disclaimer: APH does not belong to me

SCHOOL. Let's just say that it was a horrible idea to close my High School down. Now I'm stuck in the other high school...which is so overcrowded it's not even funny. Everything is a mess- okay I'm going to stop myself from my rant here. Anyways, sorry for the late update, I will go back to school in a week, so I'm trying to finish my Summer Art assignment (I have to draw 10 more doodles...crap). And then review on my other summer assignments.

Pardon the grammar! I'm so sorry, like I said I have the tendency to type these when I'm half asleep. Anyway, thank you for those who are patiently waiting for the updates. Thanks for all the comments. Also thank you for those who favorite(d) this story!

and I will address this now:

1. Portugal will make an appearance in this fic...around chap 8 or 9

Alice woke up when she felt the rays of the sun hit her. She opened her eyes, stared at the odd ceiling. They are oddly too high for her house. She then looked around. She found an arm around her waist, and another arm as her head pillow. She looked to the side and saw Antonio. Sleeping peacefully. Alice stared at him. She looked at his sun kissed skin, how his mouth is slightly opened. His brown hair that is tied by a green ribbon. That's when Alice noticed that the Spaniard was shirtless. She stared at him and out of curiosity, poked his biceps with her index finger. Who knew that Spain has a good build and firm muscles? Alice stopped her small actions when Spain hugged Alice tighter. Alice held a hiss in her throat as Antonio brushed against a big bruise on her side. Alice turned her head to face the Spaniard. 'He has a very peaceful face when he's asleep, not to mention cute-' Alice stopped her thoughts. 'I'm talking about an oblivious idiot' she said to herself. Ignoring the small comments her mind thought of, Alice caressed Antonio's right cheek and kissed Antonio softly. Alice backed off and stared at the sleeping Spaniard. She then touched her lips, looking down and blushing. 'To be the only one to be fully in love in a relationship' she thought. 'How embarrassing, I'm like a little girl madly in love with a boy she can never have' she thought. She looked back at Spain and kissed him again. Only this time, Spain opened his eyes. When Alice backed off he smiled and buried his face into the crook of her neck.

"Good Morning" he said. He felt Alice stiffen under him. He let her go and looked at her. She was looking down, and her arms were crossed against her chest. "That was the best wake up greeting I had in my life" he said. Alice looked up briefly, Spain smiled even more when he saw that his young wife was blushing madly. Alice looked down and rested her head against the Spaniard's chest. Antonio chuckled as he placed his hand under Alice's chin. He directed her face so that she is facing him, bright emerald green eyes waking up the cool olive ones. Antonio leaned down to kissed Alice, but Alice tightened her lips. Antonio stopped and looked at her.

"Don't play hard to get now" he said. Alice shivered when she felt Antonio's fingers traced her spine. Antonio then leaned down again to kiss Alice, this time he got the response he wanted. He moved until he was on top of Alice. He placed a hand on Alice's hip, in which he got an unexpected reaction from. He added more pressure to the hip in curiosity. This little action caused Alice to respond in a yell, hugging the Spaniard tightly around the neck. He could hear her gasping for air and felt her body trembling. He looked down at the hip and then up at Alice. Pain was written all over her face. He lifted the hem of the dress she wearing to reveal her upper thigh. There he saw an ugly bruise. He frowned and sighed. He brushed Alice's hair as he laid down next to her.

"What did they do to?" he asked. Alice shuddered at her 'husband's' tone. She looked up and gasp when she saw his eyes. They weren't playful, they were cold and serious. She looked away and hummed a tune. She heard Antonio sigh. "Alice" he said as he directed her face so her eyes could meet his. "I'm serious. What did they do to you?" he asked.

"torture" Alice replied meekly.

"Apparently" Antonio said. "I want details" he said. Alice looked away. "N.O.W."

"It's hardly anything to worry about!" Alice said trying to dismiss the situation. "I will heal in three days!" she said. She looked up at Spain and found the man was un-amused. Alice gawked at the Spaniard. She shook her head.

