I do not own Hetalia okay? I know it's a long story so far, but I thank all of you for reading so far. Honestly one of the best things of my day is when I see that you read it and even better for kudos, reviews, faves, alerts and so on. So yeah. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
"Alistor!" Arthur said with a surprise. There was much he had wanted to tell his brother, but there were children present, and he had to keep his civility. "This is quite the surprise. I would have appreciated that you had informed me before hand." Part of him wanted to curse his brother but he had to keep a good appearance for the twins. It would be the worst Christmas for the children if he did. Let your brother start it. Do not be a bad grandpa for the grandchildren. He reminded himself.
"Yeeeeh….." He said putting his hand behind his back. "I didn't think that through." Arthur rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I see that the boys and their little kiddies are here. I'll be on my best behavior."
"Who are you?" Nikita said as she looked over at the gifts greedily.
"Oh, I am your grandpa's brother. We haven't seen each other in a very long time." Alistor said as Alfred looked at him curiously and he could feel Ivan's pleasant doom smile.
"Fredka, you did not tell me much about your uncle. It seems your father does not like him." Ivan whispered.
"Dude, I didn't know he was coming, looks like Dad didn't either. God, it's like when Cousin Eddie came over in Christmas Vacation." Alfred said.
"Oh." Ivan said darkly, causing Alfred to gulp. He knew how much he did not care for the character in that movie. "I do hope that man behaves himself. It is not the time to act like a fool and ruin the children's Christmas."
"Doesn't seem like he will." Matthew said, joining in the conversation.
"If he does, I will settle it." Katyusha said, causing Alfred and Ivan to look surprised. "What, you know how I can be if someone is foul to my family." Ivan nodded, recalling their great uncle's estranged family and how Katyusha treated them after they tried to leave them out on the street with nothing. It was because of her instance that they helped to save money for Ivan and Natalya to go to college on as she was not about to let her younger siblings deny the chance that she had to give up so they could have the better life that their great uncle had worked to give them.
"I don't doubt you could….." Matthew smiled as Alfred nodded.
"Hem hem…." Arthur said. "Well let's get this started."
"Let me say sorry for not bringing much…..I didn't know that you were having the whole clan around." Alistor apologized. "And I plan to make it up to you little ones tomorrow on Boxing Day." Nikita and Dimitri looked confused. "Ah, ye lad and lassie, it's a day where you give little gifts to people you know but I can't do that to you little darlings…. But I must know what you got already."
"Yes," Arthur said. "But I am sure they have been dying to tear into these gifts. And what in the good lord's name is that big thing?" He said, finally noticing the large gift Lucille brought in.
"Oh, something for Charlotte." Lucille said. "And don't worry you two," She winked at the twins, "Just because the gift isn't as big does not mean you won't love it still yourselves."
"I hope so….." Nikita moaned in anticipation.
Francis got up, noting the anticipation, and headed to where the plate of cookies and milk were left out to show that it had been drunk up and most the cookies eaten. "Well, what does gran-pere see here?" He asked with a smile. "Looks like someone ate most all the cookies."
"You're right!" Dimitri looked over. He took Nikita's hand "Told you Santa liked those Butterbeer ones!"
"Yeah, I don't see any, just a bit of chocolate chip and oatmeal…." Nikita said as she took the plate from Francis.
"See Santa told me he really really likes sweet things and couldn't help himself." Alfred added. "But he agrees with me that oatmeal belongs in breakfast, not a cookie." The twins looked at their dad slightly worried. "But that didn't change his mind on your gifts as you see."
"Da." Ivan smiled. "And he even left something for Charlotte." He said taking the Sophie La Giraffe. Katyusha held it out for Charlotte who grabbed it and started chewing on it. "I think Santa knew she is getting to teething age." He added with a wink.
"This is so cute." Katyusha said as Matthew took the package and opened it up, giving the toy to Charlotte. "And she does have a lot of trouble with teething."
"Santa must have known." Ivan said with a wink. Katyusha smiled as Charlotte giggled and stuck the toy in her mouth. He turned to where Nikita and Dimitri were looking at their gifts with joy. Alfred was trying to get Nikita to wait to open her Molly doll until all the gifts were open and Dimitri was looking at the box, trying to figure out if from the pictures it needed batteries or not and started to pester Francis for the information. "Calm down little ones." Ivan said. "You can play with your toys once they are all open. And it looks like it does not come with batteries," He said as he looked at the back of the box for Dimitri who looked sad, "However, Santa told us about this and told us to get the batteries for you."
