Warnings: Slight Yaoi, Implied Sex. Language, Hints to a third part.
If you had been at the world reunions, your heart would have been warmed to the core.
Everywhere, nations and parents were greeting their adolescents gleefully, fussing over their wounds and running kisses across their faces. (mostly Feliciano) The siblings of those teens were jumping all over them, crying and forcing them to promise they would stay with them forever; never straying off anywhere without their permission.
Aidan, at the moment, was being smothered by Altheia. Truth was, they had always gotten along the best out of their family, and he knew they were closest.
"Alaina's missed you." The girl breathed into his neck, fingers continuing to trace the curves of his head. He winced whenever she would pass a bump, but not mention it. It wasn't bad compared to the torture he had sustained in the past weeks.
"Really? She missed her psycho older brother?" He chuckled, shifting in his wheelchair. "That's a surprise."
"Dolt, we've all missed you!" Altheia, feigning irritation, playfully hit his shoulder and maneuvered herself off of his lap.
"I've missed you all, too. Really, I'm glad to be out."
"Good." Altheia huffed, crossing her arms and adjusting the glasses placed on his long nose so they wouldn't slip off. Aidan couldn't help but wonder how she had managed to look so much like Arthur, except for the gender issue, and manage to keep the same attitude, when all the other offspring looked so much like Francis.
He just assumed the birds and bees had many odd plans for them.
"So, where is mum?" Aidan asked, peering around the room. They were all in America at the moment, locked away in a meeting room at the white house.
The country hadn't failed to amaze the teens as they arrived, not catching glimpses of it on their way in. The bright lights had captivated their attention from the start, along with a Mc Donalds at every corner. It was just as their parents had made it out to be, except the wonderful drinks at Starbucks (which also monopolized many spots in the city) hadn't compared to many things in England.
Altheia turned her attention to a door near the side, shrugging helplessly. "I saw him go through there... maybe to change?" She nibbled on her lip instinctively, which signaled to Aidan that she was pondering an issue in her mind.
"Something wrong?" The boy asked, watching her with careful eyes.
"Aidan... while you were gone, Mum and I had begun to work on a spell. One to bring you back. Alaina played a big part in helping, since she seems to have inherited most of Mum's powers, but we accidentally created something bigger. It was cast on the diary in our basement. Just don-" To her dismay, Altheia was cut off by the big arms of someone double her height, that lifted her off the ground completely.
"RILEY! PUT ME DOWN THE INSTANT!" She demanded, truly not liking the idea of being touched.
"And her Arthur shines through." Aidan grinned, looking up at a smirking Riley. He strolled over to give Aidan a small bro-hug, and leaned against the couch arm to his right. Altheia had stomped off, hating the surprise of the much bigger boy, hoping to find her best friend, Jonaton.
"You look different. Maybe it's the scars that are now covering your neck and arms." Riley noted, violet eyes running over his body.
"You do, too. Maybe it's the fact that you seem happier." Aidan glanced over at Nikolai, whom was sitting on the couch, now dressed. He was sound asleep, head resting in Lukas' arms.
Lukas seemed content being next to Mathias for the moment, though it was inevitable he would push him off harshly at some point in time.
Riley followed his gaze, smile growing- if it was possible- while he watched his boyfriend in slumber. "...I've loved Nikolai for a while... but how was I supposed to tell him? I'm just happy we're finally together." He sighed dreamily, much like Antonio would have done, and rubbed a string between his index finger and thumb. "What about you and Maki?"
Aidan began to blush in the slightest, recalling their moments before being captured. They really had sex, didn't they? It wasn't like he regretted it, but it was so odd to think about.
"Aidan? Earth to Aidan!" Riley snapped in front of his eyes, withdrawing his attention back. "Why'd you space out on me?"
"We...erm...did it once..." Aidan blinked, averting his eyes to an interesting speck on the ground.
Riley was silent a few moments, before he began to snicker. "Are you serious? You actually did? How did he feel about doing it with sex addict?"
"H-Hey! I've never actually done it until that time! Th-those were just... you know... messing around and groping..." Aidan's blush deepened, and he whacked Riley across the back when he began laughing.
"I-I know, it's just, you're awkward about things." Riley grinned, seating himself on the wooden floor.
"And you've become a lot less socially awkward. What's that boy done to you?"
"Made me fall in love. Stole my heart. The usual."
Aidan couldn't help but roll his eyes, and despite himself, joke around with his long-term friend.
Arthur gently squeezed Francis' hand with a blush, thumbs caressing the top of his hand. He looked down at the cushion that was under his legs, eying the familiar couch. It was the one where Francis had announced he was impregnated; the one Arthur had jumped from when he was sick from the twins, back when he didn't know about them. It was where many bad and wonderful things had happened, especially a century ago... with Alfred...
