"Christmas is coming...Christmas is coming...Christmas is coming..."

A small boy, who physically only looked about eight years of age, paced back and forth in a large, nicely furnished living room. A worried pair of eyes watched as he continued his march.

"America, what's bothering you?"

The child continue to march, occupied in his own little world. England frowned. It concerned him to see America in such a state. He was normally such a carefree, cheerful boy. The only time he ever became worried was when he did something wrong and knew a punishment was inevitable.

"America?" England called out once more. "What on Earth are you stressing about?"

This time the young child looked up. He looked startled, as if he never knew England was in the room. "Stressing?" America replied. "I'm not stressing at all!"

England cocked an eyebrow. "Of course." He sipped the rest of his tea and carefully placed it on the counter beside him. He glanced at America, who was still quietly muttering to himself. Raising to his feet, England walked over to his brother and placed a gentle hand on his head. He began to examine the child's blonde locks, nodding to himself every so often.

America furrowed his eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

"If you're not stressed," England began slowly, "then why do you have grey hair?"

The child grew wide eyed and pulled away from England's examining hands. "W-What?" America placed his hands protectively over his hair. "Y-You're joking!"

England let a chuckle escape from his feigned frown. "Of course, lad. Just a joke."

America let out a sigh of relief and released the death grip on his hair. England smirked, "Though, if you keep up this back and forth pacing, you may grow grey hair very soon..."

America's eyes widened once more. He seemed to ponder for a moment before letting out a defeated sigh. "Okay...I'll admit it. I have been stressing."

"I could definitely tell from your restlessness. Care to tell me what's wrong?" England asked, as he sat back down and patted his lap, inviting America to join him. America nodded and sat down next to his brother. England sadly took note of how the child did not sit in his lap, like he normally did. He tried to shrug it off, and assumed the boy was just too anxious at the moment.

"Any time you're ready, love." England coaxed after America had stayed silent for a few minutes.

"Okay," America began, "you know how I've been raising money lately?"

"Yes? You've done quite a bit of chores." It was true. A month ago the lad had begged England for chores to do, and lots of them. America cleaned his and England's rooms spotless. He dusted all the furniture tell he could see his reflection. He swept the floors and washed the dishes. In the evenings, he helped England with the cooking. On weekends, he cleaned the yard and even went shopping for food in England's place. America also did extra things England had never asked him to do. Of course, for all the child's hard work, England payed his brother an allowance.

America continued, "Well, I need to find a way to earn more money...Do you have any ideas?"

England looked shocked. "America, you've raised a lot of money. More than a little boy your age needs. What in the world do you want that costs so much? Besides, since it is close to Christmas I can try to buy it for you."

America shook his head violently. "N-No! I want to buy this myself!"

"America, after all your hard work, I would love to buy you a present you want so much!" England offered.

America stayed persistent. "I have to do this myself, England!"

England frowned. Truth be told, his heart felt as if it were about to break in half. America was growing up - too fast for his older brother's liking. It was bound to happen sooner or later, even if he opposed it. England decided to give in. "Alright, love. You can continue to do your normal chores and I will pay you double. Will that help you achieve your goal?"

America's bright blue eyes instantly lit up while flashing his famous smile. "Yes! That will really help!" The child jumped into his brother's lap and hugged him tightly. England melted into the hug, wondering how many more he would receive before America decided he was too old for hugs.

"Thanks, England!" America said, before leaping away from his brother and running up the staircase.

...

More than a week had passed since England had doubled America's allowance. The boy dashed around the house, completing every task on his list quickly but thoroughly. However, today his behavior was noticeably different. Especially when it came to receiving his money. America seemed to have ants in his pants.

America silently counted his money at a table before shouting, "YAY! I finally did it!"

"Did you earn enough money?", England asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Uh huh!" America nodded eagerly. "Can I go to town and buy it now?"

England looked out the window. "I don't think so." He replied hesitantly. "It's becoming a bit dark outside. How about tomorrow morning?"

"Pleasseeee England? I'll make it back before sun down! Pleaseeee?" America begged. England knew what was coming. The puppy eyes. Never had he once successfully said no to them. Sure enough, when he made eye contact with the eyes of doom, England felt every fiber in him that wanted to say no dissolve away to nothing.

Beaten, England gave in to his pleading. "Okay, I suppose you may."

"Thank you, England!" America immediately ran to the front door, getting ready to embark on his adventure to town.

"Hold on just one minute, America."

America turned around, knowing exactly what his brother was about to say.

America could tell by England's stance that he was about to go into mother hen mode. He would always stand taller and cross his arms. "You can not go outside dressed like that. It's freezing out there! Put on some proper clothing and then you may leave."

The child sighed. "Alright. I'll go change!" America dashed quickly to his room, returning in only a few short minutes. He was quite the sight. His snow hat was on sideways. His scarf was poorly knotted (the boy had tried to mimic England's style), his new snow boots looked a bit too big for him(England noted), his gloves were on properly, but were not a matching pair, and the boy was still struggling to put his jacket on.

England shook his head and grinned widely. "You are such a mess, lad."

At this statement, America examined himself in a mirror. "Well, uh, I was in a hurry, you know."

"Yes, I can tell." England fixed America's slanted hat before pulling it over the boy's eyes.

