Hello! Thank you to those who have taken the time to review this fic, it really keeps us going. On that note, yes this fan fiction is a RP project between me and my friend Megan. Please enjoy this chapter and forgive any mistakes, I took my first try at editing. If you see anything wrong please mention it!

Alfred sat in Ivan's office picking at a scab he had on his arm out of pure boredom. Ivan had just finished giving him another one of his, now seemingly routine, and punishments. Alfred sighed at looked out the window waiting for Ivan to get his paper work done. The blonde wasn't even sure why he was still in the Russians office.

Natalya glared at the blonde in the office, her pale blue eyes narrowed in hate and anger. So this was the little tramp that had caught her dear brother's attention? That wouldn't do at all. Reaching under her dress, she pulled out a dagger she had on her person at all times and crept into the office, preparing to strike the man as he picked at a scab on his arm. It would be quick, painless even.

. Once this slut was out of the way, brother would return to his normal self, would return to her, and yes, they would be married, married, married...

She crept forward, silently, her dagger slightly raised.

Flicking the scab off and ignoring the blood that was dripping down his arm Alfred lay back in the chair. He sighed heavily and began to think about what Arthur had told him. The American remembered when he had first gotten here a year ago; he was defiant in pretty much every way possible. Then Ivan had broken him. '/inner though/ ' I need to do something, anything to prove to Arthur I'm still my

old self, but what?' he sat there thinking completely unaware of Ivan's sister behind him

He didn't notice her. Thrilling in the adrenaline that pumped through her system before a kill, Natalya struck, bringing her dagger down in an arc, preparing to sink it into that unprotected back…

"That's enough sister" a giant hand engulfed Natalya's own, stopping the dagger mere inches from Alfred's exposed back, "You have no right to touch what is mine."

Natalya froze, "Bro…brother." She stuttered, "You must understand. This witch has placed a spell across you…he has enchanted you, trapped you in some si-"

Whatever Natalya was planning on saying was promptly cut off as Ivan smacked her across the face, with enough force to send her flying to the opposite end of the room, "Be silent." He ordered his face blank and impassive, "You are not to enter here without my permission. Is that clear?"

Natalya slowly rose to her feet, blood dripping down her chin, her eyes downcast, "Yes brother" she said demurely before bowing low and stumbling out of the room.

"WOAH!" Alfred had fallen off the chair in shock after he'd looked up and saw a dagger only inches from his back. Rubbing his back where he'd fallen the blonde looked over at Ivan who didn't look amused in the least. And what the hell did that commie bastard mean 'his' Alfred wasn't anyone's pet.

Groaning he stood up "what the hell is with that crazy bitch anyway. . ."

"Are you alright?" Ivan demanded harshly, grabbing Alfred's chin and forcing the other's face even to his own.

"Y-yeah I'm fine. . ." Alfred stuttered trying to pull away from Ivan, but to no avail. What was with this guy. He had more mood swings than a pregnant woman!

Ivan studied Alfred's face for a few more minutes before finally releasing his hold, "Very well then. Now, are you aware of why you are here?"

Stumbling back a bit Alfred shook his head. "No idea actually . . . you already whipped me so i assumed i would be able to go soon. "

Ivan smirked, letting his hand drop to Alfred's back, "Yes…that was lovely wasn't it?" he asked, sighing as he let his fingers trail over the many scars, tracing them through the thin material of Alfred's shirt.

Eyebrow twitching Alfred smacked Ivan's hand away from his body. "Like hell it was.

I'm in bad enough shape as it is with the whole malnutrition thing; the next thing i need is some huge Russian guy whipping me with 200 pounds of force! And before you say so, no that wasn't a compliment!" He huffed

"Mmm?" Ivan asked, absently, not really paying attention to what the man before him said. His attention was focused on the rising and falling of the chest, the patterns of the scars, the fait outline of the muscles through the shirt…it was all so lovely. With one last reluctant swipe, Ivan removed his hand and lumbered back behind his desk,

"Well подсолнечник…" the Russian giant said, sitting down, "If you must know, I wish to discuss that man…that lovely friend of yours. Now tell me. How do you know him?"

