Author's Note: Hidie Ho everybody! It's Mr. Hankie the Christmas Poo!, Nein, It's just me. I've come to bring you all a new story. A story of friendship, betrayal, death, and ultimately, love. I will continue Through Ruby Red Eyes. Eventually. Writers block on that. Again, I'm using the name Valentin Nicolae for Romania and Aleksander Balakov for Bulgaria. This story takes place during World War II. Romania WAS part of the Axis, and Germany did base there as well. So because of that, since Romania is in the East, I am having Prussia base there while West deals with the things in the…West.

Warning: This story contains sex, derogatory terms mainly towards Homosexuals and Jewish people, brutal abuse, and if anything else comes up I will put up a warning at the top of the chapter.

Note: I do NOT condone any type of derogatory or offensive material to anyone at all nor any type of abuse towards anyone or anything. I also do NOT own Hetalia, (obviously). This story is rated M for a reason. You have been warned, so if you find this story to be offensive in anyway, blame yourself for reading it, I've already warned you.


"This place could be anything. It could be a medieval castle, a magnificent palace, an old English manor. This is what ever you want it to be.

This could be your Escape, or your Prison."

The little boy in front of the shop, Crin (Lilly),scooped up a handful of snow and smashed it in his hands to form a solid ball. The child snickered as he smoothed the snowball, it had to be perfect. While his hands worked, the young boy snuck a peek at his prey. A silver haired man in a long black military jacket, a black military hat with a little yellow bird perched on his right shoulder, a Nazi, his back facing the boy as he spoke to another man in military garb, assumedly of lower status. Looking back down, the little boy smiled, inspecting the now perfect white ball of ice cold snow. Rearing his hand far behind his head, snowball at the ready, he launched the miniature cannon ball of white hard and straight at his target. The cold, large pellet smashed into the silver-haired man's back, slightly causing him to lurch forward with an "Oof!"

Glancing out the small window in the front of the shop, the blonde haired man witnessed the boy who had been standing front of his shop's doorway launch a snowball at a man across the street. Rushing out to shoo the boy away, the Romanian man wrenched open the shop door, "Hey!" The boy turned and booked down the snow drenched road. The man from the shop scooped up a handful of snow and threw it at the quickly departing boy at just the wrong moment.

"Hey!" a silver haired man in German military garb yelled as he approached the blonde shop keeper followed by another man, the one he was talking to. The addressed man stiffened in fear as the pair lumbered to a halt in front of him. "Did you just throw that snowball at me?" The blonde man shook his head furiously, holding his hands up in defense, "N-no!" The man next to the silver haired one raised a pistol, ready to whip the shop keeper with it, "Don't you lie!" he ordered. The shopkeeper flinched, ready to be hit. "I-I'm not!" The lower rank soldier growled in annoyance, "Knock it off!" Demanded the man next to him. "Put that thing away. It was just a snowball, verdammt (dammit), have you never had a snowball fight before? I said put the pistol away." The lower rank soldier reluctantly obeyed, stowing the pistol away, hidden by his long coat. "Es tu mir leid. (I'm sorry)" The obvious higher rank soldier apologized, hands still in his pockets as he slightly rocked forward with his apology, with a smile. "Ich bin Heerführer Gilbert Beilschmidt. (I am General Gilbert Beilschmidt). This is Gilbird." the army commander introduced himself and his feathery friend.

Now more comfortable, and less afraid, the shop keeper breathed a sigh of relief after realizing he wasn't to be hurt. "Valentin Nicolae." Valentin held out his hand, Gilbert taking his from his pocket to shake the other man's. Turning to his subordinate, Gilbert ordered him to go back to the base, saying he would be there later and urging his little bird to follow. With a nod the other man left. "Sorry about that. Sometimes these guys get a little too anxious to hurt something. Or someone." Valentin gave a nervous chuckle, "No, it's okay. Um, would you like to come in?" he asked, gesturing towards the shop. "Anything to get out of this Gott (God) forsaken cold." was the mumbled reply. The door opened with the rattling of the bell that hung above it. Instantly, the two were bathed in warmth. "Ah! That feel so~ much better. I for sure thought my nose was going to fall off if I stayed out there any longer!" Gilbert exclaimed, rubbing his gloved hands together before taking off his coat. Valentin chuckled at he man's over-exaggeration, seeing his nose slowly flush red from the sudden temperature change. "That would be very unfortunate. Luckily, I saved you from such a catastrophe." the blonde joked, closing the shop door and making his way to a glass counter towards the middle-back of the shop. Gilbert eyed the man before answering. "Ja." Never before, especially during the war, had any citizen of any sort spoken to him so casually. "I'm guessing you would like something to warm you up? How about a little cup of cocoa?" Valentin asked, turning behind the glass counter, a hand sliding across the top surface before he disappeared behind an arched wall. "Huh?, Ja, bitte (please). Das (That) would be wunderbar (wonderful)."Gilbert took off his coat, laying it over the back of a nearby chair.

