Author's Notes: The song is "A Pirate Looks at Forty" by Jimmy Buffett. Thank you all for the beautiful reviews! I really got teary eyed from some of them, you have no idea how much I love you guys! I love this story so much and it just makes me cry (tears of joy) that others find it just as enjoyable as I have! It has been a great adventure. Alas, I fear it is coming to an end soon... I really hope you all enjoy the last parts I have for you! And I totally didn't slip in some more possible babu America. *coughcoughjustgoreadcough* Enjoy! :'D

Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure we know it's on Chapter 1 by now.

Mother, mother ocean,
I have heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters
since I was three feet tall
You've seen it all, you've seen it all
Watched the men who rode you
switch from sails to steam
And in your belly you hold the treasures
few have ever seen
Most of 'em dream, most of 'em dream

Chapter 25- Where the Heart Lies

Alfred hit the water like a brick. The breath was knocked from his lungs as he plunged beneath the waves. He quickly kicked his feet out and forced his head to the surface before he swallowed too much water. Hacking, he coughed and tried to figure out what the hell had just happened.

Arthur had just thrown him off a fucking cliff.

A fucking cliff!

Oh god was he going to give him hell the moment he saw the pirate captain again.

Alfred looked up in time to see his sister fall. "Gah!" Alfred spluttered as he dove out of the way. Water flew over him as Eva splashed into the ocean barely an arm's length away. Holy crap, at least throw her away from me so I don't die!

Eva surfaced after a few seconds. Alfred reached out and made sure she didn't go back under. He kept her at arm's length just in case she would panic.

A few Russian curse words flew through the air. Alfred cringed. He only knew a handful of the words and they were enough to make even him shocked to hear it. Eva didn't swear without good reason, and Alfred was surprised he himself wasn't doing the same.

A fucking cliff.

At least it wasn't hardcore storming. The water wasn't moving a lot except for the drops that hit its surface. The wind was pretty calm. They could easily swim to wherever the hell they needed to go, assuming his bandaged side would last the trip.

A bright light lit up the cliff above the siblings. Alfred lurched backward in the water and shielded his eyes, "Holy crap!" What was Arthur doing!

As quickly as the light had appeared it faded. Alfred didn't know what to think of it. They had just been abandoned by Arthur. So why care? (Right? Right?)

"Alfred," Eva panted over the waves.

Alfred looked her way, "Yea?" A small silver glow on her shoulder caught his eye as she bobbed along with the tiny waves.

"…What should we do?" she asked.

"I…" Alfred glanced upward again. Arthur had made sure they couldn't follow him to whatever fate he had planned. Well screw him. Alfred was sick of the whole martyr thing. Maybe they would get out of the water and hunt the pirate captain down just to spite him. "Let's go—"

Alfred stopped cold as the world tilted and turned that creepy negative, everything reversed color again. He couldn't tell what was up or what was down even though he could see most of the stuff pretty clearly. A feeling like something was tugging him downward followed. The sensation left quickly and he was left flailing in the water.

"Alfred!" Eva cried. She was reaching for him with a distressed look. Had she seen the same thing as him? She must have!

Alfred took a moment to regain his senses completely. If that kept happening they might as well be screwed before getting anywhere.

Something brushed Alfred's leg causing him to jump. "What the hell was that!" he exclaimed.

Eva looked at him even more panicked than before. Alfred turned in the water and looked around. A fish? Crap, he was getting scared over nothing right! He looked at his sister with a sheepish grin, "Heh.. sorry I'm just overreactin—"

"ALFRED!"

Alfred plunged underwater as his leg was seized from below. The American tried to shake off whatever was dragging him down and lashed out with his free foot. He hit something very real and very solid. With a dull shriek, whatever it was let go.

The American made a break for the surface but something hit him in his bad side. Alfred knew it was a horrible idea but his mouth opened in a silent gasp anyway; pain shot through him. Water filled his mouth as hands—real motherfucking hands—seized his shirt. Alfred twisted in vain to throw the things off but more arms wrapped around his torso and legs. His movements slowed as the pain rippled anew from the sharp turn. His thoughts slowed as he slowly sank into the depths of the ocean, caressed by whatever forces deemed it necessary to take him to their home in the darkness of the depths.

