Title: Hetalia's Christmas Tree

Our Christmas Tree is Decorated with Teeth

"THANKS FOR PAYING FOR EVERYTHING, JAPAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"

"IS THAT THE ONLY REASON YOU CAME HERE?"

America gleefully skipped along down the streets of Tokyo in his Santa outfit, laughing and cheering the whole way. Japan had agreed to pay for his epic Christmas party! Now he wouldn't have to use taxpayers' money to hold his annual Christmas celebration, which was quite the relief to him considering the state of his economy and the taxpayers' low level of trust in the government. But with Japan paying for everything, there would be no problems! America laughed again as he entered another section of Tokyo. Puppy eyes worked every time. And Japan's thing with roundabout speaking had come in handy, too. Perfect!

Once he had finally calmed down (which took a little while), America made his way to the airport to head to the next country he would be inviting. Before Japan, he had invited several other Asian countries, all of which, happily, had agreed to come. But some of the invite sessions hadn't quite gone as well as he had hoped.

-"If I invite you to my Christmas party and promise to give you a huge goody bag and slice of my awesome cake, will you reduce my debt a bit?"

"Ha ha! That's funny, America! No, aru. But thanks for the invite anyway!"

"...Shit."

-"Do you think that psycho north of you will be pissed off if I invite just you to my party?"

"America, that psycho north of me not only hates you and me...but also the rest of the world. North Korea will be pissed off no matter what we do, da ze."

"So...should I invite her as an attempt at making a bit of peace?"

"...You're an idiot, da ze. You owe me egg nog and a room alone with China."

-"So? Wanna come?"

"...Do I know you?"

"I was also a colony under England, but that was a long time ago."

"..."

"Hong Kong? You coming?"

"..."

"I'm going to take that as a 'yes'."

America sighed at the memories. At least Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia had agreed to try to make it without much of a fuss. And no threats! That was a bonus! But the others...Oh, the world was just too messed up these days. America couldn't help but feel like some of it was his fault...okay, a lot of it. Yeah, he could admit that. But that was no reason to bring those feelings and grudges into Christmas! This was supposed to be the one time of the year when all the people all over the world were nice to each other and gave to others who needed it.

He had needed that reduction in his debt to China, dammit!

And for North Korea to calm the hell down!

And for Hong Kong to show some sort of emotion...Damn, he was worse than Norway.

Deciding to leave these thoughts behind, America snatched a sheet of paper from his bag and looked it over. Each country was listed according to continent. He smirked a bit at the angry elf face he had drawn next to Russia's name.

China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia...there were a few more left America wanted (or was advised by his boss) to invite in Asia. He couldn't wait to get to Singapore and see if he really could get arrested for missing the trash can when throwing something away. And Macau was famous for gambling! It was the Vegas of Asia!

But there was one name before all those others that America couldn't ignore. Oh. He hadn't been there since...No. He shook his head. He didn't even want to think about it. That had been his lowest point. He didn't want to go! He wouldn't!

His cellphone rang. "The Star-Spangled Banner." Of course.

"Hello?"

"America?"

"Hello, Mr. President."

"Have you invited Vietnam yet?"

Crap.


"Ah, that's perfect!"

Vietnam took a step back and smiled at her work. The tree was perfect, wrapped in glowing lights and popcorn and covered with tinsel. At the top, a star glowed with the help of a lit candle. At the bottom, beneath the tree, was a red rug with a winter-like design weaved into it. The snow stitching was so pretty that it almost looked like snow had fallen from the lower branches of the tree down onto the rug. But that was impossible. Snow didn't exist in Vietnam's country.

But she wouldn't let that stop her. With only a few weeks left to go until Christmas, there was no time to worry about the things she didn't have. Smiling, Vietnam gathered the boxes which had held her Christmas supplies and brought them into her storage space in the basement right beneath her home. After settling them to make sure they wouldn't fall, she headed back up to the main level of her home to make herself some lunch.

Until she heard a knock on her door. "Coming!" she called, running to the front door. She unlocked it and opened it with a smile, but the man standing there made the smile fade and her eyes widen in shock.

"...America?"

"Uh, hi, Vietnam...I, uh..."

Vietnam blinked several times before registering who this person was in her mind. She immediately snapped back to reality and stepped out of the way of the door. "Would you like to come in?"

America looked up and bit his lip. "Um...sure, thank you." He slugged his bag over his shoulder and stepped inside, taking his big, clunky boots off and leaving them next to the door. He then placed the bag on the ground and looked towards Vietnam, who was eyeing his outfit.

"Any reason why you showed up to my door in a Santa Claus outfit?" she asked, clearly confused. Last time she had checked, Christmas was still a few weeks away. Yes, it was December, but it was nowhere near close to the actual holiday.

