AN: Hello! So this is the first thing I've ever written ever...I hope it's not too bad. :'D I'm still kind of in shock about writing a fanfiction... This is going to be a Hetaliafied version on the American Civil war, and I'm trying to be at least partially historically accurate, but of course I'll have to tweak things for the sake of the story. Drama, drama!

Sorry about the OC, there kind of needed to be one.

I don't own Hetalia, if I did it would be gay(er)

He wasn't sure how to feel. The world lazily bumped by as the carriage rolled along, and he watched, not really paying attention, eyes flicking every once in a while. Was he supposed to feel a certain way? He was sure he was, after all if it was true, it would mean nothing but trouble. But still….

He shook his head ever so slightly, chasing the thought away. There was no use in worrying about that now, first he had to find out if it was true. Turning to his companion he simply stated

"Are you sure?" The other man blinked.

"No, that's why we need you to come out…Sir." He added quickly. The boy sighed a little and placed his chin back in his cupped hand, staring out the window again. The man couldn't help but wonder if the young man had heard a word of what he had been saying. Typical of his age. But, he had to remind himself, he wasn't really looking at a teenager. It was often hard for new politicians to get used to the idea that they needed to treat this seeming youth with the utmost respect, until they met him that is. Up close his aura, his being, was more humbling than that of the oldest and wisest men.

Even before the carriage came to a complete stop the young blond was out, followed more slowly by the man accompanying him. The air was heavy and thick, like it almost always was down there. Because of this the sweet smell of the flowers seemed to stick and hang in the air around them. Next to them stood a house, old and huge and reeking of decadence. With a sigh the older gentleman began his painstaking journey up the steps. It wasn't until a few moments later he realized he was alone. He looked around, bewildered, before resigning himself to the fact that his traveling companion was completely impossible to keep track of.

The blond practically ran through the extensive gardens, following his senses? Instincts? He didn't even know. Whatever it was was pulling him through the beds of sickly sweet flowers and the old trees covered in Spanish moss, twitching ever so slightly in the almost non-existent breeze.

He stopped with a jolt. There. There it was. They had been right. There really was…. He began to shiver slightly, weather from excitement or nervousness, he couldn't quite tell. His own quickening heartbeat was mixing with another, one he could feel pulsing through the very air. Along with it came a presence, a kind completely unmistakable to him.

"I know you're here." He said loudly. There was no reply. "You don't need to hide." Still nothing. He sighed. "I promise I won't hurt you?" he tried. Not a sound. "Come on…" his voice adopted a gentle teasing tone, one he liked to use on his brother. "I know you must be lonely…" A rustle. Turning quickly to where the flowers were now swaying, he knelt down, trying to sound even less threatening. "There you are!" An 'eep'. "Come on out so I can see you." There was a silent pause, and then slowly a tiny figure came into view.

The breath hitched in his throat. This was it, the final irrefutable proof. A little girl stood there, staring up at him. She couldn't be more than three years old, her dark blue eyes wide with curiosity. The hair that fell to her shoulders in a soft wave was exactly the same color as his own. Tugging at her little white dress nervously she continued to gaze at his face, as though determined not to look away. After a rather awkward pause, he spoke up again.

"What's your name?" He said bluntly. She shook her head.

"Can't tell." She said her voice just as squeaky as he imagined it would be.

"You can tell me." He replied, with a little smile "I'm different, can't you tell?" slowly she nodded.

"You sure…?"

"Positive."

"Alright…" She took a deep breath "Annabel."

"Annabel." He repeated, smile growing bigger. "That's a pretty name. Do you have another one?"

"Another name?" She said, tilting her head, a slight accent showing for the first time "A second one?"

"Mmhh." He nodded "Do you have anything like that?" She glanced around quickly, and motioned for him to get closer, putting her little hand up to her mouth.

"Jones." She whispered. He let all the air out of his lungs at once. So she really was…there wasn't any question now. Emotions and thoughts came flooding into his mind, clouding his brain until he couldn't tell what he was thinking. He was shaken out of his daze when her small voice was directed at him again.

"What's your name?" she said, tilting her head slightly.

"Huh? Me?" he said, blinking slowly, feeling slightly dazed. "Alfred. Alfred Jones." A little gasp followed that statement.

"You have the same name as me!" She exclaimed, southern accent now very apparent.

"Ah…well that.." Alfred said with a lopsided grin "Is because I'm your big brother.." He watched with amusement as her eyes got even wider.

"Ah have a brother?" She said, sounding breathless.

"That's me." He said, close to laughing. The girl almost seemed to bounce with happiness, gazing up at him like he was the best thing she'd ever seen.

"A big brother, Ah really, really have a big brother! Ah always wanted one, Ah really did, Ah knew Ah wouldn't be alone, Ah just knew it!" This time a little chuckle really did pass his lips.

"Hey, hey come with me, we can meet some more nice people." He said, holding his hand out. The girls smile faded almost instantly, and she backed away looking scared. "Aw, come on, they'd be really glad to meet you." She nibbled on her lip, still looking uncertain. "I'll carry you?" he tried. That seemed to work, as she held out her hands expectantly. Scooping her up, he turned and walked back towards the house.

"Annie?" he said, addressing the little girl who was now snuggling her head into his shoulder "Can I call you that?"

"You can call me whatever you want, 'cause you're mah big brother.." she mumbled into his shirt.

"Okay then, Annie." He said, not even trying to suppress his grin. "You know when I asked you about a second name?" a nod "Well...what I really meant was…well…how do I explain this? See…my second name is America. Do you have a name like that?"

"America? Ah like that name…" She said, eyes drifting up to him "But Ah don't have anything like that…"

"I see…" He said, not sure what this could mean. "Well…I'm glad you like it."

"It's pretty." She said, resting her head back on his shoulder and sounding sleepy.

'I'm sure she really means manly and tough.' America thought to himself, smiling. Something was nagging at the back of his mind, refusing to go away no matter how much he tried to push it back. He knew no good could come from this girl's existence, and yet a different, stronger thought overwhelmed his mind. Finally, after all these years, he wasn't going to be alone anymore.

AN: I hope that was mildly entertaining! I also hope America didn't seem OOC..