Thursday, September 26th, 2:45 PM

Arthur began to regret agreeing to the meeting so late on Thursday. He barely knew these people, who he would be entrusting his younger brother. For all he knew they were serial killers on the side. He only had one dinner and Alfred to go on. Although he probably will be asleep most of the time. Maybe everything would be fine.

Arthur looked over the note in his hands. He had found it on his desk this morning, and he recognized Alfred's scratchy penmanship despite the lack of a signature or any word of whom the note was from. He reread it, gaze intent.

Hey Artie! You asked who I wanted to help us out but I, uh, couldn't think of anyone in particular. Aint' that funny? Hero couldn't think of who he wanted to be his back up! Maybe you've got some ideas? Actually, you remember everyone I showed to you the other night? They would be good. I'll bring them! See ya at Hetalia later tonight!

P.S. I might bring a few others too! Real fighters who could help us!

"Dammit Alfred, do you really expect me to remember everyone?" Arthur groaned. He smacked his forehead against the steering wheel of his parked car. Well that hurt. He deadpanned. He hadn't seen the student at school today and they had determined through texting that they would just meet in the parking lot of Hetalia at nine-thirty, where they would prepare themselves before the meeting. He had been "introduced" to a few pairs of brother's right? Along with Tino, Berwald and the others. Tino at least wouldn't go right? Someone had to stay behind to watch Peter. There were the owners of the bars… Oh, whatever, he would see who they were later that night. Right now he ha a bigger worry: Getting Peter ready to be with a babysitter who he had only been with a few times. He was out front of his apartment now, trying to rehearse before he executed.

"First, you'll be in bed before he gets here. If you happen to wake up, you will be

polite and you will say please and thank you. You won't be too bossy and you won't be all 'But Arthur lets me!' or 'But my big brother always lets me!' You will not insult me behind my back. Also! If he wakes you up, you do not yell at him! Just ask why he woke you up and help him out if he needs anything. Yeah," he told himself, "that sounds good." He smirked, feeling rather proud of himself.

The Watcher finally got out of the car; fishing his keys out of his pocket. He fumbled when unlocking the maroon door with the golden mail slot and the golden 20 in the center top of the door. He was soon able to open it with a huff and a push. Arthur hung up his coat began to undo his lavender tie. He untied and shook off his leather and brown shoes, leaving them by the door on a dark yellow mat with bits of mud and dead leaves on it. The blond cringed. I'll have to clean that. He went on to the living room, his eyes keen and searching for anything else he might have to take time to make presentable. He heard a ruckus from upstairs, the clamor getting closer and closer, accompanied by a loud voice.

"Hey! When does Tino come over?" Peter called down from his spot on the stairs.

" At nine! Not until after your bedtime! And you should call him Mr.Väinämöinen." He wasn't sure if he had pronounced it right.

"But I have to call him that whenever I see him at school! And it's stupid I still have a bedtime, I'm twelve! And there's no school tomorrow."

Arthur stared at him admonishingly. "Fine, you can stay up until nine-thirty. And make sure you stay asleep. I don't want you in bed until one in the afternoon tomorrow."

"That wouldn't happen!"

"It did!" Arthur reminded him.

"Ugh, fine! Where are you even going jerk?"

"Doesn't matter to you, you little brat!"

"Does too! You're leaving me with a stranger.

"We-well… it's important. I need to leave and I won't leave you alone so you have to have Tino here to watch you!"

"Does it have somethin' to do with that guy who was with you in the car like a week ago?"

"His name is Alfred, and yes."

Peter had a wicked grin on his face. "Is it a date?"

Arthur blushed tomato red and spluttered. "Wh-what? Of course not!"

The little blond shrugged. "If you say so…."

"I do say so!"

Peter just repeated his relaxed shrug. Arthur snarled, gently smacking the boy's head, and ruffling his golden hair. The younger brother shied away, running back up the stairs with his arms held out straight at his sides.

Arthur yelled up after him. "Make sure you do any homework now, okay?"

