Denmark: America's Birthday at my house!

"We are here in front was Mr. Denmark's house as we ask him any clues on the party this July 4!" said a small English lady with sandy-brown hair, green eyes, glasses, and bushy brows. She gestured her cameraman to follow her as she walked to the porch.

*Knock* *knock* *knock*

The two heard a muffled thud then followed by shuffling and soft Danish curses. Then the door opened, giving the two a sight to stare upon. The Dane only wore red saggy sweatpants that hung lowly on his awesome abs. Their eyes went up to the large chest as they followed the path of scars and scarce light hair. Then they went down again to his huge arms…still scarred before finally looking up at the cute confused face of the man who had a bagel in his mouth and his eye glasses slowly slipping off his nose.

"Am I in a gag show or something?" he looked at them as he munched on his bagel.

"Oh…um…I…we…I mean we're here to ask for any details about the part tonight?" the small woman asked as he fixed her pencil skirt.

Matthias's eyes widened and he slammed the door loudly. His colorful Danish language was heard softly through the oak wood. Shuffling sounds reemerged as well as another thud. The two looked at each other deciding between going home or waiting.

"S-sorry, I took so long to shower!" the door reopened now with a fully clothed Dane with a towel patting his damp hair. He wore a red dress shirt with black pants. His hair was down, covering his left eye with the fair hair.

"So you want some info about tonight's party? Sure why not." He closed the door behind him placing the wet towel on his shoulders. His smile was big and friendly.

"Me and America are like awesome friends…so like, it's gonna big and loud like him. Colorful food everywhere, awesome fireworks, booze, ear-splitting music! It's gonna be like we're in America!" he laughed loudly, the small woman's brow twitched as she recalled the last time she ate America's 'colorful' food.

"A-are you sure that it's a great idea to do that? I mean…American food…" asked the camera man eliciting death glares from the taller man.

"And what's wrong with his food? It's awesome. He totally gives me a dozen home-made cookies every time we get together. And as an awesome friend, I give him a bunch of bagels that I hand make and decorate myself" he huffed with his arms crossed. "…I-it's not because I like him in another way…I-I mean we're just bros" he looked at the two with a face as red as a tomato.

"Why would you t-think that? I-I think you got all that you need from me?" he tensed his shoulders as he went back inside.

"GOD DAG!" he shouted before he slammed the door shut leaving the two Brits stuck on place with faces of confusion.

"Norge~ it's America's birthday today!" the Scandinavian fire ball ran towards his friend's house shouting the phrase every two seconds. He knocked hard on the door, his smile, still big, as he waved the Danish and American flag wildly together.

"Norge!" he hugged the smaller Norwegian earning him a smack on the head.

"Why are you constantly shouting that? We know already! You annoy us every year to come and celebrate! Has it ever occurred to you that he doesn't know you're even doing this for him?" the cold Norwegian crossed his arms.

"That wasn't very nice!" pouted the larger man. "Anyway? Are ya coming or what?" he extended his big arms.

"No…you see I have a guest to attend to" he smiled smugly as he fixed his clothes. He was still ripped but he was a bit smaller in frame being a queen for so long.

"Oh? Who, min ven?" he asked peeping inside.

"Hey, Nor! Thanks for coffee, it was awesome. Oh yeah, thanks for inviting me here for my birthday…so awesome of you to invite everybody here! Oh, Den-dude, how's it hanging, bro?" the American walked out of the living room to the main hall.

Denmark looked in shock. Why is he here? He looked at Lukas who gave a small smirk.

"Anything for a friend, Alfred" he smiled softly. Yup, he smiles. He looked at the shocked Matthias Technically, I'm closer to America than you!

The Dane tensed…he was right, relations-wise Norway has closer ties to America…there are more Norwegians in America than Danes…If he remembers right at one point; America had more Norwegians than Norway. B-but we're closer as human friends.

"Again, thanks, Lukas." L-lukas!? Matthias was taken aback. America never called him by his name. He looked at Norway.

Think of this as revenge for humiliating me at her party! A toothy grin crept Lukas's face. It wasn't Denmark's fault that he accidentally made Norway spill beer on Belarus's gown on her birthday.

hvad skal jeg gore? He gave a serious glare to Lukas. The smaller man behind America gave another smug smile ikke besøke meg i en måned…Oh yeah fix me up with Natalia!

F-fine. Denmark could live without a month of company, right? At least America wasn't gonna spend his birthday on Norwegian soil.

"Oh, I am so sorry, Alfred. But an important event just popped up and my boss needs the house for a get together as well" Norway lied coyly. He always got what he wanted when the American was involved…and now he was on 'Stalk-Belarus' mode.

