I in no way claim any rights or profits to Axis Powers Hetalia. Those belong to Hidekaz Himaruya, and justly so. This was written purely for fun.
The OC Alaska is mine however, based off Himaruya's concept.
Warning long Authoress Notes at the bottom.
Alexandra's smile faded and she turned to go back to the house. "I don't hate you Vanya. I just hate what you did. I know you needed money, but it hurt", she wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold "because, it seemed as if I was nothing but a commodity to you. I know our relationship was rocky sometimes, and that you weren't able to spend much time with me, but I never thought of you as just a caretaker."
The sunlight glinted off her sad indigo eyes making them glimmer with deep blues and purples. He reached out and tentatively took her fingers in his, they were cold, but she did not resist.
"Mne zhalʹ Alexandra, po-nastoyashchemu ya. But it was not only for the money that I had to sell you. My boss at the time didn't think that your resources were profitable enough." Alexandra snorted in derision. "And, I didn't think that I would be able to take care of you and protect you if there was another war. So I sold you to Alfred because I knew he would be able to take care of you; better than that British Ublyudok, I didn't want him to hurt you." He scowled. "After that I never really got the chance to come and visit again, and then by the time World War II was over I doubt I would have been welcome for a casual visit like this."
She could see her hard swallow. "I see…" she whispered.
Suddenly a ringing rent the air and they both jumped. Two sets of hands went to their respective pockets and Alexandra pulled out a flashing phone, smiling wryly. He returned it shyly.
"Just a sec" she held the phone up to her ear, "Hello? Hey Dad."
He turned to walk back the house; Alexandra followed just a few steps behind. Over the rustle of undergrowth he could just hear their conversation.
"No, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"I just had a funny feeling so I wanted to check in on you. Are you busy?" Alfred said faintly from the other end.
"No I'm just taking a walk in the woods behind my house."
"Oh, I guess it was nothing then. But let me know if you need anything. I've been pretty busy getting ready for that conference with Russia on Monday, but I'll fly up there if you need me."
"No, it's OK. Yeah, I know what you mean. I've been busy lately too."
"The work of a hero is never done huh?" He heard Alfred laugh and glanced back. Alexandra was smiling and when she spoke again her voice was filled with amusement.
"Yeah I guess so. Thanks for checking in on me."
"Alright, I'll talk to you later. Have a great weekend, Alex."
"Bye Dad." The phone beeped as she hung up.
By now they had reached the house and went inside without a word. He was beginning to wonder if he had said too much. Now it seemed almost awkward.
"Would you like anything to drink? I was going to make tea." she asked.
"No thank you." She disappeared into the kitchen as he went into the living room and walked around looking at all her furnishings. More than anything her rooms demonstrated her history. She had modern furniture alongside hand-woven Aleutian baskets. On the shelf over the bookcase were little artistic pieces carved of jade, wood, and ivory as well as one of the Russian nesting dolls he had given her. He touched the old wood fondly and turned to sit on the couch; hanging behind it was a full bear pelt. He touched the chewed ear and grinned as Alexandra walked in with a steaming mug of tea.
"I see your medvedʹ is still here."
She grinned and sat next to him. "Yes, I made a point to take care of him, especially after one of your huskies nearly chewed his ear off." She stroked the pelt fondly. "I remember when you used to put it on and chase me around our cabin saying "Bolʹshoĭ Medveditsy russkiĭ" would eat me. Then when you'd catch me and tickle me until I couldn't breathe."
He laughed, "That was the only way I could get you to go to bed."
She laughed and sipped her tea. "Actually that's not true. I just told you that so that you would chase me and tickle me."
He smiled, "Da, that's what I thought."
"I loved it when you would sing me to sleep or tell me Russian Folk stories."
"Ah yes I remember; 'Skazka o Ivan-tsarevich, Zhar-ptitsy, i Seryĭ Volk', 'Alenʹkiĭ tsvetochek', Kamennyĭ tsvetok"."
She nodded and they fell silent for a while. He looked out the window, the clouds had returned. "Looks like it's raining."
"I wonder if it will rain all night." She jumped up and turned on the TV, switching to a news channel as she did so. They watched the news in silence until after the weather forecast then she turned it off.
She yawned, "I'm pretty tired. What do you say we turn in?" He nodded and they got ready for bed, taking turns in the bathroom.
