50 States: Chapter 25
Sorry for the delay. It took a while for me to find inspiration while I had writer's block. Hope this final chapter was worth the wait.
When California showed Budapest what Hungary's camera contained, the Hungarian capital nearly had a heart attack. His face went from pale white to green in seconds and had to lean against the wall to support himself. Dániel couldn't help but feel grateful that Felka was with Monika at the moment. Just how could he explain his country's little hobby of creating...suggestive...pictures of the other male countries with another nation of the same gender? Don't get him wrong, he wasn't homophobic...at least, not anymore. But that didn't mean he wanted to see pictures of others, no matter what type of relationship, get intimate. Even if the pictures were fake.
"Mindenható Isten!" He moaned, rubbing his eyes. After seeing the most recent photo of Italy and Germany on the camera, Budapest felt a little nauseous. California patted his back sympathetically.
"I hear you." Nathan said. "So what should we do with it?"
Dániel rubbed his temple. "I am tempted to destroy it at the moment. I can never unsee that picture and I don't think I can even look at Hungary the same way ever again."
The dark-haired teen pondered Budapest's words before an idea blossomed in his head.
…...
"Nien, Italy. After vhat happened last night, I am not trusting any of zhese libraries." Germany said, sternly when Italy suggested checking out Library B on the map. Ludwig barely suppressed a shudder at the memory of last night and Italy let out a whimper at the reminder.
"You're right, Germany. That monster was scary." Feliciano agreed before pointing at another location on the map. "How about we go outside? The gardens are very beautiful."
Before Germany could reply another voice piped up from behind them.
"If y'all plan on doin' that, try not to get lost in the maze." Georgia suggested. North Carolina was walking alongside her.
"Yeah, it ain't fun walking in circles til your feet give out." Gerald shuddered. "I nearly went insane the first few times I got lost in there. I had nightmares about bushes for weeks!"
"Ve~, Ciao Georgia, you look so pretty today!" Italy greeted. When he failed to acknowledge the other state, Germany nudged him to look in North Carolina's direction. "Oh! And hello to you too, North Carolina!"
Gerald scowled as Italy made googly eyes at his sister but gave a stiff nod in Feliciano's direction. Germany coughed in an effort to take the southern state's glare off the Italian.
"So, are you also going to zhe gardens?" Germany asked.
"We were." Georgia confirmed. "Tante Monika asked me to help her out. Oh, wait until you see her white roses, they're gorgeous!"
Italy gasped. "Berlin has a rose garden?! Germany has a garden too! He used to plant dandelions to make coffee."
"Italy!" Germany snapped, his face slightly flushed with embarrassment.
Georgia raised an eyebrow. "Dandelions? To make coffee?"
"Huh, I didn't know that was possible." North Carolina mused. "We grow our own coffee beans so I never would've thought of that."
"You grow coffee beans too?!" Italy exclaimed as they started walking in the direction of one of the elevators. "I want to see the gardens for sure now! What else do you have?"
For the rest of their trip to the gardens, Georgia explained the flora and vegetations the Jones household grew to Italy while Germany and North Carolina made sure he didn't get too close to the female state.
…...
There were many things Monika was proud of. Her family, for starters. Julchen's ability to keep everything in order even in the most chaotic situations, Anneliese's many talents, Heidi's strong spirit, Noah's sweet nature, and how Gilbert devotedly protected and cared for them since before she was born.
She also took great pride in her own strengths and abilities. Like Anneliese, she was a skilled musician. Monika also learned to farm when she came to live in America for a while after the Great War.
But Berlin took extra care of her most prized possession, which had been created by her own hands. A small space in America's garden held eight white roses that she had planted herself. The lamenting color of their pure white petals gave them a sacred aura that would make any passerby stop and stare at their beauty. Eight flowers that brought a silence to their side of the garden. Whenever someone ventured into their path, no one spoke above a whisper, the residents knowing the symbolism of these roses and what they meant to Monika. In front of the roses were eight small slates that each held a name.
Sophie
Hans
Christoph
Kurt
Falk
Alexander
Traute
Willi
Every day, she checked on them, cared for them. They were her greatest treasure.
Next to her, Warsaw was watering a patch of red poppies. Like Berlin, she wore gardening gloves and had her sleeves rolled up, exposing the evidence of the horrors each woman endured over seventy years ago. A-1587 and B-2756 stood out on the pale flesh of their bearers like ash on snow. They didn't mind exposing their arms to one another as long as no one else was around. They shared the same pain and were burdened by what they had witnessed. Both were comforted that there was another who understood.
Monika halted in her watering when she heard Georgia's voice call out to her. She turned to smile at the southern state but it was short lived at the sight of Italy and Germany. She could see Felka tense up in her peripheral vision. Both woman hastily pulled down their sleeves and straightened up.
"Hallo Martha, Gerald." She greeted, softly, giving each state a kiss on the cheek before turning to their guests. "Guten tag, Herr Deutchland, Signor Italia."
