"Francis, why don't we have mothers?"
The question startled the older nation, whose mouth fell open in shock. He looked down at the younger nation, whose green cloak seemed to be swallowing his small form up. Arthur's big innocent green eyes stared up at Francis as he waited for an answer. For the first time ever, Francis realized that he really didn't have a good answer.
"Why, Arthur, mon cher...we just don't. Nation's don't really have mothers, or even fathers. Not real ones anyway." He answered. Obviously it wasn't the answer that Arthur was looking for, for he frowned reaching down to pet the rabbit that was following him.
"But you say you're my big brother. An' Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are my brothers too. If I have brothers then where's my mummy?"
"Arthur mon petit, you're mistaken. You see, a human is born from a mother and a father. Nations aren't born that way." Francis said, running his hand through the child's smooth blonde locks.
"How? How are we born?" Arthur asked, or more like demanded for an answer impatiently.
"Well..." Francis hesitated, for he himself was not even sure. "We just appear. Honestly Arthur, don't you remember being born? You should, it wasn't that long ago."
"I 'member opening my eyes. I was laying on soft grass, and I looked up at the sky and saw all kinds of pretty lights. I didn't know they were stars till you told me." Arthur answered. "But that's all I can think of. Is that what being born is? Waking up?"
"That's right," Francis agreed, laying back on the soft green grass and yawning. The sun was beginning to go down, casting rays of gold upon the field that they were visiting in.
"And...and we don't have mothers." Arthur concluded, green eyes saddened.
"Non Arthur, we don't." Francis agreed, sitting up and setting Arthur on his lap. "But you know what?"
"What?"
"We make our own families as we grow. For instance, you have Scotland, Ireland, and Wales because they make up the land close to and next to you. You also have me because I'm just across the channel, and I take care of you like a big brother should."
"Oh," Arthur said, eyes lighting up in understanding. "So we make our own families. Is that what nations do? We choose brothers and sisters?"
"Exactly! Now you have it!" Francis said, kissing the top of his baby brother's head.
"I'm going to make the biggest family ever. Someday when I get to be a grownup'd nation then I'll have a ton of little brothers and sisters. I'll be the best big brother ever!"
Francis literally felt his heart melt at the other's words. Arthur was so adorable, even when he wasn't trying to be. He was so sweet and innocent. Part of Francis hoped that Arthur would stay like that forever, but he knew no such thing was possible. Not long from now Arthur would eventually have his innocence broken. He would experience war, death and destruction, just like all nations did.
"...But while I'm little, I'm glad I have you for my big brother." Arthur finally concluded, before his pink lips formed into an 'O' and his eyes began to droop. Francis cradled the toddler sized nation in his arms, causing the other to fall asleep straight away.
"I am honored, mon petit lapin. Honored."
a/n: Not exactly sure where this came from...I was watching Rugrats in Paris (Grew up on Rugrats) and the song 'I want a mom that will last forever' came on. Then I decided to write this little fic-let. Anyway, review if you wanna :)