Yeah, I've been gone a while, I know. I had writers block like you would not believe and it really does show that I kind of had no ideas in this one but I felt like I had to post something. The next one will be better, I promise. I'm usually running on more steam than this but I've been really tired lately and school is smashing books and homework and tests into my brain that it's on the verge of cruel and unusual punishment. TT^TT Curse junior year!

April, 1968

Well, this was something she'd certainly seen before. Berlin recognized the city of Prague almost as soon as he'd been taken into custody. Czechoslovakia, on the other hand, was being sedated and locked up. She was a fighter but she was no match for the Soviet Red Army, especially with those from the Warsaw Pact reluctantly in toe. Sighing, she turned away from the poor city currently being led away in handcuffs and started towards home, if she could even call it that these days. The last time she'd seen Czechoslovakia and Prague was in 1939. They didn't want to see her then and they still didn't want to see her now. Berlin didn't blame them. She still had nightmares about that time.

As she progressed through the streets, she realized how much silence unnerved her. Back at the house there was usually always something happening and the streets were hardly ever quiet. But now walking through the streets, the only people she saw were armed officers of the Soviet Red Army and a few protestors that were kneeling on the ground having been beaten into submission. She turned her eyes away form them and continued walking. Well, that was until she heard her name being called,

"Anya! Anya please wait!"

"Dalimil?"

Berlin could hardly believe that Prague was currently running towards her, still in handcuffs of course. She began walking back towards him until they reached each other. Once the man caught his breath he spoke again,

"I know we've never really been on good terms with each other but you have to help me and Emilie."

"Dalimil, you know I can't do that. If I help you, what do you think Ivan will do to me?"

"So run away with us! We'll get Alfred to help us, he's always bragging about how he's a hero so here's his chance."

Berlin sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She did want to help Prague and Czechoslovakia but considering the officers still guarding the streets were starting to eye her with suspicion, she doubted they had much of a chance. She pushed down the sense of guilt that was building in the form of frustrated tears and found her voice,

"I'm sorry, Dalimil. I can't help you."

As if on cue, a group of officers suddenly appeared from down the street, Russia leading them with a very peeved look on his face,

"So this is where you were? That was quite the trick you pulled back there but now it's time for you to come back with us."

Berlin watched them drag Prague back to wherever they were holding prisoners. As she watched, Prague looked at her with an expression of disbelief. For a brief moment, all other sound stopped and she heard only his voice ask her a question for which she had no answer…

What happened to you?

February, 1972

There really wasn't anything interesting to do so Berlin sat in her room, looking over the letters America had sent her over the years. She'd managed to sneak into Russia's room and get them back. If he'd noticed he hadn't said anything or was trying to figure out some elaborate way to punish her. She didn't care either way. She'd seen everything he had to throw at her; nothing he could do would really hurt anymore.

Her mind kept drifting back to what Prague had said to her a few years ago. She hadn't seen him or Czechoslovakia since then and frankly, she'd rather not see what had become of them. Russia didn't take particularly good care of his things. She let out a sigh and slipped the letters back under her mattress. Quite the generic hiding place, yes, but one that would likely work for quite some time.

Lately, it seemed to be getting very lonely. England was fighting with Ireland (again), West was supporting Ireland, and France was having trouble getting Vietnam and America to be civil with each other. She didn't even want to think about China or Japan; things just hadn't been going well for the greater part of the century for them. All in all, everyone was on their own for now since most of the people she would ask for aid were busy.

She tried to think of an answer to the question Prague had asked her. What had happened to her? Well, let's see: she'd been beaten, whipped, starved, choked, sleep deprived, scared to death, and a number of other unpleasant things. But all that shouldn't have bothered her as much as it had. She'd been through worse, especially during the World Wars but for some reason she just didn't feel like doing anything all of a sudden.

Well, until that thought struck her, that is. After she thought about it, her level of anger began to rise and she had to force herself to stay seated lest she get up and go searching for Russia. Needless to say, something was going to happen. She just didn't know what yet. Berlin fell back onto her mattress and stared at the patterns on the ceiling. After a few moments, she smirked.

I'll show you crazy…

May, 1972

Bombs had been going off in Germany. Not any major ones like England had used in World War 2 but bad enough to kill a few US soldiers who were at the wrong place at the wrong time. America wasn't too happy about that, but then why would Russia care? Berlin did, however, which made things very unpleasant for him in the way that she seemed to be…following him. He hadn't noticed until two days previous that wherever he went, she was never far away. Despite maintaining his constant cold demeanor, he was genuinely starting to get a bad vibe from all of this. It wasn't that she was closely following him, oh no. She kept her distance but still, the way she looked at him unnerved him. She had that look in her eye. That look that didn't resemble her. It looked like someone else's.

Like someone who had given him hell long ago…

June, 1972

If there was one thing Berlin was absolutely ecstatic about, it was that her brother had just won against Russia in the UEFA 3-0. Seeing her brother and Belgium had also been a plus but beating Russia at football (as in soccer, for you Americans) had made her day. Of course, the USSR's star player had been injured on his way to the stadium that morning but she'd had nothing to do with that.