Germany couldn't help feeling a little hurt by how his capital, his sister, treated him as if he were a stranger but always smiled around Prussia. He had seen his brother sit with the Germanic capitals earlier at lunch and Berlin laughed at something he said, looking at Gilbert with the same love and admiration Germany had for him as a child.
"Hallo Monika," He greeted, trying to sound friendly without overdoing it to show that he meant no harm. "How are you?"
Before she could answer, Berlin found herself being tightly embraced by Italy.
"Ciao Berlin!" Feliciano exclaimed. "I didn't know you spoke Italian!"
"Italy! Get off of her!" Germany barked, forcefully removing the Italian off Berlin. Monika almost didn't hear Felka whimper at the sound of Ludwig yelling. North Carolina quickly escorted the Polish capital away from the group before the two nations took notice of her. As he lead her away, Gerald noticed Warsaw's hands trembling as she held the watering can. She was definitely not ready to speak to Germany face to face and North Carolina knew she would have a panic attack if Warsaw stayed back there any longer.
After Germany apologized to Berlin for Italy's behavior, he offered their help in tending to the garden to which the German capital consented.
"The rhododendrons still need to be watered if you would be so kind, Mr. Italy." Monika said, handing Feliciano a watering can. "As for you Herr Deutschland, could you tend to the daisies?"
"Ja." Germany put on a pair of gloves that his capital handed to him and went to a patch of white daisies right next to the most beautiful white roses he had ever seen. Their pure white petals in the sunlight gave them a radiant glow that instantly captivated Ludwig. As he admired the flowers, he then caught sight of the stone squares beneath the roses with marble letters engraved into them. He gave a sharp intake of breath upon reading the names on each stone as an indescribable feeling started to well up in his chest.
"You recognize them, don't you?"
Startled at her voice, Ludwig turned to see Monika had not looked up from her current task in removing the weeds that grew too close to the red carnations for her liking.
"The names, I mean." She continued.
"Ja...I do." He confirmed.
Berlin never ceased tearing up the weeds that invaded the garden as she spoke, never making eye contact. "I was a spy during the war. I worked alongside different groups of resistance fighters in our country, often acting as a messenger and sending information to Alfred."
Her eyes grew misty as she continued. "I worked with the WeißeRose when I was sent on a mission to Munich until 1943. Hans and Sophie were so kind and brave...they all resisted for my country...for me."
Germany almost didn't hear Berlin's whisper and watched as she pushed one of her braids behind her shoulder before setting to work again. He gazed back at the eight roses, watching them waver in sync as a soft breeze passed by.
Ludwig bowed his head, his eyes never leaving the names on the stones, and whispered softly enough to ensure that no one else would hear him before returning to his work.
"Danke."
…...
"Come on, where could I have dropped it?" Hungary muttered as she wandered through the halls of the fourth floor. Perhaps she had lost it during the tour? Or maybe outside?
Elizabeta's thoughts were cut off when she suddenly heard a beautiful tune reach her ears coming from a few doors down the hallway.
I'll be seeing you...In all the old familiar places...That this heart of mine embraces
Curious and intrigued by the song, Hungary found herself outside room 411. Where the other nations had discovered Prussia with his godchildren last night. The door was left slightly open and left her enough room to peek through the crack.
An old record player was located on a stand a few feet away from the piano and the lights were dimmed but Elizabeta could still make out everything in the room.
Dancing in a slow waltz around the room to the melody were Lithuania and Washington D.C. The eldest Baltic had a look of serenity that no one has ever seen him with before as he locked eyes with the American capital. One hand holding Emily's and the other was rested firmly upon her back as Toris lead her through the dance.
Elizabeta watched, mesmerized, as Lithuania slowly dipped DC before lifting her back up until they were once again cheek to cheek. She resisted the urge to sigh as watched Toris whisper something to Emily to which the American responded with a soft hum, a content smile gracing her lips.
This was completely unlike her photoshopped pictures. Not only was it romantic. They moved with such elegance, confidence, and charm that could only be seen if their feelings for one another were real.
How she wished that she hadn't lost her camera. It wasn't yaoi, but it was so beautiful.
"Excuse me."
Startled, Hungary whipped around to see California holding something in his hands.
"Sorry, Miss Hungary. I didn't mean to startle you." The state said, apologetically. "I found this in the pool outside and was wondering who it belonged to."
Nathan then showed Elizabeta the object in his hands and the Hungarian woman looked as if she might have an aneurysm. In California's hands, wet and ruined, was her camera.
"My...camera..." She could barely speak as she reached for it. On the outside, Nathan looked even more apologetic but, on the inside, he was laughing.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Hungary." He said, doing a very good job at feigning sympathy. "I tried to look at the film, you know, to give me a clue as to who owned this camera, but it was ruined."
He apologized again and Hungary, while shaking, assured him that it was okay.
"It's...alright." Elizabeta forced herself to say, all the while trying not to scream. "It's not...your fault...Thank you."
