Chapter 18: Discussions During Meetings

Fern-Lui woke up one morning and looked at the desk calendar that Austria gave her so that she would have some sense of organization when she starts the day. Prussia laughed at the idea of it, but she loved it. She looked to see that she has been in this world for six months, and next month would be May, her birthday was coming up fast.

Her nightmares stopped after leaving England's home that one time, which was strange as she expected to have it becoming worse that night when she was tucked in. But instead she had a pleasant dream with her family, which made her feel homesick but it was pleasant nonetheless.

0o0o0o0

She attended the meetings, and met some of the nation's bosses, who have heard about her through Germany's and Italy's bosses. Needless to say it was an awkward affair, but it was kind for America's boss to bring his children along so she has someone other than the children-like nations to play with, since they're responsible for their own homes as well. She had fun with them and the other children that some of the bosses bring with as well, but it was still an awkward affair with her playing with normal children around or a bit older than her. She figured it was because she spent too much time with the nations.

Though, it was difficult to answer some questions when it comes to how the nations are treating her. She would answer truthfully and honestly that she was treated no differently than any child being cared for by loving parents. Granted she has two fathers, one not minding at the least to being called Mamma, and that she loves all the nations like a big crazy family. This was enough for the normal people who asked her these questions when they come by. She liked some of the bosses, others she was slightly uncomfortable with but respectfully avoids her after knowing that she was being cared for by the nations, mainly Germany and Italy.

The European Union meetings were usually pretty interesting to her, since it mostly has to do with the trades and making sure no fights break out, which they like to avoid at all costs if it ever got out of hand. It might've helped that she was there and the bosses were present as well. She didn't know, all she knew that the nations would have a spat here and there, but nothing too serious, it was when the bosses look her way did she started to think that her presence could possibly be helping or hindering the important meeting.

Japan made himself known to a few meetings, but wasn't able to stay long. America was kept busy as he helped the other to and from meetings upon request, which was a bit unnerving to the small Asian nation, but he didn't want to waste his strength worrying about it.

When news of Bin Laden's death was announced in early May, America was off the walls happy to hear the news. Japan, unfortunately got the most of the American's excitement of the news as he was carried around like a doll and was moved around in a childish dance before the American settled down when the reality of the rebel forces may be taking revenge for the death, putting him into an exhausted heap as he and Pakistan were not on good terms, once again.

Then of course when there was a G8 meeting, she would end up finding TRNC, who really is Northern Cyprus but likes to continue to be called TRNC, who had been hanging around during the meetings and they would play a game or two, or talk about things.

0o0o0o0

She liked the de facto state personification. He wasn't really a nation by any standards, but he doesn't mind. He likes his brother all the same, even though Greece is a pain sometimes, but lately the arguing is subsided a bit between Turkey and Greece.

"So, Fern-Lui…" He started to say, gaining her attention, but he looked a bit troubled about asking. "Do you like playing with the bosses kids when they bring them over?"

They were outside of the building that the meeting was being held and was near by the garden that they were playing sometime before they got tired.

She blinked and looked thoughtful. "Well, I wouldn't say I dislike it, but I guess it's a bit awkward… I know it shouldn't because they're like me… You know… 'normal'," She said with some air quotes that both America and Prussia uses to be a bit sarcastic, "but… I don't know… I guess I'm just used to this. We can talk about what's going on in different houses without sounding like I'm off of my rocker, or however Uncle America puts it."

TRNC chuckled at the figure of speech, but then looked serious. "You know you have to leave us one day, right?"

"Huh?"

"If your family doesn't pick you up from this world, you'll grow up here and soon leave us. You know that right?"

She nodded, knowing as much as anyone here that the nations don't age like normal people do. America isn't even close to two hundred years old while the oldest one she knows is China, yet looks as if he's in his mid-twenties, possibly younger. She, as a human being, will age and grow and will one day die while the others continue to live on. "I know... I know it's a risk for Germany and Italy to take me in, knowing that I'll change and they won't. But I rather grow up surrounded by nations that dote and teach me than be all alone." She smiled. "It's selfish, knowing that one day I'll just up and die, leaving everyone to mourn. But at the same time I'm another important person that's fortunate to be in their lives."

"What do you mean by that?" He asked, not quite understanding what the bright spot of the fact.

