Hey look, another one! I was bored so I started to type. This one isn't as long as the others but it still has plot in it…I think. *looks in between the lines* YUP! There it is, it was hiding. :D I hope you like it despite the shortness of it.

November, 1948

The storm was over by the time morning came the next day. Berlin had managed to slip free of Russia's grasp and return to her own room to get dressed before heading downstairs to help fix breakfast. She didn't have a lot of time to linger this morning. She wanted to make sure she got to say good bye to America before he left.

Lithuania helped her cook once he was up and Latvia sat and watched them like he usually did. One could only wonder why since there must have been something he would've preferred to do instead but most in the house assumed he felt safer around those older than him. Perhaps that was the reason.

Once the food was done, Berlin ate hers quickly in the kitchen and then made up a tray to take to Russia. She traversed the stairs and hallways quickly but still stopped to knock three times at Russia's door,

"Ivan, I have breakfast for you."

"Come in."

She entered the room and put the tray on his desk as per usual and would've left but when she noticed Russia was still in bed she became a bit concerned,

"Ivan, are you not feeling well?"

He turned his head slightly and smiled at her,

"Nyet, I am just a bit tired."

"Well, alright."

She went to leave but she stopped and turned around to face him,

"Um…thank you for comforting me last night. Thunder frightens me more than I'd like to admit."

"It was no trouble, malo ptic. You're rather cute when you're scared."

She knew she was blushing so she nodded and quickly left the room. Once back downstairs she quickly put on her shoes and shouted to the rest of the house that she was going out and would be back soon. Once on the streets she walked quickly, avoiding bumping into people as much as she could. Her city was unusually busy this morning.

Once at the airport she spotted America immediately. He was a bit hard to miss. She smiled, sneaking up behind him and covering his eyes as he has done to her the day before,

"Guess who."

He mimicked her actions from the day before as well, putting a hand to his chin in mock though,

"Hmm…could it be Belarus?"

"Pffft! Not unless my hands are actually knives!"

He turned around and hugged her,

"Thanks for coming to see me off, I appreciate it."

"Well it would be impolite not to say good bye. I'd feel bad."

He sighed and looked at the sky for a few moments, then back at her,

"I'm sorry I couldn't get the negotiations to go the way we wanted to."

"At least you tried. Nobody else is exactly trying to help me."

He smiled,

"Well you're very welcome."

They were silent for a few moments, both watching the skies for the planes that would give as well as take this time around. Berlin looked up and down the air field, at the skies (which seemed to threaten more rain soon), and then at America who smiled. A light blush dusted her cheeks and she smiled back.

The wind picked up and she shivered some, holding the scarf around her neck tightly so it wouldn't shift and reveal the now obvious imprint of a hand around her neck. Unfortunately, fate just wouldn't have it. America saw and he grimaced, taking her hand holding the scarf in place away so he could see the bruise more clearly,

"Anya-"

"It was the day before yesterday, Alfred. I've be-"

"I know you've been through worse Anya but damn it, I can't just stand by and let him keep hurting you. I'm a hero, I can't do that!"

"I don't want you to be a hero this time, Alfred!"

Her eyes threatened tears as she looked up at him,

"Please! I don't want violence to start over me, not again! It's happened too many times and I won't stand for more conflict, not now. I can handle it, I can!"

"Anya…come here."

He pulled her into an embrace and she hid her tears in the shoulder of his bomber jacket. He said nothing, he just held her which at that moment in time was exactly what she needed. After a few moments, when she'd stopped shaking, he did speak,

"Anya I want you to promise me that if it gets to a point where you think your life or anyone's life is in danger that you'll tell someone. It doesn't have to be me. It can be Arthur, Francis, it can even be someone like Turkey or even Greece, just promise me you'll reach out to someone to help you. You can't do everything on your own and I hate to see you hurt."

She nodded and pulled away, wiping her eyes. He sighed and kept a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly,

"Hey now, no more of that. Tears don't look good on pretty girls like you."

She laughed slightly and smiled at him,

"Thank you Alfred."

"Anytime."

The planes came then. They delivered the cargo they had brought as aid and then refueled. It was time for America to leave. Berlin walked with him to the plane he'd be on. They embraced each other once more and then waved as the blonde one boarded the plane and the red headed one stayed put on the ground.

Once the plane took off, Berlin watched it fly away into the clouds until she couldn't see anymore. Once it was out of sight, she pulled the scarf tight around her neck and turned, walking towards home. As she walked away and the plane got further and further away, even thought she couldn't see it anymore, it felt like something was tugging on her heart. It felt like part of her heart had left with America, tugging her in the direction of freedom. The other part was pulling in the direction of the house, tugging her back to her shackles.

The strings tugged, and tugged, and tugged…

Hooray for Bad Romance! *shot dead for using that reference* Anyway, reviews are nice. Thank you for those of you sticking with the story, I really appreciate it. In another chapter or so Russia's going to kind of…lose it. Just a tad…or a pinch…or a fistful…or fridge full, who knows? I'm going to try and figure out how to type that but the next one shouldn't be more than a day off. Oh, and a time skip is coming up very soon so watch the dates at the top of each chapter!