I don't own hetalia!

An hour ride to the nearest town wasn't so awful for Yue. She missed being with ladies. And Yekaterina was really a heart-warming lady. Though, Yue sympathy her when she discovered that Yekaterina lost her husband to war a year ago. Natalia was another issue; she was mostly giving her dagger like stare mainly the whole trip. But Yekaterina assure her that she was only shy and it was normal for her to be like that.

Ivan was nowhere in sight, he has been for half an hour now. He must have took off with his horse for a ride, Yue thought. Now that they can see a few buildings other than the plain, but beautiful green pastures. Yue just notice that it was at least two months since she been out the house. Ever since Arthur left for America a year ago, she had stuck herself in the house. And it was far too long.

When the carriage stopped, Yue mostly jumped out to look around her surroundings. A smile was plastered on her face.

"Like someone first time in the outside world." Yue turned to face the source of the voice. It was Natalia, Yue's eyes widen for that was her first sentence she gave to her ever since she arrived. Now that she heard it, Yue liked it better when Natalia ignores her. Her voice was so ice cold that brought goose bumps to Yue skin.

"Be nice, Natalia." Yekaterina scolded her sister and gave Yue an apologetic look.

"Now, should we go to the bakery shop or seamstress?" YueMei said as she walked toward the main street reading her list.

Yekaterina was about to answer when YueMei bet to her. "I know, let's go to the bookstore first. I heard they had some new books shipment last week from Russia." She turned to look at her younger companions.

"Would that be great? Yue can buy some books that will help her speak Russian."

"That is a wonderful idea." Yekaterina said and nodded her head. "But I think Ivan can help her with that." She said in a whisper.

Yekaterina bends down to look at her sister.

"And you can buy some books too, Natalia. You have been behind your lessons." Most children would be annoyed by that idea. But since Natalia, wasn't any normal girl, she was thrilled.

Half an hour later, all of them at least bought a book or two. Yue was happy looking at all the new books and the smell of them made her itch in reading them. But she had restrained herself for there was still an unfinished book at home.

Then the four ladies went to the seamstress for Yue's wedding. YueMei and Yekaterina were excited about the wedding that Yue was not sure will even happened. Sure it will happened eventually but can she really left Arthur go that easily for her parents happiness?

After the old seamstress measure Yue, she went to do Natalia. Though she had requested for a blue dress for the wedding. They all laugh.

"Where's Ivan?" Yue asked that brought Yekaterina's attention to her.

"He said he will catch up with us after his errand. Must be on another hunt for sunflower seeds."

Yue nodded and keep on staring out the window panel. Some of the ladies and gentlemen were a familiar face to her when her step-father organized a house party. She might know their faces and names but other than that she knows nothing about them. A rather tall individual had caught her eye out of the crowd.

It was Ivan, and Yue had never though she will see him in any mature posture. He walked with a stature of confidence and pride. He was after all the tallest in the street and every ladies saw him had turned their eyes glue to him. Some of them was whispering to each other and giggling.

Yue was imagining how the usual unattached women would say when they saw what they like.

"Look, isn't he handsome."

"Yes, I wonder who's his courting?"

"I wish it was me. I would marry him right now when he bends down on him knees."

"Surely, you would even marry him when he gave you those flowers."

Wait, Flowers?

Yue shake her head from her imagination and looked at Ivan again. And this time she noticed the bouquet of flowers on his hand. She blinked her eyes and jumped when Natalia rather shoved her to the side to look at her brother coming to the shop. Yue was staring to begin hating that girl that has a brother-complex.

"Brother is here!" She mostly screams. The older ladies turned too looked at the window and show Ivan opening the door.

The door bell made a chime sound but everyone already knew he was coming in.

"Brother!" Natalia practically run towards him and hugged his waist. Truly. For a twelve year old, she was rather tall. Most have run in the family, Yue thought. She was a little jealous, for her height was a few inches taller than Natalia and she barely reached Ivan on his shoulders.

"Hey Natalia. Here." He gave her a pretty stem of rose. And Natalia was happy to receive a gift from her brother.

"Thank You!" Hugging him again before running to tell her older sister. Yue blinked for Natalia's appearance was pure happiness and all of her sour face expression was erase.

Ivan then stared at her and smiled. He walked towards and gave her the bouquet he had on his hand. Yue keep on looking at his face to see any indication of anything but happiness.

"I didn't know what your favourite flower was so I just take a few." That brought Yue's eyes to the bouquet; it was of assorted wild flowers to indoor flowers. Though not knowing how it can feet to a bouquet but Yue beam a genuine smile. So childish of him, she thought.

"How sweet." Both of them turned too looked at their other companion and this time, even the shop owner was there smiling at them.

"I wish my husband was that romantic." The owner said with a smile.

Ivan returned a smile before looking back at Yue who was still examining the bouquet.

"Have you found anything you like?" Yue laughed and covered her mouth to it. Though, no one really cares when all of them went back to what they were doing.

"You're so childish." She said after calming down.

"Eh?"

"But I liked it." That brought Ivan's curiosity.

"You like what? My childish or the bouquet?" Yue's face had turned a bright shade of red and ignores his question and keeps on looking at the flowers. She knows most of them but some were new to her eyes. Ivan took the hint and smiled to himself. He sits beside her the next minute while their family was arranging the next fitting session.

