A/N: It's been a while but I really wanted to write this story so here it is! This is a historical fic that is currently more of a one-shot but may evolve to more than that, I haven't really decided yet.

Of course I don't own anyone in this story. This takes place in May 1775, during the French and Indian War (or Seven Years War, depending where you're from I guess) before Braddock's disastrous campaign.

Hope you enjoy!

May-1755

It was a terribly warm day and Alfred paused, wiping the sweat off his brow. The woolen uniform he wore was unbearably hot and though Alfred was so proud to be wearing the bright red colors that represented the might of the British Empire, he couldn't help but wonder if maybe Artie should start looking into thinner fabrics. Though not as colorful, the light cotton shirts of his Virginia marksmen suddenly seemed far more appealing in this heat, and Alfred made a mental note to bring their attire to Artie's attention in the next letter he sent him.

Alfred walked quickly and purposefully through the camp, a letter clutched in his hand and his stomach slightly aflutter. He had receive a letter of introduction from Artie to deliver to General Braddock, the commander-in-chief of the North American colonies and the head general of their particular expedition. Though Alfred was no stranger to fighting the Native Americans and the French whenever Francis got too close to his and Artie's lands, this was Alfred's first time working with professional British soldiers and he was horribly excited and nervous.

He was still serving under the command of a colonial officer, of course, but Alfred still couldn't help but be impressed and overwhelmed with the sheer sleekness and confidence that came from being a regular in His Majesty's army. As he walked through camp, taking in the sites (and, unfortunately, the smells) of the camp, he couldn't help but feel a slightly twinge of pride in his heart, seeing the combination of Artie's and his forces.

"…really that surprised?"

Alfred paused, a particularly gruff voice catching his ear. It was rather late in the afternoon and most of the men remained quiet as they moved through their duties, too exhausted from the heat to talk loudly.

"Of course a colonial started this whole ruckus. Some hotheaded so-called gentleman from Virginia, I heard. Washington or something like that? I don't know, it's not a name worth remembering if it's connected to a man that started a world war," The gruff voice continued. Alfred frowned, peeking around the edge of a tent to see two British regulars relaxing as they cooked something over a small fire.

"We had peace with France and what do they do? Murder a damn ambassador, then sign a confession. Yep, we killed him, here's your pass to declare war on us!" The man speaking with the gruff voice continued, "So now we've got a world war on our hands and I'm stuck in this godforsaken country."

"Well they say he couldn't speak French, you can't exactly blame the man." His friend shrugged, "Can't say I would have done much better in his situation."

"Then why'd he sign a document he couldn't read!" the other cried, "Now all of Europe's ablaze and we're stuck out here fighting the damn frogs and their savage friends."

"I heard the man who signed the confession's in camp." His friend said, "Maybe you could give him a piece of your mind?"

"Wouldn't I like to." The man responded, shaking his head, "It's these Americans I tell ya. They're not like us at all. Sure they're Englishmen technically but this country does something weird to their head. You wouldn't see any true Englishman murdering a French ambassador, no matter how much the ass deserved it."

The two men laughed and Alfred frowned, taking a step back. True, he knew it had been an expedition led by a colonial gentleman that had shot a French ambassador which ultimately begun this whole bloody affair but that so-called "ambassador" had been a spy! He had only been pretending to be an ambassador while spying on his and Artie's lands, trying to stir up trouble like the French were so prone to do. Plus, like the man's friend had said, the colonial officer who had signed the papers admitting the murdering the French ambassador had no idea what he had signed. Last Alfred heard, the man's back had been against the wall and it was either sign the document or have his entire regiment slaughtered.

Shaking his head, Alfred continued to his destination, holding the letter even tighter. Those two men weren't like the common British solider, he reassured himself. After all, they were brethren, they were kindred spirits fighting for King and Country, so of course they would welcome their colonial cousins with open arms! Smiling again and keeping this sentiment in his mind, Alfred quickened his pace and he hurried through the camp.

He approached the house where he knew the general was staying, smiling hesitantly at the solider that stood posted by the doorway.

"I'm here to deliver a message to General Braddock." He explained, holding the envelope out.

"From who?"

"Sir Kirkland."

"Very well." The solider held his hand out but Alfred hesitated.

"Um. Actually I need to give this to the General in person." Alfred explained, "Is that okay...?"

The solider looked surprised, then shrugged, "So be it." He said, "Please, follow me."

Alfred followed the solider into the house. It was a nice house, he noted, clearly belonging to a middle to upper class family. Though not huge, it seemed a decent enough size, with rather sturdy looking furniture and a few portraits of rather stern-looking men hanging from the walls.

"Please wait in here for General Braddock" the solider said, leading Alfred into the parlor, "He is currently in a meeting with his other officers, so it may be some time but we will retrieve you once he is done."

