I do not own the rights to Hetalia.

Yes, I didn't update like I usually do, the first for me. Blame it on Thanksgiving craziness, a week where anything that could go wrong, did. That's why I've updated with TWO chapters, to put me back on track, so be sure to check the next one out.

When the Saints Go Marching In

I actually did go straight back to St. Louis, Windy's goons didn't leave me much choice; pretty much handing me the ticket and shoving me on the plane. I could have fought back, but decided to behave like a good little girl instead and not cause a scene. The time for fighting back would come later, when I had more of an idea of what I was up against (not to mention the support). Once I reached St. Louis, I then booked a flight to go see Ana in New Orleans.

Ana, short for Louisiana, is my older sister, and the closest thing I ever had to a mother. She looked after me before I was a territory, let alone a state. Way back when I was nothing more than a representation of the Missouria tribe. There's nothing much left of of the tribe today. The only remnants beings the European settlers (mainly the French) named The Missouri River after the tribe, which I was then named after as the Missouri Territory, before finally becoming the state of Missouri. In fact, she even gave me my human, 'Genevieve' named after my first European settlement. Most call me Jenny now, but she's one of the few who can get away with using my full name.

She was also one of the few, who called me by my human name in private, with the same going for me using hers. Genevieve was the first name she ever knew me by, and Ana was the first thing I can remember calling her. Apparently 'Louisiana' was too much of a mouthful for me at the time, so Ana it was.

Before I was even a territory, I was part of the Louisiana Territory. Most people know it for the Louisiana Purchase, but don't know the Spainish took it from France for a short time, before giving it back to France secretly, which was then sold to the United States. I loved living with Ana, and was quite upset upon hearing that she would become a state, leaving me to become the Missouri Territory, and taking control of our younger siblings (Arkansas and others). Hence the 1811-1812 earthquakes. But I got over it (eventually), earned the nickname "Mother of the West" (thanks to Ana's example), and in time became my own state, which was the biggest state until Texas joined. Show off.

We're not as close as we used to be though. As the years passed, we became more and more busy with business within our own states. Nowadays we see each other at family get-togethers, and e-mail each other occasionally. But Ana's been around longer than I have, and I figured she would probably know how to deal with what was going on the best. She may not be one of the original thirteen (who like to brag that they're Dad's favorite) but she's been around almost as long as they have.

Ana's capital might be Baton Rouge, but her heart was New Orleans. She had a house in the French Quarter, and that's where I went to visit her. The last time I had stopped by was right after Katerina hit to check up on her. Despite being deathly pale, and weak, she insisted that she would be fine. After all, it wasn't the first time she had been flooded, and it wouldn't be the last. I stayed for a bit helping with the clean-up and recovery, before finally going back home.

Walking down the streets, it was obvious the city had improved a lot since I had last visited. Ana was never the type to let something get her down for long. There could be a war going on, and she would still be smiling and having a great time.

The door was unlocked (Ana always wanted guests to feel welcome in her home. And any intruder crazy enough to rob her, would soon find out the hard way that she be quite fierce when she wanted to be).

"Hello? Ana, are you here?" I asked.

Less than a second later, I had a response. "Genevieve, is that you?"

Ana came out of the parlor and hugged me. "My, I swear, each time I see you, you're another head taller."

I blushed. Despite having been my own territory and state for almost two hundred years, Ana could still make me feel young, something dad couldn't even do.

Ignoring the red spreading on my cheeks, she guided me into the parlor and sits me down on a sofa.

"Somethin' tells me this isn' jus' a social visit."

I squirmed in my seat. She was right, and the fact that she was right makes me feel awful. I really should visit more, not just when I want her help.

"Illinois sent me a message the other day," I started off. "Apparently some of her wanna-bes are giving her issues. I checked them out, and it seems like there's something else going on. Something bigger. She's counting on me for help, and I didn't know who else to turn to."

"So you came to see meh. I haven't heard much, but..." her voice trailed off as she seemed to remember something. "Last week I called Tex, only somebody else picked up, insistin' he was Texas. Eventually Tex answered, and said that he just had very distant friends over, from his old days."

"That's it?" I asked rather dejected. Well I knew it was better than nothing, I had honestly been hoping for more.

"I'm sorry Genevieve, but it's all I have at the moment. Although...Look, you go visit Tex, he's at his house in eastern Texas, in Nacogdoches. In the meantime I'll do some checkin' on a hunch and let you know."

I stood up, but not before she managed to wrap me in one last hug. Letting go, she said, "Now, next time I see you, I hope it's not only 'cause you need my help."

"I'll try," I said half-heartily. I would try, but knowing my luck, it wouldn't work.

**Author's Note**

Huge thanks to Seileach, my only reviewer so far. Hopefully they'll be more this time around.

This chapter didn't turn out as long as I intended, despite frequent editing. I still feel meh about it, but the next chapter is a lot better.

Ana/Louisana: Once Louisana became a state, the remaining territory was named the Missouri territory. So head canon dictates that Missouri had to be around by then, and rather close to take over, as it were. And once I learned that Louisana became an official state in April 1812, I couldn't help but connect the earthquakes of 1811-1812 with that event, as a reaction from Missouri to the news. I love it when history works out like that.

Genevieve: Ste. Genevieve was the first organized European settlement west of the Mississippi. I had the hardest time coming up with a human name for Missouri that made sense. Shortening Missouri would give me Missy, which didn't sound right for the character. I could have done Misty, but that reminded me of the character from Pokemon and how annoying she was. So I went with Genevieve, the first name Europeans gave to a region in present-day Missouri. The name was also nice because it could be shortened to Jenny.

Mother of the West: Missouri was the main starting point, or gateway to the West, for travelers wanting to make the long journey across to western states such as California, Oregon, etc...

Biggest State: When I was doing research, I was surprised when I learned this fact. Until Texas was admitted in 1845, it was the largest state. Now it's the 21st, but if you look at a map of Missouri vs. the size of the eastern states, it's not that surprising after all.