Saturday

Luxembourg hurried down the front walk of Britain's home. She couldn't wait for them to hear what she had planned for today. She knocked on the Victorian front door. Less than a minute later, Sealand answered the door.

"Hello, Miss Victorica!" the young boy greeted with a huge smile full of anticipation for what the day would bring. "Good morning, Peter." Britain came up behind the boy. "Good morning, Victorica, you look exquisite today."

"Thank you, Arthur, and good morning to you," Luxembourg greeted back. "Join us for breakfast," suggested Britain, "it's still early." The woman smiled. "I would love too."

The three were at the dining table sitting to a breakfast that the maid had whipped up earlier. Ever since Peter started complaining about Britain's food, he had gotten a maid to cook and help with the house chores since there was a child now residing in the house.

"So, Victorica, what do you have planned for us today?" asked Britain. "Well, I was thinking last night and the perfect thing came to mind," she paused for a moment. "A day at the zoo!" Sealand beamed. "That sounds like so much fun!" he cried out, jumping from his seat and nearly spilling his juice and milk.

"The zoo? Are you serious?" asked Britain, as if his friend was joking. But he knew she was being serious, that would explain why her outfit today was so casual; a simple lilac sundress with tan flats, and her blond hair pulled back with a headband.

Luxembourg gave him a sideways glance. "Sorry if it's not to your liking, but trust me, you won't find it so bad by the end of the day, Arthur," she explained. Britain just sighed and resumed eating.

"Wow, it's so big," Sealand awed as he looked up at the front gate. It was made out of cast iron with bars placed to form a cylinder on each side. It was decorated with spiraling vines and leaves also made from cast iron. The young boy had a point to awe.

Luxembourg smiled, glad that Sealand liked it so far. "Well, if you're impressed by the front gate, I can't wait for you to see the inside," she commented. The boy was about to go running in before his older brother took a hold of the back of his shirt. "Hold on a second, the whole point of today is to spend quality time together," scolded Britain. The British man had been persuaded to change into more casual clothes, much to his dismay. Luxembourg had found khaki pants, a light green polo, and sneakers, the best she could find in her friend's closet.

"The whole reason for today would become pointless if you ran off on your own," he continued. Sealand pouted. "But you'll just slow me down," he complained. "I want to see all the animals."

"Calm down, Peter," interrupted Luxembourg, "we'll have enough time to see everything."

They walked in and first headed toward the lion habitat, which was put front and center right after the front gate. Sealand began to shake at the sight of the large intimidating predators. "W-wait, why d-don't we start with the monkeys or the polar bears?" he stuttered out. The young boy reached out for Britain's hand, which was pulled away. "Don't be so childish, there's nothing to be afraid of," lectured Britain. He received a good smack to the head from Luxembourg.

"That is no way to talk to him when he's afraid," she scolded. The petite woman placed her hands on Sealand's shoulders. "Like your brother said—except not as harsh—everything will be alright, they can't hurt you," she reassured the boy. Sealand nodded and walked toward the habitat.

Britain followed after his younger brother, but Luxembourg held him back. "Hold on, Arthur," she said as she grabbed his arm. He sighed. "Are you going to scold me more?" he asked. Luxembourg frowned a bit at the hint of sarcasm. "No, I'm just going to ask for you to at least try to make this weekend work." She let him go. "Peter is still a child and he has an older brother, and that brings with it some responsibility for the older brother."

Britain watched her walk off towards Sealand. He heard her tell the boy, "See, there is no reason to be scared." Although it wasn't that he didn't try. It was just that he didn't really know how to be an older brother. And it wasn't like he had the best role models…

"So far we've seen about more than half of the zoo, what's next?" asked Sealand as he looked up at Luxembourg as she took a bite of her apple. It was well into the afternoon and the trio was taking a break and having a small snack. She swallowed the bite before answering. "How about the kangaroos, have you ever seen one?" she asked. Britain stiffened at the name kangaroo.

"I've read about them, but I've never seen one in person," explained Sealand.

"Well then, we'll see them next when we're done here," said Luxembourg with a smile.