"Aw man…it's okay, Lukas! I guess I'll have to find a hotel nearby to host the party" he smiled weakly. Now was Denmark's chance.

"You know…you could have the party in my house" he placed his hand over his mouth pretending to cough.

"Really, Den-dude? Are you sure it's okay?" the American's eyes twinkled in a childish manner that the Dane found too cute to refuse. He hid the American flag he was holding and fixed his hair coolly.

"Of course, Alfred" he emphasized his friend's name only to be replied with a cocked head.

"Um…dude, you never call me 'Alfred'. Are you angry or something?"

"NO! I am not… er…you know, I thought you'd like it…um d-dude. Anyway it was silly!" he smiled through the sweat forming on his brows.

Norway rubbed his temples feeling so sorry for the Dane's lack of clever excuses. At least he'll get a good laugh at this, a month without a single visit from the Dane, and probably ask Belarus out again.

"So are y-ya coming o-or what?" the big Matthias's head was hang low in a blush and his whole body was a stiff board of wood.

"Sure dude! Knowing you it'll be so awesome!" smiled the American who dragged his friend out of Norway's house.

He…he's holding m-my hand! HE'S HOLDING MY HAND! The older nation was in pure bliss as he walked briskly in time with Alfred's own pace.

It hasn't been five minutes since they arrived his Danish friend's place but it was already decorated with red and white stripes and stars all in blue, white, or red. Baskets of freshly-picked flowers adorned the lamp posts while blue streamers ran from one lamp post to another. America was pleasantly surprised, Denmark really works fast and he's so awesome for doing this on the fly! The American was oblivious to the weeks of preparation the man did for this one day or that this even was an annual occurrence.

He looked at Denmark who was looking at blue prints and discussing some matters on the fireworks display tonight, of course in fluent Danish. He shouldn't have to plan fireworks too! I'm just a guest here…maybe I'm overstaying my welcome. Of course Alfred could understand what Matthias was saying…he's not called the cultural melting pot for nothing.

His gaze was concentrated on the face of the oblivious European. A sudden flash of the man's icy-blue eyes instantly froze America in place, making him smile awkwardly to answer the Dane's sharky grin.

He's so awesome-looking.

I didn't expect to get a call from Norway to go to Northern Europe. Of course I wasn't going to say 'no'. It was probably for the best to take the 4th of July as my break, finally. It's not so cool to worry about the food or the booze and the entertainment, the guest list…which I hate, it is my birthday after all, everybody's invited, not just politicians and whole Hollywood. Thank God that those parties are days before the 4th. My real b-day usually starts in the morning and ends at about 9:00. Countries are very busy…and I doubt anybody likes me enough to stay long. When me and Canada are sure that nobody's left, we usually just sip on our mug of beer casually, eating the left-overs and watching a movie.

It may come as a surprise to my frie-I mean collea-I mean acquaintances that I don't like extremely big parties. America likes big parties, not Alfred .I'm just happy when people are enjoying themselves, but not enjoying themselves too much to the point that my carpet still has a weird smell of vomit and other bodily fluids…

Anyway, I'm just happy I get to spend time with…him. Have you ever had that feeling? The feeling you get when your crush is extremely nice to you and seems to always like your company? The feeling of your heart collapsing inwardly then bouncing right back up? Those butterflies in your belly? Or how about the feeling of light-headedness when he gives you a small smile?

That's how I always feel when Matthias's around. Yup, 'Matthias'. I really just don't like calling him by that…maybe he'll think it's weird or maybe it's already weird that I've been staring at him for about a solid five minutes.

America's cell phone rang making him fumble and catch it in mid-air. It was his ever awesome brother, Canada.

"Yo, my Canadian Bro!"

"Al, so how's Norway?"

"Oh…plans changed! I'm totally celebrating at Den-dude's tonight!"

There was an audible snickering coming from the other line.

"What's so funny, Mattie?"

"Nothing. nothing, mon frère. I just wish I was there to see the look in your face when he volunteered"

"For your information, I wasn't squealing when he did. Hell, I was cool and awesome when I did it!"

"Keep telling yourself that!" the Canadian laughed loudly before quieting down when there was no obnoxious laugh or a retort from the other line.

"Al? are you still there!"

"Y-yeah. Mon frère…pourquoi ne pourrais-tu venir avec moi?" asked America in his borther's other language.

"Al…Kuma…er…Kumafuji's sick and you're the only one I trust in taking care of him. You know how he gets when his sick and couple it with air travel…would you want me to describe you the graphic nature of what happens next?"

"Fine…but you owe me cake when I get back"

"Please" said Canada sarcastically "why don't you just get a piece of Denmark?"

