Chapter 4 - White Sands

Previous chapter:

"Lovi." Antonio breathed. "Promise me you'll never leave."

"I promise."

"People do that 'pinky-promise' thing nowadays, right?"

"Yeah."

"I think we can do much better than that." Spain smiled and leaned in. Romano felt his cheeks warm up again as his eyes fluttered close.

Spain's mouth came closer and closer when the door was practically kicked off its hinges.

"We've arrived."

Are you serious?

Spain frowned disapprovingly at the door leaning crookedly against the wall, then at his Prussian friend standing in the empty doorway. Romano's eyes widened and scrambled as far away from Spain as he possibly could on the small bed. Their rare moment had been broken. Broken by certain annoying Prussian with horrible timing.

"Whoa." Prussia pointed at Spain with one hand, then Romano with the other. Seeing as they were both unusually quiet and with flushed faces, he came to realize something. "Did I interrupt anything?"

Romano hadn't quite recovered from what had just happened. Or what had almost happened. His normally sharp tongue was twisted and his heart beat was still racing. Instead of attacking the Prussian both verbally and physically like he would always do, Romano grabbed his pillow and hugged it close to his chest, attempting to hide himself into it.

"And what's this? Romano, not having a sarcastic comment?" Prussia imitated a mock gasp. "Cat got your tongue?" He threw his head back and laughed obnoxiously at his own terrible joke. "Hey Romano, you actually are kinda like a cat. You hiss at pretty much everything. Plus, Spain really likes-"

Gilbert's next words were lodged in his throat as flashes of metal glinted through the air and four daggers sprouted from the wall right next to his head.

"Oh crap." Prussia's mouth silently formed these words as he slowly turned around towards the direction of whoever threw the knives.

"Gilbert Beilschmidt. What in the goddamn fuck do you think you're doing?" Hungary's voice, icy cold, cut in menacingly. She stepped into the room holding four more throwing knives.

Prussia gulped visibly. "Er, I was just on my way owww." Elizabeta grabbed him roughly by the ear and dragged him out the door, with his muffled protests about frying pans and scary Belarusians being brought farther and farther away.

Just as Romano thought they'd be left to their awkward and uncomfortable silence, another familiar face appeared in the doorway.

"You're okay!" Matthew breathed in relief and came over to sit on the bed beside Romano.

"Hey Matthew." Romano greeted. "How did you know I woke up?"

"Oh, Ms. Héderváry called me down."

"Then how did Hungary know I woke up …?" Romano's voice trailed off as he suddenly remembered Hungary's strange … obsession.

Oh god.

He scrambled out of the creaky bed and checked all her favourite hidden camera locations. In the vase of flowers? Yup. Between the books on the shelf? Yes. Disguised as a picture frame ornament? The classic.

Well isn't that just fucking peachy.

Hungary came back, a bit breathless. "I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Romano glanced at Matthew, still unable to look properly at Antonio. "I'll take the good news first, I guess."

"Gilbert," She shook her head in disappointment. "Has probably already told you, but we've arrived in Montego Bay, so we should be docking in a couple of minutes or so."

Romano nodded, and then grimaced. "Then what about the bad news?"

"Your lungs are waterlogged, there's still water in there. The most common drowning cases don't happen in the water, but at night when the victim goes to sleep. They literally drown on land." Elizabeta explained. "You are a nation and all, but it's best that we don't take any risks. So I want you to stay awake until we can get a doctor to have you checked."

"Does that mean …" Romano dreaded her next words.

"No siestas." Elizabeta finished, nodding.

Siestas and tomatoes were two of Lovino's three favourite things in the world. He took at least two or three siestas a day, being the lazy Italian he was. Someone was going to have to watch over him and make sure he didn't take a single nap.

"Find someone who'd be willing to look after you, just for today." Elizabeta instructed over her shoulder as she walked out. "Pack up your things, we're getting off the ship soon."

"Whoa! Look at all these humongo plants!" Gilbert ran ahead and spun around, taking in the large expanse of lush green vegetation that surrounded the resort. Towering palm trees and flowering plants blended together to create a picturesque backdrop to their resort. The moment the cruise ship had officially docked in the cruise line terminal in Montego Bay, Jamaica, everyone could feel the warm hospitality of the island. Just steps from the sea, the Sandals Montego Bay resort had everything, including eight world-class restaurants, tropical forests and ocean-front pools. Not to mention crystal-clear turquoise waters as far as the eye can see and stretches of white sand that ran for miles along the coast.

