Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia! Although I wish I did...

The timing had to be just right. If he was even a second early or a second late, everything would go wrong.

Gilbert glanced around making sure the area was clear as he hurried down the rickety stairs of his apartment. So far, so good. A cold breeze brushed past him, stirring up the snow on the steps. His hands shook slightly with excitement and cold. If his plan succeeded, he'd be safely on the other side of the Berlin Wall and far, far away from Ivan. Not only would he be safe, he'd finally be with his little brother again. He smiled slightly at the thought. Just wait, Ludwig. I'll be with you soon. He set his lip in a firm line. This plan just had to succeed. It just had to. Gilbert straightened his scarf and peeked around the corner of the alleyway beside his apartment building. The guard was bound to make his round soon.

Crunch. Tmp. Crunch. Tmp.

Gilbert held his breath and pressed himself closely to the alleyway as a Soviet guard made his rounds. Gilbert kept his red eyes locked on the guard until he disappeared around the snowy corner. Just wait a few seconds more then... Now! Gilbert rushed forward; freedom was almost in his grasp. Just a few more yards, then he'd dart through the hole in the wall and into West Berlin. He gripped his cross necklace tightly. Thank God, he had seen that opening and could get out of the torture of East Berlin. Just one more yard now.

Whir. Whir. Whir. Eeeeeeeeeeeooooooooo! Eeeeeeoooo!

"Ein Fall für! (Curses!)" Gilbert hissed through his teeth. One of the guards must have seen him, but that wasn't going to stop him. He had to make it to the other side no matter what.

Bang!

Gilbert cried out but kept running. One bullet in the shoulder wasn't going to stop him when he was just a few feet away from freedom.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gilbert dug his teeth into his lip. The pain won't last long, soon he'd be free.

Bang!

"AGH!" Gilbert fell face forward. A bullet had found its way into his leg.

Crunch, crunch! Tmp crunch! Tmp, tmp, crunch!

Gilbert clawed at the snow. He wasn't to going to give up. Not now, he was barely a yard away. The guards may be coming, but he'd get across before they got to him.

"You there! Стоп! (Stop!)"

Gilbert ignored the command and dragged himself through the snow. I'm coming, Ludwig.

"Стоп! Стоп gde vy nahodites', Prussija! (Stop! Stop where you are, Prussia!)"

Gilbert glanced over his shoulder regretting as soon as he did.

"AGH!" Gilbert cried out as a heavy boot made contact with his head.

"Spasajas', Prussii? (Trying to escape, Prussia?)" Ivan tsked softly. "I'm really disappointed you."

Ivan grabbed a fistful of Gilbert's snow white hair and forced him onto his knees.

"AGH!" Gilbert clenched his fists and bit his lip hard. His blood stained the pure snow. "What... does... it look... like, Russia?" he managed to spit out with vehemence.

"You know what happens to those who try to escape, ne tak li? (right?)"

Gilbert's red eyes bore into Ivan's violet ones. "Death, right? Well go ahead then. Kill me. Better than this Gefängnis. (prison.)"

Ivan smiled slightly. "Oh nothing as easy as that, dear Prussia. You are going to pay the price for this. I, vozmozhno, dazhe mladshij brat budet platit'.(And perhaps even your little brother will pay.)"

"Ivan!" Katyusha grabbed her brother's arm. "Must it be like this?" Her eyes looked into his, begging for an answer.

Ivan looked calmly at his older sister and smiled. "Do not worry. I have everything taken care of."

Katyusha glanced at the limp Gilbert in her brother's arms. "You... will not hurt him too badly will you?"

Ivan gently brushed his sister aside. "Do not worry about Prussia. I will take care of him... personally."

Katyusha watched her brother sadly and yet nervously. Something was different about him these days. Where was that sweet, innocent child-like Ivan she once knew? It frightened her to see the person her little brother was now becoming.

Ivan glanced back at his sister through the corner of his eye. He could tell something was bothering her, but not to worry, he would fix everything in time. Soon, he would have his family together the way it should be, but first he must finish dealing with Gilbert. Ah yes, what plans he had in store for Gilbert. He chuckled softly as he made his way down to his basement. With his plans, he would finally have Gilbert under his submission. Prussia would finally join with Mother Russia.

Pain and cold, those two things do not go together well. Gilbert moaned softly as he leaned his head against his cell's wall. The thin blanket he had been given was not helping one bit.

"Chirp. Chirrrrrrp?"

Gilbert jerked his head up. "Gilbird?"

A yellow bird squeezed itself through the bars of the cell's little window.

"Chirp."Gilbird perched gently onto Gilbert's hurt shoulder.

Gilbert smiled slightly and stroked Gilbird. "Hey there, Gilbird. How'd you find me?"

Gilbird blinked and whistled softly. I have my ways.

"You shouldn't be here," Gilbert scolded.

Gilbird ruffled his feathers. And leave you with Ivan?

"I don't want him touching you. Go back to Ludwig."

Gilbird whistled sharply. If Ivan touches you, he touches me.

Gilbert sighed. "Fine... you can stay, but you have to hide whenever anyone enters this cell. Verstehen Sie?(Understand?)"

Gilbird nodded and flew onto Gilbert's head. Thank you.

Gilbert closed his eyes. "Does Ludwig know you're here?"

He's probably figured that out by now.

"Gilbird..."

Gilbird whistled smugly.

"You know you'll eventually have to go back."

Gilbird pecked Gilbert's head lightly. I don't think so.

Gilbert grunted and shifted a little causing the chain on his leg to rattle. "I think so. If something goes wrong while I'm here, I'm sending you back to Ludwig, permanently."

Gilbird chirped grumpily.

Tmp. Thump. Tmp. Thump.

Gilbert's eyes popped open. He quickly grabbed Gilbird and shoved him under his pillow. "Ssssshhh! Ivan is coming."

Gilbird flapped under the pillow angrily. You could have warned me!

Click.

"No time," Gilbert hissed softly.

Creak.

"Dobroe utro, Gilbert. (Good morning, Gilbert.) Feeling better, I hope?" Ivan inquired as the cell door slammed shut behind him.

"As better as one can be when one's been shot three times in the shoulder and once in the leg." Gilbert retorted.

Ivan made no comment and sat down on the cot beside Gilbert. "Your wounds are healing well, net? (no?)" Ivan's cold hands "gently" tore off Gilbert's bandages.

"Agh!" Gilbert cried out and gritted his teeth.

"Yes, they are much better." Ivan smiled and began to rebandage Gilbert's wounds. "You should be fully recovered in a few weeks. Then back to work with me, ne tak li? (right?)"

Gilbert grunted. "In your dreams, Ivan..."

Ivan pursed his lips a little. That wasn't quite the response he had hoped to receive, but no matter his reply would change very soon.

Author's Note: Just a note, there will not be any yaoi in my Hetalia fanfics. :P I don't anyone getting the wrong idea about my stories.