One Month Later...

Ivan fucked up. He more than screwed up a little, but royally dry fucked his own ass into this depressing hellhole he created. The meeting droned on over the computer as he lost his mind within himself.

"Ivan, you need to listen." Yao said.

Ivan looked back at the screen, trying to keep his mind off her. The Axis and Allies were discussing the ongoing issue of war once more. It had slowly started to increase to the point other countries had gotten involved. They also learned that it wasn't a country itself, but a slow forming nation of people. One of nothing but extremist; there was no median with them. No point of religion or nationality, just the equal desire to see the people of the world fall so they could rule the way they want.

"As of now, we have found at most four people involved within the terrorist group. We need to isolate as much of it as we can before it gets out of hand." Ludwig explained.

"Yes, as of now Francis and I have had two terror attacks. Ludwig, you just had one. What about the rest of us?" Arthur said, "For the love of god, Alfred wake the hell up!"

"I am awake dude." Alfred replied, his eyes drooping with sleep.

"Too much excitement on your end there, Alfred?" Francis poked at him.

"What?"

"You have a love bite on your collar there." Francis pointed out.

"You all are jealous that I got a girl and-"

"Can we please get back to business?" Ivan interrupted. "I have things I must do here."

The others look at him through the screen, the only person that had any idea was Arthur and the man stood silent for Ivan.

"Right," Kiku began, "It seems that the group is advancing in the Middle East, both Hania and Roshan have their eyes on the activity."

"Vlad and Danail are saying the activity is also growing in that part of Europe as well. Elizaveta and Roderich along with your brother, Ludwig, have seen some of it enter the countries. Best keep your eyes open." Yao said.

"I haven't seen anything but Lovi said that he had seen some strange people walking around and asking about certain celebrations." Feli added.

"You cancel those celebrations?" Francis asked.

"As soon as he found out." Feli replied. "A lot of people were angry but we agreed it was for the best."

"Well, Matthew and I have seen some but they are keeping at bay for now." Alfred said, "Seems they are a little afraid of the power groups."

"It would seem." Ivan agreed.

Alfred was quite right about the group avoiding the power nations; Russia, China, and the United States of America. So, what were they waiting for to attack?

"If we keep our eyes open and tighten up what we need, maybe we can end this before it gets worse." Ludwig stated.

"That is if our bosses will let us." Francis added.

Arthur, Francis and Feli looked down at that statement. The others knew that their bosses weren't the best for listening, and with how Alfred's election was going, it didn't seem like he'd be far behind.

"We'll pull through." Ivan said, trying to give the group some hope.

"Haven't we always?" Alfred smiled.

"That we have." Arthur replied.

Ivan sighed as they continued their droning of the watch and what to do. For him, his mind slipped back to Lily. He knew she was ok, had gotten emails about the groups and outspread of things in his country, yet he couldn't track her down. Where ever she was, she was hidden well.

"What's with the illness on your end Ivan?" someone asked him.

"Chto?"

"The fever." Francis started, "Brie had read somewhere that a strange strain of fever has been found in Russia."

Ah, that. He was hoping they didn't catch word of that but knowing how Brie scavenged the news sites, it was bound to happen.

"From what we found, it's based off the H1N1 virus, it's just a stronger case of it. We aren't too worried over it. So far, our doctors have it broken down where we will probably have a vaccine for it in no time." Ivan explained.

"Alright, but if anything gets out of hand, you let us know, ja?" Ludwig said.

"Da, I will."

"With that, we will meet again next month to discuss any changes. Dismissed." Ludwig concluded, Ivan's screen finally going dark.

"He has been very depressed since Lily-" he heard Raivis say.

"We know that." Natalya snapped at him, "Now we must make big brother happy again."

"That might be hard. He hasn't spoken to anyone since she left like she did. Still don't know what happened either." Eduard stated.

"Iryna?" Toris asked, "What is wrong? You normally are very open and talking about what we should do, now you are silent, what's bothering you?"

"Nothing." Iryna simply stated.

Now that was not like his older sister. Iryna would do whatever it took to make them smile or get them happy. Her staying out of everything was suspicious and the others would catch on as fast as he did.

"You're hiding something sister." he heard Natalya catch on like he did.

"I just have a lot on my mind. Nothing for any of you to worry over."

"Is the fever in your country too?" Raivis asked.

No."

"Is there terroristic activity within your borders?" Toris asked.

"No."

