Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or the original characters! This is a completely fan based story! So, please don't sue me!

So here's my first official chapter to this story! I have to say I'm excited to show you guys this! I think it turned out pretty good, but you guys are the judges so tell me what you think. Thanks for reading! 3

'So…why am I doing this again?' Alfred questioned himself for the one hundredth time that night, as he stood in his statue-like rigid pose. There, in front of him, behind rust coated gates, stood an old abandoned mansion…if you could call it that.

From what you would expect a mansion should be, this was a far cry from it. The wide, tall building looked uncared for and forgotten for many years. It's brick stone surface looked faded and beaten from all the years of torture it had been put through, even in the moonlight. Windows covered it's whole complexion with dirt and grim engraved on them, as if daring anyone to look inside. Mother nature did not seem please with the old abandoned mansion, as well. Vines of leaves and mold ran through it's cracks, the tree's bare branches reached like hands towards the mansion from above. It looked like mother nature herself was trying to consume and hide the no longer worthy building. But, there it stubbornly stood in the cold, foggy night with only the full moon making it's appearance every now and then as the fog blew in the wind, against all odds right in front of him. If Alfred had been thinking straight he would have felt pity for the mansion, but he wasn't. He was to freakin' scared!

"Hello little Alfred." A familiar annoying thick Russian accent asked in a too overly joyful tone for a situation like this.

'Oh.' Alfred thought, remembering the unfortunate events that led him to this. 'That's why.'

Alfred was the all-around stereotypical American boy next door. He filled the title with his dirty blonde hair and crystal blue eyes that challenged a beautiful summer's blue sky. On his nose held a pair of black glasses that framed his face well, hiding some of the baby fat that he was still growing out of. On his face every day you can find a smile that reached from one side of his face to the other, which made numerous of girls swoon for. From that smile things like, "America rules!" and "Hamburgers!" and "I'm the hero!" came splurging out. Not to mention his skin held a golden tan that refused to ever fade.

Along with his looks, Alfred was always known as an outgoing, energetic, and friendly young man. Which only made it easier for him when he and his family moved to England for his father's job when he was fifteen. Being the social butterfly he was, he had no problems making friends and becoming Mr. Popular in only one year. Now, being sixteen years old-Mr. Popular-makes girls' weak in the knees with a smile- Alfred F. Jones had perks…

Today wasn't one of those days.

It started out like any other normal day for Alfred F. Jones. Get up. (With some struggle.) Get dressed. (With some irritation, why did they have to wear a uniform? Ugh. Though, not forgetting to put his own touch to it and put on his iconic bombers jacket.) Eat. (Who doesn't love to eat?) Go to school. Chat with some friends before morning class started. Listen to class. (By listen be meant sleep until it was over, who liked literature anyway?) Break. Make some girls swoon. (He didn't even have to try.) More class. Yup, same as usual. That is…until lunch.

Because of the cold temperature that came with autumn, most student decided to eat their lunch in the indoor cafeteria, two of those students being Alfred himself and his close friend Kiku Honda.

Kiku Honda is known as a very quiet, humble and modest young man. In height, he's much shorter compared to other men his age. His hair could only be described as jet black with dark brown eyes. In his tone of voice a distinctive Japanese accent that he kept since childhood and trips back to Japan during the summer could be heard. Some may wonder how a quiet, modest, Japanese boy would have in common with an overly loud, obnoxious American?

Video games and manga.

After finding out their common love for video games and Kiku's help in introduced Alfred to the wonders of manga, the two hit it off and have been friends ever since.

Alfred was just finishing off his third hamburger, luckily for him hamburgers were on the cafeteria's menu today, and was having one of his usual discussion with him. "So, yeah dude! You have to try it! It's awesome-"

"Did someone say awesome?!" A hand slammed on to their table, making their lunch on it jump a little from the impact. "Cause' now I'm here!"

Trailing up the hand you were met with a prideful grin, ready to tell you how awesome and amazing they were with their thick German-no, change that- 'Prussian' accent. (He always had this weird obsession that he was Prussian, and was most definitely not German.) Trailing just a bit higher you were then met with red eyes that you could have sworn they were contacts, like come on! They were just a tad hidden behind his snow white hair that had fallen on his face. This was none other than the albino Gilbert Beilschmidt.

"Oh, hey Gilbert! What's up?" Alfred greeted, not realizing the mistake he made by acknowledging Gilbert's presence, he'll find out soon enough when he's standing in his statue-like rigid pose in front of an old abandoned mansion, but that was until later.