She smiled even more. "Onkel Preußen had Old Fritz when he was alive and still holds in high regard today, Oncle France had Jeanne D'Arc, Uncle Britain had Churchill and Princess Diana, and other nations who had a high positive regard to normal people."

"I guess that makes sense. I remember Egypt going real quiet when Cleopatra or King Tut's name being mentioned."

"Oh there's more he must've have high regard for. And I bet even Nonno Impero Romano (1) had the same regard with his Emperors. And it goes the same for Uncle America. Especially when I mentioned Teddy Roosevelt the other day, he just plain raved about him that I know more about him than I cared to know. Did you know that Teddy learned how to do taekwondo?"

"Now I do." TRNC smiled as he leaned back against the wall of the building where the G8 meeting was taking place. "I never thought of it like that." He then frowned a bit. "But you'll still be gone one day…"

She knew that she and TRNC have a close relationship that's very similar to her adoptive parents, and pinched his cheek. "Have you no religion?"

"Huh?" He was taken aback by the pinch and the remark.

"Even though most wars were caused by the thought of what is true religion, a common trait of that would be that…" She took a moment to think before continuing. "Even if people die the soul would go somewhere else. And souls don't die." She smiled as she looked up at the clear blue sky. "I won't lie, the thought of death is a bit scary, but not the actual dying, but what my death would be like and whether or not I would pass judgment, if there is one." She giggled. "Sometimes I wonder what God really looks like. But then again he can be anyone he wishes." She looked at TRNC and saw the look of stupor, but he nodded as accepting her view of life after death.

"Who knows, maybe, by some miracle, I'll be reborn as a form of nation so that I can age when I feel ready or something like that."

TRNC shook his head, but smiled. "That would be something, since most of the nations happen to be male for some reason unknown to us."

She giggled before out-right laughing, making the other laugh as well before falling into a comfortable silence, soaking up the peaceful, sunny day.

"You miss them? Your real family?"

She smiled, hearing this question asked so many times before but never fails to make her feel warm by his concern for her well-being. "I do…" She said. "I had a dream of them last night. It did make me miss them, but it's getting easier to handle now." She got up from sitting and stretched. "Man! It feels good to be able to be outside where I don't have to wear a lot of clothes!"

He blinked. "You live in a cold climate?"

She nodded as she held a finger to her smiling lips and a fist to her hip, meaning she was letting him on something that he shouldn't repeat to the others. She had been doing that a lot since she spent more time with him. She felt comfortable telling him these things when she didn't feel ready to tell the others. "I wasn't really sure where I was living to tell you the truth. All I know is that I lived in a place that snowed all the time and I didn't really like the snow on most days because that means wearing a lot of clothes so I don't freeze to death. But after coming here, I realized that me and my family live in Russia."

He blinked as he shook his head. "That would explain a lot…" He said, earning a playful punch to his arm.

"He's not that bad!" She said, defending the Russian nation as she continued. "Anyway… I live in some old abandoned building, the basement of it to be precise…"

"Basement?"

"Warmer under the ground than above it where the snow is, apparently." She said with a smile. "But then I love exploring the building itself. I remember this one hallway having a deep red carpet and old paintings, no doubt from Russian painters…" She got quiet as she started to remember the hallway she was describing. "I would run up and down that hall all the time. Sometimes three of my uncles would chase me and see if they could catch me."

"It sounds like this hallway is special to you." He asked as she nodded.

"Yeah, because it's the hallway where it gets most of the sunlight, making it really pretty during the day and even prettier at night when there's a full moon." She then closed her eyes, seeing the hallway clearly. "I'll play in that hallway, but I also share a lot of great times there as well… We had moon cakes when there's a full moon, I would catch Vati and Mamma dancing sometimes in the day, but other times at night, I would dance with mi mamma and my aunts when mein vati and my uncles are away… That hallway meant a lot to me…" She then opened her eyes to see the boy looking at her intently, paying attention to every word. "To me… that hallway was my link to the world… the world where light can reach and give warmth. That hallway is as close to being outside during spring as I'll ever get."

TRNC didn't know what to say to any of that. He understood that she didn't feel comfortable telling any of the other nations, her adoptive parents is most highly understandable, but he begins to wonder why him? Not that he wasn't honored to knowing such deep information first, but… why?

