Final final chapter.

It took me some time to decide how to go about this chapter. I didn't want Arthur to wake up giving Alfred a blow job after everything I put him through. So in the end I made this one shot a part of the story: The day the world map changed. You don't have to read it for this chapter to make sense, but it shows what happens while Arthur and Antonio are away. (It's been written 7 years ago, so don't judge me)

Hope you enjoy :)

chapter 12: y será amor

Antonio was nursing a cup of steaming coffee against his chest. A very strong coffee. Vicious hangover was slicing his skull in two and making him sick to the pit of his stomach. But that might have been the alcohol that was yet to make it out of his system. He had the very distinct and pressing need to make it to the nearest bed and not move in the next few centuries. A toilet bowl would also do. He wasn't picky.

Then again, the nausea was probably caused by his own sickening guilt. His heart was wrenching itself to pieces and he wanted to sob with how sick he felt. Romano's hard gaze gave him little room for escape. The boy was sitting across from him with hands crossed and lips pursed tight. Antonio had the sickening realisation that he knows. That was a stupid idea. There was no way for Romano to know, but what if?

He swallowed and lifted his cup to his lips, but hot steam hit him hard and made him think better of it. He blew a small futile breath into the scalding coffee and put it down.

"I'm going to give you only one chance to explain yourself. You better make it good." Romano said and Antonio's heart lurched. The boy knew. Somehow. He knew. Sickening panic clogged his veins and terror gripped him by the throat.

Of course he knew. Arthur's and his past selves probably hadn't had quite as many inhibitions about being together. The world be damned.

His heart sunk at the thought.

What he had found soon after coming back to the real world was that the Britannica Angel wasn't all powerful after all. He had taken the two of them away from this world, but had replaced them with their alternative universe counterparts. Antonio was yet to hear a proper explanation that didn't contain some crap about the universe not being able to tolerate empty spaces and creating new countries to replace them.

It was sheer guilt that stuck at his throat and prevented him from speaking. He had thought that he had made a choice. A choice that at the end would be the best for everyone involved. In that distant universe, he had chosen Arthur. But Arthur was not here now that he had to explain to Romano that not only had he cheated on him repeatedly while the boy was taking care of his alternative self in this universe, but he had promised his heart to another.

He felt lightheaded with what he was about to do. The coward in him still tried to reason that there was a choice yet to be made. That he could spare Romano the pain and ignore Arthur. His relationship with Arthur existed on a razor-sharp blade that would only go rusty now that there was no war ramp up their adrenaline. All he had to do was lie here and now. Deny everything and they could continue existing as before. Romano and him in a sweet, cosy bliss. Arthur and him in hatred that would now be a bit more honest.

Antonio blew in his mug wishing that it would cool down sooner.

"Well?" The boy demanded sharply.

"The Britannica Angel took me to another universe." He was stalling, but who could blame him? He hated what he was about to do with every cell in his body and he was not ready.

"Me?"

"And Ar-thur." The name cut through his throat, leaving it painfully raw. To think that he hadn't had any problems moaning it in complete abandon just the previous night.

When nothing happened, Antonio chanced a glance to Romano. The boy's face had bunched up in an emotion he couldn't recognise. His lips had twisted so painfully he could see the glint of teeth.

"What…" He started, but his vocal cords didn't really agree with being used.

"What happened was that you fucked off to somewhere, leaving us with a blood thirsty bastard and an idiot that thought that this world belongs to them!" Romano's voice exploded in volume. "What happened was that half the world became Spanish and British colonies overnight. Only God knows why humans didn't bomb this planet out of existence. Our brilliant explanation was that bushy eyebrows in a short skirt had somehow magicked history into oblivion. Do you know how fucking ridiculous that is?"

Antonio leaned backwards at the outburst. His hangover definitely had something against the high-pitched decibels that Romano's voice was reaching. He decided that now was not the time.

"On top of that…" Romano wasn't done. Not by a long shot. "On top of that the only two people that might have a clue were too busy drinking themselves in a stupor and screwing everything. By that I do mean everything and especially each other."

The sharp gaze that focused on him, made Antonio shudder. Romano practically growled the last sentence. There it was. The truth sunk heavy in his stomach.