"I don't have any!"

"Oh, that's bollocks and we both know it!"

There was no response, and Arthur was left in the quiet of the homey living room. He sat in a plushy armchair, the same wheat color as his tweed jacket. Does Peter need to be kept in the dark about all this Slayer business? I mean, it wouldn't hurt too much if he knew right? Although, he might tell kids at school about it. But it's not like anyone important would believe him. And onto Alfred. Does he think I'm leaving him for a date? Does the little runt really have that little faith in me?

He heaved himself out of his chair and went to the kitchen to start up some tea. He still didn't and never would understand why these Americans used boiled water in a pot instead of a kettle. Or iced tea? What even is that? Tea's meant to be hot, not refrigerated. He shoved his thoughts away and began to boil the water, getting out the cup, the saucer and spoon and the milk and tea. He didn't use a lot of either and sometimes he didn't use any. Another thing Arthur would never understand or like in tea is cream. Far too thick for tea, just like how coffee is too thick in general. You know who else is thick? Alfred. He chuckled to himself, amused by his own wit and insult.

What weapons should he bring with him? Swords would be good and stakes were an obvious answer. Guns wouldn't be able to kill a vampire but they did hurt and would be good for a first timer so that they could run to get real help. Oh God, Alfred himself was a first timer. We are so screwed.

The teapot whistled and screeched so Arthur hurried over to it, nearly spilling the boiling liquid on his hand as he poured it into the cup. He made his cup, blowing away the steam wafting from the steaming tea. There was a while to go before he had to leave. Nothing other than the mat needed to be cleaned especially. He swallowed down his tea, scalding his tongue in the process. He picked up the dirtied mat and ran up the stairs, throwing it into the washer. He grabbed the vacuum cleaner out of the closet, yelling a warning of its use to Peter; the boy hated the noise of the machine and how disruptive it was. "Peter, vacuum's gonna be on!"

"Dammit!"

"What did you just say?" Arthur yelled back at him, livid.

"You say it all the time!"

"Well, I also-" Arthur cut himself off, biting back what he was just about to say. Definitely not something he would want to say in to his little brother. And the French… frog! Yeah, frog was a good word for him. Anyway, the French frog wasn't someone he wanted to think about right now. "Urgh, just don't say it again!"

"Dammit!" Peter called cheekily.

"Peter!" Arthur fumed for a few moments but decided to let it go. He dragged the cleaner down the stairs, gasping at it in vain to keep it form hitting the steps.

The chore took him a lot shorter than expected, and within only twenty minutes, he had completed the task. He went back up the stairs again, put away the cleaner and made his path to Peter's room.

"What do you want?" Peter asked him as the door was opened tentatively.

"A little politeness would be great," Arthur chided.

"Whatever." Peter was on his stomach, head facing the door. He was focused on a small book, with tiny print and pages.

"What's that?"

"Story for school."

"Do you need to finish it?"

"No, just the chapter."

"What book is it?"

"The Phantom Tollbooth."

"It any good?"

Peter sighed, rolling his head. "No, why?"

Arthur frowned. "Just trying to make conversation with my little brother, is that a problem?"

"Do you need anything in particular?"

Arthur sighed himself. "No, nothing." He was lying though. He had wanted to ask Peter how he felt about Arthur not always being home, about only having a brother and no parents, how he would feel about Arthur's real job, how would he feel about his older brother having a partner or lover (because he hated the word boyfriend; sounded so childish to him), the list goes on and on. He wanted to talk with Peter. But if the boy didn't want to, he would wait. Not too long but for a little while.

"Well, you gonna then?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes Peter."

