"So, you're sure you don't need anything before we go?" Estonia was zipping up his jacket and going through his bag, making sure he had everything he was going to take over to Finland and Sweden's house to spend the day as he spoke worriedly to Latvia. Lithuania was in the bathroom, finishing up the last touches on his looks before his date with Belarus. He was a bit dizzy-headed from how happy he was, but he had at least had enough sense to get all of his own chores for the day done the day beforehand. Estonia was still worrying excessively for Latvia, so he was almost a bit reluctant to leave him alone.

All sorts of horrible scenarios had flashed through his head the night before when he was supposed to have been sleeping. Latvia dropping one of Russia's favorite vodka shot glasses and getting punished for it. Latvia dropping a full bottle of vodka and being punished even more severely. Latvia getting stuck up a tree after being chased by wolves while tending to Russia's garden. Latvia getting his head in a sheep's mouth again*. Latvia falling into a pit and breaking a bottle of vodka and being stuck there and it starting to snow while wolves and sheep surrounded the edge of the pit above him... Yeah, he was kind of nervous about it.

"I am sure I will be being fine Estonia," Latvia said. Though, he was shaking as he said this, making the older nation not so certain.

"Are you sure? If you're not comfortable being here alone, then maybe we could ask Mr. Russia if you could come with me to Finland's." Latvia shook his head.

"No, M-mr. Russia wouldn't agree, you are knowing that. It is already being too much that you and Lithuania will be going out. I will be being fine here on my own." Estonia gave him a serious look.

"Are you sure? We could always take the chance and ask." Latvia opened his mouth to refuse again, but Lithuania burst in at that moment. His face was lifted into an almost hilarious smile. He looked like a total air-head, but only looked all the more joyful for it.

"Aah~ Today is being the most wonderful day, is it not?" He had his arms spread wide, as if he was ready to hug the first person he came across. This person happened to be Latvia. He picked up the smaller nation as if he weighted almost nothing and whirled him around in a circle. "I am so happy today! Nothing could be spoiling my happiness!" Estonia really hated to burst Lithuania's bubble of happiness, but he had to.

"Um, Lithuania, are you at all remembering the whole 'Lativa being left alone with Mr. Russia all day' thing?" Lithuania froze, then placed Latvia back down on the ground.

"Ah... yes, I was forgetting about that for a moment. Are you having your cell phone with you Latvia?" Latvia nodded, holding out his phone to emphasize his answer. "Well, I must ask that you don't be calling me while I am with Miss Belarus. But if you are having any problems, send me a text straight away and I will answer it as soon as I can, okay?" Estonia held out his phone, which he had pulled out of his laptop bag.

"The same with me." Latvia nodded, though this still didn't lighten up his nervousness in the slightest.

"T-thanks you guys," Latvia quietly stuttered. Lithuania glanced at his watch, giving a start as he saw what time it was.

"Oh my goodness! I've got to be getting going." He ran for the door, calling over his shoulder as he ran outside. "Good luck, Latvia! Just remember, text me if you are needing anything!" After Lithuania had run out, Estonia looked at Latvia and shrugged.

"Well, I'd best be getting going as well. Remember, I'm not going to be too far away, so I'll come right back if there's any trouble." He started to reach over to pat Latvia on the head, but stopped. Though he cared deeply about the youngest Baltic, he still wasn't very good with showing affection. So instead he just nodded and went out the door, leaving Latvia trembling as the door closed.

–

Latvia was still trembling as he dusted the shelves in the living room. This was his last chore of the day, besides making Russia his dinner. That was the part he dreaded having to go through the most.

It's all going to be okay, Latvia. Don't get nervous. You get clumsy when you're nervous. Latvia silently motivated himself not to faint with little chants like this in his mind. He held his hands as steady as possible as he maneuvered around the vases and fine cups on the shelf he was currently dusting. Mr. Russia has been up in his room doing paperwork all day, there's no reason for him to come downstairs now. He let out a big breath to try and calm himself, but as he did, his hand accidentally jolted a vase that he had been dusting near. He let out a squeak as it fell, knowing full well that Russia would get very angry if it shattered. He shot out his hands and tried to grab it. He caught it with surprising ease, but lost his balance on the chair he had been standing on and fell to the ground.

