There's like no excuse for my tardiness (except college), but I found my original document for the last chapter and finished it. I hope it does justice and is the finale we have all been waiting for! Thank you so much for reading and being on this wild ride.

Finally the day arrived. The Nations' Ball was that evening and England was brushing up on a few dance steps with an illusion, sorry, with Tinker Bell.

"Of course, my dance partner is a lot bigger, but thank you so much, Tink."

The fairy nodded and smiled as she flew back to the garden, to retrieve England a periwinkle that matched the blue, purple and indigo hues of his suit. Butterflies flew in his stomach as he began thinking about what this evening had in store. Certainly it would be a treat, as nations all over come together for a night of truce and peace, just to talk as friends with no words of economy or politics. England was looking forward to seeing Hong Kong, as they had pleasant conversation despite their history, and tonight he hoped to dance with Seychelles, as long as France didn't get in the way.

But there was one major thing bugging him. America. The younger nation's behavior over the past few weeks have been very strange indeed, and tonight could be a crucial night. England's mind thought of the millions of way things could go between him and America, and they ended in embrassment and possibly, heartbreak. This could be the night that America confesses his deepest feelings for the island nation, feelings England didn't notice until 3 weeks or so prior. Sighing, England knew he couldn't miss the Ball, but he didn't want such a confrontation.

"Well, I guess I need to put my stealth skills to work. If America doesn't see me, he wont have anything to say to me."

Putting on his top hat, England walked to his limo and traveled to France.

The Ball was absolutely beautiful. In one of France's old palaces, the royal Cardeverse theme was set. Blue Spades and Green Clubs gave a calm and peaceful feel while the Red Hearts and Gold Diamonds gave life and vigor. The mood was perfect, to say the least. Those that weren't one of the royal suits dress in the kingdom colours they were assigned. England could see that the Nordics were of Spades due to their Marine-like outfits that may have been modeled from Sealand, who was dressed much differently than the rest and was later discorved to have been a Joker, along with Prussia.

With all the coutries talking with one another and being that there were so many, England felt comfortable to abandon his plan.

"Good evening, England!"

Despite being quieter than usual, England still reconized the voice to be none other than America's.

"Hello America. Fancy seeing you."

"Yeah, well I was thinking since we're the 'King' and 'Queen' of Spades, why not walk around together?" America always knew how to play with England's emotions and knew that he couldn't say no to "those adorable blue eyes".

"I would love to, but…," England avoided eye contact at all cost. Even now, England was putty in America's hands when those eyes came into play, "I'm really thirsty. I was so busy around the house, I forgot to eat or drink anything and I feel a bit dizzy."

"Oh well, you sit here and I'll get you something to eat and drink. You should really be careful with doing that."

"Yes yes," England nodded and watched as America disappeared from sight into the crowds. Then he got up and briskly walked in the other direction. Where he went, he didn't care. As long as he wasn't alone with America, England was cool as a cucumber.

As he ventured forward, England saw stairs which may prove to do nicely while watching out for America. Plus the view he received from the hall and outside were breathtaking.

"OI! IGGY!"

The perfect picture of peace and beauty were shattered as his older brothers called out to him.

Meanwhile…

For a tired old man, he sure moves fast.

America wasn't gone two minutes before finding England gone.

Not knowing where to look, America began to walk through the crowds for the missing island and a quiet place to talk to said nation.

England hated that his brothers found yet another nickname to bug their young brother with.

"Why don't you have an embrassing name for Sealand?"

"Well, we like teasing our youngest brother more," Wales roughly patted England's head, miracously avoiding the top hat.

"Im not the youngest anymore, he is."

"Well not really since he wasn't one of the originals," Scotland answrered.

"Plus he's a naval fort created by your folks," Northern Ireland added.

"So he's practically your son and our nephew," Ireland chimed.

England rolled his eyes. Even if he didn't acknowledge him as a country, he's still a brother.

"So what kingdom are you guys?"

"We are in the kingdom of Spades. What about you? I mean you're in blue, but you look better than us, for some reason," Wales eyed him suspiously.

"Wait, I rememeber talking to Canada and he told me who you were? Now what was it?" Northern Ireland pondered.

The four stood there, each doing a silly thinking pose. England began to walk away until they figured it out.

"You're the Queen of Spades!" the four laughed, "ALL HAIL THE QUEEN OF SPADES, ENGLAND!"

As America looked for England, he ate the snacks he had originally got for him and had about three glasses of punch. America searched all over the bottom floor of the palace and succeeded in finding a quiet place to talk to England. It was a small gazebo in the midst of roses, England's favorite, and far from everyone else, so they could really be in private.

America almost stopped looking for England and was about to ask France where he was until he heard a loud commotion from the top floor. It was England's brothers no doubt, but again, the elder nation had gone by the time America caught up.

"Oi, America!" Scotland waved to him.

"Hey, where did England go?"

"Oh, lost yer queen already?" Scotland laughed, pointing out America's king costume.

"Oh shut up," America didn't want to say why he was looking for England because that just wouldn't end well.

"He went downstairs but he looked to be in a hurry. You know how swift he can be when he wants to," Wales answered.

"Yeah, but I'll catch up with him," America hurried and got away from the brothers and returned to his search for England.

