France laid on his couch, staring up at the ceiling, remembering what went on during China's visit. He had come in and the first thing he asked was to see his siblings. They talked in a room alone, leaving France outside. But that didn't keep him from listening to their conversation by standing next to the door. At first, it was a regular exchange of "How are you?" questions. When he was nearly convinced that nothing worth listening to would happen, the conversation he waited for began to rise.
"So... It seems Francis isn't exactly the greatest father, aru... What has he done to your people to give you such scars, aru?"
"Well... You had always taught us what you'd eventually do when you start with lies."
"You still remember and listen to what I taught you even after all these years...? I'm so happy, aru! Viet would always try to break away and I was convinced you all hated me after she succeeded in doing so, aru!"
"Who ever said that I hated you--"
"Brother, I know we supposedly broke away from you before but we were still somewhat dependant and still followed most of your ways..."
"Ah, yes, aru... Religion, culture, form of government... Though some of you followed India more than me, aru..."
"No...! Kampuchea did and I just followed her..."
"Yeah, you and Thai copied my writing style... But we're not as dependant as some people."
"What do you mean, aru?"
"Why don't you ask everyone's favorite triplet?"
There was a long pause after Cambodia's sentence ended. Vietnam has always seemed to be more strong but at the same time, somewhat dependant. Her calligraphy wasn't like any of the other nations that surrounded her. It didn't really look like Asian calligraphy used by her siblings but more like their father's. Her culture had many similarities to China's and had a mix of France's in it. She was the most rebellious, the most different of all the nations on the peninsula, but that's what made her like America. It got her noticed and gave her everyone's favor. The other two were like Canada. They got along well with him, knowing how he felt. After he started coming home less often, those two knew he got independence and wanted so much to ask him what it's like. But now that he stopped coming back, this was their only chance.
"....Brother, what is independence like? Papa doesn't want us to know and yet.... We know we want it."
"That's a tough question, aru... Let's see... It's tiring, stressful, sometimes painful, aru. But in reality, those are just like another one of life's annoyances compared to how free you are, aru."
There it was. What France didn't want his children to know, in fear of them leaving him. He didn't want to be like England, the man he always fought with and hated. France was strong, but he didn't want to admit what made him worry the most.
"That England... First Jeanne, then Canada... My beautiful Seychelles... S'il vous plaît, mon Dieu... Ne pas me permettre de perdre plus de mes enfants...."
*S'il vous plaît, mon Dieu... Ne pas me permettre de perdre plus de mes enfants: French for "Please, my God... Do not let me lose any more of my children..."