It was simple really. Make the spell, let it be cast and then it was all done, settled and things would be alright. So why was it harder for him to move from his spot? Arthur couldn't move, couldn't even find the motion to speak even, yet he wasn't alone. Vlad and Lukas were the same, the worried expression upon their faces as their children ran through their minds just like himself. It wasn't like they were damning them all to hell, just making their lives a little easier.

For the last set of meetings, each nation pressed a worry that hit everyone, the children. His own eyes burned for sleep as Thomas and Elizabeth's pained cries echoed his head. They knew the growing pains would happen, but the children could barely keep up with it. Their little bodies taking the abuse of the growing populations and their own growing, it was like being stretched out and filled in before anything was ready for it. He remembered Gilbert the most, coming to Juliet and begging for her to make it end for Julia and Fritz. He was beside himself as they could hear the two little ones crying in a room just a way. It hurt seeing it, knew the pain personally. It was then that the decision was made to age them.

It was risky, they knew that but it was something that had to be done. The question was, who was going to move first.

"Are we sure everything is correct?" Vlad finally broke the silence.

"Yes, we checked it multiple times." Lukas replied, "We just have to add the last thing in."

He was right, that's all it was. A single drop from each of them and the task itself felt daunting and terrifying, but there was no real backing out. The capitals knew it was coming, it was the nations that viewed it as a joke, except the three of them.

"Well," Arthur finally spoke up, holing the vial above the spell, "It's now or never boys."

With shaky hands, both Vlad and Lukas readied themselves as Arthur did. His thoughts dwelled on Thomas and Elizabeth as he knew Lukas sat upon Anja and Vlad with Teodor. With a quick flick of their wrists, the drops finally made its place as a small dust cloud spread across the floor and out the room.

It was done, and now they waited for the results.

Petit Trianon was quiet that morning, no shouts of the children running around or Brie calling for them or himself. It was quite nice really. The birds outside singing like usual during that winter morning, it was calming.

Francis enjoyed it for as long as it would last, knowing how the children were and how hectic it would get. But like usual, Brie would step in and put them in place and it would be quiet for no more than an hour and it would start back up again. He sighed thinking about his family, how blessed he really was. Five children and a beautiful wife to add to his life, loves of his life that he couldn't imagine a day without. So many personalities and characteristics that just made him awe at them all.

Turning the corner to the main entrance, he waited to see the usual guest of business and high ups walking in for the tour of the beautiful home like usual. How people marveled over Marie Antoinette's old summer home which he now called his own. Yet this time there were only five people today, young men and women patiently awaiting him.

"Ah bonjour! Bienvenue au Petit Trianon!" he smiled at them, "I shall be your wonderful host of the home, but before we start, may I have the pleasure of knowing whom I am touring?"

The small giggles from the women and the light chuckles from the men lifted to his ears as a strange familiarity came to his mind.

"Jeanne."

"Jacque."

"Satine."

"Pierre."

"Renae."

Francis smiled at them as he felt a light 'oh' pass his lips, finally taking in their features, only to back away. The goddamn black sheep really did do it, he changed his babies, changed them all to adults. Francis dropped to his knees as he let out a frustrated and saddened shout. Pats to his back with concerned calls of papa came to him as his children approached him.

"Papa, what's wrong, it's just us?" Satine said rubbing his back.

"Yes, papa, we are still your kids." Renae added.

"Well that wasn't as bad as thought." Jacque stated above them all.

"Oui, d'accord." Pierre agreed.

Another set of footsteps entered the room as a small sigh escaped them as one of the children approached them.

"Maman, what is wrong with papa?" Jeanne asked.

"Your father didn't want to imagine any of you grown and believed that Arthur was joking, but as we see, it wasn't a joke." Brie explained to the children as they tried to calm him down.

They might as well have baptized a cat for all he could think, it was unfair and he wasn't ready for it to be like this now, it was too soon.

"I want my babies back!" he cursed at the floor as they all tried to get him to settle down.

The afternoon chill was slowly coming to a halt as the sun rose higher over his land, yet he still couldn't find those three. Ivan looked in every room he could think of, every hiding place when they played or ran off to when his temper came forth due to government. There wasn't a hair of them anywhere.

Finally seeing the kitchen, he heard rustling within. A wave of ease overcame him as he suspected them in the cupboards, digging for treats before dinner like usual; not that he was just as guilty in indulging along with them before Lily found them. Yet entering in, he didn't find them, only his little wife.