"I don't want to-" Alice hissed in pain when she felt Spain put pressure on the left side of her hip. Instinctively Alice grabbed the Spaniard and buried her face onto his chest.

"Okay that one I was just beaten a metal bar!" she exclaimed.. Spain looked at her. Her small body was shivering from the sudden jolt of pain, her breath desperately trying to catch up. She looked up at Spain. "everything is confusing" she said. "I can't remember anything unless the wounds get touched…everything is a haze" she confessed. "I shut my mind out when I was there. I didn't want to feel the pain…" she said. "I don't even remember what happened last night." she said. She grabbed the sleeve on her left arm, and held onto one of Antonio's arms. "I mean… did we do something?" she asked looking up. Antonio could tell that she was frightened. He hugged her and shook his head.

"No mi Rosa" he said. "We didn't do anything last night." Alice looked at him. "I promise, I did not touch you in any lewd way" he said. Alice hugged him tighter.

"What happened exactly?" she asked. "All I remember is seeing the light and your silhouette and you waving Ana Maria at them" she said. Antonio began to rub Alice's back.

"I just came to get you back" he said.

"Did you want me there?" she asked. She felt Spain wrap his arms around her.

"Where did you get that idea?" he asked.

"Because I'm always unwanted" she whispered. Spain's eyes widened.

"Don't say that" he cooed. "Do you know how badly I missed you when you were missing?" he asked. Alice looked up at him with questioning eyes.

"How long was I gone for?" she asked.

"six long weeks" Spain said. "Nevermind that though, let me make myself clear, I did not want you there, I will never want you to be there" he said. "What did they say? Did they mention your sin?" he asked. Alice nodded.

"I understand my sin" she said. Spain raised a brow.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Taking you away from the one you really love" Alice said. Spain froze.

"More like they took the one I love away from me" he said jokingly. He then looked down at Alice. His young wife was looking up at him, her lips were tightly pursed and her eyes were quizzically looking at him.

"I took you away from Belgium" she said. "I understand that it's like stealing-"

"If they were accusing you of stealing me away from Belgium then I'm afraid I have to accuse Jeanne of stealing Francis away" Antonio said. At this Alice began to flail.

"NO!" Alice said. "Jeanne did nothing wrong!" Alice said. "It's not like she was intentionally stealing Francis away!" she yelled as she hovered over Antonio. Antonio laid in shock by her sudden reaction, He felt her weak hands on his shoulders. He could feel them shaking. "She was just leading his people for the hundred years war! She was just trying to help Francis out….She could hear the divines…" Alice stopped as she sobbed from the memory. Antonio closed his eyes and put his hands over Alice's. He furrowed his eyebrows together when he felt something cold drop onto his neck, then another, then another. Antonio finally looked up and saw Alice's eyes were filled with tears.

"I drove Francis away" she mumbled. "It was my fault I lost him" she said. "if I didn't kill Jeanne…then he'd be…he'd be…"

"More miserable than he is now" Antonio finished. Alice stopped and looked at Antonio straight in the eyes.

"what?" she asked. Spain sighed and began to comb Alice's hair.

"If you had let Francis get anymore attached to that Saint, then when her time has come he'd be more miserable" he finished.

"Even then" Alice said. "You shouldn't put a blame for something like that on her" Alice said. "She was only-"

"Then it's stupid to place the same blame on you" Antonio finished.

"But you don't even-"

"I love you" Antonio said. Alice looked at him in shock. "I know last night was a haze to you but believe me. I cried in front of you. I don't do that. Ever." he said as he moved his hand to caress Alice's cheek. "You may not remember but I said 'I love you' so many times" Antonio said. He saw Alice gulp. He smiled softly at her. "I know you have trust issues Inglaterra" he said. "That's why I can wait" he said. "I'll wait until you tell me that you love me" he said. "Even if it's until forever" he said. "I'll wait for you to return the feelings I have for you" he said as he raised himself to kiss Alice on the forehead. "And if you simply hate me then just say so" he said.

"I hate you" Alice said. Antonio smiled.

