AUTHOR: tophatviolet

1st of September 2014 - Labor Day

For most of the nation, the first Monday of September was just like any other day. The difference had been a few people got the day off work and women talked of what not to wear. Good Morning America commented on the date, told it's viewers, "Happy Labor Day." and the day rolled on all but abnormally.

England had guessed that America had the day off, as he had invited him over to spend the day with him, It had been a rare treat that they had a day where both of them could relax together. So when he arrived and found that America had not waited for him he was more than a little puzzled and even worried. He asked the few people around what the issue might be only to find that America had left an address for him.

The address was a McDonald's and England really shouldn't have been surprised. He expected to see America with an order already on the table. However, he looked around and realized that that wasn't the case. How strange. Arthur, unsure of what to do, walked up to the registers an inquired about the possible presence of a blonde man. The young adult girl at the counter smiled brightly at him with a look that suggested she knew just who he needed.

"Ah, so you're the one he'd been talking about!" She said with a nod and a wink before she turned to grab someone from just around the corner. Of all the things England had expected, America in the black and yellow striped uniform of the restaurant was not one of them.

The nation gave the young adult girl a one armed hugged and thanked her for the alert before he stepped out from behind the counter and ushered England over to a table in the corner that they could sit at without being interrupted.

"America, are you..working?" England asked shocked. "You told me you didn't have work today and why here of all places?!" He didn't understand. What was America up to this time. The other nation just looked at him amused however, as if he had expected these questions.

"Well, I didn't really! When I talked to you yesterday I didn't have any plans except to watch movies all day on the couch with you. Honest." America started. He looked rather wistful as if he had looked forward to those things. England waited for further explanation. He would know when America was finished and it wasn't that time yet. He watched as America fiddled with his shirt and gathered his thoughts in a way that was awfully adorable and he loved to see.

"I was walking by one of my senators this morning though and he was talking about how he couldn't go out of town for the weekend with his family because his daughter couldn't get out of work." America continued. England slowly nodded as if he understood where this had gone. "So I sort of offered to take her place for the day."

America looked embarrassed. He wouldn't meet England's eyes as if afraid he might be angry with him. England couldn't have been less angry as it turned out. He slowly reached across the table to take one of America's hands in his own and gave it a light squeeze. There was a discreet smile on his face even as America gradually looked up.

"I am so proud of you." England said quietly as he refused to let go of America's hand even though the other protested that England was being overly sentimental. America laughed soon after though, very small happy tears in the corner of his eyes as he wiped them away with his free hand.

"It's not that big of a deal!" He said through hiccups as England moved to sit on the same side of the table as him. "I just, wanted to give back a little. I didn't want to ruin our day either though!"

England shook his head and leaned over to kiss America's cheek as he doted on the younger nation affectionately. "You are the kindest, most thoughtful person I know. I hardly think this ruins our day and you certainly made one of your citizens very happy I'm sure. You give much more than you realize."

America turned his head to look at England in a puzzled way and England knew by now that is what America does when he looked for confirmation from him. It was hard not to roll his eyes but it also endeared America to him somehow.

"You do, now stop making a fuss. I'll be right here and when you're done working we'll go back to your place and relax. How does that sound?" England asked.

"That sounds fantastic!" America replied his usual energetic self returned just as quickly as it had been dampered. He managed to catch England off guard as he moved to stand. He picked England up , just enough to get his toes off the floor, and spun him once before he sat him down again and returned to behind the counter where a small line of people waited.

England waved from his seat as he composed himself and made himself comfortable. He watched America work and really it was almost just like any other day. England didn't mind one bit, not when America worked hard to give his own citizens a day off.