Cecilia - Six months old
Wilhelm - Five months old
Aaliyah - Five months old
Réka - Eight months

"Alfred? Darling, you look exhausted! Why aren't you in bed?" America looked up in surprise when he heard England in the doorway of the living room. They'd decided to stay the night at Canada's, as after dinner it was too late to drive, both England and America sleepy and so they chose to stay. Liam was sleeping with Austynn and Jolene was with them, not that there was anything wrong with it as she was only four and it was purely innocent.

But England had woken up when he realized that America wasn't in bed. He flicked the light on making America squint and England walked over sitting next to him. "I'm fine, Iggy. I just can't sleep is all." America replied closing his eyes when England cupped his cheeks, leaning into the right hand, his hair lightly brushing his cheek when he did so.

"You need to sleep, darling! You have such dark bags under your eyes and your eyes, speaking of, are blood shot!" England softly scolded as not to be too loud and wake everyone up but his concern was heavy enough without shouting anyhow. The engagement ring on England's left hand winked at America from the corner of his eye and he turned his face into his left hand, feeling the cool band pressing his cheek. "Love, you feel hot."

"I'm fine, Iggy. I promise." America stated again forcing his eyes open to look into England's wide, concerned emerald eyes and thick brows pulled tight together as he stared at his fiancee. He then lifted his own hand taking England's left hand and pressed a kiss to his ring finger. "I wouldn't lie to you."

"Then why aren't you sleeping? I've noticed you're barely sleeping, not since I confronted you about your boss and we talked about not having a baby for a while. I've heard everything's a mess, darling, same with me. Bombings galore last I checked in." England's eyes became tight with concern and he lightly squeezed America's cheek with his right hand and his eyes sought out America's tired ones. "Talk to me, love. What's wrong?"

"Things...aren't good. There's tension between me and North Korea." He started when England tsked and he rolled his eyes playfully. "North Korea and I."

"Thank God I didn't need to correct that bad grammar.. But I heard about that North Korea situation. I'm sure you'll get it resolved, love, after all you are America personified! I'm sure you can do something!" England sounded like he was trying to desperately get America to agree to that when he gave a little smile. "After all, you're still the nation that claimed his independence at age sixteen. Aren't you? You're going to figure this out, love."

"I hope so. God, I do. I don't want the kids growing up with wars raging, not like when everyone was little. The kids, everyone's kids, don't need that. I'm trying to get along with Russia but it's hard with our bosses." America mumbled when he had anxiety forming in his face and England had never seen this anxious, almost depressed America and it made him genuinely frightened.

So he did the only thing he could. He got up, walked across the living room and shut the light off with only the TV's light providing light before he too shut it off when he realized it was the news and tsked. He then sat back down, curled his arms around America's shoulders and threw himself back yanking America with him, laying out beneath him and pulling him down, hugging his head to his chest. Like a little kid with his stuffed animal and he stroked his soft, caramel blonde locks of hair. "It'll be alright, love. No one wants to fight. Forget about that for now, right now there's only you and I, that's it."

America's eyes widened when his glasses were slipped off and placed on the coffee table. He felt a heavy weight of sudden tears when he took in the warmth, the slim form of England's under his. He closed his eyes tight against the torrent of tears waiting and he swallowed thickly. "Arthur-"

"Shhh. It's alright, Alfred. If you need to cry then do it, there's no one but you and I awake now. I want you to get it all out, right now, and go to sleep. I'm right here, love, nothing bad will happen when I'm with you. I won't let it." England murmured like he was soothing Liam or Jolene to sleep after a nightmare and America slid his arms around England, finally, slowly and squeezed him tight.

"I'm not crying." America got out in a thick voice that broke and England's eyes widened before closing with a soft smile, one that seemed to show like he'd given in to something. He moved his fingers through America's soft, caramel locks of hair and did it in a rhythm like stroking a cat.

"You're not crying, love. It's just warmth." England stated as he hugged America tighter and moved his fingers through his hair at the drops of warm liquid hitting his chest that started slow.

