disclaimer: do not own hetalia.
Where The Heart Is
Chapter Nine: Christmas
"MEEEERRRRRRYYYYYYY CHRRIISSTMAASSS!" Antonio exclaims as he jumps into the unsuspecting boy's bed. "Get up, sleepy head! Get up!" Romano groans and glares up at Antonio. "You landed on my stomach…" Antonio laughs nervously and gets off the boy. "Anyways…get up, grab a blanket, and come downstairs to…OPEN PRESENTS!" The Spanish man exclaims and hugs the still half asleep Romano. "Hn…carry me…" Romano mumbles into the man's shoulder after seeing that it is only six in the morning.
"Carry you? Lovi! Aren't you so excited that your heart is jumping out of your chest?" Antonio asks as Romano pats down his hair tiredly. "You kept me up until three watching Christmas movies…excuse me for being tired…" The teen wraps a small blanket around his shoulders. "Carry me downstairs, now." Antonio laughs before getting off the bed and scooping up the boy into his arms bridal style. "Down we go~!" Romano blushes as he is brought downstairs, Antonio singing Christmas carols in his ear. "You're a sucky singer." "EH? Lovi~!"
Downstairs:
Antonio sets Romano down in front of the Christmas tree before quickly joining him. "Wah~! Look at all the gifts, Lovi~!" Romano stares at the pile of gifts and quickly blushes when he realized half of these gifts were bought by him for the Spaniard. "Wh-whatever…" He mutters and looks away. "Hm…this really is an awful lot of gifts, let's split them up! I'll take mine and you take yours!" Antonio exclaims and begins to separate the gifts as Romano sits there in a slight daze. "Hm...lots of boxes…colorful boxes…" Romano mutters as he leans against Antonio. "Fusosososo! You're so cute when you're tired~!" Antonio coos.
Romano eyes him wearily and takes his presents, moving as far away from Antonio as possible while still being in front of the tree. Which it turns out isn't that far, sadly. "That is the creepiest noise I have ever heard come from you. Don't do it near me again." Antonio laughs and picks up one of his presents. "Ok! Lets start opening Lovi!" Romano grabs a present and looks to Antonio, waiting to begin. "Alright Lovi…NOW!"
Antonio and Romano shred through their wrapping paper at an eerie speed. The Spaniard squeals and hugs the cd Romano bought for him as the teen stares at his gift in awe. It is a beautiful picture frame and inside it is a picture of his parents, him, and Feliciano when they were only one. "Lovi~! How did you know I-?" Antonio suddenly calms down when he sees which gift Romano opened. "Ah…Lovi…I got Feliciano to give me that. So…is this the first time you've seen your mother?"
Romano nods, tracing his fingers over the picture. "I-it…is…that I can remember, at least." Antonio smiles and pets the boy's hair. "Let's open another gift! If we get it done fast enough you will be able to take a nap before everyone comes!" Romano's eyes widen and he grabs another one quickly, he and Antonio then tearing through more wrapping paper. They continue this until they are eventually done. From Antonio, Romano has got the picture, a tomato body pillow, a collection of books about world history because he is secretly a history buff and only Antonio knows about it, a laptop, and a cd of his favorite Italian songs. From Romano, Antonio has received the cd, clothes for when he gardens which he desperately needs since Romano shrunk his old ones in the dryer, his favorite whine, a tomato shaped chair made by Berwald and Tino, and a beautiful painting of their backyard from when all the plants were in bloom.
"Um…Lovi…before you go to bed…I have some questions." Antonio says and Romano looks at him. "What?" Well…first of all…how the hell did you get whine?" "Asked Francis to grab it and bring it to me." Romano answers and Antonio sighs in relief. "Next…how did you know about the cd?" Antonio asks and Romano blushes. "Y-you're always singing songs by this person in the house and when you work in the garden. So I bought the one with as many of the songs you sing as I could…" The Spaniard grins. "That is so cute~! And…who painted the picture?" Romano lushes and looks away. "I…I…did…I-I know it isn't as good as Feliciano's work, but…o-or…you don't have to keep it…I don't care." The teen says and Antonio beams, jumping up and pulling Romano into a tight hug. "Feliz navidad, Lovi~!" "G-get off! I'm going back to bed!" Romano squeaks out, grabbing his stuff and running upstairs.
10 A.M.:
Romano gets out of the shower and yawns, the smell of ham overwhelming the house. "Ugh…gross…." He heads downstairs and sees all the gifts they bought for their friends under the tree. Looking over he notices that even the turtle's aquariums are even covered in garland and lights. "Well, I suppose he has noticed you guys now. How great for you." "Lovi~! You're awake~!" Antonio coos and Romano looks over to him, seeing the man is in an apron. "Why does that strangely suit you…?" The teen teases and Antonio blushes a little before smiling innocently. "Are you saying I'm cute, Lovi~?" "I SAID NO SUCH-!"
