A/N: Hello, my little readers!
I really hope that I won't have this out in like one day like I did the last one. I hope I have time to write in detail, like the last one, just a lot slower.
This is in Netherlands' perspective BTW. It's exactly where America left off. This is still the conversation between Scotland and her.
Please enjoy!
Oh, one last thing. There's a flash back she has when she goes into surgery, it goes into detail with her burn scar. And, her dream about her past is not at all historically correct. I don't think that Spain had rule over the countries in South America when it had rule over Netherlands, but for the sake of the story, let's just pretend.
"I always figured you were afraid of commitment." He chuckled and I broke his gaze as he rocked back in his chair. "That's good, 'cause so am I." I smiled and started to laugh as well. "And it's not like we'll actually be married! Neither of our bosses want to throw a huge wedding. They'll probably get the pope from my country and the alcohol from yours' and then we'll be wed!" I laughed again, avoiding hitting my hand on anything. "We could be like Miria and Isaac from that one anime. We'll be thieves! And the worst ones out there! Stealing from the earth itself!"
"Stop, alsjeblieft, je vermoord me!" I had already fell onto the floor laughing because he had leaped up onto the table and struck a ridiculous pose.
"But I got you to laugh." He smirked as he held his hand out for my to take. He pulled me up and I shook my head to get the hair out of my eyes. "That was my goal."
"You're an idiot." I laughed. Something cold and wet stroked my hand and my entire arm went all tingly. "ACK! ! !" I shouted and looked down. I saw a tiger at my left side, licking my hand.
"Is that a tiger?" Scotland asked, obviously nervous.
"It's Rajah, Cyprus' Familiar." I muttered and turned to see Cyprus walking over to me. "Isn't she pretty?"
"She's deadly." Canada said, more pronounced in his fear. "She was just licking your blood because she has a taste for it."
"Well," I lifted my previously broken, left hand. "I don't think that this-" I clenched my fist tightly and flexed my fingers. "-Is that bad. Yes, she just fixed my hand." I twisted it and moved each of my fingers separately. It worked as good as new, I just had some horrible scarring where the metal and glass and granite ripped apart my skin.
I smiled and walked back into the kitchen to finish cleaning the dishes.
The phone rang when I was in the middle of a dish.
"Hey, America!" I said loudly. "Toss me my phone." He reached for my second cell phone and threw it to me. I opened it up and saw the caller ID. West. I flipped it open. "Germany, why are you calling me?"
"I heard you're getting married." He said bluntly. He sounded tired, like someone woke him up to call me.
"Yeah. It's arranged. I didn't agree, my boss did." I sighed and stuck the phone between my shoulder and my ear. "And I know that wasn't the reason to call. I know we're still on bad terms from the war."
"There's a world meeting tomorrow." Subtlety was never his strong suit. "About the message we all got last night."
"Oh yeah." I whispered. I immediately thought of the voice, saying we were his pons. "Wait. What's tomorrow's date?"
"The ninth, why?" I sighed in relief.
"Thanks man. I would have had to skip it if it was one day later." I said and finished the dishes. "I'll tell the guys about the meeting."
"Bruder wants to know if he's invited to the wedding." Germany chuckled.
"No." I hung up immediately. "Everybody!" Everyone looked at me, even Scotland who was halfway out the door. "There's a world meeting tomorrow. About the message we got while we were sleeping last night."
"Uh-huh." Cyprus tried to tear her gaze from the book she was reading.
"Cool." I could have sworn America winked at me.
"M-kay." Canada sighed.
"Sure thing." Scotland looked at me. "Good luck in surgery." I smiled reassuringly and nodded a few times. "Don't go killing yourself."
"I won't." I smiled and he closed the door behind him.
I looked up to see America covering Canada's mouth without even looking at him. I chuckled and pushed up my glasses.
"Who wants to go to the hospital with me?" I asked. Cyprus only shook her head and Canada did the same. "Don't all volunteer at once, guys."
"I'll go." America go up from the couch. He was bruised all over and the cuts in his shoulder and side had only barely scarred over. I nodded and shrugged on Cyprus' leather jacket. America pulled on a shirt and his new bomber jacket, which looked exactly like the old one.
We headed out the door in silence and made it all the way to the bus stop.
"Oh, America." I remembered the necklace I'd taken from him the other day. "When you got beaten to a pulp, I had to take this so it wouldn't get damaged." I unhooked the lizard necklace and took his hand so I could give him back what is rightfully his.
"No, you keep it." He said and stared into my horribly colored eyes.
"Didn't Native America give it to you?" I asked, thinking of the woman that helped America when he was still a child. She was like Germania to Prussia and Germany, or Roman Empire for the Italys.
"I insist. She'd want you to have it." He smiled and didn't let go of my hand. I looked ahead of me and saw that we had skipped the bus entirely and we were approaching the hospital.
My back arched slightly and my shoulders dropped. I instinctively went into a fighting stance as disinfectant fumes filled my nose. I tried not to twitch as I sat down in the waiting room.
"What's wrong?" He whispered and I twisted both of my hands in my t-shirt.
