Blue eyes under golden hair looked up at the sky, face beaming with euphoria. The little one fell back into the green field that lay before him. He closed his eyes and let out a gentle sigh then a light laugh.
"Hello, what's your name?"
A curious glance traveled toward the voice. A man with bushy eyebrows and blonde hair peered over the child with a small smile. The kid sat up and gave a huge grin in response.
"I'm America!"
"Iggy! Iggy!" The little boy cried.
"Yes, what is it?"
"I had a bad dream!" It was the middle of the night and he had run into the room crying.
"What was it?" Arthur said, pulling Alfred into his lad. He gently pet his head to soothe him.
"Please don't hate me!"
"What? Why would I hate you?"
"You and me were fighting, and we had guns, and it was raining, and, and… you hated me!" Alfred cried into Arthur's shirt, whimpering.
"Shh… It's ok…" Arthur tried to calm him down. He cupped Alfred's small cheeks and said firmly, "No matter what, I promise, I will never hate you."
Alfred looked at him and smiled.
Years later-
Arthur sat at a table, alone, reminiscing about the past. Meeting America, having his heart torn apart and thrown away, and even some of the sweet little moments when Alfy was a kid. The sounds of hopeless promises still bounced around in his head, making him irritated.
"What a lie."
At the sound of a loud bang, Arthur dropped his tea, falling to the floor with a clatter. The door had burst open, an even louder obnoxious man yelling his head off following the bang.
"Hey Iggy!"
"Bloody git, what do you want?"
"Hey," Alfred trotted over to him. "I'm sorry about earlier and all ya' know? I swear that I wasn't flirting!"
"I don't believe you."
"Aww, come on!" Alfred frowned and his eyes followed Arthur that got up out of his seat to go get more tea. Arthur didn't really care about the mess; a maid could clean it up later. Alfred walked closer. He stood behind Arthur and tried to wrap his arm around his waist, but Arthur swatted away his advance.
"Go away."
Arthur's widened as Alfred spun his around and hugged him close to his body, Arthur's face nuzzled in his chest.
"Do you hate me now?"
Arthur smiled to himself. He pushed Alfred away a little to lock his arms around Alfred's neck. "I guess I really can't lie to you can I?" Arthur kissed his lips lightly.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Arthur sighed and leaned into Alfred more.
"Of course you don't."