Hey everyone! I got the next five chapters up and ready for you guys, so I hope you enjoy them. Again, there's hardly any change. Some chapters that were in two parts were put together and I made my OC sound a bit more like her age, but still have her keep her maturity trait that pops out now and then.

Speaking of maturity at a young age, I was watching Ponyo the other day, and I got a better insight by studying Sasuke's and Ponyo's characters. I love 'em!

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 11: An Outing with America

The next morning, America asked, though it looked more like begging, Germany to borrow Fern-Lui for a few hours to give her a tour around Washington, and it was granted and the American and the girl were out of the house, leaving it to the remaining guests there.

"Where are we going, Uncle?" She asked, holding onto the plush cat, that she dubbed Gi-Lu, as she was lead to the subway system.

"I wanna show you some of the tourist sights of this capital before you go."

She smiled as she held onto his hand tightly. "Okay! Just promise we stop for some hot chocolate somewhere along the way."

"You bet!" He said as they made it into the subway.

0o0o0o0

Sometime later they made it to the Mall and went to every Smithsonian museums there before seeing the Washington Monument, and then they stopped by some of the memorials, which became a quiet, respectful trek. When they came across the World War II Memorial, they stopped.

"What's this place, Uncle?" She asked.

"The World War II Memorial…" America said as he looked at the fifty-six pillars in an oval arrangement with a fountain that wasn't turned on due to the cold weather.

"Oh…" She said, knowing about the war as well. "What was it like? For a nation at that time?"

America had a feeling that question was going to come up. "With every death that our people suffered… with every raid, air born or land based, we feel it. For me… it was my people dying…"

"Pearl Harbor…" She said as she felt her hand being squeezed tighter.

"Yeah… But everyone suffered losses as well. But at that time… I was also confused as to why he would do that… we were friends at that point, or I thought… Then my people's hysteria kicked in and soon I could feel the hatred of everyone towards Japan's people in my house. But I also felt their hurt as well, especially for those Japanese people that were born here." He sighed. "I was getting out of the Depression at that time, and people were starting to get their act together… slowly… But then that day happened and… If I didn't go to war, we wouldn't be where we are today… We became organized, figured out ways to make industry go faster to get things to the Allies… Women learned their hidden strength…" He chuckled hollowly. "In a way… it was like a double edged sword… It was a tragedy, but it's the kick we need to get back on our feet."

She looked to see that the American looked at the sky. "Do you blame yourself?"

He looked down at the girl, and smiled a bit guiltily. "I blame myself for thinking that Germany is a bad guy back then. Italy is an okay guy. And I guess I felt betrayed by Japan that I just got a bit overboard…" He sighed. "War is hell for both our people and nations, but we nations can't forget it easily… Most of our veterans can still hear the gun fire, the smell of smoke, the sight of ally, enemy, or an innocent person die."

She gave the nation a hug, which he bent down and he hugged back.

"But it's all good now…" He added. "We're in the twenty-first century, and so far most of us have gotten along. There's still some nations that don't like one another, but most of us are doing okay. We paid our debts to each other for the pain we caused one another and moved on."

She didn't look convinced and she was going to say something when she felt tired and fell asleep on his shoulder.

"Fern?" He asked when he saw that the girl was asleep. He checked his watch and saw that it was three in the afternoon. "Siesta." He smiled as he carried the girl all the way back to his house.

0o0o0o0

"America! About time you returned!" Germany said after he headed out to meet with the other nation before entering the house. A moment ago, he was sitting on one of the armchairs, holding a book and was attempting to read as he waited for the American and his adoptive daughter to return.

"We just went to look at the Smithsonian!" America said as he laughed and patted the German on the shoulder. "I swear you're acting like an overprotective dad!"

The German sighed as America handed the girl to him.

"She's a great kid."

"So I keep hearing." He said as he rubbed the girl's back, making her hum and nuzzled a bit, making the American awe.

"I swear you lucked out on getting custody of her."

Germany blushed a bit as both nations headed back to the American's home.

"So who's left?" America asked.

"Well… China and the rest of the Asian nations left, only Japan stayed. We were cleaning your place while you were out."

"What the hell! I told you guys not to! You're my guests damn it!" America said poking the German on the shoulder. "And I cleaned last night! So there shouldn't be any reason for anyone with some OCD for cleanliness to go about and cleaning someone else's house when they're guests!"

There was a momentary pause as Germany sighed. "Italy let himself in the kitchen to make pasta… and left a bit of a mess…" He said as he adverted his eyes as he remembered the flour on the floor and the broken egg shells because he couldn't find the trashcan.

America sighed. "And you can't help yourself…" He said as he scratched his head. "What the hell. What's done is done…" They entered his home and he saw that his place was practically sparkling. He looked at the floor and he could see himself. "Couldn't you do something mentally productive, like Sudoku or crosswords?"

"A thank you would be in order." Germany said dully as Japan came around the corner, mop and pail in hand.

