Arthur Kirkland

Liverpool, England

December 24, 2163

I scowled slightly, watching children as I walked down the street. I felt irritated, but I thought nothing of it because it wasn't as if I didn't feel like that most of the time, anyway.

The meetings were over... I was alone again.

Though, I would've been happier if I actually was alone; My younger sister, Northern Ireland, had come to stay at my house (Peter's house, a voice in the back of my mind murmured).

Life was hell. I could remember all the way up to when Sealand took control of the United Kingdom and I felt like crying. I was utterly depressed because of it and would snap at anyone who dared to mention that Wanker or America.

...because America could've helped me.

I heard someone calling me and I looked up... it was Northern Ireland, of course. "Brother, what are you doing out here?" I knew that she wanted to ask why I was alone when she had given orders to all of our brothers that I was not to be trusted by myself.

They knew that I remembered Sealand's takeover, but Alex (My Sister) had told me that they didn't know how much of my slavery I could remember. She said that she thought I would be depressed if I remembered everything... I wondered why.

I smiled pleasantly, "I just wanted some fresh air, Alex."

"You could've just gone out to blow a fag on the back porch like you used to. America told me that you got started smoking again-"

"...that was a one time thing, Alex. Smoking is an expensive habit and I haven't the money to spare," I noticed that my legs felt shaky. My vision was swimming and I felt like I was about to pass out.

She sighed, "Always so critical. Come on, brother, you should get home. Sealand's waiti-" I fell to the ground, unable to move.

My eyes were open but I wasn't seeing the people bustling past, going about their business; all I could see was a dark room with blood spattered walls. I couldn't hear the chatter of the townsfolk... all I could hear was grumbled curse words. I wasn't on the sidewalk by a street in Liverpool... I was at my home in London.

I curled up as small as I could and I distantly heard someone calling me. I felt someone shaking me, but I shut my eyes tight, trying not to let my tears show.

"-lex, take him home. Pattie, go get china." a voice yelled.

I could feel my body shaking; I could see what had happened that night and I was unable to stop the memories from playing over and over in my head.

Someone picked me up and I almost screamed. I wanted them gone; I didn't want to remember, anymore.

I must have lost consciousness, because I woke up in my bed at home. I felt like I wanted to die... but Nations can't die. I didn't want to be home anymore... I wanted to run away and never come back... if I was to keep on living, I felt like I had to leave.

I sat up in bed when I heard someone moving outside my door. After a moment there was a knock at the door. "England, can I come in...?"

America...? "...go ahead. It's not as if I actually care."

He opened the door a bit and I heard a door chain being undone. I was somewhat irritated by the fact that I was locked in my room in my own bloody house, but I ignored my irritation so that I could find out why he bothered to visit me after the meeting.

"Uh, hey, Iggy..." he said, smiling slightly.

...I glared at him, "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to know if you were okay... Alex said you passed out in the middle of the street the other day."

"I'm perfectly fine. I only passed out because I haven't been alone since the end of the last World Meeting."

"...how do you pass out from that?"

"Because I actually need to be alone."

He was silent for a moment then he said, "...will you tell on me if I take you out of here?"

"No... who would I tell? The Faeries are gone, My siblings had me locked in here, and I have no friends other than you."

"...fair enough," he responded, shrugging.

After that, all I can remember is him driving me to a pub, and both of us getting drunk off our asses.

When I woke up, I was back in my room and I could hear my sister yelling.

"-OU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIM LIKE THAT?" I'd forgotten how loud she was when she was mad. Wondering what she was talking about, I listened in.

"I didn't do anything, I swea-" a resounding slap echoed through the house and I winced a bit.

"YOU LIAR! I FOUND HIM IN A BLOODY FUCKING HOTEL ROOM, YANKEE!"

America...?

"Dammit, I swear, I did NOTHING. If something happened to him, I had nothing to do with it!" America said, his tone sounding strained.

"A LIKELY STORY!" She shrieked. She dropped her voice a bit and I crept a bit closer to the sound. "...America, I like you, you know? ...and I also know that you like him and he likes you... but he's my brother and if you hurt him, I'll kick your ass from here to kingdom come. He's very fragile, like a glass figurine... if you aren't gentle with him, he'll break."

...they're talking... about me...?

"I... I know. I'm always careful around him. He was my older brother once, and I still care about him in a brother kind of way, but he's also England... he was Britain once, he was mine once, he was strong once. He's not as strong as he'd like the rest of us to think."

"True... I can see your relationship. It has many twists and turns, your soul thread... but I can see both ends; one end is tied around your waist... and one end is tied around his neck."

I went back into my room, my emerald eyes wide as dinner plates. So, America is the reason that I can't seem to die...?

I lay on my bed for a moment, wondering how long I'd been asleep, and then I sat up, staring at the calender I had. The date said... December 31st, 2163.

...a week has passed? I thought, still shaken up from what Alex had said, ...it couldn't be.

Weeks passed without much of anything happening, and I found that... I was starting to gain weight. I had been so thin before... and then I gained the weight back... then... What...?

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, noting little things that were different... some good and some bad.

...my eyes are more Lime now than Emerald... I thought, sitting on the counter, ...and there are dark circles under them... I shifted my focus from my eyes to the face around them. ...my skin is more ruddy... but it's also softer... I thought, absent-mindedly laying my hand on my cheek. ...my hair's shinier... and a bit long too... I should really get a haircut-

I shook my head and stared at my stomach, hello, what's all this then...? I laid my hand on it and tilted my head slightly to the side... a heartbeat...? My eyes widened, "I feel a heartbeat...?"

I slid from the counter to the ground and hurried down the stairs, quickly searching for either my phone or another nation, and praying that what I thought was going on, WASN'T going on.

~A/N- But, of course, we already know that it most certainly IS what he thinks it is! XD