Disclaimer: I don't own it. Really don't think I should have to put this anymore...
There was an accident on I-95, but that wasn't unusual. Arthur cursed under his breath at the stupidity of American drivers. He bearded his teeth in a primal snarl as he threatened to do some impossibly unpleasant things to the people who kept honking their horns, Evelyn rolled her eyes mentally at the other drivers as if honking would make traffic move faster. She idly looked past the sea of cars to the Virginian landscape beyond wondering if she could snap a picture of Arthur's snarl to put on her door for any wayward drunks late at night. This particular stretch of interstate was still more nature than suburbs and the trees were just beginning to turn for autumn.
"You know, for an almost immortal being, you have no patience," she said to the window watching as his nose scrunched like an angry bull dog.
Arthur snorted face relaxing though his knuckles turned white on the stirring wheel as they inched forward with the rest of traffic. "I have great patience—I raised colonies—just no time for idiocy." Arthur growled out in chopped sentences eyes narrowing on the road as he eyed the driver who was trying to cut him off in the non-moving traffic.
Alfred mumbled something that sounded like Arthur smacked him around the head when he was younger. Evelyn smirked choosing not to take the opening to tease him since she was busy pretending to ignore him.
A phone chirped and Evelyn looked at her phone frantically. She paused realizing the sound actually wasn't her ring tone, not that it stopped her from checking the screen to confirm it wasn't hers. She had thought she set it to vibrate this morning because of the meeting and she didn't recall to reset it after. There was no message however. Then Arthur reached into his jacket pocket pulling out a sleek smartphone and quickly checking it. His thumb flicked across the screen and over dramatic frown marred his features.
"Damn snail-eater." Arthur snarled like the bull dog he was trying to imitate. Evelyn face froze as she focused on the revelation that Arthur—Arthur "Old Man" Kirkland—had a smart phone, better yet he texted! She snatched it from his hand without thinking examining it closely. It was brand new! And a Samsung no less! Arthur snatched the phone back giving her a milder version of the face he had been making at other drivers. He quickly turned back to the road and his upper lip quivered as that driver who had tried to cut him off attempted to take the two inches that had appeared in front of the car as traffic inched. Evelyn continued to gape at him still perplexed by this new revelation.
"How do you have a smart phone, but no computer?" she finally asked her voice slightly accusing.
He shrugged finger relaxing as he lifted one hand from the wheel to flip of the driver who hadn't made it into the space in front of him. "It can do everything a computer can so why have two machines?" He would not admit to her that he needed Kiku to show him how it worked nor that the Japanese Nation often had the Kirkland brothers test his new technologies. After all, if they couldn't destroy it, it was very unlikely anyone else could. Patrick had taken the game systems with him during Evelyn's stay so she still didn't need to know about those either.
"It's easier to type on a computer," Evelyn argued. Ignoring the fact that she had just seen a grown man who concurred countries flip someone off twice in traffic. Once in the British version and followed it up with the California hello.
"Perhaps for longer documents, but I'm hardly called upon to write those anymore. Besides, I've found I think better writing with pen and paper." He seemed happier now that he had offended someone and could watch the driver in the other car though a fit out of the corner of his eye.
She slumped back in her seat as the traffic continued to inch forward. "Where are we going anyways?" she asked changing the subject since she was losing the argument.
"You'll see," Arthur answered.
Alfred laughed in her mind. And you call me the idiot! It's obvious where we're going.
Not to me it isn't. She replied sourly, but he refused to tell her anymore.
Hours and many useless threats later, they entered Williamsburg and Evelyn visibly perked up. Arthur skirted the town proper appearing to head towards the historical site. He ignored those exits as well and it finally dawned on the American girl with embarrassing clarity what Arthur was showing her.
A long gravel drive framed by woods led up to the stately manor sitting empty, almost expectant, on top of a small rise. The picture provided by the historical site did it little justice and Evelyn stared awed by the house. For a moment, Alfred's memories of the place overwhelmed her. There was a lump in her throat and her eyes welled from the force of the emotion. Alfred was incredibly fond of the place even though he had stayed away for decades after the Revolution. The fight with his father figure had cut him just as deeply, but he was just as proud and stubborn as the one who raised him and neither wanted to be the first to apologize so they continued to hurt each other instead. Evelyn mentally threw her hands in the air determining they were both idiots. The revelation drove home again just how very human these Nations were and she shuddered at how many wars in history were actually overblown family feuds.