"I'll believe it when you can say it to me straight in the eyes" he said. Alice looked down.

"I hate you" she muttered.

"Sure you do" Antonio said as he sat up, making Alice, who was hovering over him, sit on his lap. "I'll believe you" he said smiling as he hugged Alice close. He felt Alice wrap her arms around his neck and he felt her rest her forehead on his chin.

"I hate you" she repeated. Antonio couldn't help but smile.

Antonio fed Alice small meals. She didn't complain. It was rather heartbreaking that for the first couple of meals Alice threw up. Antonio would be behind her and he would pat her back, he would give her a towel to wipe her face off with and her would hug her and rock her to sleep. For the first couple of times when Spain would give England a bath, He would find new wounds.

"Isn't it about time you tell me what they did to you?" Spain asked. Alice shook her head.

"I see no reason to" she said.

"I see a reason."

"Pray tell" Alice said.

"You were hurt by the inquisition, that is my doing, now I think that I have the right to know what my people did to mar your body" Antonio said as he cleaned a long gash wound on her back. Alice held back a hiss.

"Can you be more gentle?" she asked.

"I am being gentle, I would probably be more gentle if you tell me the story of each wound" Spain said. "After all, different wounds have to be treated in different ways"

"Not really" Alice said. Spain leaned down to kiss the back of her neck.

"You're having nightmares about it, you might as well tell me" he said. Alice shivered from the contact.

"I guess you're right from there" she said.

"So you'll tell me?" he asked.

"I guess" Alice said.

Antonio woke up when he heard Alice scream. He looked to his left and saw Alice sitting up, holding onto herself.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Get me out" she whispered. "Get me out of this thing, I swear I didn't do anything wrong!" she said.

"Alice!" Antonio yelled, this snapped Alice out of her trance. The moment Alice saw Antonio's olive green eyes, she calmed down and hugged him. "What did they put you in?" Antonio asked.

"It's nothing." Alice lied.

Antonio looked at her in the eyes and sighed. "It's not 'nothing' Alice, now tell me" he said. Alice looked down and missed the Spaniard's gaze.

"The Iron Maiden" she said. Antonio's eyes widened. He then laid her down and inspected her arms and legs. He grabbed her hands and kissed it. "What did they do to these?" he asked. "I could feel that it's weak and broken, what did they do?" he asked.

"Crushed them" she said. Spain moved his hands onto her legs and feet.

"did they use the foot press or the tablillas?" he asked.

"Both" Alice said. "Antonio please stop, I'm getting scared" she said. Antonio hugged her and turned until she was on top of him.

"I'm guessing they whipped you too…" he said, "And to think I found you the moment the Spanish Donkey nearly started to tear you" Spain said as he hugged her. Ever since that night, Alice opened up to Spain about her experience from her six weeks of capture.

"They burned me you know" she said. "I think one of them called me a witch" she said smiling. Antonio stared at her.

"What is so funny about being called a 'witch?' Antonio asked as he wiped one of the wounds on her back. Alice laughed.

"Because I believe in magic and fairies" Alice hummed. Spain looked at her.

"They got the charges wrong" he joked. Alice laughed.

"I guess you're right" she said. Antonio then hugged her from behind.

"I'm sorry" he said. Alice put her hands over his.

"It's not your fault" she said. Spain shook his head.

"If I didn't leave you…"

"I wouldn't be spending time this excessively with you" she said. Antonio chuckled.

"I guess you're right" he said.

After three weeks, Alice began to gain weight and get back the many pounds she lost. By the end of the fourth week, Antonio threw a little get together for their family and friends. He watched as Ireland hugged her sister until Alice cried because of both pain and happiness. Scotland looked relieved and Wales was content. France and Prussia stole Spain to the side.

"Antonio, I have to admit, you did a pretty good job in taking care of her" Prussia said. "Of course if she was with me she'd be better in half the time it took you to get her this far, I mean my awesome skills will allow that" he said jokingly. Antonio smiled and laughed. He then looked at France. The man was not pleased at all.

