Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia nor any of the Hetalia characters. All rights to both of those go to Himaruya Hidekaz.

Chapter 12

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Victorea jumped nearly three feet in the air as the party of five walked back into the house, clutching her chest where her heart is and squeaking. Arthur and Peter stood agape, and Matthew and Alfred looked rather pleased with themselves.

Mr. Jones had decorated the whole house while they were gone for her birthday! Balloons were tied to the backs of every chair and weighed down on every table, streamers were hung on the tops of every wall, and there was a triple-layered cake on the counter with a candle shaped like the number 16 laced with yellow and blue frosting. In fact, everyone was there!

Ivan, Yao, Kiku, Ludwig, Feliciano, and Francis cheered as Victorea tried to grasp the situation, stunned speechless out of surprise and fear. She blinked furiously at the scene before her, not seeming to register what was happening.

"A Sweet-16 is a pretty big day for most girls, after all!" Mr. Jones rubbed the top of her head. She hunkered down a little at the force of his noogie and laughed.

"You…You did this for me?"

"No, this is for me," Alfred rolled his eyes, his usual toothy grin plastered on his face. "Of course it's for you!"

Victorea's mouth dropped, and her eyes began to water. Each of her friends was carrying a gift, wrapped in bright colors and topped with beautiful bows. They didn't seem at all shocked by this reaction – they just waited for her to finally process all of this. "Thank you…Thank you all so much!" she skipped over and hugged Mr. Jones around the neck, bending him down so she could kiss his cheek. "This is wonderful!"

Mr. Jones blushed and winked at her. "Of course, kiddo! Everyone deserves a party!"

Victorea beamed at everyone around her. Arthur's stomach flipped again, as it usually did when she smiled. Or when she didn't, too. He's beginning to think it's a medical condition. But she looked so genuinely…happy. She had tears in her eyes as he watched her hug everyone, thanking them profusely. Even Kiku returned the hug, if not a little hesitantly. He smiled softly. She really is beautiful…

Wait…No she isn't. You hit your head too hard. Arthur hissed under his breath a tiny cuss word, left unnoticed by everyone except Matthew and Alfred, who smirked, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

Victorea bounced over to him, and his cheeks became slightly dusted in pink as she looked him directly in the eyes and said, "Did you help do this?"

Arthur blinked in surprise, his cheeks darkening a shade or two. She was looking at him so closely, as if she was studying his features in that question…And the happiness was practically flowing from her bright blue eyes like a waterfall, spilling over and showering everyone around her with the same feeling. He couldn't even respond, just gulped and shook his head, not ripping his eyes from hers.

"Naw, but we did!" Alfred wrapped his arm around Matthew's shoulders roughly, nearly knocking the Canadian right off his feet.

Victorea shifted her eyes away from Arthur (much to his disappointment) and studied them for a moment, before laughing. "I suppose that's why you were acting weird earlier?"

Alfred rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, letting go of his twin so he could breathe properly again. "Heh, yeah. Sorry about that."

Victorea shook her head at him, the happiness almost making a rainbow halo around her, and she leaped up and hugged Alfred tightly around the shoulders. He laughed and returned the hug – minding her back and instead hugging around her waist. Arthur tried very hard not to twitch in fury. She thanked him profusely before doing the very same to Matthew, who was blushing dark at the sudden contact and attention, hugging back a few seconds after with a tiny grin. "Of course."

Victorea let go of him and studied Arthur and Peter a moment, thinking. Then, smiling almost mischievously, she lifted Peter up and swung him around before hugging him close to her, thanking him. He seemed to like the swinging, and was happy to be noticed as well, so he didn't question anything. When she let go, she turned and abruptly hugged Arthur, making his cheeks as dark as tomatoes. She was so soft…He couldn't seem to move until she nuzzled her face into his chest a little, thanking him. That motion made him smile and hug her in return, resting his chin atop her head gingerly. He closed his eyes in a moment of bliss, feeling like he would never let go. She was so close…Her bare skin on her arms was soft against Arthur's arms, her hair as soft as silk…And he could feel her breast throbbing as her heart beat within her.

As observant as he was, he failed to notice one thing – she was blushing nearly as dark as he was, and she was listening to his strong heartbeat as well.

She scrunched up her shoulders, and he took that as a motion to let go. He obeyed, silently wishing he didn't. Her blush faded before he could see it. He had no idea how long the hug lasted, but everyone was staring, grinning at the two. Arthur cleared his throat nervously and tried to change the subject. "Uh, why are you thanking me, exactly?"