"So when I ask you to give me a fucking explanation you give it to me." The unspoken threat of or else hung heavy in the air.

"I…" Antonio shut his mouth. What was he supposed to say? The truth for starters would be a fucking good place. Philip was right. He did have a habit of leaving his messes to other people to clean up. It had only taken him five centuries to realise it. He had almost caused the end of the world and he had left Romano to deal with it. "I made a wish to the Britannica angel."

It didn't feel like the words were coming out of his mouth. It felt like someone else was saying them. Another person in his body. A smile blossomed across his face. That felt familiar. The smile of a man ready to die and the tranquillity it brought.

"You made a wish?" Romano's voice was harsh, like a whip preparing to strike.

"I made a wish." Antonio confirmed. "I asked the Britannica Angel to bring Arthur and I to the past."

The blow never came. Instead Romano's bravado shattered in front of his eyes. The boy's face crumpled so quickly Antonio wanted to get up and scoop him up in his arms. Centuries' old instincts kicked him over the head, but he had to stand his ground. Right now, he was not the person who had raised Romano from a tiny tomato. He was his boyfriend and he had just shattered his heart to million pieces.

"Idiot." The boy muttered weakly and somehow Antonio didn't think it was meant for him.

The silence stretched between them. The truth stood impenetrable. Antonio felt strangely disjointed from reality. He had said something. Something he would never be able to take back or excuse. Yet he was empty. Empty of regret or remorse. Empty of emotion. He had spent it all in those agonising months when he had been trying to reach a decision. Now that he had. Now that it was out and everything had been done he felt oddly at peace.

Even if it didn't work out with Arthur he could still live, knowing that he had given Romano the freedom to find someone who wouldn't be swayed. Romano deserved better than him.

The boy stood up from his chair and gingerly pushed it forward, underneath the table. Antonio watched him go with unsteady steps. As if there was nothing left between them.

That thought chilled him to the core.

"Romano, I didn't mean to…" He stood up sharply, but empty green eyes shut him up. Romano deserved better than this. He choked on his sheer inability to come up with the right thing to say. Nothing could make this right.

"I'm not stupid." The boy said evenly. "I've always know that you and him…" Romano's voice trembled and that seemed to break his train of thoughts. "Well, when I saw them together and you two bastards weren't here… but I was still hoping that you…"

Romano inhaled sharply, eyes watering.

"Romano." Antonio stood up, fully intent on making the hurt go away, even if he was the one that had caused it in the first place.

But Romano didn't want anything from him anymore. The boy turned around and walked out of the room, not giving him a chance to do anything.

Antonio took the steps towards the world meeting room two at a time. He was going to be on time. Ludwig would be proud of him. At least he would have if Antonio hadn't nearly caused World War Three and the almost certain annihilation of this planet with one careless wish. He was more than willing to come forward and deny that fact till the very end. There were only two people who knew the truth and he was sure he could rely on one of them to share it with the world.

Voices echoed off marble walls and Antonio's pace slowed down as he recognised both of them.

"I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem." Arthur was saying.

"It was the only solution, England. History was changed overnight and we had to prevent a war."

Antonio climbed the last few steps and took the last corner. He doubted anything other than war could make Ludwig's voice tremble like that. But the man felt the burden on his shoulders heavier than any of them. God knew they all had every reason to feel just as guilty. If not more.

"I understand. I'll make the statement." Arthur said with a calmness that betrayed his true emotions.

Antonio rounded a corner and his eyes fell on three men that were standing half way to the end of the corridor. His attention immediately focused on his lover's face and an emotion he now knew the name of tugged sharply at his chest. It pulled him forward, through the brightly lit corridor, and towards the group. With the corner of his eyes he could see Ludwig speaking, but it wasn't until he got near that he was finally able to recognise the last person. Alfred F. Jones. Their eyes met and the boy took a step towards the lithe blond that was speaking.

Antonio took a sharp breath as he watched the youngest of the group reach to put an arm around Arthur. The brit swapped it away, without even interrupting his sentence. Antonio couldn't help the possessive grin that tugged at his lips when his eyes met blue ones. Alfred carried absolutely no fault in this entire mess. If there was anyone to blame it would be him. Despite that knowing that the man who stood between them was truly his, made funny things to his brain.