Nathan gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze as he walked away and smirked once he was out of Hungary's sight. He heard her open one of the doors and could briefly hear muffled screaming coming from the room. Probably into a pillow.
California chuckled. He was quite proud of his acting skills. After all, he didn't have Hollywood for nothing. Now that Prussia and Minnesota have been avenged, perhaps he could go finish making the video he started a few nights ago.
…...
At 6:00 pm, every nation that visited the Jones residence met their host outside for their ride back to the hotel they were originally staying at. America, Delaware, and New Jersey were standing in front of the bus before the nations, who paled when they spotted Alfred's son leaning against the bus doors.
Alfred suppressed a snicker. "Don't worry, Del's gonna be driving this time so you don't have to worry about losing your stomachs and I actually need New Jersey to stay here for something else."
"Damn." Ethan mumbled. "I was looking forward to that."
"Sorry I don't have your skills, Bro." Charity whispered before offering a fist bump to which her brother complied with a half-smile.
"I just hope Dad's not gonna make me stay behind for the reason I'm thinking of." He replied as America continued his final announcement to the nations. At the moment he was reminding them of the consequences if they went against the rules on the contract.
"Which-Oh." Delaware's eyes suddenly flashed with understanding. "Sorry, Jers. But He is keeping you behind for that reason."
New Jersey cursed under his breath. The two siblings watched as the nations filed onto the bus, some staying behind with the states or capitals they had bonded with during their stay. They saw Berlin place a blue cornflower into Germany's breast pocket and offered Italy a lily, resulting in the Italian trying to hug her but Germany tugged him back. Before he could complain, the German capital offered a handshake instead.
They saw Poland surrounded by women. New Jersey recalled seeing him earlier with London and again after lunch but they were both in the company of the Italian capitals. Now, Poland was with London, Rome, Naples, Bern, and Amsterdam. He gave each of them a slip of paper. Whatever was on it made London blush, Rome and Naples batted their eyelashes flirtatiously, Amsterdam smirked, and Bern winked at Feliks.
New Jersey smirked when he saw Massachusetts try to attack England, only to be restrained by their father. Nearby, some of the other states were saying goodbye to their godparents. A teary-eyed Illinois was embracing Lithuania who whispered reassurances that he would come back soon before kissing the top of her head. Ethan stifled a laugh when the two were suddenly hugged by both West Virginia and Colorado.
Russia lifted Alaska off his shoulders and placed him on the ground before patting the boy's head. "Be good for your Papa, da?"
Nanuq nodded and wrapped his small arms around his godfather's legs. Ivan knelt down to return the embrace. Ukraine watched the scene with a smiled on her face. She locked eyes with her brother when he looked up to meet her gaze.
Belarus pulled away from Michigan's embrace to stroke the brunette's cheek and give her one of her rare smiles. "Call me when you finish your next project, Chloe. I want to hear all about it."
"Of course, Ciotka Natalia." Michigan said, tenderly returning the smile. "You'll always be the first to know...unless someone decides to break into my garage again."
Chloe sent a glare in Ohio's direction as she said this and the other midwestern state returned the look. Natalia sighed but the smile didn't leave her face.
"Kesesesese. I'll contact you tomorrow, William." Prussia promised, ruffling Pennsylvania's hair.
"Okay. Bye, Onkel Gil."
"Until next time, my awesome godchildren!" Prussia called out to the states from the bus doors before Germany dragged him inside.
"Bye, Zio Lovino!" Connecticut called as Romano stepped onto the bus. "I'll miss you!"
"I'll see you soon, mia cara!" Romano called back while waving, a smile reserved only for his sisters and family in the Jones household. "We'll do whatever you want, va bene?"
"Aww, Lovi's so cute!" Spain squealed.
"Shut up, Tomato Bastard!"
Once everyone was on the bus, Alfred waved as Charity started it and called out as it pulled away while New Jersey ignored them, tossing a stone he found into the air before catching it again.
"See you guys at the next meeting!"
Once the bus was out of their view, America turned to New Jersey and handed him a paper with a list of names on it.
"Ethan, I know you're not going to like this but I need you to be in charge of arrangements this time for the next group we're going to show around the property." He said before squeezing his son's shoulder. "You did a good job today. I know how hard it is for you regarding them."
Ethan sighed. "Do I have to be the tour guide again?"
Alfred shook his head. "No, I'll get Penn to do it this time."
"Alright, thanks Pop."
"Anytime, Jers."
Alfred playfully ruffled Ethan's hair and he swatted his hand away with an equally playful glare. As America went back inside, New Jersey looked at the list. The list held the names of other countries that his father thought should also come see the Jones residence. Thankfully, the whole world didn't have to know. Nations like the Netherlands, Belgium, Romania, Moldova etc. don't sound like too much of a problem.
Once he finished going over the list, New Jersey went back inside to start writing letters so his father could get the sleep that he needed and not have to stay up until some ungodly hour.
AN: Well, I'm going to end it here and get started on the oneshot series and Ask piece as well as some other stories. Please don't forget to review! They give me inspiration!