"He looks so peaceful. Shame he had to go that way." Germany commented, consoling a sobbing Italy.

"Fratello...he's gone..." weeped the Italian. "I couldn't help him, and now he's gone." Japan stood nearby, deep in prayer.

In a beautiful church, in a heavy coffin, lay Romano's lithe body. Dressed in all white, hands folded over his chest, he looked so peaceful. He looked as if all worry had been erased. He'd done away with himself.

A single gunshot.

He couldn't take it anymore.

"First, I lose my Nonno, now my Fratello's gone. I don't know if I can take it." Italy cried, burying his face in Germany's chest.

"Italy..."

Austria dabbed at his eyes with a handkerchief, an inconsolable Hungary by his side.

"Idiot...why'd you have to go that way?" England muttered over the corpse.

Germany escorted the weepy Italian to a seat, hoping to end his anguish. He held back his own sadness.

"God..." Greece breathed, rubbing Japan's back. "I didn't know him that well, but I hate to see him gone like this."

"Damnit, Romano!" cried America, Canada sniffling silently beside him. "I can't believe you! Dying a coward's death!"

Even Russia was overcome with sadness. Ukraine cried beside him. Belarus simply prayed. The Baltics watched with deep sadness.

Prussia payed his respects, laying a kiss on Romano's cold forehead. He sat next to his brother.

"How's Spain taking it?" asked Germany.

"Not well at all. France can't even get him to come inside."

"I'm sure he'd be distraught..." a tear escaped Germany's eye and rolled down his cheek. He quickly disposed of it.

China pat Italy on the back, expressing his sympathies.

France entered, escorting a destroyed Spain inside. He'd convinced him to join them.

"You don't have to view the body, mon ami. You're a wreck." France said. He didn't look much better himself.

"I want to. I want to see Roma one last time." Spain said shakily.

France shot Prussia a worried look, the man getting up to hold to Spain's right.

The Spaniard stared silently over Romano's body, tears falling onto the pristine white lapel of the blazer the deceased wore.

"Why, Roma?" he whispered tearfully. "Why did you do it? Why couldn't you come talk to me? Why couldn't you tell me?"

"Spain..."

Italy's tears flowed harded at the Spaniard's impassioned display.

"My heart! The light in my heart is gone!" He slammed his fists on the casket. "Damnit, Romano! Why, Roma? Why?" He dropped to his knees. "My Roma...my light...my light is gone..."

France and Prussia peeled their distraught friend off of the ground, sitting him further away from the casket.

"I'm sorry, Roma...I'm so sorry...I failed you..." sobbed Spain.

"You didn't fail him, Spain." said Prussia.

"I couldn't save him. I couldn't make him see that he wasn't worthless. That he meant everything to me. Now, the light in my heart has fizzled out."

Germany stood to speak to the priest.

"Yes. Thank you. I will."

He stood over the coffin, studying Romano's face.

"He really was bright. He'll be missed."

He lay a kiss on each cheek, then his forehead, closing the casket.

"Goodbye...Romano..."

Germany took his seat beside Italy, the Italian looking up at him.

"Germany?"

"Hm?" Germany answered, sniffling.

"Do you think that Fratello is in Heaven with Nonno now?"

Germany mustered his best smile.

"Yes, Italy. I'm sure of it. He's watching over all of us."

Italy looked skyward.

"I hope Fratello's happy. He's free now..."

"I'll miss you, Fratello..."

A/N: Shit. I needed that. I'm horrendously depressed at the moment. This is to vent, I guess. I love Romano, but he reminds me so much of myself right now; hopeless and ineffectual. If I depressed you, I'm sorry. So sorry. Enjoy...or something.

LonelyHearts2008