Second one is up!

Winner: Starlight Amethyst

Pairing: America x Belarus

Title: Melt

*Warning- Some Russia bashing in America's POV (this is after the collapse of the Soviet Union). I personally love Russia; he's so cute! So, no offense intended.*

Here you go!

"Oh, Natalia!" Belarus looked up from the desk. She put down the paper she was reading and waited. A millisecond later, America smashed into her room. He didn't just enter the place; he smashed into it with all of the exuberance he had in him. Belarus took it as a sign of his extra high spirits today. What had made him so happy?

"Natalia, Natalia, Natalia!" he exclaimed, bouncing up and down excitedly.

"Yes, America?" He looked deflated for a moment.

"You can call me Alfred." Then he perked up again. "Look at what I got for you!" He brandished a brown paper bag at her face. The woman took it gingerly. Inside was a new bow and something wrapped in paper. She admired the bow, cradling it in her hands. The white satin was silky smooth.

"Thank you." Belarus was unaccustomed to such kindness. America was practically bursting with joy.

"Do you like it?"

"I do, very much."

"Why don't you try it on?" She complied, taking off the old bow in her hair and replacing it with the new one. Her companion eyed it with satisfaction. "You look really nice, Natalia. Now look at the other thing I got you; it's even better!" With a faint blush, she took out the paper wrapped object. It was strangely soft. Taking off the covering, she found… a hamburger.

"What did I tell you? Isn't it great?" If he hadn't just given her a beautiful new bow, she would have rolled her eyes at him.

The relationship between Belarus and America was like that of a person and a mouse. As one tried to get closer, the other shied away. At least, until one could penetrate the timidity of the other and save her from despair. That was America's motivation for befriending Belarus. He had taken her under his wing after the dissolution of the Soviet Union (served the communist bastards right) and was slowly trying to work his way into her heart. Hence the gifts he was perpetually trying to give her and the conversations he was always trying to have. At first, the woman hadn't like him much. She would give him polite, distrusting glances when they happened to bump into each other. But due to his chivalrous and all around heroic deeds, Belarus now seemed to be opening up more. Just the other day, she had smiled at him! Well, it was a small one and he had just slipped on a banana peel, but it was the principle of the thing that mattered. Now he was embarking on his latest attempt to turn her to the light of outgoingism.

"Natalia!" he sang through her door. "Are you ready to explore America?" They were going on a road trip around the country. From within the room came Belarus' cold, elegant voice.

"Almost, America."

"Alfred," he whined, and then stopped himself because it wasn't heroic. "Anyway, I'll be waiting out here." He though he heard a sigh but brushed it off as a figment of his imagination. Eventually, she emerged, clad not in her usual dress but in a pretty blouse and a skirt. There was a light dusting of pink on her cheeks. The new bow was perched on her head. America looked at her, astonished.

"You look…very pretty today." Everyday actually, but it was especially evident right now. He was suddenly very aware of his plain white T-shirt and jeans. Offering his arm gallantly, he escorted her down the stairs. When they were in the car he started the ignition with a flourish.

"Let the party begin!"

America was a queer person. He was unusually happy all of the time. He insisted on playing the part of the hero perpetually. He had taken in the sister of his Cold War enemy. But queerest of all was that he was genuinely excited to explore his country (and in a tourist kind of way, which was odd for anyone to do in his own home) in a small, cramped car, accompanied only by a quiet and intimidating young woman who traveled with a knife in her bag. They made an odd pair on the road. As he drove, America whistled. Belarus looked at him discreetly.

"Why are you so cheerful?" she inquired. He laughed.

"Because today's a great day! The sun is shining, the birds are singing…and we're traveling around America together!" He was incredibly optimistic. She liked his rose-colored outlook on life. The woman nodded and turned her attention to the scenery. They were passing acres of raw land, coated with green and dotted with spring flowers. Although they had been driving for quite a while, Belarus found that she did not mind a bit. It also helped that her companion was the farthest thing from boredom. And so, they endeavored to work their way through the main landmarks of fifty states.

Everything worked out wonderfully at first. They passed through the White House, breezed past the Liberty Bell, and were now on the ferry to Ellis Island. Belarus looked out on the gray water lapping at the sides of the ship. She had actually been to the immigration center many times already; at least, in spirit alongside those of her people who had immigrated to America. Physically standing on Ellis Island sent simultaneous shivers of excitement and dread up her spine. Passing immigrants and officials glanced at the pale, pretty young woman who was watching them with curiosity. Unconsciously, America stepped closer to her.

"So, Natalia, this is Ellis Island, the entryway for those who want to reside in the land of the free and the home of the brave!" He spread his arms out as if to encompass everything in them. Belarus thought that he looked rather heroic then, with the golden sun glancing off his hair and glasses. His expression was one of pure happiness at being among others. She averted her eyes to fight off the unfamiliar feelings rising up in her. The gigantic green figure at the island's center gazed genially into the distance. America caught her looking at it.