Pain shot through his shoulder and Antonio stumbled forward. A figure walked passed him.

"Don't ogle, bastard. It's stupid." Romano said without even looking at him.

Antonio blinked at the quickly retreating back.

"Wait." He reached for the boy, but the fine material of his suit slipped between his fingers.

Antonio followed quickly in an attempt to catch up, but Romano didn't slow down. His reason told him to leave the boy alone. He would not be forgiven so soon. But his heart demanded that he made sure Romano wouldn't spill any unnecessary tears over a bastard like him.

Arthur's sharp gaze stopped him at the door to the meeting room. Raised eyebrows asked him what the hell he was doing and he would be damned if he had an answer to that question. He just had to make sure that Romano would be alright. Eventually. But this here was another urgent conversation that he needed to have.

He opened his mouth to say exactly that when a booming voice interrupted him.

"I think it's about time we start then." Ludwig said and took a step towards the door, crowding them inside the room.

Antonio was pushed forward, through inside an already full room. Flashing eyes turned towards him, scorching him with disdain and hatred. There were more than a dozen that promised a few hundred metric tons of steel and explosives as a way of greeting. Antonio took a deep breath. He deserved worse than that.

Francis obliged him by getting up from his seat, hands crossed, a deep scowl set on his face. His gaze smouldered in the worst kind of way.

"We're waiting." His friend said with none of the warmth he was accustomed to. Why did Antonio think that coming here would be a good idea? It was worse than he ever imagined it would be. But between separating with Romano and nearly killing his people he didn't think he had enough emotion for anything else. Wrong. So fucking wrong.

"As you all well know…" Arthur said, stepping in front of him. Antonio couldn't help but be grateful to his lover for taking the lead. Shame and guilt sealed his lips and he couldn't look anyone in the eyes, let alone speak. "… a wish was made to the Britannica Angel with unforeseen consequences."

"A wish was made?" Francis, waved his hand dismissively when Arthur tried to continue. "Not good enough. Which one of you two idiots made the wish and what was it?"

"Magic is a volatile thing. Especially in the hands of the Angel." Arthur reasoned instead. "It doesn't care about what happens in this world, as long as it continues to exist."

"We're not here for the hocus bogus lesson. Tell us what happened and better make it the truth."

"What?" Arthur's voice rang around the room. "Are you going to tell me that you've never asked the Angel for anything? You've never desired anything so badly that when someone promises you to make it true with the wave of a hand you couldn't say no? Damn the consequences?"

"Why are you defending him?" Francis asked, head jerking in Antonio's direction.

The air around them went still at that single question. Everyone looked at Arthur expectantly. It was a fucking good question. The last time they were seen in a room together they had been ready to throttle each other. Now Arthur was trying to bullshit Antonio out of a very sticky situation, effectively putting his neck on the line. They couldn't lie to Francis. He had known them for long enough to be able to smell their crap from miles away. Backstabbing and betraying each other for centuries taught you people's character the hard way.

Antonio also looked at Arthur, his heart trembling in expectation. It was all well and good to shout on top of your lungs that you love someone in a world where nothing was real. It was easy to declare it in front of dead monarchs that had lost their grip on their countries centuries ago. It was a very different thing to proclaim it in front of the people they had been in love with yesterday. To say it in front of friends that would probably oppose this union till the very end. To stand up by each other in front of the world that would despise them even more of it.

A sneer cut through the air and Antonio realised that there had been someone who didn't give crap about Arthur's answer. That someone must have seen the hope etched on his own face.

"Roma…" He took a step towards the boy that had jumped on his feet.

A hand grabbed him by the wrist and he was twisted backwards. Sharp green eyes cut through his very being.

"Don't touch him!" Romano shouted, but Antonio doubted Arthur even heard him. The blond's attention was so focused on him that the room around them was starting to fade away.

"Is that your final choice then?"

The words broke Antonio to pieces.

No, it wasn't. He had chosen and he had chosen the man crumpling in front of him. Arthur's eyes were stung red with emotion that made Antonio ache. It was hard to believe that he was the one causing so much hurt. He could have never imagined that the blond could fall apart so completely over someone. But here he was, sanity held by a thin thread, the end of which lay in Antonio's palm. He grasped it tightly and tugged the man closer. He knew Romano would heal. The boy was more resilient than anyone gave him credit for. But Arthur? Arthur had been his since their very first marriage in a warm autumn day back in 1177. Nothing could change that.

