The sight of soldiers lining the distance between them was unnerving for Arthur. They hadn't moved since they came to Roderich's border. He heard him conversing with Ludwig and Gilbert in German as the others lie in wait over what would happen next.

"Dude it's too quiet. I don't like it." Alfred said standing next to him.

"According to the Russian and Chinese surveillance, they've been sitting there since we moved into place yesterday." Feli added.

Arthur sighed, "There's nothing from the Air?"

"Hercules, Lien, and Abram say the same as the other two. It's quiet." Kiku replied.

"What the bloody hell are they up to?" He peered into the binoculars once more.

Soldiers standing erect as higher ups walked up and down the lines. There wasn't anything out of line with them. Uniform were neat and their faces hidden, their colors stood proud upon their chests with a strange symbol he couldn't yet make out. The wait and worry was truly taking its toll on him. Placing the binoculars back, he pulled the small flask he had hidden away and sipped the tea within. He was surprised Juliet did that as she slipped it in his coat as she kissed him goodbye.

"Arthur!" someone called to him.

Glancing back, Francis waved him over to the communications table as the others gathered around it.

"What the blazes is going on now?" he thought.

Once at the table, he saw the layout of the group and themselves. The thin veil that held the very balance of war on hold. "We have gotten a message from their two leaders, they want to speak with us."

"Speak with us?" they all said.

"Oui. And not over a phone. Personally." Francis said, looking over the plans once more.

"So, you are saying that we have to go over there and speak with the enemy?" Ludwig asked, "Are you insane?"

"Monsieur!" a soldier ran up to Francis with a note in hand.

Arthur, along with the others, waited to see what was sent, "They say they will back down. No need for fire or fights. Just conversation. To know the enemy."

"Oh, well why not. Let's also give them tea, make it even cheerier." Arthur spoke as he tried to keep his mouth shut with his real thoughts.

"As good as your sarcasm is my friend, I don't think we have much options." Alfred pointed out.

Moments passed as they all sat there, weighing the pros and cons of the thought but in all, as Alfred said, there was no backing out without either initiating war or surrendering. Now they stood open upon the field, all eight of them. Roderich and Gilbert ready at their commands to fire if things turned sour. Arthur could feel the sweat drip down his brow as they approached the two figures before them, this was worse than Normandy with nerves.

Finally, they were before the two men. Arthur wasn't sure what to think of the two of them. They seemed so modern, so universal really. Their gray uniforms were a blend of their eight. As if they were trying to make a reason to show them.

"Hello gentlemen, I am Doss." the sharper of the two said, he pointed to the darker skinned man, "And this is Alpha."

"Gotta Omega hiding back there too?" he heard Alfred mutter under his breath.

Arthur gave a sharp jab to his ribs as Doss laughed. "Now, now. We do not want to start war just yet."

"Then what holds you back?" Ivan asked.

"That is knowledge and growth." he replied.

Knowledge and growth? Were they waiting on how big they could get their armies and how much they knew of the group itself?

"We have been watching you for a while now, all four of us." Alpha stated.

"There are four, so where are the other two?" Kiku asked, "You have all of us, so why not all of you?"

"I agree with him, you want to speak with all of us yet you are all not here. Seems strange to me." Yao added.

"That is due to your old ways." Alpha shot.

"Old ways?" Francis questioned.

"You see, you all fight for the same reason. Your people. It is not the power of the land or the size of its natural gain, it's the people and what they can make with it." Doss explained, "Now for us. We were formed by thought and belief, not by land."

"Impossible." Arthur said.

The very thought itself was ridiculous and maddening all together, it just wasn't possible.

"Then how do you explain the Roman Empire or the Holy Roman Empire?" Alpha asked, his eyes set on Feliciano.

Arthur watched the gentle Italian shiver at the mention of his grandfather and once true friend.

"They are nations of power that fell or became smaller bands of countries. That is what we are. We are a formation of beliefs." Doss added.

"Where you kill innocent people?" Alfred questioned.

"Only the ones that don't believe like us."

"You do realize that your methods will fail." Ludwig pointed out, "World War II was formed with that. It failed."

"But it targeted only one, we target all." Doss smiled as Alpha nodded, "So until our next meeting. We will wait and see and learn of the great Axis and Allies."

They both turned on their heels and walked back to their troops leaving all of them stunned. Arthur didn't know what to think of it, there was more questions than answers to that meeting.

"Hey!" Alfred yelled at them, "Since we're the Axis and Allies, what are you guys, besides a terrorist group?"

