_EDIT_ Because I am an idiot and didn't have time to check through properly :)

A BRILLIANTLY BALTIC CHRISTMAS

It's been done. Repeatedly. But I give you... ANOTHER HETALIA CHRISTMAS FIC! (Apologies for the bad title.)

...It's the holiday season again, and Russia is hosting the international Christmas party. Of course, it's the Baltics who get lumped with the decorating, cooking, invites, cards, present wrapping... Etc etc etc :)

*STARRING*

The Baltic Trio! Russia! Sealand! (because he sneaks into my fics uninvited). Many other nations (maybe)... And Santa himself? (We'll go with it).

K+, but some mild swearing (agh, B is so badass!)

Also, I use too many brackets (in case you hadn't noticed)…

Prologue/Chapter One: Accepting The Challenge

December 1st, 1963. 8PMish

"KOLKOLKOLKOL..."

As Russia stormed around the house - shouting, swearing and generally breaking things - the three Baltics congregated in the kitchen. They had learnt over the years that safety was in numbers when their boss was in this kind of mood.

"W-What set him off th-this time?" Latvia asked, sat cross-legged on the table.

"World conference this morning, remember?" Lithuania replied, offering a plate of foreign biscuits to the others. "The other nations always wind him up, especially Mr America. He smuggled these back though..."

"Ooh, g-gingerbread!" the smallest Baltic smiled slightly as he took a tentative nibble. "Ch-Christmas at Pr-Prussia's always tasted like this..."

"Hey, what's the plan for Christmas this year, Esty?"

Estonia looked up from his newspaper. "I think it might be the Boss's turn. Hence the mood."

As Estonia said that (assuming correctly, as usual), Russia stormed into the room. In an instant, Latvia was hiding under the table in a small shaky heap.

"Are you all right, M-Mr R-Russia? Why don't you sit down, and I'll get you some n-nice vod-"

"Lithuania? You must help me, da?" Russia crashed down in a chair. "America has challenged me. He bets I can't beat his Christmas party from last year... But he is going to look very funny when I crush him into dust, won't he, my Baltics?"

Estonia and Lithuania nodded earnestly. Unfortunately Latvia, who felt shielded somewhat under the table, felt the need to pipe up: "But I th-thought your boss d-doesn't let you celebrate Christmas..."

"Latvia!" The other two wailed as Russia turned the table over (despite the cups, saucers, lebkuchen and papers it sent flying), smiling brightly at the shivering nation who was now exposed. Mentioning Russia's bosses was never a good idea.

"Russia does what he likes," the large man said breezily, but something about him talking in the third person and glowing purple made him... less breezy. "Mr Khrushchev is a silly man. Mr Pipe and I will explain some things to him..."

With that ominous (for Khrushchev anyway) statement, Russia slammed the table back up and stormed out.

"Oww," Latvia whispered, clutching his head which had been inadvertently(?) caught by one of the table legs.

Lithuania sighed heavily. "Come on and we'll get the ice on it, Raivis, before you get another bump…"

They went to the freezer, and Estonia put his head in his hands.

It had been a stressful time recently in Russia's house – even more than usual - but Estonia had been hoping the progress made between America and Russia would really mean something. Now, though...

"Pask! Those two and their ridiculous, childish Cold War! I knew the competitiveness wouldn't stop any time soon! This is going to be a long month," Estonia grumbled to himself, wiping his smudgy glasses on his jumper. He could still remember Alfred's last Christmas party – food poisoning, England's drunken magic and Russia smashing up the Monopoly board – a bit not good. Actually, he realised, one of the only things he liked about 'being one with Russia' was that he didn't have to meet the other nations on a regular basis.

"A very long month..."

So, that's it for my Prologue! A short and poor intro, but it will improve: I promise! Next chapter tomorrow, or I'll face the wrath of Russia (not fun).My first published Hetalia fic, so leave a little review and I will be endlessly grateful.

~The Communists tried to discourage Christmas, but lots of people celebrated it anyway. Also, I know Russia celebrates Christmas on the 6th January, but the party will be on the 25th to suit the other nations…

~In 1963 the US and the Soviet Union agreed to establish a communications link (so I take that as poor Ivan and Alfred were forced to talk to each other a lot on the phone.) Please correct me if anything in this is total rubbish by the way: unfortunately I've never learnt about the Cold War so I used the power of Google and imagination!

~Lebkuchen – a delicious German gingerbready/cakey thing with icing or chocolate on the top that's kind of hard to describe. It's awesome enough for Prussia to eat: enough said.

~Pask – Estonian, 'shit'.