This chapter is going to be a tear-jerker. Just a heads up to get your tissue box ready.

Warning: Violence, a fight using weapons, someone is shot, threats, character death.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HETALIA. I have fun manipulating their characters, though

You Are My Sunshine

Matthew gasped and set his rifle down. Francis dropped his gun, but no one seemed to hear the loud clatter it made as it fell to the ground. The arrogant smirk Gilbert normally sported was gone; now his red eyes were wide in shock and he had nothing to say for once. Sadiq gave a sad groan and averted his eyes. Ivan's breath hitched and his expression turned from suspiciously smiling, to an intimidating frown. The Italies emerged from their tent. "What the fuck is going on out here? Feliciano is trying to—Buon Dio."

"Ve~What is it? Did you bring food?" Feliciano crawled out of the tent and tried to examine the scene, but he was immediately pulled into a tight embrace by Lovino.

"Ve~? Lovi? I can't see anything when you're holding me!"

"It's not for you to see." But Lovino's voice was trembling and breaking.

"Ve… why are you crying?"

"Shut up, idiot."

But Alfred's reaction was the worst of all. He just stood there, gun in hand, staring, open-mouthed and speechless.

Then Ludwig walked past Yao, Kiku, and the strange man into the middle of the camp. Everyone's eyes followed him as he crouched down and set the body gently down on the ground, then stood back.

Her eyes were open and glazed, her features were pale and ragged, her abdomen was bloody, but Marjorie was still breathing albeit with great effort.

"What… happened…?" Matthew asked, a lump forming in his throat at the sight of his niece lying so motionless on the earth.

Ludwig cleared his dry throat and forced himself to say. "We were ambushed."

Just then, they heard the anxiously high-pitched voice of Japan yelling from above: "Run! It's a trap!"

But before he could tip his head up to examine the top of the building, there was a rustling and the sound of dozens of feet dropping to the ground behind them. Guns were cocked and Ludwig did not turn. They were caught.

"So," came a sly male voice. "You decided to come back for more, eh?"

Ludwig knew he could do nothing to get out of the current situation. He pocketed his gun and put his hands on his head. He looked sternly at Yao and Marge until they both did the same.

The man behind them chuckled. "Get their guns."

Another meeker man moved among them, groping in Ludwig's pockets before finding his gun and snatching Marge's rifle out of her hands. He bypassed Yao who did not look like much of a threat with his wok strapped to his back. Marge glared at him nastily until he tossed the weapons to his comrades and returned to his master's side.

"Good, Higgins. They have nothing else on them?"

"Not that I could feel, sir, no." He leered at Marge and the state scoffed in disgust.

"Kneel," the leader said and when they did not move, he repeated with a growl, "I said kneel!" And he pushed Ludwig to his knees while Marge dropped also. It took encouraging for Yao to follow.

"Now," The man circled around to the three of them. He was tall and bulky with what looked like a bullet-proof vest on and a semi-automatic in his hands. "What are you four doing in a deserted town like this, hm? Not stealing anything, surely?"

Marge scoffed. "I wouldn't call it stealing if everyone's already left this shithole."

The leader studied her for a moment. Then his face brightened. "Ah, I remember you. You're that wild girl who lives in a cabin twenty miles or so away from here. I do hope you remember me?"

"How could I forget an asshole like you?" Marge said with a smirk. "You've always been such a kind man, what with being the drunk of the town and also a thief and rapist. No, I would never forget a sonofabitch like you, Gordon."

He smiled. "For the drunk son of a bitch you hate, you remember my name well." He stopped in front of her and crouched so that his face was inches away from Marge's. Ludwig's muscles tensed, ready to lunge forward if Gordon made the wrong move.

"What would it take to change your opinion of me?" Gordon asked gently. "What would it take for you to side with me?"

Marge scoffed. "I'm not some stupid hooker you can manipulate. How about this? I'll side with you when you stop being a dirty, violent bastard." And she spat in his face.

Ludwig's stomach bottomed out. Gott, this was the worst time for Alfred's defiance to come out in Marge. It could get them all killed.