"Nothing but an awesome idea thought by the awesome me!" Gilbert explained vaguely, wanting to catch the two's interest, which he did.

"Awesome, dude!" Alfred eyes sparkled with curiosity, he was a sucker for things like this. "What is it?"

"I'm curious too, Gilbert-san. What is this idea of yours?" The polite Japanese man chimed in, wondering what he had on store.

"Well, listen up and take a load of my awesome plan, kesesese!" Happy with their reaction, he started to fill them in. "So, since Halloween is coming up this weekend, I thought how awesome would it be if we got together some awesome- not as awesome as me- people and went-"

"Treat or treating?!" Alfred exclaimed, excited by the thoughts of costumes and buckets of candy, just thinking about it made his mouth water.

"Trick or treating? Really man? Totally un-awesome! What are you six?" Gilbert questioned mockingly, finishing it off with his signature laugh.

"No way! Trick or treating is way awesome! You get to dress up in cool costumes and get loads of free candy! How awesome is that, right Kiku?" Alfred asked, turning towards Kiku, wanting some support to defend his case.

"Ah-" Not expecting to be put on the spot like that, Kiku fumbled for an answer, not wanting to be rude. "Y-yes, Alfred-san."

Gleaming, Alfred turned toward Gilbert once again and proclaimed, "See! Even Kiku agrees!" As if that was all he needed to prove he was right all along.

Not wanting to continue the un-awesome argument, because he knew he was right, Gilbert went back to the main topic. "ANYWAY," He said loudly, shutting the American up. "What I was awesomely going to say, I was thinking we could all meet up and have a test of courage."

The excitement that was once all over Alfred's face drained without a trace. "T-test of courage?" His voice cracked just a 'little' bit, it wasn't as if he was totally scared of anything, because he was most DEFINITELY not!

Not realizing, or not caring to, Gilbert carried on with his excited matter. "Yeah bros! Totally awesome plan right? And, I totally know the awesome place to do it!" Then, he stopped and took a deep breath, just adding more to the suspense he already created, as the others leaned toward him, waiting with bated breaths. "The old haunted mansion in the forest." Gilbert finished with a sly grin on his face.

Old and haunted was all Alfred needed to hear to make his knees to buckle just a bit, more like a twitch really, like before we wasn't scared or anything. He wasn't.

"A h-haunted old house, h-huh?" Alfred tried to make his tone light and smiled, though, his teeth unconsciously chatter a bit as he tried to laugh his usual laugh.

"No man. You know, the old, haunted mansion, the one in the middle of the forest. It awesomely notorious to be ridiculously haunted. Don't tell me you never heard of it?" He corrected Alfred. Giving him a critical look, everybody in town knew about it. He continued, "So. You bros on board with my awesome plan? Why am I even asking, of course you are! It's an awesome plan from the awesome Gilbert! Kesesese!"

He was wrong, so terribly, terribly wrong. Maybe Alfred had been lying and saying he wasn't scared, maybe just a teensy bit.

'Old and haunted AND a mansion in a FREAKIN' forest?! That's like some plot to a freaky horror movie! Where these teen go together to a haunted mansion as a joke THEN they get locked in and can't get out THEN they get torture by ghost and monsters AND THEN are never seen again!?' Alfred's mind was in total turmoil, thinking up totally unrealistic and outrageous situations. Unbeknownst to him, his body started shaking and he grew paler the more he thought, his teeth chattering as he came with a response. "I-I-I d-d-don't know dude. I-I don't-t think-"

"Could it be that little Alfred is scared, da?" A Russian accent voiced behind him, making him jump a bit.

'Ivan.' Alfred immediately recognized as he slowly turned toward the sound, he knew that voice from anywhere.

Alfred was proven right when he turned to become face to face with a standing Ivan Braginski. Ivan Braginski was feared by many for his intimidating presence. He held the face of an innocent child who grinned all the time, which caused shivers down people's back. The golden hair that rested on his head complimented the sunflowers he loved so much. His eyes were the deepest shade of dark purple anyone had ever seen, putting Gilbert's red eyes almost to shame. He had the ability to freeze anybody with them and make them submit to his will. Well…almost anyone, there was this one pesty American that refused to succumb to him. Since day one Alfred and Ivan never got along. Alfred hated the way Ivan bullied others and Ivan hated the way Alfred proclaimed he was the hero and helped the, in his mind, weaker beings. They could list a number of other things they hated about each other, but maybe, deep down, it was just the Russian and American blood that ran inside of them. Whatever it truly was, they hated each other. End of story. Ivan was always looking for ways to bring the American down and watch him get humiliated, it was one of his favorite pastimes really. Today was one of those days.