Arthur saw Doss turn and smile at him, "We've dubbed ourselves Genesis. For we are reborn."

And then, they were gone. The troops left as the men all stood there waiting for a surprise attack.

"I don't think one is coming." Yao said.

"Starting to think that too." Arthur added, finally making his way back to the command station.

Gilbert and Roderich waited for them as they finally explained what they had learned, passing on the information to the other nations.

"Capitano!" one of Feli's soldiers ran up to him, holding out a note.

With a salute, the man disappeared as Feli read the note and they waited only to fret as his eyes widened in worry.

"It's Lovi. He says there's an emergency in Italy."

That was enough to make Arthur's heart race and his stomach drop, he wasn't alone as Alfred, Ivan, and Francis took off. With a nod to Roderich and Gilbert, they left the two men in charge of the battle front.

The whole way there he worried of what he'd find. Thousands of thoughts rolled his mind, but seeing the large home untouched wasn't what he expected. He made his way in along with the others as they tried to find Lovino. The home was too quiet for his liking. The usual giggles from the children and chatter of the girls wasn't heard, the air was stiff and filled with worry and fear. Turning the corner into the meeting room he found Lovino pacing the floor.

"For the love of God man, what's the matter?" He demanded.

"Fratello, what's wrong, you said it was an emergency?" Feli asked as the rest poured in.

Arthur saw his eyes dart between them all, mouthing no at them until he finally lit up, "Ah-hah, goldilocks, I need you."

He flew up to Francis, grabbing his arm and dragging him down the hallway only to stop short and throwing what Arthur thought were doors open.

"Let them kill you!" Lovino shouted as he shoved Francis in and came back to the others, just to slam the door shut.

The Italian stood there and panted, worry was purely written all over him, something had to be wrong.

"Look Lovino, it wouldn't be horrid if it wasn't the fact we just dealt with the damn terrorist group, but could you mind explaining-" Arthur was cut short as a woman's pained scream echoed the home.

Lovino stood up and sighed, "The baby came early."

Juliet was ready for her hand to be in pieces with how hard Brie squeezed it, "Sweetie, I know you wanted it like Jeanne's but each one is different and this one is taking a bad turn. We gotta go to a hospital."

"Non!" the woman gritted out.

"Brie, it's been over twenty-four hours, you have a fever and bleeding. This is serious."

"I refuse a hospital, I just need him." Brie said.

"And I hope he gets here to help me get you to one."

"Non!"

"You are hurting your baby and yourself Brie, please listen." Juliet tried to reason with her.

She might have well talked to the wall with how stubborn Brie was at that time as the woman leaned against the chair within the large room. She felt Brie shudder as another wave moved within her, causing another pained scream from her.

"I'm going to kill that man!"

"You and thousands of other women, now Brie, please, let's go."

"Brie!" she heard the familiar French voice call out.

Oh, thank god, he was here. "Francis, get over here and help me with her."

"What's happened?"

"She's in active labor, has been for a while. She's gained a fever and bleeding as well. We gotta get her to a hospital Francis, I can only do so much here. She and the baby are at risk."

"Non!" Brie cried out.

"Chaton, please." Francis pleaded with her as he pulled her into his arms. "Listen to what Juliet says. We must take you. There is no other way."

"It's your fault!" Brie groaned, "I told you I wanted to stay in France, if I was there this wouldn't be happening!"

Juliet watched as Francis face turned to pure guilt, "Francis, women say a lot of shit during this time. As I've warned before to expecting dads, you are everything but a man on this day. Once Jacque is here, then she'll be singing but as of now it's pain and venom."

"Now Brie, we are going to take you to a hospital." Juliet said as she watched Brie shake her head in protest, "Honey I know you wanted it to be like Jeanne's but it's not and I'm sorry. We have to get Jacque out soon or it won't be good. Now please."

"I'll carry her." Francis said as he leaned her against his body.

Brie gave a light gasp, her eyes widened and she calmed down. Juliet stared at her, wondering what was going on.

"Mon Dieu, it's like Jeanne's now. There's nothing there, it's just like hers" she said.

"Shit, was Brie slipping into shock?" Juliet thought as she checked her vitals quickly. "Brie that's not possible, sweetie we have to go." Juliet said.

"Non, wait. Just let me do this." Brie said, taking deep breaths.

"Brie, don't! You strained yourself earlier trying to push, you can't sweetheart. There's just too much-Oh shit!" Juliet checked her just to see the baby crowning. "Hold on honey, I ain't fully ready."

