The past few days had been excruciating for the German nation. As if the initial decline wasn't bad enough, there was the fact that he had to sit through the rest of dinner to pay their tab with the awkwardness of each other's company and the rest of the restaurant gawking at them but he had to eventually return home after. Italy left as soon as he was able to excuse himself, muttering a quick thanks for the meal and running towards his own home, which gave Germany just enough time to take the longest possible route home that he could.

Even upon arrival he sat outside and spent some time with the dogs as opposed to walking in and facing Hungary or his brother. The lights were off through most of the house which he assumed meant that she had somehow managed to convince Prussia to go to bed (a feat he had yet managed to master the trick of) and had simply taken a seat outside on the grass to watch the stars and stroke Aster's head while Berlitz sat beside him keeping watch. It had been calming, but didn't stop the wave of confusing emotions that threatened to drown him.

And so he attempted bury himself within his work. He was behind on it anyway, what with him focusing more on his personal life rather than his national affairs. Austria would offer him a sympathetic smile if they met each other in the kitchen; Prussia was continually bringing him things (anything from small cakes to stuffed animals). He had even received a phone call from Japan for him to offer his condolences. It was starting to get more and more tiresome, especially since there was a growing pile of random objects in his office that his brother was not taking a hint of.

It had been a few days since that whole debacle but Germany figured he was making some progress. Forms had been filled out and progress reports read and Prussia had yet to appear with anything in hand so far that day. All in all, maybe today was the day that things started looking up.

And with all the luck Germany ever seemed to have, there was a knock at his office door.

The blonde set down what he had just been reading over and glanced between the door and some of the items he had yet to return to their places. The albino thought he was helping and Germany was tempted to simply leave him to do that since it really wasn't hurting anything. He rubbed at his eyes and gave the gruff command to enter, not even looking up until he heard the low "Ciao, Germany."

His head snapped up to the greeting, eyes wide as he took in the brunette easing the door shut behind him. There was that moment of panic, wonder as to why Italy was even here, and the resurfacing of all the feelings he was sure he had successively managed to hide away since the other night. Italy smiled at him and he quickly gathered himself together again and looked back down at his papers. "Hallo."

Italy slinked across the room and leaned over the front of the desk. "What are you working on today?"

Germany picked up his pen and clenched it. "Looking over the deal we made with Russia. There are still some details left to discuss over territory and politics. Do you need something?"

If he had been his old self he likely would have winced at Germany's harsh tone, but it had been months since the Italian had been so susceptible to something like that. "I have a proposition for you."

The blonde nation set his pen down and turned his attention to the other. If it was work related, then perhaps he could muster up enough strength to listen to everything that was said. Italy smiled, steadying himself on his arms over top of the desk. "Germany, I love you and-"

Germany abruptly pushed his chair back with a slight growl. "Save it." He muttered as he rose to his feet and started gathering things together.

Italy blinked, standing up slowly and watching the German as things were roughly put into separate piles. He sighed and reached out, brushing his fingers against the blonde's arm trying to calm him. "Will you stop for a moment?" When German ripped his arm away, he frowned. "Will you listen to me? I'm trying to apologize to you!"

"And I don't need to hear it." Germany maintained, "Just forget it ever happened."

"That's the point! I don't want to forget!"

The blonde slowed to a gradual stop and simply stared, sure he had heard that wrong. Italy huffed and straightening himself out, turned the most seductive of smiles on the unsuspecting nation. "Germany, you surprised me is all. I hadn't expected something like that from you and all those people watching?" The brunette laughed and stepped around the desk, tilting his chin up to meet the other's face. "What was I supposed to do?"

Germany stood still watching every move the other made unbelieving even as the brunette came to rest beside to him. "Can you not forgive me, Germany?"

Italy ran a finger down his arm, pausing for effect. "I am not looking to be married before we finish what we've started, but you are still the only nation for me. You can understand that, can't you Germany?"

The blonde watched him: the sickly sweet smile, the confident aura, the bright fuchsia behind fluttering lashes. He shook his head. "I have work to do."

And that was exactly what he did despite the scowl he received or how hard the door to his office was slammed. He only really paused when Prussia appeared ten minutes later and gave him a well-worn looking plush rabbit which he accepted gratefully and held under one arm, much to the satisfaction of the elder brother.

AN: Thank you everyone for putting up with me thus far! :) Have a wonderful day!