After coming face to face Alfred relied, forgetting his fear for just that moment. "No way dude! Me? Scared? Pleeease! Hero's aren't scared of anything." He finished, crossing his arms together in front of his chest as if it only proved his point more.

"Ah, is that so?" Ivan smiled his typical grin, keeping his eyes locked with Alfred's as he stepped closer to the table and continued. "Then why were you refusing to go, hmmm?"

Alfred jumped at that, he wasn't expecting to be questioned, he wasn't prepared! "Um…" He mumbled out, trying to fill in the silence that was waiting for him to answer. He looked up at the ceiling desperately, as if it'll give him some answers. Surprisingly, it did.

"Ah!" He exclaimed a little too loudly, making his peers at his table flinch and caused the other students around them to turn away from their own discussions at their own table and eye him curiously, before turning back. Unfazed by everyone's reaction Alfred explained in one word, throwing his hands up for emphasis. "Mattie!"

Not getting the picture, just like the others, Kiku was the brave soul and asked. "What about Matthew-san?"

Like he was just waiting for someone to ask him that, Alfred started to explain. "You see, Mattie, my bro, is totally not into that kind of stuff! He thinks haunted old mansion are scary as hell, ESPECIALLY in forests, and ESPECIALLY on Halloween. There's no way he'll want to go! And, seeing as I'm an awesome brother and awesome hero I can't just leave my brother hanging on Halloween! That'll be totally lame, so I'll stay with him!" Alfred finished proudly, this idea was so going to work! It was full proof!

"Well then, why don't we ask him himself?" Gilbert asked, surprising Alfred, and turned to Alfred's right and asked. "Hey, bridie, wanna go with us to the mansion?"

Right by Alfred's right side sat Matthew Williams, his twin brother. Yes, Williams, not Jones. When their parents got married their mom, Amila, promised her father that she'll continue the family name he worked hard for -Jones- when marrying their father James Williams, making their last name Jones-William. Though, it became a hassle rewriting it over and over again on their homework that he and Alfred decided to just choose one. Alfred chose to stick with Jones, while Matthew decided to stick with Williams. They could have both chosen Jones or Williams but Matthew just like Williams a tad bit better, he felt like it suited him more. Just like Alfred being a proud patriotic American, Matthew was a patriotic Canadian, which came from his father's side. He loved hockey and maple syrup. He also held a slight Canadian accent he got from his father and whenever he and his family went to visit relatives, or from their vacations in the winter to hit the slopes.

He and Alfred looked very similar, since they were twins and all, but there were some slight differences. Matthew's hair was a lighter shade of blond and slightly longer than Alfred's. And, instead of a fringe that defied gravity like Alfred's, he had a loose bouncy curl that hung in front of his face. Behind that curl, instead of sky blue eyes you were met with soft light violet ones behind a pair of glasses as well. Though, one major difference between them were their personalities. Alfred being loud and obnoxious, Matthew was quiet and timid, which practically made him invisible to everyone else. Apparently, even his own brother… Though, for some reason, Gilbert always seemed to notice him. He would always wonder why… Anyway, back to the conversation.

"Wow! Mattie! When you get here?!" Alfred questioned, not even remembering when his brother showed up.

With a sigh, Matthew plainly explained. "Al, I've been here the whole time."

"Oh." Alfred had to admit he felt kinda guilty and, unsurprising, awkward not realizing his brother was there. So, what better thing to do in a situation like this? Laugh and play it off. "Ha ha ha! Right bro! I knew that!"

Matthew rolled his eyes and thought. 'Sure you did.' He was use to this really.

"So, what do you think birdie? Up for it?" Gilbert asked again, he seemed hopeful for a response, very hopeful, as he looked at Mathew.

'Oh crap!' Suddenly remembering his full proof plan, Alfred kicked into motion.

"Ha ha! No way Mattie wants to go!" He looked at his brother, meeting his eyes. "You don't want to go to some OLD. HAUNTED. ABANDONED. MANSION. In the middle of a FOREST. On HALLOWEEN. Do you?" Alfred made sure to emphasize on some particular words to get his point across as he held his gaze with his brother.

Matthew could practically see his brother begging him to go along with his plan and get him out of this through his eyes. Matthew knew that his brother had a fear for all things 'scary' (and by scary, it could be the most cheesiest and most phoniest thing ever, and it could still scare the living crap out of him.) and was considering being a good brother and bailing him out of this one.

Considering. That's a key word.