"Yeay!" Dimitri said as he hugged his papa. Ivan smiled knowing this was probably the first real good Christmas they had. Sure, last year when they were living with Sherrie and Tom, they probably did a good Christmas for them, but it was with the fear that they were going to be separated or sent to another home and never see each other again. The twins may not have known that Sherrie and Tom did as foster parents. But seeing Dimitri's face as he looked at the box and hugged him, he felt his heart warm and just felt rather satisfied in what he and Alfred were doing for them.
Alistor looked on as he turned to Francis, who he happened to get along with better than he did Arthur and asked, "So that's the Nikita and Dimitri that I heard so much about? Cute wee lambs…." He sighed.
"Yes, they are darling, even if they cannot say gran pere right but say gran taunt just fine….." Francis said as he looked at Lucille handing a gift to Nikita.
"Ah, they're kids, they'll get it eventually." Alistor said.
"I think they do and can, but that whole, grand pear thing just seems to have stuck. Even Alfred and Ivan say it to me." Francis sighed.
"Ah, let them have that." Alistor sighed. "But I want to be honest with you Francis as I know you're more likely to take this better than Arthur. And the reason I suddenly decided to come all this way after Artie, and I haven't spoken outside the Christmas letter for years. Hell, I know Al and Matt had friended me on Facebook, that's how I knew about the twins and little Char over there…" He said pointing to her. "But if they hadn't wanted to reach out to me, I wouldn't have known about being a great uncle until Arthur sent me the letter."
"Are you okay?" Francis said.
"Lung Cancer. Stage 3." Alistor sighed. "Notice I'm not smoking?"
"I figured it was because Arthur is opposed to it. Most of the time when I do it's in my car." Francis said.
"Yeah…. I start Chemo at the end of January, so I wanted to kind of get everything together and make up with the family before I started it….in case…. you know…." He looked away. "I mean I was told it's a form that is easily treatable but, well I ain't as young as I used to be…. none of us are…."
"True." Francis sighed. "Part of me is still getting used to the idea of grandchildren. Seems like it was just yesterday that it was Alfred and Mathieu on the floor getting the gifts. I mean I remember Alfred's excitement at the Nintendo 64."
"God, that was funny. I remember seeing that one." Alistor laughed. "Artie sent the video to me."
"Better than that year I sent a rather inappropriate tape to my baby sister….." Francis said blushing as Alistor laughed heartily. "Yes, funny funny….." Looking back over, he saw that Lucille had brought out the play center table she had gotten for Charlotte that was in a rather large box. Charlotte had put her hands on it, and with her nails had scratched the paper, looking at the box with wide eyes. Katyusha tore a little bit of the paper and put it in her hand. She looked over at the twins and nodded.
"Nikita, Dimitri, I think your dear cousin may need some help, can you two big kids help Charlotte open this gift?" Katyusha asked.
"Sure, Aunt Katy!" Nikita said.
"Yeah." Dimitri said as they each took a side.
"Now be gentle." Katyusha said. "Too fast and you might spook Charlotte." She instructed. Nikita and Dimitri nodded, and each took a corner and tore while Katyusha helped Charlotte tear on it herself to reveal the plastic toy table with lights and sounds, a beaded play station and various other things that an infant would like that was supposed to help stimulate their mind. There was even a miniature keyboard with numbers on it.
"Looks cool Charlotte." Dimitri said, causing his cousin to giggle.
"Looks like fun." Nikita said to the young girl, her purple eyes blinking and curly blonde hair bouncing up and down.
"She takes after Matthew so much." Arthur said sitting next to Francis, causing Alistor to sit up sternly and awkwardly. "Is everything alright, something you want to tell me?" He asked.
Francis and Alistor paused and looked away from each other. What Alistor wanted to tell Arthur was something that well, was sensitive and delicate especially with their strained relationship. Francis knew it was his story to tell. That it was their bridges to rebuild and reconnect. And it was still Christmas, the twins were opening gifts and even Charlotte was enjoying herself fondly despite the constant pains of teething she had been going through, the few teeth that had poked through were showing in the giggles. "Got any Egg Nog?" Alistor broke.
"In the kitchen. I'll get you a glass. Mind you, I'm not putting any rum in it this early. Nor should you pour the scotch you keep around; I know of it. How you got that thing past customs, I will never know…." Arthur said.
"Bloody hell…." Alistor said placing his hands in his face.
"He doesn't know of your health." Francis said. "I'm sure he'd have been nicer about it if he knew."