"That's fine." Alfred responded, smiling at the solider.

The solider nodded, then walked stiffly out, shutting the door behind him. Alfred looked briefly around the parlor before sitting down on one of the love seats in the center of the room. It was a somewhat small parlor, with a harpsichord in one corner and another seat besides the one Alfred was sitting on across from Alfred.

He sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, trying to sit straight as the time ticked by. The minutes dragged onto to hours and Alfred grew more and more impatient. Maybe they had forgotten about him altogether? Alfred wondered, finally standing up to stretch. His butt felt numb and he took a few steps to shake the feeling back into his legs. After standing for another few minutes and still hearing nothing, Alfred shrugged his shoulder and walked out of the parlor, looking for someone that could help him.

The door out of the parlor led to a hallway, and though Alfred knew which way to go for the solider that had shown him to the parlor, he had to admit he was a bit curious about what a general's quarters looked like.

A small peek can't hurt, right? Alfred reasoned, peering down the hallway. There were no noises, indicating that nobody was around, so Alfred quickly looked around once more before making his way down the rather narrow hallway.

He had just passed a few doors when he heard what sounded like raised voices. Frowning, he took a few more steps forward, trying to pinpoint the origin of the voices. It sounded like they were coming from a door further down the hallway, so Alfred approached the door, quietly, leaning forward against it to listen to what the voices were saying.

"…and I am telling you, sirs, that carrying such a heavy train will only serve to slow us down, make us targets of the Natives!"

"What do you propose we leave behind then, sir? We are already traveling light!"

"No, no you certainly are not!"

It seemed like the officers were arguing amongst themselves and Alfred's frown deepened. This was one of his fist campaigns working with Artie's forces and, well he had rather expected them to behave more professionally, with no arguing at the table.

Suddenly the door burst open and Alfred, who had been leaning into the door was thrown back. A British officer, dressed in all red and wearing a powdered wig stood in the doorway, looking down at Alfred in surprise. There was a brief second, then the officer's face quickly became enraged and with a cry, he reached forward, grabbed Alfred by the arm, and dragged him into the war room.

"What is the meaning of this?" the man at the head of the table asked, looking between Alfred, who was standing there limply, his head hung and the British officer who had a vice grip on Alfred's arm.

"I caught this boy spying in the doorway, sir" the officer responded, "He's dressed in our uniform but was by no means behaving as a British solider ought to. Perhaps he is a spy for the French?"

"I'm no spy!" Alfred cried, indignantly, snapping his head up and looking at the officers, seated and standing around a center table, "I'm sorry…I had a correspondence for General Braddock and I heard voices and well, well…I was just curious. I know it's improper for me to behave in such a manner but I just wanted to know what was happening!"

"No solider of his Majesty's army would behave in such a shameful manner." The officer barked, "Why would we believe what you say?"

"I have papers, sir!" Alfred cried, "Not on me but perhaps if you could give me a chance to retrieve them…"

"You shall have no such thing" the officer responded, shaking his head, "Even if you are a solider you deserve a proper lashing for such insolent behavior. We shall attend to your punishment, then hold you for a period until we are able to determine your true nature."

"Sir!" Alfred cried in horror, "I…I'm sorry I truly am! I was curious that was all! Simply curious! You cannot blame a man for wishing to know what he is fighting for?"

"You fight for your crown and country, boy, need you any other reason!?" the officer cried in disbelief, "A justification of why we fight explained to a common private! Who ever heard of such a thing? Come now, let us attend to that punishment."

"Sir!"

"No, you have had your say and you must face the consequences of your actions!" the officer tightened his grip on Alfred's arm and he winced slightly, squirming in worry and discomfort.

"Captain, please wait" a young man, who looked to be in his early twenties, suddenly stood. He was dressed differently from the other officers, wearing a blue coat with a red waistcoat and pants instead of the traditional red and white of the British army. Additionally, he was a rather large man with a very powerful build, Alfred noted with some awe, clearly standing over the heads of all in the room. His hair was an auburn color and tied back into a queue and his eyes were a light blue, "I believe I recognize this private."

"Indeed, Colonel" the officer holding Alfred responded, raising an eyebrow, "And pray tell, who is this audacious young man? One of yours perhaps?"

"He is" the colonel nodded, "He is a member of the Virginia militia and has served for years with his father. He is a trustworthy boy, no friend of the French, though as you have seen, has a tendency to run himself into trouble at times."

"So he's a colonial" the officer responded, his voice thick with contempt, "Small wonder for his actions then."

"I will not have you insulting my men like that." The colonel responded, his blue eyes flashing coldly, "May I remind you that my troops have fought the Native savages valiantly for the past few decades, holding down the frontiers of the British Empire."

