As Alfred passes out pieces of his birthday cake to everyone, I can't help but smile about the fact the inside of the cake is rainbow. As my gaze switches to his face, I quickly lower it as I see he was looking at me, sending a shiver down my spine.
He calls, "Hey Iggy, everyone else got cake. You want some?"
I blush in spite of myself and try to collect myself while walking over. When I reach the tall blond, I can see him smiling down at me, a piece of cake on a fork aiming for my face.
"What are you doing?" I half whisper, though not intending to.
Instead of answering me, he instead puts the fork to my face indicating he wants to feed me. While blushing I open my mouth slightly and quiver as the fork goes into my mouth. I bite on the cake and he retracts the fork somewhat slowly, what I was not expecting was when he next leans down to me and starts kissing me in front of everyone, I can hear it get quiet.
But his lips… I'm so caught up in him, I ignore the silence around us and pull him closer to me. I hear cheers as I feel Alfred wind his hands in my hair and mine are tucked around his neck. The cake long gone, I start to remember this is his birthday party, and he is technically my son. I pull back, gently and grab his hand. Later. I think.
His face is red but he still manages a whine, "Iggy, why'd you stop?"
And now, my eyes urge him to look around, he sighs.
Getting up from beside me he says, "Guys, stop looking so surprised, wasn't the whole point if this party supposed to be about me at least kissing him? Why are you all so shocked?"
He gets an answer from France, of all people, "Amerique, we all knew you had feelings for Angleterre, but not many of us- if any- were aware your sentiment was returned that's all. As for myself, I am curious to if this whole elaborate plot you had will still be necessary or if you two would prefer to be left alone."
I blush, looking to Alfred, "Plot?"
He looks embarrassed, "Well you see, even though it's my birthday, we- well I used the setup to plan a long stunt that would make you fall in love with me by the end of it, but then I brought you over early and you kinda know the rest."
Returning to my normal colour, I note, "There's one flaw in your plan."
He asks me, "And what would that be?"
I smile, "I already am in love with you."
There was a small smile on his lips when I kissed him after that and I tuned out the sounds of the other countries laughs and cheers. Looks like there won't be as many problems as I thought. I was so happy, I didn't even notice the fireworks until I was pulled into a flashback.
I couldn't tell what year it was, or even where we were at. It's was a small battle as far as compared to the war, the gunshots from muskets ring in my ears, the smell of blood and rotting flesh on the battlefield. I could hear and feel my men crying out for help, my help. I didn't know where either of my sons were. Just that I hoped they were safe. While I was sad my son wanted to leave me, I didn't want to hurt him like this, never like this. But orders are orders. Just as I knelt to reload my musket, I felt someone shaking my arm.
My eyebrows knit together, "What's wrong." I ask the group standing around me.
Then it hits me. Standing.
"Shit, did I black out again?" I ask those standing around me.
I look at Alfred and seeing his worried face I tell him,
"I'll explain later."
He looks like he wants to argue, but for right now I explain,
"I have PTSD, fireworks so happen to be a trigger. Really I'm fine."
Everyone nods, clearing out. Alfred on the other hand picks me up bridal style and takes me back to his house, laying me on the bed.
Before I can get a word out, "I canceled the rest of the party, I told everyone they could stay at the guest house since preparations were done, but we needed to be left alone."
I nod beginning, "Alfred, I do want to tell you what is going on and I will but first I have some conditions."
"What kind of conditions?" he sounds curious, thoughtful.
"I need you to promise me, that you one, won't think differently of me."
He blinks, nodding, "Of course."
I continue, "Two, you won't blame yourself, your past leaders, myself, or my past leaders for any of what I'm going to tell you."
His head cocks to the side but still he answers, "Okay, anything else?"
I hold my breath asking the last part, "Don't judge me?"
He grabs my hand, running a thumb across my knuckles, "You know I won't, I love you Arthur."
Tears spill from my eyes as I begin to recount my side of his childhood,
"It started, of course with that damn Italian, Columbus. The queen of Spain hired him, you understand this part of the story yes?"
He nods, I take a breath,
"Well once the Nordics, as they decided to sail more at this time, found it it wasn't India as Columbus had thought, but a new land. Finland himself found you, and told me about you and it sent us European countries into a tizzy fighting over you. One day, Finland took me to meet you and France, but when I saw you. I knew you would change my life, you were my beautiful little boy."
He smiles asking, "Not that this isn't lovely but what does it have to do with your PTSD?"
I sigh, "We'll get there, it's a lot to explain."
I think, "Now where were we? Ah, I brought you home, though others were also colonizing you. France was about to discover Matthew and you started having nightmares, your whole childhood I felt like your father and your older brother, it's when you hit puberty that things started changing. And while I was only a few years older than you physically and mentally I was much older as far as countries go. Once we countries hit our young adult years we age much slower."
He asks at my pause, "So, things changed how when I hit puberty, you said they changed, but not how."
I blush, "Well, um, you have to understand I was still in the middle of puberty myself, but my feelings for you started changing, instead of feeling protective in a way like a father or brother should, I felt it more in the way a- lover would. I tried to go back and ignore the feelings, and dreams and I really tried and as I felt more and more wrongly for you, my bosses made you hate me more and more. When the revolution came, I almost didn't fight you. I didn't have the right to say that I could keep you safer while my mind was where it was at. I'd been in other battles, other wars, but none hurt me as much as the revolution, stemming from the fact it was about you. My flashbacks, the ones I always pass out over are about different battles I've fought in. They don't always need to be triggered but fireworks always trigger them because they sound so much like the differently timed gunshots. That's it, that's why and I truly hope you aren't disgusted with me."
I keep my head down, my eyes burn though my voice never cracked. He lets go of my shaking hand, and lifts my chin.
He whispers, "And I'm supposed to be the dumb one."
A tear runs down my face, he kisses it gently.
"Arthur, I love you, I've been in love with you from the moment I met you. It's okay that you started to feel that way and it would've been weird if you felt it sooner than you did, but you didn't. I never, not once ever hated you, so get that idea out of your head right now. I'm so sorry that you have PTSD because of that awful time. But I'm here to help you cope now."
I smile, sniffling I admit, "I'm relieved and thank you, but I'm tired, can we talk more tomorrow?"
He smiles at me, "Of course, my darling."
He lays down and I lay back, curling into his arms. I close my eyes and welcome the quite darkness.
