So, chapter 7 is not the last chapter anyway :3

I do not own Hetalia

Romano had never thought before that darkness would make him feel uneasy. But now his heart is thundering inside his chest so loudly that he thinks everyone in the room can hear it, and he really hopes not. He doesn't want to be seem too hopeful, and have it shattered in the last minute. The doctor did say that the success rate is only (he persists in the word 'only') 50%.

But it's hard not to be too hopeful when there's a Spaniard sitting next to his bed, emanating the very aura of cheerfulness and hope, even though Romano has told him over and over that the operation could fail. He knows that Antonio is aware of that, but the Spaniard chose to be optimistic, and after a while, despite his best attempt to keep being a realist (a pessimist, Antonio calls him), he can't help but to be affected by the positive air.

It's like a déjà vu, when the final layer of bandages covering his eyes falls loose and he slowly, hesitantly, opens his eyes. And just like back then, the doctor says, "Mr. Vargas, could you please tell me what you see?"

He turns his head hesitantly to his side, and comes face to face with someone. That someone has curly brown hair and tan skin, his calloused palms are grasping his, and his lips are pulled into a thin line nervously. And then they lock eyes.

"They're green, you idiot, moronic bastard." He can't suppress the grin from overtaking his face, and it grows wider at the sight of the wide-eyed Spaniard. "Your eyes."

Antonio looks at him like he's never seen him before for a long moment, before his eyes light up in realization and a wide smile breaks into his face, melting the anxiety and replacing it with a joy he doesn't bother to suppress. He almost crushes him in a hug, and he releases a relieved, happy laughter, not caring in the slightest that the doctor is still in the room.

And Romano for once, doesn't try to push him away. Instead, he inhales the Spaniard's familiar scent and tries to take everything in, the warm chocolate of his hair, the tree lit up by the sunlight outside the window, and even the bland white of the hospital room. When the ecstatic feeling has calmed down just a slight bit, he holds Antonio's shoulders and looks at him within arms length, scrutinizing every part of his face that he'd tried to see once, years before. When they lock eyes once more, he lets his eyes takes the rich color of green in, and he lets himself smile along with him.

-colorful wall-

The wide prairie where they used to play is still there, green spreading at the foot of the hill, far enough from the village's entrance. The place where they spent their childhood isn't that small to be called a village, but not that big to be called a town. But despite that, the place has undergone some changes, and some of the houses and shops are replaced for bigger and more modern shops, Feliciano notes sadly.

But he's glad that their grandfather's house and several other houses nestling at the valley, slightly outside of the village, are untouched. The small houses with colorful windows and red roofs dot the wide clearing filled with grass and wild flowers. And although it's the beginning of spring, smoke can be seen from the chimneys, livening the scenery. Deeper into the chain of hills, forests grow wild and thick, seemingly undisturbed by the changes in the village.

"I bet the house is covered with dust," Romano grumbles as he narrows his eyes to look into the distance, searching for their destination. "It's been, what, more than ten fucking years?"

Feliciano laughs lightly at his brother's attitude, happily bouncing lightly forward even as the tall grass tickling his feet. "Ve… We left when we were fifteen, so yeah, it's been around thirteen years." He falls into steps next to his brother, swinging his duffel bag lightly with the cheerful sway of his arm. The wind scattering his hair feels so good and he stops for a moment, looking up at the wide blue sky above and letting out a sigh of content. He's aware of his brother stopping on his track and scowling at him, but Feliciano knows that Romano won't scold him, not this time, not here. He knows that deep down, his brother too is happy to be back to their childhood house.

When they finally walks side by side again, Feliciano decides to start a light conversation, just to ease the giddy feeling that makes his stomach churn. "Fratello, you know, I was expecting you to bring Antonio along with us." He receives a lift of a brow and a questioning frown in answer, signaling him to continue. "I mean, we're going to stay here at least two weeks, and it's a pretty long time, and you two are married, so…"

"Just because we are fucking married doesn't mean I have to bring him everywhere I go," Romano's ears are red as he speaks, Feliciano notes, and he can't suppress the giggle escaping his lips. He sends an apologetic smile when Romano turns around and glares at him.

"Besides," Romano continues after a while, cursing lightly as a grasshopper comes flying out of nowhere onto his arm. "You didn't bring that potato bastard either."

Feliciano doesn't answer for a moment, letting his mind wander back to the times that have passed. His answer comes out light but genuine. "Because I want this time to be reserved just for the two of us." He skips forward several steps before turning back to face his brother, smiling widely. "You can finally see, I can finally walk, and we can finally go visit grandpa's house. This is the time I want to spend with you alone, fratello."

Romano rolls his eyes but doesn't resist a half smile forming on his lips, and when he catches up to him, he flicks his brother lightly on the forehead. "Stupid little brother saying stupid stuff. The dumb house is over there."

Feliciano whirls around on his heels, his eyes widening in hardly-contained enthusiasm. And true enough, the house is there, the little blue house with bluer roof and a chimney without smoke, with grass growing tall and wild around it and ivies latching onto the walls and some of the windows.

Without waiting, he grabs his brother's hand and runs there, letting the wind scatter his hair and feeling the ground beneath his feet. Romano yells at him from behind, but Feliciano is too happy to respond. He laughs into the wide sky and lets the joy of freedom overtake him, overtake them both, as the house come closer and closer.

They are finally free, and they are finally home.

-fin-

Final A/N:

After 7 chapters and so many reviews that has been encouraging me to keep writing, I bring this far from perfect fic to an end.

For all of the people who have read, reviewed, faved, and watched this fic...

I give you my greatest gratitude. Thank you so much for all that you've done to this little person. There's no word enough to describe my happiness, I truly meant it. I wish the best for all of you, and once again, thank you.

~Resha04