AN: And here's another chapter. The song is Leave Out All The Rest by Linkin Park.

I've noticed my chapters that involve Gilbert are longer... I think it's because he messed around so much. Hope you enjoy it! The next chapter will be happier, I promise.

Disclaimer: Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya. The song belongs to Linkin Park.

Gilbert poked his head out of the stairwell, eyeing his brother. He wondered if West would let him sit in on another meeting… He could always just break in again, but he almost didn't want to go through the trouble. Though he was sure that Ludwig's face would be hilarious.

They had just gotten to the meeting building or more specifically up the first flight of stairs. Or… Ludwig had. He was just following, at a safe distance of course.

"Gilbert."

Okay… maybe not so safe a distance. The older German stood to his full height, having been crouching. He smiled. "Hey Bruder."

Ludwig didn't seem very amused. "You've been following me this whole time, haven't you…?"

He nodded. "Ja." Then, he paused. "Wait… You didn't notice me?"

His brother shifted, looking slightly embarrassed. "…no, actually. But when we got here I noticed your footsteps very quickly."

Gilbert grinned. "Sure you did, West. Sure you did."

Ludwig shook his head. "What were you meaning to ask?"

Right to the topic, as always… "Well…" Gilbert looked down for a moment. "I kind of wanted to come to the meeting… You know, to mess with everyone." He huffed. "Not like I actually want to be there or anything…"

Ludwig nodded slowly. "M'hmm…" He muttered disbelievingly. "And were you planning on interrupting again?"

"Not exactly…" He wasn't planning on interrupting in the same way.

His brother turned his head around, probably looking at their room, and sighed. "Alright…"

Gilbert blinked. "Really?" It couldn't be this easy. West always gave him a hard time about it or told him no and he would have to resort to sneaking in. "You're serious?"

Ludwig returned his gaze to him, nodding like this wasn't an abnormal thing. "Ja bruder, I'm serious." Without another word, he turned and started walking towards the meeting room.

After a brief moment of staring, Gilbert grinned and ran to catch up.

The meeting started off like usual. It was fairly calm and orderly… for the most part. Though Ludwig did start sending nervous glances his way.

Gilbert had originally planned to sit on the floor. He always hated the uncomfortable conference seats… But then he had seen the window in the room.

The rooms they got normally didn't have windows and he assumed it was either because they never included many windows in meeting rooms or because Ludwig, or whoever was hosting the meeting, didn't want them to break it. He guessed it was the latter.

Anyway, because there was a window he decided to sit on the windowsill, which was actually fairly roomy. It was slightly uncomfortable, but he didn't mind. The only people who saw him were the nations facing towards him and the humans who would somehow look at that window.

He had a song in mind, yes, but he was waiting. He hadn't told Francis and Antonio yet and they hadn't noticed him. Maybe he could scare them…

He devised a plan, however simple it might be, for when their first break came. As soon as they were released, Gilbert snuck out of sight and away from everyone, into the break room. Once there he got behind the door.

Maybe he could scare more than the rest of the trio while he was at it. He waited for a brief moment and soon there were footsteps. They were light, with an almost stomp to them, and he recognized them immediately. Lovino.

Just as the Italian was about to walk in the door, Gilbert's hand shot out and grabbed the other's arm, pulling him inside. Before the Lovino could yell, he clapped a hand over his mouth.

As soon as Lovino recognized him the frightened look in his eyes shifted to anger. Gilbert's hand barely muffled the curse words.

The German's eyes glinted and he whispered, "Wanna help me scare Toni and Francis?"

Lovino's eyes narrowed and watched him skeptically.

"No catch."

After a few moments, Lovino slowly nodded and Gilbert removed his hand. "And your plan is?" He whispered, looking at him oddly.

Gilbert could hear them approaching. He knew most of the others had seen him and they didn't have a lot of time. He looked to his right, past Lovino, and saw a frying pan. He smirked. "Let's play Hungary."

Lovino looked at him like he was losing his mind. "What?"

"Pretend to be Eliza."

"…both of us?"

Gilbert shrugged. "I don't know." He motioned for Lovino to grab the kitchen appliance. The other did and handed it to him as well as grabbing a pot that was lying there. Gilbert's plan suddenly changed. "Hold that out."

