Ok, so this is a really short chapter compared to what I usually do. This is a continuation of the first part of chapter three that was originally going to be part of chapter four, but has earned itself its own private niche. I want you to pay attention to what's going on, and I feel like it would be too squished if this and what I had planned were joined together. So this is chapter 3.5. I will probably upload as close as I can to ch.4 so that you don't totally hate me.


Berlin, Germany

November 18, 1995

"What the hell are you talking about America?" Arthur voiced what everyone else had been thinking, "Are you off your rocker?"

"Uh, excuse me Arthur-san, but Alfred, America, Jones…eh…"

"You can go by human or nation name, Kiku. We aren't being watched."

"Thank you Brigit-san. Well, he has a valid point…"

"Yes, well it sounds simply like a foolish conspiracy theory to me," the Austrian sniffed haughtily.

"Um… hello? Dude, I did warn you! Didn't I, Tony?"

"..."

The other conference members stared at Tony for a long moment before it would be safer not to ask. It came upon Germany to drag them back on task.

"Eh… vell can jou explain your point zen?"

"Kay! So, if you think about it: we're weird."

"Says the one who uses a chainsaw to cut steak, aru."

'Nahahahahaha! I meant biologically you chink."

"Excuse me aru!"

"Any-who-way," his face suddenly turned serious "People can't understand us. That's why, since the nineteen fifties, we've adopted human names and only reveal our national identities to very few people. Bosses, employees of the government and… scientists. Like I said; they can't understand us, and people are afraid of what they can't understand. It's that fear of unfamiliar things that causes people to go to war against other cultures."

He paused for a moment so that they could admire his "deepness" then continued.

"Those who know about us want to know how we've stayed alive so long. They want to figure us out. See what makes us tick. I feel nervous whenever I'm around Chemists and some biologists… I don't know if I'm the only one…," the nods around the table reassured him. "They want to examine us; feds, scientists, anybody who knows about the existence of country personifications. But they can't. Dissecting a Nation could put an entire country in jeopardy. Sure, they can't kill us on their own; only a nation can kill a nation. But taking us apart is still risky. Basically, they need us all in one piece. Our kids, on the other hand, are human. They have country blood and serve as the next best thing to examining an actual nation. If they die or are "mysteriously murdered" then…. What?"

Alfred F Jones, the human personification of America, had never been known for his ability to "read the mood." He'd failed to notice the other countries going paler with each sentence of his speech. Only the violent head shaking and "shut up" signs sent to him by France and Germany's brother finally managed to catch his attention.

England, also known as Arthur Kirkland, was the palest of the lot. In fact: his face bore a bit of a greenish tinge and he looked quite sick. He gripped the sides of his chair so tightly that the knuckles showed white under his skin. Arthur's mouth was gaping open in horror and it took a few moments before he was able to croak out a few words.

"They…they told me… too gruesome…her body…I never saw it… said it had to be a closed coffin…oh my… oh my God Leslie! Leslie! What have I done!"

His body shook and, in a rare display of warmth, his neighbor handed him her handkerchief and gave his hand a squeeze. Alfred realized his mistake and blanched.

"Oh. Uh well… maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they really did just want to protect you from seeing her body and actually just stuck her in the ground. Maybe they don't want to take apart nation-lings to see how they tick. Maybe-"

"America. SHUT UP!"

It was an almost unanimous shout from the rest of the nations. Alfred's face flushed and he sat down in a (very) rare display of obedience, laughing nervously.

Germany coughed and picked up the meeting. "Jes vell, now that we've heard that… theory, we must come to a decision. No matter how, or why, the proof that our children are being put in danger is very, very clear.

"Yeah, so what are we gonna do about it West? Tell us the answer oh wise one! Kesesese!"

Gilbert's attempt to lighten the mood went unnoticed and his brother answered bluntly, "We stop seeing them."

"What!"

