Arthur took a deep breath, closing the door carefully. He couldn't get angry. Especially at Alfred. Not tonight. At least not until after Christmas. He wouldn't be able to take it if he ran off again so soon. His son obviously cared for the violent teen and he had to respect his feelings. At least for now.

"Arthur! Stop being a cypher and socialize. Dinner is almost ready." Francis called from the kitchen in his annoying (sexy) sing song voice of his. Arthur ground his teeth. He was not a cypher! He simply enjoyed being alone more than being with other people.

Still, he obediently left the door for the kitchen, if only to be the gentleman he boasted to be. It wasn't polite to have guests over and not entertain them. He had to be a gracious host. A model for his sons-

Alfred had his arms around Ivan as they made out right there in front of him in the middle of the hallway. Arthur's eyes widened at the sight, and he felt his anger boil. He had just arrived and already they were eating each others faces off. This was a Christmas Eve dinner for God's sake! At least they weren't doing it in front of the other guests.

Alfred seemed to notice his presence, breaking from the kiss and pushing away at his boyfriend. Ivan let go with a frown, backing off. He wondered what had made him stop when he turned to see Arthur glaring at them. The man always got in the way.

"Sorry Dad. Don't get mad! I didn't think you were looking...I" Alfred stumbled over his words, an embarrassed flush appearing on his cheeks.

Arthur stiffened, "I'm not mad." He quickly stated, as if to save himself. "Let's just all behave tonight, yes?" Alfred nodded, pushing away from Ivan to go to the dinner table in the other room. Ivan sent Arthur a scalding glare as they walked, and even though Arthur didn't turn around he could tell by his clenched fists he had felt it.

Sure, Alfred had said no kissing and no touching but Ivan easily persuaded him into one with the excuse that his English father wasn't even there. Or at least, he wasn't at the time. Frankly, Ivan didn't even fully comprehend why they were hiding it in the first place.

The Brit quickly excused himself once more to go check on something in the closet. The Russian was making him nervous with his dark looks. Before, he could lash out at him or do something. But right now he had to behave, even though there was just something about Ivan that made him anxious. Especially that glare he kept sending him, the disrespectful brute.

He rubbed his temples, wondering if he was going to start getting gray hairs from all the stress he'd been suffering. Then he'd look the age Alfred seemed to think he was. He wasn't an old man for God sakes. He was still young! He could throw-

Today was just not his day.

He had stepped into the hall to go toward the closet only to find his other son making out with the rude albino. Did anyone understand the concept of a formal Christmas Eve dinner?

Matthew squeaked in surprise when he saw him glaring, pushing his boyfriend away and apologized three times before dragging a complaining Prussian back to the dinner table.

Clearly, Francis was corrupting them way too much. How much influence did he wield over them? Had they inherited anything from him? Francis was a horrible model! He was turning their sons into—into promiscuous beings just like himself. There were uglier words to say but he could never say them when speaking of his babies.

"Arthur, dinner is ready! Come join us." The bad influence called lightly from the kitchen. Right, he needed to entertain. Clearly his sons needed to learn how to behave properly when there was company and Francis was doing a horrid job of showing them proper behaviors. So, he straitened himself and returned to the dining table ready to have a nice, happy dinner.

Ivan did not like this new arrangement one bit. Alfred had gotten mad at him for kissing him twice now, repeating that he didn't want their father to see. Wasn't this the same boy who kissed him harshly in front of his father on purpose only a few weeks ago? He understood he didn't want him to get angry but damn it, they were in a relationship and he had every right to kiss him whenever he wished.

Along with the fact that he'd spent a week kissing Alfred as much as he wanted only to be cut off suddenly. The other was addicting. His soft lips moving against his own, the sweet taste of his mouth, the warmth that exuded out of his body comforting him whenever he was enveloped in his embrace. He needed that. It kept him grounded. He didn't know how he had kept calm without that heat present beside him. All he wanted was to grab the others face and ravage his mouth but no, they couldn't upset Alfred's English father.

It was always his fault. Alfred was mad because of him. Sad because of him. Hurt because of him. And now distant because of him. If only he could just eliminate him.

He couldn't though, and he had to remember that.

So, he tried to behave himself as he sat at the crowded table beside Alfred.

And when he said crowded, he meant crowded. The table was meant for at most six people. They were eleven. Arthur sat at the head of the table while Francis sat opposite of him. On the right side, Matthew, Gilbert, Ludwig and Feliciano were squished together. But on his side, they were even more. Next to Arthur and beside himself was Alfred, and on his other side was Toris' youngest brother, Raivis. Beside him was Eduard and finally Toris.

