I do not own Hetalia okay? I know it's a long story so far, but I thank all of you for reading so far. Honestly one of the best things of my day is when I see that you read it and even better for kudos, reviews, faves, alerts and so on. So yeah. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
Charlotte yawned, dropping her bottle, so Matthew picked it up and smiled. "Well looks like we should get going along."
"I'll help you get the gifts in the car Mattie." Alistor said as Francis looked worried. "Aye Frog, I ain't dead yet. If your bonnie wee sister can carry that thing in, I think I can carry it out."
"Thank you." Katyusha said as she picked up Charlotte's diaper bag and headed out the door. "And thank you so much for your kindness you two." She smiled at Francis and Arthur. "You have helped to make our first Christmas with Charlotte memorable., even if she is too young to remember it herself."
After breakfast, Nikita and Dimitri had run out to hatch their toy eggs. It was a long time, at least in the eyes of two four-year-olds. Even with the help of Charlotte, as Katyusha said as the young infant had placed her hands on each of them a few times until she got bored with one twin and headed to the other. Dimitri was able to hatch his before Nikita who was in a flustered state, but Alistor said he was magical and helped her along for a few more minutes and her pink kitty that she had wanted so much was out and playing with her and riding with Dimitri's Hatchimal in the Jurassic Park truck on a dino tour. Complete with a stop by "the smelly feet of Great Uncle Alistor" and "the large and stinky Charlotte-saurus." Francis and Arthur were in and out of the room as they made the Christmas dinner. Meanwhile, Ivan looked over at Alistor to try and gauge him. Alfred seemed okay with him, but Ivan was rather distrustful.
"So, it's quite a surprise to come to your brother's house unexpectedly on Christmas. It seems you weren't aware of Arthur's arrangements." He began as he watched the twins play.
"Well, it was quite an impulsive decision." Alistor said.
"Certainly." Ivan began. "But from what I know of you from what Arthur and Fredka have told me, it is quite out of character for you." He took another breath. "My sister may be more trusting than I am on this issue."
Alistor looked at Ivan and remembered what Alfred said that he was a very protective man of his children. It's likely he doesn't know. Alistor thought.
"I don't blame you." Alistor said. Who knew that the rift between Artie and I would get like this. Then again from what I can remember from Alfie growing up, I cannot say I would have imagined someone like Ivan with him…. Ivan looked at him sternly. "Fine, I told Francis and Artie this and I wanted to just say it when the twins went to bed, but I guess I have to tell you now….."
"Tell me what?" Ivan asked thinking some of the worst things.
"That I have stage 3 lung cancer and have to go through chemo and radiation treatments. I'm Artie's older brother, and you know how old he is. It's not something that you come through well at my age. So, I couldn't bear the thought of it killing me and not trying to make amends."
"Oh." Ivan said. "I see why you did what you did now."
"You trust me enough to stop breathing down my neck like that?" Alistor said.
"Not entirely, but I will give you a little more how you say lee way" Ivan said. "I only want the best for the twins after all." He paused. "Has Arthur told you about them?"
"A little, and I have seen Alfie's posts on Facebook." Alistor said.
"Well, their biological parents had their rights taken away and they were put in the foster care system. Their last foster parents were great. But they were going to be sent to another home and have to be split up." Ivan sighed. "Luckily the caseworker thought we'd be a good fit. You see their father was a Russian immigrant who got in over his head with the Bratva."
"The Russian mafia?" Alistor asked as Ivan nodded.
"Da." He replied. "Fredka and I wanted to give a child from Russia the chances I was when my great uncle took me and my sisters in. But laws prevented us. This was the next best thing." Ivan smiled.
"I see why you are so protective of them." Alistor replied. He then turned to the pile of presents. "Gator Golf?"
"Yeah, apparently the twins liked mini golfing with their Aunt Natalya and Uncle Toris, and we thought this would be a fun game for them. They do love board games. How you know they like you is if they demand a Candyland game from you." Alfred laughed.
"Well, I do play a little bit of golf meself." Alistor said. "Might be able to teach you two how to do it the right Scottish way."
