A WARNING FOR ALL READERS! AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER THERE IS A UKUS SCENE. YOU HEARD ME - UKUS IN THAT ORDER. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ THAT PART OF THE STORY, I TRUST YOU ALL TO GUESS. OTHER THAN THAT, PLEASE ENJOY.
Hey. Hey you. Flamer. You read this? You read this story? Oh, you don't like it. Well you see that X up in the top right corner? That makes it go away, NOT nasty comments.
Harder than it seems Ch.11
Being alone with a baby actually frightened the American, even if just a little. With the older nation back in his own territory, America was acting (more or less) as a single parent, and having to care for their child by himself was nerve-wracking. England made sure to call once a day for Alice to hear his voice, but he really could do nothing more. America eventually accepted missing his partner's presence but he found himself leaving the radio or television on just so the apartment would not be lacking much noise.
A more noticeable change to America's way of life was that it was becoming considerably stationary. Normally, when visiting this area of his country, America would be out and about nearly every night. Because he had A.J. though, the young nation did not have much of a say in what he could or could not do.
"We still have fun, right A.J.?" America asked more to himself than the young girl, whom he was pushing through the park. She babbled needlessly before chewing slightly on the small stuffed toy America had brought for her. He pushed the stroller into a grassy area of the park before taking out a soft blanket and letting the baby maneuver across it.
"Mama would kill me if I just let you lay in the grass. 'Course I doubt it'd hurt ya." He playfully loomed over the child who reached up and tried to snatch his glasses.
"Aww. She's just precious!" America looked up and noticed a pair of female joggers who had stopped and noticed the baby; prompting America to begin believing that the fabled "Single Male Parent Trap" actually worked.
"Thanks a lot! Just thought we'd get out and get our share of the nice air." The late June weather felt great and America was not one to pass it up, especially in New York. He engaged in polite conversation, allowing the women to play with the curious girl who seemed eager to make new friends. Glancing down, America noticed both women had wedding bands. "Do you ladies have kids of your own?"
"I do, but she doesn't." One of the pair stated. "I've got twin boys though, so no cute girly fun for me." She mentioned as she played with Alice's kicking feet.
"Haha! Ya, I can imagine. Well, ok not really, but if what my dad's told me is anything to go by boys can be a hassle. And twins is just ridiculous." America chuckled good naturedly as he recounted all of England's animated tales of his boyhood mischief. Suddenly his cell phone began to blast The Cure and he smiled. "Sorry, I gotta take this." The women waved him off and kept cooing over the girl. "Babe, that you?"
"Hello Alfred." England greeted from the other line. "I was just checking in. I'm going out with a few neighborhood gents to the pub, so I wanted to call before hand."
"Hahaha! Can't stay away for long, can you? Exactly how high is your tab now?"
"Oi! I'm not so much of a lush that I cannot bother to pay my drinking bills before leaving – and other's as well on more than one occasion." America continued chatting animatedly before remembering the women he was tentatively making an acquaintance with.
"Well, do you wanna talk to A.J. before you leave?"
"Yes please." America held the phone to A.J.'s ear and she gurgled in response to whatever England began saying.
"Is that her mother?" One of the women asked with a smile. America smirked and laughed in his own head.
"Yup. Mommy's visiting jolly old England for a while, so we try to keep in touch pretty often." The childless jogger sighed and asked,
"That's so sweet. When is she due back?" America had to hold back more boisterous laughter and shrugged.
"We actually don't know. It's all for work, so we can be a little in the dark about it sometimes. I managed to get time off right before she left so, lucky right?" They nodded and America pulled the phone back to his ear. "You there?"
"Yes yes. Listen I've got to go, but I'll text you or some such when I return."
"Soooo five in the morning your time is... what here?"
"Git!" They exchanged 'I love you's' and farewells before hanging up.
"Well, we had better get going." America mentioned with his charismatic smile. The women nodded with smiles.
"Oh well. Bye-bye A.J." They waved and jogged off. When America finally made it back home and made them some lunch, he turned on the television in an effort to zone out and think. He bit into one of the burgers he had made and positioned the bottle for Alice to latch on to. Would it be a horrible idea to surprise England with a visit? He had barely been gone a week, but Alice was already getting finicky without him. Alice was, just now, starting to fight America against eating.
"Come on, baby. You're being ridiculous." Alice only fought harder and started crying. America held his burger in his mouth and held A.J. close as he bounced slightly. He let his eyes wander around the room and found respect for every parent in his country. When he felt the burger in his mouth be pulled on though, he was very confused. He crossed his eyes and looked down. A.J. was quietly gnawing on the burger she could reach up to. America cursed through his full mouth and quickly pulled away. Setting the burger back down on the plate, he tried to wipe the leftover ketchup from the giggling infant's mouth.
