Disclaimer: I, in no way claim any rights to or profits from Axis Powers Hetalia, those belong to Hidekaz Himaruya and the companies that print and distribute APH, and justly so.

Chapter 1: Flight Risk

Ivana walked down the street, grateful she had gotten off at the right bus stop to make it back to her dorm. Her arms were beginning to tire from the shopping bags she was carrying and her feet were beginning to hurt from all the walking and running she'd done that day. Fortunately, she was only a few meters away from the cross walk that would take her across the street to campus housing.

Just a meter ahead to her left a man hesitated in a doorway as he checked his pockets. Ivana slowed as delicious, savory smells wafted through the open doorway to her nose. Without thinking she stopped and inhaled deeply. The man in the doorway found what he was looking for and walked away raising a cell phone to his ear. Ivana watched the door close on those wonderful smells. She resettled the shopping bags in her hands and cursed the airline for losing her luggage before mentally budgeting the money left over from her shopping trip earlier that day. She might have enough to get a snack to tide her over until dinner was served at the cafeteria that evening. Her stomach growled, she had gotten on the wrong bus at first on her way back and consequentially missed lunch. She took a slow step forward checking over her calculations again. She should have enough to last her the rest of the month, even with this expense. Her stomach growled again and she made up her mind. She hesitated only long enough to read the name of the restaurant before walking into the Café Amour de Paris.

She paused as the door swung shut behind her, waiting to see if a host would take her to a table. When no one appeared she walked over to a window side table to the right of the door. After readjusting her many shopping bags she set them in the chair next to her and surveyed inside of the café. It was casual and tastefully decorated, not what she expected from an American restaurant that probably served faux French food.

It was late in the afternoon so the café was quiet and almost empty. On the far side of the café a group of giggling young women was seated at a large table in a corner. Sitting at another window seat on the other side of the door, a lone man drank a cup of coffee while reading a newspaper. The only other patrons were a couple seated in the middle of the café, two tables away from the door. The man looked pissed: his arms were crossed and he was frowning, his partner was glaring at him and complaining about something. Unfortunately, it was very easy for everyone in the café to hear what they were saying.

"What is that bimbo to you, huh?" the woman snarled "I thought she was just your coworker."

"Shut up," snapped the man, "You're making a scene." In the corner the girls had gone quiet. The man had looked up from his paper, frowning at the couple.

"Yes", said a waiter with thick eyebrows and a British accent as he arrived at their table, "You're disturbing our other patrons. I'll have to ask you both to leave."

The woman looked around the café and flushed dark red. Not waiting to be asked twice she rose, called the man a "sonofabitch", and stormed out. The man threw some money on the table and followed suit, shouting at her to "bring her fat ass back here and pay him back".

Ivana sighed and shook her head as she watched the man run down the street. That love affair was obviously over. She would never understand why people got in relationships if they weren't ready for them. It was just a stupid waste of time that always ended painfully. Thanks to her parents, she had learned that hard lesson young.

A large, tanned hand placed a menu before her. "Hello, I'm really sorry about making you wait. I'm Alfred and I'll be your waiter today. I hope that couple wasn't bothering you."

Her gloomy thoughts vanished as she looked up into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. "No", she said, suppressing the sudden irrational urge to blush "But I am glad that they left."

Alfred chuckled. "Yep, Arthur's good at being a bulldog when he needs to. What would you like to drink?"

"Coffee please."

He jotted it down, "I'll be right back to take your order."

She watched him as he turned to get coffee. He was tall…and muscular. She really did blush at that thought and resisted the temptation of checking out what was certain to be a nicely toned ass. Instead she would decide what to order, and picked up the menu. She was trying to choose between a pastry or some soup when Alfred returned with the coffee pot.

"Have you decided what to order?" he asked.

She hesitated, "What do the soups come with?"

"A fresh baked panini of your choice or your choice of a variety of fresh baked rolls. We do all the baking here in the café. Well, at least Francis, the chef, does."

"What would you recommend?"

Alfred leaned over the menu she was holding and she became very aware of the warmth of his body heat. He also had a very pleasant scent, cologne mixed with the smell of good food and his own personal scent. She couldn't understand why was he leaning so close to her; shouldn't he know the menu already?

"I think the chicken noodle soup is best. But that's my favorite. It comes with a chicken-pesto Panini." He smiled down at her; it was such a friendly smile that she couldn't help smiling back.

"I'd like that then."

His grin widened, "Coming right up."

She blushed as he went to place the order with the kitchen.

