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!
"So, thoughts on the movie?" Feliks said as he pointed his camera at Natalya and Toris.
"I only knew what was going on because my sister showed this movie many times at Christmas. I do not know much Polish." Natalya stated. "And I hope you do not show Toris and I looking confused."
"I could tell what they were saying fairly well." Toris said. "A little rusty but I know a fair bit of Polish."
"Well, I still don't want to be in it, and look like an idiot online." Natalya said.
"Fine. I made a version with just me and filmed in a way so you would be easily edited out." Feliks said. "I thought you would be above the fears of judgment of people online." He teased.
"Well I don't want it on there." Natalya said.
"Just do what she wants." Toris sighed.
"Okay," Feliks sighed. "But the one with me only in it is getting a ton of views. Sure you don't want some?" He teased.
"That was from Poland mainly and I don't care." Natalya sighed. "I think I shall try to call big brother and see how he is making out with his in laws..." She sighed walking off as Toris placed his face in his hands.
"What did I do?" Feliks asked.
"That's just her way." Toris sighed.
Natalya laid on her bed and called Ivan. She did not know if the twins would still be awake as it was Christmas and they were at their grandparents. However Ivan did not like them staying up too late. She called, wondering if she could at least talk to them. "Hello?" Alfred said answering Ivan's phone.
"Huh?" Natalya said, "Where is Ivan?"
"Giving the kids a bath. It's getting close to bed time for them and he won't let them skip bath time no matter what." Alfred said.
"Oh." Natalya said as a tense pause on the phone as neither one of them was exactly that friendly with the other one. "So...have a nice Christmas."
"Well..." Alfred began, not sure what to tell Natalya about everything that happened this Christmas. She likely would not care about the surprise visit from his uncle; she did not know the man, nor did she really have any reason to care. The twins did seem to like him, and he was nice to them so that part would be the main thing that Natalya would be concerned about. "Certainly was an interesting Christmas."
"Did the twins like their presents?" Natalya said.
"Oh yeah, loved them. Especially those Hatchimals that Dad got them. Nikita made me read her some of those Molly stories in the American girl doll we got her." Alfred laughed. "And Dmitri almost cried when his Jurassic Park truck didn't have the batteries. He thought Santa forgot them. We told them Santa told us just what batteries they'd need, so he calmed down."
"Did he ask why Santa couldn't have remembered it?" Natalya smiled, amused at how a four year old's mind worked and just what they would say or accept as true.
"Said something like the elves couldn't make batteries with their magic. Thank god none of them asked for a Gameboy or something like that from Santa. That would get into a nice series of questions." Alfred said. "Hopefully I won't ever have to. Or they'll think of some reasoning on their own." Natalya scoffed. "So...ummm...Snegurochka, how is it with your Christmas."
"It's weird watching Home Alone when you know what is going on but don't understand the words." Natalya said.
"Huh?" Alfred replied, his turn to be confused.
"Oh, Toris' childhood friend from Poland came over and is handling Christmas for us. A full Polish Christmas. Or as well as Feliks can do. And apparently Home Alone is HUGE in Poland. I just knew it because Katyusha had us watch it every year after our Great Uncle died as something for our small holiday. Anyway, with Felkis, he came home the other day complaining about not finding carp in the stores." Natalya sighed. "You see in Poland on Christmas eve they have carp and the lady of the house keeps the thing in the bathtub until it is killed, scaled and cooked. Feliks said he put some of the scales in his shirt like his grandmother did with her bra." She shuddered at the image of a woman that looked like an older version of Feliks putting scales in a bra. "Which is not uncommon for Poland..."
"Wow, sounds like you're having fun." Alfred smiled.
"I guess I will call it that." Natalya said. "He's not being too disruptive so I can't say much. But he's Toris's best man at the ceremony. Called it himself when he got in from the airport."
"So you two ever pick a date?" Alfred said.
"Yes." Natalya growled.
"Who are you talking to with my phone?" Ivan asked as he came out of the bathroom with the twins in their pajamas.
"Your sister called, Natalya of course." Alfred added as he handed the phone to Ivan. "I'll get the twins to bed. Wait a minute..." He said taking Ivan's phone back. "Say good night and Merry Christmas to your Aunt Natalya. You'll be seeing her on New Year's Eve when Ded Moroz and Snegurochka come to visit you."
"Good Night, Merry Christmas." Dmitri and Nikita said at the same time.
"Good night, sleep tight you two." Natalya said. "Now give the phone to my brother."
