Then I was Young and Unafraid

"Hallo?"

There was the sound of shifting and shuffling. "Schweiz?"

"Ja," he muttered. "Vhat do you vant?" There was a sigh and more silence. "I don't have all day Duetschland!" The Swiss grumbled as he leaned against the kitchen wall, Liechtenstein and Austria's curious gazes on him.

"H-" a very aggrieved sigh followed the choked noise. "Bruder found out about Austria's altered state..."

Standing up straighter, the blond began to pace. "How?" He demanded. "I thought you said he hadn't been awake vhen you left-" he stopped. "Oh. Oh you told him?! Vhat vere you thinking?!"

"...that'd he do something much vorse." Was the half-muttered reply."I am sorry, I just-I thought I'd varn you."

"I still don't understand vhat could be vorse, but alright." Switzerland grumbled. "I know you vere going to call to talk to Österreich, do you still vant to talk?"

"Hand him the phone," was the command he got instead.

Wrinkling his nose, the blond said something unpleasant about Germans beneath his breath as he handed off the phone to the eager child.

"Ludwig!" Austria cried. "Are you coming back soon?" The happiness quickly wilted as the boy began to nod his head. "Ja, ja," he said. "I understand.." Biting his lip, the child's eyes drifted to Vash who stared back. "You promise he von't do anything?" Seeing the direction this conversation was going, the Swiss man knelt before the child and put his hand on the speaker of the phone.

"Don't let him talk you into anything you don't vant," he told Austria.

A quick nod. "Ja, see you Saturday..." A blink, smiling, the boy laughed. "Yeah! I'm fine. They're both treating me vell. Lebewohl."

"So? Should I be preparing for more than one guest?" The teenager piped up from by the sink where she was almost done drying dishes.

Austria twisted around and bobbed his head. "Uh-huh, Prussia demanded he get to come too."

The girl smiled as she put away the last plate. "How fun, ve hardly ever have more than one guest-if any."

"Prussia is an absolute chore," Switzerland grumbled. "I don't vant you more than a room away from me vhile he is here."

Liechtenstein's lips twitch, but with great respect (and humor) for her brother, she answered; "Of course bruder."

"Hmph," Switzerland grunted, eyeing her. "I have vork to do today, is there anything you have planned?"

The girl put a finger to her chin in thought. "...I need to go to market for eggs and soap."

"Take Österreich vith you," the man commanded.

Jumping up, the boy snagged Switzerland by his shirt. "Vhy can't I stay here vith you?" He cried.

Looking down at pleading purple, Vash had to avert his stare. "I don't have time to vatch you and vork." Austria's lip was quivering and the Swiss knew compromise was in order. "You vill go," he insisted. "...but vhen you get back, I vill stop vorking and do something vith you-both of you."

Two smiles are sent his way and his sister came forward, shooing the child off. "Go put on your shoes! Hurry now!" and the brunette dashed off to head her order.

Stilling grinning, the girl leaned in a pecked her brother's cheek. "I'll keep him busy for a vhile," she told him. "Don't vorry!" And with a wink, the girl had left.

"Danke!" He yelled as he headed for his office, content to believe his sister and Austria would be alright.

"Are these ones it?" Austria inquired, holding up a carton of eggs for her to see.

The teenager nodded. "Ja" she agreed. "That's the right kind."

Putting them in the basket, the boy asked. "Vhat else?"

Smiling, Liechtenstein let her eyes meander. "Veeell," she said. "Ve have our soap, but vhat about some chocolate?"

"Please!" The child yipped, eyes sparkling.

She laughed, "Just one bar though, alright!?" Hurrying after him.

XxXxX

"Vhat a good sister you are! Taking care of your brother!" The elderly clerk enthused as Austria smiled around his half of the candy bar.

Liechtenstein waved a hand and chuckled. "He's not my brother," she explained. "He's the son of my brother's friend."

The woman nodded and smiled still. "Nonetheless, it is kind of you to have taken him out vith you to run some errands."

"Danke!" Liechtenstein concluded as she took their bag and headed for the exit. "Come along!" She called to the boy as he ran to take her hand.

Taking the familiar path home, the teenager was made to pause as she noticed a trio of boys shoving each other around and laughing. She quirked her lips down and took tighter hold of Austria's hand. She'd run into the a couple times before, they usually weren't that bothersome; but they liked to try and get her attention. Just as they were to pass them, one of the boy's hands shot out and grabbed her by the elbow.

"Hey, vho's that bub vith you? Finally got a boyfriend?" They tease, blue eyes glinting.

Taking her arm back, Liechtenstein scoffed. "Please," she snapped. And tried to continue on, but the other two came into her path. "You know, ve don't really like your uppity attitude!" One of them sneered.

Glaring, the girl shook her head. "Get out of the vay, I told my bruder I'd be home in a few minutes."

The one that held her before came up from behind and whispered into her ear. "I think he'd be alright if you vere a little late." Suddenly his body fell away with a cry.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Austria roared, tiny body shaking. "Don't!"

The other two boys were laughing. "Oh gott!" One yelled. "He kicked you in the balls!"

Taking her opportunity, Liechtenstein snatched up the child and hurried away as the two friends laughed at the boy who Austria kicked. She didn't dare to look back, not until they were safely in her front yard. Hovering by the front door, the blond smiled down at Austria.

"You didn't have to do that," she told him.

The child frowned. "They shouldn't talk to you like that."

"They don't know vhat there doing," she sighed. "They're just kids."

Austria crossed his arms. "You should tell your bruder if that happens again. You don't have to deal vith it alone!"

She ran a hand over his hair. "I know," she muttered. "I just don't vant to. It's better to deal with some things by yourself sometimes, you know?"

"I do..." the child replied, purple eyes earnest. "Please, though, don't let them get out of hand."

Seeing that she needed to put Austria at ease somehow, she smiled. "Tell you vhat, if it happens again I'll let Vash know."

"Okay, deal!" And he stuck his tiny hand out for a handshake.

Giggling, the blond took it and echoed his words. "Okay deal."

This is out a little later than expected, but I hope you don't mind! What did you think? That little scuffle I feel like was a nice addition, don't you?

To reviewers, Onyxlark36 and That Flyingtoaster; you guys are the best! Remember, if I have twenty-five reviews by chapter ten I'll be giving a one-shot to reviewer twenty-six (if they haven't one a prize previously).

And to Mite, my past one-shot winner! You're fic is up if you want to check it out. It's called The Pursuit of a Perfect World. I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you for reading everyone and pretty please review.

P.S. Vote on the poll on my page! It'd mean a lot.

Words:

Ja-Yes

Bub-Boy

Gott-God

Hallo-Hello

Danke-Thanks

Bruder-Brother

Österreich-Austria

Schweiz-Switzerland

Deutschland-Germany

Lebewohl-Bye/Farewell

*A big thanks to Mite for all my German corrections!*