Chapter 10

Alfred woke up and stretched, wandering to the window and looked out, seeing Mattie and Kumajirou playing in the water, happy and carefree. Today would be a good day to start Ivan on swimming lessons, Alfred thought as he went into the bathroom to get ready for the day. He got dressed and wandered down the stairs, finding Ivan cooking. "After breakfast, you wanna get started on swimming lessons?" Alfred asked as he leaned over the counter, a smile creeping across his face. Ivan glanced back, seeing him look more energetic than he had since arriving and could only chuckle before turning back to the food.

"Da, that sounds fine. Looks like you're doing well this morning." Ivan spoke softly and Alfred smiled and nodded, feeling oddly comfortable.

"I don't know why, but I really feel good this morning." Alfred slid his head down onto his arms and watched as Ivan flipped something thin in the pan and turned back, softly rubbing Alfred's head, disheveling his hair.

"Ochen' khorosho. That makes me happy to hear." Ivan turned back to the skillet, letting out a soft chuckle as he watched the blini quickly finish cooking.

He had three burners going at once, and Alfred wasn't aware that Mattie was going to be joining them. Arthur had already extended the table and Francis had gotten the more comfortable chair from the next room and had brought it in. He flipped the one in the pan onto the plate and checked the other two, flipping them quickly before mixing the batter and scooted the two to the plate before pouring more into all three now empty skillets. "Whatcha making?" Alfred asked, curious as Ivan's eyes shifted back for a second before heading back to the task at hand.

"Blini. It's like pancake." Ivan spoke softly and Alfred sat up with wide eyes.

"I know this may be a little selfish, but can you make enough for Mattie? He loves pancakes." Alfred felt a little nervous, knowing he wasn't really in any condition to be asking for things.

"Arthur already asked, and the table is set up for an extra. It's fine, Da?" Ivan turned, seeing the smile on the other and shook his head as he turned back to the skillets. "Can you tell everyone it will be done soon?" Ivan asked as he flipped the blini.

"Sure. And Ivan?" Alfred stilled as violet eyes shifted up, watching him with just a hint of wonder. "Thank you." Alfred spoke before turning and heading up the stairs. Ivan watched for a second before his eyes turned back to the skillets before him.

"That's a rather interesting look on your face." Francis spoke softly, watching from the end of the counter, not having been noticed at all until then. "Could it be, Ivan? Maybe you've gotten a soft spot for mon petit Amerique?"

"Maybe while we're alone I should bake you in the oven to stop words like that from coming near me." Ivan glanced up with a creepy grin and Francis stilled, frowning.

"You're no fun. We're supposed to be getting along. Threatening to roast me doesn't quite fit into that category, non?" He smiled as Ivan' flipped the blini before moving them to the plate and making another three.

"Don't care. If you don't like it, don't say such impossible things, Da?" His eyes shifted over, the smile he had earlier gone.

"Ivan, you know you're allowed to be happy, right? It may be country first, person second, but you need to learn to live some, or you'll end out depressed and you'll take your people with you." Francis watched as Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly. It was barely noticeable as he slowly slid back behind the well constructed wall he had to keep everyone out. Francis sighed, knowing his chance to convince the man to relax more was now gone. He stepped forward with a soft sigh, laying his hand on Ivan's back, hoping maybe the tender touch and close proximity would help his message. "I want you to be excited. I want to see you smile. I want to see you happy, and so does Alfred, Ivan. You're no longer the outcast, and you have no reason to distance yourself from us, oui?"

"You don't even understand what's going on under your own nose. I am an outcast, and I'm not the only one who feels like it. You're all so beautiful and picturesque, and it's pretty and perfect and it makes me want to break you apart piece by piece til you're down in hell with me." by this time Ivan's head was tilted, his eyes wide and shining mauve instead of violet.

Francis shook from the words and the look he was given. An ecstatic smile crossed Ivan's face, as if he were imagining the horrible things he could do. He turned, grasping Francis' wrist and brought it up to his mouth, running his tongue along the vein and Francis weakly tried to pull his hand back, honestly terrified at the sudden situation. "One bite. I could bite this pretty, picturesque little vein right out of you, and you would die." Ivan clasped the hand and yanked it back, pulling Francis' face right to his chest. Francis felt Ivan's arm wrapped behind him and grinned down, the destruction in his eyes bringing tears to Francis, a full out panic starting as he yanked his hand free and pressed hard against Ivan's chest, fighting desperately to put space between them. Ivan's face moved closer to his and Ivan nearly whispered. "You want me to smile, but only at your conditions. I am not so flexible, and this fluff talk, we don't offer such a service is Russia." Ivan watched as Francis nearly burst into tears.

