A/N –skip A/N by going to A/N –end- I am going to start by saying that I am really sorry. I believe I lost the determination to go on for quite a while and I couldn't get myself to continue. It is actually thanks to my cousin who began watching Hetalia quite recently and started reading fanfiction. Even though I believe she will never read this (I didn't tell her that I wrote anything…), it sort of reminded me that there are people reading this story, waiting for it to continue.

Even though it was only a month or so, when I read what I wrote before, I was somewhat horrified… So I tried to edit most of the chapters before, if you wish to reread them. It is mostly minor spelling errors, but also some parts of the story which depicted Yao crying. Yes, "she" is emotional, but I believe I did not present her as a strong enough character in various parts. Emotional as she may be, that was too much crying… The edits start from Chapter 2.5. Chapter 6 was not edited.

I also added an extremely cheesy epilogue to somewhat make up for not updating, but you don't have to read it. It's really cheesy…

.SP thank you again for the review! I hope you haven't given up on me :D Honestly you're an awesome person, probably one of the only people who is encouraging me to continue going forward and finishing this story. You're the most wonderful supporting sassy friend I've had ;) I find that I always look forward to your review~

This is the last chapter of "You Gave Me Hope" I thank you so much for staying with me thus far.

Enjoy and leave a review to share your opinion!

A/N –End-

Day 7: Hope

The belief that there is a good and brighter future ahead

Winter was over, the birds chirped outside, singing their cheerful songs. They brought with them the melted snow and the fresh grass.

Yao sat at her desk finishing the left over homework. She glanced at Ivan who lay on her bed, peaceful. He visited more often now after he left the note of his story.

Yao glanced down at the paper.

My father came home in the winter.

He brought the cold winds from our old home in Russia with him. Father was obsessed with making our lives 'perfect'. He wanted us to live a greater life than the one he started with, so his standards were very high.

Iryna was scared of him so she brought us to Canada as soon as she was of legal age. Natalia had no objections and they both took me with them.

He never hit them. It was because I was the only male in the family and father felt that I had to carry on our name. Every slight failure, every mark missed, every opportunity lost, it would be my fault. He had always said it was for me, with every bruise his fist had made he said, "You know why I am doing this, Ivan, it is because I love you. It is all for the best."

And so with every passing winter it went on.

Iryna found out this time and she called the authorities. I never knew better, never knew that the hitting was wrong.

Father told me that every person in this world was set to hurt me, it was no good to make any true friends.

But yet when I saw you I thought how warm you were, how determined. You were the oldest in your family and felt duty to care for the rest, no matter how difficult it would be. Even to the extent of dressing as a male to get a higher paying job. There was fire in your eyes, a fire that I will always lack as my heart feels though it was made of ice. Your kindness and acceptance lured me closer. I wanted to know you better and help you with things you could not do for yourself.

When I was hurt, I came here because only here did I know acceptance and safety.

I tell you this not for your pity but because I trust you. I am strange and terrifying to many, I know that now. I know what I have done in the past was wrong of me.

I believe even though it will take much effort and determination, that I can somehow move past what I am, that perhaps I can follow a different path rather than my father's. I promise that I will try my best to do better.

Yao if you will still be my friend, it is more than I could ever ask for. But even if you refuse, know that I am very grateful for what you have already done for me. You treated me as a friend when others thought me as a monster.

You gave me hope when I was held captive in the darkest of nights.

Thank you,

Ivan

Naturally Yao had told him that he was never a bad person to start with, simply misunderstood. She told him it was never his fault, and she would always be his friend. She believed that he had never been on his father's path, but she was definitely happier with the calm Ivan that lay on her bed describing how beautiful the spring leaves and colourful butterflies were rather than the one that hurt Toris and Gilbert.

It wasn't pity that she felt after reading the letter, but rather a guilty regret for not asking earlier and some sort of understanding.

