Always

Part One

Fidgeting, Lithuania checked his watch again. Shit! They were going to be late! "Poland, aren't you ready yet?" he called up the stairs in an anxious tone. He was standing in the small entryway of Poland's house, waiting for the blond nation to finish getting dressed. Lithuania himself was dressed in a dark green button down dress shirt and black dress pants and had been waiting for his boyfriend for nearly fifteen minutes.

"Perfection, like, can't be rushed, Liet~" Poland's voice responded from the second floor; he was using a sing-song tone. Before Lithuania could say anything more, the nation of Poland appeared at the top of the stairs; Lithuania's jaw dropped.

Giggling at the expression on the brunette nation's face, Poland gracefully descended the stairs and stopped once he had reached the bottom.

"Do you like it?" he asked innocently, twirling and revealing the slit that went all the way up to his hip—it showed a tantalizing stripe of soft, smooth skin. The dress itself was exactly the same shade of green as Poland's eyes, with only one strap and a swooping neckline that showed just the right amount of his shoulders and back. Gold glittered at his wrists, ears and throat.

Helpless to form words with his slack jaw, Lithuania simply nodded, openly admiring his boyfriend's slender figure. Another giggle burst from the blond and he stepped up to the other man.

"Liet," he cooed seductively, wrapping his arms around the slightly taller nation's neck and pressing against him; his tongue darted out and he ever so lightly licked Lithuania's bottom lip.

A dark blush covered the brunette's cheeks. "Y-yes?"

Poland placed a soft kiss on Lithuania's jaw. "You're staring…it's, like, making me blush…"

I'm making you blush? Lithuania thought incredulously, electrically away of just how close his boyfriend was. He wanted to kiss the shorter man until the blond's knees gave out, but there were more urgent matters to attend to at the moment. Taking a step back, he took Poland's hands in his own and smiled a bit nervously. "Ready to go?"

"Totally!" Poland chirped, excitement shining in his eyes. He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on Lithuania's lips, causing an even darker blush to layer over the one the brunette already had.

"Come on," he muttered, embarrassed, and led the shorter nation out the front door.

Poland chattered happily in the front seat of Lithuania's car, one leg gracefully crossed over the other as his hands illustrated what he was saying. Gold polish shone on his carefully manicured nails.

"And you can, like, spend time with your brothers!"

Surprised, Lithuania glanced over at his boyfriend. "Pol, you know I'm not actually related to them, right?"

"Well, duh," the blond replied impatiently, "but that doesn't mean you can't, like, be close to them. You spent, like, how many years living at Russia's house as the Baltic States?"

Lithuania winced as unwanted memories invaded his mind. "Too many."

His tone made Poland look at him in concern, and he reached across the center console to slip his hand into Lithuania's slightly larger one.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, squeezing gently. After a moment of silence, the brunette squeezed back.

"It's okay." He lifted the jeweled hand and kissed Poland's knuckles. A small smile curved the blond's glossed lips as he blushed prettily.

"Liet?" He sounded unusually timid.

"Hm?"

Poland leaned across the small space between the two nations and put his lips by his boyfriend's ear. "After the party, can we…?" His hand rested suggestively on the brunette's thigh.

Warm breath tickled Lithuania's ear, sending goosebumps over his body. He didn't have to ask what the Polish man was talking about—his body had already agreed to the request and was growing warmer with every passing moment.

Mutely, the brunette nodded.

With an adorable smile, Poland returned to his side of the car and gazed out the window. The passing scenery went by without him noticing it; his thoughts were in another place entirely. He couldn't decide which was going to be more fun: the party, or what would come after.

On his own side of the car, Lithuania was suddenly feeling much more nervous about the evening than he had been, which was really saying something. The quiet nation was always nervous.

Poland, already bored with the quiet and feeling playful, clicked on the radio and flipped through the channels until he found a song that would work. Lithuania blushed darkly when he recognized the music and did his best to focus on the road and not on what his boyfriend was doing.

