Author's Note- Hey everyone, the story is rapidly coming to a close. After this there is only one more chapter and an epilogue. Hopefully I can end this story strong for you. But before we get to the chapter here a quick shout out to the people who reviewed the last chapter. Thank you NSIGirl, Mofalle, and kshima91, and of course a very special thank you to Pruhana for betaing this chapter. Their feedback on this chapter made it a whole lot better.

Disclaimer-I do not own Hetalia but I do enjoy participating in snowball fights.

Chapter 18- Disadvantages of Being a Superpower

America and Alaska bonded in Europe in a way they never managed stateside. In the new environment, the nation was able to see his state's attention to detail and function, while the state gained a greater appreciation for her nation's big picture mentality. Unfortunately even working vacations have to come to an end. Now the two were driving from the airport to America's old Victorian home and a comment that Canada had made two weeks ago popped into the nation's head.

"Is it true that you don't know how to drive?" America asked conversationally.

Alaska looked thoughtful for a few moments then spoke. "Depends how you define driving. I can fly a plane without any problem, I can pilot boats, and I am really good a mushing a sled."

"How about a car?"

"I haven't had the need to learn how to drive one of those yet…" The state admitted, then looked the nation suspiciously. "Why?"

"I think we are going to have to change that."

America had planned on buying a car for his second youngest state today, but the morning brought a light tickle in the back of his throat telling him that he was getting sick. Honestly, the pressure had been building for years now, people were not happy about the Vietnam War then there was the racial tensions created by the Civil Rights Act that had been signed into law two weeks prior. Still, Alfred had never expected these types of protests. He had never expected things to get violent in New York City. Things had gotten so bad today that he had gone home from work early. He had planned on curling up in bed for a few hours, but only made it to the den before his knees started to stop cooperating so he crawled onto the couch instead.

America dozed off and on in the dark room for a few hours. When he finally woke up at a quarter to eight, he felt almost strong enough to get up and take a shower before he ordered delivery pizza or something for dinner. But before he had a chance to move he heard a car pulling into the drive way and the click of the front door opening.

"I'm home." Alaska hollered into the quiet house as she closed the door behind her.

America tried to get up and move to the desk, but as he stood his vision grayed. The next thing he knew the floor was rushing up to greet him.

Alaska was hurting more then she would ever admit. The effort to rebuild many of her communities was painfully slow. With the summer half gone, it was clear that it would drag on at least one more year, possible two. Then there was the physical therapy. Every day she was forced to go to Bethesda medical center and run through a series of exercise. She knew that these workouts would help make sure her injuries would not cause her to lose any mobility, but she really hated the feeling of broken bones shifting across each other.

Today had been a particularly bad day. Heavy rains on the Kenai Peninsula had caused flooding and some of the temporary patches on the Seward Highway had failed. She was in rough enough shape after the physical therapy session that Virginia had decided to send her straight home afterwards. The older state had offered to get her settled in before she left to go back to work, but Alaska declined. She did not want to make her sister miss more work than necessary and she was perfectly capable tucking herself into bed.

"I'm home." She muttered to the empty house as she closed and locked the front door.

To her surprise she was greeted by a loud thud. Suddenly, she was regretting the fact that she was alone. Alaska was going to have to figure out who was in the house with her. Quietly tiptoeing towards the direction the sound had come from, she timidly glanced into each room she passed until she reached the den were she saw America sitting crossed leg on the floor. The man was bent over, cradling his head with his hands.

"Are you okay? Do I need to call Virginia or Delaware or one of the other states?" Alaska asked cautiously, as she sat herself down on the couch. She would have offered to help America up, but she knew that if she tried both the personifications would have ended up on the floor.

"I am fine." The nation said wincing as he rubbed his hand across the bruise forming across his forehead. "Don't call any of the other states. They have plenty of other problems on their plate and I have no intention to let them try to take on any of mine."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Do you mind leaving?" America asked tiredly. "I think I want to be left alone for a while."

Alaska nodded and wordlessly got to her feet and walked out the door. In the hall, she reflected on the fact that over the last few months she had been so wrapped up in her own internal issues that she had stopped paying attention to the people around her… She had been blind to her nation's pains and now she needed to find a way to make her guardian feel better.

For the last few months Virginia had always said that the easiest way to make America feel better was to give him a hamburger. Alaska didn't really know how to make hamburgers, but she did know a thing or two about making Salmon burgers. She hobbled to the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves and started cooking.

America never fully regained his health after the riots, but that didn't stop him from getting back to his usual routine. America would start his day by dropping Alaska off at the hospital, then spend the rest of the day trying to keep up with his work at the state department. Alaska would spend the morning at Bethesda performing physical therapy and medical tests until Virginia would pick her up for lunch. After eating the two states would head to Virginia where the older state worked at the CIA and the younger state worked a few blocks away at with the USUGS effort to remap the areas affected by the Good Friday Earthquake. After work, Virginia would drive the two states back to America's house and all three of them would have dinner together. Alaska was just starting to get use to her routine when America decided to mix things up.