Gordon blinked and wiped the spit off his face with the back of his hand. "Charming. You've always been so ladylike, Miss Moriah Jones. It's a wonder why you live alone in the woods and have no social life."

Marge let out a barking laugh. "Says the man who has no life whatsoever!"

Ludwig snapped when Gordon slapped her across the face and was about to lash out at the nearest guy next to him, but Yao was faster. He reached behind him and had his wok brandished in a flash, smashing the man who was holding him down right in the face. A spurt of blood and a couple of teeth quickly followed as well as outraged cries and the cocking of guns.

Gordon ducked to avoid a knock to the head by Yao's wok and Yao ended up hitting, instead, a random rebel in the chest, knocking the breath out of him and cracking a couple of ribs.

Ludwig heard men moving behind them and getting their weapons out. He felt the man behind him take his hands off his shoulders to take out his gun. But he didn't get the chance. As soon as the man's hands left him, Ludwig rose halfway and grabbed the man from behind, hearing him shriek in alarm as the German pulled the man over his head and slammed him on his back on the hard pavement. He thought he heard a crack emit from him, and he tried to ignore it as he turned to punch the man currently lunging toward him smack in the nose, blood gushing all over his fist and the man's face.

Marge, meanwhile, had kicked a nearby man in the shin, causing him to drop their weapons amidst the melee. She picked up her rifle and threw Ludwig his handgun and Kiku his katana. Once she had her rifle, she proceeded to whack everyone in her way on the head or just about anywhere she could reach with the butt of her gun.

Kiku, meanwhile, had been progressing well without his weapon. As soon as he saw Yao eye him, Kiku had readied himself for an all-out brawl. When the first strike of the wok fell, Kiku stomped on the foot of the man detaining him, making the man loosen his grip on him for a few crucial moments, during which Kiku had jumped out of his grip and used two fingers to jab the man in the neck and stomach. The man instantly seized up and fell, paralyzed by the assault on his pressure points (oh my God, it's Ty Lee!). Once he got his katana, though, things became easier for him. Two men tried to sneak up behind him, but Kiku knew what was coming. In one fluid movement, he stuck the tip of his katana into the earth and used it to propel himself up and over the heads of oncoming attackers. When he landed, the men were so confused, that they had no time to react as Kiku sliced into them with his sword. Blood splattered on his face and his clothes, but Kiku did not care. The scent and sight of blood only managed to ignite his feudal side.

Meanwhile, Gordon had managed to back out of the fight and was yelling out instructions a couple or so yards away. "Yes! Walters, behind you! Punch that bastard's face in! Ingersoll, watch out on your left side! Yeah! Give him what for!"

Ludwig elbowed and punched his way through the throng of men until he was able to confront Gordon, who looked startled that he had not been stopped earlier.

"Smith!" Gordon called for aid, his eyes wide as the German glared at him.

"Only a coward hits a woman, hurensohn!" And Ludwig drew back his fist, using all the force in his arm to pound the man's nose into his skull. The man fell backwards onto his ass, holding his nose, but immediately scrambled to his feet again, stumbling out of the way of another punch by Ludwig.

"Ludwig-san, leave him!" Kiku's voice shouted over the crowd. The Japanese man was currently slicing a line to Yao, who was swinging his wok alongside Marge.

Ludwig nodded, then looked back at Gordon, who had fallen to the ground again on his hands and knees, blood pouring from his broken nose, a snarl on the German's face. "I will spare you, but that does not mean I don't think you are scum." And with that, Ludwig left Gordon behind as the man called off his group of rebels.

"Retreat! Retreat back to base camp! We must regroup and treat our wounds!"

"But what about these bastards, boss?"

"We'll eventually find them, don't worry. I'll notify the Organization of their location."

"All right, boss."

The group of rebels began to pull away, but not before Yao felled two more with his wok and Kiku three with his katana. Ludwig grabbed a hold of Marge's wrist and proceeded to lead her back to the path that led to their camp, the two Asian nations defending them as they went.

