Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia

Chapter Two: meeting day

England sighed as he laid down on his couch, his son Henry cradled close to his chest. He had just returned home from spending several days in the hospital, and as his brothers said, they did not want him doing anything stressful while he got better. At first England thought that the nice gesture would not amount to much, but the other three seemed determined to have it their way; even to the point of telling England that he could not go to the meeting the following day and instead would send Scotland in his place. England felt bad that he was not going to the meeting, especially since it was at his house, but the idea of being able to go home with his surprise son and relax for a little bit appealed to him more. He thought about this as he laid there, only to then fall asleep.

France sighed sadly from his place in the hotel bed, catching Monaco's attention. She turned to him and asked, "What's wrong, you seem to get more depressed as the meetings happen lately."

"Oh, just thinking about England I guess. I hope he decides to finally stop with the silent treatment tomorrow, it's really starting to worry me," France answered, earning an eye-roll from his girlfriend. Since the meeting eight months ago when he used England to win a bet, England had been acting strange at the meetings.

The strangeness was mostly due to the fact that England refused to talk with France at all. No, not even this, England refused to recognize that the Frenchman was even in his presence despite what he tried. He refused to talk, to argue, to even look at France during the meetings and would never respond to any of the messages he left on-line and on phones. England had even gone so far as to change the locks on his doors as a way to deter ever having to see the Frenchman at his own house.

But it was not even just him that England was acting strange towards. It was almost like since the event England tried locking his emotional self away from almost everyone at the meetings. Anyone could see that England was acting different, and it made France feel guilty that he most likely caused this.

"If it bothers you so much then why don't you just confront him tomorrow and tell him you're sorry," Monaco suggested while crawling into the bed.

France sadly shook his head and answered, "I doubt he would even listen to me, though he would love hearing me admit that I did something wrong."

"Then make him listen," Monaco persisted, only to then continue when France gave her an unsure glance, "Alright then, since it was a bet that caused all of this then how about this. If you fail to apologize to him tomorrow at the meeting then I won't have sex with you for a month. But if you are able to, then I'll do whatever little games you want to for that month."

France smiled slightly at this and thought for a moment. He then said, "Alright, Mon Cherie, we can try your bet."

The next morning, France entered the meeting hall in a much better mood accompanied by his friends, only to then pause when he looked at England's usual spot. In the chair sat Scotland, looking at a folder with a bored expression and smoking a freshly lit cigarette.

"Dude, do you have to smoke that inside?" America asked annoyed when he entered the room and smelled the smoke. In response Scotland looked up for a moment, sighed, and rubbed the butt out in an ash tray. He then said, "I was wondering when the rest of you would show up. England told me the meeting was to start in five minutes."

As he talked, other nations began to file into the room to their seats, glancing at Scotland confused. France then walked up to his seat which was next to Scotland's and asked, "And where is England? I was hoping to have a word with him."

Scotland glared at the Frenchman for a moment, only to then flick the cigarette butt at said man and answer, "Not coming."

"What? Why not?" America asked after hearing the conversation. The look on his face made him appear genuinely curious. Other nations then began to mumble out questions about why England was not at his own meeting.

Scotland bit his tongue; the four of them had already agreed to keep Henry's existence a secret until he was older and England had recovered, especially a secret from the man who impregnated his brother simply as a practical joke. He wet his lips and answered, "It had come to our boss' attention that England had not been actin' or feelin' normal rec'ntly and has given him some time off to get better. In the meantime, I and the rest of the United Kingdom's will be sittin' in for him."

"So England-san is sick?" Japan asked, also now slightly concerned. It was rare for England to take time off for anything, but if he was struggling with a sickness for a while then it would explain why he was acting so out of character lately.

"Dude, that's no fair! I wish my boss would give me time off like that," America complained only to then let it go and sit down. Scotland looked around the room and saw that his explanation seemed to work for the other nations, causing him to then call out that the meeting should begin.

The meeting went on like usual, despite the fact that England was not there and Scotland kept tormenting France without the others realizing, and ended on time. Feeling that he had done a good job for the day, Scotland began to head back to England's house to check on the owner and the child and to give him the notes. As he left, however, he did not realize that someone was following him.

When Scotland entered England's house, he was met by the scene of England filling a box with objects and Henry sleeping within arm's reach. Scotland frowned slightly at this and asked, "Where do ye think yar going?"

England snapped his head up and looked at his older brother, signaling to be quiet for the sleeping child's sake. He then whispered, "Hello Scotland, I didn't hear you come in. I'm packing some things for Henry and me for a bit of a trip."

"And where's that? Ye know we told ye to stay here and rest 'til ye recover," Scotland answered in a quieter voice.

"Well, I was thinking that it might do Henry some good to spend some time at the country home. Besides, if anyone were to come looking for me the first place they would check would be here," England answered while closing the now filled box.

Scotland thought about this, not removing his frown. He knew that the chances of at least one person looking for England would be very likely and that one person could ruin their hiding of Henry. Even so, he could not shake the feeling that his younger brother was simply saddling him and the other two with more work than usual. But, he had decided to help England with the situation and he was not a man to go back on his words.

He then looked around and answered, "Where are the other two? Leaving or not ye should still be resting," Scotland asked, only to have England answer that they went to the store to buy groceries and other things. Scotland accepted this, and decided to lead his already tired looking brother and nephew back to the sitting room.

As they walked to the room, they both heard a step taken which was not either of theirs from behind them. They both quickly turned around to look at the person watching them; an older teen with blond hair and glasses.

England paled when he saw the person, thinking about how all his ideas of keeping this a secret had suddenly gone up in smoke. He then asked, "America…what are you doing here?"

"It's Canada sir, and I was wondering how you were feeling. Scotland told us that your boss placed you on medical leave," Canada answered while taking a step closer to his past caretaker.

"Ah, I see," England said slightly relieved to find that the person was Canada and not the loud-mouthed American. Perhaps he could keep the secret after all.

"What are you holding?" Canada whispered while pointing to the child in England's arms.

"Oh, this. this is…" England began only to then say, "…Can you keep a secret for me?"

"I suppose, why? England, is this really serious or something?" Canada asked slightly concerned and glancing at the rest of the surroundings.

Scotland then said, "Aye, for my brothers and me it is. So if ye are going to know then ye can't tell anyone; especially not yar brother America or the Frog."

Canada blinked at this for a moment only to then nod eagerly. The group then went to the sitting room so England could sit while telling the story and explained, "Well, I suppose to begin with, this is Henry, my son. I just had him a couple days ago – don't ask it's even more complicated – but he is mine. Scotland and the others have decided to help me take care of him, which is why they will be at the meetings for the next several months instead of me while I'm on maternity leave. The reason we would like you to keep this a secret is because we don't know if he is a normal human or what, understand? That's also why I won't be here for a while."

Canada thought this over for a moment, understanding England's fear of the others finding out. He would die if he was in England's shoes and everyone found out about a child, and he also knew that some of the others who did not like England could possibly target the child. At last he nodded again and said, "Don't worry England, Scotland, I'll keep the secret."

"Thank you Canada," England said while giving out a sigh of relief. He then looked down at Henry and stroked the child's nose, smiling when the child giggled and grabbed at his mother's finger. Wanting to get a better look, Canada walked up to England and looked down at the boy, only to then ask, "So if you're only one father than who is the other one?"

England paused for a moment, only to have Scotland answer, "Not important."

"Oh…sorry," Canada responded. Shortly after this, Canada left the house and once again promised to keep the secret. The next morning, England left for his country home.

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