I do not own Hetalia okay? I have one last kind of arc that I am working through then I will get to work on the timeskip one because there's new challenges I want to play with and write about at that age. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
Ivan and Alfred opened the door carefully carrying one of the twins in each of their arms. The evening's festivities had finally gotten to them and they had finally fallen asleep on the car ride home. "I'll get the leftovers Katy sent home with us once we get the kids to bed." Alfred said as they headed inside.
"Da, that's a good idea." Ivan said as he headed to Dimitri's bedroom and sit down the sleeping child on the bed to wake them to help him get changed.
"Hey slugger..." Alfred said as he gently shook Nikita. "We're back home..."
"Huuh?" Nikita said as she rubbed her eyes. "Oh Daddy." She smiled.
"We're home and it's bed time." Alfred said. "Let's get your PJs on and teeth brushed."
"Okay." Nikita sighed, too tired to put up any objections at all. With that they helped the twins get ready for bed and tucked them in with a smile on their face. Ivan sighed as he made sure they were both asleep and found Alfred in the kitchen heating up some of the leftovers in the microwave. Staring at the plate greedily, he sat down and saw Ivan staring at him.
"What, I was hungry?" Alfred said.
"You must have two stomachs, I swear." Ivan sighed. "But your monstrous appetite aside, what are we doing for Christmas this year? I know the twins will want to decorate, even if we do have one at your fathers' house."
"Oh Katy had an interesting idea I wanted to run past you." Alfred said with a mouthful of cepelinai.
"How about you tell me when you swallow your food?" Ivan asked as he grabbed a roll from Alfred's plate.
Alfred swallowed looking at Ivan with a smirk that seemed to ask, 'really dude?' "She thinks we should do something with Ded Moroz and some of that Russian Christmas stuff. Thinks it would be fun for the twins to know more about where their Papa and aunts are from."
Ivan looked over at Alfred with a curious look. It was a good idea but he wanted to know what Alfred thought. "What do you think?"
"You kidding me?" Alfred laughed as Ivan looked at him sternly and motioned to the bedrooms. "Sorry, get carried away sometimes...but no I like it. I mean you've been married to me for how long now and you think I don't like where you're from?"
"You called me a dirty commie when we first met." Ivan said with sarcasm but a slight smile at the memory.
"You called me a capitalist pig." Alfred said. "But look at us now. I would not be much of a husband if I totally made you forget where you came from dude. And to not pass it to our kids is nuts!" Ivan smiled at this and got up and kissed Alfred deeply. "But it might be a bitch finding a Ded Moroz costume."
"I am sure you can find it on the Internet." Ivan said.
"Hopefully not from Russia," Alfred said and prepared his response before Ivan could say something. "Because international shipping can be really expensive and it might not get here in time."
"Okay, that's a fair point." Ivan said. Thinking on how this time last year, he and Alfred had tried to get to sleep because Francis had talked Alfred into driving him for his day after Thanksgiving shopping, to which Ivan offered to stand by his man and go with he looked up at Alfred. "So, do you want to go shopping tomorrow?" He cracked a smile.
"Hell no." Alfred said. "Was bad enough with Papa last year. You think I would do that willingly of my own accord?"
"I guess not." Ivan laughed.
"Besides, I am searching for what the twins want online. Click click done." Alfred said. "Mail usually comes when they're in school and hide it or wrap it if the tree's up already."
"You know..." Ivan smirked looking at Alfred. "If you can keep quiet about things, we have the night to ourselves now. And do not have to get up early tomorrow." Alfred's eyes widened at this as he turned red. Ivan laughed and got up and kissed Alfred deeply. "I cannot forget about you either."
"Fuck." Alfred said. "It's been too long."
"Well let's solve that." Ivan said as he scooped up Alfred. "It's been much too long that I have not had some quality time, so to say with my husband in my own house."
"Well don't keep me waiting." Alfred said as he kissed Ivan and a door opened.
"Papa?" Dimitri asked. "Why are you carrying Daddy? And kissing?"
"Oh, nothing you need to worry about." Ivan said as he placed Alfred down. "Now what is the matter? You should be sleeping."
