Hey guys sorry about the delay. It hasn't been a month yet, right? Well I really have no excuse but... this is what I was listening to when I wrote the next chapter I will never( be your friend) by Irish stew of sindidun It blocked out the TV downstairs and kept me from focusing on my families antics and kept me in my zone so be grateful to the song even if you don't like it. It brought you the next chapter so don't be ungrateful!

Enjoy!

My head spun from the unexpected movement as America was nearly instantly staring me down. His expression was dead serious and that honestly scared me. Not necessarily for my own safety, but the child. The last time I had seen him so serious he had practically ejected me from his life and took his freedom. This little connection set off little alarms. Little England was in danger. He was in danger and I needed to protect him. I needed to-

"England."

The grip on my shoulders tightened as he practically hissed at me. His voice unnecessarily and oddly quiet. My heart was pounding. My breathing shallowing. Muscles clenching as my eyes wandered to the staircase.

"Snap out of it."

My eyes locked with his as he shook me to gain my attention. However I'm sure it wasn't the attention he wanted as I was judging his 'threat level' along with the frogs. He was strong. No doubt about that. He was much more of a threat than the frog could ever be. I needed to find a way to at least stall him enough to get the child out of here. He needed to be safe. He was always top priority.

"I need you to fight this. I can't help you unless you do a little for yourself. Just put up a little resistance and then I can fix this. I can save you."

Save me?

"I don't need saving."

"Iggy, you're dying. You need help whether you believe or not."

"I do Not need saving from that child. He needs saving from you." My dull if slowly graying emerald gaze darkened.

"I am not going to lose you to this just because you're being stubborn." He glared back without fear. "That thing has no right to take you from us and I won't let it."

"And what right do you have to decide what is best for me, you selfish brat! He is my child. He is Mine and only I get to decided what he can and can't have. Only I get to decided what to do with him."

America gave a rather bitter laugh. "Selfish? I'm being selfish? You're the one who's being selfish. Just deciding to leave Everyone without so much as word. What did you think that everything was going to be just fine and dandy after- You can't just decide to kill yourself. What are your people going to do when you're gone? What are the other nations going to do? What am I supposed to do? What about me, dammit?"

"Since when have you ever cared about me? No one has ever given me a second thought. All I've ever gotten was betrayal. Pain. Unless they want something from me I might as well not exist at all and that includes you. What is the point of going on like I have been when everything just keeps getting ripped away from me? What's the point if I keep getting left? I may as well give the child a chance to fix all of this. He can do this country good and he won't be taken from me as well. He's all I have left and I won't allow you to touch him."

I shoved away, nearly falling due to my own unsteadiness as he seemed genuinely hurt by my spiteful rant. Good. If felt good to have some power back for once. He deserved it for threatening a childs life.

"I… I didn't… I'm sorry."

"America, don't listen to him. He isn't thinking clearly. He wouldn't be saying this if that leech wasn't around." France intervened with the same harsh tone as before. "We can't waste time trying to reason with him when he's like this. He's too far gone. The only chance he has is for us to get rid of it while it's premature. It's the only way now."

"No. I won't let you." I growled dangerously.

"America, I need you to keep Angleterre here."

"You are not to lay a finger on that child."

I turned my back to the stairs to stare both of them down. All self doubt seemed to be diminishing rather swiftly within the American.

I'll take care of it myself." France was then heading toward me or rather the stairs behind me.

I drew into a ready position. I needed to think of something fast. I needed to keep his safe. I- I needed to get to him. I turned to run. I only got two steps before I was yanked back rather roughly. France passed me and he took the stairs rather swiftly.

"Don't let him trick you. This is our only shot."

"France!"

I attempted to jerk out of the strong grip and follow him. I pulled several more times before I finally turned my attention to America.

"Let go of me! Can't you see what you're doing?! You're allowing him to kill a Child! You're killing a Child!"

I was breathing hard as I struggled and clawed at his grip on my arm. I could practically feel the frenchmen drawing closer to my child. He was in danger and I had to save him.

"He's going to Kill him! I thought you were supposed to be a hero! Do heroes in your country let innocent children be slaughtered like cattle?!"

"Arthur, stop it."

"You're the evil ones! Not me! No one good could ever allow this!"

"Arthur."

"I should have just let France take you that day! It would have spared me a lot of pain!"

"Iggy, please. You don't mean it."

"Why does my Child have to suffer?! Why can't you just leave me alone?! Why can't I have just a Shred of happiness?!"

"I don't want you dead!"

"So you'd rather I suffer?! Is that it?! You sick bastard! I-"

I faltered. America caught me, but I was hardly aware of it. Just the soft relief that seemed to wash away the pain for the briefest moment. He'd been found. My struggling reawakened full force when little England called for me. He was panicked.

"No! Let him go! Let him go!"

America easily held me back.

"Let go you git!"

He started pulling me toward the couch.

"We're just trying to save you."

"Just let me go! Let me go so I can help him!"

Another clash between the pain and relief. I was starting to panic myself as he screamed for me.

"He needs me! He's so scared! Let go! Let go!"

I kicked and fought as he pinned me. He winced at the once kick that actually seemed to do something, but other than that all of my efforts were in vain. He was still alive. There was still a chance that I could save him. He was waiting for me to save him. I couldn't just let him down.

"He needs me! He needs me! You can't do this! He needs me!"

No matter what I did I just couldn't throw him off. I couldn't get free. I was tiring and my struggles failing. My child was being murdered and I was going to lose it all. Again. How much farther could I fall into despair? Then it all stopped. The screaming. I couldn't feel the pain anymore. I quit fighting. A sweet ease enveloped me. He was gone.

"No…"

America loosened his grip on my wrists.

"He can't be…"

My breathing hitched. I felt lost.

"No! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! How could you just take him from me?!"

I was crying now and for once I didn't care how weak I looked or what they thought. I had lost him and that was all that mattered. I had promised to protect him. I promised that he was going to go far and do great things. I promised him that he'd get to see the world and now he was gone.

"He was all I had! How could you?! How could you?! He was my Everything!"

America didn't seem to know what to say. I didn't care as I cursed them and sobbed myself to unconsciousness. To the most restful and at ease sleep I had had in a long while.

Don't worry it's not over. Yet.