YAY!!! I finally finished another part!!! 
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia or Alice in Wonderland. Only Angelica, Claude, and the words on your screen.
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Chapter 2: Ten years later
The horse-drawn carriage raced down the road, the horse going at a full gallop.
Inside a young man, Feliciano Vargas, sat fussing over his younger sister, who wasn’t paying attention to him as he spoke to her. Not that she ever did. She’d rather be in her own world then in this one.
“Angelica. Angelica.” He snapped his fingers in front of the girl’s face, dragging her back to this world.
“Do we have to go?” She asked him. “I don’t think they’ll notice if we don’t arrive.”
“They will notice ve.” he insisted, re-tying her waist sash. He frowned and felt her sides, expecting to feel a corset there. “And where’s your corset?” he asked her eyes trailing down her legs. “Ve, Angelica, if I pull up your dress, there will be stockings on your legs, si?” When he got no response, he pulled up the bottom her dress to conform his suspicions. “And no stockings ve!”
“I’m against them.” she said simply.
“But you’re not dressed properly!” her brother retorted, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Who’s to say what is proper? What if it was agreed that “proper” was wearing a codfish on your head?” the Italian girl twisted in her seat so she was looking her brother in the eye. “Would you wear it?”
“Angelica Sicilia Vargas.” Her brother growled, anger and annoyance in his tone. The girl only rolled her eyes.
“To me a corset is like a cod fish.” she told him matter-of-factly. Feliciano sighed.
“Ve, per favore, non oggi Angelica.”
Angel huffed, looking out the window. “Papa would have laughed.” she mumbled. A look of hurt crossed Feliciano’s face, and Angel instantly regretted her words. After all, he had been closer to their father more then she and Lovino. “Vene.” she took her brother’s hands in her own. “Mi dispiace. I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
He patted her hand forgivingly. “Ve, did you have bad dreams again sorellina?”
Angel shook her head no. “Only one. It’s always the same one over and over again.” their eyes met. “Do you think that’s normal? Don’t most people have different dreams?”
The older of the two shrugged. “Ve, I’m not sure.” he told her, before slipping off his ring. “Qui.” he slipped his ring onto her necklace, smiling as it rested next to the gold cross. “Don’t forget, no matter what, Romano and I am with you. So is Papa, even if you can’t see him.” he smiled at her, cupping her face with his hand. “Now, can mia sorella bellissima manage a smile?”
***
By the time Angelica and Feliciano had arrived, the garden party was already well underway. Men and woman danced, drank tea, and lounged around in their summer best.
A soft wind blew through the party, and the smell of food hit Angel like a ton of bricks, causing her stomach to growl. It all smelt so good.
The two Italians approached Lord and Lady Kirkland, along with the eldest of the Italian trio, Lovino, and his wife, Isabelle.
“At last! We thought you’d never arrive.” claimed Lady Francine Kirkland as she looked over the two new arrivals. “Angelica, Claude is waiting to dance with you. Now, aller.” she waved the young girl off. Angelica cast a look at her brothers before heading down the stairs to the young man.
Francine then turned angry blue eyes on Feliciano. “Do you know it’s well past four?” she questioned harshly. “Now everything will have to be rushed through.”
“I’m so sorry ve. We...” Feliciano began, to be cut off by the Frenchwoman.
“Never mind.” she huffed, before walking away. Feliciano shared a look with Lovino.
Lord Arthur Kirkland cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence between the three. “Please forgive my wife….she’s been planning this even for the last twenty years.”
Lovino nodded, while Feliciano sighed. “If only padre was here ve.”
“My condolences, sirs.” the Englishman paused to take a sip of his drink. “I think of your father often. He was truly a man of vision.”
“Ve, grazie.”
“I hope you don’t think I’ve taken advantage of your misfortune.”
Lovino opened his mouth to say something, but Feliciano stepped on his foot before he could. “Of course not. Ve, we’re pleased that you’ve brought the company.”
Arthur nodded, before looking out at the dancers. “I was a fool for not investing in his mad venture when I had the chance.” he said, turning his attention back to the two Italians.
Lovino smirked. “Si. Papa thought so too.”
***
On the dance floor, Angel was dancing a line dance with Claude. She looked him over out of the corner of her eye.
“He’s nothing like his father.” she thought to herself. It was true. Not only did Claude look similar to his mother, but he also acted like her, refined with an aristocratic arrogance.
“Claude,” She began, getting the man’s attention. “do you ever tire of the Quadrille?”
He shook his head no. “On the contrary, I find it invigorating.” he said, before strutting as a peacock would, causing Angelica to laugh. “Do I amuse you?”
“No.” she lied, as an image popped into her head. “I had a sudden vision of all the ladies in top hats, and the mean wearing bonnets.” she said, giggling. Claude, however, didn’t even crack a smile.
“It would be best to keep your visions to yourself.” he told her, leading her in a circle. “When in doubt, keep your visions to yourself. When in doubt, remain silent.”
