I do not own Hetalia okay? I am glad this story is getting such a good response so I figured I would update sooner. Things may get busy at work this week, just don't know yet. But anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

Once the shock of what Katyusha had to say had worn off, and Matthew felt a little more comfortable about how he was going to handle his career, even though he was now nervous Ivan would be breathing down his neck, living in the same house, discussion turned more pleasantly.

"So, mon cher ami," Francis asked turning to Katyusha "Do you have a due date yet?"

"Yes, how far along?" Arthur asked.

"Well, I don't have an exact due date yet, but the doctor said sometime in the end of May." She explained.

"Is it too early to find out the gender?" Arthur asked.

"Still a little, but we should know by Christmas." Katyusha replied.

Matthew took Alfred by the shoulder and moved into the corner of the room. "Let Katy have her fame."

"Well that's not quite how you should be talking about it, I mean you helped too bro." Alfred nudged.

"Thanks so much for what you and Ivan are doing. I mean you don't have to and I get the feeling that Ivan doesn't want to." Matthew sighed.

"Well, more for Katy than you to be honest." Alfred shrugged. Matthew's face fell. "But that's no reason to be downing yourself. This could have happened to anyone. Honestly, Ivan is just very protective of his sisters. They're some of the last family he's got and just wants the best for them. You know that. And after what she had to do to help make sure that he and Natalya had a good life, I think he wants to make sure that she gets thanked too. Now go have some of the dessert out there. I know Katy insisted on making her baklava and it was pretty good. Papa hasn't drunk all the wine yet. It's a holiday. This weekend, we can help move you in." Alfred then poured himself a drink. "I have to get to sleep early. Papa insisted I come with him to that outlet mall not too far from here."

"That post-thanksgiving sale? Lucky you. I was with him once. There's a reason I said never again." Matthew smiled.

"Well it's always busy this time of year. I mean there comes Christmas, then 5 days later Ivan's birthday, then a week after that we'll have to do a proper Epiphany like back in Russia….." Alfred sighed, "Especially with Katy here. Thank God Natalya will be busy back on campus….."

"You really don't like her?" Matthew sighed as he had a piece of pumpkin pie, headed to the fridge, pulled out some of the syrup and poured it on the pie.

"Dude, I have some cool whip laying out already if you want it." Alfred said sticking his tongue out. "That seems really gross."

"It's not. I put maple syrup on everything like this. Try it." Matthew said as he stuck a piece on his fork and chased after Alfred.

"No!" Alfred ran from his brother.

"Just try it!"

"No!"

"Pweeese?" Matthew said as he put on the puppy dog eyes, the ones he knew he could get his brother to do anything with. "For your favorite brother…"

"You're my only brother!"

Natalya rolled her eyes at their antics. She looked over to find Toris laughing and nudged him in the side. "Seriously, they are grown men!" She mumbled under her breath. She looked over to Katyusha who seemed to find it funny, Ivan who said nothing but didn't look like he was annoyed and over to Alfred and Matthew's fathers who were seeming to bicker over something stupid again. "Will you two take charge of your sons?" she growled. This did not seem to have been noticed by the older men. "I guess I will have to put a stop to this." She said as Alfred and Matthew had run closer to her, she stuck out her foot. Matthew had jumped over her foot, but not seeing it, Alfred tripped and fell over her foot. "Well now, that's put an end to that." She said with a taunting smile. Alfred stuck his tongue out at her and gave her a thumbs up.

"You know damn well what that means." Alfred said as he got up and brushed himself off.

"Well someone had to be a parent, and since your fathers can be as childish as you sometimes, I had to do something." Natalya said calmly back, sticking up her middle finger.

Alfred rolled his eyes and looked at his watch. It still was early in the evening but the way Francis was with getting the best designer anything at a price that Arthur would find reasonable, meant that he was planning to head out to the stores when they opened. Which while not as bad as some of the bigger retail stores, which opened at midnight that night, it was a bit too early for Alfred's liking. He normally did not get up until 9 or 10 on days he worked. A perk of working remotely. He headed over to Francis who was now arguing the same topic with Arthur himself.

