So, I'm doing a short fic this time. I'm only planning three chapters, as I said, an actual short story.

It'll be interesting to see how this goes!

Anywho, on with the show!

Disclaimer- I do not own Hetalia, or anything else in this fanfic.

Chapter 1- Just a step...

Ivan watched the world before him. He could feel his pulse pound, he could feel the sadness of the people in his country. Everything was falling apart. Darkness. It was just so dark anymore. He had gone to the meeting last week, though he'd begged his boss to let him stay home. They'd loaded him up on medication and told him to hide his sickness. He was to tell them he was fine, and that he'd be alright, even with the damage he'd been coming to. The whole bottle of medication, that was supposed to last a week was gone in two days, but it was the only way to hide his symptoms. They'd sent a few bottles in case things went like this, and it had worked, he thought.

"Russia, are you alright?"

"Da, I'm fine." When America had asked him, he could see the worry in his expression, but he couldn't tell him. He couldn't open his mouth and say the truth.

He was dying. He could feel it. Every little bit of himself was in pain. He couldn't stop coughing without the medication, and on more than one occasion he'd found blood in his mouth. For the first few days after the meeting, he was happy he'd been able to hide it.

After that, he realized no one had called to check, not even his sisters. No one questioned it, and he knew why.

No one cared.

He felt tears drip from his chin as he looked out over the country he'd been since his cold days as a child. Russia would always be beautiful, even if it wasn't Russia anymore.

And today would be the day it ended. He clasped his hands over his chest and closed his eyes.

Just a step, and the pain would be gone. Just a step. He'd left a few goodbye notes in the bag he knew Ukraine would get if he died, so no one would be confused over his passing.

He clenched his eyes and opened them, taking another glance before taking a step.

oooOOOXXXOOOooo

It was still dark, and he was still in pain. Ivan felt his eyes prickle, the pain in his whole body was worse than it was before. He felt so weak, so frail. He hated it. Slowly his eyes opened and he looked around.

No one was anywhere he could see. He was still alone. He'd started to close his eyes as he heard someone come in, but honestly was so tired he just kept his eyes closed, deciding to let them think he was still asleep.

So his death had cheated him. He was still alive, still alone. He couldn't stop a tear that escaped as someone near started talking.

"He's lucky to be alive. If he didn't heal as quickly as he does, there's no way he would have made it, but his healing is really diminished right now. He's been sick for a long time, and the people in control of him have been covering the symptoms, so instead of getting any better, he's just been getting worse. I was able to give him some medications to get rid of a few of the problems, but it looks like it was really hard on him. Make sure to take proper care of him after he's released, alright?"

Ivan expected to hear his boss' voice, or maybe if he was really lucky, Ukraine.

"Yeah, I'll take care of him, I promise." Ivan couldn't keep his eyes closed after hearing that voice, but as shocked as he was, he didn't have the strength to make his eyes shoot open. Slowly he looked up, confused and still a bit dazed.

"Comrade America?" He asked, surprised, the tone getting the attention of both people in the room. America looked down at him with a look that was more worried than pity, but both were seen. "Why are you here?"

"You were really sick at the meeting. It was easy to see, so I tried to come out and see if you were alright. Guess I was a little too late, sorry." Alfred's hand slowly and softly patted the other man's leg and Ivan couldn't keep the tears in his eyes. Alfred just pulled up a chair and sat beside him, softly running a hand up his shin as Ivan stared, wondering how such a dark look could feel so... warm.

He was in the hospital for three days, and was surprised to find America had already made some plans, making demands on his government in Ivan's absence, but after hearing about them, he was alright with it.

He'd demanded Ivan be allowed to heal in America. He'd demanded Russia's top officials speak with Nato about how to fix the economy without causing another collapse, like what had happened the day Ivan had jumped. They tried to fight against the superpower, but when America had started yelling about how if Ivan jumped again there would be a revolt and they would all be killed, and he would make sure every other country would be too afraid to help them, they finally backed down and agreed to the meetings.

It wasn't a guarantee, but it was better than nothing, in both America and Ivan's opinions.

It was a day after his release they were on American soil and Ivan sighed. It always smelled like flowers in Alabama, Alfred's home state, from what Ivan could tell. He hadn't been here way too many times, but it was warm and comforting to him as he slowly walked from the car to the house. Ivan was surprised to discover America was bringing him not to another hospital, but to his home.

He hadn't been invited into anyone's home since childhood. Alfred walked with him, keeping a hand encircled on the other's arm, in case the same weakness he'd noticed after he'd gotten off of the plane struck him again. Not that he'd fallen, but Alfred was worried when he'd noticed his legs shaking.

"I have a room set up for you next to mine. Come on, let me show you were you can stay, alright?" Alfred asked softly and Ivan nodded.

"Why are you doing this for me?" Ivan asked, feeling fear at the possibility of answers. Was he after the power of ruling over Russia? Was he going to try and convince him to change his government again? Was he going to be a prisoner of war until the government agreed to the demands he'd made?

"We haven't always gotten along, but you're still one of us. Just because we don't see eye to eye doesn't mean I want to see you dead, and that's what would happen if your bosses were able to just reclaim you after that." Alfred looked a little pissed and Ivan nodded, keeping his head low.

"I'm sorry." Ivan spoke, the soft sound worrying the other.

