Israel had always been small and skinny; no matter how much he ate he never seemed to gain weight. He was always skinny.
But it was nothing compared to this.
Since he hadn't been at the camp as long as the other Jews he wasn't as skinny as the other Jews but considering the fact that the other Jews were living skeletons that wasn't saying such. His striped prison clothes hung over his tiny frame as he laid on the military mat, eyes closed and whimpering in pain, his face as pale as a ghost.
Germany had to take a moment to collect himself when he saw his son laying however once he shook of his initial shock and horror he ran to his son's side as Austria and the Allies hung back.
Falling to his knees and gathering the boy into his arms tears leaked from his eyes. He looked over his shoulder at America and asked, "what's wrong with him?"
"We don't know," said America, crying along with Germany, "it might be starvation or typhus…we gave him the best medical care we could without moving him too much since that would only make him die faster…"
"He's not going to die at all much less faster!" cried Germany with a glare at the American for even suggesting such a thing. America bowed his head sadly.
Germany turned his attention back to his son and gently shook him, "Aviel…"
Aviel coughed violently and his golden eyes blinked open. His golden eyes flickered upwards to his father and they shone slightly, Germany could tell they had not shimmered in quite some time.
"Papa..." Aviel smiled and it looked like it took all of his strength to do so, "h-hi...are you okay?"
"Am I okay? Am I okay?" He laughed darkly that the boy had thought of him and his safety first, "I-I'm perfect! I can't describe how happy I am to see you again..."
"I'm happy to see you again too, Papa..." coughed the boy, he then looked over his shoulder at the America and said, "please don't be too mean to him, he didn't want this..."
America bit his lip and nodded.
"Thank you…" muttered the boy, then he turned his eyes back to his father and said, "I'm glad you came Papa, I'm glad I get to see you one last time and say goodbye..."
"Wh-what? No!" cried Germany hugging the boy closely, "y-you'll be fine, Israel, he'll be fine, Hitler is dead and the Nazis cant hurt you anymore..."
"Papa..."
"Look, we'll make sure you get better," said Germany, barely able to see through tears, "you'll get better and then you can go home, I'll throw the big party like I promised and all the Jews will come in all gave you that new bike...Italy and America can come too, you will come wont you, America?"
He looked over his shoulder at the American in desperation. America bit his lip and nodded, forcing a smile for the boy.
"Can we go to Jerusalem too, Papa?" asked the boy in a weak voice.
"Ja, whatever you want."
"Thanks, Papa...could you please sing me the lullaby? Please?"
Germany sobbed and nodded before taking a deep breath and beginning to sing in a somber, sob-filled voice.
"Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Naeglein besteckt, schlupf unter die Deck'Morgen frueh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt
Morgen frueh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt
Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Von Englein bewacht
Die zeigen im Traum, dir Christkindleins Baum
Schlaf nun selig und suess, Schau im Traum's Paradies
Schlaf nun selig und suess, Schau im Traum's Paradies"
Israel smiled contently and letting out a tiny sigh closed his eyes just as his father finished the song.
"...Israel?"
The boy didn't move.
"Aviel?"
Nothing.
"S-son..."
His chest wasn't moving.
"He's not breathing..." muttered America with a choke.
Germany desperately attempted to revive the boy.
"I-Israel! Son! W-wake up! Wake up!"
Still nothing. America stepped foreword and grabbed the German, taking him away from the boy.
"He's gone, Germany, I'm sorry..." said America, trying to pull the German away however Germany struggled, desperately trying to get back to the boy.
"No! No! He's not dead! He's not dead! Aviel! ISRAEL! ISRAEL!"
He elbowed the American in the gut, causing the American to release him. Germany collapsed again next to the boy and buried his face in his little chest, sobbing hysterically he let out a strangled cry of pain and agony as he hugged the body of his son and the Allies bowed their heads.