"Baba!" Vietnam cried as she ran into China's room. The young child's tears ran down her cheeks. She jumped into China's bed clinging to him. She almost tripped over the hem of her long nightgown, the white silk flowing around her. China woke up wearing a red oriental silk robe. He sat up when the young girl jumped to him, holding onto his stomach.
"What is it aru?" China asked as he tiredly sat up. He hugged her and pulled her up onto his lap. He was very tired, but hugged his little girl close. Whatever she was scared of he wanted to comfort her.
"I had a nightmare...," she said burying her head in his chest.
He held her close in response, "What was it about, aru?"
"It was really bad...," she looked up at him and tried to stop crying. Her eyes were still wet as she attempted to wipe the tears away with her sleeve, "A man with bushy eyebrows and scary eyes full of green poison...and...and...he came to take me away! He wanted to take me away from you, Baba! I don't want to leave you! Don't let him take me away please! Please!" She had begun to cry again and China held her closer.
England. What was wrong with you? Scaring a small girl half to death? Was that really the gentlemanly thing to do? Oh he claimed to be a gentleman, but obviously being a gentleman was just a stupid word that held no meaning when conquering the world was involved. He had grown drunk with power. This stupid war...China wanted to smack England in the head with his wok, but no. His boss would only allow that sort of combat on the battlefield. But really? England had so many other colonies and territories, why did he trouble himself with trying to take over Asia? It made no sense to China.
He hugged Vietnam closer. The sweet innocent child that England wanted to corrupt and distort into one of his brats. He had heard that England's colonies didn't even like him. There were few nations that liked England in general anyway, but to have one's own...children...even if they weren't really your own, to hate you...
"He will not get you. I promise, aru. I will make sure you are safe and well protected. England will not dare put on grimy Western finger on you or else he will have to answer to me, my yuānwěi hua," he said trying to be reassuring.
Vietnam's tears began to slowly stop,"B-Baba is strong, shi?"
"Shi," China said with a smile and he gently kissed Vietnam's forehead.
"C-Can I sleep with you tonight?," she asked timidly looking up at him with wide caramel colored eyes. She still looked scared, but at least she had stopped crying. That much had been enough to make China feel better, too. He hated it when she cried. He felt so bad for her.
"Shi," China said nodding and lifted the blanket. Vietnam crawled into the warm pocket of air underneath the blanket next to China. She cuddled up to his side feeling safe. He put his arm protectively around her. Instead of a green-eyed man, she dreamed of a crimson red dragon. One that was protective and warm, not threatening and cold.
Subconsciously, Vietnam muttered,"Wǒ ài nǐ, Baba," before drifting off to complete sleep.