"Are your lines not secure enough like you asked?" Eduard asked as Ivan opened the door.

"Ne!" finally irritating the woman, "It is nothing that involves me, or any of you. It's more for...never mind."

"You know where Lily is don't you?" Natalya asked.

Silence. That was the biggest yes with Iryna that she could ever give. Ivan was about to take off for the kitchen where they all sat when the front door slammed open. The blistering cold wind instantly chilled the home as a bundled body came in. Sheading the layers, Ivan caught a glimpse of the honey colored locks he knew so well. There in the doorway stood Lily, shivering from the cold as her eyes searched the room. Ivan's heart nearly busted out of his chest in excitement and worry over her. He started his way towards her when those blue hazels landed right on him and her face stiffened, backing away lightly.

Shit, that's right. The day he caught her in there looking through the trunks he almost broke her arm in anger. Damn him and that fucking anger.

"Miss Lily?" the trio spoke aloud.

"Lily I thought you were-" Iryna was cut off as Lily waved her hand.

With a small sigh, Lily marched her way towards him, grabbing hold of his wrist and dragging him up to his bedroom. She didn't speak, nor look back at him as her icy fingers dug into his wrist. He couldn't believe she was home, that she was before him, taking him to their bedroom, well his room. Once within, she made him sit on the edge of the massive bed as she stood between him and the door. She was on edge, he could see that clearly. He attempted to speak but she raised her hand to him.

"Not a word from you." she spoke, walking towards the door. "Bugger off, all of you!"

The shuffling of feet fleeing gave the reason why she hesitated at first. She stood there, leaving him in wait. He was ready to chew through his own nails; the nerves were driving him nuts. She slowly walked back over to him, her face stuck on her thoughts.

"Look Lily, I'm sorr-" he faced the wall as the sting to his cheek was proof of what just happened.

"I said, not a word." she chided as she walked away from him, "Sit."

He felt his anger rise in him, yet he complied to her command. He watched as she paced the room, wondering what ran through her head.

"Alright," she started, "To start, yes. I've been with Iryna since day one. I've been working on all the war issues as you well know. I stayed away until I thought it was safe."

"I wouldn't have hurt you-"

"Enough!"

Ivan sat there wide-eyed, she had pure anger written on her face, "I told you to be quiet."

"As I was saying. I know what's going on. Hard as it was over them."

"Them?"

"Can I talk?"

He looked down at the ground, folding his hands. She was leaving him with more questions, but he let her continue.

"I thought that after I learned the truth, like Brie said, that it would all end. The dreams. The whispers. Everything!" She stated, anger lacing her words, "Yet there was nothing. No peace, no silence. They were still there. Telling me, no demanding me, to come back here. To talk with you and I didn't know why."

He watched as she fought the demons within herself, wondering what else she would say.

"But it donned on me. They didn't want me to talk." she said looking at him, "They want you to talk."

Ivan was taken aback by the statement, the whispers in her head wanted what? "Ok, I believe in the whispers and dreams due to Brie, but that they want to talk to me? I might take you up on the blue padded room."

"I'm not kidding Ivan."

Ivan laughed, "They want me to talk, about what?"

She came up to him, right within his grasp. "You know."

"Know what? I am confused."

"You need to let out what's within you, to tell them what you didn't get a chance to then."

It came to him what she was saying, "There's nothing to say. I have nothing."

"Liar."

"I have nothing to say Lily, I did what I needed back then, there is nothing."

Lily grabbed onto his face, making him look at her. Her eyes filled with tears as her lower lip trembled, "Bullshit! I saw those memories, those pasts. They watched you from afar after they moved on. Don't tell me there was nothing."

"But there isn't-"

"Don't give me that!" she shouted at him, "She watched you crumble in that room as your sisters tried to comfort you. As Toris broke the news. As the two boys watched in sadness as the weight of all of them crashed onto you. And she watched you as you cried by her beside. So, don't tell me-"

"THEY'RE DEAD!" he shouted, feeling the tears burn his eyes. "They're dead. Been dead. There is nothing to say. They're not here, so there is nothing to speak of."

Lily looked down at him, he wanted to push her off, to just walk away, but he couldn't bring himself to. Then, Lily's arms wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer to her. He could hear her steady heartbeat against the chest he placed his head every night the month before.

"They're not gone Ivan. Like Brie with Jeanne and Marie, Catherine and Anastasia are within me." she told him, letting her fingers thread through his hair.

