A/N: hey people!
The last chapter, finally.
And with this chapter. This is the second story that I have finished completely. I feel so proud.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
First things first. Gaining back his citizenship.
Marsha had been ecstatic and eager to help. She vouched for him that he had been born on this land when it was needed, contacted the doctors and the birth certificates and the records of him and his brother that they were born in a Virginian hospital.
He needed to take a few tests that he would have some time to prepare for and soon he would be a citizen of his motherland once more.
He spent long nights in the college library reading on the American history from start to finish. He read on the Native Americans, to when it was a British colony, to when it gained its independence and through its struggle to become a world power.
Through the other countries doubts and scorns it had risen.
He had gotten all the necessary paperwork to legally change his name. He no longer wished to be a Kirkland or Bonnefoy. He was proud of the blood running through his veins and would show that in every which way he could.
He pushed his slacks, pants, vest, and proper shirts to the back of his closet. He went out and bought jeans and jackets, tank tops and a few sweaters for the colder months. Sneakers and boots replaced shoes. A digital watch replaced his old fashioned watch.
The day he had regained citizenship in his mother country he took the documents stating his citizenship towards England and France and his old passport into a drawer and closed it tightly.
Once he had passed those tests he turned his complete attention to his school and friends there.
He tried out for the football team. Granted of course he thought it was a completely different type of football what the Americans called soccer but he also enjoyed this new style of rugby.
What he lacked in skill he made up for in strength and soon found a place on the football team.
A coed football team apparently since the co-captain was the only girl on the team.
She was also in his history class he remembered. A pretty girl with short blonde hair and striking blue eyes.
She had introduced herself as Louise Beilschmidt in a German accent and then warned him not to take her lightly.
When she had tackled them in practice that warning was immediately placed in the front of his mind.
She was his first friend on the campus and then introduced him to her little group.
The twins Feliciano and Lovino Vargas from Italy. Kiku Honda from Japan. Antonio Fernandez from Spain. Feliks Łukasiewicz from Poland. And Toris Laurinaitis from Lithuania. And of course Louise Beilschmidt from Germany/Hungary, although she considered herself German through and through.
Alfred looked over his group of friends, all different cultures and points of the world, and smiled happily.
Alfred pouted as he glared at the book sitting innocently on its high shelf mocking him.
He stood on his tip toes and stretched his arms as far as he was able to and still his fingers were only able to brush the bottom of the book.
Alfred gave an aggravated sigh and gritted his teeth trying to get higher.
Suddenly there was someone standing next to him and that someone was taller than him and easily took the book he wanted off the shelf.
Alfred turned his head to the side. Blue eyes met violet.
"This is the book you wanted correct?" the man asked, his voice had a Russian accent.
Alfred nodded and reached for the book.
The man held it higher and out of reach.
"Can I have it?" Alfred asked.
The other looked at the book carefully in thought. "Perhaps."
He then looked at Alfred. "Let us make a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yes." he said smiling. "I will give you this book if you will go out and get something to drink with me."
"Are…are you asking me out on a date?" Alfred asked.
The man smiled. "If that is the way you want to see it then yes."
Alfred sighed. "Alright then. I accept."
The smile widened as he handed the book to Alfred. "Well the, now or later?"
"Now I guess. Have nothing else to do."
The two walked to the librarian's desk in silence.
"What's your name anyway?" Alfred asked as he checked out the book.
"It's Ivan, Alfred. Ivan Braginsky. I'm in your history class."
Alfred blushed as he looked at an amused Ivan. He did look somewhat familiar.
"You know if you wanted to ask me out you could've simply asked me." Alfred said.
Ivan gave a slight chuckle. "I could've. But where would the fun be in that?"
Turns out Ivan was from Russia and had escaped to America to get out of the influence of his father.
"Something I find interesting." he had said over their cups of coffee. "Is that a lot of the students in this school had come here either to escape their family or against their families wishes."
"What do you mean?"
