Sorry guys. Had a minor meltdown IRL. Updates on story got delayed. D: Fail excuse, I know.

He felt heavy, like a weight was pressing down on his chest. Alfred bit back a groan and settled for opening his eyes. The ceiling was familiar, he was home. He sat up and looked around, gaze settling on the window that was opened slightly to let in a breeze.

It was light out, probably late afternoon. He hunched over, head slanted down as blond hair fell over his face. "He actually did it." Alfred murmured to himself, one hand reaching up to press over his heart. He could feel their deaths, so pronounced and painful. Like a piece of himself had died with them.

A small shape caught his attention from out of the corner of his eye. He turned slightly and was greeted by Flopsy, sitting on the bedside desk. Alfred hadn't moved the rabbit from the floor when he'd left, which only left one person who would have moved the plush.

He began to reach out towards the familiar comfort when he heard footsteps coming closer. Alfred fell back onto his back and pulled the covers up to his chin. He couldn't handle Arthur, not yet. The hangings were still fresh, in both his mind and heart.

So he curled up, closed his eyes, and hoped that Arthur wouldn't linger too long.

The door squeaked as it opened. Just enough to let him peek in and check on the boy. Arthur had expected the deaths to be hard on Alfred, but not to this extent. Still out cold it would seem. With a quiet sigh he slipped into the room and walked over to the bed.

There was a chair already seated beside it. When Alfred had fainted he hadn't wasted time in getting the colony home, where he could keep an eye on him and make him comfortable. He'd knocked his head a good one and there had been a slight gash as a result.

Arthur hesitated a moment before sitting in the chair again. He'd been constantly checking in every so often, hoping that Alfred would wake up soon.

Meanwhile Alfred was trying to keep his breaths deep and even. How long was Arthur planning to just stay here? It was too much work to keep pretending to be asleep, and he'd never been good at hiding the obvious. Arthur would have figured it out sooner rather than later.

Slowly he opened his eyes, and as soon as he had Arthur was by his side, sitting on the bed and pressing one hand to Alfred's forehead. "How are you feeling?"

Alfred pushed aside the hand and sat up so he could lean against the headboard. "Like part of my heart was ripped out." His words were blunt, as he intended them to be.

"I see." Arthur felt a sick twist of pleasure with the sadness. After all, it was Alfred who had first torn out his heart with that silly Declaration. He had not been the one to take the first step towards destroying what they had.

He looked aside, knowing all too well what his colony was feeling.

Alfred folded his arms in front of his chest, and stubbornly ignored Arthur. It seemed like there were more and more silences between them lately. What was really annoying was how they didn't seem to bother Arthur whatsoever. Or maybe he just didn't care. Alfred didn't know.

"It will get better with time, and soon we can put this all behind us." Arthur's voice was soft, the tone unexpected. Alfred looked away from the window to him with a skeptical expression. "No, it won't, and we can't."

Arthur sighed heavily and rubbed at the bridge of his nose with his fingertips. "You haven't been around long enough, you don't understand the concept of time like I do, and the differences a few years can make."

Wha-Had Arthur really just said that? Alfred threw aside the covers and scrambled out of bed so he could stand and face Arthur. "What?" He felt dizzy from the sudden movement, but he wasn't going to back down now. "I understand just fine. When was the last time you were forced to be someone's colony?" Alfred could see the warning signs, knew that he should shut up, but the words just poured out.

"When did you last watch the men who gave you hope hang? Or-Or better yet when was the last time you fought for something other than your damned pride?"

Arthur was up and had closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. He slammed the taller nation against the wall and glared up at him. "Don't you dare presume to lecture me." What had happened to the sweet child? The little boy that had been so eager to make him smile?

"Just because you claimed to be a Nation does not make it so." Green eyes nearly glowed with anger as he pushed harder against Alfred when the colony struggled, and then his face softened. "Alfred, I'm trying to understand, but you need to let these foolish dreams go."

Alfred went still. "They aren't just dreams." He whispered, voice cracking as he said so. Arthur smiled, almost sadly as he reached up with one hand and cupped the side of Alfred's face, looking at him with the pity that Alfred so hated.

"You're only hurting yourself with these delusions." His lips pressed into a firm line again and his hand fell away from Alfred's face. "You remain as my colony. British rule is still established, and the rest of the world has already forgotten your revolution."

No...Alfred shook his head. He shoved Arthur back, and the two glared at one another. "You're wrong." Alfred turned away, uncaring that he was dressed in little more than the loose breeches and too large sleep shirt.

He blocked out Arthur, and walked out of the room and down the hall. Oh he knew Arthur was shouting, but he wasn't listening anymore.