"I just don't see why you can't just order it all online if you must have these items. You can usually find them much cheaper and can do it at any time. One would call getting up at 4:30 in the morning hardly reasonable." Arthur sighed.

"Well I am not taking you with me!" Francis said in a haughty huff.

"Did you just say FOUR THIRTY IN THE MORNING?" Alfred said in shock.

"Yes mon fils, four thirty tomorrow morning. Quatre heures trente du matin. Any questions? You will be my driver and could use this as a good opportunity to get some of your shopping done as well. Mathieu will not do the same with me after what he called the cologne incident." Francis said.

"The cologne incident?" Alfred asked.

"Oui. Apparently he had wanted to head to a bench outside of the store and wait for me. Why, I don't know. This was just last year so he did have dear Katyusha to shop for as well and there was a dress I ended up getting for her that looks lovely and I guess I was good with sizing. But he would know just how one would fit his own wife better." Francis said as he yelled over to Matthew. He was still rather upset that he would not join his shopping expedition this year. Matthew was the one who would drive, and be quiet and if he wasn't going to shop would just sit on a bench outside or wait patiently. Alfred, well if some woman got too violent over an item and he got caught in the crossfire, it would be rather unpleasant for all involved. Arthur simply refused to take part, so Francis had to swallow his pride and ask Alfred to help after much begging.

"I told you Papa, I am not going through that craziness again. Besides, I like sleeping in to at least sunrise!" Matthew said back as he held onto Katyusha who giggled at the comment.

"Well, back to the story. He headed to one of the benches outside of the store but had to cross through the perfume department. Samples were being sprayed all over, he was bumped into several times and run over by a lady with a stroller. As he got back up, one of the clerks, as Matthew wiped off his glasses, sprayed him in the face with a harsh cologne. It was then he swore never again, and I am left having you be the one to escort your dearest papa to do the gift shopping, no?" Francis smiled.

"I still don't know how you talked me into it, but you did." Alfred sighed. "So I have to get to bed at like 8 in the evening like I am 6 years old again…"

"Sorry dorogoy?" Ivan said as he came over to Alfred. Natalya had taken talking to Katyusha and he had wanted to make sure his husband was alright.

"I needed to see when Papa wanted to get up to do his Christmas shopping." He gave Francis an evil look. "So I will be going to bed pretty early. Just don't wake me when you come in for the night." He kissed Ivan on the cheek. "Sorry we won't get to work off that turkey." With this he heard Francis laugh as Arthur smacked him.

"Alfred at least tried to hide the innuendo, you didn't need to point it out by laughing in that obnoxious French laugh of yours Frog."

"Just where will you be shopping svekor?" Ivan asked, wrapping his arm around his husband as Alfred held onto him close. They were his family too through marriage and he knew how much Alfred cared about them, even if they drove him insane with their bickering. He figured it would be best to let Katyusha and Natalya have some girl time together and keep Natalya away from Alfred. As much as Ivan did not like that his sister and his husband did not get along, it was what it was.

"I keep telling you Ivan, you can call me Papa or Francis if you don't want to do that. No need to be so formal with that Russian 'father-in-law.'" Francis laughed. "But no, you know that designer outlet mall just off the interstate, not too far from this place?"

"Da," Ivan nodded.

"There." Francis nodded.

"Why can't you get that fancy stuff online?" Alfred moaned.

"Because I won't know it's real." Francis said firmly. "I've been burned before by online retailers."

"Well why don't you go to the company's website directly to buy?" Ivan asked.

"Oh ho ho ho ho….." Francis laughed. "I do not like waiting for shipping for one. For two, have you seen how Arthur gets when I pay full retail for this stuff? No, this will have to do."

"Do you mind if I join you and Fredka sve-I mean Francis?" Ivan asked, causing Alfred's mouth to drop in shock.

