Note that this fanfiction takes place well after the Great Depression. Lithuania is visiting Alfred in modern times.

And the fic is rated M for violence, not sex.

Chapter One:

"…And the bathroom is the second door to the left and the room right behind it is where you'll be sleeping," Alfred stated as he pointed between both doors. "My room is right across from yours so if you need anything I'll be right close by."

"I see," Toris replied as he readjusted his grip on the worn-out bag that he was carrying. As a brief silence settled between the two Alfred turned around and sniffed solicitously, bright blue eyes peering over the rim of his glasses.

"Is this alright?"

"Very," Toris answered as he slowly looked between the doors, windows and was even studying the off-white wallpaper.

"Okay. Well, I'll let you get settled in and I'll see you in the morning." Alfred was smiling brightly now, pushing his glasses back up his nose. He reached over and gave Toris a hearty pat on the shoulder, moving to the side so that the brunette could step through. "I know you're only staying for a few days but make yourself comfortable. The house is yours, including the kitchen, so do whatever you want. It'll be like when you were with me before, except you won't be cleaning." He chuckled at the last bit as he walked over to the guest room where Toris would be staying and opened the door. He gestured for the other to go in and he did just that, stepping passed Alfred and looking around for a place to set his bag down. He put it by the bed and then turned around, smiling softly at Alfred and waving.

"I'll see you in the morning."

"See you in the morning. Do you want the door closed?"

"Please."

"Alright. Good night." Alfred leaned his head forward, tipped his invisible hat and then shut the door.

Once the door was shut Toris sat down on the side of the bed with a quiet sigh through his nose. He looked around the room, fingers brushing lightly over the surface of the comforter. The room, oddly enough, was quite similar to the one that he'd had back when he'd been living with Alfred. The same could be said about the entire house. Despite the fact that Alfred had moved since Toris had last been in America the house had, for the most part, stayed the same. The main difference was what was inside. Last time Alfred had had electric lights, a nice stove, a radio and a few other things that ran on electricity. Now he had T.V., stereo, and various other mechanical devices that were considered mandatory in this day and age and a little more.

Toris sighed, louder this time, fingers pressing against his heavy eyelids. He yawned as well, holding the air inside of his lungs until his sides started aching and then dropped his hands down. He then changed into his pajamas and then crawled into bed, ignoring the dry feeling in his throat and falling asleep.

When he woke up the sun was still missing and he felt as if someone had stuck salt down his throat. He grumbled underneath his breath as he pushed himself upright, body still sore from the ten or more hour flight that he'd taken to get from Europe to America. 'I need water.' He thought to himself as he slowly pushed himself upright.

He stepped out into the hallway, arms wrapped around his torso to protect him from the cold that surrounded him outside of his bed sheets. He headed straight for the kitchen, blinking against the stove light and then searching around the cabinets for a cup.

Toris was standing in front of the sink drinking water when something caught his eye. There was a photograph sitting on the windowsill on top of the sink. It was black and white. However, that wasn't what caught his eye. It was the people in it.

Toris had stood off to the side to watch Alfred try and setup the new camera that he'd just bought. Alfred had spent the entire time either cursing or excitedly talking about it. When he'd finished he stood up, dusted his pants and motioned for the brunette to come over.

"I've always wanted to have one of these but I never got around to it," Alfred smiled proudly as Toris looked into the camera's round black eye. "Damn shame considering they've been 'round for so long. But ain't no time to linger on the past! Now I've got one and I want to use it."

"Do you want me to take a picture of you?"

"No, but I'd like it if y'took a picture with me." He replied as he moved around the other end of the camera. Before he started touching anything he leaned over to look at Toris with a small smile. "Would that be alright?"

Toris already knew that just by looking at Alfred's eyes that he wasn't going to be able to say no- it was like trying to say no to a puppy. So he inclined his head for a quick nod, smiling to himself as Alfred's lips opened for an excited grin. "Alright! Go stand right over there so that I can adjust this thing!"

"Should I change-?"

"No, no. I don't want anything fancy or stuffy. You look just fine as you are."

Toris could still remember that day almost as if it were happening now. He remembered how happy Alfred had looked, told him to smile for the picture even though they had to stand there for about a minute to let the picture take, how he'd kept his arm wrapped around Toris' waist while they posed and how the warmth from Alfred's arm went straight up his spine and down into his toes…

He didn't know how long he'd been standing under the stove light holding the photo when he heard a sound somewhere in the living room. He turned his head before quickly setting the picture back where he'd originally found it. Then he walked over to where the living room was, walking around the corner to see where the sound had come from. "Alfred?"

His eyes readjusted to the dark and he spotted a figure in the dark, along with-

'That's not…'

The moment that Toris realized that there were two unfamiliar men in the living room his knees were suddenly replaced with springs as he sprang backwards. Just before he could turn himself around to run one of them raised their arm and a gunshot went off.

Review please! Feedback is definitely welcome.

Cryptic...