"Oh, hello Amerika-san, did you just get back?"

"Yeah…" He said as he couldn't help but grin. "So you and Germany cleaned my place when I told you to relax."

"Well, I was going to respect your wishes, America-san, but then I accidentry went into the room that France-san was using, and… well…"

America raised his hand up. "I get the picture." He said with a sigh. "Well… Is there anything else here that needs attention?"

"I just finished the bathroom." Japan said when a knock was heard.

"Who could that be?" America said as he opened the door and he saw an oddly looking human-like creature with a big head, large black eyes, grey skin, and only wearing a scarf. "Mr. Tony! Where you been man!" He said as he let the creature in. "How were your folks?" He asked which was responded with a few pitched sounds for the creature. "That's good!" He looked up at the two nations. "You guys remember Mr. Tony, right?" Both nations responded that they did. "Hey Tony! Guess what? You remember Germany, right?"

The creature pointed at the German.

"Right! And do you see the little girl he's holding?"

The creature looked and nodded.

"That's his and Italy's kiddo!"

"Kiddo?"

"Another way of saying kid." He explained when the girl was starting to wake up.

She looked around the area and saw Germany, said her hello and kissed his cheek before looking to see America and the creature next to him and her eyes went wide. "Is that an alien?"

"This is one of my friends, Mr. Tony. Tony, this is Fern-Lui."

She mentioned to be placed down, took a few steps towards the alien, smiled and bowed. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Tony." She said as she straightened.

Tony seemed to blush as he went behind America, making the nation confused for a moment and laughed.

"Aw! Mr. Tony, don't tell me you're shy?"

"No!" It said as the girl tilted her head and giggled.

"I've never met an alien before, but you're really cute."

Tony seemed to go red and fidgeted as he came out from behind the nation and went up to the girl and held out his hand.

She took the hand and giggled as the alien seemed to giggle along with her. "Oh! Mr. Tony…" She said as released each other's hands and she lightly poked his shoulder. "You're it!" She giggled as she started to run.

The alien seemed to get it as he chased after her.

"Now that's so cute!" America said with a smile, though Germany was a bit unsure while Japan was indifferent.

"Ve~ What's going on?" Italy said as he came out, rubbing his eye, the sign that he just woke up.

"Rui-chan made a new friend." Japan said simply as the said duo ran pass Italy.

"Oh…" He said with a smile. "Looks like they're having fun, ve~"

0o0o0o0

Later that evening, Germany, Italy and Fern-Lui were getting ready to leave for the airport, which made the little alien seem sad.

"Don't worry Mr. Tony, we'll play together again. I'm going to be around for a while." She said as she gave the alien a hug, making the alien blush before waving to America and Mr. Tony and joining her parents in the taxi, because Canada was nowhere to be found, and Prussia was also missing, which Germany wasn't too worried, thinking he went with France.

Once they reached the airport, they got their tickets, went through security, and headed to their gate, which the girl noticed was heading to Italy. "Are we going to Italy?" She asked.

"Ja." Germany said.

"Papa and I talked about it, and it's agreed that we're gonna stay at my house for New Years."

"Really!"

"Sì! And I bet you're sick and tired of all the snow and cold weather!"

She blinked as she smiled and giggled.

"Ve~ At my house it's nothing but warm weather, friendly people, beautiful sights to see, and lots of great pasta~!"

She seemed surprised but then looked really excited. "I can't wait to see your house!"

"It's going to be another long flight…" Germany said with a sigh, not looking forward to that.

"Ve~ I know…" Italy said with a sigh.

She knew how they felt when she heard an announcement for those going to Japan to come aboard. "Isn't Nihon-ojisan going home too?"

"He's going to stay with America for a few extra days." Germany said as he scratched the back of his head. "Something about a game or something like that…" He said as he heard Italy's stomach growl. "Hungry?"

"Sì…" He said with a down casted look. "And I couldn't bring my pasta with me anymore for the past ten years now…" Then the girl's stomach growled.

"I'm getting a bit hungry too…" She said with a blush.

Germany nodded and got up. "I'll find something for us to eat then. We still got a while before our flight. So you two stay put here, understood?"

"Yes sir!" Both said with a salute, making the German shake his head and left to find something that the picky Italian can eat.

"Ve~ I hope he brings back something good… Airport food isn't that great, but it's better than England's food."

She giggled as a couple young women sat down in the seats behind them.

"Did you see that hunk?" Said one woman.

"I did! He's so hot! In a tough military look."

"He looks foreign too… German?"

"Oh now you're being stereotypical!"

"Anyway, did you see his ass? I bet it's firm like a tank by how buff he looks."

"No kidding! I'd tap that for sure."

Italy was about to talk to the women until he heard what they had to say about Germany and figured the women were after stronger men, which he didn't fit the bill. And somehow it bugged him that they would just immediately assumed his best friend like that. But what can he say? It's not like they're going after the German, they're simply commenting him. He'd done it loads of times, and all those times he told them to Germany himself. In a way it was good that the German was complemented as such, he didn't think the other gets those kinds of complements often.