Alfred winced. That makes us look like a bunch of assholes.
Yes, it does, Evelyn agreed neutrally, but that's part of being human I guess.
Hopping out of the car, they were greeted by a light breeze carrying the scent of the river hidden by another copse of trees behind the manor. Evelyn followed Arthur to the front door noting the nearby barn had been converted into a garage.
Stay away from my cars. Alfred growled in her head.
Not like you can drive them, Evelyn smirked back growing more curious. Besides, you don't even know if they're still there.
That set off what can only be equated to a conspiracy theorist's panic attack. Alfred went on about the different cars and the care he had put into each one before going on to berate the government for daring to take his property. He had rights damn it! He was there when Patrick, Sam and James came up with them so he knew them better than anyone. It was an affront to his very self! Then he started to lapse into the speech more common at the time of the Revolution and Evelyn dissolved into a fit of laughter. By this time they were standing in the middle of the horribly outdated living room with its dust covered furniture and Arthur turned to her in some concern.
She waved him off explaining between giggles. The Brit sighed rolling his eyes heavenward. "Your precious cars are still there git. Nobody's touched anything on this property since you up and died."
This only slightly mollified the near hysterical voice in her head who proclaimed, loudly although she was the only one who could hear him, that he would not be satisfied until he saw every last one for himself. Evelyn repeated this for Arthur's benefit silently pleading with her eyes. She loved old cars.
"You'll have plenty of time to look later. I want to show you the rest of the house first." He looked around at the covered furniture. Now that she wasn't distracted, Evelyn felt like the house was cold, haunted almost, and anything could be hiding under those sheets just waiting for the sun to go down to claw at her. It also smelled musty and dust swirled in the sun beams streaming through the newly uncovered windows. "Let's uncover everything as we go. There's no need for all this anymore." He grabbed the sheet from a nearby chair tearing it off almost gleefully.
"You planning on staying here?" Evelyn asked moving to the other chair to help.
Arthur snorted clearly conveying how dense he thought she was. "Not tonight. Things will need to be cleaned up first. I'll stay in one of the spare rooms when I visit, if you'll have me, but I thought you might like to move in. William and Mary isn't all that far so you could finish up your classes there. Not to be offensive, but this house is a fair sight better than your current residence even in its current state."
"It's not that bad," Evelyn defended the admittedly crappy apartment. She had seen a whole lot worse when they had gone apartment hunting last year. Their "current residence" was the best they could afford and, while it had a habit of leeching heat and the oven took forever to warm up, it at least didn't have bugs or mold or questionable stains everywhere. Then the full impact of the Brit's statement sunk in and she paused with the dust cover still in hand. "Wait, me? Move in here? Artie, I can't afford this place! Besides, it's a historical landmark."
He sighed turning to face her seriously. "You're going to have to get over that particular quirk. All of our properties are historical landmarks when you get right down to it." He thought about that for a moment and then added an amendment. "Except for France's. His houses have been destroyed—accidentally and maliciously—so many times I've lost count. Anyways, the property has been paid off for years and the taxes are waived for us. Besides all that, there is a certain status with being a Nation and your government will never take you seriously if you always look like a lost college student." He jerked another dust cover off the furniture turning away from her. His voice was a little thick when he spoke again. "I'll give you the deed once I find it again. Ask the idiot where he kept the broom. We might as well clean up a bit while we're here."
Evelyn suspected that giving up this house was hurting him more than he wanted to let on. She tactfully decided not to push him, however, retrieving the broom and duster from the hall closet. She still wasn't sure about moving into this house. It felt too alien or like she would be invading. This wasn't her house. It was too distinctly Alfred's.
You can change the furniture if you want, the ghost in question interjected. I'm not too attached to it and it probably smells like mothballs by now.
How nice of you. She responded sarcastically. Evelyn sighed trying to pull herself together. She had to be the strong one here. Arthur was a mess, or at least that's what she guessed since he hadn't turned to face her in a bit, and Alfred was looking at all the things that had made up his life and would never be his again.