"And may I remind you, Colonel that while your…colonials were playing games with the savages, fighting half-men with sticks, my men were fighting against real armies on the battlefields of Europe."

"Sir, I endeavor to respect you and all that serve in his Majesty's regulars" the colonel responded, his voice growing louder with anger, "But you and your friends' inability to see the full might of those that you belittle and call "savages" indeed shall be your downfall! The French understand this, sir, are we to be less astute than our enemies in this land?! Oh you may laugh at my men now, but I can assure you that that boy alone", here the colonel gestured wildly to Alfred, "has more courage than twenty of your regular troops!"

"And that would explain why he was sulking in the corridor?"

"Do not question his courage in the face of fire, for I would stake my very honor upon it!"

"Oh indeed!" the officer sneered, "The honor of a colonial gentleman?!"

"ARE YOU QUESTIONING IT!?" the colonel at this point was yelling, both fists clenched as he glared down at the substantially shorter officer.

"Colonel Washington!" the man at the head of the table stood up quickly, glaring at the colonel, "Calm yourself man we cannot have fighting within our own military family!"

The colonel, who Alfred now identified as Washington glared at the officer holding Alfred one last time before looking at the man seated at the head of the table, "I…I apologize sir." He said, bowing his head stiffly, his face hard.

The man nodded, "This is what we shall do. Since Colonel Washington has claimed the boy, we shall let the boy go with him. Colonel, you shall determine the proper punishment for his actions. You shall also be responsible for his welfare and discipline as you would be for any of your other troops. Is that an agreement we can all settle on?"

The men in the room nodded, and the man at the head of the table smiled, "Very well Private…" he looked expectantly at Alfred.

"Ah…" Alfred said, "It's Jones. Alfred F. Jones."

"Very well Private Jones" the man said, "We shall release you into the custody of Colonel Washington if that is agreeable with you?"

"Y…Yes sir, of course it is." Alfred said, quietly, avoiding the eyes of everyone in the room pointedly, "But before I go, I must ask, are you General Braddock?"

"Indeed I am. Why?"

"Well then, I…I still need to give you this…" he held the letter that Artie had sent him out, still keeping his eyes to the ground.

"Who's it from?"

"Um. Kirkland. Sir Kirkland."

"You don't say…" Braddock smiled gently at Alfred and took the letter, "I shall have a response as soon as I am able, young man. Now Colonel Washington, if you don't mind?"

Washington bowed stiffly again to Braddock and without a word to anyone else in the room strode out, Alfred hurrying quickly and quietly behind him.

The two walked out of the house, Alfred half-jogging to keep up with the colonel's long footsteps. Every now and then Alfred would half-glance up at the man's face but it remained the same stiff and angry mask he had maintained since he walked out of the house. They walked in silence for some time through the camp before the colonel stopped in front of a rather large tent.

"Um. Sir?" Alfred said, hesitantly, "Um. Well. Thank you."

Washington look startled for a second, before registering who was speaking to him, "Oh yes." He coughed, "You know, young man, you really should be more careful. The captain really was not in the wrong for suggesting a caning for your behavior. It was completely unacceptable and out of line. If you continue to act in such a manner, I will not protect you again."

"I…I know." Alfred muttered, "I'm sorry, it really was just curiosity."

"Indeed." Washington responded, looking thoughtful, "Come, walk with me for a bit. I have much on my mind."

"Me, sir?" Alfred asked, startled, "But…sir I'm just a private."

"That you are. And frankly, it is not often that I take people into my confidence." Washington said, "But I am perplexed, frustrated, and miles away from friends at the moment. Additionally, I cannot explain why but I feel that I can trust you. It is rather strange, but I am not in the mood to ponder whatever odd sentiments I may have."

"Very well sir." Alfred bowed slightly, then followed Washington again as he stared walking further from the camp.

"Tell me, Private…Jones was it?"

"Indeed, sir."

"Very well, tell me Private Jones. How long have you fought for King and Country?"

Longer than you'd believe Alfred thought to himself. Aloud however he said, "For some time, sir. Though this is my first time serving in his majesty's army itself."

Washington let out a short bark of laughter, "I do not mean to be a cynic, young man, but I must warn you now you are not serving in his majesty's army."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"You're a colonial." Washington stopped walking. Alfred stopped too and looked up at the larger man, noting the frown tugging at his lips, "You'll never be acknowledged as a member of his majesty's army."

"But that can't be right, sir." Alfred protested, "I'm an Englishman, I'm serving King and Country, what else is there?"

"I wonder…" Washington said, thoughtfully, "I've been wondering for years now. Just because we are born across the sea, does that make us any less English than those born in the heart of the empire? Does that mean we are a meaner sort, a lesser sort than those found in London?"