America managed a smile and nodded. "Yes! There is a reason for that!" He reached into his bag and pulled out an envelope. He held it out for the girl and smiled brighter. "This is for you. It's an invitation to my annual Christmas party. I'd like it if you could come!"

Vietnam blinked again and observed the envelope. It wasn't fancy or decorated, but it did have the American President's seal on the back. Wow, so America wasn't kidding. She was invited.

She looked back up at him and smiled softly. "That's very nice of you, America, thank you." She took the envelope from him. "The party isn't on Christmas, is it?"

"Oh, no, it's a few days before."

"Good. I accept then. I'd like to be in my own country on Christmas Day." The Asian girl continued to smile until she noticed that America's cheeks were flushed bright pink. He was also starting to sweat. She smiled again, this time sympathetically. "You're such a dope to come to Southeast Asia in a Santa outfit," she nearly laughed.

America's blush intensified and he nodded. "Yeah, that was pretty stupid. I'm surprised I managed to get through Indonesia without passing out."

"You've already been to her place, and you didn't realize it's always hot in this part of the world?" Now Vietnam was laughing at America for his obliviousness. That was a bad habit of his indeed. She shook her head, amused, and motioned for the man to come further into her home. "I'll give you some lighter clothes. You might as well stay for a while. I was just about to make lunch." She grinned and stopped in the kitchen to put the invitation on the counter. Then she went into a back room and pulled out some traditional Vietnamese men's clothes. "I hope these fit," she said as she placed them into America's hands.

The man looked away, eyes half-closed. "Thank you," he murmured. "Which way in the bathroom?" He thanked Vietnam again when she pointed it out.

As soon as America was gone, Vietnam went to work in the kitchen preparing lunch, now for two people. She had initially planned to use the beef she had bought at the market earlier that day for both lunch and dinner, but she could manage to get to the market again, especially if America stayed for dinner.

She was just about done with two steaming bowls of phở when America emerged in her kitchen. She turned when she heard his footsteps and smiled. "Good, the clothes do fit you. I was worried."

"They're really comfortable," America commented as he adjusted the outfit's sleeves. "I didn't think they would be so comfortable, but they're easy to move in, and they're lightweight."

Vietnam rolled her eyes. "Maybe because you're comparing it to a Santa Claus outfit."

"...Yeah, that might be it."

The Asian girl giggled a bit. "You haven't changed."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. I'm almost done here. Sit down."

America did as he was told and sat in one of the chairs at the kitchen table. He kept his eyes on Vietnam and couldn't help but feel like he was doing something wrong. His former enemy from not too long ago was standing right there, making him lunch of all things! This wasn't supposed to happen! Initially, he had just wanted to give Vietnam the invitation and get out of her country as quickly as possible. It had nothing to do with the heat or the idea that he didn't like her. No, he liked her! She was fine! But something deep inside him told him he was making a huge mistake.

"You are."

America gasped.

"Everything is wrong. You're not doing what your people want. Your people hate you and want to separate from you. There is no hope for you left."

America shook his head and tried to concentrate on driving the voice out. "Leave me alone," he whispered. "I'm not doing anything wrong. My boss isn't doing anything wrong either. We're both just doing our best. We're trying so damn hard."

"People will leave you."

"No..."

"I'll come back."

"No...!"

"You'll fade away and I'LL be the one in control."

"NO!"

Vietnam gasped and nearly spilled the soup. She turned to America with wide eyes. "What is it?" she asked, breathless and worried. "Is something wrong?"

America looked back at her and shook his head, eyes wide with fear. "No...no, it's nothing. I'm fine."

There was no way Vietnam would buy that. "You just screamed for no reason in the middle of my kitchen! Of course something is wrong! What is it, America? You can tell me! If it's something you don't want anyone else to know, I promise to keep it a secret."

America couldn't believe it. She was willing to help him? She would try to make things better? He watched as she brought the two bowls of soup to the table and set them down, one in front of him and one in front of herself. She then sat down in her own chair and gave the man her full attention.

America was hesitant to speak at first, but the words soon came out clear. "I've...been involved in a lot of crap lately."

Vietnam nodded. "Yes, I know. I feel bad for you."

The man almost couldn't speak again. Vietnam was feeling bad for him? The guy who stormed into her war with the label of "hero" and just made everything worse for her, causing years of suffering and communism? He couldn't wrap his mind around the concept, so he chose to ignore it. "I mean," he continued, "it's bad enough that my own country is having problems, but I'm involved with so many other countries and their problems that it's causing a lot MORE problems back at home. And that's making the people so angry. They're hating my boss, too! I know that a lot of the stuff he's been doing has been different for my people, but that's just because things have been the same for so damn long! Things can't get any better for a county unless that country makes some changes. It's the only way! Staying as we were would not help us! And, hey, I loved my old boss and everything. He made some mistakes, too, but all of my bosses have. EVERY person who has EVER led a country is going to make A FEW mistakes at the very least! But, seriously, he left a whole shitload of problems behind for my current boss to fix. I'm not trying to blame him, but...!"

