I do not own Hetalia okay? I know it's a lot of chapters but I am working towards the end of the series. How many chapters it will take, I don't know but I have an idea. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
Francis, Arthur and Lucille looked on as the twins looked on the food at them with greedy smiles. Ivan had made them a small breakfast so they wouldn't be too hungry when the meal was done and they wouldn't overeat. Now they were picking at the turkey left out for them while their grandparents and great aunt looked on. "So, I hear you have a Christmas pageant coming up?" Arthur began as he looked at the twins.
"Mmmpghyeahmohohimagoghos" Nikita began.
"Swallow your food before you tell us." Lucille smiled. "We can wait for that."
Nikita swallowed. "Don't tell Daddy and Papa about that. They've told me about it at dinner and I forget sometimes..."
"It happens." Lucille said as she wiped off some sweet potatoes from Dimitri's face. "And you need to watch what is on your face. I know your dad can be sloppy on his own sometimes but you can clean up too. Make your papa proud."
"Sorry..." Dimitri said.
"Oh you will get better." Francis assured him. "But yes, please tell us about the pageant. We only know what your dad told us."
"Well we are working on it right now and it should be shown before we go to Christmas break. Winnie and Dimitri are working on some of the decorations."
"Are you?" Arthur asked.
"Yep. Miss Michelle says we're some of the best at painting in the class." Dimitri smiled proudly. "Nikita is one of the fairy princesses. We're doing a play based on The Nutcracker."
"Oh. That's a ballet from where your papa is from. But they make versions for kids too..." Lucille told them. And another reason for Natalya to work with it. She did do ballet herself.
"Do you know if Miss Michelle needs some help with it?"
"Idunnnoo..." Nikita said as she looked at her sweet potatoes.
"I'll check into it." Lucille smirked.
"Just what are you getting into petite soeur?" Francis asked in her direction.
"Oh, nothing much..." Lucille said as she pulled out her calender on her phone and made a few notes on Monday to look into the school the twins went to and how to contact Miss Michelle. "I just think it would be good for Natalya to help out with the production is all. Looks good on her resume that she gets involved with the community, good for company image etc etc..." She smiled.
"You scare me sometimes." Francis said.
"I have grown to like the young woman and know she is very determined." Lucille said as she took a bite of turkey. "And I want to make sure she stays that way, does not burn out."
Lucille had taken quite a liking to Natalya because she was smart and determined and wanted to mentor her to either have a senior role in her partnership when it came time for her to retire. That was something she wasn't planning for a few more years at least, but like her older brother Francis, she was not getting much younger and wanted to pass her torch to someone who could do as well as she had and had seen a lot of potential in her. She looked over at the twins as Kumajiro had come over and Nikita had a piece of turkey in her hand she was trying to give to him.
"Hey!" Katyusha had said turning to face them, "Please do not feed Kumajiro from the table. He has a bad begging habit we are trying to break."
"But Aunt Katy, Kumajiro wants some Thanksgiving dinner too." Dimitri pouted as he placed his piece down and looked up at her with puppy dog eyes.
"Don't worry, he will get some but it will be what we give him in his bowl." Katyusha said.
"Okay." The twins said as they went back to the food they had eaten.
"Shoo..." Arthur said, as Kumajiro then went to him and started sniffing near his plate. He grabbed a scone he had placed on the table and gave it to him. "Go away."
"AUNT KATY!" Nikita and Dimitri said.
"Yes?" Katyusha turned around suddenly worried. "What is it my dears?"
"Grandpa gave Kumajiro a scone." Nikita said.
"You said for us not to feed him from the table." Dimitri added.
"That I did." Katyusha said looking over at Arthur. "Your grandpa may have made Kuma very sick with those scones of his..."
"I was hoping he would take it and go away..." Arthur said. "Especially if they are as everyone says, as hard as petrified couch stuffing."
"I have Kuma, Dad seriously." Matthew said as he took Kumajiro and guided him to the back room and shut the door. "There. That should solve that problem."
"That's why we have cats. Finally have them broken from jumping on the kitchen table and they don't cause as big a ruckus." Alfred said.
