Oh my god guise. This is the last chapter. It's so surreal! A whole year! Dang... So shockingly, Go-chan's and my roles flip flopped as the week progressed xD At first I was the evil bitch that wanted to wait on updating to make you guys die in the suspense and she was feeling bad and then I was getting all antsy, wanting to update to know what you guys think and she's all "I WANT THEM TO HATE US!" It's totes amusing x3 It's been a great year with you readers. We love you all and hope you'll continue to watch us for stories!

Prussia was gone.

Like Rome and Germania before him. It was simple. Prussia no longer existed, not as a nation, not as a state, not as anything. Why should the personification still be around in this case? It was a stupid and childish hope to believe in something like that.

But then, why was he crying? The tears rolled down Germany's face and his lips pulled back to reveal his tightly ground teeth in the pain of it all. The only time he could remember crying like this since childhood had been when Prussia was pried from his fingers in the separation of Germany. Then he had been the only one in hoping that he would survive Communist rule. Probably because then he still had that shred of a child in him that believed in the immortality of his beloved older brother, much like a son considers his father a super-hero.

At some point, though, every son realizes the mortality of their father.

Germany had grown up. And Prussia was not coming back this time.

"Fuck!"

The dogs dared not enter the room, and flinched in their respective spots in the house at the shout of anguish. This was the kind of pain that one was left alone with, because no outside force could possibly break through the wall each tear built around those that are left behind. It can be incredibly destructive, the anger fueling a lashing out by these people should they be touched for a time. They are angry at the world for taking happiness from them. For ripping it from their grasps.

He had been happy. He had been so, so happy. Prussia was with him. Prussia was safe. No wars for him to fight. No friends for him to lose. Ever present in that glass case Germany kept him in that consisted only of peace and joy for the albino. And there Germany could watch him, selfish and almost insane. It was all about Prussia with the man. Keeping up the nation left to him in a way that would make him proud, forcing long hours in the office, because none could possibly be left to Prussia. No, he was left to his video games and his friends. All in that glass case. Through his tears Germany could practically see the shards surrounding him of that perfect life he had built with the large, rough hands covering his face.

Honestly, how was he any different than Russia? The man obsessively built a world around those that he owned when he did, keeping their eyes always on him. Two incredibly controlling men when it came to those that they held dear. And when such people were forced away? Their ending was also the same. Completely broken and alone with their depression and the puzzle pieces of their lives before to remind them of their failure.

The puzzle pieces came in many forms. Anything that Prussia touched, that had an experience connected with him. And it could be the stupidest things too. His toothbrush. About how he always hated doing his teeth in the morning. A magazine he had bought featuring one of the online games he would play and scream at. The camera he used to take pictures of himself for his blog. And with all of these items came floods of memories unlinked to them. How Prussia had had to teach Germany how to dress all over again when he was little, because he had the awful tendency of mixing up buttons at first. How they could play football in the sun for hours and hours and come in and be scolded by the maids for trekking in mud and smelling of sweat. That laugh Prussia had given when Germany took an immediate disliking to France, and the one when he had seen the face of childish delight any time young Germany caught sight of a dog. It all come down upon the man in a matter of minutes with such force and feeling he couldn't move for hours, too busy was he picking through all of the sensations and images and peeling them off like scabs so by the end he could be left with a pain so great he was numbed to the point he was able to go about his day.

The dogs were fed and let out. Accumulated documents were read and edited and signed. Dinner was cooked. When he came up with two servings he covered the second plate and put it in the fridge. But not for Prussia when he woke up from a nap. For himself when he was hungry later. It was a dull and senseless action that he couldn't apply feeling to after what emotion had been used up. And in that same way without thinking about it or planning it he slept on the couch that night. No thought need be finished towards the subject. Both bedrooms reminded him of Prussia. Nor did he want to further torture both himself and another that had been left.

Fritz appeared just as lost as Germany. During the length of his owner's illness he had kept up the post of a constant guardian as much as the lover had. He had refused to budge from his side, peeping sweet songs in his ear in an attempt to sooth away the frightening dreams he had seemed to be suffering through it all. None of the chicks came to comfort him. It was Fritz's job and his alone. But that did not console him when all at once he woke at the sudden lightening of the pillow on which he had slept and turned to see no head of inviting silver locks. What was a Gilbird without his Gil? A bird, just a regular old bird.

And in that respect, what was Germany without Prussia?

