You entered the wonderful home that Lichtenstein and Switzerland lived, and breathed deeply as you looked around, "Wow…it's beautiful. Thank you for having me."
"It's no problem." Switzerland shrugged, "I'm going to get lunch ready. You haven't eaten lunch yet have you?"
"No, and thank you." Switzerland nodded and walked into the kitchen.
"Here, let me help you." Lichtenstein said with a big smile as she picked up one of your bags.
"Oh! Thanks Lichtenstein." You said and walked up the stairs together with your things. You only brought your clothes with you, as you remember having told Italy you would keep the portrait he had painted for you at his house until your traveling was done.
You sat down on the bed and looked around the guest room.
"It's not the same is it?"
"Hmm?"
"Not having your own bed. Not being at home where it's familiar."
"As much as I hate my home life, you're right…guest rooms aren't the same as my own bed. But…I don't care. I'm here, with people who actually want me here, and right now that's all that matters to me."
"Was it really that bad there?"
"Yeah…it didn't always. It used to be great. But as I grew up my siblings got everything they could ever want, and they already had it all, the model like looks, the grades, the multitudes of friends. They were talented and perfect. In many ways, I'm like Canada I guess. Like him, I'm overshadowed by my siblings. No one sees me as a person anymore. I'm just Cinderella without the happily ever after. Then I guess that would be a lie wouldn't it? I'm here, and I'm not going back."
"Wasn't there anything you liked about your home?" She inquired.
You thought about it a moment and nodded, "I used to have lots of friends when I was in junior high and the first couple of years of high school. My parents actually cared about me…but then when I moved…that's when it all changed. I don't know it's like I grew up and by the time I was 16…it kind of wavered and after that came the downfall."
"Well, I think you have a very big family now."
"Yeah…I think so too." You said with watery eyes then broke down crying and Lichtenstein hugged you and you sat there with your new friend for a while and let your soul out, emptying the tears from the past that lingered, letting it evaporate into the air and diminish. After a bit you let her go and wiped your eyes.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to fall apart on you like this."
"It's okay. You needed to let it out." Lichtenstein said soothingly patting your back.
"Lichtenstein! _! Lunch is ready!" Switzerland called.
"Well, we shouldn't keep your brother waiting."
The younger girl nodded and you both went down and ate. Afterwards, you all went horseback riding, until sunset and ate supper.
The following afternoon, you and Switzerland went out on another horseback ride, but he ended up taking you to a quiet area and picked up a couple of guns. "Do you shoot?"
"I…um…" You looked at the gun nervously, "Those aren't real are they? We're not hunting are we?"
"No, just shooting cans, with bb guns."
You relaxed a little, "Oh, okay."
"C'mere and show me what you can do."
You nodded and took one of the guns from him, "Alright…" You tried to remember how to do it like your dad once showed you, aiming it and shot. But it was far from the mark.
Switzerland got behind you, pressing his back against yours, making stiffen a bit, as he put you into the proper position.
"Now aim."
You did, but you were so nervous, your aim shot even more off course.
"Relax, try to focus."
Your nerves began making your position shake and he kissed you cheek, which made you so surprised you shot the can off it's post.
"Bingo." He whispered with a smirk into your ear.
"Switzerland!" You scolded while blushing.
"Try it again, and focus without my help this time." He said leaning against a post.
You harrumphed with indignation, "Focus without my help this time." She mimicked, and aimed for another can. But she was nervous again, because she wanted to prove that she could do it. She closed her eyes and thought of what made her calm and happy. Russia and his beautiful eyes smiling at you, and his love for you…Greece and the peaceful hills…Canada and how he held your hand as you skated around the rink…America, standing by his side as you watched NYC at the Statue of Liberty…Germany's promise to do anything he can…Japan and the garden at early morning…the way Italy felt so at ease of enough to just sleep beside you…Hungary's outgoing talk and Austria's paternal care…England's magical voice as he reads to you, bring the stories to life…Fun with your Nordic buddies…the childish behavior of China and South Korea…talking with Lichtenstein…and Switzerland's kiss. BAM! You sent the can flying with beautiful accuracy.
"Eh, adequate. But that will never get you anywhere if you're going to have to fight someone."