"Meh, I couldn't pass up Kuma there, he's a cute dog and a good companion to Katy and Charlotte." Matthew explained. "And according to Gilbert the fact I adopted a dog from the shelter really helped it out. I mean Ludwig's still a major benefactor to there even though he's moved up in the world, but the manager says they saw a huge increase since I did that special."
"Well that's good to hear." Ivan smiled. He looked over at Katyusha who blushed slightly. He scanned her face for any signs she was embarrassed or insecure about that. He had come to terms with the fact that Matthew took good care of her and that he was able to provide for her and their daughter well. He trusted that Matthew would stay loyal and not stray because of his new found popularity but he was never 100% certain on this matter. He had seen how some of the women acted when they thought Alfred was Matthew and tried to ask him out, some even knowing he had a wife from the New Year's Eve special. Matthew was like Alfred and very loyal but he still was concerned. Showbiz did things to people and he did not want anything bad to happen to Katyusha because of something Matthew did.
Matthew looked over at Ivan and gulped. He had remembered the last Thanksgiving well. The announcement, the forced confession to Ivan of all people that he had lost his job, and he had hoped that now that it was he and Katyusha hosting, that he finally had proved himself to him. "So, how do you like this?" He asked.
"Pretty good bro. I wanted to help out more with the food but Katy would't allow it. Who made these things?" Alfred said as he pointed to the cepelinai.
"I did Mr. Alfred sir." Toris said.
"Well that's pretty good." Alfred said as Ivan nudged him and motioned towards Katyusha who didn't see it as she was feeding Charlotte some mashed sweet potatoes and laughing at her as some landed on her nose. "And this turkey is pretty good too Katy." Alfred added knowing Ivan was worried about Katyusha's confidence.
"Thank you so much Fredka." Katyusha said overjoyed as she wiped off Charlotte's face. "I used only herbs from my garden that I had saved. I'm so glad they came out well. And coming from you that's a great compliment. I know you pride yourself on your Thanksgiving. I have to say you did a good job on the green bean casserole."
"You don't have to flatter the man because he told the truth." Natalya said as Alfred scowled at her.
"I'm not flattering him." Katyusha said to her sister. "Honestly it is better than what he did last year because I told him to use fresh green beans rather than the canned ones."
"Yes." Natalya said as she took a bite and thought it over. "I do see what you mean Big Sister."
"Well it's because of Katy's good cooking skills that I was able to do that..." Alfred said awkwardly.
"Yes, you are very gifted with cooking." Ivan said directing the conversation away from the tense one that Natalya and Alfred were skirting. He then looked at Toris and asked, "Have you set a date for your wedding yet?"
"Oh! Not quite!" Toris blushed as Natalya rolled her eyes.
"And why not?" Ivan said with a smile but Alfred could feel just by sitting beside his husband that it was not as pleasant as the smile would lead people to believe.
"Because we are waiting for the summer and working with both Toris's parents and his best friend who lives in Poland to have a good time for them to come over. Summer will have us both on breaks from our schooling." Natalya explained. "And well crossing oceans is something that needs to be planned ahead of time. While Toris's parents may have the free time to come whenever they see fit, Feliks does not." Ivan looked over at his sister who hardly stood up to him before. "It's not as easy to get everyone who may want to witness together as it was for you and Fredka or Matvey and Katyusha." She said simply as Toris looked at his phone and typed a quick message back. "What was that about?" Natalya asked looking over to Toris.
"Oh Feliks, I said I would contact him later." Toris said.
"And the time difference wouldn't be an issue?" Ivan asked.
"Not if you knew how Feliks is to things like weddings..." Toris said trying to be friendly but finding Ivan rather intimidating. "He was very excited about it when I told him and demanded to be the 'best man.' I was thinking of asking him, as he was my childhood friend and we stayed close but didn't know if he could travel for such an event."
"Oh. Well, that sounds good then." Ivan said. "Reasonable."