"There's a lot more to this place than just 'humongo plants', mon ami." Francis clucked disapprovingly at his friend's lack of a decent vocabulary and a brain. "Montego Bay derived its name from the Spanish word manteca back when Antonio was in charge of little Jamaica as one of his colonies."

"Doesn't manteca mean 'turd' or something"? Gilbert asked, bewildered. "Why would they name a place as awesome as this after poop?"

"Non Prusse," France sighed at the Prussian's incompetence once again. "It means 'lard', a culinary essential. This was a popular port for exporting lard, leather and beef back in the day."

"I swear it meant 'turd'."

"Francis is right, actually." Elizabeta caught up to them, pulling ahead of the rest of the nations.

"Ah mademoiselle Hungary, would you mind telling us of today's activités?"

"We'll only be able to visit one location today because I don't want anyone to be too tired or worn out. We're going to Rose Hall, it's a Georgian mansion built sometime in the 1770s. It has a very European feel to it so most of the nations won't feel too homesick."

"You are ever so thoughtful." Francis mused.

You wouldn't think so if you saw my collection. She smiled.

France mistook her small smile as 'thank you' for his compliment.

Hungary picked up her pace. "I need to sign us into the hotel and get the room keys and everything. Could you tell everyone where we're going? I really appreciate it!" She effortlessly sprung into a quick sprint.

If I remember correctly, wasn't Rose Hall supposedly … haunted? France's meticulously plucked brows furrowed together in thought.

"What do you mean the … 'W-white Witch' wanders around h-here?" Alfred took a few steps backwards.

They had arrived at Rose Hall by bus within fifteen minutes and were now looking up at the manor. Its lower stone base was partly shaded by leafy trees while its plastered upper storey soaked in the sun's rays. Rose Hall stood at the top of a hillside, allowing a beautiful panoramic view of the coast. The same gentle breeze that greeted the nations when they first arrived had followed them, rustling lightly through the greenery.

The nations were gathered in a circular stone courtyard, with a low flight of stairs leading straight into the house. On both sides of the steps, neatly trimmed hedges adorned with flourishing exotic flowers created a welcoming invitation.

But Alfred didn't think so, as he refused to take another step closer to the building.

"Oh, man up. Tell you what, my awesomeness repels unawesome things. I bet that so-called 'White Witch' wouldn't dare show herself with the awesome me here." Gilbert nudged Alfred in the ribs in a sad attempt to reassure the American as he passed by with the rest of their fellow nations.

Alfred still would not budge and chose instead to stubbornly glare up at the house.

Stupid house. Geez. I was supposed to spend more time with Arthur but this dumb house is in the way. He pouted childishly.

The American nation had awful habit of blaming something or someone else for his own problems. He was too proud to fix his problems and so he took it out on the nearest thing in his proximity. This time, it was the building in front of him.

His fear of ghosts and anything vaguely supernatural could be very difficult to deal with, as he was a bit of a masochist when it came to these kinds of things. Alfred was terrified of scary things, and yet he constantly asked Japan for his horror movies and read countless tales about the creatures that roam the night in a sad attempt to prove that, he, the 'great hero', was not afraid.

Most of the nations were already entering the manor, leaving him all by himself in the courtyard. And though it was nearly 40 degrees, Alfred elected to wear his bomber jacket. It made him feel safe and secure, just feeling the worn fabric on his skin calmed him a great deal. Somehow, it always carried a comforting scent, even after multiple cycles in the wash, giving him a sense of bittersweet nostalgia. Reminding him of when he lived with England, as his colony.

Alfred sighed as he watched the last nation disappear into the house. He could recognize that head of dirty blonde hair anywhere.

The leaves behind Alfred rustled loudly, making him yelp and jump forward in surprise.

O-oh my g-god.

Alfred's eyes searched through the foliage, looking for the cause of the sound, looking for a reason to be not afraid.

An a-animal, perhaps?

O-or maybe a b-breez-ze?

The bush shook again and this time, Alfred was painfully aware of the fact that it wasn't just the wind.

"What do you mean it's just a lie?!" England whispered loudly, grabbing the French nation by his precious hair. That man spent more money on hair products than his food. Both of which, were ridiculously priced, if you asked any humble Englishman.

The nations were climbing the steep mahogany stairs of Rose Hall, heading towards the second floor, but somewhere along the middle, two quarreling nations were holding up a line.

"Oww ow ow. Mes cheveux! Ah Arthur, the story of the White Witch, c'est pas vrai! It was oww- all fictionalized!"

"You know you could've told me, oh I don't know, maybe before we came in!" Arthur was hysterical. "You bloody perv-beard! Now America is probably pissing himself because he's so scared."

