His world crashed around him. It fell apart in North Dakota. The knowing of Amber being gone killed him, he couldn't stay in the state anymore. Had to leave everything behind. Back in Philadelphia, he tried to clear his mind, to move on after everything. He kept in contact with Honey, he felt like he owed her that much. The woman held him for hours, crying along with him, as he found the truth of Amber.
Of all things that rolled through Alfred's mind was why. Why did she not tell him? Why did she hide the cancer? Why didn't she hide everything? Why did she have to... he couldn't think on as the tears threatened to flow over. Taking a shaky breath, he looked back over his desk. The hospital papers she hid away from him, everything he should've known but was too blind to notice. He tried to collect everything he could about it, receive multiple condolences from the nations and his president.
He could hear murmurs downstairs, knowing Matthew was arguing with Arthur. Since coming back from North Dakota, Matthew hadn't left his side, helping him in any way he needed. Alfred was glad his brother was here really, he needed him more than ever.
"You do that Arthur you'll destroy him!" the normally timid man yelled.
It wasn't like Matthew to yell, what the hell was going on? Alfred made his way to the door, poking his head out the door to listen in.
"Are you blind Matthew, he's lucky he can take care of himself, how in bloody hell-"
"He's fine!" Matthew cut him off.
"How can you call that fine?" Arthur shouted back. "Fine then Matthew, explain why you're here? You've been here since he came back."
There was a moment of silence, he knew Matthew couldn't make and excuse right off, there was no way. They knew why.
"Well? I'm waiting." Arthur asked.
"Don't do this Arthur, you do this, you'll kill him." Matthew explained.
What was Arthur planning on doing? "Look Matthew, I know it's hard. I can't imagine. But as of now it's for the best, be reasonable about this. He can barely care for himself, how can he care for her?"
No. He didn't mean what he thought he did. Alfred admitted that he was a mess with Amber's death, but he wasn't that bad. He could care for her, he really could. How could Arthur want to do such a thing? Did he remember the pain of losing Alfred after he claimed his independence, how hurt he was? It would be the same, if not worse. He had to prove Arthur wrong, just had to.
The small whimpers and rustling behind him caught him, as he attempted to head downstairs. He made his way over to the corner of his room, where the source came from. The small bed held the biggest secret Amber withheld from them. The reason she kept Mattie and Honey at bay and why she denied all the treatments.
"Hey there my little sidekick, what's the matter?" he said picking up the tiny baby.
She squirmed in his arms, reaching out as her little face scrunched up in frustration, ready to cry. Alfred gently rocked and bounced her, hoping to sooth her troubles. It still rocked him finding her on that bed in the house. She was like a doll, left by a child before; he would've thought that if it wasn't her chest rising and falling with breath. Her arms thrashed around Alfred, her whimpers growing louder. He didn't want Arthur to hear, he didn't want him to do as he planned.
"What's wrong Libby Bell? I know Uncle Mattie fed and changed you as I got cleaned up, what's wrong?" he asked as he leaned her against his shoulder, "Uncle Mattie miss a burp?"
She still fussed against him, her little fingers reaching out for something. "What's wrong Liberty? Daddy's trying his best. Want your binkie?"
He attempted the pacifier hoping it would help her but all it did was make her angrier with him, "Come on baby girl, work with me."
Alfred moved over to his bed, humming the lullaby Amber would sing to him at time, hoping to somehow relax her that way as he got off his own feet. he brushed Liberty by the flag that hung above his bed as he attempted to settle down against the headboard. Her hand reached out as her head tried to find the cloth of the flag.
"You want this?" he questioned.
Unpinning the flag, he quickly folded it up and laid her within it and had it resting against her skin. Sure enough, she settled down a bit, nuzzling the flag as he laid his back against the headboard. He was shocked, he didn't expect the flag to calm her. Tiny whimpers left her pouting lips, she took a shaky breath, as if to tell him to continue.
"What on earth did she teach you-" Ambers letting came to mind before he could finish.
She had taught love of him before he was known, did that mean Amber was teaching Liberty to love him before she was even born. For a moment, he paused as her bottom lip stuck out farther, a cry ready to leave her. What would Amber sing to her to make her think of Alfred? He pondered the thought as one came to mind, it was a long shot but knowing Amber, it wouldn't shock him. He just hopes he could keep it together.
