I don't own Hetalia okay? I'm glad to see this fic is getting such a good response so I will try to update it more often. It's a little easier with some of my others than this one, but hey, you like it so I will work on it more often than some of my others. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

Matthew woke up early that day and headed into the bathroom, half asleep. It was all known what he had tried to hide from his family. Despite Alfred telling him what happened could have happened to anyone, it still did not completely ease his mind. Well at least our savings won't be totally decimated. Yet. He thought as he looked over at Katyusha's sleeping form. He had felt her get out of the bed earlier in the morning and thought he had heard a bout of morning sickness and knowing that, he let her sleep a little more. She was a strong matronly woman, but she also had a soft heart at times and cried easily. The hormones are going to make things worse. He quickly put on a pair of slippers and a t-shirt and headed into the kitchen he had paid extra detail to make sure was clean. He knew that Ivan was looking for any reason to criticize him. Alfred wouldn't let anything be said on the job loss factor, but the tension was going to be rising now that they were sharing a house. And it wasn't like he'd have relief during the week while they were at work, as Ivan's job didn't make him come in very often.

Heading into the kitchen, he smelled the coffee that Francis had made hours before. Papa, Al and Ivan are going to be out for a while. Last time I went Christmas shopping with Papa he had me out half the day. Pouring himself a cup, and getting the maple syrup out of the fridge, he turned to find Arthur behind him.

"It's a holiday." Arthur smiled.

"Well, yesterday was. We wouldn't even be here if Katy's boss wasn't understanding." Matthew sighed, stirring the syrup in the old coffee.

"Letting the fair maiden have a lie in?" He asked. Matthew nodded. "Good, we're not out of eggs and bread, I think I will make us something for breakfast."

"You could set a bowl of cereal on fire Dad." Matthew sighed. "This syrup is maple flavored." He said shuddering.

"Well you are getting unemployment are you not?" Arthur asked, ignoring his son's slight on his cooking. "You can use that to buy some groceries and get the syrup you want."

Matthew stared into the coffee cup, swirling it around. Here he was jobless with a pregnant wife having to live with his brother, which is only because he knew Al wouldn't have him live out of the car or a shitty apartment while Katyusha had to work a menial job to help out when she wasn't expecting. He had an impression if it was up to Ivan, then only Katyusha would stay and he'd have to find some way to support himself. Ivan was too close to his family to turn them out when they needed it, but he had an impression that he liked him as much as Alfred liked Natalya. Which was to say, not much. He saw his reflection in the brown, syrupy liquid and sighed. "Did I make the right decision?"

"On what son?" Arthur asked as he placed the bread in the frying pan and cracked the eggs.

"Everything since I graduated high school." Matthew sighed. "Like did I pick the wrong major, should I have just stayed away from Katy and dumped her when I found out Al and Ivan were dating, just ugggggghhhhh! I feel like I should have ignored what I was good at and just went with fucking accounting. That's a stable career! Or become a freaking lumberjack!" He slammed his coffee cup on the table, spilling it over the place. Arthur placed plates of eggs on toast in front of him and sat down.

"You're stressed out. Anxious and worried. Everything you think is natural." Arthur said.

"Here we go again…." He rolled his eyes. "It's not like I haven't heard this before."

"Well maybe you need to have it sink in." Arthur looked at his son sternly. "I have raised 3 boys at the same time, I know a few things." Matthew looked at his father confused. "You have seen how Francis acts sometimes. There were times you were the more mature one than even he was. So to start with the first question, no you did not. You have a life to live and if you want to not come home and be suffering with crippling depression, working in a field you hate just because of the job options does no one any good. Neither for your mind or the company. If you don't like the job, you won't carry it out to your full potential. And frankly, while I think you'd be able to handle it as a lumberjack, it is a dangerous job and would worry poor Katyusha too much. And you've loved her from the day you met, or at least that was in your vows correct?" Matthew nodded. "You wanted to be there for her, to help her out and would move heaven and earth to make her happy?"

