It was June 7th, 1776. America had woken up in a hurry. He was going to be late for a very very important meeting. He was just thankful that England wasn't here to ask him where he was going. He was also glad England hadn't been there when he went out and bought Thomas Pain's "Common Sense". America smiled at the not too distant memory of his first true act of rebellion.

He had traveled to buy it from Benjamin Franklin himself. France spoke highly of the man and America wanted to get some sort of first impression going for one of the men that he hoped would make him a nation.

England was in Parliament right now and the two weren't speaking. The laws England was passing were getting more and more suffocating by the minute. He could feel himself and his people getting more and more irritated. He felt more and more of his people concluding within themselves that independence was going to the only viable option. When he had reached the press shop of Benjamin Franklin he was completely out of breathe. After all it wasn't every day that the young colony had to run from his home in Virginia to Philadelphia. He opened the door to find it happily empty except for one older gentlemen that he assumed was Mr. Franklin himself.

The man was turned away from the door and playing with quite a weird contraption. It looked like a musical instrument based on the noise coming out but America had never seen anything like it. Benjamin was playing away happy with his "glass armonica". He had created it just a few years ago and he loved the sound it made.

"Hello, Mr. Franklin sir."

"Well hello young man."

Mr. Franklin was rarely surprised by anything and a new face in his print shop wasn't going to do the trick. The face however was interesting the boy looked 10 or 11 years old but acted like he was full grown. HE stood up and faced the boy to see what exactly this young boy wanted in his shop.

"What can I do for you young man?"

"Well you see I came here to buy a copy of Common Sense by Thomas Pain."

"Why would such a young lad want to buy I book like that?"

Ben had been teasing of course, he loved young inquisitive minds and adored the idea of one so young being interested in philosophy. He was surprised when the boy's face went red and he began to mutter things that his old ears couldn't quite catch.

"I'm not that young you know. Besides I have every right to read this book no matter what Arthur says. It's important. Arthur doesn't understand but this book is proof that others do!"

At this point Franklin had become quite interested in the lad. He had fire and passion, something he was always looking for. He wanted this land to become a country and he needed young minds to want that too. He silently grabbed one of the ever popular pamphlets and handed it the boy. As the boy was pulling out his money he couldn't help but ask.

"Where are you from? I don't believe I've seen you around this town before?"

"You wouldn't I'm from Virginia."

American hadn't quite gotten used to lying to people about what he was. He knew he had to but it's kind of hard to wrap your head around the fact that he was the thirteen colonies but he also had to be from one.

"How on earth did you make your way all the up here to Philadelphia?"

"I ran."

"Why on earth would you run over 300 miles?"

"I wanted to buy the book and meet you of course. I had to do it while my caretaker was away. HE doesn't like all this talk of a revolution."

Franklin couldn't believe his eyes and ears. This was one boy who obviously had quite a history to be so against from his caretaker at such a young age. It reminded him of himself at a young age.

"I don't believe I quite caught your name young man."

"Oh, right. I'm Alfred Jones."

"Well Alfred Jones why don't you join me for supper before you run all the way home to Virginia?"

"I would be honored but first I just have to read this book. Arthur has been hiding it from me for months now and I just need to read it."

"Well, how about we head to my home while you read and by the time you're done supper should be ready."

"Sounds good to me."

The young nation was already deep in the pamphlet the words it contained ringing to the very core of his being. "Give me liberty or give me death!" That was it that was what he needed. Liberty, freedom, equality. England would never see him as an equal while he was still his colony. America needed to be free from his older brother before they could be equals and friends. He barely noticed walking into Franklins home or sitting on his couch as he devoured the words from the book.

"Supper is ready Alfred."

"Oh right."

America got up and followed the man to see the dining room set for only two. Would he be dining with one of his heroes alone? He gulped and sat down and looked at the elderly man. Franklin had seated himself with a grunt and had said grace. America followed suit and then they began to eat.

"So, Alfred what did you think of the book?"

"Just as good I needed it to be."

"Needed you say?"

"Mr. Franklin, there's something that I want you to know. You must promise to listen until I'm finished."

Franklin agreed with a chuckle he rarely met boys so young that looked so serious.

"Mr. Franklin there are thins in this world that humans don't quite understand. I suppose I fall into that category. You see, every piece of land, every group of people needs someone to speak for it. Someone to represent the people, the land. Every nation in the world has that, it is hard to explain but each and every country has a person that is that country. We nations age with the land. My real name Mr. Franklin is America."

Franklin had no idea what to say. It sounded quite impossible to him. A being that perfectly represented a nation, wasn't that what he had been striving for here? They already had it in this 10 year old boy? If it was true why did the nation look so young and why had he never heard anything of the like before?

"I am afraid I find that a little hard to believe. Maybe you can give me a little proof beyond your words?"

"You've been to France right? Met the leaders there? Ever made the acquaintance of Francis Bonnefey?"

"I've known the man for many years actually. Quite the interesting character."

"He is my uncle France. You've known him for years but has he ever aged once?"