As the days went by the others visited. France, Spain, Italy, Sealand, even Austria and Hungary. Never could a single one face him alone. And as a group they didn't dare ask about the whereabouts of the knight. It was known what had happened. They simply tip-toed around Germany and asked what they could do, tried to sympathize and sooth him. But in return they found a deadened and unresponsive man that replied in detached answers. Those blue eyes had absolutely nothing behind them. And yet...

Later they all agreed. At what appeared to be completely unexpected and random times a sudden burst of feeling came into his eyes and face. It was like they were seeing that boy from centuries before. Eyes lost in an unfamiliar world, one that was cold and unfeeling towards him. Then it would be gone. He wasn't going to be saved by Prussia this time around.

They all always left. Prussia had been the one to pull him from the darkness then, and with him gone there was no hope of anyone else being able to do it. In silent agreement they came to the conclusion that Germany would eventually bring himself out of it. It would take time, but it would have to happen, for his survival. And time was all he had as a nation.

A week to them that have lived centuries is nothing. When the mark passed Germany hardly noticed, at least not knowingly. But on this day he did have another scene of feeling after the length of nothingness.

It had started out normal enough. The dishes had piled up, and ultimately he brought himself to clean them for the first time since it happened. When he turned to put a dish in the drying rack it slipped from his fingers and crashed to the floor to break into countless pieces of numerous sizes. It had been the first sudden loud noise in a week, and it pierced the silent reverie that had painted itself around him.

"Scheiße," he mumbled and bent down to begin picking up the pieces. Halfway through he cut his hand on one of them

"Scheiße!" He yelled. The blood pooled in his palm. Just like the color of... God he was pathetic. He sat on the kitchen floor and leaned back against the cupboards, fisting his hand so the blood dripped out the sides like the tears dripped down his face. "Scheiße."

White.

Everything was white. Endless white. There was no way to tell how far it extended; it all blended together. It was blinding. It was painful. It was nothing.

Prussia wasn't sure how long he just laid there, on that white surface, staring off into white. It was worse than being in Russia's house during a snowstorm. The blizzard moved. The blizzard made noise. The blizzard made him feel alive. This was nothing. Was this death?

So many thoughts filtered through his mind as the white wrapped around him. West must be so upset. He probably wasn't going to eat right. He was going to bury himself in work. That was why Prussia finally gave into the dreams. So he could get this over with! But it was taking longer than expected… He needed to get back to West.

Fevered dreams had plagued his mind when he slept. Germania was the main character and occasionally Rome made an appearance. Sometimes the dreams were about the short time he spent with the ancient German. Though, they were different than he remembered. The man had dizzy spells near his end. Dizzy spells much like the ones Prussia experienced.

And that last night, he didn't just disappear. He gave each of his charges a kiss on the forehead and whispered advice into their slumbering ears. When he reached Prussia that night, he promised great things for the tiny knight. But there was a warning in his promises. Don't hang on longer than needed.

Too bad Prussia wasn't one to listen.

How had he escaped this for so long? Was it his unnatural amount of ego? Of willpower? Had it really taken that long for all the strength he had to dwindle away until the forces of the world decided to take No one was there to answer. It was just him and the white. Maybe if he closed his eyes, he would wake up from this dream. Surely it had to be a dream. Prussia was supposed to fight for his right to remain. Prussia didn't lie on the ground, motionless, and stare. Continue to stare. But in the white all that was left to him was the memories. And all he could do was watch like a man tied to a chair before a television.

"I don't know why they bother. You aren't even supposed to be here, da?"

On a bed lay Prussia. It was a sickeningly familiar scene. Those plain walls, that feeling of dread, there was only place this could be: Russia's. The very man sat beside him, absentmindedly peeling back the bandages on the albino's arm as if it were tape he was pulling off instead of blood dried wrappings. At an especially bloodied wound he leaned down to whisper in the man's ear as he ripped. "You are nothing anymore. The little one no longer has the right to live as one of us, da?"

Prussia could only wince and squeeze his eyes shut in a desperate attempt to block out the Russian. He did belong. West thought so! He had friends...

"How is he still around?" France and Spain stood in a deserted hallway during the break of a meeting. They thought they were alone, but Prussia could hear them.

"Are you sure England didn't do anything? I don't know how else it's possible," Spain trailed off and looked to the floor biting his lip, "I remember when Rome..."

"What do you think you two are talking about?" A Germam bark came, and it was then followed by the blond man from round the corner that appeared to glare at the two.

The two blushed at getting caught and hurried on their way before the protective German could yell at them. Prussia slowly inched away, before his brother noticed he was there, with a lighter heart. West believed in him...