A couple hours later, Arthur called it quits determining that it was too much for the two of them. "I'll take you back home then I'll find a professional cleaning crew for this." He threw down the dust rag, that was blacker than the blue it had started as, in some disgust leading her outside.
The sun was almost completely down and they both felt grimy. The garage caught her eye again almost immediately and she looked at Arthur pleadingly. Resigned, he tossed her the keys and, with a squeal of delight, she raced to the padlocked door. The door clattered against the wall as she searched for the light switch per Alfred's directions. Surprisingly, most of the bulbs still worked and Evelyn gasped at the treasure trove they revealed. All the cars had been covered to protect them just like the furniture inside, but Alfred's memories told her exactly what was under each. A '69 Shelby next to a '68 Camaro across from the '50's Mustang, all with racing stripes; there was a World War II motorcycle and a Depression-era Ford truck. There were more than that, but her brain was starting to short circuit.
Evelyn, Alfred cooed his voice sounding depressed. Evelyn, Artie… he trailed off. He gasped almost as if he was bracing himself. Evelyn you can't leave Artie alone at this house. Evelyn blinked at the concern in Alfred's voice. We can look at the cars later, but Artie gets really sad when he's left here alone and then it can get scary. Please Evelyn.
Evelyn took a deep breath once again remembering the impact of what was going on and how human the Nations were. "I've got Arthur," She whispered to him not realizing the promise she was making. She walked out the evening twilight framing the back of the house as the setting sun's rays brushed against her back. Arthur slowly turned away from looking at the giant maple tree in the yard.
Evelyn couldn't help the image Arthur made of a worried parent sitting on the swing on the porch. A worried parent who's kid had never come home. They looked at each other for a moment before the edges of his mouth upturned as he stood and moved towards her.
"If you're done gawking, we really should get going."
She couldn't help the smile that echoed on her own face.
"Can I drive this time?"
Despite the transfer of the property going slowly, the house in Virginia was cleaned and Evelyn had decided to suck it up and move in. It did help her decision when Jess got a paid internship in California with a Japanese company and Nina magically got accepted into a expenses paid exchange program to Spain. With all her friends gone, she couldn't afford the apartment and there wasn't anything tying her there. She could use the money she would have spent on furniture and business suits or whatever clothing she needed for the world meeting. She really hadn't paid attention to what the girls had worn to the meeting… then again she would rather buy furniture. That couch in the living room really was hideous and not even comfortable. Ugly comfortable furniture she could live with, but this couch needed to be burned.
She didn't have much to move since the last apartment came fully furnished. Everything fit into a rented car and she applied for a transfer to the College of William and Mary on a part-time basis. Surprisingly, a packet had come for her in the interim with a security pass that, the note claimed, would get her into any government building. The note was signed by an admiral who told her to call or stop-by if she ever needed help.
Evelyn sighed as she got out of the car. She had a day of moving in her clothes and random belongings then she would have to slowly unpack the boxes she had already moved in earlier. As she looked up from the gravel drive she couldn't believe she had missed two cars in front of her in the driveway. She paused almost as shocked at Alfred's silence at her own slip up. The cars had western state license plate like they were rental cars but one was completely dented up. She was starting to wish she had waited for Arthur, but he had had to go back to take care of government things he couldn't do on his smart phone.
Oh golly gee whizzers! She froze her mind not registering what Alfred had just said… and meant! She had never heard that phrase except for in jokes! Bug Out! Alfred cried. Bug out! When she just blinked he screamed, Run!
Despite moving to the balls of her feet she didn't move. Why?
Abort mission! Run for your life before it's too late! I'll explain when we're clear! This is worse than when the British were coming!
Before Evelyn could follow the advice of the voice of panic the front door banged open and a golden skinned woman in an emerald sari with jet black hair in a bun came out. Her eyes locked onto Evelyn more efficiently than a homing missile and a slow wide smile slid across her face. It was not an altogether welcoming smile more predatory like a cat going after the canary. Evelyn really hoped a pizza delivery guy was pulling up the lane behind her and that she wasn't the canary.
Run! You have the home field advantage, Alfred screamed in frantic horror.
