AN: This will be the final chapter of this oneshot trilogy. I will begin work on a longer multiple chapter story to follow these and further tie them together. Right now the title is potentially Remembrance however it is subject to change. Like these oneshots it will focus around AmeBel, possibly with other pairings making an appearance.

He never came home. Normally this wasn't something that would concern her. She would admit to being clingy and wanting to know exactly where Alfred was at every moment, but she had come to understand that wasn't always possible. But as his wife, she was supposed be concerned with his whereabouts. As Natalya, she took it a bit far at times, but Alfred never minded.

This wasn't the first time he'd been late, especially recently with tensions between his nation and those abroad. He would get caught up in meetings and show up after nightfall with flowers and a million apologies only to be met with a well-thrown knife flying into the doorframe. But he had always come home before, no matter how angry he knew his wife would be when he showed up too late for dinner. He never failed to come home to her and reassure her that she would never be alone.

But she suspected he knew from the beginning this time away would go terribly wrong.

He squeezed her hand as his flight was called overhead. "I gotta go, doll."

Natalya nodded, her eyes avoiding his face as he turned towards her. A hand reached down to cup her chin.

"Nat?"

"You're leaving me."

"I'm not leaving you. It's just a work trip."

"Into a warzone."

Alfred rolled his eyes. "So?"

"You won't let me go with you."

"It's dangerous and you're…"

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "I'm what?"

Alfred quickly backtracked. "It's just for a meeting with my boss. It's nothing that you need to worry about. It'll only take a few days. I'll be back before you know it!"

Before he could finish, Natalya moved forward, bunching his shirt in her hands as she clung to him. Alfred's arms immediately wrapped around her.

"Why are you so worried? I'll be back in a couple weeks. Just checking in with military officials. Normal work stuff. The only problem I'll run into is your brother's scheduled to be around the area too."

A small hand slapped his arm.

Alfred laughed. "What was that for?"

"Stop insulting my brother."

"Hey, I haven't started any fights during meetings lately!"

"You almost did at the G20 Summit."

"He almost killed me! You should have waited until after the meeting to tell him about things!"

"You don't have to be so dramatic, idiot."

"When have I ever been dramatic?" he asked with a smirk.

Now it was Natalya's turn to roll her eyes. She leaned against him, hands still clenching his shirt.

"When will you be back?"

"I told you, Nat. It's gonna depend, but I'll be back by the end of the month."

"You promise?"

America leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I promise, doll."

Natalya's grip tightened before she slowly pulled away. "You're going to miss your flight."

Al glanced at his watch. "I got a few minutes still."

"Alfred, you're going to miss your flight."

"They'll wait." He slipped his arms around her waist. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Tak."

"If you need anything and can't get a hold of me, call Mattie. Or Arthur. I told them to keep an eye on you in case I couldn't get home soon enough."

"Why would I not be able to get in contact with you?"

Alfred shrugged, avoiding her gaze. "You know how things are. I'll call you as soon as I can, doll."

"As soon as you land."

"Of course."

"And when you get to wherever you're staying."

"Yep."

"And before and after your meetings. And when you wake up and before you go to bed-"

"I'll call you as much as possible, Nat." Alfred chuckled and grabbed her hands. "Don't worry. Your appointment's in two weeks, right? I'll be back long before that."

Natalya looked away. "Promise? You won't get yourself hurt playing hero again?"

"It was one time and I am the hero!" He gave her hands a squeeze. "I promise. I'll see you in a few days."

Natalya nodded as the final call to board rang overhead. Before she could respond to Alfred's words he pulled her into one last kiss. Her arms wound around his neck and he held her close for a moment before moving away. He kissed her forehead and his hand slipped briefly to rest on her stomach before he stepped back.

"I'll be home soon."

Natalya stood watching long after he was gone, staring absentmindedly at the busy terminal until the plane was long gone.

Six months had come and gone.

For the first week they had spoken at least once a day. Alfred lived up to his promise. Natalya ignored the strain in his voice when she asked if he was truly away from the conflict. She ignored the uncharacteristic weariness in his voice, or how he always repeated his declarations of love more often than necessary.

After the second week, he stopped contacting her.

There had been little warning to this, just her husband hinting that he was going into an area where phone calls were difficult and internet was nonexistent. He said he would call her the next day when he boarded the plane to come back to her. He had lied.

Other nations had visited.

Matthew had come on his way to meet up with his own boss in the same nation as Alfred. He'd stayed the weekend before leaving her alone again.

Katyusha had stayed the longest, arriving just a few weeks after Alfred had left and staying until the past week when her boss had insisted that she return.

Lithuania had shown up for a few hours, just checking in before he left as well.

Ivan had called, but important matters had kept him away from visiting his little sister. Katyusha had let it slip that he had yet to return from the Middle East.

Hungary had come a few months in, helping Natalya more than the latter expected to need, and being the only one able to get through to her that she shouldn't doubt Alfred of all people.

And most recently, Arthur had traveled to see her. He'd stayed long enough for the first sip of a cup of tea, the remainder of which sat beside the letter he'd brought which lied opened on the coffee table. He would have stayed longer.

But Alfred wasn't coming home.

Cries called her attention and broke the trance she'd fallen into. As she rushed upstairs the letter sitting on the table fluttered to the ground.

Dear Mr. Kirkland,

The United States Secretary of War regrets to inform you that your brother Alfred F. Jones has been declared missing in action. Further details will be forwarded to you as they become available.