I do not own Hetalia, okay? I know it has been a while since I updated this fic, but I do plan to have this story go to the end. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

July 4th, 1919

(From the diary of Alfred F Jones)

I'm so glad I could convince Vanya to get out of the house and join us on the beach. It was a nice chance to get my new car broken in. He was worried about if there would be enough room for us and the chair, but I just tied it up to the frame, worked fine. I know it may have looked silly, but this is my car taking my wife, kids and best friend to the beach. If someone wants to laugh they can shove it up their ass. I had heard from Matt about some of the theories that Katy had told him about his paralysis and that it may be a very slow healing spinal soft tissue injury and there's a chance he might be able to walk again. God I hope so. I never realized how heavy he was until I had to help him out of the car. He even put his head in my shoulder, I think because he was embarrassed, but he shouldn't worry about it. It's not like his weight was too much and damn, I admire Katy for how she helps him. She is a very strong woman.

When at the beach, we had a great picnic that Nattie had made, a bunch of corned beef sandwiches, some lemonade and some cucumbers and radishes from the garden she made out back and a bunch of sugar cookies but she said she was planning a better dinner for tonight, but I was more interested in Nikolai and Vanya at the beach. It was nice that he could take some time in the water, maybe not as far as he could go before the war, but it was something I liked so much. I know he won't believe me about this, but he would never be a burden. He's like a brother to me. Well, he's my brother-in-law after all. But after awhile we cleaned up after Nattie had made sure all the children were clean afterwards. She mainly kept Anya and little Ivan on the shore with her and trusted I could keep Nikolai safe.

After we made it home, it was getting to be sunset, so we headed down to the park, I pretty much pushed Vanya along while the kids sat on his lap; all of them. I don't know how they managed it, but they did. Nikolai is a big kid after all. I normally get really excited for the fireworks, born on the 4th of July after all, but this year it seemed even more special as I got what I wanted most of all, my best friend back from the war. I wished he never left, and I do not know where he got the idea he had to go, Nattie did tell him that he couldn't do some noble thing and take my place. If the draft board called me up, I was going no matter what. Luckily that never happened, I mean I know Nattie and Katy could take care of themselves, but Matt was a wreck after the war. And he did come home a little later than we did after the fireworks. Maybe making some of his own with Katy? I'm not dumb. None of us are. We all know their intentions. I think it would be awesome if they were happy together. But whatever. Nattie wants me to come to bed. Guess I should do so.

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. This story is intended to stand independent of both The Longing of the Heart and The Healing of the Heart which this story will have a difference from both naturally. Now if this will be as long as those, that I do not know yet and I won't update as fast as some of the others I have. But anyway, remember to read (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,

Otherrealmwriter

Aka

Realm