"I'm bringin' sexy back," the blond sang, running a hand up his revealed leg as he grinned at the other man. "Them other boys don't know how to act. I think it's special what's behind your back, so turn around and I'll pick up the slack…" Playfully, he braced his hands on his seat and bucked his hips up into the air; Lithuania felt his pants becoming uncomfortable and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

Must not lose control. Keep driving. Must not pull over and fuck boyfriend in the back seat.

"Take 'em to the bridge!"

"Dirty babe…you see these shackles? Baby, I'm your slave…I'll let you whip me if I misbehave…It's just that no one makes me feel this way…"

Oh, God…Poland was holding his wrists out as if handcuffed and making one of the sexiest faces the brunette had ever seen. Lithuania quickly switched off the radio as the blond began dancing in his seat.

"Liet!" Poland whined, pouting. "I was singing that!" Then he noticed how red the other's face was and how he kept shifting around. The blond eyed the bulge his boyfriend's pants and giggled. "Need some help?"

"N-no! Just keep your hands to yourself. I'll be fine. And no more radio!"

"If you, like, say so." There was that sing-song tone again.

He's going to pay for that when we get home.

"Hey, you made it!" a loud, familiar voice shouted. Poland and Lithuania looked to see America coming towards them. The bespectacled blond whistled teasingly when he caught sight of Poland.

"Lookin' good, Pol," he complimented, winking. Poland blushed and giggled, his arm linked through Lithuania's.

"Like, thanks, Al. Totally great of you to invite us."

The American blinked then grinned widely, surprised but pleased to have been addressed by his human name. "Well, you two enjoy yourselves! This hero's got guests to greet!" The tall nation bounded away, heading towards the buffet table and the people gathered there.

"Bye, Al!" Poland called, then began dragging his boyfriend towards the punch bowl. "Let's, like, grab a drink before this thing starts."

Lithuania mumbled something similar to an agreement. Thankfully, he'd managed to calm down during the remainder of the drive.

When they reached the punch bowl, Poland released the other nation's arm just long enough to pour two cups, then handed one to Lithuania before latching onto his arm again. Sipping his punch, his glittering green eyes surveyed the party.

"Oh, hey, Feliciano!"

Poland had spotted one of his favorite nations and waved excitedly to catch the short Italian's attention.

"Heeeey~Germany, look! Poland is here!" Before the muscular blond could reply, North Italy was somehow managing to steer him towards Poland and Lithuania.

Once again, Poland released his date and hugged Italy, both nations giggling and chatting in a friendly way.

"Ve~Poland is so pretty!"

"Like, thanks! Totally love your bowtie! Very spiffy."

Italy beamed and attempted to puff out his narrow chest. "I picked it out myself!" Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Germany sighed. It was Italy's only bowtie, so his claim wasn't all that impressive. However, Germany wasn't about to be the one to ruin Italy's happiness, so he kept the knowledge to himself.

Poland was in the middle of showing Italy the bejeweled clip he had in his hair when Lithuania noticed who else was at the party.

"I'll be right back," he muttered, and walked away without waiting for a response. His two "brothers" were standing near the buffet table, and he noticed they seemed to be using it as a barrier. Their foe, unsurprisingly, was Russia.

"Latvia," he said softly once he was within earshot. The shorter of the two boys squeaked in frightened surprise and spun around. Relief washed over his boyish features.

"Toris!" he squealed, practically tackling the brunette nation in a hug. Lithuania smiled.

"Hello, Raivis. How are you?"

The short blond nuzzled his face into Toris' chest. "I'm okay. Eduard and I are happy to see you!" His words drew Liet's attention to the other nation, who was watching him closely through thick glasses.

"Estonia."

"Lithuania."

Raivis' grip on his "older brother" tightened. He didn't like the coldness between them, and wished they could be friends like before. Toris petted the blond's hair comfortingly.

"How have you been?" he asked, trying to be friendly to his former housemate.

"Better."

"I'm glad to hear that." Suddenly, Lithuania felt tiny cold spots on his chest and realized that the youngest Baltic was trembling more than normal.

Concern for his "baby brother" over-powered the awkward tension he felt towards Estonia.

"Raivis, are you all right?" He attempted to take a step back in order to see Latvia's face but found himself locked in the boy's tight embrace. A quiet sniffle reached his ears and confirmed his suspicions; Raivis was crying.

