Previously: Long time ago, Slovakia (Eva) used to have a big crush on Lithuania. Convinced Liet doesn't feel the same way, she left Russia's house to live with Czechia (Hynek). It doesn't take much for her to realize they are unable to coexist and she puts an end to their convenience marriage.

Years later, she meets equally shy Canada. Wanting to see Eva happy, Lithuania helps them find their way to each other's heart and, well, hook up :)

After two years, Matthew sets up a perfect date to ask her something, but they are both summoned to an emergency meeting following the world economy crisis. An undesired break in their relationship follows. Some ghosts from the past emerge back to the surface. And things get a bit... complicated.

Warning: Canada goes pretty OOC in this one. I'm currently working on another fanfic to explain what he has been going through.


Bratislava, 2009

No new events, said Eva's phone as she checked it for the fifteenth time that evening. Speak for yourself. My life is overflowing with events right now. Not pleasant ones, though.

For the last year and a half, her routine consisted of working seven days a week, often until small hours, every day a blurred mess of data, places and faces. Except for the one she actually wanted to see.

They hadn't been able to meet up ever since that evening in London. She was far too busy preventing her fragile economy from collapsing. His situation was more stable, but still, the blow was felt and he would work hard to cushion it as much as possible.

At first, they would call each other every day. Then, they exchanged texts with their latest news and how much they missed each other. Those messages grew still shorter, eventually reduced to a simple 'I love you'. Little by little, those words lost their meaning. Writing them had become nothing more than a mere authomatism to her. Nevertheless, it was all they had and Eva clung to it like she would die without.

That evening, the young Slovak felt particularly lonely. She had sent several texts to Canada and even tried to call, but he wasn't reachable. Well, it's still afternoon at his place. He must be busy at work.

As if in answer to her prayers, the phone suddenly started to ring. She almost jumped in thrill. Finally!

Her heart instantly sank again as she noticed her brother's name flashing from the screen.

"Oh, hi. How are you?" She tried her best not to sound too disappointed.

"My little Eva!" Czechia's voice thundered from the other side. The brunette moved her ear away.

"Yes?" she asked.

"My little Eva!" he went on. "Eva! I love you SO much," he slurred in his thick voice.

"Well, I love you, too," she replied without thinking and sighed, wishing she was having that conversation with Matthew. "Anyway, what's happening? Where are you?"

"If you love me, then why did you leave me? Let's move in together again, let's be Czechoslovakia again! Eva! Let's start over!"

While she wondered what to reply, she suddenly heard him fight over his phone with someone. A minute later, another familiar voice took his place.

"Good evening, Eva, it's Toris."

"Hello. What's up?"

"We went out for a drink with some guys from EU and your brother got totally wasted. Now he refuses to leave. Any suggestions?"

She thought for a while.

"Can you tell him that there's beer in the fridge and that I just made some knedlo-vepřo-zelo?"

"Umm… what's that?" he inquired, confused.

"His favorite meal. He's just like me. Always gets hungry when drunk."

Half an hour later, the two of them were knocking on her door, the Lithuanian supporting the Czech.

"Eva!" Hynek yelled as he saw her. "Why won't you become one with me?" he spat out accusingly, a broken look on his face.

"Because we're siblings and that would be gross," she retorted as both men made their way into her house.

Liet snorted.

"I think he's talking about cancelling your borders," he whispered.

"I know." She smirked, "But he's just too much fun to tease when he's so drunk. Anyway, thank you for bringing him here. Wasn't he too heavy?"

"To be honest, when I mentioned the food, it was him who dragged me here," Toris admitted.

"Food! Where's the food?!" her brother demanded expectantly.

"How about you set down in the guest room while I heat it up for you?" the brunette suggested while wrapping his free shoulder around her frame. Together they guided him to a vacant room where the handsome fellow collapsed on the bed, falling asleep straight away. They both breathed out in relief.

"Can I get you something?" Slovakia asked Lithuania once the Czech was taken care of. "A cup of tea? Coffee? I think I even have a bottle of mead somewhere. We can have a drink, if you want."

"That would be nice." Toris smiled, blushing slightly. The two things I love the most, he thought. Tonight can't get much better.


