Declaration: I don't own Hetalia
The morning after, Yue had a feeling that something is about to happened but ignore it for she was looking forward to the stroll Ivan had promised last night. After washing her face at the basin on her table she called a servant to help her get into the gown she had chosen for that particular leisurely walk.
She opened the window to check the weather and a smile was placed on her face. The weather was going her way today. It was cloudy with a few cool breezed every few moments. As the servant knocked on her door, they quickly helped her try the pale blue gown. It was her favourite one, out of those hideous, over deigns gowns in her trunk, this one particular because they don't have to tie the suffocating corset over her. They also helped her tie her long silky black hair up in a bun, though some playful hair had fallen on the side of her face.
Then she took her boots and practically run to the dining hall after thanking her servants. As she arrived a pout was formed. Nobody was even at the table. It may be that she was early but she knows her mother was an early riser so she asked the butler about it.
"Morning milady, your parents had requested to serve the morning meals on the balcony." Yue thanked the old man then left to her destination.
And there they are, her parents and her brother and the Braginski, two of them at least, Sir Nicholas and Yekaterina. They greet her good morning and she went to sit behinds her mother.
"Glad you can make it, Yue." Henry said as he put down his tea cup to the matching sourer. Yue pick up from her porridge.
"Nicholas and I were just discussing the wedding day." She just knobs, she knows it will be postpone until Arthur arrived next week, but she made a curious face to make it look like she's innocent.
"The Braginski agreed to move the wedding until the end of the month for you and Ivan to get to know better." That was a surprise, she didn't expect she was given an extra week to proved to them that Arthur was the one. But they are your parents, so Yue agreed and snatch a quick look from her mother who was shaking her head.
Haft way through her food, Ivan came in to join them with his younger sister in tow. He had his scarf rap around him and he wore a long coat that coverd most of what he wore and that reminds Yue about the coat she borrowed last night that she still hadn't returned. He takes the sit in front of Yue again in their rectangle table. He gave her his childish smile and she smiled back.
"So, what plans do you two have in mind?" YueMei said after giving Michael his breakfast. Who was staring wide eyed at Ivan.
"Mama, Ivan had offered me a stroll this morning." Yue said after taking Michael to her lap to play with him.
"That's brilliant, take Hong with you." That brought the Braginski a blanked stare.
"It's Michael." Henry offered and they "aaah." Yue laughed at the same reaction they received.
"While you three had a stroll. Yekaterina and I would go to town and see for a look on the wedding preparations." YueMei said with a huge grin on her face. Natalia was pulling on her sister's skirt, Yekaterina turned around and patted on her head.
"Of course you can come." That gave a tiny smile that crossed on her frown face, Yue might have missed it but she knows secretly that Natalia is still a girl behind that scary face and deep voice for her age.
After their breakfast, they all went their separate ways while the fathers became chaperone for the two new pair.
Ivan had looked Yue form head to toe again at her chosen attire, it was loose like it had over worn but he still like the way Yue hold the hand of Michael as they walk side by side. He had a few day dream, thinking what it would be like to have a child with Yue, will they look like her? Or him?
Yue was talking to Michael all the new things the boy had seen. He was a quite one but he looked like he was enjoying the new atmosphere. Then he turned to look up at the tall Russian. He let go of Yue's hand and went straight to him. Since he still didn't know how to call the Russian, he just pulled at his pants and the violet eyes was staring down at the brownish-yellow eyes that resembled Yue's.
Ivan was disturbed by his day dream when something was pulling at his pants; he looked down and saw those same eyes that had intrigued him. He those know what to do when Michael had held both his short arms up at him. He turned to Yue, who was chuckling at his discomfort.
"Is he hurt?" Ivan said in a worried tone. And Yue laughed.
"No. he just wants to be pick up." Though Ivan was a little hesitant he shivered when he picked him up. He was expecting a bit much heavier.
"Relax, he doesn't bite. Yet." When she notice that he was still shivering as they keep on walking. Both had forgotten at the sound their father made, who were both intrigue in their conversation to notice their two children.
"That's nice to know." He made a soft voice and was confused at how Michael was pulling his huge nose and giggling.
"That's not very nice, da" Ivan said and looked down at Yue, she was smiling at him that warm his heart.
"He likes you."
"That's a start. Most everyone is afraid of me." Yue raised a brow and crossed her arms.
"well if you always put a knife on everyone, then they would be afraid of you."
"I though you have forgiven me." Ivan whined. That toke Yue by surpise.
"Aiyah! I did. Act like your age." She almost screamed. She didn't really know what to do if Ivan cried. Though Ivan's lips quicker. He doesn't really going to cry is he? Yue though.
She sighed and pulled Ivan down, using his scarf and hugged him as best as she could when Michael was still on his arms. Ivan's eyes widen.
