Maddie gasped as she ran into someone; she was scared and lost in the woods.
"Whoa, there." A man's deep voice sounded as he steadied her.
"W-Who are you?" Madeline asked, getting even more terrified.
"You can call me, Uncle Scotland." He led her back to England, France, and America.
It had started out innocent back then; it was years later that things seemed to change.
"Hello, Uncle Scotland." Alfred chirped.
Maddie wanted to correct America, but she knew that there was no reason to.
"Hello." Scotland looked bored or disinterested until his eyes landed on Madeline.
She blushed and greeted him, "Hi."
"So how are you two? Have your parents treated you well?" He asked in his deep voice.
Madeline nodded, "Good." She murmured.
"France and England are a pain." Alfred groaned.
Maddie rolled her eyes; Arthur and Francis aren't that bad!
"Are they still fighting like cats and dogs?" Scotland asked; his eyes on only Madeline.
"Y-Yeah, but they really do love each other." Her voice seemed much too soft as she stammered it out.
"Do they?" Scotland seemed curious to know the answer to his question if only spoken from Madeline's lips.
"Yeah." Madeline's face flushed as she answered him.
She ran her fingers through her hair as if she were nervous to be speaking to her "uncle."
"I love you, guys." It was one of Alistair's rare moments when he told them how much he cared.
"'Love you too. No homo though." Alfred mumbled in response distractedly as he played some game that Kiku had lent him.
"I-I love you too, Uncle Scotland." Madeline mumbled while blushing as she tried to hide the deeper feelings of hers behind the phrase.
She did glimpse anger in Alistair's eyes though she did not know who it was directed at.
Scotland shifted in his bed, and Maddie moved closer as if she was still that small, fearful child of old.
Alfred would fall asleep a bit farther away while playing the game that he'd borrowed.
Madeline startled awake to arms wrapped snugly around her waist and a heartbeat near her ear.
She smiled sleepily as she leaned closer to the man beside her.
She was content to lay here as if she was Scotland's girlfriend even as reality seeped in.
Madeline quietly ignored the fact that her foot pressed against her brother further down.
The day would fully begin with a home-cooked breakfast and innocent laughter as she fought to contain her feelings.
Christmas would bring the whole family together from Sealand to Seychelles to Scotland.
It was held as usual at the British Aisles' shared home.
Slowly though evening would turn into Maddie's favorite part as many left for bed especially the younger ones and couples.
She'd be up with Scotland, Wales, and the Irish twins.
Alistair spoke quietly just for her ears and a promise would be sealed with a kiss.
Patience was a virtue, and they would have many more years to fall even more in love.
Maddie was thankful for family holidays despite all of Alfred's complaints about them.