He landed with a sharp 'ow' as his shoulder hit the ground, though luckily he managed to save the vase. Latvia sighed with relief as he stood up, wincing from his injured shoulder.

Well, there's another bruise to add to my collection, he thought glumly. He froze like a deer in a pair of headlights when he heard a pair of heavy footsteps come to the top of the stairs and stop.

"Is everything alright down there? I heard a loud noise." Latvia quickly put the vase back in it's place, though he could only hear Russia.

"Jā! I-it is being n-nothing sir! I-i tripped! B-but I am being a-alright sir!" There was silence from Russia, and for a moment Latvia was afraid that the large man didn't believe him and was plotting some horrible punishment because he somehow knew what had really happened.

"Well, alright then, as long as you are alright little Latviya." Latvia sighed in relief when the Russian man believed him. "Oh, one thing though." He froze, wondering what the large nation could want. "Could you please bring up a bottle of vodka and some cake with dinner? I feel like a little something different tonight." Latvia sighed again, relieved that that was all.

"Yes sir, I will be remembering." Russia didn't say anything else, but Latvia heard the larger nation's footsteps walk back the way they came from and disappear when he heard a door closing. Latvia glanced at the clock and was startled. "Oh no! I've got to be making dinner!" He ran for the kitchen, desperately hoping that he wouldn't be late taking it to Russia. Everyone knows what happens when you let Russia stay hungry for too long.

–

Russia had opted to come downstairs to eat instead of eating alone in his room. He was currently sitting on the couch in the living room, reading a book to pass the time. Lativa peeked his head around the corner, trembling.

"Eh, M-mr. Russia, sir?" The large albino man looked at him, causing him to shake more. "Y-y-your dinner is ready. Will you be coming to the dining room now." Russia seemed to think, then closed his book and set it down.

"No. I think I vill eat in the living room today, just because." Latvia nodded, not wanting to argue and not finding any reason to.

"Y-yes sir. I will be bringing it to you right now!" Latvia darted out of sight and into the kitchen. He carefully picked up the tray of food he was originally going to take to Russia's room and carried it as carefully as he could to the living room. He placed it down on the coffee table, then stood back to let Russia look at it. The large man smelled the aroma of the food and smiled.

"Mm. Kholodets, and just the vay I like them. If only I had some mors to go vith it." Latvia nodded, wringing his hands out of habit from his nervousness.

"Y-yes sir. Well, I have that vodka you wanted, it's right next to the cake." His finger shook as he pointed it, then he quickly brought it back to clench his hands together. Russia smiled in that innocent way he always did, though Latvia always did fear what was lying underneath that smile.

"Oh, vell, as it turns out, I had a bottle with me already. But, I suppose I vill just keep this one as vell." Latvia nodded, just wanting to get out of there and away from the Russian man. He started to exit the room, but Russia's voice stopped him. "Hey, hold on." He froze in place and pulled a stiff 180 degree turn to look at Russia. "Now that I look at it, this meal may be a bit too big for me to eat all on my own. I know, vhy don't you share my dinner with me tonight Latvia?" Latvia was terrified at the thought of spending any amount of time with Russia, but he also knew that the man would punish him if he disobeyed anything that he said.

"Y-yes sir." He sat down on the couch next to Russia, feeling greatly overshadowed as he cowered next to the northern giant. Seeing as he had only put one fork with the silverware, he just grabbed the spoon and ate with that instead. Though, he was so terrified to be sitting next to Russia that he almost dropped the meat he had made every time he picked it up just because he was shaking so hard. He almost choked when he heard Russia laughing, he was just that jumpy.

"Heavens to the Betsy, you are too nervous Latviya. You need to relax more." He speared a piece of meat on his fork and took it into his mouth, chewing slowly to savor the flavor. "Mm, eto khorosho. Nicely done." Latvia nodded, swallowing down the lump of gelatinous meat he had been chewing. Russia picked up a bottle of vodka and forced it into his hands before he could say no. "Come now, little Latviya, don't think I don't know vhere my vodka is always disappearing to. I hear you're quite the drinker." He pulled the top off of Latvia's bottle and picked up his own, then clinked them together. "Cheers!" He took a deep swig of the beverage, smiling as he licked his lips. "Very good." Latvia nodded, taking a drink from his own bottle.

When the dinner and cake were all gone, the two just sat there, drinking vodka slowly and talking as they got drunk. Well, mostly it was Russia who talked, Latvia just nodded his head and drank.