But that would be saved for another time.
Francis smirked, planting his lips across the bare part of the Brit's forehead, nuzzling him lovingly. Arthur, to his surprise, didn't protest or squirm, though a scowl crossed his lips. He only wrapped arms around his torso, the red jacket's fabric stretching out around his figure.
Yes, he hadn't yet taken off his outfit.
Arthur was still fascinated with his pirate days, and this was yet another way for him to relive his past. A past he wasn't ready to let go of and hoped to tell his stories to his children just as he had for America. The only problem, was that, his children didn't quite know his secret at the time they would care, and he was certain they would only be bored by his stories at their current age. So he had kept them to himself.
"Remember the time Amerique was on your ship? And you were drunk that one night..." Francis trailed the length of his thigh, earning a small shiver from the smaller man. "Then you tried to seduce me? But you heard my accent, you were drained of your alcohol, and took of running?" Francis chuckled in his ear, biting the lobe.
"Yes, I remember quite well, Francis. Actually, it hasn't left my nightmares." Arthur smirked, pulling out of his grasp to kiss the Frenchman's cheek.
"Mon cher, that wasn't very nice~ Shall I punish you for it?" He murmured seductively, voice dropping an octave.
"N-not here!" Arthur protested, though it was plainly obvious that wasn't what he meant. But with Francis, you had to be sure.
"Eager, are we?" Arthur was pulled to his feet by the blond, directed out the door. He checked around to make sure no one had seen where they were headed, crossing his arms and acting displeased. Though, after years of practice, Francis had seen right through his little charade, and the fact that he was awaiting it only added to his glee.
"So you two are a couple..." Mathias observed, studying his son. Nikolai's fingers were intertwined with Riley's as they sat at the front of the room for all to see. Riley was a bit nervous, wanting the approval of Mathias and Lukas, but knowing he would have to deal with it if he wasn't able to gain their trust.
"Sounds good to me!" The Danish man clapped, sitting back in content. Lukas also nodded silently, fully trusting the silver-haired teen with Nikolai. As long as he didn't make a wrong move, he wouldn't have to send him to some distant land, right?
"What do you plan to do about seeing each other, aru?" Yao brought up, skeptically watching Nikolai. Though Ivan, Lukas, and Mathias were alright with the two being together, he was still being an overprotective mother.
"We could deal with that later... I just want to be with Nikolai for the moment." Riley smiled, ending the conversation. Several curious nations that had been watching turned back to talk/argue/annoy their neighbors, leaving the couple to talk more discreetly.
"What do we plan to do?" Nikolai asked, poker face in place. His voice rose slightly, so it wasn't exactly monotone, but it was pretty darn close. Though, it expressed more emotion then most cases before.
"We can worry about it later." Riley smiled in reply, face buried in his neck. Nikolai pushed him away, staring at him seriously.
"No. We can worry about it now." He shifted away from Riley, facing him completely. "It isn't like Maki and Aidan. We don't live a few hours away. You live in England, and my family moves around. We're sometimes in Denmark, sometimes in Iceland, sometimes in Norway; it depends on where my Mother's work brings us."
"Niky, do you not want to be with me?" Riley asked, hurt rising from his throat. From his point of view, Nikolai was making excuses not to be in a couple, and to separate. The fact made his heart drop.
"It's not that. I don't want to be left missing you. I don't want to be separated for long periods of time. I don't want to be left wondering if your being faithful to me, or if you still love me at all. I want to be able to see you when I want to... and you can't hold me in your arms over the phone..."
Nikolai looked up, hands in his lap, at the silent adults and teenagers watching them. (Except for Maria, who was talking mischievously to Catherine and Katia, which made Nikolai wonder what they had talked about that had gotten them so close so quickly.) He hadn't realized everyone else had gone silent, eavesdropping on their conversation like the curious beings they were. Nikolai's cheeks pinked, but the blush only continued to redden when Riley caught his chin in a hand, and pulled him into a kiss.
"I love you, Nikolai." Riley started, pulling away and staring into his sparkling eyes. He briefly wondered how they were such a beautiful shade of blue, but continued nonetheless. "And I would do anything for you. Whether it would be traveling half-way around the world because you want to see me, or if it was standing up the one of the scariest guys in America to save you." He chuckled a bit nervously, Nikolai lacking reaction.
If there was any time he wished the boy would show emotion, it would be now.
"And if you want to break up, I understand."
Nikolai winced in the slightest, though it was barely visible. He dislikes my conditions, He thought. Riley's going to break up with me...
