I do not own Hetalia okay? I got a decent flow going with this so hopefully with work and school, I can get this updated much sooner for you. But it's getting to the time of year where I am VERY busy, so who knows. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
"So what do you want your codename to be?" Alfred asked as he stood beside entry portal and Nikita thought. "Hmmmmmmmmm MLB Princess!" She said.
"Okay..." Alfred began. "Little long spelled properly but MLBPRNCSS fits." He smiled as she stepped down and put his own in. "And I'm CPTUSA" Ivan looked at him curiously. "What I love Captain America and well, run into a similar problem there..."
"I swear..." Ivan said as Dimitri told him his chosen codename of Rex "See you want to keep it simple?"
"Well yeah..." Dimitri said. "And the TRex is a ferocious dinosaur." He added. "What's your codename Papa?"
"Well," Ivan said, never really thinking much of it.
"Polar bear." Alfred suggested.
"You know, that's not too bad..." He said making the name fit. "Alistor?" Ivan asked, slightly warming up to the man.
"Ah, I don't know..." He said as he typed the first thing that came to mind.
"Nessie?" Alfred read.
"It's the first thing that came to me mind!" Alistor said.
"Whatever." Alfred said. "Just be careful not to get yourself winded."
"I can handle more than you think." Alistor said. God I hope so. He thought as they went to the waiting room for the teams to be called. He noticed an employee starting to make the teams. "Can you put those 4 on teams against each other?"
"Huh?" The employee asked.
"Put those two" Alistor said pointing to Alfred and Nikita's codenames "And these two" He pointed to Ivan and Dimitri's "on teams against each other. I think they would get a good kick out of it. If they were older I'd say kids against dads but, well they're still little."
"The system does that automatically." The employee smiled. "We put in the system when a parent and child are together at their ages. If the children are older, then we put them against each other. Kids love trying to beat mom and dad or in your grandkids?"
"Great niece and nephew" Alistor corrected, hiding a coughing fit. Blasted lungs…
"In their case, Dad and Dad…" She smiled. "No matter which set of parents they may have, I know kids love to try to beat their parents at this."
"That they do." Alistor said as he took a deep breath, and started to cough again.
Meanwhile, Katyusha sat in a rocking chair feeding Charlotte as she looked out the window. Gilbert needed Matthew to come in the day after Christmas so that he could give him the regular shift he worked on the 31st off so he could be with Katyusha and Charlotte while they had Ivan and Natalya dress up as Ded Moroz and Snegurochka and still come in in time for him and Katyusha to do the New Year's Eve special. Apparently the public loved seeing both Matthew and Katyusha together, so Gilbert decided to keep the tradition going. However, they were both firm that they were not going to bring Charlotte on, despite Gilbert's suggestion to bring her. It would be just too cold and too late for Katyusha's liking and she would not hear anything about it. "So, you said Ivan and Al agreed to babysit Charlotte?" Matthew asked.
"Yes." Katyusha smiled as she got up and carried Charlotte to her bassinet to let her sleep. She turned to Matthew and looked at him. "Did you know your uncle was going to come to Christmas?"
"No, I hadn't heard a thing from him other than he sometimes posts Minion memes on Facebook." Matthew said. "Papa told Al and I we could try to reach out to him, despite whatever Dad has against him. Almost like he knew something like this could happen."
"Well it was almost out of one of those how you say, campy Christmas movies Natalya likes to watch." Katyusha sighed.
Matthew laughed. He knew the types of Hallmark movies that Katyusha was referencing and to think of how he knew Natalya, it did not seem like she would be the type that would like movies like that. "What's so funny Matvey?" She asked.
"Nothing really, I just never saw that as being something that Natalya would be into is all." Matthew apologized.
"Well, she doesn't like people knowing she is very sensitive. I don't think she likes Vanya and I knowing." Katyusha mused. "But she is a very sensitive person but hides it with her toughness. I mean see how she is with the twins. She's not heartless." She smiled.
"I know, I know….." Matthew smiled. He then looked over where Charlotte was sleeping. "You know, last night I was so tired I couldn't give you a gift that I couldn't do at my fathers…." He smirked.
"Ooooooooh Matvey." Katyusha blushed. "Only if you put that flannel shirt I got you on and act like a lumberjack."
"I swear." Matthew smiled rolling his eyes slightly.