Oh, Raivis. Gently but firmly, Lithuania pried the boy's arms off himself.

"No—!" the blond protested, tears running down his soft cheeks. "Toris—!"

Before he could say anything more, Lithuania knelt and hugged him tightly. Raivis immediately nuzzled into his brother's neck and grabbed onto his shirt to prevent being pulled away again.

"It's okay, Raivis," Lithuania soothed, rubbing the smaller nation's back. "You don't have to cry."

The sight of Lithuania embracing Latvia the way he was melted a bit of the ice around Estonia's heart. He might resent Toris for all but abandoning them after they left Russia, but that didn't mean he wasn't grateful for the comfort he gave Latvia. Also kneeling, the bespectacled Baltic wrapped his arms around both his brothers, resting his cheek on Latvia's shoulder.

"Oh, they're, like, totally adorable," Poland commented to Italy. The two of them had observed the interactions of the three Baltics from their spot from the punch bowl.

"Si," Italy agreed, smiling cutely. "Ve…it is good that they get along."

Nodding in agreement, Poland let his gaze wander and found himself watching Russia. This made Poland uncomfortable, as he got the feeling that, one, Russia knew Poland was watching him and that two, Russia was also watching the Baltics. He wore an eerie sort of smile.

"Italy, your brother is trying to say hello," Germany stated quietly, nodding in the direction of South Italy.

"Lovino!" Italy rushed to embrace his brother, who then forcefully removed the excitable Italian from his bubble of personal space.

"Feliciano, what are you still hanging around with that potato-sucker for?" the less-friendly Italian demanded, glaring at Germany, who ignored him.

"Ve~Germany is my best friend! He takes good care of me!"

Not wanting to witness yet another rant over the blond by Lovino, Poland slipped away and fearlessly approached the tallest nation, his cup of punch held gracefully in one hand.

"What's up, vodka-boy?"

Violet eyes and a naïve smile were turned on him, though a sinister mind lurked behind the innocent face.

"Ah, Здраствуйста, Poland. Как дела?"

Rolling his eyes, Poland cocked a hip and placed his free hand on it; the movement caused the slit in his dress to reveal a good portion of his leg. "Like, talk in a language we can all understand, Ivan." The look on the Russian's face made it obvious he wasn't used to being addressed by his former underling so informally. It made Poland smile. Even though he understood the Russian perfectly, he enjoyed being able to request that he speak a more global language.

"Lithuania is enjoying himself, da? It makes me happy to see my Baltics together."

"Toris isn't yours," Poland snapped, instantly defending his lover, "and neither are Raivis and Eduard."

Russia laughed, his infamous, "Kolkolkolkolkol," sending a shiver down Poland's spine. "For now."

The words made Poland's blood run cold. What the hell does he mean by that? He can't possibly intend to invade them, can he?

"You, like, better leave Toris alone," the blond growled threateningly. "No one here will let you get away with shit."

Ivan's smile grew as if the challenge to cause trouble excited him. "We will see, da?"

Poland hated the implications behind those simple words.

"Excuse me, little brother," a quiet voice interrupted.

"Katyusha! Привет," Russia greeted his older sister, smiling.

"I am very sorry to interrupt," she told him, a guilty look on her face, "but Belarus is looking for you."

A panicked light came into the Russian's violet eyes; Poland resisted the urge to giggle.

"Ah, well, спасибо, Ukraine. До свидания." He turned and walked away abruptly, disappearing through a doorway with a furtive glance over his shoulder.

"I, like, didn't know Belarus was here," Poland commented to Ukraine, amused by Russia's sudden departure.

The large-breasted woman smiled. "She isn't. My sister has a terrible cold and stayed home, but little brother doesn't know that."

"You lied?"

"Well, little sister is always looking for Russia, so not really."

A giggle burst from Feliks and he took another drink of his punch. "You have great timing. I was, like, totally starting to lose my cool."

"Don't worry about it. There'll be plenty of other nations to make big fools of themselves."

"And we'll totally laugh at every one of them, right?"

Ukraine smiled and led the blond man towards the buffet table, her large breasts bouncing slightly with the movement. "Definitely."