Now, just because Matthew was quiet and timid, didn't mean he didn't get back at his brother every once and a while. It's what brothers do. Not only did Alfred not realize he was there, he decided to blame Matthew for his reason that he couldn't go. Aaand, there was also that last week when Alfred hogged the TV and didn't let Matthew watch his hockey games…

Let's just say he wasn't happy.

Matthew decided and turned towards Gilbert who was still very much waiting for his answer, Matthew silently question why he looked so hopeful, and finally answered "Hmmm, going to an old haunted mansion in the middle of a forest on Halloween does seem really scary-"

"See-!" Alfred cut off Matthew, exclaiming to everyone that he was right, only to be cut off by Matthew himself.

"-but really fun." Matthew finished his full sentence in a happy tone. He then glanced at his brother for a second, seeing him with his mouth agape, slowly digest his words, and looked back at Gilbert again before adding. "Sign me up."

"Awesome!" Gilbert exclaimed, causing the students around them to jump this time by the noise and once again look at their table. He was beyond happy and threw his fist in the air. "This is going to be awesome!"

Why Gilbert was beyond happy puzzled Matthew and caused him to naïvely think. 'Maybe he's happy because that would mean Alfred would be going too?'

Matthew just smiled as he looked at Gilbert doing what he was doing, all the while ignoring Alfred's betrayed glare that was trying to drill a hole in him. That'll teach Alfred not to mess with him and his hockey…oh, and to not use him in his plans without his permission. (But mostly his hockey.)

Alfred, still glaring at his brother for betraying him, (They were bros! How could he do that!) when he was tapped on his left shoulder. Turning toward the direction of the touch he was once again face to face with Ivan, who still had that same smile on his face and asked. "Does that mean you'll be going or is the little Alfred still scared, da?"

Forgetting all about his fears and just wanting to shut the Russian up, he stood up himself and replied instantly. "Hell yeah I'm going. Are you sure you're-" Alfred poked Ivan in the chest with his index finger. "-not the one who's scared and trying to hide it?"

The Russian's smile only grew and his eyes crinkled shut. For anyone who didn't now Ivan they would have thought he was immensely happy, but the poor students that decided to eat lunch in the indoor cafeteria knew way better than that. They could practically see and feel the murderous waves come off of him. Slowly, very slowly, and cautiously, very cautiously, students started to get up…

Opening his eyes once more but still holding on to his murderous aura Ivan addressed Gilbert. "Gilbert." Knowing he had Gilbert's attention without even looking he continued. "Make sure to leave a spot for little Alfred and I, da?" He said never breaking eye contact with Alfred.

Alfred then added in. "Yeah Gilbert, save me a spot." He paused, holding on to Ivan's glare with a glare of his own and continued. "And, maybe one for Ivan. Though, I wouldn't hold it if I were you, he might not even show up." And with that it declared a silent war, you could almost see the lightening going off between them.

"Um…sure..?" Even Gilbert could sense the tension and knew it was smarter to answer without any remarks, he did not want to get involved in this, it would be VERY un-awesome.

As the three unfortunate students, Kiku, Matthew, and Gilbert waited with baited breaths as the other two still stood and were unwilling to lose against the other, a voice could be heard coming from the hallway that lead into the cafeteria. "Big brother Ivan! Where are you?"

As if God heard the three students sitting down prayers, Ivan immediately rushed towards another exit in the cafeteria to make his quick escape, but not before he turned to Alfred and said his final words. "Until Halloween, little Alfred." Then, he was gone and just in time too. The cafeteria door opened, which revealed a girl with straight platinum blonde hair that reached to her chest and had purple eyes just like her brother's. She looked at the four and said. "Big brother." If it was a question or a statement, they didn't ask. They just pointed in the direction were Ivan fled and girl ran in that way, yelling. "Big brother! Where are you?! Come back…" The rest of her words faded as the door closed.

Then, there was silence.

After a few moments, not able to take the silence any longer, Gilbert cracked and said. "Now, that was tense man."

As if those words were a spell to break a curse, the boys sighed with relief and Alfred sat down once more between Kiku and his brother.

"So," Gilbert continued, apparently not done speaking, and asked. "You're going to come or not?"

Alfred gave his brother one more betrayed glare, which Matthew just shrugged at and continued to eat his lunch, then looked back at Gilbert and repeated what he said before. "Yeah, save me a spot." He was so not going to look forward to this. With a sigh, he looked down at his food, not feeling hungry anymore, and then realized something. His head shot up and looked at Gilbert and then behind him.

