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Belarus had to admit, she didn't know what to do. All of the calls to Russia went straight to voicemail, and she was due to arrive around half an hour ago. Russia was never late, that had always been a fact of life, so she had no idea what to do now that she was.
Family gatherings were usually miserable anyway with a lot of arguments to go around, but she couldn't help but be worried for her older sister. Belarus sighed before pressing the call option again.
The ringtone rang out through the silence as everyone's else trailed back onto her before it almost immediately went to voicemail.
"Do we really want Russia here anyway?" Ukraine's voice broke through.
Belarus sighed again.
"It's still a family reunion, whether you like the family or not," she said.
Ukraine scowled a bit, and Belarus wished she didn't understand. She tried Russia's phone again. Straight to voicemail. Again. Great. Now where could she be?
Russia didn't know how she ended up in this situation. One minute she'd been half-heartedly listening to some of America's idle complaints while working on some science project or another, and the next she was being led through the heart of New York City to who knows where.
America had seemingly been procrastinating something for the past few hours as they worked, but now it was as if that procrastination had been transformed into excitement tenfold. Whatever it was, she didn't have time for it. Her siblings had been expecting her for nearly half an hour already, but America had snatched her phone out of her hands the moment Belarus started calling.
She really hoped he didn't block her sister, eyes darting to where her suspiciously silent phone was in his pocket.
America swung his head back, a frankly stupid grin on his face, before gently leading her into some high society apartment building. She had never been so thankful that no one knew what their human forms looked like. She was almost getting a headache just imagining the scandal that would follow if they were recognized.
She watched as he talked a bit to some of the hotel clerks before leading her to an elevator she hadn't previously seen. America was quietly humming some pop song as they rode it up, the only sign of his leftover nervous procrastination being the slight twitches in his hands.
"You know, you still haven't told me where we're going," Russia said as she gently took one of his hands to stop the twitching.
"That would ruin the surprise?" America replied, laughing a bit awkwardly at the end. Russia narrowed her eyes at him, before just deciding to let it go. She'd find out soon anyway. America's hand tightened around hers before he let all the tension go out of his frame completely.
The elevator came to a halt at the top floor and America barely had time to raise his keys and step out before the apartment door was swung open. America jerked a bit before scowling.
"What have I said about breaking into my apartment, dad?" he called as he stepped inside . Russia followed him, suddenly realising exactly what was going on. Well, it seemed like she would get to go to a family reunion after all. Just not hers.
"It's not breaking and entering if we're invited!" she heard Australia call from somewhere further inside.
"There's a reason they only know of this apartment," America whispered to her conspiratorially. She grinned a bit at him, having done the exact same thing with her siblings.
Britain appeared in front of them as they entered the main living room before freezing partly when he saw her.
"America, the whole point of family reunions is that they're family," Britain deadpanned to his son before he turned his gaze properly to her, "not that it isn't lovely to have you, Lady Russia."
"It's lovely to see you too, Lord Britain," she replied politely.
He smiled at her equally politely before he turned his gaze back to his son.
"I'm the host, I can invite whoever I want," America replied petulantly.
Russia bit back a remark that usually the hosts arrived first, and instead just nodded amicably. It was common knowledge that Russia and America absolutely did not get along whenever they were doing anything work related, but they were quite good 'friends' outside of that. They had tried to keep that on the downlow, not really wanting to face all the questions or scandals if it got out, but they had kind of given that up around America's family.
Russia watched as France made her way over to them carrying a few glasses of wine effortlessly, a pleasant smile on her face, humming some French tune under her breath.
"Oh, I didn't know you would be joining us dear," France said as she spotted them.
"I didn't know either," Russia replied.
France laughed.
"Well we're happy to have you regardless," she said, "now come in."
France twirled, impressively keeping the glasses steady back into the room she came from.
Russia, America, and Britain walked in to see the chaos Canada, New Zealand and Australia had created already even without America.
America and Russia grinned at each other.
Yes, this would be so much more fun than her own family reunion.
"I've always liked pavlova," Russia commented mischievously as they were helping themselves to the kitchen (read: escaping Britain and France's flirting). She was all too aware of the drama surrounding it, after all it had been one of her ballerina's that the dessert was named after.
