Kyle awoke to the noise of something falling in the kitchen, and a muffled curse. He sat up, glancing around, and then his eyes fell on the empty spot in the bed. He chuckled, crawling out of bed and yanking on a pair of long johns and shorts. The house wasn't cold, but it wasn't exactly warm right now either.

He came downstairs and spotted an omelette sitting on the table. Alfred was already halfway through his.

"If you want anything else for breakfast, you'd better get it fast, because you're not getting in the kitchen again until lunchtime." Alfred stated.

Kyle realized that the counters are covered in bags of chocolate chips, coconut, and other materials, and there's a fifty pound sack of flour and sugar.

"Ah, it's Christmas baking day."

Alfred nodded. "Yep."

After the breakfast dishes had been cleared, Alfred began. Huge bowls of cookie dough were promptly being turned out, and after they were covered in plastic wrap, Kyle moved them onto the back porch to chill, as the fridge was swiftly filled.

Then Alfred moved to the candies, and soon he had marshmallows melting.

"Whatcha making now?"

"Fudge."

Kyle was up in an instant. "Okay, I gotta see how you make your fudge. It's too delicious not to be laced with something."

Alfred rolled his eyes. "I told you, I use Baker's unsweetened chocolate along with the marshmallows and everything else. That's why it's so good."

Kyle leaned over Alfred's shoulder, chuckling. "Yeah, not buying that story. You're clearly lacing it."

Alfred laughed. "With what, exactly?"

"Cocaine, meth. You know, something highly addictive."

"Like chocolate."

"A likely story." Kyle said, wrapping his arms around Alfred and setting his chin on his shoulder. Alfred chuckled and hummed a few of the songs playing on the radio as he stirred at the hot gooey substance on the stove.

It was comfortable to be there, and neither objected to the other. Finally, Alfred sighed. "Sorry, Ky. You've got to move so I can move if you want the fudge to turn out right."

Kyle stepped back and then glanced over at the pans as Alfred poured in the chocolate. "Need any help?"

"See the butter? Grease the sides and bottoms of the pans so the fudge will actually come out."

Kyle nodded and did as asked, glancing over at Alfred. He knew that everyone accused almost all of the former colonies for having about as much taste as England (and to be fair, they probably all had slightly damaged tastebuds thanks to him, but they also had good food, for Christsakes!), but America's cookies and candies, no matter how brightly colored, were usually pretty good. Kyle also knew Alfred felt a little upset when people even refused to try his goodies.

For gods sakes, the French frog had taught America how to make cookies and candies! Clearly he had skills!

Anyhow, pans greased, Kyle came back over to watch, and soon Alfred handed him a spoon. "Okay, scrape it into the pans for me."

Kyle did as asked, and soon two pans of fudge were cooling on the porch. Kyle came back in and found Alfred with two spoons, scraping out the bottom and edges of the fudge pan.

Alfred smiled when Kyle leaned over across the counter, stretching out an expectant hand. Alfred handed him a spoon. "For dutifully putting things on the porch, I award you this spoon of fudge."

Kyle chuckled, but then Alfred reached his spoon out across the counter, offering it to Kyle. Kyle realized what he was doing, and stretching out his arm, offered his spoon to Alfred.

The grinning couple fed each other the fudge off their spoons, and then Alfred came around the counter and Kyle grinned before wrapping his arms around the American and kissing him.

It was the little moments like this, with no pressure to be nations, that gave them the courage to keep pushing forward through wars and hard times. Kyle was glad that he had been able to come here this year.

Alfred finally pulled away. "So, I think it's time for lunch."

"Alright. You go rest, I'll make sandwiches."

Alfred smiled and Kyle went over to the fridge, digging past the cookie dough for the lunchmeat.

It really was the moments like these that made life worth living.