"What's wrong?" Antonio asked the Frenchman. Francis just sighed.

"I just can't believe that she was taken by the Inquisition" France said.

"Yeah because you know, no one expected the Spanish Inquisition" Prussia. "Well to have her I mean" Antonio sighed.

"Well, they've been getting Protestants" Spain said. "I've completely forgotten about it being in Barcelona" Spain said. France glanced over Alice, she was wearing a dress that a Spaniard designed, he could tell because it was not a square base on the opening.

"She seems to be doing fine" France said.

"Of course, I have to take care of my wife" Antonio said. France chuckled and looked away. Gilbert stared at his two friends. 'am I sensing some tension?' Gilbert asked himself. He looked over to see that Belgium was holding Alice's hand and was greeting her. Alice in return had an unsure smile, but Belgium didn't notice it. Gilbert jumped inside when he saw the look on Antonio's face when he witnessed the event. Alice looked at them, specifically the Spaniard and jumped and smiled at him. Gilbert glanced at Antonio. He looked mad.

"Excuse me okay?" Antonio suddenly said. As he walked off, France began to shake his head. Gilbert looked at him.

"Okay, what is going on between the two of you?" he asked. "I really don't like the tension" he said.

"Isn't it obvious?" France asked. Prussia shook his head.

"I don't like their marriage" France said.

"Alice doesn't like your marriage with Scotland so I say your even, plus don't take it out on Tonio, he didn't do anything" Gilbert said. France shook his head. Gilbert sighed.

"this mostly involves Tonio huh?" he asked. France nodded. "Mein Gott" he said. "can we not fight?" he asked. France shrugged.

"First time I heard you being a pacifist" France mused.

"I just don't like it when you two fight" Prussia said. "What is it about their marriage anyways?" he asked. France laughed.

"It's not love" France mused.

"And yours is?" Prussia asked. France glared at him.

"I'll have you know that Skye and I are completely happy" he said. "I know our alliance are part of it but I assure you that it is 'love' between us" he said. "Unlike this train wreck marriage" France said.

"It's obvious that Alice's queen has forced her to marrying the Spaniard she hates" France said. Prussia shrugged.

"True love is impossible for us in the high parts of the ladder" He said. "It's only commoners who marry for 'true love'" Gilbert said. France nodded.

"Power has it's trade offs" France said.

"So what's the issue, why are you going crazy over someone else's international affairs?" he asked.

"really?" France asked. "You have Spain's Invincible Armada joining with Alice's pirates and other of her naval arsenal" France said. "Expanding and going into war with both countries would be a pain now" he said.

"Maybe Alice married him for that security" Gilbert said. France laughed.

"We all know why Antonio got married" France said.

"Of course, to protect his Low Countries" Gilbert said. "…wait your mad at the marriage not because of their power…but because of Alice's impending unhappiness?" Gilbert asked. France nodded. "But why would Alice be unhappy?" Gilbert asked. "If anything she's not attached to Spain in any way! And…and… it's not like she's in love with him. Right?" Gilbert asked. France sighed.

"We all grew up with her no?" he asked. Prussia nodded. "Let's just say that I can tell when our 'little sister' is in love" He said.

"Mein gott" Prussia said. "You have to be kidding me!" France nodded.

"Clever for Antonio, if England falls this time maybe she'll stop with the whole expanding thing" he said. Prussia frowned.

"But you don't want her to get hurt do you?" he asked looking at France. France nodded.

"Scotland and I both agreed that if Alice ever cried again we wouldn't forgive ourselves." he said. Prussia looked at him.

"What happened?" Gilbert asked. France sighed.

"You really want to know?" he asked. Gilbert nodded.

"Excuse me" Antonio said as he grabbed Alice by the wrist. Alice looked at him in surprise. "But I have to steal my wife for some urgent issues" he said.

"What, wait-" Alice tried to interject.

"I understand, you may take her" William said. Alice looked at her brother. 'Brother please don't just let me get taken away' she said through her eyes.

