Sorry for the long wait, guys. For some reason, I've been having a hard time updating this story. Thank you all for being so patient.

Dreamwalker20: Yes, I'm familiar with Texas's brief history as its own country. I'm a proud born and raised Texas girl. I'm not sure if Texas will get its own story, but perhaps a cameo in this one. We'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for reviewing!
Sakura02: It's hard to accomplish things when you have America for a brother.
Authoresses of the Red Rose: I can't spoil anything for future chapters. This next couple of chapters won't be emo, but it will start going downhill.

Thank you: TarrelYoukai, erica. phoneix16, Phoenix, 9foxgrl, Littlecosma001, akasukifangirl, Blood-Drops, and Ren for reviewing!

"Arktos, wake up!" America called, poking the little sleeping country in the cheek. He frowned when Arktos simply grumbled and turned away from him. "Arktos, come on. You've got to get ready."

"No." Arktos grouched, pulling the covers over his head. "I don't want to go to any more meetings."

America grinned and yanked the covers off of Arktos. "We're not going to any meetings. I just thought we could spend the day together. You know, hang out like we used to when you were itty bitty."

Arktos peered suspiciously out from under his covers. He sat up and looked at his older brother. "No meetings? No talking about natural resources or anything?"

"Right!" America said excitedly. "No business today."

"Why?" Arktos asked curiously. For the past couple of weeks, they'd done nothing but talk about how best to develop Arktos as a country. Well, America talked. Arktos just sat quietly beside his older brother and occasionally nodded when it was appropriate.

America chuckled nervously. "No special reason. I just want to spend time with my baby brother. We can do whatever you want to do today."

Arktos hummed thoughtfully. America seemed up to something. Arktos looked over at the wide grin on America's face and sighed. "Okay. Let me get dressed."

Arktos took his time getting ready once America had left the room. He tried to get his wild hair to stay down, but it stubbornly refused. Arktos looked out the window of his bedroom at the small village outside his home. There weren't a lot of people living in his country yet, but it was a good number.

"Arktos, are you ready?" America whined from downstairs.

"Coming!" Arktos pulled his hood up over his head and ran out of his room. He went downstairs where America was impatiently waiting. "Sorry, Big Brother."

America grinned and took Arktos's hand. "No worries. Come on."

"Where are we going, Big Brother?" Arktos asked curiously.

"It's a surprise." America said, the grin never leaving his face. He led Arktos through the small village and out of it. They walked for a few miles with America filling the silence with chatter. He told Arktos about all the great new movies coming out soon.

Arktos nodded a few times, still trying to figure out where they were going. Finally, the two stopped at a rather large stream. Arktos looked dubiously up at his brother. "What are we doing here?"

America let go of Arktos's hand. "Wait here." He ran over to a small grouping of trees and pulled something out that Arktos couldn't see. America turned around and held up two fishing poles. "Ta da!"

"Fishing?" Arktos asked. "You know how to fish?"

America huffed and walked back over to Arktos. He handed the smaller fishing pole to Arktos, then sat himself down on a boulder and prepared his line. "Yes, I know how to fish! I wasn't always as awesome as I am now. I know that's hard to believe."

Arktos sat down beside America. He tried to set his line just like America, but he was having a hard time of it. "Stupid line…"

America laughed. "Here, let me show you." He held up his own line and went step by step with Arktos on what to do. The two cast out and sat quietly beside each other for a few minutes. "England taught me how to fish when I was little."

Arktos looked up at America. "Why don't you and England make up? I think you two really miss each other."

America sighed, watching the water in front of him. "It's…complicated. You see, Arktos, it's hard for adults to apologize, especially when both feel like they're in the right."

"So, both of you should just apologize." Arktos argued.

"It's just not that simple." America said, and that was the end of that conversation.

Arktos was the first to catch a fish. With America's help, he managed to reel in the large fish. They settled back down to try and catch some more. "Am I ever going to get recognized as a country?"

America reeled in a fish of his own. "You will eventually. It may just take some time. You have to be patient."

"You're one to talk." Arktos huffed out. "You aren't patient at all."

America laughed. "Trust me, being a country isn't all it's cracked up to be. You're boss gets mad if you don't do things his way, but then the other countries get mad because they don't like the way you do things. You can never please everyone."

"I think if everyone would just work together, it wouldn't have to be that hard." Arktos said. "If everyone stopped just looking out for themselves, and started helping each other with no other motives, I think this world could be a lot better."

"Good luck trying to tell that to everyone." America laughed. "Some of them are super old, and set in their ways. It's going to take a lot to make them change."

Arktos pouted, pulling in a smaller fish than last time. "I'll do it. I'll make everyone listen."

After they'd caught a good number of fish, America built up a fire. The two cooked their fish and ate them there on the shore of the stream. Arktos looked over at America, debating whether or not he should say anything. He liked the very rare moments like this where America was quiet.

It was America who finally broke the silence. "Arktos, are you really serious about being recognized as a country?"

Arktos was quiet for a moment. Finally, he nodded his head. "Yes. I want to try and help everyone."

America's face lit up. He pulled a paper out from his jacket pocket and unfolded it. "Then, we'll need to get busy. See, I've drawn up a plan for you on how to best get recognized…"

Arktos sighed, but didn't interrupt. Once again, America was trying to take complete control. Arktos nodded at all the appropriate moments. Arktos didn't agree with everything that America was saying to him, but surely America knew what was best for Arktos to get recognized. Arktos just wished he could spend one day with his big brother without business being brought up.