AN: So..here's a new chapter.

To those who reviewed:
Spamano4ever: ...nicely put.

DarkestDangel: Hm...I believe I could use that idea and kinda twist it..

Evelynyamine: You'll see. I promise.

Guest: (Chapter 79) I wouldn't count on that. I know, that was my first thought too. Just...my 'sister' just had a kid a few months ago and you want to yell at me for liking other girls? Damn, how fucked up are you in the head? That's what I wanted to say. Mind, what I did say so I didn't get killed or thrown out on my arse was just 'yeah, sure'.

Penguin Braginski: Yeah, I get it. Completely. Hetalia got me be this active in the LGBT community. And..yeah, France is alright. His reasoning will come into play soon, I promise.

Enjoy.

Lovino seemed exhausted when he came back from work. He immediately collapsed as soon as he'd gotten changed and made it back to the living room of Antonio's home.

Antonio smiled faintly, running his fingers through the Italian's hair gently.

It didn't take long for Lovino to fall asleep after that and Feliciano sighed. "I don't understand how he can manage to go through all of this crap and still be so together."he said after Lovino had gone to sleep.

Ludwig half smiled. "He's strong."he said softly. "I'd suppose he's gotten used to it."

The following day was quiet, but a lot happier. At least, until the group got to the Vargas home. Emiliana wasn't there when they arrived, so they were okay to joke around a bit more.

Lovino was napping lightly with his head resting in Antonio's lap when Emiliana came home. She gave the group a searching look before disappearing into the kitchen.

Antonio rolled his eyes, sharing a look with Gilbert and Francis before he moved to shift. The moment he did, though, he managed to hit Lovino's curl and cursed silently when the Italian woke up. "Hm?"he asked. "What?"

Antonio shook his head. "Nothing. Go back to sleep,"he said quietly.

Lovino half smiled, mumbling a quiet 'love you' before he shifted slightly and went back to his nap.

Feliciano smiled softly. "That's the calmest reaction to someone messing with his curl he's ever had."he said softly.

Matthew shushed him half-heartedly. It was nice to see Lovino not snap at Antonio for a change. It was a rare occurance.

After a long while, Emiliana returned to the room, taking a seat away from the group in silence, a book in hand.

Silence fell for a while, only broken by the soft whispers going between Francis and Gilbert as they planned something out.

Not long after that stopped, Lovino let out a pained whisper, gaining quite a few worried looks. Even Emiliana looked up to frown at her eldest son in concern. Antonio ran his hand through Lovino's hair gently. "Lovi..?"he asked quietly.

Lovino blinked his eyes open not long after that, tense until he took in his surroundings. Once he realized where he was again, he let out a sigh and relaxed, pushing himself up.

"You okay, Lovino?"Emiliana asked softly.

Lovino nodded, but the way he didn't look at anyone and the way he was shaking said otherwise.

Vash huffed. "Alright, you, up."he said, getting up himself and moving to wait by the door. "I have a few questions that I know you won't answer, we're going to go pay Raivis a visit."

"No."Lovino said. "Don't bring those memories back up for him. He doesn't need that."

Antonio sighed. "Fine.."he said quietly. "Then how about you drink some chamomile tea or something, hm?"he asked. "It'll sooth you nerves."

Lovino shook his head, getting up and disappearing from the room in silence.

Feliciano watched him go before he smiled faintly. "He has his own methods,"he said when Antonio looked after Lovino in concern. "His music? The reason he used to not let people hear is because he always used it as his medicine for difficult times. It's always been one of his biggest passions."

"That and gardening."Emiliana said softly, closing her book. "I remember he was always helping out in the garden when he was around five or six."

Feliciano nodded. "That's where his love for tomatoes comes from."

Antonio smiled faintly. "I was wondering..."

Emiliana looked up towards the hall when she heard music being played. She smiled faintly. "He's gotten better...and switched instruments."

Feliciano nodded. "He never really liked piano, always said it was too soft. So, he switched to guitar, then to bass, then back to guitar."he said softly.

Antonio chuckled. "He used to play piano?"he asked, eyes sparkling.

"He did,"Matthew said softly. "He used to play for Alfred and me a lot when we were younger, if we stayed over here while our parents were fighting because we both got a bit...fussy."

Antonio smiled softly. "Well..he's never told me about that. He told me he liked music, sure, but..."

Gilbert smiled. "He's closed off about it."

Antonio nodded.

Emiliana was examining Antonio. "You really do love Lovino, don't you?"she said softly, her voice quiet. Everyone fell silent then.

Antonio looked up and met her eyes. "Yes, ma'am. I do love him."he responded. "I'd do anything for him. And Ludwig's the same with Feliciano."

Emiliana turned her gaze to Ludwig, who had been brushing Feliciano's shirt off so that it wasn't covered in dirt from lounging against the couch.

A long moment of silence passed before Emiliana sighed. "Okay fine. But if either of you hurt one of my boys..."she warned.

Vash grinned. "Oh, they won't be living. I've already told them both that. Lovi and Feli are my brothers, nobody's going to hurt them."

Nobody argued against that. They knew it was true.

Here you go.