"tch . . ." Alfred walked over and sat in a chair infront of the large desk. "I'll talk. . .but just tell me why you want to know . . . " He knew there was no way out of this situation and he wasn't hiding any information so to speak. There was no dirt on Arthur that could get either of them into anymore poltical trouble, but he still wanted to know.

Ivan said nothing, letting the slightest of frowns flicker briefly over his features before rearranging his facial features into a carefully controlled smile, "I was just curious as to…ah…the nature of your relationship."

Alfred slapped his hand to his face. "We're. . . . . .not a couple" he sighed and mumbled a quick 'anymore' under his breath. "Arthur's been my best friend since we were small, we grew up together. . .he's like an older brother to me. But he turned 20 he went back to England to be in the army there and I joined up in the U.S." Alfred cast his glance to the floor.

"theres really nothing more to it unless you want me to rant on about the past 17 years i've spend with the guy."

Ivan studied Alfred's downturned face for a few minutes before shrugging, "Very well. I will trust you this time. You can go now."

Alfred got up and pushed the chair in closer to Ivans desk before exiting and walking out into the hall and toward his bunk.

Alfred lay on his back staring at the ceiling in his cell. Alot had been on his mind latley and he hadn't been sleeping well at all. The American was disrupted by foot steps coming down the hall way. 'please don't be Ivan' he thought.

"Good morning mr. jones!" a man looking to be about Alfreds age stood infront of the cell doors. He had shoulder length brown hair and wore a green uniform to show that he was Ivan's personal assistant.

"Ah, mornin' Toris. . .and don't call me mr. jones it makes me feel old. " he said laughing. Toris was pretty much the only reason he was kept sane in this hell hole, he was the only person who could make Alfred smile or laugh.

They were similar in alot of ways. Both stuck in the Gulags under the close watch of Ivan. But Toris and his brothers were brought here when Ivan became head of the camp. The story goes that Ivan had taken the three brothers off the street and raised them from a young age and to repay them the three worked here.

Toris was also the only person who knew about Alfreds scars and the blonde knew about the lithuanians just the same. They were both abused by the Russian man though neither of them would ever admit it to someone on the outside

Unlocking the door Toris when in the cell and placed a tray of food on the small table beside his bed. " You know the drill i'll be back to get it in a hour, and please eat today Alfred your looking skinnier. . ."

The American sighed and mumbled a quick 'im not hungry' but started to eat the food anyway.

Toris Smiled and walked out and down the hall. He had to report to Ivan's office soon and decided he'd rather be early than late. When he arrived at the large double doors he gave two light knocks. "Mr. Braginski sir? it's me Toris."

"Come in" Ivan's voice responded, sounding oddly worn.

Toris opened the door and walked in slowly closing it behind him. He gave a small bow before setting a pile of papers on Ivan's desk. "These have all been signed and sorted like you asked for sir."

Ivan let his eyes trail over the papers that Toris deposited on his desk, "By me?" he asked, "Ah yes I remember…execution forms, wasn't it…? How many people have we killed this month Toris, ah, no. Don't answer. You don't know, do you? Honestly…" Ivan shrugged, running a pale hand over the forms, "At this rate, I've lost track too…You know what I heard on the radio, Toris?"

The smaller man shuddered as Ivan talked so lightly about hundreds of people being killed. "N-no sir i don't . . . what did you hear?"

"War" Ivan responded smirking, holding up a single finger, "War. Think about it, think back...were you alive then? Were you around when the Great War, the War to end all wars ravaged the Earth? How old are you Toris?"

