Ivan shot a glance at Arthur, whom was sitting in his chair, drinking his tea. Ivan would much rather have Vodka. Vodka was, after all, much better than boring old tea. "Ne, Arthur." He called, realizing something.

Arthur looked up from his tea and embroidery, blinking towards Ivan. "What do you need?" He asked slowly, taking another sip of tea.

"Alfred hasn't shown up yet. Where do you think he is?" Ivan inquired.

Arthur tilted his head to the side, nodding slightly. "You're right...I wonder where he is...not that I really care."

Ivan raised an eyebrow. Oh no, of course he doesn't. He chuckled. "I suppose not. Still, I can't help but wonder where he's been."

"I heard his economy is getting pretty bad."

"I see." Ivan responded idly, reaching for his bottle before realizing it was empty. He sighed. "Why is the Vodka...always gone?"

"What are you two so worried about?" France asked in his normal enchanting voice. "He always bounces back."

"Ah, Francis, didn't see you there." Ivan said pleasantly, smiling at him.

"Of course you didn't see it! You're eyes aren't trained to recognize my beauty!" Francis announced.

"I see." Ivan said again, his eyes holding that manic evil glint that freaked everyone out so much. Really, when he thought about it, Alfred was the only one who wasn't afraid of him.

Arthur shivered at Ivan, training his eyes away from him as he continued his embroidery as Alfred burst through the door, smiling weakly. "Sorry I'm late, everyone!"

"Ah, Alfred. There you are." Ivan said, his pleasant, innocent mode returning. "We were wondering where you had gone off to."

"Sorry!" Alfred said nervously, "My schedule is crazy with the way the economy is going and I had to fight off Mexico and help Canada out."

Arthur frowned, "Who's Canada?"

Ivan chuckled, watching Alfred carefully. He didn't seem quite...right. More tired than usual. He wondered if it was because of the economy, or the war with Iraq, or both. Perhaps it was something entirely different....Oh well. If something was terribly wrong, he would probably tell them about it.

Alfred seemed to wobble a little and yawned, looking around nervously. "Iraq is being unreasonable, Mexico wants his people to live with me, no one knows who Canada is, my economy is terrible..." He muttered to himself sitting at the table, looking overworked.

"What's wrong, Alfred?" Francis asked carefully.

"What? Oh? N-Nothing! It's no big deal!"

Arthur frowned in concern, noting that Alfred wasn't as bouncy as he usually was. He seemed tired...Hm. "Well, what are we here for today?"

He was concerned. That didn't mean he was going to show it.

Alfred yawned, trying to pay attention as France burst into a long lecture on how loud Switzerland was being while he was fighting with Austria who decided he wanted Liechtenstein for himself...or something like that. He nodded every time France nodded towards him, feeling dizzy.

Once the meeting was (finally) over, Ivan laid a hand on Alfred's shoulder. "America, are you alright?"

Arthur also lagged behind, eavesdropping concernedly. Without actually, you know, SHOWING the concern. That was just silly, showing concern for America.

Alfred shook his head wildly and looked up at Russia, regaining his focus as he stared upwards. "Oh...Oh...I'm quite alright...don't worry! I'll be perfectly fine!" He said with a red tinge in his cheeks, a flush from the heat, maybe, as he muttered something about the last election of his boss.

"Are you sure? You seem tired." Ivan pressed, uncharacteristically concerned for the shorter nation.

Alfred took a deep breath, nodding weakly as he tried to hold himself up. He rose to his feet and fell to the side, hitting the ground.

Both Arthur and Ivan had immediate reactions, rushing to his aide. "Al? Alfred, hey, you alright?" Arthur asked, shaking him.

Alfred didn't answer, coughing heavily as he rested against the ground.

Ivan's amethyst eyes were narrowed in concern. "What is wrong?" He asked.

Arthur rubbed Alfred's back, frowning down at him. What WAS wrong?

Alfred continued his silence, curling up into a ball and coughing harder. He felt worn out and weak after all the work he was doing. It seemed like all the other small countries in the world relied on him to get their work done. Matt was one thing, but Juan trying to move in with him and Sanjay causing wars was a totally different story.

Ivan leaned down, sitting on his knees next to the smaller nation. "Would you like us to do something?" He asked.

Alfred shook his head, intent on fixing things on his own. He continued coughing, and Arthur batted Ivan away from his baby boy, resting his hand on the younger nation's forehead.

Ivan sighed. He was only trying to help. Still, he was apparently not wanted, and so stood and left the room, but not before glancing worriedly at Alfred one more time.

Alfred rose to a sitting position. "Ivan-kun..." He called out weakly, "Don't go."

Arthur's jaw dropped and he grumbled heavily, glaring at Ivan. "You have a fever." He inclined in an almost nagging, mothering tone, "You need to go and lay down."

Ivan smiled a small smile, returning to Alfred's side. "I'm afraid Arthur is right. You should rest."

"No! No! I'm fine!" Alfred protested, attempted to stand up, falling over on top of Ivan.