'this will be good for you, trust me' William assured. Spain pulled Alice into a room. He opened the door, dragged her in and then slammed the door shut. He then put Alice against the door and trapped her when he place his hands on the door.

"What was that?" he asked. Alice looked at him in a confused manner. Antonio sighed. "What the hell was that? Why did you have that look when Belgium greeted you?" he asked.

"I don't know….I just uh…"

"I told you I love you didn't I?" Spain asked. Alice looked down and nodded.

"You could be lying" She said.

"Look at me" Antonio said. Alice shook her head and looked down as she shut her eyelids. "I said look at me" Antonio repeated as he leaned down so his forehead was touching hers. He watched as Alice looked up and opened her eyes. She made her emerald eyes meet his olive ones. And as soon at the two shades met, Antonio began to talk.

"I love you" he said. Alice leaned on the door as he said that. His eyes are telling the truth. "Te amo" he said. "Te amo, te amo te amo" Alice shut her eyes and shook her head.

"Lies lies lies lies lies lies lies" she uttered. As soon as she said that Antonio wrapped his arms around Alice and buried his head onto the crook of her neck. He then looked up and looked at Alice straight in the eyes.

"I will wait for the day you believe this" he said. "I will wait. " he said. "No matter how long it takes I will wait. My feelings for you, I will tell you over and over again. I will not lie to you about my feelings" Antonio said. "and nothing hurts me more than to hear you calling me a liar as you hear me say 'I love you'" he said. "My language may not be the 'language of love'" he said. "But as the country of passion my words are passion itself. Devotion. If I had not have the passion for you, you would have been stuck in that cellar until the Inquisition ended" he said.

When one said that 'eyes are the window to your soul' then Antonio is being true. Alice could not sense a hint of lie and disgust in his eyes. His eyes spoke to her gently. Instead of the cold tones she has met, Antonio's gentle. Antonio leaned down and gave Alice a kiss. Then another. Then another. Soon after Alice wrapped her arms around his neck and Antonio wrapped his around her waist. Five minutes into their little session, there was a knock. Spain cursed and held Alice by the waist.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Uh Romano is asking for you" Belgium said through the door.

"Give me a minute" Spain hissed… "Give me ten minutes" he said.

"Okay" Belgium said as she left the door. Spain looked down at Alice.

"I'm guessing that killed the mood?" he asked. Alice looked down and nodded. She covered her mouth as he hid her smiled. "Hey" Spain started. "Let me see your smile" he said. Alice shook her head and tried to get herself off of him. He just hugged her tighter. "C'mon! I just want to see your smile!" he said. Alice shook her head as she got herself off the Spaniard. She ran towards the door, she looked back to see the Spaniard running after her. She let out a quick yell as she opened the door. She collided with Francis. Alice didn't even rebounded from the collision, Francis already wrapped his arms around her. Protectively. She looked up to see Francis giving Antonio a glare. She looked at Antonio to see that he was glaring back. She then looked at Prussia, and for once the man looked innocent and sorry.

"uh…I missed you too Francis" Alice choked out. The awkward silence that Alice tried to break was broken by her brother's laugh. Alice looked at her brother, William.

"the girl said she missed you, now I know Alice and she only blurts those kind of things when she's drunk or sleepy" he said. "and I highly doubt Antonio drugged her or gave her a heavy drink while they were in the room" he said. "sister I think you need to retire for the night" he said. Alice laughed and weakly nodded.

"ahaha..ha. .ha.. I guess you're right" she said as she pushed herself away from Francis. "Hey Ireland maybe you can accompany me to my room" she said weakly. Ireland nodded and rushed to her younger sister's side. As soon as the two women were gone, Antonio told Belgium to tuck Romano in and retire herself. Belgium rushed out of the room with the small Italian in her arms.

"What the hell" Antonio said as he took a step towards France. "Why are you giving me that look?" he asked.

"Isn't it obvious? I don't approve of what you're doing" Francis said, taking a step closer to Antonio. Antonio smirked and walked toward Francis.

