AN: You-finally-find out what happened to America and theres some new states. America's Children
CHAPTER FIVE:
Diplomacy
Russia watched the small states in front of him with thinly veiled amusement. As soon as Kansas left on her retrieval mission, the blond state that hated him so much ran off to inform the others of America's whereabouts. Unfortunately the rather polite West Virginia insisted on running off with his sister. Russia frowned a little at the thought, causing one of the states to squeak slightly. Looking at the thin male startled Russia shrugged and went back to his thoughts. Apparently Virginia would not trust him alone, so she'd sent for babysitters. Russia would have been insulted had he not been curious to meet some other of America's Children.
"So," Russia began amiably, deciding the silence had gone on long enough. "What are your names comrades?"
The two males shared long, oddly terrified looks. Surprisingly enough the smaller one, probably about little Latvia's height if Russia had to guess, walked foreword. He looked up at Russia with large green speckled gray eyes.
"I-I'm New Jersey," he introduced himself nervously. Russia looked down at him thoughtfully, before placing a large hand on top of his head. The smaller man gave a squeak.
"You are very small," Russia told him with a grin and ruffled his ashy brown hair. "Were you always this short?"
New Jersey simply stared at Russia making the country wonder if perhaps he was a bit dim. Finally he began to speak, "It's not my fault."
Russia cocked his head to the side looking down at him curiously. "Then who's is it?"
New Jersey gave him a solemn, fearful look. "Th-th-the-"
"The Jersey Devil," the other red haired state answered, obviously deciding the shortest member of the trio would be unable. New Jersey gave a terrified screech and spun around flailing wildly. At least until Russia plucked him up by his collar.
"There isn't anyone here, but us, Little One," Russia assured him. New Jersey gave him a suspicious look, much to Russia's amusement, but relaxed.
"Sorry," the state said suddenly blushing as he pushed a loose strand of brown hair out of his face. It fell right back in. "I just c-can't handle any mention of It."
"He claims it terrorized him the entire Revolution, because he was alone and defenseless." The red haired state told Russia, who looked at him curiously, in a soft voice. "I'm Washington, by the way, but you may call me Brigham if you chose."
"Washington!" New Jersey protested his pale cheeks going pink. Russia looked at the small creature he held aloft in the air. He was rather cute, in a tiny puppyish sort of manner. Rather like his trembling Baltics.
"Tell me of this devil," Russia said seriously, brushing the loose strand of hair out of the state's face before sitting him down. New Jersey looked up at the country with the oddest expression on his face. Russia's neck grew hot and uncomfortable, not sure he'd ever been looked at in such a manner. After a few moments Russia recognized the emotion. Awe.
"Really?" the brunette asked breathlessly. Russia nodded confused, only to have all eighty-five pounds of the state barrel into him. After a few seconds of stunned amazement Russia realized he was being hugged. Hugged. By America's child.
"You're the first one!" New Jersey said with a smile that nearly split his face in half it was so big. "Ever!"
Russia almost blushed, wrapping his arms around the small state to recuperate. New Jersey quickly pulled him over to sit on Kansas's couch, followed by a rather contemplative red head.
"It's fine," Russia managed to interject through New Jersey's gushing. "I know something of devils myself."
New Jersey nodded happily and seemed to settle down. Wiggling like a pleased puppy as the strand once again fell, endearingly in his face. He then strangely, went bright pink.
"The problem isn't I-It in itself, though It is horrifying," New Jersey's terror filled eyes told Russia more than his gently spoken words. "You see the problem is my brother."
"Brother?" Russia questioned curiously. New Jersey shifted embarrassed and Washington, Russia noted out of the corner of his gaze, watched them with an intense focus.
"Yes, Delaware." New Jersey said, coughing uncomfortably. He shifted on the couch closer to the country surprising Russia once more. Would the amazements never cease?
"Delaware's a good brother, he really is." New Jersey assured him, eyes earnest and honest. Russia wondered if he was the type of brother that was a 'good' sibling, like Belarus was a 'good' sibling.
"It's just Dean, well he likes to pick on me. Mostly about It." New Jersey bit his lip and Russia watched as he seemed to turn an idea over in his mind. Curious the Russian leaned in and motioned for him to continue.
"The thing is I wanted someone like you. Someone nobody would ever pick on. I wanted you, because I thought you could teach me how to make sure nobody ever picked on me. And maybe help me get over my fear." New Jersey admitted in a rush, flushing delicately.
Russia looked him over for a long silent moment. New Jersey shifted nervously. Smiling Russia patted him on the head.
"I shall do my best by you comrade." Russia told him warm with happiness. He'd been asked to help. To help! Russia had never felt such a nice emotion. Looking New Jersey over Russia decided he would make his newly adopted little brother, for that was what he now was in Russia's mind, as strong as he himself was. Russia noticed Washington nod to himself as if he'd made an important decision.
