The phone ranged three times before he picked it up.

"Hello," he answered calmly.

I gathered my courage and spoke, "Hi Arthur, it's me, Amy."

Silence.

"Um," I took another breath, "I have your briefcase, and I would like to return it to you and also apologize for my behavior and for hurting you. I would like to do this in person; I mean you deserve an apology in person." I was beginning to rubble, pull it together Amy! "Are you still in the States?"

"Yes, we're still in California."

"Cool, I mean that's great. Uh, can we meet? There's a café called The Dragonfly in Summerland. Also, if it's not too much trouble, can Francis and Matthew come? I want to apologize to them too." I rushed through my speech nervously.

Silence.

Is he thinking about it? Will he say no?

I sighed, "You don't have come, just give me your address I'll mail it to-"

"Are you free later on today?" Arthur interrupted.

I was so shocked by his reply that I said, "What?"

"Are you free later on today." he repeated.

"Yeah, what time do you guys want to meet?"

"We'll meet at this café, The Dragonfly at three. Is that convenient for you?"

I check the clock it was close to noon, "Yeah that's perfect."

"Alright, we'll see you then." He hanged up before I could say 'goodbye'

"Rude much," I mumbled.

"So are you meeting them?" Michel asked.

"Yeah, at three at The Dragonfly." I fell on to the couch, totally exhausted. "I guess I could take nap."

"You can't take a nap!" Jamie exclaimed, "You have to get dressed."

"Why can't I go like this?" I was wearing jeans, a simple graphic tee, and sneakers.

Michel rolled his eyes, "You need to look presentable. Now go take a shower."

"But-"

"No buts," Jamie said as she pulled me off the couch and pushed me towards the stairs. "Go take a shower, make sure to use the Wonderstruck gift set I got for you."

"Okay, okay," I mumbled as I walked up the stairs into my bathroom.

I came walking into my room with a towel wrapped around myself but jumped when I found Michel and Jamie waiting for me.

"Holy- What the hell-you guys!"

"I've picked out some clothes for you to try on," Michel said smoothly.

"And I'm here to do your hair and makeup," Jamie added.

"I get that. But I'm naked."

"Oh please, I'm gay. Your lady parts just don't it for me." Michel proclaimed.

"Ditto," Jamie said, "Now drop the towel, put on some lotion, and try on these clothes."

My face and ears heated in embarrassment as I walked to my bed and dropped the towel.

Michel whistled. "Holy crap, I think you turned me."

I yelped and grabbed my towel to cover myself.

Michel and Jamie burst out laughing.

My blush rose twenty degrees hotter as I rubbed lotion into my body. After I was done, I hastily slipped on a pair of panties and clipped on a bra.

Michel was showing me his choices for my outfits. He forced me to wear the first one; a pencil skirt and a blouse, "Where did you get this?" I asked.

"From your mom's closet," he answered.

"I don't want to wear a suite, besides we're meeting at a café." I said as I unbuttoned the blouse.

"Fine," Michel sighed, "Try the second one," which was a thigh length blue dress with a white wool cardigan.

I looked at myself in the full body mirror, "It's cute, but this is more for a date."

"Well, isn't?" he said.

I gave him a horrified expression, "No."

"You punched him, maybe sorry won't cover it."

"Make love, not war," Jamie said, using the 60's motto.

"I am not sleeping with him!"

Michel patted me on the back, "Sometimes you gotta take one for the team."

"Then you sleep with him." I hissed.

He raised his hands up with a dramatic shrug, "I'm not America. You are."

"I'm not wearing this." I tore the outfit off and tried on the third.

Then the fourth, then the fifth, and then the sixth; after my tenth try I fell on to my bed. "Can I please just wear my shirt and jeans?" I whined.

"No." Michel exclaimed. "Just pick something."

I groaned as I rose off my bed and skimmed through my closet. After a few dramatic grunts and pushing aside hanged clothes; I found a gray dress. It had a few black trees at its bottom side; the branches grew up to the top and faded before it reached the collar. The material was made with light-weight cotton. The sleeves were long and loose with slight ruffled ends. I slipped on the dress and it came to mid-thigh. Then I grabbed some black jeggings and a pair of simple silver sandals. "How's this?"

Michel nodded, "I like it."

"Finally! Now sit your butt here so I can do something with that hair," Jamie gestured me towards my vanity mirror. I stayed quiet as she brushed and blow dried my hair with shine oil. She pushed my bangs to the front of my forehead, and brushed back the rest to it's usually boy cut style. She then instructed me to put on BB cream and curl my eye lashes. I listened, and once I was done, she took over.