Ivan did not like the arrangement one bit. He took out his frustrations by sending glares matched with creepy smiles to little Raivis. It seemed to be working because the boy could not stop shaking. It amused him greatly to see the smaller one tremble in fear, just because of a look from his dark violet eyes.

It distracted him from his intense urge to touch Alfred more.

Speaking of which, had Alfred just brushed his leg? He glanced over, seeing him focusing entirely on his meal and giving him no attention. He pouted, placing a hand on the others thigh, making him jolt. Alfred sent him a scolding look and brushed the hand away.

Ivan pouted even further, placing his hand on the nice thigh once again.

"Ivan, stop it." Alfred hissed, moving it away again.

"Why? He can not see it." He whispered back but Alfred ignored him, going back to his food. The Russian decided to pin a glare at the one who caused it all, the others selfish unloving English father. Except, the man ignored him completely, seemingly engaged in a conversation (argument) with his husband. So, he decided to turn to his other neighbor.

"Hello Raivis." He whispered to his guardian's brother who almost jumped out of his skin when he was addressed so suddenly.

"H-Hello Ivan." He stammered quickly, the hand holding his fork was shaking horribly.

"You seem very nervous, Raivis. Do I make you nervous?" Ivan asked, his smile growing though his gleaming teeth remained hidden.

"Er, n-no! O-Of course not!" The petit blond quickly assured, his eyes darting about the room. "I'm j-just not feeling too well."

"Oh? You are sick? Let me feel your temperature." Ivan said in feigned concern as the others eyes widened. The boy panicked when the Russian placed a hand on his forehead, placing pressure.

"Hmmm, you seem to be a little warm." The taller mused, his hand traveling up into the golden hair. Raivis squeaked as he felt the other pressing down on him and he dropped his fork in fright. Ivan leaned forward, his lips close to the others ear, "You know Raivis, you might have a heart attack if you do not stop shaking, or maybe something even worse..."

Raivis stood up with a start, his chair clattering to the floor, yelling out an apology before fleeing from the scene. It was just to much. "Raivis!" Eduard shouted after his younger brother, quickly excusing himself to go see what was the matter. Ivan smiled as everyone watched him run away shocked, oblivious to what had just been happening.

Well, except for one.

He felt himself being jabbed in the side by an elbow and turned toward Alfred who was glaring at him. He tilted his head innocently.

"What the hell was that?" Alfred hissed, crossing his arms and paying attention to him instead of his food. How nice.

"What do you mean?" The Russian replied, feigning any knowledge of wrong doing.

"I saw what you did to Raivis! You had your hands all over him and you were whispering in his ear." Alfred growled, flushing slightly. "I'm your fucking boyfriend! You can't do that stuff with other people."

"I was not doing anything. But, for that matter, you refuse to let me touch you at all." Ivan snapped back.

"Just for tonight! That doesn't mean you can just go and manhandle someone else!" Alfred retorted angrily. He wasn't jealous though, or anything. "You already went against what I had said. If I don't want you to touch me then you can't touch me!"

Ivan narrowed his eyes. He should be allowed to touch him at all times. No matter what. He stood up suddenly and grabbed the others wrist, dragging him away from the dinner table, amid protests by Alfred. (The American was hoping his brother would save him but he seemed to consumer in an argument his boyfriend was having to care.) Ivan tugged him harder along. Alfred needed to understand the he was Ivan's in the same way that Ivan was his.

The other side of the dinner table was faring no better. Matthew himself was giving his own boyfriend the cold shoulder after being caught by his stern father. It was so embarrassing, especially since Arthur knew they were, erm, sexually active (God, how he hated that term). It put Gilbert in a less than awesome mood, that was for sure. In fact it put him in a damn right suckish mood. Well, more than he had been feeling recently.

Damn it. Why hadn't Matthew let him visit him at least once this past week? He really needed him. He still needed him. He just wanted to talk to him. Just tell him something that was weighing down on him. But Matthew had refused to see him for almost the entire week. He had even called today to see him earlier than the dinner party to talk but again he was refused. Then, when he had arrived for the dinner party he had been to nervous to talk to him about it and instead tried to ignore the issue by kissing those delicious lips of his. It wasn't fair. Damn it! Why'd he have to look through her stuff? Why'd he have to find that letter?