"I-I'm 19 sir" Toris stuttered

"19...19. what year is it? 1938? Or is it 39? I can never remember...oh how time hangs and drags!" Ivan threw his arms in the air, "Does it matter? You're 19, so no, no you weren't alive then...it was suppose to be the war to end all wars! But now! Now, on the radio, they speak of Europe on the verge of another! "A keg of gunpowder, ready to go off at the slightest movement"!

It's splendid, isn't it Toris? Look, we all have shiny new weapons, brand new toys, look, look, we wanna play with them! How many people can we kill with one shot? Tell me Toris, how many of our children will lie, bleeding in the streets!" Ivan paused, gasping slightly, his head bowed and shoulders shaking

"M-Mr. Braginski . . . do you need a break sir. . ." Toris asked

Ivan got in these kinds of moods everyone once and awhile and it never failed to make Toris want to piss his pants. "U-uh . . . I know this may not be the r-right time to bring it up but. . ." The young boy clutched his arm close to his side "You told me if there was anything wrong with Alfred to um . . .to tell you right?" he asked the silence in between killing him

Ivan jerked his head up sharply, his eyes narrowing only the slightest, "Is there something wrong with him?" he demanded.

Toris backed up a bit a raised his hand "A-a-a-h well it's nothing to serious . . .it's just uh . . . well he hasn't been eating that much lately and I'm worried he might be trying to starve himself. . .it's happened before as you know. He started to eat when I left this morning but i don't know if he finished or not."

"Not eating?" Ivan asked sharply, his hands balling up into fists, "Now, now…that won't do at all…Thank you Toris." He said, nodded, to the shorter man, "Now if you don't mind, I suppose I should pay our dear Alfred a visit? If he's starving himself…no. That won't do at all."

Alfred lay on his bed looking at the cracks in the ceiling again. 'How can I think of a way to show Arthur i can still be like I was before i got here. . . "

Looking over at the half eaten bowl of food on his tray he sighed ". . . why aren't I hungry anymore. . . "

Suddenly a tap came from Alfred's window, followed in close succession by a number of taps.

"Hu . . ." Alfred sat up and looked over to the window.

"Al! Psst! Al!" Bandaged and bloodied, but still smiling up at him, Arthur waved up at his friend from the snow covered ground.

Alfred poked his head out the window. "Arthur! . . . Gah you idiot! What the hell are you doing trying to talk to me while I'm in my cell Ivan will kill you! Get out of here you dumbass!"

Arthur scowled, "No. I'm not leaving you. I'm not leaving, 'cause I know the Al I know and love is in there somewhere, and bloody hell, I'm not leaving till he comes out! Now," he said, crossing his arms together, "We are going to have a /civil/ conversation, hear? How have you been, Al?"

"GAH! you've obviously never been in prison before! This isn't how things work!" Alfred all but yelled out the small window. "I've been fine . . . if you have to know. How about you are your wounds feeling better? they let a doctor take care of you right? If they didn't I can make sure Ivan sends you to one!" At that last comment Alfred inwardly hit himself. Of course he could get Ivan to do it he was the Russian's pet all he had to do was a trick.

Arthur grinned and nodded, "I'm fine. Takes a lot more than that to put me down for good! You know, I was wondering why you had stopped responding to my telegraphs and letters! As for that bastard..." Arthur scowled and shook his head, "I still have my pride Al. I'm not going to be taking any charity from him yet."

Alfred laughed. " Of course it does, sometimes i think the only person who has a skull thicker than mine is you!" All of a sudden heavy footsteps could be heard from down the hall. "Shit, Arthur Ivan's coming, get out of here!" he said closing the window and going back to his previous position on the bed

Arthur frowned, watching as his friend disappeared behind the window, "I'm not giving up on you, Al" he promised, his hand going to an old dog tag he wore around his neck, "I promise. I'll bring you back. I'll reverse what that Ruski's done to you..."

Alfred looked over to his cell door to find a very pissed Ivan

"What'd I do now . . . ?"