I do not own Hetalia okay? I am so surprised at the response this story has gotten. Frankly I am really humbled by it. Anyway, I don't have much else to say, so enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

Ivan drove Alfred back to the resort after he was released from the hospital. Dr. Wang explained that being so close to a ski resort, broken bones because routine and they knew just what to do and quickly. In six weeks they were to contact their regular doctor who would then handle the rest of the treatment. Ivan could tell that the euphoria that the pain medication had left Alfred in was wearing down and he was looking rather down now. "What is wrong my love?" Ivan asked.

"I ruined our vacation." Alfred said. "I shouldn't have done something so reckless."

"Nyet." Ivan said. "Things like that happen. It does not bother me one bit. I am just worried about you healing."

"But I know how you are when I am sick or injured." Alfred sighed. "You never leave my side. I found you sitting beside my bed asleep when I had gone to bed after getting my wisdom teeth removed. I don't want you to bother yourself with too much on my behalf."

"I could not have fun when you cannot my podsolnechnik." Ivan replied. "I will make due." He saw Alfred's look as they headed into the lodge, getting used to the crutches he was provided. "You want me to help you?"

"I'm fine." Alfred said as he slowly got the hang of how the crutches worked. Knowing Alfred would hit him for taking over for him, and simply carrying him, Ivan stayed closed and held the door open and made sure he got to the elevator and helped him as they headed back to the room. "Well, this will make bed kind of tricky…."

Ivan nodded. "I am sure you weren't meaning just sleeping, were you?" Alfred nodded. "Well, we can think of something. Just rest right now."

"I guess…." Alfred sighed as Ivan put his leg under a few spare pillows and tucked his husband in tightly. "Aren't you joining me?" He pat the side of the bed beside him warmly. "I am sure you are tired too."

"I will take a shower first and then join you my love." Ivan kissed Alfred on the head.

"Fine." Alfred said as he turned on the television and flipped to see if the channel that Matthew was working at was on, and smiled at the fact it was. At least I will be able to see what was so exciting about it for Katy….

The next day, Matthew and Katyusha were at the outlet mall, looking through the various dresses for something that would suit her and help keep her warm. Francis was looking through the racks of dresses sighing. Apparently after Matthew had left that day. Gilbert had called and told Francis of what Matthew was having to do and that he had invited Katyusha along. While Matthew and Katyusha had just planned on just calling Francis for advice but he had insisted claiming he didn't want his belle-fille looking dumpy and homely on television next to his son. What had started out as an exciting trip to the store for a new dress, turned into a hectic nightmare. It was New Year's Eve and Matthew had to be at the station by eight as Gilbert said he'd drive Matthew and Katyusha the rest of the way so they wouldn't have to worry about parking at the town square as it was a nightmare to get out. "Shouldn't you be spending New Year's with Dad?" Matthew sighed as he stood by his papa tapping his foot. "I still have to get dressed myself too."

"But Mathieu, it will be so cold out." Francis said as Katyusha changed out of the dress he had picked and into her regular clothes.

"I have that coat Dad got me a few years ago, and a scarf and mittens Katy made for me. I'll be fine. I do better in the cold than Al does anyway." Matthew said rolling his eyes.

"This will do Francis." Katyusha said as she picked a v neck long sleeved light blue maternity dress with yellow trim at the bottom of the skirt that came to her shins. "Besides, much like Matvey, I will be bundled up as well. She looked over at the shoes before Francis could find something that would make her feet hurt even more than they did when she stood for a long time "These tan flats will do fine." She shoved the dress of her choice and the shoes into Francis's arms and pushed him to the front. "Now pay for it."

"Sacre bleu!" Francis said. "I have never known you to be so assertive!"

"Well you can be as much a pain as Fredka shopping sometimes, only in different ways." Katyusha sighed. "Fredka whines about trying things on, and you won't stop having me try things on. All the things you had me try did not suit me. Maybe fit well, but did not suit me. I liked this dress the best and it looked well enough on me I was happy. I felt like me. Not overly fancy either. Matvey seemed to like it and that's what matters." Katyusha said. She turned to Francis "If you are embarrassed by looks that is a personal issue of yours you need to deal with." She pushed Francis to the counter. "Zaplatitʹ za tsyu vy zadyrystu zhabo"

"Katy…." Matthew said astonished.

"Just what are you looking at?" Katyusha sighed as Francis paid for the dress and shoes.

"You never stand up to my parents. On like anything." Matthew said.