Those warm droplets came faster in a matter of seconds and America shook like a frightened child and England held him tighter, squeezed him, and gripped his shirt tightly as the silence shrieked with the soft undertones of quiet sobs slipping out of America. England's eyes had opened halfway and he didn't remember opening them when he shut them rubbing America's back softly when he felt something hot streak down his temple and pool in his ear.

He ignored it and held America just tighter, tighter, tighter until he felt like he wanted to crush America into his body and it felt that the emotion was reciprocated when he was hugged so tight he nearly couldn't breath but it was the warmest, happiest hug he'd ever been apart of. And even if he cried silently, America sobbing quietly, he could only hold onto his fiancee tight and hope that morning brought the assurance he needed that everything would be better.

England woke up the next morning with America's full weight on him, his face sticky with dry tears and his shirt lightly damp from those tears or drool. America was sleeping hard, harder than England saw him ever sleep, when he managed to wiggle out from under him and covered him up with the blanket he was supposed to use and stroked his locks of hair from his face and walked into the kitchen for some tea when he jerked seeing France and felt an irritation creep when those tired blues met his.

"Good morning, Angleterre." France greeted tiredly when he sipped his coffee and sat at the table with a newspaper, his blue eyes scanning and England noticed a hickey on his neck and his hair was tied back giving it a neon sign. Eyes to be drawn straight to the mark.

"Morning." He replied rather stiff when he found the tea Canada left out for him specifically and grabbed a mug, filled it with hot water from the coffee pot. He found it convenient one side was for coffee, the other for boiling water, and made his tea. He poured some milk and sugar in it. He then stared out the window at the sun rising over the snow that had fallen last night.

"I 'eard you last night." France finally broke the silence and England whirled on him with eyes narrowing. "I only 'eard because Mathieu was worried about 'is brother, that is all. I told 'im I'd go down and make sure Amérique was sleeping or doing something of the sort but you 'ad beaten me to it."

"Because he's my fiancee." England got out in a tense voice when he wavered between the living room and sitting across from France. He sighed when blue eyes narrowed on him and he sat across from France, sipping his tea.

"Can we speak 'onestly to one another, Britain?" France asked looking at England who put his mug down gently with a soft thunk and nodded softly. France took a deep breath and spoke."This is pointless, this aggression between one another. It's a stupid, petty thing doing this so long. I am 'appy with Mathieu and you are 'appy with Amérique, non? So why constantly be at each other's throats?"

England was truly taken aback by France's words and took a gulp of his tea, as if to stall, before he spoke. "Even if we are happy with our respective significant other's, I don't know if I can get along with you. I can be civil, if that's what you mean, but liking you? I don't think it can go that far."

"It is all I ask. I don't want our children, who are cousins, to grow around animosity. And if you agree we try to be civil that'd put less stress on Mathieu." France replied sipping his coffee, turning the page in his news paper and then looked up at England, emerald greens meeting soft blues.

"I can be civil. But when they grow up?" England finally replied blinking slowly, looking at France who grinned, resting his chin on his hand and leaned forward. England smirked himself as he leaned back in his chair, legs crossing.

"All civility is over, when they are older. We can go back to our old bickering~" France grinned happily like he couldn't believe his proposition worked and yet, the both of them grinning and smirking, it was like they couldn't wait for the children to grow up. England looked up, sipping his tea, when he heard America shifting and groaning in the living room.

"Good morning, love~" England happily greeted when his fiancee walked in the room, his face pale and tired but there was no sign of the crying last night and America smiled. He seemed genuinely okay, now, but England could see past it.

"Good morning, baby. Where's the kids?" He asked softly walking over behind England's chair, his glasses sliding down a bit as his caramel blonde locks stuck up with his Nantucket cutely. He looked like a much younger, sleepier version of himself. He rested his hands on England's shoulders and the English man looked up only to have a kiss pressed to his forehead and he blushed but smiled happily.

"They're still sleeping. We can go home when they wake up, if you want to do that rather than waiting for the energy to build up and we're trapped on a hellish drive home." England replied when he felt America peck the top of his head and he smiled again before he could help himself and America tore himself away to get some coffee.