Just when it seemed that the fight was over, someone had handed Gordon a rifle and the man laughed maniacally as he aimed it at them. His nose had stopped bleeding, but it was crooked against his sooty face and sheets of blood had stained his front. "You think you Decievers can hide forever, eh? Well, I'll give you a small taste of what the Organization will do to you if they find you! And they will! Oh, they will…"

Ludwig stopped to turn around to watch as the crowd of rebels cheered their leader on. Gordon took aim at them and shot. The German was caught in a perpetual state of confusion and shock. He had three seconds to figure out what to do, and by that time the bullet had bypassed Yao's swinging wok and Kiku's slashing katana to lodge into Marge's abdomen.

It took a moment for Marge (and everybody else) to realize she'd been hit. Only when a horrified expression crossed her features and she gave a wet cough, a bit of blood forming at the corner of her mouth, and she staggered backward, dropping to her knees, did Ludwig and Gordon realize she had been hit. She stared pointedly at Gordon, who was laughing hysterically, cheered on by his companions. "Ya see there, bitch!" he yelled. "Ya got whatcha deserved! Ya had it comin', but I took mercy on you and did it sooner! You can thank me later!"

Ludwig's shriek was caught in his throat as he pulled Marge to her feet and she immediately slumped into his arms. Finally he collected himself and called, "Yao! Kiku!"

Both Asian nations spun around and gave cries of terror as they beheld the young, semi-concious girl now leaning on Ludwig. "We have to get out of—!" But Ludwig was too late. Yao and Kiku were already racing toward the crowd, weapons raised and roaring with rage. Within a minute, they'd cut down a whole row of rebel men and the group was running away, though Gordon escaped. Yao and Kiku chased after them. Eventually, they tired of fighting (that and they'd run out of victims), so they grabbed the only straggler, dragging him back to where Ludwig still stood, holding Marge, the man kicking and yelling and begging.

"Oh please! No! Please, let me go! I-I didn't hurt any of you—!"

Kiku responded by slicing the man across the shoulder. The man writhed and screamed—the man Ludwig identified as Higgins—and Kiku said dangerously, "Lies. Be silent."

"I say we kill him now." Yao growled, hefting his wok menacingly and making the man whimper.

"Nein," Ludwig said anxiously. "We need to get back to camp. She will die if she is not treated soon."

"Hai," Kiku said. "Besides, it is fitting for a relative of the victim to exterminate the killer."

Higgins shrunk back and swallowed. "Ex-exterminate…?"

"I said be silent." Kiku growled. And with that, the man promptly shut up.

"Let's go," Ludwig said, picking Marge up to carry her in his arms. The girl groaned with the harsh movement, blood soaking Ludwig's coat from her wound. "We must hurry." Alfred will kill me…

And the three of them walked along in silence (Higgins was being dragged along by Yao), all of them knowing that Marge had a fatal wound but not wanting to voice it.

Because if they did voice it, that would mean her fate was final.

When Ludwig finished telling the story, everyone was silent for a moment as they took in the reality of the situation. Then, the German said ruefully, "I am sorry, Alfred. I should have done something." Guilt pooled into his gut and made his stomach churn. He was responsible for the death of an innocent young girl—no, a state. He could throw up.

"No, Ludwig, it's not your fault." Matthew said meekly, trying to make his voice steady. It wasn't working.

Alfred's eyes flashed dangerously as he whirled around to glare at Ludwig and pointed accusingly. "You… You! You bastard! I told you to keep my little girl safe!"

Ludwig threw up his hands in defense. "I did not mean for her to get shot!"

"Yeah, well, it damn well happened, didn't it?"

"Alfred," Arthur said, an undertone of warning in his voice. "He's already said he's sorry. There's nothing you can do to change—"

"Nothing I can do? I can pound the shit out of the person who's responsible!" Alfred growled, pocketing his gun and stalking menacingly over to Ludwig. The German was shocked at the confrontation, but prepared. He took off his cap and threw it on the ground, dropping his gun as well.

"You can fight me, ja." Ludwig said, and quickly continued before Gilbert could protest. "But I did not shoot her, so I doubt you will receive much satisfaction from it."

