Yay! Chapter 2! This one starts to get into Russia's past a little, you know, explains her reluctance to affection. I'll go deeper into that backstory as well since I think it's so interesting. Anyway, sexual themes and cursing, all the usual stuff. :-) Hope y'all enjoy.

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"Oh, well… You don't have to go back today do you? You could just leave?" Yao suggests. I sigh and switch my cellular device to the other hand before answering.

"I could but it wouldn't look good… They might suspect that I'm guilty if I act like that."

"Are you?"

"Am I?" He doesn't answer that question. "Well, either way I'm going to stay. Just to see how everything pans out."

"Okay… Be careful. They can be vicious."

"Oh trust me, I know."

"You said this ends tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Well, would you like to come to me rather than go home after?" Oh? He's inviting me back to his house again? Hmm…

"Umm, sure. That would be nice."

"Great, I'll see you then." We both exchange goodbyes before I hang up. And I'm smiling again… I swore my muscles forgot how to do that but here we are… It's just something about being wanted… I honestly shouldn't let myself get this excited about it.

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I should have taken Yao's advice to skip out on this meeting… Oh hindsight is crystal clear.

"I will not discuss matters like this at a meeting like this. I was ill-informed about what this would be about, and I'm starting to think it was on purpose. I refuse to be bullied into an answer you want to hear from me." I'm keeping my voice calm and cool, although I'm quite angry. I can't believe the audacity of America sometimes! He is relentless! And! He is starting this in front of every country in this damn room.

"We just want the truth Russia, and you've been dancing around it. It really makes you seem guilty."

"We? You mean you. I don't hear anyone else berating me with questions and demanding answers."

"Who else here believes they may be affected by Russian forces? Of any kind?" He asks looking around the room. He raises his hand and so does Italy, Spain, France, England, Norway, Denmark and even Canada. Well shit…

"Speculation and slander." I answer although I'm sure most of these countries would side with America in a heartbeat.

"Are you serious? You are still denying that you are guilty? What do you hope to achieve by doi-"

"America." We all look at Germany. "We are not here to yell at Russia as if she is a child. If you have something against her personally it should be kept personal, not aired for everyone to hear." America gives him a look and Germany just raises an eyebrow; this causes America to sigh softly and drop the subject. "Alright well this has gone on long enough. I was hoping to keep all of this friendly and civil but apparently we can not even accomplish that, so you all may leave." America gives him another look and Germany mouths 'what' at him. This is quite interesting, huh? A familiar vibrating on my side tells me I have a text message. I take the cellular device and turn the screen on.

Message

C Pig: 'what did you do to Germany? Brainwash him? Clone him? Blackmail him?'

I look up to glare at America (he is C pig in my phone, I bet you can take a guess as to what that stands for) and notice I'm the only one left in the room… Hmm.. When did that happen? I quickly stand and gather my 'notes' (which is really just me drawing) and head for the door, but I stop once I hear voices and lean against the inside of the wall - listening. Yes, I eavesdrop a substantial amount, I will not feel shame for this; it gets me good intel.

"I am not obligated to side with you every time you decide to pick a fight." That's Germany's voice… He must be talking to America.

"I understand that, but when it's Russia? I really thought you'd be on my side… Since the whole you know Prussi-"

"Don't even go there Alfred."

"See! You know I'm right. And I'm pretty sure she has been messing with you as well. Why would you back her up?"

"Because believe it or not, I wanted to keep things friendly. The last thing I want is tension and conflict… Yet you seem to thrive for it."

"I do not. I want to keep things friendly as well, but with her going around and trying to destabilize everyone it's kind of hard to do that."

"Like I said, personal problems should be kept personal."

"It's not personal."

"Yes it is," Germany laughs a bit, "look in a mirror. You meddle in foreign affairs just as much as she does."

"You just admitted that you think she meddles in affairs."

"My you sure do have selective hearing."

"Damn skippy, that's what I get for being raised in Virgina, a lawyer's hearing." He is just so full of himself.