Arthur headed back to the kitchen, opened up the drawer where he kept pens and notepads, and began to write down instructions for Tino, saying them as he wrote them:

"Make sure the telly-no television," he rewrote, "is turned off. Uh, make sure Peter goes to bed and has turned off all off his lights; he has a tendency to turn them on after I've gone to bed." He stopped, pausing to think. There wasn't really much else. The Finnish man would be over so late that there wasn't much he would need. "Checking over Peter's homework if I've not already done it, and just getting him ice cream? I'll already have made dinner. Other than that..." he trailed off, no longer able to think of anything. "Well, now what?" It was only three-thirty. There was another five and a half until he left. His cellphone rang at the same time he realized this, the coincidence amusing him as he picked up the phone.

"Hello?" He asked into the receiver.

"Arthur! Mon ami! How has life been treating you?" Francis' voice came through the speakers smooth and clear, his accent and words vibrant.

"What the bloody hell do you want?" Arthur spit back.

Francis sobered up, tone turning serious. "Want to know about tonight. You still coming?"

"Of course I am. And I assume you will be there?"

"Not just me though."

"Not just me either!"

"Who else will you be bringing? Other than Alfred of course. A meeting to do with vampires would never be complete without the boy."

"He's not a boy, he's eighteen!" Arthur yelled back defensively, without thinking about his response before he said it.

"Ohonhonhon," the Frenchman sneered. "Somebody interested in the young man?"

"You shut up!"

"But Arthur dear, I must help you in your conquest!"

"Don't say conquest, that sounds like a one night stand."

Francis perked up in interest. "So you're interested in more than one time?"

Arthur groaned. "Ugh, yes, alright? Yes."

"Oh, how romantic!"

"Shut up!"

"Anyway, who will be with you?"

"I…don't… know exactly."

"That's not good."

"Well, who all will be with you?"

"Me, Ivan, Yao, Natalya, Sofia, the three you met, and a few others you haven't."

"Well, same for us. Alfred, Matthew and I, and then others you haven't met."

"You're not walking into an ambush you know."

" And you're not getting attacked you know."

"So we're at an agreement."

"We're allies. What more would you expect of me?"

"Well, I don't know. I barely know you outside of the bedroom and bar."

"And I you!" Arthur reminded him.

"You should probably warn whoever's going to be with you that Ivan and the others won't react well to any hostility or aggression. If you come armed, we'll be prepared for a fight."

"I'm supposed to be teaching him how to kill vampires, not abide by their limits."

"What good would killing those who could helpful do for you? Don't be an idiot Arthur, and help yourself. I don't want to se anyone die just as mush as you."

"And yet you have to kill people to survive," Arthur stated.

"I have to drink blood to survive. There's a difference, an important one for you to learn," Francis retorted.

Arthur hesitated before responding. "Well, yes I suppose. I don't like it, working with you or those others. But I will."

"See you later." There was a silence on both ends before there was the click of the receiver. Arthur hung up the phone and slid it into his pocket.

"Well then."

"Who was that?" Arthur jumped and was facing Peter, who looked at his older brother with a confused look on his face and narrowed eyes.

"Tha-that was a, um…coworker! Yes, a coworker!"

"Why are you lying?"

"It's complicated sort of, and I promise I will explain it soon, but not tonight."

Peter began to retreat but not before asking one last question. "Promise?"

Arthur smiled fondly. "Yes! Promise."

"Fine. Jerk face."

"Alright brat."

8:30 P.M.

"Only one more hour!" Arthur murmured in a singsong manner, like he used to do with Peter when he read him bedtime stories when the boy was only a toddler. He had already prepared everything he would need for tonight and was now bored. He couldn't think of anything to do. He had tried calling Alfred, who was apparently too busy with homework, as was Kiku and Matthew. He wasn't bored enough to call Francis and talk to him again, heavens forbid. Peter really did have no homework and had said he was not in the mood to talk to his jerk face older brother, though not in so many or as insulting words.

"What do I do, there's nothing to do!" He usually never got this worked up about having no plans or chores to do. The only reason he was now was because there was the impending meeting where there was the constant chance they would get ambushed despite Francis' reassurances to the opposite idea. He was worried to see whom Alfred would decide to bring with him, whether or not they would be of any help, and what the gang of vampires would decide to do next and what the plan would be.