Francis opened his mouth to retort but was shushed by Hungary. They were in a pretty historically important building, and Hungary had told them to keep it down and some other stuff about being respectful.

Rose Hall had been restored sometime in the 1960s, complete with mahogany floors, interior windows and doorways, paneling and wooden ceilings. It was decorated with subtle silk wallpaper printed with palms and birds, ornamented with chandeliers and furnished with European antiques. There was even a bar and a small restaurant downstairs.

"Please let go of mescheveux." Francis whimpered.

"Tch. Weak bastard." Arthur scoffed, with no real malice behind his words. "Please let me know when we depart."

"What? Where are you going?"

"To find that dim-witted American, who else. He's probably been scared to death and back already."

"D'accord. I'll come get you myself when we leave." France tried to get on Arthur's good side, since the evil Englishman had just found yet another one of his weaknesses.

"Alfred! Where are you?! Alfred?" Arthur shouted through his cupped hands. He had walked outside, back into the scorching heat, mind you, to find that the courtyard was empty. There was no sign at all of the cheeky American.

"Hamburgers?" He tried, hoping to lure Alfred out.

"Chick flicks?"

"Freedom?"

"Free health care?"

Arthur sucked in a breath. Those things normally had the American nation running towards him like an over-grown puppy.

There was actually one more thing England hadn't tried yet …

"What team?"

Faint rustles in the undergrowth, followed by a muffled voice behind Arthur drew his attention to a shuddering bush.

Cautiously, Arthur pushed apart the branches and leaves of the plant to find … Alfred looking up at him with wide eyes, hands clamped over his mouth.

"What the hell?"

"Oh, heyArthur! Funnymeetingyouhere!" Alfred talked so fast his words slurred together.

"What is the United fucking States of America doing in a bush, chattering his head off?"

"Icanexplain!"

"Well first of all, get the hell out of that bush, it looks uncomfortable." Arthur offered an open palm towards Alfred, which the sitting nation quickly grabbed.

But instead of helping Alfred to his feet, he was pulled down on top of the other nation with a startled squeak. Alfred wrapped his arms around the smaller nation, hugging him tightly.

"B-bloody hell. What are y-you doing?" Arthur sputtered, a blush quickly spreading across his cheeks and tried to squirm his way out of the American's grasp.

"I was really scared, Arthur." Alfred's head hung low, into the crook of Arthur's shoulder, refusing to look at the nation sitting in his lap. "You weren't there to comfort me like you did before. Remember when I was still your colony and I would get bad dreams in the middle of the night? Do you still remember that?"

Of course I still remember that. How could I forget?

"Y-yeah, sort of. But you can remind me."

"I would knock on your door and when you didn't answer, I would barge in anyway."

Arthur smiled a bit at the memory of little America, coming into his bedchamber at an ungodly hour late at night, crying 'Engwand, I'm scared!' over and over again.

Alfred continued. "And you would let me sleep beside you. Sometimes you would hug me and murmur things into my hair."

England's blush deepened.

They sat in silence, listening to each other's' breathing. Arthur's heart rate calmed down, after the initial shock of contact with the other blonde nation.

"H-hey, you know," Arthur started. "The legend of the White Witch isn't true. Francis was being the usual pain in the arse he usually is. He was just pulling your strings. You've got nothing to be afraid of, alright?"

"But he said that her spirit wandered the grounds after m-murdering three of her husbands and that she will-"

"No." Arthur shook his head firmly. "The legend of Annie Palmer was proved to be a hoax a couple of years ago. Many people have gotten her and Rosa Palmer, the original owner of Rose Hall confused. They are two separate people, and only Rosa Palmer has relations to this place. And yes, it was recorded that she had four husbands but she was a good woman all throughout her life."

"S-so you're saying I was scared for nothing?" Alfred raised his head.

"Yes, you big brainless elephant, getting spooked of the smallest things. Did you know that you're one satellite dish short of a TV?"

"Ahaha, sorry." Alfred grinned sheepishly.

"So why didn't you answer to any of my questions?"

"Oh, that. Well I didn't want you to find me looking all pathetic in the bush." The American laughed and scratched his head. "I really wanted to answer to your questions, especially the last one. Which reminds me, WILDCATS!"

"Kind of late for that." England grumbled, embarrassed that he even asked that kind of question. It was a reference to one of Alfred's favourite movies. Yes, that terribly cheesy one with all the singing and dancing. Alfred could often be found belting out the lyrics, perfectly in sync with the whole dance number.

"Ok, last question. Why and how exactly are you in a bush?"