"Hey!" America giggled. "I can't see now!"

"That's the point." The English man chuckled.

America pulled the hat out of his eyes and stuck his tongue out.

"Very mature." England rolled his eyes playfully.

America pouted, which always made his cheeks puff out. "I am mature."

England helped the boy pull his left arm into his jacket's sleeve. He looked at America's gloves and decided to just let them be. After fixing the boy's scarf, America was set to go.

"Now, be careful America." England warned.

"Uhuh! No taking candy from weird ladies, right?"

"Quite, quite." England chuckled.

America opened the door to the cold outdoors. "Alright, see you later!" England stuck up a hand to wave and America did the same before closing the door.

...

America peered through the store's window, relieved to see his prize was still there. What he had worked for, for so long. A set of beautiful English tea cups, one that England had eyed for a long time. Now America could be the one to give it to him. The young boy walked into the store and over to the cashier.

"Excuse me, Mr., I would like to buy," America pointed his finger at the tea cups, "that set!"

The man didn't seem concerned with his young customer. "Don't bother with it, kid. It costs way too much for you."

America smirked. "I thought you might say that, but I've actually got money." He took the cash from his pockets and flashed it with a proud smile.

The older man looked flabbergasted. "Well then," he coughed. "I'll be right back." The cashier went his way to collect the tea cups with meticulous hands. America's eyes gleamed as he watched the tea set being removed from the window display. They could finally meet their owner.

The man sat a box on the counter with the tea cups safely wrapped inside. "I thought I'd never sell these cups. People just didn't have the money for them. I never would have guessed a child would by them. You're quite something, lad."

America blushed lightly at the compliment. "Thanks! It wasn't easy. I had to raise a lot of money!"

The man chuckled. "I bet. Can I ask who you're buying it for?"

"My big brother! He loves tea and tea cups. Especially this set. He has been eyeing it for a while."

"I expected this to be for a mother or father. You and your sibling seem to get along a lot better than others."

"Yeah!" America exclaimed. "He's the best brother ever. He always takes care of me, so he deserves a nice gift!" America layed his money on the counter. "Here you go."

The man grinned and began to count. America couldn't wait for Christmas to get here. He wanted to see the surprise and happiness on England's face as soon as possible.

The cashier suddenly shifted and frowned. "I'm sorry, lad. But it seems you are just a dollar short."

America's cheerful fantasy of Christmas day quickly faded. "W-What?"

"I'm so sorry, but you're a dollar short, lad."

The boy began to tear up. He didn't usually cry in public, but the disappointment was too much. "B-But! I knew the exact price. I counted all the money twice...I was so sure I had every single dollar." America began to hold back sniffles, but it was hard. The cashier looked just as kicked in the stomach. He couldn't let it end this way.

"Since you're such a hard-working lad, I'll let you have this. I'll pay for the last dollar." The man gave a grin - which must have been a rare occurence for him. America looked up, not sure if he should believe what he was hearing.

"R-Really?" America stuttered.

"Sure, sure. I know your brother will love it. Now take the box and hurry home before it becomes too dark out."

"T-Thank you!" America carefully picked up the box. "I'll make sure to return that dollar to you!"

The man shook his head. "That's alright. You don't need to repay me. Be careful on your way home!"

America nodded and ran out the door, gripping on to his prized possession. There was no way he was going to lose this now. The young nation couldn't wipe the grin off his face even if he tried.

...

The sun was almost set and England was about to go insane. Why wasn't America home yet? They didn't live that far from town, so what was taking him so long?

"I swear, if he isn't home in five minutes I'm going out to search for him..." Just then, England heard a relieving voice.

"England! I made it back before the sun set, just like I said!"

England began to breathe again, only then realizing he had ever stopped. "I'm glad, America. You had me extremely worried."

America giggled, "You're always worried."

"When it comes to you I can't help it." England peered at the boys hands, which were empty. "Where's that prize you've worked so hard for?"

America turned around and picked up the box and placed it inside before closing the door.

"That's a big box, love. What's inside it?"

Christmas was only two days away, but America wanted to know how England felt about his gift now. After all, America was never one for patience and he had worked for the money for over a month.

"How about you look inside?" America pushed the box towards his brother, gesturing for him to peek.

England commenced to unseal the package. "I am very eager to find out what you've been so excited to buy." America gazed with keen eyes as his brother finally opened the package. England's eyes grew wide as he stared at the sight before him.

"America..? What is this..?" England picked up the familiar cup, one that he had gazed at with admiration for so long. "You were raising that money to buy a gift...For me?"

America nodded. "Yes! Because a great big brother deserves a great gift!"

England felt a warm sensation rise in his chest. Even if America was growing up, his little brother still loved him all the same.

"America, thank you." England said with misty eyes.

Said younger brother smiled. He gave England a tight hug. "You're welcome!"

England chuckled, "You make me feel a bit sad about the gifts I got for you."

"Don't worry, England. I'm sure whatever you got for me is just fine! It always is!" America comforted.

"You are the best, America."

"You are too, England." America returned the compliment. "Merry Christmas, big brother!"

"Merry Christmas!" England said while tightening the hug on his little brother.

...

Even many, many, years after this Christmas, the tea cups still remained in England's cabinet as a precious, precious gift.