Finally getting back to some longer chapters.


England heard a voice, quiet, deep, and near her ear. She knew she wasn't asleep but she wasn't ready to leave her soft sheets and warm pillow. She heard the man's gentle voice again and it sent a pleasant shiver up her spine. She smiled and curled up, readjusting her sheet over her as she moved.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and woke entirely.

"England," Russia said again.

"What?" she asked too sharply, clutching the sheet.

"Are you going to get up?"

It took her a moment to remember that it was Sunday. "In a little bit," she said, pulling the sheet closer to her now that she felt cool.

"Alright," he said, climbing out of bed.

For half a minute she wanted to fall back asleep, but when Russia disappeared into the bathroom she reached for her phone. She sent off a quick text to Portugal have you ever had a thing for a voice?

England didn't receive a text back immediately, and she wasn't quite awake enough to calculate what hour it actually was in Portugal. Then she spent a minute trying to remember if Portugal was actually in her own land at that particular moment. She forced herself to get out of bed and make her way down to the hall bath. Somewhere between shampooing her hair and Russia convincing her to go with him to do the grocery shopping, she forgot about the text she had sent.

"So what exactly am I looking at?" England asked as they made their way down the first aisle of the grocery.

"Food?" he asked, picking another item off the shelf.

"But there's Russian," she said, gesturing down the length of the aisle. "Everywhere."

"You're in a Russian grocery store," he said, sounding like he was trying to clamp down on chuckles.

"I know, but still, it's like everything's suddenly turned to code," she said, picking up a box of something. "No wonder America likes to use it aesthetically in her movies."

"That's why it's wrong in her movies. Put that back we don't need it," he said, moving further down the aisle.

England gave the box a questioning look but put it back. She followed him silently after that. She kept an eye out for all the other customers, but nobody paid them half as much attention as she did them. She kept close to Russia as he shopped, close enough to nearly walk into his back once. Fifteen minutes was enough to tempt her to pick a place to awkwardly stand in and play a game on her phone. Instead, she continued to follow Russia around. "Teas are in the next aisle," he announced.

"Great, does that mean we're almost done?" she asked, perking up.

"Just about,"

They rounded the corner and England still found herself disappointed in the sight of boxes of tea bags even though she had reminded herself that all they would have would be tea bags on the way over. "You sure you don't know any specialty stores?" she asked as she tried to figure out exactly which teas the store even had.

"I'm sure we can find one," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"I can go myself," she said, stepping towards the shelves.

"You think you can drive someplace? That's hilarious," he said. "The fact that you're used to driving on the wrong side is enough let alone the fact that you don't have any driving experience here."

"I have excellent reflexes. I also don't drive on the wrong side of the road," she said, giving him a sharp look.

"You don't drive on the right side," he said with a laugh.

"I thought non-native speakers weren't supposed to get puns. I'm not afraid to elbow you in the ribs you know," she said as she picked up a box of tea.

"You like peppermint tea?" he asked, leaning closer to read over her shoulder.

"It's peppermint?" she asked, flipping it over. "It doesn't look like peppermint."

"It says peppermint,"

She put the box back. "Let's keep it simple then. Earl grey, green tea, and chamomile."

"Alright," he said, moving away from her to pick out the boxes.

"Thanks," she told him as he set the boxes into their basket.

"You're welcome, and it's time to check out," he said, moving towards the exit. "Dmitri should be working."

"Who?"

"A cashier," he said, smiling. "I talk with him."

"Okay," she said, following him warily. She held in a sigh as Russia picked up his step, seemingly having found the person he had been looking for. The cashier Russia went to was a middle aged man of nearly the same height with dark hair and more breadth. They greeted each other loudly and heartily, and England tried to situate herself so as not be drawn into the conversation. The other man, Dmitri, noticed her and England could tell he asked about her even if she couldn't understand his Russian. Russia responded to his question, and Dmitri practically cheered before reaching over the counter to wrap Russia into a hug. He even ruffled his hair as he pulled away, and England felt her stomach drop when the cashier turned to her.

"Hello," he said in a thick accent. "I am Dmitri."

"Hi," England said weakly in response.

"I told him we got married. He wants to meet you and congratulate you," Russia said, placing a hand on her back and nudging her towards the cashier.

"Okay," she said and brushed back her bangs. She moved forward as much as she dared to. "Hi," she repeated, moving to hold out her hand. "I'm Carolyn."

"Carolyn," he mimicked before grinning broadly and reverting to Russian. He ignored her hand to place his hands on top of her shoulders. He then leaned over the counter to give her three kisses, alternating cheeks. She froze after the first kiss and clenched her hands. He picked up speaking jovially again after he'd finished kissing her and pressed his palm to her cheek before releasing her entirely.

He didn't stop speaking and Russia seamlessly rejoined the conversation. England moved to the far side of Russia and impatiently waited for him to finish. "What was that?" she hissed as they left the store, clutching the elbow of his sleeve.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, turning towards her.

