AN: I am horribly sorry for not posting anything last year! My major exam kept me on edge so I've completely forgotten I have a story to write. (Inner me: That's still no excuse for laziness! *Kicks myself*) For those who are still interested, I'm really grateful for your patient. And for those new reader who just read this because of my recent update, I still hope you don't carry too much of a hope for fast updates. But I'll try to keep it going for your sake.
A special thank you to SilverShadowKat19, for reminding me that this is a fanfiction that no one is going to fail me if I get the slightest mistake in the nation's history. I was really stressing on accuracy that I forgot the fun of writing this.
Disclaimer: This is call a fanfiction for a reason people, why do we even need to put this?
Thump, thump, thump…
Clog, clog, clog…
His heart was beating frantically but it seemed to reverberate through the walls along with the sound of his heels against the granite tile echoed to and from. England is pacing at such a speed that he fear he might need to pay for reparation for the floor of his room.
'It's just an outing, nothing out the ordinary. There's nothing to worry about, absolutely nothing to worry about…' England pauses in his pacing, hands shot up to clench at his hair.
'Why the bloody hell am I panicking?' he frowns at nothing in particular at the thought and release his poor hair which is the third time it has fallen under his hands for this whole afternoon. 'Oh who the hell am I kidding? I have no idea what to do!' He cannot remember the last time he actually spend time Canada, or anyone in particular for that matters. He was even considering cancelling the whole thing but immediately abandon the thought when he imagine what would Canada (or even he) would felt if a person suddenly cancel without a good reason.
XxxX
'This is it, no backing out now.' England was sitting at the sofa at the hotel lobby repeating the whole outing's schedule over and over in his head while he waits for the quiet nation to arrive.
"Sorry to keep you waiting England." A quiet voice startle England out of his trance. "Have you waited long?"
"O-of course not Canada, I just arrived actually." He give one he thought was a reassuring smile at the Canadian. Even though the truth is that he has been in this seat for one hour since 5pm. His feet wobbled from the long duration he has spent sitting in the sofa including his nerves from too much panicking, he froze when he stood up to greet the other.
"Are you alright England?" Canada place his hand on England's shoulder, for once his bear not in sight.
"I'm fine, let's go to the restaurant that I've booked just a few blocks away." Pushing Canada's hand off, he strode towards the rotating door as if nothing happened. The famous indifferent mask slapped back on.
The walk to the restaurant was awkward as it was silent; neither of the nations know how to start a conversation with each other. One is afraid of making things awkward (as if it wasn't in the first place) for the other while the older is scared of offending the younger because he didn't knew much about him and guilty that he never made the effort.
By the time they were waiting for their food they still haven't make any advancement, the noise in the restaurant is the only indication that time hasn't stop.
'Come on, say something. You're the host aren't you?' England berates himself for his lack of action and trying.
"Huh?"
England raise his head when he hears Canada voice. Canada was looking at the food in shock. England stare at the food served to younger nation. Poutine with raspberries salad on the side and a cup of iced Americano, which was just as England ordered for the Canadian. He was confuse by Canada's reaction but was quickly replace with worry, afraid that he has done something wrong to offend his former charge.
"How did you know I like these foods?" No one really paid him attention; his own existence was in question often during meeting so it really was a surprise that his former guardian knows what he like since his attention was always on someone else. (coughAmericacough)
"I-Is it not to your liking? You can always- Huh? You like it?" England calms down a little when he hears the younger nation say he like what prepared, it was like a boulder was lifted from his shoulder. "I'm pleased that you like what I have chosen. I'm not sure what your favourite foods are but from what I hear, these are your people's favourite."
"Thank you, for making the effort." Canada timidly thanks the older nation, no one ever bothered to know him even though some nations did hang out with him occasionally, he was thankful but this was a new level of concern especially from England. Both nation smiles at each other, the meal went smoothly the whole evening, all previous awkwardness went out the window.
XxxX
"What are they talking about?"
"France, stop pushing me!" Hungary said to the French.
"I can't help it, you cannot possibly be telling moi not to worry!"
"They are just having a meal together, what's there to worry about?" although Hungary was a little disappointed it wasn't what she expected but she isn't going to discourage nations to bond together (in a friendly way), being one of the few female nation (and mature one) she thought the male nations could do with a little less arguing and more talking.