"I'M SORRY!" He screamed and Alfred, Arthur and Mattie all rushed in, panicked at the scene before them. Alfred rushed up and grasped Ivan's hands, pulling them back, trying to free Francis, but he just didn't' have the strength.

"Ivan, release him! Please!" Alfred begged and Ivan stood tall, his hands nearly snapping to his sides, his eyes remained on Francis, though and Alfred felt frozen at the gaze. Ivan seemed to suddenly realize what he'd just done and stared, violet returning to his eyes as he looked in confusion. Alfred stared at him in horror while Arthur and Mattie hugged Francis close, trying to comfort the man who was still shaking.

"I..." Ivan panicked. "I didn't mean to..." He stepped back and Alfred watched, his fear shifting towards curiosity. As Ivan turned and ran, Alfred ran after him.

"Mattie! Get the stove!" He yelled as he gave chase.

Ivan ran to the front yard, half tempted to just run off, before remembering they were on a small island. He couldn't escape. He looked around, desperately looking for any way off as arms crashed around him. He collapsed to the ground and just screamed, horrified by what he'd just done.

"Ivan, what happened?" He heard Alfred ask and looked up, seeing care and worry in his face. Ivan felt his hands shake as he pulled them close, shaking his head.

"I didn't mean to say such things." Ivan cried. "I didn't want to scare him! I just... I couldn't stop." He cried and Alfred pulled him close, resting Ivan's head on his shoulder. Ivan was surprised, having expected to be punished for the situation, not comforted. "You're so warm..." Ivan sighed, wrapping his arms around Alfred and pulling him onto his lap. Alfred didn't fight and turned, straddling Ivan so he could continue hugging him.

"Are you alright?" Alfred asked softly and Ivan broke down.

Arthur and Francis sat near the front door, staring in shock as Ivan cried his eyes out to Alfred. It had been about ten minutes since it had started, and they wondered what in the hell was going on out there. Alfred didn't seem to mind, in fact, as he sat, his chin on Ivan's shoulder, Ivan pressed firmly against him, it was a smile they saw on his face. "He looks content."

"I took a picture." Francis spoke softly as Arthur's eyes shifted over.

"You started that whole fit with that kind of behavior, didn't you?" Arthur grumbled and Francis smiled, a hint of blush coming over his cheeks.

"I just want him to realize it doesn't have to be so cold anymore. He's always sitting off to the side, never joining in, and it breaks my heart. He's older than nearly anyone would believe, but for all of the time he's been alive, he doesn't feel like anyone's ever loved him, or if they did, they ran away." Francis sighed, watching as Ivan glanced up, tears and snot running down his face. He was an absolute mess. He couldn't help but smile at the scene. After he'd been as terrified as he was, it was just like Alfred to run out and take care of it, but this wasn't how he normally would. Comforting and supporting Ivan, that was new. "Alfred's not yelling at him."

"Of course not. He's more terrified than you were." Arthur turned around, sliding a box of tissues near the front door table before sitting in a chair facing away from the window. "Give them a moment of peace, love." Arthur glanced up before a deep blush hit his cheeks.

"Love? What an interesting development." Francis turned to Arthur, his interest in the front yard lost. "Why would you call me that?"

"Slip of the tongue. You were being so immature, and the hair, you know, I thought I was talking to Matthew." Arthur lifted a book without paying much attention and stared at it in surprise. He hadn't meant to call Francis that at all, and he was as embarrassed as could be.

"Really?" Francis knelt down beside the chair and looked up, his eyes wide on Arthur's green ones. He watched, the way the reflection of himself in those eyes were clear. He normally looked away before now. "Do you love me, Arthur? If you say yes, I can't promise I won't kiss you." Francis spoke, his cheeks blushing at his own words.

It was embarrassing to say after all.

"I don't love you, you twit!" Arthur yelled out, his cheeks brighter pink, but when Francis' hand softly moved across his chin, cradling a cheek to softly turn towards him, Arthur didn't pull away. Francis softly leaned forward, bringing their lips together and for a moment both of them felt the connection.

Their hearts pounded in their chests. They felt the thoughts and feelings of each other.