"Sure, if that's what you must call it."

"And yes I engage in the affairs of others but with good cause."

"Seemingly good cause." I'm sure this just made America's eye twitch.. Ha, he can't stand being correctly criticized. Damn, I need some snacks… Dinner and a show.

"Ouch. I didn't hear you complaining in 19-'

"Please for the love of God America stop bringing up my history." Germany's voice is starting to sound annoyed, which is interesting since he's become so good at being monotone and emotionless.

"You're so sensitive."

"Rightfully so." They are both silent for a moment before America speaks up again.

"She do something to you?"

"You are unbelievably paranoid. No, she has done nothing to me. Like I said, trying to keep tensions at a low."

". . .Fine. I'll be nice."

"You do have an obedient side after all." America laughs.

"Fuck off." He says playfully. I can't see what's happening, I just hear movement then someone walking away. Aww! I wanted a bigger fight than that… Now that would have been really interesting. Germany vs. America, which blond haired blue eyed white guy will win-

"What are you still doing in here?" Germany asks me… He must have walked back in.

"It seemed like you were having quite the sensitive conversation I didn't want to ruin it with my presence."

"You mean you were listening?" I smirk and raise my hands.

"Guilty as charged." His face is a little unnervingly emotionless, I was wanting at least a smile. "Not even a smile?" I ask. He's just looking into my eyes completely straight-faced.

"I don't find spying funny." Wow, he can not take joke… Oh well.

"Thank you. Not many people stand up to America, especially when it's my honor at stake." I manage. He should at least know I'm grateful. My eyebrows raise as he smiles a bit.

"No problem." He takes some papers off the table than leaves.

Did he just smile? Wow, I haven't seen him smile since 1989.

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-words-more-words-

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"Anya." I sigh and keep walking. Whatever America has to say to me can wait. I just desperately want to pack and get out of here… I'm also curious as to what exactly Yao wants from me.

"Anya, don't you dare ignore me." I put my hand on the handle to my room but alas he is here and puts a hand on it so I can't open it… Much like yesterday… I know exactly what he's trying to do.

"I know your games, Alfred, move so I can leave."

"Make me."

"You are an arrogant child you know that?"

"Yes I do. I'm a child that really wants answers and you're not partin' with them."

"Okay fine. I'll give you answers. I. Am. Not. Trying. To. Fight. With. You. Understand that?" He narrows his eyes.

"Could've fooled me. To me it looks like your asking for it."

"Asking for it?!" I take a breath to calm down. I really don't want to get into a shouting match with him, not with all these innocent humans walking around. I push him away from the door and enter my room but he follows me and closes the door.

"No, no, no, no, no, I'm not doing this America. Get out."

"Doing what? Letting me annoy you so much that you accidently tell me the truth and what you're planning?" It happened one time. One time! And now he thinks I'm prone to it. He takes a couple steps towards me and I can feel the back of me knees hit the bed. Oh shit…

"America, I suggest you leave right now."

"Or what?" His voice is deep and soft as he says this which causes some tingles to run through my body. Damn him.

Honestly it has been awhile since we've done this; been in this cycle of hating each other, fighting, having sex, then fighting again. It stopped around 1990 and it didn't pick up again, but now? Why now?

He's close to me now, looking up at me only slightly.

"Or we'll do something we will both regret." I whisper this. It's true and needed to be said, but I really didn't want to say it…

"I'm not one for self-control." He answers, putting his hands on my arms and pushing me back. He's straddling me before I can really try and fight him off, his hands are wrapped around my thin wrists, holding them above my head.

"I know that, capitalist p-" He kiss me before I can call him that name that he hates so much. This kiss is just like the one before, except I'm losing at the battle for who will be the dominant one. And he knows it which is why I can feel him smirking. I try to struggle a little bit but my arms are weak. Truthfully, I haven't done anything like this in awhile, and it's making me quite sensitive. He pulls away and wraps only one hand around my wrists, the other pulls gently at my scarf.