"What?" Lovino whispered, confused.

"Hold it in front of you. Tight." He whispered back. The Italian didn't have time to think and grabbed the pot, doing as the German instructed. They had reached the door.

Gilbert hit the pot as hard as he could with the frying pan, a loud, 'thwack!' resounding loudly as the two nations entered the room. They saw the two jump, heard a loud shout of "Mon dieu!" and both of the nations whipped around.

The German started laughing when he saw their faces. He felt a little bad about it, but it was hilarious. It made him feel a better when he saw Lovino was fighting back a laugh as well. Good, the guy should smile more. It was good for him.

When Francis and Antonio got over their shock, they smiled too.

Antonio looked a little oddly at Lovino after he had calmed down. "You helped, Lovi?"

The Italian laughed softly and nodded, walking to the table and laying the pot down. "Si bastardo. You should have seen your face." He strayed in the doorway for a moment, looking almost like he wanted to stay, but then returned to the meeting room. They could hear him explaining some of the situation.

Gilbert nodded, grinning. "You really should have. It was great."

Francis shook his head in amusement and saw the frying pan. "I wasn't sure you could find weapons of destruction in here, Mon ami."

The German feigned shock. "You doubted me?"

After a moment, Antonio and Francis both shook their heads, smiling. They walked back into the meeting room, forgetting about whatever they gone to grab.

Gilbert waited for his brother to yell at him, but it didn't come. He turned and met Ludwig's eyes, but his brother didn't seem too angry. He supposed that it was because this wasn't the worst thing he'd done and it had been on a break.

He followed Francis and Antonio to their seats. The two looked at him curiously.

"Are we singing something else?" Antonio asked, his voice barely audible over the noise in the room.

Gilbert shrugged. "I was kind of planning on doing something by myself." He admitted.

Francis smirked. "Oh, what is it?"

"Nothing much." He said, shrugging. His smile fell. "Just want to say something." Gilbert had been at the last meeting, out of sight. He did hate to go after Ivan, but… it had given him and idea for something that he needed to say as well.

His friends nodded, respecting his decision.

"Good luck, mi amigo." Antonio chirped, smiling encouragingly. He nodded and returned to his spot at the window sill. Soon Ludwig was quieting everyone down.

He had the ear plugs in his ears. He knew Ludwig could see him. Yet he still hadn't been called on.

Gilbert looked towards his brother, giving him an exasperated expression. 'Call me.' He mouthed. 'Pick on me.'

Ludwig looked like he was fighting back a groan and rolled his eyes.

'It's not bad bruder.' He promised.

When his brother's face shifted, looking like he would regret his decision, Gilbert knew he'd won.

Ludwig called slowly, drawing it out, "Gilbert."

He took out his ear buds and unplugged them from his phone. His mind hesitated, but he made his finger not, knowing there were eyes on him. That was a part of the problem, but he ignored it.

The music started slowly and he waited. Alfred and Matthew's expressions shifted slightly, the Canadian looking a bit sad, but other than that he didn't think anyone knew the song. He brought his legs up, crossing them. The words began and he closed his eyes, singing slowly,

"I dreamed I was missing,
You were so scared…"

His voice wasn't as loud as usual. He was looking back already. Whenever he had dissolved it almost felt like a dream… Or a nightmare rather. He remembered how his brother had looked when it had been made official.

"But no one would listen,
'Cause no one else cared…"

Yup… He kept his eyes shut, thinking. He was talking to Ludwig of course, but the others didn't have to know that.

"After my dreaming
I woke with this fear…" The one that had been there ever since… he supposed since his disillusion, but before that even.

"What am I leaving,
When I'm done here?"

