I don't own Hetalia okay? I managed to get a few good ideas for this chapter, so I am starting on it while I have it. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

"Matthew Williams, Mr. Beilschmidt will see you now." The receptionist said as she opened the door. Mr. Beilschmidt... why does that sound familiar? Matthew said as he took a breath and headed into the station manager's office.

"Why Mattie! I knew this application looked familiar." The white haired station manager said turning to Matthew. "How's your Papa these days?"

"Same as usual." Matthew said. "Managed to get my brother and his husband annoyed at him on Friday."

"Yeah Francy-pants complained of Alfie and Ivy being passive aggressive." Gilbert smiled, referring to the nicknames he had given to Francis, Alfred and Ivan and called them by whether they liked it or not. "Then again I don't blame those kids. But we can catch up later."

"I didn't know you were the station manager of this place. Papa never went into too much about your job." Matthew said quietly.

"Yeah, I doubt a lot of the stuff we, the bad touch trio and we are often called, do are things your father would talk about." Gilbert smiled. "There was a reason he had me and Antonio plan you and your brother's bachelor parties." Matthew looked around uncomfortable at some of the weird things at both of them and remembering the pepto bismol he kept sneaking Alfred at his because of the all you can eat wing challenge Antonio concocted using some of the world's hottest peppers. And that was one of the less scarring memories of Alfred's bachelor party. Matthew just blocked out half of his from his memory but remembered Alfred giving him some alka seltzer and coffee before his ceremony because Gilbert would not take 'I've had enough' for an answer. "But we can reminisce when your Papa Francy-pants is here, Ja? Now to business."

"Please Mr. Beilschmidt." Matthew nodded.

"Ja, ja, so I am going to cut the crap Matt." Gilbert started. "Viewership on the news is on the decline. Most people your age go to the Internet for their news." Matthew nodded politely. "And after doing some demographic research I have found they found it is simply too boring. Yet these same people crave a reduction in bias in their news. Time and again it has been reported that local stations provide this. And with my little brother getting picked up into that national filth!" Gilbert said thinking of the contract his brother Ludwig signed with a cable news network. Matthew pulled back in shock. Man, it seems that Mr. Beilschmidt is mad that his brother got promoted like that...then again it is another network so yeah...

"So Ludwig got a contract somewhere else? I'm sorry to hear that." Matthew said thinking if he comforted him that he'd have a better shot at the job.

"Well, it's not like Ludwig doesn't have potential himself. I got him his foot in the industry door, I just hope he doesn't forget his older brother as he makes it big and gets wrapped up in that Hurst enterprise..." God he's got a chip on his shoulder... "But this interview is about what you, Matthew Williams can do for me, Gilbert Beilschmidt, station manager."

"Yes sir." Matthew nodded.

"Well since Luddy is leaving, the stick in the mud with the most sway is leaving. I am revamping a lot of the department to attract the news for younger demographics. Most who watch how we have it now are old. Meaning they will die soon. You have to have alive viewers for it to matter in the first place. This is where you will come in Mattie boy." Gilbert looked over Matthew's resume. "I see you did not major in journalism but English. Good."

"How is that good?" Matthew asked confused.

"Because the ones who major in it don't often do what they were taught. I've been around this game awhile sonny boy." Gilbert laughed. "But you also have a trustworthy face. You don't look like a pushover, as long as you don't let yourself be one I should say." Matthew blushed. "I've seen you and your brother interact. I am one of your papa's best friends remember..." Matthew rolled his eyes. "So by looking over your resume I see you'd be a perfect writer, but I also will throw it in the pot for junior anchor."

"WHAT?" Matthew asked surprised.

"What is so shocking?" Gilbert asked. "You need to have more confidence in yourself boy. You're not a bad face. Trustworthy and your voice isn't so intimidating someone changes the channel out of fear. It's almost sympatric for if you'd have to report bad shit. Goes down easier that you're fucking snowed in or your house might get flooded off or swept away if the voice of the anchor is nice." Matthew looked shocked and confused. "I don't know what you know but over the past 10 years this area has had a few doozie weather events. I will say you are certainly in the running but I have to run this campaign for a few more weeks to get all the applicants I can but between you and me, you should hear back about it either way before Christmas."

"I don't want you to give me the job, any job just because of my papa being a close friend of yours." Matthew said.

"Nein...I would never do something like that. The only time I used a little bit of nepotism in my work was to get little Luddy in the door of the business. But he's the only one that got that benefit." I know Ludwig is his younger brother so he can say the "little" thing about him but he's the bigger one of the two... "But I like your style. You're free to go. Tell your Papa I said Guten tag." With this Matthew left the office and headed to the waiting room where Alfred was sitting looking at some of the magazines.

"So how'd it go bro?" Alfred asked thumping Matthew on the back.

"Pretty good. Did you know Papa's friend Gilbert worked here?" Matthew asked suspiciously.

