Lithuania stumbles out of the restroom and strides purposefully back to the meeting hall. Although he'd managed to keep a calm exterior during the incident with Russia, he is absolutely terrified. His stomach feels like a block of ice has taken residence, a thin layer of sweat on his skin made him feel clammy, and the hair on his arms stood at attention and made his limbs ache as his sweater brushed against the hair.

He is proud of himself for maintaining composed, but in reality he is a mess. The only thing he wants is to be held in safety. He wants to know warmth and protection, arms enfolding him, and a soft voice reassuring him. Russia had taken him back to one of the darkest times in his life. When his spirit had been tested, repeatedly, his body abused, incessantly, and there was nothing that could be done to save himself or his people.

He had almost lost himself as a nation. He'd been annexed, and Russia had done everything in his power to bring him in line. Over 1 million of his people slaughtered in less than 10 years. That had weakened him so much, his poor innocent people. It was only with America's bull-headed refusal to recognize him as a part of Russia, and Iceland recognizing him as a nation after the coup that had saved him.

As his eyes fall upon the double doors of the council, he walks faster rushing towards the doors like they will afford him his souls final salvation. He pushes the door open harder than he had intended, but thankfully the lunch recess had been called, so no one noticed his forceful entrance. He walks quickly to his seat, and begins straightening his things, throwing them quickly and thoughtlessly into his bag.

"You seem like you're in a hurry," a cheerful voice came from behind him. As Toris turned he met the smiling face of the young American. The smile quickly fell from his face as he looks at the other man. "Tori, what happened to you?"

Alfred's hand reaches out and takes the brunette by the chin, brushing a gloved thumb against the side of Tori's lip. Toris looks down at the hand and sees Alfred's hand tinted by the blood coming from his broken lip. Toris had been so fixated on getting away from Ivan that he hadn't noticed the injury.

Toris brushes past America, walking quickly out the door, now wasn't the time or the place to have this conversation. He didn't want Alfred making matters worse by deciding to pick a fight with Ivan. Furthermore, who knew what Ivan would say to sully his reputation further. He'd only been a part of the untited nations for a few years, and he wasn't established enough to have some slander like "rough sex" in public restrooms making people smirk at him everytime he put forth a proposition or spoke to the council.

Alfred calls after him, and he replies over his shoulder, "Come on if you want to talk. I won't discuss anything here." He half expected Alfred to argue, but apparently the yong nation realizes that if he did argue there would be no conversation. Alfred adjusts the backpack on his shoulders and half jogs half power walks after the brunette.

As they reach the front door, Alfred overtakes him and grabs his arm. "This way," Alfred commands decisively, quickly followed by an akward, "Please."

Toris nods and follows him silently wondering what to say for the inevitable questions to come. Should he tell Alfred the truth? Could he risk American involvement in Baltic politics? What would happen if America confronted Russia? How would that affect not only himself but also Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Estonia? They were all neighbors to Russia, and none of them were strong enough to stand on their own. Even if they stood against Russia, the distribution of natural resources wouldn't change, but what lie could he tell? Toris wasn't particularly clumsy so he couldn't claim that he had injured himself, and what kind of conversation involving another nation assaulting him would go better?

Toris walks on blindly, not realizing that they were entering the parking garage. Alfred quickly unlocks the doors of a nondescript black car.

"You drove yourself?" Toris asks confused.

"You know I have issues about not being in control," America answers curtly. That statement seemd to carry a dual meaning as Toris climbed silently into the passenger side.

Alfred turns the key in the ignition and allows the air conditioning to begin cooling the car. Toris quickly puts on his seatbelt without being asked. The radio had cut on to a loud track, but Alfred's quickly turns it off. The car remained in park.

"Look," Alfred began slowly, "I understand that you didn't want to talk to me in the middle of the council," Alfred's hands slowly snaked around the steering wheel gripping it tightly, looking straight ahead, "but I think you and I are at least….friends," Alfred swallowed roughly, "so please, what's going on?"

Lithuania' hands sit folded in his lap, and he concentrates on the dash. He is conflicted about what to say now. He dares to look out of the corner of his eye at the blonde. Alfred stares down at his lap, eyes closed. He didn't want to pry, he didn't want to force Lithuania to speak. Lithuania had been forced to do so much he didn't want to do. Alfred didn't want to be one more person that just infliceted his will on the man or the nation. Alfred dares to look full on at the man, is he the man...perhaps nation is a better choice, sitting in his car and says one word.

With a deep and heavy sigh the word " Please," escapes his lips, barely louder than a whisper and some where in tone between a request and begging.

"America," Toris began, " I know that you only want to help me, but you have to understand. I…I'm in a position….where I have to be able to stand on my own two feet."

"Tori, I—" Alfred shook his head beginning to protest. Why America? Why not Alfred?

"Please, this is already hard. I…I…can't run to you every time I have a problem. I am an independent nation, and I am a member of the United Nations. Knowing these things, I owe it to myself, and my people, to resolve problems on my own." Lithuania's grip on his hands is tight, forcing his knuckles to turn turn white.