"Fine..." Alfred sighed. "Here you go." He then took the twins' hands. "And here we go to sleep you two. You'll see Grunkle Alistor tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Alistor laid back on the hotel room bed, after having a coughing fit and looked at the bottle of Scottish whiskey and egg nog he had bought from a liquor store that was still open, despite being Christmas. He knew a lot of the icons hanging up behind the counter as something typical of someone who was Sikh religion follower, like some of the owners of his favorite curry restaurants in Scotland, so he understood why he wouldn't be too worried about missing the holiday. But it would be a good day for business either way. So many people needing a drink after the holiday. He thought as he mixed the two drinks with a toast to the sky. It was a pleasant day, Arthur didn't kick him out and chase him from his house with a cricket bat or an English longsword as he recalled when Arthur still lived in Britain. But that was likely because the boys and their children were there. Nothing else, Artie has manners. He likely would value them more than his hatred of me. "Bloody hell!" He said as he downed the holiday drink quickly and lay back on the hotel bed. "I should have been more of a man and done the right thing much sooner." He sighed as he turned on the television and caught the start of Home Alone. "Every year, everywhere." He laughed, thinking of the times he caught it on television back in Scotland and how Dylan's grandkids loved watching it, and even how Dylan's children loved watching it growing up. He looked at the year it was made. "1990, it's that old." He said as he looked at the summary on the programming guide. "I'm not as young as I once was." He said as he ran a hand over his dark brown hair and watched the movie. "Funny thing is the only thing any of us Kirkland brother have to look alike is our eyes." He scoffed looking at himself in the dresser mirror. "Although…." He smirked at his disheveled bag. "When Artie and I go to the pub, I am so wearing the Kirkland family tartan." He smirked.
Ivan lay next to Alfred wondering about Alistor. "Has your father ever told you why he doesn't talk to his brother?"
"Nope." Alfred said. "Papa just told me they fought a lot." He sighed looking at the ceiling. "I trust him. I don't think he would do anything wrong by the twins and we can go with him so that we make sure." Alfred said as Ivan nodded. "But I mean he didn't seem like it was a nefarious reason or anything. He may have been the bane of Dad's existence but he never did anything like fake something so major to be a bother." Alfred put his glasses up. "You don't put that much effort into something like that if you were perfectly fine just pretending each other didn't exist." Alfred stated with a yawn.
"You are right." Ivan said as he held onto Alfred tightly. "S Rozhdestvom" He said with a yawn.
"Merry Christmas to you too big guy." Alfred smiled. "And you still need to tell us what you want to do for your birthday. It's in a few days and the twins want to do something really special for their papa. And I will want to warn you, if they do all the planning, you'll be the oldest person having the birthday at Pizza Party Planet." Alfred said with a slight laugh at the image of Ivan in a kiddie party hat with him, Nikita and Dmitri blowing noise makers. Now I kinda hope he doesn't come up with something. That looks like fun.
"You know the twins will want to go there tomorrow anyway." Ivan sighed. "I think they will tire of it soon."
"They're 4 Vanya." Alfred sighed.
"You're right." Ivan replied. "I'll think of something then." Or I'll just have to get Katy involved with this. She knows just what to do with you sometimes. Alfred thought.
The next day, Alistor came back to Arthur and Francis's house and smiled as the twins looked up at him with a smile. Ivan nodded politely while Alfred smiled. He had not seen his uncle much in person at all in his life and was excited to actually get to meet him in person. Arthur sipped his tea and nodded to him. "I do hope you will have fun with the twins. They have lots of energy and may still have some of a rush from Christmas."
"We're also getting a visit from Ded Moroz!" Dmitri said.
"Huh?" Alistor asked, never having heard much about it.
"Well he's like Santa but in Russia. He's going to be visiting Dmitri and I like he did Papa and Aunt Katy and Aunt Natalya." Nikita said.
"Yeah, we didn't want to leave traditions from Ivan's family out." Alfred said.
"Awwww ain't that sweet?" Alistor said. "So what would you little ones like to do?" Alistor said as he looked up at Alfred and Ivan. "I read about this family fun park in the brochures in my room. They have go karts, laser tag, an arcade, miniature golf, a batting cage and a nice driving range."
"Batting cage?" Nikita said excitedly.
"Huh lassie?" Alistor asked as he looked down at her with a smile.
"She's on the tee ball team and wants to be in the major leagues when she grows up." Alfred said.
"Hmmmm….." Alistor read. "Sorry, not till you're a little older. Says 6 and up."
"Poo….." Nikita pout.
"But…." Alistor said. "I can show you how to really hit a golf ball further than you do with mini golf. Rent you a few kiddie size clubs and I'll show you how to hit them far away. How you play proper big person golf." He looked up to Alfred and Ivan who were now joined by Arthur. "It's been awhile since I have gotten to the driving range. What with everything that has been going on right now."
"You still play?" Arthur asked.
"Aye, and the pipes too." Alistor smirked as Arthur rolled his eyes.
"I swear that is a weapon of war and will not have it in my house." Arthur sighed. "You would wake me at the crack of dawn with that bloody thing."
"Well, tell that to my mates back in Scotland and me Youtube fans. Some like an old guy like me who can play the pipes." Alistor said.
