AN: This is my first Hetalia fanfic so if you have any suggestions on characters' personalities or anything else don't be afraid to tell me. I hope this doesn't blow up in my face….

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia… that's currently in the works.

Chapter 1

"Now some people say happiness takes so very long to find. Well, I'm finding it hard leaving your love behind me."

~ Barry Manilow, "Can't Smile Without You"

It had been almosta year since England had last smiled. It had been almost a year since he'd laughed. It had been almost been a year since he'd been interested in living.

It had been almost a year since America had died.

The stupid git just had to be the damned hero until the end. He didn't have to do it alone. He knew that. We all knew that but still he insisted. It was part of the reason he loved him so much. He was stubborn and made things difficult.

He liked that.

"Angleterre, are you okay, mon ami," France asked England interrupting his reverie. "You've been oddly quiet. Vous sentez-vous d'accord?"

"I'm fine," he replied rather coldly. "I'm just a bit tired."

"Angleterre, don't play dumb with me. I know what day it is," France rebuffed. "Angleterre, you must move on. Your people need you. As much I hate saying this, we need you. Amérique, voudrait que vous faites cela. Se il vous plaît. Essayez."

He nodded absentmindedly in reply. His heart wasn't in moving on Alfred was special. There would be no moving on. He had told Alfred things he'd never said to anyone before. He had come about be gay to him. He'd confessed his feelings.

"Come, we have to hurry. We're going to be late the meeting," the Frenchman said attempting to lighten the mood. "Germany would never forgive us if we were late… again."

The pair made it down the hallway and into the conference room, which, by the time they got there was packed with nations. Normally, they would have been talking jovially and arguing good naturedly (most of the time). But today, they were quieter. They spoke in hushed whispers and gave England sympathetic looks.

He didn't want their sympathy. In fact sympathy made the situation worst. It made him feel like he was a kicked puppy or something. It made him feel weak.

He took a seat in spot nestled beside Canada and France. Those two understood. They had been there when he fell apart. They'd been there when America died.

"Hi Canada," England said to the quiet nation. "Are you okay?"

The only person who took this day harder than him it was Canada. America and Canada had been brothers. They had been together when he and France hadn't been there. They were family.

"I'm fine," the Canadian sniffed. He sounded like he had been crying. "If anyone should be asking how someone's doing it should be me asking you."

Canada offered him a small sad smile. His eyes however gravitated back to Germany who had begun the meeting.

Apparently they had all agreed to discuss America and his legacy later. They had all agreed that he'd want them to get down to business first.

He stared at England watching his mouth move spouting statics, facts, and strategies. But in all honesty he wasn't paying attention. If anyone noticed they probably didn't care or didn't want to mention it.

The island nation was so lost that he hadn't notice when Germany called on him.

"Angleterre, Allemagne wants to know the current outlook of the UK stock market," France said to him gently. He was obviously trying not to make him feel back for not paying attention.

"Umm… well."

It had truly seemed that England had lost all his eloquence and poise. He was drawing blanks and couldn't find any of his notes about this.

He looked up at the other nations and felt a wave of nausea wash over him. Maybe he should have taken Germany's offer for him to stay home and miss the first of a series of meetings in Munich.

"I don't know," he deadpanned.

For a moment, Germany sighed and gave him a sympathetic look.

"England, we were all hoping for-"

A soft knock came from the door interrupting Germany mid-sentence causing a ripple of mummers amongst the nations. Nothing interrupted Germany mid- speech, except maybe Italy, he was an exception. But even more startling was that no one ever knocked on their door during a meeting.

"Silence!" Germany commanded.

"Come in," he said.

From behind the door stepped a young man. The man had blonde hair his blue eyes hidden behind glasses his features complimented perfectly by a bright smile. He looked some much like America but it couldn't be could it?

"Sorry to bother you but I think one of you left these notes in the lobby," he explained. "Some guys at the front desk sent me to bring it."

He smiled brightly at them.

"Um… whose are these?"

England finally finding the voice to talk finally said, "Those are mine."

The man smiled and handed the notes over.

"Thank you Mr…."

"Jones. Alfred F. Jones."

AN: Well I hoped you liked it. Updates will be slow because school is a pain in the arse. Reviews will speed up the process. (This is also unedited so please don't be too critical about grammar.)

Translations:

Angleterre- England

Allemange- Germany

Mon ami- My friend

Vous sentez-vous d'accord? - Are you feeling okay?

Amérique, voudrait que vous faites cela. Se il vous plaît. Essayez.-America would want you to do this. So please. Try.