France was in Arthur's office, sitting on the arm of the sofa located at the middle of the room. He could notice how much England's oh-so-characteristic frown had deepened since they entered the study. Like always he was irritated by Francis presence. When France knocked on his door he firstly refused to let the Frenchman in, but then waved his hand and told him to make it quick because he did not "have the time to deal with your stupidity and nonsense today, and I'm very busy, unlike someone I know". They then went to Arthur's office, which seemed to have been flooded with papers. The biggest pile was almost a palm high. Francis sighted, he also had lots of work to do at home and Arthur being in such an irritable mood would certainly not help, however they needed to talk. Today might've not been the best choice of the day but he was already here and he had made up his mind. Francis did not wish to postpone the moment anymore than he already had.

"So, frog, are you going to say something or did you come here only to observe and test my patience?" The island nation said while moving to sit on the chair behind his desk and resuming in signing the documents he was reading before Francis decided to showed up at his door that morning. Francis smiled. Definitively not a good day for such a talk, he thought.

"England, I want to tell Canada and America the truth." Francis said rather calmly, giving the English man a charming smile. He did not want England to notice his hands were shaking.

"What truth, France?" England asked in an irritated voice, without looking up from the paper he was signing. Francis sighted and walked over to the matching of England's chair located in front of the desk, and stood behind it. He lightly touched the chair's fabric, contouring the design of little white flowers and green background with the tip of his index finger. He knew what to expect regarding England's reactions. Centuries by his side had taught him much of the younger's personality but he could not endure it anymore, he needed to do this even if it meant going into war against Arthur. France looked at England's hands since it seemed the other would not give him the pleasure of looking into his beautiful emerald eyes.

"Arthur," Francis noticed that England stopped writing when Francis said his human name "I want to tell Matthew and Alfred that they are our sons."

"What the bloody hell are you talking about, frog?" Arthur asked; his grip on the quill tightening. France looked up, hoping to meet the eyes of the only man he truly cared about. Whether it was making love or war, wanting to kiss or kill him, talking or yelling, Arthur was the only person Francis cared about aside from their sons. Their sons.

But Francis did not see England's beautiful eyes when he looked up from the flower patterned chair. Arthur was not looking at him furiously, like the Frenchman expected he would be. His eyes remained locked on the paper he had in front of him.

"I asked," Arthur said once again, his voice elevating an octave "What are you talking about?"

"You know what I am talking about. I'm tired of lies, of pretending. I want to tell them the truth of how they came to existence." France moved his eyes once again to England's hands.

"We found them France. Just like every nation in the world, they just appeared." The Englishman said, breathing deeply and resuming in signing the papers in a rather rough and messy manner.

"That," Francis hands tightened around the back of the chair, his eyes narrowed "is not true." Arthur is so mistaken if he thinks Francis would just let him slide with such a lame answer.

"That is true. We found them, I have America and we both have Canada. They are our colonies, frog." Arthur said, in such a serene manner it made Francis want to punch him.

"Is that really what you think? I!…" Francis paused a moment, trying to calm himself and thinking of the right words to use for he knew England could get easily enraged if he said something wrong "I look at Matthew and Alfred and even though they are still kids, since we only found them 6 years ago," The Frenchman felt England's gaze fall upon him "and I'm not blind like you are. And I cannot lie to myself saying we found them. I can't tell them that and pretend I am happy with telling lies."

"They are just colonies, Fran-" Arthur began but was interrupted by the punch Francis gave the chair. He saw the Frenchman glare at him with hate and hurt and sadness in his eyes in a way he never saw before. It was different from the times they fought, the times that England insulted his language, clothes or behaviour. It was different from the numerous times Francis was in the ground after a battle and England plunged his sword through the nation's immortal body. It seemed that the words Arthur was speaking were hurting Francis more than the countless injuries England caused him throughout the centuries all put together.

"They are not just colonies! They are not!" Arthur didn't know if Francis was going to jump on him and try to kill him or start crying. He was grateful Alfred was in the park with his governess and maid, Francis was beeing quite loud.

"We are both nations, frog. Male nations, for that matter." England said, lowering his gaze. He didn't want to look at France… not when he was looking at him like that.

"I wonder if you really can't see it..." Francis said in a tiny voice, like a murmur, lowering his shoulders.

England knew what Francis was talking about. They both had noticed it when they first laid their eyes on Alfred. He was still a baby and yet it was easy to see. Arthur was speechless for a second but he rapidly composed himself, differently from Francis who eyes were full moons and had his mouth open until Arthur gave him a kick. Arthur couldn't see how but it was there, a perfect mixture between Francis and himself. He didn't talk about it with France, and the Frenchman gave up in trying talking about it with England (a result of the threatening glances England gave him every time he gave any sign he wanted to talk). Truth was, Arthur didn't want to think about it. When Matthew showed up three days later things got even more confused. Other nations started to see it too but no one spoke about it. Maybe they assumed it was just coincidence that the young nations looked so much like their colonizers. Francis seemed to be around Arthur more than before after they found America and Canada, although England treated Francis in an increasingly rude manner every day. France did not respond back in the same tone like he would've done in the past, he only ignored the rudeness in England's voice and continued be his cheerful and flirtatious self.

