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.

No. Not again. America practically flew off me when I set my hands on his chest. His eyes were wide and he hit the floor hard. I could feel the uncomfortable pressure that was already starting to build up. But I couldn't waste time. I needed to hurry. I was off toward the stairs before he could process what had just happened. However due to his endurance and reflexes he was quickly back up. I blindly lashed out as I started up the first steps. I didn't stop to see if he had dodged it or if it had made contact. All I heard was something, possibly expensive, breaking with a sharp snap. Upon reaching the top of the stairs I set another down with the same result.

Little pinpricks of pain and a much more thick cloud of sleepiness were making themselves known as I forced myself up the rest of the staircase. It took me far too much time to get to his room where I found France struggling with the child who was fighting for his life despite his injuries. I rushed forward.

"Get Off Him!"

The moment my hand made contact with his shoulder he was sent very roughly toward the wall where he hit with a solid thunk. He didn't get up like America had. I was never more grateful for force magic than I was right now. Quick and didn't take as much to cast. I turned my attention to the crying and whimpering child. He was bleeding and I needed to hurry. I needed to heal this. Healing spell. Healing spell. Think think. Come on you have to know at least one! I softly placed my fingers on the wound and he whimpered.

"Auxilio integro medeor. Confervo sana percuro colesco."

He took a firm hold of my shirt as the would slowly stitched back together. My head spun. Healing took too much energy and effort. I had to get him out before I had no energy to protect him with.

"Can you stand?"

He looked up at me with a tearstained face and nodded.

"Then lets go."

I took his hand and he followed without question. France shifted as I shut the door behind us. We moved quickly down the hall and toward the staircase. America blocked the path and I let go of his hand.

"When I tell you to run, you run and get as far from here as you can. Do you understand me?"

"Bu-"

"Do you Understand?"

He nodded and sniffled.

"Good. Find the Rights of the People Group and they'll help."

With that I charged America. One hand gripping my wrist as I prepared for the expected kickback. America easily saw it coming as I swung. He caught my arm, but I didn't need to make contact to hit him. The eject was force magic. Defensive. Just to push away close foes. Not not cause pain. We shot off in opposite directions. Both landing on our backs though America did so more gracefully. But he was away from the staircase.

"Run!" I gasped and he hesitated a moment before racing for the stairs.

His steps were clumsy and loud. I forced myself up and squinted to try and see more clearly. America dove for my child.

"No!"

I swung my arm and knocked the air out of myself as much as I did America and my sight left me. I bit my tongue as the pain grew. I couldn't see a damn thing and I could barely stand, but he was running and America was still a threat. That was all that mattered. So slowly stumbled forward, unsure of my own steps as I listened closely. Waiting for America's next move. He was getting up and probably looking at me. I kept my hand on the wall as I searched for the railing so I could guard the staircase.

He moved forward. I readied my hand. There was a pause and then America was coming at me. I sent a weak slash his way and he practically leapt to the right. There I sent another which he evaded again. Why did he have to be so agile? Several more attacks later and I heard a very close squeak and I whipped around. I cursed and blindly sent a strike behind me. How had I not noticed?

(Authors note! This is where it changes!)

France let out a gasp and I heard him slide into a wall again. However in my haste to take out France I had given America the opportunity to retaliate. I let out a mild sound of surprise as I was struck. I barely felt anything before my unseeing eyes shut and I lost touch with the world.