"Why do you remember so much of my vows?" Matthew asked.

"I remember well when Francis cries into my shoulder incessantly on things like that." Arthur said. "Honestly didn't you say you had first asked Katyusha out about October of your third year?"

"Yes." Matthew nodded.

"Well by that faulty logic of yours on matters of the heart, then you need to get Alfred to leave Ivan. They didn't start dating until December of that year. Go up to your brother and say 'my wife's brother doesn't like me and since I started dating her before you dated your husband you should break up with him to ease this.' How well would that go?"

"Likely you'd be visiting Al and Ivan in jail because they would be convicted of my murder. That is if Katy didn't kill one of them first." Matthew sighed.

"So, Miss Katyusha has a fiery side in her." Arthur said. "Be careful around her. Her hormones won't have her knowing just what to do with herself."

"Must be the Eastern European in them." Matthew said.

"I am not here to tell you to do this or do that. But I am here to help you see some things you may not be able to for whatever reason. Cannot say this time of year is not hectic in good times. But you will face things like this in life. From what I could tell, Alfred already is in your corner on the matter and will talk to Ivan if he gets too harsh on you. You may want to tell Katyusha too."

"She does seem to have a few things she could say." Matthew nodded. "She had only one semester of community college done by the time her great uncle died. She had given it up to make sure that Ivan and Natalya had a decent shot at things. She was 18 and worked in various jobs to keep them fed and graduated."

"She's 5 years older than Ivan," Arthur noted and Matthew nodded. "Taking on such a responsibility at such an age. I think that is why she isn't as torn up visibly as you are. And she may want to use that fact that she was like a mother figure to her siblings to her advantage if Ivan causes too much tension. He won't say a thing to Natalya and I can tell that if he were forced to name favorite siblings, Katyusha is his favorite.

"Are you suggesting me have my wife manipulate her brother into liking me?" Matthew said shocked.

"Not exactly. Just telling you for perspective reasons. But I am also thinking the fact she did step up like that to them is why he's acting like he is." Arthur noticed Matthew's face fall. "I am sure Alfred will have your back and if he doesn't let me know. I will and I will talk sense into whoever needs it."

"You seemed scared of Ivan when Alfred first brought him to meet you." Matthew laughed.

"Well I have gotten to know the man a little more over the years and when it comes to my boys, I will do anything for you. Swallow the fears and everything." At this, footsteps were heard as Katyusha headed into the kitchen.

"Good Morning my darling Matvey." She said sitting beside him and kissing him on the cheek. "And you too Mr. Kirkland."

"Please, that is too formal." Arthur blushed. "I have some breakfast left at the stove if you are hungry."

"And it isn't horribly toxic for once." Matthew said as Katyusha laughed.

"I think I will have some. Thank you Arthur." She said as she took the eggs and sat down beside Matthew once again. "Did you prepare some tea?"

"Yes I did, let me get you a cup." Arthur got up.

"I take it Vanya and Fredka are still out?" She noted.

"Yep. They'll probably be dead tired after dealing with Papa out there." Katyusha giggled. "What's so funny."

"Oh your brother and Vanya both are very strong and full of head strong energy. The idea a Frenchman willing to get up early and go shopping wearing them out is hilarious. I swear they were going to throw each other across the dorm room when they first met."

"They had a few classes together before that and acted that way there too. If you were to tell me they'd be married a few years later, I'd laugh at you." Matthew drank some of his coffee. Arthur placed a cup for Katyusha in front of her and then turned to her.

"Matthew tells me that your presence got Ivan to apologize for his actions in said fight." Katyusha nodded.

"What most people don't understand about him is that while he may look scary if he knows and trusts you, he holds you in the highest regard. And will do anything to protect those he loves." She explained. "But so will I and you are a person I love dearly Matvey."

Meanwhile, Alfred and Ivan had finished their shopping and were asleep in the car when Francis rapped on the window. "Sacre bleu! It is freezing out here and you locked the door!"

