Part 2.

A.N: This chapter is not less realistic than the first. All the events discussed in this second part are authentic and the agreements made between the two countries as well.

The only things that are not real, and it's truly sad, are Veneziano and Ludwig.

Tomorrow arrived too fast and not fast enough. I had waited for him so long, but I felt not prepared enough for his visit. I didn't know if I should dress my heart with joy for his come back or with dread for the perspective of his definitive loss.

In another hand, as the hours passed, I grew impatient. The words I wanted to say to him, the questions that burned my tongue, the pleas I was ready to do to get an answer, everything danced in my mind, leaving me in total confusion as to what I should say to him when he would be there.

Eventually, the door bell rang, at twelve o'clock sharp.

I could hear the violent pounding of my heart. I hesitated, my hand frozen on the door knob. Would it be better if I never knew the 'why' of our alliance's downfall?

No. We needed to settle things, even if it was for the worst!

I opened the door and my heart almost jumped out of my chest when I saw him, for the first time since what felt like forever.

He was as beautiful as ever, he had not changed and I was glad that he looked healthy.

-" Hello, Italy."

-" Good morning, Germany." He said as a greeting. It was actually the first time he greeted me without a hug.

And I realized how much I missed it.

I let him in and closed the door. Then I felt like an idiot because I didn't know what to say. Should I ask him right away for explanations, should we talk about what Nations are supposed to talk about? Who was that person? The Italy who came for a diplomatic visit or the Italy who came to say hello to a friend?

-" The lunch will be ready soon...I hired an Italian cook, a chef from the best Italian restaurant in Germany."

He gave me a weak smile. " You didn't have to, but thank you."

I lead him to the living room where I had prepared some appetizers and a bottle of mosel wine for starter.

He sat down and stared blankly as I poured us wine.

-" I came to discuss the cooperation you proposed in Afghanistan." He said after a little while. It hurt, more than I had expected, to know and finally realize that he was here for diplomatic purposes and not for me.

-" Is that so?" I asked, my emotions leaking through.

He noticed my discomfort, I could tell, because I saw his lower lips tremble for a fraction of a second. He cleared his throat to answer me:

-" Yes. My boss agree to that, so I accept."

I set the bottle of wine on the table a bit too harshly and Italy shuddered.

-" Then, I have changed my mind!" I said, overwhelmed by my emotions. The tears would not reach my eyes, I have enough control on myself to prevent that, but I couldn't do as if I wasn't affected by Italy's behaviour.

-" What?" He asked, surprised. " You have changed your mind? Why?"

I stood up, wishing he would do the same. But he remained seated.

-" Yes, I changed my mind, I have not asked the Nation of Italy to ally with me in Afghanistan!"

-" But, your Mister of foreign affairs said that..."

-" I know what I asked my minister of foreign affairs!" I almost shouted, was it rage or sadness, I didn't know any-more. " I was not asking the Italian Nation...I was asking an old friend."

-" Germany" Italy couldn't keep his act any longer and his eyes became wet. Tears poked out at the corners of his eyes, ready to overflow at any moment.

-" Obviously, I have lost that friend." I pushed the cruel words out of my throat, regretting the as soon as they were spoken.

My eyes became a blur but I held on my pain. I'd let it out when I'll be alone.

And suddenly the table fell down, along went the wine and the food. Italy had launched himself at me, wetting my costume with a fountain of tears.

I wanted to shove him away but I closed my arms around his little frame instead.

-" Germany! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Ludwig! Please forgive me!"

-" I've forgiven you a long time ago already, Veneziano." He cried in my arms for a time and we both remained silent. I told myself that it was certainly the last time I'd hold him like that and I tried to savour the moment for the time it lasted.

He pulled out eventually, when the river had dried on his cheeks.

-" What do you think? " I dared to ask.

Italy sighed deeply. " I think of what his best for my peoples and my country."

-" But what would you think if you could think what is best for you?"

-" I am not allowed to think for myself." Italy answered blankly.

-" What if you could?"

-" If I could...I'd think...That I miss you."

I forced my heart to calm down.

-" You miss me?" I asked.

-" I've missed you since the day I last saw you." He admitted, his eyes avoiding mines.

I helped him to sit down on the couch and I sat down next to him, not too close but not too far either.

-" Then, why, Italy? Why did you leave like you did?"

He took a big breath, probably to strengthen himself.

-" My boss wanted me to be more independent. He said I should meet and bond with other nations. I know that our bosses don't get along well and there's nothing I could do about it. My boss said and did stupid things, he is not really appreciated by my peoples, my economy is degrading and all my boss does is fooling around...I was obliged to take over a lot of internal matters...I was ashamed of the condition of my country and I know that Germany doesn't like it when I am weak!"

-" Italy, you idiot! I would have helped you!"

-" You have done so much for me already...I would have been...I've always been a dead weight for you."

Was it so? He cared more than I thought! I felt my heart swollen all of a sudden.

-" I don't care, Italy...I would have helped you anyway, like I've always done and because I care about you!"

He seemed surprised and I could help but think that it was unfair.

-" You care?"

-" Yes, don't you remember? I love you." Why was it so easy to say those words now? When it was too late maybe.

Italy's smiled a little.

-" You used to say that Nations couldn't be exclusive and thus, couldn't be in love."