"Uh…guys." Alfred spoke, catching the three boy's attention an continued. "Where did everyone go?" With that the boys began to turn and look around them, nobody was there. It was completely empty.

Unbeknownst to them, the rest of the students took it upon themselves to get out of the indoor cafeteria and huddle together outside to eat their lunch. Yes it was colder, BUT it was much, much safer…

So, here he was. He wasn't out going from house to house in his Captain America costume, nor was he at home rolling in sweets liked he hoped for. Nope. Instead he was here, in a pair of old worn jeans, red and white shoes, and a red hoodie, in front of a intimating build. He never once blinked at it, in fear that if he did it'll gobble him up. This was NOT how he wanted to spend Halloween, that's for sure.

Alfred was once again lost in his thoughts that he forgotten about the Russian that spoke to him. This did not please the said Russian, not one bit. Nobody ignores Ivan Braginski. Nobody. With that, Ivan raised his hand towards the unknowing, distracted American and placed it on his shoulder.

Now that caused Alfred to jump out of his skin. Thinking the worst, the American was about to scream at whatever monster, creature, or ghost that decided to latch itself onto him that he did not taste good and to not take his soul. That is, he was about to. Just as Alfred opened his mouth to let out his pleads, he had fully turned and became face to face with the 'monster'. Well, it was a monster in it's own way… Anyway, that was enough to make Alfred remember the whole reason he was there in the first place. He going to prove the Russian wrong! He wouldn't give Ivan satisfaction that he was right! Besides, he was the Hero! Hero aren't scared of anything! Putting on as much of a brave face he could at that moment he greeted, "O-oh, h-hey Ivan."

Smiling his usual childlike innocent smile, Ivan greeted back once more. "Hello little Alfred. Is something wrong? You do not look so well, da?"

Alfred did indeed not look good, his teeth were chattering and his body was shaking, he just wanted to run the hell away from there. With a nervous laugh he came up with the only response he could think of, "Yeah dude I'm f-fine, it's just really c-cold tonight."

It was actually a pleasant night, not too hot and too cold, and far once not raining.

Whether Ivan could tell he was lying or not, he didn't show it. "Ah, I see."

"Y-yeah…" Alfred replied, relived that Ivan took the excuse.

Not done with the American just yet, Ivan added. "Then you look forward to the test of courage, da?"

Alfred cringed at the thought of even going in there, he was most definitely not looking forward to it. Luckily, he didn't have to reply when an overly loud and excited voice cut through their conversation.

"Ve~ Ludwig do you think there will be pasta in there?" The Italian voice questioned.

With a sigh, a German voice replied. "I don't think so Feli."

That was the first time the American realized that a whole group had formed. How long was he out of it? Looking around he could see there were eleven others, including him and Ivan. He also knew each and every one of them. The two that cut through their conversation were Feliciano Vargas and Ludwig Beilschmidt. Feliciano was a bubbly, happy go lucky, touchy feely, pasta lovin' Italian. Along with his warm personality, Feliciano had warm brown eyes with brown orange hair, which had a perfect curl at his left side. If you needed him for some reason, you could always find him clinging onto Ludwig. They were an odd pair but none the less the got along really well. Ludwig was the younger brother of Gilbert, though he didn't seem like it or look like it. Unlike his brother Gilbert, Ludwig was very serious, strict, and mature. To put it simply, you would never hear the word 'awesome' escape from his lips. His looks matched his personality, his blonde hair was always fixed back, showing his clear blue eyes, and his clothes fixed nicely without a wrinkle in sight.

"Feliciano, get away from that potato bastard!" Another Italian voice rang angrily.

"Aww, Lovino let him be. I'll shower you with attention!" A Spanish accent voice said happily.

"Let go bastard!"

Then, there was Lovino Vargas and Antonio F. Carriedo. Just like Alfred and Matthew, Feliciano and Lovino were twins. Though, unlike his brother, Lovino had a bad mouth and was very moody. He liked his pasta too but a nice ripe tomato was his favorite food. Lovino had slightly darker skin, coffee brown eyes, and dark brown hair. And, just like his brother, he too had a curl but instead it was located on the middle of his head and swung to the right. The man currently trying to keep his hold on the moody Italian was Antonio, whose personality was always as bright and sunny like the sun. The Spaniard's skin held a dark tan tone that helped enhance his green eyes behind his fallen dark brown hair.

"Aru, this sucks balls!" A heavy Chinese accent complained.

"Do you think cats live in there? I would like to be a cat…" A half-asleep Greek man asked.

