Okay, so for the revised version, this is chapter 1. Throw out everything you've thought about the story so far, and start thinking over again.

Disclaimer: Hetalia belongs entirely to Hidekaz Himaruya (日丸屋秀和) The revision doesn't change that.

...oOo...

The Code

November 9, 1989

Gilbert and Ivan stood back to back. Rain poured down on them, washing away dirt and blood.

Ivan squinted through the encroaching darkness, aiming his gun at an enemy he was not sure was existed. Even when night fell, and his fingers were numbing from the cold rain, he never faltered. He knew that as long as Gilbert was at his back, he had nothing to fear. Just to check, he leaned back. A soft wall of warmth greeted him.

They stayed like that for a long time. With Ivan fighting his invisible enemies, and Gilbert just trying to stay alive.

The rain fell harder and Ivan heard laughing in the distance, off to the side. He spun around immediately with fire in his eyes.

"If you're going to shoot me, then do it!" Ivan shouted into the surrounding darkness.

"I'll only shoot if you do." Another voice taunted from the other side.

Ivan swung around to aim his gun at the new voice. "Prussiya, you watch my right."

He waited to feel the other nation shift against him, or to hear the cocking of a gun as he took aim, but none came.

Trying to stay cal,, he pressed back against Gilbert again.

There was no response, but he was definitely still there. Gilbert had not abandoned Ivan again.

"Russland..." Gilbert's usually strong voice muttered.

Keeping his back to his companion's more firmly, he kept his gaze trained on the void.

"Did one of them hit you?" He had not heard a gunshot, but the rain was pouring down so hard that it may have muffled an assassin.

He felt Gilbert collapse. Keeping his gun up, he looked down over his shoulder.

It had not hit him, until that moment, just how pathetic they must look. Their clothes were so wet that it clung to their lean frames. Well, Ivan's frame was lean; but the other looked like he had been wasting away. And they were fighting without moving. They knew that they were surrounded by enemies, but they did not know how many, or where they were, much less what they were doing.

Gilbert clutched a hand to his chest, the other holding him up from the wet pavement.

"Es ist Westen," he rasped.

"Germaniya?" Ivan asked.

Gilbert shuddered and then coughed, spitting blood onto the pavement. "Ja... Es ist Deutschland..." He looked up at the violet eyes of Ivan.

"Give me your gun." The bigger country was focused on the invisible enemies again.

Gilbert handed his gun up to him wordlessly.

"Are you going to surrender?" Ivan asked.

"Nein... Noch nicht..." he was breathing heavily.

"You're dying, Prussiya," Ivan said emotionlessly. "You can't even speak English anymore, and I can't protect both of us forever."

"Russland..." Gilbert coughed again. "Look at me."

Ivan glanced down coldly, then turned away. "I can't."

"Then listen to me. A nation's heart is his capital. If it is divided, then there are two countries, like Westen and I. But once they are reunited, there can't be two."

Without looking down, Ivan asked: "Then why are you dying and not Germaniya?"

Gilbert chuckled darkly. "I guess I wasn't awesome enough."

Ivan scowled. "Seriously Prussiya, you're the one who said to listen, so keep talking."

"Alright," Gilbert then groaned and fell onto his side on the ground. Ivan did not move at all. "Everyone on my side of the wall is hopping onto Westen's side... My people are leaving me..." he trailed off and rolled over onto his back, so he could look up at Ivan's face again. "I never wanted to abandon you."

Ivan simply cocked the gun that had been handed to him and aimed it to his right. He had guns loaded and aimed in two different directions, trying to cover them both. "Keep going, they are getting closer."

"I never wanted to abandon you. I..." he trailed off again and closed his eyes.

"You what?" Ivan spared him a glance to make sure that he was still alive.

Gilbert whispered his response, "I didn't want it to end like this."

"... Neither did I," a tinge of regret entered Ivan's voice.

"If everyone from Westen's side was coming over to mine... I would..." he hesitated before deciding that it was now or never. "I would give you Berlin."

Ivan's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "I never wanted to invade you Prussiya. Why would you do that?"

Gilbert laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face and he ended up on his side again, with his back to Ivan.

"What's so funny?" The other nation demanded.

"You..." Gilbert fought to catch his breath, his breathing still abnormally fast after. "You really don't get it, do you."

"Get what?" Ivan finally looked down at him properly. "Is it some sort of code?"

Gilbert chuckled again, keeping his back to the taller nation, "Ja, it's code."

Ivan noticed that Gilbert's breathing was getting shallower. He rolled over to look at Ivan one last time.

"I'll give you Berlin if you give me Moscow." His eyes began to close. "That's the code..."

...oOo...

A/N

Newcomers to the story: Welcome! I have the plot pretty much mapped out, though I'd still love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. I respond to all reviews =]

People who have been reading and who have been awesome enough to actually go back and reread the first two chapters: Thank you for your patience and understanding. I'd like to hear what you think of this and where you think it is now going.

~Happy Browsing!