Waiting for the night was eating away at Arthur. He felt like he was forgetting something, some weapon or piece of information he was supposed to remember, something horrible to leave out. He was probably just being paranoid. "I could call Alfred. Ask him if he's ready. Maybe he needs my help." He groaned at his own patheticness. Although…it was a pretty good idea to call him. Just call him! His mind screamed at him. And so he did. He once again got his phone and dialed the Slayers number. After a few rings, he heard the blond American's voice.

"Hello? Arthur?"

Arthur perked at the voice. "Yes, Alfred! It's me. I wanted to know, did you need anything for tonight?"

Alfred chuckled. "I could ask you the same thing. Hey, um, when should I head out to meet you there? It'd take like twenty minutes to walk from my place to there."

Arthur faltered, tightening this grip on the small phone. "Oh? You're going to walk? I-I thought I would get you."

"I thought about that," Alfred admitted, "but there isn't enough room in your car for Matt, Kiku, Heracles, Li and Im. And me, the hero!" He added cheekily.

Arthur thought over those names for a little. "Are those the only ones coming?"

"Nope! There's that group and there's Ludwig, Gil, Feliciano, Antonio, Lovino (though he didn't want to), Elizabeta and Roderich. And also Berwald, Emil, Lukas and Matthias. Tino's staying with your little bro right?"

"Yes, he is watching over my little brother. Bro sounds like some stranger you met at some random bar that's obsessed with sex, alcohol and being awesome," Arthur told him while rolling his eyes at the term.

"That sounds familiar," Alfred stated, sounding like he was trying to pinpoint exactly who that statement reminded him of.

"Are all of those people gonna be good?"

Alfred snorted. "Whaddya' mean by 'good'? They'll be awesome! Ludwig's all like, big and strong and so are Berwald and Gil. Elizabeta's awesome with like fencing and wields a mean frying pan and Roderich isn't' too shabby himself at the fencing! Um, Tino, though he won't be there tonight, is a wicked shot with a sniper It's terrifying. Antonio can lift an axe like it's a toothpick and it's the same with Matthias. Lovino can use a gun and Feliciano is pretty good with simple medicine as long as there's not too much blood. Lukas can use magic like Heracles and-"

"Alright, okay! Slow down, I believe you!" Arthur interrupted Alfred, losing track of all the names and weapons and skills.

"Oh, cool. So, what weapon do I get to use?"

Arthur sighed. "A stake most likely. A gun would be somewhat useless for killing a vampire."

"Uh, aren't we not killing them?"

"Doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared to kill one. For all you know, there are other vampires who aren't willing to help us lying in wait to kill both of our groups off. Kill two birds with one stone."

"Ya know, I never got that saying. How would killing two birds with one stone work? Unless you killed them at different times but that sort of negates the saying, am I right?"

Arthur put the phone down for a second, muttered "what the hell?" and then put the speaker back up to his ear. "I suppose maybe," he complied.

"Strange thought, right?"

"Alfred. There is something more important we should be discussing here."

"Oh yeah! What're we doing about that?"

Arthur rested his fingers against the bridge of his nose in defeat. "Just get everyone to meet at Hetalia in an hour!"

"Sir, yes sir!" Alfred yelled back in a booming voice before hanging up the phone.

Arthur hung up the phone and set it back in his pocket. "Bloody weirdo. Hope he doesn't mess anything up tonight. Last thing we need is any enemies."

The next time Arthur took the time to glance at the clock, he had seriously begun to contemplate just leaving. Tino would be there at nine, which would only leave Peter alone for thirty minutes. That wasn't too bad, right?

"Just wait, you're not gonna die if you have to wait for thirty minutes." The voice of his younger brother reprimanding him makes him realize he had spoken out loud just then.

"Sorry Peter. I guess I won't leave then." Peter just gave him a you-better-not face and frown to match.

The two siblings stood in the awkward silence, Peter waiting for the arrival of his babysitter and Arthur in anticipation of leaving. Finally, the silence was shattered by a quiet knocking at the door. Peter beat his older brother to the door, swinging it open excitedly.

