The two sat awkwardly on the opposite sides of the room. The Vietnamese girl was playing with her hair, braiding it and unbraiding it in silence. England was watching her. What was he going to do with her? He continued to watch his newly acquired colony. He had to do something…he couldn't always be this awkward around her. Bridges needed to be built and roads paved between the two. They needed to become friends at the least, it would ensure that Vietnam wouldn't try to disband from the empire….but he barely knew anything about this girl! What was he going to do? England sighed and got up from his seat. Vietnam's chocolate colored eyes watched him get up as her fingers paused in their work.

"I'm…..are you hungry?" England asked the girl.

"Vâng," she said in the language she had fought hard to keep over the centuries.

England sighed, "In English, please…."

"Yes," she said once again. The girl had no trouble comprehending the English language. No doubt she was better at writing it then speaking it, but she was very smart and skilled with it all the same. She still had a slight Vietnamese accent whenever she spoke, but England hoped that it would soon go away and turn to a proper British accent. She didn't speak much. Vietnam had been living in England's house a few weeks now, and besides when he heard her tutor teaching her English, he had barely ever heard a word out of the quiet girl.

"Would you like a scone?" England asked her.

The girl looked at him questionably.

"A scone," the Brit repeated, "It looks like a biscuit…and…"

She nodded, "Can I help you?"

"You want to…help cook? With me?" England asked surprised, "You understand I could teach you a great deal of things that China didn't teach you."

"China didn't teach me to cook," Vietnam said matter-of-factly, "That is why I wish to learn."

She wanted to learn how to cook…from him? …of course he would teach her! He would be the best cooking teacher ever! Take that, Frog! His cooking was world famous after all, and what would be the best place to start than with his famous scones? Perfect! This was just the perfect way to lay the woodwork in their relationship!

"Alright! This could be fun," England said with a smile, "Come along with me, then."

England led the teenage-looking girl into the large spacious kitchen. The place was usually full of cooks and servants, but it was not yet time for dinner and the king and queen were currently away in the countryside. They had taken with them the majority of the cooking staff. England saw the girl's face light up with joy at the sight. She looked very eager to learn about this craft and in return he was eager to teach her.

"Now," he said, "the first thing we need to do is heat up the oven…I can do that." England went over to the oven and carefully started a fire inside. He then got out a pan and bowl along with the principal ingredients, namely, flour, cream, and salt, along with a few other ingredients. He put those ingredients into the bowl as Vietnam watched. Next, England added butter, sugar, and milk into the mixture. England was so caught up in his work that he had just remembered the Vietnamese girl standing next to him.

Once he had finished putting the milk in he turned to the girl and asked, "Would you like to have a go at it now?"

"Have a go?" Vietnam asked questioning the phrase.

"Yes. Would you like to try?" he asked again with a smile handing her the spoon.

She nodded, "What do I need to do?"

"Just stir it…here…," England said getting behind her and putting a hand on hers as he steadied the bowl with his free hand, "And now, you just continue to move the spoon in a circular fashion as you…stir it. Do you have it now?" She nodded and continued to stir the mixture until England gave her the instruction to stop.

"Good….now we knead the dough," he told her.

"Knead…is that like needle?" she asked him.

England couldn't help but smile at that question and shook his head, "No…it means to…well it's when you...well let me just show you…" He took the mixture out of the bowl, laid it onto the counter and began to knead the dough. After watching him, she felt courageous enough to try it herself.

"May I?" she asked him.

"Of course you may. Thank you for asking so politely it is much appreciated," he said splitting the dough into two, giving her half and then he continuing with his own work, "When you think it's ready you can roll them into small balls….like so." He took off a piece of his dough and showed her the dough ball he had created. She nodded and replicated his action. "Very good," he said with praise, "And now you continue until the rest of your dough have turned into the small balls."

She nodded and the two continued their work in silence. Suddenly a thought popped into England's head and he couldn't help but want to ask her the question, "Are you enjoying yourself here?"

Vietnam nodded, "I think your gardens are lovely…and your cities as well…and I love your food…"

"My food? You really enjoy it?"

She nodded again, "I like the way it tastes. It's unique and special in its own way…of course the adjustment has been hard…"

"Oh really? I thought you were adjusting just fine," he said looking over at her.

"I'm done…," she said.

"Done?" he said a little concerned. Done with living here? With this lifestyle? With-

"These," she said holding up the last of her unfinished scone.

"O-Oh….yes….of course…," he said and looking down he realized that he was done himself, "Allow me…" Vietnam placed her last dough ball next to the others and England glazed them quickly with a brush of milk.

"Why do you do that?" she asked.

"It helps with the flavor," he replied with a smile as he saw Vietnam's eyes seem to soak in the new knowledge. England put each ball of dough on the pan and placed them into the oven. "And now," he said, "We wait."

"How long?" she asked.

"Oh….not long…about ten minutes," he said, "You're a very good student."

"And you are a good teacher," she said in response.

England smiled. Maybe taking care of this colony wouldn't be too bad…she was sweet, nice, playful, mindful of her studies, quiet…and…she seemed to really care for him. That was the trait he liked most about her…oh…and she liked his cooking…that was a plus as well. Who knew that scones could build bridges?