"You sure about that hun?" Alfred asked.

"Well," Ivan dropped his voice so Katyusha and Matthew wouldn't hear. "Francis may want to go to those stores with the designer clothes, which I see no real use for…."

"Well I never." Francis pouted.

"But there are a few stores for children there too. We can get a lot of shopping for Katyusha and Matvey done while they have those obnoxious sales."

"That's the spirit mon fils!" Francis said. "Well till the morning, Au revoir! I need my beauty sleep."

Alfred then smiled as he shoved Ivan off. "So why did you really decide to go with me? It wasn't to buy baby stuff."

"Well that was a partial truth I told your Papa." Ivan said as he picked Alfred up and kissed him. "I would be fool not to take advantage of something that's there when I have an ulterior motive."

"Which is?" Alfred said as he kissed Ivan's nose.

"You did so well keeping your manners with Natalya that the worst that happened was she ate one of your father's scones-and amazingly did not get sick- "

"What? You said she didn't get sick?" Arthur asked. "HEAR THAT FROG! MY SCONES ARE NOT POISON!"

"I need my beauty sleep! Shut up!" Francis said as he was walking away from the kitchen.

"But you set her up for that, and just flipped her off. I saw you doing your thumbs up trick. I regret teaching you about that sometimes…." Ivan sighed with a slight regretful laugh. "Shows you are at least tolerating her better. So if you suffered through that on a holiday get together when I know how furious you are she brought Toris unannounced, then I will suffer with you." He kissed Alfred deeply. "And we can still work off that turkey." He whispered in Alfred's ear with a wink.

"Well I have to get this mess cleaned up." Alfred sighed.

"I have that." Matthew said as he headed into the kitchen, followed by Katyusha.

"I do as well." Katyusha said as she carried the various dishes from the table and put away the leftovers. "You see Matvey and I heard his Papa talk about the plans for tomorrow and your brave offering to that madness. My coworkers are dreading tomorrow and if you and Fredka are scared, little brother, then I know it is not something you would not do unless you really cared about each other. Francis is lucky to have a son like you and Matvey."

"You guys sure you got all this?" Alfred asked.

"Go to bed Al." Matt said. "You have been more than generous to us and it is only fair that we help out around the house." He said as he pushed both Alfred and Ivan out.

"Well I suggest we follow your brother's advice." Ivan whispered flirtatiously and kissed Alfred.

"Well I think we should go now….." Natalya said as she grabbed Toris and ran out. Ivan waved goodbye and carried his husband up to their bedroom.

Early the next morning, Alfred woke up in Ivan's arms, still naked from their escapades the night before. He looked over at the alarm clock and saw it was a few minutes before 4 in the morning. A loud lurching noise was heard from the nearby bathroom. Not wanting Ivan to have to wake up before he had agreed to, he put on a pair of pajama pants and headed out. "Hello?" he asked.

"Oh…." Katyusha said as she looked out the door. "Did I wake you Fredka? I am so very sorry…."

"Don't be." Alfred said. "Morning sickness comes with the territory. I needed to get up early to make my Papa happy. Just make sure you get the rest you need." Katyusha said tearfully as she hugged him.

"Thank you so much. I know Vanya could pick a good man to marry."

Alfred looked around blushing. "No worries." He then pulled her out of her hug and walked her to the room they were staying in. "Just get some rest." She curled back into her bed and held onto Matthew as he sighed and seeing that he was needed to get up soon anyway, decided to just grab the clothes he had laid out and took a shower before heading to wake up Ivan. "Vanya…. No backsies on what you said you would do."

"Fredka? Up already?" Ivan said rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah big guy. Morning sickness is hitting your sister pretty early but other than that, everything is very quiet." He kissed Ivan on the cheek.

"I'll be down in a few minutes." Ivan sighed as Alfred headed into the kitchen to find a pot of coffee already brewed and Francis standing beside it sipping it.

"Give me a cup. Big one." Alfred sighed.

