Italy came out of his room to wish Matthew, and Gilbert a nice date. Matthew wrapped his arms around Feli.

"I owe you big time." He whispered

Feli waved it off "All a days work for cupido." He smiled at Canada.

Gilbert offered Matthew an arm, who immediately wrapped an arm around it as they left.

"Vhat's your bears name?" Gilbert asked, as they left.

"Kumajirou. Does that canary have a name?" Matthew asked, as they walked.

"Gilbird."

That was the last thing Italy heard as they walked away. He tensed as he felt a hand placed on his shoulder.

"You did good, Italy." Germany said "You aren't upset over losing Gilbert, are you?"

Italy shook his head, and looked up at Ludwig with a smile.

"Of course not. Gilbert is nice, but he's not for me. I just hope to find a love of my own, one day."

"They may be closer than you think, Feliciano." Gilbert patted his shoulder again, before walking away. He had stacks of work to attend too.

Italy watched Ludwig start to walk away, but stopped him with one word

"Germany?"

Ludwig froze at the desperate tone in Italy's voice.

"Yes Italy?" He answered, turning around.

Italy mustered up all his courage

"Do you...that is to say...could it be possible-" he was cut off by the German

"Just spit it out Italy!"

"Will you paint with me?" Italy lost his nerve after the German bowed up, and looked scary.

Ludwig sighed running his hand through his hair. He had lots of work, but he always did. Sure he could waste some time to paint with Italy. Especially since his big honey colored eyes looked so desperate, and his quivering bottom lip. He wasn't heartless, anything for Italy to smile.

About an hour later Italy had a perfect replica of the fruit bowl in front of them painted, and Germany had blobs.

"It's not fair. Your painting looks so good, and mine looks like trash!" Ludwig said, looking between their paintings.

"It's not that bad. You just need more pronounced shaped." He grabbed his hand with the paintbrush and began to help him.

He froze. It all seemed familiar. 3, 2, 1. Germany jerked his hand away. His face tinged slightly pink, he turned away.

"I have work to catch up on. Have fun painting Italy" Ludwig left quickly.

Italy started to feel light headed. His cheeks flushed up almost feverishly, and his mind kicked into over drive. He fell down onto his knees, and gripped his head between his hands. Repressed memories sucked. Why? Why now did they choose to rear their ugly heads? Did seeing Gilbert, and Matthew happy in love hurt more than he thought? Italy longed to feel love.

He stood up, knees feeling like jelly. He took his time, walking shakily to the kitchen. Ludwig was so nice to buy Italy some Italian wines, and pastas. Nothing beat real 100% semolina pasta from Italy. The phone rang, and Feliciano knew Ludwig wouldn't answer it. He walked over and picked up the phone.

"Pronto. Chi parla?"

"Ciao Feliciano. It's Lovino"

"Oh. Ciao Romano. What's going on fratello?"

"Wanted to see what you were doing. Gilbert told me you two hit it off."

"Oh yeah, he's out with Canada. Those two were made for each other. I got to play Cupido."

Lovino nearly dropped the phone. Gilbert was out with that invisible Canadian? That wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to be charming Italy, not Canada.

"Fratello? Romano? You still there?" Italy's voice snapped his concentration.

"Sí, mi dispiace. I'm a little tired. I just wanted to check on you. Are you okay about Gilbert?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? I wouldn't have set them up if I liked him. I'm happy for them, really I am."

"Oh, well alright. Back to work, ciao Italy."

"Tell Antonio I say hi. Ciao Romano."

He put the receiver into the cradle. Everyone was so worried about him. He should be grateful to have people who cared. Right now, it was annoying. He turned back to the kitchen. He was going to make a killer spaghetti, and maybe some potatoes for Ludwig.

After it was all made, he knocked on Germany's working room door.

"Ja?" He heard from the other side.

Italy walked in holding a plate of boiled potatoes, and some bratwurst.

"Italy, you made German food. I'm pleasantly surprised." Ludwig said.

"Oh. Really? I'm so happy Germany! I tried hard to remember everything you taught me."

Ludwig took a bite, and it was heaven. Some how, this bonehead was a God in the kitchen.

"Es ist gut, Italien." Ludwig said.