~*~*~
It wasn't until later that Eva understood what had happened out in the cold, ruthless sea. One moment she and Alfred were floating along trying to figure out what to do and the next… they were fighting for their lives? Was that the way to put it?

The only thing she remembered after the hands had dragged her down under the water was a flash of skin and scales and then… the cold, damp feeling of sand beneath her hands. She was on land somehow. Eva could vaguely hear a material flapping in the breeze. A hand touched her shoulder but she didn't have the strength to move. She looked up with bleary eyes and thought she saw a shadowed smile beneath a dark hood.

"Welcome home."

Eva fell into unconsciousness after that. She didn't resurface into the plane of reality until she heard a shuffling of papers on a wooden surface. There was a muted clink of glass off to the side but she didn't care to move at the moment. Eva couldn't remember the last time she felt so warm and comfortable. It certainly hadn't been before… before what?

She shifted into the softness against her cheek. Did it really matter right now? A soft chuckle followed her actions as she attempted to burrow further into the warmth. A familiar scent emanated from the cottony material under her nose. It smelled like vodka and…

Sunflowers?

Eva's eyes opened in alarm. The only person she knew who carried those scents was her brother Ivan. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room. A worn, white scarf was bunched under her cheek. Underneath that was a very large, very solid body of muscle hidden under a thin coat. Eva turned her head slightly and took in the room beyond her current position. It was the room she stayed in at Alfred's house forever ago. Her room.

She looked up as another chuckle escaped the other occupant of the room. "Хорошо соня утром~" Ivan said quietly, "It is good to see you awake."

"Wha—" tears pricked at Eva's eyes. She threw her arms around her brother and hugged him tightly. "Vanya!" she wailed. She hadn't seen Ivan in so many months! He had no idea how much she had missed him!

Ivan held her awkwardly for a few moments before finally relaxing. She typically didn't get very huggy with either of her brothers but this was a huge exception. How could it not be? Ivan held her gently and rubbed small circles into her back as she cried.

The tears soon died into a few sniffles and hiccups. She clung to her brother not knowing how she'd gotten back. Had she really been gone for all those months? What had Ivan done without her there? Had Alfred made it back too? What had happened to Arthur?

The door creaked open quietly. Eva shifted her gaze to the newcomer and her heart skipped a beat. Arthur walked into the room with a tray of food.

Gentlemanly Arthur Kirkland.

Not pirate.

Arthur.

Not captain.

Kirkland.

"I see you're awake," he commented blatantly, fixing a rather irate look at Ivan, "I thought I told you to tell me."

"Ufu~ I was about to, honest," Ivan replied with a small smile. Eva knew he hadn't had any intention of getting up.

Arthur seemed to sense it as well, "Right… how are you feeling Eva?"

"Where's Alfred?" she croaked. Her voice sounded cracked and unused. How long had she been out?

"He's in his room sleeping," Arthur replied with a hint of resignation. He crossed the room with the tray and, shoving empty vodka bottles out of the way—set it down on the nightstand. "You should eat something and then wash up. We can talk after."

Eva nodded dumbly. If Alfred was safe then she wouldn't argue.

"Trying to kill her already?" Ivan remarked as he eyed the food thoughtfully.

"Sh-shut up!" Arthur bit back irritably, "I make perfectly acceptable food!"

Eva remained quiet. She wanted to ask so many questions. Needed so many answers. Before she could muster the courage for at least one sentence, Arthur was heading for the door. She held her tongue. They would talk later.

~*~*~
Arthur sat in the chair he had dragged into Alfred's room. Mind you, Arthur only occupied it to watch over the fool as he slept. Nothing more! The Englishman was rather surprised Alfred hadn't woken up yet. It wasn't like the old days when he didn't know his healing magicks very well. He had had a lot of time to practice since dropping the pirating act.

He huffed quietly and glanced at the old book next to him on the nightstand. Blasted thing. Alfred should have never taken it. He should have never opened it. Never have read from it. Never have left it behind.

What did he think he was going to accomplish with not taking the spell book with him? Arthur had been in a tizzy just because they had actually managed to use the time spell, but to leave the book? No wonder it took forever to find and return them! There was no way back without the book or knowledge of the whole incantation.

Arthur knew, though, that Alfred never did follow all the instructions to something. It was an inevitable "flaw" in the written flow of time that was fated to happen. The magic would not have worked had it not been written in the timeline of reality already.