"Oh, me too!" Peter jumped up and down. "I didn't really help!"

Everyone laughed. It sounded like he was proud of having not taken a part in this. She bent over and ruffled his hat, messing up his hair. He giggled and tried to move her hand away as she said, "Because you two deserve a thank you anyway. You are all really great friends."

Arthur's heart sunk a little at the word. Friends…Right.

No! JUST friends! Right! That's all!

Feliciano began speaking quickly. "Bella, I think you should open gifts before you say that! ~ Vee ~ I've-a got-a wonderful one for you!"

"Really?" she turned to Feli, looking as happy as a child in Disney World. "You got me presents?"

"That's kind of a birthday tradition, dudette!" Alfred laughed. "I'm sure you celebrate birthdays, right?"

"Yeah, but it's been a while…And I've never gotten so many!" Victorea squeaked happily. "This is so nice of you!"

"Never gotten so many? Then let's open them right now, aru!" Yao held his up. "Mine is going to be the best, obviously!"

Victorea laughed at him. "Okay!"

As they all took a seat in the living room, Peter began pestering Mr. Jones for cake. She laughed at him, and offered for him to sit next to her so he can help her unwrap some of the bigger gifts. This got his attention, for sure. Arthur grinned at the scene. She was surrounded by friends and gifts, and she looked as happy as he had ever seen her. But she still allowed Peter to help. It was like the mother of the family they didn't have here. His mum was too far away, as was Alfred and Matthews…She was so maternal with Peter, it was almost natural. She pulled in Feli's gift first, and she and Peter counted to three slowly, unwrapping it furiously the second they said 'three' in unison.

"Wow! This is so cool!" Victorea held up a wooden chest that opened up to reveal several drawers of art supplies – from pastels to colored pencils to paints to charcoals. "And look! There's an easel, too!" she said as Peter pulled it out.

"What's an 'eesl'?" he asked, studying the strange object in his hands. Victorea laughed at him and held it up so he could see the tag.

"An 'eisel,' darlin'. It's for painting! You prop it up and it holds your canvas up for you when you paint!"

"Cool!" Peter kicked his feet against the couch in excitement. Arthur couldn't tell if he was really excited or if he was just pretending to be so he could fit in. Victorea hugged the happy Italian as he talked all about everything in the kit. Arthur turned around a little to see Mr. Jones snapping pictures along the way. I wonder if he'll let me keep some of those…

"Psst, Arthur!" Alfred whispered in the Brit's ear, startling him. "Dude, didn't you get her a gift, too?"

"Yeah, but I didn't think we'd have a party," Arthur whispered back.

"Well, go get it when everyone's done."

"Wait, how did you know I got her a gift?"

Alfred snickered. "Because I watched you obsess over a little wrapped box for the past three days."

"But I didn't know it was her birthday!" Arthur hissed. Alfred just shrugged and smirked, turning his attention back to Victorea and Peter as they opened Yao's gift – a stuffed bunny that was a perfect size for Victorea to hug. She hugged Yao again as a thank you.

In truth, Arthur had no idea it was her birthday. He only learned about that yesterday! He got the gift a few days ago for her, thinking it would be nice to get her something, seeing as she didn't seem like someone who had a lot to begin with. He was pretty much spot on – he just didn't know it at the time he bought the gift. He gulped, unsure of himself. Why did I even get her that gift…?

As Victorea and Peter opened the last of the gifts, Mr. Jones brought in a thin box wrapped slightly sloppily and set it on her lap for her. "This is from Alfie, Mattie, Peter and myself." He must have known Arthur got her something else, too, or he would have included his name in that list.

"Really? Thanks!" Victorea beamed at what she assumed was the last present, glancing at Arthur curiously before counting down with Peter to open it. She noticed he wasn't listed there, too. Dammit. Now I have no choice.

A spiral bound sketchbook lay in her hands, and she squeaked as she flipped through the pages, bubbling with childish joy. "Wow! Thank you so much!" She hugged all of them one by one, as she did to everyone else as a thank you. She's not usually this touchy. I guess she really is happy. But of course, no matter how much he denied it, he thought it was really quite adorable.

"Arthur?" Alfred waggled his eyebrows at his half-brother, and Arthur snorted, glaring at the floor with a blush.