"Well that's their problems." Arthur sighed. Francis looked over at Arthur with a scowl as if to scold him for being like that. "Although, I am not sure that the twins have heard it." He said with a painful smile to try and show Francis he was making an effort. "Did you bring your bagpipes with you?"
"Fraid not little brother. Too much of a bother when flying across the Atlantic. It's easier to keep track of when I am visiting Dylan or Patrick or Seamus, but I frankly didn't feel like risking it this time." Alistor replied.
"Understandable." Arthur said.
"How about you all go to that family fun center." Francis said. "It does sound like a fun place for all."
"Aye." Alistor said. "What do you think?" He said asking the twins.
"Sounds fun!" Dmitri said.
"I guess..." Nikita said.
"What's wrong Niki?" Alfred asked as they headed to the car.
"I'm not old enough for the batting cages." She pouted as Ivan picked her up and put her in her booster seat.
"You will be before you know it." He reassured her. "Then you can swing all you like."
"Yeah it's only 2 years away." Alfred said.
"But that's sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long..." She moaned.
"When you get to be as old as I am little lassie, you won't think 2 years is long at all." Alistor replied as he got in the middle. It made things easier if they just all went in one car. And while the 5 year prognosis isn't good, that's still just 5 years. 5 years I likely have left. Not a lot of time and harder if you are not healthy. He thought, not wanting to upset the children at this point. They seemed to like him. He hadn't gotten the coveted Candy Land game demand Alfred said they would do with people they liked, but he had reassured him that it seemed like they would ask him once they got to know him a little better. The twins were very friendly together even if Nikita was more boisterous and Dmitri was shy until he came out of his shell. But for those little ones, 2 years is half their life, so it will seem forever to them.
"Just how old are you?" Nikita asked.
"Now now Nikita, it's not nice to ask a grown up their age." Ivan reminded.
"You know how old your Grandpa Artie is?" Alistor asked.
"Old. He's Dad's Dad." Dmitri said.
"Well I am his big brother. So I am older than him even." Alistor said.
"Wow." Nikita said. "You seem to be more fun than Grandpa can be sometimes."
"Niki..." Alfred said.
"Relax Alfie," Alistor said as Alfred moaned. He hardly liked Ivan or Matthew calling him Alfie, at this Ivan smirked, knowing how the childhood nickname annoyed Alfred. "Your little ones are at their most honest stage." Alistor smiled. "I know a bit about little children. Being an uncle and as you called it 'Grunkle.' I kind of like that term."
As they pulled up to the family fun center. Alistor helped unbuckle the twins as Alfred and Ivan took them out and he followed them inside. Once inside, the twin's eyes widened. It was much bigger than the miniature golf course that Toris and Natalya had taken them to back soon after Charlotte was born. Both wanted to run off to a specific game.
"Skeeball!" Dmitri said trying to pull Ivan towards it
"Wack a Gator!" Nikita said pulling Alfred along.
"Now hold ye horses." Alistor said. "We have to get the tickets and tokens and something to eat." He said as he felt his stomach growl. I should not have skipped breakfast... He thought as he looked over at the concession stand.
"Lunch does seem like a good idea." Alfred moaned with Nikita.
"I swear..." Ivan said as he followed Alfred and Alistor to the concession stand. Looking at the menu, Alfred and Ivan decided on a pizza for them and the twins. Alistor looked at the menu, a little unsure of if he should have any of it. Well it's the holidays and you are in America after all. When in Rome as they say. He thought as he ordered the fish basket. Once they paid and got their food, they looked around at what they wanted to do.
"40 inches for laser tag.." Alfred said looking at the brochure "Well that's good."
"Huh?" Nikita asked looking up from her soda.
"Remember what the doctors said at your last appointment? About how tall you were."
"41 inches." Dmitri said.
"42.25" Nikita smiled as Dmitri frowned slightly.
"You'll get bigger soon enough Dmitri." Ivan reassured him. "Maybe even bigger than me." He said knowing what he wanted.
"So we can do laser tag?" Nikita asked.
"Yep." Alfred said. "Cool codenames and everything."
"Grunkle Al?" She asked.
Ivan and Alfred looked at him worried it might wear the man down.
"Sure." He smiled ruffling Nikita's hair. "Don't worry, I'm not a fragile little thing. Besides, it'll make the little ones happy."
"If you think you can." Alfred said worried.
"Nonsense." Alistor replied. "I'm not dead yet." He smiled. "Now, let's get the tickets."
"YEAY!" The twins said.
"When lunch is done." Ivan reassured him. "Maybe I should have gotten the fish. It's been awhile since I have had good seafood. Not like frozen fish sticks..." Alfred rolled his eyes. "You're right, that isn't likely much better."
Birthday dinner idea... Alfred smirked.
Translation Guide:
(obtained via Google Translate)
S Rozhdestvom-Russian-Merry Christmas
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I based the fun center off one near where I grew up. I don't have much else to say so remember to read, well you just did and review. Ciao for now,
otherrealmwriter
aka
Realm.