Ivan caught him easily, looking down at him with a raised eyebrow, his purple eyes skeptical. "Fine, hm?" He shook his head, looking at Arthur. "We should take him to lie down, da?"

Alfred shook his head violently, pushing away from Ivan. "No! I have work to do! Sanjay and Juan and Matt!" He cried in protest.

"Sanjay, Juan, and Matt can wait," Arthur said authoritatively, "you need to rest."

"Da." Ivan agreed, pulling Alfred back over to him. "Come, you must rest."

"Noooooo!" Alfred screamed in protest, "They're depending on me! I'm the hero!"

"Well then," Arthur said decidedly, "you're just going to have to take a day off from being Hero, won't you?"

"No!" Alfred shouted again, struggling against Ivan's hold on him, "I'm the hero! I have to be the hero! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME REST!"

"I can always knock him out, if that makes it easier." Ivan suggested, looking at Arthur for a response.

Alfred stopped struggling and started coughing heavily again, pain returning to his head from overworking himself.

Ivan sighed, picking Alfred up and carrying him out the door. "So, where does he live?"

"He lives in North America, across the ocean. I can get a plane ready..." Arthur said slowly, glancing towards the airport near the meeting building. Alfred wrapped his arms around Ivan's neck, coughing softly.

Ivan nodded. "That will be fine. I will wait with him."

Arthur left to head towards the Airport and get a plane ready. "Everyone...is counting on me..." Alfred muttered against Ivan's shoulder.

"This is true," Ivan said, his tone soft and reasoning and he tried to find a good place to wait, "but you won't be much help to them like this, now will you?"

"But...if I don't do something...Sanjay will end up destroyed because his new boss is terrible and Juan will invade my home and Matt may be attacked and then Francis will be upset with me because I didn't protect my little brother." Alfred said and started coughing again.

"If you try to be the hero while in this condition, you'll only make everything worse." Ivan said, locating a nice spot and sitting down with Alfred across his lap.

"But I have to...I don't have a choice!" Alfred muttered softly, leaning against Ivan's lap. "I just want to make sure everyone is safe!"

Ivan chuckled. "Stubborn, stubborn little America." He smiled, "I know you want to make sure everyone is safe, but have you not been hearing a word I've said? You are in no condition to be fighting or protecting anyone." A few days' rest would do him good, he thought.

Alfred wrapped his arms around Ivan, "It's nice...to have a friend that's actually strong."

Ivan raised a curious eyebrow. "What about Arthur-kun? Is he not your friend?"

Alfred stuck his tongue out, "No! Arthur isn't even a proper name for him! It's more like Okaa-san!" Alfred teased.

Ivan chuckled, amused. "He worries about you, as a parent should."

"I know!" Alfred gasped, his voice growing weak, "It's so annoying!"

Ivan smiled. "He worries because he cares, Alfred." Like he, himself, cared for the smaller nation. Just, maybe, in a slightly...

Different way.

"Doesn't mean it's not annoying!" Alfred cried.

"I've got a plane ready." Arthur said, walking up.

"Go away!" Alfred stuck his tongue out again.

Ivan chuckled again, standing and hefting Alfred up so that he was carrying him once more. "Good. Lead the way."

Arthur rolled his bright green eyes at Alfred's childlike attitude and directed Ivan toward the plane.

"Are you coming, or staying here?" Ivan asked.

"I stay here for now..." Arthur sighed heavily, "I have things to deal with...And I'm clearly not wanted anyway."

Ivan sighed and carried Alfred into the plane, setting him down in a seat before sitting down next to him.

"Take good care of him, won't you?" Arthur muttered to Ivan as they got on the plane.

Ivan smiled pleasantly. "Da."

The plane took off and Alfred sighed in relief, finally leaving England's home and going to his. He closed his eyes, coughing again. "Finally."

Ivan glanced at Alfred out of the corner of his eye, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you dislike him so much?" He asked, curious.

"Because..." Alfred muttered, opening an eye to look at Ivan, "He's too controlling. He's not my okaa-san or my otou-san or my nii-san! He's just Arthur."

Ivan tilted his head, looking away from the window and fully at Alfred. "But isn't he the reason you exist?"

"He founded me, of course..." Alfred sighed, "And I used to adore him, but he got really selfish and controlling and he started passing too many stupid laws! Like paying a bunch for tea and sugar and I couldn't trade with France or anyone else!"

"I see." Ivan said, looking back out of the window. There wasn't much to see besides water and the occasional passing cloud, but he wasn't paying attention to the view. Retreating to his thoughts, the journey passed relatively quickly for him.

Alfred ended up sleeping most of the way back home, muttering in his sleep, his fever rising for some reason and the blush in his face spreading farther.

As they landed, Ivan looked over at the sleeping Alfred, smiling as he unbuckled him and carried him out. Cute... he thought, looking down at Alfred's face before looking back up and following directions to his charge's home.

