Alfred F. Jones stared out the window of the library. It was a gloomy day, certainly not the one he had been hoping for when he, on a whim, had decided to call Arthur Kirkland and invite him to go sailing. Arthur, better known as England, had always had a love for sailing and though Alfred knew it had something to do with his past, Arthur didn't talk much about it. All he could get out of England was that he had been a pirate. This wasn't really news to Arthur because when England had found him, little America, he was still somewhat of a pirate. But then, that could have just been his imagination making the man who had raised him into a fearless, deadly pirate instead of the quiet and, to be quite frank, boring old sod that he was now.
That didn't mean America didn't like England. Their relationship was…. complicated at best. After gaining his independence, Alfred had steered clear of Arthur for a while and sometimes that entire encounter still seemed to cause problems between the two. They never mentioned it even though America was usually one to rub victories in other's faces. Not this victory though. He cared too much to hurt England and preferred to simply forget it ever happened. Easier said than done of course…
Alfred shook his head. Arthur would probably refuse to go sailing now as he was so very strict with his stupid rules. "No sailing when it's raining, do you want to get caught in a storm you bloody git?" A small smile crept onto Alfred's face as he thought of what his dear friend would say. At this rate, Arthur probably wouldn't come at all. Just as he started to turn away from the window, a flash of light caught his attention. Glancing quickly back so saw two headlights appear in the driveway, and his smile grew. So the old man was going to stop by after all.
Running out of the library, down the stairs and through the hallway, he arrived at the front door just as Arthur knocked. He threw open the door and gave England one of signature bear hugs, basically crushing all of the breath out of the smaller man's lungs. "Oh, get OFF me, you idiot!" His giant eyebrows were furrowed in frustration and surprise as the young man picked him up while continuing to the hug. "You came! I was worried you wouldn't because of the rain." The excitement was simply uncontained on America's face as he finally dropped England. Arthur graced this statement with a scoff. "Of course I came. We may not go sailing but I promised to come and I wasn't about to break my promise." Alfred groaned, "I knew you would say we couldn't go sailing, I freaking KNEW it."
Rolling his eyes, Arthur took off his wet coat and hung it on a hook on the wall. "But of course. No sailing in the rain." "Called it," Alfred whispered under his breath. England looked over. "Did you say something?" "No no, course not." America smiled innocently and grabbed England. "Let's build a fort and then turn on the fire place and then bake some cookies- no scones- and then," He was cut off as England gave one of his rare laughs. "You sound like your five years old. Slow down you git and pick one thing to do." America thought for a moment but simply couldn't decide. "How about you pick? Only rule is you are NOT making the food."
America stifled a laugh as England's eyebrows came together as he thought. A moment passed and England responded with, "Let's make some tea and stay in and read. I've been told your library is pretty amazing." Alfred yawned. "You and your boring reading. Always with the READING." "You said I could pick and I did. So that's what we are doing." America sighed and hung his head, but eventually decided that it wasn't that bad of an idea. He could never let England know that of course. So he decided to play it cool. "Fine, but I'm so not drinking tea." They went to the kitchen together where England made himself some tea and America pulled together a huge mug of hot chocolate with ten marshmallows. "You know you never finish those when you make them, right?" Arthur was looking at the hot chocolate in distaste, entirely content with his tea. "Nuhu, I ALWAYS finish." Before Arthur could reply, America was running through the house to the stairs, his mug nearly spilling with every step. England walked slowly behind him, shaking his head the whole way.
When Arthur reached the library, he was not disappointed. The walls were lined with shelves that reached the ceiling and there were books crammed in every possible space. For a man who said he didn't like to read, Alfred sure had a lot of books. He weaved his way through the books to find America sprawled out on a couch staring at his computer. "Ohhhhh no. You are reading because that is what I said we were doing." He walked over and slammed the laptop closed, yanking it out of America's hands and putting it as high as he could reach. "Hey, you know I can reach that right?" England glared at him causing Alfred to laugh at his eyebrows again. They never did get old…
"So what do I read?" Seriously? This guy had a million books and he couldn't pick one to read in silence? "Anything. I mean there has got to be something new to read…." "I've read them all." England stopped cold. "WHAT? HOW? There are so many!" Alfred shrugged, not really impressed. "My house, my library. I've simply read them all." England's eyes narrowed. "Then reread one." Alfred stubbornly shook his head. "No way in hell. They lose any excitement that they ever held after you know the ending. How fun can they be a second time?"
Sighing England walked over to the bookshelf closest to him and grabbed the first book he saw. "You've read 'How to Golf for Dummies'? Why?" Again, Alfred shrugged. "It was there. And man did it help my swing!" America was sad by how disappointed Arthur looked. He obviously wanted to sit and do something quiet with him for once…. His smile reappeared and was bigger that it had been all day. England looked over, a little terrified. "Oh God, what are you thinking." "TELL ME A STORY!" Arthur's eyes widened in surprise. America was nodding and smiling like an idiot. "Come on, you used to tell me stories all the time when I was little. Pleassseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee….." Arthur rolled his eyes again, determined not to show how excited he was by having Alfred ask to be told a story. "Fine but only if you stop with that awful whining!" America whooped and scooted over on the couch, motioning for England to sit.
England set his teacup down on the table, and just in time because a second later America was sprawled out on the couch again, putting a pillow in Arthur's lap and closing his eyes. Arthur sighed, and thought about what story to tell his young friend. He placed his hand on America's head and began the way any good story would start. "Once upon a time, there was a pirate who ruled the seas taking everything he could get. He was brave and terrifying and a very good swordsman, but there's always more to a man than you know…"