"I've known the worst of that bad tempered Brit and Matthieu is like a son to me. Don't tell me not to worry." France was holding a handkerchief to his face, looking like he wants to bite it. Hungary can only shake her head, whether from disbelief or exasperate she don't know herself. She doesn't see how could this be bad because technically Canada was also used to be under England's care and nothing bad happened, England is only violent to those that annoyed him, France immediately came to mind, she feels that the other worry too much not that she doesn't know why when it involve the ones you care.
After both the nation exited the restaurant seeming to be enjoying each other's company wholeheartedly, Hungary and France continue to trail them. It was only when they followed them to the park where they can hear bits of their target's conversation did France finally decide that nothing bad will happen and went back to the hotel. France seems content, grinning on their whole way back; she thinks that France accepts that England wants to get to know Canada better, to be a better friend/brother to the Canadian. She also smile at the situation in general, it was one small step for a nation and one giant leap for peace after all.
XxxX
England didn't remember a time he enjoyed another person's presence, he was in a very good mood (which wasn't often when he attended world meetings) and feeling so relaxed when he retire to his room for the night. He properly thanked Canada for being a family in the past and they even promised to spend time together in the future, to England it was like finding a family that he had lost a long time ago. Ignoring the lingering part where he wanted to include America, England thought to thank Matthew tomorrow for reminding him there is more than one person to call family/friend. England went to bed thinking that tonight he's going to have a good sleep.
The Brit was in a good mood the next morning that he is smiling the whole time rather than the indifferent face he usually wears that some of the other nations were affected. The same situation could be used to describe Canada as well, he felt noticed for once and he had a good chat with France this morning as well. Not even when Kumajiro asked who is he could drop his mood by a little, except maybe a persistent American.
Remembering how America was bugging him about England wanting to spend time with him (he doesn't see the problem; England can choose who to hang out with) and the messages he sent last night, he has every intension try to avoid his brother this whole day or at least until America stop making a big deal about it. He finally has another person noticing him, as if he's going to just let America take England's attention away again just because of some twisted issue(1) he had with the English nation. He didn't know what changed in the English nation, he was just happy to know that England cared despite knowing he can never replace America in the Englishman heart.
Canada have never been so glad that he can turn invisible, America was looking for him in the morning and even during the meeting the American was looking around as if he was searching for someone which he have no doubt is him. He was thankful to Germany for keeping America occupied for the meeting; this is going to be one tired day he thought to himself.
XxxX
'At least the meeting couldn't have gone worse,' England thought looking around the room, nothing was done, everyone was doing their own things but at least no fights broke out this time from what he learned from Canada yesterday after he left the meeting to meet Alfred. He is thinking of getting something for the two children, from now on he's going to enjoy whatever time he has to spend time with the twin, to make up for the past. 'Only if their parents will allow it…' he added in depressing thoughts. Who is going to let their children going around with a stranger they have never even met? He let out a tired sigh and dropped onto the table thinking about what to do while he wait for the break to start.
It was clearly a big surprise when Alfred gleefully tells him that they had their parents' permission to look after them when he meets them at the same park.
"Yes! Now we can go out together, England, isn't that great?" Alfred exclaimed, unable to calm down. "I don't know how dad got mom to agree but then maybe dad never got mom to agree and just let us play with you. Dad sometimes never asks for permission from mom after all."
"Al, give England a break." Matthew grabs his brother's arm to pry him off the nation's arm. "I have a letter from papa, he say to give it to you."
England takes the letter in a daze, still cannot believe his luck that their parents (or parent in this case since according to Alfred only their father approve) actually allow him, a complete stranger, to spend time with their children. His paternal instinct flare up in the next moment, instead of being happy he was mad at what kind of idiot would allow their precious children to go around with strangers they have just met for two times. England was just this close to find the idiot and gives him the lecture of the life time and hit him for his lack of concern. But if he wants to be allowed to spend time with Alfred and Matthew he'd reframe from hitting said children's father.