"Why? Because I'm taking away what you had before?" he asked. "Let's remember one thing Francis, I'm married to her-"

"Politically Antonio. Politically" France said keeping his ground.

"that may have been the start but I assure you that I have fallen for her" he said.

"all part of a plan I presume?" Francis asked. Antonio grabbed Francis by the collar.

"how dare you think of it like that?" Spain said. "Let's not forget why she is the way she is now cabron"

"Hey" Gilbert said as he tried to take a step closer to the two. France and Spain looked at him at the same.

"STAY. OUT. OF. THIS." they both hissed. Gilbert winced and took a step back.

"Oh so now it's my fault?" France asked. "sorry for making her so insecure" he said.

"YOU SHOULD BE" Antonio yelled. "now that she is she won't even believe me"

"That's good, that way her heart wouldn't be broken by some fool" France said. Antonio dropped the Frenchman and pinned him down to the floor.

"HOW COULD YOU!" he yelled as he raised his fist in the air. Before he could strike the Frenchman, William grabbed his fist and with the help of Scotland, got the Spaniard off the Frenchman. Scotland rushed to France and held him back, Wales on the other hand rushed to Spain and restrained him.

"stop it the both of you" Wales shouted.

"calm down will you?" Scotland asked his lover. France glared at him.

"for your own selfish reason you two clipped a bird's wings!" Antonio yelled. "you claim to protect her but in truth you have taught this girl to deny her own wishes and wants!" Antonio yelled. "How can she ever move on from your choices if you gave her the seed of doubt for every possibility she gets in falling in love!" Antonio yelled. "And you dare call yourself the country of love!" Antonio didn't notice that tears were running down from his eyes until he stopped yelling. He looked up and saw a hurt expression from both Francis and Skye.

"I'm sorry" he mumbled. "excuse my rudeness"

"You've got some explaining to do" Ireland said as she followed England through the corridors. England stopped and turned around.

"You know how you tried to console me about France's and Scotland's marriage and union?" she asked. Ireland nodded. "You told me that at one point in my life I will encounter the person who will make forget" Alice stated. "I think I found that person" Alice said.

"No" Ireland said. "I simply won't allow it" Alice looked at her sister.

"But why not?" she asked.

"Because the Spanish Empire and the British Empire are sworn enemies, they are not meant to be together. Ever" Ireland said. "Get your head straight Alice, Spain is obviously plotting something." Ireland said. She sighed as she grabbed her sister's hands. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that. I'll trust you about Spain, but if he even dares to break your heart, I will have no choice but to shun him away" she said. Alice nodded.

"Thank you big sister" she said. Suddenly, Ireland turned around when she heard footsteps rapidly approaching them. She turned around, hands still holding her younger sister's. She saw Antonio as he turned, something is wrong, he looked mad. Ireland stood in front of her younger sister, staring at the Antonio. Antonio lifted his head up and looked past Ireland's shoulder. He mumbled 'sorry' to Ireland as he grabbed Alice from her.

"Hold me" he said in his clear voice. Ireland turned around as her eyes widened as she witnessed the scene. Alice looked confused but she did as Antonio said. She wrapped her arms around the Spaniard's torso and held him close. She let one hand go up to the back of his head as he moved it to the crook of her neck.

"What happened?" she asked. Antonio just stayed silent. Alice sighed when she felt the Spaniard hold onto her tighter.

"Just hold me" he said. 'Please keep me grounded' he thought to himself.

I'm sorry for the random joke thrown in there (if you got it) but I just had too, I was raised semi-ly by Monthy Python.

Historical notes:

The Spanish Inquisition, around Alice's and Spain's marriage, began to prosecute Protestants. The Inquisition did not end until the 1800s.

the torture devices:

I really don't want to put what each device does..and in truth I didn't mention as many as I wanted, but here are the three that are mentioned: Iron Maiden, Tablillas, and Foot Press. If you wish to know what each does, pm me and I will get back to you.

Please leave comments/reviews! If you have suggestions, don't be afraid to tell me. PM me if you have questions. Again thank you for reading!