A/N: Thanks for the reviews and alerts and favs! ;A; I love reviews and I read every single one! YOU GUYS WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST!

I wrote this while listening to LUCIFER by SHINee. Such unfitting music for this story, yet so addicting. 8D I can totally imagine Alfred dancing to this, though…

(Slight research was done here, but even so, D.C. surroundings are totally alien to me.)

Note: Angelina is back! –silence- Okay, okay. But she's here so that I can manipulate her later, oops, I said too much. =.=

By the way, as to not confuse people, the times in the segments of the stories are all moving forward. No switching scenes to a certain time, like going from 9:00 scene to 7:00 scene. Even I find that confusing.

My imagination had deserted me for a few hours because I was volunteering at this library listening to little kids read (for the entire year, might I add). Fact: reading picture books and Geronimo Stilton can severely damage your creativity. Or at least it did to me. I'm going to have to go every Tuesday teaching them to read and every Thursday tutoring elementary school kids. Gosh, enough ranting, here's Chapter 9!

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Felicita had no idea why their parents were booked in the Ritz-Carlton. It was a luxury hotel, and she was sure that at least her parents were regular people. Once their parents had gone off to who knows where, Evangeline, Felicita, and a near lifeless Adrian were left to push Mikhail and Aloisa since they were so tired. Alec quietly carried most of the luggage, an unusual sight. Felicita also noticed that Adrian kept sending him glances every so often, to which Alec ignored.

They dumped their 'parents' on one of those giant, plushy couches and waited for Evangeline and Alec to check them in.

"I'll come with you," Adrian offered, his eyes looking at Alec's hopefully.

Alec pushed Adrian down on the couches. "It's alright. I think I should do something for us besides sitting there and looking pretty." He did not stutter or get angry to cover up his pleasure that Adrian had asked to help. He was neither happy nor unhappy; his face remained as blank as a sheet of paper.

The siblings strolled to the counter and began conversing with the lady, who couldn't help but look over their shoulder at the rest of their super-model look-alike group. Within a minute they had returned, each holding a little card.

"Suites 434 for Adrian and I, and next door 435 for you. Top floor." Evangeline hauled one of Aloisa's arms over her shoulder, Felicita took the other, and slowly helped her to the elevator. Adrian peered at the bags worriedly, then at Alec. Alec slung most over his back and pulled a couple of those rolling packs.

"Go ahead," he said. "Go help your brother. The other guests think that he is suffering from alcohol poisoning." It was true; Mikhail was staggering uncertainly on his feet and swaying back and forth, his eyes trying to close.

Adrian hesitated. "If you want to talk to m—"

"Hey, Adrian," Alec commanded, finally sighing in exhaustion. "Just go help. I'm sure this can wait."

Immediately, Adrian helped his brother to his feet and dragged him along towards Evangeline. Alec exhaled once more, slowly, then stood straight and lugged the bags despite his fatigue.


Alec mumbled quiet good nights to the pretend family as the four of them disappeared into their suite. Adrian unlocked the one next door and lifted the bags off of Alec wordlessly. Once Alec stepped inside, however, he saw a problem.

There was only one bed, in the middle of all this giant TV and couches and the loaded fridge. Mikhail had forgotten to add two beds when he was hacking the servers. But it was a huge bed, probably bigger than King sized. Did they make bed that big? Or did they just fuse two mattresses together? Adrian made no comment as Alec closed the door.

The two of them stood in awkward silence. Truth: if Alec hadn't shoved his money to Adrian, they'd be bickering bitterly right about now. The silence settled in until Alec unzipped his luggage and took out his pajamas.

"I'm going to take a shower," he muttered. Adrian nodded, his eyes following Alec's every move.

It was some twenty minutes before Alec stepped out, his blond hair semidried and free of blue. He'd have to apply that later. The TV was on some soap opera channel and Adrian was lying on the edge of the giant bed, snoring.