"M-MATTIE!"

"Oh sorry, it was my French side"

"Dude, don't make lame excuses or do I have to kiss ya again?"

Canada flinched "Y-you promised we won't talk about it again!"

"Did I, oh Mr. 'Yes, Al more…more…ugh' ?" laughed America in his normal obnoxious manner.

"Okay, wise-guy, just have a good time…it's rare for you to ever have that when you're home"

"'kay, Mattie"

"Say hi to Denny for me!"

"Mattie."

"Oops, French side…Ohonhonhonhon!" was the last thing America heard before clicking his phone shut.

"Hey, dude, want some beer?" cooed his crush with two mugs in his hands. America saw him in romantic slowmo as the crisp sunlight reflected on the smiling his face. As a result of the slowmo, he could see Denmark about to step on a random marble on the floor. America dashed as the slowmo progressed.

"DUDE LOOKOUT!" he screamed in slowmo. While the Dane looked confusingly why the world was suddenly on slowmo. He was totally scared, slowmo was weird.

As always the hero was there just in time catching him in a bridal style. Their eyes locked for a brief moment in slowmo.

"Ahh!" Alfred yelped as the cold beer poured out of the mugs to his body. The moment was over. Denmark got up obviously flushed in embarrassment.

"Dude, c-come inside I'll get you a shirt to wear while your clothes get washed" he gestured to his door. America followed him silently as the wet parts of his shirt emphasized the nippy Danish climate.

Denmark could feel himself heating up. dumme dansker, du ødelagt alt! He cursed to himself as he got some shirts that were a bit smaller than his regular size. The Dane giggled as he imagined the slightly chubby American. He also got a regular sized one just in case America's gut was too big.

"Hey, America, I got some shirts…although I'm not sure if it'll fit just because I'm taller and you know, more rip-" his mouth hung low and his eyes pure white in horror.

America looked away, humiliated. He covered his chest and stomach protectively. "S-stop looking"

But Denmark, being a hard-headed nation, couldn't, before him was anything but chubby. His chest was evidently hard and sculpted. The huge arms covering it were like cannonballs, and his abs were better than any washboard. It actually reminded the Dane of his own body, just tanner…less scarred…a little smaller. A LITTLE.

"er…um this would suit you b-better!" he gave one of his regular shirts to the younger man. In turn, America grabbed the shirt in a hurry and turned his back to him. What a tight back it was…but then it was covered by a black dress shirt. Most of the Dane's shirts were dress shirts…his scars made him fairly insecure.

"Dude, I'm ready for the party!" smiled America with the first two buttons of the black cloth unbuttoned…giving Denmark some glimpse to the American's secret.

The Party was loud and crowded just as the American predicted. It was almost a photocopy of his party last year…you know without the decent food that was hidden in the back of the fridge. He did enjoy himself talking around with some of the party-goers and even coming across some war veterans…all of them surprised that he spoke in their native tongues. America smiled, seeing the bright lights of the lamp posts and hearing the shouts of young party-goers jumping with the music also with the Danish curses of older folks. He sipped on his glass of whiskey-cola that was free-flowing. He also munched on the tasteless fluorescent pink and green sludge bar. It was a good thing he learned to numb his taste buds…that's how he survived Arthur's cooking. With the puking children and hearing dares about eating the 'disgusting-American-trash' he was pretty sure it tasted traumatizing, especially when one kid opted to kiss a dinosaur of a man than eating it.

He looked around seeing if there was nobody he knew besides his Danish friend who was running back and forth between people who wanted more beer or wanted an autograph or an interview or sex…Thank God, he didn't say yes.

"Fredka? Oi, FREDKA!" waved a familiar Russian. He had his scarf placed over his neck and short sleeved shirt, showing his big arms.

"VANY!" he yelled as he greeted the Russian in a big bear hug carrying him off the ground. Yeah, last time they saw each other Ivan carried him so it was fair to do the same.

"I am very surprised to see you here, I thought you canceled your party?" asked the Russian as he chugged on his bottle of vodka.

"Well I thought so too, but here we are now, how did you get here?" he patted the Russian's broad back.

"Huh? But I am invited every year here?" Ivan gave a confused face. "Don't you know?"

But before America could answer he was pulled away by a strong Dane to the center of a big stage.

"It's time to sing a proper Birthday song…mine venner!" he shouted through a mike. Just like that, everybody sang him happy birthday. He could hear some English, Norwegian, Swedish and other languages across the sea of Danish words.

"Thanks, my Danish bros!" America gave a polite smile and bow before heading down quietly. The screams grew louder as with the music. America looked at his watch. 10:00 pm, this is going to be a long night.

