I'm sorry for being gone so long. Hope you'll all enjoy this chapter!

Tailsdoll123: Thank you

Miss Snicket McGidgette: Don't worry; Arktos will be going to a few more world meetings.

Sakura02: Both are very frightening!

"Big Brother, can't you just tell me where we're going?" Arktos whined. He held America's hand tightly. He had grown in the past few years, now coming up to just below America's waist.

America grinned down at the little boy. "I can't tell you. It's a surprise."

"Is it for my birthday?" Arktos asked excitedly. It was his fifth birthday and America had been acting very vague and strange all day.

"I can't tell you." America said. "You just need to be patient."

Arktos rolled his eyes. "You're one to talk. You whined the whole week until the new episode of Walking Dead finally came on."

America laughed heartily and ruffled Arktos's hair. "If you keep talking like that, I won't let you see your surprise."

Arktos puffed his cheeks out and glared up at America. "You're the meanest big brother in the whole world…well, aside from Romano…and Germany…and China…" He latched onto America's arm and lifted his legs up so that America would hoist him into the air.

"Okay, Arktos, you need to close your eyes." America said abruptly. He picked Arktos up and covered the little boy's eyes with his hand. "No peeking, okay?"

"I know." Arktos huffed out. He had to resist the strong urge to try and peek through America's fingers. He had a vague idea of where they were heading, but he wasn't quite sure why they'd be going there. "We're not going to another World Meeting are we? I hate meetings."

America laughed. "We always get so much done when you're there, though!"

"That's because you're all stupid and keep fighting." Arktos snipped back. Every single time they went to a meeting, it was the same routine. One country would irritate another one, then all the others would start fighting, and poor Germany would have to scream to be barely heard over the fighting. Eventually, Arktos would have to get on top of the table and scream at all of the adults to be quiet so they could get on with the meeting. "The fact that you adults listen to a five year old is kind of embarrassing."

America pouted even though Arktos couldn't see it. "You better be nice to your big brother or I won't take you to your surprise."

Arktos immediately stopped talking. He knew that it was only an empty threat from America, but he didn't want to take the chance that America would actually back up his threat this time. He perked up when he heard the sound of a door being open. "Are we there yet?"

"Almost." America said. He put Arktos down on the ground and took the little boy's hand. "You can open your eyes now."

Arktos opened his eyes and immediately deflated. "We are going to a meeting!"

America didn't say anything. He tugged Arktos down the familiar hallway towards the meeting room. "I promise, you're going to have the best birthday ever today."

Arktos rolled his eyes. "Going to a meeting isn't going to be fun." Arktos pushed the door open to the meeting room. He was rather surprised to find that the lights were completely off in the room. "Are we the first ones here? That never happens!" Arktos blinked when the lights were suddenly turned on.

"Happy Birthday, Arktos!" Italy pranced over and scooped the little country up. He nuzzled his cheek against the still confused Arktos's.

"Wait, so this isn't a meeting?" Arktos asked as Italy put him down on the ground.

America grinned and stood by his little brother. "Nope. This is a birthday party just for you!"

Arktos looked around the room. Almost every single country that he knew was there. He looked dubiously up at America. "Who planned this?"

"We all did!" Italy said proudly. "We all got together and planned this just for you!"

Arktos blinked. "But…that means you all had to work together!"

France pranced over and patted Arktos on the head. "Well of course! How else could we have planned this?"

Arktos looked around the large meeting room. It was decorated wall to wall with balloons, banners, and streamers. A large table of food was pushed against one wall with a eight tiered cake in the middle of it. Another table was piled high with brightly colored presents. He was still trying to process the fact that all the different countries had worked together just to plan a birthday party for him.

America grinned and ruffled Arktos's hair. "Let's get this party started!"

The next few hours were a blur of noise and excitement for Arktos. He spent time with all the different countries, even briefly talking to Russia. He blew out his candles with Italy's help, and then moved on to opening his presences. Germany was kind enough to help him keep track of who gave him what so that Arktos could later write them all thank you notes.

What amazed Arktos the most about the whole day was that none of the countries fought. At least, not as much or as violently as they usually did. Sure, England and America had a brief little tiff over how much England's food sucked. Romano had to get in a quip about Germany being a 'Potato Eating Bastard'. Other than a few minor instances like that, there were no huge blow ups like there usually were when everyone got together.

Eventually, the party began dying down. It took a few trips, but Arktos and America managed to haul all of the young country's gifts to the car that America had called for. Arktos said goodbye to all the countries and thanked them again for the party and presents.

"Did you have fun today, Arktos?" America asked as they drove away.

Arktos nodded sleepily. "Yes. Hey, Big Brother, about that tourism plan…"

"It's great, right?" America said excitedly. "You'll get so many tourist, which means even more revenue!"

"Yeah, but…"

"Trust me, Arktos." America cut Arktos off before the little boy could finish his sentence. "This'll be great for you."

"Okay." Arktos said reluctantly. He really wished America would listen to his ideas for his own country and people. Unfortunately, he always got ignored or shot down. He supposed his brother did know best what to do, but still he wished that America would for once just listen to him and let him do what he wanted to do.