Alfred slammed open the front door and jogged towards the barn, barefoot and all.

"Alfred! What do you think you're doing? This isn't something you can just walk away from!" Arthur felt his face turn red. That impudent little...He'd been keeping an eye on him, been worried sick, and this was the thanks he got? Arthur rushed to keep up with the longer legged teen.

Just as he opened the front door he was greeted by the sight of Alfred, seated atop one of his beloved horses. The painted stallion of all things. Arthur stopped, frozen as he took in the image. It shouldn't have been remarkable, but Alfred had foregone the usual saddle and bit, and still hadn't found a pair of shoes it would seem. It had taken him years to get Alfred used to the proper equipment for riding a horse.

It was as though the young and free-spirited Alfred from many years ago had come back and taken residence in the present one. It was like looking back in time.

"Get down this instant." Arthur's voice was low, and had an edge to it that was usually reserved for the likes of France.

Alfred grinned, "Make me." With that he took off, the horse almost a blur as it raced down the path and towards the open plains. Arthur stood there, mouth agape. There had been a fire in Alfred's eyes that he hadn't seen in...Well, since a few of the battles when the Yanks had been victorious. It would seem that Alfred's native people and their old customs still had a hold on him.

He spun on his heel and strode back into the house. There was no chance of catching Alfred. The boy was the better rider by far. No, but he'd be back. Arthur took in a deep, calming breath. If this continued, he'd have no choice but to be harder on the boy. He just hoped Alfred would work all this nonsense out of his system.

Alfred was giddy. For once since the war had begun he truly felt the freedom he had been so desperately searching for. He threw back his head and laughed. His horse seemed to echo the sentiment with a loud whinny as they slowed to a trot.

Usually he didn't mind staying home for a while, but with Arthur there it wasn't so much a home as a prison. But Alfred didn't hate him. He tried to latch onto his anger and let it turn into something more, but every time he did a memory from before all this would surface and he'd just feel sad. Like he'd lost something.

Which brought him back to the issue of his delegates. He leaned forward over the horse's neck, arms hanging down on either side. "I can't do that again." Alfred spoke quietly, eyes closing partially as he watched the sun set over his lands.

He smiled to himself, "I know what I have to do." The painted horse turned his head enough to look at Alfred with one large brown eye. Alfred grinned, "Yep, I sure do."

The two turned around, and Alfred cast one last look over his shoulder. "Alright, let's head home." He faced forward as they backtracked.

Had it not been for the clear sky and the full moon it'd have been pitch black when they finally got home. Alfred hopped off the horse, sore since he hadn't gone riding like that in years. He brushed the stallion down and rubbed his flanks before leaving him in the barn for the eve.

He wasn't surprised to see a candle lit in the window. Alfred trudged across the lawn, but didn't bother to be quiet once he reached the front door.

And of course Arthur would know the moment he had come home. "I'm in the study."

That was Arthur-speak for 'Come in here this minute and sit your arse down.' Alfred trailed dirt and other things into the house as he headed towards the study that was generally off limits. The door was partially open so he just walked in and sat down in one of the chairs across the desk from Arthur.

Alfred watched Arthur write something up, and...Write some more, and – Did he even realize he was here? Alfred subtly shifted in his seat as he tried to get a better look at what he was writing, but the elegant script looked like chicken scratch from this angle.

After what felt like forever Arthur pushed the papers aside and fixed his gaze on the fidgety boy across from him.

The two looked at one another like that for another lengthy amount of time with Alfred occasionally looking around the study and finding something other than Arthur to stare at.

"Are these tantrums going to be a regular occurrence?" He paused, watching Alfred frown before continuing, "Or, can I expect some civil manners?"

Alfred actually had the decency to look embarrassed. "I just wanted to go for a ride." He mumbled. "Which you can't blame me, I mean you did...I did lose four of my delegates." Al stared at his lap, hands folded there.

Arthur was stunned. He had expected Alfred to throw his arms and whine and complain about how unfair it all was. Instead he was almost being complacent. There was still the attitude problem, but that was hardly noticeable when he wasn't shouting or pouting.

He sighed and shook his head, "Well next time you need some fresh air, just let me know and we can avoid any scenes, hm?" Alfred nodded his head, and looked off to the side.

Arthur was about to speak again when a knock from the front door echoed through the house. He looked to Alfred with one raised brow. He wouldn't leave the boy alone in his study.

Alfred made another face, but grudgingly got to his feet and went to see whoever it was. He opened the door and was faced with a red coat, who had an equally red face at the moment. "I'm here to speak with Mr. Kirkland."

