The stars are my friends [America] [Flashback]

It felt great to be in space again. Before his visit to the International Space Station, his last trip to space was during the 1970s. Plenty of astronauts traveled to space in his name in that time, but anyone who'd traveled to space knew that it was a lot different once you saw it with your own two eyes. Alfred loved space even when he was small, and his caretakers often found him climbing to the top of nearby trees and reaching for the sky.

When war broke out in the Middle East, Alfred was the first to throw his support behind Israel, just as Russia was the first to throw support behind Iran. Just like old times. Alfred thought, but had they ever really stopped playing these games? The Cold War supposedly ended in 1991, but that didn't mean that relations between the United States and Russia repaired themselves as soon as the Soviet Union disbanded.

It wasn't Alfred's first time considering space and its implications in war. Sure, his program in the 1980s hadn't panned out the way he'd hoped, but that didn't mean that it wouldn't work the second time around.

He'd made his way onto the ISS just a few moments before. He'd opted to fraternize with those already on board the space station, asking them how space was treating them. He, of course, had the biggest rapport with the American astronauts on board the space station - He was, after all, their nation, though they likely did not know this.

It didn't matter much. Half of the space station was his anyway. If he could manage to commandeer the other half that would be even better. It felt odd to share ownership of a space station with someone that he was currently engaged in a proxy war with. It was one thing when they set up this arrangement in 1998, but times had changed with what happened between Iran and Israel.

Like Ivan, Alfred could feel it within the very core of his being. This had the making of something bigger than the usual conflicts in the Middle East. This had the potential to spill outward further.

He did not fail to notice one Russian cosmonaut heading toward the air lock. By the time he made it over to where the Russian was, the set up was complete, and the chamber doors were already opening...

...to reveal three Russian cosmonauts, one of whom had a very familiar face.

What is he doing here?

"Braginsky! Wasn't expecting to find you here. What brings you to the ISS on this fine day?" Alfred might have spoken with an upbeat tone, but his eyes practically bore into Ivan as he waited for the other nation's answer. Given the state of current affairs, he wouldn't be surprised if Ivan was here for similar reasons to his own

Inconvenient indeed. Alfred wanted control over the International Space Station, and accomplishing this task would be a lot harder with his arch-rival on board. He suspected that the older nation was at the space station for similar reasons to his own. Why else would either of them be here? They shared a passion for space and all it entailed, true, but that wasn't why they were staring each other down at this very moment.

There was war brewing, and both Alfred and Ivan wanted an edge over the other. Control over the International Space Station was something that could offer this edge, and both Alfred and Ivan knew it. If either succeeded in gaining control over the International Space Station, the other would need to scramble to catch up with their own space station - and while such a feat was possible, it was not the preferred outcome for either nation.

Alfred intended to use the International Space Station primarily for military purposes, true, but said space station held more potential than that. With war brewing on the ground, all of Alfred and Ivan's old rivalries were returning to the forefront - and that included the space race. Alfred had a fervent desire for American boots to touch down on Mars' soil before Russian boots - or any other boots, for that matter.

To increase the odds of that happening, Alfred needed this space st-...did that Russian bastard seriously just make a fat joke?

Alfred chose to ignore the barb and instead focus on Ivan's excuse for being aboard the International Space Station at the exact same time that he was, while tensions were building back on Earth.

"Of course. Why would anyone come to the International Space Station for anything else?" It wasn't that either of them were lying, not really. They were both conducting research!

...research on how to assume full control over the International Space Station for their own purposes. Did that still count?

He always found a small amount of humor and joy in teasing Alfred. The American at times made it all too easy with his constant foolishness. He knew his laidback cavalry attitude could be considered a façade, especially consider the boy’s brilliance when it came to strategy, but he enjoyed using it to his own advantage or to merely see his eyes twitch with irritation.

He smiled sweetly at his agreement. Ah, he could see it in his eyes that spark of determination and planning. He truly was here for the same reasons as him. He would be delusional if he thought he could accomplish it before Ivan. Ivan would have the Space Station, and Alfred would watch as it slipped from his grasp. “Da, there would be no other reason,” he answered with a nod, a glint of a challenge sparking in his eyes. He made note that his own men had already left. He would have to entertain the American for now. Possibly offer him food? Nothing seemed to pull his attention away as easily as food. “Oh, I believe I have finally accomplished the ever difficult delima of cooking in space, you must let me prepare a meal for you,” he smiled softly.

Normally, in the presence of America, nothing could pull Ivan’s attention a way. If your eyes peered away for a moment, the American could use it to slide something between your ribcage. He did not like allowing such risks, except for someone who had taken his heart the moment she was born. A true smile pulled on his features when he heard her voice, and he could not prepare as she attacked his chest, sending them both further back by the momentum. He laughed genuinely and wrapped his arms around the beautiful little girl as she rambled about questions. “My Anastasia, I wanted to surprise you,” he snuggled her close to his chest, “I must be careful on who I send up from now on for you become more beautiful each time I see you. Soon, you will woe all my men away from me.” He chuckled. “Da, I have brought some items, but I would actually rather have your help with something else,” he could not contain his happiness, but he still knew Alfred was there. He pulled a cassette tape out of his space suit. “Do you still have your cassette player?” he handed the tape to her.