"Thank you!" both Australia and New Zealand replied at the same time before they glared at each other.
"You know," America started, catching onto what Russia was doing, "I'm inclined to believe New Zealand invented it."
Australia gasped loudly as New Zealand smirked triumphantly at him.
"After all," he continued, "Australia's culinary experience is limited to sprinkles on bread."
Australia vaulted over the kitchen table in an effort to hit his brother.
"Fairy Bread is the best dessert ever created, you cunt!" he yelled while trying to pin America down.
Canada shook his head disapprovingly before picking up a macaron. New Zealand was openly cackling, delighted to have her brother's backing.
"Why are you here, if you don't mind me asking?" Canada cocked his head at her curiously, trying to move the conversation onto a safer topic.
"I was kidnapped," she replied tonelessly, staring dead into his eyes.
"Lies and slander!" came America's response from somewhere on the floor.
Australia snorts, also on the floor, "Sureee, lies and slander brother,"
America pouted at him before grinning.
"At least I didn't lose a war against birds," he shot back triumphantly to the groans of nearly everyone else in the kitchen.
Russia nearly cackled. She used that argument against China so much whenever he was winning in an argument. He'd react also the same way Australia was currently, gawking offendedly before sputtering.
"At least I know how to swim in the ocean properly!" Australia snarked back.
"I literally beat you in swimming last Olympics, like always!" America replied rolling out from underneath his brother.
Australia snorted, "yeah, and we'll see how well that holds up when your swimming against the currents."
Canada groaned before whispering over to Russia, "they're both exceptional swimmers, America in pools and lakes and such, but he's no match for Australia whenever we're at a beach or river."
Russia grinned, catching Canada and New Zealand in complete shock, before whispering back, "I suck at swimming, most of our beaches and lakes are frozen over."
"They'd take that as a personal offence," Canada laughed, "I used to be the same, but they made sure I was at least decent."
New Zealand nodded along, "you should see what Australia's human form looks like in summer. He's so tanned from surfing."
"If countries could get skin cancer he'd been in the grave thrice over by now," Canada replied fondly.
"I WOULD NOT!"
"Yes you would!" America replied before finally getting up from the floor.
Australia frowned at the loss of his floor buddy, even if they had spent the entire time trying to assault each other.
"I see you two are finally ready to be civilised again," Canada said, picking up another macaron.
America paused a feral grin slowly stretching across his face. Russia watched the five states of grief go through Canada's face as he watched his brother reach into the bag of flour. She and New Zealand quickly moved out of the target range, something that poor Canada did not have time to do. It seemed almost as if the flour was being thrown in slow motion straight into his face.
Canada sputtered, before grabbing another bag of flour out from the pantry. Canada's throw was also pretty bang on target, making Americas face comical as his sunglasses got covered in flour.
"Oh you're on!" America shouted before grabbing more flour.
Canada quickly grabbed a cutting board to shield himself with.
"You started it?!" he replied, as he raised the board just in time to block more flour.
Australia quickly grabbed some of the flour out of America's bag and threw it at New Zealand, which as she and Russia was standing so close together, it hit Russia too. Russia grinned at him sadistically, as he paled and hid behind America. She reached her hand into Canada's bag of flour and vaulted over the table and threw it at the both of them.
The kitchen quickly devolved into a mess of flour, with Russia, Canada and New Zealand on one team and just Australia and America on the other. At some point one of them had at least enough sense to move the desserts into an empty cupboard to protect them as the kitchen became an all out warzone.
It continued like that for a while, with Russia at one point grabbing flour and throwing it down America's button up. None of them noticed the door opening until a stray shot of New Zealand's hit France straight in her face. The inhabitants of the kitchen froze.
"And what? Is going on here?" France's voice was deathly calm, and a silent agreement passed between all of them to point at someone random.
"They started it!"
France pursed her lips.
"And where are my desserts?"
New Zealand quickly opened the cabinet where they had stashed the desserts to be safe from harm. Most of the anger seemed to leave France's frame after that.
"All of you. Out!" she pointed down the corridor, as if they were all children and not some of the most powerful countries in the world.
