Upon the Great Victoria
Chapter 7
I don't own Hetalia.
Amelia enjoyed being able to work again instead of lying around, even if she had to wear a dress. She chewed on the inside of her cheek and pouted as she cleaned the kitchen floors and struggling to keep the skirt out of the way. She didn't mind wearing the dress but she wondered why he had to be such a hardass about her wearing a dress and not pants.
She sighed and stood taking her bucket of dirty soap water to dump it over the edge of the boat. Most the men had already retired to bed except for the ones that had the early night watches. She put up her cleaning supplies and headed to the clinic where she was still staying since Arthur wouldn't let her sleep in the same area as the other men. Just as she was about to open the door to the clinic she heard someone call her name.
She turned to see Arthur leaning against the wall a few feet down. He waved her over and she went. "Something wrong?" she asked and he shook his head.
"No, just one of the men had taken ill and I don't want you falling ill as well. You'll be staying in my quarters for a while" he said and began to head to his cabin.
"But, I-" she stammered.
He paused and looked back at her. "What? Your things have already been moved and everything has been taken care of" he said and continued walking, not waiting on her this time. Amelia quickly hurried after him.
Arthur led her into his cabin and she couldn't help but stare at her surroundings. There was a huge bookcase filled with books as well as a desk cluttered with maps, papers, and other office supplies. There was a bed, a nightstand, and a wardrobe. Over in the corner was a small space that was cleared and a hammock had been hung up. On the floor by the hammock her things, which consisted of a spare dress, her night clothes, a blanket, and a few momentous items, had been neatly laid.
"You'll be sleeping over there. Don't worry I won't bother you" he sat down at his desk and removed his boots before looking over some of the papers on his desk. Amelia took this time to change into her night clothes. She climbed into the hammock and looked around the room some more.
"Thank you for letting me stay in here" she said softly.
"It's fine. Besides I couldn't let you stay with a lot of men. They're good men but….accidents can happen" he said not taking his focus off the papers. Amelia hummed softly in response before becoming quiet again.
It wasn't several hours later before Arthur put his work aside and changed into his own night clothes. He glanced over to Amelia was had fallen asleep fairly quickly. He silently moved over to the hammock. He looked down at her sleeping face and studied it. It seemed so peaceful and at easy. He felt a small pain in his chest as he brushed a few hairs away from her face. He realized what he was doing and a huge blush spread across his cheeks. He quickly blew out the candle and got into his bed, mentally reprimanding himself.
A week passed and the crew member that was ill made a quick recovery. However, Amelia didn't go back to staying in the clinic. Instead she stayed continued to stay in Arthur's cabin. Arthur found himself enjoying Amelia's company. There were times Arthur would try to work on the maps but then get distracted by thinking of Amelia. Amelia would sometimes scrub the same spot of floor for ten minutes as her mind wandered to thoughts of Arthur. Several times someone would have to get her out of her trances.
It was late and Amelia was still awake which was unusual for her. Arthur was at his desk reading a book, a luxury he hardly ever got the time for. Amelia was laying in her hammock trying to get it to swing back and forth as she stared at the ceiling. Without taking her eyes off the ceiling she spoke, "You need to smile more."
"I'm sorry?" he asked and looked up from his book at her.
"I said, you need to smile more" she said and lifted her head up to look at him.
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because you scowl so much you'll get premature wrinkles."
He rolled his eyes. "That is not a sufficient reason to walk around like a lunatic, constantly smiling. Besides I do smile."
Amelia sat up and shook her head. "No, you don't, not really. I want to see a real smile. A smile that comes from the heart" she said and gave him a serious look.
He snorted and smirked a bit at how set she was on the subject. He turned his focus back to his book. Amelia sighed and laid back down. "You're just too grouchy." There was silence again for a while until Amelia softly spoke up. "Goodnight, Captain" she said as she shifted to a more comfortable position.
"Goodnight, Amelia" he replied quietly before setting his book down and blowing out the candle.
Another month went by before, leaving only a month until they arrived back at Amelia's home town. Arthur knew what was coming but he had begun to feel an attachment to Amelia, one that he couldn't exactly describe. It wasn't like the attachment he felt to his crew but something different.
Anthony sat in a chair with his legs crossed and looked at Arthur who was sitting on one of the patient beds. "So what brings you here today, Captain? You normally don't get sick so this is a rarity."
"This isn't a laughing matter" he said and crossed his arms. "I've been having unexplainable pains in my chest."
Anthony's eyebrows raised with curiosity. "Oh? What more can you tell me about this pain?"
"I feel it right here" he placed his hand over his heart. "It's….it's like a squeezing feeling. Sometimes it goes away really quickly but other times it lingers. It also seems to happen more in the evening hours than the early hours."
Anthony thought for a moment and leaned back in his chair. "And what have you been doing during these times?"
"Mostly it's been things like looking over the maps, or reading, or just when I'm thinking" he responded.
"I see" Anthony replied and thought for a moment longer. "I don't think there is anything wrong with you"
"What? But how-" Arthur began but Anthony cut him off.
"During these times have you been thinking of Amelia perhaps?" he asked.
"N-no, I-" he began but then stopped. "I….I suppose so" he admitted sheepishly.
Anthony smirked. "Have you ever loved someone, Captain?"
"Love?"
"Yes. Love. Romantically, not family wise."
"….No, I haven't."
"Then I will tell you how to possibly cure your problems. There is only a fifty percent chance this will work and if it doesn't the affects might worsen."
"Alright….what is it?"
"All you have to do is….. tell Amelia that you love her."
"What?! No! I don-"
"Captain. If you didn't love her then why would you be here right now?"
"That's what I came to find out! You useless doctor!" he shouted and stormed out of the clinic leaving Anthony laughing at Arthur's denial.
So I added this chapter because I felt like their relationship was sort of like a, 'well that escalated quickly' moment. So enjoy this little filler chapter. I will be revising some other chapters and getting a new one up soon. Thanks to everyone who has read this story and stuck with it even if my updates are few and far between.