"But just know, I'll never stop loving you. Ever. I only wish to make you happy."
"...Jeg elsker deg..." Nikolai breathed out, wrapping arms around Riley, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. "I-I love you..."
"AWWWWWWWW" The trio of girls fawned in the background, causing the others to laugh and start nudging each other with jokes, though Sadiq and Heracles began to argue, while Kiku tried to break up the fight and Alfred cheered them on.
Riley and Nikolai only pulled away and smiled.
"Bye, Aidan..." Maki sniffled, wiping at his cheeks. Tears had started to stream from his eyes, though it was understandable why. He refused to let go of Aidan as he was pulled away to the car with his parents, so they wouldn't miss their flight.
"Bye, Maki." Aidan smiled to himself as the car pulled away, humming a small tune of happiness, he turned around his wheelchair, coming face-to-crotch with Luciano.
"U-Uhm... Luciano? Could you move?" Aidan laughed, backing up and smiling up at the tall Brunette. He grinned back with an idiotic smile, and perched himself on a concrete ledge attached to the building.
"It feels good to love, doesn't it?" Luciano asked suddenly, taking Aidan by surprise.
"Y-Yeah... I guess. Why? Do you love someone?"
Luciano looked over at Maria, who was passing out books to Catherine and Katia in secret, though she felt each cover to determine which was which. "It's not exactly the same... but I'd do anything for Maria."
"You two are really close, aren't you?" Aidan inquired, watching the three with care. They were each their own person, but they all fit together perfectly, like a jigsaw puzzle.
"Si!" Luciano bubbled, giving Aidan a wide smile. We have to go in 5 minutes, so I guess this is goodbye?"
"We live in the same place, though."
"My Pappa suggested we go visit Spain for a while. So he can go finish business. While he does, my Mamma's taking me and Maria on a tour of Europe, ending in England when my Pappa comes back with is."
"Oh... so I'll see you in a few weeks?" Aidan asked, starting to ache. He wouldn't be seeing people in a while, would he?
"Probably around 3 months..."
"Ah..."
"Aidan, I'll be back~! Don't worry!" Luciano grinned, patting his back. "Besides, Isn't Katia coming back with you guys for a year?"
"Yep. Heracles is in some deep shit... so they're putting her with us. Along with Alfred. Damn, it's gonna be packed." Aidan chuckled, still slightly depressed. He just prayed he wouldn't have to give up his room, especially to Katia. Some of the pictures he had of Maki weren't exactly appropriate...
Which caused him to think he was growing to quickly for being 17.
"Luciano, are you moving out next year?" Aidan asked, matching his way of asking questions to surprise the other.
"Maybe."
"Do you think... because of what we've gone through... we might be growing up to fast?"
"It's possible..." He answered earnestly, suddenly reverting to the mind of someone ancient."But if we didn't grow up and advance, how are we able to slow down at any point?"
"True..." Aidan smiled wearily, wheeling himself inside. "Have fun on your trip. I'll see you when you come back."
"You too!" Luciano bid his farewell, smiling and kicking the concrete behind his legs. "I'll see you."
"I've gotta go now..." Maria sighed, sadness crossing her face. Katia embraced her torso, knowing she was going to miss her older muse.
"I'll miss you!" Katia frowned. Being a 10 year old city, she hadn't exactly made many friends. She hadn't aged a day since she was 9, for being a small city, and was still quite tiny compared to anyone she meant, which prevented her from meeting anyone new.
"I'll miss you, too..." The half-spanish girl sighed, turning to Catherine. "And you, of course!"
Catherine smiled, reaching out to give her a short hug. "If you ever feel lonely, call me. I promise I'll always be there to answer." She giggled, releasing her.
"Thanks." She sighed again, and pried Katia off of her. "So... I'll see you guys soon!" Luciano walked over to lead her away to the car, as she called her goodbyes to everyone who had gathered. Arthur and Francis stood side by side, watching them with smiles; Lukas in Mathias' arms; Antonio and Lovino climbing into the car; Ludwig and Feliciano kissing; Gilbert snaking Matthew into his grasp; and the teens laughing and clawing their ways to the front to say goodbye.
"BYE!" Maria cheered out the window, waving her arms madly. Luciano caught her as she was about to fall out, which caused her to giggle harder.
"Bye!" They all called out simultaneously, fighting their way to get attention.
"And shall we forever live in each other's hearts." Riley quoted from one of his favorite authors, and kissed Nikolai across the lips.
"Forever and ever..." Nikolai replied, giving a small smile, before pulling him into a kiss once more.
And that concludes this story.