Hetalia isn't mine... neither is Gerard Butler...:(
As Alfred drove into Washington, a flood of memories came back to him. Like…D.C. traffic. And the fact that if they went to the Witness Protection first, he and Arthur would never be able to take care of the second part of their trip. Witness Protection would see to that…
He looked over at Arthur, who was asleep, the map unfolded over him as a blanket. Alfred had told him that he knew a short cut, but having not driven the roads for over 15 years down here, had driven through a cow pasture where his old dirt road shortcut used to be, swallowed up by grasses. So, he and Arthur spent an extra half an hour getting back on the main road, and actually did save ten minutes from the trip… that Arthur used to use the bathroom. Alfred had told him not to drink that much tea at the last rest stop, and to go before they left, but was he listened to? No…
Arthur now was blissfully unaware that Alfred had changed course, heading for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Arthur woke up when he felt two lips press to his. His eyes fluttered open to see a smiling American looking at him.
"Change of plan, Artie! Come on, they don't like it when you park on the main drag, so we gotta walk." Arthur confusedly sat up, the map, which had long been forgotten on his lap crinkling.
"What? The Protection Agency doesn't let you park in front of their office?"
"No, silly! But if we go there first, they'll block us off from the big cheese. Now come on!" Arthur got clumsily out of the sedan, stumbling and falling over the map into America's chest, who was holding the door open for him, blushing as the man laughed and embraced him.
They dumped the map back in the car, and started walking, Arthur still confused as to the destination. Then he saw the street sign. Ugh.
They walked up to the security gate, and America pressed the button.
"State your business."
"Yes, I'd like to see a Mr. Ted Griffith."
"He retired from the head of security seven years ago. State your business."
"Who is in charge now? Frank? Bob?"
"Sir, that is classified, if you call our toll free number, we can get back to…"
"Tell who ever is your head of security that a Mr. Jones and a Mr. Kirkland would like to see him." Arthur interrupted the man rudely, not liking how this whole conversation was turning into a headache. This had to be a new guy, because there were obviously cameras watching them, and any guard of substantial years would have recognized him, if not Alfred, who was wearing his bomber jacket.
They heard nothing, and Alfred started to wonder if the man had just ignored them. Then a man came strolling out from a door down the wall, and Arthur looked over at Alfred, to see if he recognized the man, but saw Alfred had on another pair of sunglasses, and was looking away. Godammit, Alfred, I'm getting rid of all these sunglasses when we get home!
The man was looking at them, suspicious. The gate surveillance man was behind him, waiting to see what the two young men wanted. The man who'd been called out had a badge on his breast, and he instantly recognized Arthur.
"Mr. Kirkland! What brings you back? I have not heard of any business with the President. Who is—" Alfred looked over at the man, catching his eye over the sunglasses. "Oh my god, Alfred, is that you?"
Alfred removed the sunglasses and stepped forward, shaking the guard's hand. "It's been a long time, Greg." The gate surveillance man looked confusedly back and forth between Alfred, Arthur and Greg. "I'd like to see the President, if you don't mind. Have some very important business, coming back to life and all."
"Jeff." Greg called to the surveillance man, who promptly came forward. "Get these men some refreshment. Al, some coffee? Arthur? Oh, that's right, Earl Grey." He led them in through the front gate, and Jeff gaped behind them, but went off to fill the order.
Greg led them up the slope to the White House, and down to the West Wing and the Oval Office. He knocked three times in a syncopated pattern.
"What is it, Greg?" A voice came from the office, and Alfred reached into his pocket, and found it empty, Arthur holding his sunglasses.
"No more of this drama Hollywood shite. This is your boss." Alfred nodded, reluctantly. His sunglasses always made him feel more confident about things, but, whatever.
"A Mr. Arthur Kirkland and a Mr. Alfred Jones to see you, sir." There was a pause, before the okay was given, and Greg opened the door.
The president was a tall, slim, middle-aged man with brown hair, and America remembered seeing him on television. He was looking straight at them as they walked in.
"So he is real. I thought it was just a legend of Presidents of years passed." The man got up, and walked over. "You're Alfred?"
"Alfred F. Jones, sir. Don't I look good for fifteen years dead?" Alfred stuck out his hand, and the President shook it heartily.
"There is a photo of you taped into one of the drawers, put there after your apparent death, in case anything should arise like this. You look exactly like it. Do your kind…regenerate after death?"