"America!" Vietnam shouted, breaking the man's speech. She looked at him with big, sympathetic eyes and frowned. "America, I get it. You're talking to someone who has had her own shitload of problems over the past few decades. I know how much it hurts! But when things are bad, that means that they can get better. I'm sure that your boss loves you and your country, and I'm sure that he's trying his damnedest to get everything fixed. Trust me, America, it might take a while, but things will get better!"

America could hardly believe his ears. All that coming from Vietnam of all people? "I caused so many bad things to happen to you," he said without thinking, and he immediately regretted his words.

Vietnam, however, did not seem disturbed. She just shrugged and said, "You and a bunch of other people." Then she eyed him. "Is that why you're freaking out here, being in my home? Are you still hung up on all that?"

"I..."

"Look, America, it's over. I don't understand why you and your people can never put anything behind you. Even if things are over for decades, for centuries, your people still whine about them today as if that time is still going on. I can understand remembering the past, and I appreciate you thinking about me, but you need to get over this, America. Like you said, you have too many other things to worry about than what's over between us."

America looked like he was about to cry. "Vietnam..."

"Besides, my doppelgänger disappeared when the two parts of my country unified, so I'm not my own enemy anymore."

America nearly jumped out of his seat. "You had a doppelgänger?" he asked, voice shaky. He stared at Vietnam, not sure what to think. "When?"

The girl looked at him like he was crazy. "During the war, of course!" she replied, speaking as if the statement was obvious. "My country was split in half during that time. The northern half supported communism, and the bottom half didn't. I was the bottom half, and my doppelgänger was the top."

A million thoughts and questions swirled about in America's head, but he could only form one sentence clearly. "You...didn't support communism?"

"Of course I didn't!" the girl shot back, almost offended. "I didn't want to become a communist country, but some people in my country did, so my doppelgänger was born. The only reason I didn't fade away when my country was united was because I realized that communism was the lesser of two evils. It was either that or put the people through more punishments and crap they didn't deserve."

"Then I...?"

"Sometimes you fought me, and sometimes you fought my doppelgänger. It didn't matter to you, because..."

"...because I only saw the communism."

"...Yeah."

Vietnam almost gasped when she saw the tears slide down America's cheeks. "Oh crap, America, don't cry!" she begged, jumping up and grabbing a tissue. "There, there, it's okay, I'm not angry! Like I said, it's over!"

"No, it's not that!" America said back, accepting the tissue and drying his tears. He sniffed a little and wiped his eyes before saying, "When I was having my own civil war, I had a doppelgänger. He scared the crap outta me. Every time I looked up, no matter what, he was there, staring at me with this huge, crazy smile. He still haunts my dreams, and, now, because of all the stuff that's dividing my country, I can hear his voice in my head! He keeps taunting me, saying that he'll come back and take over. It...it scares me!"

Vietnam opened her mouth into a small "o" and placed her hand on America's arm. She then closed her mouth and smiled up at him. "Then show him your own teeth."

"Huh?"

"He shows you a crazy smile, confident he'll take over, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Then smile right back. Be confident that he'll never take over, and he'll never replace you."

"Vietnam..."

"He BETTER not replace you! The world wouldn't be the same without its hero!"

America had no idea where it came from, but he suddenly found himself smiling. Vietnam smiled back and stood to give him a hug, wrapping her arms around him. She snuggled up against him and rested her head on his shoulder. "That's my gift to you. Merry Christmas, America."

"Dammit," the doppelgänger hissed, "this isn't over, Union. I will come back; I WILL take over..."

"I'd like to see you try," America thought back. "And quit calling me 'Union,' would you? That's so 19th century."

"Da...mn...you..."

And the voice disappeared.

Leaving a happy Vietnam.

And an America with a huge, heroic smile, which showed off all of his perfect, pearly white teeth.

END

Notes. Lots of people in Vietnam converted to Christianity while France was ruling it as a colony. That's why Vietnam practices European Christmas traditions in the story.

Phở is a traditional soup dish from Vietnam. It's made with noodles made from rice, basil, lime, bean sprouts, peppers, and either beef or chicken.

The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was a civil war between the top half, which supported communism, and the lower half, which was anti-communist. The USA decided to intervene in order to protect the lower half from a communist takeover. It was part of the containment plan the USA created in order to contain communism, as the Vietnam War (known as the American War in Vietnam) was part of the USA's Cold War against the USSR. Other countries, such as Cambodia and Laos, were involved, too. I suggest looking up their involvement especially, because they are often overlooked, yet what happened to those countries is just as devastating.