Alec's face softened. He didn't know exactly why he refused Adrian. But it wasn't the same as refusing; they never had a relationship in the beginning. It was made up by Aloisa and completely last minute; heck, she had near forgotten about it ever since her 'husband' and she had got beaten up by Francis and his questions.

Alec turned off the TV and sat next to Adrian gently. He removed the blond wig and placed his next to the counter, Adrian's silver hair spilling out. The strange strand of hair in the front wouldn't stand down. They sat in compatible silence for a while, though the other didn't know it.

Was it because I hated him? Alec pondered, then shook his head slightly. No, he didn't hate him. Though Adrian was a little annoying, he'd never physically harmed Alec in any way. Was it because of Ethan?

Alec stopped drying his hair. Was it? If Ethan hadn't been here, would I have let Adrian go? He didn't know anymore. At the beginning in the airport, he'd almost imagined that he and Adrian was a legit couple. The last time Adrian had kissed him was…at the park. It felt forced and unnatural to him then. What did that count as? What were they now? Not exactly friends, but definitely not lovers.

He stood up and flipped the lights off, the remaining lamp by the far corner leaving a dim glow. Even in the darkness, the outlines of Adrian's face was set. His eyes were fluttering and he appeared ageless and free, like his mom. His nose matched his father's, and the silver hair reminded Alec's of Ivan, too. He didn't know why he hadn't noticed it before, but Adrian was handsome. Not in the cheap romancing guy sort of way, but truly handsome, like in those films where the setting was in the 1900s and the main character had a traditional regal look.

Alec sighed; no use thinking about it now. For all he knew, Adrian must think that he's a whore and easy. He pulled Adrian to the top of the bed and gently rested his head on the pillow. He got in next to Adrian, edging to the end of the bed so as to not touch Adrian. As Alec drifted off to sleep, Adrian swung his arms and fragilely held Alec close to himself.


Room 435, morning, 6:24…

Felicita woke up groggily, Evangeline still asleep at her side. Her gaze wandered over to Aloisa and Mikhail, who they had pushed onto the bed next to theirs with some effort, but luckily they were both too disoriented to do anything, much less complain. Aloisa wasn't exactly a sleeper with good posture. Somewhere around 3 in the morning she'd rolled off the bed, and the girls had to pick her up since Aloisa didn't notice (or care) at all. Currently, her legs were on Mikhail's chest and she was sprawled on the bed upside-down. Mikhail seemed to have trouble breathing seeing as Aloisa's legs weighed down on him.

Felicita quietly moved Aloisa's leg onto the bed. Now she was completely upside-down and her feet were right in Mikhail's face. But she could hear Mikhail's sleepy exhale as he breathed deeply and slowly.

It's Monday...Felicita thought. I should be in school right…SCHOOL. Felicita panicked for one second before setting down on the armchair and remembering her location and situation. Besides, Aloisa and Mikhail had forged notes (which look like the real thing, by the way). Mikhail's hand seemed to be able to copy anyone's. She was on a mission. Aloisa's plan had been to find out undercover and leave before their parents got home. It sounded much simpler when Aloisa said it.

She put on a pair of clean jeans and roused Evangeline from her slumber.


Room 434, morning, 6:52…

Alec tumbled around slowly in bed, surprised and a little disappointed to find that there was no one next to him. He heard the showers running and he quickly dressed himself, throwing on a random baggy t-shirt he found on the ground. It went way past his thighs covering his naked legs. He realized that it was not his shirt just as Adrian came out of the shower.

Adrian had only a towel wrapped around his torso. Alec froze. Adrian looked hotter than Ethan, with his blond bangs partly covering his eyes and mouth curved in a small 'o'. Why didn't he notice that before? "Uh, good morning…?"

"Oh, mon dieu, I apologize. This is probably your shirt 'cause I just found it on the ground and I—"

"Keep it."

"Huh?"

"It looks good on you. Ah, I mean…" Adrian rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Oh, if that's okay with you…"

"Sure, sure…!"

