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Part 3: Chapter 6: Mittens To Keep You Warm

It was late in the evening and Belarus and England were back at England's home. The World Meeting was tomorrow mid-afternoon for the gift exchange and England had just taken an arctic roll out of the oven.

Belarus had finished up his mittens while he was making the arctic roll for when they'd see Russia at the world meeting tomorrow. She'd put them in a small box, and wrapped it with' a bright red bow on top. She placed it next to England's wrapped present, which contained Russia's handmade scarf, and stood at the counter to watch him place the roll in the freezer.

He turned and jumped a bit, startled at seeing her there. "You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days. Maybe you should invest in a bell."

In response she made a hissing sound. England had once pointed out that she held some similar characteristics to a cat with how quietly she walked around, and her love of cardboard boxes. She then suggested that one day they should invest in a cat, she'd seen one that reminded her of him at the Cat Museum in Minsk and wondered if it was still there. He'd said the next time they were in Minsk they could check.

England gave her a small smile before he looked over at the other present next to his. "That looks nicely wrapped," He muttered, "I should've had you wrap my gift." England then turned to her again, "Do you think Russia will like my gift?"

Belarus nodded. "You handmade it for him. Also you're giving it to him, not me." She muttered a bit bitterly.

"Things are different now, it'll take some time to get used to but I'm sure eventually he'll be happy when you give him something too."

Belarus wasn't too hopeful. She'd been acting the way she had towards Russia as long as she could remember being alive, his hesitancy around her wasn't going to go away. She was foolish for thinking one trip to his house was going to change things.

Belarus sat on the couch, a frown on her face, hugging herself. And soon she felt the couch shift and sink a bit as England joined her,

"If it makes you feel any better I'm not on the best terms with my older brothers either. " Belarus was a bit surprised that England had more brothers, she'd just assumed he had America and that little boy who liked to declare he was a nation but wasn't. She couldn't remember his name.

Was he just a human that England adopted? Or was it Sweden who adopted him?

But back to the important matter at hand.

"You have big brothers? Why have you not devoted yourself to them?"

England looked at her and blanched. "I-I would never devote myself to those bastards. All they wanted to do was take advantage of me and beat me up because I was small and weak!"

She blinked at him owlishly. England took a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm pretty sure they all hate me. Feeling is mutual, I never truly got over how terrible they were when I was growing up and I haven't visited them in years. But look who's the representative now, not them." His expression was more arrogant as he gave out a haughty laugh.

Belarus couldn't imagine being on such bad terms with Ukraine or Russia, so much so, as to not have seen them in years unless it were for political reasons. He hasn't even mentioned any of them by name. She did not want this to be their fate.

She looked at England pointedly. "I do not want that."

"If at least one of you cares then it's enough to keep you together. So you can't give up now."

"You're right." She said, a bit more determined before she stood up. "I am going to buy Big Brother a bottle of vodka for Christmas!" She said and stalked towards the door.

"Wait! Do you even have money on you right now?"

She'd had money in her pocket all day and had been weighing her options on if she should get Russia something or not.

She didn't respond before going out the door and closing it behind her.

Belarus stepped out into the cold December air without a coat, scarf or winter boots. She didn't feel the coldness, her one track mind focused on obtaining the vodka. She trekked further and further from England's house.

Her mary jane's crunched against the fallen snow, as she walked along the trail into town. The soft glow of the moon illuminated the path ahead. In the Countryside, there was a twenty minute walk to the nearest store. Suddenly she felt a weight on her shoulders. She looked over to see England.

"You left without a coat, idiot." He said, clad in a scarf and pea coat. Belarus shrugged her arms into the blue down coat on her shoulders.

"It wasn't as if I could die from the cold anyway." She said, noticing the blush ever present on his cheeks.

"Well…I wouldn't have wanted to drag your frozen corpse back to my house."

"Just admit you didn't want to let me out of your sight." Belarus said, a mischievous smile creeping onto her face.

"No! I didn't care that you wanted to go to the store alone. I-I just didn't want to inconvenience myself with dealing with you if you'd gotten sick."

Belarus gripped his arm. "Whatever you say." She pressed herself closer to him.

"I suppose I'll have to go with you now." He muttered, although not objecting to her action.

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Belarus had Ukraine, Russia and England's gifts in her arms as she walked into the meeting room with England right behind her. The snack table was pushed into the meeting room to hold the gifts for the Secret Santa gift exchange. Another table was for food, because some nations liked to cook for this meeting. Belarus set England's gift down next to the other gifts. Nation's were already mingling as a playlist of Christmas music of various national origins played.

Belarus walked up to Ukraine and gave her, her gift, a necklace.

"Oh sweet sister! You got me a gift! How thoughtful! I scrounged up enough to get you something too!" Ukraine said taking her gift and producing a small gift box.

Belarus took it with a nod.

"Did Russia mention we were planning to visit you in the spring?"

Ukraine shook her head. "Oh but that would be so wonderful if you did!" Ukraine pulled her into a hug, squishing her face into the other woman's large bosom. Belarus felt her cheeks warm with blush.

Ukraine let her go before smiling at her with glee. "Well I'll visit you for sure. I'm not sure if Russia will, our relationship is sort of rocky now."

"Oh. I'm sure you two will work it out." Ukraine said with a curt nod.

"I hope so." Belarus said before going over to the snack table.

Belgium made waffles and she wanted one. While munching on a waffle she noticed England was talking to Russia, showing him the arctic roll he'd made. Russia looked nervous as England held a piece to his mouth with a fork. His eyes darted in her direction, fear present in his glance. Belarus gave him a nod. Russia ate the piece of sponge cake, swallowing it with hesitance, before a smile spread on his face.