"So…" He started to say. "Do you like this world?" He asked, knowing he asked it so many times before, but was afraid to ask the real question he wanted to ask.

She smiled brightly. "I love it! I feel guilty now and then because I'm here and my family isn't. But I was watching the Harry Potter movies, don't laugh."

"I'm not."

"Good, because I'll kick you in the vital regions if you did." She warned, but not really meaning it, but it made him wince at the idea all the same. "Anyway, I was watching the movies and there's one thing that makes me relate to Harry." She waited for the other to comment, when none came she continued. "That we were spared so that we can continue living, because our family wants what's best." She smiled as her voice softened once more. "I won't lie… I felt so guilty about coming here, being with everyone… Even on Valentine's Day I felt so horrid about enjoying myself that I nearly screamed."

He was shocked to hear this, remembering that she looked like she had a great time. But then remembered when he gave her his Valentine's gift, how she looked shocked and suddenly looking like Italy, hiding behind any other emotion like a mask.

"But after a while… that guilt ebbed away the more I remember why I was here the first place… why they would risk everything so that I can stand here today…" She held out her hand to him, which was grabbed and hoisted him up. "Why I can enjoy moments like this that I missed out due to what's going on." She blushed as neither of them were letting go.

TRNC's heart was racing once again as they were only a breath's away, making his face warm up. He has a huge crush on her, possibly in love with her, but he liked the idea of being the closest friend because she only confides such deep things such as her past to him. He doesn't have to worry about any of the micro-nations having the same luxury he's having at the moment. But then there were moments like this, where he was so close to her that the deeper feelings bubble up and would feel himself losing the amount of control he has.

She hugged him as he was in the moment of turmoil, but the other hugged back feeling that a weight was lifted off of her shoulders. "Thank you for listening to me. I keep letting pieces of me onto you."

"It's okay. I told you back at New Year's Day that if you ever need to talk, you let me or anyone else know. We're here to help however we can. Me, all I could do is listen and give you comfort." He said, feeling happy at that moment. "I don't mind really." He added. "I like listening to you, makes me feel like I'm part of your life at that time."

She giggled as she hugged tighter.

"Fern-Lui! TRNC! Where are you!" Germany called out, which some could only bet that everyone on the other side of the world could hear him by how loud he called out.

She giggled as they parted from their embrace and tagged him. "You're it!" She said, going back to being the playful child as the boy chased her, both laughing to let anyone know where they are before coming up to the nations as they were exiting the building. She hid behind Italy and called out that she's in the safe point and that TRNC can't get her now, both still laughing.

"Where were you two?" Germany demanded softly, raising a brow and, without a doubt, looking like a father.

"We were out in the gardens talking and playing." She said. "Mostly talking."

Germany looked at the boy, who nodded that it was all they did. "As long as you don't get into trouble."

TRNC couldn't help but smile at how authoritative the German nation acted. It reminded him of Turkey when he was born. So in a way he can understand how Germany is being like this, because Turkey did the same with him, and still does.

"We know, Vati Deutschland." She said, smiling because she felt lucky to still have the same kind of man her real vati is in her world in this world.

"Ve~ Germany, they're very smart. So don't worry so much." Italy said.

Germany pointedly gave the Italian a look, that said 'why aren't you just as worried' and needless to say both children know the look and giggled, making everyone look lost, which made them laugh.

0o0o0o0

Later that day, Prussia came back from a nightly round in a bar with France and Spain, which was greeted by the three occupants in the household. "So! Anything worth knowing?" He asked as he lifted the girl from the middle of the couch between Germany and Italy, plopped himself between them and set the girl on his lap.

"The meeting was chaotic as usual." Germany said grimly.

"Ve~ I thought we had a lot of fun!"

"Yeah, France was telling about it." Prussia said.

"Then why did you ask?" Germany asked.

"To get a different perspective. You know how France is."

Germany sighed, knowing too well.

"What about you? Überwältigend Reizende Nichte? France told me you were nowhere near the meeting.

"I was playing with TRNC when the meeting went on." She said, smelling the beer on his breath, but it wasn't a bad smell.

"You like hanging around with that guy, don't you?" Prussia asked with a suggesting grin crept on his face.