The complaining Chinese man was known as Yao Wang and was the cousin of Kiku Honda. He had long black-brown hair that was tied into a ponytail to keep it from falling in front of his brown eyes. He also had an obsession with anything Hello Kitty and pandas. Now, the half-asleep Greek man was known as the cat loving Heracles Karpusi. He held a head of brown hair with a stubborn spilt end that curled at both ends and had light green eyes. Currently they were both talking to an overwhelmed Kiku, trying to respond to both of them.

"Awesome, everyone's here!" The pleased Prussian Gilbert exclaimed, he was looking forward to this all week. He had a plan, as he looked at Matthew, that he was dying to set into action.

Oblivious to Gilbert's true intentions, Matthew just smiled at the overly excited Gilbert.

'Wait, everyone's here? Already?!' Alfred was not prepared in the least, he needed more time!

"Okay bros listen up!" Gilbert announced, setting his plan into motion. "Now for this awesome test of courage to start, you have to listen to my awesome rules." Seeing that he now had everyone's attention, he continued. "Awesome rule #1: When in the mansion you HAVE to stay there for at least 10 minutes or you are un-awesome."

'Ten freakin' minutes. TEN MINUTES. That's enough time for a freakin' ghost to take you and for you to never be seen again!' Panic. Alfred was in total panic.

"Awesome rule #2: You have to prove that you actually walked around in there and not un-awesomely just stand near the door, waiting for the time to finish. So, you need to take a picture of yourself upstairs."

'What we have to walk around?!' Alfred was seriously going to pass out soon if the rules were going to just get worse.

"And, lastly, Awesome rule #3:" Now this was what Gilbert was looking forward to, as he turned toward Matthew. "You can only partner up with one other person."

Yes, this was the first part of his plan. He would partner up with Matthew and go together into the old, scary, haunted, abandoned mansion. Yes, he could see it now…

It was pitch black inside the mansion, with only a flashlight in Gilbert's hand leading their way, Matthew was right by his side.

"It's really dark in here…" Matthew's voice trembled at his own fear.

"Yeah, it is." Gilbert replied, in his nonchalant voice.

"Aren't you scared?" Matthew asked, his voice still trembling but looked up in wonder at Gilbert.

Gilbert looked at him and gave him a mature smirk. "No, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Matthew blushed at the smirk that was directed at him. Why was his heart pounding? Out of his flustered state, he didn't see where exactly he was stepping and tripped. "Oh!"

With at swift move, Gilbert grabbed Matthew around the waist and pulled him towards his body, saving Matthew from a fall. "Wow, watch it there."

Now beet red, Matthew stuttered. "T-thank you." Just as he was about to pull away from Gilbert there was and loud crash. Matthew screamed and shoved his face in Gilbert's chest, clinging onto him.

His arm still around Matthew, Gilbert shined the light towards the direction of the sound. "Relax Birdie, it's just a mouse." He informed, patting Matthew's head to comfort him, at the end of his light there was indeed a mouse running off from the intruders in his home.

Matthew slowly peeked out of Gilbert's chest and looked up at Gilbert's face instead, his eye's a little watery and his cheeks a tinted pink. His heart pounding non-stop.

"What's wrong?" Gilbert asked, though knowing fully well what was going on.

Blushing a little more Matthew looked down and spoke. "N-nothing…it's just I'm just a little scared."

With a little laugh, a laugh full of warmth, Gilbert drew a hand to Matthew's left cheek to make him look up once more. "Don't worry. I'll be here to protect you."

Matthew's eyes widen, making him look even cuter if that were even possible, and blushed beet red once more. Matthew's hold on Gilbert jacket tighten. "Oh, Gilbert. You're so brave and strong and, and…awesome."

With a smile, Gilbert whispered. "I know. And, you're not so bad yourself…" He trailed off as he slowly leaned in towards those waiting lips.

'Kesesese! My awesome plan is totally going to work! Finally, Birdie will see realize how awesome I am and fall in love with me!' Gilbert was in a world of his own that he did not realize an American brother of the Canadian cutie had zoomed past and clung/hugged his brother as if it his life depended on it.

"H-hey Mattie! You're gonna partner up with your cool brother, right?" Alfred asked and then added, "D-don't worry I'll protect you from all the m-monsters and g-g-ghosts!"

Gilbert quickly came out of his own fantasy world when his brain fully understood the American's words. No. He would not let the American ruin his awesome plan! He walked towards the two brothers and pulled, with effort since Alfred had a death grip on Matthew, them apart. "No way bro! Matthew's my partner!"

"What?" Surprised, Alfred fought his argument. "But, you said we can partner up with anyone? I'm partnering up with Mattie!"