"Don't you dare." He smiles and takes it off completely, tossing it off the bed.

"I know that this will give me the answers I want." Oh my, oh, goodness, oh shit no, no, no, no, no, I can't let him do this. I raise my knee up, hitting him in between the legs, causing him to falter enough for me to switch our positions.

"Damn, what the hell?" I just smile. Ha! Win for women!

"You shouldn't threaten others with torture like that… Especially when it's much too easy to do it to you." His eyes widen as I run my hand through his hair. Ugh, his hair is so soft and golden, it almost makes me jealous. He's biting his lip and writhing gently under me. Oh come on, I can get a better reaction than this. I pull his hair a little harshly which causes him to gasp and tense.

"Aww, does it feel good?" I say in a mocking voice.

"Ahnn Fuck you." He moans. I could laugh at this. He is much too easy, like a teenager… Well… Actually he probably isn't to far off from being a teenager physically. I pull his hair harder and he gasps again, legs starting to tremble slightly. "Stop t-teasing me." It sounds more like a whine than a command.

"Hmmm, only if you apologize for the way you've treated me today and yesterday." He doesn't answer so I pull his hair again.

"Ahh! Okay, okay… I'm sorry for being an ass to you, please…"

"Please what?"

"Stop teasing…"

"Okay." I smile and let go of his hair then get off him, beginning to pack.

"W-what? You're just going to leave me like this?"

"You brought it on yourself, jumping me like that. I am not in the mood for having sex with you." He sighs and looks up at the ceiling… Aww, he looks so defeated laying there… He must not be used to being told no.

I finish packing and he's still laying on the bed.

"I'm leaving now so… You should probably do the same."

"Why are you leaving? We have one more meeting don't we?"

"One more day to stay and be tormented by you? No thank you." I leave the room, it's not my problem.

"I think you're scared." I'm not taking the bait, not this time. I walk down the stairs and I sigh happily once I'm outside of the hotel and into a car that will take me to the airport. Oh sweet bliss… I'm actually quite proud of myself for being able to pull out of his game. I hate the way he gets to me sometimes.

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-words-more-words-

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"Interesting… I would have thought Germany would have let him keep pestering you like that… Especially because of your history with him." I've just been telling Yao what happened during my time in Munich. He seems thoroughly entertained.

"My thoughts exactly but, I guess not." My side vibrates and I take the device out and turn the screen on.

Message

C Pig: I'm not really used to being turned down, especially by you. Is this some sort of new tactic you're using?

I could laugh. I could honestly laugh. Of course he's not used to being turned down. I hit the reply button and send him this message.

'Yes. The new tactic is called: I Don't Want To Catch Something From The World Slut. I think it is working nicely.'

I look back up at Yao who nervously looks away, blushing only a little… Why is he so nervous all of a sudden? Does he… Does he have a crush on me or something? Oh boy…

"Well anyway… I'm glad you are back here. It must be much better than going to those meetings." He manages.

"I'm glad as well… It's always so warm in your house." This is true, very, very true… Although I'm not sure if he always keeps it this nice and warm or if he does it specifically for me.

"I like it that way… Just how I like the warmness of your smile." It's my turn to blush… I think he may actually be flirting with me which is… Such a weird thought.

"Oh well… Thank you.." Compliments make me awkward. I check to see if America had messaged me back, and I'm greeted with his reply.

Message

C Pig: That's a compliment, since you think I can easily get that much if I wanted.

I roll my eyes and reply.

'I don't think. I know. I know that's how you 'help' others, yes? Make them really like you, then you sleep with them for awhile and then leave, making them want more of you until your culture and dumb democracy has infiltrated the place.'

I look back up but Yao is gone… I look around the small living room but then notice the water is on in the kitchen… Wow, I can't believe I didn't notice him get up. I stand as well and wander into the kitchen, I wonder what he's doing.