"Well, I don't know, you see, as I never actually died. We came down to see you, and to figure out this mess with the Witness Protection Agency, which lied to me, Arthur, the countries, you, my former boss…everyone."
"Well, it will be good to have you back, Alfred, it's a pleasure to know you and work with you." He paused, greeting Arthur and signaling Greg out of the room. He gestured for them to sit down. Then he looked curiously at Alfred. "Is that cowlick really Nantucket?" He flicked it, promptly making Alfred go beet red.
"Erm…yes…haha, and these are Texas." He pulled off his glasses and handed them over to the President to have him take a look.
Arthur had a grin on his face ever since the president flicked Nantucket, but finally turned his face serious once more. "I think we really need to get to the bottom of this whole Witness Protection deal."
USUK
"What?" Alfred starred down at his Witness Protection agent of so many years. "You mean, I…I WAS A DAMNED COVER-UP?"
"Well, sir, it was for your safety…"
"SO YOU PULL SOME HALF ASSED CRAP CONVINCING EVERYONE I WAS DEAD INSTEAD OF TAKING CARE OF THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM? YOU LET A RAT GET AWAY WITH LITTLE TO NO INVESTIGATION?"
"Sir, we believed it was in your best interest…"
"MY BEST INTEREST? You let a rat go in the system, endangering me and every other country out there, all of which, with the exception of Italy, know secret information that could be deadly if ever in the wrong hands, and YOU LET HIM GET AWAY?"
"We were under fire for the scandal of your existence, so we took care of you the way Witness Protection always does…"
"And cost me 15 YEARS OF MY LIFE? You led me to believe that all I had known was a lie, to start my life over again. And, after 15 years of this, you never took care of this? I DON'T DIE, YOU KNOW!" Alfred felt a hand on his arm.
"Alfred, honey, this woman was simply the pawn in all this, she doesn't deserve all of the blame." Alfred sat down in the meeting room of the Witness Protection building, after being dropped off by the President's limo. "Remember, now this agency is going to be investigated, and you no longer are under their care."
Alfred couldn't believe what they'd done. When they'd figured out there was an informant in the system, they tried to find him, but couldn't see green from red to black. So, as a last ditch effort, they simply covered everything, spreading lies over the whole case, and sweeping it under a rug, never to be brought up again. It was a half assed effort on their part, and the CIA's, and with the rat still out there for the past 15 years, all the country's lives had been in danger. And the WPA tried to just explain it all away. Alfred was furious to say the least.
He stalked furiously out of the building, and Arthur followed him. He too, was mad, but kept his cool to try and manage Alfred in his volatile state.
As they drove home, a tear ran down Alfred's face, escalating into sobs, and he pulled to the side of the highway, Arthur reaching over to hold him.
"All those years lost, just because of those stupid people, in my own government. And you were in danger the whole time…god, Arthur, think of the lives we could of had now…"
"And think of the lives that wouldn't be in yours! You wouldn't have a daughter, soon to be married, you wouldn't have a future son in law! When one door is slammed shut, someone opens a window. Remember that, and also that I love you, and that we're getting back on track. We have eternity and beyond. We get to see Anna's family grow, we get to reunite our own, original family, Alfred, I love you, and we're going to do this together." He kissed Alfred's lips softly.
"How did I ever make such a good catch?" Alfred hugged his Brit tightly, and they headed home.
Author's note: I am disappointed in you guys! Here I am, slaving over a hot computer, and what do I get?
REVIEWS ARE LOVE! I thought we had love!(jk)
People from Switzerland drive crazy. He drives down the road, and when he sees a pot-hole, he yells "POTHOLE!" and swerves around it like Banshee...
So, I asked you guys if you hand any ideas for a one-shot, and I got two replies (seriously, I was disappointed!). One, from Empress Vegah, for an awesome angsty fic, and the other from fricking ray of sunshine, for a Ruscan based off of this story. The angsty fic is done, and there is a link (read the article that is also linked, they are both amazing, and the story is based on the article...) and the Ruscan is in the works, but I thought I better write this chapter first.
Any more, ideas?
Answer my poll if you haven't already.
Fun Fact: Thomas Jefferson wasn't invited to George Washington's funeral due to his attacks on Washington's character.
Links:
http: / www. bbc. co. uk/ news/ uk-politics -13519456 -read before angsty fic (amazing article that personifies America and England from the BBC)
http: / / www. fanfiction. net /s/ 7036138/ 1/ The_Essential_Relationship -Angsty fic (USUK) (short one-shot that has nothing to do with this story)