Thank you for the reviews and favorites everyone! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! Yeah, I'm afraid the first two lines are still very robotic. I'm sorry about that. Anywhos, moving right along. I'm sorry for making England and America go through the torment that they (or at least England as far as canon is concerned) went through some time ago. I am one of those people who enjoy the hurt/comfort stories, and seem to be pretty good at it.
Disclaimer: Okay, so must I really do this? What do you think I own? Definitely not Hetalia.
Chapter Seven: Diverting Attention
France awoke the next morning feeling more tired than he had ever felt before in his life. He knew the cause of it almost immediately, and resisted a groan as the sun's rays began to peek in through the glass. France, Canada, and Sealand had entertained America into the night, hoping to keep his mind off of England. Spain, Japan, and Prussia had clocked out at about 9 PM, leaving the three to deal with America. It seemed that all had been fine, but by fifteen to ten, they had found America trying to sneak out of the front door to make a mad dash for England's manor. They had to reinforce the doors and windows, all while dealing with a screaming America who wasn't afraid to unleash his sea of tears. Sealand had been the only one to keep a good hold on the screaming child when he decided to throw a powerful fit. Canada and France did all they could to lullaby the child to sleep, but none of that worked since all the lullabies had reminded America of when England used to sing him to sleep. After much coaxing and many tears later, America fell asleep due to exhaustion at around 4 AM. Rolling over to check on his alarm clock, he was horrified to discover that the time was only 6:45 AM.
Les horreurs, he thought to himself as he tried to fall asleep.
He was kept awake by the soft tip-toeing against his hard-wood floors. Curious, he got out of his bed and headed for his door. He opened it carefully to keep it silent, and stuck his head out. He had a clear view down the hallway, and found little America, still in his pajamas, at the phone, a small frown set on his face. France wondered briefly how he had managed to work the phone, but guessed that he still retained some of his modern day memories. Being a nation full of people who used their phones every day, America probably still remembered how to use them. And the fact that he had England on speed-dial must have made it easier for the child-turned super nation. France watched quietly as America stood with the phone against his ear. The boy's frown deepened as tears began to form. France was surprised to see that the boy still had tears to cry.
"Please pick up," America said pitifully. "Please big brother. I want to come home. Please? I promise I'll be better. I'll be a good little brother. Please let me come home. I miss you and love you lots."
France's heart was ripped out of his chest when he heard America's pitifully sad plea. The boy stood standing with tears in silence before giving up and hanging up the phone. A sad sniffle sounded within the home, and France couldn't stand to see the boy in so much pain. He understood England's reasonings for separating the two, but did he have to do it like this? France stepped out of his room and headed for the boy, quickly pulling him into a hug. The boy stiffened in his arms, but calmed down once he realized that it was a friend who was holding him. America leaned his forehead against France's shoulder, his tears falling without a sound. France closed his eyes and did his best to release a comforting air as he held the boy.
"Why won't he let me come home?" America asked sadly. "Doesn't he want me to come home?"
"It's not that Angleterre doesn't want you in his home, Amerique," France said comfortingly to the boy. "He is going through... trouble right now."
"Why won't he let me help him!" America demanded, looking up at France with frantic eyes.
"It is... a personal matter he must deal with," France responded.
"That's stupid! I can help!" America argued.
"I know you can Amerique," France said with a small smile. "But this is just something England needs to do. He doesn't hate you though. You shouldn't think that."
"I just want to be with big brother," America whispered pathetically.
"I know little one," France said as he picked up the child. "I know."
England sat staring at his answering machine, listening to America's little voice over the line. It pained him to hear the voice since his whole life had been committed to protecting his little brother when he was a colony. And now to hear him sound so heartbroken... When the message finished, England replayed the message, listening to America all over again.
Sealand was heaven sent, France decided as they sat around the breakfast table at a more reasonable time. France had managed to get America to fall asleep, and at 9 AM, the occupants of the home were situated around the table having a filling breakfast. America had pushed around the food offered to him, but with Sealand's coaxing, the little boy ate his food slowly. Neither France nor Canada were going to speculate about this behavior; they were happy to see the boy eat. Both nations knew they had to keep America's attention away from the separation he was still suffering from.
"Want to play in the yard today America?" Sealand asked, striking up a conversation with the boy.
America nodded his head with a small, "Mhm."
"We can play a game of hide-and-seek," Canada offered.
"M'kay," America muttered quietly again.
The three nations glanced at each other in concern but didn't dare push America. The young nation would be better with careful vigilance. After breakfast, the four nations (and the bear) headed outside to play a fun game of hide-and-seek. It only took a few moments before America got into the fun. A smile crossed his face as he ran to catch the other players who were hiding within the yard. It made the trio happy to see America smiling and laughing like his sadness was gone.
At lunchtime, France and Canada went to make lunch while America, Sealand, and Kumajirou sat on the front porch. Sealand was rubbing Kumajirou's stomach while America sat next to him.
"Hey Sealand. Will we be friends forever?" America asked out of the blue.
"Huh? Of course we will," Sealand said, pausing his action. He looked over at America curiously, a little concerned when he saw the sad look in America's eyes. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't think I have a lot of friends," America said. "And the few who are... they leave me."
"Well I'm your friend no matter what!" Sealand declared as he stood to his feet.
America looked up at his friend with teary eyes.
"Really?" America asked.
"Of course," Sealand said as he held out his pinky. "I pinky swear."
America grinned and locked his pinky with Sealand's.
