Gilbert sighed, watching the other sleep as he wrote into his diary. While he was flipping to a new page, he saw the page he'd written on Russia. He stopped on it and read over it, "I can't do this to you…"

Ivan stirred a bit in his sleep, "What is it, Gilly?"

Gilbert ran his fingers through Ivan's hair, "Nothing, go back to sleep." It was 3:00 in the morning and tomorrow they'd have to make their sweet departure from each other. Who knows when they'd get the opportunity to be together again? Gilbert had planned on what to say, he'd ask for his cellphone number and bid his farewell, maybe even a goodbye kiss. It was no longer about the plan, but rather strengthening their relationship. He wasn't sure of what to do when they left each other's side. He thought about just going back to his regular life, but he'd already come so far.

The moon appeared full in the window of the hotel. The lights were off, but even so, the room was lit up. Everything was outlined in the careful glow of the moon. Ivan's hair appeared lighter, Gilbert thought. It made him look absolutely stunning. There was no way in hell he was just going to leave him. When morning came and Ivan packed up, so would Gilbert.

He went to sleep clutching onto the diary. Tomorrow would be a good day.

Gilbert awoke to the sun beating down on his face. He hissed a little from the pain of the sun in his eyes. Then, he remembered his primary objective, "Russia!"

There was no answer as he looked around the empty hotel room, he must've already left. Gilbert pounced from the bed and out the door, down to the lobby. He looked around frantically, looking for any sign that the Russian was still there.

To his surprise, he saw a familiar pink scarf. There was Russia, at the breakfast bar, eating a fresh cream cheese bagel.

"Ivan!" Gilbert called out as he ran to the stool where the Russian sat.

Upon his arrival, he received an eyebrow raise and slight chuckle from Ivan. He returned Ivan's gaze with a harsh gaze and narrowed eyes, "What is it?"

Ivan pointed down at the albino's body. He noticed that he was only wearing and unbuttoned plain white dress shirt and boxers. His face lit up, it seemed that in the rush of trying to catch Russia, he completely forgot about changing.

Ivan was already dressed nicely and in his coat, his bags packed beside him. Gilbert blushed from the realization of his apparel. The Russian was still chuckling, "Silly Gil."

Gilbert smacked him lightly, "Shut up! I come down here to make sure you haven't left yet and this is the thanks I get."

Ivan stopped chuckling and took a bite of his bagel, "Why do you care if I left or not?"

Gilbert paused, and took a deep breath, "I'm going back to Russia with you."

The Russian popped the rest of the bagel into his mouth, simply shaking his head as he swallowed it down, "Nyet."

He couldn't believe what Ivan just told him. 'Nyet' Wasn't that Russian for 'no'? He was sure that the other would've said yes in a heartbeat, "Why can't I go?!"

The blonde studied Gilbert's facial features, he was clearly upset by what he said. It wasn't that Ivan didn't want Gilbert to go, he was just worried of what he'd say about his country, "It's too cold."

Gilbert grabbed Ivan's broad shoulders and shook him gently, but firm in his grasp, "I don't care! I want to leave with you!"

Ivan sighed and grabbed Gilbert's forearms, "Pack your bags, then." He thought to himself and tried to calculate how much money he was going to owe the hotel, plus another plane ticket.

The words Ivan had said made Gilbert ecstatic. He ran to the stairs, not bothering with the elevator as he figured he'd be quicker on his feet. He gasped for air as he pushed open the door to his hotel room. His stuff was barely unpacked in the first place, which made it much easier to collect all of his belongings. He figured his brother would call him, asking where he was when it was time for him to leave back to Germany. Gilbert couldn't help but laugh at how he imagined Ludwig would react when he told him he was in Russia with Ivan; it brought glee to his previously troubled heart.

He struggled with his bags most of the way down the stairs which made him regret avoiding the elevator. He let out a breath of relief when he climbed down the last flight and reached the lobby where Russia was straightening his scarf.

"It took you long enough. You should've taken the elevator, would've been much quicker."

Gilbert rolled his eyes and zipped up his light jacket. "That's all you're wearing?" Ivan asked, "You realize that's not going to keep you warm in Russia."

Again, Gilbert rolled his eyes, "I am awesome. I'll be fine."

"Alright…"

They exited the airport and walked to Ivan's awaiting car, "Fuck, it's cold!" Gilbert spouted out as he held his shivering body.

Ivan sighed, taking off his scarf and wrapping it around Gilbert's pale neck, "Better?"

The kind gesture made Gilbert blush lightly. He buried his face into the scarf to cover his reddening face.

When they got inside the car, Ivan turned the heat on full blast. Gilbert smiled immediately at the warmth. Ivan noticed his smile and couldn't help but smiled himself. Was Gilbert's smile really all it took to make himself light up?

Gilbert continued to hug himself for warmth as he looked out the windows at the fresh snowfall. He couldn't deny it was beautiful. Why couldn't he notice before how beautiful Russia is?

They stopped in front of Ivan's house and Gilbert was first to step out of the car, immediately retreating back inside at the cold wind that brushed across his face. Ivan sighed and stepped out of the driver's seat, closing and locking the door behind him. He opened the car door for Gilbert, "The sooner we get inside, the sooner you can get warm again."

