If you don't know by the 61st chapter that the one who owns Hetalia is not me, then I don't know what to say. But hey, with the summer kicking in, I should have more time to work on my stuff. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
"You sure you have everything?" Matthew yelled as he changed Charlotte and got her dressed. Katyusha had woken up early to get everything started. The guest list had now included them and Charlotte, Francis, Arthur, Lucille, Natalya, Toris, Alfred, Ivan and the twins, a total of 12 people. There might not be a lot of leftovers this year...what with so many. I had factored in a large group but who knows... Katyusha thought as she basted the turkey. "This is a decent recipe I had read...I haven't really been in charge of much when it comes to Thanksgivings..."
"It should be fine." Matthew smiled. "I mean that was the site Papa had suggested for ideas anyway."
"Oh I know that some of the side dishes will be great. I am very good with them. But I have not made much with a whole turkey. I worry that it won't be as good as your brother's." Katyusha sighed.
"It'll be fine." Matthew assured her as he gave Charlotte a teething ring.
"I'm worried what your papa and great aunt will think..." Katyusha said. "I'm in over my head here..."
"Honestly I am worried who we will have to put at the kid's table with the twins. Either Al and Ivan or Natalya and Toris..." Matthew said. "They didn't have this problem last year...although I am sure Al wanted to..."
Katyusha sighed. She knew that Natalya and Alfred got along only well enough to keep Ivan happy. The worst that Al had done last Thanksgiving was give Natalya one of Arthur's scones, which was bad enough but didn't hurt anyone too much. "All he did was give Natalya one of your dad's scones. That isn't too bad."
"I think sticking her at the kids table by herself would be less of a misdeed..." Matthew sighed. "You're too nice with him on those things. Like Al says, they taste like petrifed couch stuffing."
"When will everyone be coming again?" Katyusha asked as she finished wiping her hands and took Charlotte.
"Well I said dinner would be at 3 so they will be over at 2." Matthew said.
"Good. The bird should be done by then." Katyusha smiled. "I will have to get this little one dressed up before then." She smiled as she tickled her causing Charlotte to giggle.
"Don't have her dressed up too fancy, she's likely to dribble sweet potatoes all over herself." Matthew warned.
"I know, I know." Katyusha sighed. "That's what bibs are for Matvey." She smiled at Matthew then back at Charlotte. "Don't worry, this will be fine. More people than I was expecting, but fine." She smiled back at him. Initially she was a little angry when Matthew had invited his aunt Lucille without consulting her, it was only one more person, so she dealt with it. And it was his aunt Lucille, much better than if Gilbert would have asked to come over.
Meanwhile, Alfred was running around the kitchen, finishing up the green bean casserole he had promised Katyusha he would bring along with a few desserts. Ivan was making sure that Nikita and Dimitri were dressed for the occasion after they had a decent breakfast earlier so they would not be so cranky by the time that dinner was done. Matthew had said they had planned it for 3pm that day, but Ivan knew that sometimes there were delays or things got out of hand fast. He had also planned for that contingency by throwing a few of the board games the children loved to play like Candy Land and Hungry Hungry Hippos in the car, just in case of that. "Dorogoy, are you ready yet?" Ivan sighed. "We're going to be late."
"No we're not." Alfred assured him. "Just have to finish packing this up. I had to make a lot more since Katy told me everyone was coming and had to run out to the store early this morning because someone ate all the crunchy onions." Alfred said. He and the twins had some for a slight snack earlier but the day before they had gotten into the jar and eaten a lot of what was left. Since Alfred loved the green bean cassaroles to be crunchy, there was not enough left for when he made it.
"Fredka, you ate a lot of them two you know." Ivan said.
"I know, I know." Alfred said as he put the lid on the container and the casserole in one bag and the deserts in another. "Lesson learned, next time get 2 cans. Can you carry one of these for me?"
"I guess." Ivan said as he took the lighter bag with the deserts. "Let's go malen'kiye." He called to the twins. "We need to get over to your Uncle Matvey and Aunt Katyusha's house."
"Okay." Nikita and Dimitri smiled as they followed Ivan to the car, with Alfred running quickly behind after he made sure that everything in the kitchen was turned off and put away or in the sink. The cats would from time to time jump up on the kitchen counters if something like meat or dairy was left unattended for a time.
"Just a minute!" Alfred said as he ran to keep up with them.
Meanwhile, Arthur was finishing preparations of his own while Francis sighed rolling his eyes. "Mon Cher" Francis sighed. "Must you bring those things? Last year they were used as a way to get back at Natalya and survival biscuits."
"It's tradition." Arthur insisted.
"No one likes them." Francis said.
"Toris has never had one, and he will be there. Lucille never has had my cooking." Arthur rambled off.
"And I would be no brother if I let her." Francis said. "The only person left attending that hasn't had that monstrosity is little Charlotte and she's too little for baked goods. Unless this is used as a teething ring..."
"Must we argue about this every year?" Arthur sighed.