"Romano! Antonio! Flirting so early in the morning?" Matthew teases as he heads into the living room with a bag full of gifts and dressed like Santa. "Ah…look, a Canadian Santa Clause…" Romano says blandly and Matthew laughs. "You're just jealous because I pull this off. Like Antonio apparently does with the apron!" Antonio blushes and takes the bag from Matthew. "There is so much in here, Mattie! Did you bring your brothers gifts as well?" Matthew nods. "Theirs and Arthur's since I was coming ahead of time."
Antonio lays them out under the tree and goes back to the kitchen. As soon as he leaves Matthew pulls Romano over to him and whispers in his ear. "So, how awkward has it been since you realized your in love~?" Romano blushes and pushes him away. "Sh-shut up! This is all your fault, damnit!" Matthew laughs. "Oh, you flatter me, Romano!" Romano groans and Antonio comes back out. "Boys! Can you make some cookies?" Matthew and Romano nod awkwardly and join him in the kitchen.
"Ah~! Nothing is better than homemade sugar cookies, si Lovi?" Antonio asks and Romano blushes. "H-how would I know? All of my food was store made in the past, unless it was Italian food." Matthew laughs and pats him on the head. "You are so adorable!" Antonio nods and hands them the ingredients and a bowl. "Here you go boys." Romano stares at it all confused. "How will these make cookies? This is nothing like the stuff in the box. Where is the yellow powder?"
Antonio and Matthew look at each other before bursting into laughter. "Oh my god you are hilarious!" Matthew exclaims and Antonio nods. "So adorable, Lovi~!" Romano glares at them and grabs the recipe. "Fuck you! I can do this alone!" He grabs the large container of flour and opens it before quickly turning it upside down. "Pfffft!" Antonio and Matthew cover their mouths to hold in their laughter at the sight of Romano now covered in flour, along with the counter and floor. "Want some help?" Matthew asks and Romano glares at him. "I can do it myself!"
"I figured Lovi would say that." Antonio says and Matthew smirks. "I was hoping he would." Romano glares darkly at them. "Fuck you! I'm going to make the best sugar cookies in the world!" He follows the recipe awkwardly and soon has cookies shaped in various Christmas styles on the cookie sheet. Antonio and Mathew watch him out of the corner of their eyes as they go about making dinner.
"They're done!" Romano exclaims and reaches into the oven without any mitts. "NO! WAIT!" The other two yell and Antonio practically pins the boy against the counter. Scratch that. He DIFINTITELY pins the boy. "Wh-wh-wh-wh-what are you doing?" Romano stutters out and Antonio blushes, backing away quickly as Matthew comes over with oven mitts. "You need these to touch anything from the oven or your hands will burn." The blonde teen explains smirking at the awkwardness between the other two.
"R-right! I-I'll use those!" Romano says and takes them before pulling out the cookies. "Hm…they look normal…" Matthew teases and Antonio nods. "But so didn't that thing Gilbert made last year, and it made everyone sick for a month." Romano twitches. "DON'T LUMP ME IN WITH THAT ALBINO BASTARD!" Antonio laughs and reaches out, taking a bite from one. "Oh wow, Lovi~! This is delicious!" Romano and Matthew stare at him surprised. "Really?" They ask in unison and Antonio nods, holding his cookie out to Romano. "Have a bite!" Romano blushes and leans forward, taking a small bite. "Wow, this is good…" He mumbles and Antonio holds the cookie out to Matthew. "Ah…I can eat my own cookie, don't worry."
Matthew and Antonio go back to making the food, Romano not being able to help since he's only good at cooking Italian cuisines and apparently sugar cookies now. "Lovi, could you feed the turtles?" Antonio asks and Romano nods, taking a cookie with him. He feeds them all and when he gets to the ones in the living room, where no one can see him, he pulls out the cookie. "See this? I made it! Annnd it's good. Sooo…this means that I can cook for him. What can YOU do for him? Swim in his direction? I. WIN." He looks over to all the other aquariums before leaning toward the aquarium. "Tell the other turtles what you've seen here today."
"Are you competing against turtles, fratello?" Marcello asks and Romano pales. "M-Marcello?" "Ve~! Fratello really loves Ant-!" Feliciano gets cut off by Romano shoving the cookie into his mouth. "Shut up! When did you get here?" Romano cries and his brothers laugh. "Just now, silly~!" "Everyone is on their way so you might want to cut your gloating over the turtles short." Marcello teases and Romano glares.
