The baby bounced gently off the wall of her uterus. She opened her dressing gown and put her hands back on her belly. It moved again, like a dolphin going through the water; that was the way she imagined it. ~Roddy Doyle

France hasn't been in the dusty old storeroom since World War II. She casts her eyes over the valley of yellow cardboard boxes.

England shakes his head. "When was the last time any one was in here?"

"Decades," France sighs.

The only reason they're in here now that the two of them, along with America and Canada, are going to try to clean this place out. After they've removed all the accumulated files, they'll refurbish the small room as a nursery.

The door ends and America and Canada return. America plunks a McDonald's bag on one of the boxes. "The hero is here!" He announces. Canada just smiles softly and gives France a hug.

"What's in these things?" America asks, making his question pointless by opening one of the boxes. He pulls out one of the files. "Papers?" He sounds slightly disappointed.

"Put that back where you put it." England says, making it clear that he doesn't think America will obey. "What did you expect, stuffed ducks?"

"What are we supposed to be doing again?" America is still pawing through the box. While England and America have been bickering, France and Canada have settled themselves on the floor and are beginning to investigate boxes.

France answers America. "I want to get this cleaned out before I get any bigger."

"Yeah, but what are we doing? Like with the stuff."

"Inventorying." England tells him. He shakes his head at America's blank look. "Looking through the boxes and seeing what's inside."

"I can totally do that!" America exclaims, returning to his box.

They work in dusty silence until America can no longer keep his mouth shut. Searching for a topic, he lands on France's round stomach.

"Hey France."

She looks up from her box.

"You felt any kicking yet?"

"Oui, a little."

America hesitates for a moment before asking, "What does it feel like?"

France cocks her head, thinking the question over. "I can't really describe it. Bubbles, maybe."

America's forehead wrinkles in confusion. "Bubbles?"

"Oui. Like - little bubbles, popping." Guessing at what America wants to ask, she smiles and offers, "Would you like to feel?"

She guesses correctly. America's eyes grow wide. "Can I?"

France gestures him over. "She's kicking right now."

"It's a girl?" America asks, carefully placing a hand over her stomach.

"I think so, but Angleterre is convinced it's a boy."

"Well, if you'd let the doctor tell us, then we'd know for sure." England butts in.

"Non, I want it to be a surprise." She turns her attention back to America, who is grinning so broadly that his face seems about to split in half.

"It actually kicked me! That's so cool!"

England mutters, "What were you expecting," but America doesn't seem to notice.

"That's amazing! I can't wait for my kid to do that."

"By the way, how is Russia?" Canada asks, joining the conversation for the first time. America smiles. "She's good. A little sick, but other than that, great. She's at Ukraine's right now."

"Are you two excited?" England asks.

"Do you even need to ask?" America laughs. "Of course we are!" Growing slightly more serious, he adds, "It's weird. The kid's only about an inch long, but I'd already do anything for them.

England pats him on the shoulder. "That's what being a parent is, lad."