"Well if I am having a child, I must learn to stand up for myself and not put up with inappropriate antics when they know better." Katyusha said with a satisfied smirk at Francis's moping.

"Well didn't you do that with Ivan and Natalya?" Matthew asked.

"Kind of. It was mutually understood when our great uncle died, what I was doing for them so they kept to their school work like he wanted. I never really had to do so with them. But if I had to, they knew they were in real trouble." Katyusha said.

"So that's why your presence when Ivan and Al first met stopped that fight." Matthew laughed. Katyusha blushed and nodded.

"Here you go." Francis said as he gave Katyusha the bag with the clothes and sighed.

"Why thank you." Katyusha smiled. "I don't want to keep you from Arthur, Francis." She nodded politely but trying to imply she had enough time with him. "I know he has said how much he loves ringing in the new year with you and it is quite a drive from where you live to here."

"Oh, it was no trouble," Francis said.

"Papa you know that if you leave Dad unattended too long, he's going to try to cook for himself. And I doubt that Ivan's generosity would extend to you and Dad." Matthew said.

"You're right Mathieu!" Francis said. Yeah, it's that that gets the hint that you've worn out your welcome…. Matthew thought as he rolled his eyes. "I will see you on television tonight. And tell Gilbert Bonjour. I will have Antonio at the house too so if he wants to stop by when the broadcast is done."

"I'll pass the word along." Matthew said as he and Katyusha got in their car and drove back home. "Thank god Papa is going home." Katyusha looked over at him curiously. "Don't get me wrong I love the man, but sometimes he's insufferable."

"So, I am not the only one thinking that." Katyusha said. "I do not hate your parents, they, well, have moments that made before Vanya and Fredka got together seem tame. How two people who spent all their time arguing can be so in love they would marry and have children is beyond me."

"I don't know, ask Al and Ivan how they did it." Matthew laughed as his phone rang. "Can you get that for me? It's Al. You can put it on speaker."

"Zdrastuyte Fredka." Katyusha smiled as she put the phone on speaker and smiled over at Matthew "How are you doing? Matvey is driving right now, so I answered for him and put it on speaker so everyone could hear. So how is Vanya and yours's little romantic getaway?"

"Well, it was fun." Alfred started.

"Was fun?" Katyusha said, "What happened?"

"Broken leg." Alfred said.

"Was it you or Ivan?" Matthew said.

"Who do you think Mattie?" Alfred sighed.

"You?"

"Why was your first guess me?" Alfred asked as Katyusha giggled.

"You're my brother. I know you." Matthew teased. "Let me guess, you were taking that snowboard down a ramp too bad, thinking you were some Shaun White snowboarder and while you have done some tricks well, this one you slipped up on and gravity took over. Am I right?" Silence fell over the phone. "Well Al?" Matthew teased.

"I can neither confirm nor deny that speculation…." Alfred said.

"I will take that as a yes." Matthew replied simply as Katyusha giggled. "So how did Ivan take that?"

"He's like a mother hen. The pharmacy called and he went out to pick up the prescription the hospital gave me and a few things for lunch and other things he said we'd need for the last few days here. I offered to go with him, but he insisted I stay here and just watch TV. So, you're replacing that Ludwig guy?"

"Yeah, his contract with that national company starts January first, and I will become the junior anchor while one of the current junior anchors is promoted. Some older guy, I think. Gilbert implied that if I am liked enough, once that old coot retires in a few years, I will have his job." Matthew said as he came to a stoplight.

"Isn't that so grand Fredka?" Katyusha asked. "So, Vanya is babying his injured cholovik?" She laughed as she heard Alfred sigh.

"Well, he is good at that. I do have to give him that Katy…." Alfred laughed shaking his head.

"He's very caring for those he loves when they are sick." She went on to explain. "I remember how he was before our great uncle died and when Natalya or I were sick ourselves. Never wanted for a thing. He'll make sure your leg heals well and before you know it, you'll be back on it in no time. Probably before the baseball season."

Alfred paused and counted on his fingers the weeks. "You're right Katy. Although the doctors did warn I may need physical therapy because they warned that that leg won't be like my other one."

"I'm sure Vanya will make sure that is as minimal as possible." Katyusha said.

"Oh, Mattie what is going on that you want me to watch your station on new year's?" Alfred asked.

"You'll see." Matthew smirked, knowing how much it drove Alfred insane that his brother had a secret he wouldn't tell him. "Don't want to spoil the surprise."