-" Well, it's often necessary to be altruistic, being a Nation. But sometimes, I don't want to be a Nation, I want to be selfish and listen to what my heart says."

-" Germany has never been that open-hearted before." Italy laughed.

-" I've never had that much time alone before! Italy..." I placed my hands on his. I'd probably never say things like that again in the future, I knew I was being overly dramatic and it was so very unlike me!

-" Italy, please, tell what what you want."

-" What I want?" He finally deigned to look at me in the eyes.

-" About us...What do you want? And I don't speak about Afghanistan or any other world's crappy matters! I'm asking you...what does Veneziano want?"

He lowered his gaze to stare a moment at my hands on his, then looked up at my face. I could see that there was a battle going on inside of him, between his heart and his reason. I couldn't blame him, because I knew how it felt.

After what seemed like an eternity to me, his expression softened. He smiled confidently, in peace with himself now that his internal fight was over.

-" Veneziano wants Ludwig." He said, and then, he kissed me.

He did more than that and he said more than that. For a time, we forgot about our peoples, our bosses and the whole obligatory European diplomatic mess! It was only us, like two hot-blooded humans.

We were not two Nations building an alliance, we were two living beings renewing old and strong bonds and loving each others with all our heart, soul and body!

I had forgotten how good it was to love Italy and to be loved by him, how right it felt to be together like that and how much I had missed 'us'!

-" I love you!" He whispered between moans. Damn! Everything about him is so beautiful! I never want to lose him again!

Ever!

-" Stay with me, Italy!" I let out in my moment of bliss-driven euphoria.

He didn't answer, probably because he was too busy with that orgasm of his. I didn't mind not getting an answer, since I was, myself, too preoccupied with the same matter!

Later, we had to get back in our respective role, because there was a lot of talking left to do.

It was fine, though, because we did so during lunch and Italy seemed to really appreciate the pastas made by that Italian chef I had hired.

Also, after our re-acquaintance with each other, we both felt rather good.

-" Dispite what you said" He smiled jokingly" I still wish to ally with you on the Afghanistan's reconstruction and disarmament project !" Italy said.

He had just finished his second plate.

-" You are very welcome." I replied with a smile. " Did your boss agreed to meet mine in Hanover?" ( Annual Italian-German summit)

-" Yes, they'll meet in April. My boss might be an idiot, he knows that this meeting is of importance for the future of both our countries."

I couldn't help but smile. He had grown up in maturity over the past years and I was proud of him. All the training I had provided him with, sometimes a little forcefully, proved useful, finally! I knew I was right not to give up on him.

-" I am glad." I said, taking a sip of my beer. " And what about the case we brought in front of the tribunal?"

-" Hu that?" He looked thoughtful for a moment. " It complicated, you see: It's 50 families who asked for war compensations. It's their right to do so, as per the Italian law. I know that you have paid enough already, but there's really nothing I can do about this!"

-" I can't pay for this, because of my legal immunity in your country...You know that Your law stipulate that I can't be put in trial in your country. That lawsuit was defamatory! That's why I sent you in front of the court myself."

-" I know that, Germany. The procedure itself is flawed...But what about those 50 families?"

-" Come on! It has been more than 60 years already..."

-" You are right, it is clearly a case of law abuse. The problem is that, that kind of things are sensitive! Ah what Can we do?"

I thought for a moment, then I got an idea.

-" I know! We'll do like they do in Belgium with their BHV case ( those who are truly interested can ask me for info about that), but we'll do that with a bit more finesse!"

-" Oh?" Italy served himself a third serving of pasta.

-" We'll put this case 'in the fridge' as they say."

-" How do you propose we do that?"

-" I've had the brightest idea!" I reminded myself of my brother as I said that. " You and I will hire five historians each and we'll let them work on this case for us!"

-" But Historians usually need a lot of time to come up with something!" Italy whined, not quite following me.

-" Exactly, we'll give them ten years. More if it's necessary!"

Italy understood and laughed. " Germany is very smart! It's okay, we'll do that!"

And, only like that, after less than one hour of discussion around a delicious meal, we had cleared all our personal issues in a most effective way!

Why should we stay away from each others, when it was that obvious how a good team we were?

Hopes I had given up resurfaced and I wished it could still be possible now. Us, working together effectively, aiding each others, getting stronger together and soon being a model for Europe...

An example to look up to.

Italy and Germany, independent allied nations sharing commons views, standing together side by side, eyes and mind directed toward a better future for our peoples and our country.

I lifted my mug of beer, he lifted his glass of wine and we shared a toast. " to us!"

I looked deeply into his beautiful eyes and found my hopes reflected inside of them.

Yes, you and I, we can make it become true.

No human, be it a boss or citizen, would ever break what we have. Because we are Nations, we will always do what is best for our peoples! But sometimes, we'll stop to listen to our heart.

And do as we truly desire.

Ende ~ Fine ~ End

A.N: There is much more to say about Germany and Italy actual relations, their political, economical and cultural agreements. ( just Google it!). Of course, both countries have friendly relations with other countries. But like Guido Westerweele said ( 21 december 2009) "There's no other country in the world to whom Germany feels that close". I am of the sceptical type, but after I made my own researches on the subject, I realized that it was true.