Ivan took a sip of the coffee and said "Well I have been asking around the students. Those who parents weren't born here and those who came from different countries as exchange students. Practically none of their parents had any desire for them to come here for many different reasons. Some, like myself, did it to escape family. Why did you come here?"
Alfred looked into his cup; lately he had been craving more and more coffee rather than tea. "I came to find my family."
"Pardon?"
"I was adopted." he explained. "Only my adoptive family lives in England, where I raised. When I heard that my biological family was here I immediately applied for a college here and came here."
The two continued to talk for a while longer. Classes they were taking and were interested in. Alfred had a part time job at the public library and Ivan had one at the coffee shop where they were. Ivan told him about Russia and Alfred told him about England and France. Ivan told him about his two sisters. Alfred told him about his brother.
Soon it was time for them to go back to campus.
"I…actually had fun." Alfred said.
"You sound surprised."
"Kinda am."
"Then am I correct in asking you out on another date?" Ivan asked hopefully.
Alfred grinned.
"It would be my pleasure."
One day when he was just talking to himself, reciting what was going to be on the test in the next five minutes he realized something.
He had lost his British accent.
He said a few more words. It was practically all gone.
He shrugged and continued to recite the periodic table in order with a small smile on his face.
"We desire to see you. Please come back home over the summer. We want to hear everything." the letter read.
"Go." Ivan said when Alfred asked for advice. "It will do you good."
"But…" Alfred said struggling with the words. "I'm different now."
"And let them know that." Ivan said. "Let them know who you are."
Plane tickets ready. Ivan driving him to the airport. Him leaving for a month. The small goodbye party that had been held last night still fresh in his mind.
He was going back to England.
He glanced at his suitcase. Half of it was filled with pictures. Pictures of his friends. Pictures of his new home. And of course pictures of Ivan.
"You will call?" Ivan asked before they parted.
Alfred grinned and kissed him.
"You can bet on it."
He stepped off the place and into the airport. He still remembered everything here. The familiar scent of England, all rainy and dreary, hung in the air. The British flag was everywhere.
Alfred pulled at his collar slightly. The American flag embodied on his sleeve jacket was gaining some attention.
"Alfred Alfred!" a familiar voice called out.
He turned and grinned at the sight of his brother running through the crowd towards him. He extended his arms and Matthew jumped into them.
"I missed you so much Alfred." Matthew said.
Alfred laughed as he hugged his brother tightly. Before he could say anything he saw his Arthur and Francis going towards them.
"Alfred." they cried out before reaching them and hugging him as well.
"I missed all of you so much!" Alfred exclaimed.
Arthur froze. "Alfred. Lad. What happened to your voice? Are you sick?"
Alfred shook his head. "Nope. I just gained an American accent."
Arthur simply looked at him. "Oh dear lord."
"Tell me about everything Al. I want to hear it all." Matthew said.
Alfred laughed. "Where do you want me to start first?"
"Um…you kept talking about your friends. Tell me more about them."
Alfred grinned. "I can do better than that." he said going to his suitcase. "I have pictures as well."
He pulled out an album and sat down on the couch. Matthew sat next to him and Francis sat next to Matthew. Arthur slowly sat down on the Alfred's other side.
Alfred opened the album and tapped the first picture. "That is Feliciano and Lovino Vargas." he said.
Matthew looked at the picture of one of them smiling brightly and the other one was scowling.
"Why is he so unhappy?"
"Lovino is usually like that." Alfred said shrugging.
He turned the page. A picture of a smiling man looking up from his book met them. "That's Antonio Fernandez."
He turned the page. A girl wearing a football uniform met them. "That's Louise Beilschmidt."
An hour passed before Alfred was able to get through the entire album.
"You spoke of, what was his name, Ivan quite dearly." Francis said almost coyly.
Alfred blushed slightly. "Yeah well. He's kinda my boyfriend."
Arthur blinked. "Boyfriend? When did this happen?"
"Months ago."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Matthew asked feigning hurt.
