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

"What are you doing here?" Gilbert demands.

Ludwig turns and frowns. "I hate to agree with my Bruder, but you being here is unexpected."

All I can do is hide the sword behind my leg and look at Gilbert.

Alfred just looks from me to Gilbert. "I just came here with Roderick. Your Father, him and I are working on something."

"Roderick is here?" I ask. I exchange a glance with Gilbert. Okay, I can't help it. I know that I shouldn't, but I really want to.

I bring my sword up and poke Gilbert's armor. "I win."

"NOT FAIR! You are such a cheater, Liz!" Gilbert shouts.

Ludwig laughs loudly. "She did win after all!"

I take off my armor. "I could not resist. Sorry." I hand the armor and sword to Ludwig as he tries to control his laughter.

Alfred stares at me before laughing. "Gilbert finally lost a match!"

I pull at my dress to make sure that I look somewhat presentable. That was a bit unfair. "Why do we not forget about that?"

"Nein, you still won." Gilbert grumbles.

I give him a look. "Let us just forget about this fight." I look at Alfred. "We are forgetting it ever happened." I say meaningfully.

Alfred looks surprised but he shrugs a moment later. "Fine."

"Why-?" Ludwig starts to ask. But he seems to think better of it and he shakes his head. "Never mind."

"Gilbert, your Father sent me out here to tell you that you are needed in his study." Alfred tells him.

"Tell him I will be there in twenty minutes." Gilbert tells him. He puts his sword on the ground.

"You should probably go, Gil." I tell him. I tug the strap that holds his armor on.

"Gil?" A voice asks in astonishment.

I turn around and see that Roderick is standing right next to Alfred.

I think I may be in trouble.

Gilbert scowls. "So you did come. Is that what that letter said?" He takes off his armor. "Piano pansy."

Roderick huffs. "I do not see how that is any of your business." He glances over my way with a sort of…if I didn't know any better I would say that he looked sad.

I look back at Gilbert and whisper. "Gilbert you should go. Do you really want to make me explain my situation to everyone here?"

He glares at Roderick. "Fine. But only because it is you, Liz." He points to the door. "Let us go." He starts walking into the house. The other two follow him in the house.

Ludwig frowns. "I completely forgot that Vater invited them to come today."

I walk over to Ludwig carrying Gilbert's armor. "What are they even here for?"

"Vater is on a committee that works for the capital. Apparently some person has been attacking noble families." Ludwig tells me. "Vater has been meeting with all the noblemen so that he can be assured that they can protect themselves and their families."

Well, this is unexpected news. I thought this sort of thing really only happened in the bigger towns or in cities. Our town is not small, but it is not very large. I can't help but feel a little worried. There is always that chance that something might happen.

I realize that Roderick is the only one living in his home. "But what could he possibly do to help ensure that?" I doubt that Roderick would be able to protect himself with if he was trained by Lord Beilschmidt.

Ludwig shrugs. "He did not tell me." Ludwig stiffens. "I was not supposed to tell…"

"I will not breathe a word of it to anyone." I assure him. I'm starting to get worried. I'm more concerned than ever about Roderick's well-being.

"Do you promise?" Ludwig asks seriously.

I want to smile, but I copy his serious expression and nod. "I promise."

"Good." Ludwig says. He keeps his serious expression.

"Do you think that our town is in any risk?" I ask him.

Ludwig glances at me as if he trying to decide whether or not to answer me.

I hold up one of my hands. "I promise that I will not repeat anything that you tell me."

He nods and seems to think it over. "I do not think so. Otherwise Vater would have called a town meeting."

That comforts me. It is possible that I am worrying about this a little too much. I wonder if that is why Gilbert was so adamant about me living with his family. Does he want to keep me safe?

I shake my head. I am making this something that it is not. I must stop doing that.

"Shall you go inside?" Ludwig asks me.

I nod. "We should." I follow him inside. It's then that I realize Roderick is in a room with Lord Beilschmidt and Alfred. Both who think that I am still a noble.

I try to calm myself. It's not as if they will speak only of me, right? I'm just a lady. They have more important things to talk about and Gilbert is in there with them.

Everything will turn out fine. I tell myself.

Famous last words.

"Elizaveta!" Roderick comes into the room where Ludwig and I are discussing the best way to trap a fox.