"Gilbert, don't pick your food." Ludwig scolded quietly from beside him and the albino sent him a glare. He looked down at his plate, noticing he had barely eaten anything. He wasn't even paying attention to Arthur and Francis dinner arguments which were always entertaining. He guessed he just wasn't in the mood for it.

"Leave me alone West." He snapped back and Ludwig sent him a glare. The elder was about to reply when Raivis ran off. Well, that was odd. Still, he thought best to ignore the slight disturbance and set his eyes back upon his son.

"Don't speak to me like that. And must you call me that?" He sighed, with a slight grimace.

"Just because I learned the word from her doesn't make it horrible!" The Prussian growled out, surprising his father and drawing the concerned attention of Matthew and Feliciano.

"Gilbert-"

"Yeah, I know she's a fucking bitch and I know you don't want to think of her and me using that word makes you think for her but that's not why I use it and I don't see why you can't just let it go. She left. She hates us. Who the fuck even cares anymore. I certainly don't. I feel totally fucking awesome." Gilbert babbled, angrily in frustration and stabbed at his food with unnecessary force.

Ludwig stared at him, "Gilbert, she doesn't hate you."

"Then why'd she leave!" Gilbert shouted, throwing his fork at the table and turning to him. The elder blond looked at him in surprise.

"She didn't want to stay with me, that's why she left. It had nothing to do with you, Gilbert." He assured quickly.

"Then why did she try to fucking abort me!"

Ludwig paled, and that was all Gilbert needed to know it was fucking true. He snapped his chair back, storming away from the table.

"Gil!" Matthew quickly stood up but Ludwig was faster, quickly running after his son. The younger twin was about to follow him when Feliciano rested his hand on his arm.

"I think its best they talk alone for right now." The Italian whispered and Matthew hesitated before nodding. He supposed that would be best so he sat himself back down. Still, he wanted to hug his albino, he looked so hurt..

"Well, this has been quite the success." Arthur commented dryly. He didn't really know what else to say. Half their party was missing. There had been three different arguments that he didn't know the details of that had caused it. Basically, he had no idea what had gone wrong.

When Raivis ran off he had been surprised, then Alfred had been whisked away and he was about to yell for him to sit his ass back down when two other guests started to argue. He had no idea how to deal with such a situation. The only thing he did know was this was probably the worst dinner party he had ever hosted. And for once it wasn't Francis fault.

"Stop being so pessimistic Arthur." Francis scolded, taking another bite from his diner. "I just hope they come back. Some of us have to leave for mass soon..." He added, turning to look in the direction the missing members had run off to.

"Fuck Ivan! Dad's gonna be so pissed if we don't get back there this-hmmph!"

Ivan quickly silenced any more arguments from his boyfriend with his lips, thrusting his tongue into his mouth. He pressed Alfred against the wall harshly, making sure their bodies touched almost everywhere. He needed to feel that warmth again. He needed it.

Alfred pulled away, sending him a glare, "The hell! I said n-"

Again, Ivan solved the problem with a searing kiss. One hand ran up the others clothed chest and into his hair, pulling and running through the once neatly brushed locks. The other rested on the American's hip possessively.

Alfred pulled away, panting harshly. "Fuck Ivan, since when did you get so demanding? When it comes to romance you're always so timid."

Ivan noticed Alfred didn't seem to be too angry any more and he smirked. "Well, I find it unfair that my right to touch you was so suddenly taken away after having it at my leisure for nearly a week."

Alfred blushed at the comment as Ivan waited for his retort. Sadly, he couldn't think of anything, so instead he grabbed the others for another kiss. And this time he fought back.

Ivan grinned into the kiss, pushing him back further. The hand on his hip, clenched tighter until he got an idea. He remembered a picture he had seen in one of Alfred's French father's magazines. Never breaking away from the kiss, he moved the hand on the others hip to hook behind his thigh, pulling it up suddenly.

Alfred yelped in surprise as his foot lost contact with the ground and was wrapped around a Russian waist. Instinctively, his other leg followed and he found his arms slipping to wrap around the others neck for support.

"Fuck Ivan. You're never l-like this." He flushed, closing his eyes tightly as Ivan kissed him again.

"But you like it, da?" Ivan asked smugly between kisses.

Alfred blushed even further turning away, "Sh-Shut up."

"I have been quite hesitant, da? It is because I am unsure if you reciprocate my feeling. But now I see that perhaps you do. I should start being more...rough, yes?"

"I-" Alfred stammered.

"Da, your cute blushing face makes the decision for you." The Russian giggled, nuzzling into the others neck happily. What a wonderful turn of events!