Shoot, he did say that. He need to think fast, he wasn't going to miss this chance with Matthew. Thinking quick, he came up with the only thing he could think of. "I wasn't finished with my awesome rules! I said that you can only partner up with one other person BUT your sibling, because it wouldn't be awesomely fair!"

Alfred's face grew visibly pale but he still questioned. "Whaaat? How's it not fair?"

Why indeed? Gilbert looked left and right looking for a reason. "Because…because.." He couldn't find one, so he did the next best thing. "Because it's just not awesomely fair!" Which was to argue until he was right.

"Whaaat?!" Alfred whined, he was going with Mattie! "It is too fair!"

"No it isn't!" Gilbert fought back, nobody was getting in between him and Birdie, not even Birdie's brother!

The two were going at it back and forth, trying to prove their point, not hearing the conversations going on around them.

"Ve~ Ludwig why is your fratello and Alfred arguing?" Feliciano asked, clinging to Ludwig's arm like he always did.

"Because they're dummkopfs, Feli." Ludwig explained, clearly wanting all this to be over.

Feliciano just stared at the two before turning to Ludwig and asked with an innocent smile. "Should we give them pasta? Pasta always makes me happy."

With a sigh once more Ludwig replied. "No, Feli. I don't think we should give them pasta."

"Aru, are we going in or not? My feet hurt!" Yao crossed his arms together, he was clearly upset with waiting too long.

With a nervous smile Kiku apologized, since it was his nature to do so. "Gomen nasai, it seems there is a problem. I'm sorry Heracles, as well. It may take a while-" He cut himself off when he look at the Greek man, he apparently was already fallen asleep during all this.

Having enough of this, the moody Lovino yelled. "Forget it! I'm going home- What?! Let me go you tomato bastard!"

Gripping onto the moody Italian and not letting go, despite the punches thrown at him, the Spaniard pleaded. "Come on mi tomate! Just wait un poquito mas, pleease?" It seem to work as the moody Italian seem to calmed down and start mumbling thing that were most likely insults as he crossed his arms together.

Ivan and Matthew were the only ones standing there, just staring at the two arguing their point.

Finally, it seemed Gilbert had enough and said. "Fine! Why don't we let Birdie choose?"

Seeming to be done with all of this as well, Alfred agreed." Fine!" He turned to look at Mattie, Gilbert doing the same. "Mattie! Who do you want to go with? Me or Gilbert?"

Now this surprised Matthew, he didn't think they'll let him decide. As he looked at the both of them he actually considered his choice. Gilbert was nice and everything, but he really didn't know him that well. To this day, Matthew was still confused why Gilbert was insistent on calling him Birdie. Then, there was his brother. Yes, his brother could be an idiot and be annoying sometimes, and deserved to get revenged on here and then. Though, maybe this was too much? All his brother did was blame him as his excuse for not being able to come night and hogged the TV that prevented him from watching hockey…his hockey….

Nope, this wasn't enough. Sometimes, Matthew wondered if he were a little bit sadist, just to himself.

"I choose Gilbert." Were Matthew's choice of three words.

"What?! Mattie-" Alfred was in one word devastated, but was cut off in his complaint by a cheerful whoop.

"Yes!" Just like at lunch, Gilbert threw a fist in the air as he celebrated. Then, throwing his other arm around Matthew's shoulder he added. "Awesome choice." Matthew, slightly uncomfortable with the lack of space just smiled awkwardly at Gilbert. "You heard Birdie, Alfred, go find someone else."

Disappointed and betrayed once more by Mattie ('What, was today rag on Alfred day?') he looked around and from what he could see everyone was about all partnered up excepted Yao. It wasn't as if Yao was a bad guy, he and Alfred got along well but they weren't that close like Alfred was to Kiku. Still it was better than nobody. Going up to Yao he asked, "Wanna be my partner Yao?"

"Aru, there is no other choice is there not? The Chinese man stated clearly grumpy about this whole situation, he did not like to be kept waiting.

Laughing awkwardly and perhaps trying to lighten up the atmosphere, Alfred scratched the back of his head and replied, "Guess not…"

"Actually, there is." Russian accent added, placing a hand once again on the American's shoulder. Which in turned cause the American and Chinese man to jump.

Turning at the Russian, Alfred yelled. "Dude! Stop doing that!"

Unfazed by the complaint Ivan merely just smile and spoke. "I do not have a partner."