"It's just a putting game and they are 4 years old." Arthur said as Francis looked over. He must know…. What did they talk about in the bathroom? Although, it's a great excuse for me to be rid of that stupid shirt that Alfred had gotten me. At least there isn't a long sword coming out against a claymore….so that's progress….. Francis thought.
"Aye, I know that." Alistor said as he picked up the box, Nikita and Dimitri looking up at him. "Want to play?"
"Sure." Nikita and Dimitri said jumping up.
"Just like Mattie and Alfie as kids….." Alistor said.
"We did not do that…." Alfred said. "And stop calling me Alfie….." He blushed as he looked over and saw Matthew laughing at that. Ivan looked over at Alfred with a smile. "And don't you get any bad ideas either…"
"Why not Alfie?" Ivan teased.
"I don't like it." Alfred growled as the twins giggled.
"Ah, little Alfie" Alistor said ruffling Alfred's hair while the twins giggled.
"So, we take this club and start the ball one club length from the gator's mouth?" Alistor read.
"If you're so good, why don't you do two lengths and let the twins have the standard rules?" Arthur said.
"You know Artie, I think I will." Alistor said. "Give the bonnie wee things a chance." He then turned to the twins. "So, what color you want?"
"There's no pink." Nikita pouted.
"Green for me!" Dimitri said.
"I guess yellow….." Nikita sighed.
"Fine how about you go first?" Alistor said noting Nikita's disappointment at not being able to play with her favorite color.
"Sure!" She said happily.
"Then you next Dimitri and then me. I have to hit farther away as I'm a big strong grownup and like your grandpappy says, give you two a chance." Alistor said. And I will hate to do so but I will have to putt pretty badly too. Oh well if it makes them happy. With this Nikita took the plastic putter, took a swing back and it missed the gator's mouth rolling past it and by Katyusha's feet. "Aye, little too hard. We're just putting. Tap it easy."
"Poop." Nikita said.
"Well let's see how your brother does." Alistor said as Dimitri took his ball and tapped it lighter than Nikita but not quite enough to go in the gator's mouth. "So close."
"How about you Grunkle Alistor?" Nikita asked, combining the words great uncle.
"I guess it's my turn." He said as he took the blue ball and walking back further than the distance the twins were using, tried to use the putter himself. "Oi, I guess it's not easy for us tall people….." Dimitri looked worried. "Ah, I play me a few rounds of golf back home, I just have a putter that's for big people."
"Ah." Dimitri said as he watched Alistor take the put and made sure it missed the gator. That would have been a very easy put but have to show that I'm being nice. Artie loves these little ones. And so hopefully Ivan doesn't give me a harder time than he already does….. It was this distrust that really struck Alistor. He knew of Ivan and Katyusha, after all Matthew and Alfred had reached out to him, much on Francis's instance. He didn't think that Arthur and Alistor's strained relationship should stop the boys from trying to get to know one of their uncles on the Kirkland side of the family. At the boys' weddings, Francis had wanted to invite all of Arthur's brothers, but he wouldn't allow it, even if Matthew and Alfred didn't have an objection. Unfortunately, they all declined because of the distance at the time.
Shame that it must come to one of them nearly dying for any of them to try and bridge the gaps…. Francis thought as he got up and saw Lucille offering to play the 4th ball in the game with Alistor smiling heartily at her I still swear that he is trying to date my baby sister…. He thought as he headed into the kitchen to finish Christmas dinner. The meal turned out to be rather uneventful or as uneventful as a Christmas with two hyper twins could be and before dessert, they watched Home Alone waiting for the food to digest. It was the one movie that everyone could agree on that was appropriate for young children as well. Matthew had suggested Muppet Christmas Carol, but Arthur would not allow it, being the purist, he was to Dicken's work.
After the night wore on some more and dessert was had, Matthew and Katyusha had to leave while Alistor helped them pack the gifts in their car and Lucille hugged the twins good night. Ivan and Alfred had then taken them to get a bath and ready for bed while Francis and Arthur were left with Alistor sitting awkwardly. Now that the rest of the family was out of the room, either going home or tending to bath time, a pause filled the air. Alistor looked over at the tree fully appreciating the decoration. "So, still have the ornaments that the boys made when they were in school?" He could tell from the snowflakes with pictures of a young Alfred and Matthew on them.