A kiss, though it may be a simple thing, for a country it was more. It showed the connections through the earth, temporarily connecting the countries. England could feel France. The people, their hearts, Francis and his heart. He felt the desires and the joy and happiness he felt at something as simple as a kiss. The way his heart fluttered at hearing such simple words, calling him love.

It had been a Freudian slip, but Francis wasn't supposed to know that. Arthur felt Francis' hand softly caress his cheek, his thumb brushing beneath his eye as his other hand slid up to his shoulder, squeezing softly. Francis wasn't pressing for more, and he wasn't going to. Just this little kiss was enough to show him how Arthur felt and they both knew it.

They really did love each other. As Francis pulled away, his eyes wide on the other, Arthur trembled. "How dare you." Arthur stared, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. "Those were my emotions to hide. You had no right." He cried softly as Francis' arms wrapped around him.

"Maybe, but you just made me so happy, Arthur, with nothing more than what you were just thinking. I love you, Arthur."

"Shut up." Arthur sniffed, his hands over his face to hide his tears and his blush.

"Hey, if you two are done making out, can you tell Alfred and Ivan that the food is ready and I have no idea how to serve these?" Mattie asked from the doorway and Arthur turned even redder at the realization he'd seen them kiss. His eyes shifted up, seeing a happy smile on his face and realized Mattie wasn't against this at all.

He wanted them to be together. Arthur stared, surprised for a moment before looking over at Francis, still red, but a little less ashamed. "Can you?" He asked, as he still felt weak. It had been a short kiss, but his whole body responded to it, and his legs felt like jello.

"Oui, mon amour." Francis spoke softly as he stood, giving a gentle kiss to his forehead. Arthur hated how comforting it felt that Francis knew. He hated that he wanted that kiss, even the careful one on his forehead.

Outside, Ivan had been begging Alfred for his forgiveness of his behavior. He didn't know why he wanted it so badly, he couldn't stop crying. When Francis had come out, Ivan grasped him as well, pulling him into the hug so he was sitting on his knees beside Alfred, who still straddled his lap. "I hadn't meant to scare you! I don't know why I do that! There's something wrong with me, but I never meant to hurt or scare you! I'm so sorry!"

"It's my own fault, mon ami." Francis smiled, a light chuckle coming from him. "I egged you on like that, and I actually wanted to apologize myself. I'm sorry I forced you to that situation." Francis spoke and Ivan stared, more tears in his eyes before he started crying harder.

Neither of them knew that no one had rightly apologized to him. They were able to get him to stand and come into the house. He sat at the table, tears still in his eyes, though Arthur had given him a box of tissues.

"I'm sorry I'm such a mess. I just... I lose myself sometimes and I can't handle what I do when I'm like that." He huffed, wiping again at his face.

"It's fine." Mattie assured him, patting him on the back. "I'm just curious as to how to serve these." He looked at the blini and Ivan stared for a second before jumping up, taking care of the situation himself.

Everyone was served a couple of the blini, which were thinner pancakes. Ivan folded them over, sour cream and jam beside them. "What kind of jam is this?" Alfred asked as he looked at it. It was hard to tell if it was brown or dark red, and very lumpy. It looked like some sort of berry was whole in it.

"Ah, it's lingonberry. Finland introduced these to me. They're good, I think." He watched as everyone took their forks and cut off a small piece of the blini and dunked it into the sour cream and the berries.

"The flavor is very... interesting." Francis frowned. "It's complicated, but somehow it works very well. Another amazing dish, mon ami." Francis smiled up at him and Ivan nodded, smiling brilliantly.

Everyone noticed as Ivan's eyes shifted to Alfred, a touch of worry as he tried it. "It's a little bitter. I like the berries." He glanced up with wide eyes. "It's good. Thank you." Alfred smiled, the fork still in the corner of his mouth and Ivan stared for a second before smiling.

"I'm glad you like it." He poured Alfred's milk before sitting down and eating.

It wasn't long before the food was done and Arthur and Francis agreed to do the dishes so Alfred and Ivan could get dressed for Ivan's first swimming lesson.

Mattie decided to go change and go for a swim. It was a beautiful day, and he had a feeling the month would bring many interesting things. Francis had kissed Arthur. He'd always hoped they would get together. It would really make them a family, instead of two brothers with two, separate fathers. It never felt too close, even when all four were together, but this gave him hope.

Maybe he would lose that feeling of being from a broken family.

"Kuroshiro, you wanna go swimming with me?"

"Who?"

"I'm Canada..."