Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

The meeting room silenced when Alfred opened the door. The nobles and advisors became quiet and quickly stood while Alice and Alfred found their seats, across from each other on the sides of their parents.

Alice's father and mother were already there while Alfred's still hadn't arrived yet. The meeting didn't start for a few more minutes so they still had time, although Alice doubted the meeting would start without them.

It had been a wonderful two weeks. She had been finally released from the hospital hall and allowed to go back to her own room, warned to take it easy. She had been left out most meetings to avoid stressing her recovery and Alfred had been her company when he wasn't required to attend them either.

When he wasn't available, Alice spent time with Madeline, happily sharing stories of Alfred. The afternoons and the classes and the month she had missed. Alice was quite fond of the younger princess, when she finally got her out of her shell.

Today though, was a meeting everyone had to attend.

It had been nearly two months since the attack on the Britannian castle. The memories still lingered though. Despite the new paint on the walls covering scrubbed blood stains to the chips in the tables from bullets and the memorial they held, honoring all those who had died to keep her family alive, the memories were still there. There were blank halls where paintings and busts had been destroyed by the battle. There were the guards who weren't as lucky, those who were still stuck in beds or graves.

There were the nights when Alice jerked awake to the echos of gunshots and screams and the sweet smell of death lingered in her bedroom, she could swear she was going to die this time. They wouldn't be so lucky this time. Sometimes she would sneak out of her room and down a staircase to where Alfred slept and she would ask him to stay. He'd always say yes because it had been hell and he had done it twice. Then he would just hold her for a while until the castle silenced and the blood stopped and the smell finally went away.

It had been a month and a half since Americana got their prince back. There were several videos of the monumental moment, when the king and queen had arrived in a ruined castle and found their son alive. They had all been crying, holding on to each other before something else could rip them apart again. There were pictures of Madeline finally meeting her brother and them adopting little nicknames and laughing through the tears. There were photos of the celebration that erupted in Americana after the news had reached them. Their prince was alive.

The door opened again, the Americanan queen and king finally arriving. "Sorry we held you up, there was a call with the minister we couldn't get out of." The queen said as they sat beside Alfred. They said a few things quietly together as the rest of the attendees sat, preparing to start the meeting. He looked remarkably like his parents, Alice scolded herself for not noticing it before.

Quickly the Americana king stood again as everyone was seated. "My family and I would like to thank you again for allowing us to stay with you for so long," He glanced at Alfred and smiled,"among other things that we can never repay you for. Though, it's coming time for us to return home. We still intend to provide whatever help we can, but it will have to be from our own country."

Alice met Alfred's gaze and he looked bittersweet. Of course, he wanted to be able to finally go home. He would be able to see a place that he only knew now in memories, along with meet the rest of his extended family and friends and see his own country and people that he was destined to rule, but that required leaving Britannia. It meant they'd truly part for the first time.

"We're already planning a party, for Alfred's next birthday, which you are of course invited to. I'm making plans to leave by next Tuesday, thank you for letting us stay with you for this long." The king returned to his seat.

"We also intend on publicly announcing your engagement at the party." Alfred's mother added. The prince must have known already because he glanced at Alice for her reaction. "Well, announcing it again."

"I'd like to bring that up, actually, Your Majesty." A noble suddenly said, catching the attention of both royal families, although he had only been referring to the Britannians.

Alice's mother raised an eyebrow. "Speak."

The man looked awfully nervous, glancing between the families. "Well, now that the panic of the recent attack has subsided, I think, perhaps, we should rethink the arraignment between Princess Alice and Prince Alfred." There were a few whispers among the other nobles and Alice immediately looked at Alfred. He looked worried.

"Why would we?" The Britannia king asked. Alice glanced at her parents, they didn't seem to be entertaining the idea, but they still could, couldn't they? The princess had thought everything was perfect now, but what if it all fell through at the last minute?

"Well-" The man hesitated, finally catching Alice's eye. If looks could kill, he would've already been on the floor, but the princess knew her place. Let the adults talk now and she would get her word in later. "It's just, he had been gone for nearly twelve years now! No offense to you, Your Highness, but you don't know anything about ruling a country. Do we really want to put the future of Britannia with a king who does not know what he's doing."

Alfred looked pale, because he was right. Alfred didn't know the first thing about ruling a country. He hadn't even been in Americana since he was a child. His parents, on the other hand, looked furious.

To hell with her place. Alice stood up, her head felt dizzy from the sudden movement but she ignore the feeling. "Your opinion is taken into account, but I'll have you know it's stupid and factless." The room gasped.

"Alice! Sit down." Her mother hissed, but Alice ignored her.

"I know Alfred better then most of you, and I have absolutely no doubts that he will do more than fulfill his duties as the crown prince and future king of Americana. He has excellent strategic skills and excels at mathematics and sciences, not to mention great sword fighting and combat skills from his time as a guard. Also, about the 'future of Britannia', he's only studied Britiannian history and politics since he was thirteen, being close to me and attending classes with me. So you can ask him anything you would ask me and I don't think he would have any trouble answering it. Sure, he has plenty to learn, but as do I and you don't seem to be worried about my abilities to rule. We aren't taking the throne tomorrow, and even if we were, I don't think we'd have any trouble. So unless you have any other concerns about his, or my, abilities to rule, I think we're done." The man looked mortified as Alice smirked and sat down again. The rest of the room looked shocked, Alfred relived and her mother hiding her face in her hands.

Her father looked about to laugh but cleared his throat and recovered. "Well, anyone have anything else to say about their engagement?" They were silence and Alice smiled. "Then lets continue."