Before Juliet could fully prepare herself, she had the baby boy within her arms, crying his little lungs out. She was amazed that he was perfectly fine and so was Brie. It was as if the whole dilemma never happened. Juliet laid the baby upon Brie's chest, giving the bond between them as she checked everything for their health.

"Let me check him the rest of the way Brie, ok?" she asked, "Francis, could you move her to the bed so she's comfortable?"

He gave a small nod as he lifted her up, Juliet took Jacque and made sure that everything was truly fine with him. His heart was strong along with his lungs, he was a heavy baby and long as well for being a bit early. Juliet sent a quick text to Lily, letting her know it was all done for Jeanne, swaddling him up, she took him to Brie.

"He's perfect sweetheart, healthy and big too." Juliet smiled at them.

"Bordeaux?" Brie looked at Francis.

"Oui, Bordeaux." he said, stroking the boy's head.

"Guessing the size of the baby is the city?" Juliet asked.

"I would say so, but something tells us that he is that, just like Jeanne is Rouen." Francis explained.

Small knocks filled the room as the door slowly came open, "Is it all ok?"

"Maman! Papa!" little Jeanne darted in, leaving Lily at the door.

The tot bounced on the bed, looking at her new brother. "Un bébé."

"Oui, c'est un bébé." Brie smiled at her, laying Jacque in her lap.

"Voir Jeanne, c'est votre petit frère." Francis said to her.

Juliet smiled as Jeanne stared wide-eyed at Jacque, the smile never leaving her cherub face. "So, Jeanne, want to give him back because he's not a girl?"

"Non!" she said, kissing the baby's head.

The three of them laughed at her. Juliet looked over Brie as she began to nurse Jacque as Jeanne asked questions to her, she gave Francis a nod to follow.

"Now, I need you to keep an eye on her." she said handing him the thermometer, "Keep this, if her fever spikes back up we need to take her to a hospital. The same with bleeding. If she becomes seriously lightheaded, we need to go. Can't keep anything down, heart racing things that are out of the norm, get me. For now, let mom and baby sleep, she needs it."

He gave a nod, "Merci Juliet. For helping my wife and child. Merci beaucoup."

"You're welcome Francis."

Once out in the hall, she closed the door and walked to Lily, her mind puzzled with thoughts. Lily gave a puzzled look, one that asked the main question on everyone's mind.

"What more can I say?" Juliet said as they went into the meeting room, "It's as if nothing happened."

"Well?" she heard Arthur ask.

Looking up, Juliet saw all the men, waiting in worry for her to say anything. "Baby and mother are just fine. Just one hell of a scare."

She watched them all sigh in relief at the news. She, herself, was relieved that the ordeal was over.

"Good, from now on take ragazze's that are pregnant elsewhere!" Lovino stormed out.

"He'll be ok after a bit." Feli assured them.

"I know that sweetie. He was a big help really, more than I thought he'd be." Juliet said to him, "Her labor still bothers me though."

"How so?" she heard one of them ask.

"I say she stalled at one point, da?" Lily asked.

"It's the best way to put it. She was ready to have him last night, but nothing happened. It really started to worry me as it continued, no progress or anything. It's strange, I've never seen it be like that before. I'm just glad it went alright before things became worse."

"Worse?" Feli questioned.

"It's rare with today's medicine but at times some women and children didn't make it, some died in the process of labor. " she explained.

Alfred left the room in a hurry, nearly slamming the door. Damn her, she forgot how touchy a subject like that was for him. But her mind wondered on the facts of Brie's labor, things just didn't add up.

"Were there any complications with Alexei's birth at all?" she asked.

"Net, well not that I'd no much but there wasn't-" Ivan started.

"Net." Lily spoke up.

"Net?"

"No, before you got there it was hell. I could relate to Brie when it all started. Iryna did whatever she could to help me but it wasn't enough. Something in me told me I needed Ivan. When he came it calmed down a bit but not by much, that was until he touched me." Lily explained, "When he did that there was nothing. No pain. No pressure. Nothing at all, it felt good really. The only time I felt pain again is when he delivered him. That was it."

Juliet thought of what Lily said, she felt nothing when Ivan touched her? Just then a small tap came to the wall. There stood Alfred with a handwritten letter in his hand, Juliet could see Amber's name on it, the letter she wrote him. He held it out to her, nodding at it for her to read.

"Honey I know it hurts. I didn't mean to make you upset, but Amber's letter to you wont hold much for us-"

"It's not mine." he said, "It's yours."