"He's my best friend, why wouldn't I?"

"What about the others? Wy and Seychelles are girls. Don't girls want to hang together or something?"

She laughed. "Maybe if they were there, but they weren't."

"Was Turkey there or something?"

"It's the EU, Bruder…"

"Why was TRNC there but not Turkey?"

"Turkey had a meeting and heard that there was a meeting where we were and figured he would drop TRNC with us as a kind of play date for Fern-Lui while we were in the meeting." Germany explained.

"Ah." Prussia said as he poked the girl's cheek. "So, Überwältigend Reizende Nichte, you like TRNC?"

"He is my best friend, why wouldn't I like him?"

"I mean do you like like him?"

She blinked as she looked up at her onkel. "Like you like like Canada?"

That shut him up as he looked at Germany accusingly, who in turn wasn't sure why his brother was blaming him for.

"Was?"

"You told her, didn't you?"

"Ve~ What are you talking about? And who's Canada?"

Both Prussia and the girl sighed.

"Canada is America's brother who looks slightly like him." She informed as Prussia added.

"But way awesomer, but only second to me."

"Bruder… 'awesomer' is not a word." Germany said.

"It is now, because I'm awesome." He said with a grin before punching the younger German nation on the arm.

"Was!"

"You told her!"

"Tell me what, Onkel?" She asked as she continued to look at the television.

"Nothing… Forget it…"

"You're strange."

"No, I'm awesome."

"Ve~ Prussia likes someone?" Italy asked, smiling. "That's wonderful!"

Prussia's response to that was placing his head on top of the girl's, as if she was a stuffed teddy bear. "He's only a friend, Italy."

"Liar." The girl said, realizing what it was about now and she couldn't help but smile as she thought about two people in mind.

"Don't pester, Fern-Lui." Germany said, wondering if spending time with England, or Hungary for that matter, is making her like this.

"Just saying..."

"Listen to your vati." Prussia said, a bit annoyed but he blames Hungary, and possibly Japan, for that yaoi influence he was sure the woman nation was converting his sweet, yet secretly sassy, and awesome niece.

"Okay." She said. "But it is sweet either way." She hugged the pale arms that were around her as they continued to watch whatever program they were watching.

Prussia smiled, glad to have the sweet side come back.

0o0o0o0

Soon she and Italy fell asleep, making both Germans carry them to their rooms, Prussia with the girl and Germany with Italy, before both were in the kitchen with a bottle of beer in hand.

"Didn't have enough?" Germany asked when he opened his while Prussia was downing his.

"You know how it is." Prussia shrugged. "When I go to a bar that isn't German, I don't tend to get slammed as hard."

Germany rolled his eyes as he downed his.

"You know… Fern-Lui has been with us for a half a year." Prussia said in his moment of uncharacteristic intelligence. "Isn't her birthday coming up?"

Germany nodded. "Ja. May twenty-second." He said as he heard the sputtering of his brother nearly choking on the mouthful of beer.

"Seriously! That's the month and day of her birth?" He then started to laugh. "She's definitely you and Italy's love child after all!"

"I'm going to throw you out if you don't keep it down." Germany said, a bit of an eye twitch at how loud his brother is, and the fact that there's a small puddle of the spewed out German beer on his clean kitchen floor. "And you better clean that up." He pointed to the puddle.

"But didn't you find that odd?" Prussia asked.

Germany sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I told you her birthday after we got back from Italy's house." He said.

"Eh? You did?"

"Ja, but you were too busy doing that damn blogging of yours. I'm surprised people read what you put out there."

"What can I say? They love to read what the awesome has to say."

Germany sighed as he saw Aster about to lick up the beer puddle and gave it a stern order to not to and the Golden Retriever let out a whine, which could translate to 'why?', but he gave him a look which the dog turned and left the room.

"I'll never get you, West." He said as he downed his third beer. "Okay! I'm heading to bed."

"Gute Nacht, Bruder."

"Back at ya, West." He said as he headed to his room.

Germany finished his beer, placed it in the respectable disposable place for it, and grabbed a rag to clean up the spoiled beer mess. 'He'll be helping me with the papers in the morning.' He thought as a payback for not cleaning up.

Translation:

(1) Grandpa Roman Empire - Italian