"Ahh well I heard a sound coming from here and I got ah, scared, you could say. But I checked out the bush anyway and it was a really cute bunny rabbit -"

"It can't be a bunny and a rabbit. It's either a bunny or a rabbit." Arthur said seriously. "You know I hate inaccuracies with a passion. What is it that you Americans say these days?" He tapped his chin. "Ah yes. Get your shit together."

"Awh you're such a meanie. Anyway, I tried to catch it but it ran away. I didn't want to crawl out in case someone walked by and got the wrong idea. It's a stupid thing, I know."

Arthur was going to insult him some more but bit the inside of his cheek instead. He never wanted anyone to know, hell he didn't even want to admit it to himself, but Alfred was r-really c-cut-te when he did dumb things.

The proximity was getting to Arthur, making him think embarrassing things like that. Yes, that was it. Being so close to Alfred made him lose brain cells. Of course, there really was no better explanation.

He shifted his body so that they could see each other.

"Maybe we should get out this bush. I think we're leaving soon." Arthur whispered, no longer cocky and confident.

"Hmm maybe." Alfred mused, not budging an inch. He nuzzled his face into Arthur's hair. "I like it here, actually. It's nice and quiet. And we're alone."

Arthur gasped as Alfred lightly nipped his ear.

"N-not here, d-dammit." Arthur tried to push him away, though there wasn't much will in his shaking hands.

The American nation happily ignored him and moved onto his neck, softly swirling his tongue across the sensitive area.

"H-ha Ah-Alfred no w-what if someone f-finds ah- us." Arthur gasped for breath as a hand snaked underneath his shirt, running along his tense stomach teasingly.

"I don't care. They can think whatever they want." Alfred mumbled through the light kisses he trailed along Arthur's collarbone.

"Hnng Ah-lfred you fucking tease."

"Hmm, what was that?"

"Kiss me."

"Gladly."

Alfred lowered his mouth onto Arthur's, softly and carefully. He discovered that Arthur's mouth was surprisingly warm and tender for someone with such harsh words. Arthur's hands gripped the back of his jacket tightly as Alfred's tongue explored the inside of his mouth and he tried to bite back a moan. When Alfred started to pull away, Arthur yanked him back, pressing their lips together and sharing a salty-sweet kiss once again.

Arthur tried to ignore the long trail of saliva that stretched in between their open mouths when they pulled apart. He tried to ignore his burning cheeks and the uncomfortable tightness of his pants.

"You've kept me waiting for a very long time, Arthur." Alfred whispered, a bit breathlessly.

"I could say the same for you." Arthur almost lost his train of thought when his eyes met the other pair of piercing blue ones.

The Englishman sucked in a sharp breath as the American nation's wandering hands slowly crept towards the waistband of his shorts.

"Woah hey! What's this?" The sudden appearance of Gilbert's head interrupted them. "Hey I found them! I think they were eating each other's face off!"

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia

A/N:

Some victims of drowning do not all drown in the water. Some are saved, or so they think. It's always best to go see a doctor for something like this. But I'm not 100% on the accuracy of this since I heard it from my swim instructor a couple of years ago ... yeah don't take CPR information from me. Not a good idea. 0/10 would recommend.

"Siestas and tomatoes were two of Lovino's three favourite things in the world." Sooo anyone want to guess what Lovino's third favourite thing is? Bonus internet cookie as your prize* or a unicorn, depends on what I can find on Craigslist.

The Sandals Montego Bay resort is real and it is absolutely beautiful. A couple of family friends have been there and I tried to make everything as accurate as possible so all the descriptions of the locations are legit (the resort, Rose Hall etc.)

The legend of the White Witch goes as follows: the spirit of "Annie Palmer" haunts the grounds of Rose Hall Plantation. When her parents died, a nanny adopted her and supposedly taught her witchcraft and voodoo. She then moved to Montego Bay, Jamaica and married John Palmer, the owner of Rose Hall Plantation at that time. Annie supposedly murdered Palmer along with two other husbands and many male plantation slaves, later being murdered herself by a slave named "Takoo".

But the whole was fictionalized, like England said. Thank god for that.

{french translations}:

Mes cheveux = my hair

c'est pas vrai = it's not true

D'accord = alright / I agree (depends on the context actually)

Can anyone guess what Alfred's favourite movie is? u *Bonus spaceship on top of the cookie/unicorn!

Well ... the end of that chapter ... Prussia's keepin' it PG. Or more so, he's keeping it rate T.

Anyway, please feel free to leave suggestions or criticism! See you all next time! ^^