A/N: Hello! I'm very very sorry for letting any of you thinking I was discontinuing this story. I will never, ever discontinue a story if I can help it. The device I was using to type this story broke and it took a while to replace it.

Anyways, the plot is moving forwards! On a side note, I saw the book thief and oh my goodness I love it so much its amazing. If you haven't read the book, I would recommend it.

Just be prepared to bawl your eyes out of their sockets.

Thank you all for your reviews, they really mean a lot to me. Once again I apologize for any confusion, but I never plan on discontinuing a story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia

"Yo! Lovi!" Lovino groaned as he turned to face a beaming Alfred who was waving his hands crazily. The poor girl at the front desk was being ignored, and Alfred shot out behind the desk, nearly knocking her over as he tripped over his own feet to get to the irritated Italian.

"For the last fucking time, Alfred," Lovino growled, "It's Lovino, not Lovi," he snapped. All he got in response was an all too cheerful laugh and a meant to be friendly slap to the back that knocked the air out of Lovino.

"I completely forgot, dude! Kiku received some important looking mail for you and Feli yesterday," Alfred said. The girl at the front desk was clearly not taking being ignored too well and she began to slam her hand down on the bell repeatedly while glowering at Alfred's back.

"Well, I have a mailbox for a reason, bastard," Lovino grumbled. He was going to be late for fucking work by this point, he just knew it. With his car finally fixed (Francis had tried to convince Lovino to wear a slutty nurse outfit in return), he could drive to and from work as he pleased. His baby looked beautiful when she rolled out of the garage they had fixed her up in, and he almost cried when he saw the fresh layer of gleaming paint. Ok, so he let a tear or two slip. Shut up, he hasn't seen his poor car in weeks.

Lovino was curious, however, as to what had came for him. Feliciano's cane had already came in the mail, which he loved, but Lovino wasn't expecting anything else. Had Ludwig ordered a backup?

Alfred laughed like Lovino said a joke, which Lovino was pretty damn sure he hadn't, and simply patted his back again, resulting in a painful 'Oof!' sound from Lovino. "Yeah, but this one was like, special delivery! Isn't that cool! It was supposed to be delivered as soon as possible, and I know you never check your mailbox and Feli doesn't either, so I decided to give it to you! Oh! And did you hear? Arthur moved out!" Alfred whined the last part as he handed Lovino a crumpled letter covered in a variety of stamps.

"I don't fucking care!" Lovino grumbled as he turned it over in his hands in curiosity. Alfred pouted at him, and in the background the girl was now clawing at the desk while hissing that she needed to visit her brother. Ok, forget her being a fucking 'poor girl'. She was creepy as shit.

"Well, I do! I'm gonna miss him! But on the bright side, Kiku moved in!" Alfred cheered. Oh dear lord, was she... She was leaving fucking scratch marks in the wood! What the fuck!

"T-that's fucking fantastic, b-but-" Lovino pointed a terrified finger at the girl, who finally had enough of being ignored by a certain American and was currently stalking over to them. Alfred turned in confusion, his grin dimming slightly.

Now, for the record, Lovino was not fucking scared. No. Not at all. He was never scared! Especially of a girl who was wearing a dress and a bow, of all things, which was pretty much as fucking innocent and girly a-as girls could get... W-was she panting...? Oh fuck. She was. Just so you know, Lovino also did not grab Alfred and use him as a human shield. Really. He did not. Alfred just so fucking happened to step in front of him. "Hiya Natalia!" The long haired demon-um, girl, the long haired girl, didn't seem to happy with the greeting.

"I know he's in here," she hissed, licking her lips. "I just want to see my big brother." She began flexing and un flexing her fingers, eyes flashing.

"No can do! You know he has a restraining order against ya-" I fucking wonder why... "-and as a hero I cannot take part in illegal actions! I'm gonna have to ask you to leave the building," Alfred said in an all too cheerful tone. This Natalia girl did not fucking like this, because one second she was standing there all girl-ish with her bow and dress and long hair and the next second she was a fucking animal, attacking and hissing an spitting. It was at that moment where Alfred yelled 'Kiks! Call security again!' that Lovino decided to take his leave.

As Alfred held down the wild she-demon, he slowly slipped away. He didn't want to get bitten. "Dude! Tell me what's in the letter, I was dying to know!" Alfred yelled over his shoulder without looking back. Dammit. Lovino thought he had been pretty damn sneaky and quiet and shit. Oh well.