Her words buzzed in his head, were they really within her? How the hell did Francis deal with the fact that Jeanne and Marie were within Brie as well? But Lily wasn't wrong and if the two of them were telling her that, then maybe.

"Ivan," she whispered, "please."

He couldn't stop the tears or the shiver that ran through his body, his heart was breaking again. Reliving those days once more.

"Izvinite. Izvinite, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I didn't trust you in the beginning. That I didn't see you as my queen, I'm sorry that I so was harsh to you." he confessed. " I'm sorry that I didn't withhold the plan for our nation, for me. I let it and myself be ruled by the leaders. Everything you worked so hard for I let fall through my fingers. I wasn't strong enough as a country or a man to keep it together."

Ivan swore he could hear Catherine hum against his ear, smiling at him, telling him that it was fine and that she loved him. The delicate touch to his face, those graceful fingers that woke him every morning along with that little giggle surrounded him once more. He couldn't hold it back anymore, he let everything loose at that moment.

"And I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you, that I failed you. I tried so hard that morning to find you all. I tried to get you to safety. I tried and I failed. I'm sorry I let you die, that I wasn't there to give you one last hope of life. I'm so sorry that I failed you both." he sobbed against Lily, "I'm sorry Catherine and Anastasia, I wasn't the man you thought I was. Izvinite, pozhaluista. Please, forgive me. Please, please, forgive me."

He cried against her. He had a death grip on her as he cried into her chest, he shook and trembled from the force of the emotions. She was right, he never got the proper chance to tell them what he thought and such, nor a real goodbye as well.

"Do svidaniya, moi tsaretsa e princessa."

At that moment, Ivan felt two pecks to his cheeks, the final goodbyes from his royals. He continued to hold onto Lily, as his mind whirled in his thoughts and reality.

"Izvinite Lily, please forgive me as well." he asked, "I threw my temper at you, never giving you a moment to explain. I almost broke your arm over it. I can never forgive myself for hurting you. I was an ass for it and still am. Please, forgive me?"

"Already forgiving way before this." she said, kissing the top of his head.

Ivan relaxed as he listened to her heartbeat again, it's proof that she was there and loving him. His fingers rubbed small circles on her back as she did the same to him. How her skin felt so soft and... hot? Ivan listened closely to Lily's breathing as his fingers felt her burning skin. It was labored, not from crying but from illness. His head shot up to look at her, finally taking her in. She was pale, her eyes slightly sunken and dark, her ears and cheeks painted a light pink with fever. No, it can't be.

"Lily," he asked, placing his hand to her head, "Are you alright?"

"Da, I'm fine. The cold caught me off guard." she shooed his hand away.

She was lying, he could see that, "Net. You are sick."

Without giving her a chance, he hoisted her up against him and carried her downstairs to the living room, placing her on the large lounge sofa of his. The trio following them in as Natalya and Iryna waited by the door.

"Toris, Raivis, Eduard, I want you three to head to town and see what medicine you can find. If your clinics have anything to battle the fever, then get it. I don't care what it takes, just hurry." he ordered.

In a flash, the Baltics were gone. Leaving him with his sisters and Lily.

"Ivan, you are worrying too much over this. I'm just fine." she said, attempting to get up, only to stumble back against the seat.

"Ne, you lay down." Iryna said, making her way to her side.

"You knew?"

"I had suspicion."

Lily laughed at them all, "Guys really, I'm just fine. Nothing to worry-" she fell back, eyes rolling backwards, body going totally limp.

"LILY!" Ivan shouted, grabbing her before she hit the ground.

He listened once more to her chest, her heart was racing, her breathing shallow and hard to hear. It struck her fast and hard. This wasn't like the fever flooding the country, this was worse.

"I'll get blankets." Natalya said, leaving them all.

"Get water and small clothes as well, we need to break the fever." Iryna said, placing a hand on her head. "If we can break it."

"Don't speak like that!" Ivan barked at her.

He had just gotten her back, he can't lose her now. Letting Iryna care for Lily, he dialed his cell for all the medical groups within the area. He prayed that at most one would have a cure ready, yet all the ones he reached had nothing. Both Natalya and Iryna worked franticly to drop her fever as he paced the floor. There was nothing he could do.

"Iryna, her pulse. I can't find it, she's even getting warmer. She's almost too hot to touch." Natalya stated.