"Sorry." Ivan said as he unlocked the door and let him in.

"Are you finally done?" Alfred asked as he sipped his coffee, which had fallen cold while they were away from the car. "If I want my coffee iced, this isn't it…."

"I've seen you drink coffee that had been left in the pot for a week before." Ivan said.

"That was when I was in college on finals week." Alfred said. He then turned to his papa and smiled. "I guess now you take us to get something to eat."

"Yes you frog." Ivan scowled. "I will never do this again. We got through with what we needed safely." He adjusted his seat and looked at Francis. "I cannot say the same for you."

"You would be surprised at some of the unrefined filth who go into some of these sales. Like they don't know how to act in public." Francis pouted.

"Spill, what happened." Alfred said.

"Fine some fat woman with 3 kids cut in front of me in line. I say something along the lines of a simple, 'how rude' and she hits me in the face!" Francis said. "But there is something I learned about that I wish to research more and hear what you two have to say, as you are locals to this."

Great, Papa has a brilliant idea…. Dad's already going to flip out on him for that shiner he got. Alfred sighed and the turned to Francis. "Breakfast. Now. Once we have something to eat, Vanya and I will hear you out."

"Da." Ivan said. "I have pulled as you say, all-nighters that left me less tired."

"Fine, fine, now where did you want to go?" Francis said.

Alfred motioned Ivan closer so that they could discuss this so that Francis couldn't hear. "So do you want to run up a tab or just take him a place Mr. Snooty Frog there wouldn't be caught dead in?"

"Humiliation or cost…..hmmmm…" Ivan thought aloud. "No matter where we go we should bring back something for Matthew and Katyusha….."

"Not a bad idea. What about McDonalds…." Alfred offered.

"Humiliation of Francis, yes. Cost, not so much."

"Burger King?"

"Same thing."

"IHOP?"

"Well, that one is a little pricier but I don't think Francis would be so embarrassed to be seen there." Ivan noted.

"Wait a minute," Alfred said as he snapped his fingers in realization. "Waffle House. You can load up on sides and extras and the like and it would jack up the bill that way."

"And he would hate being seen there?" Ivan asked.

"He shuddered when I sang along with that 'I want you smothered covered like my Waffle House hash browns' line of that Bloodhound Gang song." Alfred said.

"You sure it wasn't the notion of his son talking about something so sexual?" Ivan sighed.

"No. You saw how he saw right through that 'work off the turkey' one last night." Alfred said.

"True. Fancy pervert." Ivan growled. "Well I like your idea Fredka. Francis, we have decided."

"Oui boys?" Francis asked.

Ivan and Alfred smirked, turning back to him. "Waffle House."

"Are you sure about that?" Francis said.

"Yes."

"Da."

Ivan then locked the doors and drove to the local Waffle House, knowing just what they needed to do to humiliate Francis to repay him for being woken up so early for something so stupid in their eyes. They were seated in a booth, with Ivan holding onto Alfred close as the waitress handed them the menus. "Anything to drink?"

"Coffee" Alfred said.

"Tea for me please." Ivan nodded

"Orange juice I guess…" Francis said admitting defeat.

"And we will order something for Mattie and Katy too." Alfred smiled. "On your dollar."

"I understand. I might as well do the same for Arthur." Francis said. "I wonder how he will take the idea I had gotten in line."

"We're in public Papa." Alfred sighed. "The less I know of what you do the better. I still am scarred from when I barged in on you when I was 11. All I wanted was batteries for my Gameboy!" Ivan laughed at this. "Mattie said you had taken the batteries and well…." Alfred shuddered.

"It is not of that nature, no." Francis said. He dug in his pocket and pulled out a paper with an old house on it with a sign in the yard. "You see this fellow was looking to get out of the bed and breakfast he owned. Not so many customers anymore. I asked him about the breakfast he served and said it was just things he stuck in the microwave. No wonder he is losing customers. You come to a place so far out of the way as this, do not get me wrong boys the mountains are beautiful and the color in fall is what brings a lot of people in but there isn't much else to do. You bring your lover up here and a romantic weekend in the mountains is perfect up until the breakfast which you would be better off at a place like this." He shuddered looking at the menu.