"Willkommen zurück!" Fern-Lui said as Germany came up with a bag in his hand. (1)

"Sorry it took me a while." Germany said as he sat back down and handed them the pizza boxes. "They're not Italian made, but it should suffice until we get to Italy." He said as he saw the look on the Italian's face. "Don't give me that look. It could've been a lot worse you know, and I do believe you know what I mean."

"Sì…" Italy said as he took a bite of his pizza.

"Fern-Lui, how about you?"

"It's not bad, but Mamma can make a better one." She said, which earned the two nations a smile.

"Um… Excuse me…"

The three looked up to see one of the two women looking at them from the seat behind the girl.

"Are you guys heading to Italy?"

"Ja." Germany answered.

"Whereabouts?"

"Rome."

"So… are you gonna stick around for the New Years?"

"Ja…" He said, not liking where this is going.

"That's great! We should meet up for a coffee or something." She said with a hopeful smile.

Germany didn't know what to do as he stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm afraid that's going to be difficult." He said.

"Oh? How come?"

"Because he's my daddy." Fern-Lui piped as she looked up at the woman. "And we're going to Mamma's house there. She lives in Rome with a bit of the flu at the moment, so she couldn't travel away from home, even for my Uncle's Christmas party."

"Oh…" The woman said, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I thought you're his little sister."

"You didn't even notice me until I spoke." She said. "And I didn't like what you or your friend said about my daddy earlier."

The woman's face was really red at this point. "I'm so sorry, if I'd known…"

"That's why I forgive you, because you didn't think that my daddy, as good looking as he is, would have a kid like me."

"Most of the good men have that quality…" The woman said as she looked at the German. "I'm sorry about that, I didn't know you were married."

"I… uh…"

The woman waved it off. "Don't mention it. I'm too forward most of the time. It's a rotten habit of mine." She said, maturely handling the situation as the boarding announcement came on and that was the end of the awkward conversation.

0o0o0o0

Once they were seated, Germany looked around to make sure the women weren't anywhere near them or could hear them before he could relax. "Mein Gott that was close…" He said with a sigh.

"Ve~ I guess they were looking to date you…" Italy said, feeling a bit guilty for not helping out his friend.

Germany sighed. "There was nothing either of us could've done. I'm glad Fern-Lui thought of something."

"I knew you would be in a bad position if nothing happened. And I really didn't lie to her, so it worked out really well."

"Ve~ You're really smart."

"Nein, I'm just a bit creative like that. It must be hard to have t lie to your own people when that comes up, huh?"

"Well… that was actually a first for me…" Germany admitted. "I have to admit, it was rather uncomfortable. I'm sure she's a nice and intelligible woman, but I don't see anything outside of just a friendly stranger."

"Ve~ It's only coffee though."

"In America, a coffee is a date." Germany informed.

"Oh… You don't like dating?"

"It's not like how you do in your house…" He said with a sigh. "Let's talk about his later… Okay?" He looked at Italy, who nodded and they fell into silence.

Fern-Lui didn't like how that went and wondered what to do to at least ease the sudden atmosphere that settled over them.

"Will we be able to see Uncle Romano when we go there?"

"I think we will, but sometimes he's not home, which means he's visiting his best friend."

"Oh, okay." She then looked at Germany. "You think Onkel will be okay?"

Germany grinned a bit. "Believe me, if I know anything about your Onkel, is that he's causing trouble somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised to get a call from him by the time we land."

She giggled as she sensed the atmosphere getting lighter. 'That's a relief.' She thought as she yawned.

"You better get some sleep, it's still a long way there." Germany informed as he caught an attendant and asked for a blanket for the girl.

"Didn't you say something similar when we were going to your house?"

Germany thought back on it and nodded. "I did in fact." He said with a smile. "Though I think we'll be there by the time you wake up." The attended came back and handed him the blanket and placed it over the girl.

"See you in the morning then…" She said as she found a comfortable spot and closed her eyes.

"Sweet dreams, Fern-Lui." Italy said as he kissed her on top of her head, while Germany petted her head.

"Sleep well."

She hummed before she fell asleep.

Italy yawned, making Germany asked the attended to grab another blanket and placed it over the Italian.

"You didn't have to do that, Germany." He said.

Germany smiled softly as he petted the auburn hair. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable, my friend." He said as his hand cupped the Italian's cheek. "Get some sleep, it'll be early morning by the time we get there."

Italy nodded as he started to settle in the uncomfortable seats. "You too… You're ten times as scary when you're tired then when you're rested."

Germany couldn't help but chuckle. "Right, right…" He said as he saw that the two were out and closed his eyes as well as he was close to falling asleep when he felt a small and on his lap, looked down and saw that it was the girl's hand, and held the hand lightly in his before falling asleep as well.

Translations:

(1) Welcome back - German