"Tino!" He hugged the short blond man around the waist, wrapping his arms around him.

"Oh, hello there Peter! Good to see you too!"

Arthur grasped slightly at Peter's shoulder. "Hello Tino! Thanks so much for this. I, um, trust you now know what I need to leave for?"

Tino laughed gently. "I do. You could've just told me upfront Arthur! Even if we didn't know about that sort of world, we would've helped you!"

Arthur faltered. "W-wait, you know about vampires and magic and the like?"

The Finnish man nodded. "Sure do. Berwald comes from a family of demon hunters. He saved me from one, it's how we met."

"And the others?"

"Lukas practices magic and Emil does too and Matthias is a demon hunter."

Arthur cringed slightly at the phrase. "We were always told demon hunters are reckless, intrusive idiots who should just let the Slayer do her, or his, job," he admitted.

" Ha, well that's partly true. Berwald isn't like that but Matthias? He can be very reckless and very intrusive. But he's a great guy, so loyal to his friends."

"Glad to have him on the team then."

Tino smiled. "Should be. Anyway, you best get going, correct?"

Arthur jumped in his spot. "Yes, I really should. Uh, he shouldn't need to eat again but if he does there's food in the fridge. If you need anything, just call me. And if I don't pick up then don't panic. I might just have turned off my phone so as not to be rude, but I'll avoid that."

Tino nodded understandingly. "It's alright. Everything should go fine here though, right?" He gestured down to Peter, who was still hugging his waist.

Arthur chuckled, rubbing the back of his head and tousling his hair. "Should be. Peter, get off of -… Tino, and say goodbye to me."

Peter slowly let go of the teacher and turned to face his older brother. "Bye," he muttered, eyes fixated on his feet.

"Be back as soon as I can. Tino," he went on, "is Berwald already there?"

The shorter man nodded. "I dropped him off."

"Do you want me to bring him back?"

"That would be wonderful! Thank you Arthur!"

"No problem. Well, goodbye then."

Tino said his goodbyes and Arthur exited, pulling the door closed behind him.

The club had no lights on, other than a single post over the parking lot that barely lit within a few meters of it, making parking difficult. When he got out of the car, he scanned the rest of the lot to see what other cars there were. There were only eight, not including his own. They were all in varying degrees of appearance and make, though most were small five seaters.

He saw nobody in the general area, so he went to his trunk, opening it as quickly yet quietly as possible. He foraged through the bags and weapons he had brought, finally grabbing a pocket spell book, small bags of miscellaneous dusts and powders that would help with quick getaways, a cross, a flask of holy water and a stake, old yet reliable. Right before he could close and lock the trunk, he heard a voice calling.

"Yo, Arthur!" He turned to the origin of the stage whisper. "That you?" He recognized the Slayers voice.

"Well, you would be bloody screwed right now if I weren't, wouldn't you?" Alfred came out from the shadows, laughing sheepishly. From behind him came a whole assortment of people, most of who looked very prepared to negotiate with vampires, in not-too-loose sweatpants and not-too-tight t-shirts.

"Hey, Artie! How's it goin' with ya? How's lil' Peter been?" He turned his head to the left to see Matthias, who held…. an ax.

"…Fine, been doing fine. Scary looking ax you got there," he pointed out, not knowing what else to say.

The Dane smiled proudly. "Aint' it? This beauty's helped me wipe out countless demons, vampires, and the like! She's my weapon."

"Who doesn't have their own weapon? Not including magic." Alfred's question shocked Arthur. The Brit was sure he would've had to take the initiative and give everyone a form of defense. The only ones who didn't raise their hands were Gilbert (with a sword in hand), Berwald (with a spear that looked very deadly), Antonio (who also had an ax) and Ludwig (who held a sword like his brothers).

"Lot of you then. Alright then, Alfred, help me hand out these to people," Arthur gestured to his trunk, full of useful things to use against vampires. He felt slightly bad about preparing for a fight, but it was necessary.