During this, Michel tied a thick black string around Grandpa's ring and placed it around my neck. I mouthed my thanks and he returned a smile.

Fifteen minutes passed till she said, "Done." She turned me to face the mirror and my eyes widen. I usually never wear makeup except for lip gloss but I had to give Jamie credit, she had skills. My blond eye lashes were cloaked with mascara, making them darker, longer and fuller. She outlined my eyes in black eyeliner, giving me the cat-eye style. Then she highlighted my cheeks with a natural blush and painted my lips with red lipstick, making my mouth stand out with the only splash of bright color.

"Red lips are a classic." Jamie said as if she read my mind.

Michel whistled. "Hottie alert."

"Shut up," I mumbled but still I smiled. "Thanks guys." Then an idea popped into my head, "Jamie, Michel, I need you guys to do something for me."

I drove down town in record time and parked across the street from the café. It was a small hipster styled building with the words: The Dragonfly painted on the window. I climbed out of my jeep, grabbed the now broken briefcase and set the alarm on the car. I walked across the street (no need to worry I looked both ways beforehand) and pushed myself through the front door into the cozy café. 'Drumming Song,' by Florence and the Machine hummed through the speakers as teenagers and college students sat on small couches or at the mini stylish tables beside the window and around the walls. The stage where they usually held poetry readings or band performances was currently empty.

I stepped to the front counter and asked for honey milk tea. The young man behind the counter gladly served. He handed me a blue mug and smiled, "To match your eyes," he winked.

I raised my eyebrows; he was cute with his brushed to the side brown hair and hazel eyes. His body was slim but toned, I could see that clearly through his black button down shirt and his face had a slight shadow from a lack of shaving, but he pulled it off nicely.

I smiled, "Thanks, how much do I owe you?"

"It's free if I get your number." He was suave, but I didn't bat an eye to his request.

"My number is worth more than a cup of tea," I flirted as I handed him my debit card.

"Then I guess I'll go with plan B," he smiled and handed me back my card and receipt.

I saw the outline of black writing on the back of the receipt and turned it over. It was a number and beside it was a name that read Noah. I smiled, "I'll think about it."

I turned away before he could say anything and walked towards the back, practically skipping to an empty table. He's so cute, I giggled at the thought of his handsome face. I sat myself on small brown couch with mismatched love seats across from me and a worn out coffee table in the middle. Once I came down from flirtatious high, I found myself back to being nervous and stressed.

It was fifteen minutes till three and I was anxious. I crossed and re-crossed my legs and pulled at the short stands of my hair in the back. I tried to relax with drinking my tea and ordering a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate always calms the nerves.

It felt like hours till I heard, "Hello Amy." I looked up and found Arthur and his friends in front of me. Arthur wore a simple white button down shirt with long sleeves along with a green tie and a dark green vest button over it. He wore pants that matched the vest and brown dress shoes. Francis wore a stylish white suite with the blazer open, allowing the blue button down silk shirt to be seen and had black dress shoes on. The only one who decided to wear causal was Matthew; he had on jeans, sneakers and a baggy light blue sweatshirt. He held Kumajirou in his arms; currently the bear was focusing on laying still.

But when I stopped paying attention to their appearances, I took the chance to glance at their faces. They were blank with emotion, even Arthur who was sporting a fading black eye, a healing split lip and a bruised cheek.

"You haven't healed yet?!" was the first thing that came out of my mouth and the second it left my lips; I was mentally kicking myself in the butt and changed the subject fast. "Cookie?" I lifted up the tray that was on the table and motioned it towards them.

Silence was their answer as they took their seats. Francis and Arthur were on the love seats and Matthew sat beside me, placing Kumajirou between us.

Silence continued to engulf the air and I figured the best way to break the ice was to bring out his briefcase, "Here you go."

He looked over it and his brows knitted in confusion, "Why is there tape wrapped around it?"

"Oh well funny story. We couldn't open it so Grandma gave me a knife and I forced it open." I gave a sweet smile, but Arthur only returned a disapproving glare.

"I'll pay for a new one."

"That won't be necessary, I've plenty at home."

Then why the stink eye? I thought bitterly in my head.

Arthur sighed, set the briefcase beside him and continued with answering my question. "The reason I haven't healed, is because you gave me these wounds. Injuries from other countries take longer to heal."

