England stood at America's front door. He thought it was funny how a month ago he was going to scold the American for not attending a meeting and wound up encouraging America to confess his love to who he thought was Japan, but turned out be him instead. England chuckled.

'I can't believe I was scared that America wouldn't reciprocate my love. Now look at us. A lot of things changed that day.'

England smiled fondly up at the house and knocked on the door. He expected America or Tony or even Lithuania to open the door. Lydia stood in the doorway instead. England stood there looking at her. He had a faint sense of déjà vu. He also had the sense to feel alarmed that she was there, but shrugged it off. America was his. He made it clear every day that they were together and every night they spent in each other's arms.

England cleared his throat and swallowed his dislike for the woman, "Hello. I'm here to see Alfred." Lydia raised her eyebrow and cocked her head to the side. England scowled, "What?"

"Nothing. You're not being rude or anything. Just a bit too formal, if you ask me." Lydia narrowed her eyes in suspicion. England smirked.

"I am a gentleman after all."

"Didn't seem like it when we first met." She muttered.

"You were in my way when we first met." England deadpanned.

"I'm in your way right now. You gonna try pushing me away to get inside?"

England scoffed, "Of course not. I have no reason to quarrel with you." He crossed his arms and looked away, "Not that I care, but what are you doing here?" He looked back at her curiously as Lydia chuckled.

"Dude, you so totally care." England's eyes narrowed menacingly and Lydia held her hands up in defense, "Chill. I was just about to leave. I came to gather a couple of my things and I'm out."

It was then that England noticed the bag next to her feet. He was left to wonder what her belongings could possibly be doing at America's house, "Were you living here at some point or...?"

Before Lydia could answer America appeared behind her, "Hey Art. I didn't know you were here already." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he looked between the two. Lydia sighed and picked her bag up. She smiled at America and waved before turning to England with a sad smile.

"Why don't you let Alfred tell you? Have a nice life you two." She looked back at America one last time before stepping around England and making her way down the stairs of his porch. She walked to the adjoining garage where her car was parked and drove off. England and America stood there watching the dust Lydia's car kicked up settle before England turned to America. He wanted answers and he was going to get them.

"Alfred, why was she collecting a few belongings from your house?" His brows furrowed at the American, but America only wrapped his arms around England and pulled him into the doorway.

"I'll tell you later. Right now I'm hungry. It's been a while since I've had your scones. And as horrible as your cooking is, I still really like it." America smiled widely at England as he blushed and snorted, crossing his arms over his chest.

"My cooking is delightful. You're the one with no taste buds. With all that processed meat you eat, it's a wonder you can still taste anything remotely good for you."

America laughed and nodded his head, "Sure, whatever. Now are you gonna make me food or what?"

