Nine Ladies Dancing:

The final world meeting adjourns with Germany reading the last fiscal report and Millennium Goals sheet from the United Nations and wishing everyone a safe vacation and Happy Holidays. Seychelles stuffs the last of her papers into her folder with much enthusiasm. Yes, they are done and she can focus her attention on her secret admirer.

Quickly she gathers her things and stands quickly.

"Ouch," someone wheezes out and the islander turns around quickly to see America holding his stomach. "Your chair hit me in the gut. For such a little girl, you sure can push a chair back."

Seychelles blushes and smiles sheepishly, "Sorry, America. I didn't know you were behind me. You should have said something!"

"Yeah, I guess I shouldn't've just snuck up on you like that." The blond agrees and smiles cheerfully at her. "Do you have a minute? I want to talk to you."

Seychelles looks away from him, just barely catching Madagascar's' eye before looking back to the American. "Sure, just let me get my things."

"Awesome, I'll be in the hallway waiting for you!"

America bounces away and Madagascar walks up to her whistling with his hands in his pockets. "New prospect?" he teases and nudges her shoulder.

The woman rolls her eyes. "No, he's not he just want to talk."

"About what?" Madagascar wags his brows.

"I don't know and stop making that stupid face!" Madagascar's grin only grows, "I'm serious, Maddy. You're being stupid. We're just talking."

Madagascar just laughs and walks with her to the door. They linger for a bit, talking to some countries as the mood of the room shifts from business like to talking about the party. Everyone seems to be in good spirits and excited, discussing costumes and coordinating outfits. Seychelles chats with Comoros, Mauritius and some other African countries. She even gets a chance to talk to Canada, France and Romano. Naturally, Spain joins the conversation and after saying quick greetings to a few more nations, Seychelles goes to meet America standing by the elevator.

The blond looks off until he spots her and brightens instantly and smiles a smile that makes her warm inside. "Maybe we can get something to eat," he offers and looks around them, "There's a burger place in walking distance."

Seychelles nods and America fist pumps the air and leads the way out of the building. They spot a few straggling nations that stop and speak America. He tries to politely tell them that they were going somewhere but she tells him it's fine and she doesn't mind waiting while they chat. Most people just want to get a bit more information about the party. America gives details but not too much and after assuring Japan that there wouldn't be blue cake; they set of again.

The burger place is called Five Guys and its extremely crowded. The place is packed full of people and loud and noisy but somehow comical with the way the workers yell out orders in New York accents. The place smells thick of grease, fries and beef and it's notably warmer than it is outside, probably from the open stovetops visible from behind the counter where numerous beef patties are flipped. It takes them a full thirty minutes to get from the door to being second in line. America fills the time with idol conversation. Seychelles takes in the scenery and listens to him, nodding in all the right places.

America orders for the both of them even though the menu isn't complex. She stiffs a chuckle at the way his accent changes as he interacts with his citizens. His New York accent is just as thick as theirs and she wonders if it's like this with all regionally divided nations. Her island is small and though people speak different languages, the dialect never had this much range.

"What is this I have again?" she asks as they sit a booth.

"A little," America clarifies and shrugs off his coat, "I told them to put everything on it so it's like a typical hamburger. I love this place though because they give a bucket of fries and free peanuts."

He isn't lying about the fries. The people took a scoop and just dumped the fried potatoes into her bag, the grease has slowly started the make her brown paper bag see through.

Seychelles unwraps her 'little' and takes a bite. It's a good burger, she has to admit and they just eat for a little while. America orders three burgers for himself and two orders of fries. She watches in amazement as he plows through the first two burgers like nothing in the same time it takes her to eat half of her little one. When he catches her watching, she could have sworn he blushed a little.

Oh, so cute America.

Seychelles smiles at him, not really caring about the way he eats. Maybe he's hungry? Who is she to judge? Also, this isn't the first time she's seen him eat. They have 'family dinners' at England's house and America is the only one who successfully makes it through those things full. So, to make him feel a bit better, she devours the rest of her burger and when she hears him laugh, she knows she's successfully put him at ease.

"Was it good?" America asks her and she has to wash the bit down with some drink before she can properly answer him.

"Yeah it was." Seychelles tells him honestly, "I might have to come to New York just to eat at Five Guys."

America laughs a boisterous laugh. "It's almost all over the country so you can go to just about any state not just here."

She shrugs and dips some fries in the ketchup cup they share. "Then I'll make a tour of it. I'll call it, Seychelles' hamburger tour!"

His eyes light up and it really is cute to see him get so excited about something so simple. "You should try In-N-Out burger on the west coast! I could map out all of the great burger spots for you. If you ever make it to New Orleans, go to Juicy Lucy. They have cheese inside the patty."

"Inside?" Seychelles asks in honest astonishment. "Like, in the beef?"

He nods enthusiastically, "It oozes out like lava. So good. Port of Call has some good burgers too. I'll make a list for you."

"Maybe you can come with me?" Seychelles asks him, "You know this country back and forth and I will get lost if you leave me by myself. You can be my burger GPS."

American laughs again and discusses burgers until his fries are all gone and Seychelles gladly hands over her near bag full. She's barely made a dint in it.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Seychelles turns the topic of the conversation and America looks a bit confused for a moment before realizing they weren't supposed to be talking about burger hopping.

"Yeah, right." He says then smiles. "It's about your thank you card. I didn't know it was yours I swear. But then England found me and, well," the blond rubs the back of his neck and looks away, "he kind of cornered me into letting him see it and he figured out it was you. I hope I didn't get you into too much trouble."

Blue eyes flicker to hers and she can't help but smile at how ashamed he looked. Seychelles reaches over and pats the hand that's resting on the table. "It's okay. He didn't go all 'British Empire, I'm protecting my colony' on me." They both laugh at that, "He just asked some question, the usual without the crazy."

"Have you found your secret Santa yet?"

"No, not yet. I think I might in a few days though…" she tells him without giving too much away.

"I think so too. Because," America tells her and she looks at him expectantly while he searches his coat pockets then pulls out a white envelope. "I found this!"

The white envelope has her name on it in the familiar penmanship of ever other gift. America waves it to her excitedly but Seychelles can only stare between the envelope and the nation giving it to her.

"W-where did you find it?" Seychelles stutters out and blushes at the way her voice cracks and heartbeat jumps a bit when America's smile widens. It's so adorable.

"On the floor in the conference room." He says easily and slides it to her since she refuses to just take it. "I figured instead of having another chance for England to be nosey, I should just give it to you myself."

"Oh," she can barely find her voice and Seychelles hesitates for a moment before picking it up. She chances a glance at America who looks about ready to hop over the table an open it himself. Could it be…him? Is America her secret admirer? Seychelles looks at the envelope, then America, the envelope again, America and then back to the envelope.

Carefully she breaks the seal and reaches in to pull out the card or whatever's inside. Seychelles blinks and peers but at the man across from her through her lashes as he eagerly eyes the invitation…to his party.

"Maybe there's something on the back?" he offers and Seychelles mechanically turns it over. There is something on the back, a drawing of a lady dancing and a message.

"What does it say?" America asks.

"Meet me under the mistletoe."


A/N: Thank you everyone who's kept up with this story so far! I've had so much fun writing it! Three more chapters before we find the mystery guy!