"Don't cry know, Ivan." She said his name in a very caring tone that broke Ivan's train of though. When she let go, Michael was patting Ivan's head as his way of comforting him. Yue laughed so loud that both their father came running to see what had happened to them.
"What so funny?" Ivan said as he accrue Michael that he was ok.
"T-that, Hong, a baby, comforting a grown man." Yue said while catching her breath. Henry was puzzled but Nicholas know that his son was about to cry again that's the only reason. Though he just kept to himself the shame he felt for his childish son.
"Yue, that wasn't funny." Ivan tried but he was actually enjoying her laughter that he himself laugh as well. They were having so much fun that they hadn't notice Michael had left them to walked towards his henry picked him up he said.
"Iwan is funny." He said in a very serious face that Nicholas laughed as well.
"Men, your son sure acts like my youngest." Though Henry was a little creep out at his son's weird expression, he can't keep himself out so he just chuckled as well.
They returned to the country house when they notice that the cloud was forming a bit darker. They enjoyed lunch and a few deserts. Yue and Ivan was playing chess at the study room that afternoon that the butler arrived to give Yue a letter. She thanked him and opened at the letter.
As the sight of her name, she knows whose hand writing belongs to. It's Arthur, she though and her heart was pounding in her chest. He back, and he will return late night tomorrow. Her joy was overflowing that she can't express.
Ivan was interested on the letter but most importantly, he was curious on the sender. It had made Yue's face red and a smile on her eyes that he hadn't seen before.
"Who is it?" Ivan had placed his chin on the palm of his hand and stared at her with intense emotions. He has a rival and he now that it's him.
"W-what?, it's Arthur, his coming back tomorrow." That all he got when he was staring at the empty space in front of him. Yue had run out of the room so quick that he can't even react.
"Arthur? Arthur Kirkland?" Ivan was confused but he did meet Arthur once when they were still a teenager.
"Yes, my eldest son." Ivan jerked up and looked at the sorce of the voice. It's was Henry and he looked a little gloomy.
"Are you ok, sir?" Henry went to the refreshment bar and takes a whisky bottle out and pour into two glass. He gave Ivan some and he drank all of his in one gulped.
"With all do disrespect sir but it's a bit to early to be drinking." He place his glass, on the table near by, untouched, not because he was a good boy but he himself was a drinker, a heavy one but he prefer vodka than whisky.
"Says the one who drank ten bottle of vodka last winter." Ivan grimed and Henry chucked.
"Sorry, but I need it." Ivan can be childish but he knows how to crack some clues.
"Is it Arthur?" Henry had returned to the sofa with a new glass few and knob.
"He is the one Yue loves." Ivan was expecting something like that but he still was surprised when someone had said it out loud.
"But weren't they raised as siblings?" Henry finished his second glass before answering.
"They were, but some how along the way, we may have missed something that they had feeling for each other." The Russian wasn't having fun with the idea on his future wife loving someone else.
"why are you telling me this, sir?" Henry looked him straight in the eye and said in a hoarse voice.
"Because I want you to be the one that my daughter to fall in love. Not my son. "Then added.
"Also it is a warning for you that you have a rival. Make a decision for Yue to fall in love with you and have that wedding accomplished." That face that Ivan saw was a bit scary though he had to do something to make Yue fall for him. He had a inner war with himself.
Henry knows that Ivan had a liking to his daughter and he intended to keep his promised with Nicholas that his married can mature his childish son. Ivan escused himself and went for a walk. He didn't know what to do. All his life, everything was given to him in a silver platter, even a wife. But this time, he had to do something with his own. He can't ask his father to just get Arthur out of the picture. That what had happened with his first Lithuanian fiancé. She was so scared at him that she left right before the wedding.
Ivan didn't want that to happen to Yue. She had showed him something exciting in the two days they had spent.
As dinner approached, Yue was talking to her mother that returned that afternoon nonstop with their mother tongue. Ivan silently ate his dinner and said a few words to his sister that was worried about him.
Yue was talking so fast that she forgot her dinner.
"Finish you dinner first, daughter." YueMei said after trying so hard to assure her husband that Yue wasn't talking about Arthur. But he knows, spending two years in China had given him that ability to used their language, even just a few. Nicholas knows as well but he didn't show it but smiled at how his son was suffering. He needed this to grow up.
As night came to, Yue changed to her nightgown and write in her diary about Arthur's planed arrival. Though, she even wrote how she and Ivan did that day before the excitement overpower her. She was about to blow out the candle when she heard her someone knocked on her door.
A/N: Sooooo, what do you guys think? Did I make them look convincing? You are free to comment on this for any corrections and thanks for those who had commented at the previous chapter. It was precious to me. I thank you.
And for those who are curious again. Michael/Hong is only a year and a half here so yeah, he is a late bloomer that's why he early talks.
Once again for those who take their time on reading this. It made my heart swell when I read your comments. Thank You!
Happy holidays everybody!