"Oh sorry, I just wanted to make sure these dishes were put away before I made dinner." He tells me once he notices I have entered the kitchen.

"No problem." He smiles at me then continues putting dishes away. My side vibrates again.

Message

C Pig: Dumb democracy? I'm not even a democratic nation, a direct democracy is tyrannical I thought you knew me better than this.

'Oh excuse me, dumb democratic republic' I reply.

"I hope you'll stay for dinner. I don't usually get much guests." Yao's voice pulls me out of my little discussion with America.

"Of course I'll stay if you want."

Message

C Pig: Okay, I'll remember that miss constitutional republic…. You'll always be a commie at heart huh?

'Of course America, if that's what you want.'

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Dinner at Yao's house… I've missed this…Everything is almost like old times, like a routine. We talk for a wile, eat, then talk some more before I'd either leave or well… Follow him to his room… I'm still trying to figure out how this night will end.

"Well, I mean… As much as I hate to admit it our economies are practically depend on each other. He goes down I might too." This is Yao's comment to me verbally expressing how joyous I'd be if America would fail… At least once… That's all I need.

"I guess you're right… The world is kind of a little dependent on him… Unfortunately." Yao smiles and laughs a bit.

"Unfortunately is correct," He sighs and swirls the liquid in his glass, "he did make for some interesting times in the past though…" I tilt my head slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"The audacious battle between communism and capitalism… Such a strange time." I laugh.

"Strange? I'd call it fun." He raises his eyebrows.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah actually… I quite enjoyed being the Soviet Union… This federation business isn't as thrilling."

"Hmm… To good ole times."

"To good old times." We both touch glasses in a weird western like toast and drink the rest of the liquid in said glasses. He smiles at me and I kind of smirk back at him… To good old times indeed. He takes the glasses and puts them into the sink, slowly turning around and walking toward me. If the good old times have to say anything about anything, they are saying he's going to try and kiss me… And they'd be correct.

This kiss is nothing like America and I will ever share. It's slow and familiar, passionate even… Especially on his end. He pulls away and smiles a little bit, pressing his lips to mine again. I find it a little funny that he always initiates kisses only when I'm sitting down… Perks of being tall… Ugh, I can hardly joke around in my mind when he's kissing me like this… Where did all of this emotion come from? Why does it feel so good? Like old times…

Kissing like this reminds me of thick, almost black, wavy hair, tanned skin, dark eyes, deep soft voice speaking to me in Greek… I pull away probably a tad too quickly. He's giving me a confused look right now.

"Are you okay?" He asks me softly. I don't notice while I'm speaking, but I interestingly answer him in Greek, which causes him to put the back of his hand on my forehead. "Have you forgotten what time you are in?" He asks me with hint of a joking tone.

"No, sorry I… Was just thinking about the language then I guess… Spoke in it." He frowns a little and sits back down, right next to me.

"I thought you would have forgotten that language…" He sounds disappointed.

"How could I forget it?"

"Because you don't speak it with anyone… Do you?"

". . . I mean. . ."

"Do you even speak to Greece?"

"No…" I look down. You may not know, but I know exactly what he's getting upset about… He's getting upset about history… History we can't change, I can't change… I've never been really good at changing.

"Do you still… Think about him?" I look right into Yao's eyes and tighten my jaw. Of course I do.

"What do you think?" I stand up, I don't want to feel bad about this.

"Anya." I roll my eyes and walk toward his front door. He quickly grabs my wrist. "Don't you remember why we couldn't work the last time we tried?" I turn around and he's looking up at me in a way that almost makes me sad. Almost.

"Because I was a whore in the sixties and you wanted monogamy?"

"No, It was be-... Well, I mean that was part of it but no… It was because I realized you could never love me the way I did and do love you."

"You shouldn't want love from me, I'm incapable."

"You are perfectly capable… Just not when you're in love with someone else."

". . . In love with someone else? What makes you think I'm in love with someone else?"

