A/N: This is just a little drabble I did for two of my Hetalia OC's. Just for context, this is from an AU where most of the nations have children. Alexander and Alexei happen to be the offspring of APH Austria and APH Russia, respectively. I hope you enjoy!
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Alexander asked shakily, his grip tight on the steering wheel. Alexei nodded and placed a gentle hand on Alexander's knee.
"Yes, I'm sure." He spoke softly. "We've been together for three years now. Why wouldn't I want to meet your mother?" Alexander's gaze flicked over to Alexei's face before returning to the road. He didn't speak for a while, leaving only the hum of the car engine and the sound of tires over tarmac to fill the silence between them. Finally, Alexander nodded.
"Okay." He said softly, trying hard to choke back tears as he pulled over next to the cemetery. It took Alexei a few moments to process, but between the quiet tears and Alexander exiting the car, it wasn't too difficult to read the situation. Alexei undid his seatbelt and followed Alexander. They walked in silence until they came upon a grave with a simple headstone that read "Helena Hartmann-Edelstein; A beautiful soul taken far too soon. May she forever rest peacefully." Alexander knelt down in front of it, pressing his fingers to his lips and then to the headstone. Against the headstone rested a framed photograph of a lovely woman and her family, all smiling brightly.
"Here she is…" Alexander gently picked up the photograph and handed it to Alexei.
Upon seeing it up close, Alexei saw that the woman - however beautiful she was, with her long, raven hair, bright green eyes, and sweet, loving smile - looked frail. She sat in a hospital bed, tubes and wires hooking her up to machines that were working to keep her alive, and yet she still smiled and wrapped her thin, weak arms around her children. Sighing, Alexander stood up.
"She's pretty." Alexei stood beside Alexander, carefully looking at the photograph. He could tell that the young children in the picture were Alexander and his twin sister, Maria. They smiled, and their smiles were cheerful. It was like they couldn't yet tell that their mother was dying.
"Yeah, she was… She died of cancer when Maria and I were ten. Papa insisted on using a picture where she doesn't look weak, but Mama wanted this one in front of her grave."
Alexander smiled weakly. "It's been awhile since I last came to visit her ...I miss her." Alexei knelt down and carefully placed the photograph back.
"Hello, . It's nice to finally meet you." Alexei smiled softly. "Xander's told me so much about you." Alexander watched, tears flooding his eyes again.
"Lex?" He questioned, hardly loud enough for him to hear himself.
"I heard you love drawing and painting. Xander must get it from you. You should see some of his pieces! Our art teacher, , keeps trying to convince him to submit them to the student exhibit at the gallery, but he never thinks they're good enough." Alexei laughed slightly, resting his head in his hand. "Maria's doing well, too. She recently got the lead role in our school play, and she was chosen as a soloist at her dance company's next contest! You must be so proud of your children." He stayed there, talking to Alexander's mother as if she were still alive, for a good hour or so. Alexander stood back, part way between laughing cheerfully at his partner and crying hysterically over his mother.
"Well, it was really nice to talk to you, ma'am. Before I go, I just wanted to say thank you. Your son means the world to me, and it feels wrong to not thank the woman that gave him life. You've raised such a wonderful young man…" This was the last straw for Alexander. He fell to his knees and began sobbing grossly into his hands. Alexei glanced over and then back at the grave. "I promise I'll take care of him." He mimicked Alexander's earlier action of pressing his fingers to his lips and then to the headstone. Then, he stood and walked back to Alexander, carefully helping him to stand. Alexander sobbed into Alexei's chest, clinging to him tightly. Slowly and gently, Alexei began leading Alexander back to the car. Once he was able to stop the tears, Alexander looked up.
"S-sorry…" He sniffled, wiping the tears from his cheeks. "I wasn't prepared for the emotional impact of that visit."
"It's fine, Luchik," Alexei said, smiling softly. "I'm glad I finally got to meet your mother."
"I think she was glad to meet you, too." Alexander forced a smile. "We should get home."
"We should. I'll drive." Alexei kissed the top of Alexander's head.
"Alright." Alexander climbed into the passenger seat, buckling up his seat belt. He looked over at Alexei as he climbed into the driver's seat. "I love you, Lex." Alexei looked back at him, a soft look on his face.
"I love you, too, Xander." He smiled, leaning over to plant a kiss on Alexander's cheek.