"Giiiirrl! Are you trying to get me killed? It's not like you can eat this delicious hunk of awesome yet. Hell, you couldn't even chew it... though not for lack of trying I guess..." America did his best to offer his daughter formula instead, but she had tasted hamburger was not planning on going back without a fight. This particular battle of wills was eventually won by the elder party, but not without much whining from both sides. As she ate in a tear-stained silence, America could only hope not much more of this went on during England's absence. Unfortunately for him, England would soon discover he would not be able to schedule another trip to the US till the end of July, and for his birthday, A.J. gave her younger father the epitome of all colicky months.
America could barely get any sleep at all and when he did, it was only for the couple hours Alice managed to nap during the day. He was not even able throw a super mega awesome birthday party like he always did, only because he had to spend that night trying to get Alice to calm down enough to sleep (which because of the loud cheering from the old ladies' party down the hall was a larger challenge than it had to be).
Not that England would even mention it to himself, but after practically a year in the States, he had grown amazingly used to the Americans loud and joyful prescence. He more often than not found himself unhappily melancholy in the morning, due to waking up alone and not having to move towards the new nursery he had made up in the old empty study next door to the Master bedroom. He had had the help of his magical friends, so it made his work about ten times easier. That and not being pregnant helped, if only with mobility. However the fact he had little to no reason to enter the plush room, with its lovely white rug and pastel green walls that would compliment Alice's eyes beautifuly, made his heart sink slightly every time he passsed it.
So England attempted to call a bit more often, especially after he realized things were growing difficult for his partner alone, despite the fact that America would say he had to hang up less than a minute after picking up, or just ignore his call completely. Since he had no exact details on what the trouble was, he did the next best thing he could think of. He called Pierce.
"Hello? Dr. Pierce, this is Arthur Kirkland."
"Oh yes, of course. You're back in England now, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. Listen I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but I am worried about Alfred. Has he been to see you recently?"
"Yes, actually. Seems young Alice has developed a rather late infliction of colic. Nothing serious, but it looks like it is starting to take a toll on poor Alfred. Are you coming back soon?" That was what England had been afraid of. He had called far too many times and heard violent crying in the background to believe America's sarcastic laughter and dry commentary.
"I see... I'm afraid I cannot leave the UK until the end of July. Is there anything that I can do?"
"Honestly no. We can only hope the colic won't last too much longer. I'll try to keep you updated on how both of them are doing."
"I appreciate that." England disconnected and began to worry his bottom lip slightly. It wasn't like America to let anything get him down, especially when taking care of someone else. Then again he could not imagine what it was like to have a screaming infant - their infant - in his ear night and day. It made him cringe at the idea, out of pity and sadness for America and his daughter. On a whim the British nation decided to log on to his Skype account and see if America was on.
"Though why would he be? He should be asleep at his time of the night." Nevertheless he logged on and was pleasantly shocked to see the American's user name at the top of the screen with a little green dot next to it. "Bloody idiot probably didn't even notice he'd signed in." He clicked on the name and made a call. Ten seconds later, England was face to screen with a very bedraggled looking America. The rest of the apartment was dark, so the bright light of his screen made the dark bags under his eyes look the slightest bit worse. He wore a loose cotton t-shirt, which appeared to be smudged with some kind of leftover food, and although he could not see them, England could imagine the fleece pajama pants that more than likely completed the ensemble. America typed out his greeting.
"Heya Artie. Sorry, but I gotta wear ear-buds. A.J.'s finally asleep xD" England nodded and bothered to voice his response. The lad had said he had headphones in.
"No trouble, love. You look positively knackered yourself." America laughed silently once, but it didn't reach his eyes. He really was exhausted.
"Well ya know how it is. Gotta take care of a baby and all that ;)" England frowned at the emoticons that no where near substituted the actual emotions America was lacking.
"America, you should really be in bed. You have to take care of yourself in order to care for Alice." America pouted and England almost welcomed it in place of a nearly dead-like stare.
"I take care of myself..."
"Not nearly well enough I fear... Please Alfred, listen to me and go to -" In the middle of his sentence, there came the sound of loud cries. America groaned and rubbed his eyes before actually speaking.
