Author's Note: If you think about it, the names "America" and "Canada" are super feminine. Just saying.

But yeah. Anyways, I FOUND AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION BASED IN OTTAWA! I'm not sure how, actually... But apparently this thing called the "Forum of Federations" is based in Ottawa. Except... the first meeting or something was in... some city I don't feel like looking up again... in Quebec.

Poor Ottawa. It's even more forgotten than Canada is. Then again, Australia's Canberra has a pretty sad story... at least, according to this Chinese-Australian camp counselor at my summer camp in China. Supposedly, the Australians couldn't decide whether to make Sydney or Melbourne their capital, so they were like, COMPROMISE TIME! We'll just find the halfway point between the two cities, and voila, Canberra.

Actually, if you think about it, England's former colonies seem to all have weird capitals. As mentioned above, Ottawa and Canberra. I maintain that Washington, D.C. is only well known because of America is America *cough*MURICA!*cough*. Wellington (New Zealand) is the southernmost capital in the world. South Africa has 3 capitals, one for each branch of government. India... doesn't count because reasons. XD And that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Anyways. Sorry for rambling. Enjoy the chapter!

"Hey, Al."

"Yeah?"

"Which one of us is older?"

"Uh... you are."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Uh... actually, no."

"Huh. Does anyone know?"

Chapter 10: In which we examine the ages of the North Americans.

And don't actually come to a definitive conclusion.

America frowned. "... Well, I could ask Finland... but I don't think he knows when you showed up."

"Probably not," Canada agreed. "I'm pretty sure France was the first to find me, but I remember wandering around on my own before that..."

"Yeah, me too."

"So... why do people think I'm older?"

America sighed, sitting up from his previous position laying down on the hillside. "Well, for one, your birthday is 3 days before mine."

Canada flapped his hand around before returning it to its previous position, hugging his knees to his chest. "That doesn't count, and we all know it. Birthdays are relative. I bet France wasn't actually born on le quatorze juillet. Plus, by that reckoning, France would be younger than us by a week and a half, and China by 4 months! And England would be infinitely old, since he doesn't actually have a birthday."

"Well, yeah, but that's just how the fans-"

"Fourth wall."

"... right. That's just how people justify it."

Canada sighed. "OK... so why do people say you're older than me?"

"Because I got my freedom earlier."

"... What does that have anything to do with anything? We weren't born or created or whatever when we got independence! Do people not realize we were colonies for hundreds of years?"

America shrugged. "Hey, don't ask me! It's the people talking."

There was a moment of quiet, then America spoke up again. "By first settlement date, if you count the Vikings, you're older. If you don't... uh... it's still you, I think. But that's if you don't consider the failed settlements..."

Canada nodded. "That's true. And don't forget about the Spanish. They did some exploring in what are now your southern states, and founded some city in Florida, right? If you count that, that would make you older."

"Yeah... So... yeah..."

There was another stretch of quiet.

"Whatever. I guess it doesn't matter," Canada said at last, as he watched Kumajirou return from an exploration in the fields. The polar bear climbed into Canada's lap, muttering "Who?" before falling sound asleep.

"Yeah, I guess it doesn't," America agreed, reaching over to pet his twin's constant companion. "Hey, Mattie?"

"Hmm?"

"Who's older, you or Kumajirou?"

Canada stared. "Why...?"

America shrugged. "Since we're on the topic of ages, I thought I'd ask."

"I'm pretty sure we're the same. I've had him as long as I can remember, and he tells me that he can't remember ever being without me, either."

"That must've been nice. I wish I had a companion, growing up."

"You did. You had me. But you always forgot about me."

"I meant before France gave you to England."

"Oh." Canada frowned. "Hang on... how come we're twins if we'd never met before that?"

America shrugged. "Hey, how come we even exist in the first place? Do not question the anime/manga-"

"AMERICA! FOURTH WALL!"

"Oh. Right. Sorry~!"

The rest of the day was spent in peace and quiet.

(Except when Kumajirou spilled fish guts over the brothers. But that's a story for another time. :P)

Author's Note: I should really be working on my APES lab... Or my WHAP/English project research... Meh.

Of course, lots of you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Basically, APES=Advanced Placement Environmental Science. WHAP=World History Advanced Placement. In my school, WHAP and English can be taken as a two-period class, together. There. Explained.

Now I must go projecting. Joy.

Hope you liked it!