"Why don't you two go see them," suggested Britain. "I'll wait for you two here since Peter seems to want to see them so badly." Sealand smiled and patted his brother's hand. "Don't worry about me, I can wait for you." Luxembourg and Sealand were oblivious to Britan's dilemma.

Britain's mouth twitched into a smile. "…Thank you… Peter," he forced out.

When they finished eating and cleaned up, the trio searched for the kangaroo habitat on the zoo map. Luxembourg thought for a second that she saw Britain glare at the picture of the kangaroo on the map, but it was only a second and thought it was just the glare of the sun.

"Here they are, Peter," announced Luxembourg as they walked up to the railing of the kangaroo habitat. At the moment they could see only two, but that was enough to get Sealand excited. "Wow, they look so cool. So do any of them have a baby in their pouches?" Sealand happily asked. The boy remembered something then. "Hey, Arthur, didn't you go to Australia once to—" Sealand stopped when he saw that his brother was glaring into the habitat, or more specifically at one of the kangaroos. "Are you okay, Arthur?" he asked his brother. "Why are you staring at that kangaroo like that?" asked Luxembourg when she noticed Britain's glare when Sealand pointed it out.

Britain answered them through gritted teeth. "I never cared much for those bloody marsupials."

Sealand and Luxembourg stared at him. "Did something happen?" asked Luxembourg.

"Let's just say when I went to Australia a while back I had some trouble with a kangaroo," explained the glaring Brit.

The kangaroo turned its head and locked eyes with Britain. Tension started to build around the animal and the man. It became obvious that there was something going on.

"The blasted animal is mocking me, isn't it?" asked Britain to no one in particular.

"Alright, Arthur, let's go somewhere else," said Luxembourg sternly as she grabbed his arm.

As soon as Luxembourg tried to pull the man away, the kangaroo turned away from Britain. "Don't you turn away from me!" he shouted. Not only did the kangaroo look back at him with a fighting look in its eye, but other visitors stared at them as well.

Luxembourg pulled on Britain's arm harder. "That's enough, Arthur."

The kangaroo raised its arms with its hands curled up into fists. "That's it!" Britain jumped over the railing into the habitat.

"Arthur!"

"As long as he stays away from the zoo everything should be fine," explained the officer. Luxembourg was at the front desk of the police station after Britain had been taken away by the police the zoo keepers called before breaking him and the kangaroo apart.

"Thank you, that can be easily done," she thanked the police officer. Luxembourg walked over to Sealand who was sitting in a chair by the door kicking his feet. The boy had been laughing hysterically when he saw his brother fist fighting with the kangaroo. "They'll bring Arthur out in a minute," explained Luxembourg. "I'm sorry that the day had to be ruined."

Sealand looked up and smiled. "It wasn't ruined. I was having a good time, and seeing Arthur fight with that kangaroo was really funny, even though he got in serious trouble for it."

It was then that Arthur was escorted out from the back of the station with a sour expression. "Here he is Miss Duprelle, we've already explained to him the conditions," explained the officer Luxembourg had talked to.

"Thank you, officer." Luxembourg grabbed Britain's arm. "Let's go, Arthur, I've filled out all the paperwork." The officer tipped his hat at her and walked back to the desk. As soon as the cop was a safe distance away, Britain sighed heavily. "Honestly, arresting me for getting into a fist fight with an animal," he complained.

"Stop, you are the one who lost his temper," chastised Luxembourg. "Besides, don't you owe someone an apology?" She glanced at Sealand. The Brit looked at his brother, shame starting to set in. "I'm sorry, Peter, I ruined our trip today," he apologized. The boy didn't show any sign of disappointment. "It's alright, I had fun." Britain smiled at how happy his young brother looked.

"Well then," started Britain, enlightened by his brother's smile, "how about I take you for some ice-cream to make up for cutting the day short?"

"Yes! I want a sundae!" cheered Sealand.

Luxembourg smiled, thinking that today was a success—less Britain getting arrested of course. She wondered what tomorrow would bring…