Resting Liberty against his legs, he took her little hand and rubbed her fingers as his other smoothed over her fair blonde hair, "Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, or amber waves of grain, for purple mountains majesty, above the fruited plains."
Liberty's breathing grew even as she snuggled into the flag and her grip loosening on his finger. The damn sneak that Amber was, she taught his baby girl everything America before her death. As Liberty fell asleep against him, he felt his own depression sinking back in as tears spilled from him.
"America. America. God shed his grace on thee." he continued the patriotic song as his voice cracked under his tears, "And crown thy good, with brotherhood. From sea to shining sea."
The easy breathing of Liberty sleeping was enough for Alfred to see what Amber had taught his daughter. Pulling her close, he held onto her as he gently cried against her, his sadness flowing out of him as he tried to gain himself back. A gentle hand rubbed his shoulder, he didn't have to look up to know it was his brother.
"I'm trying Mattie, I really am." he spoke softly, trying not to let his emotions run him. "I'm taking care of her. I can do it all, it just hard not having Amber here. I know Arthur worries and all but...but..."
Pulling away, he looked at Liberty once more. As he looked at her all he could see was his Amber.
"Please Mattie, don't take her from me. I beg you!" he cried, "Don't take Liberty away, she's all I have left. Don't do it, please!"
Matthew sat beside Alfred on the bed, gently petting Liberty's hair, "I told Arthur to go home. That he's not doing that. He's not taking my niece away from my brother."
"And he's not the only one helping out there." someone said from the door.
Alfred looked over to see Juan and Carlos standing there, "But I thought you guys-"
"Hated you? Eh, it's one of those things we can't always agree on but in this case, we are leaving past where it belongs. En el pasado." Juan said.
"Yea, leave it there. I may not like you American, but I will let it all go." Carlos said, his face creasing with sorrow, "I can't imagine your pain right now. And to hell with anyone if they tried to take mi hija."
Alfred was stunned with the two of them, he really didn't know what to say, "Gracias guys."
"De nada." they said, walking over.
"She sure is a cute one." Juan said.
"What city is she Alfred?" Carlos asked.
"I have to agree with Carlos. We know Jeanne is Rouen and Alexie is St. Petersburg, so what's Liberty?" Matthew asked.
Alfred looked down at his little girl, the only thing keeping him alive, "She's the city of brotherhood. Philadelphia."
Fin
Epilogue
The chorus of laughter from the nurses echoed the terminal as the women all howled in laughter at the location she was heading.
"Oh, lord girly, you gonna need all the spices we can send." the one said, wiping tears away.
"Forget the spices, she's gonna need a paddle boat with all that rain." the other said gripping her sides.
"Now, now girls." the head nurse said, holding Juliet's shoulder, "We should be happy for our sweet student going so far and reaching places like no one else. I'm proud to have her on this team and now seeing her off is almost like losing a child."
"Amen!" they shouted as they all hugged Juliet one last time.
"And of course, we can't forget our sweet mascot here guys." the head nurse said, rubbing the corgi's head. "Ain't that right, Duchess."
"Ok you all have spoiled me rotten. Our plane will be leaving soon." she said taking Duchess's lead. "I promise to call you all once I land."
"Girl you better or I'll cast voodoo on your blondie butt." one said giving a final hug.
"Yes, let us know you make it alright. I know there is was going on over there and I want to make sure you are safe." the head nurse said.
"No worries. I'll make sure with each one of you." Juliet reassured them, giving the brightest smile she could.
"Alright." she said, giving Juliet the last hug, "Oh I almost forgot. Gonna want to have this over there. Heard it's quite tasteless."
Looking at the item, Juliet and the other nurses laughed as the head gave her a can of Old Bay seasoning. "Don't worry, I'll make good use of this I think. Lots of fish I heard."
The chime echoes the terminal as the doors opened to the plane, this was it. Giving a final wave to the women, she grabbed her purse and held tightly to Duchess's lead, ready to start anew in the new country.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now boarding flight 934, to London England at gate fifteen. Please have your tickets ready for boarding."
Yes, Juliet couldn't wait to see what was in store for her.