They thought he couldn't hear as they talked in the other room. They thought beer and Hungary's sweets could distract him enough. No, he could hear their whispers.

"He looks so healthy for a dead nation," Austria's disbelief was obvious even in his whispers.

"I guess he's always been the type to overstay his welcome." Despite her harsh, sarcastic words, Hungary held a frown.

"How long do you think it will last?"

"Maybe a few years. He could just be being stubborn about it and-" The woman actually yelped shortly when her chair jumped.

"Entschuldigung," Germany apologized after 'accidentally' grazing her seat with his side. His gaze was not so apologetic.

Prussia smiled and finally took a bite of a sweet. He could imagine the look on their faces now that West caught them. West was always there. Always believed...

Till now.

"Gilbert."

White exploded into greens, blues, browns. As Prussia jumped to his feet, he found himself a top a grassy hill, forests expanding all around him. The sky was a deep blue and the sun provided a sudden, embracing warmth. Several feet away stood the man plaguing his dreams.

"Germania?"

The man held his arms crossed over his simple short sleeved tan tunic, face as emotionless as ever, though with that ever present faint irritation. "Welcome to Limbo," he said in his clipped speech.

"Yeah, great," Prussia stomped toward him with a fierce glare. "Now let me go back to West!"

At the heated look Germania didn't even blink. "You can't."

That wasn't the answer Prussia wanted to hear. He growled and struggled to not yell. "Well why the fuck not!"

"Simple," the blond shrugged, "You're dead."

"I'm not dead," Prussia countered, showing a sudden strike of intelligence. "Limbo is in between."

Oh? He'd grown a brain over the years. Germania gave him a nod. "Closer to dead... But yes. In between." He shook his head, those long strands of blond hair flying. "You stayed too long. Can't go back now."

"Why not! I'm not hurting anyone staying!"

"Breaking the laws. Country no longer exists... Neither does the person."

Laws? What laws! Prussia struggled to resist punching the warrior. "West needs me!"

To this a brow was quirked above passive green eyes. "You're so sure?"

He had wondered that plenty enough. But West had assured him of the answer! "Of course he does!"

To this his guide sighed. "Come." In that single order he led Prussia to a nearby pond. And, naturally, this being a form of Heaven, it held some of the most beautiful clear blue water. Without another word he pointed.

At first when Prussia grudgingly peered into the water he saw nothing but it's bottom. Then, as he blinked, the reflections on the water began forming into haphazard shapes that gained familiarity quickly. Soon backgrounds and colors were added, and it was obvious what it was showing.

"Doitsu, Doitsu!"

Over a hill came the Italian, carrying two small cups of gelato to Germany whom he had left to sit in the grass with the soccer ball they had been battering on for hours. Seeing how the idiot was running Germany hopped up to catch his own cup before it could spill over. He shot the brunet a glare, before he sighed and in it's end gave an actual smile.

"Danke." The return welcoming gesture from Italy was a kiss to the cheek. Over the years such a thing had become commonplace for the anti-affectionate German, but now he blushed as he had before. This earned him a laugh.

As the two ate Italy piped up. "I wanna take a bath with Doitsu!"

"Was?" A fit of coughing, the treat going down the wrong pipe in his surprise.

"Well we have before! Too bad there aren't any rivers around here like before, huh?" Italy smiled, leaning to affectionately nuzzle his love's cheek.

Another flush. Blue eyes turned to the side, shoulders slumping a little. He was smiling bashfully though, despite himself. "Ja," Germany chuckled, "too bad."

"Do you not remember?"

"A little... Here and there. They're coming back to me slowly. At least not in the sudden rush like when I first realized I was the Holy Roman Empire."

Brown eyes fogged a little in joyful tears. It had been so painful for Italy, thinking that that small blond boy was dead, never to know that he returned his feelings. But now here he was, his best friend, his lover. With a hiccup he tackled Germany to the ground.

"Oi!" The attacked held his cup away, just barely managing to save it. When he noticed the tears he became a little frantic, setting his treat aside and hugging the Italian atop him. "Er, Italia, I'm here now, right?" In his fervor Germany kissed over either brown eye.

This appeared to work. Italy giggled then leaned forward to place a sweet kiss on the German's lips. "Yeah. You're here. You're here and you're mine."

"No he's not!" Prussia's yell disrupted the scene playing in the water, dispersing it with ripples. The albino turned to Germania, shaking and desperate to hold back angered tears. "West would love me no matter what he learned!"

"Gilbert," Germania trailed off. "Can't you understand?"

