I do not own Hetalia. I only think that it's awesome enough to write about.

Gilbert opens the door and laughs. "Liz, calm down. Ludwig will be fine."

I feel really guilty about almost forgetting about Ludwig when Gilbert tried to kiss me the first time. "Still…"

"Liz, the Awesome Me said not to worry." Gilbert tells me again.

We walk back to where we had been eating pastries. "Where is Ludwig?"

"He probably went to the awesome fort I helped mein Vater build."

"You built a fort?" I ask feeling a little jealous. He and I had always planned on building one. Of course all that changed as soon as I went to the orphanage.

Gilbert frowns. "Ja, but it was not the same without you. So I awesomely gave it to West."

"Gilbert…" I hug him. "Did you really miss me all that much?" I feel terrible even it wasn't my fault that I had to go away.

He stiffens at first, but then returns my hug. "It was not as awesome without you there. Francis was a wimp whenever we fought and I did not really start having fun until Antonio showed up." He pulls back so I can see him grin. "He had this really awesome axe and we played with it all the time. Until his Vatti found out and took it away."

"I wish I was there." I say with a sigh.

"You are here now, ja?" He asks with a bright smile. He grabs my hand and pulls me back in the direction we were heading to.

"Right." I agree. I allow him to drag me to where we were sitting before.

"Eliza! I was wondering-" Lady Beilschmidt begins speaking immediately. "How do you know Roderick Edlestein?" I almost faint. "Gilbert said that he was your escort for Ludwig's ball."

"Oh, well…he did not have a date he asked me at the very last moment to be his." I reply. It's not a lie. It's the truth. I just left a lot of things out.

Gilbert frowns. "Mutti stop asking her such unawesome questions."

Lord Beilschmidt chuckles. "Jemand ist eifersüchtig"

"Vatti!" Gilbert protests with a blush appearing. "Sie sind so schlecht, wie Mutter"

"I am not!" Lady Beilschmidt interrupts with a frown. She turns to me. "Tell them Eliza!"

I laugh. "I do not know what any of you are talking about."

They laugh as well.

"I almost forget that you understand very little German!" Lord Beilschmidt says with a small smile.

"You will learn some while you are here." Lady Beilschmidt promises.

I nod. "That sounds nice." And it does. That way I won't be kept out of their conversations unintentionally and I'll know when Gilbert says something that he shouldn't.

Gilbert grins at me. "We can start lessons right now if you would like." By the way that his eyes are gleaming I doubt I will like the lesson will be taught.

"Maybe next time." I tell him. "I would rather hear more stories about you!"

He blushes as his Mother jumps right in with another story. "Oh I remember there was this time when-"

I sit for another hour hearing story after story of Gilbert's escapades. I think that Lady Beilschmidt is actually enjoying herself by embarrassing her son.

As I sip my tea, I take in my surroundings. Everything in the sitting room is open and airy, from the open windows to the chairs facing each other. Lord Beilschmidt smiles widely as Gilbert tries to hide his face in his hands. Ludwig came in half an hour ago and has been sitting by his father ever since. I love how this is. How they look like such a normal family. It really makes me wish that I had one to be a part of as well.

Once I move in with them maybe I could feel like I belong...but it almost seems wrong for me to want to intrude on their family.

Darn this heartache I always feel. I wish that it would go away so that I could enjoy the story Lady Beilschimdt is about to finish.

Lady Beilschmidt pauses to take a sip of her tea. Gilbert takes that chance and jumps up. "Liz, I promised we would go horseback riding, right?"

Nodding, I push off the chair and stand. Lady Beilschmidt frowns. "Be careful, ja Gilbert?"

"I can take care of myself." I tell her in hopes of reassuring her.

She smiles tightly. "I know, but…" She shakes her head and nods to Ludwig. "Did you want to join them?"

He nods slowly before taking a careful glance at me.

His mother follows his gaze and looks at me with a kind smile. "That is if you are fine with it-?"

"I promised to take West first." Gilbert says with a grin. "You do not mind right Liz?"

"No, at all!" I shake my head and smile.

Ludwig looks over at his brother and then nods. "We should waste no time then."

"Come on Liz!" Gilbert grabs my hand and drags me once again but this time it's outside.