"Sorry bro."
"Ivan." Arthur said. "How close are you two exactly?"
Alfred rolled his eyes. "Don't worry; we didn't do anything like that. Yet."
Matthew and Francis had to hold in a laugh when Arthur's face reddened when Alfred said "Yet."
"Are you…happy there?" Arthur carefully asked.
Alfred nodded. "Very. I am really happy there."
Arthur nodded slowly. "I…see."
Alfred and Matthew were in Alfred's old room. Both of them were sitting on his bed like they had done countless times through their childhood.
"Tell me." Matthew ordered. "Tell me about our parents."
"I thought you didn't want to know." Alfred asked raising an eyebrow.
"Alfred." Matthew said warningly.
He held his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright."
He crossed the room and reached into his suitcase once more. He took out the photo album that Marsha had given him.
Alfred slowly told Matthew of their family history. About their parents, about their ancestors, everything he knew.
Matthew lightly slid his fingers over the cellophane of the picture.
"She…they really did care about us." he said quietly.
Alfred smiled slightly and nodded. "Yeah, they did."
Alfred stretched and hopped off the bed. "I'm going to get something to drink, want something?"
"No thanks."
Alfred walked into the hallway and passed his parents room. Behind the closed door he heard them arguing quietly.
"-should be happy." Francis said.
"No! I should not be happy frog!" Arthur hissed. "He was not supposed to be happy there! He should have been miserable and nearly running back home."
"Arthur he's our son. Don't you want whatever makes him happy?"
"He would be completely happy here!" Arthur retorted. "Even more happy than there."
"Arthur." Francis said gently. "You need to understand. Sometimes some people find homes in other places than where they are born. I found a home here with you didn't I?"
"That's different." Arthur said. "You moved for love."
"And America turned out to be Alfred's love."
"It's the wrong one."
Choosing not to hear anymore Alfred tore himself away from that spot and ran to his room.
Matthew looked up from looking through the photo album once more. "I thought you were getting something to drink."
Ignoring his brother Alfred threw on his shirt and sneakers. He grabbed his bomber jacket and ran out.
"Alfred? Alfred! Where are you going?" Matthew yelled after him. They heard Francis and Arthur come out of their rooms.
Ignoring all of them he ran out the door.
"Alfred!"
Alfred was fit and in shape. Being on the football team made sure of that. He had to stay strong and fast to be on the team.
With that he was able to run to the park that was halfway across the town with barely losing a single breath.
He recognized this place. It was his and Matt's favorite place when they were younger.
He slowly walked through the park. Mothers looked at him apprehensively before turning back to their children. Kids ran here and there laughing. Dogs were barking. The sun was just starting to set.
This was his first home. The one associated with his childhood. The one that was a part of almost his whole life excluding the last year.
Had he made a mistake? Had he done something bad?
Was it a mistake that he had gone to America?
Was everything he had done in the past year just a mistake?
His pocket suddenly vibrated.
Jolting in slight surprise he reached into his pocket and took out his cell phone.
It was Ivan.
He flipped it open and placed it in his ear.
"Hello?"
"Alfred? It's me."
"Ivan? Why are you calling?"
"I cannot call my boyfriend?"
"No, no." Alfred quickly said. "I'm glad you did. But didn't we see each other this morning?"
"I know, I know." Ivan said. "It's just…"
"What?"
"It's just…I really wanted to hear your voice."
Alfred pressed the phone closer to his ear. "What?"
"I wanted to hear your voice." Ivan repeated. "I really miss you Alfred."
Alfred smiled. "I miss you too Ivan."
He could almost hear the smile in Ivan's voice. "Hold on. I need to put you on speaker phone."
There were a few buttons being pressed and he heard Ivan say "Alright, now."
"Hi Alfred!" a mess of voices called.
Alfred blinked in surprise as a smile spread on his face. "Hey! Who am I talking to out of curiosity?"
"Toris!"
"Feliciano and Lovino."
"Like, Feliks is here."