"I know, I know…" He sighed, not wanting to lose his temper on the instigating American when Victorea was enjoying herself so much. He nodded at her once, muttered a quick "hang on" and walked quickly towards his room, leaving a puzzled girl staring after him.

He closed the door to his room and quickly scanned his desk for the item in question. Yes! He grabbed the small, flat, elegantly wrapped box and walked as calmly as his nerves would let him back out the door to the living room, hiding the gift from Victorea's view. His mind raced, worried thoughts swirling in his head as painful as a hammer being swung at his temples. What if she laughs? Or maybe takes the gesture wrong? I mean, it IS polite to give a friend a gift, right? But what if she rejects it? Oh, I'm going to make a fool of myself… But once he was standing right in front of her, her blue eyes looking up from where she sat with innocent curiosity, he took a deep breath and thought, There's no going back now.

He revealed the gift from behind him and handed it to her, most of the others crowded around to get a closer look, and Arthur sat back in his place across from her, a few feet away, feeling like a complete idiot. He blushed furiously when he could feel her watching at him with those large, blue eyes, but nobody said a word. He continued to stare at the ground, as red as a strawberry. He couldn't help but notice she held this gift differently. She examined it closely for what felt like forever. Oh, why can't she just get on with it…? And he also noticed…Peter didn't help her open this one. She opened it slowly, as if she didn't want to tear the paper. He only bothered to glance out of the corner of his eye at her, quickly averting his gaze whenever someone made eye contact with him. But he knew that beneath the wrapping was a long, thin velvet box.

He glanced up again after he knew the wrapping was completely torn away, but heard no sound. A pin dropping on the carpet could have been as loud as a plane. He caught the eye of none other than Victorea herself, as she stared at him, bewildered. She hadn't even opened the gift yet, but she immediately knew that it was something quite valuable. He blushed deeper and closed his eyes tightly, turning his head away a little in embarrassment. Someone please kill me…

He could feel her watching him for a few moments afterwards, but once the feeling of being watched was over, he heard a small creak that he knew all too well to be the opening of the box that he obsessed over for days on end, making sure every detail was perfect. He could make out a feminine sharp inhale, and many 'oohs' and 'ahhs'.

He didn't bother to look. It was a necklace he had seen at the jewelry store the very day he had met her, and he decided that maybe he should get it for her the second he saw it. It reminded him of her in so many different ways, he wasn't even sure if he had wanted to give it to anyone in the first place. It was a golden cross, the cross being shaped in golden vines, with azure gems embedded throughout the intricate design and detail. The vines looked like they were taken from the garden of Eden, shrunken down and turned to gold, the sapphires like berries of the ripest, bluest fruit. He felt like it was so much like her that he just had to get it. But now…Good Lord, I'm so cheesy…

There was no noise for a long time, and Arthur's nerves felt like they were being pounded by a meat cleaver. He dared one more glance, and was slightly relieved to see that no eyes were on him, but on the gorgeous necklace that Victorea pulled ever so carefully out of the box, as if it would shatter at the slightest touch. Her eyes sparkled with so many emotions that Arthur couldn't place. She held it up a little, and he could see the gold reflecting in her eyes. It was so beautiful, he couldn't help but watch. He remarked the sapphires didn't reflect at all – they matched her eye color so perfectly they couldn't be seen in her eyes.

She stared at it a moment, as still as a statue, before slowly putting down the velvet box, the necklace placed carefully back inside, and stood up. All eyes – except Arthur's – were on her as she walked over and sat down slowly next to the blushing teen, watching him closely as he flinched a little. Taking him by surprise, she tucked herself underneath his body and hugged him around the chest carefully, as if he were as fragile as the necklace appeared to be. She buried her face in his shoulder, leaving him once again in a startled frozen position as she embraced him.

She whispered so quietly that, had Arthur not been paying so close attention to her, he may have missed her words. "Thank you…It's beautiful."

Arthur exhaled in pure relief and happiness, seeming to deflate. He wrapped his arms around her, appearing to be shielding her from some unknown force. He held her as close as possible to his body, resting his cheek on her temple. She giggled, making him smile. He whispered back quietly, "Of course, love."

While none of the others could hear what they were saying, they still smiled at the scene before them.

And, as Victorea rested herself against Arthur in such a way, Arthur finally succumbed to all of his emotions, his thoughts, his entire being in that one moment of bliss. He finally admitted it. I'm completely, hopelessly, desperately in love with her.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Fluff is fluffy X3

I really hope you liked it! Stay tuned! ~

~Dreampainter