"I have to potty." Dimitri said.
"Do you need our help?" Ivan asked.
"I don't think so." He said as he went into the bathroom and shut the door.
Please let that be it...Ivan thought as he noticed Alfred dancing around where he stood biting his lower lip. A child would take that as he has to pee as well. But I know better... After a few minutes, they heard the toilet flush and the facuet run. Dimitri ran by and looked at them. "Everything okay lil guy?" Alfred asked.
"You look like you need to potty too." Dimitri said as he looked at Alfred's stance.
"I will once you get to bed." Alfred smiled. "I can hold it till you're back."
"Okay." Dimitri smiled as he shut the door behind him. Alfred and Ivan stared at the doors for a few more minutes.
Satisfied that the twins would not get up again, Ivan scooped Alfred back up. "Now, where were we?"
"You know exactly where." Alfred smirked.
"Indeed. It has been far too long." Ivan smiled kissing him.
Meanwhile, Francis was sitting at the kitchen table noting what he was needing this year for CHirstmas and the specials that were going on on Black Friday. This year, much to his pleasure and surprise, Arthur agreed to come with. He claimed it was just to get good deals on presents for the grandchildren and he was not wanting to do it online to make sure he gets something that they would like, but Francis was appreciative anyway. He loved the hustle and bustle of the holidays with Arthur accompanying him on some of the adventures. Arthur sat down at the table with him, having just made a cup of chamomile tea to help him get to sleep early. "So do you have a plan?" He asked with a smile.
"I do actually." Francis smirked. "Grand-père needs to make everything special for the grandchildren this year."
"Mainly Nikita and Dimitri." Arthur said. "Charlotte won't be able to remember much of anything of Christmas this year."
"But Mathieu and Katyusha will." Francis replied. It will be the baby's first Christmas and it will be one they hold dear. I mean both Alfred and Mathieu were very young their first Christmas with us. And honestly a lot of it was more for us, our first Christmas as a family than it was for the boy's memories. We added more with Santa, decorations and all that fun when they got older."
"You're right." Arthur admit. "But Nikita and Dimitri will remember this,and it needs to be special. As like with Charlotte, it is their first Christmas as a family." He took a deep swig of his tea. "So while I will be dusting off all the old favorites from when the boys were little, I do want this to be special for them. And I wonder if I can get Christmas Crackers in this country..."
"Try the internet." Francis sighed placing his pen down. "But you need rest mon amor" Francis smiled. "It's busy when you head out there before the sun comes up."
"I normally do not like using such things but a coworker got me one of those K cup brewers and some English Breakfast tea with extra caffeine for a housewarming gift." Arthur sighed.
"Oh you may need something stronger than that." Francis teased.
"She included some coffee too. Will have to see." Arthur sighed.
"You usually only have coffee after a bad night of drinking." Francis said. "You cannot hold your liquor at all."
"Oh sot off Frog." He said as he walked past Francis to get ready for bed. "I am the one driving so I need to be aware."
"Why don't you let me drive more often?" Francis said as he got up to follow Arthur.
"Have you seen your car?" Arthur asked. "I even get you one with a back up camera and you still back into things!"
"Joe ne sais pas" Francis said.
"You know, you don't bother looking." Arthur growled.
"Well you are driving tomorrow, so do not worry." Francis said kissing him.
"Wanker..." Arthur said.
"Love you too darling." Francis smirked.
Matthew had placed Charlotte in her crib when he headed to the kitchen to help Katyusha finish cleaning up after Thanksgiving. He was not going to be one to stand aside and let her do all the work on something like this, no matter how much she had protested. They did not have a lot of leftovers as she had insisted on pushing some on Alfred and Ivan and even more on Toris and Natalya, knowing they were "just getting started in the world" as she told them when they had pleaded for her not to be so insistant and she was not going to have them go hungry, no matter how much Natalya, Toris and even Lucille, knowing how much she had paid Natalya, insisted that while they couldn't afford 5 star cuisine every day for every meal, they were not hungry. However Katyusha persisted to the point where Natalya backed down. Ivan knew to just take it and go along with it. Alfred would eat most anything except for that jar of Marmite that was left in their house that Arthur had brought along one time. She did save some for her and Matthew but gave most of it to the guests. Seeing what was still left, he went to the cupboard, grabbed a few storage containers and began to spoon the mashed potatoes in.