"The guy who talked me into eating the wings Antonio made using his son's hottest peppers from his garden? No I did not. Really takes a lot to act like nothing is wrong when your stomach is on fire and you don't want to run out of the ceremony for a bad case of wing diarrhea. Nice way to start a marriage." Alfred groaned but Matthew laughed. "So you think that's funny. Should Katy be informed of where yours was?"

"No. Point taken. They got us good." Matthew sighed. "But he seemed to like me and I hope that will work out."

"So what'd he say?" Alfred asked as he opened the doors to his car.

"He has to wait a few weeks to make the final call but assured me I made the short list." Matthew smiled.

"That's something. Don't stop looking though. You should have some backup plans." Alfred suggested.

"I know that." Matthew said as they headed back to the house. "Hey Al,"

"Yes?" Alfred asked curiously.

"What were you reading in there?" Matthew asked curiously. If he did recall correctly, he did see Alfred put a parenting magazine down.

"Nothing important." Alfred said.

"I saw you reading a parenting magazine." Matthew said.

"And your point?" Alfred asked.

"Why?"

Alfred rolled his eyes. Times like this reminded him just how in sync his brother could be with him. "You won't make fun of me for it? Won't think I am trying to upstage you in some weird way?"

"You reading the advice columns in women's magazines again?" Matthew said.

"Well the idea popped around in my head every now and again before Katy said she was pregnant, don't get started there, and getting bored reading the parenting magazines made me think that it wouldn't be a bad idea if Vanya and I adopted. He kind of liked the idea but only really mentioned it once lately." Alfred said.

"Well, I'll go by what I know from us growing up and what you've done for me and Katy." Matthew paused. "You had your real dick moments..." he began

"Geee thanks for the vote of confidence bro..." Alfred said rolling his eyes. " I have to go to the grocery store, and get something to make for dinner and you know Katy's favorite stuff. We're almost out of Thanksgiving leftovers so don't say a thing..."

"You got a huge turkey, there's still plenty left. You can make more potatoes. Just because the desserts are eaten does not mean the leftovers are gone." Matthew said as Alfred ignored him.

"So what were you saying about me being a dick and it pertaining about my possible parenting skills?" Alfred said.

"Okay, but despite your dickishness, you are very protective of those you care about. Heck you stood up to Ivan on my behalf. Don't act like he didn't like the fact I lost my job and nearly drained the savings and Katy was working while pregnant. If you hadn't said a thing he'd probably have beaten the crap out of me. Although Katy said she talked to him about it too." Matthew said.

"Yeah I doubt she'd allow him to harm you over something like that. And she didn't seem like the type to just let things happen when she could do something, even if it wasn't a lot." Alfred said. "But you are my brother. If I were not to stand up for you when there was a need for a hot piece for ass instead, what good would I be?"

"And that, despite your vulgar way of talking about Ivan, is why I think you would do good for a kid. You're married to a very family conscious man. How many guys would put up with sisters like Natalya and Katy?"

"Nice way to talk about your wife, but yeah," Alfred laughed as he grabbed a shopping cart, looking around at the store.

"Whatever, just talk to Ivan about it, hell if this goes well, and the fact Gilbert and Papa are friends works in my favor, we'll be out of your hair by spring." Matthew said.

"As much as I love you bro, and will help you however I can, sometimes your guys's presence makes things hard." Alfred said.

"Awwww am I cock blocking you?" Matthew teased. "Try having 9 or more months of no action. You'd be surprised at even though it's medically okay early on how much she wouldn't feel right about it, even though she's fine at work. You know how many jackasses wouldn't move stuff around so she could scan the feed bags?" Alfred shook his head as he headed down the frozen food isle looking at the various family meals. "Yeah it's a lot. Saw that when I came to pick her up one day and if it wouldn't get the customer to complain and possibly get her fired, I'd have yelled at him."

"You know," Alfred said as he tossed a bag of frozen potatoes into the cart, "Sometimes let that hockey player Matt out on douchebags like that. Your lack of confidence is holding you back."

"And you are out of French fries again? I swear there was a big 5 lb bag in there on Thursday." Matthew noted.

"That bag was like three quarters empty." Alfred said looking at frozen chicken kiev "You think she'd like this? I want her to have something nice on the start of a normal week here."

"Just because Kiev is the capital of Ukraine does not mean..." Matthew said rolling his eyes. "Just let me handle it."

Ivan opened the door with a sigh. "The downside of the job, when I have to leave the house for pointless meetings."

"Oh Vanya, I was not expecting you back till later." Katyusha said. "I have some soup made for lunch if you had not eaten already. I used the leftover turkey before it went bad."

"I think I will, I haven't had anything except a pastry from the break room." Ivan said.

