the tomato cart. "I'll have two cabbages, please."

"Ah, here you go." Romano watched as the man handed Lilli two cabbages inside a bag. "I'll lower the price just for you, since you come here so often."

Liechtenstein shook her head. "I'll just pay the original price, if you don't mind." She handed the cabbage seller some money and took the bag from his hands. "Danke! I mean, thank you. I mean, gra-gra..."

"Gracias." Romano answered for her. He did know some Italian, after all. Spain had tried to renew his Spanish after the accident multiple times, and even though he rarely paid attention, he knew some of the simplest words. "Gracias." He told the man.

"Oh, is this the Lovino you always talk about?" The man smiled at him politely.

"Ja." Liechtenstein bowed her head a little, and Romano thought he sensed a small blush on her cheeks before she tugged him away. "Good bye for now."

"Alright. Come back soon." The man waved to them, and even Romano couldn't help feeling that the two of them were actually... friends. And to add to that, Liechtenstein talked about him? That was... unexpected. If anything, he expected her to talk about Veneziano, because over the few times or so that he had visited in the last two weeks, they'd always had fun making all sorts of Italian and German pastries together while Romano sat fuming in his room.

"Master Romano, would you like to get some dough? We can make pizza." Liechtenstein suggested, filling up her basket as they passed the stalls and displays.

"Ah... si." He replied, and Liechtenstein tugged him over to the dough stall.

"Miss Lilli! Welcome!" A woman with graying hair looked up and sent Liechtenstein a cheerful smile.

"Hello." Liechtenstein leaned down to search the bags of dough. "How are you today?"

"I'm fine, although the change in the weather makes my bones feel weird. Doesn't this half hot, half cold weather make you feel more tired than usual?"

"Ja. Yes, it does." Liechtenstein cracked a smile, and Romano stood behind her awkwardly, watching the whole exchange and wondering how Liechtenstein was so friendly. "It doesn't snow in Spain in the winter, does it?" Liechtenstein asked.

"No. I assume you're from some place else? Germany?"

"That's close." Liechtenstein handed the woman a pack of dough. "I'm, um, from Liechtenstein."

"Oh. That little country by Switzerland?"

"Ja. He's my big bro- I mean, yes." Receiving the pack of dough in a bag and then paying for it, Liechtenstein said her good byes to the woman, and they continued on their way.

"I... do you want me to carry that basket? It seems heavy." Romano suggested, and then blushed slightly. How did that come out of his mouth?

"I'm fine, but danke." She smiled, and then pulled Romano to her side. "Careful! It's very busy here in the afternoon." A man pushing a wheelbarrow shoved past him and just managed to miss his boots.

"Grazie." Romano made a mental note to curse at anyone that got in his way, and then decided that it wasn't such a good idea.

"Here, come this way. I usually go through this alley when it's so crowded. It's a shortcut home." Liechtenstein grabbed his wrist and pulled him away from the crowd. A strange tingling sensation shot up his arm, and Romano almost recoiled from Liechtenstein. Except he realized that it was probably his imagination. A dark blush colored his cheeks and he became silent and scowling once more, and luckily the alleyway was more shaded and she couldn't see him blushing profusely. Not that she was even looking. Not that he cared.

"This way." Liechtenstein guided him through the alleyway, turning corners and telling him to duck at the right time. "Strange, it's usually much brighter here. It's darker than normal." She suddenly said.

"Must be the weather." Romano spoke up, just because he felt the need to fill in the silence. To speak the truth, the alley was starting to get colder and darker and damper and giving him goosebumps.

Suddenly, Liechtenstein's hand left his and Romano was left alone in the dim light of the alley. "L-Liechtenstein?"

"Ja. There's a big boulder blocking the path here." Romano blindly followed Liechtenstein's voice, until he stumbled upon the mentioned boulder. Liechtenstein was kneeling right beside it and examining the big rock.

"It wasn't there when I went this way just a few days ago." Liechtenstein took on a confused tone, but then she stood up and brushed the dirt off her dress. "I guess we'll have to go back through the marketplace."

"Alright then." Romano grumbled slightly, but swallowed his irritation with the out-of-nowhere boulder and followed Liechtenstein around the corners.

Suddenly, when Romano was falling a few paces behind Liechtenstein, a hand shot out from the shadows and grabbed onto his arm. A masked face loomed over him with a sinister sneer.

"Yah! Let go of me!" Romano angrily wrenched his arm away, but of course his strength couldn't match the bigger man's. "Let... go!"

"It's our little Romano, eh? We've still got some things to settle. Now that you've lost your memory and don't remember me, and Spain isn't here to help you..." Romano attempted to kick the masked man, but only managed to kick at empty air.

"I've..." Kick. "... got nothing..." Kick. "... to settle with you!" Romano sent the man an angry glare. "You stupid bastard!"

His after words seemed to make the man even smugger than before. "There, there. Why don't we-" Romano butted his stomach with a small 'chigi!' sound, and, taken by surprise, the man fell back against the wall.

"Romano? Where are you?" He heard Liechtenstein's voice and her footsteps, drawing ever closer.