"You do not need to help me Matvey." Katyusha said as she looked over from the plates she was washing.
"Yes I do." Matthew said kissing her. "You made most all of this, I would be lacking in my duties as a husband and father if I did not."
"But I-" Katyusha began.
"Could use some help." Matthew insisted. "Charlotte's asleep. Kuma can now roam around but likes his dog bed after playing with the twins. His stomach is soothed. It's fine."
"We really need to get a new Christmas tree." Katyusha sighed. "The one we used to have doesn't quite sit well with me."
"Yeah. But we have to make sure Charlotte doesn't crawl into it. Or get hurt with it." Matthew said. "She's beginning to roll around and attempt to crawl." He then looked over at the large dog. "And yeah, Kuma shouldn't mess with it either."
"I worry that Charlotte might cause a problem more than Kuma." Katyusha said as she placed a plate in the drying rack after she rinsed it off. "Kuma listens well."
"What was that version of Santa you told me that you guys had at Christmastime?" Matthew said. "Dead something..."
"Ded Moroz." She said. "What of it?"
"We need to do something with that." Matthew said.
"I was talking to Fredka about the same thing. He likes the idea of combining your tradtions and teaching the children some of the ones Vanya, Natalya and I had growing up as well." Katyusha smiled. "Maybe someone dress up as Ded Moroz...although finding a costume may be tricky...and who could play him?"
"Ivan maybe?" Matthew suggested. "He's a big guy. Not fat! Not calling your brother fat or anything!"
"You're lucky Fredka isn't here," Katyusha laughed.
"Yeah I have a feeling he'd kick my butt for that..." Matthew sighed as he moved onto the stuffing and gravy.
"But you have a point." Katyusha said. "I do believe he could pull it off if we got a fake beard."
"Al told me he hated the idea of dressing up for Halloween." Matthew added.
"Well, he might be a little more willing to do this as it is for Christmas. And I have my ways with him as well." Katyusha smiled.
"He'd likely have killed me if you didn't" Matthew said remembering how last Thanksgiving he had been forced to tell everyone, including Ivan that he had lost his job when Katyusha had just recently become pregnant. Between Katyusha talking sense into Ivan and Alfred offering them a place to stay with them until they got on their feet and helping to be the pushing force behind trying for the job he saw on TV, it was them that got them were they were now and Matthew was grateful for it. Their families had helped to get them in a spot where they could take of the family of their own now.
"You know how Vanya is." Katyusha said as she put the last plate to dry. "He's protective of me and Natalya. You see it when he is dealing with Toris. Sometimes I think he's more protective of me than her..."
"Natalya can handle herself." Matthew said. While she didn't like him that much, Natalya liked Matthew a little more than she did Alfred but at the same time their relationship wasn't under pressure to improve by their child having her as a favorite aunt and not wanting to upset them.
"Yes I suppose that is part of the reason." Katyusha sighed, not wanting to keep the discussion up. She took the tea kettle and poured some water in and put it on the stove. "I am finished with those dishes. I need to let them dry then we can get on to the others..."
"I'll get them soaking at least." Matthew said as he kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you." She said as she prepared a cup and waited for the kettle to whistle. "But if Charlotte sleeps better, you must join me in your flannel." She added as Matthew blushed.
"Your sister was quite insistant on giving us the leftovers huh?" Toris said as they moved the food around in their fridge to make room for what Katyusha had given them.
"Yes." Natalya sighed. "Well we won't have to do as much grocery shopping when I get paid again..."
"You can say that again." Toris said as he sat down and looked up at the ceiling. "So, that was fun."
"Not as dramatic as last year." Natalya said as she got a bottle of water and sat down next to him. "I do have one of Nikita's gifts taken care of already."
"Already?" Toris jumped up.
"Yes, it's that Pretty Pretty Princess board game. Ordered it online after dinner." Natalya said.
"Okay, that's one gift down." Toris said.