Having spent her entire existence on this station, it's remarkable the number of things that are routine on Earth that Anna is extremely unfamiliar with. For example, though she's seen some slight tension between some of the people on the station and is sort of used to that, it's been very rare indeed for her to see anything come of it aside from some overly angry words. So the whole idea of outright subterfuge is rather foreign to her. Not that she's so naive as to be unaware that it exists - she has access to the internet and a strong fascination with the blue ball she's orbiting, after all, and from what she's learned from that it happens on Earth all the time - but it's not something she's at all quick to suspect, let alone spot when it's happening.

So from what she can tell, her fathers are having a rather pleasant conversation, though she finds it to be quite the coincidence that they both decided to surprise her with an unscheduled visit at the same time and were apparently unaware that the other was doing the same. And because this does not make her suspicious she can only be amazed and delighted by that. After all, it's not every day that even one of her fathers visit, so being able to have some actual family time is a rare delight.

She giggles when papa says he's afraid she'll steal his men. "I'd give them right back!" she promises. Well, after convincing them to tell her about themselves in great detail, anyway. She'd really like to be able to keep some people for herself, but they're still learning how to live in space so she knows that they're all only loaned at best. Perhaps someday they'll figure out that problem and she'll be able to have her own people. For now she's happy to settle with having her whole family with her. She giggles again at the nickname that daddy calls her, answering his question by simply saying, "Nope!" Oh, they're going to have a great time!

When papa mentions that he's brought her some things she visibly bounces in excitement, but that's instantly forgotten when papa says he wants her help - that's way more exciting and important! "What?" she asks excitedly, hoping that he needs her to do some sort of a daring mission. In fact, it's very slightly disappointing when all he wants is for her to find her cassette player. On the other hand, that disappointment is almost instantly cured by her curiosity about what's on the tape.

"Yes!" she answers, because she does still have the now rather outdated device. Due to the combined forces of the pace of technology, the difficulty of bringing it here in large quantities, and the fact that everything that is brought is generally state-of-the-art if not newly designed just for her, all the equipment around here is a bizarre mix of technology from the timespan of 1998 to the present. Her cassette player is one of those relatively small ones that are combined with a CD player - the kind that were used just before the market for cassettes dwindled down to nothing.

Where it is, on the other hand, is a harder question. She hasn't used it in awhile since visitors usually bring MP3 players anymore since those are so tiny. And while anything that still works and might still be useful doesn't usually get thrown out around here, it does tend to end up in the back of one of the storage compartments. But it only takes her a few moments of thought before she says, "Zarya! That's where it is! Be right back!" Zarya is a module in the Russian section of the station only two away from where they are now - though if it was much further then she'd insist on dragging her fathers with her on the hunt for the cassette player. But as long as she can still easily communicate with them by talking loudly in spite of all the many background noises the station makes, she's not too far away in her opinion. So she doesn't hesitate further to go retrieve the device immediately, curious to hear what's on the cassette.

Zarya has the distinction of being the oldest part of the station - the first one launched into orbit. But that also means that it's the most outdated and least useful - it's now mostly used for storage and as a connector. So there's a lot of stuff there. So even though she remembered exactly where it should be, it'll take her a few moments to unearth it from all the boxes and bundles strapped to the walls there.

Alfred did not fail to note the underlying threat in Ivan's comment. This was his station as well as Ivan's, though in light of recent events he was as hesitant to share custody with Ivan as Ivan was to share custody with him. This was all made even more complicated by Anna's presence, but if anything that just made Alfred's feelings stronger. The last thing he wanted was for Ivan to turn their daughter against him.

He watched Anna float off toward Zarya, trying to focus more on the pleasantries of this trip than the unpleasant truth that Ivan was also on board. He found himself briefly wondering how their astronauts and cosmonauts were getting on. Were they cooperating well, or was their rapport similar to that of the current rapport between Alfred and Ivan? He wouldn't be surprised if it was something of a mixture of both.

Alfred, too, was curious to hear what was on the cassette. He intended to listen to it as well, to make certain that it was not some tape filled with propaganda against him.

"Funny, I was just about to say the same about you."[/b] Both the American and Russian in Anna were painfully evident. It was a stark reminder of what could have been were Alfred and Ivan capable of looking past their differences and their enmity. Anna represented the best of both of her fathers, though he hated to admit that.

It was a lot easier to fight against Ivan when focused on all of Ivan's faults; when Ivan was the villain to Alfred's hero. It was a lot harder when faced with the reminder that he and Ivan had many similarities.

