A/N: Short chapters = More updates? Pft. I can't even bother with school. ...I'm kidding.

God bless the internetzz?

I don't own Hetalia.

Please enjoy!

Once Edik got home, he found Ivan in the kitchen, trying to heat up a can of soup. But he was apparently having trouble just opening the can. Edik smiled. "Let me do that, Ivan. Could you get Natalia and wash up?"

Ivan nodded, not saying anything as his brother took over dinner.

Edik pulled the tab on the instant tomato soup and poured it into three bowls, warming them in the microwave. Then he took out a box of crackers and scrounged up some fruit and set it all at the lop-sided dining table, placing three glasses of water by each bowl, just as his two baby siblings sat down.

Before they ate, by request of Edik, they each said a silent prayer and thanks for their meal.

As they ate, Ivan inquired about Edik's day. "Why were you gone so long?"

"I'm sorry to worry you, brother. I just got caught up in the project I have for history class. I'll try to keep better track of time."

"Brother!" Natalia nuzzled up to Ivan, whining for him to ask about her day at elementary.

When dinner was cleaned up and the little ones were in bed, Edik stayed in the living room, finishing the math work he'd been assigned that Friday. And before he knew it, he was asleep on the couch, math book laid open in his lap.

The next morning, Edik woke with a chink in his neck. But he just rubbed it away as he went to wake up Ivan before getting ready for work.

He worked at a club house – a rec. center of sorts – in a well-off neighborhood, cleaning it after parties or cook-offs. It paid twenty-five dollars and hour – something Edik was very grateful for. It gave him enough money for food and bills each month, as the house had been paid for in full before their father died.

Come Monday, he was tired from the cleaning and the housework he'd promised himself he would do (plus taking Ivan and Natalia to the park to blow some steam).

History, his last class of the day, dragged on forever. The teacher kept lecturing and if he didn't shake his head every so minutes, the words began blurring together.

Beside him, his partner, Matthew, was diligently taking notes. After glancing at his own chicken-scratch, he decided he'd ask to borrow them.

Then his mind wandered. First, what he would do for dinner that night, then the laundry that was getting behind, and finally the project. It was nice to worry over something other than home and work. And really, Matthew was nice to talk to. He wasn't mean or rude or made fun of his shyness because Matthew was shy as well.

"Mr. Braginski?" The teacher was waving a hand in his face. "Are you alright? Is my lecture upsetting you?"

Edik was confused for a second. Upset? Then he felt his mouth tugged down into a frown. "N-No, ma'am. I'm sorry."

The bell rang soon and he caught Matthew's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but could I borrow your notes? I couldn't concentrate today."

Matthew's face was pink, but he gave up his notebook, stuttering a "h-here you go" as he did.

Edik promised to return it as soon as possible and left to find the buses.

He started dinner, boiling pasta and warming up canned tomato sauce, before Ivan got home with Natalia. And by the time they were, Edik was pouring milk into three glasses.

"I hope you don't mind an early dinner. And after we get homework done, we can all go to the park."

Natalia smiled, clinging to Ivan, and agreed.

"You're not tired, brother?" Ivan asked, sitting down in front of a plate.

Edik smiled. "No. I just thought it would be nice to go out."