"Okay, pinky swear," he said with obvious happiness in his voice.
Sealand grinned at his friend, happy to see the boy smiling again. Kumajirou just stared at them. Feeling like he was left out, he pushed his head against America's leg. America smiled down at the domestic bear and wrapped his arms around the bear's neck.
"It's okay Kuma! We'll be your friends forever too!" America said with a smile.
The polar bear's nose gave a small twitch, but he accepted the attention America and Sealand were giving him. Canada came to collect them, happy to see America still in his cheerful mood. Lunch was peaceful and full of more chatter than breakfast, which helped brighten everyone's moods. Just as the older nations were cleaning up, a knock at the front door called their attention. France, curious about who would be at his door, headed into the parlor room and opened the door.
If it were the movies, there would have been rain, and the guest at the door would be drenched in water. But it wasn't the movies; it was real life. The weather outside was beautifully perfect, and the guest was dry. France stared in shock at England, who looked so pitiful that it made France uncomfortable. Canada peeked his head around the corner, but after seeing who it was, Canada ushered Sealand and America further into the kitchen.
"Is there something you want, mon ami?" France asked the nation in front of him.
"I... I was wondering if America was here," England requested as he looked towards his shoes.
"Perhaps, but would do you want with him?" France asked, making sure his body blocked the entrance into his home.
"I just... wanted to see him," England explained, sounding so sad.
"I can't let you do that Angleterre. We've just got Amerique to smile again, and I'm not about to let you ruin that!" France said, growing protective of America.
France discovered in that moment that it was possible for someone who was already pitiful to look even more pathetic. England wouldn't raise his eyes to meet France's; his eyes were already filling with enough guilt that it would suffocate France.
"I understand," England responded, turning to walk back to the car he had used to arrive at France's home.
France bit his bottom lip in an attempt to not call England back. However, it wasn't his voice that had made England stop in his place...
"Big brother?"
...It was Amrica's voice. America had managed to get past Canada and heard England's voice just as the older nation was about to turn away. Full of hope, America squeezed past France's person and came to look at his older brother, who looked sadly back at the nation. America stepped forward and latched his hand into England's hand. Sealand had followed America and was now standing in front of France, glaring angrily at England.
"Are you here to stay with us big brother?" America asked, his tiny voice hopeful.
England looked at America before shaking his head sadly.
"I'm afraid I can't America. I just came to see you," England responded.
"Well... can I go home with you then?" America asked.
Once again, England shook his head, causing America's smile to drop.
"I'm... I'm afraid it would not be the best thing to do," England responded.
"But why not big brother?" America asked sadly.
"It... it would be for the best," England responded.
"Please! I can help you with whatever is bothering you!" America responded frantically.
"I know you can America," England said sadly as he knelt in front of his former colony. "I know you can, but..."
"Why don't you stay with us Angleterre? I am sure Canada and I will be able to keep a close eye on you," France responded, hating to see America's pouting lip.
America's eyes widened in hope and looked back to England, tugging his hand slightly.
"See? You can stay here with us!" America said hopefully. "Please big brother! Please!"
England's heart broke, and tears began to form in his eyes. It hurt, because this dependency America needed from him would change the next day. Still... England caved in and nodded. America's eyes brightened and a grin formed on his face. He quickly pulled England into a hug and laid his head against his chest.
Canada, France, and Sealand watched the intimate moment with skeptical eyes. They weren't going to say anything to America that would cause the boy to go into hysterics. America urged England into France's home, determined to get the five of them to play a fun game while keeping England within his reach.
"I don't wanna go to sleep," America complained as England tucked in America. "Can't I stay up a little longer?"
"I'm afraid not," England responded. "You've already stayed up longer than normal."
"But I wanna stay up more," America continued to complain. "I don't want you to leave."
"I'm not going to leave," England whispered sadly.
"Promise?" America asked as his eyes began to close.
"I promise," England responded, bending down to peck America on his forehead.
"Okay," America whispered as he fell asleep.
England stared at America sadly. He felt a pair of eyes staring at him, and so he turned around to stare at Sealand. The boy was glaring at England, and the man knew he deserved it.
"I don't know why America still cares about you, especially after what happend yesterday. If you ever do something like that to him again-"
"The situation won't rise up. He's returning to normal tomorrow," England responded to Sealand's threat.
"What?" Sealand said in surprise.
"I placed a spell on him seven days ago," England answered. "It will wear off tomorrow morning. He will be back to his normal self."
"You mean..."
"He'll no longer be this age," England responded.
Sealand's eyes saddened. He knew their time wouldn't last long, but he hadn't thought that America would return to normal so quickly. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see England staring down at him sympathetically.
"It'll be alright Sealand," England said.
Sealand's shoulders sagged but he nodded numbly.
"Yeah. Maybe," he muttered.
"You should go to bed as well. It's late, and from what France mentioned to mean, none of you went to bed until 3:30," England said.
"Yeah," Sealand muttered again.
England offered Sealand a rare, warm smile and headed out of the room. Sealand changed into his night gear and laid in his bed, staring at the little boy sadly. By day break, the boy would turn back into the young adult he was. Sealand would miss their adventures and playtimes. The memories of their week together ran through Sealand's mind as forced himself asleep.
Alright, so I broke down and had England go to America. What can I say?
Anyways, we only have one chapter left. I'm really happy and thankful for everyone who read and reviewed (or just read). I hope to see you read future Hetalia fanfics from me!