"Lily?" his voice becoming concerned.

"Da?"

"Where are the children?"

"Outside."

"Oh, you kicked them out of the house then for a little." he smiled.

"You could say that."

Now that wasn't what he thought she would say, "Come again?"

Lily smiled at him as she kissed his cheek, "Go down to the lake, you'll see."

He gave her a curious look but knew not to argue with her. Taking her words, he went outside to the small lake where he took them to swim and skate when the times came. He felt something was off all morning but wasn't sure what it was. His mind was a jumble as he tried to figure it out only to hear two men shouting praise at someone upon the ice. His head shot up, who the hell were they and why on his- he paused in his steps. He heard a name, names to be exact, but they didn't add up.

Finally making it before the lake, he saw two men standing next to the fencing, calling out to the one upon the ice. Their blonde hair wavering around as the wind moved it and their body build very similar yet different. What caught his eye more was the scarf that wrapped around the tallest one's neck, just like his own. It couldn't have been.

"Alexei? Grigori?" he called out, wondering if the British man's words were true.

Both turned around and for Ivan, it was like a mirror was staring right at him as his boys smiled at him.

"Privet papa!" Alexei shouted.

"Da, privet." Grigori waved at him.

He couldn't believe it. His boys were all grown; now tall and strong men stood before him. So, Arthur could age the children to match their population with Lukas and Vlad. He was amazed yet a bit saddened about it. Just yesterday he tucked them all in bed, wishing them sweet dreams and reading children's books to them. Now, well, they were almost as tall as him.

"Well, it seems you both grew." he gave a weak smile to them, "So where is little sister?"

The two of them pointed behind them just as he heard blades hit the ice in front of him. Moving closer, he finally saw her. His little girl no longer in the puffy and frilly dresses her aunts and mother bought and made, no longer the pigtails that adorned her pretty head that he put up every morning. She was a full-grown woman that was marveling him upon the ice as she landed a triple axel and gave a small layback spin, just to finish with a gentle glide over towards them. Her bright blues like her mother landed on him as his own heart gave a small ache of his little girl.

"Papa!" she skated over to him, plowing herself right into him and knocking them to the snow-covered ground.

"Well that hasn't changed." Alexei stated as Grigori laughed.

"Privet papa, did you see me?" her bubbliness came out as her smile beamed at him.

"Da I did." he smiled at her.

Getting himself back up and watching her practice more upon the ice, he felt the pang slowly leave him. Even though he wasn't ready for it, he was glad for what they became as adults.

"Dude Amber!" Alfred shouted for his wife. "Amber!"

The phone call he got wasn't something he was ready to hear about, nor really prepared for himself to deal with. He ran the house, looking for any sign of his wife and children, yet it was silent. The only proof that she was awake was the lingering scent of coffee that filled his nose. He was ready to go insane as the backdoor caught his attention, the calm day outside was enough for him to step out onto the long wooden porch and there he found Amber. Smiling out at the backyard as her cup steamed before her.

"Amber?"

Her head finally snapped to his direction, "Oh, sorry Alfie, I didn't hear you."

"Good enough, but answer me this, where are the kids?"

"Why?"

"Please Amber don't screw with me. The phone call I just got from Mattie was enough to set me on a frenzy of worry and chaos and the fact that the damn Brit wasn't kidding. So, where are they?"

A loud thump came to the backyard as a shout filled the air, "You ass!"

"Gotta catch me first, princess."

There was no way that was his two. They were still little, in their superhero pj's waiting on him to watch cartoons and eat cereal by the pounds like usual. But the blonde and black haired duo flew towards them as Lincoln's face was panicked as Liberty gained up on him.

"Mom, save me!" Lincoln dodged behind Amber as Liberty came beside him.

"Wuss, have to hide behind mom all because I can kick your butt." Liberty smirked at him.

"But you don't play fair, you cheat at games like all girls do."

"We do not and you boys are just as bad, especially when a girl is beating you."

"There's no proof." Lincoln said to her as his attention turned to him, "Oh hi dad!"

Alfred was silent. He couldn't speak as his head whipped back and forth between the two of them in awe. It wasn't possible but there they were, all grown as they looked at him with confusion.

"Daddy?" he heard Liberty say, "Didn't uncle Arthur tell you he was doing this?"

"I-I-I thought, th-that it was a-a joke." he stuttered.

"Nope." Lincoln smiled at him, still standing behind Amber.