The rest of the family never asked about Ivan's frequent visits to the house. Somehow he seemed to merge into their already somewhat large family. Occasionally, he brought with him Natalia and Iryna.

Natalia's seemingly crazy infatuation was soon explained as a defence to try to protect Ivan. She knew something was wrong and tried to get closer to understand what was wrong, but it seemed that her approach had not worked the way she wanted it to.

Iryna felt the guiltiest for not knowing better, even though Ivan had told her there was no way she could have known. Ivan said that after the entire affair, Iryna went home more often to spend time with her siblings.

The entire affair was a private thing between Ivan, his siblings and her.

When Ivan was ready to go back to school, he apologized to Gilbert (whose jaw nearly dropped to the floor) and Toris (who seemed to be shaking when Ivan approached him). Toris ended up giving Eduard and Raivis' email addresses as Ivan wished to send apologies. He made some 'friends' and sat at Alfred's table.

He continued to express some sort of romantic affection towards Yao; however, neither felt quite ready to enter into an 'official' relationship.

Ivan wouldn't heal right away, and perhaps he will never heal all the way. Toris may still flinch when Ivan got too close and Alfred may always be highly suspicious of him. But Yao knew that with time, things would get better. They would get through it together.

The End

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A/N Be warned it is pretty cheesy ahead … So if you wish, you can stop here.

Epilogue

The future (15 years later)

"Ivan, I'm home!"

Yao came through the door of their shared apartment which they had been both living in for five years. Ivan needed support at the time with his writing career and Yao couldn't afford her own apartment when she was studying medicine.

She was a doctor now, working at a nearby hospital and was quite well known and respected.

Of course, Ivan's sudden success as a poet was quite a surprise. He used the pseudonym, Sunflower, which seemed oddly ironic to the darker poems that he wrote. His therapy sessions became less frequent and were almost non-existent for the past few years.

"Welcome home Yao" he responded as he came out of his room.

"Wow, you cooked today?"

It was rare, but Yao could smell the food and borsht which lay in the kitchen.

Food wasn't all. The small kitchen table that they had contained a candle and roses in a vase. Definitely unexpected.

Yao stood there, stunned.

"I thought you would want a surprise after working so hard all the time"

"Oh I was just surprised that's all, thank you."

She smiled, surprises were always quite pleasant, especially when her everyday routine was somewhat tedious.

They started dating around seven years ago, though an unspoken relationship had likely started before then. Romantic things were somewhat rare as they were both busy, but it was clear that Ivan was the more romantic one. He took her out on birthdays and on Valentine's Day to fancy restaurants and walks around the area.

Yao talked a lot over dinner about her siblings and cousins. Kiku was going to come to visit in a few days, bringing his 'friend' Heracles. It was exciting since they didn't visit very often.

Ivan ended up washing the dishes.

But it was obvious that he was starting to get nervous as he put the last dish away. His hand was shaking slightly.

"Ivan, is something wrong? You seem sort of distracted."

"Do you remember what happened fifteen years ago on this day?"

Yao's mind ran in circles.

It shouldn't be an anniversary of any sort right? That would be seven years. The first time they met? No, that was in fall at school…

"It's the day that you told me that you would be my friend even after everything that I have done."

"Ivan, don't say that, why wouldn't I want to be your friend? You're a wonderful and sweet person."

He smiled as he accepted Yao's somewhat awkward hug.

"It's also the day that I was certain that I found the one. And that hasn't changed after so many years, in fact, each growing year has confirmed that I will never love another. Even if we have small fights or big arguments, I believe you are the only one for me. Because your kindness is overflowing and you show that you care in many ways."

Ivan went on one knee and asked with a voice of little confidence, "Yao, will you marry me?"

It was a few seconds before Yao could recover from her shock.

"Yes, definitely!"

It was followed by a hug, a spin and a kiss.

Ivan would never be alone again.

-End-

A/N Thank you again for your support! I am planning on writing other stories that will connect with this one. Hope you'll check them out in the future…