"So, how have you been?" Eva asked as she put some music on and filled their cups.

"Well, we're all doing what we can, aren't we?" He shrugged.

"I guess…"

At first they felt uneasy and a bit stressed out, but as the bottle emptied, they started to chat more openly, remembering the time when they used to be close.

It's been quite a while since we got together like this, she realized, contemplating his face while he talked. Either my brain is being affected by alcohol or he's got even more handsome since. Maybe both.

She gave the Baltic a warm smile and the young man smiled back. He was growing euphoric and confident, too.

There was a voice, calling out from somewhere deep inside her, implying that she probably shouldn't be there, flirting with another man. Eva realized that the voice was slowly drowning in the mead and decided to have another cup.

As they emptied the bottle, Slo leaned on her friend. For a moment he looked at her, grinning, then put his arm around her back. She snuggled under his chin. The arms that used to hold me.

He went on talking and she concentrated on his voice until the world around them disappeared. The timbre that used to comfort me.

She took a deep breath. The familiar fragrance of sea, grass and honey filled her nostrils. The smell that made me desire him. Mmmm.

"Eva!" They both jumped at the noise coming from the room where Czechia was sleeping. Seconds later, he resumed his snoring. He must have had a bad dream.

"Say, will he be alright? He's not the kind of person you expect to see this heartbroken," he spoke, his face portraying a genuine concern.

"Of course he will!" she laughed, carefree. "While we lived together, we could never agree on anything. Moreover, Hynek would never admit it, but I've always been a bit of a weight to him. He's much better off since we separated and he knows it."

"You mean it's just the alcohol clouding his common sense, making him say what he truly wants?" suggested the Lithuanian.

"No, not really." Eva shook her head. "I mean, if I were that drunk, I'm sure I would make some bad choices with troublesome consequences. Sometimes, less is more. A cup or two and your mind and heart are relaxed enough to talk freely and reveal your true desires," she explained her theory.

Toris gave it a thought.

"Now that you said that, it does sound about right." His features relaxed into a smile again. "I sure feel relieved."

He's so cute, the Slav thought. Even when he's tipsy, he worries about others.

"How about you?" he asked cautiously as she moved still closer. "How drunk are you?"

"Just the right amount," she purred seductively. Their eyes locked and she cupped his face, the small thumbs stroking his clean-shaven cheeks. Liet's breath got stuck at how close they were. Not sure by what miracle, he managed to gather his spirits again. Now or never.

"Then what do you really want, Eva Kučerová?" he inquired.

Her finger ran down his neck, then her palms pushed him down on the couch. The young man's mouth went dry and his heart started to race with an unknown fierceness. He closed his eyes, slightly trembling with excitement as he felt her delicate body cover his, their mouths almost touching.

"I'm not telling." She suddenly chuckled, moving away. It was her turn to be taken aback when, in one quick movement, she found herself lying under him. Their eyes met, caressing each other. For a moment, nothing else mattered.

"What do you really want, Toris Laurinaitis?" Eva breathed expectantly.

So many things, the man closed his eyes, trying to figure out where to start. I want to be yours. I want us to live under the same roof. Give you everything I have. See your lovely face every day. Vow flowers into your hair. Slide a ring on your finger. I want to find your scars and kiss them every day. Make sure you never miss anything again. To love you in a way only you deserve. And much, much more.

Eva watched his face, trying her best to read it. Then, it hit her right between the eyes.

Of course, Belarus. He wants Belarus. Like he always has.

Then why all that flirting?!

She desperately wanted shake him off, yell at him, throw him out the door and never see his face again. But it was at that very moment that the lack of sleep and alcohol took their toll. She shed a helpless tear before her eyelids shut against her will.

Liet took a deep breath, ready to confess. His eyes opened just to notice that hers were closed, her breathing regular, a tiny pearl shining on her cheek. He kissed it away.

He had waited until then. He could wait until the morning.

Tonight got even better after all, he thought as he wrapped his arms around her, dozing off as well.


-END OF CHAPTER 1-


knedlo-vepřo-zelo= this is a typical Czech meal, basically roasted pork with dumpling and sauerkraut. It's really good, except when you're on a diet :D