"Understand what!"

"You weren't... Meant to live this long."

"What the fuck-"

"You're so stubborn!" A jovial laugh followed the insult as Rome's head suddenly appeared from the slope of the hill as he crawled up to join the Germans. As he got to his feet and brushed himself off, the man whacked Prussia on the back in an attempt to be friendly, but only succeeded in sending the albino a few steps forward. "Just come to Heaven already! Your brother has heard the song! Ooooh-"

"I know the fucking song, but I'm still not going!" Prussia yelled, backing away from the former lands. "Let me go back to West! I just came here to tell you to fuck yourselves and let me get better so West would stop worrying!"

"Not after your last stunt. They remember you now," Germania said, shaking his head and sighing at the memory. As a druid it disappointed him greatly to what magic had been left to.

"My last stunt?"

Rome laughed again and wrapped his arms around Germania's shoulders to lean on him. "You can't just suddenly plop the minds of three nations from their past into the present without getting the attention of higher powers!"

The mind of three- Oh that fucking Brit. "Are you kidding me? That wasn't even my fault!"

An otherwise dead face - pun intended - grimaced. Besides that Germania ignored Rome more or less. "Doesn't matter. You'd been stretching it. Now you're with us."

"No fucking way!" Prussia turned on his heels, determined to run as fast as he could, but the grass itself seemed to be against him and tripped him up, sending him to the ground.

Rome laughed and nuzzled Germania as he watched Prussia curiously. How could this strange man be connected to Germany and Germania? It was quite amusing! "You can't leave on your own accord!"

With a sour scowl, Prussia rolled over to glare at the men. "Then let me go!"

The smile on Rome's face fell slightly as he detached from Germania to squat in front of the albino. The frown turned into a puppy dog pleading look as he whined, "You're willing to make my grandson lose the chance for happiness with your brother? You and Germany were never supposed to happen. You should have disappeared before your connection grew to the next level. Can't poor Feliciano have a chance?"

While Prussia sat, dumbstruck by this statement, Germania too blinked in surprise. Immediately his brows furrowed and he stepped forward to kick Rome's side and send him into the grass. "Not the way to say it. Never supposed to happen? Boy had his chance. Didn't take it." Maybe it was because it was through a looking glass that he had seen him at first, but here actually with Prussia Germania regained that protective instinct for the boy. "And now my grandson is the sad one. At least this one chanced it with him. Chanced it and had him happy"

Rome pouted and remained face down in the grass as Prussia looked up to Germania with hopeful eyes. With the empire's statement, the egotistical ass suddenly couldn't find confidence in his actions. All that he could hear were the words ricocheting in his mind. 'Never supposed to happen.' Prussia swallowed nervously and asked feebly, "Are you on my side then?"

A sigh passed through the ancient's lips. He turned, faced Prussia, and crossed his arms with a risen brow. After a moment he nodded, pointing his chin towards the other side of the hill on which they stood. "Go. It's already been a week. Over even. Don't make him wait longer."

"A WEEK?" Prussia yelped frantically.

"No! Wait you can't do that!" Rome jumped to his feet in disbelief. He shot a glare to the stoic blond and growled, "We don't have the authority to make that decision! And he doesn't belong there anymore!"

Green eyes narrowed. "Don't act like you didn't see. In the pool. There was the one future. It was faint. But still there. It, they will never happen. Not if he stays here. That wouldn't have appeared. Not if it wasn't meant. Are you willing? To take happiness from other descendants?"

The Roman lost the fire in his argument and flopped onto the ground again. He sighed and, before Prussia could question the vague statement Germania made, waved his hand in the air dismissively. "Get going kid. Just make sure my grandson is happy."

Prussia didn't need to be told twice. He ran to Germania to give him a giant hug and a kiss on the cheek before running off down the hill, practically leaping for joy. He was going back to West!

Once there was no more sign of Prussia a side glance was given to the pouting Roman, then the blond counterpart rolled his eyes. "You just wanted another to pester in death."

"Maybe~" He sang, smiling up at his friend. "Perhaps you can comfort me after this disappointment though! Not to mention you owe me for all the strife we're going to get for letting this happen." Rome paused, waiting for some sign of acknowledgment from Germania, then gave up and said with a giant smile, "Let's have sex~"

It was an instant response from a man already descending the other side of the hill. "Go to hell."

"Only if you come with meeee!"

Sight. Sound. Smell. It surrounded the albino knight as he lay in a patch of grass. This forest looked so familiar... A small smile came to his face as he realized this was where his first memory resided. Waking up here and existing for the first time.