"You're still in love with the Byzantine Empire." I take a step away from him and he takes a step toward me. "Anya, I know that you really loved hi-"

"How dare you speak as if you know. You know nothing of the relationship between me and the… the.. Him.." I quickly turn around so he doesn't see my eyes welling… Oh, damn him… I feel his hand on my arm but I open the front door and walk out then smile… It is pouring out here… Lovely… How romantic.

"Anya, please don't walk away… I don't mean to offend you I just… Really… Care for you." I don't even give him the time of day. I don't answer him, I don't even look back at him, I just keep walking… To where? I don't know… Since he was the one who picked me up from the airport and all…

This rain is chilling me to the bone, and all I can think about is the damned Byzan-... Him..

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-words-more-words-

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-3 weeks later-

45 missed calls.

34 voicemails.

56 unread messages.

115 E-mails.

Uhhh…. This is what happens when I shut myself in…

I slowly sit up for the first time in… A while… Stretching my limbs and back… Everything is sore. Standing up from the bed I stumble a little, but then get the hang of walking and wander into the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror…

Why can't I just move on from the past? Why must I become so upset over it? Even hundreds of years later. I close my eyes and let my mind float back to the Byzantine Empire, that Yao so graciously reminded me of… Or Theo... that's what I called him. I remember desperately trying to learn Greek just so I could speak to him. I laugh a bit to myself, America can go pound sand, Theo always thought it was cute when I laughed to myself.

Our relationship was bitter at first, small little battles with ships and on beaches. Yet, soon after I learned Greek, we actually started talking to one another and seeing each other more often and the petty hatred we had for each other melted away and we… We fell in love with each other. Which was a mistake… The best piece of advice to follow as a nation is never fall in love with anyone because it will be used against you… And it will destroy you. Like it did and still does to me… Even five hundred and sixty years later.

I slowly remove my scarf… This is something I rarely do but I'm reminiscing, might as well look at the one remaining thing I have from my love for Theo… This big, nasty, dark scar across the front of my neck… I can almost feel the pain of that much too dull knife cutting into me as I run my fingers across it. I've been through some pretty horrid, and brutal stuff… Like, the Revolution of 1917, or even the Great Patriotic War… That one hurt like no other war has hurt me… But this scar? The worst pain I've ever felt… By far.

No, Theo did not do this to me, he could never hurt me… But my love for him did this to me. Jealousy did this to me. That's why I left Yao's house so quickly… Jealousy brings nothing good…

A familiar, special ring from the private telephone I have in my office echoes through my house, honestly causing me to gasp. I haven't heard that ring in a while… I quickly run to my office and debate whether or not I should pick it up… This phone used to mean one of three things before the Soviet collapse. 1.) It means that Stalin wants to talk to me which could have been good or bad… Mostly bad… 2.) It means that America is calling me which was almost always bad… or 3.) It means nuclear war so… I was always scared when this phone rang…

So what the hell does it mean now?

I slowly pick it up, staying silent for a while before giving a cautious hello.

"Ha! I knew you'd pick this one up, Commie." I roll my eyes… It's option 2.

"America dear, you should know that calling me on this telephone is quite serious… I hope you don't intend to meet with Stalin and I because he's unavailable right now."

"Try unavailable forever, thank God."

"Hey, watch it."

"As much as I love verbally playing with you this call is pretty serious."

"Oh? What do you want?"

"Well.. Since no one for some reason can get a hold of you," I look at my cellular device that currently tells me I have hundreds of unread messages…. oops...",I decided to call you here because I knew you'd answer if you were alive… Anyway, we're supposed to hang out."

"Excuse me what?"

"I'm sure you heard what I said."

"Is today the first of April where you are?"

". . . No. . . I'm being serious."

"Okay… Who says?"

"Says my boss and yours for some… Some God forsaken reason."

"Is this one of those, 'Maybe if they get to know one another they will actually like each other', plans?"

"Yup."

"Do I have to?"

"Yup."

Sigh. Why?

Why?