…
America had been curled up in a warm cocoon for an immeasurable amount of fuzzy warmness, which he identified as time. He was now in a semi-asleep state, right between wakefulness and deep slumber, that allowed him to think. All he could recall was warm liquid burning its way down his throat. The liquid had started coming quicker and quicker every second. Then the next thing his fuzzy mind remembered, was finding somewhere nice and warm and curling up with the precious liquid's container clenched in his hands. At the moment he was perfectly peaceful and content, slowly creeping back into full slumber.
The next second something cold and wet soaked him through.
America jumped up with a scream, fuzzy eyes taking in the blurry shape of a room, before he was blinded with something wet. Screeching again, he firmly refused to acknowledge he sounded anything like a little girl, he pulled the thing off his face. Squinting down at what he held he realized it was a wet wash clothe.
A giggle drew his attention to the other blurry shapes in the room. Cursing America's hands instantly went in search of Texas. His search was paused though, when one of the blurry shapes moved foreword and slipped something on the top of his head. Pulling it down he was pleased to find it was Texas. His vision clearing America took in the sight before him and swore.
Standing, fists clenched white, before him was one of his many daughters. Kansas looked more livid than he'd ever seen her and it made him wonder why he didn't have a bullet in his brain yet. Another giggle drew his eyes to a prettily plump brunette eyeing him lecherously behind his daughter. She reminded him vaguely of France. Her eyes made him blush and realize he was naked. Blanching horrified at his child and a complete stranger seeing him in such a state he quickly dragged the bed covers over him to protect his modesty.
"Oh my, Miss, he certainly is a beautiful specimen. Are you certain I can't even have a taste?" the stranger asked leering at America. It was oddly horrifying to hear England's accent used on words and with an inflection that better suited France. In fact America was thoroughly traumatized by the image of Iggy in the girl's maid dress speaking to him in such a manner. He also found it strangely intriguing. But then his heart clenched as he remembered why exactly he went drinking.
"No Antoinette," his daughter told the girl firmly, her brown eyes flints of fury. America flinched guiltily under her gaze. He was surprised by the simple pout the girl gave before throwing him a longing look. Why exactly did his daughter have such control over this girl?
"Fine then, Miss," the British brunette said disappointed. "I suppose you want me to leave now?"
"That would be appreciated." Kansas said stiffly. The girl sighed, but left after eyeing America in a way that made his Puritan side blush and stutter. After the door shut behind her, the silence in the room was that of which usually preceded a storm.
For a split second Kansas's face went dark and America tensed preparing for a screaming he knew could almost rival Mattie's. But then suddenly her expression went blank as her fists clenched together tighter. America watched confused as his daughter forced herself to calm.
"I won't scold," she said blandly, and for some reason this monotone worried America more than any fit of anger ever could.
"I won't tell you the terror we went through these past four days. Nor will I say anything about you missing your meeting with Russia. I just wan-"
"Four days?" America burst out eyes wide, drawing his daughter's brown ones to him. "Four days! I've been here four days?"
"Yes," Kansas said calmly.
"Oh, Providence. Child I'm so sorry. What you must have went through." America said repulsed by his actions. "If I'd realized. Oh, Lord Four days! It's just Iggy and me had this horrible, horrible, fight and I-God! I didn't mean to worry you or the others. Christ Chammie you know I'd never purposely hurt any of you. You're my kids! I love you!"
America meant every word, every bit of the oddly emotional spew. America wasn't exactly verbose about feelings of love. True he was physically affectionate, but he hardly ever said the 'L' word. Kansas's face softened a bit.
"It's fine. Of course I forgive you. We were just worried is all. You never miss a meeting." Kansas told him dismissively, but she couldn't hold it and crumbled. America quickly pulled his child into a tight hug petting her gently as she shook.
"I was so scared." she whispered, almost ashamed. "I kept imagining all the horrible things that could have happened to you. We all did. It was the worst. Worse even then the-" Kansas's voice cut off and her eyes were pained.
America knew instantly what she was talking about. Only one memory could get his Little Sunflower so worked up. America pulled her tighter against him, making sure the blanket kept him firmly covered as he rocked his daughter.
"I know, I know, I'm so sorry." he told her softly.
When Kansas finally leaned back her eyes were calm and she got up to straighten herself up. America smiled almost sadly at the irony of her wearing one of Missouri's basketball jerseys with her jeans. Kansas looked at him seriously.
"It wasn't just you missing Da," Kansas said looking down. "Everything has been hectic lately. Well, mostly because when you didn't show up Russia was left on his own. I got called in to take care of it, because he was messing with Annie."
America's blood went cold as his daughter's clear doe brown eyes looked up at him.
"He knows and we all voted to tell. Rather you like it or not at the next World Conference we're telling all the countries who exactly we are." Kansas seemed to pause to examine the affect of her words. America watched his little girl, cold and nauseas as her guilty expression told him there was more.
"And Russia's staying with me until February. So he can't tell the others about us."