Alfred was redder and more embarrassed than he ever felt being before. And suddenly he wondered why. Why was he acting like a total girl or whatever? He was the Hero! He couldn't just do nothing and take it! No he had to take charge!

The American pushed away at the Russian, disentangling his legs from his waist. Ivan, surprised, was forced to take a few steps back. He was about to ask why when two hands were placed on his shoulders, turning him around and forcing him into the wall.

"Hey." Alfred hissed, his face so close to the taller that their lips were barely a sliver apart. It made Ivan try to move his head in order to capture those sinfully delicious lips, but Alfred kept him down. "I can be just as fuckin' rough. Ya hear me?"

Ivan blinked before smirking. Ooh, he liked this Alfred. "Is that so?"

"Oh, it's totally so." Alfred snapped back, his grin growing with each syllable he uttered.

"Ahem."

Alfred whirled around, looking like a deer caught in the head lights. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Oh, it was only Papa. At least it wasn't Dad, that would be so embarrassi-

No, wait a minute. This was totally a shit moment. Papa had caught him making out which meant that he would start-

"I'm so sorry to interrupt, Alfred! But I have some advice for you two. Alfred, you should be using your hands more. Most of the time they were by your sides or clinging around his neck. Now Ivan, Alfred's neck was ripe for the picking and you did noth-

"PAPA! Stop talking! Go away!" Alfred shrieked, covering his face with his hands. He was going to crawl into a ditch and die. Yep. That's exactly what he was going to do.

"I am only trying to help." The Frenchman defended.

"You're not. So. Please. Just. Stop." Alfred begged, looking up with pleading eyes. Francis scoffed but dropped the subject anyway.

"What I came here originally for was to remind you that we're leaving for church in ten minutes. You might want to comb your hair again."

Alfred blushed, trying to tame the now messed up locks with his hands. "O-okay. I'll be ready d-don't worry." Francis smiled, giving him a wink before leaving the two lovebirds alone.

The American let out a breath of relief once his father left, leaning against the wall beside Ivan. "Hey, are you coming with us?" He asked curiously, tilting his head to the side to look at him.

"I have never been to Church." Ivan replied with a shrug.

"Its kinda boring but you have to go for Christmas and Easter at least. All you have to do is sit and listen." Alfred supplied with his own little shrug.

"Is everyone going?" Ivan asked, straightening up so that he could look at Alfred directly instead of from the side.

"Well, I don't think Toris and his brothers are. Feli, Mr. Bielshmidt and Gil are and so are Papa, Mattie and I." The blond counted off on his fingers.

"Your English father is not coming?" The taller teen inquired. Of course he wouldn't, he should have guessed it.

"He doesn't usually. He used to be catholic than he went protestant and then he just kinda stopped being anything. Around when I was little, when we were in the old neighborhood..." He trailed off, looking to the ground awkwardly.

"That is right. You must tell me about that. I wish to know what happened." It wasn't fair the other knew about the fate of his father and his time in the orphanage and he still had little knowledge of Alfred's own past. He would correct the issue immediately.

"I'll tell you. Don't worry! But not now..." He assured, tilting his head up to look into those violet pools, "So, are you coming or what?"

"Da, I will come. It means being with you for a longer period of time."

Alfred rolled his eyes, hoping it covered up his light blush. And his face had just regained its normal coloring too!

"But this time, no touching at all. Doing anything like that in Church is gross. And wrong. And probably will get you a one way ticket to Hell." Alfred warned seriously, wagging his finger for good measure.

Ivan pouted, "Fine." At least it was a legitimate reason instead of a pour excuse about his horrible father.

When Francis had excused himself to find Alfred to alert him of the time, Matthew had done the same to go find Gilbert. He was really worried about him. He remembered the other bringing up his mother a while ago, when they had had his family over the last time. He had pushed the issue out of his mind because of Alfred and his family's dilemma.

He hadn't really been paying much attention to Gilbert and now that he though about it he felt kind of like an ass. The more and more he reflected on the past week or so, the more he realized how selfish he had been.

Everyday Gilbert had called, asking to come over, or to go somewhere and every time he had brushed him off reminding him about his brother's issues. And each phone call had become more desperate. He had thought he was being whiny and selfish. Maybe he was wrong.

Maybe he desperately needed to talk to his boyfriend over something he had discovered that hurt him immensely. Maybe he had been trying to get his support.

And Matthew had refused him. God, he felt like shit.