"L-Liechten- Ah!" The man had taken advantage of Romano's distraction to jump up and push him to the ground. Romano hit the ground hard, his head making a loud crack. He rubbed his head in pain, cracking open an eye to see that he had fallen back against Liechtenstein's shoes.

Liechtenstein reached down to help him up, and Romano quickly put an arm in front of her in defense. If it had been Spain, he wouldn't hesitate to push the tomato bastard into the fight in place of him (just because he knew Spain was stronger, and that was also something he'd never admit). But this was Liechtenstein, and from what he had seen of her, she wasn't very strong. He felt a strange urge to give her protection.

When Romano looked up into the masked face looming over him once more, he couldn't keep the words from escaping his mouth. "P-Princess Jasmine?" He blurted, wide amber eyes half amused and half frightened out of his wits.

The man chuckled. "Still calling me that, aren't you? No, I am the mighty Turkey!" With this, he lunged forward, and Romano instinctively stepped back.

"Ah, I see you've got yourself another ally this time. But if Spain was too cowardly to stand up to me, then this little girl shan't be much better." Turkey let out a booming laugh, and grabbed Romano easily. He watched, stunned, as Turkey placed a finger under Liechtenstein's chin and lifted her face up. Her wide emerald eyes stared back at him in terror, but he saw the little glint of defiance in it.

"You're Liechtenstein, aren't you? What is Switzerland doing letting you be with this weak coward?" He smirked, and then threw Liechtenstein to the ground dismissively. Romano winced and kicked Turkey's side, although it made little impact. "You're lucky you're a neutral country, and you've got your big brother, or else I wouldn't hesitate to take over you." He turned to sneer at Romano. "You, little Romano, are a different matter."

"L-Leave him alone!" Liechtenstein shouted.

A slight hint of relief for Liechtenstein settled in his stomach as the fear rose its way to the top. Turkey didn't turn around, and ignored Liechtenstein, instead focusing on Romano. "Come with me this way. I've got my horse, all ready for you." His voice was suddenly deeper and more mysterious, making Romano shudder.

"Let me go! I'm not going with you anywhere, you fucking bastard! Let me go now!" He struggled in Turkey's grip. Maybe if he could just slip out somehow and make a run for it... but then Liechtenstein would have to run too.

"Oh, that's exactly what I'm not planning to do." Turkey began to drag him away.

Bam!

"Let him go."

Romano stared.

Turkey dropped him in a reaction of surprise.

And Liechtenstein stepped forward, holding her shiny black gun, still smoking from the gunshot.

Romano briefly wondered where she had gotten such a gun.

Taking the opportunity, he quickly jumped to his feet and dodged Turkey to run over to Liechtenstein. He'd seen the slightest glint of doubt and fear in Turkey's eyes, hidden behind the mask, and he was going to take advantage of that.

Liechtenstein dropped her gun into the basket of food, grabbed Romano's hand, and ran out of the alley. Romano hardly had time to react to her swiftness. "Run!" She urged, and Romano ran, seeing that Turkey was starting to regain his determination.

"Run! Through the marketplace!" She was starting to yell now, and Romano felt a rush of exhilaration rush through his wildly beating heart. He overtook Liechtenstein and pulled her through the crowd of people.

"Make way! Make way!" He screamed, and the women and men clogging up the path all jumped to the side in surprise. A slow-moving Spaniard stepped on his feet.

"Make way, bastard!" Romano yelled, and then cursed 'son of a bitch' under his breath as he felt a throbbing pain in his toes.

"Miss Lilli! What's wrong?" A stall keeper called out to them, but they were both going too fast to reply. Liechtenstein's ribbon fluttered in the corner of Romano's vision.

"Hurry! If we're out of the marketplace, he'll never be able to find us." Romano squeezed his eyes shut, and butted his way through the last of the crowd. He could imagine Liechtenstein ducking her head as they sped through.

Even out of the marketplace, the two of them kept running. Romano held out his hand as a shield as he pulled Liechtenstein along. The green scenery slid past them and neither noticed as Romano's hand finally slammed the door open.

"Yah!" Spain yelped, ducking out of the way a little too late. Romano came tumbling into him, and Liechtenstein followed soon after.

"Whoa! What happened to you?" Spain sat up first, and chuckled at them.

Romano sent him a glare as he worked to become untangled with the fruits that were rolling out of Liechtenstein's basket. The gun suddenly plopped out, and Spain picked it up.

His eyes widened. "Is this yours, Romano? What were you doing out there?" He laughed nervously. "Did you run into Turkey or something?"

Liechtenstein recovered from the crash landing before Romano did, and pulled him out of the pile of fruits. And then they looked at each other, and burst out laughing in relief.

"You could say that, bastard." Romano plucked the gun out of Spain's hand, gave it back to Liechtenstein, and then piled the fruits back into her basket. Then he picked himself up and walked back to his room. He'd had enough excitement for one day. But the good thing was, he didn't see Liechtenstein as just a weak maid anymore. N-Not that it was going to change anything.

... He wondered where she'd gotten the gun, and why she had stood up for him.

Why? Why? Liechtenstein couldn't be starting to like Romano, could she? xD Review, and thank you all!