"Oh," my voice grew soft. "I-I'm so sorry, Arthur. I-I was-" I stopped myself and shook my head. "There's no excuse for what I've done. I can only hope you'll forgive me and not cause war over this."

"War?" Arthur gave me a confused look, "who said anything about war?"

"Isn't that what countries do when they fight?"

Matthew shook his head, "If that was true, these two would have caused a war last night, or the day before that or the week before that or the month before that."

"What Matthew is trying to say," Arthur interrupted, "is that countries can fight with one another without starting a war. That usually takes our bosses and several world leaders to start that."

"We have bosses?"

"Yes, like your president, or-" he stopped and lifted a large brow in question, "Did you just say 'we'?"

I sighed, "Yeah, my grandpa told me everything. I actually have the video on my phone, you need to see this." I sent a copy of the video to his phone as I clicked the video to play on mine.

Arthur muttered over his phone, trying to open the video on his touch screen, "Bloody hell. This stupid-"

"Let me see it," Francis gestures for his phone.

"I can figure it out," he clicked his phone to lock. He mumbled some curses and unlocked it; Francis took the chance the snatch the phone from him and slid his fingers over the screen. His smug quickly turned to an annoyed scowl.

Matthew shook his head and asked for the phone. Francis handed it over and with less than a minute Matthew had the video up and running.

"Don't you guys know how to use phones?" I asked.

"Yes." Arthur hissed, "But when they keep changing every bloody year, it's hard to keep up."

Francis hushed Arthur, "Mr. Hawkfeather is talking."

I watched as Arthur gritted his teeth to hold back his comment. Matthew watched the video on my phone while I just listened.

"I knew your biological father. His name was Alfred F. Jones and he wasn't an ordinary man, he was national spirit, the spirit of America. And now, you have taken his place. Amy, you're a country. You're America."

I watched as Arthur, Francis and Matthew tensed at Grandpa's blunt statement. Their faces soften when Grandpa announced my childhood experiences, his examples of me being who I am. The three nations shared knowing looks to the stories of my childhood.

Then when Grandpa got to the story of how he met Alfred and the incident at the local Denny's. Arthur hissed, "Idiot." but he still spared a smile.

Francis chuckled and shook his head as Matthew smiled, "That's just like Al."

They listened to Grandpa describe his time with Alfred.

"We stayed in contact with one another as the years went by. I even invited him to my wedding and I showed photographs of my son and grandchildren. The moment Alfred saw those photos his eyes and body language aged over two-hundred years. His smile was no longer childish but sad, almost like an elderly man with regrets."

Matthew and Francis wore a sad expression as Arthur bit his lips to a tight line, trying to keep his face blank.

"He wanted a family. Of course he told me of his brothers, Britain and Canada, but more than anything he wanted to settle down and have children."

Matthew's eyebrows rose, "he never told me that," he whispered.

"He even showed me a ring he wanted to give to this girl, she was country too but . . . Shit. I forgot the name. Curse my old age."

"He wanted to get married!" Francis exclaimed.

"But to who?" Arthur asked calmly.

"I was kinda hoping you guys would know," I said as I bit into a cookie.

Matthew shook his head, "he didn't really talk about his love life."

Arthur snorted, "We thought he didn't have one."

Then Grandpa began to speak about 9/11 and everyone stood quiet. He told of his worry for Alfred during that day and how a strange feeling pulled him to the back of the house. Where he found Alfred, "He was different; his body shimmered in a golden haze surrounding him in its light. His legs were transparent but yet he was solid above the waist. He held a baby in his arms; he was rocking it to sleep, with a loving smile on his face as he hummed a lullaby."

Arthur's blank expression began to break, revealing some emotion.

"Alfred asked me to raise you. That he was going to disappear, just like his mother before him."

I noticed Francis blinked back tears as Matthew sucked in a shaky breath.

Grandpa continued about how Alfred would have tried to break all the rules to be with me, how Alfred wanted so badly to be in my life, and how he and his family would love me in Alfred's place.

"I asked why he didn't want Arthur to raise you that it would've been better for you to be raised by a country. He simply said, 'I don't want history to repeat.'"

I watched Arthur as he held back tears; clearly the last sentence hit a nerve.

"He also wanted me to deliver a message to his brothers and his fellow nations. That he was sorry he wasn't strong enough to stay, that he had to leave all of them behind."

The countries finally let their tears fall as I tried to hold back mine for what came next.

