England grinned in anticipation as he pulled his football scarf up to his chin while Scotland poured and distributed their glasses and their respective beverages. Gin for England and Wales, Scotch whiskey for Scotland, and milk for Sealand; Northern Ireland had gone to join his sister in Limerick for the New Year.
"How much longer, England?" Sealand demanded of his elder brother, who was cautiously hoisting him on his shoulder.
England strained his bright green eyes to see Big Ben. "Six minutes," he reported.
Sealand whined. "That's too long! Make it go faster."
Scotland grinned widely and ruffled the micronation's hair. "We're doin' the best we can, lad. Maybe if you ask nicely, Eggy will do a spell and speed up time for you!"
England rolled his eyes while at the same time Sealand's got large and hopeful. "I know you're always doing weird stuff you think is magic, but can you really speed up time?" He received a glare for his inquiry. England gingerly placed his younger brother on the bridge railing to relieve his shoulder, keeping a hand on the rather impulsive child. Swinging his feet into open air, Sealand giggled cheerily.
He was about to take a swig of his milk when Scotland reprimanded him, "Nu-uh, laddy. Gotta wait 'til midnight!"
"He can't have just a little?" Wales asked, her red-blonde hair framing her rather pretty face. Scotland shook his head.
"That would ruin it! We gotta wait 'til midnight, so it'll be the first drink of the year!"
Sealand nodded sagely. "He's right, Wales. We have to wait." Her look of initial confusion was replaced with irritation.
"Well, you won't have to wait long now, little chap," England informed him, cuffing him lightly on the back of the head. The Englishman picked his younger brother off the railing and actually held him in a rare display of affection. "Barely a minute left." Sealand giggled in excitement again as England leaned against the cold railing.
At almost exactly fifty-seven seconds till, the chanting began. "Three! Two! One!" Sealand and Scotland roared with the rest of London. England and Wales smiled at each other contently. Big Ben's chimes rang throughout London, along with the shouts of celebration for one more year of history. "Happy New Year!"
Sealand had been screaming right in England's ear, but the elder brother decided it was okay when the former reached up to kiss his cheek. Scotland kissed his sister's forehead, and she giggled contently.
"Cheers!" England raised his glass, and the siblings – including Sealand – toasted to the end of an eventful year, and to the birth of a new one. They watched, transfixed, as the fireworks lit up London's sky. There were a whole lot them this year…the first minute of the new year was filled with near constant fireworks, flashing their different colours as Big Ben chimed and the Eye of London also shot out the lights. "May the rest of the year be as bright as tonight," England whispered poetically. He was drowned out by all the noise, though, so he barely heard his own voice.
"Goodbye, 2010!" Scotland bid the fleeting year. Sealand waved, just in case.
Wales cheered, "And hello to 2011!"
Author's Note: This is my first time publishing a story on here...so I have no idea what I'm doing. FF is so confusing...In any case, Happy New Year! Almost an hour after it first reached me...