"Come on daddy, you knew it would happen one day."

"Yes, but not this early."

"Hey Superman Dad." Liberty punched him in the arm as her smile filled his heart, "You know I'll always be your little girl."

"Ew, mushy crap." Lincoln groaned as Amber thwacked him in the arm. "What was that for?"

"Behave."

Alfred looked back over his children as Amber smiled at him. Letting out a heavy sigh, he knew it was too late to have it changed, he would just have to sit there and take it like a real man.

"You're pacing Arthur." Juliet chided him as he looked out the window.

"Am not."

He turned around to find her behind him, making him jump, "Jesus woman."

"Yes, you are, don't argue." she warned him, "What's eating you anyway?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me."

"Juliet."

"Arthur."

She was giving him that usual nurse stare, the one that meant total business and not to argue with her, "I'm nervous alright."

"Why? You know you did well on it, got the message from Francis to prove that."

He chuckled as the voicemail was nothing but the Frenchman demanding him to change his children back to their original selves, that he wasn't ready for them to be older. It was good to know that it worked yet he himself wasn't ready for the change.

"I just...I don't know. I want to help them yet I don't think they are ready and such."

"Arthur, Elizabeth and Thomas are out upon the street as we speak, getting what I asked them to grab-"

"And that there is why I am afraid, they are still young you know."

"Hey, if you don't let them grow up you'll have another Alfred on your hands. I trust them to do something simple like that and you should too."

"I do trust them, it's just...I... I just..." he couldn't speak what he wanted, he was too full of emotions to think.

"I'm home." he heard the door open as a small feminine voice filled the kitchen.

Looking over, he was shocked for there was Elizabeth. Practically a striking resemblance of her mother as she held the bags in hand and a cup within the other. How was this his little girl, the same one that sat upon his knee every evening as he worked on papers in his office?

"Daddy?"

"Elizabeth."

"Your father is shell-shocked darling, just set the bags down and help me get it ready."

"Alright mum."

Arthur shook his head as Elizabeth gave him another smile, "Well, I'm glad it worked well. Any issues with yourself? Headache, nausea, pain, anything?"

"No daddy, just fine."

"Oh good, so that's-what that in your hand?"

Elizabeth moved the cup away from him as she gave him a wide-eyed look and weak smile, just for the hint of coffee to hit his nose.

"Really, coffee like your mother? Are you kidding me, please tell me your brother had good taste in etiquette like myself. Speaking of, where is he?"

Her face turned away from him as her brow sunk in sadness, "Elizabeth?"

"Look dad, I don't know what he was told. I believe it came from Teodor but I can't tell. He's upset about this change, thinking it would fix things."

Now he was worried, "Fix what darling?"

Elizabeth gave a quiet sigh, "His arm."

Oh, that. He and Juliet exchanged glances, knowing this day would come no matter what happened. With a light nod, he laid his hand upon his daughter's shoulder, "Where is he?"

"Along the river."

Arthur wasted no time to get out the door, heading over to the spot he always took them to view the Thames. He didn't think Vlad's son would say much to Thomas but there were some children that pointed it out more than others. He normally just brushed it away, but this time it seemed to have hit him deeper than before. Finally, as the water was in view, so was Thomas. Arthur could see him, shaking in anger as he threw something into the water before him. He approached lightly as his son continued to throw things within.

"Thomas."

Finally, the man turned around as Arthur gained full sight of his boy. Juliet did say she wanted a child just like himself, and boy did she get one. The same messy blonde hair, green eyes and even brows matched his own as his son realized he was there, wiping away tears that were trailing down his cheeks.

"Sorry dad. I didn't realize how long I was gone, just needed a moment like we used to." Thomas said to him as he walked up to him, trying to make it past him, "I didn't mean to make the tea cold, just lost track of-"

Arthur silenced him as his hand rested upon his boy's chest, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing dad."

He moved Thomas in front of him, looking straight into his eyes, "Then show me."

Thomas flinched, knowing what Arthur meant. Grumbling under his breath, he rolled up his sleeve and took off the black glove that rested upon his right hand. He raised it to him, looking away from his father's gaze. Arthur looked down to his arm, seeing the damage done from Genesis when they attacked cities and capitals that day. So many killed and hurt. He could still hear Juliet crying as the blood trickled down her legs.

"Go ahead and look at the fucked-up mess." he heard Thomas mutter.

Arthur's hand connected with Thomas's head earning a shout from him, "What the bloody hell was that for?"

