Good Will

Pairing: EnglandXFem!Scotland. There may be other pairings on the side, but the story will be centered around Arthur and Eileen. :)

Rating: K+ should cover it. Maybe teen? It'll be pretty PG.

Summary: All is not well in the United Kingdom, and talk of Scottish secession is on the rise. In an effort to display good will, Minister Salmond and Queen Elizabeth decide to send Arthur and Eileen on a vacation to Aruba together. This does not bode well with either. EnglandXFem!Scotland.

…

"Eileen!" First Minister Salmond greeted me with a warm smile, extending his hand for me to shake as I entered his office. I glanced about the room, chuckling at the Star Trek posters. A framed picture of his wife graced his desk, along with photographs of various friends and family members. Salmond agreed well with me- despite his professionalism, he was a down-to-earth man.

"Mornin', Alex. How are ye?"

"Just fine, thanks. And ye?"

"Quite content. So, wha's the news?"

He grinned, though his eyes seemed hesitant. I felt anxious to hear what he would tell me.

"I'm sendin' ye on holiday."

"Holiday!" I clapped my hands together, beaming. "Ye mean it? Oh, how exciting! Where will I go? I ha'en't traveled for pleasure in years."

"Well, Eileen, ye don't want to get so excited yet. Ye will have to negotiate with a fellow nation- one a yer own, I mean- on the trip. It won't be formal-like, though. Ye two will simply share a villa an' spend a bit a time together. But I wouldn't be worried. Ye get to stay with a man."

I chuckled, feeling disarmed. This is what he was worried about? I could handle a diplomacy-date.

"Tell me where I'll go!" I was nearly jumping from excitement- I couldn't wait for a vacation.

"His boss an' I have decided to send the both of ye to Aruba."

"Aruba!" Now I really was shaking, thrilled by the thought that I'd soon have an island getaway. "Yet ye won't tell me who the lad is, hm?"

"I ought to give ye a fair warning. Eileen, I had a meeting with the Queen last week, as ye know."

My face fell. Oh, lord, not him, not him! Anybody but him!

"Alex," I felt breathless, and my thoughts began to swim, "Please tell me I'm just going on vacation with Wales. Tha's why the Queen met ye, right? I'm travellin' with Wales?"

Salmond shook his head sadly. "Eileen, I don't know what to tell ye. I'm very sorry. Scotland and England just haven't gotten on well lately, and it would be good for both nations if ye two spent seven days together without rippin' the other's head off."

"I can't make any promises when I'm around that-"

"Please, Eileen." My boss sighed, looking down. "I know this isn't ideal, but I'll make ye a bargain. I'll give ye a real vacation, anywhere ye like, if ye do this for me. Two weeks off from work, whenever ye want. How does that sound?"

"It sounds like fair compensation," I replied honestly. "I can hardly stand to be in the same room with the man. I mean, why are we trying to get on with England, anyhow? So we can be an unofficial colony, used for our wealth? We both know Scotland wants out of the UK."

"It's not that simple." He frowned. "It never does good to make enemies with England."

"Don't I know it."

"Ye two have a rough past, I know. Most divorced women only spend a lifetime avoiding their ex-husbands. You, unfortunately, don't have that luxury."

"For the record, a Union of Parliaments is hardly a marriage."

Salmond glanced at me as though he doubted the truth of what I'd said. Honestly, so did I.

"Yes, well…I'd really appreciate it if ye did this. For Scotland. God knows how easily misunderstandings can explode into war now-a-days, and we don't want to face an English belligerent, should we choose to leave the UK. The division between North and South Ireland makes it painfully clear that we need to be as diplomatic as possible."

"And Arthur agreed to this? I doubt he wants to see my face for a week."

"He'll just have to."

Resigned, I agreed to the arrangement. One week, that was it. I'd endured far worse- after all, I once lived with the lout.

…

"Elizabeth, with all due respect, you can't expect me to spend a week with that woman!" I sputtered, my face heating. Eileen Fitzhugh was a true wild-card; brilliant yet slightly mad. After all, she listened to the Fratellis and Franz Ferdinand, for God's sake. That I managed to be in the same room with the red-locked she-devil most likely was the reason that I had frequent stress-dreams before United Kingdom Summit meetings. Imagine the kind of nightmares I'd have were I to go on holiday with her!

"Arthur," my Queen's expression was stoic, as always. Though I usually appreciated her impassive nature, I wished that she'd show some sympathy for my plight, "What happened with you and your ex-wife was long ago. Scotland is a valuable ally to England. We need to keep them from seceding from the United Kingdom. You know this. If the Scottish public hears that you and Eileen spend time together, they might just soften. And our people will surely be pleased with the sense of security. Also, imagine the Scots living here. It will make them feel more welcome."

"The Union of Parliament's wasn't a marriage," I protested, "but I agree that this would be for the best. Did Eileen agree to this?"

"I just spoke with First Minister Salmond. He loves the idea, but Eileen, as you can expect, is not so fond of it. She confers with it, however. You will meet her at the GIA Friday morning. There, you two will board a flight to Oranjestad. We have a Royal jet secured for the both of you so that you won't be disturbed while travelling."

"Believe me, I would cherish any distraction."

Her Majesty frowned at me, disapproving of my comment. "Be kind to her, Arthur. I'm on good terms with the woman- she is merely sensitive. If you show her good will, she will soften."

"She's left her callouses untreated for centuries." Though annoyed with my fate, I smiled at Elizabeth. She knew as well as I how stubborn Eileen was.

A thin smile was my response. "Then you will start on them."

…

A/N: Hi, all! I'm very excited to start on this. I usually write yaoi, but I think it'll be fun to explore Eileen and Arthur's relationship. I also hope my story doesn't appear biased toward either Scotland or England as nations themselves. My mom is mainly Scottish and English (I'm related to Mary, Queen of the Scots- the crazy one that tried to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I-, apparently. 0_o), and so I identify with both nationalities. However, I have to say that after considering the issue of Scottish, I think that Scotland would be better off independent.

If you've enjoyed this, please leave a review. :) The encouragement will help me make time to write more. :D Thanks for reading!