~I knew what was happening but I did nothing to change it. The proof was right there in front of me.

My love was in trouble but I didn't notice.

~I was an idiot. I can't believe I didn't see it. I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED.

But he wouldn't have told me anyway...

~Peter tricked me. It wasn't my fault; it was his fault. I didn't do anything to cause this.

But I should have seen it.

~He was hiding it from me.

I still should have seen it.

~He didn't trust me enough to tell me even though I trust him more than anyone.

But he didn't tell anyone.

Alfred F. Jones

Montreal, Quebec

October 23, 2163

I spotted England just before the first world meeting, but at first I wasn't sure it was him. He looked like death; dark circles under his eyes, his skin was even more pale than it usually was, his hair was dull, even his eyes were dull. He didn't notice me at all and he sat on the edge of his chair, as far away from Sealand as possible. I was a little worried about how he'd been covered in bruises and bleeding (BLEEDING!) the last time I'd seen him.

I noticed that Germany was staring at him also, then I remembered that he and England had been an item a few decades back. That was a bad time for me. Germany suddenly stood up, walked around the meeting table and tapped me on the shoulder, "Kommen Sie. Ich habe einige Fragen an Sie, was ist los mit unserem lieben England... (Come along. I have some questions for you about what's wrong with our dear England...)" He said, his eyes commanding attention.

I sighed, "Whatever-," I began, then I stopped. American teenagers are affecting me again, I thought. I grinned, "Natürlich, was Unternehmen haben Sie mit der Hero, und was wollen Sie wissen? (Of course, what business do you have with the Hero, and what do you need to know?)" I said.

Germany took me by the hand and led me into the hallway. Once we were away from prying eyes he told me about what he had noticed. He told me about what he'd heard from Russia (who had been spying on England).

"Ivan has been vatching Peter from outside the vindow and he told me something peculiar... He told me- Ivan erzählte mir, dass er Peter Vergewaltigung Arthur sah...(Ivan told me that he saw Peter rape Arthur ... )"

I felt my eyes widen, and my voice came out as a low growl, "He did what?"

"Ich weiß, das ist was ich sagte zu. Offenbar vergewaltigt Peter Arthur ihm zeigen, wie viel leistungsfähiger er ist, zu kaufen. Ich denke, dass Peter ihm brach, schmerzte ihn über jemandes Fähigkeiten zu beheben. (I know, that's what I said. Apparently Peter raped Arthur to show him how much more powerful he is, now. I think that Peter broke him, hurt him behind anyone's capabilities to fix.)"

"Broke him..." I asked, my eyes wide.

"Er ist Gewicht zu verlieren schneller als Sie es jemals tat. Er fiel vor diesem Morgen, und wenn ich half ihm sah er aus wie er über sich zu übergeben wurde. Seine Hände waren so kalt, und wenn er mir wegschieben wollte, schiebt seinen schwach waren... (He's losing weight faster than you ever did. He fell down outside this morning and when I helped him up he looked like he was about to vomit. His hands were so cold, and when he tried to push me away, his shoves were weak...)"

I felt my heart sink, "What did he say...?"

"Als ich ihm geholfen bis er 'Oh, god, no...' gesagt und dann, als er zu Fuß entfernt, hörte ich ihn sagen 'I'm okay, I'm okay, It's not Peter, and that means that I'm okay.' (When I helped him up, he said 'Oh god, no' and then as he was walking away, I heard him say 'I'm okay, I'm Okay, It's not peter, and that means that I'm okay.')"

"...I was right, it was Peter."

"Vhat was Peter?" Germany asked, "Alfred, vhat are you not telling me?"

"Sealand... Peter has been abusing Arthur. That's the reason that he was covered in bruises, that's the reason he was scared of you; he wasn't scared of you, he was scared of your blond hair. That's the reason that he's scared of Peter. If Seala- Peter really raped Arthur, then we need to get him back. He's lost."

"Alfred... if he needs someone to get him back, then ve can't do anything."

"WHAT?" I shouted, shocked.

"If he needs someone to get him back, then ve can't do anything because he's not in love with either of us; at least not anymore." Germany sighed and continued, "Besides, if it is as you say and he vas afraid of my blond hair, then, by the same token, he vould most likely be afraid of blue eyes as well. In case you hadn't noticed, ve both have blonde hair and blue eyes."

"Then we may need a miracle, and, if we're gonna borrow a miracle, we need to do it soon."

"How do you borrow a miracle?"

"From Finland, of course!"

"That's not vhat I meant, Dumm Kopf."

"You go to Finland, and ask Tino if you can borrow a miracle; Whether you get one, however, is dependent on whether you're pure of heart or not, though, these days, no one is pure so Tino changed it so that if what you'll use the miracle on is unselfish, you can have one for 14€ and some change."

"Are you serious?" Germany's eyebrow twitched. "That's all it takes to get a miracle?"

"Yeah."

"Mein gott..." Germany muttered, "Let's go and talk to Tino then..."