AN: I wasn't going to make another chapter, but I've decided a certain series of oneshots I was planning will be best grouped together, so expect one more chapter in this. A multi-chap fic will follow. The pairing will continue to be AmeBel.
The two had developed a strange friendship. The extroverted, obnoxious hero, and the quiet, but murderous young woman spent every spare moment they had with each other. Much to the surprise of the other nations, the pair had become fast friends.
Even more surprising was the change that became apparent in both personifications. Alfred no longer burst into ridiculously impossible plans at the most inappropriate times. In fact, as many nations realized, he calmed down and seemed to take things much more seriously than he ever had. The changes in Natalya were less noticeable, as she was not nearly as scrutinized as her new friend. However, if nations happened to wander into the room early enough they could catch the young girl actually showing a smile in the presence the self-proclaimed hero.
But what no one could clearly see was that Natalya not only befriended her former enemy, she had slowly begun to fall for him. The more time spent with one another, the farther she fell until she realized this was the true love she had desired for so long.
It was during the lunch break at the latest world meeting when Alfred first brought it up: Her. Who she was exactly Natalya didn't know, nor did the Belarusian girl want to know. She had grown accustomed to spending her free time with Alfred, something she was not used to as she spent more time with her brother than anyone else. Anyone else would be a threat to her relationship with the American.
It was little more than a simple "I'm in love with someone," thrown into the conversation before Alfred suddenly changed the subject to a new flight simulation game he'd just gotten from Kiku.
Natalya had frozen at the words, unsure whether or not he'd even truly said them. She stared at him a moment, waiting for him to elaborate. When he never did, she let it go and pretended it never happened.
As much as she hated to admit it, she'd come to think of Alfred as someone belonging to her and her alone. Alone was exactly how Natalya knew she would find herself should Alfred leave her for the company of someone else. The two continued their lunch with small talk on various subjects far from romance. She was not mentioned again that day.
Yet Natalya's mind wandered once or twice to thoughts of who Alfred could have been referring to. She found herself paying more attention to his actions during the meeting. If his eyes lingered on someone longer than a moment she took note, quickly realizing how foolish her actions were. After all, why should it matter to her if he was in love with someone?
By the end of the meeting Natalya was more frustrated than she ever had been as she packed up to leave. She took her time, knowing Russia and Ukraine would be waiting for her outside the room. She stiffened for a moment when Alfred's arm wrapped around her shoulders.
"Hey, Nat, you got plans later?" he asked.
"I have to pack. My flight home leaves tomorrow morning."
Releasing her, Alfred turned to sit on the edge of the table. "Come on, how long can it take you to pack? Hang out with me for the evening? Before you go home? Please?"
"Niama. I will get distracted again and it will be late by the time you take me back to the hotel and I have meetings with my government the day after tomorrow."
Alfred pouted. "But, Nat, it'll be weeks before we can hang out again. Please? Please? Please?"
"That won't work." Natalya zipped up her bag and threw it onto her shoulder.
"Please, Nattie?"
"Don't call me that," Natalya snapped, turning away and walking towards the door.
"Then hang out with me."
"No."
"At least let me buy you dinner or something?" he whined.
Natalya stopped, leveling him with a fierce gaze. "No hamburgers."
"No hamburgers," Alfred instantly agreed. "Whatever you want."
With a resigned sigh, Natalya finally nodded. "Pick me up from the hotel in an hour, and don't…don't let Ivan see you."
The American widely grinned. "You got it!"
Alfred leaned forward to press his lips to her cheek before bounding from the room. Natalya's eyes widened and she reached up to let her fingertips brush against the lingering tingle of the kiss. She smiled softly for a moment, earning slightly fearful looks from the few nations still in the room. Coming out of her daze, she sent them a glare and stalked out of the room.
The second time She came up was later that same night. As promised, Alfred had taken Natalya to dinner. Rather than taking her straight back to the hotel, he insisted on a walk through the park. Thus the pair found themselves on the lightly lit path, with Alfred's signature bomber jacket wrapped around Natalya's shoulders. She lightly leaned against his side as he casually wrapped an arm around her. They walked in silence for a long time before America finally spoke.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Natalya glanced up at him curiously. "Have you?"
"I think I am now."
"Oh."
"But she doesn't know."
Natalya shifted her gaze toward the ground. "She doesn't?"
"Haven't told her yet. I don't wanna mess it up. I don't think she feels the same."
The Belarusian remained silent, unwilling to say anything that would damage her own relationship with Alfred. She wanted to tell him the girl wasn't good enough, that he should keep his silence. Romance had not something she was experienced in, though she could easily relate to Alfred's predicament. Most of her life had been spent chasing her own brother; therefore she'd never even imagined herself with someone else until now. But once again she would be left alone.
"Hey, Japan got me an advanced copy of the sequel to that game you liked. You should come over and we can play it together."
"Niama."
"I'll make hamburgers."
"Niama."
"Come on, Nat, it's no fun without my best girl. Please?"
"Your best girl?"
"Who else would be? So, you'll come over?"
Natalya glared at him for a moment before rolling her eyes. "Tak."
Alfred grinned and lifted her up, spinning around before she could protest. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him as he twirled her through the air.
"Alfred, put me down!" she shouted with a surprised laugh.
The American came to a stop, but kept the small girl in his arms. "Do I have to?"
"Yes!"
He pouted but allowed her feet to slip to the ground. When he kept his arms around her waist, Natalya looked up to him questioningly. He stared down at her with a gentle expression, blue eyes filled with something the Belarusian simply couldn't put her mind to. They remained that way until the sound of a distant car horn brought Alfred back to reality.
