A week passed without much going on, Latvia healed quicker than Natalia would have thought and it occurred to her that his body was probably used to it.

They continued to spend time in each others' company though, with Latvia writing more and more in Natalia's presence as she waited for the next chapter. Heck, once she even cracked a smile, and that made Ravis' day.

"Why doesn't Sophia give up on the other man? Michael is clearly a better choice." Natalia was reading over his shoulder now, and he closed the pages with a smile.

"Because she's known him longer, and fell in love with him long ago." Ravis explained, turning in his seat at the sight of Natalia's arms crossed over her chest. She was adorable.

"Sophia is falling for Michael too, is she not?" The girl took a seat at the table in the library and Ravis nodded towards her.

"I intend for her to."

An idea sparked in Natalia's mind and Ravis noticed the way her eyes lightened. He sat his pencil down to listen.

"Will it be in the next chapter? Is that why I cannot read it as you write?" A smirk dared to irk the corners of her mouth towards the sky.

"Oh no, I've been caught." His organs melted when she cracked another small smile, wiping it off quickly and replacing it with her shoulders leaning forward a little more and her eyes shining like the reflection of the sky off a negative-degree pond in summer.

"What are you waiting for? Write! I want to read." She fluttered her hands toward him, compelling his fingers to return to their job.

"Okay, okay."

Natalia closed the little book Ravis had trusted into her possession with a frown. It had been 17 chapters already and the main characters, although obviously interested in each other, had yet to confess. Now, Belarus was no schoolgirl swooning over a romance, but she held with her belief that feelings should be expressed despite anything.

Like this morning, she had brought her brother his breakfast in bed, after having come home drunk.

The days the scent of vodka wafted through the house were not far between, but Natalia took the time to notice how thickly the acidic drink coated her senses. Brother must be drinking again, which didn't bother her at all. What surprised her though was the way her feet moved about the house continuously, searching for a certain blonde Latvian.

She finally found him, walking out of Ivan's bedroom. He let out a shaky breath as soon as the door was closed, and she hurried forward. Did he have more bruises?

"Ravis, is Brother drunk?" To her surprise, he smiled.

"Yes, very."

"Why are you happy about that? I've seen what happens to you when he drinks." She followed him down the hallway until they made it to the kitchen once more. He shook his head.

"Drunk is different. He's in his bed crying about his history now. When he is drunk, I have nothing to worry about but hugs." A coffee mug was refilled and spiked with more vodka. A frown was still present on the girl's face as she watched him leave once more with a promise to return.

"Oh!" He turned around and fished in his pocket before pulling out the little red book they'd both grown fond of, "I finished that chapter, it took a while to write correctly." He grinned sheepishly and handed over his favorite possession, then left her once more.

She went to the library and read.

"You." Lithuania flinched as Natalia's icy glare fell on himself and Latvia. She did little more than cast him a less-than-dirt glance and turn her fury to Ravis. Who, against all possible reason, didn't seem terrified.

"Yes, Miss Natalia?" Was... was he smirking? No. Couldn't be.

"You lied to me. They have still not confessed and it has been two chapters. At most, Sophia has become an annoyance." Despite the through chewing he was receiving, Ravis looked pleased with himself as Natalia continued, "She is obviously over that brute. What is keeping Michael? She couldn't possibly make the move, she is a proper young woman. Explain yourself, Ravis."

He took the book back with a wide grin and her eyes narrowed considerably.

"Natalia, this story is not only of my making, it is a collection of my inspirations. The ending is as much up to you as it is me."

Belarus turned on her heel and left.

She was gorgeous. Well, she's always gorgeous, but at the moment, she was breathtaking. Today was warm, bright, and the day Ivan came home after a conflict with America. Natalia had spent the morning getting dolled up before he came home. Despite his vocabulary, Ravis was set on the fact that there were no words to describe the perfection that she was at the moment.

Her hair shone, her dress velvet and unwrinkled, and the fabric clinging to her figure like her own skin. One thing though, was out of place. Her eyes clouded with worry and her frown seemed deeper than was the norm.

"What has you worried?" She dared not tell him as the curly headed blonde frowned with her. Ivan was coming home and she was sure he would fail to notice her new dress, that part she knew. What she was looking for was if he would bother to notice. Once again, she was attempting to unravel his thoughts. Thus far, the effort was fruitless. She offered up a shrug and turned back to the door as it opened.

"Welcome home, Brother." Belarus rushed to say it before Latvia could this time. Despite Ravis being a main focus of her attention, Ivan would always hold a place in her heart and his approval does matter. She stared up at him for a moment, his face scrunching in a manner she was far too used to seeing.

"Ah, thank you, Belarus." She was given a very fake smile and he turned to Lithuania.

They walked right past she and Ravis both.

The drop in Natalia's posture was almost unnoticeable, but Ravis was quick to place a hand on her back and offer a shy smile.

"You look beautiful Natalia."

So that was the answer to her question.

Contrary to any reason anyone had ever thought of, Natalia fell for her brother because he was there to protect her as a child. He was her everything because she had nothing else, and when she acquired such things, he was all that remained of the assurance that she would never be alone. Even if she had to chase him. She had her sister, but Ukraine had her own life to live, and couldn't always be around. Lithuania quickly became a annoyance, and Estonia could not be bothered to care less. Latvia –Ravis– however, had proven himself to be different. Ravis seemed to care. They were almost... friends.

But this wasn't just a friendship, Natalia realized as she finished yet another chapter of Ravis' tale. She was still waiting for the main characters to find love in each other, because Ravis was still waiting on her to accept him in the same way.

What had he said about the ending of the book being up to her?

Now it all made sense.

"Good morning, Natalia." His words were spoken in such a manner that her stomach turned a flip, and the smile on his face –a rather cute face– made her ears grow warm. Thank God her hair was long enough to hide her emotions.

"Good morning Ravis. I've finished your chapter, and I've come to a conclusion." She sat her cup on the table and flipped her wrist to tap the book on his chest, as he had approached the chair where she sat.

"Oh?" He arced an eyebrow, taking hold of the end of the book. She released the covers, but pressed it flat onto his chest, staring him down.

"You told me that I had a say so in the ending, and I have decided how I'd like it to end." Ravis broke out into a grin.

"Tell me and it shall be written."

"I would rather show you." The hand that had pressed his book to his chest slid up and caught him by the collar, tugging him just enough that he leaned down, though as quickly as she had started pulling he had sped up and kissed her sweetly. There was little tilting, no tongue, and it couldn't have been more than two seconds, but it was perfect.

"I can't wait to write out the rest of it now, with you."

This time, they both let themselves smile for the briefest of moments.

A/N: There~ It's finished. No more drabble~ Back to my main plot.

Hope you guys like it~

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