A few other people came in as she ate the soup and panini, keeping Alfred pretty busy. But he always made a point to come over and refill her coffee cup and ask her if she needed anything. When she had finished her last cup of coffee he brought over her check and she took out her wallet.

She counted out the correct amount for her bill, only to realize too late that she didn't have enough to give Alfred a good tip, he'd earned one. She slipped the money into the little billfold and stared guiltily at the lone dollar lying under her coffee mug. Alfred came over and she stood to go.

"Let me get your receipt." he said as he picked up the billfold, his eyes scanning the table. She looked down at him. Alfred was probably over six feet, but so was she.

"That won't be necessary." She said quickly, "I'm sorry about the small tip." She grabbed her shopping bags and hurried toward the door. It was just swinging shut behind her when she heard him say "Hey!" She picked up her pace and made for the intersection. She had nearly crossed the street when she heard it again.

"Heey!" She stopped and turned to see Alfred running toward her across the street. He made it over just as the light changed.

"Yes?" she asked with a frown.

"Here," he gasped, holding up a small paper bag. "You left this behind."

She stared at the shopping bag and blushed.

"Don't worry I didn't look in it or anything." He said, blushing as well.

"Спасибо", She murmured and took the bag. It was from an underwear and loungewear shop.

He frowned in confusion. "Sorry, what did you say?"

She felt a twinge of embarrassment. "I said 'thank you', in Russian."

"You're welcome. Wow, you're Russian? What brings you here?" He glanced behind her at the entrance to campus. "College?"

"Yes."

"Cool, I'm a college student too. What's your name?"

"Ivana."

"Nice to meet you Ivana." He shook her hand. The palm of his hand was calloused and warm, "Hopefully I'll see you around some time." Alfred smiled and turned to press the "walk" button.

"And don't worry about the tip." He added with a smile. "I just hope you'll come back soon."

Charmed in spite of herself, she couldn't help but smile back, "I think I will."

A week and a day later Ivana was walking back from class on a warm fall day when she slipped inside the café again. Between her busy class schedule and her search for a part time job she hadn't had any time to come again until today. She sat down at the window table she'd chosen before and looked around for Alfred. The café was busier this time because it was the beginning of the lunch hour. A few minutes later she saw a blonde head moving her way. She reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears, a small smile on her lips. Then her smile fell. It was not Alfred.

"Good Afternoon, welcome to the Café Amour de Paris. I'm Ludwig and I'll be your waiter today. What can I bring you to drink?" said a grim looking man with slicked blonde hair.

"Coffee please."

He returned with her coffee and looked at her expectantly. Instead of ordering she said, "Is…Alfred here?"

"No, he doesn't work today. What would you like to order?" He took her order, tomato bisque and beef-pesto panini, and left her to her disappointment.

She sipped her coffee and stared out the window. How stupid could she be? He was a college student; of course he was busy too. It was ridiculous to be so disappointed just because she hadn't seen him. She barely knew the man.

Besides, she did not have time to be making a fool of herself over a man. She was busy, she had places to go, homework to do, a job to search for. Not only would getting involved with a man interfere with her schedule but it would mess up her college plans. She had no intentions of returning to Russia as a screw-up with a broken heart. She had come to America to prove something and by damn she would prove it. Ludwig returned with her soup; and as she picked up her spoon, she shoved her disappointment aside.

She was finishing her second cup of coffee when Ludwig came with her check. He set it down but didn't walk away. She looked up at him and raised her eyebrows slightly. His cheeks were a little flushed and he looked annoyed about something. He glanced over his shoulder, then back at her.

"You asked about Alfred," his words were clipped and quiet, "Would you like to give me any messages for him?"

She realized that he wasn't annoyed per se, more like embarrassed. She looked back into her coffee cup.

No, she didn't have anything important to tell Alfred. She barely knew him. He was just a friendly boy with a nice smile. She did like his smile.

"Just 'hello'."

Ludwig's embarrassment disappeared as he frowned at her. "That's it?" he asked.

She nodded and he left. She drank the last of her coffee and watched him walk towards the kitchen where he was intercepted by a man with long hair tied back in a ponytail wearing a chef's coat. He must be Francis. Ludwig said something to him and Francis folded his arms and shot her a confused, frowning look as if she were a loaf of bread that wasn't rising fast enough. She ignored him and took out her wallet to pay her bill.

Authoress Babble:
The beginning of my second multi-chapter fic, in which I finally get around to writing my OTP. Oh and the giggling girls are a bunch of Hetalia fangirls, talking about yaoi (hence the giggling).
What do you think? Next chapter will be up soon, please review!

Translations:
Russian: Thank you.