Hello again! I decided to post this chapter so everyone can now know that: YES I will write more XD. To be honest, I didn't expect the reviews to come as fast as they did but they warmed my heart and I truly thank everyone who submitted them! Ok I'm beginning to sound like a Hallmark card, but it's true. One little indiscrepensy I did realize though, I got 165 hits on this story yesterday alone...and 4 reviews DX. I know, I know "It's , what were you expecting?" but seriously people sometimes reading isn't enough to satisfy a Leo's ego!! Another thing I found is that I'm apparently popular in Europe. I only speak English and some French but to all who are reading/reviewing this in a language other than your native tongue, I think you're awesome, and way smarter than most Americans (which you probably knew XD). I also want to say sorry on my country's behalf for clogging your radio with our songs. I have family over there, I know what it's like!
Merci beaucoup! Danke! Dank u! Grazie! Gracias! Obrigado! Domo arrigato! (I hope I said all that right!)
"You know there are no secrets in America. It's quite different in England, where people think of a secret as a shared relation between people." –W.H. Auden
It was mutually decided that they keep their relationship a secret, and although this was a bit easier said then done on America's part neither ever broke their promise and continued to act as if nothing was going on between them that was anything out of the ordinary. That being said, it became rather clear to most of the other counties that there indeed was something between America and England that was out of the ordinary. Whether it was the way they slowly began sitting closer and closer to each other at meetings, or the way in which they no longer fought quite so much, or even the way (as some nations pointed out) that they started to spend long weekends or even whole weeks at each other's houses.
The first of these meetings was a rather awkward one for England to get over. He had decided to visit America at his house, seeing as his former colony had already come to his house where this whole affair began, and much of it was still being repaired after the war. Still, as England gazed up at the huge doorway it was hard for him to believe that he hadn't been here in over 130 years. The last time he was here England had not so accidentally set America's house on fire, and didn't think it would be smart to return for awhile. Taking a deep breath before going to knock three times on the door, England only had time to get through one before the door was thrown open and he found himself engulfed in one of America's famous "Hero Hugs".
"You came! You came! You came!" he yelled, spinning England around in his huge embrace "I can't believe you're finally here! How was the trip? Did you find it ok? Was the boat nice? I like planes myself but-"
"Shut up!" England's scream silenced him, "Yes I'm here, now put me down and let me breathe you bloody Yankee!"
America gently placed England back on the floor and took a sheepish step back. "I'm sorry, I'm just happy to see you and I can't help myself when I get happy!"
"You never could help yourself…" England mumbled in a low tone that America seemed to miss.
"Ok so what do you want to do? I'll give you a tour of the house first, but ooh wait! Do you want tea first?"
"You have tea?" the smaller nation inquired.
"Well, I don't really like tea but I got China to sell me some because I knew you liked it and I wanted you to be happy!"
England blinked once, somehow finding it hard to think straight when those big eyes filled with anticipation were looking into his so anxiously. "Um…alright, what kind do you have?"
America's eyes widened. "…There are different kinds?"
England struck his hand to his forehead and sighed. "Ok just me see it and I'll decide."
"Oh-ok, sure. I mean I got a few, but I basically just asked for the best." America said, leading England to the kitchen. Once they got there America opened about five tins filled with all different kinds of tea, all of the highest quality. England picked one and began filling a strainer.
"Just for future reference, I like black tea the best." England said, over his shoulder. America nodded in response and wrote it down in a notebook.
"And, thank you America."
America looked up and beamed with delight, "No problem, I'm glad you like it!"
After the tea was done America lead his guest to the dining room, where they sat in silence for a moment before England broke it.
"This room seems rather familiar, did I eat here last?"
America nodded "Yeah, then you tried to burn it down. It's ok though! I mean its really not, and it was actually a pretty mean thing to do...But I fixed it fine and it needed to get remodeled anyway!"
England buried his head in his hands, furious he had already made such an embarrassing mistake. "Oh I, I didn't mean…well I did back then but…I'm sorry I brought it up."
America beamed a big smile back in response "Its ok I do stuff like that all the time, and you haven't been here in forever so it's understandable you'd forget."
The Britt forced a smile back to his former colony, as he went to change the subject. "You know this tea really is quite excellent, it's been so long since I've had tea of this quality. May I ask how much it cost you?"
The larger country shrugged innocently "Don't know really, like I said I just asked China for some of the best."
England took a final sip of his tea, and placed it carefully down in the saucer. "I see…Well do you want to show me around now?"
"Ooh yes! Come on and follow me!" The younger country grabbed the Briton's hand and began leading him through the many rooms and halls of the huge house that must have grown almost four times its size since England had last visited.
"Does this house ever stop?" the smaller nation began to whine "The time change is starting to get to me."
