Wife Swap

PROLOGUE - EGYPT'S POV

A sweet scent of cherry mixed by smoke was carried to his face, when he opened the door. The room was darkened a little, by rich, green curtains with complicated golden embroidery. The smoked air inside, was now mixed with the heavy aroma of a coffee that was slowly cooked in a finjan.

Turkey and Israel were standing in the middle of the room, speaking in whispering between themselves, as they are hiding a secret, and laughing. Obviously, they immediately noticed him, when he entered. Israel smiled at him from ear to ear, while Turkey approached and hugged him. "Marhaba, marhaba!"

Egypt raised an eyebrow. Turkey noticed it and just laughed, petting his shoulder in affection.

"What?" Egypt asked, smiles a little in nervous. These two have always had this kind of a strange behaviour – there was nothing new about this, but these times could freak him out.

"Ahh," Turkey led out a laugh again, "nothing, nothing."

"What is it?" he insisted.

"Okay, alright," Turkey waved his hand, "we registered Syria and Lebanon for some kind of an international programme, of couples-swap or whatever, just for fun. Apparently," he laughed for a minute or so, trying to gather himself. He took a deep breathe and continued, "apparently, they were accepted, and Syria actually agreed to go." He paused for giggling a little. "But then, he found out that Lebanon is required to be away for two weeks and got all freaked."

Egypt smiled a little, "I can imagine that, but it is not that funny."

"No, no. You can't even imagined what happened," Israel interrupted, "he already signed on that contract, and only then found this out. You should have seen him. Gee, my stomach aches…"

"The point is," Turkey managed to keep himself cool until he broke up and started giggling again, "he decided he won't do it. But someone must do it, or else someone will have to pay for it."

These two might have been odd in gentle terms, but now they just crossed any line of some good taste. Shocked, he mumbled, "I can't understand, what you are so amused about. You seem to be in serious troubles. What would you do?"

"We are going to take Lebanon by force," Israel said in serious face. Egypt gulped and was about to speak, when his cousin cut him. "I was kidding," Israel smiled. "Turkey will do this instead."

Egypt felt as his lungs become empty at once. Then he measured the information just given him, and laughed. "With you? Wow, I am already sorry for whoever going to swap with you two."

"I was thinking of doing this with you, actually," Turkey said with a shrug.

"We aren't married."

"They wouldn't really care, as long as we are a couple."

"It would make more sense, if it will be Israel and I…"

"You are cousins. I'm not sure, it's gonna wor…" there were a few moments of silence, before Turkey tossed his head. "Maybe. Yes. If considering the fact that your mothers sl…"

Israel cut his speech, "I can't, if I want a home to return to."

Egypt took himself a few minutes, to think about this. There wasn't much need for convince – he knew that, they knew that – but he enjoyed their doubt, that was still there. "You said, it is going to be two weeks, when I am off?"

Turkey nodded.

"We will be in contact at this time?"

"No, the rules do not allow any sort of contact between the swapped spouse to their family."

He paused for a few more minutes. "How you can tell, that I will agree to take a part of it, I will be the one who swaps?"

"I have sources." Turkey pinched Israel's bottom.

Too tempting, he thought, yet took himself some more time. Too tempting. "Well, I wouldn't mind some time away from Palestine…"

Turkey smiled, "then you agree?"

"I would have to think about this for some more while." He lied; everyone could tell he was lying by now, but, it couldn't hurt to try make them think that Turkey didn't bought him, for the moment he let him realise he won't have that headache for two weeks. "How much I have, to give you my decision?"

Turkey checked Israel's wristwatch. "The flight is going to be tomorrow's morning."

"What will you do, if I wasn't ready to do it?"

"Then we would have take Lebanon by force."

"…I will do it."

-Fin-

Finjan – a small metal coffee pot.

Marhaba – hello (Arabic)

A/N: it was meant to be a much longer (and better-written) prologue for Egypt's POV, but I had only half a day to write this, otherwise, I wouldn't have any chance to write or publish anything, before the next weekend, and I didn't wanted to keep this up. Expect for some changes.

I know, I know, I failed. But I promise ye', the next chapter will be much more satisfying (I hope). Hope you liked this, anyway.