Disclaimer: I do not own Axis Powers Hetalia. If I did do you think I'd be writing FANfiction? The only thing I own here would be my OCs. And WARNING: I did gender-bend some of the countries. I also played with the ages. Don't kill me.

OCs in this chapter: Giovanni Vargas-San Marino, Clement Vargas- Vatican City, Marietta Vargas- Malta, Nicolas Fernandez Carriedo- Gibraltar

Gender-bent countries: S. Italy, N. Italy

Ludwig sat quietly at the table feeling slightly out of place. Next to him was Marcello who was chatting away with Giovanni. Giovanni kept trying to get Ludwig to join the conversation, but Ludwig didn't know much about making pasta. Then Clement asked Ludwig about having a dog. Feliciana butted in that Ludwig was real good with dogs having three of his own.

"Well owning a dog's a big responsibility. You have to train it, feed it, give it water, clean up after it, provide it with exercise," Ludwig told the youngest Italian. "But they can make great companions."

Feliciana then looked over at Lovina and said, "Where's Mari, Lovi? She said she'd be home in time for dinner. It's Giovanni's birthday after all!"

Gilbert got a worried expression on his face that Ludwig caught. The corner of his mouth twitched. Apparently he wasn't the only one with his eyes on a Vargas girl.

"I'M HOME!" a loud voice came. "AND I HAVE A SURPRISE!"

Something came bounding into the room and with a woof, it jumped on Gilbert. The Prussian lifted the fuzzy object off his lap and recognized the soft fur of a Lab. An auburn haired woman stumbled into the dining room and said, "SHIT! Gil I'm sorry! Kuchen! Bad girl! You were supposed to get Giovanni!"

Gilbert laughed before asking, "Any reason you named her after those deserts Ludwig likes to make?"

"I thought it'd be cute," Mari said. "And besides Gio likes Luddy's kuchen!"

"MARI! I thought we were trying to be rid of the potato bastards!" Lovina snarled. "Now you've made the dog one!"

Marietta rolled her eyes, her hands on her hips. Gilbert smiled before getting up and wrapping an arm around her waist. She looked at him and smacked his shoulder playfully before slipping out of his grasp. She sauntered over and pulled the plates out of the cabinet and set the table. Lovina growled at her sister not to roll her eyes at her. Feliciana whined for them to stop fighting and the two sisters backed off.

Giovanni just happily held the puppy in his arms, thanking his sister repeatedly. He then looked at Ludwig and asked, "Could you help me train her?"

Ludwig smiled and ruffled the boy's hair.

"Of course I can," he said.

As much as he hated to admit it, being around the Vargas family improved his people skills slightly. Being around the younger boys helped Ludwig improve his skills with children. Giovanni had become something of a younger brother to the German man. Not to mention the object of his affections, Feliciana, was like a child herself. Speaking of Feliciana, she was currently getting cussed out by Lovina for hugging her. Ludwig's face turned a bit red as he chuckled. She was so cute!

Gio looked at Ludwig and followed his gaze to Feliciana. A smile found its way onto his face. The boy then complained that he didn't get a hug and that Ludwig should get a hug too. The other auburn haired girl let her sister go and practically tackled her brother. Then she hugged the German, who turned bright red and stiffened. Marietta giggled at his awkwardness while Lovina began swearing furiously.

Yep, it was just a normal dinner at the Vargas household. After everyone was seated, Marietta spoke up. "So Gil I heard you ended up being the replacement gym teacher?"

"Yeah, the awesome me did! After their former one retired and his first replacement got arrested for molesting a kid," he replied. "So yeah, they called upon my awesomeness!"

"That's good," she chirped. "Anyway, I was hoping I could ask you boys a really big favor?"

Gilbert looked at her and asked, "What is it Blume?"

"A friend of mine, Antonio, needs someone to babysit his younger brother during the afternoon through the night. I would, but I got another job and I'm working the night shifts now too," Marietta said nervously. "His name is Nicolas, and really he wouldn't be much trouble honest! He sleeps through most of the night, though he does have a tendency to catch colds."

"How old?" Ludwig asked.

He really wasn't comfortable with children younger than twelve. Gilbert, after taking care of Ludwig for a while after their parents had died and when they were in the care of their grandfather, was fine with kids of all ages. He just didn't feel comfortable taking care of infants.

"Seven," Marietta said slowly. "Really Ludwig, all you need to do really is feed him and make sure Gilbert doesn't completely corrupt him."

"Fine Blume. It'll be just like when Ludwig was little!" Gil cackled. "So when can we meet him?"

"Tomorrow if you don't mind," Marietta said with a smile. "Thank you so much for agreeing. I don't know what we would have done. Quite honestly I don't trust these three with anything more than a rock. I'm hoping the dog will teach them responsibility, but Feli and Lovi will be here to help most of the time."

"Then why didn't you ask one of them?" Ludwig asked.

She got very quiet for a moment before Lovina loudly announced she was going to the bathroom and for Marietta to keep her mouth shut till she got back. As soon as she disappeared Marietta blurted out, "Lovina REALLY doesn't like Nicolas's older brother. I mean, she acts more malicious towards him than she does to you Ludwig. Either that or she's completely in love with him. Either way, I don't want her to know about some things concerning him."

The group nodded and the group returned to eating, even when Lovina came back in the room.