"You know as well as I do that Nattie can handle herself better than any of us can." Alfred said, knowing if he kept picking at her it would make a very unhappy holiday and it was part of the advise she had given him about when Allen was annoying him. If you do not rise to the provcation, the other one will get bored with it and stop. Now it would likely be different as Natalya did not like him for the sheer reason of marrying her brother but as long as it seemed like they somewhat got along, then everything would be okay and Ivan would be happy. Also she was the twin's favorite aunt, it would upset them greatly if they fought as they loved them both and then Ivan would be even madder because their pettiness hurt the children's feelings. He loved the twins so and hated to see them cry, especially if it is over something stupid someone else did.
"Thank you." Natalya said as a rough rocking sound was heard back in the back room that Matthew had put Kumajiro in so he would not keep begging for table scraps, knowing the twins would likely give it to him. "What was that?"
"Kumajiro..." Matthew said. "I think Dad's scone made him sick."
"Huh?" Alfred asked.
"Oh Dad gave Kuma a scone thinking it would have him stop begging at the table." Matthew sighed as he got up and left the table to check on the dog in the back room. "Ewwwwwwww..." He said looking down at the floor and where Kumajiro was sitting almost proud wagging his tail as Matthew looked at the pile of dog puke on the floor.
"Oh dear..." Katyusha said. "Did Kuma throw up?"
"Yep." Matthew sighed as he headed back to grab some paper towels to clean it up.
"Here." Katyusha said as she went to the kitchen and got some all purpose cleaner and some paper towels and placed them on Arthur's lap.
"Katy?" Matthew asked seeing what she had done.
"It was your father who fed Kuma the scone that made him sick, after we told the twins not to feed him anything, he's a grown man, he should clean it up." Katyusha explained.
"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW" Nikita and Dimitri smiled.
"Grandpa's in trouble..." Nikita giggled.
Arthur pursed his lips. Have to set a good example. Not only would it be extremely rude to talk back to Katyusha for putting the chore on me like this, it might teach the twins some bad habits and I am sure if I did, Ivan would be more than happy to let me know about it. He took a deep breath and got up and looked at Matthew and Katyusha. "I deeply apologize for my neglectful behavior that ended up making your dog sick. I shall go to your back room and clean it up posthaste."
"Thank you." Katyusha smiled with a pleasant but slightly terrifying smile.I swear that smile must run in the family. Arthur thought as Matthew showed him to the back room.
"Kuma shouldn't bother you too much..." Matthew began as Arthur bent down to begin the work when Kumajiro came over and licked Arthur in the face.
"Uggggghhhhh..." He moaned.
"Sorry Dad..." Matthew smiled.
"Well well now, are you not reaping what you have sown with those scones?" Francis laughed.
"Piss off Frog..." He said to himself as he began to clean up the mess.
The rest of the dinner went without much major incident where afterwards, while waiting for everyone's food to settle before desert, they sat in the living room and Alfred put the Macy's day parade on so the twins could watch it and wonder at all the balloons and floats that went by. "I'd like to take you guys there someday." Alfred said. "This thing is cool on the TV but would be awesome to see in real life." He then nudged Matthew. "You think you could talk Gilbert into talking Ludwig to getting us some tickets."
"No." Matthew said. "He doesn't work for the company broadcasting the parade."
"Oh." Alfred said slightly dejected. "But if you get that big and they want you will you get us some?" He said looking at his brother with puppy dog eyes.
"Sure, why not. But you'd have to bring Katyusha and Charlotte too." Matthew said.
"Naturally." Alfred smiled back. Matthew rolled his eyes at this as the end of the parade came along and Santa was there. "So Niki, Dimitri, have you thought about what you wanted Santa to give you for Christmas yet?"
"Uhhhhhh..." Nikita began. "I dunno..."
"Oh I know! I know!" Dimitri said, surprising everyone as Nikita was usually the more energetic twin. "I want the Jurassic World Gigantosaurus and Therizinosaurus Attack Lego pack and the Jurassic World Capture and Crush truck. It has a crane and tranquilizers you can fire at your toy dinos and everything!" He said jumping up and down.
"Well remember to tell Santa that when we go see him." Alfred said as he ruffled up his hair.
"And Nikita?" Ivan said looking at her.
"Ummmmmm I don't know. I liked that Brave movie and Lilo and Stich..." She began embarrassed looking at her feet.
