"Hey Engwand?"

Arthur turned to face his colony, who was looking up at him from the dining room table. "Yes, America."

"What's this word mean?"

Arthur walked over to Alfred and looked over his shoulder. America had turned to a new page in his notebook and written a single word. Through the thin pages, Arthur could see drawings and notes.

"What's 'independence' mean?"

Panic began to rise, but England didn't let it show. He kept his voice calm and gentle. "Where did you learn that word, Alfred?"

The colony looked back down at the page, then back up at England. "I was talking to big brother France the other day and he started talking about when I get older I might want to-"

"How many times have I told you, France is a fr- bad influence."

"But what does it mean, Engwand?" Alfred always looked so young, so innocent. He didn't yet understand the power of words.

England sighed. I should not tell him the real meaning. Yet he couldn't bear lying to his colony. But if it was for the best...

"Independence is when a colony always stays with and relies on the larger country it is a part of."

Arthur winced as Alfred hugged and grinned at him. "Then I'll always be independent of you, Engwand!"

The little colony was so cute now, but someday he would grow up and really want to be independent. Arthur knew it was just a matter of time before the cuteness and innocence was gone.

Alfred released Arthur and pushed his chair back from the table. "I'm done with my lesson now! I'm gonna go outside to the garden." He gave Arthur one of his asking looks. "Ok?"

"Go ahead."

"Yay!" Alfred quickly ran out of the room, and Arthur heard the screen door slam shut behind him.

Almost instantly England was overcome with regret. He could hardly tell America the truth now, but he felt so guilty for lying to the boy.

What kind of ideas was France filling the little colony's head with? Ones of independence and freedom, surely. Those were concepts America was not yet ready to learn about. Or that I'm not ready to learn about, England thought bitterly.

He didn't want America getting thoughts like that into his had so early, when he was just a child and still needed a lot of help from England. In fact, he didn't want America to ever think about independence. The colony would never survive on his own- and neither would England. He didn't want to admit how much the young colony had helped him already.

England was torn from his thoughts as a scream sounded outside. He tensed, then ran towards the back door. As he turned the corner, the door opened and Alfred came running in, tears streaming down his face. Arthur caught him in an embrace.

When Alfred had calmed down, Arthur asked, "What happened?"

Alfred gulped and spoke through the tears. "T-there was a- a little person and- it looked at me!" He began to hiccup. "What -hic- was that -hic- Engwand?"

Arthur was laughing now. "Oh, Alfred! There's no need to be afraid. It was just a faerie. They won't do anything to hurt you, I promise."

"R-really?" Alfred gave him an incredulous look. "I saw a -hic- fairy?"

"Yes, Alfred. It is not uncommon to find faeries in the garden. I'm surprised this is your first one."

"Wow!" Alfred's eyes were wide as saucers. "Now I wish I hadn't run away."

"Don't worry," Arthur said. "They won't leave because of one frightened child. In fact, they probably would love to talk to you."

Alfred smiled. "Really?"

"Of course." Arthur wiped away the few remaining tears. "Come on. Let's go back out- together."

"Yay! I bet I can beat you!" Alfred left go of Arthur and took off running back out to the garden. Arthur laughed and went after him, but still remembered what had happened earlier. What will I do when he really does want independence?