He he, the first chapter's up (Already! Thanks to the reviews- I didn't expect reviews so quickly!)
Note: I'm gonna put up the poll for Liechtenstein's main pairings now. Warning: There will be quite a lot of crack pairings)


II. Friends?
Mid September

For some reason Sealand was singing a strange love song when they were walking home from the world meeting. Liechtenstein watched him singing his head off curiously, her 'brother', Switzerland standing close beside her. He kept his eyes trained ahead, but they were watching Lilli from the corners. She didn't notice anything, only Peter's untrained singing. It was... different to see her friend belting out a love song right in the middle of the street.

Lilli noticed the strange looks they were receiving, but she waved them away. Along the way back from Russia's place, they passed Prussia. He was Switzerland's friend, really, but Lilli also knew him well. He often sat for her when Switzerland was in one of his overprotective mood. Gilbert winked at her when they passed him high tailing his brother.

Walking along, Lilli saw Iceland, one of her close friends beside Sealand, and America, someone she didn't know too well. Sealand kept singing like nobody was there, and Iceland turned to her. She beamed at him, and waved shyly to America before continuing on her way back home.

After leaving Sealand behind at his destination, she walked back to the house with a quiet Switzerland. The cool autumn air swept around them. Liechtenstein slipped her smaller hand around Switzerland's on impulse. He kept her warm.

They had Swiss food for diner that night. Liechtenstein had to admit that Vash's cheap cheese tasted good, even though they were, well, cheap.

"I have to go visit Austria tomorrow." Switzerland spoke up suddenly. He seemed sorry to be leaving her behind, but she was quick to reassure her brother that she'll be fine.

"Will you be okay alone?" His worried voice made her smile. Switzerland's tsundere personality made Lilli the only one he seemed compassionate about. She loved that about him, and would forever be grateful that he had taken her in.

After diner, they sat around the fireplace, Switzerland reading a book and Liechtenstein curled up by his side, sewing. Suddenly, a thought struck her.

"Brother, why are you so protective of me? Mr. Russia's not like that with Mr. Prussia and even Mr. England isn't as protective of Mr. America."

Switzerland blushed faintly. "I care about you." He said quietly. Liechtenstein blinked up at him, satisfied that he had answered her with something other than just the usual mumbles, returned to her sewing with a smile on her face.

True to his words, Lilli woke up to find Vash missing. Finding that the fridge was empty of food, she put on a dark blue dress and tied her violet ribbon to her hair. When she turned around from locking the door, she immediately crashed into Italy.

Liechtenstein collapsed to the grass, looking up just in time to see Italy's closed eyes, as usual, and his bright smile turn into a worried look. It was rare to see Italy look so worried, and for a moment, Lilli wondered if she'd done something profusely wrong.

Italy held out his hand. She shyly reached for it, disregarding her brother's rules. Italy didn't seem like he'd cause her any harm. When she was standing on her feet again, the brunette smiled widely.

"Germany sent me to find Switzy, ve~!" He exclaimed cheerfully. Liechtenstein shook her head.

"I'm sorry Mr. Italy, my brother's at Mr. Austria's place." She politely responded to him. Although he was roughly her age, she wasn't as familiar with him as with Sealand and Iceland, so she relented to being polite.

"Oh, okay. And you don't have to call me Mister, ve~!"

"Okay, Mi- Italy." He smiled at her, nodding pleasingly.

"If you don't mind, Italy, I need to go to the market and buy a few things for breakfast." She told him.

"Oh, you haven't had breakfast yet? Ve~, come with me. We can get you some breakfast, and then I'll walk you to the supermarket." Italy cheerfully suggested.

Liechtenstein smiled gratefully, for she didn't like to be alone. It was often her with her brother, but now that he had business to do and Peter and Emil were nowhere to be seen, she could come with Italy. He was good company.

"You don't seem quite yourself today." Italy told her as they walked down the street. She was surprised that he'd noticed. To tell the truth, she was feeling a little strange feeling in her heart that her brother wasn't by her side. Maybe it was loneliness. And she almost never feels lonely.

"You usually like to talk about Vash." Italy piped up again, and once more she was surprised that he'd noticed little things about her. She hadn't talked to him that much before, only once or twice, because Switzerland didn't like the Italians.

"It's nothing, really." She didn't look up at him. It was stupid, really. Vash would come back at night, if not then the most would be the next morning.

"Oh." Italy's sentence ended without his usual trademark 've!'. Lilli felt like she'd been the cause.

As expected, Feliciano led her to an Italian restaurant for breakfast. She chose to eat pasta, as it was truly one of her favorite foods, and her companion picked a large pizza. While eating, Liechtenstein couldn't help but smile at the way the Italian ate with his cheerfully closed eyes and big appetite. The occasional 've~' escaped from his lips. Somehow, Italian food suddenly tasted better to her.