"Two hours. This is actually a record." He nearly threw down the ear-buds and stood up with a huff. England sighed and waited patiently for America to return. He turned up the volume just slightly in order to better hear what was happening in the other room. He could mostly just hear the wails, but every so often he could make out the American practically pleading with the small girl to calm down. After the sobbing stopped, America returned and fell into his chair. He leaned against his arms and look up with a painfully sour smile, his pale eyes beginning to water. England frowned and glared with authority. He pointed down and then to his ear as if to say 'pick those blasted things up now.' America placed one lazily in his ear and listened.
"America, I'm going to call Spain back over." America furrowed his brow and looked confused. "I will not argue with you about this. You are bloody exhausted and at your wits end. You need help." America reached for the keyboard but England raised a hand to stop his train of thought. "And don't try to pull any of your 'I'm the hero' shite on me. I'll not have it." America slowly pulled his fingers away from the keyboard and carefully folded his arms before laying down on top of them. England's gaze softened and his breath hitched when he saw his lover's broad shoulders quiver just enough to give away his tears.
"I'm sorry, Artie." He whispered from his arms shakily. "I'm trying so hard, but I don't know what to do anymore, man. She just... she cries and cries and I can't help. I know I can't and it kills me, ya know?" When he looked up again, England was no longer looking at the screen, but the side. He was biting his lower lip (one of the nervous habits he only did when he was too anxious to notice some one was looking) and obviously running his hands down his pant legs. "Arthur?" America asked desperately. He needed the older nation to tell him what to do. Suddenly England looked back, but not at the screen; he looked straight into his web-cam and managed to make his eyes lock with America's.
"Darling, listen to me now. You are one of the most caring fathers I have ever been privileged to know. You care for our child like nothing I have ever seen. I love you, and I will be damned if you are not taken care of, even if it cannot be me whose doing it." America panted as he held back a sob and he touched the screen. For the first time in, England had no idea who knew how long, a smile reached America's eyes.
"Thanks Artie. I love you so much, you don't even know. I miss you, dude." England smiled gently and touched the screen as well.
"I know, love. Now please, get some rest. I'll call Antonio as soon as this is over and let you know in the morning when he'll be arriving." America nodded vigorously as he laughed again out of relief and wiped the corners of his eyes. England didn't think he was a failure. With a cheerful smile, America blew a loud kiss through the speakers and England returned it, albeit considerably less boisterous and more gracefully.
True to his word, after America had signed off, England pulled his phone out and hastily dialed Spain's number. After violently fighting with Romano about speaking to the Spaniard, the cheerful tomato-loving nation kindly agreed to return to the States to help. Naturally, his Italian partner decided that this particular time he was going to come along. England consented, only because he believed America would enjoy and even appreciate the antics of the rowdier Mediterranean twin.
He sent an email with details to America and then moved to work on his embroidery. Sitting down in his old chair, he crossed his legs and continued his current project; a new dress for A.J., just big enough for her to still grow into it. He worked on that dress to pass his free time, so as not to fret about the status of his lover or their child. He received regular updates, even after Spain and Romano had made their way to the apartment home and began to help. England was relieved to hear America's laughter once again, even if it was just over the phone. As he nearly completed the flowery dress, he paused mid-stitch and could barely believe himself.
"What the bleeding hell am I doing?" He asked out loud, a few fairies appearing, wondering if he was addressing them. He ran back to his computer and clicked on the frequented bookmarked page near the top of the screen. Then he stopped and thought. What would the Prime Minister say? It had not been very long at all since he had returned home, and a very large part of him did not want to leave again any time soon. But still, he reasoned, this was America and their precious baby girl. He had to leave. "Besides. I had heard talk of the next world summit being held in DC. Might as well encourage it one way or another." As he booked his impromptu flight to the states, England promised himself that when it came time for him to depart for the UK once again, he would be taking his family with him.
He did not tell anyone when he left. He only called his boss after he had already landed in New York at about two in the morning. There was a quick argument (as it tended to be with the Prime Minister) as England argued that at least now he was in the states for the world conference. He hung up the phone, expecting another call from America's boss some time in the morning, and made his way to the large apartment complex. It took a while to find his copy of the key within his luggage, but after quietly sneaking in, all he bothered to do with his belongings was quietly set them in the hall and moved down towards the master bedroom.
