1,141 words

The platters were abundant with festive foods, the trays stacked with cakes of unimaginable shades of crimson, peony pink, ocean blue, and forest green. I smiled. The Christmas holiday at Alfred's house was always a joyous occasion. All the major countries joined in the festivities; England, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and of course, myself. China was invited, but he could not come, because he caught the flu. But for this gathering, the countries addressed each other in a more casual manner.

"Hey Ivan! How are you doing, mon cher?" I reciprocated Francis' grin, but he only let out a nervous laugh. I suppressed the urge to chuckle.

"Oh, comrade, I am doing well. How are you?" I replied cheerfully, and the tension in the older blonde's shoulders eased away slightly.

"W-well, I'm doing well as well! So, how about that weather, no?" Francis started, laughing gently. My grin broadened.

"Yea. It's snowing like no one's business back in my country."

"Oui, I have gotten tons of snow too and-"

"Next time I see General Winter, I'm going to take my pipe, lather it in icy hot, and shove it up his ass! Hahaha! See how he likes it, da? Haha!" I joked with a hearty laugh. Honestly, I only wanted to say the comment to offend the man. As I predicted, the Frenchman gave me a mortified stare, his eyelid just beginning to twitch. I only laughed harder, until I saw him. My breath hitched, my eyes widened. Even though we had our differences before, I couldn't help myself. Hell, I couldn't even help myself before. He was perfect. His golden tresses were a perfect frame for his beautifully sculpted face. His eyes were orbs of cerulean sea, which thoroughly captivated me. But most of all, I missed that smile of his during those frigid years. I yearned for its warmth and radiance. And I had the perfect plan, with the help of my neighbor, to obtain it.

"Excuse me Francis; I have to go for a moment." I mumbled, still in a pleasant daze as I stared at my lovely sunflower. But Francis chuckled, and replied, "You know, mon cher, I am the master of l'amour, and if you need any help, just tell big brother Francis, alright?"

"Okay, whatever…" I replied, taking long strides to meet up to my sunflower. He let out a particularly loud laugh at the insulted face of his old charge. I put my hand on the blonde's shoulder, and he tensed up considerably. I suppressed the urge to frown, and put on my signature grin, for I knew what would happen.

"Hello Alfred, hello Arthur, how are you doing?" I began cheerfully. Arthur gave me a nervous smile, and Alfred flashed his own signature grin.

"Hey Ivan! How are you doin'?" Alfred replied with his regular cheerfulness. It's almost as if he completely forgot about the years we had fought, and I felt a small wave of relief well in my chest. I memorized the gentle curve of his pink lips when he would smile, the adorable little dimple that formed in his chin. His cerulean eyes were a perfect reflection of his ebullient attitude, and I loved the fact that his happiness was reflected toward me.

"…Ivan? Ivan? You okay? You got a cold, or are ya drunk already?"

Immediately I shook myself from my reverie, to meet Alfred's eyes. His expression transformed from jolliness to embarrassment, and I felt a pang of guilt as Arthur began to snicker at the younger's sudden timidity.

"Oh, no, I am fine. I just am, what do you call it?…" I stuttered, tumbling over my words like they were a landslide of rocks. Feigning ignorance was my best way to shut myself up from saying anything that might upset him. My plan had to go perfectly, or it would fail miserably. I struggled to keep my composure when Alfred bit his lip unconsciously, awaiting my answer. The way those rouged, lush lip became tinted at the pressure from his teeth, the way his eyebrows furrowed quizzically, made me become flustered, and I began to fidget.

"In a daze?" Alfred offered, releasing his bottom lip from its porcelain-colored prison. His gorgeous, beautiful lips, that I wanted to capture with my own, and to ravish and caress. The heat rose to my face, and the room suddenly became smoldering.

"Um, da, yea, that's what I meant." I responded, trying to keep my talking brief. I needed Alfred alone. Arthur, however, had other plans.

"So, Ivan, I saw you and Francis were getting chummy, weren't you?" Arthur said, his tone a cross between accusatory and… envious. I frowned.

"Well, it is a party here, no? Am I not supposed to talk to anyone?" I replied, pulling off another 'ignorant foreigner' act. Arthur followed with his own frown in suit.

"I didn't mean it like that, of course not! It's just that, Francis and I haven't always gotten along, and I thought you were making an alliance." Arthur replied, becoming slightly flustered, and a blush rouged his cheeks. Realization struck me, and I smirked. I knew exactly how to get rid of him, and to be able to spend alone time with Alfred.

"Well, I think I just saw him take China to his room, and they were talking about something more… interesting than alliance plans." I baited, waiting for the feisty Englishman to take it, and be lured toward Francis. Arthur's face contorted into anger.

"Damn cheese eating monkey! When I get that wanker, I'll, I'll!" Arthur grumbled in fury as he strode toward the exit of the ballroom. I chuckled, and Alfred let out a light laugh. It was so charming, that I couldn't contain the smile that arose from heart.

"Wow, Iggy sure is angry. He took the bait like a sucker though." Alfred said after a small silence. I looked to the blonde, and he smirked. "So, Ivan, what do you really want, anyway. Leading Iggy away must mean something." I was at a loss for words. He had me where he wanted me.

"You acted cute to get answers from me, and you predicted that I would use Arthur's crush on Francis to lead him away, didn't you. You also saw through my 'stupid foreigner' act."

"Maybe, but is that really so hard when you're so willing?" Alfred replied cheekily, stressing hard and willing sensually. Of course, he didn't know what I had in store for him.

"I should be asking you that same question, Alfred." I retorted flirtatiously, and my mouth tugged unconsciously into a smirk. The sexual tension has always been there, but I truly fell in love with the blonde-haired, blue-eyed country. "Maybe we should take this conversation… somewhere else, shall we?"

Alfred smirked, and I led him to my room.