"Speaking like you did."

"So? It's true. I'm a mess and nobody-"

"You have this due to evil people that walked this world!" Arthur shouted.

Thomas stared at him, unsure of what to do just as Arthur took a breath, "This was done by Genesis. People that murdered hundreds of people, thousands at a time. I almost lost you and your mother that day. This here isn't a 'fucked up mess'. This is proof that you survived something and still stand due to it. Those bastards tried to take everything away from me, yet they couldn't. You didn't give them a chance to. To hell with what people say, this is a proof of strength my son. And I love you with or without it for my view of you will never change."

Arthur saw Thomas's lower lip tremble lightly, finally knowing he got to him. He didn't give him a chance to think as he pulled him close, whispering to him that things would be ok. He knew it would be, and that was good with him.

"Come on bruder, tell me that I'm wrong?" Gil pestered Ludwig once more.

"You're wrong."

"You're no fun."

He wasn't sure if what he heard from Vlad was true or not, but a part of him was hoping it wasn't. Gil on the other hand was a ball of energy over the fact. The children were supposedly grown to their populations and he was ready to just dive into it head first while Ludwig wanted the normal life he was used to.

"Tell me you don't want it."

"I fully don't."

"Why not? They won't be in pain."

"It's life. I know it sucks, I remember when I was still young and had it with you. I just don't think rushing it will help any."

"How bad have they screamed for you in the middle of the night?"

Ludwig turned around to see Gil stopped in the middle of the room, eyes down and arms crossed, the deep tone of hurt and worry lacing his voice.

"Have you had Adeline or Sophie scream your name as if they were dying, or just hold Dieter to you as he cried non-stop for everything hurts him?" Gil asked him.

"Nein."

"Then I see why you say what you do." Gil sighed, "For the last few days Julia has woken up in the middle of the night screaming in pain and Fredrick isn't far behind."

He knew it was tough for Eliza and Gil, Marie had gone over a few times to help them, yet the three kids were the same as well, just not as bad.

"I really don't want to see Fredrick and Julia all grown either, but it's what's best for the children bruder." Gil said to him.

"What's best for the children?" two voices filled the room.

Looking over Ludwig was met with two full grown women, both looking at the two of them. Their blue eyes staring them down as the blonde held a more serious face than the brunette. He was shocked to say the lease, wondering what was going on.

"Oh look, you two left vati speechless with your looks, that's not shocking." a young man appeared in the door way, holding the same physical traits as Ludwig.

"Shut it Dieter." they said to him.

It couldn't be. There was no way it was but the shout that Gil let out was his proof, "Heilige Scheiße, meine Nichten und Neffen! You're all grown, ha! That means Julia and Fredrick are too!"

Before long it was just him and his children within the room as he heard Marie call out for them. They were grown, all grown. No more little giggles or horsey rides, it was just gone. He didn't remember falling but he sure felt his head connect with the floor as Adeline and Dieter ran next to him as they exclaimed, "Vati!"

"Look what your hideousness did Adeline, you killed him!" Dieter yelled.

"Shut your ass face!" Adeline snapped back.

It was official, he wasn't ready for their change as they fought above him while Marie and Sophie tried to calm them down. It just looked like Ludwig had his hand fuller than he planned.

Yao was off, running around his home as the phone conversation was fresh in his head. The spell that the Brit cast worked, now all the children were where they needed to be. He couldn't believe it, hearing Dao sounding like his father on the other end as he and Lien spoke briefly. Now he was looking for Shen, so excited to see how his son turned out to be.

Finally getting to his door, he knocked quickly as excitement rolled through him. He just couldn't wait, it was like the day he was born, the very same excitement coursing his veins as he heard Nora laugh from the other room.

"Shen, come out here quickly." he demanded.

"Aiyaa. Shì bàba, I'm here." a deep voice came from behind as the door slid open.

There he was, tall, lanky, as his dark hair spilled over his eyes that were a mix of his mothers and his own. It really did happen.

"Wow, look at you Shen, you are all grown!" he couldn't help but beam at him, "And just a bit taller than me too! Where did you get that from?"

"I don't know, my eyes are burning, hold on." he replied as he went into his room.

Yao peaked in, seeing two laptops upon the bed with three handhelds lying next to them. How much technology did one boy need?

"What were you up to?" he asked.

"Oh, just making some firewalls with māmā."

"What?" he couldn't believe it, that his only son was more like his mother than him.

