Hetalia x Reader: When the children cry (Songfic)

“What the bloody hell is that?”
England exclaimed as the car drove closer to their conference building. America and France looked out of the window.
“Well, dude.. I'd say that it's a demonstration.”
“I know that, git. But what are those people doing there?”
“Hm~ maybe it got out that some bigger forces are meeting, oui?”
England did not answer as the car drove through the peaceful mass to the entrance, where Germany, Italy and Japan stood.
“What is the meaning of this, dude?” America asked as soon as they were close enough to the three waiting countries.
“They are no harm. They just vant to get their message across.”
France looked at the signs the people held up. 'At least try harder!' 'Think about the future!' “I have to agree with Allemagne.” He looked at the talking masses. They did not scream, yell or throw rotten fruit at them. They simply talked with each other. “They are peaceful demonstrates.”
Other countries joined at the entrance bit by bit, looking at the demonstrates, until nearly every bigger country in the world was there.

Suddenly a guitar tune sounded from the back of the crowd. The people quieted immediately and made way for a young woman with (h/l) (h/c) hair and determined but clouded (e/c) eyes. She wore a simple guitar and plugged the strings, creating a simple melody.
The countries were amazed. She never looked down on the guitar in her hands, but instead looked at the people around her. After a while she had played this melody, several arms and hands shot out to the young woman, gripping her shoulders and arms in mental support. She stopped playing only for a few seconds before she resumed, her eyes closed and close to the front of the crowd. The signs had been dropped and all eyes were on the young female guitar player.

Little child
Dry your crying eyes
How can I explain
The fear you feel inside?

She had begun singing to her guitar play and her gentle but still strong voice carried over the crowd to the countries. Goosebumps covered the skin of most of the countries, eyes slightly to broadly widened at her singing and the lyrics.

'Cause you were born
Into this evil world
Where man is killin' man
And no one knows just why

A few of the countries noticed that some of the demonstrates had begun to wipe their eyes. Italy had his hand put over his mouth, eyes widely opened, tears threatening to escape soon.

What have we become?
Just look what we have done
All that we destroyed
You must build again

She took a breath, and smiled sadly, before she sung the chorus.

When the children cry
Let them know we tried
'Cause when the children sing
Then the new world begins

She played on while people around her put hand on their mouths, nodded and wiped their eyes, while others let the tears fall freely.

Little child
You must show the way
To a better day
For all the young

'Cause you were born
For the world to see
That we all can live
With love and peace

Her voice never wavered or broke. It stayed strong and calm, rising and falling with the melody.

No more presidents
And all the wars will end
One united world
Under God

When the children cry
Let them know we tried
Cause when the children sing
Then, the new world begins

She begun strumming her guitar lightly, another strong melodious rhythm coming from her, she slowly walked, now her eyes opened, towards the countries. The crowd silently made way for her, shuffling and listening to her play still. Then she looked straight at the countries and resumed singing.

What have we become?
Just look what we have done
All that we destroyed
You must build again

No more presidents
And all the wars will end
One united world
Under God

She never turned her eyes away, looking straight at the countries, as if making them see her feelings and listen to the song closely. Tears were now running down Italy's cheeks and he sobbed repeatedly, though more quietly than he had ever been. Other countries also wiped their eyes.
A few women next to her had begun humming an 'aaaah~' to her melody, though some of their voices wavered and broke with deep, very deep feelings.

When the children cry
Let them know we tried
'Cause when the children fight
Let them know it ain't right

When the children pray
Let them know the way
'Cause when the children sing
Then the new world begins.


She strummed a few more accords before ending finally. She had never broken the look on the countries. Now nearly every country had tears in their eyes and a painful pressure on their heart.
Italy moved next to Germany, shaking with sobs. But he wiped his eyes and slowly went towards her. Germany and the other countries looked with amazement as Italy knelt before her and mumbled something. She simply took off her guitar, gave it to a woman that had stepped forward to take it and smiled softly, though sadly.
“Mi dispiace.” [Italian for I'm sorry] He now said more loudly. “Mi dispiace. Mi dispiace. Mi dispiace. Mi dispiace.” Italy repeated again and again. “We will make it better.”
“That is what we all hope for.” she replied and helped him up. “Need a hug?”
“Si.” he sobbed.
She hugged him tightly, but very gentle.
When she had let go, other countries had come forward, tears in their eyes or already streaming down their faces.
“Je suis désolée.” [French for I'm sorry]
“Es tut mir leid.” [German for I'm sorry]
“Sajnálom.” [Hungarian for I'm sorry]
“Lo siento.” [Spanish for I'm sorry]
Many apologies came at her and she just smiled sadly but gratefully at the countries in front of her.
England wiped his eyes clean and stepped through the countries in front of her. “We all are very sorry.”
“Yeah.” America added from behind, for once leaving out any 'dude' or 'dudette'. “We really are.”
She smiled sadly and another woman stepped up beside her.
“________. Are you alright?”
“I just remembered him.”
The other one choked and held a hand up to her mouth. “I am sorry.” she whispered behind her hand. “You probably should not be here.”
“He would have wanted me to be here.”
“That he would have wanted.”
“Your name is_____?” England asked carefully and received a nod and an almost non-existent smile. “_____, is there anything we can do for you? You look very pale.”
“It is fine. I... I just remembered my little brother. He died a few years ago. He always wanted to change the world to the better.” she smiled sadly.
“I am terribly sorry.”
She shook her head softly and took a breath. “There is one thing you can do though.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” she affirmed.
Germany stepped closer. “Ve'll try our best.”
“Thank you.” she inclined her head before straightening and looking at some of the countries before her.
“Please listen to what we have to say and let the children know the right way. Give them a better future than the present that we have to endure now.” She smiled again. “And please remember me and this song for a while.”
“Yes.”
“Si.”
“Ja.”
“Oui.”
As a mass of affirmations crashed over her, a single tear fell from her eyes. “Thank you.”

-----v.*.v------

Italy woke from a dream, no it was a memory. He quickly stood up and dressed himself before going down to the running field near Germany's house. The sun had just rose and not even Germany was there, working on his endurance.
Italy begun jogging some laps, his mind in the past he had remembered in his sleep.

“Hey, _____. We have worked harder to reach a better future. The children grow up in a better environment. Less and less have to cry because of what happens in the world. We all get along now. There is the occasional fight, but there has been no war since long. We kept our promise.”

Germany had stood up at sunrise and was just drinking a morning coffee as he looked out of the window at the running field. He nearly spilled his coffee as he saw Italy jogging some laps, staring into the sky and smiling with opened eyes.
Though Italy's endurance and want to work on it had become much better, he still slept in most of the time. Seeing him so early so awake surprised Germany to a great deal.

After a few minutes, Italy came into the kitchen. A soft smile found its way on Germany's face as he heard the tune Italy was humming.
“Good morning, Germany~” Italy smiled broadly. “It's a great day, isn't it~?”
“That it is.” Germany sat down and drank his coffee, relaxed now.

When the children cry
Let them know we tried
'Cause when the children fight
Let them know it ain't right

When the children pray
Let them know the way
'Cause when the children sing
Then the new world begins.