Day 16- July 16th: Nighttime. Lights out! Anything is welcome, as long as it takes place at night and is at least somewhat relevant to it being as such. Whether they're out looking at the stars or inside the house, it's welcome.

Therapeutic things can come in many shapes and forms. It could be the night sky twinkling above one's head. Or it could be creaking from the mast mixed with the light ripples from the still ocean to make soft music. For the captain of the ship, it was all of these combined. He stood at the helm, watching as a few crew members that were still awake trudge around the ship. His eyes focused upon the endless void before him. His name was a pseudo one of Arthur, allowing him to bypass the trouble of explaining why he was really called England.

Then again, most humans couldn't comprehend England's existence. As it was, only England's royal family knew of his true nature; that and one crew member aboard the ship. At first, England was against having the other join him, but he had made such a fuss that England felt he had no choice but to bring the whiny colony along on the long voyage.

America wasn't used to being alone, not since England had come into the position of being America's caretaker. Of course England wasn't really America's caretaker, but some days he certainly felt like it. That wasn't to say he didn't care for his new charge, it was just tiring when America went out of his way to fiddle with everyone once on the ship.

England had his hands full controlling the curious boy, not trusting a single one of his men to handle America. Lord knows what they'd do. Possibly throw him overboard. Or worse. England shuddered at the thought of those hands touching his precious colony.

However, as night fell America had fallen asleep soon enough. England found his moment of peace. Under the blanket of the stars and moon, England let his head clear.

"Engwand?"

Said man turned sharply. He spotted a sleepy America at the top of the stairs, rubbing his eyes and losing a battle to fight back a yawn. England willed back the desire to roll his eyes and scold America for being awake. Instead, he quickly closed the distance between them and plucked America up.

"Go back to sleep," he said with forced patience.

"I can't," America whined. He clung to England with a sniffle. "It's too big by myself."

England sighed. "I won't have you sleeping with the rest of the crew. My quarters are safe enough."

America shook his head. "I can't sleep without you. I'm scared."

"Why?"

"Ghosts…," America whispered. He shivered after furiously looking around. He buried his face into England's pirate coat, gripping at the gold trim.

England laughed. The remaining crew members looked over curiously. It was unlike their captain to laugh. Then again, he had been acting odder than normal. He wasn't one to run after a young boy, keeping him close at all times, and scolding him like a father would a son. It was almost human of him, given that many crew mates murmured that perhaps he wasn't one, the way he was always so stiff.

England caught their stares and instead collected himself. America, however, pouted at England's reaction. He looked up, ready to start crying, but stopped short. His eyes grew as his mouth fell agape.

"Whoa… The stars are all different!"

England looked up as well. "Well yes, my boy. We are far from your home now. The constellations have all moved."

"I can't read these," America said with a frown.

"I'm not surprised. Did you teach yourself to read the stars?"

"Yup!" America sounded so proud of himself.

England smiled, somehow proud of him too. He sat America on the wooden wheels and placed his pirate hat atop his small head. He then pointed to the sky.

"Now, no matter where I am at sea, if I see that star there, I can find my way." England had pointed to the brightest star in the sky. "That's the North Star. If you find that then you can find any other constellation. It's a good starting point."

America looked at England in awe. "Engwand, you're so smart!"

England flushed. He pat America on the head, always grateful for these ego-boosting compliments. "Arthur. It's Arthur, remember?"

"Oh right! And I'm Alfwed!"

England patted America again. "Yes you are."

"You named me!" America chirped. "Why did you pick that name?"

For a moment England said nothing. He smiled at the stars, but America could tell it wasn't his usual smile. In the short span that they had been together America could already read England's moods by his smiles. Most of the times his smiles were patient and warm, drawing America to him. Sometimes they were calculating or stern, usually when he was leaving the New World, or when he received distressing news from his home. But this was a new smile. It was one America couldn't read.

"Arthur?" America asked. He grabbed his sleeve. For some reason, he felt that England might leave; vanish into the darkness and into that nostalgic smile.

England returned his attention back to America. "Do you see that star off yonder?"

"Yes. The bright one?"

"That belongs to the constellation Alfred. It was named after one of my greatest kings. I remember him very well."

America frowned, scrunching up his baby face. "But I thought you said King Arthur was the greatest."

"He's the greatest of legends, but Alfred was my greatest king I can recall vividly. I can remember him holding me and patting me on the head, like I do with you. I can't with Arthur so much. Just flashes here and there. Sometimes I'm not sure if it's a memory or something I put in there because there are so many stories."

"What was he like?"

"As kind as you are," England replied. "Also just as strong."

"Did he look like me?" America raised his chin and put his fists against his hips, a wide grin across his face.

England took America's chin. He turned it from side to side, pondering. "Not quite. But when you grow up you might get a strong chin like he did."

America giggled, his cheeks blooming red. "Haha! No way! I want to always have a baby face! You like that I have this fat face, don't you?"

"W-what makes you say that?" England stuttered. "I am a pirate! Nothing can tame my heart!"

"Nothing but me!" America flung himself from the wheel, grabbing England around the neck in a hug. "You love me, don't you?"

England laughed. He supported America against his chest, arms wrapping around him in a return hug. "Yes, love. You and only you."

"I want my own star!" America exclaimed suddenly. He crawled up to sit on England's shoulder. The oversized hat on his head drooped down into his eyes. Still, he tried to look up at the sky as best he could. "Do you have one?"

"Ah, well, legend has it that I share St. George's. But no, I don't have my own star."

"Then, let's name our own! Which one doesn't have a name?"

"Pretty much all the stars have names." England looked around. "We'll have a look later. For now, it is past your bedtime. Off to bed with you."

"Aww!" America whined. He tugged on England's clothes again, but England took his hat back. He put him back down on the ground.

"Do not whine. Off to bed with you."

America eventually scampered off to England's quarters. England returned to watching the skies. He briefly wondered what star he could name as his own, or as America's. A faint smile touched his lips at the thought of a star that could always remind him of America. One that could guide him across the oceans. Or offer him comfort when alone on long nights.

One star, though, just wouldn't be enough. England would have to take his time and think of the perfect star.

But as the years wore on, he found that it wasn't just one star that did the trick. It was any and all. They all reached out a hand for him, like America did upon his arrival back at the New World. All of them twinkled as brightly as America's smile. And every single one wrapped England in a familiar, calming hug. One that he was never used to before; before he met America. Now it was one he could live without.

Just like the stars, and America.

Hoshiko2's cents: Okay, I know for a fact there is no constellation for King Alfred or a star for St. George. However, let's just humor the idea that there is. I'm actually rather fond of this piece because when I went camping a few weeks back, the idea for this prompt came to me while under the stars. Plus, my name means "star child", so there ya go! STARS ALL AROUND!