A few days after the possum incident, the G-8 meeting took place in the same building. However, they were having trouble getting started as America was late.

"Were on earth is he?" England muttered as he glanced at his watch. "He was supposed to be here half an hour ago."

"Maybe he came across another possum and ran away in a moment of panic." Russia chuckled.

"I don't think that's the case." Canada said.

"We can't afford to wait for him any longer." Germany said. "This meeting needs to start."

Just then, Canada's phone rang. "Oh, it's America." Canada said as he answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me." America groggily said. "I don't think I can make it to the meeting today."

"Why, what's wrong?" Canada asked worriedly.

"Nothing too bad, I just have a fever. I think it's from all of those wild fires in California right now." America said with a short sigh. "Do you mind telling the others that I'm not going to be able to make it? I'll send an email to Germany with my notes for the meeting."

"Yeah, no problem." Canada said. "I'll stop by later today to check on you."

"Thanks, but for now I'm going to die up a corner." And with that, America hung up the phone.

"Well, what did he say?" Germany asked impatiently.

"He said that he has a fever, and that he can't make it. He'll email you the notes." Canada said as he put away his phone.

"Very well, let's start the meeting." Germany said with a sigh.

LINE BREAK

After the meeting, Canada drove over to the hotel America was staying at and walked up to his room. After knocking on the door, he heard a muffled voice saying, "Its open." Opening the door, he saw America snuggled up in the comforter with only his cow lick sticking out from under the covers.

"Al, you know you shouldn't be under a heavy blanket." Canada said with a small sigh as he attempted to remove the heavy comforter.

"Nooo, it's too cold without it." America said as he half heartily tried to tug the comforter back.

Tugging the covers off of his brother, he picked up the thermometer off of the bedside table and handed it to his brother.

"Have you taken anything for the fever yet?" Canada asked as he pulled out a bottle of Motrin out of his bag.

"I took some Motrin about six hours ago." America mumbled. For a minute, they sat in silence as the thermometer took America's temperature, then it beeped.

"It seems you still have a fever." Canada said with a frown as he took the thermometer from America. "Your temperature is 100 degree's." (37 degrees for you none American's.)

"I fucking hate forest fire season." America groaned as he flopped back on the bed.

"How many fires are they battling right now?" Canada asked as he opened up the Motrin bottle and took out two pills.

"Nine major fires at the moment." America grumbled as he took the pills from Canada.

"That's a lot." Canada said with a knowing look.

"Yeah, I know." America said with an unamused look. "Some idiots in Monterey County started an illegal campfire and started a wildfire that's lasted for about 51 days now. And that's just one of the fires."

"Why are there so many fires going on right now?" Canada asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"You know the major droughts that have been going on in California for the last year?" America asked with a glum expression. "Those droughts mixed with the already dry weather and hot winds are acting like flamethrowers."

"Yeah, well it's not like I haven't been dealing with a lot of forest fires this year as well." Canada said with a nod. "Some of them were so bad that the smoke from the fires made it all the way to Switzerland."

"I bet Switzerland was pissed off." America said with a chuckle.

"I didn't ask, as I was running for my life as my house was consumed by the fires." Canada said sadly.

"Hey, I do remember that you know. I let you stay at my house for a while." America said with a huff.

"Forest fires fucking suck." Canada said with a sigh as he got up. "I'm going to go back to my hotel. If you need anything just shoot me a text."

"Ice cream would be nice." America mumbled as he grabbed the comforter and snuggled back under it.

"Stop using that!" Canada said as he snatched it off America.

"You meany." America whined as the cold air rushed at him.

A/N: The forest fires going on in California are really bad right now. The worst part is that some of them were started by people who knew better than to start those illegal campfires. DID THOSE PEOPLE NEVER LISTEN TO SMOKY THE BEAR? Anyways, wildfire season is in full swing and I'm glad I don't live in California.