Matthew was so much like France that it was painful. Arthur would see them in in the rare meetings in court or when Francis showed up in his house in Dover so "Mathieu and Alfred can play together. After all, they are border countries" (the "and brothers" part was left unspoken) and he would notice the similarities between Francis and Matthew. Same beautiful hair, same light eyes, same mouth … Canada even spoke French. He was just learning it but he had the same accent Francis had. Francis would speak in a mix of French and English when they were together with Alfred, but Arthur caught Francis speaking French to the little nation more than once when Francis thought no one was listening.

Canada was shy, quiet and always behaved very well when in England's house. However, the boy never spoke much, and when he did was always too low for Arthur to hear him properly over Alfred's loud voice. Alfred always refused to be quiet and seemed to ignore every kind of proper etiquette England had tried to teach him. America was an outgoing and loud child even as a baby. He is enthusiastic, strong minded and idealistic, a quite unique and dangerous mixture. Canada, on the other hand is a shy child, always hiding behind France or his polar bear cub (they found him with it and he refused to leave it behind) but very kind and polite as well as honest. Arthur never spoke much to Matthew, but Alfred always says that "Mattie is very nice, he loves drawing and he likes my stories."

Matthew spoke for the first time in a volume loud enough for England to properly hear him, and hear how his voice was truly like, one day when England and America were leaving after coming to Francis' house so the boys could play (Alfred wouldn't stop bugging England so he finally agreed); Matthew was three years old. Francis was saying bye to Alfred when he noticed that Matthew was still quite angry about a fight he had with Alfred earlier in the day over a toy Alfred took without asking. The Frenchman got on his knees and spoke something in French to the boy whom then hugged Francis, said "Alright, Papa" (which made Arthur glare furiously at Francis, whom simply ignored such act) and then came up to America and said, his cheeks bright pink, "I'm not angry at you anymore. Ask England to bring you to play with us again soon, ok?" Arthur remembered clearly how happy America was in the way back home. He wouldn't stop talking about how he wanted to play with Mattie the very next day, but England wasn't paying much attention. Canada called Francis 'papa'. He was happy for hearing Canada talk in such a loud and clear way but angry because Canada called Francis 'papa'. After Alfred went to bed Arthur crossed the channel to see Francis. The other nation was expecting England; he was waiting at the docks for the nation's arrival. They had a very big fight that night, Francis in the end refused to tell Canada to call him brother or France or the likes and left Arthur to talk to the fish. Arthur was furious but there was nothing he could do because Matthew lived with France and the Frenchman seemed to be impossible to reason with.

Perhaps he should've guessed that a day such as this day would come. France was since then giving clues that he saw the nations as more than just colonies. Now that England thought about it, Francis always has acted as if they were a family.

Arthur didn't hate those 'family' times they had. He understood that it was important for Matthew and Alfred to be friends with each other (no one wanted them to end up like France and England, that are so close to each other and yet fight all the time). He denied the reason he spent most of his time in his manor in Dover was because of the Frenchman, who coincidentally also had a recently built a house in Calais. Most times Arthur would act irritated when France showed up, a bottle of wine in hands and Matthew hiding behind his legs hugging his inseparable bear. He would complain and insult the Frenchman while Matthew simply murmured a low "Hello, England. Excuse me…" and would run to Alfred's encounter. Francis always ignored the insults and made himself comfortable in the island nation's house, taking over the kitchen to cook lunch for the boys and relaxing in the couch afterwards, to the horror of the maids. England would dismiss the maid and gorverness whenever Francis showed up, he could not deal with all the whispers and gossip. The boys would play and talk. Alfred is quite the opposite of Canada's personality and maybe that was the reason why they were such good friends. America likes his little brother and is always showing him things, and telling him stories but he loves to be the center of attention. Canada's personality allows Alfred to do that, always paying attention to him and agreeing to the things he says.

Arthur and Francis never spoke much during those times. England would just read or do some embroidering and politely ignore the Frenchman. He would never admit he enjoyed the company or that he loved to watch the two little nations play together. Sometimes he would go to Francis house, but he preferred not to because of the smile that would emerge in France's face at the sight of the Englishman before his doorstep.

England hated that smile.

Hi guys! Hope you liked it so far. This is my first ever published story and I would really enjoy some encouragement to finish it. I really hate to say it but I am lacking self-confidence (please forgive this weak person .) it is quite scary to have people to actually read the things I write.

So... Reviews make me smile and fill my heart with happiness and fluff? 3

Also, English is not my first language so please be kind if pointing out any grammatical errors. Constructive reviews and suggestions are welcome ^^

Thank you!

EDIT: Wow it been a loooong time since I even looked at this fic. I re-read it and have been making some slight changes (nothing that affects the story!) in order for it to be more accurate of the time and also some grammar mistakes. I changed minor things in most chapters but again, nothing to do with the main story. Thank you for all of those who continue to read this fic. (7/31/2012)

:)