"Ve~? A fight?" Feliciano's excited voice rose, slightly muffled, from Lovino's smothering embrace. "I want to see! I want to see! Lovi, can I~?"

But Lovino only pushed his brother's face into his chest further, hoping that Feliciano could still breathe but not wanting him to see what would surely unfold. "No, dammit, you cannot see anything. Now shut up."

"We cannot resort to violence now, oui?" Francis said desperately, rooted to the spot.

Alfred stopped and thought for a moment. "You say that Gordon guy killed her?"

"Ja, he did."

"And he's still out there?'

"Ja, he is."

"That's all I need." Alfred said, brandishing his gun once more. "I'm going after the fucker."

"That's insa—!" Arthur began, but he abruptly as a soft moan emitted from Marge.

It could soon be made out that she was saying something, though weakly. "… ad… Dad…?"

Alfred dropped his weapon and was at her side in seconds. Ivan had never seen him move so fast before.

"Yes, baby? I'm here."

"Dad…" Marge cracked open her eyes and coughed. "Dad, don't…"

"Don't what, sweetheart?"

"Don't… go…"

"Go…? Oh no, honey, I'm not leaving you. At least not now. I'll hunt that bastard down later when you're feeling better."

Marge was silent for a moment. "Nn… hurts…"

Alfred stiffened and said, "I know, baby. Mattie!" Alfred turned desperately to his brother. "Couldja help her, bro?"

Matthew was pale and looked as if he'd be sick, but crouched down beside Alfred anyway. Now was not the time to vomit. "Y-yes, Al, maybe…" He grabbed Marge's hand and lifted it off of the bullet hole it was covering. Then he proceeded to hike up her shirt until he could see the wound. He winced. It was bloody, swelling an angry red, and… right where her stomach should be.

A feeling of dread filled Matthew and he glanced at his brother, who had a painfully hopeful look on his face, then back at his niece who was surely going through agony right now. Matthew took his hands from Marge and shook his head slightly.

It took a few moments before Alfred's face fell. "What?"

Matthew looked at him, feeling completely useless. "I'm sorry, Al. But… she's been shot in the stomach. The acid from her stomach is most likely mixing with her blood right now and… even if we can stem the massive blood loss she's already had, there's no way to cure her except through surgery and I simply do not have the equipment, nor am I willing to risk it. I'm so sorry…" His voice cracked and he let out a soft sob as he wiped at his eyes under his glasses. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"

Alfred felt like he should console his brother, but at the same time he felt like throttling him. Matthew was supposed to be the doctor, the savior, the reliable one! The… hero, as it seemed, in a situation where Alfred didn't have the capacity to be the hero. It made him feel helpless and angry and somewhat… betrayed. He felt like Matthew should have been able to at least do something. Even though deep down Alfred knew it wasn't any of the group's fault that his daughter was in this state, it still made him feel less guilty about his letting Marge go back into town when he knew deep in his gut that it was unsafe and risky. At least he wasn't blaming himself, because that felt worse than anything he'd ever felt before…

Except maybe grief, but he hoped he wouldn't feel that any time soon.

He felt his eyes burn, but he was determined not to let his daughter see. He didn't want to let her know of her ill health, even though she herself already knew. Alfred also didn't want her to see her father in such a wrecked state.

To help keep down the sobs he so wanted to spill at the moment, Alfred took his daughter's pale hand and held it firmly in his. "It's going to be all right, baby." God, I'm such a liar. But he just couldn't say she was dying, because that would mean that the statement was true.

Everyone gathered around, all somber. Ludwig had left his cap and weapon behind to stand beside Marge. Matthew had backed away some, trying to stem his helpless flow of tears and the string of 'I'm sorry's' coming from him. Francis sat and pulled Matthew to him to console him, all the while watching Marge closely, eyes wet and bloodshot. Arthur stood behind Alfred, being short enough (or Alfred tall enough) that he could stroke his hair. The feeling was familiar and soothing to Alfred, as it was the same thing Arthur did to calm him when he was a colony. Yao and Kiku were standing with their heads bowed, murmuring under their breaths, Yao still holding Higgins firmly who wisely did not make a sound. Sadiq had crawled over to sit next to Matthew, patting his knee and trying not to look at Marge. Ivan was looking at the ground, the frown still on his face.