"I better find a way to get the balls to tell him, so he hopefully doesn't explode. I don't want to be the great uncle that ruined Christmas, but I don't want to go to the great beyond without mending the bonds." Alistor said.
"We'll find a way. Maybe later tonight once the children are asleep and it's just us adults." Francis sighed.
"Aye, not a bad idea." Alistor said. "Is your sister staying over tonight?" He laughed.
"Non" Francis said.
"Aye, protective of Mademoiselle Lucille as always." Alistor sighed.
"It's Ivan and Alfred and the twins staying tonight, they will go home tomorrow." Francis explained. "Maybe we can work something where you can spend time with your nephew and his family then?"
"Possibly." Alistor said. "Mattie must have gotten your charm. Saw him on the news the other day. Been in town awhile. Just never plucked up the fucking balls to come and talk to ol Artie."
"Well, I can see why you would be intimidated." Francis said as Arthur came back with the glass of nog. Alistor took it and took a deep drink of it.
He looked at the glass to the stern face of his brother to the jolly scene going on in the same room. He couldn't spoil it and Lucille was keeping everything together while the kid's grandpas were talking with the estranged great uncle. "Look, there's a reason I came." Alistor said plainly, causing Arthur's stern face to drop slightly with a hint of concern. He never saw his older brother like this, in all of the times he could remember. "Can we talk about it later tonight?" He looked at his feet. "Don't want to spoil the fun as an uninvited guest….."
"Sure." Arthur paused. "Is everything okay? Are you well?" He asked, concern overcoming him. He looked to Francis knowing that his brother got along well with his husband, why Arthur never understood but they did. He looked grim.
"Well, no it's not." Alistor said. "Can we just leave it there for the time being? I mean I don't want to upset the kiddies there when they don't even fuc-reaking" he said covering up his swearing. "-know me and it's Christmas. Let the wee ones have some fun."
"Okay." Arthur said. "I did get ahold of some of the Christmas Crackers like Mum used to get." He smiled.
"Sounds like fun." He smiled. "Mind of I take some over for the twins?"
"Ask Alfred and Ivan first." Francis suggested, noticing how Ivan kept looking at Alistor as an unknown threat, sizing him up. "He's very protective of the twins around strangers."
"Aye, I understand." Alistor nodded, taking the box from the table by the Christmas tree.
"Ask Alfred and Ivan first." Francis suggested, noticing how Ivan kept looking at Alistor as an unknown threat, sizing him up. "He's very protective of the twins around strangers."
"Aye, I understand." Alistor nodded, taking the box from the table by the Christmas tree. He looked to Ivan and Alfred who looked at him cautiously. See all the stuff you fucked up by not being a fucking adult sooner… He thought. "So, Alfred, and Ivan, you mind if I show your little ones how the Christmas Crackers work?"
"Sure." Alfred said, looking over at Francis who nodded. Something was certainly weighing on Alistor's mind that Alfred could tell about. And he hadn't yet started a fight with Arthur, as was the last time that they were together that Alfred could remember. Ivan looked on carefully, sensing that this was quite a change from what was expected.
"Aye little kiddos." Alistor said. "I'm ye Great Uncle Alistor," he said as Dimitri and Nikita looked over confused. She grabbed the doll and looked up at him and to her fathers who nodded in approval. Dimitri took one of the crackers from the box and looked at it. "You see this is something your grandpappy and I had at Christmas when we were wee youngings ourselves."
"What do you do with it?" Dimitri asked.
"Gimmie one end of that and then I'll take the other. At the count of three we'll pull it." Alistor said as he took the end of the cracker Dimitri had in his hand and looked at him. "Okay, one two three." At this they pulled, and a small pop came with a little paper crown, some candy, and some confetti. "Ah, you got some Mint Humbugs, they're pretty good."
"Do they have peanuts in them?" Dimitri asked as he put the crown on his head.
"Nope." Alistor said. "How about your little Nicky?" He said turning to Nikita.
"Sure." She smiled as he took one from her and counted to three and she pulled her so hard, she rolled backwards. "Geesh Artie, you really went all out, she got the one with those Maltesers." He laughed ruffling her hair. "And why were you worried about peanuts laddie?"
"Oh, I'm allergic." Dimitri sighed.
"Ah, that would be no fun." Alistor smiled.
Meanwhile Arthur was standing in the kitchen while Francis began making Christmas breakfast for everyone. Looking on at the scene, he smiled. "Well maybe he is finally growing up and not being a total twat."