No, no it can't be. Not now. He was out of options, every number he tried all gave the same results. Hoping the last one was the winner of the bunch, just to gain the busy signal.

"Blyad!" he said, throwing the device.

"Temper." his sisters said in unison.

"Then what am I to do?" he demanded.

Natalya just looked at Ivan with a sad expression, "Pray." Iryna said as she placed the cloth on her head.

He was weak and helpless once again to help the woman he loved, there was nothing he could...no, there was one other thing, and it was risky at that. But Ivan was becoming desperate as his sister tried to find Lily's pulse and breath.

Quickly he made his way outside, the fresh dusting of snow laid upon the ground, enough for the being to show himself. He relied on him during his wars, now was something totally different and Ivan was ready to bargain whatever he needed to.

"General." he called out. "General."

The gentle breeze whistled through the barren trees, no sight or sound of him anywhere, "General Winter?" he said once again, a little louder, just to be met with silence.

"Obshay Zema!" he shouted to the open space.

The icy cold wind whipped around him as bitter cold enveloped him in its brace. The tall, looming figure made its way towards him. The heavy military coat, the high boots and pointed helmet stuck out as his dark eyes bored into him. A hiss of Russian was thrown at Ivan.

"I need your help. Please, save her." Ivan said, pointing to the window, seeing Lily laying on the sofa, "I will do whatever it takes. Just save her."

General Winter stood there stone cold, looking down at Ivan. He slowly took his sights to Lily, Ivan could feel his jealousy boil within but kept quiet. He had to save her, if anyone it'd be him. A humph was made as General Winter kneeled in front of him, a smile cracking over his teeth. He gave a command for Ivan, what needed to be done but Ivan couldn't believe it.

"Net. We all vowed years ago, to never do that, there has to be-" Ivan was silenced as Winter wrapped his fingers around his throat, hoisting him into the air.

"I gave order. Follow it or she dies." he hissed.

"Da. I'll do it." Ivan choked out.

Ivan hit the ground, what breath he had left him as his back met the solid ground. "Good, now I need a piece of you."

"Chto?"

Before Ivan realized, General Winter manifested into the harsh snow and winds and pummeled into his chest. An agonized yell left Ivan as Winter came out the other side, busting the window and floating over Lily. Ivan watched as Winter looked over her, whispering something to her. He stopped briefly to look over Lily once more, taking in her body fully before breathing the new life into her. Next thing he knew, General Winter was walking up to him, smiling.

"All done. Take care of Moscow and St. Petersburg." he said, disappearing into the world.

Ivan slowly got up, making his way back inside the house. Natalya checked over Lily as Iryna warmed her hands. He looked at the damage, he had forgotten that Winter could devastate homes with his cold, and Iryna's hands took the brunt of it.

"Izvinite." he said, placing a kiss to her and her hands.

"Don't worry about me." she waved him off, "Worry about your Capital."

He looked at Lily, her color back to normal, her chest rising and falling as in deep sleep. Natalya nodded to him as she went to care for Iryna in the kitchen. Ivan sat down beside Lily, she was alive and now his capital. She was Moscow.

'Take care of Moscow and St. Petersburg.'

"St. Petersburg?" Ivan said aloud as General Winter's words buzzed in his head, "But that would mean?"

Looking down at Lily's stomach, he questioned the fact, played the time within his head from their first time together to their last. Could she? He gently placed his ear over her lower belly, awaiting the sound. The one good thing about being a country, their senses were just enhanced enough to be more than humans. The thrumming of a tiny heartbeat filled his very soul. Tears pinpricked his eyes as reality sunk in, Lily was pregnant.

"Ivan?" she called out quietly.

"Lily." he shot up, "You are alive. Moi podsolnechni, you are alive."

Lily groaned, moving slightly, "My head feels like it went through a blender. Hey, I have Russian accent."

"Da. With help from General Winter, you are now Moscow." he said with a smile, his hand resting on her belly.

Her eyes darted from his hand to his face, realization donning on her. "He told me. Little St. Petersburg rest within Moscow now."

Lily giggled at his words, the smile that crossed her face nearly Ivan. He was fully happy with life, until Winter's order when through his head.

"Ivan, what's wrong?" she asked.

"I made a deal to bring you back and to keep you as Moscow. I figured it would be coming but not this soon. I need to call the others up and let them know." Ivan sighed, dreading the call with the Axis and Allies.

"Let the others know about what?"

"World War III."