"Yes because you insist on it every year." Francis sighed. "Now let's come on. Katyusha will kill us if we are late. She's told me she's been working very hard on this."
"Is she trying to compete with last year?" Arthur asked as they headed to the car.
"I hope not. I want to have her happy with the hard work. It is never easy and I know that she wants to prove herself to us all." Francis said.
"I think she's done that plenty. No need for her insecurities." Arthur sighed.
Ivan and Alfred pulled up to Matthew and Katyusha's house and knocked on the door and caused barking to be heard and crying at the same time. "I got it! I got it!" Matthew said as he ran to the door holding a crying Charlotte and pushing Kumajiro back with his foot. "You guys made it!" He smiled as Nikita and Dimitri ran up and began petting Kumajiro and leading him into the living room.
"we didn't wake Charlotte did we?" Ivan asked.
"Well, yeah but it's not a big deal. Katy can sing her a lullaby back to sleep." Matthew smiled. "Don't beat yourself up."
"Anyone else here yet?" Alfred asked.
"Not yet." Matthew said. "And you can take your stuff in the kitchen."
"Gotcha." Alfred said running off.
"Who said they would come?" Ivan asked as he followed the twins who were playing with Kumajiro.
"Hmmmm, Dad, Papa, Lucille, Natalya and Toris." Matthew said.
"Oh, Natalya just sent me a message, she is on her way!" Katyusha said as she picked Charlotte from Matthew's arms and began singing to Charlotte. "Don't worry, I can put this little one back to sleep so she isn't so cranky at dinner." Katyusha smiled. "Although she does have her uncle's appetite."
"Oh Matthew has it too." Alfred teased.
"Shut up!" Matthew said, "I do not."
"Okay you may be a little more selective with it, but you do. You could eat an IHOP out of business if you wanted." Matthew said.
"Shut up! I could not!" Matthew said.
"Yes you could!" Alfred teased back. Ivan rolled his eyes while Katyusha giggled.
"So," Ivan began as he turned away from Alfred and Matthew's arguing to his older sister. "Everything alright with you?" He had been checking in to make sure she was handling herself well. He was worried about post par tum depression and if she would get too insecure with herself afterwards knowing the attention Matthew was getting. He knew Katyusha to be strong, but at times a crybaby and rather insecure so he wanted to make sure she was alright.
"Yes, everything has been fine. You do not need to worry so much about me." Katyusha said as she shut the door behind them and looked over to where the twins were playing with Kumajiro. "He really is a well behaved dog. Does't bark when children play rough."
"Don't be so rough with Kuma!" Alfred yelled.
"Take that rope toy in that basket." Katyusha said. "He loves to play tug of war."
"So how long till dinner's ready?" Alfred asked.
"Not long now, I have everything being kept warm. Just waiting on word from everyone else. You guys are the ones that arrived first." Katyusha said.
"Well you know how Dad and Papa are Katy." Alfred reassured her. "They're probably bickering over him bringing his scones again."
"I wish he wouldn't." She sighed.
"He will." Alfred rolled his eyes. At this the doorbell rang and Matthew ran up to get it.
"I got it Katy!" he said as he opened the door to find Natalya and Toris standing there. "Hi guys! You didn't have to bring something."
"I would not feel right if we did not. Especially since last year my presance was somewhat of a surprise." Toris said. "I figured you would like to try Lithuania's national dish, Cepelinai." He said as he put the container in Matthew's hands.
"You didn't have to." Matthew insisted. "Smells good. What's in this?"
"It's potato dumplings stuff with ground meat, cheese and mushrooms. Natalya has the container with the sauce that goes on top. I didn't want to put it on, figuring that everyone could put how much they like on. It's how my mother does it. My father loves his with lots of sauce, my mother not so much." Toris explained.
"Here." Natalya said as she put the bowl with the sauce on top of the container with the cepelinai.
"Okay." Matthew sighed. "I'll put this in the kitchen." He said as he turned to shut the door with his foot after seeing Natalya and Toris head into the living room where Nikita and Dimitri were playing with Kumajiro and some of his tug of war toys. They may both be invited but Natalya still is rather rough around the edges...Matthew sighed.But she is Katy's sister after all and well, despite that she does have some good to her. Matthew sighed as he placed the dish down.
"What's that?" Katyusha asked surprised.
"Toris felt bad about not bringing something." Matthew said. "So he made cepelinai. Said it's Lithuania's national dish."
"Oh dear, I didn't want anyone going out of their way for us." Katyusha said. "We already have to send some of the adults to the kid's table because of space..."
"So who do we send? Al and Ivan? Natalya and Toris?" Matthew asked.
"I don't know." Katyusha sighed as the door bell rang and Kumajiro started barking and Charlotte cried. "And I wish there was something we could do about the bell that wouldn't get Kuma barking. Charlotte cries when he does."
"I got it." Matthew said to find Arthur, Francis and Lucille standing there.
