Snow packed heavy, it weighed like the burden sinking his heart. Helpless, near inaudible sobs drifted on the silence westward to his ears wrenching fresh waves of angry tears. His throat ached, he could no longer cry the name of his brother trapped on the other side. Ludwig was powerless. Doomed to hear the pathetic whimper echo across his nightmares. How did this happen? How.. how could he let this happen?

"Ludwig..?"

The blonde shifted, shaking snow from his clothes. It made movement stiff and chilled him to the bone but hardly relieved the burn in his chest. His fingers found the brick wall, looking skyward. Soft, fat flakes continued falling gently on his face, sliding down cheeks in little cascades as they melted.

"Ludwig...?" He sounded so.. broken.

"I'm here."

"I'm.. I'm so sorry."

"Nien.. Dont' blame yourself." he pressed closer, forehead to the slick stone. "I'm here.. I'm right here."

"It's my fault."

"Gilbert..."

Snow crunched under heavy footsteps. Ludwig stiffened, listening. Frantic crunches, the shuffling of a body against the wall, tension suddenly thick on the air. None spoke. None moved. Breath caught in his throat. He tried to call but words just wouldn't come. Finally, someone defied the silence.

"You must be Gilbert.."

"...W-Who are you?!" More shuffling, desperate for escape. Trapped.

"Bruder!" That voice.. Ludwig knew that voice...

"It sounds like someone's going to miss you. I'm sorry, but terms are terms."

"Terms!?" Suddenly, the Prussian was ready for a fight. "What terms!?"

"Of surrender."

"I NEVER SURRENDERED!"

"I'm afraid you get no say in this." the stranger was advancing closer.

"LIKE HELL I DON'T!"

"B-Bruder!" Ludwig pounded on the wall, trying desperately to find a handhold to boost him over the barrier. Vicious screams and gunshots rang out from both parties, his mind ran wild trying to imagine who had the upper hand. What was Russia here for?! Why, why was he after his brother?!

Another shot and everything went quiet. A body hit the wall. Snow crunched under heavy steps, shuffling of clothes. No voice.. no screaming. Ludwig's eyes welled, blurring the sky. The small, helpless voice that finally spoke did not belong on the proud blonde's lips.

"G-Gil... Gilbert...?"

"He's alive, just unconsious. So very fiesty he is..."

"G-Give him back!" The snow fell faster. Burying him into the massive drifts. Slowly devouring everything around him.

"Terms are terms, little German. I'm afraid I cannot. Don't worry... I'll take good care of him."

"N-Nien! Bruder! GIVE ME BACK MY BROTHER!"

But that voice never came. Never told him it would be alright. That it was all just some terrible dream he would wake from. No hands were there to brush away the bitter chill, no lips to melt away the frost from his mouth. No passion to stoke the heart in his chest.

This was no midnight's cruel illusion. He was alone. Completely and utterly alone.

And the snow kept on falling.