"I, um, I guess I better go spray paint my hair again." Alec shyly fluttered past Adrian and into the bathroom.

Adrian fell backwards on the bed when Alec closed the bathroom door and covered his eyes with his arm. Stupid! That was stupid! 'It looks good on you…' What the hell? It was his old t-shirt. Stop being so nervous! You've got to win Alec back! To show that Ethan Cole! But…Adrian paused. Was it really to show off to Cole? Or did he…like Alec?

After approximately ten minutes of treading a path back and forth on the carpet, Adrian made up his mind to ask Alec to a date. Something nice and fancy. Somewhere Alec liked and places that Ethan Cole will definitely be at.

Adrian waited for Alec to return, but he's been inside for an awful long time. One peek wouldn't hurt…just to make sure he's not injured or anything…

Adrian opened the door a towel a crack and looked in. Alec was leaning towards the mirror, straightening out a lone strand of hair and coloring it blue. The t-shirt outlined his skinny frame and showed his long legs. Adrian was looking directly at Alec's ass when he peeked in.

It took Alec about five minutes to notice Adrian's blue eyes peering in from the crack in the corner of his mirror. He threw bundles of towels at the door, which closed automatically with a click. Alec face was flushed, imagining exactly what Adrian must've been staring at for God knows how long.


Lobby, 10:12…

Alec and Adrian stepped out of the elevator, Alec clinging onto Adrian's arm once again. He knew he was doing it for Aloisa and their cover, but part of him wanted to hold on forever and some dumb one-third of his brain wanted to look for Ethan. Damn, I'm even thinking like a whore, Alec thought bitterly. Now he'll never like me, much less think of asking me out. Wait, how'd it get to asking me out? He doesn't want to, he doesn't, I was the one that refused him when he didn't even do anything yet!

"Good morning, Mr. and Mr. Bitt!" Aloisa crowed energetically. Her enthusiasm had returned after two mugs of coffee and an energy bar. "Shall we go get some breakfast in town and resume our mission?"

Aloisa was wearing a tight brown dress with laces around the collar and little pearl earrings. Alright, she'd snuck them out from her Mama's storage, but they looked exactly like the rich mom image she was going for. The brown lace hat and the white satin gloves were a nice touch, she might add.

They knew what she meant. "Can we go get sandwiches, Mom? Please? Please? I'm so tired of hotel food." Felicita acted like what she thought a spoiled rich kid would be like. Well, she was basing it on Angelina. A nicer version though. The hotel food looked absolutely gorgeous; one would have to be an idiot not to dine in there, but Felicita presumed that Angelina would reject it

Evangeline sat cross-legged, puffing on Mikhail's fake cigarette. Dang, she thought. Water vapor comes out of the end. This is really cool. "Listening to Felicita again, Ma?" The guests in the lobby glared disapprovingly at her cigarette, but they smelled no smoke, which was a little puzzling, so they didn't apprehend her.

"Okay, girls. Let's get going before we're late, da—I mean, 'yes?'" Mikhail ordered, rubbing his hand on his forehead. He'd had a fitful dream last night. He had imagined that an elephant was sleeping on his chest, or something similar to that. Aloisa had at last got him out of bed by whacking him with plastic sunflowers Evangeline found in the vase in the living room.

"I want to go to McDonalds," Felicita said. She'd remembered what Adrian once said about his mom loving burgers and eating them everyday. With luck, they'd bump into them.

Mikhail understood her. "Okay. We will go there."

Mikhail offered Aloisa his hand, to which she laid her laced fingertips on. Evangeline and Felicita followed their example and started to bicker amongst themselves about what they thought rich brats would argue about: clothes, shoes, money, what the other had or didn't have. Felicita still glanced around every few minutes or so for Lisa, as impossibly dumb as it might seem. But with a psycho like Lisa, you never know…

Adrian raised his eyebrow at Alec and put his arm around his waist. It felt better, Alec noticed. Adrian seems more relaxed and willing. His hold wasn't locked and stiff, but instead it rested there gently. He laid his head on his shoulders like he'd done at the airport, only now he was doing it because he wanted to. He would enjoy this moment before he had to let go in the end. Alec knew that would happen ultimately, whether he wanted it to or not.


