Chapter 1: London, you git!

(Quick note now: all double speech-marked speech is in Chinese)

"Just stop ignoring my calls, you git! You'd better be driving and if you're late, you will spend a whole day with Edinburgh in festival week. Got it?!" The English voice and words ring outside my door, and I nudge my door open with my bare foot to see Mr. England slamming the phone down with those huge eyebrows contorted into a scowl. Hearing my door open, he turns at look at me for a moment or two even as the door next to mine opens and my own country steps out, just finishing buttoning up the collar of his army uniform.

""Ni hao, Zhong Guo."" I mumble as best as I can with my last two hair pins in between my teeth as my hands still twirl my hair into place on my head. I always keep my hair as tidy as I can, but it has always been long, and sometimes a pain to pin back. China clicks his tongue and motions for me to turn away from him.

""Ni hao, Beijing."" He chuckles, taking the pins from my mouth and finishing my task, pinning the last irritating strands up for me.

""Thank you, gēge!"" I grin cheekily, and my country still crinkles his nose at that term. I call him "older brother" sometimes to confuse him, as that's a title he knows well, but not coming from me! In one sense, it's difficult for me to know exactly how to refer to him, my only true family member! Other than his name, of course, and "my country", if I'm feeling particularly nice, or want something: D

Mr. England is still standing there, now with a slightly blank expression at our rapid Chinese speech, but then he blinks, and surprisingly enough, turns to me.

"I don't suppose you happen to have heard from London, have you?" he sighs. "The little bugger's running late again…and he won't pick up my calls."

"I haven't had any calls or messages, ari." I shrug slightly, stifling a yawn as I reply. I didn't sleep well last night…or the night before….or the night- I just don't sleep well at all, ok? "I apologize." I add politely.

"No need, love. Where did I go wrong raising him…?" Mr. England mutters.

""Probably at every corner of the journey."" China replies casually, but he speaks in Chinese this time, and I have to stifle my laughter. "Ayia, Beijing! Don't laugh at England, aru!" now he switches back to English and pretends to be shocked at me. I quickly adopt an ashamed expression.

"I am so sorry, ari!" I exclaim, trying desperately to keep a straight face. My sarcasm, however, flies right over Mr. England's head.

"That's quite alright." He replies smartly, then checks his watch and turns away to storm down the corridor, muttering again about "that bloody idiot…"

China tactfully waits until Mr. England is out of hearing distance before both of us burst out laughing.

""Awiaaa!"" I splutter ""Why didn't you say that in English?"

""It's funnier when he doesn't understand, Beijing!" China rolls his eyes before giving me a one-over look to check my appearance. ""That will be fine."" He mutters, more to himself than to me, moving to straighten out my collar that's practically choking me.

""Zhong Guooo! It's too tight!"" I whine, trying to loosen the collar again. My country grabs my wrists.

""I know, I know. I hate the uniform too, plus it doesn't suit you in the least. But we do have an important meeting to get to, so come on.""

I groan, thinking of all the people that will be there. London is ok if he's in a good mood, but from the sounds of it so far….unlikely. Other than him, Paris and Washington (just them, not their countries) are the only ones I've met up with within the last half-century, and as we walk down the corridor, the loud voice quickly alerts me as to who's already there.

""I don't think Washington's changed…"" I mutter even as we enter, and sure enough, Wendy nearly tackles me in a surprise hug.

"Hey Bei!" she laughs, nearly crushing me and laughing loudly at the rhyme. I would sigh if I could, but I can hardly breathe, so I settle for just hugging her back as best as I can.

"Wendy! You're squishing me, ari!" I can't help giggle a bit myself. As annoying as Washington can be, she will never fail to bring a smile to your face. She finally lets me go and I barely have time to even glance at China before I am practically dragged over to the window, where Paris holds her mirror high and re-adjusts one perfect curl. Wendy pouts at this.

"How do you do thaaaaat?!" she whines, jumping up onto the windowsill beside Philippa, who flashes her a perfectly white-toothed smile before embracing me and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek as she always does.
Paris always looks flawless, a trait obviously picked up from her country, and her clothes are always very modern, very stylish and often…well, very short! Wendy has a tendency to wear short skirts ,with those red converse shoes of course, as well, but with her figure and curly blonde hair- with a curl to match Mr. America's!- she pulls it off just as well. Me? Well I never dress as 'modern' as the other two do; I suppose that's just my age and history showing! I prefer my traditional clothes the best, far cries from the horrible uniform I have to wear now. China has always said I am beautiful, but he would wouldn't he?! That reminds me, last time we saw eachother, Philippa tried to give me a makeover…

I got rid of all the photos, before you ask. Never again.

"Ni hao, Pippa!" I laugh, hugging her back and cheekily forcing Washington to budge up to make room for me.

"Where 'iz zhat flower I gave you?" Paris pretends to be grievously shocked as she taps my head. Triumphantly, I whip out a picture from my top pocket and proudly show her.

"Happy, ari?"

"Am I there?" Wendy leans over my shoulder eagerly, nearly pushing me off the windowsill in her haste to see the picture of us three, where I have said flower in my hair.

"You never let us forget you, mon amie!" Philippa sticks her tongue out and I suddenly recoil slightly, staring at her in shock. "Quoi…oh!"

"What? What is it?" Wendy asks confused as I wonder briefly if I imagined what I had seen. Paris just laughs.

"Bei, I haven't see you since I got this!" she sticks her tongue out again and my eyes widen further in some shock at the glittering metal stud through her tongue.

"Awia, Pippa!" I blink. "Are you crazy?!"

"I think it's cool!" Wendy beams. "I would so get one, but I just can't be bothered to look after it!"

"Oui, it was painful, but worth it!" Paris laughs again, as my expression hasn't changed. "Something wrong, Beijing?"

"…you young capitals are so crazy these days, ari!"

"Hey!" both of the others exclaim and it's my turn to laugh, one-upping them with my age advantage.

"Alright, loves?" the sudden voice makes us all jump before Wendy has launched herself at her 'cousin'.

"London!" she beams, tackling him in a hug that nearly knocks him over.

"Good to see you too…" London rolls his eyes, quickly hugging her back and flashes his slightly arrogant grin at us two. "Morning, la frog." He smirks at Philippa, who fixes him with a hard glare that would freeze steam.

"Oooh you touched a nerve there, Lee!" Wendy resumes her seat and tries to snatch my picture, presumably to check her appearance in it.

"How are you, Bei?" I look up after retrieving my photo.

"I am fine, xiexie" I reply shortly, and glance over his shoulder. "It looks like you're in trouble, ari…"

"London!"

"…heaven help me, love."

A/N: Big welcome to this new fanfiction, and of course to the plethora of new OC's that are the capitals :D just to clear up their human names...
Beijing- Bei
London- Lee
Paris- Philippa
Washington- Wendy
Moscow (meet him next chapter!)- ?...for now...

Translations

Ni hao: hello
Zhong Guo: China
Xiexie: Thank you