Welcome to Chapter 12. This is a holiday chapter, as it is an important developmental point in the story and Liv's personal life. I know that not every country celebrates Christmas but as it is the dominate holiday celebrated in the US it seemed appropriate. Not to mention, Finland/Tino is Santa Claus. I know that the pace has been a bit slow too, but after the next chapter it should pick up more. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I don't own Hetalia or the Marvel universe. Make sure to review and tell me if you have any ideas for future chapters or small side parts you would enjoy seeing!

Chapter 12
'Twas the Night Before Chaos

Christmas eve's eve had come and the Avengers with United World sat around the merrily burning Christmas fire on Tony's electric fireplace. There were presents littered under the fake tree by the window, each a different wrapping depending on the one receiving said gift. They had decided to spend the three merry days at Stark Tower in celebration and relaxation. Maddie, Francis, Gwen and Antonio sat on one couch, the quiet Canadian girl was squished between her fiancee and friend, sipping eggnog with a half a cup of maple syrup added n. However, the bad touch trio were drinking a strong mix of liquor and eggnog, laughing obnoxiously. Tony and Alfred had long since been drunk, dancing around the room as music blared, playing Winter Wonderland at this moment.

Chiara, who had long since escaped her boyfriend, Clint and Thor were attempting to inform the Norse god of the tradition. Ivan, Natasha and Bruce were sitting in chairs across from each other with the scientist watching in horror as the two Russians consumed Vodka bottle after bottle, both still surprisingly sober despite the pile of bottles off to the side. Arthur and Pepper were sipping tea and wine respectively as they watched the others making sure they didn't get too out of hand.

Liv and Loki sat furthermost away from the group of rowdy heroes. It had taken the girl a lengthy amount of time but she had taught Loki how to some cloth hand warmers for his older brother, of course Liv didn't really know if Thor's hands ever got cold. After communicating with him in her world, they had freed Loki and taken him back to base. Thor seemed uneasy, and Loki didn't seem too comfortable around the rest of the Avengers, never mind United World, so he'd taken to spending time with Liv and learning about the planet he had almost taken over. Tino had been sending her panicked texts non stop, but she really couldn't make a piece of sense out of them, something about elves and being behind.

Sighing, the youngest member of UW picked up her phone and shot Tino a quick text, asking what was wrong, and to calm down. "Who are you speaking to on that small mortal device?" Loki asked, looking at the phone with an exasperated expression. "It's my friend from school, Tino, he's freaking out for some reason," Liv replied, when the phone went out with a call, Tino's name appearing on her screen, "I have to take this, I'll be back in a moment."

She stood up, leaving the Norse god and answered the phone. "You picked up!" Tino exclaimed from the other end, sounding out of breath. "Of course I did, what is wrong Tino, you've been texting me all night," Liv asked. "Well you see, well first off, promise me you won't freak out like Matthias did first," Tino requested. "Fine, now what is it?" "Last year, the old Santa Claus pasted away, this year, I was named as the new one," Tino whispered into the phone, "because of the untimely death, I didn't have enough time to practice with the sled and getting into houses, so could you help me out?"

"What?" Liv asked, nearly choking on air, "Tino there is no such thing as Santa Claus." "Yes there is!" Tino yelled, "Look it's still a bit before any deliveries start so come up to the rooftop and if I can prove it to you then you have to help me. As an apology for not believing in Santa." "Fine, I'll be up on the rooftop in five minutes, if you're not there then I'm leaving," Liv responded. "Okay, see you there!"

Liv walked back into the living room of the Avengers Tower, taking a moment to gaze blankly at the two drunken adults dancing in the center. She continued to the table she sat with Loki at, informing the Asguardian that she would be back in a few moments and headed up to the roof.

The moment she pushed open the door, a chilled winter breeze blew snow into her vision, chilling her to the bone in her red and white shirt and skirt. "I thought you'd bundle up better before coming up here." The Nordic girl almost drop kicked the new comer until she realized it was Matthias. Tino, Berwald and Emil are on the roof as well, each bundled up as they sat on the giant read sleigh being pulled by reindeer. Wait, what?