"You alright Uncle Al?" Alfred asked as he saw Alistor sit down looking out of breath and nearly ready to pass out after the lazer tag battle. Surprisingly, Ivan and Dimitri had done better with their team than Alfred and Nikita by using a strategy of sneaking up and hiding, or what Alfred called 'camping' in video games. Alistor was mixed in with a third group as a local youth group had come after Christmas, allowing for 3 teams and he was picked to join them to even out the team numbers, which was fine with Alistor, he could play against them evenly without having to play favorites.
"Yeah, I'm fine Alfie," Alistor panted as Nikita looked on worried.
"Where'd Papa and Dimitri go?" Nikita asked looking around as they came over from the snack stand with drinks.
"Here." Ivan said handing Alistor a bottle of Gatorade. "I apologize if you do not like the flavor. It's supposed to help hydrate you better than just water. You look like you need it."
"Thanks." Alistor said as he took the bottle of blue raspberry Gatorade and drank it down greedily. "Cannot stand the taste but it helps." He sighed. Ivan gave Alfred a coke and the twins a bottle of juice.
"I figured as much so myself. I honestly do not like some of the flavors myself but it does indeed help after a rigorous activity." Ivan smiled at Alistor, slowly warming up to him.
"Yeah, god knows how Dad would react if you somehow collapsed from exhaustion." Alfred smiled.
"Ah lad, you know how your dad is." Alistor said. "I do too, I am his older brother after all."
"Yeah he'd probably lecture you about how you shouldn't be doing stuff like this at your age and yadda yadda yadda….." Alfred said as Alistor smiled.
"Yeh, that is your dad alright." He stood up and stretched. "I think I am going to try out the driving range. Been awhile since I have played me a round and it's actually not that bad today. I just regret that I could not bring me bagpipes and me clubs. They are quite the bother when traveling internationally." Alistor smiled. "And this place does have club rental."
"What's at the driving range? Go carts?" Nikita asked.
"You ever play mini-golf?" Alistor asked
"Yeah." Nikita and Dimitri smiled.
"Well, this is the big golf. You can hit the ball much further and see where it goes. It flies a long way if you do it right." Nikita's face lit up. Part of her favorite thing about baseball was how far the ball flew when it was hit. "You want to watch? Maybe see if they have some clubs your size to try playing the big thing?"
"Yeah yeah yeah yeah Grunkle Al." Nikita jumped up and down.
"Well let's ask your daddy and papa." Alistor said turning to Ivan and Alfred.
"Well I have nothing against it as long as you feel up to looking after her." Alfred said.
"Nor do I. But maybe you should go with your uncle Fredka." Ivan said. "Just to help him out if Nikita gets too rambunctious."
Alfred paused. "You got a point there Vanya." Alfred said. "You mind your old man tagging along?" Alfred asked Nikita.
"Sure, if Papa makes you." She sighed disappointed while Alistor laughed.
"I'm here more to make sure your Grunkle Al doesn't hurt himself." Alfred smiled.
"Aye," Alistor said annoyed but caught onto what Alfred was doing. If Nikita thought she wasn't being too watched by her dad, she would be willing to accept Alfred coming along. "Aye, yes that's right wee little Nicky." He smiled. "I am an old man after all, and sometimes I may need someone like your dad to help me out. I hope you don't mind."
"I could…." Nikita began.
"Well, I am sure you could but just in case, we need someone a little bit bigger." Alistor said with a wink.
"Okay." Nikita said.
"Maybe we can have your dad be our caddy." Alistor said with a wink and a smile.
Oh god, what have I gotten myself into now….. Alfred thought. But Niki seems to be happy so I will just play along. I mean it shouldn't be too heavy, not like a full club set anyway. They're just hitting the ball. He thought as he looked over at Nikita and Alistor. "Well that's what we'll do then."
"Aye, let's go to the counter and get the clubs and the balls and I'll teach you how to hit the ball far."
"YEAY!" Nikita smiled.
"Papa and I will be playing Skeeball." Dimitri said proudly.
"Sounds like a plan." Ivan smiled at Dimtiri who smiled back.
"But don't forget that we are meeting in a few hours afterwards for gokarts." Alfred said.
"GO KARTS!" Dimitri and Nikita said.
"Well sonnie boy, let's teach your little girl about a good old game." Alistor said as Alfred took the bucket of balls and the clubs, one that was Alistor's size and one that was for children. Alfred sat down on the bench at the back of the range while Nikita had looked at Alistor with a hopeful smiled. "Now, let me show you how a good Scot drives."