He passed Romano and Spain, asleep on the fold out bed; Spain nearly sprawled completely over the older Italian brother, who was grimacing even in his sleep. England would have assumed it was uncomfortable for them, but the pair of hands carefully interlocked told him otherwise. Before entering the bedroom, where he could hear America snoring comfortably, he popped his head into Alice's room. He saw her sleeping and smiled gently. As much as he wanted to actually touch her, he did not trust himself not to wake her up, so he left the room until morning. Since America was a hard sleeper more often than not, England did not worry about walking in and getting dressed for bed. He neatly folded his travel clothes and changed into one if America's shirts and let his boxers be. He carefully climbed into bed beside his partner and smirked at the sight of the large American clinging to England's faux-faded Union Jack pillow. He adjusted himself to wrap his arms around America's head and nuzzled his nose into the wheat colored hair. With a sigh he was ready to collapse into a peaceful sleep, but America shifted unconsciously before moving his own nose from the pillow to England's chest. England pulled away in order to try and catch a glimpse of the sapphires blinking open in the dark.
"Artie? That you?"
"Yes, love. Go back to sleep, and we'll talk in the morning." England kissed America's forehead softly, but the younger country was very awake now. He gripped the Englishman tightly and dragged his lips towards his own. England smiled into the kiss and could not help the happy butterflies that took flight in his stomach. He was home.
After the long and deep kiss was shared, America pulled England on top of him and began kissing across his face. "America, for God's sake, go back to sleep."
"Uh-uh. I need you right now."
"Speak properly or you won't get anything." America whimpered and rubbed up against England's leg, which had fallen between his own. "You utter git! There is no way you expect me to -"
"Pleeeaassse, Arthur. I just wanna lie back and feel you." England blushed like mad and was grateful that the dark covered it. He couldn't really recall the last time America had been so submissive.
"You mean, you want me to top?" America nodded and quietly keened. "Well... alright, I suppose. However we can't take long." America nodded again and smiled as he brought his lover's lips back to his own. England kissed down from America's lips to his neck and reveled in the sounds of his quiet moans. He took off both their night shirts and began tweaking and sucking on the American's nipples. America moaned and arched, tempting the British nation to carefully close his teeth around the hardening nubs.
"Shit – Artie. God, why don't you top more often?"
"Because you think you are too manly for it. Lift your hips, lad." He removed America's boxers and ghosted his lips and tongue around the thickening appendage. "It may also have something to do with how bloody good you always make me feel." He drew his erection out from his own boxers and began rubbing the two together with a groan. After both were at full arousal, America wrapped his arms around England's back and mouthed 'Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me' over and over until England had retrieved the lube.
Preparing America took a while, since it had been so long since his last experience as a bottom, but he never asked to stop and seemed very eager for England to begin.
"Ready love?" England asked as clearly as possible while panting through his teeth.
"More than you are, dude. Come oooonn!" England pushed America's legs up high enough to nearly touch his shoulders before leaning close and prodding his entrance teasingly.
"It would do you well to not scream, poppet." America shuddered and nodded, hooking his hands over the backs of his thighs in order to keep them in position. With one slow thrust, England became fully sheathed in his lover, and both let out a low moan and hiss. As he allowed America to adjust, he ran his hands slowly across the broader male's chest before resting one on either side of America's head. When the younger country smiled and kissed a nearby wrist, England began to move roughly, knowing the American wouldn't have it any other way.
"Ah! Ah! Oh God...oh shit. Artiiiiie –"
"Yes love, I know. BUGger me you feel so bloody good!"
"I- I- missed you." America smiled again and did not hide the small tears running from the corners of his eyes. England's already fluttery breath quickened and he kissed them away quickly.
"No tears, poppet. They don't suit you. They never have." When America gasped in an octave even higher then his normal squeal, England knew he'd found the man's prostate.
"There! TheretheretherethereTHERE!" England pressed their lips together in order to keep America quiet (he'd always been a bit of a screamer whenever England topped) and quickened his thrusts to finish them both off with a suppressed yell. England tried to sit up in order to retrieve a warm cloth to clean them up with, but America tiredly kept him close. "Don't go."
"I must love, but I'll return before you can count to ten." He kissed America's temple and made his way to the bathroom, vaguely noticing America's quiet counting in the background. England returned with a warm wet towel, only to find the younger country asleep. He wiped each of them clean and laid down, more than ready to fall to sleep himself, tangled in his beloved's arms.
AN: Not that many people read these anyway, but I just thought I'd say a few words. I hope my message was clear enough and no one who did not want to read the whole Arthur topping dealio was shocked and/or surprised. I truly do support USUK as well as UKUS and my inner UKUS fan girl was missing Seme!England. So this her breaking out of her voluntary solitude to get a page or so in.
Only about two or three chapters let until of this story! After a short creative break I'll begin to piece together the few chapters I have of the sequel. ^_^ Thanks so much for all the reviews and support. Tell your friends to comment! They really really help and make me feel good about myself. xD