To: whoever reads this
Hey, thanks for playing and taking care with my sons. I've heard about you for the last two days, their siblings are getting annoyed by their ranting too. Hope they didn't scare you with their explosive energy, especially Alfred. I'd have to warn you about Matthew though; if he disappears, try looking around more carefully he tends to wander sometimes too. Not that I expect them to get lost since I specifically told them to only go where they knew, so if they've gone missing I who to go after. Yes, I'm talking about you mister. You didn't think I'll let my children go off with some stranger without checking did you? I'm not an idiot, you were clearly thinking about it when Alfred told you I allow this outing didn't you. My wife will kill me if anything happens to her precious sons, not that she won't when she doesn't even know about this whole affair. Their school has a holiday today so feel free to take them for the whole day. Well, that's that, I expect them to be home before dark so you know when to send them home. There's another paper with my number on it so call me if there's an emergency. (There better not be if you could help it at all)
From,
Alfred and Matthew's father
"What…?" England almost stumbled when he dug the letter to look for the number mentioned in the letter. It seems the father wasn't as careless as England had first thought he'd be this letter was proof of that. The thing he should be worried about is the part where it says that he knows who he is, he wouldn't happen to really know who he is. Right…?
"D-Did your father say anything else about me?"
"Nope, nothing else. Dad only asks us to give you the letter."
"Papa says that he can at least trust a government official not to mess up when he give me the letter."
"How come I never hear any of that Mattie?" Alfred turns to look at his younger with shock and a pout on his face.
"You hear about the letter when we left, but papa said that last night before I went to bed."
"No fair!" Alfred shouted but by then England already tuned out the children's conversation.
'At least he got one part right. Even though I'm considered a nation…'
'…'
'Wait, what? What does he mean the whole day? I still have a meeting to attend!' England didn't know when he moved to the bench to sit; slouching in the seat he clutches the letter tight thinking about what to do with this situation. He can't possibly let them stay here until the end of the meeting and bringing them to the white house where any nation could have stumbled upon them is definitely OUT OF THE QUESTION! Heaven forbids America to see them, England can't even imagine what will happen if France ever finds out…
"Argh…" England let out a frustrated groan, mentally cursing the man who put him in this position without any warning. "Heh…" England let out a small laugh, he feels as if he's irritated at America.
Alfred and Matthew, who stop arguing a while ago, stood patiently in front of the Englishman and wait for his decision.
"Um, did we bother you Mr England?"
"No," England places both of his hands on his face, letting out another sigh. "Just remembered I have something to do today and I cannot bring the both of you there since there are weirdoes there."
"Huh? You mean like they don't like hamburger?" Alfred asked with such an innocent and shock expression that England can't help but laugh out. Matthew also giggled at the question his brother asked.
"W-Why are you laughing! Dad said only weird people don't like hamburger, and you say there are weirdoes there…" England swear he almost hug the boy and call him cute for that expression Alfred has on right now. The boy was pouting and his eyes are shiny with tears that threaten to fall.
"W-Well, you're not all wrong I guess. Only one person there likes to eat hamburgers after all." The laughing died down a little but hasn't completely stop. "There's one that really loves pasta and another who always shouts, there's even a frog." He listed out in good humour.
"There's a frog at the place you work?" Both the boys ask curious about their new babysitter. If they remember what their father told them, England work in a building and building don't have frogs, their father's work place didn't have a frog and frogs only appear during rainy days near the pond.
"We wanna see the frog!" Both shouted at England, surprising the hell out the nation's wits.
"W-What…?" England is still frozen from processing their previous statement. "What?" he repeated afraid that he didn't hear it wrong.
"We want to see the frog. We can play with it while you work, we won't make too much noise. We never see a real frog before. Can we, can we, please England?"
Images of France with the children flash in England's mind and horror struck. But before England could deny them, it was then England faced one of his weaknesses… Alfred's (and Matthew's) puppy dog eyes.
He only blinked and replied "fi-fine" before he could even process what he has just said. Those eyes are dangerous, he thought to himself.
"Yes!" Alfred was giving Matthew a high-five, and England was staring into space with a horror struck expression.
'What the bloody hell just happened?!'
AN: Comments? I've been re-reading my previous chapters over and over again to make sure I don't contradict myself. If there's any inconsistencies please tell me. Thank you for those took the time to read it. :D I'll still be making changes here and there if there's mistake, people tend to miss it until they see the final product later. So just a heads up to warn you.
Okay one question, do you guys want to see a new kid or do you want a nation to find out about England's secret (aka Alfred and Matthew)? There's a poll on right now, so please make time if you have. I wanted to get start on chapter 4 as soon as possible and I don't know which to choose.
(1) In my head-canon, America doesn't like to be related to England in any way but can't help but feel jealous/threaten if England show concern for other nation other than him even though he doesn't realise it. Only those like France, Canada and Hungary can tell.