"Sorry for running late." Arthur sighed. "It was only when we hit the road that the Frog here told me we needed to pick up his sister as they had agreed to carpool."
"Papa?" Matthew asked.
"So I may have forgotten to tell you beforehand, we still made it here on time? Now where are mes adorables petits-enfants?" Francis asked, nearly pushing Matthew out of the way placing his bag of Thanksgiving wine in Matthew's hands.
"In the living room playing with Kumajiro." Matthew pointed.
"I'm sorry for any headache I may have caused by coming." Lucille said.
"None at all." Matthew said. He saw the container Arthur had. "You didn't did you?"
"What? Why does everyone act like my scones are the worst thing in the world?" Arthur asked.
"Because they are Dad." Alfred sighed. "I think they are only good for a teething ring for Charlotte. That melba toast babies munch on is about as hard..."
"So not asking how you know that..." Matthew said. "But since everyone is here, Katy and I will get the tables set and then we'll get this all started. Al, Toris, thanks for the stuff you guys brought too. Papa, thanks for the wine too, if it's like what you brought last year, it should be pretty good."
"Just have to watch how much some of us drink..." Natalya said as she looked mainly over at Francis and Arthur.
"What did we do?" Arthur said. "And why does everyone hate my scones?"
"You've been told numberous times and still make and bring them and Lucille, you cannot tell me in all the time you've known your brother in law, you have not had his scones..." Natalya said simply as Toris was playing with the twins and Kumajiro.
"You are correct." Lucille said as she bounced Charlotte on her leg. "They are simply awful."
"See?" Francis smirked.
"Sot off, all of you." Arthur sulked. At this Katyusha came in and looked at the crowd who were about to partake in the first holiday she and Matthew were hosting in their own house and she wanted to make sure it was a great one. It was also the first one that Nikita and Dimitri had in a stable home. A home that would be the same year after year for the rest of their lives. While they were just her niece and nephew, she loved them dearly and hoped that from now on they would be happy. A good proper happy home. She didn't care if they saw Natalya as their favorite aunt, she loved them all the same. So giving the family that helped her and Matthew out was very important to her.
"Well, it is all set up, we even have a special table for you two big kids..." She began looking at Nikita and Dimitri. "But we need to have some of the adults sit there as well."
"I guess we can... Ivan and I, " Alfred sighed. "I mean they are our kids..."
"Nonsense," Francis said. "I say Grandpa and grand-père will do so. Give you young ones the table while we spoil the grandchildren."
"I actually kind of like that idea." Arthur said. "What say you?" He looked at Nikita and Dimitri.
"Why is Charlotte with the others though?" Dimitri asked as they walked into the dining room and he saw the kid's table but Charlotte's high chair was near Katyusha's seat.
"Charlotte is still a very little baby and needs her mommy's help." Lucille reassured them. "And it looks like we have room for one more. Mind if your grand-tante joins you and your silly grandpas?"
"Sure you can join us!" Nikita smiled as Dimitri nodded.
"You kiddos fine with that?" Alfred asked.
"Yep!" They said simultaneously.
"Will you be good and try not to make a big mess?" Ivan asked.
"Sure Papa!" The twins nodded furiously, so much their hair few all over the place.
"Well that's good. If you guys need us, you know where we'll be." Alfred smiled. "Just a stone's throw away."
"Yes. Do not hesitate if you need us." Ivan assured the twins, but Arthur, Francis and Lucille.
"Don't worry about us. I am sure that these two big kids can handle any trouble we may make huh?" Lucille smiled as Francis and Arthur sat with them.
"We will keep them behaved." Dimitri smiled.
"Yeah, don't worry Papa." Nikita added. "Grandpa, Grandpear and grand-tante Lucille are under Nikita and Dimitri's watch!"
Francis sighed at the 'grandpear' comment. How is it they can say grand-tante fine but when it comes to grand-père, they call me grandpear! He thought as Lucille looked at him, as if to read his mind. "Francis, they're little." She said.
"Oui, but they took to calling you grand-tante easily." he moaned.
"It's a term of endearment." Lucille said. "Let them have this. Does it bother you that much?"
"Maybe a little..." Francis confessed.
"Well deal with it." Lucille smirked. "They took to the term and love you. Being an annoying prick about it won't help. You know how kids are. You raised Matthew and Alfred after all."
"Yes...the grandpear kind of thing does seem like something Alfred would do." Francis said.
"Now come on. I am sure they want to tell us all about school and what they want Santa to bring for Christmas and so on." Lucille said.
"Yeay!" The twins smiled as they began dinner.
Translation Guide
(obtained via Google Translate)
dorogoy-Russian-darling
malen'kiye-Russian-little ones.
mes adorables petits-enfants-French-my lovely little grandchildren
grand-père-French-grandfather.
grand-tante-French-Great aunt.
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't have much with this chapter to say other than the usual sign off. Remember to read, well you just did, and to review. Ciao for now,
otherrealmwriter
aka
Realm.