"So you're the little girl everyone's talking about." The woman had a rich voice which cooed with a cress. She had that sound like she was greeting an old friend, but before Evelyn could focus the woman was right there next to her. She put an arm around Evelyn's shoulders and half-dragged the girl inside with a strength hidden by her petite frame. The door swung shut with a thud.
"I missed the last world meeting—they're so incredibly dull—and that half-witted Englishman has been actively trying to keep you from the rest of us, darling. He actually thinks we'll scare you off. I don't know where he got that idea; it's a little insulting to be honest." The living room passed in a blur as Evelyn tried to grind her heals into the carpet and escape. "So! We thought we would come and welcome you to the family, get to know you and all that." The woman spoke quickly barely giving Evelyn a chance to comprehend what she was hearing.
By this time they had entered the kitchen and the most incredible smells were coming from the pots on the stove and the back door was open revealing a very tall, tan man with brown hair cooking at a grill. Wait, she had a grill?
"It's nice to meet you, really," Evelyn tried to be as polite as possible while trying to disengage the woman from her arm. If Alfred was scared of this woman, it was best to be cautious, "But who are you and how did you get in?" Evelyn attempted to smile as she spoke to cover up her alarm at not being able to get the woman off.
She laughed. "You really are America, aren't you?" The woman spoke in a way that made Evelyn feel like a little dog that had just done something interesting. The woman hugged Evelyn suddenly imitating the style of the overly rich on television. "You're just so innocent!"
Evelyn pushed away quickly mildly disturbed. At least she had let go.
The woman laughed again. "I picked the lock of course." She gave a halfhearted conversational laugh. "Arthur had this nasty habit of trying to lock me up." She smiled at the girl.
"What?!" Evelyn choked out appalled. Her mind spinning with everything that was happening. The man outside turned around at the high pitched sound looking at the women questioningly. Now that she could see his face, he looked to be around her age…and would be completely cute if he hadn't broken into her house. Then again he was making food.
Don't think it. Alfred chimed completely dead-pan.
She waved it off. "It was in his Empire days, dear. He's much better now." She once again gave Evelyn her cat smile. "I'm India by the way, Laxmi, but most people can't pronounce it correctly and so everyone calls me by my Nation name." She had that look that said if Evelyn tried her name and botched it that she would eat Evelyn for a mid-morning snack.
"And I'm Joshua also known as Australia." Evelyn turned eyes going wide as she looked at him. His accent was to die for…wait, Australia belonged to the commonwealth, did that mean they were family? Ewww….
I told you not to think it. Alfred added.
"Pleased to meet ya, Sheila." He came in holding a plate laden with burgers. Evelyn felt it wasn't incest… was it incest? She was thinking too hard now. Cute guy with food not an option. It was a sad day in the neighborhood. "Chris, that's New Zealand by the way, is around here somewhere." He finished with a dazzling smile. So he was gay. Maybe she could analyze them and see how this went relationship wise. She had heard the good ones were gay or taken, sometimes both; never family. Wait, but New Zealand was part of the Commonwealth too…maybe she should just stop thinking for the day.
"It's Christopher," said another voice from the living room door. She jumped slightly startled by the voice. He looked similar to Australia, only shorter and not as muscular. More science geek and adorable in his own way. Mentally she labeled them the smart kid and the star quarterback. "The library is still lacking." He stated simply before sitting at the table grabbing some kind of Indian flat bread. And a bit of a jerk Evelyn amended mentally.
He's besties with Wales. Alfred spoke up. Good to have in your back pocket not a lot of countries notice him and he knows a lot. He's shunning you already because he thinks you'll over look him for the Aussie. She made a note to thank Alfred later and took in the table.
Evelyn remembered getting curry a couple times with Arthur in London, but she couldn't remember the names of some of the other dishes he ordered. Her best bet was going to be copying the others and hoping there wasn't different customs for men and women.
"I'm Evelyn and I'm working on my library." She felt a need to defend herself from this group. That and buy better locks. They just so casually invaded that she couldn't help, but think of it as an invasion of her territory.