"You know, I vish I didn't live here sometimes." Latvia gave Russia a look of confusion, the latter seeming to look off into the distance. "Yes. I vish that I lived in a varmer place. Vith plenty of light and people and sunflowers. Lots and lots of sunflowers. Doesn't that sound nice?" Latvia nodded, placing his empty bottle down on the floor next to Russia's. "I vish my place vas kind of like yours. I think I might visit again some time. Is that alright?" Latvia nodded, remembering that Russia did indeed seem to smile a bit more honestly when he was walking the beaches of Jūrmala. Russia suddenly turned his way, giving him a look. "Vhat kind of place vould you like to live in Latviya?" Latvia had to think about this for a moment before he answered.

"Honestly, I can't think of anywhere else. I am liking my country just the way it is." Russia smiled, putting an arm around the smaller country, holding him like one would a teddy bear.

"That is good for you." Latvia leaned against Russia, feeling warm and sleepy and full. He closed his eyes, falling deeply asleep. Russia smiled when he saw this and felt the smaller beating heart. With that smile still on his face, he fell asleep as well.

–

Lithuania and Estonia walked up to the door, Estonia looking extremely nervous.

"I'm worried Lithuania. I haven't gotten a single text from Latvia all day. What if something happened to him? What if he's hurt? What if he did something clumsy and Russia punished him and buried his body out back in his sunflower bed?" Lithuania 'shush'ed him, trying to keep him quiet.

"Look, Russia is probably asleep right now, and Latvia too. We'll just go in and up to our room. If Latvia is okay, alright. If he's not... well, please just be promising me one thing." Estonia gave him a look as if to say 'what is it?'. "Whatever you are doing, please don't be shouting out Latvia's name in fear for him if he is in a bad situation. It just makes Mr. Russia even angrier." Estonia nodded and Lithuania pulled out his key. They unlocked the door and stepped inside, looking around to make sure the coast was clear. Lithuania felt relief for a moment, but that disappeared when he heard Estonia squeak suddenly. "What?" Estonia had covered his mouth with one of his hands, and with the other he was pointing at something on the other side of the room. Lithuania followed his gaze to see what had made him so stiff all of a sudden.

Russia and Latvia were still asleep on the couch, Russia still having his arm around Latvia. However, sometime during slumber, Russia's arm had shifted. So at the moment, it looked like Russia was about ready to choke Latvia, even in his sleep. Lithuania gulped seeing the 'dangerous' situation the youngest Baltic was in.

"What do we do, Lithuania?" Estonia asked nervously. Lithuania thought quickly, then ran out of the room. "Follow me. I am having an idea." Estonia stared after him, then hurriedly followed after.

–

Russia opened his eyes slowly, feeling a bit stiff from having fallen asleep on the couch. He was about to turn and say good morning to Latvia, but instead found himself looking at a large stuffed bear, just about the same size as Latvia. It didn't take Albert Einstein to realize that Lithuania and Estonia must have pulled the 'swap the person for an inanimate object' trick on him while he was sleeping. He just smiled, grabbing the empty dishes to put them in the kitchen for washing.

Ah well, at least we were able to talk.

–

*That 'head in a sheep's mouth' thing has actually happened in the comics. Estonia seems to have a kind of big brother complex for him and is actually always worrying about him. It's become kind of a meme for Estonia to shout Latvia's name whenever Latvia is in danger.

Once again, sorry for butchering the accents. I'm looking for a good website to get a good feel for Slavic and Baltic accents right now, so it might get better.

Jā – Yes (Latvian)

Latviya – Latvia (Russian)

Eto Khorosho – It's good (Russian)

Kholodets are jellied, chopped pieces of pork or veal meat with spices and a few vegetables. The meat is boiled in large pieces for long periods of time, then chopped, boiled a few times again and finally chilled for 3–4 hours. This makes a jelly-like meat substance, though gelatine is not used because calves' feet, pigs' heads and other such pieces of meat gelatinous enough on their own. It is then served with condiments such as horseradish or mustard.

Mors is sweetened fruit juice that is diluted with water. (I love looking up foods and drinks of other countries. It's fun!)

I'll explain about Jūrmala in a later chapter.

Well, that's that for now. Next chapter will be a surprise for now, but stay tuned for more!