"Spoil it! I don't care." Alfred said. "It's not funny!" he added hearing Katyusha's giggling.

"Nope. You'll have to wait and see." Matthew smirked, savoring the teasing he could give Alfred on the matter. "Now I must go home, get ready and then meet Gilbert about something. That's all you will find out. Bye." With this he hung up the phone, leaving Alfred staring at a 'call ended' on his phone. He laid the phone on the nightstand with a sigh.

"Honey, I'm home." Ivan said as he opened the door to the hotel room with a playful voice.

"Oh hello!" Alfred laughed. "What did you get?"

"I got the medication from the pharmacy. God knows I don't want your leg to get infected and you be in intense pain. They'd have to chop it off." Ivan said with his dangerous cute smile. "And you are miserable with it just being incapacitated for a few weeks." He placed the medications on the bedside table and pulled out another box from the bag from the pharmacy. "I figured this would be useful."

"Cast cover?" Alfred read looking at the box. "So, it's like if I just put a garbage bag on the end of this?"

"Except it will stay in place and is more reusable than a garbage bag." Ivan rolled his eyes.

"Well better than the time I got them from the dollar store…." Alfred said.

"It is not saving money if you have to use 3 for one load of garbage you legkomyslennyy rebenok" Ivan rolled his eyes. "I also got you lunch." He then tossed a sub to Alfred with a bag of baked barbecue chips and a bottle of lemonade. "I know it's not your favorite, but you are already planning for a New Year's feast of heart stopping proportions." Alfred sighed. Ivan had been nagging at him to eat better as he was getting older, "And you won't be able to hit the gym like you usually do. That is why you can get away with eating like you do and it does not affect you." Alfred looked at the sandwich with a smile. "I at least made some concessions. I got you a turkey bacon club with the light ranch sauce. Lettuce, tomato cucumber and as much as I do not quite get why you like it, American cheese."

"You aren't completely heartless." Alfred laughed as he took a big bite of his sub.

"Chew with your mouth closed." Ivan sighed tossing a napkin at him. It was part of Alfred's personality he loved yet it drove him up a wall. But he was so happy and full of life, it was like his golden hair was sunshine itself. "Who called?"

"I called Mattie." Alfred said as he sipped the lemonade.

"Diet soda is no better than regular. This has some vitamins and minerals." Ivan said.

"God who are you, my dad or my husband?" Alfred laughed. "Nah I was bored and wanted to talk to someone. So, I called him. He was heading home from an outing with Katyusha.

"How is she doing?" Ivan asked concerned for his big sister.

"Sounds like she's doing okay herself." Alfred said as he opened the chips. Looking at their rather flat and smooth texture, he was skeptical that something paraded as a healthy snack food would be actually tasty, but he bit into it and smiled. "These aren't bad."

"You'll learn to apricate good healthy food soon enough." Ivan sipped his iced tea. "Needs some jam…."

"Dude, I don't think jam in iced tea would work." Alfred laughed.

"After lunch I will help you with the shower. You're starting to smell. And I have an idea that might help you feel better." Ivan said.

"Well now…." Alfred smirked, noticing Ivan's idea. "I will try anything once."

"Hurry up Matvey! We're going to be late and that would be a horrible thing to do!" Katyusha said as the sun was starting to set. Gilbert had wanted them there at the studio at 6 that day and it was getting later. Seeing that her husband was taking much longer than she would have liked for him to, she headed to the bathroom where he was fumbling with his tie. "Oh seriously." She rolled her eyes taking the tie and quickly tying it for him and kissing him on the forehead. "You are nervous again."

"Well duh." Matthew said.

"You'll do fine." Katyusha assured him. "I mean you had talked your way out of a thrashing from Vanya when they discovered we were together at his and Fredka's wedding."

"I think that was because Al was laughing his ass off at me, he thought it was punishment enough." Matthew said.

"I do not think that was the major factor." Katyusha said as she took a brush and straightened out Matthew's hair. "It looks good wavy." She noted as she placed it down. "No, you saw how he was when he first found out about the baby. You should have seen him with Eduard. Mind you this was when he was 19 and I am 5 year older than him. He would not have cared that it was his wedding day if you did not manage to convince him that you were good. Now let's go. You'll do fine." She pulled him close and kissed him deeply. "You wouldn't want to make a bad impression, would you?"

"No." Matthew laughed as Katyusha took the keys. "And I am driving."