"I should uh…get you back to the hotel. Guess I kept you out later than I said I would," his arms dropped as he shrugged sheepishly.
"I do not mind. Wanya was busy with paperwork tonight anyway, so I would have been alone with Katyusha and her crying."
Alfred smiled, pulling her back into his side as they continued on. "So I rescued you from an evening of boredom."
The corners of Natalya's lips twitched. "Does that make you my hero?"
"Only if you let me be."
It continued on in a similar manner, Alfred mentioning the mysterious girl at least once in every conversation he held with Natalya. In response the girl got more and more annoyed, already hating a girl that Alfred wouldn't even name.
"She has the softest hair," Alfred hinted, whilst sitting on the couch playing with Natalya's long blonde locks.
"Who?"
"The girl I'm falling for."
"Of course."
"It's always perfect too," he continued, twirling the strands framing Natalya's face. "But she doesn't seem like the type to spend hours preening over her appearance. I don't think she knows how beautiful she really is."
Natalya swatted his hand away. "I thought we were watching this movie. You're distracting me from it. Explain why this boy and his grandfather keep interrupting the story. And you better explain what really happened to that stable boy."
Alfred smiled. "As you wish."
"She's kind."
Natalya sighed, glancing up from the book she'd been reading to see Alfred losing interest in the baseball game on television. She'd escaped her boss, and her brother, for another weekend to spend with the silly American. Unfortunately her surprise was ruined by the fact that baseball season had just begun, capturing much of the hero's attention.
"This again?" she asked.
"She is! Nobody else sees it-"
"Not even her," Natalya muttered, dropping her gaze back to her book.
With a confused tilt of his head, Alfred plopped down onto the couch beside her, leaning on her shoulder. "Whatcha readin'?"
"Nothing you would find interesting."
"I always find what you're doing interesting."
"I thought you were watching that strange sport of yours."
"I'd rather watch you. You wanna go get ice cream or something?"
Belarus folded the corner of the page and set the book aside. "You are very strange, Amerika."
"Is that a yes?"
"You'll miss your game."
"But you're bored. I don't want ya to leave."
"I'm not going anywhere, Alfred."
"Promise?"
"What is with you today?"
"I can't be happy to see you?"
"You were more interested in your game a moment ago," Natalya murmured. "I suppose this…girl you're so fond of is a fan of….baseball as well?"
Alfred chuckled, glancing at her book. "No. Watching baseball is definitely not her favorite thing."
Although Natalya hated to admit it, she could not imagine going back to the time without Alfred. Each time She came up the Belarusian grew more and more jealous. She knew jealousy well, after all it had been something she experienced many times in her years obsessed with her older brother. However, America was different.
They were once again in America's living room, Natalya was too afraid to invite the American over. Ivan would not understand at all about her friendship with his enemy. Natalya sat curled up against Alfred as an old western movie played in the background. Neither nation realized the other wasn't paying attention.
Natalya was too busy pondering ways that she could keep America as hers. The approach she had taken in pursuit of her brother was clearly not an option. She would not dare to risk chasing Alfred away, even if that meant sacrificing her long-awaited happy ending.
Alfred, on the other hand, combed fingers through the light blonde hair. His own thoughts were equally as chaotic, though more distraught with doubt than anything else. As the credits began to roll on the television, Alfred finally gathered the courage to speak.
"Do you think I should tell her? It's risking a lot, I'd lose everything if she refused to give me a chance. But I can't stop hoping that she wouldn't do that to me, she's not that kind of person."
Natalya frowned. "Do you have to bring this up every time?"
"I just…want to know how you would react to someone admitting to loving you. I want to know what I should expect from her if I-"
Natalya glared at him. "If you love her so much then tell her! I don't want to hear it anymore!"
Alfred fell silent, staring at her as she pushed herself out of his embrace and stood up. The American jumped to his feet and quickly reached for her.
"Nat, I—"
Natalya slapped his hand away. "I have an early flight to catch."
"Nat, no. Don't go!"
Natalya turned away as he reached for her. When his hand connected with her arm she shook him off and left without looking back. Alfred's shoulders sagged as he sat back down, mentally cursing himself for messing up again.
Alfred kicked at the end table and fell back on the couch.
"I'm such an idiot," he muttered, burying his face in his hands.
Natalya stormed into her house, holding her head high as if she hadn't spent the majority of the return home losing a battle against heartbroken tears. Not only had she lost Alfred to a stranger, but after she left the way she did there was no way she could see him remaining her friend.
"Sestra, is that you?" Katyusha called from a distant room.
Natalya turned to the stairs, intent on fleeing to her bedroom but the older girl caught her before she had a chance.
"Amerika called several times. He seemed upset. You're lucky I was here to answer it and not Wanya. Did something happen?" Ukraine asked.
"Nothing, Katyusha. I'm tired from traveling. Let me go."
"Something was delivered for you. It's sitting in on the table."
"I'll look at it later," Natalya snapped, pulling out of her older sister's grasp.
"But, little sestra, it's important."
Slightly annoyed, Natalya faced her sister with a glare that nearly scared the young woman to tears. With a few muttered Belarusian words, she quickly went to the other room.
On the table in the center sat a small vase filled with bright red roses.
"You should call Amerika," Ukraine added. "I would hate to see you lose him, he makes you so happy."
Natalya didn't reply as she reached for the card.
Dear Natalya,
I have been telling her. I just don't know if you feel the same. I love you.
Love, Your Hero, Alfred
Next chapter: Last Kiss