The shop was an odd one, the layout, the contents; no one was really sure what the shop's true purpose was, and when ever asked, Valentin simply said, "Whatever you wish it to be." On either side, there were bookshelves stuffed and crammed with books of any and every sort. In between each shelf was a little window, to which one could peer out to the unforgiving world. There were small, round tables scattered here and there, some near the shelves, some in the middle of the shop. Behind the tables was a glass counter that was split through the middle, yet still connected. On the right side of the counter, behind the glass, were old trinkets. Small or medium sized antiques jumbled hap-hazardly on each of the three tiers hidden inside the clear bench. On the left were little pastries and cakes, beautifully decorated and displayed. Behind that was an open entryway, as wide as the counter was long. The open way was covered by heavy dark drapes that were pulled back today, though it made no difference. What ever was hidden in that space was shrouded in darkness, one was not even able to make out vague shapes. And yet, everything inside the shop, aside from the pastries, looked to be second, third, even fourth hand items from who knows where. The place gave off a feeling of coziness. A feeling that, you didn't really ever want to leave, nor did you want to stay too long. From that space the shop keeper reappeared with a steaming mug in his hand.

Gilbert, who had been peering out a window, approached the smaller man, meeting him half way from the shelves and counter. "Danke (thank you)" he murmured before taking a tentative sip of the steaming cocoa. "Das ist Gute. (That is good)" The General complimented, taking another hesitant sip, not wanting to burn himself. "Thank you." Valentin smiled. "Was (what) are all these books about?" Gilbert asked, nodding towards the shelf next to him. "Who knows." Gilbert raised a questioning eyebrow. "Aren't you the owner?" Valentin chuckled, "Of course, but do you really think I have the time to read every one of these books? I have no idea what they are about. I get them from all kinds of places and all kinds of people. They're here for anyone who wants them, or wishes to look through them. I do from time to time." Valentin softly ran his finger tips over the corner of the book shelf, as if reminiscing every time he cracked open one of these books after hours or while waiting for a customer. With a chuckle, the Romanian man turned to go behind the counter, placing his forearms on top of the glass, clasping his hands. Gilbert watched him, seen his hips sway as he walked away from him, and as he casually leaned behind the glass bench, eyeing him as if he were one of the delicious pastries he sold in his shop. Blushing slightly, Gilbert moved toward the counter, grabbing a chair as he went. Seating himself in front of the bench, Gil set his now half empty, or half full, cup down on the clear surface and asked, "Was exactly is this place? Is it a library, a bookstore, an antiques shop, a café, or a patisserie?" Valentin rested his head in his hand as he answered, "This place is anything you want it to be." Gilbert chuckled, "Nein (No), really, I'm serious."

"And so am I." Vali smiled, "This place could be a library, or bookstore, or antiques shop, or café, or patisserie. This place is so many things and yet not enough. This place is the most intriguing place in the world, and yet it holds no value, it is not special." Righting himself, the blonde shopkeeper continued, adjusting his little hat, "This place could be anything. It could be a medieval castle, a magnificent palace, an old English manor. This is whatever you want it to be." Vali leaned in slightly towards the attentive man in front of him, "This could be your Escape,…or your Prison"


Author's Note: Hi! It's me again, I know this is short, but it's like 3:23 AM right now, sooooo, yeaahh. Also this is like a pilot chapter to see if anyone likes it, and if they do I'll continue. A review or two will be enough to motivate me to do more. I really like this plot line that I got going on right now, so it would be awesome, (not as awesome a Prussia, but it's up there). So please review and tell me what you think!

Hasta La Pasta!~