"Alright! Gather round, come on!" Alfred's words brought those who still needed something in case of a fight close to the trunk, many trying to peer into it and see what the options were.

First up were Emil, Lukas and Li. Arthur though for a moment before asking. "Do any of you have training with spears, swords, ax…?" He made a "so on and so forth" movement with his right hand. Only Lukas nodded.

"I'm good with a sword. I mostly use magic. Very good, mind ya." The pale-haired Norwegian looked as if he was under a heated spotlight and wanted to get away quick.

"Right then. Here you go," Arthur handed over a plain sword, sharp with a plain gold handle.

"I'm good with a spear. I have a halberd at home, I just didn't bring it."

"Alright. It doesn't have the usual metal spearhead, but its sharp and wooden. Drive it through a vampire heart and you've got yourself a dead pile of dust. Which is what you want," he added. He handed Emil the makeshift spear, while handing Li a regular stake. "Same concept, just closer and shorter distance."

" 'Kay. I'm good with hand to hand"

"That'll be useful," Arthur told him.

The three males walked away, and up stepped a neatly dressed man with a cravat- Honestly, Arthur thought, a fucking cravat! - and glasses who Arthur recognized as Roderich.

"Just a stake?"

"Sword, if you could. I don't care much for fighting but that doesn't mean I can't."

"You ready to get your hands dirty, Roddy?" Alfred asked jokingly, with only a hint of an actual question.

"Please never call me Roddy. Ever again." The Austrian took the sword, a thing blade with a firm, smooth hilt, and slowly walked over to the group who already had weapons. Arthur smiled at the self-organization, but quickly let the show of random happiness disappear.

"I'd like a sword! A really strong one, to crush the enemy!" Taken by the enthusiasm, Arthur readily and eagerly gave Elizabeta, who was dressed for battle, one of his more worn swords, though he had made sure to sharpen it so it was still useful. The hilt of the one he gave her was dingy and not recently polished, with the engraving hard to read. She thanked him and jumped away to join Roderich, who was trying to fend off an antagonizing Gilbert.

Alfred looked to Arthur, who was warily handing Feliciano and Lovino stakes, as if he didn't trust them with it, out of the side of his eye, and made his way over. Arthur was bent over the car, rummaging through the trunk. Alfred joined him, tapping his shoulder to get his attention.

"Uh, Artie?" Alfred started. The Englishman turned to him, sitting up so it was easier to talk, backs to the others.

"What?"

"Where'd you get all the weapons from?"

"Oh! The Watchers Council. They supplied me with some, like the more ordinary stakes, swords knives, and etcetera. The more original ones are things I've collected on my own time. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering. It's a bit strange you have that many devices of death, ya know?"

"I suppose so. You'll have to be able to use all of these 'devices of death', as you put it." The Watcher turned to speak to Mattie, Kiku and Heracles. "What do you use? Weapon wise."

"I'm capable with a sword," Kiku told him, and was thus handed a thin, long blade.

"I'll just take a stake."

"Oh, me too. Thank you."

Arthur handed Matthew and Heracles each a stake, and turned to the assembled group, all of whom were now armed. Arthur himself had grabbed a medium length sword, while Alfred was handling a stake.

"Okay. If you're all ready, we'll go in. Get into a circular shape, with some watching the back of us. Keep tabs on each other. And don't be outwardly aggressive and don't fight without provocation! Let's go!" He made his way through the throng of people, and slowly, tentatively, pushed open the door of the building. The hinges emitted a creaky, slightly ear-splitting noise, and they entered, Arthur in front, Alfred, right behind him.

AN: Okay, so next chapter, they'll finally have the meeting! For those who don't know, Phantom tollbooth is a book about this kid, Milo, who goes to some fantasy land and yeah. I had to read it in school so I used it for this.

I don't own Hetalia, Phantom Tollbooth, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or really anything in the story!

Please Review!

Thanks!