Chapter 1
Of Surprises and Angst
Toris had decided long ago that Ivan must really love Alfred. And even though it made Toris feel like he was betraying the America, he was very glad that Alfred had been defeated by Ivan so many years ago. Ivan no longer hit the Baltic nations, nor tortured them. Alfred would not have stood for it. Toris was glad for Alfred's company as well, on those days he felt depressed. The American could always brighten a day up. He also happened to mellow out the Russian, who had become much more… human since Alfred had arrived. Yes, Toris was very glad that Ivan had long ago taken America into his house.
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The bed moved as Ivan shifted his weight to get up. Alfred sleepily opened his sky blue eyes and caught Ivan's wrist.
"Don't go," he muttered, "It's too early to get up."
Ivan smiled, and leaned down towards his partner,
"I have important things to do today." He gently kissed Alfred's head, and Alfred, sighing lightly, let go of Ivan. "Go back to sleep, Любовь."
Alfred closed his eyes and snuggled deeply into the covers. Alfred gave another sigh and soon his breathing evened out again, showing he had fallen back into sleep.
Ivan pulled his coat on, and looked down at the America. In the time between Ivan going to get dressed and coming back to get his coat, the covers had managed to get pushed down to Alfred's waist. Ivan shook his head at him, and pulled the covers back up. He then quietly left, closing the door so that there will be no noise.
Toris was waiting for him with his breakfast, and it was eaten quickly. He had to hurry, before Alfred woke up again.
He told Toris that he was going out and left a few more important instructions, then left. And he hoped that Alfred would not be too mad.
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Alfred turned over and tried to ignore the sunlight playing across this face. He finally accepted that he was awake and crawled out of bed. He sloppily made the bed and got dressed. He stumbled out the door, almost forgetting Texas in his still half-asleep state, and yawned as he sat down at the table for breakfast.
Toris, Raivis, Eduard, Gilbert, Matthew, Natalia, and Ukraine were already at the table eating. Toris handed Alfred his plate, and Alfred ate in a sleepy silence. After finishing his food and downing his orange juice, Alfred asked,
"Where's Ivan?"
"He said he was going out on important business. A-and I have something I need to tell you later." Toris replied, looking oddly melancholy.
Alfred nodded, wondering what message Ivan had left with Toris that required him to wait until they were alone.
Soon the table cleared as the countries went to complete their chores for the day. Toris pulled Alfred aside, refusing to meet his eyes.
"A-Alfred. Ivan told me to move all your stuff into the open bedroom next to his. A-and he told me to tell you th-that you are no longer allowed to sleep in his room with him. A-and that you can't be w-with him anymore."
"Wh-what? Why?"
"I don't know. He didn't tell me."
Bam! Alfred hit the wall, making Toris flinch.
"Goddamnit. Fine. Whatever."
The apathic face Alfred was putting on would had convinced Toris, if his eyes hadn't looked so sad. If he wasn't mistaken, his eyes had even darkened a few shades.
"I've g-got to go do my chores, Alfred, b-bye." Toris hurried away from Alfred, hoping to God Ivan knew what he was doing.
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Ivan returned home that night, Wang Yao trailing behind him. Wang Yao was scowling, obviously not liking whatever was going on.
"I'm hungry," Ivan stated, "Toris, when's dinner?"
"In a few minutes!" Toris yelled from the kitchen.
Soon almost everyone was gathered around the table. The only one not present was Alfred.
Ivan silenced everyone and said,
"Wang Yao is going to join our family."
There were varying looks of shock on the table's occupants, but no one spoke, waiting for Ivan to continue.
"His bosses agreed to this on the condition that I marry Yao."
Matthew, surprisingly enough, was the first to speak. He stood up and slammed his hands on the table.
"What about Alfred?! Is he that unimportant to you?!"
Ivan met his gaze evenly.
"Sit down, Matthew. My relationship with Alfred is not of any concern anymore. I've already broken it off, and am married-"
"Ivan, you bastard!" Matthew pushed his chair back and ran out of the kitchen. Ivan resumed eating, having nothing to say. The others soon followed suit, and the dinner was finished in silence.
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"Goddamnit, Alfred, open the fucking door."
Alfred, surprised by Matthew's quite out-of-character language, opened the door to his brother. His eyes were red and puffy, and his skin blotched. He had obviously been crying.
"What is it, Matthew?"
Matthew pushed him aside and walked in, closing the door behind him.
"Ivan's married Wang Yao so that he would join us."
Alfred sat down on the bed.
"Great for him. Just fucking great for him."
Matthew sat down next to him.
"Are you okay, Alfred?"
"No."
Matthew wrapped his arms around his brother and said quietly,
"I know that you love him. Do you want me to leave?"
"No. Don't go. Don't leave me by myself."
"I won't."
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"I will not touch you, Yao. I do not love you."
"I expected as much, aru. I'm surprised that we're even sleeping in the same room. Although I guess that you must keep up appearances, aru. What about poor Alfred?"
"What about him? I can do nothing for or with him now."
"That's depressing, aru. You're sad about this too, though. I can tell."
"It doesn't matter."
The bed was soon inhabited by the two conversing nations.
"I think you really, really love Alfred. And Alfred loves you. It was stupid of you to marry me, aru."
"I was told to do anything to get you to join us. I would have been ordered to marry if I had not consented anyway."
"I'm sorry it had to be this way, aru."
"Alfred will get over it. He bounces back from everything."
"What about you, aru?"
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Author's note: Um... My Muse is being an angst-muffin. I don't know how long this is going to be, nor how it's gonna end...