England was initially startled by America when the boy had grabbed Canada's bear, jumped in front of him, and shoved the animal in his own face. But the nation was still for only a half a second before he quickly recovered; realizing that this was probably the best chance he would get to take the bear. He was a little disappointed all the same because he had been honestly hoping that Canada would give up the bear on his own accord. And Canada just might have, if America hadn't butted in, but it would do no good for England to worry about what might have happened by now. The facts were that the object the Englishman had been fighting to get from an unwilling party had finally been procured and was being freely offered to him. England decided that the best thing for him to do would be to take the bear while he had the golden opportunity and forget for the moment the lost possibility of the small Canadian's trust and cooperation. With a quick huff, England took the remnants of the stuffed bear from America.

America smiled proudly as England took the bear. Behind him, Canada watched in horror. He had been caught off guard by America's steal and had been too surprised to react for the first few seconds that had followed. When his mind had caught up with what was happening, all he could manage to do was reach his hand out and whine in objection of his twin's actions. Of course, the weak attempt had come too late and too softly to have an effect on either of his tormentors. Now, as he helplessly witnessed England taking his bear right in front of his eyes, the boy's instincts began to kick in. He jumped up and rushed forward. Sure, he had been considering giving the bear to England anyway, but in his own good time! This was all moving too fast for him. He didn't give his twin permission to hurry the process along by stealing his toy and giving it to England himself! The nerve! He wanted to stop the unauthorized hand off, but his reactions were once again, too slow. England had the bear before Canada could get to him.

Canada frantically tried to push America aside. He had to get his bear back! America stumbled at the sudden prodding from behind, but he immediately regained balance and stood his ground. While England hastily gathered up the puffs of stuffing on the floor, America held Canada back. Canada's cried out, and his efforts increased as he became more desperate to reclaim his captured friend. He tried to maneuver around America, but the other boy was on guard. America effortlessly kept up with all of Canada's movements. He stuck to Canada as if he was his reflection, and stood in his way with arms held out to block passage. All the while, America wore a pained, but determined expression. He returned Canada's pleading glances with apologetic ones. He didn't really like holding his new brother back like that, but he had convinced himself that it was for Canada's own good.

Frustrated, Canada lunged at America. He pushed at him with all his strength. America fell back with Canada on top of him. "Sorry," Canada muttered (more out of habit than anything else), as he started to push himself off of America. He honestly didn't care much that he had knocked America down. At least he was free to move forward, now.

But thinking fast, America wrapped his arms around Canada's waist to keep him from continuing any further. Canada moaned in complaint, but was far from giving up. He put his hands to the ground and attempted to crawl forward. America's reaction was to this was to squeeze tighter; trying desperately to hold the other colony back until England had everything he needed.

England simply ignored the sibling's struggle; choosing instead to concern himself with the task at hand. In his mind, the sooner the bear was mended, the better. He worked without a word until he had picked up all of the fluff in sight.

"Right then," England muttered to himself once he was finished.

The children stopped what they were doing and looked up when they heard England speak softly. They saw England stand up with his arms full and walk off. America's arms slacked just enough for Canada to wriggle loose. The boy was after England as soon as he was free. America got up and joined his brother in the pursuit. The boys trailed behind their guardian; having to walk quickly in order to keep up with his long, hurried strides.

"So, you can fix it, wight Engwand?" America prodded the tall empire; hoping to get a little extra reassurance for his twin, who was looking sick to his stomach. "I'll bet you can make it just wike it was, before. Maybe better! Wight? Wight, Engwand?"

In front of him, England kept his brisk pace without acknowledging the boys. England had not even begun fixing the bear, but he was already starting to get lost in his work. Creating delicious food might not have been his forte, but sewing and embroidery were some skills in which he excelled. He prided himself on what he could do with a needle and thread. England was such a perfectionist in this area of handcrafts, that his mind was actually getting an early start on his new project by going through the steps he would have to take to flawlessly mend the bear. With his mind occupied on these matters, England only partly listened to America's questions.

"I'll see what I can do, Alfred," England grumbled without giving much thought to his answer.

Getting back to Canada, the boy was feeling anxious beyond belief! England had his bear now, and was holding it far out of his reach. There was no way Canada could get his friend now. Before, he had been willing to fight to keep it away from England, but now that England had it, the Canadian felt like there was nothing he could do. He felt that he couldn't possibly reclaim his toy from the tall, scary country. All Canada felt like he could do, was wait and watch to see what England would do.

"Don't worry!" America spoke from Canada's side. "Engwand can fix anything! I bweak stuff all da time, and he always fixes everything—just like magic!"

Canada squeezed his hands together as they walked. America talked on and filled Canada's ear with confident encouragements. He spoke of how good his big brother was at restoring anything and everything; giving examples of past repair jobs that England had had to undertake, thanks to his uncontrollable strength. But Canada didn't have any interest in America's stories. He kept his eyes on England.

England walked down the hallway until he came to a closet. He opened its door and rummaged through it for a few moments before he saw what he was looking for on a top shelf. With a small hum of success, England stretched his arm out to grab his sewing basket. It had all the equipment he would need, along with some scrap cloths, a few unfinished embroidery projects, and some ribbon. England felt sure of himself now that he was armed with his large basket. England turned around with the basket in one hand and the remains of the stuffed animal in the other, intending to seek out a comfortable place to work.

