"Alright, just take a shower because it'll be in the kitchen for you. Remember to- Gilbert!" She said in blatant shock as he began to take off his shirts and unbuttoned his jeans with indiscretion. She wanted to shield her eyes or stop him but she just froze where she was and stared with eyes wide. He stretched his arms up before sliding his jeans off, leaving him in his underwear and socks.

"Don't get so out of sorts, there's nothing much to see." He sighed wearily as he flicked his eyes to the door. "Your shower is the same as the one in Luddy's basement, I can work it just fine by myself, thank you." Dryly he added, "why's your face so red, would you like an up close tour of all the scars on my body?" As her face grew pained he apologized. "Sorry, Hun'." She nodded and picked up his dropped clothes and shut the door behind herself. That wasn't the most tactful thing I've ever said, oops. Nevertheless, he wasn't fazed and took his shower without problems.

The shower was refreshingly hot against his skin. It felt as if the last night was being washed away. It wasn't a long shower and he was stepping out of it before long. Pressing his temples to try to alleviate his headache but having it be in vain, he wandered out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Gilbert could hear Hungary fumbling about in the kitchen and he couldn't help but smile as he entered the space.

"Thanks for the shower. Do you have any of Austria's old clothes that I could borrow? I seem to be lacking mine." He jokingly quipped as she froze, staring at his loosely wrapped towel. She took a slow breath and replied, pushing a strand of her long hair behind her ear. So cute.

"Yes, I believe I do have some somewhere. Check in the guest room at the end of the hallway. Actually, no- I'll get it." She changed her mind as she spoke. Gil could tell he had her on edge. He cracked a devious smile as she walked passed him. Smoothly he followed her into the room where box upon box of old junk was piled up. There was a bed in the mess somewhere but he couldn't tell. "It should be somewhere around- aha! Found it." She pulled a faded cashmere shirt and beige cotton lounge pants out of a box labelled keep. From over her shoulder he could spot a few memorabilia from Austria and Hungary's marriage like their wedding ring and a photo album. It hurt his heart a bit and he couldn't help but feel a little irritated. He stood staring at the clothes she had handed him as she walked out of the room and shut the door behind her. He sighed and pouted as he let his eyes wander around the room once more before starting to dress. Why did she keep some of his stuff? I don't get it. His head was still pounding but he had grown a little used to it. I can't let Lili's sacrifice be in vain. I have to try to get my long hidden feelings across today. The shirt fit and the pants hung seductively on his hips as he exited the room. Gil planned to ask about the room.

"Hey." He took a seat at her breakfast table adjacent to her compact kitchen. Hungary handed him a cup of water along with the painkillers. "Danke."

"Ngh, it's nothing." She said as she took a seat across from him with a cup of coffee. A plate of sausage and eggs were between them. In front of both of them were plates and utensils. After swallowing the pills and finishing his water he wasted no time in helping himself. She studied him through the steam of her coffee that she had resting in front of her face with her elbows on the table.

"This is good." Was all he could say between chews. It truly was mouth watering. He had eaten the majority of the breakfast but she had also had a few sausages and eggs. When they were both done there was none left. They were quiet for some time while they watched the weather channel from the TV in the living room that they could see from where they were sitting.

"I called your brother to let him know you were safe and sound. I know I said I wasn't going to ask or whatnot but why exactly were you so trashed last night?"

"Girl troubles." That perked her attention but also made her scrutinous.

"Oh really? Lemme guess: Colby?" He sighed and she laid her hands together on her lap.

"Nope, try again." Good guess though.

"Belarus?"

"Pfft, yeah right. She's too into her brother, plus, not my type." He crossed his arms inquisitively across his chest to mimic her.

"Hmm... could it be Liechtenstein?"

"Jeez, she's a child! She is involved though, so try again." Neither of them spoke until he gave a hint.

"It's someone I used to be close to." She thought for a moment. There's literally no way she couldn't understand by now.

"Okay. Tell me how Liechtenstein is involved though." He took a slow,, deep breath and pondered where to even begin.

"I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you." She's not going to stop asking until I give in and tell her.

"Oh come on." She said in exasperation. "You can tell me anything, Gilbert, and you know it." His stomach felt like it was in his chest cavity, right next to his rapidly beating heart.

"Fine, just don't tell anyone." Itching with anticipation, she nodded. "I don't know where to begin, but Colby confessed her love to me a day or two ago, and then yesterday, Lili told me she loved me romantically and-"

"What!? Are you serious!?" He hushed her.

"Shh, ja. Why would I lie?"

"Umm, to puff up your already substantial ego?" Ouch. "Sorry, that was mean of me."

"No, it was fine. My ego can handle it." He joked. "Continuing from where I left off, I went to drink away my confliction and bad vibes. And then you picked me up from the streets I'm guessing and here we are."