"But Papa was the one that drove the car." Nikita said.
"Ah, drive is what we say when we hit the ball." Alistor said pointing towards some of the other golfers hitting their drives.
"So how can you do that?" Nikita asked.
"So, watch me lassie." Alistor said as he took the stance, swung the club back and forth a little bit to get a feel for the club and how it swung. "Arrgggggh" he said.
"What's up?" Alfred asked as Nikita stared.
"Are you okay?" Nikita said.
"Your dad tells me that you play baseball a lot." Alistor said as Nikita nodded.
"Yeah! Yeah!" Nikita said as she got distracted at another hit.
"Fore!" Alfred laughed.
"Five!" Nikita laughed.
"Fore is what the caddy says when the ball is hit." Alistor said as Nikita nodded.
"Why?" Nikita asked.
"So anyone elsewhere on the course would know someone hit a ball. If you get hit in the head with one of these things it can really hurt." Alistor explained.
"Like that time I hit the ball when Daddy threw it and he cried out when I hit it at him." Nikita said as Alistor looked over at Alfred with a smirk.
"So your little girl hit the ball in your bangers and mash?" He laughed.
"Yeah...yeah...very funny." Alfred said. "I told Dad about it and he said that he did wish that I would have a kid who would be just like me. Told me about many times I had apparently done it with him. Never really remembered how many times he did try to play catch with me. But he said he was trying to teach me soccer..."
"Football." Alistor corrected.
"Football...whatever." Alfred sighed. "I tried to play it and I kicked the ball and hit him right in between the legs." Nikita laughed.
"Well, watch your Grunkle work his magic." Alistor said as he took a grip of the club and swung it back, hitting the ball with a wack.
"FORE!" Nikita said as she looked at the ball as it flew along and landed. "Can I try?"
"Sure." Alistor said as Alfred handed her the club and she took it and swung it around. He then took Nikita and stood behind her and held her stance. "Like this." He then guided her through the swing to where she could hit the ball from the tee a little way. She looked slightly disappointed in comparison to Alistor's swing. She was the younger person and he was older than her grandpa. Starting to frown, Alistor spoke up. "Don't cry lassie." Nikita looked up at Alistor. "I wasn't that good meself when I was little. It took years of experience for me to get better." Nikita looked like she was going to throw down the club in disappointment. "Now lassie, don't worry, it's normal. It's okay that you are not the world's best on your first swing."
"Last time we played mini golf, Dimitri won." Nikita sulked. "And Aunt Natalya and Mr. Allen keep telling me that I need to be a good loser."
"You didn't lose anything." Alistor explained. "You are just starting out. No one is good starting out. I know your dad likes to play video games. Do you play?"
"Sometimes... Daddy and Papa do let Dimitri and I do some. Not a lot." Nikita said.
"Well one of my nephews is not much older than you and he likes to play and works on playing golf himself." Alistor said. "He says it helps him get his form better. You might do so too."
"Dad?" Nikita asked.
"Well, if you show me that you don't get so easily flustered. Think Mr. Allen is here too. You know how he is when you start throwing hissy fits."
"Okay." Nikita said as she looked more determined and focused more on Alistor's form and stared intensely. Alfred smiled as he brought the bucket of balls to them to take swings at. While Nikita was not anywhere as good as Alistor, because naturally he had more years of experience, and she had started to take better shots and forms. She was slowly getting less and less frustrated, one of the things that Alfred had to admit was a big problem with her. It was nice to see her get better and better with each stroke that Alistor helped her take. After awhile, they had ran out of balls, and she, Alistor and Alfred headed back to the counter to drop them off and met up with Ivan and Dimitri who had won a large stuffed dinosaur.
"I won this!" Dimitri said.
"Nice." Nikita said. "Grunkle Al taught me how to play golf better. It's amazing how far the ball can go when you can hit it further than mini golf."
"Cool." Dimitri said.
"I was thinking we get a cute golf game for the kids. Uncle Alistor said it helped one of his nephews get better at the game himself." Alfred explained. Ivan looked thoughtful.
"I know a few games that might be good for your needs, without needing to get the pro games." Alistor explained. "There's a cute one with a bunch of fun animals that actually does everything like you should, unlike many of the others that aren't the same."
"Can I?" Nikita said. "I'll let Dimitri play with me, and Uncle Alistor play too."
"Hmmmmm... when do you have to go back?" Ivan asked.