"I'm not mad at you, you know. You don't have to be scared." Alfred turned his head over, looking at the confused and lost look on the man beside him.

"I don't know how else to be anymore." Ivan admitted. It was the first time since he could remember he'd shown this kind of weakness, and honestly that scared Alfred more than he'd have liked to admit.

"Well, until you find out, I can't let you leave the country. I can't let you go back to what they were doing to you." Alfred looked up, wondering if he would have a fight on his hands, but instead found the slightest of nods.

"Thank you." Ivan sounded like he was about to cry and Alfred could only sigh.

Years of being in pain had worked against his mind. Alfred knew what was happening. He understood it was going to take time. All he could do was softly pat his arm before gently walking him to the bedroom he'd be in for the next part of his life, even if it was just for a short while, which honestly Alfred hated to admit, he would have preferred him to stay for a while.

It was almost a week til Alfred didn't worry about Ivan falling. It was two days after his arrival and Alfred noticed he almost never moved his eyes away from his own feet. He didn't look up to see what was around him. Though he was getting better, his body was getting stronger, Alfred noticed his mind wasn't healing as fast.

He decided therefore to take him for a short walk one day. Nothing too much, as he was still sick, but just a short walk through a nearby park. He couldn't help but chuckle when he noticed Ivan's eyes shift up, finally looking around now that he was in the sunlight. "It's so warm out here." Ivan sounded surprised and Alfred nodded.

"It's still Spring, so it's not too hot yet, but the weather today was just too good to just sit around in the house." Alfred watched as Ivan seemed to be surprised at the sights around him. He seemed amazed by everything, from the birds to the wind whispering in the trees. It was the first time in a week that Alfred had been able to see the violet in his eyes, and he let out a sigh.

He was finally doing a little better, at least.

A couple of days later, Alfred sat in his office, his work forgotten before him as the Russian stood on the other side of the desk, looking like he was about to run from the door. Alfred cocked his head to the side, wondering if he'd just heard that right.

"You want to know if we have... sunflowers?"

"Da, if it's alright." His voice was still soft and a bit weak, but Alfred was glad he was showing interest in something.

"I'll take a look. It's supposed to be a good day tomorrow, so I'll find out by then if they're anywhere near here, alright?" He asked softly and Ivan nodded, looking more like a child than a world power.

Alfred couldn't help but smile softly as the other slid carefully from the door.

He knew exactly where there was a sunflower patch nearby, but he didn't know if they were blooming right now. It was mid may, and he wasn't sure if they bloomed now, or if they would need to wait another month or so.

He shifted to his computer and opened a tab on the internet, looking up the information, his work being temporarily tossed aside.

The next morning he was surprised to see Ivan looking as pale as he did. "Are you alright?" Alfred asked, feeling his forehead, and Ivan shied away, not wanting to seem sick all over again.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not. You're getting sick again." Alfred frowned, knowing their visit to the flower patch would have to be put back. "Go back to your room. I'll bring breakfast up and call in the doctor." He frowned, and Ivan could see disappointment in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to make you mad." Ivan sighed, fear showing on his face and Alfred shook his head.

"I just want to make sure you're alright. I'm not mad." His hand reached out and Ivan glanced down at the appendage, surprised at how soft his touch was.

"You're really not mad at me?" His eyes glanced up and Alfred could so easily see the emotions that ran through his mind.

He couldn't help but smile at the childlike face before him. "I'm really not mad." He sighed softly and Ivan nodded.

As Alfred prepared to bring up the food, he could hear a soft voice from behind him. "Thank you."

It was two days later that Ivan was feeling better, and the next day was rain. The following day, after breakfast, Ivan was surprised as Alfred took him out to the car and they went for a short drive. They climbed out and Alfred started walking on a path, surprising the man with him as they slowly made their way into a small wooded area.

They came to a clearing and Ivan glanced around, surprised out of his mind. "What?"

"It's not too big, but it was the best sunflower patch we had nearby." Alfred watched as Ivan ran out and touched the flowers. He forgot how childish the other country could be as he giggled, his eyes shining as he looked around.

'This is how he should be. Playing and being free. He's too kind a soul for the work they put him through.' Alfred thought with a smile before realizing he was blushing and turned away.

What in the hell was that all about? He frowned at himself, trying to decipher his own mind when he heard the other yell. His eyes shifted up, seeing Ivan waving his hand around more excited than he'd ever seen him and he glanced up, seeing a large group of monarch butterflies. He looked around, seeing the milkweed growing in the woods and walked over, grabbing a few of the pods and broke one open, dumping the contents on the wind so they flowed out like water on the breeze. Ivan watched amazed as the butterflies picked up the scent and came down, flocking around. He broke open a pod and held a half himself, showing Ivan how to hold it so the butterflies would come to him.

By the end of the day he understood what the blush was about. He figured out why he felt the need to come in and save the other in the first place. It wasn't what he'd originally thought. The thought 'He needed someone and I just happened to be someone.' was tossed out. He realized he wouldn't have done the same for any country. A lot of them yes, but none of them for the same reasons.

When he saw the warm smile on Ivan's face as the butterflies surrounded them, he had to look away.

After all, he knew the only reason Ivan was there was because he knew he needed help.

It wasn't like Ivan liked him back.

Leave a review, let me know what you think!

Later!

Jaßmin