Honestly, how could Alfred have been that stupid? The thought echoed in Arthur's mind. All right, it would have been good for a few laughs had the whole thing not worked. He would have gotten mad and yelled at Alfred for being an idiot, and everything would have gone back to normal. But that didn't happen obviously.

He sighed and looked at the sleeping American. Alfred was flat on his back with an arm around a body sized pillow drooling. A slight smile lit Arthur's face. Just like when he was little.

Arthur pondered this thought as he leaned over and brushed a few stray hairs from Alfred's face. He let out a sigh thinking back to those care free days roaming the countryside with a little America in toll. Those were definitely the days…

"What're you doing?" Alfred grumbled below him.

Arthur froze momentarily and looked down at the American. He hadn't moved away and his hand was still in Alfred's hair. "I—"

"Geez, freakin' creep watchin' people sleep," Alfred muttered.

Arthur couldn't explain later as to why he did what he did right then and there. But he felt bloody proud of it.

His hand snapped away from Alfred's head and reached for the nearest object—which just happened to be the book. A resounding thump filled the room as he cracked Alfred across the face with it.

"DON'T FORGET THE BOOK NEXT TIME!"

The only words he could muster. What a wonderful greeting for returning home.

It seemed fitting, he supposed.

~*~*~
"Owwwww…"

"Belt up! You deserved it."

Alfred tenderly held the ice pack against his swollen face. He had been awake for two seconds and Arthur was already trying to kill him. Luckily, Eva had come to the rescue and prevented any more book related injuries, much to the disappointment of one creepy ass Russian. Why was Ivan even in his house?

The American stretched out on the couch as the television across the room flickered with some cartoon. Alfred really didn't care to identify it at the moment. He was just happy to sit back and enjoy being lazy at home.

Besides, his face hurt.

"I don't really think hitting someone in the face is really a way to greet them when they've been gone…" he muttered.

Arthur looked about ready to flip his shit again. God how he missed this attitude. It was so much better than the cocky, swanky bastard Arthur had been as a pirate.

"How long were we gone?" Eva's question received some glancing looks.

Ivan looked thoughtful as he continued to hover over his sister protectively—like something totally bad was going to happen if he didn't. "Two weeks… give or take," the Russian replied.

Alfred mulled it over. Only two weeks? They had been in the past for a lot longer than that. Time must have passed a lot differently between the different time zones. Ha… time zones. What a horrible joke already.

Arthur seemed to be waiting for more questions. Alfred moved the ice over a little and gave him a scrutinizing look, "So like… how the hell did you not know I was little me's big me?"

"Putting it that way sounds idiotic…" Arthur grumbled. Alfred's glare steered the Englishman back to the point, "I think I do remember noticing your appearances were similar. But honestly, unless I knew that you were from the future—which I did not, mind you—I would not have been able to tell. Your… personalities were very different."

Alfred snorted. Right. Sitting here, he was totally the same awesome little guy he used to be… just a lot bigger now. And damn it, he was grown up big, not fat big!

"I still wish you hadn't grown up like, well, you."

"Hey! That was cruel!"

Ivan let out a small chuckle.

"Don't you start with me!"

"I will do what I please Америка~"

"Commie bastard!"

"I am not communist anymore…"

"Alfred please, shut your mouth."

"I will when you stop throwing books!"

"I didn't throw it you twit, I—!"

"Arthur."

Both men stopped and looked at Eva as she twisted the edge of Alfred's favorite fleecey Batman blanket in her hands. Ivan even looked at her.

"Um," Arthur cleared his throat as if that would clear the whole argument up in one superfluous noise, "yes Eva?"

"How did you escape the marines in the cave?"

Alfred pulled the ice pack away from his face and touched his bruising skin. That was definitely a question worth hearing the answer to.

Arthur took a long time thinking it over—and by a long time, he took like five minutes. The waiting caused Alfred to feel fidgety. He bounced his leg up and down to curb the urge to tell the Englishman to hurry up. Maybe this wasn't an easy, straightforward answer. Nothing ever was with Arthur.

"Very carefully."

Alfred stopped. He would have burst out laughing at the horrible trolling joke if it wasn't for the fact that they actually wanted to know.