"Louise."
"Kiku, Alfred-kun."
"Antonio."
"The whole gang." Alfred said softly.
"Yeah." Toris said. "We miss you already Alfred."
"Your annoying laugh is oddly needed in the group now."
"And the rest of the team can't really function without one of our best players."
Alfred smiled widely. "I feel…just…thanks."
"For what Al?"
"Everyone. Thank you." he said. "I just really needed to hear all of this."
"Doubting yourself Jones?" Louise's voice came. "Thinking you made a mistake coming here and now we just put up that almost diminished light?"
"How…how did you know?"
"I'm awesome. I know everything." she said all of that in a deadpan and emotionless voice.
Alfred chuckled. "I think I have to go. Ran out of the house without telling anyone where I was going. Don't want to worry them anymore."
"Alright Alfred. Just remember, call me whenever you want."
"I will Ivan, I will."
"Same here Jones! We're here to support you as well."
"Thank you everyone."
"Thank you."
"This is a nice college." Arthur said looking through a book. "Close to home. And a good campus."
"I attend a great college dad." Alfred said patiently.
"Still, it doesn't hurt to look at other options."
Francis sighed behind his newspaper and bit his tongue lightly.
"I love where I go dad." Alfred said.
"Alfred…" Arthur started.
"Dad enough." Alfred said. He stood up slightly "I have a home back in America. That's where I belong. Please stop."
Arthur sighed. "Alfred. Lad. I mean only the best when I say this."
Alfred's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"You made a mistake lad."
Alfred blinked in surprise. He stood and deposited his plate in the sink.
"Alfred?" Francis asked standing up.
Ignoring both his parents Alfred turned to Matthew. "Can I borrow your computer?"
"Sure." Matthew said slowly. "Why?"
"I want to see if I can transfer my tickets. I don't want to leave at the end of the month."
Arthur beamed and stood up. "That's my boy."
"Because I want to leave now." Alfred finished.
Opting to take a taxi instead of having to suffer through a car ride with either one of his parents or his brother Alfred quickly packed all of his belongings.
"Alfred wait." Matthew said running into his room where Alfred had finished packing his second to last suitcase.
"Alfred please. Don't go." he pleaded.
"If I don't go now, then I'll go insane." he retorted.
"Dad is sorry." Matthew said. "He's sorry that he said that."
"No he isn't."
"What about papa?" Matthew asked. "He still wants to see you."
Alfred ignored his brother as he finished. He could hear the taxi driver honk his horn impatiently.
Alfred carried his suitcases outside walking past Francis and Arthur.
"Alfred wait." Francis said.
Ignoring him Alfred placed the suitcases in the trunk the driver had opened.
Before he got into the taxi he turned to his family.
"If any of you want to see me again." he said. "Then come to America. Come and see exactly why I love it so much. Come and see all my friends. Come and see Ivan. Come and see just exactly why I would never want to leave it."
With that he turned and entered the cab. He refused to glance backward to where his family stood in disbelief.
He ran through the airport. His eyes scanned the crowd and his heart was almost bursting through his chest.
A banner rose among the crowd. It was colorful and full of life. The words Welcome Home Alfred were printed on it.
He could recognize Feliciano's and Lovino's work anywhere.
He ran through the crowd. It parted for him easily.
And there they were. All of them. Feliciano. Lovino. Toris. Feliks. Kiku. Louise. Antonio.
And most of all Ivan.
Ivan ran through the crowd towards him. Alfred jumped into his awaiting arms and immediately threw his legs around Ivan's waist.
They kissed.
He was home.
And that's the end of this story.
No really. This is the end. I refuse to put it longer. I refuse.
No matter how much I want to enlarge the other peoples past. Especially Louise's whom I have already made practically an entire back-story on.
I refuse.
Please.
I also couldn't help gender bending Germany. I just couldn't help it.
Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed this.
Questions? Comments? Leave them in a review.
Until next time.
This is Phoenix-Fire Power over and out.