Again, same set up for names as last chapter. Human names for the present characters, country names for the past characters.


The next morning, Arthur woke up and stretched to the sight of a sleeping Alfred hugging a young America, both of them sleeping peacefully. It couldn't help but make the old Brit smile. He was happy that the past and the present could get along so well.

He walked to the bathroom to take a shower to get ready to leave for later today. Today, he was determined to convince both Alfred and America to go to the other house. As much as he liked the city, he preferred the forest.

Arthur was all ready and dressed by the time it was 7, which was too early for any of the other residents in the house to wake up. Or so Arthur thought.

After a few pages into Arthur's new book, a tried-looking Alfred came in holding a semi-awake America. Arthur would be lying if he said he wasn't slight shocked.

"What are you two doing up so early?" He asked.

"Well, yesterday our trip was kinda delayed and so me and little America here decided to wake up early today so that we could take a walk around the city before we leave," Alfred said, maybe or maybe not interrupting his sentence with a yawn here and there.

"Yeah! I like the city, but I don't want to see you sad, Arthur!" America said, filled with childish innocence.

Arthur took in what they said and smiled.

"Well you two had better get ready soon if you want to take a walk around the city!" Arthur smiled.

"Right, can you take care of America while I'm in the shower?" Alfred asked, but Arthur didn't really have enough time to answer as America jumped out of Alfred grip and ran over to Arthur. "I see you got that covered! See ya guys soon!" America said as he went to the bathroom to clean up.

Meanwhile America and Arthur were halving a small conversation about nothing really. They talked about weather, the city, sometimes the current state countries were in. Of course Arthur never really wanted to talk about the virtually worldwide economy collapse was in right now…

"Hey, Arthur?" America asked while Arthur was in the middle of explaining the differences between Presidents and Monarchs.

"Hm? Yes?" Arthur replied.

"How are you and Alfred friends? I mean, it has nothing to do with what we were talking about, but I was just wondering," America asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Oh… well…" Arthur said as he quickly tried to form a story in his head, he couldn't just tell America who Alfred or he was. He wanted to make this as normal as possible for America.

"Well, I just met him one day, and I guess I was his um… friend for a while, then we grew apart for a little while, then I guess I just saw him again one day and we just… 'clicked'," Arthur replied, possibly basing his story on the real history of himself and Alfred.

"Ohh! That's so cool! If I ever want to meet a best friend, then I want us to just 'click'! That would be so much fun!" America said, filled with that innocence again.

Arthur chuckled and smiled at the response he got from America. "Don't worry, I'm sure it will happen to you someday as well."

Just then America came in, bottom half wrapped while a white towel, hair dripping. Which mean that he was leaving water trails everywhere, and that normally meant that Arthur would get mad at him, but he used America to his advantage. And that advantage was that Arthur was always happy now.

"Hey, you guys, the bathroom's free, so if you guys wanna, ya know, clean up?" Alfred suggested.

"Alright, come on, I'll give you a bath, I already cleaned myself up earlier today," Arthur said with a smile. Well, now he always smiled, being around little America, so might as well not put that. Let's just say from here on out, Arthur mostly says things with smiles, unless the situation shouldn't make smiles, and I'll probably notify you anyways.

Anyways, let's continue on without further breaking the fourth wall.

Alfred watched the two walk into the bathroom and the closing door. He remembered beck when England would take a bath with him. Then as he continued to remember his memories from when he was a kid, an interesting thought occurred.

Why didn't he remember any of what was going on right now? That's still the real little America in the bathroom there, right?

'Course it was! It had to be! Arthur knew America well enough to tell if that wasn't America,' Alfred reassured himself in his head. 'I'll probably find out later, or something.'

Alfred began to make himself some breakfast and coffee. Alfred always liked a cup of coffee around him somewhere.

By the time Arthur and America came out of the bathroom, Alfred had already eaten and turned on the TV (which he plugged back in). America hadn't seen the TV on before and ran out and stared at all the different colors on the screen. He was wearing a towel, like one of those sleeve-less dresses.

"Whoa! It's like a small city!" America exclaimed, probably referring to all the lights in the city at night.

"Probably shouldn't get that close up, you're gonna get these," Alfred said, pointing to his glasses. Then he remembered who he was talking to, then said, "But, sure! If you wanna watch TV, sure! Go ahead!"

"America, don't listen to him, number one, you really shouldn't stay to close to the screen, and two," Arthur began, a slight scowl on his face, "his English isn't proper, don't say 'wanna', it's want to. It's not 'gonna', it's 'going to'."

"It's easier to say that way! Ya can't blame me for being efficient!" Alfred replied.

"What are you? German?" Arthur shot back.

Arthur and Alfred kept arguing while America just watched. The kept insulting each other with references he didn't really get, so he easily became bored. Without neither Alfred nor Arthur noticing, he slipped away and began to explore some of the rooms of the apartment he didn't see yet.

Then in the middle of one of Alfred's replies, Arthur said, "Hey, Alfred? Where did America go?"

"Huh? Probably went to the bathroom, or something," Alfred said.

"I don't… know…" Arthur said, getting worried and starting to panic.

Alfred sighed and knew what was going to happen. When he was that small, England would always overreact. Once, he fell and scraped his knee outside, so England wouldn't let him outside for half a week.

"Hey don't worry, I'm sure he just fine," Alfred said as he got up from the couch and walked over to Arthur.

"Alfred… could you do me a favour…?" Arthur asked.

"Hmm?" Alfred asked back.

"Put on some clothes," Arthur said, gently shoving Alfred away.

"Huh?" Alfred asked looking down. "Oh yeah! Kay, see ya later, babe!" And lightly kissed Arthur on his head before heading off to the guest room to get some of his clothes in the closet there.

Apparently since America wasn't around, Alfred thought it was appropriate to show some affection to Arthur. Arthur didn't object… much. He still hated being called 'babe'.

Alfred walked in his bedroom and put on some clothes, jeans and a blue shirt, and come back out into the living room to see a depressed slump that you would call Arthur on the couch.

"Hey, man, why you so down?" Alfred asked, sitting next to Arthur.

"I just don't… I don't want him to get hurt…" Arthur replied, a little of his depression leaking into his voice.

"Hey, wanna know something?" Alfred asked, leaning a closer to the Arthur.

Arthur gave a little sound in response as he turned around to face Alfred.

"I know he's gonna be alright," Alfred said as he kissed the Brit.

Then who better to come into the living room, than America.


I am SO SORRY for updating so late! ;_;

My levels of procrastination have been really high lately... And... Ugh. I should stop making excuses. I'll try my best to post the second half of this day sooner!

Anyways! A review is always appreciated, so are ideas for where the story could go. I have some writer's block going on in my head...