Disclaimer – I don't own Hetalia

Chapter 14

Alfred's Point of View

That night I had a restless sleep. When awake my mind kept wandering back to Alice and our conversation and when asleep I dreamed about her too.

They weren't those kinds of dreams but dreams where it would be just the two of us laughing side by side forever in a perfect place of our own.

These dreams confused me; they made my stomach feel all sick, like there was a giant knot in it. I had never felt this way before but I had my suspicions of what it could possibly be.

I had never been in love before; hell I had never even had a crush on anyone. But these feelings I got when I was around Alice, the way my heart leapt when we held hands or got close to one another, these dreams that I was having it had to be something right?

I had just woken up for what had to have been the third time that night. Once again my dreams had been penetrated with the smiling image of Alice. My legs were twisted and tangled up in the sheets and somehow I had rolled in my sleep to the foot of the bed. Untangling myself I sighed, it was no use in trying to get back to bed, besides sunrise was going to happen any moment so why not get up now?

I grabbed my glasses off the night stand and got dressed in some comfortable clothes. While making my bed I decided to go out for a walk. It would help clear my mind and help me sort out what exactly I was feeling for Alice.

While descending the steps I saw at the base of the stairs my thick work boots and Alice's dainty shoes that we had thrown off the night before. I smiled as I compared how tiny her foot was to mine as I tugged on my boots.

Before leaving I went to the kitchen and left Alice a note in the usual place on the counter right underneath her picture I had tacked up on the cabinet. Before walking away I studied the drawing and admired how skillfully Alice had sketched everything. I grinned; she really was a talented girl. Looking at this drawing suddenly reminded me of the drawing Alice had been working on for me the other day before our epic swordfight at the blacksmiths. I wondered what it was and when I could see it, I felt my heart skip a beat at the thought that she had made it for me.

After putting out a teabag for Alice (just in case she wanted to make any while I was gone) I left the apartment and saw that the morning sun was just making its first appearance in the sky. Its warm rays lit up the pathway as I walked and from the buildings on either sides of me I could faintly hear the snores of Hetalians that were still asleep.

It was going to be a good day I could already tell from the way everything was so peaceful this morning. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and began to whistle a happy tune as I made my way through the village getting lost in my thoughts about Alice.

Last night she had asked me if I thought that she was beautiful and I told her the honest truth that I did. Her question had come from out of nowhere and it made me wonder if she was feeling the same way that I felt about her. But I didn't think it could be. I was just a peasant and she being the princess, well, ex-princess, was probably used to way classier guys than me. I mean she was amazing and she deserved the best, what could I offer her? My apartment wasn't that nice and I could barely keep my job. Sighing I continued to think about her as I walked.

Alice looked so cute when she was scowling (which was the majority of the time) I loved the way her nose got all scrunched up and her eyebrows furrowed. But when you got a smile out of her it was like a million stars glistening just for you. I loved her emerald green eyes, I loved the way they sparkled when she was excited and I loved that competitive glint they got when she was smirking. When Alice blushed she was just so adorable, the light pink that dusted her cheeks made her so innocent looking.

I thought about our first meeting and how we had started off on the wrong foot. It was kind of funny how we went from wanting nothing to do with each other to being best friends in such a short amount of time. I suddenly wondered what my life would be like if I hadn't saved Alice from those guys at the market. I shuddered; I couldn't even think about it, it was just too weird to picture life without her.

Alice: the girl with the split personality. The independent, sarcastic girl who drew me pictures and almost burnt down my apartment. The beautiful, funny girl with epic fighting skills and the odd pet rabbit. The girl with the melodic laugh, tea drinking habit and terrible cooking abilities. Yeah, it had only been a week but I had the feeling that if I had never met her everything would be different, different and boring and dull without Alice.

I was far from the apartment now; I had walked almost at the center of town. I could see a few Hetalians staring to gather on the streets here and there and I could hear the sounds of windows opening to let in the morning. These were signs that the village was just starting to wake up. I grinned as I continued down the street. It was just so nice out and if you combined that and thinking about Alice my heart felt as though it could fly. I tried to remember exactly when these feelings had started. I searched my brain thinking of everything that had happened over the week.

That's when it hit me. I remembered when I had began to feel those strange feelings in my chest and stomach, it all started when Alice fell in the kitchen that day and I being the totally awesome hero that I am rescued her. I remembered how my heart had leapt at our contact and how close her perfect face had been to mine.

After the fall the next thing that tugged at my heartstrings had been that stupid Gilbert albino dude. He had waltzed right up to Alice like he already knew her and tried to hit on her. It really pissed me off and after I had stormed off Alice asked me if I was jealous. At the time when I didn't know what these feelings were I said I wasn't jealous and that I was just protecting a friend but now I realized that I had been lying to myself. I had indeed been very jealous.

After our unfortunate encounter with Gilbert there had been that moment between us when Alice had a breakdown in the kitchen. I felt so protective over her as I held her in my arms as she cried. I hated seeing her upset, just looking at her teary face crushed me. I felt these pains in my chest that at that time I didn't understand but now after thinking everything over I finally got it.

I liked her; it was as simple as that. At my sudden realization I felt another knot twist up in my stomach, was love always so painful?

I continued walking; I was now on the far side of the village. People were up and about for the day, socializing with one another and I wondered if Alice had gotten up yet. I shook my head in doubt, she was a late sleeper and without me to disturb her she was probably still passed out in Mattie's bed. But what if she had gotten up? I would hate to think that I had just left her alone even if I did leave a note. I decided to turn around and head back still thinking about what I was going to do about my crush.

Crush… I had finally admitted it to myself. I had most defiantly and positively had a crush on Alice Kirkland but what did I do now? I didn't know if she felt the same way about me and what if I was rejected. I felt my heart break at the thought of being turned down by Alice. Maybe I shouldn't do anything and just wait until I was sure that she liked me back…. No! Wait! Why I was I thinking this way? I was Alfred F. Jones and Alfred F. Jones wasn't a coward, he was a hero and heroes weren't afraid, especially of asking out girls. I had to be brave like a hero would be and put myself out there. I could do it; I wasn't going to back down. I had made up my mind. I was going to ask Alice out on a date. All I had to do was wait for the right moment…

Author's Note: I like to call this the reflection chapter lol no dialogue just Alfred lost in his private thoughts about a certain tsundere haha. We're getting to the good stuff! The loveeeeee stuff haha :D Let me know what you guys think! See ya next chapter!