Chapter 2

Julia froze in shock, completely embarrassed. The boy, who Julia would learn later was Canada, blinked in surprise and stared at her.

"And just who are you?" asked a voice at one end of the table. Julia snapped out of her shock, and looked over at the speaker. He was short with blond hair and green eyes. He was glaring at Julia. "I said, who are you?" he repeated with a British accent.

"Julia." She responded.

"Well, that's not much to go on." The British boy said, to much laughter.

"I'm Julia, a princess of Mars. I left right before I was going to be forced to marry someone I didn't love. Because being a princess fucking sucks. Is that enough blasted information for you?" Julia snarled, not wanting to be mocked by this little boy. Everyone gasped at this announcement.

"A Martian? We haven't had Martians pay us a visit in a long time! I'm England, by the way, but you may have figured that out already." Said England.

Julia got off the table and everyone crowded around her to get to know her. They mobbed her, excited to see a Martian. But Canada held back, not being one for crowds. He felt a bit resentful at this interruption, because he was about to speak for the first time at a meeting. But he couldn't complain. He looked at her, being fervently admired by everyone. She was very pretty, Canada realized. He blushed at the thought, looking down at his polar bear. He looked at her again, admiring her long blond hair, her unusual purple eyes, her confident demeanor. Just then, America came over.

He said, "Admiring the view, brother?" Canada said nothing, his blush returning swiftly. "Yup, it's pretty obvious. Why don't you go over and talk to her. It was you she nearly ran into when she came flying in here after all!"

Canada looked up at his brother, having not realized that. "You're right! Perhaps I should go talk to her!" said Canada, suddenly feeling much braver. He walked over to her.

Once he reached her, he whispered, "Hey, Julia." Julia did not appear to have heard him, as she was turned the other way. So he said, again, "Hey, Julia!" She heard him this time and turned around.

"Oh, hi! You're that guy I nearly pummeled when I flew in here! Sorry about that! I totally didn't mean for that to happen! It was purely accidental!" She said nervously, but Canada didn't notice, feeling nervous himself.

"That's ok! I don't mind. I'm Canada, by the way. So, where are you going to stay while you're here on Earth?" Canada asked. Is that too weird a question, he thought self-consciously. He hoped not.

"Oh hell, I didn't think that far ahead." Said Julia. "I never do, but I can't leave Earth seeing as my space shuttle crashed…"

It was silent for a moment, and then Canada blurted out, "You could always stay with America and I! We have plenty of room!"

"Really, you'd let me?" Julia asked hopefully.

"Of course!" Canada said. They continued to talk for a while, until England announced the meeting to be over.

"I hope to see you all soon." He said unenthusiastically. Everyone left the room, Julia leaving with Canada. Once they exited the room, they saw America waiting for them.

"There you are, Canada! You always have a knack for disappearing! What is she doing with you?" America asked, looking from Canada to Julia and then back to Canada.

"Well, I invited her to stay with us, seeing as she doesn't have anywhere to go." Canada muttered sheepishly.

"Fair enough!" America declares, and grabs both of their hands and runs out the doors and back home, which was only a few blocks away. Julia looked at Canada questioningly. Canada just gave her a don't-question-it look. Julia laughed, and they soon reached America and Canada's house. They entered the house and America immediately set off for the kitchen, to no one's surprise.

"So Julia," said Canada in a would-be casual tone. "I just remembered that there are only two bedrooms in the house. But both America and I have bunk beds, so you can share with either of us."

"Oh, ok. I guess I'll share with you then." Julia said embarrassedly. They went to the kitchen, where America was stuffing his face with a seemingly endless supply of hamburgers.

"Oi, America, can't you share for once?" Julia said, grabbing a burger. As she finished it, she felt something large hit her, and suddenly, she was on the ground. She felt hot breathing in her face, and America was on top of her, looking furious. What the hell, Julia thought.

America glared at her. "Don't eat my burgers! I'm a growing boy who needs plenty of food! So, do NOT eat them again!" He growled. "Do you hear me?"

"America. Let her go." Said Canada, sounding oddly angry. America got up at once, and Canada knelt down to help her up. "Are you ok?" Canada asked. When he met her eyes, Julia's brain turned to putty. She couldn't think. "Julia?" he asked, looking concerned.

Julia snapped out of it, and said, "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She got back on her feet. It was getting late.

"We should go to bed." Said Canada. He headed upstairs, leaving Julia and America alone.

"Hey, Julia, I'm really sorry I freaked out earlier. I was out of line, and I-I'm sorry." America said, looking at Julia regretfully.

"It's fine, America. I understand." Julia said. "I was just startled, that's all." She felt awkward, and wanted to leave.

"No, I was out of line. I could pay you back." He said, getting way too close for Julia's comfort.

Julia's insides went cold. "In what way would you pay me back?" she said, although she knew what he meant. She started to leave.

"I think you know." America said. He went in front of her, pushing her against the counter, so close that his chest was against hers. He leaned over her and whispered in her ear, "I hope you realize that was never my intent. I know how Canada feels about you. I would never get between that."

He released her and headed to bed. Julia went upstairs, thinking hard about what America had said. Does Canada care about me? Does he love me? I know how I feel about him, but I never thought he would return the favor. Julia reached Canada's room. He was changing, and wasn't wearing a shirt. I stared at him, admiring his smooth, unblemished, perfect skin. He spun around, looking embarrassed.

"Oh, h-hi, Julia. Didn't see you there. What's up?" said Canada, his face bright crimson.

"I don't know about you, but I'm gonna go to bed." She said, still staring. She wrenched her eyes away. "Do you think I could borrow some pajamas? All of my stuff is still in my space shuttle. We should go get it tomorrow."

"Yeah, of course. And yes, we should do so tomorrow." Canada tossed Julia a pair of red pajamas with the Canadian flag on them.

Julia left the room to go change in the bathroom, leaving Canada alone with his thoughts. Damn. She's so beautiful, how could she ever love me? I'm probably nothing to her. Meanwhile, Julia was thinking about Canada. What if Canada does to me what America did, but he actually wants it? Will I go along with it? Or will I push him away? Julia walked back to Canada's room. He lounged on the lower bunk, and Julia noticed he hadn't put a shirt on. When Julia entered the room, Canada got up and walked over to Julia.

"There's something I need to tell you." Canada said.

"Yes?" Julia replied. She felt nervous. Is he going to do what I think he'll do?

"While you were changing, America told me what happened once I headed upstairs. He said that he told you that, I-I like you a lot. I want you to know that he wasn't lying. I care about you very much." Canada confesses, growing closer to her as he spoke.

"R-really? No one's ever loved me before. My parents pretend to, but they've always wanted a son. But there's something I want you to know." Julia said, staring into Canada's beautiful eyes.

"W-what's that?" asked Canada.

"I love you too, Canada." Julia whispered, as she took a step closer to Canada. She had always been short, so she only came up to Canada's nose. She looked up at him, feeling in love.

"We should probably go to bed though." Said Canada, suddenly feeling shy.

"Yeah, you're right." Julia said. She climbed onto the top bunk. Canada turned the lights out then crawled into bed. Damn it! You fool, Canada, you should've kissed her! Why didn't you? Grow some man parts already! He felt like an idiot, but had no reason to worry, because Julia's head was so full of the idea of loving him that the thought hadn't even crossed her mind.