"Please." Natalya said laying on his lap. "I have enough to worry about with the work due for the end of this semester, trying to help with the twin's pageant and your friend coming over for half of December. I trust what you say that he won't be a bad houseguest, but he still sounds off."
"I know you don't know Feliks like I do, so I'll let you judge him when you meet him." Toris sighed. "Speaking of, I have finals to get ready for too here soon..." He said looking at his medical school textbooks.
"Not today." Natalya said firmly. "Maybe tomorrow evening, but today is a holiday. It is important you use some time to rest. There will be time to live off coffee and instant ramen later." She said, practically quoting some of the things that Lucille had told her when was worrying about the midterms a few weeks earlier. Toris looked at her surprised. "I am sorry, that's what Ms. Bonnefoy told me when I was worried about my midterms earlier and much to my surprise of following her advice, it helped me study and pass with good grades."
"Oh." Toris said looking at her surprised. "I may take your advice then."
"Yes, we have enough to be worried about that will produce fun results at the end of next month." Natalya said. She looked around and paused. "And to be honest, I am worried more about Feliks being over than anything else."
"I know." Toris sighed. "I promise you, he won't be a burden."
"He better not." She scowled.
"Try not to work yourself too hard." Toris added. "I know you love the twins, and I agree it would be a good idea to help out with their pageant a little, but don't take on too much. Like Lucille says. You have a bad habit of that." He kissed her on the cheek. "Worry is not a good look for you."
"Nor is it you." She told him looking up at him. "You are slowly getting more confident with my brother, and I can see why you would find him intimidating, but you do not need to fear him. With the fact that you are Dimitri's favorite uncle and a good friend of Alfred's you have good allies in so called way to help him get used to you. It's not like you never spoke to anyone to just tell everyone you lost your job when your wife fell pregnant," She smiled remembering the year before."
"I remember that." Toris smiled. "I am surprised we just got a little talking to from him when we had our scare."
"I could not have done it without Katyusha talking me through it all." Natalya sighed looking up at the ceiling at that memory.
"Your family treats us so well." Toris said. "You are very fortunate to have people like them, even if you do not like Matthew and Alfred that much."
"I know." Natalya sighed and held him close. "And I cannot wait for Christmas, no matter how crazy it will be."
"I feel much the same." Toris added as he pulled her close and kissed her deeply. "I love you Talya."
"I hate that nickname..." Natalya said with a blush that told Toris that no matter how much she protested against it, she did like it a little bit. "I love you too Toris." She smiled back pulling him close to her. "You are the best man I have ever met."
"And you are the most beautiful and strong woman I have." He replied. She looked at him and blushed when she felt his heart race as with hers. "Oh, I have stocked back up on certain things if you kept up with your medication..." As much as he loved her, and thought she was beautiful and how much he wanted to make love to her when they did, and he was going through medical school, some things he could never quite bring himself to say when they were in the throws of passion but Natalya was adamant to help reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy and would refuse to go any further when they were out of condoms or she had not gotten her birth control in a few days.
"Yes I have been taking my birth control regularly and I saw you bought more condoms." Natalya rolled her eyes. "I would not mind if we used some." She whispered in his ear. "But seriously you are in medical school, why do you have issues with that?"
"Maybe because your beauty wipes my mind and composure clear and I cannot find the words to describe them?" Toris smirked.
"God that's corny." She rolled her eyes as she took his hand and led him back to the bedroom. "But I do love you despite that." She added when she pulled him close to her, took off his dress shirt and shut the door to the bedroom behind them.
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. The holiday arc is my plan before I end this and do the timeskip sequel to this fic. How long, and how many chapters, I don't know but I have a few of the main points planned. You know however with Feliks in the mix, it's going to make things interesting. And yes while I love my Kcup brewer and have waaaaaaaay too many that I stocked up on when tax season started and I first got it, I can imagine that Arthur would think tea made in one beneath him, being a snob. But if you get up that early to snag your grandkids gifts, you wouldn't have time to be picky. Anyway, I don't have much else to say here, so remember to read, well you just did, and to review. Ciao for now,
otherrealmwriter
aka
Realm.