"Dad…We're here." Alex called sleepily pulling his father out of his memories.
"Oh…" He blinked as they pulled into the parking lot of the small park. "Right I knew that."
That day many years ago was one of the saddest days of his life. He had lost a part of him that only Angelica could fill. On the anniversary of her death America and Alex would visit her small mausoleum despite everything that may have happen during that time. Every once and a while it would fall on a world conference and America wouldn't show until the next day. Many nations were suspicious of the American when he didn't show but they never voiced it. The nation would appear the very next day depressed and only spoke to France which was ever odd to some.
They drove deeper into parking lot. Many families appeared between the parked cars with their young sons and daughters laughing and enjoying the parks activities ready for the nights firework display. America was envious of these families. They were a complete family and his wasn't. It was only very few years that his family was complete but it was for a very short time only about a day or two that they were together then she would have to return to her home in heaven.
It took some time but they finally found a parking spot close to the walk way. Once parked Alfred when to that back of the car and pulled out the wheelchair. Rolling it to the front of the car he opened the door their pet Americat jumped out the car and sat waiting next to the open wheelchair. Alex stood warily on his weak legs holding onto the door frame of the truck for dear life his father's arms opened ready for him to jump into them. He jumped and America caught him with no trouble.
"Oh…There you go." He groaned placing his son into the chair. The cat jumped back onto the boy's lap making him laugh. "Ready?" He placed his hand on his hips proudly.
He nodded smiling. "Ready."
They walked through the park for fifteen minutes looking for one woman in a sea of many people. "Where'd mom ask she was going to be?"
America looked around. "Near the old oak tree we use to have picnic at."
D.C raised an eyebrow. "This park is bigger then it was when I was a little boy, dad. How are we going to find mom in all of this?" He motioned to the park flooded with people.
He brushed through his sons raven hair. "Have faith miracle boy." He smiled.
Miracle boy was a nickname given to Alexander when he was born. He was a child that never should have come to reality thus the name came to be. "Dad…" He blushed embarrassed.
"Alfred, Alexander over here!" They heard a young sweet female voice call. The two turned their heads northeast towards a hill top with an old oak tree at the very top. A young sixteen to seventeen looking woman stood there dressed in a cropped turquoise shirt with a graffiti America flag, short shorts, and black toms. Her raven hair was extremely long reaching the length of her back. In her raven hair was a caramel colored band which symbolized a 'halo'. Her skin was a ghostly pale making her amber eyes striking. This was the angel of Angelica Jones wife of Alfred F. Jones.
"Angelica!"
"Mom!" The two cried. Alex took hold of his wheel spinning them as fast as he could up the hill with Alfred being not too far behind.
Angelica ran as fast as she could down the hill to meet he miracle son. Once she was close enough to her son she fell to her knees waiting for him to hug her with all his might. Tears fell from their faces as they collided. "God! I haven't seen you since you were confined to a wheelchair again in '08." She whispered crying. "How have you been? How are your legs?" She asked.
"I'm getting better Mama. I'm able to stand on my legs for a short time now." He said.
"That makes me very happy. I'm proud of you baby." She squeezed her son a little tighter. She missed him so much.
"I don't get a hug?" America asked mockingly hurt from being ignored.
She smiled knowingly at the other man. "Of course you do." She kissed him on the lips and hugged him just as tight as he did their son.
"How is everything?" She asked.
"Same old, same old. Economy still sucks; everyone hates me for something or another, almost all of the Middle Eastern wants me out of their region and the elections going on right now making my job twice as hard and some other stuff that I'd rather not talk about." He supplied.
"Ah so nothing as really changed – I mean poor baby."
"Hey." He laughed." I thought you were on my side?"
"Oh I am…but it's too fun to play with you."
"Of course you do!"
"Come on let go to the blanket. I got food for us to eat and some sparklers for when the fireworks start." She smiled holding onto Alfred's hand and led them up to the blanket.
As they approached the blanket they found the red and white checkered blanket filled with soft drinks junk food and fruits of all kinds for them to enjoy. There was also a cake for Alfred's birthday. However the most notable thing wasn't on the blanket but rather the tree. Hung to the tree was a small lantern. The lantern (9) was white and round with decorative gold tassels hanging from it. Designed around the exterior of the lantern was Latin calligraphy, beautiful flowers and a gold cross. The candle inside burned dimly in the sun light. This lantern was Angelica's only link to heaven with its help she could always find her way back home. If she ever lost this she would become a lost soul doomed to roam the earth for eternity.