I look back to make sure that Ludwig is following us.

He is. And he's still wearing that serious expression of his. I think I am going to make it my mission to get him to smile as much as possible.

We hurry without really noticing the rooms and people we pass on the way to the door that leads to the stables.

"We only have three horses." Gilbert tells me. "One is mein Vater's." He points to the beautiful brown stallion in the stall to the right of me.

"Wow." I admire the beautiful horse. "I'm guessing that only you and your Father ride it?"

"He hasn't been broken in quite yet." Gilbert admits. "Vater only lets me ride him for now. But you can ride mein awesome horse for now. I think you should ride Mutti's horse West."

Ludwig nods hesitantly. I can tell something is bothering him.

"What is it Ludwig?" I ask when Gilbert leaves to go and get the saddles.

He looks slightly surprised by my concern. "Nothing."

"Are you sure? Because you look a little upset." I inform him before placing my hands on my hips. Hoping I look like I mean business, I stare at him.

He turns to me with a frown. "Gilbert never lets me ride his horse."

"Oh." Softening my look I turn my gaze back to Gilbert. I can't believe that he's still that stingy with his things. Ludwig is probably wondering why I'm allowed to ride it when he isn't. "Do you want to ride it?"

He looks at me with a strange expression. It takes a while before he actually answers me. "Maybe a little. She is a very good horse."

I can't help but smirk. "And she must be simply charmed by her rider."

Ludwig finally smiles. "I never really noticed."

"What are you both whispering about?" Gilbert asks. "The Awesome Me wants to know."

I look at Ludwig who seems to be nervous suddenly. Maybe he doesn't want his brother to know what we were talking about? Well if that's the case I should think of something else. Suddenly a thought that I really was wondering about comes to me. "Oh, I was just wondering aloud on how I was going to ride in a dress."

Ludwig looks more relaxed now. Maybe I was right. I wonder why it mattered to him whether his brother knew or not.

Gilbert looks me over. "If mein Mutti can do it, I am sure you can."

"Your Mother probably rides on a daily basis." I tell him. "I have not been on a horse since before the funeral."

Gilbert's eyes widen. "Seriously Liz?"

"Did I not all ready inform you of this?" I ask him before putting my hands on my hips.

He scratches his head. "Well, then I am not sure you should write my horse. She can get a little wild if you do not know what you are doing…"

"Why do I not just watch you and your brother ride for a while?" I suggest.

"Ludwig will not mind if he does not ride first." Gilbert protests.

I roll my eyes. "Yes, but I would." I smile and push him towards the horses. "Just go. I want to see how well you taught your brother."

Gilbert puffs out his chest. "Of course I taught him awesomely!"

"I will be the judge of that." I announce with a laugh.

"Do not mess up West!" Gilbert orders.

Shake my head at him, I turn to Ludwig and smile. "Do not worry. Just have fun."

Ludwig smiles. "I will." He goes over to a horse that I am guessing is his Mother's.

I punch Gilbert. "Oww!" he cries.

"Why were you trying to make him nervous!" I demand.

"He will be fine." Gilbert says. "He is such a serious little guy. He is not as awesome as me of course, but he is sort of awesome."

I smirk. "I do not know…I think he might be slightly more awesome than you."

"NO ONE IS MORE AWESOME THAN ME!" He yells.

I almost laugh. "Just go and ride with your brother."

He looks like he's about to say something, but then Ludwig calls. "Bruder!"

"I better go and see what he needs from the Awesome Me." Gilbert tells me.

As he runs over to where he is I can hear him ask "What is it West?"

Taking the break I have, I use that chance to find a place to sit. As I look around I keep in mind that if I even get my dress the slightest bit dirty, then Roderick will be suspicious. I can't risk doing that.

Not when I'm so close to getting out of being an indentured servant.

"Liz are you watching?" Gilbert demands.

I drag a random chair that I found in a corner and sit down. "Now I am."

Both of them look very happy up on their horses. It's cute how Gilbert looks over at Ludwig every so often. Like if he doesn't check up on him then something might happen.

Ludwig is staring straight ahead very seriously as if he's in the army. He turns to look at me with a small smile.

Gilbert reaches over and ruffles his hair. "Kesesese~ West are you going to move anytime soon?"