"So it really is true." Belarus turned to France, who was beside her with mistletoe on his head.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "It is sweet to see in person, that you are in love with England."

"But he is not in love with me." She said, voice flat.

"Ah but I think you are wrong on that one, mon cheri ." France said, with an air of mischief.

Belarus wanted to believe that, but England already told her that he couldn't. He did care and Belarus accepted that that was enough for now.

"Don't you even think about enacting mistletoe on me. I will slice off your tongue." Belarus said and France laughed.

"I like my tongue where it is, merci. But...too late." He said before she felt the soft press of his lips on her cheek.

Belarus was going to slice France's tongue but then Germany called for everyone's attention.

"Now that everyone is here, I would like to thank you for coming to our annual nation secret Santa gift exchange. Now you all can grab your gifts from the table and give them to your recipient." Germany said before the nation's started handing out their gifts.

Belarus went to grab her gift for England, and bumped into Lithuania.

"Lady Belarus! Merry Christmas." He said presenting her with a small wrapped gift.

"Dziakuj, Lithuania." She said grabbing the gift from Lithuania. "And I'm sorry about using you to make Russia jealous. It was wrong of me." She continued.

"I forgive you. At least it worked out in the end."

"You are not sad anymore? No nightmares?"

"I thought about what you'd said on our last visit to Russia's and it seems like England makes you happy; so I'm happy." He said, giving her a smile.

"So are you in love with Big Brother now?"

"Well not exactly. I'm not in love with anyone right now. I'm going to focus on myself and my friendships a bit more."

Belarus nodded, good advice . She was doing the same with her family.

"If you excuse me, I have to give England and Russia their gifts." She said and the other nation gave her a nod.

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Russia took the arctic roll and happily munched on it as Germany announced the beginning of the gift exchange.

Good, he's in a good mood, so he won't be too upset if the gift is terrible.

England grabbed the gift from his satchel that was slung over his shoulder. Russia's eyes widened as he looked in another direction. England followed his gaze to see Belarus receive a gift from Lithuania. England snapped his glance back at Russia, who was now physically shivering.

"M-Merry Christmas Russia." England said holding the gift out to him hesitantly.

Russia looked at him, blinking but not saying a word. England felt his heart thump against his rib cage and his palms sweat. He was so terrified of what Russia would do to him.

Russia set down the half eaten arctic roll on the meeting room conference table.

"You are my secret Santa, da?" Russia asked him and England nodded with a gulp, not trusting his words.

Russia took the gift before opening it right in front of him. England's heart sank to his stomach, there was no escape now.

Russia pulled out the scarf before wrapping it over his other one. His smile was wide and England wanted to throw up from fear. Before England could move Russia pulled him into a bone crushing hug.

This is it. He's going to kill me by snapping my spine in half.

"I love it, thank you." Russia said. England felt a warm blush on his cheeks and overwhelming relief.

"N-no p-problem ole chap." He said after Russia let him go, voice still uneven.

"Belarus was right about your pastry. Bring another one the next time you visit, da."

England took a breath to calm himself, "About time someone appreciates my cooking. I'll be sure to." England felt pride swell in his chest.

"Well England I have to go give Latvia his gift, excuse me." Russia said with a nod and grabbed his arctic roll before going past him.

Well that went better than I expected.

England saw America give Lithuania his gift, cheeks red with blush. His body language was bashful, a stark contrast to his usual confident and arrogant behaviour. Lithuania looked surprised before he accepted the gift. Lithuania's body language was warm and inviting.

Hmm if I didn't know any better I'd say America fancies Lithuania.

England checked his watch.

It's almost time.

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Belarus gave Russia his gift, he'd given her a curt nod in thanks before he hurried over to Latvia. She noticed he was wearing the scarf England made him and it made butterflies rumble in her stomach. She was pleased they were getting along.

She walked up to England and presented her gift to him.

"Thank you, I'll open it when we get–."

"Open it now." She demanded. Her heart pounded in her chest, and in her throat.

England let out a chuckle. She'd never heard him genuinely laugh before. There was something melodic about the rare sound. In that moment she decided she wanted to hear it for the rest of her days.

"Alright, I'll humour you this once." He opened the box containing the mittens. He pulled them out.

"You made these?" He asked and Belarus nodded eagerly.

"Ah now it makes sense." He said, putting them on before cupping her face in his mitten covered hands. "I adore them." He said, nose just inches from her own.

Her cheeks warmed with blush, she fluttered her eyelids closed and leaned upwards. But did not feel his lips upon her own. She blinked them open to see England further away from her, mitten covered hand wrapped around one of hers.

"Come on. It's almost time." He said, pulling her towards the exit. They were still wearing their coats as England led them outside of the meeting room and onto the sidewalk of the street.

"Time for what?" She asked as England gripped her other hand in his own.

"Belarus, I don't know how you did it. But I know one thing, I love you and I'm sorry it took me so long to figure that out."

Belarus felt her heart leap into her throat. She blinked. She couldn't speak. She couldn't believe this was actually happening.

"I want to spend the rest of my days with you, if you'll have me." He continued. She looked into his emerald green eyes and nodded vigorously.

Yes, a thousand times yes.

He leaned down, connecting their lips in a kiss. She fluttered her eyes closed before a small smile involuntarily spread on her face as he pulled away.

"And look, we're just in time." England gestures to the horizon. Belarus wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her head on his chest. He returned her embrace, as she turned her head toward the horizon.

They watched as the sun set, lighting the sky in an array of oranges, reds, and purples before it went down. The stars soon lit up the sky, an ending to a perfect day.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Criticism Welcome.