America held his beer bottle tightly as he looked up the evening sky, quiet…peaceful. Finally. Maybe he should stop faking such a loud birthday party…wait he couldn't nations would laugh at him. He closed his eyes hearing the muffled bass of the giant speakers. He opened his eyes enjoying the sight of the bay. It was finally peaceful. He looked around to see the famous sculpture of the little mermaid. He didn't quite like how the original story ended, he should totally make a movie out of it. It'll be legen…wait for it…DARY!

"Hey Mattie!"

"Al?! why're you calling, isn't it like midnight there already?"

"Well almost…it's still six there, you know?"

"I know…must've dozed off, so how was it?"

"It's typical…America…"

"Oh sorry to hear that. Hey it's the thought that counts, right?"

"Of course it is…it was sweet. He did everything right…but you know, it's not really the party I really enjoy"

"*sigh* I know…maybe you should've talked to him first."

"Hell no! I've been keeping this charade up for two centuries. My awesome ego could get seriously bruised if I tell somebody now"

"You and your pride. Anyway, I have to finish up dome paperwork. Talk to you later. Just enjoy Matthias instead!"

"MATTIE!" he said sternly.

"I was just keeping the mood light."

"I swear, if I ever found out your crush…I'll shove my insults up your ass…hoser!" he mocked his Canadian brother.

"Hahaha, just take a stroll then, 'kay, Al?"

"Sure thing, Mattie!"

"A bientot!"

He turned around and started walking away.

"Ya could've told me, rascal" he heard a voice in a crisp Danish accent. R-rascal? He's pissed. America's shoulders tensed as he looked to his side. Before him was the big Dane who was obviously sober but sweaty and his clothes were uncharacteristically untidy due to the dancing and moving through the crowds of people.

"W-what do you mean?"

"ya know what. Typical America? What the fuck does that mean? It was just some cheap knock-off?" the Dane snapped with his face in a deep frown of annoyance.

"No." America looked away.

"Then what the hell did you mean by 'charades'? or 'not really the type of party you enjoy'?" he waited for an answer but all he got was a fake cough.

"Don't ya know it's embarrassing to be calling on the guest of honor only to realize he left the party an hour ago?" he gritted his teeth. Honestly, he was hurt inside…he kept thinking how stupid he was to do this or how it fucking hurt when he heard those words from the American's mouth.

"Damn, I should've drunk some beer instead of keeping the party flowing and organized" Organized? It was chaos! America felt guilt struck him as the Dane clenched his fist.

"That's not what I meant, dude." America placed his hands on the bigger man's shoulder which he brushed off.

"Then what did you mean?!" he looked at Alfred with the coldest eyes he could muster that didn't include his really bad side.

America looked at the mermaid statue again "what I meant about typical America…was the loud parties…and the dense idiot I've been faking for 200 years. I really don't like parties like this…I just do it to keep others happy, that's why I only allow people to stay at about 9 or 10, because the rest of the night is just some quiet bro time with Canada. You know, a few cans of beer, a good movie, and of course real food that I make myself. I'm sorry if I lead you to the wrong thing…I just don't want people to know what I really like." He looked down to his feet.

"I'm going home now…I'll wait for the next plane to America in the airport. Thanks for the party dude! It was awesome. Hope there'll be more parties that awesome to come." He gave a wink before leaving with a heavy heart.

"Well, ya could've just said so…streets are cleared out and since there's no more bars opened…" Matthias swung his arm over the smaller American's shoulder. "We could totally use my alcohol cabinet."

"I'm sorry but I think I overstayed my welcome. I mean…it's an Al-Mattie thing" he explained to the Dane.

"Oh come on! You'd honestly want your party to end up as badly as it did?" the Dane pulled Alfred closer to his strong chest. "Plus, My name's MAT-thias! Practically Mattie too…so ya up for it?" he winked at America as he fixed his messy hair that was matted down by the sweat.

America smiled "Sure thing, Mat! I'm totally making you some of my awesome fried chicken! Got any movies in your house?"

"Of course I do…adult or general audience?" he asked with his eyes closed in thought.

"Oh no, No pornos. I'm too tired"

"Of course, anything for the birthday boy!" they stopped as the clock struck midnight and fireworks cascaded across the sky in a brilliant flash of blue, red, violets, pinks, yellows, and greens.

"Say, Matthias!"

"What?"

"You're officially invited to my after-parties…you know if you don't think it's too low-key and lame!" America looked shyly away.

"Oh please…even I want to calm down once in awhile. I am totally in"

The night was peaceful. America got what he wanted, a quiet get together and a night with his crush. Even Denmark couldn't have been any happier.