"I…I certainly don't think so sir!" Alfred exclaimed. Artie didn't see him as a "lesser" sort at least, that Alfred was confident of, "I have good reason to believe that England cares just as much for us as he does for himself!"

"I certainly hope you're right, dear boy." Washington said, still staring off into the distance, "It's just…lately I've felt so frustrated with my situation."

"What do you mean sir?"

"I've tried to serve my country loyally, I really have." Washington sighed, "But I feel like I am pushing against an immovable wall. Surely you saw it in the meeting today. They treat our men, my men with such contempt, I have become weary of the British arrogance I see every day about me."

"I…I do not believe England himself would treat you with contempt, sir." Alfred said, quietly, "These men, they surely do not make up the entirety of our nation. It is simply a few bad apples…if…if you could meet England I'm sure he would hold you in the same regard as he holds the king himself! That's our nation, after all. One of liberty!" Alfred reassured Washington, his chest somewhat swelling in pride.

"You speak of England in a rather strange fashion, young man, but it is clear you hold a great deal of love for her." Washington observed.

"I do" Alfred responded, earnestly, "England…has provided everything for me and protected me. How could I not?"

"And she is a land of liberty as you said earlier." Washington smiled, "You are right, you know. Hold that sentiment close to you. I love our nation too, oh I do indeed. She is beautiful and she is free, more so than any other land on Earth. I would rather be an Englishman than anything else; we are not forced to endure the heavy weight of oppression like the French or Spanish."

"I feel the same" Alfred said, nodding.

"I am glad I spoke with you." Washington said. His face seemed far more relaxed and friendly now, the anger and tension drained from it, "You have reminded me of what I am fighting for and why I wear this uniform. I have a temper that is rather short at times, you see and was worried it would burst forth after that rather trying meeting. Indeed, I was almost at a loss as to why I was even fighting anymore, after seeing some of the arrogance of the British…but no matter. You are right, and I must remember what you have said today."

"I am glad, I could help, sir." Alfred responded, "It was the least I could do after you rescued me."

Washington laughed, to Alfred's surprise, a low but soothing sound, "Indeed, but keep your behavior in mind, dear boy. It won't do to have privates spying on war councils."

"I-Indeed sir!" Alfred said, feeling a flush rise to his cheeks. He liked the colonel's smile; it was warm, genuine, and comforting and Alfred found himself drawn to it.

"Well I suppose it best we head back to our camp now, Private Jones." Washington smiled again at Alfred, "But keep in mind, though I do enjoy your company there is a level of respect that must be maintained between a private and a colonel."

"Of course, sir!" Alfred chirped, standing straight, "I wouldn't dream of doing anything that would upset you-I mean upset the order of his majesty's army."

"Are you always so eager to please?" Washington asked, still smiling at Alfred, clearly amused.

"Ah-well" Alfred stuttered, flushing again, "Sir you are my commanding officer so it is only natural that I seek to please?"

"Naturally" Washington nodded, "Well then, Private Jones, let us return to our camp so that we may best serve and please our country."

"Yes, sir!"

The two turned back to their camp and began walking back, this time at a slow leisurely pace, making it far easier for Alfred to keep up with the colonel's longer legs. Though Alfred couldn't be sure of those two British regulars he overheard earlier, or even of the officer who had yelled at him earlier that day, he was certain that so long as he and Artie had men like this Colonel Washington on his side, there was absolutely no way they would lose to any force, be it the Natives, the French, or the entirety of Europe.

A/N: So that's that. Hope you enjoyed! I personally have a huge weakness for interactions between Hetalia characters and historical figures so yea I love stories like this.

The conversation that Alfred overheard at the beginning was of course related to Washington's whole accidentally-killing-a-French-ambassador-then-signing-a-document-confessing-to-said-murder-thus-giving-the-French-the-right-to-end-the-tense-peace-they-had-with-Britain-and-wage-the-Seven-Year-War shindig. Yea Washington was causing problems for the British before he even decided to help America win her independence. Ooops. He was really young at the time though, only about 20/21 years old I think so let's forgive him for that one.

Also idk how "in character" I kept Washington. He was notorious for enforcing discipline while he was in charge of the Continental Army so I'm certain he wouldn't have just let a private that was spying on an officer meeting off, but let's just write it off as he's a softie for Alfred and he's substantially younger? Idk he's a hard character to write, especially the younger Washington. He was also infamous for having a very short and explosive temper (that he learned to control, thank god) so I tried to get a bit of that in too. :)

I'm thinking of also writing a story on the actual battle where Braddock fell itself since that was a goddamn train wreck and really important in developing Washington idk. Thoughts?