Angel’s smile faded as a feeling on loneliness washed over her. She looked behind her for her brothers, but couldn’t see them. She sighed, looking up, noticing a flock of geese, and her mind started to wonder as she danced, allowing her to bump into one of the other dancers.
“Pardon us! Miss Vargas is a little distracted today.” he apologized, before turning on Angelica. “Where is your head?” he hissed in a whisper.
“I was just wondering what it would be like to fly.” she explained as though it was normal for her, which, to some degree, it was.
“Why would you waste your time day-dreaming about such an impossible thing?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” she asked as they danced on. “My papa once said he believed in as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” She laughed, remembering that conversation fondly. Claude sighed, looking at his mother. She waved him on impatiently.
He nodded, pulling Angel off the dance floor. “Meet me under the gazebo in precisely ten minutes.” he instructed her before walking off.
Angel watched him walk off. “I wonder what’s happening in ten minutes.” she said aloud. Giggles erupted from behind her.
Angelica turned to look at two blond girls, one with short hair and blue eyes, the other with longer braided hair and violet eyes. Both were smiling at her.
“We have a secret to tell you.” said the short haired girl. Angel sighed.
“If you’re telling me, then it’s not much of a secret, now is it Amelia?” she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She didn’t like the younger of the two girls, and the feeling was mutual.
“Then perhaps we shouldn’t eh?” the soft-spoken Madeline spoke up, pulling at her sister’s arm. She didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
“But we decided we should!” Amelia said, sending her sister a quick glare. Angelica sighed. She had a feeling Amelia had decided they should tell her, and just dragged her older sister along.
“If we tell her, she won’t be surprised.” Madeline pointed out. “Will you be surprised?” she turned her attention to Angel.
“Not if you two tell me.” she stated, rolling her eyes. “But now you’ve brought it up, you have to.”
“No we don’t.” the blue-eyed girl smiled. “In fact, we won’t.”
Angelica glared at Amelia, before a small evil smile crossed her face. “I wonder if your mother knows you swim naked in the Havershim’s pond.”
“You wouldn’t.” Amelia sounded scared.
“Oh, but I would.” Angel gestured to a women standing across the yard. “There’s your mother now.” she stated, beginning to walk towards her.
Amelia grabbed the brunette’s wrist. “Claude is going to ask for your hand!” she blurted out.
Angelica stopped cold as turned to look at Amelia, shock and surprise in her eyes. “What?” The blond just smiled at her, while her sister sighed, mouthing an apology to Angel.
“You’ve ruined the surprise!” Angel was pulled out of Amelia’s grip by her good friend, Elizaveta, who was glaring over her shoulder at the sisters. “I could strangle them.” She told Angel as they walked. “Everyone went through so much to keep the secret.”
“Does everyone know?”
“That’s why they’ve all come. This is your engagement party. Claude will ask you under the gazebo. When you say yes…”
Angelica stopped walking. “But I don’t know if I want to marry him.” she said.
“Well, then you won’t do better than a Lord. And you can’t wait to much longer.” She brought a hand up to cup Angelica’s face. “You’re almost twenty Angel. That pretty face won’t last forever. You don’t want to end up like Natalia, now do you?” The two looked over to the side, where a platinum blond woman was sitting, mumbling to herself. “Such an embarrassment. And now that your father is gone, you will have to depend on Lovino and Feliciano to support you. You don’t want to be a burden, do you?”
Angelica looked down, feeling both guilty and insecure. “Of course not.”
Elizaveta smiled. “So you will marry Claude. You will be as happy as I am with Roderich and your life will be perfect. It’s already decided.”
At that moment, Francine chose to appear. She entwined her arm around Angelica’s. “Come now ma chere. Take a walk in the rose garden with me.” Angelica looked at Elizaveta, who nodded, encouraging her to go.
***
“Do you know what I’ve always dreaded?” Francine asked Angelica as they walked through the garden. Angelica shrugged.
“The decline of the aristocracy?” she guessed.
“Ugly grandchildren.” the lady corrected. “But you’re so lovely.” They stopped so the Frenchwoman could cup Angel’s cheek. “You’re bound to produce little…Imbeciles!” Francine let go of Angelica’s arm to rush over to the roses. “The gardeners planted blanc roses instead of rouge!”
Angelica looked over the white flowers. “You could always paint them rosso.” she suggested, which was greeted by a strange look.
“What an odd thing to say. Anyway, come along.” They linked arms and resumed walking. Then, a jingling sound, like wind chimes, reached Angelica’s ears. She looked around.
“Funny,” she thought.
“I don’t remember seeing any wind chimes...” “You should know that my son has extremely delicate digestion.” Francine started to talk again, and Angel tuned her out, looking around to see what made the noise. She noticed something large and brown dart through the bushes.
“Did you see that?” she asked.
“See what?”
“A rabbit I think.” she said, looking at the blond.
“Nasty things.” she said with a frown. “I enjoy setting the dogs on them.” she pulled Angel.”Now, come mon chere. Don’t dawdle.”
Angel stumbled as she was pulled. “Now, if you serve Claude the wrong foods, he could get a blockage.” Francine started again.