Shrugging to himself and cringing as he heard Natalia snarl for her 'big brother', he slipped out into the parking area, looking at the letter in curiosity. His eyes widened when he noticed the return address was from Italy. Who would want to send me something from Italy...?

Sliding into his car and starting it, Lovino tore open the top of the envelope, taking out a letter and a smaller envelope. He groaned in annoyance when he realized he would have to wait until work to read it, after all he would already be running a little late and he didn't want to be even more so.

Lovino broke more speed limits than usual on his drive, his curiosity making him eager to get to work. When he finally arrived, he snatched the contents of the original envelope and shot out of the car, into the hospital, and into Bella.

"B-bella! I'm sorry, dammit, I wasn't looking where I was going!" Lovino stuttered as he helped the blonde up. After blinking a few times in surprise she smiled at Lovino and flicked his nose.

"I didn't know you were so eager to see Antonio!" She teased, winking as Lovino flushed and quickly started protesting.

"N-no, I m-mean I got a l-letter and-! I don't want to see that bastard, I just-! S-shut up!" He blushed as he pouted at the laughing Belgian, who seemed to be taking too much happiness in Lovino's embarrassment.

"Sure, sure," she waved her hand in a disbelieving manner, straightening her uniform out. "So what exactly is in this letter that causes you to run over poor, innocent women?" They started walking towards the elevator, Bella pressing the button for the right floor when they stepped inside. A Chinese man/women was also there, probably a visitor judging by how he wasn't wearing a hospital uniform and didn't have anything on him that marked him as a patient. He was clutching a large panda and muttering under his breath about annoying brothers. Lovino decided to steer clear of him.

"Well, you're not exactly innocent," he remarked to Bella, who stuck her tongue out teasingly.

"Am too! Perfectly innocent!" She did a fake puppy dog face, dropping it when the Chinese man/women left on the second floor. "But really, I wanna know. What's in it?"

Lovino shrugged, holding the letter out and unfolding it. "I don't know. I didn't read it yet," he admitted as he started to read it. As he did so, his eyes slowly widened and he began gripping it tighter and tighter. Bella watched with growing concern, gently placing a hand on Lovino's shoulder and leading him out of the elevator.

"Lovi...? Are you alright...?" She asked softly.

"I...I need to see Francis," he croaked. He was gripping the letter so tight creases were beginning to form in it. "Now."

"He's with Antonio-"

"Can you get him for me?" Lovino asked sharply, leaning against the wall next to the elevator.

The two stared at each other for a minute, one gaze full of concern, the other filled with a type of panicked urgency. Finally Bella slowly nodded and backed away before turning away and walking briskly towards Antonio's room. Lovino let out a shaky breath when she left as he looked down at the letter again. His eyes scanned over it again, certain phrases burning into his mind.

'Concerning your grandfather's house...'

'Would like to buy...'

'Please come as soon as possible...'

'Enclosed tickets for you...'

He let the hand gripping the papers fall to his side as he took more shaky breaths. He hasn't thought about his Nonno's house in years. It just brought back memories that hurt, both the sad and good ones. He and Feliciano had left it behind when they moved. Feli had been more openly upset about it, of course, but Lovino had been hurting just as much on the inside. That was where their childhood had taken place. It was their last real connection to their real country.

"Lovino!" An out of breath, alarmed voice interrupted Lovino's thoughts. "Are you alright? Bella came in and said that you needed me and- oh, why did I run- oh, sacré bleu-" The French doctor paused in front of Lovino, panting dramatically and muttering about never running again.

Lovino raised an eyebrow at the pathetic display, and straightened up. Seeing Francis seemed to make him think more clearly. "I... I'm leaving."

The blonde froze in his half bent over position, eyes wide. "Y-you're what?" He asked, his French accent sounding more pronounced in his surprise.

"Leaving," Lovino repeated shakily. He shoved the letter at the other as he spoke. "Someone is interested in buying my Nonn-" He cut himself off and swallowed. "Feliciano and I's house and, well, they would like to meet up with us to help us make the decision. W-we will be going to Italy next week, it won't be for long, we just..." Lovino trailed off as hot tears pricked his eyes. How was he supposed to explain to Feli that it was time to let go of the house? They had an option to keep it, but was that really the smart thing to do? Sure, it was where they grew up, but they hadn't been there in forever and they could use the money to pay for rent. Then Lovino would stop having to borrow money from Francis and stop looking secretly for another part time job. It could fix so many things.