"But don't think for a one second I regretted bringing you into my family. I never saw you as country, just a child for me and my family to love. Jessica and John loved you the moment they laid eyes on you. Melissa and Johnny cared for you like you truly were their sister and Aponi was thrilled to have another grandchild to spoil. We are your family Amy, no matter what you are or whose blood runs through your veins. We're family and that will never change."

The video ends and Matthew hands me back my phone as Arthur sat his on the table. His elbows were on his thighs and his hands were in his face. His fingers were messaging his temples and the sides of his nose. Francis leaned back in his seat and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. Matthew pulled off his glasses and rubbed his sore eyes.

On the other hand Kumajirou was taking a nap on the couch.

I made sure to block the bear when Noah came walking by, "Hey," he quickly senses the mood. "Um, anyone need anything?"

"English tea, please," Arthur asked in monotone.

"I'll take a coffee," Francis added.

"I'll have water," Matthew whispered.

"I'll take a refill," I handed him my cup, "Thanks Noah."

He gave understanding smile, "No problem."

After we received our drinks and took a moment to relax and unwind. I tried to change the subject, "so do any of you have questions for me?"

Arthur didn't skip a beat, "How many people know?"

"Twenty-one's the lucky number," I painted on my most innocent smile.

"Twenty-one," his eyes widened as he pronounced the number.

"Yeah, don't feel bad I was late to the party too."

"This is no joking matter Amy," Arthur whispered harshly, "This is serious. If too many civilians know about you or us it could lead to a public riot."

"Oh come on. My family and friends have kept this secret for seventeen years, you have nothing to fear."

"Do we? This so called family and friends do you really trust them?"

I made no hesitation, "Yes, and if you don't believe me. Then give me a chance to prove it." I rose from my seat, "I want to invite you all to dinner."

By some amazing source of luck, they agreed and followed me to my house by car. I took deep breaths the entire way, please let this work.

When we arrived and parked our cars beside one another, I was grateful to find Gemma's van and the Chen's SUV out in front; along with Christopher's Honda and Neill Shaw's motorcycle beside them.

"What's going on?" Arthur asked as he walked to stand by my side.

"It's a party," I grinned as I gestured them to follow me to the back of the house.

Six portable tables were placed side to side, going long ways and each one was covered in different cloth. Each table had plates of food; enchiladas, quesadillas, meat and pork dumplings and lo mien noodles. Italian pasta, stuffed shells along with Caesar salads and garlic bread; Indian and Belgian cuisine stood side by side, and finally on the last table was haggis.

"Is that haggis," Francis whispered as he covered his mouth with a hand; horrified.

"Yeah, Neill must have brought it," I reached for a piece of the baked bread stuffed with haggis. I took a bite as all three nations gave me shocked looks. "What? It's good."

"It doesn't matter if Arthur raised you or not! Your lack of taste buds must be genetic!" Francis placed his hands on my shoulders, "Don't worry," he soothed. "We'll find you help."

I took a step back from him, "O-kay." I quickly finished my haggis and gave a loud whistle.

My family came out from the back door, followed by the Russo's and the Chen's, and finally my tutors.

Lady came running ahead of them to greet me first, "hey girl," I cooed as I petted her. My family and friends were silent as they stood across from me and the nations.

"Everyone, I want you to meet Arthur, Francis, and Matthew; also known as Britain, France, and Canada." I announced.

Everyone was silent till, "Aren't you going to introduce me?" Kumajirou asked.

"Did the bear just talk?" Laura Walker asked. Her Belgian accent ringed out as her dark eyes widened and her long red hair flowed with the light breeze.

"If we did I believe all us are short of kettle," Christopher said to his wife.

"It can talk!" Blair shouted excitedly as she pulled out of Melissa's grasp and ran to stand in front Matthew. "Can I hold him?"

"I don't know if that's for the best," Matthew stuttered.

"Put me down," Kumajirou commanded and Matthew set him into Blair's arms.

"Oh you're so cute and fluffy!" she said as she hugged him. Kumajirou didn't even flinch from her tight hold.

"The lass got nerves of steel, must've got it from Amy," Neill said as he brushed back his blond hair and winked one of his dark eyes in my direction.

I smiled as Dad walked over to Arthur, "Welcome to our home, I'm John Hawkfeather." he held out his hand.

Arthur glanced to his hand with a blank expression but shook it, "A pleasure."

Francis and Matthew gave their hands with a smile and everyone quickly followed my dad's example. Everyone making introductions and side comments towards one another; "So you're my country," Christopher said as he shook Arthur's hand. "Forgive me for asking, but why do you have such large eyebrows? Is it because everyone else believes that's what we like?"