"Yes." Arthur replied. "I had hoped that we could have made some with the grandchildren but the ones the twins made in school are on the tree at Alfred and Ivan's house."
"That Ivan, seemed to give me a distrustful third degree on everything I did." Alistor said.
"He's protective of his family. You should have seen him at Thanksgiving last year." Francis began as he poured a glass of wine for the three of them. "Poor Mathieu had lost his job a little bit before then. Katyusha had gotten a job at a farm supply store to help them out, only to find out she was pregnant."
"Ooooooooh." Alistor replied sipping the wine. "I'll only have one. I have to drive back to the hotel. Got the hang of driving on the other side of the road."
"That's good." Arthur replied. He knew it took him a little time to get adjusted when he had moved to America himself.
"Anyway," Francis began again. "Apparently Matthieu nor Katyusha were really telling anyone what happened. With how Ivan reacted when they found out at Thanksgiving, I hardly blame them. However, Alfred convinced Ivan to take them in and in no time, Mathieu became the new news anchor, and they had a home of their own just in time for little Charlotte to be born. It all worked out in the end."
"That's nice." Alistor said. "When it all works out in the end." He looked pensively at his brother.
"So…ummm….." Arthur began. "Did you tell the others about your diagnosis?"
"What diagnosis?" Alfred began.
I thought Ivan would have told Alfie, ah well…. Alistor said. "Oh, you haven't heard." He began.
"What haven't I heard?" Alfred asked.
"I would have said something earlier and I guess I will have to find a time to tell Matthew and Katyusha as they had to go home, but here goes…." Alistor took a deep drink of the wine glass and sighed. He had told everyone else but Alfred but saying it aloud in an open room, not as an explanation or plea for some leniency felt impossible. "You know how all the pictures you saw of me was with a cigar in my mouth?" Alfred nodded. "Well last month I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I start chemotherapy and radiation treatment at the end of January. And I ain't as young as I used to be. You know how old your ol man is and I am his older brother." Alistor said with a feeble smile. "So, there's a very good chance I won't make it out of this." Alfred's face dropped.
"But the twins love you, and I've hardly had a chance to talk to you outside of Facebook in god, years it seems." Alfred pleaded.
Alistor smiled slightly. "Aye, you're taking it worse than your folks did when I told them."
"But here it is, one of my uncles who I hardly ever had seen because he and my dad never got along," Alfred said casting a nasty look at Arthur, "comes on Christmas like some cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie that Katy has taken quite a liking to." Ivan looked at Alfred, "What, you remember last year that when we were working she'd have it on that channel all the time."
"Yes." Ivan remembered.
"Anyway, he comes like some corny Christmas movie just to tell me," Alfred said as he broke into a bad Scottish accent "Agh Alife me boy I'm dying Merry Christmas. Sorry. Cute kids though."
"I don't sound like that." Alistor said simply.
"Point still stands." Alfred said. "I've wanted to know more of my uncles on the Kirkland side forever and I had wanted to look you guys up, but Ivan and I agreed no international travel with the twins until they are older and can handle long trips better and I get a morbid Christmas welcome."
"Well, I was hoping to spend tomorrow with you and the twins." Alistor offered. "My purpose was to just get the family bonds back to what they should be. I do regret it took something like this to do it, but it is what the intent is that matters. And if I may say so meself," Alistor said. "You take to being wronged about as well as Artie does."
"What?" Alfred said, shocked at the 'you act just like your dad' comment.
"Yeh." Alistor nodded. "Now as for what you asked Artie, they were all pretty startled about it. Dylan makes his way up practically once a week and it's a bit of a drive from that small town in Wales he lives in. Patrick and Seamus still live in Ireland and hate taking the ferry. It was actually his idea I do reach out to you."
"Dylan…." Arthur began. "He was always the brother I got along the best with."
"Yeah." Alistor said. "We be getting too old to be holding the old grudges on us. I know I cannot change the past, but I want to have just a little glimpse of what I could have had, what we could have had if we had just been able to put the past in the past."
Alfred looked on while Ivan took his shoulder. "That sounds reasonable, does it not Fredka?" He smiled with the smile that Alfred knew was the key to not argue with him about anything. "Think how it would have been if we had not helped your brother out in his hour of need."