"Do you want to check out the inside? There's a great view at the top too." She nodded hesitantly.

"Okay." He took her hand (completely missing her reddened face) and guided her to the apex of the Statue of Liberty. There, she looked about her in wonder. Everything was so small down below. Birds were tiny white dots on the water. The people were moving around like so many ants. America watched her long hair blow in the wind and fought off the urge to run his fingers through it. She wasn't his, anyway.

It was when they were once again driving on the road that he realized he had to act quickly. Belarus was sleeping, most likely tired out by the day's travels. He looked at her fondly. Her blue eyes were closed, her pink lips pressed together lightly. America frowned. Letting this beautiful creature go back to the cold snows of Russia was sacrilege. She would freeze there, alone and unloved. Hell, she had frozen there, and he was now trying to thaw her out. His McCarthyist sentiments flamed up until he was seething with anger. What did she see in that cold-hearted ass Ivan anyway? He didn't even feel for her, not like America did. The blonde came to the conclusion that winning Belarus was infinitely important. And not just for the good of democracy; it was for the both of them as well. He felt that he was the only one who could pull her out of the iceberg that she was enclosed in. And the way to do that was through this road trip. The plan was simple: show Belarus the best of America and convince her that he was the one to be with. Smugly, he found vacant rooms at an inn and woke his companion. Everything would work out perfectly.

And it did, for a time. The two passed through a majority of the states with no problems. Belarus seemed to take a great interest in the country. She was even starting to smile. Then, as they were making their way along a dusty road in Arizona, the car suddenly broke down.

"No, no," America moaned as his Ford ceased moving. "Not now!" Belarus seemed indifferent. After a few moments of fiddling with the engine, the blonde plopped down on the side of the road. His companion inquired,

"Has the car broken down entirely?"

"Guess so." He looked up at her with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry our trip had to end this way."

"It wasn't your fault." America stood up and dusted off his jeans. The night was encroaching steadily. He walked over to Belarus' side.

"Are you cold?"

"No. The temperatures in Europe are far worse than this." Nevertheless, he draped his bomber jacket over her shoulders. Then he contacted the nearest authorities. Snapping his cell phone shut after the brief conversation, he told the woman,

"They said that it'll take up to thirty minutes 'til they can get us. For now, I guess we'll have to wait here." She nodded. America's grin faltered. "I'm really sorry for this, Natalia. The trip seemed like a good idea at first." They stood in silence for a few moments. The man cleared his throat.

"So, when do you have to get back to your place?" he asked quietly. Belarus hesitated.

"My brother sent me a letter asking me to hasten my return. He said that he needed my support." Her affection for the Russian was evident in her eyes. America felt a pang of something like jealousy. She had been broken after the Soviet Union's collapse, and he had helped her piece her life back together. And what had Russia been doing? Wallowing in self-pity and mourning the fall of his Communist government. He inquired, trying to remain indifferent,

"Will you go back earlier?"

"I…think that I should. Maybe a few days from now." Was that reluctance he detected in her voice?

"You know, he still has Ukraine."

"…Yes. However, I feel that it is my duty to go back." The other turned away to mask his bitterness. By and by, he felt something land gently on his shoulder. It was Belarus' hand. Her face was…almost regretful. "Thank you for welcoming me to your country with such kindness. And for helping me through difficult times. I enjoyed my stay." He smiled, taking her small hand in both of his.

"It's been great to have you here." There was sadness in his blue eyes. "I don't want you to go." Belarus turned away, but America's calloused fingers directed her face back to him. "But since you have to, I want to tell you something." He paused. "Or maybe I should just show you." So there, underneath the dusky Arizona sky, he gently placed a kiss on Belarus' lips. Her eyes widened. Had it been any other man, she would have reached for her knife. But now, she moved to grip the American's arms, and then slid her hold onto his shoulders. He grinned against her lips. Pulling away, he murmured,

"I really like you, Natalia." She was speechless for a moment.

"I…I suppose that I do too. Alfred." His smile then seemed like it could light up the night sky. He gathered her close.

"You'll see. I'll make these last days you have in America the best! I'll introduce the wonders of ice cream to you. And you have to see how we celebrate April Fool's Day…It'll be great!" As the happy-go-lucky American chattered on, the stars witnessed the icy walls around Belarus gradually melt into rivers of moonlight. And she smiled.

Er, I wasn't really sure how to write this pairing. I've never done it before. Interesting one, though. I tried to write it as well as I could, but...I'm really sorry if it didn't turn out the way you wanted it to! Please tell me what you think of it, anyway. I want to know how I can improve. :)