"Yes?" I ask before standing. I can see that he's upset about something.

Gilbert comes running into the room. I can see that he looks guilty about something.

…He didn't tell did he?

"May I speak with you for a moment?" Oh no. He knows. I can tell from the way his eyes look. They're wide with surprise and disbelief.

"You cannot believe everything Alfred says." Gilbert blurts out. "Half the things he says are nonsense." He seems to be trying to help even though the damage is done.

I try to keep my facial expression innocent, but it's extremely hard especially since he is staring at me like that.

"Bruder?" Ludwig asks. "Is there something wrong?" He looks around the room. The tension in the room has gotten intense.

"Maybe it is better that you leave." Roderick tells him quietly. "You as well Gilbert."

Ludwig looks at his brother. It's as if he won't leave until Gilbert says he should.

Gil nods stiffly toward him and Ludwig gets up and leaves. When the door closes behind him Roderick gestures to a chair. "Should we sit?"

"If you would like too." I say. Gilbert didn't leave to my relief.

"I insist." Roderick says tightly. As if he is barely controlling himself from shouting.

This is not good.

I sit in the seat I was sitting in before he came in.

Roderick takes the seat Ludwig sat in not a moment ago. "Alfred said the strangest thing."

Definitely not good.

"He told Gilbert to thank you for coming to his engagement ball." Roderick looks stern. "And that Alice enjoyed the gift you gave her." He sighs. "What I would like to know is why he seemed to think you were at his engagement ball."

I gulp and look at the floor. "Because-"

"Because I had a date that looks a lot like Liz." Gilbert interrupts me. He stands behind my chair. I look up at him.

He looks protective, but I don't think that Roderick will believe anything but the truth.

"You really expect me to believe that?" Roderick asks with disbelief. "And why are you still here? You have nothing to do with what I am asking her-"

"I think I may have more business with it than you realize." Gilbert answers coldly.

"You do not!" Roderick exclaims standing.

Gilbert grips the back of my chair. "You do not know anything."

"It is you that knows nothing!" He retorts angrily. "She happens to be my indentured servant and if what Alfred says is true she snuck out without permission!"

I gasp sharply. He recoils as if he can't believe what he just said.

"Hmm." Gilbert says sounding smug. "I was wondering when you would admit it."

I turn around see that he's smirking. "Do you honest find this amusing?" I demand.

He looks down at me and rubs my shoulders. "No. But at least he finally admitted it."

"Take your hands off her!" Roderick orders.

I shrug Gilbert off. To be honest I can't believe his actions. Just a moment ago he was lying for me. Now he's just making this harder to handle.

"Elizaveta explain." Roderick demands.

I glance at the men in the room. "I did go to the ball."

"But…you never…" He looks like he can't believe me.

"And Gilbert was my escort." I tell him looking at the floor.

There's a moment of silence. "What?"

I look at Gilbert who nods as if he knows what I want assurance of.

"I- well we wanted to go to the ball together." I look back at Roderick. "And honestly? I have had so much fun. I was able to be myself for the first time in years." I feel a weird sense of freedom explaining this to him.

Gilbert smirks. "Had fun with the Awesome Me?"

This time I don't care that Roderick sees that I hit him. I can vaguely hear him gasp, other than that…nothing.

"LIZ! Not awesome!" Gilbert protests.

"Stop acting like an idiot then." I tell him.

He grins and steps forward. "That's the Liz I know."

"You barely know her." Roderick tells him.

I shake my head. "No. I have known him since I was three years old." I ignore his shock and continue. "He and I were playmates and were taught to fight, hunt, and shoot together. We would ride horses every Saturday and our parents would come over to his home every third Sunday and his family would come to our home every first Sunday." I pause. "He knows a lot more about me that you do."

Roderick looks dumbfounded.

Gilbert looks proud.

I feel liberated and strong. I finally feel like I'm free. From what I don't know. Maybe it's from my secret being kept for some long. Whatever it is…I like it.

I can only hope that is feeling doesn't fade when Roderick decides to speak again.

Thanks to everyone that reviewed. I am very very very sorry that I haven't answered most of them. I have been really busy lately, I promise to get back at them at some point.

Anyway tomorrow will be the last day of updating everyday!...I think...I hope...what day is it? I'll figure it our later.