"I had a lot of experience with acids and other things when I was little." I stroked the faint scars on my wrists. "I burned off quite a bit of my skin while I cleaned Spain's house." To my surprise, America didn't scoff or laugh, he stayed completely still. "And I deadened some of my sense of taste up until last year." I sighed and he nodded.
"That's perfectly reasonable." He sounded so very mature. I couldn't believe it was actually America.
"Miss Vos, please come up to the counter." I smiled and stood up. I checked my balance and walked swiftly to the counter. "Can you please fill out this form up here." She slipped a few pieces of paper to me and a pen.
"Here?" I asked and she nodded.
I started filling out the papers, starting with the medical ones.
Have you ever had heart problems? Yes.
Have you ever had a stroke? Yes.
Do you have any neurological problems? Yes.
If so, please specify: Dyslexia, Insomnia, Verbal Tourette's Syndrome (surpassed), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
I answered the next two pages in the same fashion. I looked at the last page, personal questions. I filled out my birthday truthfully. 450 April 30. That actually was the point where I came into existence, even if the country was there already, and even if I couldn't remember it.
I stared at the marital status. I sadly put a check in the box with "Engaged" next to it. I went down the page and filled in my relatives names, placing "Deceased" after each one. I slid it back over the counter.
"Oh! You're the country representative we've been waiting for." I nodded and she scanned the page. "I'm sorry, but you need to fill in the name of your fiancé." I sighed and brought the paper back to me.
I found the line I purposely omitted and wrote "Cyn Riddell" on it.
"Sorry, we need to put more information in on you." The reception said while she scanned the paper. She put the data into the computer. "You're a lucky woman. You've got a good looking husband ahead of you. You don't see that many red-heads around here do you?"
"Thanks." I sighed and she led me down a hall and up a few flights of stairs. She brought me into a hospital room with a bed in it.
"If you could please change out, we'll see to you as soon as possible and we'll prep you for surgery." She said quickly and smiled.
"Alright. But could you let up the guy who was in the waiting room? I'm afraid I'll get so very bored. He's my best friend." I asked and she scrunched up her eyebrows.
"I'll see what I can do." She sighed and walked out of the door. And that meant, "there's no way in hell".
I quickly stripped and pulled on the medical gown. I put my clothing and bag into the drawers next to the bed and took out my laptop. I only typed into it when a doctor walked in carrying a clipboard.
"Hello Miss Vos." She smiled and stood at the side of my bed. "I'm sorry, but I need to do a physical. We can't proceed with the surgery quite yet."
"Fine." I muttered and allowed her to touch me.
At one point, she ran her fingers down my spine to see if I had scoliosis. Her light fingers sent huge alarms though my brain. I was angry that she had to see my scars. The scars from the whip had drowned out any other ones. None of them had ever healed over.
"Well." She sighed as I sat back. For the entire time, it had taken all of my self control not to break her neck. "I definitely can not give you a clean bill of health." She listed off all the things that were wrong with me, like irregular heartbeat and such.
"That's what 1,500 years does to a person." I stated and she stared at me. She knew what I was talking about, but it was the first time she'd heard it. We were silent for a few minutes.
"If I could just ask, where did you get the scars on-" She was speaking quickly so I couldn't cut her off, but my blood boiled as soon as she started the sentence.
"Get out." I warned.
"But I just wanted to know why-" I interrupted her again.
"No! Just get out!" I shouted and she scurried away. I sighed and picked up my computer.
"Uh, ma'am." My gaze shot to a male nurse at the door. "I was told to tell you what's going to happen. And then I need to put you out cold."
"Come in. Just don't ask any personal questions." He nodded and sat on the end of my bed.
He talked about what would happen in surgery, and what would happen afterwards.
"I see that you've gained your balance quicker than expected." He sighed as he inserted the IV into my arm.
"You know what kid?" I said out of the blue. "I want you to be my nurse for the rest of the time I'm here. You're very kind and understanding."
"Well, I've had my fill of questions too personal for the workplace." He smiled and checked my heart rate. "I'm gay if you couldn't tell."
"I could. I still like you." I smiled and he drew liquid into a syringe.
"I'll see you in a few hours. And you'll have a dream, so remember to come back to the real world." He stuck the needle into my IV. I knew what he meant, he was telling me not to die. "Good night."
My head hit the pillow and my last thought filled my mind.
Did America really just give me his most treasured possession?
I yawned and patted Luxembourg's blonde hair. He was so cute when he slept. I kissed his forehead one last time before creeping away from his room. I flattened the dress I was in and walked down the hall to find Belgium.
"Hey, Netherlands." I turned my head to see Ecuador standing in a doorway. "Belgium was looking for you, but she fell asleep on me." I took the small child from his arms.
"Thanks Ecuador. I really don't want any of you guys wandering around right now." I stroked Belgium's soft hair. "Spain's having a huge argument with his boss and loosing, so I don't want you guys to get the brunt of his anger."
"Well, I don't want you to get whipped again." He whined. He was the only one in the entire house that was anywhere near my human age. Both of our bodies and minds being 14, we had the burden of taking care of the kids. "Peru is out on ground patrol with Bolivia. It's just me and the kids, you want to grab Lux and be safe with us?"