"What are you talking about?"
"Do you really think any of us are always going to be there to protect you if you're out and someone tries to hurt you? Do you really want to have to depend on others to help you out?"
You clenched your fists, because he was right, and you didn't want him to be. But still, no of the others had been this way to you. Why did he kiss you if he was just going to be such a jerk!? You dropped the gun and marched over to him, "What's your problem!?" You snapped.
"Nothing, just giving you a taste of reality."
"I haven't done anything to you, and you're just-," You tried to throw a punch, and he held your wrist up and kissed you on the lips.
"You're cute when you're angry. Now, shall we see you do that again?" He nodded at the cans and the gun, "Oh and please don't drop my guns, I like them to be in the shape I had them in."
"You're arrogant."
"And you were thinking about me kissing you when you shot perfectly."
"Why did you do that?"
"You needed initiative. You'll thank me one day."
"Doubtful."
For the next few days, when you weren't hanging out with Lichtenstein, you were practicing with the gun. Then on the last day, he took you out on a walk.
"So where are we going today?" You asked no really caring, you didn't particularly like him too much. Even though he used to be one of your favorites, and it bothered you that he only kissed you to make you focus. It made you feel used, and maybe even a little cheap.
"Just walking."
"You don't just walk with me." You said hesitantly.
"Really? That's just sad isn't it." He said continuing.
"Why are you so-, you know what? Doesn't even matter, I'm going back."
"Okay, wait." He said and grabbed your wrist.
You turned to him, "What?"
"Come here." Switzerland then showed you to a beautiful little opening with a picnic and a glistening pond, with a roaring gorgeous waterfall.
"Oh…oh my god…this is beautiful. But why-,"
He shrugged, "Figured you needed a break."
"But why is there bb guns?"
"Just in case…but they're not bb guns. Dangerous animals live around here you know."
"Oh…right." You said with a nod. You used to go on camping trips with your family and there was never a problem with animals before. It just never happened to you, so you were positive it wasn't going to happen.
The both of you bickered pleasantly for a bit, when he stopped you.
"Shh, did you hear that?" He whispered.
You rolled your eyes and gave him a 'uh huh' smirk, "So you think you can just scare me? You've got to do a lot more than that to-,"
RAWR! Came a loud bellow from a bear. You slowly turned to the bear with wide eyes. Then made slow contact with Switzerland and he gave you a look that said 'You should've listened to me'.
The bear sniffed the aroma of the food and approached. Switzerland moved back to fast, triggering the bear to look at him and slammed it's paws down and lunged to attack Switzerland. But before you could think twice, you grabbed a rock and threw it at the bear. It backed off a few feet and then began to charge again and you jumped in front of Switzerland and aimed it at the bear and shot. It wounded the bear's chest, and he scratched at you. Causing it to make three claw marks across your left arm, making you scream, before taking off.
When the bear was well out of sight, Switzerland turned to you, "_! Are you alright? Come on, we have to get you to a hospital!" He picked you up gently and hurried as fast he could to the house where from there they took care of you as best as possible.
You went in and out of focus for a while, but in the end, you were alright. When you awoke, you saw Switzerland.
"Damn good shot, wasn't I?"
"You idiot! You could've been hurt!" He snapped angrily.
"And you could've been dead." You retorted.
"You don't understand _!" He took your hand and kissed it, "I like you, very much. I like bickering with you, it's fun and…and I only do it because I didn't want to admit that I liked you. I know that you're bound to like some of the others more than me. So I tried to be a jerk so you wouldn't like me so that I would have no reason to think that you would like me in the end anyways. I just…you got under my skin like you did to all the others…I'm supposing…If you had gotten hurt…I would never have been able to forgive myself."
"Switzerland…?"
"What?"
"Did you really kiss me to give you initiative?"
He leaned down and kissed you square on the lips, "You can decide that yourself." He said weakly and left.
The following morning, you were put in a sling and given to Scotland, "Didn't exactly keep her in one piece did yeh?"
Switzerland didn't say anything, how could he? He felt bad enough as it was.
"See you later Switz, Lichtenstein." You smiled, and gave Switzerland a fleeting glance before leaving with Scotland, whom had already placed your packs in his car.