The offer was tempting, but Gilbert was stubborn. Ivan blinked at Gilbert's reluctance and took off his own coat, leaving himself exposed in only a sweater. He pulled Gilbert from the passenger seat and wrapped the coat around him, also closing the car door.

Gilbert looked down at the Russian's clothes on himself. He couldn't believe that Ivan would offer him his own clothing in exchange for the freezing cold.

"Hurry up, I'm freezing my ass off." Ivan ordered.

Gilbert was knocked out of his own trance and began to walk up the path to the large mansion. He watched as Ivan unlocked the door and was in even more shock when he let Gilbert enter first. Nobody had treated him with such kindness since Old Fritz.

Ivan closed and locked the door behind them, "Alright, now how about a fire?" He walked over to the fireplace and lit a warm fire. Gilbert stripped of the coat and scarf, hanging them up on the coat rack nailed to the wall next to the front door. The Prussian nation followed suit and knelt next to the fire where Ivan was.

The Russian gently grabbed Gilbert's hand and brought it to his lips, giving his knuckles a tender kiss. Gilbert watched him kiss his hand, figuring it was Ivan's way of showing affection. Ivan looked into Gilbert's eyes. His heart skipped a beat as he met Gilbert's gaze; it was no longer cold, but loving and slightly confused. He laid Gilbert back on the soft white rug, admiring the questioning look he was giving him. A soft kiss was placed on the albino's lips in deliverance to his unspoken question. This only made Gilbert's eyes widen in surprise. He slowly got used to the kiss and began to kiss Ivan back. The kiss began to heat up with each passing second. Ivan hovered over his body, pressing their groins together. Gilbert let out a moan into the kiss and could feel Ivan's lips curve in a smile. Ivan pulled away and looked at him, slight perspiration on his forehead from the level the kiss was brought to. In that moment, Gilbert knew they were going to take it all the way.

The entire night was filled with loving embraces, warm kisses, and Gilbert's moaning.

Gilbert woke up with an arm wrapped tightly around his waist. The person it belonged to spoke softly to him, "So you're finally awake?"

"Yes…" Suddenly, everything they did rushed back into Gilbert's mind. He felt his cheeks warm up.

Ivan gave the pale shoulder in front of him a soft kiss before standing up, "I'm going to go make us breakfast." He stood up and Gilbert could see every bit of his naked body, "Ivan your-! Put some pants on!"

The Russian looked down and chuckled, "That's not what you were telling me to do with my pants last night."

"We," Gilbert paused, "actually went all the way?" Ivan nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Gilbert with the image of his naked butt.

He looked down at his own body, Ivan's coat had found it's way on him again. He figured that Ivan wrapped it around him when they'd finished with their little "activity."

Gilbert stood up, draping the coat over his shoulders. It was a bit cold in the house now that the fire had gone out.

As Gilbert walked out of the living room, he noticed a long hallway. There were at least five doors on each side. Everyone's house was large enough to be considered a mansion, but Ivan's, he thought, was the largest of all the houses he'd been in. Thoughts of the taunting during the Berlin wall returned to him.

"That" he said aloud to himself, "Is where he used to torture me…" His thoughts were interrupted by Ivan calling him into the kitchen.

Ivan smiled at him, wearing only an apron. Of course it was better than what Gilbert was wearing: nothing.

Gilbert walked over to the table and sat down. Ivan brought him a plate full of pieces of bacon and some scrambled eggs. Gilbert smiled lightly at the food in front of him, "You finally learned how to cook."

Ivan raised a brow, "I've always known how to cook, Gil. What makes you say that?"

"When I used to live with you," the albino took a bite of the bacon, "You always made me cook for you. I guess this means you were just lazy."

The Russian sighed and sat down at the table with his own plate full of food, "It… wasn't either of those reasons," he poked at the eggs with his fork, "I did it because I liked waking up to your smiling face… It made me feel like we were a family. When you told me you liked me at the meeting, I hoped we could have that again. I promised to myself that I wouldn't treat you as badly as I did then. I used to think that the only way to get you to stay was to break your wings so you couldn't fly."

This little insight into Ivan's mind made Gilbert suddenly feel much worse about Project Russland and for even thinking it up. Ivan truly cared for him, wanted him, needed him. Gilbert had lied to get Ivan under his arms. Now it wasn't a lie, but then it was. Ivan went into this relationship thinking that Gilbert had loved him since the beginning. He'd have to tell him the truth, right now.

"Ivan, there's something I need to tell you-"

Gilbert's voice was cut off by the ring of the telephone. Ivan immediately stood up to get it, "Privet"

The German sighed as he listened to the other speak in his native tongue with the other on the phone. He finished the rest of his meal and decided to take a shower to clear his guilty conscience.

Ivan finished on the phone, it was his sisters calling in to check up on him. He looked around, trying to find Gilbert.

He walked into the bedroom they shared and called out his name, he was nowhere to be found.

"Where have you gotten to?" Ivan asked aloud.

'Maybe he's just exploring the house.' Ivan thought to himself. He looked at Gilbert's unpacked bags and walked over to them, "He sure didn't bring much." He lifted the bag but dropped it; it was much heavier than it looked. The bag's latch hit the floor and immediately the bag broke open, scattering the contents on the floor.

Ivan bit his lip, "Dammit!" He bent over and collected the stuff, carefully packing everything back into the bag. Then, something caught his eye. He read it out loud, "Project Russland?"