This takes place between my stories Another long night and The final meeting. And I only own my little ones.
America: Is this another songfic? Cause this one I don't mind popping in on.
Sure just don't get caught, that son of yours has quiet a temper.
Charlie sits down with two guitars and his cup of coffee, "Alright Alaska you ready to learn?" He says turning to the youngest state holding her small bear. "Come on over here."
"Kay…whose guitars are those?" She asks sitting her little brown friend on her father's favorite chair before joining her oldest brother on the couch.
One is worn from both age and use while the other slightly smaller is much newer with hints of white and purple swirling up the bridge, "This one's yours Honey."
"To keep!?"
"Yeah." The southern state smiles when Alaska lets out a squeal of delight, "Now what we're gonna do is the basics. Now you remember the song I taught you?"
She nods taking her guitar in her hands, "Amazing Grace right?"
"Yep." He says inching closer to the edge of the couch with his own guitar. He starts to tap his foot to set a beat, "Alright one, two, three." They both start to strum to the slow tempo of his boot.
America walks in the back door and sets his keys down just in time to hear a sweet song coming from his living room. He carefully inches his head in as Charlie starts to sing, "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, to save a wrench like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see."
The nation's heart melts when Alaska lets out a laugh, "That was pretty Charlie. Do you know any more?"
Charlie looks around before picking her up on his knee with his guitar, "Only if you play with me." He says taking her hand into his and hands her the pick, "Alright you ready?"
After thinking for a moment he starts strumming with her, "Mr. Sunrise in my hometown, rows of cotton 'bout knee high. Miss Baker down the dirt road still got clothes out on the line…"
America takes out his camera as both start to sing the chorus, "From Carolina, down to Georgia. Smell the Jasmine and Magnolia, sleepy sweet home, Alabama. Road tide Road, Muddy water, Mississippi, blessed Graceland whispers to me. Carry on; carry on sweet southern comfort carry on."
She smiles up at him, knowing it's just her and her big brother as they continue to play. She giggles as he nudges her with his nose she might not know the whole song but she follows along with the next chorus. And watches in awe at her big brother as he finishes, "Charlie will you show me all these places?"
He blinks slightly confused, "You mean you've never been to the southern states?"
She looks down not wanting to look him in the eye as she mutters, "They just say I'm just a territory so why…bother."
Quickly he puts his guitar down and wraps her in a hug, "That'll change, Honey and I'm gonna see to it myself." His heart breaks knowing that just weeks before he felt the same way what's worse is he knows he started it all those years before. So since he started it he's going to fix it, "Yah know what? Since we got time before the big meeting lets go see Tennessee and Kentucky right now."
"Okay!" She jumps up taking Moka by the paw, "Can Moka come too?"
"Of course she can. Now get your shoes on." He says as she races up the stairs. He turns and nearly jumps, "God Damn it Dad stop doing that! Uh…how long have you been home?"
America smiles, "Long enough. But if you're taking her on a little field trip take one of the Mustangs" He throws his son the keys before walking back in the kitchen, "Just don't get into any more arguments with your siblings and you can keep it."
The state's emerald eyes grow wide, "The blue one? Really?"
"Yeah, show her around." He says coming back in with his phone, "I mean it's about time she got to see the other states and one of these days you should go see hers."
"Sure Dad…you didn't um take any pictures did you?"
His father lets out a laugh, "What me? Now would this hero do something like that?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Charlie sighs, "Just promise not to tell anyone please?"
A knowing smile appears on America's face as Alaska races down the stairs, "Tell about what? Right my little heroine?"
"Right Daddy."