"You don't have any luggage do you?" she asked when she came out in pajamas and her hair in a loose braid.
"Nyet, my things will come on Monday with the Prime Minister when I go to Washington DC. Don't worry about it."
She disappeared into her room and he settled onto the couch in his underclothes. Lights were turned off and there was only the rain on the roof tops for company. He had nearly fallen asleep when something cool and wet dropped onto his face. He opened his eyes frowning at the dark ceiling above him. Another drop landed on his chin this time. He turned on the light in time to watch as another drop fell from the ceiling to land on his shoulder. He muttered a few curses before getting up and knocking on the door to her bedroom.
"Ivan?" said a quiet voice. There was a rustle of covers and she appeared at the door. "What's wrong?"
"Your roof is leaking, right over the couch."
"Oh, I'm so sorry." She ran to the kitchen and came back with a large bowl and set it on the couch before looking around a little apologetically. "I guess, do you mind sleeping on the floor in my room? It will be more comfortable than in here."
"As long as you don't mind." She shook her head and gathered up the blankets as he gathered up his clothes.
In the bedroom he watched as she set up a couple mattresses from her camping gear. Then they both settled into their respective beds once more and the light was turned out. He was getting close to sleep again when he heard a soft voice calling him back.
"Ivan." Alexandra whispered out of the dark.
"Da?"
"Why- why didn't you try to colonize me more, like Britain did to America?"
He sighed considering the question. "Well, I suppose partially because you were so far from Moscow, making journeys to visit you was not easy in those days. And, as I recall, you do not like to change you ways, no matter who was looking after you. So, after our first big fight I decided not to push the issue too much and just let you, be you; as long as we could live together peacefully during my visits."
"I always liked your visits. I liked showing my home to you, and learning about your people. Your priests were nice. But it seemed as if business with that Baranov guy or something like that kept getting in the way." He rolled over watching the dark mass of her bed; he could just make out her form in the in the darkness.
"Da, I liked that as well. In many ways Alaska is like Russia but then not like Russia. I always liked visiting because here it seemed so wild and free. Like you." The last part came out in a whisper. There was silence for a moment, then he said "Does that answer your question?"
"Yes."
"Spakoinai noci, Podsolnechnika."
"Spakoinai noci, Vanya."
Ah Peace and Tranquility. But will it last?
Authoress Notes:
The Tsar at the time didn't think that Alaska was very profitable, the Russians saw it primarily as a source of furs. Considering the mineral wealth and oil that was discovered up here, Alaska is not amused. The rest is true too. The other big factor for the sale of Alaska was fear of losing it in another war (they had just gotten out of the Crimean War with the British) because it was far from Moscow, difficult to defend, and connected to British controlled Canada. The Russians sold it to America because it would annoy Britain and because they were on very good diplomatic terms with America. The British didn't express much interest in buying Alaska.
The British Bastard is Arthur, of course. At the time both America and Russia have very little British sentiment.
After WWII the Iron Curtain came down and the Cold War started. Not the best time to visit.
In my head canon Alfred can sense when something's wrong with one of his states because they are part of him and yet separate.
The Bear is the animalistic symbol for Russia. I thought this part would be cute, I can just imagine Russia covered in a bear pelt chasing little Alaska around and tickling her. It gives me a goofy fangirl smile.
"The Tale of Ivan Tsarevich, the Firebird, and the Grey Wolf", "The Scarlet Flower", and "The Stone Flower" are all Russian Fairytales.
The reasons Russia gives are all true. The Aleuts were pretty cool with the Russians, the Tlingit (pronouced Klink-it) were not. When Aleksandr Baranov and the Russian-American Co. began to encroach on Tlingit lands the Tlingit attack the Russian settlement. Baranov retaliated by razing their village. Things were fairly calm after that.
The greatest impact Russia had on Alaska was through the Russian Orthodox Church. The missionaries were very sympathetic to the Natives and spoke out against the cruelties from the Russian traders.
1 Russian for "I'm sorry Alexandra, truly I am."
2 Russian for "Bastard"
3 Russian for '"Bear"
4 Russian for "The Great Russian Bear"
5 Russian for "Goodnight Sunflower."
6 Russian for "Goodnight Vanya."
Thanks for reading and reviewing to those who have done so, it makes me happy that I can entertain you. This is the second to last chapter, plus there will be an epilogue-thing, because I say so.