Arthur held the small child to his hip, swaying around the room as he hummed. The girl chewed lightly on her thumb, seeming content to be swung around by her father. He smiled, watching the girl feel around her teeth, that too her must have appeared magically.

"Arthur, you really shouldn't let her suck her thumb. She could get stuck on it," Francis said from his seat, happy to watch his husband and child dance through the room.

"She isn't sucking on it! She has to get used to those teeth somehow," Arthur laughed quietly as the child's eyes looked everywhere before finally landing on her French father. The child smiled silently, her hands reaching towards the man.

Arthur sighed, handing his daughter off to Francis, the other smiling at the quiet child.

"Come here, mon petit," He pulled the child into his lap, "Now, let's try this again. Say Papa."

Sophia blinked at him, shaking her head a moment later. Clearly she understood them, but they couldn't get her to speak. She would always respond, but never did any words come out, causing fear for her parents. Usually a young country would already be speaking by her age, but she refused.

"Please, Sophia? Just say Papa. Or Daddy even."

She shook her head once more, before pushing herself away from her father and toddling away. She was tired of people asking her to say things.

Francis sighed, looking to his husband. Arthur smiled and shrugged, turning to follow after the escaping child.

They knew she could talk. They knew it. She just wouldn't speak outright. Considering the only reason they knew was because they heard her singing. A song that almost caused Arthur to faint hearing it, but he was glad either way that words were coming out of his daughter's mouth.

They could hear it then. The same song. The couple sat on the covered patio, watching Sophia sit in the grass and sing. Her hands moved around, grabbing grass and flowers, apparently trying to make something out of the objects.

"Please don't lose yourself,

Please don't let go,

I don't know what I will do,

If I had to lose you too.

Please, dear, I love you,

You're everything to me.

Please don't lose yourself.

Please.

Please don't let go."

Arthur sighed, rubbing his temples lightly. He wondered where she had heard the song. It was nearly driving him insane wondering. The last time he had heard it was. . . a very dark time for him, and he did not wish to think on it.

But, he didn't dare tell the girl to stop singing it, she was using words! He couldn't stop that achievement once it had arrived.

Francis looked worriedly across to him, giving the other man understanding looks. He somewhat knew what Arthur was putting himself through.

"Don't worry, Arthur. She'll get through this phase eventually."

The other countries had decided for them. It was time to meet the two little cities that seemed to be picking up hearts where ever they went. Arthur and Francis couldn't really just say no, Feliciano and Ludwig's son Kristof would be there too (Ludwig had refused to call his son Pio even though it was the child's name).

So, they had dressed little Sophia up. A little blue dress with a white ribbon around the middle. Her hair was pulled up into a small bun, hidden by a little white hat. She was positively adorable, and ready to be shown to the rest of the world.

When they stepped into the meeting room, Sophia was sandwiched between them, her little hands gripping her parent's fingers. Her blue green eyes searched the room excitedly, knowing that she had never been there before.

Several gasps came from the room, many of the countries running up to see the tiny blonde. She smiled and greeted them silently, acting as if she were born for people to be surrounding her. The group made sounds at the girl, Aw's and How Cutes, flying from all around.

Feliciano, however, screamed the moment he saw her. He backed away, hands covering his mouth, and eyes filled with tears. Arthur had moved to grab Sophia, not knowing what the Italian would do, but the girl moved away from him, going to stand directly in front of the man, staring into his eyes.

The two stayed silent a moment, staring at each other. Slowly the girl reached up to pull the hat off of her head, followed by her curls being released from the bun. Looking into the Italian's surprised gaze, she spoke her first sentence, "I'm sorry." She then turned away, heading to her father, with a silent demand to be held.

The room had gone silent, the countries staring between the now silent child, and the crying Italian. Gilbert seemed to be the first to realize what happened, moving to help Feliciano from the room, Ludwig following after.

The others seemed to go back to normal, cooing and making sounds at Sophia. Even Lovino was in the group, getting permission from the child to hold her. He held the girl close, mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like "Thank you." After getting a smile from her, Lovino grinned, looking much like his twin. He handed the girl back to her father, stepping quickly to his Spanish husband.

A loud, "We are going to have children," followed the Italian, the Spaniard suddenly making a terrified face.

Sophia giggled loudly, clapping, as if she understood clearly what Lovino had said.

Eventually Feliciano and the two Germans entered the room, the Italian holding a sleepy little boy. His dirty blond hair stuck up in spots, one of his cheeks pink and covered in slobber. The child must have just woken up from his nap.

"Now that we've gotten everything under control, it is time to start the actual meeting," Ludwig stated, clearly not taking any questions or objections.

There are a few things in this chapter and the previous that ties into a One-Shot I've written, and will post soon. This one-shot contains some history before this story happens, but it does not have to be read. It has very dark themes, and is very triggering to those who wish to know more. I will be posting this one-shot soon, but at the time being it has nothing to do with this story, and anything that ties in with it will be explained. The story is called Please Don't Lose Yourself, for those who want to read it. It only contains mentions of FrUk. There will be several warnings.

Thank you.

-Becca