A/N: And now we have Russia.

Don't worry! In the upcoming chapters, the interactions between China and Lithuania are not simply in flashbacks.

Also, thanks for the reviews, guys! They are very helpful! For example, I may have to have a chapter now told from America's point of view. It may show up later on in this fic.

Again, no apology for OOC or FemChina.

"Sir, I really think these trips are ill advised…"

"What do you mean?" America closed his suitcase and looked up at Lithuania. "I think they're pretty fucking awesome."

"But you're not thinking about-"

"Russia. Jesus, Toris. You're too damn hung up on him." America rolled his eyes, heading to the door. "Besides. I'm on my way to getting her to cave completely. I mean, she's sleeping with me. So sooner or later, she's gonna be a capitalist."

"How close are you?"

"Close enough." America winked. "She's a great girl, you know. She likes it rough."

Lithuania blushed deeply. "Good luck. And… be kind to her, Mr. America…"

"Won't need any luck!" America bounded out the door.

At the sound of car wheels screeching against gravel, Lithuania took a deep breath. It was nice to finally have the house to himself. For the fourth weekend in a row…

He wakes up to the sound of crying. Latvia? No. Too consistently high pitched. Reaching out in the darkness, he feels human hair, then a scalp, and then blood. With alarm, he springs from his half-sleep and turns on the side-table lamp. China is lying in the bed, blood slowly oozing from the side of her head, clotting in her dark hair. It shimmers slightly in the dim electric light, like oil bubbling up from the ground.

"Ms. China?"

She sits up slightly, still crying. "I'm sorry," she says frantically, trying to wipe her eyes. "I just needed somewhere to stay for tonight. I'm afraid to be out in the open. I locked your door when I came in… I'm sorry. I've done terrible things to him."

Lithuania looks nervously at the door, expecting it to be broken down at any second. "You're fine," he mumbles, turning his attention back to China. "But you're bleeding."

"We got in a fight," she mutters, "He… I made him angry. I should have known better."

"Take a breath. I have bandages under my bed."

There were two sharp knocks on the door. Lithuania shot up like a rabbit and rushed to the entrance, not even thinking to wait a moment. He opened the door and bowed deeply. "Good afternoon. Mr. America isn't h-…" With shock and horror, Lithuania recognized the shoes he was looking at. Polished and blood-stained, they could only belong to Russia.

"I was counting on him not being home. I can come in, can't I, Toris?"

"I don't think he'd appreciate it. No."

"Then I'll talk to you from the doorway if I have to."

"What do you want to talk about, Russia?"

Cold hands closed around Lithuania's neck, and he flailed uselessly as Russia stormed in, backing him up against the sofa. "You will address me as either Mr. Russia, or sir. Am I making this clear?"

"Y-Yes," Lithuania squeaked, trying to pry Russia's hands off. "I'm s-sorry, sir!"

"That's better," Russia replied cheerfully, dropping Lithuania. "Now. Pour me something to drink and we'll have a conversation."

"A conversation, sir?" Lithuania scrambled into the kitchen, furiously going through the fridge and cabinets, beginning to shake. "And, sir, Mr. America doesn't drink the same kind of liquor…"

Russia raised his hand, signaling for Lithuania to be quiet before coming into the kitchen and taking a beer from the fridge. "Da. A conversation. And I wouldn't expect this capitalist pig to have anything of quality, after all."

"A conversation about what, sir?"

"About China."

"What about her, sir?" Lithuania watched Russia carefully, afraid he might do something that was to the man's displeasure. Afraid of setting him off.

"Well," Russia leaned against the sink counter, taking a long drink and frowning, pouring the rest of the beer down the drain before continuing, "I'm still in love with her. And I want her back."

She is quieter, her jaw slack, and her eyes closed. Lithuania has shaved a spot of her hair off and wrapped her head neatly. She is no longer bleeding, but the crying hasn't stopped; only become more muffled. "Thank you, Toris," she says after a while.

"Of course," Lithuania said sheepishly, unsure what to tell her. "It's no problem at all. I, um, I'm good at this. My brothers are always… At any rate, it's not a problem."

"I didn't mean to make him angry," China whispers. She's shaking, and Lithuania is shocked by how weak she looks. For all the years he's known her, China has been nothing but strong; stronger than most men. And now… There is no way around it. She looks like a scared, battered woman.

Lithuania gently puts his arm around her shoulder and sits with her. "I know."

She latches on to him, her fingers holding tight to fistfuls of his shirt. "He's going to be mad at me. I cut his face up. He's drunk. He had that damn lead pipe… He was going to kill me. Had to stop him." Her words become jumbled and exhausted.

"You did fine."

Quietly, but just loud enough for him to hear, she says, "I can't forgive this anymore."

"What do you mean, spy?"

"You heard me," Russia snapped, "You tell your new boss what happened here. If he doesn't agree to stop seeing China every week, I'll bomb her nation. And then his. And then yours."

"Why me?" Lithuania asked weakly.

"Because you annoy me." Russia beamed, searching the kitchen for a pen and piece of paper. He had to settle for an old grocery list and a pencil. "Now, I'll write him a nice letter so he knows I'm serious."

"Sir, this isn't going to-"

Russia dropped the pencil and hit Lithuania with a right hook. Lithuania crumpled to the floor and held his nose, feeling the blood pour out. "This will work, damn it, because I say it will work. Damn slut won't talk to me, but she trusts you for some reason. America trusts you, too." Russia began to laugh, "Though I don't know why. In the murder mysteries, it's always the butler who does it. Of course, you're more like a maid, da?"

Lithuania managed to pick himself up off the floor, saying quietly, "Mr. America is going to be mad at you."

"Da," Russia replied, going back to writing the note. "I'm counting on it. That way he'll be too distracted to notice what I'm doing."

"Why should I be helping you anyway?" Lithuania asked sharply, taking a wide step back and closing his eyes.

Russia grinned, violence in his eyes and voice. "Because if you don't, I'll shoot your jaw off and make everyone think you attempted suicide. Then, you'll be released into my care, and I'll make you my bitch like you've never known. So tell me, Lithuania, does that sound like a good time to you? Or do you want to help me take back the woman that's rightfully mine?"

Lithuania was shaking so badly he thought his legs might give out. He didn't doubt a word that Russia said. Then, with his heart heavy with guilt, he whispered, "Just tell me what to do, Mr. Russia."