"I go back to Scotland after the new year." Alistor said. "Soon after I get back, is when my treatment begins."
"Treatment?" Dimitri asked looking up at Alistor worried. Alfred and Ivan looked worried. Alistor nodded, knowing that they were worried about the delicate balance there would be between not lying to young children and giving them an honest story.
"Are you sick Grunkle Al?" Nikita said.
"Yeah, I am sick." Alistor admit. "That's why I was so out of breath after our very fun lazer tag game. When I was feeling better, and not sick I could run around after you all day. I am also older than your grandpa and as you get older like we are you get sicker faster. So I have to go to a special doctor later to hopefully get better. The kind of sick you get as you get older is harder to fight off." Ivan smiled, knowing he had not explained the situation in a way to children that would make them upset. Something that he wanted to make sure they did not treat the kids poorly and insult their intelligence.
"So I can't just get you a bowl of chicken soup?" Nikita asked.
"I wish that would be all I need, but it's something that takes a lot of special treatment and my doctor back home will be able to help me with." Alistor said.
"Will you help me play golf some more?" Nikita pout.
"Depends on how well the doctors treat me. The medicine is pretty rough on old men like me." Alistor said as he ruffled Nikita's hair.
"Well Nikki, you know Ded Moroz is visiting soon, so he might bring you a game you can play online with your Grunkle while he is getting his treatments." Alfred said as Ivan nodded.
"There's a few that Dylan's kids play with me online. I will let you know so you can tell this Dead Morris guy." Alistor said.
"Ded Moroz Grunkle Al." Dimitri corrected.
"Ah, yes Ded Moroz. Thanks for teaching me." Alistor said. "I'm going to the pub with your grandpa tonight to help reconnect. But I need to get dressed first."
"You're already dressed." Nikita asked confused.
"Yeah, but you know how your grandpa is. I have to look nice for him." Alistor said.
"Okay." Nikita said as they went home.
Meanwhile, Alistor and Arthur sat at the pub, sipping a pint of beer each looking at each other while Francis sighed, tapping his hand sipping a Roy Rodgers, a mocktail that seemed pretty good, despite letting him down. There was not a lot of choices other than sodas and beer and Francis had to be the one to do the driving. "So, while no Candy Land invitation but you made Nikita love golf. and somehow convinced Ivan to have 'Ded Moroz' give one of the games you mentioned so that you can play with her while you are getting your chemo?" Arthur said as he took another sip of his pint.
"Aye." Alistor said. "And that Ivan bloke doesn't seem to hate me."
"That's good. He's very protective of his family. Nearly killed Matthew when he found out that Katyusha was pregnant while he lost his job." Arthur said. He then sighed and looked at Alistor. "Couldn't leave that at home, could you?" Arthur said.
"I at least wore underpants this time. Then again it is December after all." Alistor took a sip. "And I wore pants around the kids. You know that I didn't want any questions. But I thought you'd like something with the blue black and yellow of the Kirkland tartan. I may find something for the twins and wee little baby Charlotte with it too. I mean they are Kirkland grandchildren." He nudged Arthur.
"I guess." Arthur sighed. "Look, I appreciate all it took to come talk to me like this. It cannot be easy."
"Well impending death certainly will be the motivator." Alistor said. "I loved bonding with the twins today, make me also miss what I could have done with Alfie and Mattie if I had been man enough to do it sooner. I mean it's nice that Nikita and Dimitri are so cute, but..."
"I know..." Arthur sighed. "Pity."
"And this is what you two consider bonding?" Francis asked rolling his eyes. I need a glass of wine. One won't hurt my driving...
"Look, you have to admit that we are doing much better than before." Arthur said.
"Yes, no one has stabbed a bagpipe with an English Longsword over the results of a football match." Francis said.
"Take what you can get Frog." Arthur said. "Now let's order something to eat. I'm starving."
"And there's no haggis?" Alistor said.
"Nope. I haven't found it at hardly any establishments in this country." Arthur said. "But the Lancashire hot pot is good here."
"I guess I will have that." Alistor said.
"This is going to be a long night." Francis moaned. "I am having a whole bottle when I get home. You two are insufferable sometimes."
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't know how fast I will be able to update but I have some good plans coming up. I might get another chapter up over the holiday, just depends on how the storm goes and if I have power. I have off work for a few days. Nice. Anyway,remember to read well you just did and to review. Ciao for now.
otherrealmwriter
aka
Realm.