Germany sat in the passenger side of the rental car hesitating. Belle was leaning in through the window giving him that pouty face that always broke down his resolve.

"Come on, it's been two years. You need to meet my parents and we've already come all this way…"

He peeked past her at the apartment building they were parked across the street from. He had been dreading meeting Belle's parents, afraid he would say something stupid or embarrass himself. It didn't help that she had apparently told them some about him since she moved her things to Germany and he had no idea what. He sighed and took a deep breath.

"Ok meine Liebeling…let's go."

As they walked to the door to be buzzed up he considered some of the events of the last couple years. They had managed to keep their relationship hidden for only a few months before Italy, who kept a secret about as well as a leaky faucet, had let it slip. It spread like fire, and after a mere twenty-four hours over half of the Countries knew about Germany's "sudden bout of insanity". His two most distinct memories had been his boss demanding she be brought to him-

Germany closed his eyes as his boss made a scene, spitting and hissing like a feral cat. He was just finishing up his rant, and Germany had resolved himself to putting his boss in his place on the subject.

It didn't go as well as he wanted.

"You will get rid of this woman AT ONCE. I will NOT stand any distraction in my ranks!"

"Sir, I refuse to-"

"You REFUSE?! Fine then. I'll remove her myself!"

"Wait-"

"ATTENTION!"

Germany snapped into his military stance automatically. By the time his brain processed what had happened his boss had left the room, leaving him to stand and stare at the door in horror.

Germany's boss entered the sitting room Belle was lounging in. She was sitting cross-legged on the couch there, leafing through a magazine. He approached her intimidatingly, but she just smiled up at him.

"Is there a problem, sir?"

"IS THERE A PROBLEM?! You! I want you out of this country immediately!"

"I'm afraid I won't do that."

"You will, or I will personally-"

He had rehearsed so many things to tell her. Things to scare her, things to make her realize she isn't welcome, maybe even give her a reason to be afraid. All the formulated plots died I his throat, however, when she spoke next.

"It seems the man who was creating the major blueprints for your military works projects has passed away."

"…Yes…He did. Why is-"

"It also seems that you are in the presence of a trained architect, one who has studied enough to finish said blueprints in the same layout and style intended. One who may be convinced to work for free, should she be allowed to live here and continue her relationship as she pleases."

His mouth clamped shut as he glared at her. Her offer would possibly save him enormous amounts of money and solve a significant problem. No one had been capable of finishing the overly complicated blueprints or simplify them for the builders. The man may have been brilliant, but his brain was a mystery. If she could prove herself, then he would have to keep his end and allow her not only to stay, but also continue this unnatural fling.

"Fine. But on one condition."

"Which is…?"

"You may NEVER influence the future of this country. We have had some before who managed to greatly effect the future. You have one chance, and should you try anything so help me I will kill you with my own hands. Am I clear?"

Belle nodded, shaking his hand. Tomorrow they would see if she could uphold her end.

Damn it all Germany had managed to find one who was clever. She was a woman who had a bite to accompany her bark, and the brains to back up her arguments. She had managed to play him like a violin, completely turning the tables and forcing him to allow something he had planned to put a stop to.

She was a woman after his own heart, and he hated her.

-which had, thankfully, worked out, and the other Countries demanding she attend one of the conferences.

Belle straightened her dress, looking up at Germany. He took her hand and guided her through the building into a large room filled with finely dressed, chatting Countries. All eyes fell on her as she walked in.

She had been dreading this moment almost as much as she had dreaded seeing Germany's boss walk through that door. That had ended well, but the boss was one man. How could she convince so many?

She already knew the Countries had separated into different groups in the matter. There were the Countries who didn't like it, but seemed to accept it after a bit. Then there were those who didn't like it and were extremely vocal about it. Lastly there were the ones who didn't seem to care at all.

She sat on a small white couch, sipping a glass of some kind of white wine. Germany had wandered off only after she had repeatedly reassured him she could handle herself and making him promise to keep his cool.

She wasn't alone long as a shadow fell over her, making her look up from her glass. Standing before her was a very cross looking man with long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail sporting a panda in a basket on his back. His brown eyes glared at her with generous amounts of anger. She was thankful Germany had kept his promise and not began an argument, something she was afraid would happen when the situation presented itself. The man, who she deduced was China, gave her the same very traditional "this is improper" speech before throwing in a sentence that finally forced Belle to retaliate.

"You probably know nothing about any of us!"

Belle simply began calmly giving China a synapsis of his entire history. When she finished he was looking at her flabbergasted, though seemed to have found a new respect for her when he realized she wasn't just "some woman". At this point the entire room had been silent for a long time, probably since the beginning of the whole fiasco. She looked around slowly, purposefully making eye contact with everyone she could before she spoke.

"Who's next?"

That was the last time any of the Countries crossed Belle, and the last time any of them would say something like that to either of their faces.

The voice of an older woman on the speaker snapped Germany out of his thoughts, causing him to look at the door Belle was holding for him in surprise.

"Are you just going to stand there looking like a shocked fish, or are you coming up?"

He nodded numbly and followed her to the elevator, getting off on the fourth floor and heading down the hall towards her family's apartment. He watched the door opening and wondered if this was what all those teenage boys were talking about when they said meeting her father was the most terrifying moment of their lives.

He'd lived through wars, this couldn't be so bad.