"It was my idea to let them stay with us, but I get what you're saying." Alfred said.
"That's good. Spirit of the season." Alistor said. "Do you still have some nog?" He asked Arthur.
"Yes, but you're driving so I am not putting the rum in it." Arthur said.
"Fair, fair." Alistor agreed. "I can get some nog and rum at the convenience store on the way back to the hotel."
"I would have gotten you something if I had known all that…." Alfred said calming down, acting like his outburst never happened. I mean we could find you something tomorrow. A lot of stuff will be on sale too." He laughed feebly. "You did do well with the twins."
"I'm good with kids. At least according to Patrick, I am. His youngings love me and Nikita wasn't the only one to call me Grunkle." Arthur looked up. "Aye, don'tcha know? You can't think you are the only Kirkland brother with children."
"I guess I should have surmised as much." Arthur said regaining his composure. "I feel bad never getting to know them. It has been a long time since I had been back in Britain after all."
"Well, let this be the beginning of a fresh start and mending what has been broken." Alistor said.
"Quite." Arthur said as he sipped the egg nog quietly.
"So, are there any good pubs in this town? Anything serving haggis?" Alistor laughed as Alfred stuck his tongue out.
"No, hardly anywhere has it." Arthur said, not much a fan of haggis himself. However, we used to live closer to the city and there is a delightful pub there. Has all the old foods from back home. Haggis, I don't think so, but they did have steak and kidney pie," Once again Alfred stuck his tongue out. "Hush boy you at tongue tacos."
"But that's Mexican food. They at least use seasonings." Alfred said.
"I swear. You may be an adult and a father yourself but there's still times you are horribly childish." Arthur said.
"I will have to agree with your father." Francis smiled, pouring himself another glass of wine, knowing he was not the one driving. "While your father's personal cooking skills leave much to be desired," Francis stated as Arthur scowled and Alistor laughed, "Not all British food is garbage. Not the best in the world, but it isn't bad either." He looked over at Alistor. "Don't make breakfast tomorrow. Nothing is redeemable about a 'proper British breakfast'. Nothing."
"YOU FROG!" Alistor and Arthur said at the same time at the perceived grave insult to something they both held near and dear to their hearts. At this Ivan and Alfred both burst out laughing.
"Just what is so funny?" Arthur asked.
"To think that Papa would help you two patch up by insulting your favorite breakfast." Alfred laughed. "And I agree with Papa there. Beans at breakfast? Blech." Ivan smiled.
"Where did you go wrong raising the boy Artie?" Alistor said.
"He gets that attitude from his Papa." Arthur said. "Besides if you want a day with the twins tomorrow, they will likely pester you to going to Pizza Party Planet."
"Huh?" Alistor asked never hearing of the place.
"It's a pizza parlor that is full of arcade games for children. They absolutely love it." Arthur explained. "But…." He sighed. "After you come back I guess we can catch up on the myriad of things I have left unsaid and that I do not know about at Hare and Mortar down in the city. It's about as close to a proper pub as you'll get this side of the pond." Francis smiled. "And the Frog here will be driving."
"Well, I never." Francis said.
"You're the one who keeps nagging me to get back in touch with my brother. Well now's the time and I am not as courageous as he is to just come up out of nowhere and say hello. I need some help."
"Fine." Francis sighed. "I guess that is the price I must pay." He poured himself one more glass of wine. "But all in all, I say this was a very merry Christmas. Alfred, Ivan?" He asked.
"Indeed." Ivan said. "Certainly, some unexpected surprises but still a good Christmas." He smiled knowing that in a week he'd be doing something like this again playing Ded Moroz the day after his birthday that he knew Alfred had some big celebration cooked up, just what he didn't know, and Alfred was certainly not about to tell him either.
"Yep! Merry Christmas everyone!" Alfred said as he downed his egg nog. "Gimmie another."
"What do you say boy?" Arthur said.
"Please Dad?" Alfred moaned.
"Better." Arthur said as he got up and got Alfred another glass of egg nog.
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't know how fast I can update but I will. This is one of my pet projects and honestly did not think it would get this big but there's still more to come before the time skip story. Anyway, remember to read (well you just did) and review. Ciao for now,
Otherrealmwriter
Aka
realm.
