Dear Reader,

For those of you who are eagerly awaiting this and other chapters, I would like to reassure you that I myself am rather impatient for the next part of this story!

I want to post as much as possible, but I am forcing myself to wait, for the good of the story and the readers.

I hope you enjoy this next part; please read and let me know what you think in a review!

~+~ PioneeringAuthor, the pioneer with a heart for people and a thousand stories to tell

Chapter 2

"Love is patient…"

1 Cor. 13:4

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The next morning, Lithuania prepared the best breakfast he thought of for Belarus. When she awoke, however, she completely rejected anything he made for her.

"I am not hungry," she lied, hoping that he would leave her sight.

"Well… when you are hungry, just ask, and I'll make you something, all right?" Lithuania assented gently.

He left her alone, allowing her to stay in bed. Belarus stayed in bed for hours. Lithuania pondered when she would come down and have something to eat. Although Belarus became hungrier, she still stayed in bed. However, there was a part of her that knew that she needed to get up eventually. She debated what to do with herself for quite some time.

I don't want to see him, I just want this year to be over! Why did I agree to this? Oh… I just hope that this somehow leads to Big Brother becoming one with me… I am getting hungry… I should really go down and eat something… I did agree to talk to him for at least fifteen minutes… but I don't want to talk to Lithuania! I don't want to see, hear, talk to, or eat with him! Then again, I am getting thirsty…. I must admit, Lithuania does have a nice house and a comfortable bed… but I better not get too comfortable here because I'm only staying for a year! As for now… I suppose I should get down there and eat something, after all, I did agree to have all my meals with that man… who I am now married to for a year…

At this point of her inner dialogue, Belarus eyed the ring on her finger. It was a simple gold band, nothing particularly spectacular about it. Nevertheless, it was still a wedding ring, and she convinced Russia to allow her to keep the marriage fairly secret. Quickly, she sat up, took off the ring and hid it in the drawer in the nightstand.

There, now nobody will know I am married… except for Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine… and Poland… and possibly Lithuania's brothers… Why did Big Brother allow Lithuania to tell Poland? Why couldn't this have been more secret? Then again, they are best friends… and I'm sure Lithuania's brothers would be asking questions sooner or later… Why did I agree to this? *sigh* This year better pass quickly… I suppose I should eat something now.

With that, Belarus slipped out of bed and reluctantly ate a small meal with Lithuania.

"Did you sleep well?" Lithuania asked while sitting across from Belarus at the table.

She curtly nodded and took a sip of water.

"You have fifteen minutes," she reminded him while eyeing a clock.

Lithuania also looked at the clock and noted the time. He wished he had more than fifteen minutes, but the agreement said that Belarus was obliged to talk for at least fifteen minutes, and it seemed that was all she wanted. He wasn't sure what to say in fifteen minutes. What would he say in fifteen minutes that may possibly sway her feelings towards him?

Taking a deep breath, Lithuania remarked, "You look lovely, Natalia."

"Don't call me by my human name," Belarus snarled.

"I'm sorry, Dear," Lithuania apologized, but before he said anything else, Belarus snapped,

"Don't call me 'Dear'!"

"Well… what would you like me to call you?" Lithuania conceded, hoping that Belarus would calm down.

"'Belarus,' just 'Belarus'," Belarus answered.

"All right, Belarus… Doesn't the contract say that I may show you affection? Wouldn't a pet name be under that category?" Lithuania pointed out gently.

Glaring at Lithuania, Belarus realized that he was right, and mumbled, "Fine… if you must."

"Belarus, I don't know what Russia told you, but this wasn't my idea," Lithuania consoled, "I did want to marry you, but I never wanted you to be forced into a relationship with me."

Although he wanted to give her a pet name, he knew that it would make her angry, hence, Lithuania addressed Belarus by her preferred country name. For a few moments, Belarus remained silent.

"For your information, Big Brother convinced me to marry you in order to prove that I actually do love him. He said something about not spending enough time with other men, hence this ridiculous contract we are thrown under," Belarus divulged while looking away from Lithuania.

"Ah… I see," Lithuania remarked with an understanding look in his eyes.

"You have four minutes left," Belarus announced as she studied the clock on the wall.

Gently, Lithuania rested his hand on top of Belarus's and added, "Belarus, I know that you don't want to be married to me right now, but I'm sure that we can make this a wonderful year together."

Belarus glared at Lithuania's hand on her own, and wanted to pull away, but the contract permitted Lithuania to affectionately touch her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Because of that, she merely cringed and hoped that he would stop touching her.

"I highly doubt that this year will be enjoyable," Belarus spat in an acidic voice.

Seeing Belarus wanted to pull away from him, Lithuania slowly withdrew his hand, memorizing the soft, smooth surface of her fingers as his own passed over them.

"Well, it will take a bit of getting used to, but I'm sure that we will have a wonderful year," Lithuania encouraged her softly.

Belarus snorted. Feeling that it was a good time to change the subject, Lithuania asked,

"What would you like for dinner?"

"I don't care," Belarus shrugged.

"Well… I am willing to buy something, or I may cook something we have here," Lithuania answered.

"I don't care," Belarus repeated. Seeing that the required time was up, Belarus abruptly stood up from the table.

"I am going for a walk," Belarus declared while walking away.

"Wait, where are you going?" Lithuania called after her, standing up from the table as he spoke.

"I am going for a walk! There's nothing in the contract against me having some alone time, is there? There's nothing against me walking by myself, so I'm going for a walk! DON'T FOLLOW ME!" Belarus snapped as she opened the front door and stomped outside.

"WAIT! When will you be back?" Lithuania inquired, following her outside as he spoke.

"When I'm ready; leave me alone! I want some alone time!" Belarus shouted, walking faster to get away from her husband.

Watching Belarus leave, Lithuania understood that Belarus needed some time alone, but he feared that she would get lost, especially since she rarely came to Lithuania's land. Although he wanted to go after her, he didn't wish to upset her, so he watched her disappear into the woods in the distance, and sighed.

For hours he avidly awaited her appearance. Dinner came and passed, and she still wasn't there. He waited for her for several hours before finally eating without her. Finally, late at night, she returned.
She somehow managed to find her way home, partially because she marked trees with her knife and partially because she loathed Lithuania's land so much that she couldn't help but subconsciously memorize the path she took.

"You're home! Are you all right? Where did you go?" Lithuania exclaimed in relief as his wife entered the door.

"I went out, and I'm fine; I'm going to bed now, on my side of the bed," Belarus disclosed curtly as she headed up the stairs to the bedroom.

Even though Belarus had been harsh to him, Lithuania was still overjoyed that he was finally married to the girl he loved, and was relieved that she came home safely.
Their marriage was certainly going to be testing within the next few months.

Please leave me a review and let me know what you think!

Also, I would like to thank everyone who has already reviewed this story; thank you ever so much!

Honestly, seeing kind reviews deeply encourages me!

Thank you!

PioneeringAuthor, the pioneer with a heart for people and a thousand stories to tell ~+~