Franklin sat back and thought. Francis really looked the same as he did when he met him decades ago. The same smiling man who seemed to take everything in stride and spoke of nothing but love. He needed a bit more convincing though.

"That does make your statement more plausible but I might need a bit more proof."

"You've been to sessions of parliament right? Ever notice a man with overly large eyebrows standing next to the king?"

"What you mean Arthur Kirkland? Of course I've noticed him…"

Franklin broke off in the middle of his sentence. The boy had said his caretaker author had not wanted him to see that book. He had said Arthur was not happy with the idea of a revolution. Arthur hadn't aged either in all the years he had known him either.

"He is England isn't he?"

"Yes, Mr. Franklin he is. He has raised me since he found me in the 1400's all alone.""

"You really are quite older than you look then. Why aren't an adult like the other nations I suppose?"

"I am still a bloody colony. England has never and will never see me as an equal adult until I am free. That's part of the reason he's been passing so many laws recently. He is trying to keep me restrained and caged. His perfect little colony forever. He doesn't believe I can make decisions for my own people! As if he has ever cared about my people."

Franklin could say nothing else for the rest of the meal. He just sat and looked at the ancient being that looked like a young boy. Why had he come to him of all people? There were plenty of other revolutionaries in the colonies, some even lived in Virginia. Why had he chosen to come and meet him? Once the meal was over he leaned back and stared at the colony.

"Why tell me all of this?"

"Mr. Franklin, I need to grow up. This pamphlet has said it more clearly to me than ever before. I need to become a nation for the sake of my people. I need to get this place on the right track. I need your help to do it. It won't be easy, England won't want to let me go. He will fight hard but my people, my land needs their voice to start speaking."

"I believe young man that I can help you."

"Good. I have to get home now. England will be coming home soon, either tomorrow or the day after. If he finds out where I've been the colonies are going to be hit with some pretty hard restraints. I will see you again though. When there is a meeting that will being my revolution you will see me there. After that I won't leave until I see myself free."

"My boy, how on earth are you going to get back to Virginia before tomorrow?"

"I'll run. I only let home this morning. One thing you should know about nations is that we are as strong as the land we represent. I can outrun any horse, I can outdistance any wagon. I may look small but I've had over 300 years to get my strength up." As America stood up to go he turned to the elderly man who still had a look of utter amazement on his face. "Mr. Franklin, don't forget me. I'll see you soon and I am counting on your support and your secrecy. You've just been told one of the great secrets of history. One that is not shared lightly. Remember to call me Alfred Jones, that's my name everywhere else."

With that the country walked out of Franklins home and began to run with the life changing pamphlet in his hand. He would get home with time to sleep for an hour before England would come in the door with more edicts from his blasted king. This time though America would endure because he knew that it wouldn't be for long.

The memory made America run even harder. He would not be late for this very important meeting. The men he was counting on were gathering to discuss a declaration of grievances. He needed to be there to make sure that this declaration was perfect. It was the document that was going to show England that he meant business and get the revolution rolling. America could see the town in the distance so he slowed to a normal human run. If he ran to fast people would accuse him of witchcraft and try to hunt him. He had learned that the hard way during the trials in Salem. He saw the building the men were in and hoped he wasn't too late and hadn't missed too much.

He ran up the steps and pulled on the door to find it stubbornly locked. Using his unnatural strength he pulled the door open splitting the wood around the metal lock. It was loud noise so entering quietly was no long an option. He walked in and followed his noise to the room he knew the men were meeting in. He opened the final door to see four livid men staring at him and one surprised one smiling.

"Hey guys, glad to see I made it on time. I hope I didn't miss too much. Mr. Franklin it's good to see you mind if sit down. I had quite a bit of a run to get here on time you know."

Before the other men could say anything about this being a very private secret meeting Benjamin Franklin welcomed the young colony with a hug and asked him to sit in the chair next to him. The other men were getting angrier by the minute. There was a ten year old boy who was acting as if this meeting had anything at all to do with him. Alfred noticing their stares looked back at them coolly.

"I said I was sorry for being late. I got the invitation from Franklin not a few days ago. It took a lot to get here on the right day, so if you would do me the honor of starting over at the beginning of the document I would be much obliged."

"Don't worry gentlemen this young boy is supposed to be here. His name is Alfred Jones and he will be attending all of the meetings from now on. I agreed to lend my support on a few conditions and this I one of them. You are to treat this lad as your equal and hold nothing back from him. He is to know all as his opinion is very important to this endeavor."

The other men had nothing to say after that. This was Benjamin Franklin after all. There were some in the congress that would certainly argue but they weren't here. The Committee of Five respected Franklin and allowed him to keep the strange little boy with him throughout the meeting. The boy, they found had great insight and was not afraid to share it. Despite Jefferson's clear annoyance with a ten year old boy critiquing his work he found the comments helped him better represent what the grievances against the king truly were.

At the end of the meeting for the day America was invited to dine with the nation at Franklin's home. HE happily agreed and got t