"I was born with these eyebrows," Arthur said through gritted teeth.

"Christopher, don't be rude," Laura lectured.

"I was just asking a question love," he said with sly smile and Laura shook her head but still beamed lovingly at him.

"Your Canada," Jin Chen, Jamie's grandfather said as he shook Matthew's hand. "I admit, I never heard of you till I heard of the Justin Bieber."

Michel, Jamie and I burst out laughing as I patted Matthew on the back. "Sorry Mattie, seems like they'll gonna hold this over your head for another ten years."

"Mattie?" he questioned.

"What? You don't want me to call you that?" I asked.

"No, um, Al use to call me that." He smiled at the memory and all I did was smile back.

"I'm Carlo Russo," Michel's dad greeted as he shook Francis's hand. His blond hair was brushed back and his green eyes shined against his light skin.

"Francis Bonnefoy," he smiled.

"France." Carlo took a moment, "Francis." Another short pause. "You didn't leave much to the imagination did you."

Arthur chuckled, "I was wondering when someone was gonna pick up on that. I never thought it would be the Italian."

"We're not as stupid as you believe," Carlo said.

"Well of course, but you don't have brightest country representing you."

Carlo threw up his arms dramatically, "That explains everything," then he laughed and Arthur actually joined in.

Then Mom announced, "Come on everyone the food's getting cold."

Dad took the head of the table as Mom sat on his right and Johnny sat on his left. I sat next to Mom and Celine sat next to Johnny. The second table had Melissa and Sanjay on the left and Michel and Gemma on the right.

Third held Blair with Kumajirou in her lap and Matthew right next to her, as Carlo and Blake sat across from them.

Fourth held Grandma and Jin on the left as Francis and Jamie sat on the right. Fifth sat Arthur and Neil on the right and Dong (Jamie's father) and Yin on the left; the last table was left for Christopher and Laura.

Once everyone was settled Dad rose from his seat. "This meal is to represent the coming together of family, friends, and nations," he nods to Arthur, Francis, and Matthew. "It was actually my daughter's idea to have this meal," he takes a moment to smile at me and continued. "I'm sure the nations are worried about our intentions, that we could reveal their secret at any time. We are here to prove them wrong. We have been in Amy's life ever since Alfred brought her to us and never once for a second even considered of telling anyone of what Amy is. We've watched her grow, matured into a beautiful young woman, not just on the outside but also on the inside. We've taught her various lessons of life and knowledge, shared our love and culture with her, and gave her," he smiled to himself, "a place in all of our hearts. She is a part of our family, our friends and of our community. No matter what anyone may say, this is her home, this is her family and we never betray family."

He looked at Arthur, "We would be honored to able to call Britain, France and Canada our friends and maybe one day, family." He held up his cup and everyone followed, "A toast to family and to friends; make new friends but keep the old."

"Amen," Carlo grinned as clicked his drink with Matthew's.

I watched as Arthur clicked drinks with Neill and Christopher and Francis and Jamie clicked theirs.

I sighed and held on to Grandpa's ring, it would be perfect if you were here.

"Hey pass down the stuffed shells, all we got is the haggis," Christopher called out.

"Try it, it's good," Neill exclaimed.

"Over my dead body," he proclaimed.

"I can arrange that," Neill smiled.

"I've always wanted to go to Paris," Jamie said.

"Oh yes," Francis smiled, "Paris is a city I'm very proud of. Whenever you get chance to visit, call me. I'll be happy to be your tour guide."

"Francis she's child," Arthur hissed at him.

Francis's jaw dropped, "What are you implying?"

Arthur snorted, "When you offer to grant someone a tour, they usually end up in your bed."

"I would never. You're just jealous because my city is the number one city to visit."

"Have you forgotten 2013? Where London was number one and Paris was number three."

"It was a fluke! A fluke!" Francis shouted.

Matthew sighed, "Eh, can't we have one dinner without you two getting into a screaming match."

"They're funny," Blair grinned as she fed Kumajirou a baked fish and garlic bread.

After the bear chewed his food, he said, "I like this one." Then opened his mouth for a fish and Blair happily gave him another.

Matthew shook his head, "It's because she's feeding you, you like anyone that feeds you."

"Who are you?" the bear asked.

"I'm Canada your owner," he mumbled as if he said this a thousand times.

The table was filled with laughs, stories, questions and answers. Friendship and respect was building as affections grew along with it.

I smiled, but I'll settle for this.