He stepped back and let the man pass by who seemed to be trying to catch his breath still. Alfred followed after and watched from outside the study as the soldier took out a sealed envelope and passed it off to Arthur.

The house was silent except for the sound of paper being handled as Arthur unfolded the letter and began reading whatever was written there. By the time he'd finished his face was dark and those bushy brows were drawn down in anger.

He quickly pulled out another piece of paper and hastily scribbled a note, folding it and then sealing the envelope before he handed it to the waiting soldier. Said soldier turned and left the house in a hurry, not even giving Alfred a second glance.

Alfred eased his way into the study, "Something wrong?"

Arthur looked up at Alfred, "You tell me." Arthur's voice was cold again, and Alfred wasn't sure what he'd done this time to warrant it. He frowned, and shook his head a little, "I don't-"

"Don't lie to me Alfred. I am in no mood." He pressed his hand to his own forehead before getting up from the chair and grabbing his jacket off the back of it. Arthur slipped into it as Alfred tried to figure out what was wrong. "I'm not! I've never lied to you." He looked a little hurt at the insinuation.

Arthur stood in front of Alfred, and frowned at the confused colony. He let out a heavy sigh, "I have to go."

He took the cue and left the office, with Arthur trailing behind. The smaller nation closed the door with a click and mumbled something under his breath before letting go of the handle. "Get some rest, I'm sure you'll be sore from your impromptu ride in the morning."

Alfred frowned. Something sounded off with Arthur, but he probably wasn't going to be told what was going on. It had to be serious if it had Arthur jumping on him like that, something in the colonies.

He snapped out of his thoughts when the front door closed. Alfred ran down the hall to his room and quickly changed out of his clothes. He grabbed a pair of shoes this time and a jacket. From his window he could see Arthur, along with some officers on horseback ride off.

Once out of sight he turned and grabbed his rucksack. He hesitated briefly before putting the stuffed plush rabbit in the bag as well. Alfred took his time leaving the house. He stepped into the barn and smiled at the painted stallion he had ridden not long ago.

"No you should get some rest." Instead he walked over to the dappled mare that was much more easygoing. He saddled her up in record time and was out of the barn moments after having entered it.

Something was going on, and he intended to find out what.

Alfred rode towards the city, and was surprised to see how bright it was at this hour of night. Why would there be so many fires? He frowned and urged the mare forward. Most of the people were out on foot, and all seemed to be congregating together in the streets.

The closer he got the more he could hear.

"The Southern colonies aren't standing for this!"

"Not a single one of them were present, and yet we accept this as justice?"

His eyes widened and he slowed down before hopping off the horse and instead leading her closer so he wouldn't stick out as much. Alfred looked around and stopped next to a young man who looked close to his own age.

"What is going on?" Alfred asked with wide eyes.

The dark haired man turned and looked at Alfred with a smile. "You haven't heard the news?" Alfred only shook his head in mute wonder as he watched his people shout and demand liberty, as he had not long ago.

He held out a newspaper to Alfred who took it. The name of the printing company was not familiar to him, but he shrugged and looked for whatever it was that should explain all this.

His gaze fixed on the bold headings on the front page.

Raids in the North Weaken British Hold.

Alfred's eyes widened as he looked at another heading..

Southern Colonies Issue Demands to the King.

No wonder Arthur had been so angry. Though he wondered why he hadn't known about this before Arthur and his soldiers had. Usually he could feel when something was happening. Or maybe he had, and it'd simply been more subtle than what he was used to.

Alfred smiled and thanked the man as he gave him back the newspaper.

He turned and lead the mare away from the crowd so he could get home before Arthur found out he was missing.

A man bumped into him rather roughly, shoulder forcing Alfred back a couple of steps. "H-Hey!" Alfred frowned at the rude man who stopped and eyed him. He then smiled widely and patted the pocket over Alfred's chest before walking off.

That was strange...Alfred shook his head and took a few more steps - Wait a second. Alfred reached up and pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of the pocket the man had touched before.

He carefully unfolded it and walked over towards one of the many contained fires to better see.

America,

It was a relief to see you alive, but circumstances prevented any of us from reaching you. You should know that the war isn't lost. Don't believe what that red coat tells you, it isn't.

We're ready and willing, and have a plan.

Please memorize the address below and then burn this letter. We'll be there tomorrow eve. The sooner you can get there the better.

It wasn't signed but Alfred could feel the warmth bubbling up inside. His delegates lived yet, and continued to hold true to their beliefs. Alfred felt like dancing, but he couldn't draw attention to himself.

So he burned the note as instructed and jumped into the saddle with more hope than he had dared to feel in years.


TA DA. In case you're wondering I see Alfred's home being just outside Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. :D HUZZAH.