"You... weren't lying," Liv stated, struggling to keep her voice monotone. "Of course I wasn't! The duty of Santa Claus is no laughing matter!" Tino protested. Liv's Finnish friend looked unusually sleep deprived, bedraggled and frantic. "We have to get going, the sun is setting in Kiribati, and Samoa. With all five of us, we'll be able to keep deliveries on time as long as we keep to the schedule," Emil informed the rest, pulling up a holographic map on his watch. It had been his own creation, what with his tech affinity powers.

"You might wanna bundle up better before we jet, Liv. While the sled may keep the winds out, it still gets pretty cold in some places we'll be going," Matthias suggested. "I will be back momentarily, meet me in central park, I'll make up something to tell Chi so she doesn't get suspicious," Liv replied. "Your the best Liv," Tino cried out, hugging the female member of the Nordic Five tightly, "I owe you one!"

"You already healed me after the fight, I am just repaying you. I'll be there in ten, be careful," Liv replied, before going back inside. As she took the elevator she wondered what exactly she could tell Chi, after all it was midnight and she normally wasn't allowed to leave home after dark anyway, unless it was for a mission. That was it, she would tell Chi she got called on for an emergency mission, nothing too dangerous just logistical stuff like normal.

"Hey, Chi, can I talk to you for a moment?" Liv murmured to her guardian as she returned to the party. "Sure Liv, what's wrong?" the attentive Italian asked, turning away from her conversation with Thor and Clint. The two Avengers also paused, watching them curiously. "Well, I just got a call from Maria, and she needs me on a mission, just the background stuff, the agent previously in charge of that is still on a mission that's taking a bit longer than expected," Liv replied.

A look of confusion crossed Clint's face, followed up by the archer looking quite offended, like he should have been called upon for this mission instead of Liv. "This late, Liv? And it's so close to Christmas, SHIELD said they wouldn't need you around the holidays," Chiara reasoned. Shoot, Liv had forgotten that her guardian had forced SHIELD to never contact her around the holidays. "My pick up would just be in central park, and Maria didn't want to, they've just been short handed since Fury disappeared. Please Chiara, I'll be back Christmas morning," Liv begged.

Her mentor paused for a moment, deep in thought before nodding. "If you really want to go, I won't stop you. But remember no going into the field and you have to be back Christmas morning no matter what, okay?" "Yes, thank you Chiara, I promise I'll be back. I'm going to go ahead to the pick up zone, and I'll notify Maria that I can take the mission on the way."

Before Chiara could change her mind, Liv quickly explained her excuse to Loki, and told him to try and get along with everyone before going down to the main lobby with her coat, hat, gloves and scarf. She quickly crossed the distance to Central Park. It took her only a moment of searching before she found the big red sled. In the back there was a large red bag, which obviously was going to be bigger on the inside than out if it was to hold all the presents for all the children in the world.

Emil sat beside the bag, bundled up and making their own route on his hologram. Matthias was walking up and down the line of seven reindeer, checking harnesses. Tino and Berwald sat side by side in the front seat of the sled, the smaller wore the traditional wear of Santa Claus and held the reins for the reindeer, while Berwald was talking to the Finnish boy, though Liv was unable to hear what they were saying.

"About time you got here, Livvy. We gotta get going," Matthias proclaimed, checking the last harness of the reindeer up front. "All aboard!" Tino exclaimed. Liv hopped into the back seat, on the opposite side of the bag as Emil, then Matthias sat beside her, cramming himself in when there was obviously more space in the front. He closed the small door on the side of the sled then leaned towards Liv. "It's going to be a long ride, might as well get comfortable, Livvy," he murmured.

"Everyone ready?" Tino asked. A chorus of yes's rung through the small space before Tino turned to the reindeer snapping the reins. "Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen. On Comet! On Cupid! On, On Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

And they shot into the sky, trees rustling behind them as they flew over New York City and soon left the States behind them.

"It's been such a long night," Emil said with a yawn. The deliveries had gone well, although they lasted all through Christmas eve. Now the five sat on the roof of the Avengers Tower, all worn out, and holding mugs of hot cocoa, curesty of a small house in California which offered them cookies and a thermos full of home made cocoa. They were enjoying their time before they parted to return to their homes, where Tino would meet the elves who would take the sled back for him.