"Well you have some time to think about it huh?" Alfred smiled as he picked her up and twirled her around. He could sense she was becoming embrassed and would start to cry.
"Okay." She smiled.
"We can look at the toy store in the mall when we go to see Santa so you can get some ideas." Ivan assured her.
Smiling, Natalya quickly ordered a Pretty Pretty Princess game, knowing how much fun she had playing board games with her. She had gotten a few more since her birthday and many afternoons she had come over to watch them were spent playing the games. At this Toris pulled her aside to the other room to talk to her. "Talya, I just got ahold of Feliks." He said.
"Okay?" She asked, nervous of what would come next with this. "I am fine with him being your best man. I won't make you choose big brother or anything like that." She blinked.
"Thank you but it's ummmm... sudden..." Toris began.
"What do you mean by sudden?" Natalya asked.
"He sent me a text over dinner, he's coming here for the Christmas season. And wants to know if he can stay with us." Toris said.
"Just how long is he going to be here?" Natalya asked worried.
"Ummmm he said it would be about the 13th he would be flying in." Toris said. "And his ticket home is January 5th."
"Blya net. YA yedva znayu etogo parnya." Natalya said placing her face in her hand and running it down.
"I know, I know. I was rather against that myself but he promised that he would not get in our way, not interfere with any family plans uninvited and clean up after himself. He was fine just as he said 'surfing on our couch.'" Toris said with a nervous smile.
"I guess." Natalya said.
"And he said he would help with feeding himself as he has his discord set up where he can take it anywhere. Says he has quite a few followers, monetized Youtube, the works, using his terms again." Toris said.
"I guess." Natalya sighed. "If he ever becomes a bad roommate, he's out."
"I told him the same." Toris smiled.
"This is going to be one busy holiday." Natalya said. "That and I have to talk to the twin's teacher about helping with their pageant."
"Busy indeed." Toris said as he wrapped his arm around her and held her close. "But I am sure we can manage this all."
"I'll be sure to stock up on vodka." Natalya cracked a feeble laugh.
"Feliks will insist on Polish. He's very ummmmm proud of it." Toris added.
"He can get his own." Natalya said. "You said he has the money to do so."
"That I did." Toris said.
"I just will never get how he went from being nearly selected for the special forces to a wedding planner and streamer?" Natalya said.
"I have asked him the same. He never has given me a straight answer." Toris laughed as he kissed her.
"So, here comes the holidays." She smiled thinking of all that was going to happen over the next month and just how different it was from this time last year. "So much has changed from this time last year."
"That it has." Toris said. "But I think it's for the best."
"That I can agree with you on." She said as she kissed him back.
"Uncle Toris! Aunt Natalya!" The twins yelled running up to them.
"Aunt Katy brought us a fun game that we want to play with you!" Nikita said.
"Look!" Dimitri said as he held up the game. "Littlest Pet Shop."
"Looks old." Natalya said.
"But it's all there and in very good condition." Katyusha smiled. "I remember you and Vanya playing this when you were little. I saw it at a thrift store and I had to get it. I figured you would love to play this again with Nikita and Dimitri, knowing how they loved Candy Land."
"Thank you so much big sister." Natalya said, hugging her. This game was one of her favorites when she had first come to America as a child that their great uncle had for them.
"Pass on traditions." Katyusha smiled back.
"Come on!" Nikita said as she took Natalya's hand and Dimitri took Toris's.
"I guess we have no choice." Toris said as Katyusha set the board out.
Translation Guide
(obtained via Google Translate)
petite soeur-French-baby sister
Blya net. YA yedva znayu etogo parnya.-Russian-Fuck no, I barely know that guy
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. And yes in the 90s there was a Littlest Pet Shop board game. Lucky Penny Shop on Youtube has a let's play of it. I thought it fun growing up so I had to put my own little flair on it. And honestly I can see Katyusha being thrifty and finding things. It's amazing what you do find in thrift shops. I found so many old books from my childhood, weird clothes and sometimes I never have to buy wrapping paper at Christmas because people donated whole rolls. Heck I love stopping at them when I am on vacation for that reason. But that about me aside, remember to read (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,
otherrealmwriter
aka
Realm.