"E-a-rly one mo-o-rning

just as the sun was ri-i-sing,

I heard a maiden call from the va-a-lley below;

Oh, don't deceive me,

Oh, never leave me,

Ho-ow could you u-use a poor maiden so?"

Alfred sat up, rubbing his eyes with his small fists. What was that?

"Hello?" he muttered, climbing out of bed.

The birds were tweeting, the sun's first rays pouring through the open window. It was to early for Alfred to be awake. Five more minutes.

Suddenly, he heard the same voice, repeating the same song.

He stopped. Why was the window open?

He straightened his nightgown, jogging towards the other end of the room.

"I-Iggy?" He gasped, sticking his head out of the window. He'd never seen Arthur, the person who had raised him, doing anything naughty before, let alone sitting on a windowsill, where he could easily fall, and hurt himself.

Arthur turned turned his head in surprise.

"Oh, you're awake," he yawned, "You're still refusing to say my name properly, aren't you?"

"Yup," Alfred swung his small legs over the windowsill, shuffling sideways until he was next to Arthur.

Silence. the only noises were the rustling of branches and the occasional bird's tune.

"I'm sorry I started a fight yesterday," Alfred murmured, staring down at his swinging feet.

"You're forgiven, wanker," Arthur said, "I just want you to be safe, that's all."

A wind picked up, ruffling Alfred's hair.

"What were you singing, England?"

"Oh, that? Just a song I made up, that's all."

"It was nice."

Arthur smiled.

"Big brother Scotland used to sing something familiar to me, but I never understood it; it was mainly in Gaelic. When I was trying to sleep as a child, he'd murmur lullabies to me and stroke my eyebrows," Arthur laughed softly, "it sounds funny but it was rather soothing, actually."

"That's why they're so big," Alfred gasped, and grinned.

"It's still rather early," he murmured, "You should get some sleep, America."

"I'd rather listen to your singing, if you don't mind," he pleaded.

Arthur laughed and straightened the young boy's glasses.

"Maybe later."

Alfred reached out and touched each of Arthur's eyebrows, with his index finger and thumb. He traced the direction the eyebrows went in until his fingers reached Arthur's temples.

"That's what Scotland used to do, right?" he asked.

Arthur looked surprised for a second, and then ruffled Alfred's hair.

"I'm surprised you actually listened to me for once, America."

They stared out at the landscape before them for a while.

"America?"
"What?"

"No matter what happens, I'll still love you, okay?"

Alfred looked up as Arthur slipped back inside, humming his song.

"Love you too, Iggy," he said quietly, his words snatched up by the wind.

Thanks for reading chapter one! There'll be more soon as it's the summer hol's now :3

This is my first (published) story that is more than one chapter, 'cuz I'm not very good when it comes to commitment XD