I will state ahead of time. I do not own anything at all. Please enjoy! :D If the story seems rushed, please do not flame. I will submit a longer version when my contest with some friends end in January. Thanks again! :D


Chapter 1: 1757 French-Indian War/ 7 Years War


"Arthur, come here!"

The young British boy with messy short blond hair glared out at the horizon, his radiant emerald eyes fixed upon the flowing grass. The year was 1757, a year the colonists had wished for peace, his mother told the child. Because he didn't understand what peace was and who the 'colonists' were, he didn't question her. For some reason, his father hadn't returned home like he had promised. It angered the little boy more than it worried him. His father broke his promise he made to Arthur and his mother.

"Arthur?"

The blond boy turned to see his mother with another woman with sandy brown, almost blond hair smiling at him warmly. He recognized her as his mother's friend and skipped his way over to the two women. "Yes Mummy?"

"Say hello to Goody Jones," she said contently. "You've met her before, haven't you, child?"

Arthur nodded, and turned to Mrs. Jones with a small bow as a polite gesture. "How do you do, Mrs. Jones?"

"I'm doing just fine, thank you, Arthur," the American lady responded merrily a radiant smile bestowed upon her light face. "I've just had my first son. His name is Alfred. Would you like to meet him?"

Arthur glanced to realize she had been holding a small bundle in her arms for quite some time now. "Okay."

Mrs. Jones kneeled over to allow the short child to gaze upon the newborn baby's face. "This is Arthur," she cooed to the sleeping baby. "Say hello, Alfie."

The small Alfred did not budge. He remained in an inert and sleeping position.

"Is he dead?" Arthur asked bluntly, poking the baby's chubby face. "He's not saying hello."

"Arthur!" his mother scolded a bit ashamed of her son's behavior. "Forgive him, Alice, he's a bit blunt. He seemed to have forgotten his manners." Her last sentence had an edge to her voice so sharp it made Arthur cringe in guilt.

Mrs. Jones laughed. "I don't mind, Abigail. He's a sweet boy." She ruffled Arthur's hair with her free hand before tucking it back underneath her child. "You've raised him well."

Arthur stared down at the baby's face. "He's fat. Why are babies so chubby?"

"Arthur Kirkland!" his mother screeched, appalled by his rude comment.

Mrs. Jones, once again, only responded with a happy laugh. "He means well, Abby. Babies are a gift and are to be taken with such curiosity." She beamed at Arthur. "Will you be Alfred's big brother, Arthur? I'm sure he'll love to have a big brother to play with when he gets older."

"I think it's splendid," Mrs. Kirkland agreed with a small but sweet smile. "What do you think, Arthur?"

Arthur nodded his head. "Okay." He frowned. "But won't he need a father too?"

Mrs. Kirkland's small smile also slipped off her gaunt face. "Mr. Jones is at war right now, Arthur. I think I've told you already."

Arthur paused a moment before starting again. "War…? Will he win and come home soon like he promised? I'm sure he promised to come home like Father did."

Mrs. Jones's once radiant face faded away like a light flickering in an attempt to stay alive. She lowered her head and frowned deeply. "Um, well, you see, Arthur… Mr. Jones isn't… coming back."

"I'm so sorry, Alice," his mother muttered almost breathlessly, as if her chest was pained to utter those four short words.

"Think nothing of it, dear," she tried to smile, though it was much crooked than before. "He was impressed into joining the war."

Arthur looked perplexed. Not coming back? Did he like staying away from his wife and newborn baby? He was impressed? He liked war? Why? Was war much more important than Alfred and his wife who need him home?

Was Arthur's own father like that too?

Now he was mad.

"They like war? They were impressed into joining the military? I know Father is a British soldier and he HAD to join, but he LIKED it? I can't believe it!"

Mrs. Jones's face color melted. "It's not like that, Arthur sweetie."

"It makes no sense! He and Mr. Jones just want to leave Mrs. Jones and baby Alfred here by themselves? Why? It's not fair! Just because they want to watch people suffer doesn't mean they can make those who love him at home suffer too!" Arthur stamped his foot into the ground, clearly in pure anger and frustration. "That's very selfish of them!"

"Arthur, you don't understand," Mrs. Jones pleaded, tears forming in her brilliant blue eyes.

"What's left to understand?" Arthur snapped, tears gushing from his own eyes. "They decided to leave their families here so they can kill other people who actually WANT to go home and see their families again? That's too cruel!"

"Arthur, I've heard just about enough from you!" Mrs. Kirkland slapped the back of her child's head in frustration. "You've made Mrs. Jones cry!"

Arthur cringed at the sudden soft but firm blow dealt to his head, but found crying over making Mrs. Jones cry more appropriate over crying over the whack on the head. "… Mrs. Jones? I'm very sorry… Are you alright?"

Mrs. Jones wiped her tears away and let the bright smile return to her face. "I am just fine, Arthur honey, and thank you. When I meant Mr. Jones isn't coming back, I meant… he was killed in battle."

Arthur felt his heart stop for three seconds at the dreaded word 'killed.' He wasn't expecting that. That's what they meant on not coming home… What about Mr. Jones being impressed into joining the war? What did they mean by impressed?

"When Mr. Jones was impressed into enlisting, it means he was forced into joining the army," Mrs. Kirkland replied, as if reading her child's mind.

Arthur finally understood. Mr. Jones didn't want to join the war. He wanted to stay home with Mrs. Jones and Alfred like a father and husband should. He didn't want to see people die. He wanted to see his baby grow up. He was forced into watching instead of admiring bloodshed.

He was very wrong, Arthur sadly concluded. "I'm… I'm very sorry, Mrs. Jones."

"Don't worry, little one," Mrs. Jones kissed the top of his head. "Alfie and I will be alright. His father is watching us from heaven. He was a wonderful man." She cooed to her baby. "Isn't that right, Alfred?"

The baby, once more, refused to move. He was deep into sleep.

Arthur began to sulk. "His father… I'm sure would be very proud of Alfred when he grows up." He bit his lower lip to fight off more tears that threatened to leak from his grassy green eyes. It got the child thinking… was his father dead too?

"Well, why don't you stay with us, Alice?" Arthur's mother proposed with a sweet smile. "I'm sure you'll find yourself at home with us. And Arthur would be able to take care of Alfred more easily."

Mrs. Jones seemed to like the idea. "If it's not too much trouble, thank you." She held up her baby. "Alfred thinks it's a good idea too."

Arthur blinked. "But I thought he was asleep."

The infant finally stirred awake in his mother's arms, but could not open his eyes.

Arthur watched him closely. "I think he doesn't like the sun." He gently pinched his chubby cheek. "My little brother doesn't like the sun?"

Mrs. Jones giggled. "Don't worry, he's just a newborn! When he grows to be your age, he'll surely be running and playing all afternoon."

"Will he?" Arthur seemed quite pleased to hear this; his emerald eyes glistened as his face lightened up. He smiled widely and poked Alfred's nose. "Hi there Alfred, my name is Arthur! I'm your big brother now, so I'll take good care of you, ok?"


A/N Thanks for reading! :D


Next: Chapter 2- 1763