Russia was the first to move, very used to that tone of voice moving more out of instinct and self preservation (read: survival instinct), and Canada and New Zealand quickly followed. America and Australia waltzed out whistling, and as a result got whacked over the head, gently, as they were leaving.
"So, who's up for Uno?"
"THATS NOT HOW YOU PLAY UNO, YOU CUNT!" Australia screamed.
"The only rules of Uno are what you can convince the others what the rules are," America smugly replied, gesturing around him, "my apartment, my house rules."
"YOUR HOUSE RULES ARE SHIT!" Canada screamed back at him. Usually he would never scream or swear at America, but having lost one to many rounds to him accidently giving the game to Russia does something to a country. Especially since Canada was only one turn away from her, and usually also on Uno too.
New Zealand screamed as Australia added to the +4's, which had gone around the table twice now and was at a +32 now because of America's stupid stacking rules. After picking up she had to place her cards down on the table in colour because of the ridiculous amount of cards in her hand.
"What colour?" America asked Australia resignedly.
"Red."
"No."
Russia cackled at America's face. She and him only had two cards left, and she watched as he kept drawing cards.
"WHAT IS THIS!? WHY IS THERE NO REDS?!?" America screamed, going from around 2 cards to 18.
Australia and New Zealand began chanting as America had to keep drawing.
"HELLO?? WHY IS THERE NO REDS??"
America cheered as he finally got a red. Russia looked him in the eyes with an evil grin on her face as she put down an uno reverse card, and quickly called uno herself.
"NO, NO NO NO" America screamed, "I DON'T HAVE A FUCKING RED."
Everyone minus America was cheering as he sunk further into despair with every card he picked up.
"YES FINALLY!" he cheered as he placed down a yellow uno reverse, "IM FREE FROM THE REDS!"
Russia looked down at the card on the pile, then back at her one card. Everyone paused in their cheering or disappointment that America was finally free as she slowly put down her card, winning for the 6th time in a row. Canada tackled her to the ground as he was cheered on by Australia and New Zealand.
"At least I get a new hand," America sighed.
Around five minutes later and Australia was stuck in the exact same situation except with yellows. America cheered and chanted with the rest of them this time, all too happy to inflict the pain onto his brother.
"Maybe its time for a different game," Canada suggested, "what about Monopoly?"
"Whoever suggested monopoly is going to get a spider in their bed," Australia threatened.
Everyone was still in the game but they wouldn't be for long. Russia and America had completely taken over the board leaving the others near bankrupt, having, well, a complete monopoly over their respective sides of the board. Russia controlled the greens, yellows, reds and oranges, and America controlled all train stations, pinks, dark and light blues. All of them had hotels too, making it completely impossible for the other three to gain a foothold.
"I believe that was Canada!" Russia chirped. She had never played monopoly before, Soviet had banned it from their household since the Cold War began. After the quick crash course from America, she quickly became a demon on the board.
Russia made brilliant trades that the others always ended up regretting, and matched America in his ruthless capitalism. They were both grinning and having the time of their lives, completely ignoring the suffering of the other three.
Australia sighed as he took the dice from her, before he rolled straight onto Russia's most expensive yellow.
"Well that's its from me, it was nice knowing you all," Australia said to his siblings.
"We'll miss you," America said as he faked wiped a tear.
"Oh not you, you bastard," he replied scowling.
Russia grinned as she took all of his leftover stuff, which was literally 3 ones and a brown, before adding his piece on top of hers like a crown. Australia tried to bite her hand as it came close.
Canada carefully took the dice, being careful not to disturb all the little hotels before rolling. straight. on. to. Mayfair.
America cheered the loudest he had all night.
"FINALLY SOMEONE LANDED ON IT OTHER THAN ME!" New Zealand cried out. She had originally landed and bought Mayfair while America owned Park Lane, but following a very convincing and benefitting deal she had traded it away. A decision she then came to regret as she rolled onto it not only 3 times but also drew the 'go straight to Mayfair' card.
"YOU OWE ME $2000!" America cheered.
Canada scowled before throwing his hands up in the air, nearly whacking Australia straight in the face. America swooped in and took Canada's utility companies and his leftover $100. Canada was also tempted to bite him, but he still had more dignity than Australia.
New Zealand glanced anxiously between her one property and the superpowers.