"What bàba?" yet Yao didn't answer him as he slowly made his way to their favorite spot in the garden.

How did his little boy become so different from him? He knew he'd have a little bit of his mother but not like that. A hand caught his, taking him off guard.

"Wait bàba, let me show you something." Shen said, dragging him to the garden.

Opening the doors, he showed him the back with a smile like his own. It wasn't hard to see why. Yao's jaw dropped as all the work he had planned for the back was done. From the small stepping stones to the trees he wanted, it was all there.

"I was up early with māmā and I did it all after finding your blueprints." Shen confessed to him, waiting patiently for his words.

Yao couldn't find them, he was too shocked, but meeting his son's gaze was enough to snap him out of it. Walking over to him, he placed his hand behind his head and press their foreheads together.

"I never can be prouder of you Shen." he smiled at him, "Xièxiè."

Grown or not, Yao was going to love this.

The cherry blossoms fell to the pavement as Kiku walked along the way, wondering if everything was ok. He heard from Yao that things had changed and cities were now growing to be their proper ages, yet he had not seen Sakura all morning. Worry settled into his stomach as he tried to figure out why, but Harper just smiled at him and told him to walk the ways, that he would find her on the usual route that he took her on every day.

"I hope she is alright." he sighed.

He feared that Arthur's 'magic' could go wrong and things not turn out like they should. It worried him that maybe she was hurt or afraid of what had happened. He tried to shake the thoughts that plagued him, yet nothing seemed to clear his mind.

"Papa?"

His head shot up as that usual term came to him only to be awed. There before him was a beautiful young woman, donned in a pink and red kimono with a blossom within her ponytail. Her eyes were wide like Harper's when she was nervous or wondering something, but what set him to know was the little sugar glider upon her shoulder staring at him.

"Sakura?"

"Hai." she gave a light bow as her eyes never met his.

It really was his daughter, everything was true. Making his way to her, he just couldn't believe how beautiful she was and how much trouble he was in when the boys wanted to date her. She was almost like a geisha in beauty but surpassed it with her mother's genes.

"Do you not like me like this?" she asked.

That took him off a bit. Kiku shook his head as he placed his fingers under her chin, guiding her eyes to meet his. Worry and fear laid within her sweet eyes and all he wanted to do was wipe it away.

"It is hard to see you like this, just yesterday you were running around in a yellow costume yelling Pikachu. Now, you are a grown woman, and one of the most beautiful I have seen."

"You say that for I look like mama." she smiled at him.

"That is true, and you are both very beautiful women to me." he kissed her forehead as the little paws of Sugar came to his hand. "And you are cute too, Sugar."

He held out his arm for her as he gestured towards the walk, "Why not walk like we always do?"

"Hai papa, I'd like that." she smiled.

Even though he wasn't fully prepared for it, he still couldn't believe that she was his little girl.

"Chloe!" Feli yelled as he entered the house, "Chloe, is it true?"

"Kitchen Feli and is what true?" he heard her respond.

"The children, where are the twins? Where are my bambini?"

Chloe laughed at him as he looked out the window she was staring out, "Calm down Feli, they're here along with your niece and nephew."

"Enzo and Flora are here too? Are they grown as well? I heard from some of the other nation including Antonio that they are all grown. He was crying because Neva was all grown up and he didn't want her that way. So, are they, are they?"

"Relax Feli, they're here."

"Where?!"

"Papà!" two excited shouts came to him.

Turning around he was greeted by two grown people at the door frame, their hair a mixture of his own and Chloe's while the man had green and she the same amber as his own. It was them and he couldn't hold back.

"Rosalia! Marco!" he shouted as he ran over to them, wrapping them in a tight hug, "My babies are all grown up, look at you two!"

"We know papà!" Marco replied as he set them down.

"We are truly grown now." Rosalia smiled at him.

"This is wonderful and needs pasta to celebrate! Oh, that means you two can come on world meetings and get involved and understand what it's like to be your papà." he explained.

"You are really happy about this." Chloe smiled at them all.

"Ve, why wouldn't I be?"

"I'm punching that English bastard square in the nose now!" he heard Lovino say as two other heads popped around the corner, having the same characteristics as Lovi and Briana.

"Not all were too thrilled." she said.

Feli smiled at his family, pulling them all into another tight hug, "I don't care how old they get, they'll always be my babies and you will always be my wife."

The four of them couldn't stop after it began, and Feli was quite content with that.