Chapter 36: The Plan

18 January 1965

Ivan got up nice and early to begin preparations. Today was Gilbert's birthday and he was excited as he had something extra special this year. It was a pain in the ass to get but he had pulled it off.

Ivan placed on his clothes and grabbed his coat and boots. Heading outside he stepped through the snow and around to the back of the garden. No one ever went here, especially in winter and this worked in Ivan's favour for hiding it for the last two months.

Ivan walked up to a large object cloaked in a grey sheet, after pushing the snow off the sheet he pulled it back to reveal a brand new Trabant 601 in kristallblau. They didn't do a Prussian blue so this would have to do.

Ivan grabbed the keys from his pocket and unlocked it. Pulling off the handbrake he settled for pushing it out front to avoid waking anyone up by starting it. It wasn't exactly a quiet car. Even with the car only weighing only 600kg the snow made it a challenge to push but he eventually got it to the driveway where he covered the car back up and went inside.

Next was making the cake. He knew the Prussian loved chocolate and as such always made him a chocolate cake. Ivan loved cooking and baking even though he was hardly seen doing it. It was more he really never had the time than a lack of wanting to. However he always made sure to bake everyone in his family a cake for their birthday.

Once the cake was done Ivan took his apron off and made his way upstairs back to where the Prussian was sleeping, it was still before 7 so he had done well on time.

Ivan walked into the bedroom and flopped on the bed by Gilbert, lying on top of the covers and hugging the Prussian close, putting his face into the back of his head, smiling as the soft white strands of hair tickled his nose.

Although Ivan really did enjoy winding up Gilbert and how cocky and loud the Prussian was, he also really loved it when Gilbert was quite like this too.

'So peaceful. I rarely get that now, not that I mind. It's nice not being stuck in the quiet.' Ivan whispered as he nuzzled Gilbert's head.

Maybe that's why he had grown so fond of the Prussians' loud and obnoxious nature as he had gotten older. He genuinely had hated it back then but as he got older he began to realise how lonely and quiet it was. He longed for the sound of life.

That's what made Stalingrad so special. The only sound he would ever get to break up the silence normally was explosions, gunfire and war. So having Gilbert there, laughing and being arrogant as always was so precious in those winter nights.

He wanted to do everything to make Gilbert happy here, so he would never leave. He loved having him around as no matter where he went, even when alone, he was always laughing and chattering about something. It was always loud unless he was asleep and Ivan didn't think he could survive going back to the quiet again after this.

Ivan had almost drifted to sleep from the warmth when he felt the Prussian shift under him.

'Happy Birthday!' Ivan said happily.

'Ummm… thanks…' Gilbert said as he began waking up.

'Time to make your birthday breakfast, da!' Ivan said cheerily as he jumped up and skipped away.

'I want it in bed!' Gilbert yelled after him before laughing.

Gilbert smiled softly as he sat up and pulled the draw of his bedside table out, taking an envelope out from inside. Opening it revealed a birthday card from his brother, luckily there wasn't anything to censor in it, so no big black bars to ruin it, just a message of happy birthday.

'Danke Bruder.' Gilbert smiled sadly as he placed the card down on the bedside table.

It had been over 3 years now since he had seen his brother, with their only interaction being through heavily censored letters. It appeared Ivan's Boss intercepted the entire household's mail incoming and outgoing. It's not even like they could talk on the phone as even if Gilbert went to a payphone it was clear all international calls were listened in on.

Gilbert was brought back to reality when a smiling Russian walked in holding a tray with a plate of blini and a beer on it.

'Birthday breakfast!' Ivan said joyfully as he placed the tray on Gilbert's lap.

'Awesome!' Gilbert smiled picking up the beer and seeing it was a German one, how he missed proper beer, Russian beer sucked.

He cracked it open as he chugged some down before covering his blini with the assortment of sweet side that Ivan had placed alongside it.

Ivan just watched in quiet happiness, he himself had already eaten and the Batlics could look after themselves. He had nothing in this world better to do that smile at the wonderful site before him.

Luckily Prussia was very accustomed to not only Ivan's habit to just stare at people, but even follow them around and stare at them from behind nearby walls. He had once caught the fucker sitting in a tree so he could watch him do garden work. He didn't know Ivan could climb a tree, let alone know a tree branch could support his heavy ass.

'Is it nice?' Ivan finally spoke up.

'It is awesome!' Gilbert laughed.

'I made it, does that mean I am awesome?' Ivan said playfully.

'Nah, you are most definitely not awesome.' Gilbert smirked.

'Oh really?' Ivan said intimidatingly as he put his face right by Gilberts.

'I am the most awesome so I think I will decide that.' Gilbert laughed, poking the Russian's nose.

'I know how to make you change your mind… get dressed…' Ivan smiled widely.

'Why do I feel like you're about to murder me.' Gilbert half joked.

'I would be lonely if I murdered you. It is much more fun to play with you.' Ivan smiled as he jumped from the bed, taking the Prussian's now empty plate.

'I will be waiting downstairs! Do not let me wait long!' Ivan announced before running off.