"Here. I found that travel up in your cabinet. You drink coffee like Arthur drinks tea."

"I need some of that too." Ivan sighed.

"Damn, you know it's bad when you need coffee…." Alfred teased.

"And you will get us breakfast when this is done frog." Ivan sighed. "I don't know why I agreed to this…."

"Now you feel my pain." Alfred said drinking the coffee. "But normally it's just Dad calling Papa frog. Why you using it too?"

"Because this is unnatural. However, like I said last night, if you had to suffer my sister's foolishness, I will suffer your father's foolishness with you." Ivan sighed.

"Well let's move along. I must get Arthur that new Burberry scarf as the poor thing has been doing with a fake one since his birthday. And he doesn't even know…Well, I won't get fooled again!"

"Or how about you don't shop for Dad at the last minute at the flea market. Anything designer there is fake." Alfred said.

"Is a great place for fresh vegetables and flowers." Ivan said as he headed to the car and started it to warm it up. He sat in the driver's seat, Alfred taking shotgun and Francis in the back. They drove along in relative silence except for Francis singing Christmas carols quietly in French. Once they arrived at the outlet mall, Francis got out.

"I am heading over to the Burberry story first. Anyone care to join me?"

"Nah. You go ahead. We'll wait for the crowds to die down and reduce trampling risk." Alfred sighed as Ivan laughed. "Just meet back here when you're done."

"Fine." Francis said as he walked away.

"Your family is nuts." Ivan sighed.

"Yeah." Alfred admitted as he sipped more of his coffee. "But they are mine and yours too. Wouldn't have it any other way. Never is boring I can tell you that. So what would be good to get Katy for Christmas? I already have that Wayne Gretzky in sexy poses calendar ordered for Matt…." Ivan looked at him weird. "He's huge into hockey, huge Wayne Gretzky fan and as he is my brother there must be one gag gift."

"Well I would love to see what his gag gift to you is then. See which one of you is better at making an ass out of each other." Ivan sighed as he laid the seat back. "Wake me when the sun comes up then we'll head to that Babies R Us place. I think I will get Matvey and Katyusha a few pieces of furniture to set themselves up for the baby."

"I got what I can get Katy!" Alfred smiled as he pulled out a napkin from the car's glove box and wrote down a list.

"What?" Ivan moaned with his eyes closed.

"A foot soaking tub and some maternity clothes. We don't know if it's a boy or girl just yet so we can't get too much for clothes unless it's gender neutral."

"Da, you have a point…." Ivan sighed.

"And it's starting to get brighter in the east. Let's get this over with. Sooner we're done, the sooner we can come back and sleep in the car and then when Papa is back force him to take us to IHOP for pancakes."

"Matvey would be disappointed…." Ivan said as he got out of the car.

"Well he needs to grow a spine sometimes. If he was more confident like he was when he played hockey growing up, then he'd have no trouble in life." Alfred said.

"Da, he doesn't seem to have enough confidence in himself." He agreed as they headed to do their shopping.

"I got this myself Vanya." Alfred motioned to his napkin list. "Some of your gifts are here too."

"Hurry back." Ivan smiled kissing Alfred on the lips.

"Surprised we didn't freeze together." Alfred laughed. "And I will. No peeking."

"Awwwww spoiled the fun." Ivan teased. Looking back at the stores, he sighed, "chetyre tridtsat' utra."

Translation Guide: Obtained via Google Translate:

mon cher ami-French-my dear friend

mon fils-French-my son

Quatre heures trente du matin-French- four thirty in the morning.

Dorogoy-Russian-Darling

Svekor-Russian-father-in-law

chetyre tridtsat' utra-Russian- Four thirty in the morning

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. This is going to be family fluff so not everything is action and sex. But big issues are Matt's career and needing confidence, Katyusha's pregnant, Alfred and Natalya HATE each other and Ivan is critical of everything Matt does. But there's tons more to come. So remember to read (well you just did) and review. Ciao for now,

Otherrealmwriter

Aka

Realm.