"Well then, why don't you find one?" Alfred asked, not getting the picture, he was never really all that good at reading the atmosphere…

"Ah yes, you are right." For once the Russian agreed with Alfred, which actually made Alfred a little suspicious. Turning towards Yao, Ivan asked. (Though, more like stated) "You will be my partner, da?"

The look on Yao's face could only be described was as terror. But, being the proud Chinese man he was, he spoke back. "I already-" He was instantly cut off when he felt a shiver go down his back as looked in the Russian's eyes.

"You will be my partner, da?" This was not a question, it was a fact.

Fearing to talk, Yao just nodded and hope to God he'll live the night.

"Wow, wait a sec Ivan. Yao's my partner!" Alfred was not pleased with Ivan's tricks.

Completely pleased with Alfred's displeasure he stated. "Not anymore, he has agreed to come with me."

"Then who's going to be my partner?" Alfred questioned, who else didn't have a partner… That's when it hit him. There were eleven people in the group, meaning one person was going solo. Panicking, he looked around himself. Yup, everyone was taken. He was going solo.

He was screwed.

He turned to Gilbert and Mattie in one last attempt. "Dudes, there's no nobody else I can go with! Let me in your group!"

"No way, the rules are only groups of awesomely two." Gilbert was stubborn on his idea and he wasn't going to budge anytime soon.

Just was he was going to complain once more, Ivan cut in. "You are, what do you call it…ah hero, right?" This caught Alfred's attention. Ivan was smart, he knew how to use the hero card. Knowing he had the American's attention he went on. "So, as this so called hero, you would be kind of not ruin everyone's fun and go by yourself, no? Since you are not scared of anything, it should be no problem, da?"

Hook, line, and sinker.

Feeling everyone's attention on him, Alfred knew there was no way out. He was a hero, goddammit! He could do this! "Y-yeah Ivan, you're actually right for once. I can go by myself j-just fine. I am a hero after all!" Then, he laughed. Really, it was a sad attempt, everyone could see he was scared. Though, of his sake, nobody questioned it. (Though, Ivan was just waiting for the American to cry and scream about how scared he was.)

"Ah." Ivan's eyes crinkled, "Then I see we have no problem, da."

"Y-yeah dude, n-nooo problem." He was going to die. Alfred F. Jones was going to die in that mansion and would never be seen again.

Happy with the conclusion, Gilbert announced. "That settles it! Now, who's awesomely going first?"

Not caring anymore because his fate was sealed, he was going in there by HIMSELF, that he didn't even listen. In the corner of his eye he saw Mattie just waiting for whatever was to come. He felt betrayed, how could Mattie leave his brother hanging in his time of need? Deciding to find out he went to his brother, making sure they were somewhat alone and whisper quietly, as to not be heard.

"Hey, Mattie, why didn't you back me up when I needed you?" This wasn't the first time he asked, he asked this same question as soon as they got home that day after that terrible lunch. Though, Mattie never gave him an answer and told him to figure it out himself.

Coming to the conclusion that Alfred will never figure out unless it was told to his face, Matthew looked his brother in the eye and said with a smile. "Next time, think very carefully when you decide to hog the TV all week." And, with that Matthew was gone, walking towards Gilbert.

Alfred just stood there, blankly staring at his brother's retreating form. THAT was the reason. He looked at the direction of the abandoned mansion, it looked just as terrifying as it did only moments ago, maybe even worse. Then, he looked back at his brother and made a mental note to himself.

'Note to self: Never, I mean never, get between Mattie and his hockey…NEVER'

Though, that mental note came a tad too late…

There it is, my first chapter. So, what do you think? Any good? This chapter was really the chapter where I introduced the characters I would be using in my story and how/why Alfred is going to a creepy old mansion in the first place. (Since, in my mind, he would never go unless something made go.) So, I'm sorry if it came off a little boring... I tried my best to make it as interesting and funny as I could to keep you entertained. I even added some CanadaxPrussia for you guys not to hate me. (I have to admit I love how Matthew is completely clueless to Gilbert's advances, and how Gilbert's desperate for Matthew's attention. 3) On that note, would you like to see more of there relationship too? They wouldn't be playing a huge role though, since this is a USUK story. (It may not seem like it yet but it is trust me!) The next chapter will have Alfred finally going into the mansion, I'll tell you that much...I'm not reveling all of my secrets just yet. :) Also, I don't think all my chapters will be THIS long. I didn't even know this whole chapter was 7,237 words! It didn't seem that much to me as I was writing it... Anyway, thank you so much for reading and let me know if you liked it or have any advice you want to give me! I hope to put the next chapter on by next week! Stay tuned!