Francis sat on the couch watching the station his best friend Gilbert managed. Normally he was not one for cop drama sitcoms and the way that Gilbert's brother had delivered the news, and the weatherman seemed rather angry. Something about 99 percent chance of shitstorm for the snowstorm that was upcoming. Gilbert told him about Matthew's debut, and he wanted to make sure it went off without a hitch. "Another." Francis said as he handed Antonio the glass.

"You may want to pace yourself buddy. No need to be worried so much." Antonio said as he poured a glass of what Francis liked.

"Yes, Matthew will do just fine." Arthur said.

"But my boy…." Francis.

"OUR boy is a grown man." Arthur said. "And a fine one at that."

"But this isn't some school play or even the finals at the college hockey team he was on! You don't know it, but I was so worried for him. Ever since he found out he was good at that violent game!" Francis wailed. "I had some of my wine in a flask with me, to calm my nerves and I drank so much it was empty."

"Well, explains your behavior after…." Arthur said as Antonio brought out a bottle of Amontillado. I should use that stuff to wall Antonio in.

"Hockey is nothing like bull running. He's going to be fine." Antonio said pouring a glass of the Amontillado for each of them. "Now Saluda!"

"Saluda" They all said as they turned to the television screen.

Ivan looked at the spread of food that Alfred had ordered and sighed. The pizza isn't that bad…. I don't know Gorbachev wouldn't eat some in that commercial. Ivan remembered seeing in his youth of the former prime minister and hearing his mother curse at it, not fully understanding why she was so mad at the time. But something with Matthew and Katyusha was going to be going on that night that she was insistent they watch but would not say why. "Sparkling cider in paper cups from Pizza hut…" Alfred mused. "Why can't I have a beer, like a Miller High Life,"

"It is alcoholic. Your medications are not to be mixed with it. If you act like everything is funny when on the medication like it is supposed to be given, I will not allow any deviation from that." Ivan said.

"Party pooper." Alfred sulked.

"Behave yourself and I'll give you a happy new year." Ivan kissed as the television screen turned to the town square with a giant marshmallow on a drop. "Every year…." Ivan rolled his eyes.

"Because the town used to be famous for making marshmallows like 100 years ago. They go over it every year." Alfred sighed. Getting ready for the usual history of the town and why a giant marshmallow was dropped, delivered by Ludwig in the most boring and uptight way one could for telling the history of the marshmallow, he sipped the soda that he had and bit onto a chicken wing when to Alfred's surprise, it was not Ludwig, but Matthew. He started to choke on the soda when Ivan thumped his back. "MATTIE!"

"Da." Ivan nodded. "Katyusha is with him too."

"Hello out there viewers! I am Matthew Williams, with my wife Katyusha here and we and all at the station wish you all out there a happy new year! Starting tomorrow I will be the new junior anchor here on Mondays through Fridays for the evening news." Matthew said as Katyusha smiled.

"And there you have it folks. I wanted to start fresh with our new anchor. It's me, station manager Gilbert Beilschmidt and while we will miss Ludwig much, he's on to bigger and better things. Now as the year dies down and a new one begins, Mrs. Williams, if you please." Gilbert announced as she hit the button and the marshmallow dropped. As the seconds waned, Gilbert took over the countdown "Ten…nine...eight...seven…six…five...four…three…two…one! Happy new year!" and in this he was joined by Matthew and Katyusha.

"Well…..." Alfred said as he turned down the volume on the television.

"I see why Katyusha was excited." Ivan smiled. "It's good she and Matvey have that." His attention turned back to his husband. "Now to what I promised you."

"If you do it as good as you did in the shower despite my leg being busted, then happy new year to me." Alfred smirked.

Translation Guide:

Obtained via Google Translate:

Nyet-Russian-No

Podsolnechnik-Russian-sunflower

belle-fille-French-daughter in law

Zaplatitʹ za tsyu vy zadyrystu zhabo-Ukrainian- Pay for this you snooty frog.

Zdrastuyte-Ukrainian-Hello

Cholovik-Ukrainian-Husband

legkomyslennyy rebenok-Russian-scatterbrained child

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. A few references, some more obvious than others, Amontillado is a Spanish wine and used in Poe's tale where the character walled his friend in. Thus, it was part of Arthur's thoughts. And yes, former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev really did star in a Russian Pizza Hut commercial in 1997. You can find it on YouTube. Something you might see in the upcoming anime? I know it's based off World Stars and I've read the English fan translations but come on, if they did Roswell and things like that, but I am rambling here. Anyway, remember to read (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,

Otherrealmwriter

Aka

Realm.