"What's on the tape?" At this point he was merely trying to make conversation. Alfred could not stand awkward silences

It truly was unfortunate that the American boy was present on the space station. It could have been simple, taking Anna for himself and the station. It would not require the game with America, and while he enjoyed playing the games with him, he did not like doing so in front of his daughter. She did not need to witness her parent’s disgruntle disagreements. Living in space held its own difficulties, she should not face more.

He smirked. In a perfect world, maybe they could have been a real family. Often, Ivan thought of an alternative universe where he would wake up to Alfred in his arms, the soft touch of his lips, and his bright smile as the morning sun touched their face. He could see breakfast at a kitchen table with Anna excited for school. It would be a human life, one not riddled with problems of Bosses, political systems, or weapons of mass destruction. No, there competition would be who could run the fastest during evening jogs or build the newest model space station for their daughter’s birthday. It was a nice place, but even he realized that if such a universe existed, they likely would be spies unaware of the other’s career, or part of a criminal organization, or competing CEOs. It did not matter the universe. They both would always want to win, and only one person can win.

He turned and faced America and slowly leaned closer to him, inch after inch until his nose barely touched his. “My culture to win my daughter’s affection away from you,” he answered honestly. Before he could protest, he closed the distance and kissed him hard on the lips, his hand gripping tightly into his hair as the other went to his jaw. He forced his mouth open, dominating the kiss.

Ivan liked to win.

His grip tightened on his jaw and hair as he kissed him, and then with his full force and quick movement, he twisted.

Crack.

He pulled partially back, holding America’s head up by the hair, looking at his limp body. He suspected when America woke up from death, he would be…unhappy, but it gave him needed time. As he heard Anna come out, he quickly hugged America close, supporting his broken neck against the crook of his shoulder. He chuckled as she came back out and tackled him with a hug, he happily opened his one arm taking her into the hold. It almost felt like a giant family hug if only America wasn’t currently dead. He could pretend. The quaint family moment. He would treasure it. “I am so pleased you like it,” he answered, just as thrilled, “All the children your age seem to be listening to it. However, on another note, it seems as if your father has become tired. We should get him to his sleeping pod, so not to disturb him.”

Italics=Russian

Too absorbed by the present to be paying too close attention to the fine details of what her fathers are doing, it isn't until Anna is hugging her papa that she notices that something is going on with daddy. What's going on is something she can't figure out, and in fact she's not entirely sure why she knows something is going on besides the fact that his eyes are closed and he looked awake and fine a moment ago...

But then her papa provides her an explanation. Now, Anna is not an unintelligent young lady. In fact, given who her parents are, it should surprise nobody that she's really quite intelligent. And she's seen people get tired before - more times than she'd bother to guess at - and so what her papa is telling her doesn't seem completely satisfactory and she frowns a little. On the other hand, being confined to this space station for her entire life has left her extremely lacking in experience on many matters, including death. She knows what death is from an academic standpoint - she well remembers the Columbia disaster - but she's never actually seen it. And even more importantly, she's never had any reason to doubt her papa before.

So it must be true - daddy is tired. But... "Is he sick?" she guesses after a moment, her expression growing slightly concerned. Sickness is another thing she knows about but has little real experience - illness would spread like wildfire in the station so the astronauts are very carefully screened before they come up. So aside from the cold-like symptoms they get when they're adjusting to space, she's not seen that either. But she has heard that it makes people tired and might explain why daddy looks a bit... off... She can't resist trying to give his cheek an experimental poke, but she's relatively quick to accept her papa's course of action. Either way, daddy certainly doesn't look awake, and she trusts that her papa knows what's best to do in this situation.

"Okay..." she replies, allowing her papa to take charge of moving daddy to where he can rest - but she's also unable to sit back and just watch, so she puts herself in charge of leading the way. There isn't really a sleeping pod that's officially daddy's yet - they get used by whoever is on the station at the time and daddy hasn't picked one yet. In fact, come to think of it, there's more people than pods on the station right now - they'll have to sleep in shifts again. But though the pods in the Russian section of the station are closer, she suspects that daddy would be more comfortable in one of the Destiny's pods so she leads the way that way - making sure to nudge everything that might get in her papa's way out of the way to make it easier.

Even if her daddy is just tired, that he fell asleep so suddenly is enough to severely dampen her mood - it's disappointing that he's asleep when she thought that the three of them would be able to do something together, and putting daddy into a sleeping pod together doesn't count. Still, she left her papa's tape playing in the background, so though the music gets quieter as they move away from the tape player, her mood doesn't go the whole way down.

Still, when they're nearly there a sudden movement causes her to turn around. "Daddy, you're awake!" she says, instantly cheered back up by that, and feels some of her confusion ease when he too says that he was asleep. That wasn't like anyone sleeping she's ever seen... But the important thing is that he's awake now. Though when he immediately asks about the tape, it takes her mind a moment to adjust to the situation so that she can respond. "Oh! Um, I left it back there," she says, turning herself back around, but she's unsure what the best way is to get the music and her daddy back into the same location again - maybe she should let him pick? "I could bring it here, or you can go with me," she says, giving him the option.