Hastily wiping his eyes and muttering a few swear words under his breath he looked up at Francis, who was reading intensely. "We both need a vacation anyways. He's been working so hard with Ludwig," he said weakly as Francis finally looked up.

Sell the house and take the money? Or keep the house and the memories that came along with it?

Lovino bit his lip in thought, fists clenched at his side. Francis seemed to notice the inner turmoil and he placed a soothing hand on his shoulder. "I understand. It's a family matter, family is important," he said gently. Lovino shot him a clearly upset look and he smiled gently. "Take the rest of the week off, you'll need it to get yourself together. But," he pulled back and handed the papers to Lovino. "You're explaining this to Antonio." He smirked. "I'm not breaking the news that his little lover is leaving him," he sang.

"I am not his fucking lover!" Lovino shouted, his face turning re for some reason. Francis laughed and turned to walk back, Lovino following.

Crap. He hadn't even thought about Antonio. For some reason the thought of leaving his patient, since that was all Antonio was, right?, made him feel uncomfortable. What if Antonio got a replacement nurse that he liked more than Lovino? What if when Lovino got back Antonio didn't want him as a nurse anymore? What if he healed super fucking quickly and was gone when Lovino returned?

Lovino's stomach twisted. Fuck. W-why did he even care what Antonio thought about him? O-or whether or not he would still be there when he got back? He was just a patient.

That's all.

"Antonio, mon ami, we're back!" Francis called as he opened the door and waltzed in, followed by a slouched Lovino. Antonio was still in his bed, the remains of a half picked at breakfast beside him. His face brightened considerably when saw Lovino, though the expression was washed over with concern when he saw the uncomfortable and sad look on the Italian's face.

"Lovi?" He called, reaching a hand out for the other. After a moment of hesitation Lovino walked over and took Antonio's hand. The Spaniard clasped the smaller hand tightly in his own slightly shaky ones and beamed a worried smile at the other. "Wha's wong?" He asked, tilting his head to the side and looking like a concerned puppy.

Lovino tried to ignore Francis' eyes that were burning into the intertwined hands (Antonio had slid his fingers between Lovino's own for some fucking reason, while his other hand was attempting to rub circles over the back of his hand but he couldn't control his fingers enough and they kept on jerking around instead), and instead glanced at Antonio. One glimpse into those glittering emerald eyes made him regret glancing over in the first place. Now he couldn't bring himself to look away.

"Antonio... How would you feel if I were to go away for a couple of weeks?" Lovino asked timidly. Antonio's hands went limp and he stared at Lovino with wide eyes, face blank.

Immediately, all the worries Lovino was thinking about in the hallway came back at full force. Would Antonio be happy? Overjoyed? Would he not even care? Would he even notice? Would he ask Lovino to make sure a nicer, more agreeable and friendly nurse replaced him? Would he-?

Antonio burst out crying.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:- Time skip -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

"Antonio! Let go!" Francis grunted as he tugged at his grip around Antonio's legs. A loud wail from the Spaniard and the tightening of his own grip around Lovino's waist was all he got in response.

Antonio hadn't really stopped sniffling ever since he heard the news, and had been clingy all day, but now that Lovino was leaving he was really refusing to be parted from the nurse.

Literally.

Lovino was gripping onto the bed, attempting to pull himself free from Antonio, who had his arms around his waist and his tear streaked face pressed into his back. Antonio's legs were being yanked at by a flustered Francis.

The good news: Antonio stood up by himself for the first time. Even if his legs crumpled and he fell against Lovino two seconds later.

The bad news: Lovino couldn't leave. Because dammit Antonio was really fucking strong when he wanted to be.

And right now, he wanted to be.

"D-doo-on't leaaaave m-meeee!" He sobbed as he tightened his grip so tight that Lovino lost his breath for a moment and loosened his grip on the metal support poles on the bed, causing him to be tugged into Antonio, who, in turn, crashed into Francis.

The three fell to the floor in a tangled heap of limps. Thankfully, in the confusion, Antonio had released Lovino who managed to scramble away.

"Dammit Antonio! I said I was coming back! S-stop crying!" The Italian shouted as he stood up and hid behind the discarded food tray from earlier.