Italy decided not to ruin the moment, and politely excused himself to go eat.

Germany was so thankful to the Italian for bringing him food. He was actually about to surrender to his growling stomach. Feli always seemed psychic when it came to people, and hunger. He was happy for the distraction as well. All this paperwork was a blur. Especially after that oddly familiar encounter while painting. Ludwig brushed it off. He had painted plenty of times with Italy. This was just the first time Italy grabbed his hand. It felt so good to have Italy's hand in his own. He wanted to hold it more often, but he was never one for feelings. Everyone in the world knew he cared about Italy. You mess with Italy, and you will have the German breathing down your neck. No one knew how deep that affection ran. He would do anything, he meant anything, for Italy. Not just for friendship, but because he was hopelessly in love with him.

Back in the living room, Italy was on his second plate of spaghetti, and like his fourth bread stick. Someone knocked on the door. He put the plate to the side, and wiped off any crumbs before opening it. There stood a dazed looking, wobbly kneed Canadian. Italy smiled knowing he had a goodnight kiss. It was written all over his love struck face.

"Have fun?" Italy asked with a knowing smile.

"Oh it was amazing. I'm going back to Canada tomorrow, but Gilbert said he will come watch a hockey game with me in a few days."

"Fantastico. I'm so happy for you."

"I owe it all to you Italy. Merci beaucoup." Matthew stuck in French mode, grabbed Feliciano, and placed a kiss on both cheeks.

"It was nothing. Pasta?"

"Do you have maple syrup?"

"I think we have some for pancakes, why?"

"Pasta noodles taste amazing with syrup on them"

Italy made a face "Yuck!"

Prussia came home, and collapsed happy faced into his favorite chair. Kissing Matthew was the best thing he had ever done. His sweet soft lips, that cute stray hair, his scent of maple. Gilbert was giddy, and in love. He noticed his journal on the side table. Kiku was going to go yakuza on him over this! He quickly flipped it open, and began skimming pages to find what he was looking for. He found a picture of the young Ludwig, and smiled. Here was what he was looking for.

Hey journal,

Guess what happened to my awesome self? I was around the Hamburg area after meeting with Denmark. You know, around the North Sea? Anyway, there was a small child who seemed to have been washed up shore. Being who I am (ya know, awesome and stuff.) I went to check on him. Maybe he was lost, and needed his parents. I shook him, checked his heart beat, and made sure he was breathing. His eyes shot open and they were intense blue. A stark contrast with his blonde hair. He couldn't remember a thing. I asked questions, but nothing seemed to spark his memory. No name, no family, nothing. All he could remember was a push broom, and a boat. Weird, right? Well, I gave him an awesome German name: Ludwig. Not as good as mine, but still good. I made him my little bruder. Germany is big enough for the both of us ja?

Gilbert paused, trying to capture something being pushed to the forefront of his mind. He flipped through some pages, and continued reading

Hey journal,

So I think Ludwig is supposed to help me. He's grown so fast, but I'm nervous. He seems power hungry. He wants more nations to become one with us (more than Russia does) he wants to join forces, and become a German empire. I tried to tell him Empires don't work. Didn't he hear about Holy Roman Empire?

Gilbert stopped. Holy Roman Empire. He scrambled to the shelf were his books were, and opened one up. This one was about H.R.E. (he wasn't kidding about studying other countries) he looked at the picture of him. Stoically, he walked over to Ludwig's picture, and held them next to each other.

"Oh mein Gott..."

A/N) Finally found some time to type this up. Things have been hectic! Anyways I find myself falling in love all over again with this story! I also never expected to hit over double digits in favs and follows. Wow thanks a lot you guys. It really gives me the desire to keep going and update frequently.

Glitter doom cloud- it should be illegal how much I laughed at your review. Like seriously. A completely accurate description of Francis though. I can imagine him mentioning getting nude and something about pasta gravy before going honhonhon!

Translations:

Pronto. Chi parla- Hello (when answering the phone) whose speaking?

Fratello- brother

Es ist gut, Italien- it is good Italy.

Merci beaucoup- thank you very much

Yakuza- bad ass Japanese gangsters y'all.

Oh mein Gott- oh my God.

See you guys next chapter!