"I will get you some." Katyusha said as Ivan followed her into the kitchen and poured him a mug of tea as well. She placed down the bowl and looked at her younger brother. "So, how was your work today."

"Boring. You wouldn't believe how frustrating it is to explain simple mechanics to people who should have known better. But it comes with the job. I'm just very grateful that I don't have to live in the city. It was a nightmare trying to get to the office today." Ivan sipped his tea. "I can see why Fredka's Papa would want to move out here."

"Why couldn't they just retire up this way instead of risking it all on a failing business?" Katyusha said.

"Because Francis is not very pragmatic. I knew that since I met the man. I just try not to say anything about it in front of Fredka. That is his parent after all. Speaking of adoptive parents and Fredka, seems that he's been tossing the idea of adopting around." Ivan sighed as he took a spoonful of the leftover turkey soup. "This is pretty good sestra you saved this thing."

"Now Fredka's cooking is nowhere near as bad as his father's." Katyusha said.

"But it is getting old and only the dark meat was left." Ivan said.

"I am good with things like this." Katyusha said "And I think that would be just darling of you two. You know there's tons of children in the orphanages back in Russia who need some Papas like you two would be." She said knowing that if she didn't take up the mantle when she did, that may have been the fate that Ivan and Natalya faced. Those orphanages were rough at best and deadly at worst.

Ivan blushed and took a deep slurp of his soup. "It's only an idea that Fredka mentioned once. We hadn't discussed it much further. And I doubt any agency would want to let us adopt if we had you and Matvey and your baby in the house at the same time." He wanted to dodge the question. "Speaking of him, where is he and Fredka?"

"At the news station and then doing some shopping." Katyusha said. "Apparently from this message Matvey sent the station manager is a friend of his Papa's. This could be very good for him."

"Or very bad." Ivan said glumly.

"Have faith Vanya." Katyusha said sipping her tea.

"Have some of your soup too. I haven't seen you eat a thing all day and you need your strength." Ivan insisted.

"I don't want to seem like I am eating all your food Vanya." Katyusha said.

"You're pregnant. Eat to your heart's fill." Ivan smiled.

"If you insist." Katyusha sighed.

She's too meek and giving for her own good. Then again she told me off the other day for doubting Matvey. If he's trying right now to get a job and stumbled across something that might be of use to him in the way of networking connections. Ivan then thought about it. This would be for Katyusha. He looked at his phone and saw Francis's number. If his friend is the manager where Matvey applied, maybe, just maybe if I humor him with his dreams and such, then he will convince his friend to hire him...Closing his eyes he pressed the call button. Please be busy, please let me leave a message... As the phone rang, a jovial voice picked up "'ello! Ivan I did not expect you of all people to call."

"Well," Ivan took a breath. Do not tell him the true intent yet. It would seem rather rude to beg him to beg his friend to give his son a job. "Katyusha and I were talking about the baby and she was lamenting on the fact that the baby's grandparents live so far away. She doesn't know what became of our mother and our father is dead, so you and Arthur would be the only grandparents they'd have." Blow smoke up his ass...he likes that...

"Yes I would love to be closer to mos petits enfants," Francis said. "But you heard Arthur when he heard about the idea I floated past everyone. You all just seemed so against it."

Okay Ivan, make it good... "We were concerned about yours and Arthur's financial futures. You two are not as young as you used to be and we all know how proud Arthur would be if something were to happen."

"That is true." Francis said.

"And he still really likes his job in the city. It is not one that he can do like Fredka and mine's is. He has to be there." Ivan said. "But I could arrange a few meetings with the local tourism department and chamber of commerce for you. And think more on what you are good at and skilled at already. Maybe make a fine destination restaurant here that is something you can handle."

"Hmmmmmm... I will talk with you more on that. That does not seem like a bad idea." Francis said. "But you must tell me how Mathieu is doing. He seemed so depressed at everything."

"He's got a job interview with a..." Ivan looked at Katyusha's phone and read the name roughly to hide the fact that he knew Francis's friend could be Matthew's manager "Gilbert ummmm... let me see how you say... Beilschmidt..."

"Oh! Small world! I shall call ol Gil and tell him to hire Matthew on!" Francis said.

"Don't be so blatant!" Ivan said in a commanding tone. Realizing how this could come off offensive, he backtracked "If Matvey is to get his confidence back, we don't want his Papa's influence to be obvious."

"You are right." Francis said. "I guess your disdain for me was only tiredness. Understandable. I will look into what you said later and I know how to suggest things to people that I want that make it seem like their idea. You should just ask Arthur sometime." At this a 'oh sot off you wanker' was heard in the background. "Au revior!"

"Proshchay" Ivan said as he hung up the phone. Please for the love of god don't get me roped up in that man's hair-brained schemes. I just wanted him to convince his friend to give Matvey the job...

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't have much else to say on this chapter so remember to read (Well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,

otherrealmwriter

aka

Realm.