After dinner:
Everyone gathers at the tree and hand their gifts to each other to open. Francis has given everyone naught underwear and a ticket for a free kiss, Gilbert has given everyone pictures of himself which is only a real gift to Matthew, Alfred gave everyone hamburger headphones he found and fell in love with, Arthur has given them each a homemade stuffed animal of some mythical creature. Then there was Romano, who gave everyone homemade pasta sauce, which went well with Feliciano's homemade pasta noodles. Antonio gave everyone a basket of his frozen homegrown vegetables, Tino and Berwald made little trinkets for everyone, and helps Peter and Marcello do the same. Finally, Kiku and Nate made a bathrobe for everyone, Ludwig got them all guns (water ones for the kids, of course) and Matthew gave everyone maple syrup. Naturally.
After putting their gifts out of the way Antonio plays music. "Come on everyone! Let's dance!" He exclaims and everyone begins to dance in the living room. Everyone but Romano of course. "Lovi~! Come dance!" Antonio coos and Romano blushes. "Th-this is a couple's song and dance! I'm not-!" The Spaniard grabs his hand and twirls the boy until he is in front of Antonio.
"Then dance with me, Lovi~!" Antonio coos and wraps his free arm around the boy's waist, pulling him closer. "W-w-w-wait! I'm not-!" Romano goes silent by Antonio squeezing the trembling hand enclosed in his and smiling down at the teen. "Dance with me, Romano." Antonio repeats, this time with more conviction and Romano looks away blushing. "I-I don't really have a choice, do I?" The teen mumbles and Antonio nods. "That's right! So just have some fun with me, Lovi~!" Romano nods reluctantly and places a hand on Antonio's shoulder as he leads the teen in a dance all around the living room.
Matthew:
Matthew laughs a little as he and Gilbert head into the kitchen for drinks. "You know…Christmas is a time where you're supposed to tell people something you couldn't normally any other time of the year…" The blonde says awkwardly and Gilbert looks over to him. "Ohhh? Who said that?" "…Francis…" Matthew mutters and Gilbert laughs. "HE would come up with something like that, wouldn't he?" He wraps an arm around Matthew and pulls him over to the kitchen counter. "But he might be onto something, don't you think?" Matthew blushes and looks down, nodding. "H-he might…"
Gilbert tilts Matthew's chin up and leans forward, bringing his lips to brush against the boy's ear, and whispers. "I'm in love with you, birdie." He places a kiss on the boy's cheek before pulling away. "Ah…G-Gil…bert…? Y-you do…? You really do love me? I-I thought….maybe…a couple of times, but you never…you would always just…why didn't you say anything?" Matthew asks and Gilbert looks away nervously. "W-well…you are still young…I feel like…" "A pervert?" The teen teases and Gilbert nods, making Matthew laugh. "You aren't a pervert, only an idiot." He wraps his arms around Gilbert's neck and pulls him closer.
"An awesome idiot." Gilbert points out as he wraps his arms around Matthew's waist. "Yes, an awesome idiot, Gil." The teen laughs before Gilbert leans in and kisses him.
Living room:
As Antonio dances around with Romano, Francis begins placing mistletoe all over the house. "Ohohoho! What fun!" "Subtle, Francis, real subtle." Marcello says and the Frenchman smiles at him. "I'm not going for subtle, Marcello. Now watch where you step, don't want to kiss anyone that isn't Peter now, do you?" Francis teases and Marcello twitches. "Don't you come near either of us, pervert." "Ah, you two are to young. And I'm doing this for someone else's sake."
Berwald and Tino oh-so-subtly bump into Antonio and Romano as they dance, causing them to fall on the couch with Antonio hovering over the teen. "Oh! Look!" Francis exclaims, quickly hanging mistletoe over them as they stare at each other awkwardly. "Mistletoe! You two have to kiss!" The Frenchman says and everyone stops what they are doing to look over.
"M-m-m-mistletoe?" Romano stutters and Antonio stares down at him, still essentially pinning him to the couch. "U-um...Lovi, we can just-!" "Oh no! Rules are rules~! You have to kiss!" Francis coos and everyone nods. "K-kiss? Like…o-on the…l…l…" Romano's face heats up and his voice falters. "L-lips, Lovi. Is that…alright?" Antonio asks, a look of determination suddenly coming to his face.
"I guess it's alright…if it's you, Antonio…" Romano whispers and Antonio smiles sweetly at him before leaning down. He lightly brushes his lips over Romano's, causing both boys' hearts to start racing, before fully pressing their lips together. Romano feels a strange spark run through his body and when Antonio pulls back they both stare at each other in an awkward daze.