As Lithuania, he had to be strong, bold in the face of Russia. As Toris, he had to be unshakable in the face of Ivan. He had to show the world that he was still the nation that had helped Poland overcome and stood fearless in the dark and middle ages. He could not allow terror of the past few decades to consume him. Lithuania must show America that it can take on its enemies and no longer turn to that nation for help. He knew all the things he must do as Lithuania, but what was he suppose to do with Alfred as Toris?

The older nation turns and looks at Alfred full on.

Lithuania sees the emotions argue over the face of the blonde boy. Pain, then anger, sorrow, then defeat.

"Fine. I get it. I know that I can get carried away when I get involved. I know that," Alfred began, "I just….promise me that you'll come get me if you need me? Promise me that you won't let things get too bad."

Lithuania nods silently. "America….I appreciate your concern—"

"Oh just stop it, Tori. I've asked you not to call me that in private," Alred face crumples in frustration, then his eyes widen with fear, and he leans over toward Toris, "unless something has changed….Lithuania has something changed?"

Lithuania stars at him trying to choose his words carefully. He inhaled deeply and worries at his lip.

"Oh, okay. Uh I apologize then. I didn't realize there had been a change." Alfred nods to himself, "Right, okay. Uh…well," He struggles to find the right tone and words now. "I'm headed to eat. You're welcome to come-as the representative of Lithuania-" he rushes through this offical statement, then tacks on, "one of my most favored countries, or you can step out of the car. "

Toris turns in his seat, slowly reaching out his farther hand, and places it on top of Alfred's own.

"Alfred, please do not mistake my silence for indifference. I am slow to speak because I must be careful with what I say." Toris spoke each word clearly, deliberately, but with a softness that made a shudder stread down Alfred's back. "I know with you the only thing I need to say is I have the slightest inconvenience, and you're there to play hero."

Toris' blushes a little at the oncoming words, but he couldn't afford to mince words. Alfred turns to look at the brunette fully. He stares Toris' in his emerald eyes, those absorbing eyes.

"I love that about you, but please understand, if I keep running to you, no one will take me seriously. Once upon a time, my people and I were like your people, strong and confident, and during the war that got stolen from us. People think that we are cowards, and I will not allow them to be striped of their pride any more. I have to give that back to them. You've given us so much help, but this time, please step back." The words came softer and softer and Alfred found himself leaning closer to the man speaking.

"When I'm in danger though, when my people and I are in our greatest danger, you are more than welcome to rush in and save me."

They were closer than when they had begun. The air of intimacy in the car growing denser.

"Will you save me?" Toris asks barely above a whisper, licking his lips.

Alfred stares at Toris with eyes that spoke more than friendship, and he musters a return phrase. The words are a growl, deep in his throat, "Every. Single. Time."

Outside a car door slams, breaking the spell that had been cast inside the car, and both nations retreated to their respective sides of the car, each more than sure that he had made a fool of himself, and that the other nation had not responded to his ludacris advances.

"Well shall we go to lunch then," Toris finally forces himself to speak.

"Sure thing! Uh, do you care? I was thinking we could go to a diner, I mean you know—"

"Like the old days!" Toris smiles brightly. He had a special love of diners. It was one of the things that had come into fashion when he was staying with Alfred. He loved the ability to get almost everything and have all sorts of people in one place. For Toris it was a symbol of true American equality.

Lunch at the diner was uneventful. The most astonishing thing to happen was that somehow Alfred had managed to eat 4 scrambled eggs, 3 buttermilk pancakes, 6 strips of bacon, oatmeal, grits, a hash brown, a cup of orange juice, milk, and coffee and still be hungry. Toris' had only decided on the French toast because the diner used begets.

Toris' mood was greatly improved by the time they retrned to the council, and of course, as was Alfred's custom, they were late.

As they quietly walked in, Germany was making an announcement, "The representative from Russia has an announcement for the European Union and nations specifically named. Belarus and Lithuania please provide Russia with you undivided attention. Other Baltic nations and neightbors to these countries may also want to listen carefully."

Most of the announcements that delegates needed to make passed through England or Germany in rotation so that it was clear when one proposition clearly began and ended, but this announcement was unusual. Germany was speaking out of character with naming the nations in particular. The council fell silent and everyone stared at one of the named nations.

Lithuania came to a hault by the door and stared at Russia. Belarus who was speaking with Ukraine, had a confused look creeping across her face. She was never discussed. The Baltics all stared in fear.

"Greetings, everyone," Russia began cheerfully, "It has been brought to my attention that Belarus has not been profividing full payments for the gas from my country. Currently, she owes me almost 63,000,000 rubles."

"Wait," Lithuania steps forward, yelling from the doorway, "Russia that's almost $200 million."

"Indeed, very good at math Lithuania," Russia smiles coldly, "She's known of this debt for ages now, and I believe it's time to collect. I wanted to make this announcement today, here, because many of you will be affected. Namely you Lithuania, first and foremost.

"Russia," Germany stormed, "It's November! If you do this now people will die."

"That is true. Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, and Germany will all be affected. Belarus will have five days to repay her debt. I will cut 15% of her supply each day I must wait. By the end of the week, Belarus and all nations who receive their gas via Belarus, will have no gas."

[section 3]

Author's Note:

For those of you wondering-YES Russia really did this! mind you not in winter, but in summer of 2010. I hope all of you have enjoyed this in between chapter, and I will try to update once more before December begins.

Thanks for all your support.

U.E.