A/N: What is this? I draw something for this story? You can take a gander over at deviantart (just search for Two Many Superpowers, it's a lineart), but be warned it's pretty bad haha.

Chapter 10

Vienna Summit/Berlin Wall/Tsar Bomba

1961

The Vienna Summit was only days away and Alfred was sure that the aristocratic Austria was happy to have the two most powerful and most psychotic countries over for tea. Heh what a joke. But Austria was quite neutral to both nations and was probably the best place to hole the meeting. Speaking of, Alfred had been informed that one of the main purposes of the meeting was dealing with Germany, which they both had a strong hold over. The Soviet-occupied East Germany wanted to sign a treaty with the West that might impinge on the rights of the American-occupied West. Alfred was sure that the treaty would fail since there was no way that he would risk the rights of the West.

There would be other topics discussed, mainly about their clashing ideologies. Again, America foresaw conflict. He wondered if there would be any real point to this meeting. There was no reasoning with the frigid nation and it was impossible to Change America's mind on almost anything. If anything, the leaders would size each other up and fine a way to break the other down, but America would be dammed if he let that happen.

Alfred was packing the few things he would need to take with him to Vienna. Since it was June, he packed lightly, opting to leave his iconic bomber jacket behind. He carefully folded his two suits and placed them in the suitcase with a few other things. He closed the bag and headed out of his room, where he felt something bump against his leg. He looked down and saw the president's daughter, Caroline sitting on the floor. She rubbed her forehead and sniffled. Alfred kneeled down to her and gave her a big bear hug.

"I'm sorry Caroline, I didn't see you there. I didn't hurt you did I?"

The young girl sniffed again and hugged her nation back. "No…I'll be ok."

Alfred pulled away and smiled at her. "That a girl. Hey, where's your brother?"

"We were playing hide and seek. I was running to go hide in daddy's office." The two of them both heard the piddle- paddle of little feet. "Oh no! He's gonna find me!"

Thinking quickly, Alfred helped her to stand and lightly pushed her in the direction of the room he had just left. "Go hide in my room. He'll never find you; there are so many nooks and crannies."

Caroline smiled and scurried off to hide. Alfred picked up his suitcase and continued on his way when her little brother, JFK Jr. ran up to him. "Hi Al! You see Caroline?"

America shrugged his shoulders. "No I haven't big guy. Maybe she went down here." He pointed down the hall and the toddler continued running, determined to find his sister.

Alfred smiled sweetly. It was always fun to have kids in his house. He walked a little longer until he found the president. After saying their goodbyes, the two left to board Air Force One.

---

The meeting was scheduled to begin any second and the damned commie hadn't even arrived yet! President Kennedy was seated in his designated chair and Alfred in his, to the left of his boss. Khrushchev's chair was to Kennedy's right with a small, round table between them with a pitcher of water and four glasses. Ivan was to be seated on the other side of his own boss, right across from Alfred.

The young blond rubbed the bridge of his nose and adjusted his glasses. He needed to try his best to make Russia still believe that he was crazy (which he still could have been). The knob on the large door turned and the heavy door opened with a ear-piercing screech. Russia and his boss were let in by Austria, who was quick to leave, closing the door behind him. Kennedy stood up, which caught Alfred by surprise when he and the Soviet leader shook hands. Alfred stood as well and did the same. Then, he shook hands with Ivan, who smiled and nodded, uttering a quiet. "Good to see you Alfred." The blonde nation glared and smiled in return. "Good to see you too…"

The men took their seats and dove right into what needed to be discussed. As Alfred had predicted, the treaty between the German brothers was shot down by the end of the first day of the two-day meeting; neither side finding a common meeting ground. There were some other things the leaders talking about that went in one ear and out the other to Alfred. He tried to at least make it look like he was paying attention by sitting upright, but through the course of the meeting he slowly slid down into his seat. Occasionally he would look over at Russia, who looked like he was trying to do the exact same this he was. He would sometimes chime in, but was relatively quiet. Every now and then the two would catch eyes. Russia would smile and unconsciously, America would do the same and he would mentally hit himself for doing so.

"Force will be met by force. If the US wants war, that's its problem. It's up to the US to decide whether there will be war or peace. The decision to sign a peace treaty is firm and irrevocable, and the Soviet Union will sign it in December if the US refuses an interim agreement."

Both Alfred and Ivan sat up when Khrushchev spoke. The expression the American's face was that of shock and confusion. The Russian's face was unreadable, though his eyebrows were raised. He was speaking to him (well, mainly Kennedy) as if he were a child! Alfred had heard bits and pieces of the outrageous and completely ludicrous terms that the Soviet leader wanted in the treaty and he had the audacity to even ask the U.S to sign it.

"Then, Mr. Chairman, there will be a war. It will be a cold, long winter."

It seemed that Alfred's and Ivan's expressions jumped faces. Ivan now looked shocked while America was smirking. He crossed his arms and looked over at his leader, whom he thought would be smirking right along with him. But he wasn't. Kennedy's face was stern and serious, yes, but there wasn't a hint of cockiness about it. Out of the corner of his eye, Alfred saw Russia giving him the death glare.