Then the group turned to go the bakery with intention of having their lunch there. YueMei ordered their meals when they arrange their place at the park nearby. They were given a cloth for them to have a picnic and enjoy the wonderful weather.

As Ivan set the white cloth on a place he fined to him liking, Yue was talking to Yekaterina about a few cultures in Russia. Yue was rather intrigue in know the culture of the other and they were like her Chinese culture. Not all but some were similar.

"Everything's ready." Ivan called out to them when he had place the cloth and glasses of water from the baker shop. They walked there and find their most comfortable stop. A few minutes later, YueMei along side Natalia had brought their lunch in.

All enjoy a hot goose pie and the bakery's most famous chocolate cake. They all enjoy the fun of being outside and a good meal with a happy couple blooming. YueMei and Yekaterina had never been happier since the day they met.

Yue was enjoying a lovely conversation with Ivan that brought her to look a new view from him. He made her laugh from his childish ways and even that, he had started to show some maturity when he helps her mother returned the things they borrowed from the shop.

They returned to the carriage when everything was ready to go back. Ivan asked for YueMei's permission to ride with Yue. That brought all members a shocked. But Ivan assured them he will bring Yue back with intact dignity and gave them the bouquet for safe keeping.

"You're teasing, right?" Yue said to him as the others were doing up the carriage.

"Net." Ivan gave a beaming smile.

"But I'm wearing a dress!" She practically yelled, ignoring the stares they got from the people around them.

"That never stops anyone."

"Unbelievable." Yue throw both her hands up in dramatic expression.

"I'm driving the horse." Yue said as they walked were Ivan had tied the black horse. A look of the horse face said a big no for Yue. She didn't know the horse.

"Whose horse is this?" She turned back to looked at Ivan walking behind her.

"Mine." Yue was puzzled.

"You bought a new one when you got her in England?"

"Net."

"You brought your horse all the way from Russia?"

"Da."

"Your horse stayed with you on the ship?"

"Da."

Yue drop the subject when all she got from the Russian was a one word answer and a smile. She turned her attention back to the station with aww in her eyes. The beast was a magnificent black beauty.

"What breed is he?" Ivan looked back at her from his task of untying the rein.

"Kievan is a Russian don." Yue was about to ask another question when Ivan pulled her to sit on the saddle. And Ivan quickly followed through.

Yue arranges her skirt to make it more presentable and her hand was grab with a gloves hand.

"Here." Ivan gave her the rein.

"You said you wanted to drive." Ivan gave her a sweet innocent smile.

"I will." Yue said and start at the back of the horse. He had a beautiful black maine that Yue made a smile. Ivan knows how to take care of a horse.

With experience, she moved the horse towards the Kirkland estate.

Not too long, Yue can feel, Ivan's arms circling around her waist.

"You drive well, little Yue." He whispered in her ear and Yue blushed with, though she can blame the cold wind. Her heart was beating fast and adrenaline was rushing through her and she felt Ivan was caressing her thighs hided in her pink gown.

Yue smacked the rein and making Keivan galloped to a full run towards home. The unexpected acceleration had caught Ivan unexpected that he instinctively grab Yue's waist for support.

"What's the hurry, little Yue!" Ivan shouted at the fast wind blocking his voice.

"We're way behind mama!" She shouted back. Ivan tried to remove her hair from blocking his view with his hand.

"What?" he recoiled. Yue rolled her eyes and just keeps her concentration on the road.

A few more minutes later, they saw the carriage their families were in, they rode passed by them and keep on the steady speed.

An hour ride had turned to a half with the horse's speed.

Yue pulled the rein to slow the horse when she saw the familiar. She heard Ivan sighed behind her.

"I never knew a woman can ride the horse like that." Yue gave satisfied smirk but Ivan didn't saw it.

As they ride toward the stable, Ivan jumped down first and gave his hand to help Yue down. As soon as they were down. A stable boy had come to help them with their horse. They walked inside the stable and Yue immediately went to checked her horse as well.

Ivan looked as she happily hugged her chestnut colour horse and gave it a patted on the head. He continuous to removed his horses rein saddle when Yue called to him.

"would you like to run with me someday?" Ivan looked at her with a smile on his.

"I would love too." Yue clapped her hands together in excitement.

"How about tomorrow morning then?"

"Sure. But why not now?" Ivan can tell immediately that she was hiding something when she answered without looking at him in the eye.

"I feel a bit tired with all the shopping and planned to take an afternoon nap."

Ivan sighed but nodded. And that's Yue's time to go back inside. But before she was long gone Ivan said in a childish tone.

"You're not a very good liar, little Yue." Yue brought a quick breath in.

"I hope I can see you later at dinner then." Ivan said as he wallk passed her to his room.

Yue didn't know if he was mad or not. He gave a smile and his voice wasn't even a bit angry. So she just dismissed it and went to her room to change to her Chinese gown to meet with Arthur at the garden.

A/N: Soooo. What do you think? Hope you guys can feel the love growing with Yue and Ivan, though I was having a hard time writing it.

Thank you for those who commented and will comment on this.

Have a nice day everyone!