Hello again! I have a headache. I know you were dying to know that, but I need an excuse to write the next installment. Enjoy!

"Please come in!" I said to the two strangers. "Thank-you," the one with brown hair replied. As they were stepping inside, I examined them. They seemed friendly enough. They looked to be about Russia's age but a bit shorter. The polite one had brown hair, green eyes, and was obviously male despite his haircut. The other one had blond hair, green eyes and a similar haircut though I couldn't decide whether he was a boy or not. After deciding they wouldn't be any danger to my siblings, I led them into the kitchen. "Russia, Belarus!" I called. "We have visitors!" They walked over to meet us. "This is my little brother Russia, and this is Belarus," I told the strangers as I pointed to my siblings. "Who are you?" asked Belarus who was tightly gripping Russia's hand. The blonde one began to speak, "I'm lik-" The other one cut him off. "I'm Lithuania and this is Poland. It's nice to meet you." "Would you like so cookies?" I asked trying to hospitable. "Russia, show our guests to the living room. Belarus, why don't you come with me?" She glowered in my direction. After a few seconds, she let go of Russia's hand. He winced as the circulation returned to his fingers. As he led Lithuania and Poland to our living room, a glowering Belarus followed me into the kitchen. When we got there, I turned around and picked her up in a hug. "Belarus, please be nice to the guests," I told her as I put her down. "I know you'd be happy to spend all your time with Russia but it's good for you to have other friends. We're too isolated here. You will try to be friendly, won't you?" "Da," she mumbled. Once that was settled, I picked up the plate of cookies and went to the living room.

When we came in the three boys (or two boys and a girl?) were sitting together playing a game of durak. I put down the plate of cookies and glanced at Russia's hand. "Russia, that's not very nice of you. You shouldn't give yourself the best cards." He looked down. "May I please have your cards?" I asked the younger children. Poland started to argue but then, silently, Lithuania took Poland's cards and handed them to me. I shuffled the cards. "Would you like to play?" I asked Belarus. She nodded and promptly took the seat between Russia and Lithuania. I dealt them their cards and flipped up the top card to decide what suit would trump. "Aren't you going to play?" asked little Russia. "No, I'm going to go clean up the kukhnia." I left the young children to their game and went to the kitchen.

"I win by the Polish Rule!" Poland exclaimed after he became bored with the game. Lithuania sighed. He whispered something to Poland. Then they both got up, and, in Poland's case, after a few nudges, murmured their thank-yous. Lithuania attempted to tell Belarus a farewell but she rather openly displayed her lack of hospitality towards him. Instead, he got a one armed hug from my little brother. Lithuania came to me, quietly apologized for Poland's behavior, and left with his friend. "Come back soon!" I called after them as they disappeared into the quickly falling snow. I doubt that that was the last time we would see them even with Belarus' rude behavior. They seemed friendly enough with Russia…

A/N

Vocab

Durak: A Russian card game where there are no winners and only one loser. The last one out is the loser or the durak (fool). I did not the card game very well.

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