There is was. Standing just a bit off the path was a large brown rabbit, wearing a midnight blue waistcoat. Their eyes locked for a moment, before it darted behind a tree.
“Did you see it that time?”
“See what?” Francine asked, surprised the girl’s outburst.
“The rabbit!”
The Frenchwoman put a gloved hand over her ear. “Don’t shout Angelica. And pay attention. Honestly.” she sighed. “Claude said you easily distracted. Now…what was I saying?”
“Claude has a blockage.” Angel slipped out of Francine’s arm. “I couldn’t be more interested, but you’ll have to excuse me.” she said, before running off after the animal.
Angelica nearly dived into the wooded area off the path. She frowned as she saw the rabbit dart away from her. She growled, not noticing Natalia Arlovskaya approached her.
“Angelica?” the girl in question jumped. “What’s this nonsense that you don’t want to marry Claude?”
“I didn’t say that.” she turned to look at the blond, somewhat annoyed her search had been interrupted. “I’m just not certain…”
“Marry him Angelica.” the blond grabbed her hands. “If you don’t you’ll lay awake at night in your cold, cold bed, growing older and older, waiting for the perfect man who never comes.”
Angel though about that statement, a look of dread on her face as it sank in. She pulled her hands away and turned to the bushes, pulling them back to see if the rabbit was there.
“What are you looking for?” Natalia asked.
“Can you keep a secret?”
“To my grave.”
Angelica took a deep breath. “I saw a white rabbit run through here…wearing a waistcoat!!”
“How very strange…what type of waistcoat?”
“Brocade, I think…What does it matter? It was a rabbit wearing a dress!”
“Well, I’m sorry; you’ll have to go someplace else to look for your rabbit. I’m waiting here for my fiancé.”
Angelica looked surprised by this news. “You’re engaged?” she asked, somewhat stunned. “I didn’t know.”
“No one does. But I’ve been secretly engaged for years.” the blond told her.
“Who is he?” Angel wanted to know more.
“A Russian prince.” was the answer, followed by a sigh. “Alas, he cannot marry me unless he renounces his throne.”
Angelica frowned. “I see…”
Natalia turned to face Angelica. “Run along now and marry Claude. You don’t want to end up a spinster like some of those poor women we know.”
Angelica nodded, hurrying off, looking for the dressed rabbit. She heard a rustling ahead, and peaked around a tree, surprising a man and women kissing. The women, an albino by the looks of it, gasped and ran off. The man turned to look at her, and Angel gasped. It was Roderich, Elizaveta’s husband. “Roderich?”
“Angelica. We were….Maria is an old friend.”
A frown formed on the Italian’s face. “I can see you two are very close.”
This time, a frown appeared on Roderich’s face. He knew he was caught. He also knew that Angelica looked up to Elizaveta and considered the Hungarian her older sister. “You won’t tell Lizzy, will you?”
“I don’t know, I need time to think.” she took a step back.
“Think of her! She would be devastated.”
“I know!”
“Marriage is based on trust. She would never trust me again. You don’t was to ruin Lizzy’s marriage, do you?”
“But I’m not the one…” Her frown deepened.
“She must never know about this.” Roderich said as Claude approached.
“There you are. Angelica, Roderich.”
“Claude.” The Austrian said with a small nod.
“Come under the gazebo.” Claude said, pulling Angel away. Roderich put a finger on his lips, reminding Angel to keep quiet.
Claude pulled Angelica under the gazebo. The pillars reminded her of prison bars. She glanced around. The musicians were ready, bows positioned, and an artist stood off to the side, drawing the scene in front of him.
Claude dropped down to one knee. “Angelica Vargas,” He began, as Angel noticed something on his shoulder.
“Claude.”
“What is it?”
“You have a caterpillar on your shoulder.”
He started brushing at his shoulder frantically. “Well get it off me!”
Angelica sighed and rolled her eyes. “Calm down and don’t hurt it! Hold still.” she commanded. She let the caterpillar crawl into her finger, placing it gently on a near-by tree branch.
“You’ll want to wash that finger.” Angelica resisted rolling her eyes at the statement. Claude cleared his throat and began again. “Angelica Vargas…will you be my wife?”
The question hung in the air. Everyone stood, waiting for her answer. To Angel, it felt as if the whole world was watching her. She glanced into the audience. She found Feliciano, in the front, with Romano at his right, Lord and Lady Kirkland to his left. Their eyes met for a moment, before Angel looked back at Claude.
“I would have to say…everyone thinks I should…and there’s no reason not to…so I suppose my answer would have to be…I have to say…” Angel trailed off as she saw the white rabbit leaning against a tree, on its hind legs, glaring at her with impatience. Their eyes locked again, and it ran off. “I need a moment.” she answered, rushing off to chase the rabbit, not knowing the adventure and danger she put herself in by chasing it.
~~~
I have to say, my favorite part is the beginning with Vene and Angel in the carriage....
There you have it~. The second (formally first) chapter edited. I'll have the third up in a few moments....but you don't have to read it, because it's basically the same as before.