"Can I just declare bankruptcy here and watch you guys fight over my stuff?" she asked.
America looked thoughtful before he shook his head and picked up the dice, grimacing as he followed Australia into landing on Russia's yellow.
"$1200," Russia called smugly as she stuck her hand out expectantly. America grumbled as he handed over the cash making his siblings scowl at the reminder of how rich the two of them were.
New Zealand sighed as she took the dice from America rolling onto one of Russia's oranges.
"Oh no, how unexpected," she deadpanned as she handed over the rest of her stuff to Russia.
Canada, New Zealand and Australia all exchanged glances now that they were out of the game and quietly made bets on how long they thought the other two would go at this before they grabbed a whole bunch of alcohol.
The answer would be: Quite a while. America and Russia went in circles for nearly two hours before Russia finally came out on top. Both of them had gotten very lucky in dice rolls, either missing their properties entirely or only landing on the cheapest ones.
Australia cheered as the game finally ended just over the two hour mark before collecting his winnings from the other two. France quietly stuck her head in before calling out to Britain that the game was over.
"Good job Russia," America grinned as he shook her hand, "you would make a wonderful capitalist."
Russia laughed as she started to pack up.
"You know, I've just realised something," Canada said.
America hummed curiously.
"You and Russia smile the same," he answered.
That caused both of them to freeze.
"Really?" Russia asked dubiously, suddenly feeling a bit conscious of how she smiled.
"Oooh, you're right," New Zealand chimed in, "I didn't notice that before. Speaking of I don't think I've seen you smile before this."
"I mean that's not a bad thing," America said before turning his gaze to Russia softly. He knew why it looked like they smiled the same , remembering when they first met and Russia never smiled. He'd asked around then, and apparently none of her siblings had ever seen her smile so he'd kind of made it his mission to teach her how to smile.
He had felt really happy when she smiled that tiniest bit that one time almost a year into their 'friendship'. She had smiled a lot since then around him that he had completely forgotten that she almost never smiled around other people.
Hell, especially given what New Zealand said, he wouldn't be surprised if this was the most they'd seen her smile. It made something in his chest warm as he realised just how comfortable and happy Russia was around him.
"I loathe to interrupt, but Britain and I need to go, so just wanted to come in and say goodbye," France broke through America's musings.
"Alright," America said standing before moving to give her a parting hug, "have a good night."
The rest of his siblings and Russia echoed his words, before they all stood too. The monopoly box was carefully packed back up and placed on one of America's tables.
Russia watched as America said goodbye to each of his siblings, a slight pang of jealousy going through her before she shook her head gently. She made her way to say goodbye, but before she could speak America put his hand on her shoulder.
"Stay," he said quietly, "Please."
She paused, before smiling softer than she had the entire night.
"Of course."
America gently took Russia's hand, waking her up from her sleep. She scowled at him a bit, but it's usual effectiveness was diminished by just how comfortable she looked wrapped in just about 300 throw blankets that she had gotten from God knows where.
"America," If he didn't know her better, he could almost say she was pouting.
"Russiaaaaa," He replied, stretching out the last syllables of her name.
He grinned at her before gently tugging her out of bed, laughing quietly at the way she stumbled around the blankets before righting herself.
"It is too early in the morning to deal with you," she said.
America chuckled, "You don't even know what time it is."
Russia just looked at him, eyes clearly saying 'do you think it matters what time it is? It's always too early.'
He pouted playfully at her, before he laughed, ruining it in less than a second.
"Come," he said, using his head to gesture to the door of the bedroom.
Her eyes narrowed at him before she sighed in mock defeat. America pulled her out of the room, quiet laughter trailing behind him.
When they stepped out onto the balcony connected to the main living room, Russia's face became painted with the pinks and oranges of the sunrise, lighting her face up like a Renaissance painting. He watched as her mouth opened a bit in awe, her eyes beginning to shimmer in the morning light. He pulled her further into the balcony until they were resting against the railing.
"It's so pretty," Russia whispered, her gaze never leaving the sky.
America hummed, taking a bit to remember she was talking about the sunrise. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he placed his hand over hers on the railing.
"Yes, yes it is," He replied, his gaze never leaving her.