So, he quickly scurried away, even if Feli had said to let them be. He looked for them downstairs, ignoring some not-very-appropriate noises from his brother down the hall, but could not find them. So, he ascended the stairs, his feet automatically heading for his own room. It turned out to be the correct room anyway.

The door was closed but he could still hear voices.

He opened it slowly, quietly and peered in unnoticed. Both Germans were sitting on the edge of his bed, with serious expressions on their faces. It looked so-so wrong to see Gilbert with such a sad stern expression. Matthew hated it. He wanted that grin back, that obnoxious cackle. Instead, all he got was his albino staring at the floor with a solemn expression, his face held up by his hands supported by his elbows which were resting on his knees. As if he didn't have the strength or the will to hold his head up by himself anymore.

Ludwig was speaking to him, a pained stern expression on his face, looking at the wall as he spoke, his hands fidgeting slightly beside him. Whatever he was saying he was saying it quietly, something unnatural for the normally shouting German and it made it so that Matthew could not decipher his words. Ludwig at one point put his hand on the albino's shoulder in a comforting manner and the boy just looked all the sadder.

A hand touched Matthews own shoulder and he almost screamed. He turned around to see it was only the small normally bubbly Italian. Feliciano smiled at him sadly, motioning him to leave with him.

"I told you they would be OK." The red head whispered.

"You know what they're talking about." Matthew stated, glancing back at his bedroom door.

"Ludwig told me about it a long time ago." He responded, heading down the steps.

"Tell me." Matthew didn't mean it to sound disrespectful or anything, but he desperately wanted to know what exactly was the matter.

"Gillie has to tell you himself."

Matthew frowned at the denial but nodded anyway. He was right after all. But still...

"Now perk up, we're leaving for the House of God soon!" Feliciano smiled up at him.

Matthew tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace.

"We'll be leaving now. Thank you for dinner and I'm very sorry about Raivis." Toris apologized as he fidgeted at the door. His brothers were already in the car, waiting for him.

"Oh, do not worry. It was fine. Thank you for coming." Arthur assured with a smile, "And Ivan? Is he not going with you?"

"Erm, well he said he wished to go to church with you all.. And that Alfred had invited him. If he's too much trouble we can take him home."

"He is fine." Francis quickly responded, not trusting his husbands answer. A few more goodbyes later and the Laurinaitis had departed.

"Tonight was a disaster." Arthur finally bemoaned, rubbing his temples as he closed the front door.

"Oh, it was memorable. Not a disaster."Francis scoffed with a small smile.

"Francis, half of our guests left the table suddenly."

"Like I said before, memorable." Francis reasoned, stepping closer to wrap his arms around the other. "Now may I have a quick kiss before I leave?"

Arthur rolled his eyes but indulged him. All things considered, Francis was very well behaved tonight and he supposed he deserved a little bit of a treat.

"Alright, I must go round up the children so we can get a good seat, say hello to Sis-"

"I think I'll go."

"-ter Nancy and Sister Hele—What?" Francis stopped, staring at him. Had he just said what he though he'd said?

"What are you looking at frog? I said I wanted to go." Arthur coughed into his hand awkwardly.

"To church?" The Frenchman clarified in disbelief.

"Yes. To church, are you deaf?" He snapped.

"But why? I mean I'm happy and Feli will be thrilled but...Why?" The blond simply couldn't wrap his head around it. Arthur hadn't gone near a church in years.

Arthur flushed, "Because..." Because we're finally a family again and I don't want to be left alone in the house while you three grow closer spiritually. "Just because." He stated stubbornly.

"...Alright. Whatever you say. But no complaining when we are there." Arthur rolled his eyes.

"I'll be on my best behavior. Happy?"

"Very. This doesn't have anything to do with Ivan's presence, does it?" The Frenchman raised a perfect eyebrow suspiciously.

"Think what you want frog. The more I argue with you, the less inclined I am to go. So hurry it up before I change my mind."

WOOT! It feels so good to be back on schedule. :3
I actually feel this chapter is kinda decent-ish. Mostly because of Ivan and Alfred's scene. lol. I'm sad at the lack of FrUKiness though... oh well.
Anyways, next Chapter we go to church, meet some nuns from the past orphanage and Ivan interrogates Alfred. Fun times.

Anyways, thank you guys for all the reviews! Continue to Review! Review your little hearts out because it makes me so happy! Teehee.

See you Sunday!

EDIT: I fixed the Eduard/Estonia mix up that a few pointed out. My bad. Sorry about that!