Antonio rolled over onto his back on the floor, watery eyes on Lovino's face. "L-Lovi! Do-oon't-t gooo!" He said as he reached a hand out to him, his fingers straining for him. Who would've known that only in the most inconvenient times would Antonio make the most fucking improvements in his physical condition. Damn Spaniard.

Lovino's face softened as Francis managed to free himself from underneath Antonio's legs and ran to the bathroom, muttering about his now ruined hair. He sighed and approached Antonio, offering his hand which the green eyed man took with a sad whimper.

"I need to go, alright?" He said in an uncharacteristically soft voice as he used his other had to brush some curls from Antonio's faces "I'm not leaving forever. I need to sort out some family things, I'll be gone three weeks at the most," he tried to reassure, but Antonio didn't seemed to be reassured by that. His grip tightened for a second, and before Lovino could react Antonio had sat up slightly, still on the ground, and managed to pull Lovino down, so the Italian had oh so gracefully fell on top of Antonio's chest.

Lovino's cheeks turned red as Antonio nuzzled his face into Lovino's locks, a sad sound escaping him. He was wearing an olive green shirt today that Francis had gotten him because it made Antonio's skin look more tan, and the soft fabric rubbed against Lovino's cheek as he slowly let his head rest against Antonio's chest. N-not because he wanted it to! Because it was fucking uncomfortable for his neck to be straining all the damn time when he held it up!

"I-I'mm gunnna miss-s yo-ou," Antonio said sadly. When had his arms fallen around Lovino's hips? Lovino didn't know, but for some damn reason it felt... Nice.

"Idiota. I'll miss you too," Lovino admitted, and when he said it he suddenly realized how true it was. He would miss Antonio, and his sloppy smiles and jerky movements and happy giggles. Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit. Why would he miss him so much? Why should he? H-he was just a patient...

It felt like Lovino blinked and suddenly the position changed. Instead of his head leaning against Antonio's chest he was facing the other, and red rimmed emerald eyes gazed at the Italian's face. Before Lovino knew what was happening Antonio had leaned forwards and pressed a messy kiss on Lovino's forehead. Lovino's eyes widened and he pulled back, a light blush on his cheeks, but before either of them could speak, a loud wolf whistle interrupted them.

"Hee-eey Frannie! Check out this shit!" Lovino let out an annoyed growl and pushed himself away from Antonio, missing the Spaniard's blush. Of course. Gilbert, the annoying albino, who had been taking the time to stop by to visit Francis and Antonio and harass Lovino while he was at it, was here.

Sometimes Matthew tagged along, shyly offering everyone some pancakes that he had made for them.

It didn't seem like Matthew was here today, though. The albino flashed an evil grin at Lovino before winking at the clearly embarrassed Spaniard as he bent over to lift him back up into his bed. With Ludwig as a brother it was no surprise that Gilbert was so strong.

"What? What did I miss?" Francis asked frantically, his hair flawlessly pulled back into a bun as he hurried out of the bathroom.

Gilbert grinned and jerked a thumb in the direction of the fuming Italian and blushing Spaniard. "Those two-o were having a little ssspecial goodbye," he purred. His speech had cleared up greatly, but his thick accent and excitement made it hard to understand him at times.

Francis raised a thin eyebrow, looking exited. "Oh really?" He said, laughing when he saw Antonio's blush darken and Lovino's whole face turn red. Thankfully Gilbert showed the two some mercy and he just patted his Spanish friend on the shoulder.

"Oh, not-th-thing much," he sang, earning a whine from Francis and a relieved look from Antonio. "Anywaysss, a-as much as I love visssiting you guys, Ludwig alssso wanted the awesome me to ch-check why Lovino didn't have his ass home b-by now," the albino said as he sat next to Antonio on the bed, starting to toss a pillow in the air.

"I was leaving now, dammit! And why the hell does the potato bastard care?" He asked, making a face at the thought of the blonde instructor who had started to drive Feliciano home on a regular basis.

Gilbert shrugged in an uncaring way, flipping the pillow over in the air as he tossed it up. "Feli was probably c-complaining or ssssomething," he said in a bored tone, deciding to hit Antonio over the head with the pillow now, causing Antonio to pout.

"Whatever." Lovino ran a hand through his hair and turned towards the door, pausing to look back. Gilbert had jumped up to chat (hit with a pillow) with Francis, leaving Antonio on the bed. The green eyed man looked sadly at Lovino, and lifted a hand shakily to wave good bye with a small smile.

For some reason, Lovino found himself waving back with the same smile on his face.