He paused. "So if you're asking me I want you to know…" He took a deep breath in the brief pause in the music and started the chorus. "When my time comes, Forget the wrong that I've done-"

This part was more for everyone, but still only for Ludwig as well. "-Help me leave behind some
Reasons to be missed
And don't resent me-"

Gilbert's eyes opened just slightly and he glanced at his brother. He saw that Ludwig was staring at him, shocked. He looked sad, or hurt, too, like he didn't want to listen to what he was saying. Gilbert's look almost said for a moment, 'It will happen eventually, bruder.' Then, as quickly as he had shifted his red eyes, they closed again. "-And when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory-"

He wanted to be remembered, after all. He wanted to live on for who he was and not what he might have done that was… not so good. "-Leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest…"

There was another pause and he took a breath. In his mind this part was for his friends. Anyone who still cared would do as well. "Don't be afraid…
I've taken my beating," God, he definitely had…

"I've shared what I've made-"

His hands clenched slightly. "I'm strong on the surface,
Not all the way through-"

Gilbert might make it seem so, but he truly wasn't.

"I've never been perfect
But neither have you…"

He resisted the urge to look at his brother again. "So if you're asking me
I want you to know…" At least if anyone did ask him something similar to this, though he wasn't sure what that would be, this was his answer.

The chorus repeated again. He sang it a little louder, partially regretting singing it in front of all of these nations. "When my time comes
Forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some
Reasons to be missed-" Really, if one of them could do that, or at least tell him that he had, that would be great. But he supposed he had Ludwig. He had raised him, helped him, and made him strong… that was enough.

"Don't resent me
And when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory
Leave out all the rest,
Leave out all the rest…"

The next part was the one he really wanted Ludwig to hear. He glanced at him quickly once more, faster than anyone could pick up on. "Forgetting… all the hurt inside
You've learned to hide so well." Gilbert wasn't stupid. He knew Ludwig was still hurting in one way or another.
"Pretending… someone else can come
And save me from myself…
I can't be who you are-"

The chorus began one last time and this time he had to fight back a smile. He'd finally said it…

He sang the repeat, waiting for the lines again. He was smiling now. "Forgetting… all the hurt inside
You've learned to hide so well…
Pretending someone else can come
And save me from myself…"

Gilbert took a deep breathe, his voice becoming softer again. He finished, "I can't be who you are…" he opened his eyes, looking calmly down at his lap.

"I can't be who you are…"

When he looked out at them as the music was fading, he saw many shocked nations. A lot of them also seemed sad. He hadn't meant to bring them down. He had just wanted to say something that he had been meaning to for… a while…

He dropped off the window sill and pressed pause, slinking the phone into his pocket. Gilbert addressed everyone, the normal goofy grin back on his face. "See you." He nodded towards them and walked towards the door, pausing in the doorway to look back at Ludwig. "I'll meet ya at the car, West!"

The car door opened. Gilbert leaned forward and turned his head towards his brother. Ludwig sat down and shut the door. His expression was guarded, unsure.

He waited for Ludwig to start the car, but his hand didn't move.

"West…?" He asked, trying to see what his brother was thinking.

Ludwig looked up and met his eyes. There was the hurt he had talked about… Then he looked away, shifting awkwardly. "East, you're…"

Now he knew what his brother was going to say. He could nearly hear the words, 'You're not going to disappear.' He smiled softly. "I'm not going anywhere yet bruder. I'm the other part of the country." He hated to say be the one to put the but in the sentence. "But… one day I won't be here."

Ludwig's eyes widened. He knew what West was thinking now too. What if that day was tomorrow, or next week, or next month.

Gilbert leaned over, trying to get his brother to look up. "I said no time soon, Ludwig. Don't worry about it like that."

It worked. West looked up again. He was upset and how he looked right now reminded of Gilbert when he was younger and had been scared. The expression was similar to the one that he had been met with many times when Ludwig had been trying to stop him from going to a battlefield, afraid that he wouldn't come back. "But…"

The older German knew how he would feel if Ludwig were going to disappear one day. He tilted his head slightly, his smile becoming lopsided. "It'll be fine. I'll be here for a long time still." That was the only thing he could think to say that might appease him other than that he wouldn't disappear. But that wouldn't be true.

Ludwig nodded slowly. "Alright…" He sounded like he would take that answer for the moment. He stuck the keys in the ignition and turned them. Once they were on the road, he tried to ask casually, "You locked the door when you left after me, right?"

Gilbert went along with it, shrugging. "Sure. Why wouldn't I?"

"You didn't… did you?"

"Nope."

AN: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!