They ate burgers and curry. It was an interesting combination, but not one Evelyn necessarily disliked. She had a weird feeling she was being tested or they were bonding she wasn't sure. India was happy to tell her to keep all the leftovers like it wasn't her house or that she didn't know they couldn't take it on an airplane. They asked her a lot of questions which bordered on interrogation, but they did it all so happily it was like a friendly family dinner from an old television show. All in all it was extremely awkward and she wasn't looking forward to a repeat performance. Evelyn sighed looking at the dishes from that meal already dreading the idea of washing them, but, with a wave of her hand, India ordered the boys to clean and swept Evelyn off to the upstairs.
"This house needs a woman's touch. America was terrible at decorating you know; too much English in him not enough French. Unless you believe the rumors and it's actually Spanish." She waggled her eyebrows at Evelyn as if she was telling her a great conspiracy. "You need more color, darling! Some nice curtains maybe and certainly new furniture. Oh, that bedspread will just have to go." She threw open windows and left drawers open in her wake as she moved through the rooms.
They entered the master bedroom. A four-poster king bed sat in the middle of the room with the windows on the right and the door to the bathroom on the left. At the foot was a plain wooden chest with several scratches covered by a dark stain. Across from that was the closet and armoire. The wood floor was covered with an expensive looking area rug. The bedspread India found so hideous was a faded blue with an American flag blanket folded at the foot. Evelyn had the brief thought that Arthur must've done it. The way everything was neatly pressed and folded reminded her of the rooms at his house in London. She couldn't see Alfred taking the time to make sure all the lines ran parallel like were.
Evelyn backpedaled. "I was just going to stay in one of the other rooms," she started quietly. "I mean, I don't have anything to fit a king bed and it just feels like an invasion of privacy with Alfred still technically around." She didn't think Arthur or Alfred could handle the finality of her moving into Alfred's room and making it her own.
India waved that off snorting at the absurdity of it. "The idiot's in your head sweetie. You can forget about privacy. He's there no matter where you go or what you're doing." Evelyn had tried not to think about that, but when it was rubbed in her face like that…
Why does everybody call me an idiot? I'm not that bad. Alfred protested.
"We just need to clear out some of this crap and make it your own. Oh, you don't know how good it is to have another girl around! Seychelles is a good girl, but she's a little too obsessed with fish to be honest." India took a lock of Evelyn's hair and tugged on it lightly. "You should grow your hair out just a bit. You would have so many more options."
Evelyn moved out of the woman's reach. "I really don't have the money to spend right now. One of the other rooms has a smaller bed and not as many…personal things." Evelyn tried to placate the woman. She really didn't want to air Arthur and Alfred's emotional baggage to her.
Once again, India waved her off. It seemed to be one of her favorite gestures. She reached into her sari pulling out a rectangular piece of plastic and dangling it in front of Evelyn's nose. "You just need access to the right account missy and I know just how much Arthur has in his emergency account." She smiled as if she expected Evelyn to bow down and worship at her feet,
Evelyn leveled an incredulous look at the Indian Nation. "You want me to steal from Artie? To decorate a house?" She couldn't imagine stealing… from the man who took her in when she was just a random girl off the street.
"Stealing is such an ugly word. You're part of the family now and this is what family is for, darling. If it makes you feel better, just pick out what you want and I'll do all the buying."
Evelyn tried to resist, really she did, but India didn't understand the word no and they ended up at the nearest mall. The American girl swore she would never ride with India again; where did the woman learn to drive? She also tried saying nothing caught her eye, but India started picking things out for her and Evelyn really didn't like some of her choices. Color was fine, but some of other Nation's picks were just too outlandish. Finally, they had enough to appease India, but Evelyn still winced at the bill. She would pay Arthur back…eventually.
Now she just had to find a way to get the car keys.
A/N: A wild update appeared! So this one actually had to be edited twice by my beta because the first one somehow got lost...and now India has a touch of Cruella de Vil about her...*sigh*
Historical Note: The names Alfred mentions are Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams and James Madison. The first two were leading Anti-Federalists (opposed to the Constitution) and Madison (a Federalist) was the one who proposed the Bill of Rights in order to appease the Anti-Federalists. I think America's Founding Fathers are far more interesting when you get into their real histories and not the propaganda they teach in public school. Seriously, go look up some of the stuff on Adams. The guy was a smuggler!
Thank you to everyone still reading. Reviews are loved!