California, at school, 10:30…

"Okay, office lady, I'm going to ask you one more time. Where did Felicita Vargas Carriedo go to?" Angelina slammed her palms on the desk several times.

The office ladies didn't dare refuse Angelina's demands; they knew who her father was, and he could easily remove them from their positions if they did anything to upset Angelina, as unfair as it sounded. The woman took out a note from her desk.

"She went to Washington D.C. to visit a family friend, it says."

"What?" Angelina shrieked. The office lady cringed. She could not be missing today! Angelina had spent the whole freaking night deciding what to do to get revenge on Felicita and her abnormally huge bodyguard. She rubbed her wrist gently, suddenly reminded of the unpleasant encounters.

She'd brought all sorts of trash and shit she found in the park to stuff in Felicita's locker, but now that Felicita wasn't even here, the whole thing would be pointless. She stamped her foot and uttered a squeal of anger and frustration.

But wait. She hesitated. "Lady, did you say Washington D.C.?"

"Yes, I did."

Washington D.C. That was where her daddy was right now! She could fly over there and tell her daddy all about Felicita, and that little punk will get humiliated in front of everyone in Washington D.C. What good fortune she had!

"Lady, I'm going home. Tell my mom that I want a ticket to Washington D.C. now."

Before the office lady could reply, Angelina had grabbed her backpack and raced home. She was in such a good mood; she started giggling madly as she ran in her Anne Klein boots. Felicita was going to regret picking a fight with her for her entire life. She couldn't wait to see the look on the loser's face when she trampled on her dignity.


Washington D.C., McDonalds, 10:45…

"Brad, I don't know how your mom can even swallow this," Felicita said, staring at her Big Mac like it was going to grow legs and jump on her face.

Aloisa sipped her Coke and tried to dab the cheese off her Egg McMuffin. Alec silently nibbled on a fry half-heartedly, while Adrian poked at his own burger. God, the thing must've weighed 5 pounds. Why not just write '78% Diabetes' on the wrapper? he thought.

"I don't know," Adrian admitted. "She used to eat twelve of them last year everyday, until she decided to cut it down to…well, she still eats a lot, like how my dad used to sling vodka like it was water."

"And he still does," Mikhail muttered.

"Guys, just wait. I'm sure that your parents are going to walk in any second now—"

Aloisa was cut off by a man's hoarse yell. Nearly entire restaurant quieted down and turned their head to the location of the voice.

"Kesesesesese! Seems like she forgot about you again!"

A small voice answered the man. "That's not funny! I was sure that she'd be here…"

"That's okay, because the awesome me will never forget you!"

"Ah…!"

The man who'd uttered a pleased exclamation was dressed very casually, in a red sweatshirt with a single maple leaf on it, and jeans. A bear hung on the man's shoulder, very still. Felicita couldn't be sure if it was alive or a stuffed animal or dead and stuffed. He looked exactly like the male counterpart of Allie, except that his eyes were violet, just like Ivan's, only lighter and softer. Mikhail and Adrian were at a loss for words.

The vein on Aloisa's forehead jumped a little. "This voice sounds familiar…" She turned around and gaped at the first speaker; she couldn't quite make up her mind on what to say.

Finally, a low, angry growl escaped from her throat. It even gave Mikhail the chills. Felicita and Evangeline watched in horror as Aloisa picked up her plastic knife and stabbed it into her poor McMuffin. It took all of Evangeline and Felicita's strength to just hold her in place. Adrian and Mikhail were too shocked at their mom-lookalike to do anything but stare.

"Onkel Gilbert…" she snarled dangerously. "He…he left the dogs at home alone…he's going to pay!"