Then again, she'd known that without having to be told as well…

September 18, 1973

It was a wonderful day indeed. West and Prussia had both been entered into the United Nations. This made Berlin very happy. It would have made her even happier to be able to be with her brothers to celebrate but she was currently occupied with trying to contact America. Russia had taken the phone that had been in her room away. This was why she was in Hungary's room using hers. She dialed, hung up, re-dialed, hung up again and repeated the same process probably fifteen times before the old thing finally worked,

"Hello?"

"Thank god, it worked! It's Anya!"

"What's wrong, did something happen?"

She rolle her eyes,

"What hasn't happened, Alfred? I want out of here, can you team up with Ludwig now that he's part of the UN?"

"I can certainly try. Are you sure nothing drastic has happened? You sound kind of, I don't know…shrill."

She glanced down at the bruises shaped like fingers around her right ankle and tightened her grip on the receiver,

"Alfred, just get me out of here. I don't have anyone else to turn to since Arthur is still arguing with his brother, Gilbert is who-knows-where, and France is busy pissing off The Aussies."

"You've got it. I'll open up communications as soon as I can…Anya?"

"Ja?"

"Be careful. I mean it this time, no making him mad or tempting fate. I don't want you hurt."

She was silent for a moment,

"I'll try."

"That's no-"

A door slammed form downstairs and Berlin felt panic take root in her chest,

"I have to go, he's home!"

"Wait, Any-"

She hung up, bolted form Hungary's room, and barricaded herself in her own room. She looked around for a hiding place. Russia had been increasingly violent lately. Where could she hide? She could hear his footsteps getting closer. The doorknob quivered and she dove under the bed and fixed the bed skirt so it looked like she wasn't there. Then she curled up in a little ball and placed a hand over her mouth to hide her breathing.

The door was kicked in and she flinched. Her eyes followed his feet as they slowly walked throughout her room. He looked in her closet and broke off the door upon seeing she wasn't there. He opened the window thinking she might've scaled the walls of the house down to run. There was an aggravated sigh followed by a voice that was far too calm,

"Where are you Anya? I heard you come in here."

Berlin stayed still and silent, keeping her breathing slow even though her heart rate kept speeding up the closer he came to finding her. After a few more minutes he seemingly quit the game of hide and seek and left the room. Berlin waited a moment before letting gout a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Then she heard something that made her breath catch in her throat. Laughter, and she wasn't laughing. A hand grabbed her already bruised ankle and dragged her out from underneath the bed.

It was going to be one of those nights…

June 25, 1976

In all honestly, Berlin hadn't thought Poland would go through with the whole rioting thing but lo and behold, the man on the radio was talking about exactly that. She sighed,

"You dumb blonde, you know you won't win."

She wasn't all against it though. After all, this would distract Russia just long enough for her to screw a few things up. Nothing big, just enough for him to get mad. Okay, that was a complete and utter lie. Tow hours later she had destroyed every government paper n the entire house as well as all the copies of said papers. Why had she done this? Well, the answer was simple.

She needed an excuse for him to hit her so she could hit him…

June 30, 1976

The riots Poland had started were over and so was all his back talk for the time being. Berlin, on the other hand, was just getting started. The whole disappearing paper thing she'd pulled had earned her a cracked skull and multiple bruises but in return, he'd gotten a broken nose, a few nasty scratch marks here and there, and a punch to the jaw that had actually stunned him for a few seconds. Sure, that had made her feel better. A lot better actually. However, the little voice in the back of her head wanted more.

This was how her next plan was thought up. It had only taken her an hour (it would've been a shorter time frame had her skull not been cracked) and she smiled whenever she thought about it. This wasn't always good, since she didn't smile much and this particular smile was one of deranged amusement but as long as she was happy, she didn't care how crazed she looked.

Her new plan was simple: make Russia's life a living hell. Yes, America had told her not to make him mad but something in her craved violence at this point in time and if she didn't get it, something even worse would happen. Keeping safe be damned, if she got hurt she didn't care as long as Russia was in the hospital bed next to hers. Well, perhaps not directly next to hers. Perhaps down the hall would be better although it would be more inconvenient should she decide to smother him.

So far she'd put a centipede (courtesy of Australia again) under his pillow, hidden every pen in the house, somehow broken into the basement and burned that damn whip (it was symbolic, the old thing just had to go), and stolen the pipe. Oh yes, she'd taken the offensive piece of metal and hidden somewhere Russia would never find it. All that aside, she was currently sitting in the kitchen examining her nails. She couldn't wait for Russia to come home.

After all, she hadn't had this much fun in a while…

So…yeah. That was all I came up with in what? Three, four months? I'll do better next time, I swear. Next time I won't have so many distractions now that finals are over and I'm currently on Mid-Winter Break. :D Rate/review if you want to, it's not like Russia will reach through the computer screen and shake you by the shoulders until your head falls off if you don't. XD Although, that would be pretty awesome. Wouldn't virus protection that did that be so awesome?....wow, I'm going to go to bed now before something else weird and random comes out of my head. 0_0"