Alfred rolled over in his sleep, yawning slightly and hiding his face against Ivan's arm, the layers of clothing the man wore made him comfortable and warm which was nice, despite the fact that Alfred felt like he was dying in the fires of hell.

Ivan smiled as Alfred cuddled closer to him, finally reaching his destination and knocking on the door. A servant opened it for him and Ivan nodded, walking inside and asking for an escort to Alfred's room.

Alfred grumbled as they reached his house and he felt the cool air hit his forehead. His body was sweaty but he felt chills, he hated being sick.

Ivan thanked the servant and closed the door to Alfred's room behind him, laying said nation on his bed, covering him up. Without thinking, he kissed Alfred's warm forehead and stood straight again, making to leave the room in search of food or some other trivial object.

Alfred grabbed Ivan's sleeve as he went to leave. "Don't go...you have to...keep me from working, right?" He asked with a weak smile.

Ivan blinked down at him, then smiled, laying next to him on the bed. "I suppose I could stay for a while..."

"You could...ask the servants to bring you some food..." Alfred said softly, looking at Ivan for a moment. He closed his eyes and yawned, rolling over on top of Ivan and blushing.

Ivan shook his head, smiling and wrapping his arms around Alfred. "Nyet, I am not hungry."

Alfred smiled softly, "I like your company much more than the others." He said slowly.

Ivan raised a curious eyebrow, "Really? Why is that?"

Alfred smiled softly, looking at Ivan for a long moment. "I don't know, you're not annoying like Francis and Arthur and you don't say 'aru!' at the end of all your sentences."

Ivan chuckled. "I suppose not." He closed his eyes for a moment, content. His arms were around Alfred, he was in a comfortable position, there was no one to interrupt them...Very peaceful. For once. Quite unlike all of the chaos that happened during meetings back in the conference room.

Alfred took a deep breath, resting his forehead against Ivan's shoulder. "You're nice and warm too." He said softly, snuggling against him. "I like it."

Ivan thought of how ironic that was, as he was from Russia and Russia was the coldest place he knew about. Still, he chuckled, not opening his eyes. "Is that so?"

"It is." Alfred said, moving up on Ivan's chest so he was looking at his face. He looked so peaceful with his eyes closed and Alfred smiled, gently touching his cheeks softly.

Ivan opened his eyes and smiled. "You're the one who needs to sleep, not me." He pointed out.

Alfred shook his head softly, dizzying himself in the act and smiled, his hands gently running along Ivan's cheek. "Let me have fun." He said softly.

Ivan sighed, still smiling as he looked into Alfred's amazingly blue eyes. "You should sleep, Alfred."

Alfred rested his forehead on Ivan's. "I don't want to." He said with a smirk on his face. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I'll sleep later."

Ivan raised an eyebrow, noting the too-high temperature of Alfred's forehead. "And what are you going to do until later?"

Alfred blushed heavily, feeling his face grow warmer in the moment. "I'll be with you." He nodded to himself, believing this was a good enough answer.

Ivan smiled and kissed Alfred's nose. "I suppose I could allow that, as long as you are lying down."

"Well." Alfred smiled at the approval. "Then I'll just have to stay down and I'll keep nice and warm, won't I?" He asked and softly kissed Ivan's cheek.

Ivan smiled and kissed Alfred's lips softly. "Da. You will."

Alfred smiled weakly, his face still flushed as he kissed Ivan back lightly. He wondered, for a moment, where this would take the two of them, but ignored it where his thoughts carried him.

Ivan pulled Alfred with him as he turned onto his side, pulling Alfred closer and resting his chin on his head, closing his eyes contentedly.

Alfred took a deep breath, resting against Ivan. "I'd much rather...sleep with you...than with...any of...the others..." He said between yawns.

"I'm glad." Ivan said, "Because I'd much rather sleep with you as well."

Alfred smiled, wrapping his arms around Ivan's neck, feeling his body relaxing into a dream like state. He yawned and kissed Ivan again, fighting off sleep as long as he could.

Ivan pressed his lips gently to Alfred's forehead, saying nothing. As he waited for the smaller nation to fall asleep, he allowed his thoughts to wander once more, smiling gently at where they took him.

This story isn't supposed to make perfect sense. It's just a sweet RP that xxTaintedPurityxx and I are doing. Ivan and Alfred (Russia and America) may be out of character, but you know what?

WE DON'T CARE. :D

Like I said, it's just a really sweet RP we're doing. It's gonna be multi-chaptered. We have the next chapter done already. I'm going to be posting one chapter every time we finished the next. Like, after we write chapter three, I'll post chapter two, and when we write number four, I'll post number three, and so on. ^^

We're continuing where we left off every day, so updates shouldn't take forever.

One last thing:

REVIEW. Don't just favorite it. Actually REVIEW. It doesn't even have to be creative! Just say "Ohh, I like it! Can't wait for more!" or even "Dude, this sucks."

JUST
REVIEW
...PLEASE.
Puzhalsta? For America-chan?
America: *pout* pwease?