"S-s-sorry, Lovi!" Antonio stutters after snapping out of his daze and jumps away from the boy. "It's not your fault, it's Francis'…" Romano responds, still slightly dazed. "Y-you're right…" Antonio looks over to the grinning Francis, who gives the Spaniard a thumbs up. "Just how much mistletoe did you put up anyways?" Matthew asks and Francis laughs. "Let's just say…don't get to close to anyone you don't want to kiss, Mathieu~!" Gilbert quickly wraps an arm around Matthew's shoulders, holding him close.
Around midnight:
All of the adults have gotten drunk, naturally, and are running around the house singing carols as the teens watch where they step in the landmine of mistletoe. "Are your Christmas parties always so long?" Romano asks Matthew, from a save distance on the couch. "Yeah, pretty much…I see you're finally out of your daze~!" The blonde teases and Romano flips him off. "Shut up. It was my first kiss…what do you expect?" "The fact it was with the man you love doesn't hurt either, does it?" Matthew smirks and Romano goes to tell him off, only to be interrupted.
"Lovi~!" Antonio coos and dives onto the couch between Romano and Matthew. "Y-YOU IDIOT!" Romano yells, staring at the mistletoe above Antonio's head. "Fusososo! Look at that! I guess I have to kiss Lovi again~!" Antonio cups Romano's face and places a small kiss on the boy's lips. "Lovi's kisses taste so good~!" Romano's face practically explodes and he kicks Antonio off the couch. "And yours taste like alcohol! Idioto!" "Fusosososo!" "STOP LAUGHING LIKE THAT YOU CREEPER!" The teen yells before head butting the man on the ground.
"I'm getting some soda…" Romano groans and Matthew smiles. "Good idea!" The two head over to the fridge, weary of the mistletoe. They reach the fridge safely and both lean in for a soda when they feel someone looming over them. "OH shit!" Romano hisses and Matthew whines. "Please don't let it be-!" "CAUGHT YOU TWO! I COMMAND YOU TWO TO KISS!" Francis yells, holding mistletoe over the two friends and looking at them with a creepy smile. "B-but I only want to kiss Gilbert!" Matthew whines and Romano nods. "And I only want to kiss-! W-well…it sure as hell isn't Matthew!"
Francis shrugs and looms closer, creepy smiling widening. "A small kiss between friends is nothing! Why, aside from Gilbert and Antonio, I have kissed all of my friends~!" "Well you're a man whore, it doesn't count if you do it." Romano points out and Francis' face darkens. "Do you two want a kiss from me instead?" Matthew twitches and grabs Romano's face, placing a quick kiss on the mortified boy's lips. "Oho~! Good boys~! Toodles!" Francis says and dances off, getting his ass kicked by Antonio and Gilbert once he's out of their sight.
"Is it just me or is Francis actually…GAYER when he's drunk?" Matthew asks as Romano stands their, still mortified. "Y-you…" Romano stutters and Matthew twitches. "Didn't happen." "J-just…" "You have no proof." Matthew says and Romano covers his mouth. "A-Antonio! Antonio!" The Italian cries out and runs off before crashing into the drunken Spaniard. "Lovi~! I didn't see you down there-!" "KISS ME!" Romano yells, still horrified, and Antonio laughs. "Silly Lovi! There is no mistletoe!" The teen twitches and grabs the man's shirt collar, pulling him down to him. "Mathew just kissed me. Negate it." Antonio looks at him surprised for a second before laughing. "What childish reasoning! That doesn't work, Lovi!" Romano twitches and does his best to resist his growing urge to slam the drunk's face into the floor. "SHUT UP AND KISS ME!"
Antonio looks at him silently for a minute before poking the boy's nose playfully. "You kiss me, Lovi~!" Romano groans and pushes the man away. "Never mind. It was a stupid idea anyways!" Antonio gasps and grabs Romano's wrist. "No! No! No! I'll kiss you! It totally negates other kisses! TOTALLY! D-don't go!" Romano goes to say something but is prevented from doing so when Antonio presses his lips onto the boy's. After the initial shock Romano relaxes into the kiss. Antonio takes this opportunity to get bolder and traces his tongue over Romano's lips, quickly gaining entrance into the boy's mouth much to his shock.
"ANTONIO! CARRIEDO! GET YOUR TONGUE OUT OF MY NEPHEW'S MOUTH!" Romulus yells, stomping into the house and yanking a once again dazed Romano away. "Wh-why are you here, uncle Romulus?" Marcello asks and Romano smiles at him. "I'm so glad you asked. I'm here to take you boys home with me."
a/n: WHAT! WHO WOULD MAKE SUCH A HORRIBLE CLIFFHANGER! XD I think i am falling in love with cliffhangers...only when i do the though, since i know what is going to happen next. *sits back in chair dead* ughhhh this took forever to type up...so many pages...i HATE writing ti and then typing it up. to much work that seems redundant.