England was very happy that France didn't make it mandatory for the Kings and Queens to dance together during the ball. He had dodged America with great swiftness and nearly went the whole night without having to see him. Dancing to scan the room, he had the pleasure of dancing with Liechtenstein, Queen of Diamonds and Hungary, Queen of Clubs, but to his great distain, Seychelles was with France almost all night. He was relieved to find he was not the only male Queen as Japan was the queen of Hearts. They did not dance, but shared a conversation that made England re-think his avoidance plan.

"Ah, England, have you seen America?" Japan asked.

"Not for a while. To be honest, I've been avoiding him lately."

"Why? I thought you and America were on very good terms."

"We are, but America has been acting strange lately. He took me on a romantic dinner, Romeo and Juliet play and just hasn't been himself. I fear he's trying to court me."

Japan didn't know what to say as what England said made sense, but after a moment of silence, he gathered his thoughts.

"Well avoiding America isn't going to help. He's been asking me where you've been and if he is trying to court you, it's best to tackle this head on rather than break the friendship you two have spent centuries to repair."

England's stomach fluttered. He couldn't go back to that darkness, that loneliness of not having America around again, whether to annoy him or to care for him.

"Oh you're right, Japan. I need to find him."

America sat just outside the palace, in the rose gazebo. He held an empty glass of juice he had gotten for England, but he wasn't able to catch the alluding country. He'd see him, smiling and dancing about and just when the dance was over, he spin away, like the ghosts he love so much. America couldn't place why he felt so sad, but he felt a familiar pinch of sadness.

Standing up to England during the Revolutionary War was no easy feat. He was going up against his parent of sorts, the person that cared for him and looked out for him, even to the point of disillusion. America simply wanted to thank England and show his appreciation.

"America?"

A wispy voice startled America and he jumped up in alarm. It was England, cloaked in the matching blue of Spades, which eerily matched their emotion.

"Um, England. Hey."

England took off his top hat and played some with the fringe. America couldn't imagine why England was nervous.

"Hey England, what's-"

Before America could finish, England held up his hand.

"No America I think it's me that needs to go first. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been avoiding you like that, send you on a wild goose chase all night and acting very un-gentleman like. I just did not want to ruin the friendship that we worked so hard at re-building, but I've only pushed you away. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, but I just don't think I'd be a fitting romantic partner for you."

America blinked hard in surprise.

"Romantic partner?"

"Yes, isn't that what you were going toward?" England stopped messing with his hat and stared intensly at America.

"Well, no. You see I thought that since you were my mother and all that you would enjoy-"

"Your mother?!"

"Yes, aren't you? You cared for me and taught me almost everything I know and even after I went against you, you've come to my rescue countless times. You put up with my nonsense like no one else and you always say my movies suck, but you keep watching them, like how moms put their kid's drawings on the wall without knowing what it is. Aren't you like that?"

England began to laugh, softly at first but then louder and harder until he had to sit down on the bench behind him.

"All this time, I thought you were trying to court me, but you were just trying to treat me like a proper lady?"

"Yes," America thought about his actions and England's and laughed as well.

"Oh America. No, I'm not your mother, per se, but I do care for you an awful lot and I guess I do act quite motherly, do I?

America nodded. The laughter gave them a release like none other. The depressing blue lifting off them and sending them to blue starred sky.

"I feel kinda silly for all this now. I thought I was doing everything right. I followed my checklist and everything."

"America, there's nothing wrong with you being a gentleman, but can the other America come back sometimes. As much as I enjoy your tenderness, I miss your stubbornness."

"Yeah and I've been dying to make another joke about your eyebrows and weird obsession with fairies. Why do you have so many statues of them in your garden? It reminds me of this crazy lady who-"

America was cut off by England hitting him with his hat and the two went running out of the gazebo and back into the palace.

France and Canada laughed at seeing America and England chasing each other and although they did not hear the talk, the result answered all their questions.

"I guess things will be returning back to normal huh?" Canada asked.

"Ah, oui, but maybe they understand each other a bit more." France sighed.

As the night dwindled to a close, England looked for Seychelles one last time for a dance. He hadn't seen her and America seemed to have disappeared as well. But he doubted if he could dance one more time, as the adrenaline that had sustained him the whole night went away.

Making his way toward Japan, England bumped into America, who was speeding by.

"There you are! Look who I found," America said as he brought Seychelles into view.

"Hello Mr. England. I haven't seen you at all tonight!"

"Hello dear," England felt nervous again.

"I was just wondering if we could dance before the party was over," Seychelles said.

England wanted to say yes, but his energy level didn't allow it.

"How about you and America have the last dance? I'm quite spent, but you two are young and should enjoy tonight."

America was surprised, but the two went on and England was quite happier this way.

Soon the party was over and the countries went home. America followed England to his house as Canada said he was staying with France.

He had his own room, apart from the guest room, and soon he and England were dressed for bed, but the older country fell asleep on his favorite chair, which sat by a picture of young America dressed as a pirate, no doubt imitating England.

America looked at the older man and picked him up to take him to his room and as he did, he mind went back to England's assumption that America was looking for a romantic partner in England. While the though entered his mind one or twice and it wasn't strange for the countries to fall into relationships, he felt that it wasn't needed with him and England. The friendship they had was quite strong, weathering wars, arguments and almost complete opposite personalities. America felt that a romance would take something away, something he could only get from England as a friend.

He knew they had something more than a friendship or romance, but a "special relationship".

Once again Thank you! and I hope you check out my new story, Aces, and I'm working on another new fanfic that will appear shortly. Thank you again!