"Well what about this one?" You asked turning slightly but not yet giving a full spin.

Prussia looked board, "It looks the same as all the other 2500 you've been trying on all day."

"Well I wanted to look nice," you pouted.

"And I want to not be late; my family is far more impressed with being on time then the color and cut of a dress." He snapped rather annoyed that he still wasn't able to change out of his pajamas from the night before.

"Well this is the first dinner I've gone to with your family." You stated swaying slightly and trying to not bit your lip from your slight nervousness and frustration. "I don't very well know Sweden, and Switzerland has never been-"

Prussia cut you off, "Switzerland isn't warm with anyone, he's Germania reincarnated. And Sweden can't speak clearly, half the time we can't even understand him don't take it personally he's really actually better than Switzerland. Not that it matters he's to absorb in his wife."

"I'm sure they're lovely."

"Finland can be when it's not Christmas time."

"I meant your brothers," you stated flatly but made up for with a twirl in your dress. "I am sure that all of them are as lovely as your sister, and twice as charming as you." You made it sound like a jab but it was only one because of your irritation.

He snorted, "Hardly princess. They aren't they're just good at pretending. If we weren't so disciplined we would make wonderful actors."

You stopped spinning and stared at him. He was rubbing his temple, a vein in his forehead looked like it was a throbbing one out of Japan's anime. Normally it was a symbol of intense anger or frustration. Great.

He lowered his hands from the corners of his eyes and bridge of his nose, now it merley covered half of his mouth, trying to support his chin. "What?"

"You know what," your face said stiffly.

He through his hands up, "I love them, but trust me lovely isn't exactly our family. Most people pick proper and disciplined or cold and distant depending on how nice you want to be."

"That's terrible Prussia."

"Tell me about it! We have to invite other people to family dinners just so we don't kill one another or sit in awkward silence."

Your eyebrows thawed and rose above your manners. "You sit in silence?" it almost came out as a snort you were so surprised.

"I see Germany all day, Switzerland doesn't enjoy conversation or anything really for that manner, Sweden can't be understood and he knows it, Austria only gets frustrated with me, if I talk to Romania things only spiral quicker, and Liechtenstein is so quite I can't hear her over Switzerland's glares not that I would she never has anything to say she's too polite. Or she's just as afraid of Switzerland as the rest of us, the way he snaps. What other family brings weapons to the dinner table like we do? Other than the Soviet's," he said rather back handedly.

You stared as he let out a long drown out sigh, "So no, to shoot down your delightfully logical jab, I don't if it's just the family, it's safer that way."

"So silence is your battle tactic?"

"It's my survival tactic."

"Oh…" you trailed off trying to change the subject and avoid one of Prussia's moods for his sake more than yours. "Well then in that case, this dress will never do."

Prussia rolled his eyes, "It doesn't matter!" his voice was rising now and he was rubbing his face again forcing his rising voice to level, though it didn't go back down. "The only reason anyone would comment would be if something was wrong with it or Italy wouldn't shut up about it."

"Oh I would think that your brothers would say something to be polite at least."

"Yes exactly, to be polite. None of us actually care."

"Some of you might."

His voice softened immediately, but it wasn't even or polite discussion it was bitter. "By some you mean Austria." he raised an eyebrow for effect as it was clear he already knew by the way he asked a statement.

You stopped what you were doing briefly and managed to stutter out a rushed and fumbled, "Well Berlin is a rising fashion capital."

Prussia snorted, "Yeah Germany really cares about your lace and stitching."

"He could."

"Only if it's a military uniform."

"Oh I think I have a military cut! I can't believe I didn't think of that before! See you are helping." You ran off to your closet to ruffle around for the older dress you had from your visit to Prussia before it was dissolved.

Prussia called after you even though you were still trying to disappear, "Why do you care so much anyway? I mean you act like I asked you to marry me and we're breaking the news."

"The news that I said no?" You tried to beg your voice to stay even.

"Hardy har har, that's very amusing."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"It wasn't a compliment and stop being so defiant. At this point that stupid book of his isn't even worth my time anymore. What with you going off trying to change me and make me some well-disciplined pet of yours. You never saw me as your equal, or as anything even. You were just as conceded as Austria or Switzerland and nearly twice as condescending, but at least I didn't have to put up with it, I put up with them because they're family and all that I've got."

"Then why do you put up with me?" you snapped pulling boxes down.

He ignored the sound, not even bothering to ask if anything had hit you. "If I knew that do you think I would still be here?"

"Considering it would explain why probably!" you pulled at a box lid whipping it off in frustration and sure enough it was the one you wanted.

"Well I don't know!"

You imagined he had stood up at this point, his yelling was louder probably due to breath support. You ignored his rising tone and pretended it was as even as if you two where having tea. You managed to start putting the dress on: tying various knots and bows, pulling on straps and tightening buckles.

"Do you ever know anything?"

"Apparently not, I trusted you didn't I?"

"I didn't go back on my word!"

"Nor I!"

"You're about to," you called flatly, giving up on the ties. You stepped out of the closet, no longer hiding embarrassment or blush not bothering to hide your frustration, only your pain. You stared at him iced over, freezing your emotions.

You were half dressed, but didn't care. If he was leaving you you wouldn't be attending the dinner and thus there was no point. If you remained half-dressed it would be easier to change out of this ensemble and into comfortable pajamas and shove your face with food in disappointment after hearing the door slam for the final time. Then you could turn on movies with hot guys in them and drown yourself in food and books and tea for days.

"If you don't know," you said slowly between your teeth, "nothing is keeping you here. So go," you tried to turn but where grabbed.

You turned to find Prussia's hand back in yours. Not just on your waist, shoulder, or wrist, but his fingers where actually in yours as they had been back at America's. You looked up at him, but he hadn't met your eyes yet.

He sighed, he looked as uncomfortable as he had at America's too. His other hand rubbing his neck and pulling at his color. Finally he looked at you, merely seconds before you pulled your hand away.

"I don't know why I'm staying, but I don't know why I would leave either. I don't have a reason either way so I might as well be here where I can at least serve the first purpose I've had since 1947."

February 25, 1947. The date hung in the air and you felt your entire body go cold, even your hand and face that had acquired additional warmth.

He gave a weak smile before casting his gaze back down. You squeezed his hand tightly three times.

"Helping me fix my dress would be a great additional purpose," you said softly smiling. "I picked this one, but I can't get all the fastenings right."

"Isn't it a little dated?" Prussia asked looking up to maybe your waist, still not letting go of your hand though.

You tightened your grip so he couldn't just slip his fingers through, and you stepped a little closer to force his chin up with your finger, "The thing is though, the maker was so ingenious though it would be a waste to never wear it, assuming I still have a place to wear it too."

He smiled more truly now. His wrist turned slightly as he stepped away to twirl you. When you stopped your pivot you found yourself back, twice as close falling into his chest. He smiled down at you, grinning now. "You know, I think I could do that. It would be an absolute shame to deprive my brothers of such a beautiful girl, and a pretty sweet dress. Italy would never forgive me."

"I'm glad you like it because this one I can hide my gun under."

"You know what? I think I might have a way to get some deadly hair pins too, just in case."

You both chuckled.

"Now here let me help you get dressed, I want to rub it in Austria's face that I got to bring you to our family dinners first."