When they finished, Liechtenstein was intent on getting to the supermarket. They walked the short way to the market, Liechtenstein carefully sidestepping a drunken France and Russia. Without Switzerland, she wasn't sure if Italy was enough to make those two creepy men stay away. When they passed, Lilli was sure she saw Russia give her a "look".

As they arrived in the market, Lilli found herself a bit reluctant to go in alone. She had always had company. She waved good bye to Italy, but was surprised when he took hold of her wrist, looking as cheerful as always.

"Can I come with you? Not training with Germany makes it slightly lonely by myself. And I enjoy your company, ve~!" Liechtenstein instantly nodded; glad that he had the courage to say what she wouldn't be able to say in a million years.

"Well then, Feliciano, shall we go?"

Italy let out a laugh, his curl flopping to the side as he pulled her down the aisles. Her emerald dress flapped by her side, sashaying whenever she paused to pick something from the shelves and drop it in her basket. Italy didn't stop when she did, though, so she had to try hard to keep up with him. Her giggles seemed to echo through the aisles. Emil and Peter were probably her best friends, but even they can't make her smile quite like Feli can.

"Oooh, pretty, ve~?" He turned to Lilli, his amber eyes open wide and sparkling from the lights, vivid colors trailing through them.

Lilli grabbed his hand –like she always did with Vash, but maybe it was different with different people?- and touched them to the soft, smooth, velvety petals.

"Buy them, don't just gawk." The voice of a slightly irritated shopkeeper made them break apart. For some reason, Italy laughed, and Liechtenstein had to laugh along with his contagious giggles.

"Hey, guys!" A joyful voice sounded from right behind Italy. The brunette nation turned away swiftly to be faced with a blonde beholding glasses. Liechtenstein poked her head out from behind Italy. She took the figure standing in front of them to be America and his quieter twin brother, Canada.

"Good morning Mr. America, Mr. Canada." She curtsied slightly as taught by Mr. Austria.

"Just Alfred or America, only!" The American laughed. Lilli often received this comment, but she never said nation's names without pronouncing it in a more formal way first. Traditions didn't fade easily, even when money did.

"How is your day so far, Mr. Canada?" She asked the other glasses- bearing blonde. He flushed slightly.

"Just Matthew, please. And it's been well, thank you." He answered her politely, bearing a wide smile. She returned it with her own.

Suddenly, Italy pulled her abruptly away. "Let's go see Kiku!" he said excitedly. Liechtenstein waved in apology to the two nations she'd left behind.

She didn't hear the two nations gush over how Canada's finally been noticed, even more than his own outgoing and popular brother.

"Konnichiwa, Japan-san." She figured it was polite to greet Japan in his own language, which, of course, she'd learn a few words from Mr. Austria.

Her green eyes sparkled cheerfully. She noticed something pass in his dark eyes, but his emotionless face didn't change.

"Konnichiwa, Liecht-san." His face never caved from the serious look, but a small smile graced his lips. His eyes seemed lighter. Liechtenstein had to maneuver at how his perfect features looked so graceful, yet hard as ice. She found this to be much different from his own friend, Italy.

"How have you been, Kiku?" Italy's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Fine, Ita-san." Japan smiled at his friend, then turned slightly to study the shy and polite blonde nation beside him. He wondered when Italy had started to hang out with the Liechtensteiner. He usually noticed that Lilli usually walked home with her brother, Vash, and Emil or Peter. He always knew that Prussia often babysat for her. But he'd never seen Italy even interact with Liechtenstein before. Well, his friend had always been very social, so it shouldn't be all that surprising.

"Excuse me, Mr. Japan." A gentle voice interrupted his thoughts. Japan realized that he had been tracing the Liechtenstein's gently edged face, and found his cheeks flushing a bright red color. Liechtenstein's face was bearing the same shade of red.

Japan turned away, looking to Italy instead. His brunette friend was staring at the two with an interested look.

"Please just call me Japan. Kiku'll do, too." He quietly told Liechtenstein; while he liked her politeness, he felt it to be awkward since he wasn't much older than her, just some months or so. And with a strange pleasure, he noticed that she was the one girl he was taller than, other than Taiwan. (Not sure if this is correct or not- Oh well ^^)

"We need to get going, Feli. Brother might be home by now."

Italy nodded and pulled Liechtenstein along with a big grin. "See ya!" He told Kiku, who returned it with a dazed look.

Liechtenstein allowed herself to be pulled away. She enveloped herself in thoughts of how she'd already felt safe around Italy. Of course, he wouldn't be much help if someone decided to invade them, but he was a good friend. She felt certain that it would be okay.