It had been nearly four years since they'd gained their independence. They rarely saw each other these days, reuniting only once or twice a year for holidays. It wasn't that the three Baltic nations didn't miss each other, in fact it was quite on the contrary, however when they actually met again, they were greeted with an undesirable rush of memories from their time under Soviet control. Things that shouldn't have been said, thing they shouldn't have seen, and Mister Ivan's heartless and cold smile.

The occasion for their reunion this time was Christmas. Toris was busy preparing kisielius when the doorbell rang. "In a second!" He yelled, taking the steaming pan out of the oven. Upon opening the door, he discovered a tall Estonian man holding a couple containers in his arms, most probably the food he was bringing to the gathering. "Eduard." He said, taking the containers, "Thank you for coming." A slight smile traced the blonde man's face. "Thank you for having me." He replied.

It always started out like this. Awkward politeness and awkward silence, waiting until the third arrived. "How have you been holding up?" Eduard asked, while setting out the neatly polished silverware on the table. "Oh!" Toris said and suddenly dropped the assortment of napkins he was holding, and blushed. "Here, let me help." Eduard said, kneeling down to plush the napkins off the floor.

"Actually, I have some news I want to tell you. " The smaller Lithuanian man said, dusting off a napkin colored to look like his nation's flag. "You and Ravis, I mean." He said, referring to the absent guest.

Finally, the doorbell rang. "Speak of the devil." Toris said, chuckling. They opened the door and Ravis stepped in, still the same height as he was four years ago. "H-Hi." He stuttered, the initial awkwardness of the situation taking over.

In the hour and a half that it took them to sit down to dinner they had already adjusted to one another's company again. "Earlier," Eduard said, taking a bite of sklandu rauši, "you said you had something important to tell us, Toris."

"Un, Yes. Let's hear it." Ravis commented, his small hands reaching for another slice of bread.

"I'm seeing someone." Toris said, looking down at his food. The man representing Estonia leaned forward in his chair. "Seeing someone? As in dating?" He inquired. The mousy-haired Lithuanian nodded quickly, still blushing. "That's great!"

"Who is it?" The Latvian asked. "Do we know him?"

"Yeah." Toris replied. "It's…"

"It's not Ivan, is it?" Ravis said bluntly, setting down his fork with a stern expression crossing his childish face. A dreadful silence wafted through the house, pulling the air away from the dinner table, bringing all three of them back to their days spend with Mister Ivan and his terrifying laugh.

"Latvia!" Eduard scolded, glaring at him from across the table. The curly-haired blonde popped the fork in his mouth and mumbled. "Sorry."

Toris sighed. "No, it's not. Do you guys remember Feliks?"

"The Pole who was sometimes at Ivan's house?" Eduard asked.

"We met again a while back," Toris said, giggling ",and we kind of y'know-clicked."

Eduard smiled slightly, he was happy for Toris, but a pang of jealousy stirred inside him. Toris had found a lover, while he was still alone. Sighing, Eduard cast the thought aside.

The three friends shared stories, remembered inside jokes and for the first time in what seemed like centuries, they truly felt like the 'Three Baltic Nations' once again.

Their party came to an end around twelve o' clock. "See you again." Lithuania said, seeing the other two to the door. The December snow covered the ground, leaving a trail of footprints back to each of their cars. "Goodbye!" Toris called after them one last time before shutting the door, and heading back inside, undeniably to clean up the kitchen.

Eduard opened his car door. "See you next time, Ravis." He said, waving. "Yeah." The short Latvian said, turning his back towards him and walking to his own automobile. The taller of the two was about to start the car when suddenly, Ravis ran back, shouting his name. "Eduard! Eduard! Wait a second!" he yelled. "What is it?" The Estonian yells back.

Ravis stood in front of the other nation, silent, but searching for the right words to convey whatever he was trying to say. "I was j-just wondering…i-if sometime…i-if you'd like, I mean y-you don't have to-" His nervous stutter took over.

"What are you trying to say?" Eduard asked, laughing internally at the shorter boy's adorable attempts to speak.

"Would you like to talk sometime?" He finally managed to say. "I just-We never see each other anymore, and I'd like to catch up, if that's okay with you…"

"Yes, of course." Eduard said, grateful, albeit surprised.

"Then, just call me sometime." Ravis said, his child-like face sporting a fine blush. Then he turned away and walked towards his own car.

As Eduard drove home, his mind wandered. He thought of all the other Christmases they'd shared, before Ivan, after Ivan, and during Ivan.

"Toris." Mister Ivan said, placing a hand on the Lithuanian's shoulder. "You celebrate Christmas, da?" The brunette nodded, but issued no verbal response. "Then I think we should all celebrate Christmas this year." The older man said, rubbing Toris's shoulder in small, slow circles.

Eduard was suspicious. Mister Ivan was either in an exceptionally good mood, or he had some sadistic plan in store for them. Ravis clung to Eduard's arm, shivering. "What's going on?" He whispered.

"I don't know." Eduard said, looking at his small companion. "I honestly have no idea."

That night, Ivan didn't take any one of them into his room.

Kisielius- a Lithuanian Christmas food, basically cranberry pudding

sklandu rauši- a Latvian Christmas food, tarts filled with a mashed potato and carrot.