Soon after the little fiasco, the meeting was ended. Anything they hadn't discussed would be handled tomorrow and whatever was left out was left out. Khrushchev left the room as abruptly as he had entered. He didn't shake hands with anyone.

Kennedy did the same, but at least shook hands with Ivan before leaving. He told America not to be too long, because tomorrow would be a lot rougher. It was true. Alfred could only imagine the sour mood in which the meeting would start. Soon it was only Russia and America left in the room. Alfred poured himself a glass of the virtually untouched pitcher of water and sat in Kennedy's chair. Russia remained in his.

"So, Alfred, I haven't heard much from you since our last meeting. How have you been comrade?"

"Fine." He took a sip of the room-temperature water.

"That's it?"

"Why would I tell you anything more?"

Russia smiled and crossed his legs. "For conversation's sake. You've very, how you say, droll, now that you realize you are inferior."

America glared deeply at the Russian man, who was still smiling. "I never said that. I'm anything but inferior, especially to you."

"Ahh, they how is it that you are far behind me in missile stock as well as this little 'space race', as your people call it."

"You don't know that. I could have more then you and just not tell you," Alfred took another drink. He gripped the glass tightly.

"Like you would ever do that. If you had them, you would want to show them off, like a child and his new toy."

"You have toys in Russia? I wouldn't be surprised if what you call 'toys' aren't anything more then snowballs and string." Alfred smirked and would have high-fived himself if he wasn't trying to act tough.

"Amusing." Ivan stood, casting a shadow on the younger nation, and walked over to pour himself his own glass of water. "I've heard your new leader wished to further invest in your space program. Perhaps you'll finally catch up." He took a sip as he sat directly across from Alfred in his own leader's chair.

"Not perhaps, definitely."

Russia took a long drink from his glass and smiled. "Don't get cocky; it will only lead to your downfall." He raised the glass to his lips again.

Alfred gave a confused look and gripped his glass in both hands. "What? I would think you of all people would want that."

The larger man stood and placed his now empty glass on the table. "You would think that wouldn't you?" Ivan nodded towards his enemy and left the room.

"What the hell was that all about?" Alfred decided it was time for him to retire to bed as well. Russia sure was strange and it pissed the American off even more that in trying to fool the other nation, Ivan had completely confused him.

Tomorrow would be a new day, perhaps then he could gain retribution.

--

The second and final day of the meeting was, as expected, filled with tension and hostility. The two opposing leaders didn't raise their voices, but the after and frustration behind them was enough to keep Russia and America from sliding in their chairs. The personified nations gave their full attention to every word spoken, as opposed to faking such dedication the day prior. This time, however, the meeting seemed to be over before anyone knew it. Before leaving for home, everyone shook hands. When Ivan and Alfred did so, the Russia was smiling. It was a real smile, Alfred could tell, and not his usual fake, childish smile. Alfred didn't know what to make of it. It was weird. He had always thought that if Ivan ever truly smiled that his face would crack right in half.

Once back at the White House, Kennedy wasted no time in getting back to work on the Apollo Program. Alfred knew that he would win the space race; he was America after all and therefore had to win at everything. All that mattered was when. Hopefully it would be soon so he could rub it in that weird-o Ivan's face.

---

A short time after the meeting had concluded and everyone was making their final assessments of each other, Russia constructed a wall to be built right through Germany. It definitively divided the country into two halves; East and West. Alfred was informed of the wall mid-construction by a very angry and frantic Ludwig over the telephone.

"They have separated me from my bruder, Alfred! They gave almost no warning. I went to bed last night and this morning there's a wall that's almost as tall as me going right through Berlin!"

On the other side of the phone, thousands of miles away, Alfred was stunned. "What? Why?! Russia gave no indication that he was gonna build a wall while we were in Vienna…" Suddenly, he remembered; "The decision to sign a peace treaty is firm and irrevocable, and the Soviet Union will sign it in December if the US refuses an interim agreement." But it wasn't December yet, it was August. Was this the consequence to not finding an agreement to the treaty that Russia wanted?

"Russia woke me up today to show me the wall. When I asked his about it he said it was so people would stop crossing over. Families will be separated and Russia told be that he will placed armed guards along the wall, too."

Alfred rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. Well, this was just fucking fantastic. "I'll see what I can do. I'm sorry Ludwig, I really am. I'll do my best to get this settled before it becomes a real problem."

"Dankeshane, Alfred." The click on the other end signified the call was over, but yet Alfred held on to the receiver.

Try as he might, Russia continued to build the wall. No matter how many phone calls he made or how many times he played the sympathy card to world leaders, construction went on ahead of schedule. This was the last thing America needed to be worried about.

President Kennedy got word via a letter that Russia had tested a nuclear bomb. At first, Alfred shrugged, saying that it wasn't the first and certainly wouldn't be the last, but his boss read on. It was a stage three thermonuclear weapon. America didn't really understand what that ment, and he suspected that even Kennedy wasn't sure of its true meaning, but they both understood the basics of it. The weapon was called the Tsar Bomba and was without a doubt one of the (if not the) most powerful nuclear weapon ever.

Alfred felt the heavy weight of paranoia suddenly weave itself in his mind once more.