A grin spread across Ivan's face as Lilli walked into the room, carrying a bouquet of sunflowers. "Sunflower…" he murmured, but he was not referring to her gift. She smiled for the first time that day as Ivan accepted the flowers gratefully, a whole arrangement of his favorite plants on earth. He was a little dazed-looking, but happy and comfortable, and clearly back to his true self.

Lilli sat on the edge of his bed and Ivan timidly wrapped his arms around her, possessive, clinging, protective. "I…I'm sorry, Sunflower," he croaked, tears running down his ungodly-pale face. "I… I told you to stay away from me, but you were too good and I don't deserve you…"

"Shh…" Lilli put a finger to his lips and held his hands in hers. It broke her heart to see this big, sweet Russian cry. "You were sick, Ivan, you didn't know…" She sat swinging her legs against the edge of the bed, and every little move she made entranced him. He hoped she would stay, everything about her soothed him and made him feel happy again.

"Lilli…" His voice sounded almost like it belonged to a small boy who was afraid of the dark. "Will you… will you promise me you'll never leave me? I've been so lonely for so long, and you make me so… so at rest." He smiled. "They did prescribe me the medication, and I promise I'll take it every day, but I think you're better for me than anything else, Sunflower. Will you always be there for me?"

"Forever and always," Lilli promise. And she meant it.

Hetalia-Hetalia-Hetalia

The fire crackled and made little shadows run across the inside of the fireplace, flames dancing like little orange ghosts. The firelight made Ivan's cheeks flush and sparkled in Lilli's eyes. After making sure that Lilli was monitoring the Russian's medicine intake, Vash agreed to let Ivan stay over for Christmas. Now it was the Eve, and Ivan and Lilli had established a relationship, sitting close and holding hands, Ivan's big white fingers keeping her slender ones warm. Despite what most might have assumed, Ivan's hands were almost always warm.

Vash stepped in carrying two mugs of hot chocolate, handing one to Lilli and the other to Ivan. "Lilli told me you liked this," he explained, "apparently you two have been talking more than I realized." His tone was teasing but his eyes showed that he was still uncomfortable with the notion of his little sister dating. After all, Ivan was her first boyfriend.

"Spasibo," Ivan told him, thanking him in his mother tongue, and he and Lilli clinked mugs in a Christmas Eve toast. The sunflowers Lilli had brought to Ivan at the hospital were now on the coffee table by the big window opposite the mantle. Little Christmas trees, reindeer, and a miniature Nativity set depicting Mary affectionately cradling the Christ Child decorated the top, set above a snow-colored doily. Ivan loved the whole scene; it reminded him of Christmas with his sisters when they were all children and times were simpler.

But there was one thing that particularly caught his eye. Its location was not on the mantle or the tree, but hanging above the doorway that separated the living room from the kitchen. "Lilli," he said suddenly, putting down his nearly-empty mug of hot chocolate. "So here they also practice the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe?"

Lilli blushed. "Yes, but… I haven't really gotten to carry it out before."

"What better time than the present then, Sunflower?" Ivan grinned and pulled Lilli gracefully to her feet, moving like a gazelle for such a big man. He walked her to the doorway and cradled her face gently, lovingly. He waited until she was ready, until she pulled her face toward his so he knew she was comfortable, and then proceeded to meet her lips with his.

Vash's eyes widened and he had half a mind to jump up and tear them apart, but then he thought better of it and calmed himself. He had to remind himself that Lilli wasn't a child anymore, and it was only kissing. He had kissed a girl when he was younger than Lilli was now. And Lilli and Ivan's kiss was innocent, not touchy-feely but loving, gentle, and he noticed that Ivan always took care to treat his sister with the utmost respect. He treated her like a princess, in fact.

The first kiss was tender, and not very long, and both their faces were heated and pink. Vash smiled and watched as Ivan reached out his arm to escort her back to the couch. Katyusha, his older sister who had raised him, clearly taught him how to treat a lady. It encouraged Vash to see such gentlemanly behavior toward his precious Lilli. He decided that Ivan was, indeed, a good man.

But Vash still had his weapons ready in case, because Lilli was still his little sister, after all.

THE END