"I suppose I have no choice in the matter." England huffed, but a small smile graced his lips as he walked in the direction of America's kitchen. He let America change the subject, but England was determined to get him to speak sooner or later.

~~~~~*\[0]w[0]/*~~~~~

Before England knew it, the whole day had been wasted away. After feeding America a ridiculous amount of scones, and snatching a few for himself, they spent the day doing what America wanted. England didn't get the chance to ask him about Lydia once. And when he did come close to asking, America had engaged them in an impromptu make out session, not that England minded. He'd gone too long without kissing the American in his opinion. No sooner had he arrived, the day had ended. Now there he lay with America's arms around his waist and his back against America's chest. He felt the steady rise and fall of America's chest as he breathed, but it didn't seem as though he was sleeping considering England didn't hear any snores coming from him.

Cautiously so as not to wake the American behind him if he was indeed sleeping, England turned his head some and peeked over his shoulder. He found a pair of bright blue eyes watching him. England turned his head back as America nuzzled his face into the back of his neck, murmuring.

"Tryin' to see if I'm awake so you can ask me about Lydia right?"

England stayed quiet for a little while before deciding to turn his body to face America. He looked into America's eyes and nodded meekly. America smiled softly. He brushed England's bangs out of his eyes before opening his mouth to speak.

"Before you get any ideas, she's just a friend... Toris was getting pretty busy and he couldn't find the time to look after the place for me so I hired Lydia for the job. She was supposed to be my housekeeper, but she became more than that." America looked up at the ceiling. His eyes watched the glow in the dark sky he had up there before continuing, "She took care of the house when I was at meetings or just out with friends, so it made sense if she slept over on occasion. She tried getting closer to me and I figured out that she had a thing for me. I didn't let her know that I knew. I liked the way things were." America stopped for a bit and looked back at England.

"Then one day I guess I came home looking really depressed or something because Lydia sat me down and made me talk to her. I wound up telling her about my feelings for you and my fear of rejection if I ever told you about them. She was there for me and we grew closer. The next thing I knew I was going out with Russia and no sooner had that happen then he'd gone and broken my heart. Plus I ran into you so that was the cherry on top of the cake. I was pretty bad, but Lydia was there for me... It was then that she told me she liked me... and proposed that I just leave with her." America mumbled the last part scared of England's reaction to that. England's eyes widened minutely, but he remained quiet as America continued his story.

"I'm not gonna lie. The idea sounded really nice to me... But I couldn't just abandon my responsibilities as a nation; you taught me that." England smiled at this.

"Do you remember Davie?" England's smile dropped when he heard that name, "...After Davie, I never wanted to grow close to another human again. It hurts too much to lose them... So, I told her I couldn't leave with her. I let her down easy, but I could still see the pain in her eyes as I said it. We stayed friends, of course, but things weren't quite the same anymore. She kept proposing that I just leave with her. That's why when you came to see me, you heard her tell me to think over what she told me, but my answer would still be the same either way."

England ran his fingers through America's hair, "Oh, Alfred." He cooed. America kept talking as England rested his hand on his cheek.

"And I wasn't ready to leave you behind... I'm happy I didn't leave. As hopeless as my situation was, I wasn't going to give up on you like that. I told you I hoped Ivan would help me forget about you, but I wouldn't let myself forget. Not ever." America's voice became a whisper at this point, "It's always been you, no matter what. My dream is to be your hero, Arthur."

England chuckled, his eyes gleaming, "You silly twit. You need not fret, poppet. You've always been my hero. There has never been any doubt about it."

America buried his face in the crook of England's neck, inhaling his scent, "I love you so much."

"I love you, too. More so than I can ever explain." England pressed a kiss on America's sunny blonde hair before his eyelids began to droop, "Let's sleep now. It's late."

America nodded his head and snuggled closer to England. England sighed happily and let his eyes fall close. He finally understood the whole story with America and as his breathing evened out his last thought was of how lucky he was to have such an amazing man in his life.

America stayed awake for a bit just staring up at England. He was immediately reminded of what England told him the night he confessed his feelings.

"It's okay to feel vulnerable sometimes and it's okay to be the one that's being rescued. You don't always have to be the hero. You have to let others be the hero sometimes. There are so many people who love you and are worried about you America. You just have to give them the chance to save you."

America thought of Lydia and how she helped him when he felt he didn't have anyone to talk to. Or when he tried to fill the void he thought England would never fill with Ivan. The man may have broken his heart, but he still saw that Ivan tried to make it work between them. And then there was England. That day England listened to him pour his feelings out and tried to offer his help. Now he's here in America's arms sleeping; without the slightest clue as to the huge impact he's had on him.

"There are so many people who love you and are worried about you America. You just have to give them the chance to save you."

Without even thinking about it, America had given them the chance to save him. And he realized two things.

First, he felt more like a damsel in distress than a hero.

And second, America felt so lucky to have so many people care for him when he thought he didn't have anyone.

America wouldn't have realized this without England. He laid his head right next to England. England's breath tickled his nose and he whispered, "Hey, England?"

England moved his head some and snored quietly, obviously asleep.

"You're my hero."

America pressed a sweet kiss on his forehead and nuzzled his face into England's soft golden hair. England sighed and snuggled closer into America's embrace. America let his eyes close and he fell into a deep, content sleep.

Thanks so much for reading. First story and it was really fun to write. I'd love it if you left any thoughts on the way out or if you just wanna say hi go for it. I'd love to hear what you have to say. Have an Awesome day :) Stay Awesome [0]w[0]/*