Suddenly the peaceful clearing and set of mind were broken. He was back home. Prussia jumped to his feet with a giant grin. West! He could return to West! How did he get to the house from here anyways?

What did it matter? He needed to get going now. If he ran fast enough he could get there before the day ended! He needed to go now!

Being reborn of sorts gave Prussia a new source of energy. He ran and ran, continued to run and could run forever. The house came into view. His heart stopped. He had been gone for god knows how long. How could he just walk in? Would West be mad?

Prussia halted in front of the door. It was so strange. He was so excited to be back. But he was so scared. What if he had to go away again? West wouldn't be able to handle that again. What if Italy really was supposed to have him?

Thoughts of two separate yet connected men were disrupted by incessant barking. Aster stood by the door and scratched it nonstop.

"Italia, I don't need anymore pasta. Just go home. I have to-" That wasn't Italy standing at his doorstep. It was most definitely not him.

For a number of silent minutes the two stared at each other, unsure. Despite her former actions Aster was not tackling Prussia, but instead keeping behind Germany in waiting. What were they doing? He was alive, standing there, and all they could do was stare.

Damn. He wasn't prepared for this yet. But oh how we wanted to hug that awkward blond. But for some reason he couldn't get his body moving. Instead, Prussia took a page from Germany's book and awkwardly squeaked, "Hey West."

And he needn't move. With his speaking it set things in motion. Testing, Germany reached forward and touched the wrist of the ghost before him. It was solid, warm. In that assurance he took that wrist and pulled Prussia forward into his body. A shaky breath was released by Germany as he held Prussia tightly. This was real. He was real.

The silence was overpowering. Prussia clung to his love and laughed airily. "You didn't think they could keep me away, did you?"

"Kept you long enough," Germany murmured, practically unmoving besides the shifting of his head to press his cheek against those unruly locks.

This was the man he loved. This adorable, hulking German that was socially awkward and stern as hell. And he was Prussia's. Not Italy's. Not anyone's but his. Any lingering worries dissipated from Prussia's mind as he nuzzled into Germany, taking in his scent with watering eyes. "I know West, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I took so long. I love you West. I'm never leaving again."

Taking in a breath and letting it out through his nose Germany pulled back to stare into the face that had occupied his mind since the beginning of everything for him. "Good," and herein he kissed him.

Everything was so perfect in West's arms. Prussia smiled into the kiss and pulled them closer together yet. Air was no long a necessity as the slow, passionate exchange passed between them. They slowly parted lips, but remained pressed close. Words were on the top of Prussia's tongue when a frantic chirping came from inside the house, a tiny little bird flying at his face soon following.

"Fritz!" Prussia laughed and let go of Germany only to hold the bird and nuzzle him. "I missed you too."

While Prussia loved upon his small friend Germany continued to hold him. "He's been completely lost."

"He's not the only one," Prussia said quietly, kissing Germany again. "And I want some Wurst."

He should have known. This earned him a sigh and, "du bist komisch."

"Yeah I know, but I need some food in me so I can fully appreciate returning to you." The kiss he planted chased away any doubts as to what he meant.

That may have been a smile with Germany's small blush, but he was saved by Aster when in his entering Prussia had her around his knees whimpering. Even Blackie left his bed to come and greet him with Berlitz. Smiling in delight, Prussia bent down to pet the dogs. But he was quick to wrap his arms around Germany again to kiss him. "Ich liebe dich."

There was an unhidden smile. "Ich liebe dich, Bruder."

Another kiss was shared before a small nuzzle. "Can you cook and not let go at the same time?"

"I don't believe that possible," Germany started but was then forced to change in finishing at that pouting expression from his love in response to which he sighed and added, "but I can attempt it," with a kiss. Because no matter what he did he ended up wound around his pinky doing whatever he wanted. Such were the trials and tribulations with a Teutonic lover.

End of Trials and Tribulations of a Teutonic Lover

It is done. Finished. No more. I can't even-Is this real?

This has been quite the journey. It was the first fic Haya and I did together, and my first real one, since my other's were oneshots or lame things I just dropped. I feel like with TaToaTL I grew as a writer and maybe as a person. I looked more in depth at characters than I ever have before. And I have all of you to thank for that. If it wasn't for you dedicated readers, I probably wouldn't have felt such a deep obligation. Danke ^/^

Thanks for sticking with us to the very end. I hope you continue to do so through our current and future works

Entschuldigung = Excuse me