"That was lame dude."

Arthur's forest green eyes landed on Alfred, "There are some things that should never be retold, even by a nation."

"Laaaaaame."

"Alfred," Eva hushed quietly.

Alfred twirled the ice pack in his hand and looked out the window indignantly. Whatever the hell happened, it was probably badass or something and Arthur was totally cockblocking the epic story of his heroic escape. Or he was just being an ass. Most likely both.

"All right, so what the hell grabbed us in the water and got all fresh with me?" Alfred asked. He saw his sister face palm from the corner of his eye, "Hey! It was a legit question!"

"Mermaids," Arthur responded.

Oh god. Were they going into this whole conversation about mythical creatures again?

"You wanted to know twit," Arthur grumbled.

Oh. Had he said that out loud? Oops.

"So you were like stalking all up on us through this whole thing and didn't even try to help us once?" Alfred recovered quickly.

"There were a handful of times when I aided you…" Arthur shot him an annoyed look.

"Oh? When?"

"In the fort, I kept the guards busy and helped Eva escape."

"Oh I see how it is. Totally help the chick and get her all thankful for some hot make out kisses later."

"I certainly did nothing of the sort!"

"That is horrible Alfred," Eva muttered.

"Hey don't look at me! Freakin' Captain Swag over here was the one doing it!"

"I healed you! Or did you not realize that you idiot?"

"When? When we got back?"

"No!" Arthur took a moment to recollect his thoughts. "I found you and… "little you" and moved you away from the blacksmith shop. And before you ask, I couldn't heal you all the way without raising suspicion with my past self."

Alfred considered that for a moment. Yea, okay. He'd let that one go.

His thoughts strayed as he tried to remember those days of when he was little. Nothing was really coming to mind around that time period for some reason. He tried thinking about the situation. Pirate captain Arthur Kirkland didn't exist to his young mind. It was always England or Britain or… Admiral Kirkland?

That title struck something in Alfred's memories. But where from exactly?

~*~*~
"Admiral Kirkland!"

Sleepy eyes drifted up from a wooden box near the fireplace. America lifted his head as the commodore shook hands with another at the door. He had fallen asleep while the man had talked and talked about anything and everything. There had been stuff about savage people, boats, hats, fighting stuff and a lot of complaining. America had closed his eyes once the mentioning of fighting had started, and he had slept until he heard the name of one of the people he loved most.

"It has been a long time sir! A very long time indeed!" the commodore was ranting now, "Please sit down and eat! I'm sure you've had a long journey." The man followed the newcomer like a puppy followed its master.

The newcomer took his place at the table and waved away any offerings of food. America rubbed his bleary eyes as the man spoke, "We captured the traitor."

"Splendid," said the commodore.

America swung a leg over the box edge and plopped onto the floor. The conversation continued in the room, apparently oblivious to the smallest occupant as he stood sleepily by the fire holding his blanket.

"I want him hanged."

"Yes sir."

"Immediately. No public display. No chance of another escape."

"Right away sir."

America crossed the creaky wooden floor dragging his blanket behind. Had he thought about it, America might have found it odd how the commodore was literally nodding along with the other man's words. He might have found it scary to see the commodore's eyes. How they were glazed over with awe and seemed to have no life of their own other than what the other man reflected. Maybe he would have noticed the dazed, silly smile had he not crawled under the table. He crawled to the feet of the man who was giving orders without remorse for the victim.

He leaned against the other's knee and waited his turn for attention from the higher being. It didn't take long. The man's attention always shifted to him quickly when America wanted it.

Green eyes looked down at America, a slight frown crossing the man's face, "America, you should be in bed."

"Engwand," America mumbled reaching up with small grabby hands to his elder.

Arthur picked him up and sat America on his lap. The little to-be nation curled up against Arthur's dirty shirt and pulled his blanket closer. A sleepy murmur left his mouth.

"You came back."

"Of course I did, love," Arthur replied softly."

"We gun' go fishin' t'morrow…?" America asked as his eyelids slowly drooped lower.

"We can, love," Arthur answered soothingly, "I always keep my promises."

America smiled and let his eyes close. Arthur started humming a small tune, and in no time at all, America was asleep again, safe in the arms of the person he loved most.

Captain Arthur Kirkland.

Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
The cannons don't thunder,
there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late