Fate's Strings (2p! Hetalia x Reader)

Chapter Nineteen and a special preview

(AN: I'm sorry for the long absence guys. I've been in a long period of writer's block on top of being super busy with school and work. But here's a long awaited chapter! Plus I have included an excerpt of something new that I drafted up today. Most of my stories for the 2ps have focused on them as a whole, apart from Amusement Park Interlude. I thought that for the next one I do, I should have a smaller focus. So because of that, I will most likely be using the idea for the 2p FACE family.)

"(Name)....?" the girl who had just walked into my apartment was just as surprised as I was. "You're here...!"

"Casey?!" I exclaimed.

    She dashed over, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug.

"I can't believe it! After so long of looking for you, you just show up back in your apartment? Everyone told me to give it up...that we weren't likely to ever find you. But there was no way I could just give up on you!"

My eyes were beginning to tear up. "I'm home...I'm sorry for making you worry...Knowing you were searching for me this entire time...makes me so happy."

"I'm so glad you're safe," she let me go, and I could see she was just as emotional as I was, probably even more so. "Where have you been? What happened to you?"

"It's a crazy story..."

I had absolutely no idea how I was going to answer that question. If I told her the truth, it wasn't likely that she would just believe me. I didn't want to lie to her, though. Plus, I didn't have a cover up story to tell.

Her eyes were suddenly very sympathetic as she took my hands in hers. I probably had a strange look on my face. She was most likely thinking that remembering what happened was painful for me.

"It's okay," she smiled. "You don't have to tell me until you're ready, okay? For now, all that matters is that you're home safe and sound."

"Thank you, Casey..." the relief was apparent in my voice.

"Everyone is going to be so happy that you're safe!" she suddenly grinned, pulling out her phone. "I have to let them all know!"

"Everyone?" I was confused.

    Who on earth would be looking for me other than Casey? I couldn't really imagine anyone noticing I was even gone, apart from maybe the people I worked with.

"Some of your family members, our old friends, your coworkers," she named off a couple. "There have been plenty of people helping me look for you."

"Wow..." I muttered. "That's actually really surprising..."

"Tsk, tsk, you shouldn't be surprised, (Name). Other people do care about you, after all."

I laughed lightly. "I guess you're right. Have you been staying here this entire time?"

"Ever since your boss told me she had reported you as missing," she nodded, sitting down at the small table. "My work has been pretty generous. They've been letting me do my work from my laptop. Because of that, I've been able to stay. Your landlady has been pretty nice too. She had no problem with letting me pay the rent instead so I could."

"You've been paying the rent?!" I exclaimed. "You didn't need to do something like that...Just tell me how much it is and I'll repay you, okay?"

"Yeah, right," she teased. "With what money, (Name), dear? I know for a fact pretty much all of your paychecks go towards rent, food, and college. You don't have that much saved up."

I felt extremely bad, putting her through all of this...

"I'm sorry, Casey...I've put you through so much..."