"So, what do you want?" The waitress asked looking at Francis.

"No crepes….I just guess a waffle is fine. But those two will be making up most of your tip." Francis sighed. Ivan and Alfred gave the waitress their order and then turned back to Francis. "And 3 of your waffle combo thingys here." She raised her eyebrow. "We have people back home who may not even be awake yet. So we'd surprise them with this…" Francis shuddered at Ivan and Alfred's look "…. delicious food."

"Whatever." She sighed. "Those will be ready soon enough."

"While we are waiting for this stuff you call food." Francis began, "I figure I would let you in on my plans. You see I am not getting much younger and neither is your dad. He still wants to be the head of the literature department down at the college but I don't think he's liking the job anymore. You'd be amazed at how many parents call him about their kid not doing the work."

"We graduated only like 4 years ago." Alfred said. "At least where we went, there wasn't that much an issue, that I knew of. If you wanted a good grade on essay you didn't do you simply found someone who was willing to do it for you and pay them and pray you didn't get caught." Francis and Ivan looked at Alfred suspiciously. "I never did that! I just knew a few people that did. Besides, in English I scraped by with a low B with Matthew's help. And all he did was proofread. He wouldn't do anything beyond that."

"Well I am getting rather bored running the restaurant that I do and want to branch into something else. Something I have more say in than someone who doesn't know the first thing about fine cuisine in the first place. Because the owner is an idiot, it makes it hard to source the ingredients I need. But with you two living in this area, Matthew and Katyusha looking to get a place and jobs here, this would be a great way to achieve that dream and be close to my children and future grandchildren."

"Do you know a thing about running a hotel?" Ivan asked as the waitress dropped his and Alfred's waffles in front of them.

"I can handle the breakfast part. But the rest, well, the fun is in the experiment." Francis said. "Alfred, what do you think?" He said, catching him with his mouth full.

"Wmmppohisrrhii…." He began before he swallowed his food. "It's certainly a…." He looked for the word to describe what he thought. Part of the fun of living where he did was that his fathers were a distance away they did not have the ability to barge in on him and Ivan unannounced but could visit as long as they had let him know that they were beforehand. He didn't mind Matthew and Katyusha living with them but if Francis thought he could get in on that, he would have to put his foot down. There was a difference between hard times beyond your control and just a plain risky move. Ivan sensed what Alfred was trying to do and say and found the words quicker.

"It's certainly an ambitious idea." Ivan said.

"I knew you'd think that. I just have to convince Arthur that it is a good move." Francis sighed as he poured some syrup on his waffle.

Ivan and Alfred looked at each other. Holidays were one thing, but there was just so much that could happen if Francis didn't know what he was doing with a failing bed and breakfast, he and Arthur could lose a lot, and at their age, it was hard to rebuild your life over from. They finished their meals and took the take out with them as Ivan drove back to the house. Francis fell asleep in the back and Ivan looked at Alfred, "He doesn't know what he's doing with something like that, does he?"

"He thinks he does, and that's the problem." Alfred sighed. "Well maybe Dad can talk some sense into him."

"Or your Papa will talk some sense out of him…." Ivan said.

"Well, all we do is hope that Dad is stubborner than Papa in this case, because it's more than just bad food that is why that place is failing." Alfred said.

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. Like I said this is a slice of life type fic so if you are looking for smut or violence, you are in the wrong place. I got a few Invader Zim fics that cover violence if that is what you are looking for. If you haven't noticed, I cross post now on both AO3 and , so feel free to check out the other site as the penname is the same. At this point there is more on than AO3 but if I feel like trying to write some stuff not allowed on FFN, it will be on AO3 and if you want to see crap I wrote back in 2007, most is on FFN. Anyway, shameless self-promotion aside, remember to read, (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,

Otherrealmwriter

Aka

Realm.