Just a couple of notes before I start:

This is a nationverse fic where both the regular nations and their Nyo counterparts coexist - human names will primarily be used as a result in order to keep any confusion from occurring when a nation and his/her Nyo are in the same scene (e.g., Scotland will be referred to as Alasdair and Nyo!Scotland will be referred to as Elaine).

I will try to keep my historically based content as accurate as possible, but this is primarily for fun and focusing more on character interaction and nation stuff rather than political or historical commentary. I also apologize for any inaccurate linguistics since I haven't properly learned French, Scots, or Scots Gaelic and am primarily using online dictionaries, some extremely rudimentary knowledge, and Google Translate for the non-English bits scattered throughout. Translations will be provided at the end of each chapter.

While I will try to keep a coherent plot, I'll admit it'll probably be a hodge-podge of shameless irrelevant fluff and historical flashbacks since I have no self-control. (I also apologize for my probably poor attempt at a written Scottish accent).

Chapter 1: Tale As Old As Time

726 years. That's how long some would say they'd been together. Others insisted it'd been broken off after a mere 265 years. But they knew better. That October day had only been the public consummation of a bond that had been forged centuries earlier. It hardly meant any less to them; on the contrary, they'd continue to celebrate and renew their vows on that day even when the rest of the world passed it by. They hardly cared if anyone knew the truth一it didn't diminish their very real love in the slightest.

Mere thoughts of the cold outside dissolved in the presence of the flames dancing in the fireplace. The two nations bundled up on the couch in a heavy quilt certainly couldn't be bothered to remember.

Francis sighed contentedly as he rested his head on Elaine's shoulder. The warmth of . . . everything was well on its way to lulling him to sleep. But he was startled into alertness when she pulled him closer with the arm hooked around his waist. Hearing him squeak involuntarily, the Scot loosened her hold, lips curling into a rueful smile before she bent down to kiss him on the forehead. "Didn't mean t'wake ye, darlin'."

"It's okay, I wasn't really asleep anyways..." As he looked up to meet her eyes, he couldn't help but smile at the expression on his wife's face. He knew that look一it was a rare occurrence, but when it happened, he treasured every second of it. The softness in her green eyes, the gentleness in her smile, the way she cradled his cheek in her hand… He was one of the few witnesses to Elaine's milder sensibilities, but the way her more rough exterior just... melted in these moments made his own heart dissolve in his chest. "What's on your mind, ma moitié?" He tilted his head into her hand.

"Oh, ye know... just rememberin' stuff." She chuckled. "No matter how old ye were, ye'd always be turnin' heads where'er ye went." Not that she found her husband anything less than the most captivating sight in any room. Her tender gaze remained anchored to Francis's face, savoring that quiet smile, those gorgeous lavender blue eyes deeper than any loch. . .

A soft laugh, followed by his arms wrapping around her neck, was his reply. "And yet you were the only one turning mine, amour."

This chuckle had a rueful edge to it. "Oh come now, I'm sure there were prettier lassies than me tha' caught yer eye一I was ne'er much of a princess an' ye ken it."

"Non. . . you were always my queen." He placed a gentle kiss on her jawline. "Ma reine et mon chevalier一I could hardly forget what you told me the day you gave me this." The fire cast a warm glow on the golden band circling the ring finger on his raised hand.

Elaine didn't waste the opportunity to catch his hand and lift it to her lips. "And I couldnae forget yer words t'me when ye accepted it, mo phrionnsa."

"You say that as if there was any possibility of me turning you down." Francis's cheeks warmed as she peppered his hand with kisses. "You'll never believe me when I say it was always and only you, will you?"

"Tha's not how it's s'posed t'work in these stories, Fran." The Scot dropped his hand only to once more draw him close, running her fingers through his silky blond locks. "I'm s'posed t'pine fer ye 'til ye abandon yer fair noble maiden fer li'l ol' me."

"I don't know what books you've been reading, but that's hardly our story, mon amour." He rested his head on her collarbone. His eyes slipped shut; his breathing slowly and steadily matched the rise and fall of his wife's chest. "Ours is a more beautiful and mysterious tale. After all, we're more than the simple heroes and heroines of Perrault, non?"

Elaine's thick brows dipped pensively. As the embers in the fireplace slowly flickered away and Francis fell asleep, she bundled him up in the quilt before carrying him to their bedroom. Once he was safely tucked under the covers, she slid in beside him. He almost instantaneously shifted in his sleep to curl around her, head resting right under her chin.

Wrapping her arms around him, Elaine pondered Francis's words. While she didn't doubt his love for her, she'd always been uncertain that he'd never loved anyone else. He called himself "the nation of love", surely he would have had more darlings and sweethearts to his name, wouldn't he? And yet...

Her fingers trailed absently through his hair. An almost unwilling smile crept across her face as he nuzzled her collarbone with a drowsy purring noise. "Silly kitten..." She chuckled softly. "I dinnae ken how ye fell fer me but I'm still fallin' fer you every day..." After dropping another kiss to his forehead, she felt herself finally dozing off. She'd have to ask him about it in the morning, but for now, she was content to fall asleep with him safely in her arms.

Translations (French/Scots/Scots Gaelic):

ma moitié - my other half
loch - lake
amour - love
non - no
ma reine et mon chevalier - my queen and my knight
mo phrionnsa - my prince
mon amour - my love

Characters
France - Francois "Francis" Lebeau (McCallister-Lebeau)
Nyo!Scotland - Elaine McCallister-Kirkland (McCallister-Lebeau)

Hope you enjoyed, see you in the next chapter.