"Bruder! Why did you touch my hair?" Ludwig exclaims unhappily.

I giggle. I would have never guessed he was so particular about his hair. But I guess that it must take him some time to get it slicked back like that. He looks really cute with his hair messed up like though.

Gilbert laughs again and his horse shoots forward. "If you want revenge you have to catch me!"

Ludwig doesn't hesitate to chase after his brother. "You will pay for that Bruder!"

"Better go faster, Gil!" I yell after him.

Gilbert turns around to stick his tongue at me. Then he goes back to teasing his brother. "Kesese~ Come on West you can go faster!"

I laugh as Ludwig not only catches up to him, but pokes him with a wooden sword. Where did that come from?

I hear mutters from inside, but I don't take any note of it. It's probably the servants chattering about the brothers' antics.

"You will pay West!" Gilbert pokes him with his own sword.

Ludwig just smiles and tries to catch his brother. I love watching them chase each other. He looks so content chasing his brother on horseback. Gilbert is such a good brother to Ludwig, I wish that mine was as good as Gilbert is.

"Just try Bruder!" Ludwig shouts. He turns his horse away and Gilbert goes after him.

"Better catch up before he leaves you in his dust, Gil!" I yell.

Gilbert points his sword at me. "You are next, Liz!"

Ludwig manages to poke Gilbert in the back while he was distracted.

It must have taken him by surprise because he almost falls off his horse. He manages to grab his horse's neck but he's dangerously close to

"Bruder!" Ludwig cries in concern. He stops his horse and look check if his brother was all right.

"Gil!" I get up from my chair to get a better look. I don't rush over there because I might scare his horse if I do that.

Gilbert straightens himself. "I am fine. West, do you want to see Liz and I sword fight?"

Ludwig looks from me to his brother. "Sure."

"Are you prepared to lose?" I taunt. Still, I'm a bit worried. Maybe he's just trying to make an excuse not to get on the horse again.

He grins. "You will be the one losing Liz!"

I'm still wondering if this is just a ploy to get off his horse or if he really just wants to fight. Either way, I don't care. All I can think about is getting my hands over a sword again. Feeling the grace of a sword being wielded in my hand.

It doesn't matter that I haven't touched a sword in years. I mean I used to play with them when I was seven. I can't really forget the feel of one in my hand.

"Hey Liz." I look up in time to see the hilt of a sword being thrown at me. I catch it in time.

Gilbert grins. He has his own sword in his hand. "Ready?"

I grin back. "No armor?"

"Same rules." He points to some armor while I practice a few swings. It takes me a short time to get used to it. It seems heavier than I remembered, but I manage to get the feel of it by the time I reach the armor. I put it over my dress and see Ludwig smiling in the background.

"Excited?" I ask him before fastening the last strap.

He nods. "I have never seen anyone fight. My Vatti refuses to play around."

"Well, I actually like to do this." I tell him with a smile.

"Ready now, Liz?" Gilbert asks with another grin.

I nod and hit his sword with mine. "Same rules yes?"

"Yes." He and I wait for a moment. "Ludwig tell us when to begin, ja?"

Gilbert and I face each other. Our eyes connect and I can see the playfulness in his eyes. I feel very excited, but I control myself. If I let my excitement control my movements, I'll lose. I need to stay calm to make the right decisions.

"Ready?" Ludwig asks. Gilbert and I nod. I fix my stance and Gilbert shifts his arms into a better position. "Fight!"

For a moment both of us are still. Then I make the first move. I fake to the left and attack right. Gilbert barely deflects it. "I think you lied Liz." He attacks next.

I step to the side and dodge it. "About what?" I thrust and he blocks it.

"I think you have been practicing." Now he thrusts and I block it easily.

"Not since we were children." I tell him. I see his legs spread apart and grin. I poke at one of his legs making him off balance. Just as I'm about to thrust and win I hear a gasp.

"Elizaveta what are you doing?"

I turn around quickly. Oh…this is not good.

So jealous of everyone in Europe right now. Unbelievably jealous. They get to watch the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics live! And I have to wait two more hours! That is so unfair...

Well on a brighter note, I finished the chapter! Reviews are always appreciated!