"I know you are censoring yourself." Francis said. "You normally say much worse about him." He said as he mixed the batter. "But trust me, he wants to mend the burned bridges." Arthur rolled his eyes. "One does not cross the Atlantic and show up at their brother's house uninvited at Christmas when they were perfectly fine keeping an ocean away from each other." Francis poured the batter for chocolate chip pancakes as he turned to see Arthur. He knew why Alistor did come, but it was Alistor's story to tell, to try and make amends with his brother. It would not be right to say it.
"Well, he isn't insisting on light up those cigars of his in the house and so far, he does seem to be treating the grandchildren well. Charlotte seems to really like him spinning her around like that." Arthur commented. "And he actually isn't trying to make a pass at Lucille." He assured Francis. "How is it you can actually get along with him but don't want him touching your sister?"
"Look, I can have a good relationship with someone and know they're not good enough for my baby sister. Not like Lucille couldn't handle herself. She probably could challenge him to a game of poker and do as they say, take him to the cleaners." Francis said.
"Yeah…." Arthur said with a laugh as Charlotte spit up on Alistor's shirt after the twirling. Looking down, he handed Charlotte to Katyusha and headed to Arthur. "What is it?"
"Ummmm…. Can you help me with this?" He said as he took Arthur's hand. "Where's the bathroom?"
"Didn't you bring a spare shirt?" Arthur sighed.
"No, I was not expecting an 8-month-old to spit up on me and I couldn't ask you for one of yours." Alistor said.
"You have a point." Arthur sighed as he showed Alistor to the bathroom. "I can give you one of Francis's t-shirts, maybe one of the gag ones that Alfred got him that he refuses to wear.
"Thanks, little brother." Alistor said as he gave Arthur a slight noogie, causing Arthur to break free and head to the bedroom when he returned with a bright pink t-shirt with 'sexy grandpa' written in blue glitter on it. "Seriously?" Alistor asked.
"Francis won't be caught dead in that, something Alfred should have known." Arthur sighed.
"Beggars can't be choosers." Alistor said as he pulled Arthur into the bathroom, and shutting the door behind him. "And I have to tell you this Artie. And well, I can't do it in front of everyone yet. I mean Francis knows, but well, bloody hell," he said looking at Arthur.
"I will give you this, you aren't smoking up my house." Arthur said as he smirked at how stupid his brother looked in that gag gift shirt.
"Well, you were right, that stuff is killing me." Alistor said. "I won't lie, it's been hell quitting. God I wanted a cigar so bad when I got past customs. I always needed one after flying." Arthur's face fell, seeing his brother be genuine and so vulnerable. "Last month I was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. I know, you were right, you don't need to nag me, what's done is done." Taking a deep breath, he turned to Arthur. "I start chemotherapy and radiation at the end of January. There's about a 30-40 percent chance of living past 5 years at this stage. Could have been worse, but before I go, I wanted to try and make amends with you. I won't lie, I know our well, awful past was part of the reason you and Francis ran off to America. That man will follow you to the ends of the earth. But I could not in good conscious go through this without at least trying to mend the bond we had." Alistor said. "And I may have seen too many bad Christmas movies and just hoped that maybe surprising you on the holiday would help it. I mean I got your letter the day I got my diagnosis."
"Wow." Arthur said simply, knowing how expensive trans-Atlantic tickets at such short notice would be. "I'm moved. I know it must not have been an easy thing to do."
"Easy or not, some things are just important. And when you're our age and staring something like I have down, well it changes a lot." Alistor said.
Arthur sighed. He had held a grudge for so long, said he would only talk to his brother if he came to him, and well, he did. And he was acting civilized and not trying to start trouble or argue with him. The past was not easy to let go, but his brother had made a great effort to come see him and apologize. "Well, Alistor, I cannot lie, it won't be easy to forgive. But we can try to. I know you wouldn't have done this if you weren't serious."
"Aye." Alistor said hugging Arthur. "Honestly, that's the best I was hoping for."
"Good." Arthur said. "Let's go enjoy Francis' breakfast. He'll kill us if we miss it."
"Aye." Alistor agreed.
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I have a plan to wrap this story up with the end of the holidays in this fic. How fast I can get it done, well depends on things like school and work. Things that are pretty hectic right now. (Because working full time while dealing with classes for Master's degrees is well, quite the juggle, even when your classes are anywhere anytime…. work drains me so much that I hardly want to do much when I get off…..) But I will update. So other than that, remember to read (well you just did) and review. Ciao for now,
Otherealmwriter
Aka
Realm.