America looked at his watch quickly before answering "Ok, but let me show you one last thing before we're done!" he pulled England around a sharp corner and up a narrow staircase to a doorway that opened to the roof. "It's just in time for sunset!"
England raised his arm to block out the sun glaring in his squinting eyes. After a little bit, they adjusted enough to see the garden behind America's house. Sprawled out from around the foundation to embrace a small pond, and farther in the distance it blended into the same forests and mountains the young nation had emerged from so many years before, it was like a painting in its perfection.
"This I remember." The Briton said, and just like that all the old memories that he had kept down for so long came flooding back into his mind and nearly overwhelmed him. Looking briefly at America's face bathed in sunlight, he felt his heart give a lurch because for a moment he no longer saw the tall, courageous America that the world had grown so used to. Instead he found himself looking once again at the small and timid teenager who had one minute clung to England out of dependence, and the next was aiming a musket at his head. And there it was, the feeling the smaller nation had passed off as too much gin a few nights prior was back, only now England could feel it more. It felt like breaking. Like there was a glass case around his heart slowly being crushed.
"Are you ok?" America broke England's train of thought, and had taken a concerned step in the older country's direction.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just," England looked up at America's eyes "thinking."
"What?" But the taller nation just found his answer yet again in England's lips against his, and reaching up to embrace him around the neck, America heard his former master whisper into his ear.
"Why did it have to be you?"
The larger country gave a small smile and whispered back "Just lucky I guess."
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After they had both eaten diner, the two countries decided to go to bed. A tad awkward to say the least, but once they had both gone through the same routine of staring at their faces in the bathroom mirror while screaming to themselves in their heads "You can do this!" taking a deep breath before walking into the bedroom and climbing into bed together, it wasn't nearly as tense as either thought it would be. Even so, England could feel the blood rushing to his face as he walked in to find a shirtless America waiting with a look of nervous anticipation smeared across his face.
"I'm sorry, do you mind? Its just that its kinda hot out tonight…"
England shook his head, hoping it would make the heat in his face go down "Oh shut up you git! Its not like I've never seen you with your shirt off before!"
America chuckled to himself as the smaller country climbed under the covers and slid toward him. There was a moments pause before England reached over and placed his hand on top of America's, lacing their fingers together and gently rubbing the spot between the former colony's thumb and fore finger. America glanced down at their hands then at England's tightly closed eyes and pursed lips, and realized just how bizarre it was for England to display any show of emotion or affection.
"I love you America." England said meekly, glancing up into his blue eyes "I'm sorry I tried to forget you all these years."
America's heart gave a slight skip at his former masters words, and something inexplicable made his head lean down and give England a soft, in a way almost forgiving, kiss. "Its ok, I understand. I tried to hate you for a long time also."
"And yet you kept wanting to talk to me and visit my house?"
America blinked "I missed you, sometimes. I just don't think-"
"Either of us admitted it to ourselves?" The smaller country interrupted.
A smile pulled at the corners of America's mouth as it gave a small laugh "Yeah I guess not. I mean, England it's hard for me to really hate anyone and when I do, I don't know, I get over it."
England closed his eyes to where this conversation seemed to be leading "I don't want to talk about this anymore, America." His eyes opened for a moment to see the younger country biting his lip with regret. "This is just taking me a little bit to get used to."
"But you do like me right?" America blurted out, a bit louder than necessary "I mean, you were the one who-"
The older country gave an exasperated shout back "I'm in love with you, you idiotic child! But can't you even admit that this has all happened very fast? One minute we never speak to each other and the next we are literally climbing into bed together, is nothing about that strange to you?"
The former colony raised his finger in an effort to make his point stronger "First of all I am not a child!" England rolled his eyes "And second, this has all happened really fast, but if we both love each other what makes it strange?" England opened his mouth to answer but then blinked, his response suddenly not making sense anymore "That's what I thought." America said, and gave the smaller nation a kiss on the cheek, which he immediately felt flair up. England kept his face tight with a look of deep frustration etched across it, eyes giving quick darts back and forth trying to find something to say.
"You are still a child though."
"Am not!" America shouted back in a pout way that did anything but help his retort, made clear by his former master's raised eyebrow. "Ok then, if I'm still a child," The larger country removed his glasses and placed them on him nightstand, then wiggled under the covers until only the top half of his face and fingertips that grasped the blankets were visible. "tell me a story."
England's heart and gut twisted at the sight of America looking so small, kiddish and altogether…cute, it was like he had transformed back into that same small child he grew out of too fast all those years ago.
"Oh shut up you git!" the Briton said, bringing a pillow down on the other countries smiling face.
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COOL HISTORICAL STUFF YEAH!
The fire America and England are referring to happened during the war of 1812. In 1814 the British army had occupied Washington, and set fire to many of the buildings including the Senate, house of representatives, and the Library of Congress. The Capitol was not yet completed at the time.