"Why don't we just hang out here for a while? We barely come to see Mattie, seeing as we practically live in your place, Iggy." America smiled then when England shook his head and America finally looked at France and smiled brightly. For some reason, even when he was younger, he'd found something strangely appealing about France even if England always hated him. "Good morning, France!"

"Bonjour, Amérique!" France replied smiling just as bright as America. "'ow did you sleep? Mathieu and I apologize for you being stuck on the couch. Both of you. But the guest room was, well, converted into Henri and Poppy's room."

"It's alright, dude!" America waved off the apology then held a fist out and France smirked bumping his knuckles against the American's. "Besides, if anything, we appreciate you two holing up with us and the kids!"

"It was our pleasure~ Mathieu absolutely loves and adores Liam, Jolene and Alex. Nothing gives 'im more 'appiness than seeing 'is nephews and niece~" France then looked up his blue eyes locking on something behind England and he stood up, his brows coming together. "Mathieu? What is wrong?"

America looked up at his brother, his violet eyes troubled and brows pulled tight together. "I need to talk to you, Francis. Privately."

"Alright." France nodded, pushing his chair in to the table and he walked around the table to meet Canada in the doorway. "Do 'elp yourself to making breakfast or something. We'll be right back down."

"Take your time!" England replied grinning like he was happy to be rid of France but his concern simmered for Canada, wondering what was wrong. America then slid in across from England and rubbed his fingers around the rim of his mug as he looked at England.

"So, um, about last night." America started with a little blush in his cheeks, the coloring barely there but enough that England could spot it. He cleared his throat and England stood up walking around the table, much like France had done, and he actually plopped himself down on America's lap.

Sitting on his left leg sent a faint wave tingle of excitement that ran through him but chose to ignore it. He looked at America's surprised eyes, the blue nearly electric in his surprise, that England would walk over and climb in his lap willingly. "It's alright, love. You don't need to talk about it, hell if it makes you feel better, it never happened. Okay? Don't embarrass yourself by talking about it if you don't want too."

"No, it's okay." America jumped in then before England could continue talking and he stared up into those warm green eyes that sent warm pulses through him. He loved England's eyes so much, he was glad Alexander got England's iris color. "I just wanted to say thank you. For letting me."

"You're welcome, love. You know even if you come to me like that I won't ask questions. After all, we'll be getting married soon enough! I know there will be moments when you get like that, especially with stress and economical issues weighing you down." England replied softly when he leaned in and pressed his forehead against America's, lashes fluttering and his eyes shut when he nuzzled him. "I love you, Alfred. No one but you and it makes me feel, weird as it is, special that last night happened. It's better than any special moment or lovemaking we could have ever done in our lives. I love you can come to me, love."

"It's because I trust you." America mumbled softly with a blush in his cheeks when he pulled back, smiling nervously but trying ot be cocky. A look England had caught on Liam or Jolene's face one to many times. "Doesn't this feel like some weird romance movie plot? Or story line?"

England blinked then laughed before he could stop it and slid his arms around American's neck and hugged him tight, laughing as he rested his head on his shoulder. "You're right! It does feel kinda cheesy, love!"

America soon laughed with him and moved his arms around England's waist, hugging him tightly to him and started to join in with the laughter. It was much better than sobbing and America squeezed England tighter as he laughed. "God, I seriously love you and you're demented sense of humor!"

"How is it demented when it's true?" England questioned in between bouts of laughter as he pressed a kiss on his cheek and smiled happily at his fiancee. It felt strangely good, incredibly good, to think of America as his fiancee.

He found his lips being captured and put to work, which made him smile slightly when he kissed America back with a breath sliding out of his nose as he closed his eyes. He couldn't say how many minutes the kissing went on for but it was enough to make his toes curl and that familiar heat to wriggle low in his stomach and he was grateful America pulled away when there was steps crossing the floor above them and America buried his face in England's neck, closing his eyes.

"I love you so much." America mumbled making England blush with a force and heat he didn't know was possible and smiled moving his fingers over America's soft, caramel blonde locks of hair. He enjoyed the warm breath on his neck and smiled as he pressed his lips to the top of America's head, the action he'd done before a million times when the Nation was small and a million times that America did a day.

"I love you too. More than anything on this planet."