"You stupid potato jerk! What are we going to-a do, leave them to their mothers? My child was-a just born, are you saying I can't-a have contact with him at all?"

The outburst from the older Italian caught everyone off guard. His brother had been oddly quiet the entire time, even though he technically didn't need to be there. The younger had supposedly come to give his best friends and big brother moral support.

"Vell, put frankly, jes."

"What the f-!"

"Lovino!" The two female countries, Hungary and Ireland, glared in his direction "There are children in the room. No F-bombing Germany until little ears aren't around." The ginger scolded.

"So what would be the exact terms of you proposition, Jer-many?" The Frenchman asked.

"Well-"

"I've got it right here!" America fumbled in his Superman briefcase for the papers and slid them across the table to the conference leader. "We worked on them before the meeting: Matt Luddy and I, I mean."

This serious and humble Alfred was giving the rest of the conference the creeps. Then again, it was an improvement.

America's face brightened suddenly and he laughed "But of course I came up with all the best ideas! I AM the hero, after all. Nahahahaha!"

*Sigh* So much for that.

"Well let's hear it then, West!"

"Ja," The German cleared his throat and began.

For the safety and protection of the health and happiness of our children we, the nations of the world, agree to the following:

1. To refrain from having sexual relationships with human women.

Two hands shot up immedialy.

"Yes, Francis?"

"So this applies only for relationships with women, no? ohonohonhon…"

"Oh, right, thank you for pointing that out France.

1. To refrain from having sexual relationships with humans in general.

Francis looked crestfallen as Ludwig continued.

2. To refrain from having or adopting human children.

3. To keep our National identities secret from all humans and to strictly keep to the selected human names we have chosen, when in public.

"Don't we already do that?"

4. To protect our already existing children by giving them to the care of their mothers (fathers in the case of a female country) or close relatives to keep the government from isolating and using them.

"You watch too many sci-fi movies, Amerigue."

"Don't you mean MAKE too many Sci-fi movies?"

"Hey! It could happen!"

5. And most importantly, to cut off connections with our children so that they may grow without knowing our identities and stay free of being made targets of national blame or being tracked down and hunted for scientific purposes.

The last part of the proposition was met with indignation and loud comments from the rest of the assembled nations. Ludwig banged the table to get everyone to shut up, and after a few hits, it worked. He sighed and spoke to his colleagues in a defeated tone.

"I don't like this decision any more than the rest of you, but it IS necessary. If you've noticed the trend, those children who didn't know their parents, such as Rosaline, survived and were able to escape. Those whom we raised… did not."

The irritated mumbles through the conference were soft and defeated. It was true, they all knew it.

"So now, we're going to have a vote. All in favor of this proposition will raise their right arm. Majority rules. If two thirds of the assembled countries vote yes, we all sign. Agreed?"

More mumbles.

"Alright. All in favor?"

One by one, hands slowly rose into the air. Ludwig checked off the human name of each nation who voted. Even Arthur, with a pained expression, shakily raised his hand, whispering the almost inaudible sentence "For my Leslie, it's the least I can do. Forgive me daughter." The only one who heard it was his female neighbor, who pretended she hadn't. Soon, only five hands remained down. The younger Italian raised his hand and looked at his brother who rolled his eyes and raised his as well. That left three.

Austria looked up from his doodling and raised his hand as he realized all eyes were on him, causing the woman next to him to tense up immediately. She shot daggers at him with her eyes and noticeably shifted so that she was sitting on her hand.

The last one accounted for was Prussia. He looked toward the back of the room where his son was playing happily with a stuffed chick and smiled. His hand remained down.

"OK, so it's decided. Majority rules. Any questions?" His face was pained as he looked from each pair of eyes to the next.

"Yeah. What's a "sexual relationship?"

"SEALAND!"


Wow, this was the hardest chapter yet. Trying to keep them in character while adding suspense and trying to figure out which names should be used was stressful. Please review this chapter, I worked really hard and I'm nervous. So see you next chapter!