The morning came much too quickly for my liking. Before I knew it I had my hand wrapped around my phone, clutching it tightly and holding it to my ear, listening to it ring on the other line. It seemed my brother was expecting my call as he picked up after just a few rings.

"Good morning Alfred."

"Hey Matthew."

I heard him clear his throat warily, not wanting to upset me any further. I appreciated it, sure, but I wasn't a child anymore. I just wanted to get this over with.

"So, um, the information then." Grabbing a piece of paper and setting it on my lap, I wrote down an address and proceeded to stay silent throughout the whole conversation. I never agreed to this in the first place, and I felt forced, but that didn't mean I wouldn't listen to my brother and what he had to say. After all, I knew he was trying to help.

"Thanks dude." I spoke up after he was done, trying to finish the phone call before he started a whole new lecture.

"Please tell me how it goes, alright?"

"Yeah, I will."

After we both hung up I set my phone on the bedside table heaving a heavy sigh and slumping forward in defeat. I had several hours before I had to find this 'therapist' and I felt pretty hungry, especially after not eating for more than twenty-four hours, so I figured I would just creep downstairs and take something. I was hesitant only because I didn't want to run into England, but I made up my mind after hearing my stomach growl beneath the covers. I didn't even take the time to fix my appearance because, quite frankly, I couldn't care less. He probably didn't want to see me either, so what was the point?

Lazily stumbling towards the door and swinging it open I tried not to cause any creaks as I walked along the floorboards, being extra cautious to not be seen. Unfortunately, I could already see his shadow spread along the floor as I approached the kitchen. Just my luck. Peering around the corner, our eyes met. His widened and darted away before I could blink, and I instantly did the same. Gliding to the cabinet to search for food, I opened my mouth as if to say something, but quickly closed it as I thought better. Knowing me, I would've said something to piss him off even more.

"M..Morning."

His voice completely caught me off guard and I jumped in my spot, practically hitting my head on the open cabinet. Did I imagine that? Usually after a fight he won't talk to me for hours, but now he was the first one to say something.

Respond you idiot!

Rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly, I reached for a loaf of bread in the shelf and went towards the toaster before confidently saying anything out loud.

"Yeah, morning."

An odd tension seemed to fill the air and I took my seat across from the Brit, looking up at him often, but his eyes were intensely staring into the daily paper.

"Er, I have to go in a couple hours… Just so you know."

"...Alright." He responded after a moment, sipping on his hot tea and disappearing back into the words as a distraction. I took that as my cue to be quiet and I ate my small breakfast without speaking before it was time to get ready. The wind outside was starting to stir and I could only assume a storm was beginning to pick up, so I figured casual clothes would be fine. Especially since I was going to someone who thought I was messed up anyway, I'm sure they wouldn't care about how I looked.

Briefly cleaning my plate and running back up the stairs, I rummaged through the closet and threw something together without really taking a second glance and pulled it on. A quick check in a small mirror and I was good to go. Time to feel even worse about myself.

Wandering the streets of London was never an easy job to begin with and it only made things more embarrassing when I asked where a certain therapist's office was. It turned out I wasn't too far away from the start, but I had been searching in the wrong places. Whether that was on purpose or by accident, I'll never know.

Soon enough I was at the door leading inside, and I could only imagine the looks I was getting from strangers walking by. Reaching towards the handle I pushed my way inside, and I had to admit, it was a lot more inviting than I would've thought. The lights were dimmed and warm, and large couches were set everywhere. If there were a large tv, I probably would have called it home.

"Welcome!" A cheerful voice chimed from behind a desk, taking me away from my thoughts and instead focusing on a woman behind a glass door. She slid it open for me and shook my hand heartily before sliding a piece of paper across the desk. "Fill this out for me please. We just need basic information to put in our system."

I nodded and nervously took a pen she offered, making my way towards one of those couches and plopping myself down into it. It was extremely soft and I wish I could have just melted into it. I didn't want to pour out my life story to someone I didn't even know… And it would be extremely confusing to explain that I was alive during the Revolution, considering my appearance. But, I promised I would do this for my brother. And I never break promises.

After filling out a tedious information sheet and returning to the woman, I was just about to sit back down when another woman opened the door which I assumed led into her office space. Her hair was golden, much like England's, and extremely wavy. As she looked towards me, her smile was flawless. She sure was pretty, but I wasn't getting any ideas. Was it wrong for me to think girls looked nice?

"Alfred, right?"

"That's me."

"Very nice to meet you. Come on in. Last door on the left."

Winding my way through the hall wasn't difficult and I quickly found myself in her 'office' of sorts, complete with a large couch, a couple of chairs and a lamp. It was rather homey, and kind of smelled like freshly baked cookies. I couldn't complain to be honest. She took a seat in front of me with a pad of paper and I sat down on the couch similar to the ones in the lobby.