They savored these last few, peaceful moment with the company of one another. They hadn't experienced any trouble, well actually Liv had dispatched someone who was following them in one of the houses she had visited without telling the others. She suspected they'd been sent by a second player, but she'd taken him by surprise and knocked him out quickly. "It's about time I get home, I told my mom I'd be home real early after she agreed to let me spend two nights at a friend's house," Emil announced, standing up and talking a long, last drink from his mug. "I can take you three home on my way, save you some trouble," Tino offered.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to Liv about something, you three go ahead," Matthias replied. Tino tilted his head, curiosity clouding his features. "Be safe going home," Berwald commented, nudging Tino and Emil back towards the sled. He winked at Matthias as he left, leaving Liv with a spot of concern. They waved their friends a goodbye and watched as they, and the sled flew off into the night sky.

"What did you want to talk about?" Liv asked. Matthias blushed, turning back to her as he pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small box, with fancy silver writing on it. "I wanted to give this to you in person, I'm sorry it's not wrapped, I didn't think I'd see you again before Christmas," Matthias began. He held out the small black box to her, and looked up hopefully, his blue eyes shining with unexpressed emotions.

Liv cautiously took the box, as though she was handling a bomb. She pulled open the top slowly, sitting in the center of the small cotton square was a necklace. It was a deep blue, and almost looked like a mix between her eyes and Matthias'. The swirling blue was surrounded by silver, and connected to a chain. Liv held it out of the box gingerly, before making eye contact with Matthias, who was still blushing.

"Could you help me put it on?" Liv asked, holding the necklace out to Matthias. He took it, hesitating slightly as his girlfriend turned around and held her hair out his way. Matthias unclipped the necklace and clipped it once more around her neck. "So, do you like it?" he ventured to ask after a moment. Before he could react he was vaguely aware that his long time crush was kissing him. And before he could become fully aware of such a feat, she had pulled away, blushing for the first time since he'd met her.

"Was that a good enough answer?" Liv replied, caressing his cheek. "I don't think so, maybe if you could repeat that one more time...OW!" Matthias cried out as Liv hit him over the head. "Idiot," she muttered, "But thank you, Matthias."

Liv decided to stay in the living room as she waited for the others to wake up. Even more presents had been put under the tree, including objects wrapped in the same paper as the other presents delivered during Liv's short time as Santa Claus. The many stocking that were hung over the fire place had been filled up.

For two hours Liv sat wrapped up in a blanket with a book on the couch until at six a loud alarm rang throughout the building. "IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Alfred yelled as he zoomed into the living room, barreling into the wall. He was soon followed by the rest of the Avengers and United World.

"Hey Liv, welcome back, how was the mission?" Chiara asked, taking a seat by her young charge. "It went well, no one was injured," Liv replied as Alfred began handing out presents. The American paused as reached the pile of presents left by Santa. "Dudes! Santa came last night! No Thor! You don't open the presents left, you always start with the stockings! The stockings!" The group laughed at Alfred's antics as they all took down their stockings. They took turns pouring out their stockings, and most of them were filled with candy and such, well everyone's besides Tony's, who now sat behind a large pile of coal. "You have got to be kidding me!" he yelled, looking at everyone else's bounty.

Liv smiled while the others laughed, fidgeting with her necklace. The small, precious, confirmation of her and Matthias' blooming relationship.

"My lords, it worked. The boy took the necklace and gave it to her," an underling exclaimed. "Perfect, Mangus' first player truly is an idiot," Meltdown laughed as he watched the small orb with live video feed of the Avengers and United World opening up their presents. He had only needed to have someone tell the idiotic mutant that it was from a jewelry company in Norway and that he had been randomly selected to win the piece to boost their popularity. When the first player hadn't taken it at first, he had been told that it would bring out the true feelings someone had for the giver and, on most occasions have them fall in love.

"It seems you were right, Meltdown, now, all we need do it watch and wait for the perfect moment to strike," Puppetmaster replied, "It's hard to believe that The Crime Lord's strongest subordinate is the alternate to such a gullible teenager."