"Sure thing. It'll help with two olders in the room instead of just one." I said quickly and walked in. We called the older nations "olders" and the younger ones "youngers". I slipped past Ecuador and softly laid Belgium down.
"Get Lux quick, we don't want to risk things." He ran his hand through his black, curly hair. Despite being so young, his voice had already dropped an octave and he was already three inches taller.
"Big brother Ecuador? Is Big Brother Spain looking for Big Sister Netherlands?" Galapagos tugged on Ecuador's pant leg. She was one of the sweetest of her siblings.
"Don't worry, Mijo." He knelt down to kiss her forehead. "We're safe."
"Watch for Spain." I whispered and slunk back down the hall with a lantern in my hand. This was what it was like every week. Ecuador and I feared for the safety of the kids, the oldest nations always we're on patrol and Spain was always angry, looking for something to vent on. I was one of his main outlets, gaining new cuts and bruises nearly everyday. I took the pain for the kids because I was the strongest.
"Auntie Netherlands." I felt a tug on my dress. I looked down to see the little boy who rarely wanted help. He was more clumsy than I, with his uncontrollable twitching. "Is Big Brother Spain mad?" His shoulder shot upwards.
"Yes he is, Romano." I whispered and set the lantern quietly on the floor. He was never hurt physically, but he was always scolded for breaking things. "I'm going to grab Luxembourg and we were going to sleep in Uncle Ecuador's room. Do you want to come with?" He nodded and reached up for me to carry him.
"I'm scared." He sputtered into my shoulder.
"We all are, bambino." I whispered in his language so he wouldn't feel as intimidated. "Can you hold onto this?" He nodded and took the lantern from me so I could open the door. Luxembourg shifted in his small makeshift bed. "Wake up, child." I touched his cheek and he instantly woke.
"Nederlund." He muttered. His speech was impaired because of the late hour. I scooped him up and put him on my other hip. I had Romano on my left and Luxembourg on my right. Luxembourg wrapped his small fingers in my scarf as I silently walked down the hall. I heard someone behind me and nearly ran back to the room. Ecuador was waiting and took Romano from me.
"You hear him?" He asked as we sat the two kids down in the room. I nodded and prepared for him to come charging in to grab one of the kids. I watched the flame of his lantern grow brighter as he neared. Instead of charging in, he shouted something in rapid Spanish. I looked to Ecuador for a translation. "Come with your choices, he says." My eyes grew wide. We had to pick someone to be beaten, or watch us be beaten in they're place. I knelt down and took Belgium.
"Bella." I whispered her real name. "Are you OK with seeing me hurt again?" She nodded.
"No." Romano sighed and reached up to me. "I should go." I immediately put Belgium down and wrapped both of my arms around Romano.
"Thank you, my little lion." I sighed and nearly ran out the room after Spain and Ecuador. I caught up with them and saw the whip in Spain's clenched fist. We charged into Spain study and he rounded on us.
"How do you think the meeting went?" He yelled and staggered in front of us.
"Not good?" Ecuador was holding Panama in his hands.
"You idiot!" Spain yelled and rammed the wooden handle of the whip into his teeth. I smelled liquor on his breath.
"Sir-" He drew his hand across my face. I knew my mistake. "Big Brother Antonio." I stared at the ground.
"What is it, Bunny?" He chuckled and slowly stomped on my foot.
I was hesitant for fear that South Italy might get hurt. "Have you been drinking?" He got angry and cracked the whip against my chest. I dropped Romano to the ground and he landed on his feet. My dress had ripped.
"You ruined such a pretty dress too." He cracked the whip in the air behind him.
"To be honest, she didn't do it." He turned to Panama, who was the one to speak. He pulled a knife and sliced at him, only for Ecuador to block the blade with his arm. The steel knife stuck into his arm.
"Stupid." He grumbled. "And what about this!" He nearly ran to me and took a huge lock of my hair in his hand. "It's all short now!" I had cut it, because it was starting to get in the way.
"I'm sorry." I said. He cracked his whip again. "Spain-" I was interrupted by another painful slap. "Big Brother Antonio. It was getting in the way."
"But when we play house, I like to grab onto it." He sneered. "But now it's all gone!" He ripped at it and I felt a large chunk come out. He spun away from me and flicked the tip of the whip over my brow. I felt blood start to pour from my right eyebrow. It flowed over my eye and down my face. "Oh, and I got a new whip." He swayed in his place. He threw the liquid in a glass on his desk at me and it splashed on my right side, right under my bust. He advanced and cracked the whip at the wet spot on my dress. Painful warmth covered my side, then it started to itch and finally burn. I looked down and saw that my dress was aflame. A long scream escaped me as the flame spread to my skin itself. The shin darkened and blistered. Ecuador ran to my side and tried to put out the flame with his gloves. I screamed louder as the skin completely melted away and my muscle started to burn. My hands had blistered too, from trying to put out the blaze.
I was going to die. And then go to a second hell.
A/N2: Translations::
Stop, alsjeblieft, je vermoord me!: Stop, I'm going to die! ::Dutch
Mijo.:: Sweetie.:: Spanish
Bambino.:: Baby:: Italian