"Alfred F. Jones. This is your full name, correct?"

"Yes."

"Great! Now, your brother called in for you and gave us a bit of information, just so that we could fill out the form properly in our system as you were already told."

What exactly did Matthew say to them..?

"...You're nineteen years old?"

"Yep."

"And I can only assume you're from the United States, correct?" She added a small chuckle, just to lighten the mood slightly.

"I guess my accent gave it away?" I laughed in return, trying to calm my racing nerves.

"I suppose so! Anyway, your brother also told us you have a lover by the name of Arthur Kirkland. Is this correct as well?"

"Y-Yes.."

"And, tell me if I'm wrong, but is your lover another male?"

I swallowed, "Well.. Yes.. B-" Before I could get another word out, she held up her small hand to stop me, her smile warm and telling me everything was alright.

"Alfred, I never said I was against it. In fact, I'm happy that you found someone that you deeply care for. Love is love, in my humble opinion, and it doesn't matter if male or female."

A sudden sensation of relief came over me as I nodded, a small smile of my own appearing. "Exactly! T-Thank you."

"I'm only being honest. Oh, perhaps I should tell you my own name. Sorry I didn't introduce myself properly. Rose Kinlan. Just call me Rose please."

"Rose. Nice to meet you."

"You too. Now, let's get started. Your brother mentioned quite a few things, but I'd rather hear them from you. I know it will be difficult, but I want you to try. From the beginning if you will."

Her words were starting to slur in my mind as I came to the realization of having to speak my feelings and emotions. As she said, it was going to be extremely difficult, and what if I couldn't do it..?

"I..It started off as nightmares," I softly began, watching as she jotted things down on her pad of paper, "The first one was just darkness, and I could hear myself laughing. I was saying something about how I deserved pain, and that I had hurt someone." I didn't want to go on, but as our eyes met and she nodded towards me, I was forced to continue. "T-The second dream was different. I was in a burning field with bodies everywhere, and it was slightly raining. I could almost feel it… In between those two dreams some of-" I stopped mid-sentence. How was I going to explain a meeting with other countries? I had to choose my words carefully, or she would truly think I was crazy. "Well, some of my f-friends and I were having a party of sorts. It went downhill when another guy was trying to hit on Engl-.. Arthur, saying how I was wrong for him and how much we used to hate each other. I don't remember much because I passed out right in front of everyone from what I thought was lack of sleep."

I could see she was trying to think things through, so I briefly stopped my story, and she intervened to ask me a question or two.

"You said this person mentioned something about you and Arthur hating each other?"

Don't say anything stupid America.

"Yeah. Arthur and I have known each other for a long time. Since I was a child actually. He would always take care of me, and he treated me like a younger brother. I eventually strayed away from him, and several years after that, we had a huge fight… More violent than it should have been…We-... Shit…"

I couldn't help it. I started to break down right in front of this woman and I couldn't do anything about it. It was all too much, and it was difficult for me to keep going. It seemed she understood and she let me breathe for a minute or so, handing me a box of tissues.

"T-That's what the p-problem is," I spoke up again, this time more quietly and with my lip quivering, "It's not him, b-but it's me. My fucking p-pride was more important t-to me than him, so I s-said I was happy I hurt him! B-but it really hurt m-me instead!"

"I see… So, basically you were telling yourself that you were happy, when you really weren't at all?"

"Y-Yes! A-And I never apologized!"

"Why is that?"

"Because.. Because it hurts..! To even look at him! I-I start thinking how m-much I deserve to be p-punished for doing what I did, and I hate myself!"

"Well there's your problem Alfred. You need to apologize to him face to face, no matter how hard it will be."

"I...I just… I'm so scared. Of what he'll say and do. I don't want him to hate me any more than h-he does. I've already tried to explain, but I was an idiot and said all the wrong things."

"... I think your heart is trying to tell you something Alfred. You see, our hearts hold many secrets, both good and bad. Sometimes those secrets hurt us, as in your situation, but there is always a solution. Your solution is right in front of you love, and you need to just reach out and grab it! If Arthur truly did hate you, would he be with you now?"

Rubbing my eyes furiously to rid the tears, her question repeated itself over and over in my head until it bore into my brain.

He's stayed with me all these years, even after the war…

Looking up into her hazel eyes, I simply stared, trying to figure out what to do and where to go next. Lucky for me, she gave me my answer.

"Go to him Alfred. Tell him everything you've told me, and I assure you these painful secrets will disappear."

Another chapter this quickly?! It must be a miracle! X3 But in all seriousness, I already knew where I was going with this chapter and when I started I just couldn't stop! I'm really happy with how it turned out too.

I do apologize for the random character I made up, but it was necessary for the plot, so I hope you all don't mind! I think America is finally starting to understand, and I'm proud of him :3

Leave a review because they make me smile :D

Until next chapter my lovelies~

-Feli