"Oh!" England exclaimed with a start when he almost tripped over the tots that had been standing right behind him. The Englishman was surprised to see the boys there. He had been concentrating so intently on the job that had to be done, that he had almost forgotten about his little colonies. At some point, both Canada and America had become quiet. England now looked down at the pair, feeling almost nervous for some reason, as they stared up at him with expectant little eyes.

"Ah…" he began; not sure how to address the little ones at first. He finally lifted up his sewing basket to show that he had retrieved the important kit that he had gone to search for. "I-I'll get to it, then," he explained quickly. "Won't be long."

England scooted to the side of the boys and continued down the hall in the direction from which they had come. He expected that the boys would run along to play or something, and leave him to his work. To his surprise, they followed right behind him. He could hear the pitter-patter of their feet as they stuck close to him. The empire glanced over his shoulder to see Canada at his heels with America coming next in line. Canada was looking up at him; worried. America was trying to give Canada some encouragement once more.

"Engwand's weal good at sewing! You'll see! He'll fix 'em up good as new in no time! Wook, see?" here, America lifted up a part of his long shirt. "I fell down and tore my cwothes here, but Engwand put it wight back together again!"

England slowed his pace. He couldn't help looking over his shoulder again and again at his persistent hangers-on. It felt funny being followed by little children. This was yet another experience that he wasn't used to. His mind went back to all the times he had overheard people making comments on a passing mother being followed closely by a row of her children. What was it they always said? It resembled a mother duck with baby chicks? England decided right then that he didn't like that comparison any more. He was nota bloody mother duck! Still, he didn't have the heart to tell the cute kiddies off. Perhaps if he ignored them, they would go away?

But they didn't. They followed him right into the sitting room, much to England's dismay. England sighed and took a seat in a cushioned chair. He set the sewing basket down by his side. The kids took up positions on each side of the nation. England felt awkward, but said nothing about it.

To England's right, Canada was watching him closely. Canada watched anxiously as England assembled his broken bear out on his lap. He watched obsessively as England re-stuffed the arm of his bear. He gasped softly as he watched England take some white thread and a large needle out of the sewing basket. At the sight of that needle, Canada could already feel sympathy pains for his little friend. He rubbed his own shoulder; imagining how much it would hurt to have one's arm sewn back on one's body. The boy's breathing became heavy as he watched England thread the needle. He wasn't sure he wanted to watch this, but something inside made keep looking. He got as close as he could to England and watched nervously as England held his special bear together. He waited while England looked over the bear and resituated the arm again and again, as if he was trying to get it perfectly aligned. Once the British Empire seemed satisfied, he took the needle and appeared to search for just the right spot to start.

The anticipation was getting to Canada. He bounced back and forth on his heels. When England made the first prick into the fabric, Canada put his hands over his mouth and whimpered into them. He kept fidgeting nervously with each stitch that came after. He wanted to cry again for his poor bear! He really hoped that England was being careful. Most of all, he hoped that this torture would be over soon. For one of the first times he could remember, he actually felt like rushing something.

Meanwhile, Canada's actions were making England feel uneasy. He never liked it when someone would hover over him when he was trying to complete a task. And America wasn't exactly doing anything to improve England's situation, either.

Across from Canada, America was still going with stories of all the times England had saved the day with his sewing skills. That was another difference in the two colonies' personalities. Canada became even quieter when he was nervous. When America got nervous, he talked. He talked loudly, and he talked boldly.

"See dose curtains over there? Dis one time, I was cwimbin' up dem, and they got wipped all ta pieces! But Engwand used his sewing and fixed 'em up! And dis other time I…"

England's eyebrows knit together. He squinted at his work, and tried to block out the distractions around him. It was proving to be a hopeless effort. England simply couldn't concentrate with one child watching his moves so intently and the other one blabbing on endlessly. He needed to work in peace. Then, a solution came to him.

"America."

"And den—"

"Alfred!"

"Huh?" America put his story on hold and stared up at England.

"There are some fresh biscuits on the table in the kitchen. Why don't you take
Canada and get one for each of you?"

America took a step back as if England had said something foreign. "But you said I can't have sweets before bedtime," he reminded England with an apprehensive frown.

"Yes, I know," England nodded. "I'll make an exception for tonight."

"Wow! Weally?" America exclaimed happily at his brother's generous decision. "Thanks! Come on, Maf'oo!"

America grabbed Canada's arm and ran for the kitchen. He didn't need to be told twice to go eat a cookie! The American completely forgot everything that had been going on, as he filled up with excitement over the prospect of an eatable treat.

Poor Canada had to cope with being dragged along by his twin once more. He leaned away from America's pull; truly trying to resist this time. He didn't want to leave his bear alone with England! But America's tugging was strong. Canada found that he couldn't plant his feet firmly enough to stop the forward motion.

Canada looked behind him at England, and tried to make an objection. "B-but—"

"Remember: Only one!" England's reminder to America drowned out Canada's words.

"Kay!" America called back to England; not listening to Canada, as well.

Canada groaned as he was forcibly separated from his favorite toy. He chose to give up fighting America—at least until America released him again. As he begrudgingly followed his brother, something told him that he was probably going to have to get used to this.

ABOUT TIME! SO sorry this took so long! I've had a busy past few months. Hope some of the original readers of this are still around.

So nothing much happens in this chapter, I guess. But the next one will be more interesting. I'll try to finish it by next week.