Francis pushed his reading glasses up the bridge of his nose and re-examined the document. Oh how he despised the adoption papers. They were seemingly endless and once he finished reading through one stack, yet another greeted him. He was currently in the process of looking over the birth certificate of Sydney Thorpe. After a visit to an orphanage in New Zealand, Francis and his spouse knew that this child was the one they should add to their family.

However the scourge that was paperwork and files would not disappear. One would think after doing this three times one would be used to this. His brow wrinkled in confusion at an anomaly in the paper. Surely this isn't accurate. He turned to his husband "Arthur?" the studious Englishman titled his head in response to the question.

"Yes, Francis?"

"Do you think we can talk to Sydney Thorpe, mon cher?"

The Brit stretched and sat up, glancing at his watch "Sure, it'd be around 9 AM over there so she should be up."

Francis grinned and headed over to the phone to dial up the orphanage. Arthur gave him a quick peck on the check before heading up to bed. After a quick fight with the head of the building and a few transfers the Frenchman had Sydney on the line.

"Sydney?"

"Yes, sir?"

"This is Francis Bonnefoy, my husband and I visited you a few weeks ago. Would you mind answering a few questions?"

"Regarding what sir?"

"Are you aware that your birth certificate states that you are male?"

"I am, sir."

"Are you also aware that we had been given the impression from you and your caretakers that you were female?"

"Yes, sir."

"Would you care to explain why?"

"Not really." Francis heard an uneasy pause before a voice tinted slightly with fear and panic spoke. "Does this mean you don't want to adopt me anymore?"

Francis felt his eyes widen slightly in disbelief. He reassured her calmly "We are planning on adopting you regardless of your gender." He paused and heard a relieved release of air. "But I think it would help you if at least one person knew the reasons why you chose to conceal your gender." There was a long pause and the Frenchman refrained from saying anything to let Sydney sort out his thoughts.

"So if I tell you – you promise not to let the others know."

Francis hesitated, He would have to tell Arthur eventually but Sydney really needed someone she could trust. "I can promise that for now." A drawn out silence followed, "Well – your story?"

There was a small sigh on the other end of the phone. "When I was little I used to be constantly picked on by bullies due to my, rather, feminine appearance" a huff of air was heard on the phone but from distress or amusement at the memory, Francis was unable to tell. "So my mom suggested that after we moved I pretend to be a girl. I think my mom always wanted a girl anyway."There was a bitter laugh. "Surprisingly the idea worked so I continued to cross-dress." The voice grew slightly more high pitched and the words came out faster "Eventually I just stopped trying to be a guy because I found I was better at being a girl." After finishing the final line a noise that sounded suspiciously like a sob was heard.

There was a long pause in which nothing was said but the blonde waited to see if Sydney was done. In a detached voice he inquired "Is that all you need sir?"

"Yes, thank you Sydney. I'll be in touch." Francis sighed heavily as he put down the phone. He was in for a long conversation with Arthur. He padded lightly up the stairs to their shared bedroom, peaking in on his other children's rooms to check if they were asleep. However, once when he arrived in his love's bedroom Arthur was fast asleep and lightly snoring.

Francis silently slid into bed, drawing the comforter snug and smiling slightly when he heard him mumble something about 'flying mint bunnies.' He heaved another sigh. This discussion would have to be saved for the morning.

AN: Um hi. Publishing on Fanfiction is new for me so if anyone who has read this has any suggestions for how I could improve my writing or questions about the story so far I would love to hear from you. Also I don't own Hetalia. Obviously.