"Seems like you're a hot commodity nowadays, huh? Much different from when we were kids. No one but me paid you any mind back then."

"Ja."

"I'm glad. You don't need me anymore, you have Colby and Liech to humor you now." He could sense a fleeting hint of detachment in her tone. "So, did you accept their feelings or not?"

"I turned them both down." My chest is pounding, I feel like I'm going to be nauseous again.

"Why? Colby is such a nice girl? Liech is still a little girl though, don't get me wrong."

"I guess I just couldn't see them as anything more than a friend, y'know? Plus, my heart's already been taken a long time ago." Oh gott, oh gott. I have to prepare myself.

"Pfft, by who? Yourself?" Gathering all the courage he could, he managed to keep a straight face as he looked her in the eyes and answered. Hah? He was planning to confess to her suavely but- nope. Nope, the set up was ruined so he changed his mind. He couldn't help but feel irritated by her statement. Of all the people he had hoped would believe his crutch he never thought she'd be one of them. It hurt.

"T-Took you long enough. I mean, why would Liechtenstein think I loved anyone but myself? It's unbelievable. And Colby- how sad is it to be so desperate as to confess to me? Like I care. The only one worth my time and devotion is myself. Kesesesesese, I need to spend all my time becoming a nation again. When I do I won't make the same mistakes. If anything, those girls will be useful tools to achieve my goal." While he was running his mouth he hadn't noticed Hungary's mounting anger. His cheek suddenly stung and his eyes were focused on a raging Hungary.

"You- you think you can just manipulate them? You're despicable. I can't believe I actually thought you were a good guy. People's emotions aren't playthings. You have no idea the amount of guts it took to pour their hearts out to you! Here I thought you changed but it turns out you're still chasing that stupid dream of yours."

"Hunga-"

"I don't get it. I thought since you've been dissolved that you would have learned your lesson but I guess I was wrong to think that." Her anger quickly turned to tears as she spoke. Ehhhh!? What's happening!?

"Hungary, I don't think you understand-"

"How do I not understand? You're willing to sacrifice others for personal gain. Why can't you just be thankful for still being allowed to live? This could have been your second chance to redeem yourself." She stood from her seat and moved to the couch while trying to collect herself. His heart went out to her. He didn't quite remember what exactly he said that upset her but he could at least clear her confusion on his motivation to return to being a country. He pursued her and stood before her while she laid her head in her lap on the couch. "Why?" She muttered. "You always complained about the duties of being a country, why would you want to return to that life?"

"I'm dying, Elizá."

"...What?"

"Um, I don't know if 'dying' was the correct word to use but... I've noticed that as time passes I'm slowly becoming more and more human." He said with a mournful half smile. She had raised her head in disbelief but soon realized that he wasn't kidding.

"What do you mean?" He scratched the nape of his neck as he thought of what to say. Gilbird has been accompanying me less and less and he seems to be getting more and more feeble. I've noticed new wrinkles on my face. Some of my scars have seemed to be fading. My alcohol tolerance isn't as good as it used to be. He plopped down beside her on the couch and laid back. Staring at the white ceiling above, he sighed.

"I'm about 500 years old with the body of a twenty-something year old. I can't heal as quickly anymore either. Theoretically, time will catch up with me the more human I become. It's nothing urgent. I calculated that I have quite a bit of time left so with that time I've come to the conclusion that if I reclaim my status as a country then I'll revert and then I won't be forgotten. Ah-" He hadn't meant to say the last bit.

"How can you say that so calmly?" Gilbert was surprised. "How can you say you're going to die, you can't die." He clenched his jaw tightly to hold back his emotions before going slack jaw.

"Would you miss me?" Suddenly she bellowed her answer, his body tensed up from the loud sound.

"Of course I would you idiot!" She scowled at him oppressively with tears in her eyes. He could hardly stop himself from cowering even a little bit.

"B-But why, I thought you hated me?"

"Are you dense!? We grew up together, how could I not miss you? I know we haven't always gotten along but I don't wish death upon you. You're my friend, why wouldn't I miss you?"

"Am I just a friend to you?" He hadn't meant for it to slip out but he couldn't take the words back. After she moved and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug, he didn't regret saying it.

"You're the brother I wish I had."

"Ngh." They sat there hugging while staring out the window at the snow storm in silence. "I should have died back then." He felt her body stiffen and her grip tighten.

"How can you say such a thing?"

"But it's true. I should have died when I dissolved but I didn't. I feel like I'm living on borrowed time. Ah, sorry. I'm upsetting you aren't I?"

"Does Germany know?"

"No, no one knows."

"Why haven't you told him?"

"I don't want to worry him. He's already running a country and housing me. That's why it's still my dream to become stronger." In his lap he looked at his hand and made a fist.