"I expected a handshake, not," she took a deep breath and held up her hands. "Kissing."

"He was happy for us," he said, still smiling. "He complimented you, wished you luck, and congratulated you."

"None of that requires kissing. Why would he even?" she asked and gestured to him. "You don't do that."

"I have," he countered, shaking his head slightly. "I've just never done it to you, and he was just trying to congratulate you."

"That's fine, but he didn't need to kiss me to do that," she said, flustered.

Russia had shifted to a confused expression. "Are you embarrassed or something? He really didn't mean to offend you."

"I know that but I still didn't like it,"

"Fine, the next person we announce we're married to I'll make sure to tell them you don't like kisses," he said, holding out his arms.

"Thank you," she said, taking a deep breath and releasing it. "No hugs either."

He gave her a look like he was concerned about her. "Do you ever touch anyone?"

"Really?" she asked. "You can't remember that I slept with your arm around me just last night?"

"Yes, but that's," he cut himself off. "You don't do anything to congratulate people?"

"I tell them congratulations,"

He looked at her blankly for a moment. "Alright, let's just go home."

"Finally," she said, relaxing her shoulders.

They made it home without any more trouble. England felt her phone buzz with a text as they were putting away the last of the groceries. She finished up then pulled out her phone, heading away from the kitchen and Russia. The text from Portugal read what did Russia do?

England couldn't remember what she'd said in the first place and had to reread the reminder that she really had been attracted to Russia's voice that morning. Woke me up by talking she explained before sending another text. This was a lot more fun when you had to guess who I was talking about.

Portugal's text reached England as she took a seat on the couch in the empty room. She had texted, you get over it do you have a language preference yet?

As in do I like to hear him speak Russian or English more? England sent back.

yeah so which one?

English because I understand it.

really? that's not any fun.

Im sorry my married life isn't entertaining enough for you England said, rolling her eyes and smiling. She could easily imagine Portugal smirking back at her.

Im just surprised that you havent learned russian yet.

Why would I? Russia seems to think Ill learn it too.

hes right.

England gaped at the text she had received. What do you mean hes right? Youre supposed to side with me.

no such obligation when youre wrong youre totally going to be frustrated by not knowing long before you move back home.

She sighed and brushed back her bangs. She considered not answering but eventually texted back. Well if thats true then at least Ill have listening to him to look forward to.

honestly Id give in just for that if I was in your place but you would learn his language to seduce him with it.

I would not and havent you already given in with your husband? Besides its still attractive in English its just more understandable.

let me know how learning Russian goes.

England didn't respond, rolling her eyes as she tucked her phone away. She figured Portugal was probably laughing enough about her situation already. She could smell food cooking and headed for the kitchen. "You're actually cooking for lunch?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's not going to take that long," he said with a shrug.

"Usually I just throw something simple together or microwave something for lunch,"

"That doesn't taste any good though,"

"This is too fancy for lunch," she said, taking her usual seat anyways.

"You don't have to have it,"

"No, I'll take it,"

He chuckled and continued cooking. She pulled out her phone again to check her email. She didn't find anything new that was important. "So what are our plans for June?" she asked as she scrolled past an email from America.

"You mean the conference with everyone? Isn't it just the usual except that we share a room this time,"

"Yes and no, we actually have to see America in person again," she said, closing her eyes for a moment in attempt to block any thoughts about it.

"We can avoid her," he suggested.

"Because that's worked really well in the past. She does talk to me outside of meetings, and it's like the opposite poles of magnets with you except instead of attraction its antagonism," she said.

"Isn't it the same for you and France?"

England thought about it for a second. "Let's try not to put any labels on it."

"If you say so,"

"I do, but if it's necessary we can probably hole up in our hotel room to avoid her,"

"And do what?"

"I don't know," she said, smiling. "We could watch crap telly."

"You think that would work?"

"It would, but we might not need to," she shrugged. "It's still supposed to be at least semi-professional outside of the meeting."

"Sure it is. You've gone to these meetings before, right?"

"It's possible and we've been getting better about them," she said, trying to bite down on a grin. "It's not like you're offering up any other options."

England had grown used to the timing of their conversations, and Russia's pauses didn't last this long. She looked up, and his eyes were on her. She watched as he licked his lips and pulled in a breath. "I think we'll be fine," he said, pulling his gaze away.

"Okay," she said lightly, not mentioning at all that she'd caught him staring at her lips. Or that she'd done it back. She didn't have any experience with having mutual attraction while that someone made lunch. That sort of thing usually kept itself to dinner dates and intentionally romantic settings.

"Nothing else to add?" he asked as he served their lunch.

"Not at the moment," she said, trying to end the conversation as she'd likely only watch his lips if he spoke.

"Alright, enjoy the lunch then,"

She held back a curse as she definitely looked at his lips again as he finished his sentence.


I hope you liked it. I know what I'm doing now for chapter 9, but I just haven't done it. Hopefully it'll work out okay.

Please review!