Once on the blanket the cat leaped off of D.C's lap and curled into a ball and fell asleep. "That cat really likes his naps." Angelica commented.
Alfred who was helping Alex out of the chair and onto the blanket agreed. "I swear I find Americat sleeping everywhere and anywhere."
"What do you expect mom and dad? He's a lazy cat!"
"True, true."Alfred nodded and patted his hands once Alex was on the blanket munching on some apple slices.
"Come and sit Alfred." She patted the ground next to her. "How about we cut the cake?" The cake itself was made strawberry shortcake decorated with whip cream blueberries to represent the blue square of the stars and sliced strawberries to represent the red stripes in the flag. On the cake were number candles which read: 236.
"Sure." He shrugged. The nation lit the numbered candles with matches he had bought from the store prior from arriving at the park. His family began to smile at the young nation. They always brought him a peace that no one gave him in the world of secrets, deception, back stabbing and double cross known as nations. He felt safe and welcomed with their loving grasp.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Alfred (dad)
Happy birthday to you!
"Happy birthday, Alfred! Blow out the candles and make a wish." Angelica sang.
"Yeah come one dad I wanna have some cake!"
America smiled at the two. "But my wish has come true…you two are with me today."
Angelica signed softly. "Ever the romantic are you impossible man." She smiled kissed him on the lips gently. Once they broke their foreheads touched.
He placed his hand on her cheeks smiling. "Maybe." He kissed her again passionately.
"Uhg! Gross mom and dad making out! Where's the barf bag when you need it?" Alex said placing his finger in his mouth signifying he was gagging. "Why do you two always end up making out when mom comes home?"
His parents turned to him with odd looks. "You'll learn when you're older." Alfred said blowing out the candles.
Alex mirrored his mocked look. "Dad I am almost the same age as you are. I don't think that saying will work for me."
"Well then." Angelica said grabbing a small grape and aimed it at him laughing. "You'll learn when your appearance catches up with your age."
"Hey" The young capital laughed as the grape hit his head. "When did I become the target of grapes?"
"When you made fun of your mother and I's love after all you were born from it miracle boy."
"Fine then you won't get you birthday gift." The boy said peeking the parents' attention.
"Present?" America asked. "What present."
Alex turned slightly in wheelchair and pulled out of the small pocket on the back revealing a small red rectangle box with a white and blue ribbon wrapped around it. "Here." He said giving him the box. "I hope you like it. Happy birthday, dad."
"Oh I was wondering what the bulge was in the back." He mumbled opening the box. With the box was a small crystal glass bold eagle with its wing out wide, holding a ribbon designed as the America flag. It was beautiful. When the glass hit the light it created a gorgeous rainbow light display.
"Thank you…" He said in shock.
"It's beautiful Alex…when did you do this?" Angelica asked as she looked over her husband's shoulder.
Alex became bashful as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I got it made when dad went to G8 meeting. I've been hiding it ever since. It's great right? If you close at its wings you can see all of our names on it, not just dad and mine."
Alfred didn't know what to say to his son to thank him for such a wonderful gift. He moved from his wife's side and hugged his son. "Thank You Alex…"
"It was nothing."
As the sun began to fall and the air cooled gentle the small Jones family found themselves in a type of 'Four of July' routine. Alex, who had found a classmate of his (10) wandering around the park, was playing a few rounds of catch with the young human. While Alfred and Angelica watched from afar with Alfred leaning against the tree and Angelica leaning against him.
"How was I able to get you back?" Alfred asked nostalgically as he played with her extremely long hair.
She signed deeply as she closed her eyes. "Haven't we had this conversation before?"
He kissed her head. "Maybe…but I can't help it. You're only here for such a short time that I think it was just a dream."
She opened her eyes again and turned in his grasp and kissed him chastely. He could see sadness in her eyes. "I'm not a dream but merely an angel, a spirit of your strength and love. I am your nation's personified spirit of freedom I am Lady Liberty."
He smiled sadly. "I know but only being able to see you every few years…its pure torture."
"I know my impossible man but that was is how it has to be. I have to follow the rules or I'll never see you or our son again. I will do everything to see you again. I can't watch idly by like it did during your Great Depression. "
(9) The Lantern; As it says the lantern guides Angelica back to heaven. Like how a lanter who guide the lost back home. I find this would be the way visible angel would find their way hone verses invisible angels.
(10) Clasemate; Since Alexander looks like a young kid it would be odd to find him roaming the Senate or Congress. As such America might have placed his son in differnet schools both private and public to insure his façade of being a human child keeps up. Though during important meeting and events he would be present.