Antonio wrapped an arm around Arthur's shoulders and pulled him closer. He had to believe that everything would be alright. Romano and Alfred would find someone who would care for them just as deeply as he felt for Arthur. His lips brushed against a soft mouth. He had to also believe that this… Arthur returned the caress, breath inviting and warm… this would last.

"I'm yours, corazón."

Strong fingers grabbed his hair and Antonio let himself be swept away. He was painfully aware of every eye in the room staring at them and the slamming of the door. But his heart was racing with the tender emotion he felt for Arthur and his body ached for the man's closeness. None of the hostility aimed at them could make him let go. Not until Arthur understood that this was his final choice.

"Oh mon Dieu!" Francis sighed in exasperation. "We just suffered through the fake ones' PDA. Do we have to watch you two as well?"

Antonio felt Arthur's grin tug against his lips. They both raised a middle finger in their old friend's direction.

The world meeting room exploded in chaos in a long-lasting tradition.

Arthur's fingers were absentmindedly tracing Antonio's hand. From the dips between strong fingers to the sensitive palm, he retraced the same path over and over again. He had taken up most of the couch, with his feet up on the recliner and his head on Antonio's lap. His lover was gently tugging at strands of his hair, but he didn't mind it, not one bit. They had come after the world meeting to the castle, so he could pack a suitcase and they could get lost on a remote island for a month or two. The rain that was currently tapping on the windows had caught them by surprise. He couldn't care less when he got to be alone with Antonio.

Arthur tugged his lover's arm forward, bringing his wrist to his own mouth. He playfully licked along the gentle skin and felt the tremor that ran though his lover's body. As nice as this was, Antonio had remained quiet since the meeting. Arthur knew perfectly well what was eating at the man and had graciously decided to give him time. That didn't mean that he wouldn't try to distract him from his thoughts.

"I don't think you've ever been to the Buckingham Palace."

Antonio's eyes darted around the exquisite room they were sitting in. "No, not personally."

"How about a tour then?" Arthur sat up, a grin playing along his lips. "I'm sure there is at least one room that would be of interest to you."

A door opened and they looked at the person that was slowly approaching them.

"Arthur!" The woman exclaimed in joy and before Arthur could react fingers pinched his cheeks. Hard. "I had to hear from the telly that you are back to normal! How could you not call me? Do you know how much I worried?"

"I'm sorry!" Arthur sputtered, trying to pull himself away. "My Queen!" He protested loudly.

"You better be." Elizabeth straightened herself up, looking him up and down through stern eyes. "Look at you! You haven't been eating properly, have you? You've lost at least a stone."

"I've been eating." Arthur informed her seriously and stepped on Antonio's foot hard. That only made his lover giggle harder.

"Oh, Spain?" Elizabeth turned curious eyes towards the man sitting next to him.

"Yes, Spain and I…" Arthur stopped himself. Times had changed, hadn't they? He had nothing to fear now. "Antonio and I have gone back together."

"Oh dear!" Elizabeth exclaimed, eyes darting between them. "Who would eat my meals now? Alfred always seemed to love them."

The door opened and the Queen's PA rushed inside. The man whispered something in her to which she nodded in agreement.

"I have to go now, but I will see you for dinner." With that she was gone, leaving them alone.

"I already like this Elizabeth much better." Antonio proclaimed without a second thought.

Arthur reached over, twining their fingers together. He turned to look his lover in the eye. "She is going to cook for you, so you better stay."

"I'd love to stay, corazón." Antonio whispered, leaning in closer, pressing a warm kiss against Arthur's lips.

teabrows: yes, I'm pretty sure that they were human in this story. I'm kind of sad I didn't get to use them more. Just like Antonio I was imagining this to be more of a fun romp across the ocean, but that didn't happen. But if anyone asks I still believe that Arthur and Belarus make a kick ass team.

I'm also no longer going to be updating this account. I haven't been doing that for awhile now. But I wanted to finish this here, since it started here.

Still let me know what you think. This feels like a real accomplishment xD

Cheers

funga_fu_fu