AN: Hei.

Here's the new chapter for you.

To those who reviewed:
ThatCaveYouCallAChest: I've seen the video. I watched it yesterday. Cruel as it may be, that is why I chose to use that song. Because it gave off just the right message for what I was aiming for - which is the fact that Lovi would die for his brother, much like Prussia did for Germany in the video. I apologize if it was too strong, but...it got the message across.

Spamano4ever: I'll give you a hint. It's something to do with the trivia posts on Romano's character profile. I promise, though, it's minor, and it's not going to end in him getting killed or anything.

Shiralala: Well, I'm just glad people aren't mad at me for it. Because I was trying to create that kind of situation.

Enjoy.

Lovino stayed awake long after everyone else had fallen asleep, staring at the ceiling blankly. He knew that Feliciano was only trying to look out for him, but he would get hurt doing so. He didn't want to watch his brother get hurt due to his own stupidity. It was his own fault for getting involved period.

A lot of time passed from the time that the others fell asleep to when Lovino finally drifted off himself. The only difference was that this time, instead of it just being one of those black-out nights, his dreams were full of nightmares. He yelped when he woke maybe an hour and a half later, waking Antonio up by accident.

Antonio rubbed at his eyes tiredly. "Lovi? You okay?"

Lovino sighed. "Yeah. Go back to sleep,"he said softly, keeping his voice quiet so as to not wake anyone else up.

Antonio moved to push the Italian's hair off his face gently and met his eyes. "Nightmare?"he asked.

Lovino nodded.

Antonio chuckled. "Get over here, silly,"

For the first time since they'd begun the habit of staying over at someone's house as a group, Lovino had fallen asleep away from Antonio. The Spaniard hadn't been too happy about sleeping without Lovino there with him, but he hadn't argued, knowing that Lovino only wanted a bit of space.

Lovino smiled faintly, moving to lay with Antonio silently.

As soon as the Spaniard had his arms wrapped around Lovi gently, he spoke again. "Want to tell me about what that nightmare was about?"

Lovino sighed, taking in Antonio's scent. "...not really. I just...normally, it wouldn't scare me so much..but it's so real now.."he grumbled. "I keep dreaming about loosing Feli as well..he's all I have left..I can't lose him too."

Antonio kissed the top of Lovino's head. "Is that why you're getting him to stay with Gil and Ludwig?"he asked quietly.

Lovino nodded once. "I don't want him back in the crossfire. I don't want any of you in the crossfire,"

"Crossfire of what?"

Lovino was quiet for a long moment. "I..."he started. "Nonno..he...listen, it's a long story."

Antonio sighed. "Fine. After everyone else wakes up?"

Lovino nodded, falling back to sleep easily.

Antonio smiled faintly, drifting back to sleep himself.

The following morning, the two woke up a bit later than the others, and Lovino immediately glanced at his watch before shooting up. "Damn it!"he said. "I gotta go."

"Lovi,"Antonio said softly. "You can stay back for long enough to get dressed and eat and stuff, you know,"

Lovino looked at Antonio, fear hiding in his eyes. "I can't, Toni. Like I said, it's a long story. Talk to you guys later,"

When Lovino all but bolted out of the house, Feliciano frowned. "He's trying to curve what nonno did before he died."he mumbled, scowling in realization. That was never good.

Gilbert blinked at the younger of the brothers. "What?"he asked.

"Let Lovino tell you."Feliciano said, getting up and disappearing out back.

The tension didn't let up all day. When Lovino came back in, Feliciano snapped back into his normal persona, shooting to his brother's side when he saw the already-prominent bruises clearly displayed on his arms. "What happened?"
Lovino glanced at his brother for a moment before he sighed. "It's nothing, Feli."he mumbled, brushing past his brother in silence. He collapsed near the back wall, leaning against it tiredly.

Antonio went to place a hand on his shoulder, but Lovino shied away from him, so he stopped and let his hand drop to his side.

Once things settled down, Antonio spoke. "So, you said you'd explain today,"

Lovino sighed, moving to lean against his boyfriend tiredly. "Yeah, yeah. What do you want to know, bastard?"he grumbled.

Feliciano spoke. "Well, I want to know where you ran off to this morning looking scared for your life,"he said, crossing his arms.

Lovino looked up at Feliciano. "Someplace I'm never going again,"he said. "I promise you that. I just had some business to finish for nonno with his...friend."

"I want the full explanation, Lovino. I'm not a child anymore, I can handle the truth,"Feliciano said.

Lovino's eyes hardened slightly. "Can you really, Veneziano?"he countered.

Feliciano flinched slightly, but he nodded. He remembered the last person who'd called him by his middle name. Not nice people.

Lovino examined his brother before he sighed. "Sorry, Feli. I..I guess I should have thought that one through. Forget I said anything,"he grumbled before pushing himself up again. "You remember how nonno was always running back and forth between work and an old 'friend's' house right?"

Feliciano nodded once.

"I figured out about a month before he passed that it was an old mafia person. Fucking douche. I was pissed at nonno for putting you in the line of fire of those guys, too. I swore then and there that no matter what, I'd do whatever it took to keep you from getting caught in that."

Feliciano examined his brother's expression. "And you got caught in it instead."he deadpanned.

Lovino was quiet. He seemed to be thinking something over. He spoke after a while. "Today was the last day I had to show up. I'm done, I'm out, you're safe."

Gilbert was watching his 'best friend'. He frowned. "Lovi...you said Feli's safe. What about you?"

"I don't know."

Lovely.

Lovino sighed. "But, as far as I'm concerned, that doesn't matter much. I know how to protect myself,"he said. "But still..Feli..he has to stay out of the crossfire until things settle. So please don't question what I do."

Ludwig was watching Lovino curiously, but seemed as if he understood something better.

Antonio was quiet for the longest before he spoke softly. "That's why you're scared? Because you think Feli will end up hurt or something by these guys?"

"Neither Feli or me have been good with taking in our surroundings before. But..I guess..since I got caught in this mess, I have learned a few tricks. But..with Feli around? They'd be hard to do, because he hates violence, and they definitely aren't peaceful."Lovino said, looking over at Antonio. "And I think it's completely founded for me to worry for him."

Antonio nodded in understanding, but said nothing else on the matter. Instead, he brought up a new topic. "So, who's up for a game?"he asked, offereing up a distraction.

Lovino smiled at his boyfriend before he settled a good bit. That was perfect.

Here you go. And this is it. I will never follow any more ideas given to me by my group's Sweden, because this is what happens.