"Mine?" that was unexpected.

"Yes. Yours, Lily's, and Brie's. Along with any others that join us." he explained.

Juliet didn't know what to think. Taking the letter, she unfolded it as Lily came to her side to read it with her as she read aloud.

To the women like me,

I am sorry that I am not there to explain in person about this cause but for now this must do. We are women of the nations, the Capitals. Different than any other yet the same with one another. I write to you all, hoping that my experience with my pregnancy and birth will help others, to either learn or prepare for the moment.

For me my pregnancy was what I would consider amazing. There was no illness, no pain, nothing at all. I barely grew fatigued in my growing state as I traveled the US reservations and national parks. It was as if I was built for it. Yet when I decided to venture into Canada did it turn on me. I was lucky that my family friend was with me or I would have been in a dire situation. I was no more than fifteen feet away from the border when the excruciating pain happened. It had become so violent upon my body that I had gone into labor and began to cough blood, no doubt that my lungs had finally had it with me due to the cancer. But the moment I crossed into the US, the pain was gone. It was as if God himself touched me and removed it. It was then I had my Liberty, a healthy baby girl. She harbored no issues or trauma from the border and the ordeal I went through. Yet my body disagreed.

I write this as fast as I can. To let you all learn from this. I am not sure if it is us being Capitals or something I am not seeing. I'd rather have others know than not.

Take care my fellow girls, and watch Liberty for me.

Amber.

Juliet stood there in awe at the letter, she heard Lily gasp as well at it. There was something between the women that they had to learn.

"Where was Jeanne born?" she asked.

"Paris I believe." Arthur replied.

"France then. And Alexei?"

"Ukraine. Sumy if you want to be technical." Ivan replied.

"And Liberty was in the US, North Dakota, correct?"

Alfred nodded to her, "And now Jacque in Italy. Jesus I think I figured it out."

"Brie demanded to stay in France, or go to a French or once French nation. Lily, you wanted Ivan just like Brie begged for Francis. As Amber said here, the only time of relief was when she was in the US. Brie didn't feel pain with Jeanne because she was in France, like Amber with Liberty. Now for Jacque and Alexei, the only time you both felt relief was when the two men touched you."

"Are you saying that if you girls are soon to have a baby, you have to be in the country or have one of us next to you, holding you as everything goes on?" Yao spoke up.

"Yes." Juliet replied.

"So, I put my wife and son in danger?" she heard from behind.

Spinning around, Juliet saw Francis, shock and guilt written upon him as he took in what was just said. "No, Francis. We didn't know it would happen, there was just no knowing. It's best we learned now and figured it out with all of us here instead of one of us..."

Juliet looked over at Alfred, small tears cascaded down his cheeks. "Al, I'm sorry."

"I need a minute." he spoke as he left the room.

"Well, if that is the case. If we gain our capitals and a little one is on the way, they don't leave that nation. Land or personification." Ludwig announced as all the men nodded.

Juliet stood there as she watched most them go their separate ways, keeping their own conversations to themselves. She saw Arthur sitting at the table, his eyes far and gone with reality around him. Slowly she walked up to him, laying her hand upon his shoulder, just for his to rest on hers.

"It's my fault." he said aloud. "If I didn't make that stupid plan...fuck I almost cost Francis Brie and Jacque."

"Arthur, you didn't cause anything. You did what was right for the war as Feli thought he was protecting us. There was no blame."

"Why are you blaming yourself mon ami?" she heard Francis ask.

"I almost did it again to you, frog." he said, "I was the one that said stand our grounds and with that we put them in danger."

"But we learned from it Arthur."

"Still. I nearly took away Brie and Jacque, just like Jeanne."

Francis sighed, "Arthur that was a different time. And thinking of it, I never really spoken to you of what I believe. I forgive you for Jeanne D'Arc."

"What?!" Arthur gasped in shock, Juliet just listened to the two men as Francis continued.

"I forgive you. Yes, it hurt when you killed her, and I didn't fully forgive you until recent. If you didn't do that, I wouldn't have Brie today nor my children. So, I forgive you."

Then Francis made his way back to his little family. Juliet looked at Arthur, she could see him trying to gather everything in his head. She sat down on his lap, feeling his arms wrap around her as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Love?" he muttered against her.

"Hmm."

"I want to go home to England." he spoke softly, nuzzling into her neck.

She could feel the small, wet drops of tears from him, "We can Arthur. We can."