There was a commotion between Lovino and Feliciano, in which the older Italian was trying to conceal Feliciano's vision.

"Stop!" Lovino hissed, wrestling with his brother. "Dammit… you-you don't want to see it, fratello."

"Ve~! Lovi, please, please, let me see! Why are you so sad? Everyone's so quiet…" He continued to squirm until Lovino no longer had the strength to restrain him.

There was a few silent moment's, then a heart-wrenching scream as Feliciano saw Marge's body stiff, and covered in blood, and he immediately broke out in tears. He sobbed into Lovino's uninjured shoulder, and the older Italian hugged him tightly, rubbing his back and crying himself, albeit quieter.

Alfred felt like the world had stopped. He could not save his little girl. This was the end for her. So much for being the fucking hero… He hated himself for not being able to at least help. He hated himself for this whole thing, this whole Uprising.

He should never have let his children suffer like this.

Alfred took Marge's bloody hand and held it firmly. "Baby… I'm sorry."

Marge gave a small smile, blood trickling down the corner of her lip. "Don't be… Dad?"

"Yes, baby?"

"S-sing me a… a song…"

Alfred blinked in surprise. "What one, sweetheart?"

"That… that one." Marge said vaguely and coughed, more blood trickling down her lips. "That one you sang… when I was l-little…"

Alfred allowed himself a somber smile. "Of course, baby."

His voice wasn't the best since it was trembling slightly and his throat and nose were clogged with mucus, but he mustered his best and began softly:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Alfred swallowed and went on, determined to fulfill Marge's last request. It was what she deserved, after all.

The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I woke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.

Alfred's voice nearly broke on the last line, but he continued with a deep breath:

I'll always love you and make you happy,
If you will only say the same.
But if you leave me and love another,
You'll regret it all some day.

You told me once, dear, you really loved me
And no one else could come between.
But now you've left me and love another;
You have shattered all of my dreams.

In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me
When I wake my poor heart pains.
So when you come back and make me happy
I'll forgive you, dear, I'll take all the blame.

Alfred's voice was waning, but he took a couple of breaths and continued on, tears burning his eyes:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Please don't take my sunshine away…

Alfred couldn't hold the last note, as he gave a deep-chested sob and tears ran down his cheeks. He stroked Marge's hand with the thumb of his ungloved hand.

Marge looked at him through heavily-lidded eyes. "I… love you, Daddy."

Alfred gave another sob and sniffed, bringing up his daughter's hand and placing it against his cheek, not minding the sticky feeling of blood. "I know. I love you too, Montie."

Her breaths were getting shallow now, and she closed her eyes, knowing she was almost through. "No matter what, Dad… I want you to… go on, okay? Don't worry about me… you don't have to any-anymore…" Her lips quirked into a content smile. "The angels will come… to get me, Daddy… like you always said… they w-would."

Alfred's eyes were blurred with tears and everyone was so eerily silent, even Feliciano, who was watching Marge intently through swollen, red eyes. "Y-yes, baby, they will. They will and you won't hurt anymore. I promise, Marjorie, I promise." I promise I'll kill that man, baby. I'll kill him for you.

"I… p-promise I-I'll look out for y-you, Daddy…"

"You don't need to, baby, just rest. J-just rest…" Alfred bit his lip to keep from crying.

Marge gave a slight jerk of her head, as if wanting to shake it but was too weak to do so. "No… I will. I promise you… Daddy… I p-promise…"

Translations:

Buon Dio-Oh my God

hurensohn-son of a bitch

A Word From the Writer: So... I looked up 'You Are My Sunshine' just for the hell of it and found that it is one of the most depressing songs EVUR. No wonder my mom only sang the first stanza to me when I was little, damn. Anywho, yes, my OC died already. She was short-lived, but awesome.

Let the soap opera continue!