"Well are you ready?"

Alaska took one look at the large red monstrosity sitting in America's driveway, then glanced back at her parent nation.

"I guess so." She said unsure what else to say.

Three hours later, Alaska determined that she didn't particularly like driving. There were simply too many obstacles to avoid. Plus driving would be really expensive if you had to replace the little handles on the door every time America crushed them when he held onto them for dear life. But apparently she didn't drive too badly because a week later, he brought her to the DMV, and once she had a driver license, he gave her the spare keys to the new car.

Things were getting progressively worse in the United States. There were two more race riots, one in northern New York State the other in Philadelphia, both several left people dead and hundreds injured. Then there was the fact that the national election was heating up and it was getting nasty. The Daisy campaign ad was only ran once national television, but had thrown the American people in a nuclear panic matched only by the Cuban missile crisis.

The state of the nation was starting to take its toll on the personification of America. He developed a low grade fever and came down with the symptoms of a head cold. As the election approached his energy levels continued to decline. He started to work almost exclusively from home, only venturing out when he had a meeting to attend. As the nation's health continued to decline, all Alaska could do was try to cook meals that he would eat.

When America came home from a world meeting this afternoon, she decided to make steaks. She was starting to wonder if that was a bad decision. America really didn't seem interested in eating tonight. He had taken a few bites, but was mostly pushing the food around the plate. The only sound in the room was the clink of knives against the porcelain of the plates until America spoke up.

"Russia is mad."

"Mad at who?" The state asked conversationally.

"China." He replied, poking at the baked potato on his plate.

"Aren't they supposed to be allies?"

"In theory…" America said, putting his eating utensils down so that he could scrub his face with his hands. "According to their ideology, the two countries should be friends, but at times like these you can see the cracks in their facade. Both of them really want to be the sole ruler of the planet. As long as the West is a major threat, they will not attack each other…but if we ever fall, it wouldn't surprise me if China and the Soviet Union tear each other apart trying to win."

"That's kind of frightening." She said around a mouth of salad.

"China won't be happy just having nuclear technology. He will want the ability to deploy it." The nation replied pointedly.

"But wouldn't be suicide to launch a nuclear attack on a country like the USSR or the US? We do have nuclear arsenals large enough to make China a radioactive crater. "

"I don't think that China would start using a nuclear weapon on someone with a nuclear arsenal. No, it is much more likely he will use his first weapons in Vietnam, and if he attacks Vietnam, then he might feel like attacking Japan or Taiwan or any of our other allies…"

"You don't think that he would be stupid enough to attack us, do you?" She couldn't keep fear creeping into her voice.

"…Nations do very stupid things when they are backed into a corner."

America tried to smile comfortingly, but it didn't work. He couldn't hide the fear that China might be the catalyst that set off World War Three. Watching him Alaska couldn't help but feel her stomach dropping. She knew that the curse of being in the middle of nowhere was the fact you where halfway between everything. If China ever decided to launch its newly developed super weapons, it would travel over Alaska in order to reach the major cities of the United States. In order to blind America, the military bases located in most of Alaska's major communities would be bombed into oblivion. She would be the trip wire for WWIII and she would probably be the war's first victim. She knew she was going to have have nightmares tonight.

Luckily for Alaska's sanity, instead of nightmares, a welcome visitor came in the night instead…

America wasn't quite sure what woke him. He knew that he had been up late worrying about Russia's unpredictable mood and was about to roll back over to sleep when a clump of snow exploded across his window. He had a moment to tense up before Alaska shrieked. Adrenaline shot through his system as he bolted out of bed. As he raced out the door he grabbed his handgun from the nightstand.

Frantically, he began to search for his state, ducked into her room down the hall. The room was empty, but its windows were thrown wide open. America plastered himself against the wall, creeping towards the sill and cautiously peeked outside. He could seek her rolling around in the snowy yard dress in nothing but her pajamas. At first America thought that his second youngest state was being attacked, and his finger twitched on the trigger, ready to destroy the unseen threat. Then America realized that for the very first time, that was not only seeing was not only Alaska smile, but positively beaming.

"Alaska?"

At America's voice the young state turned and beckoned for the nation to join her. Realizing that it had been a false alarm, America obeyed, setting aside his weapon before heading down the stairs to the back entrance of the house. He slipped on a pair of shoes that had been place near the door, then carefully picked his way across the frozen yard. It only took a few seconds for the cold air to send deep shivers down his bones, but despite her bare feet, the cold did not seem to be affecting Alaska.

"America, this is my Grandfather Winter." Alaska said brightly when America reached her. As she spoke a tall, weathered figure appeared next to her. "Winter, this is America."

"We have met. But that doesn't explain what you are doing?" America asked suspiciously, eyeing the aged man. He was aware of what this particular personification had done to turn the tide of the last war. Their last encounter had not ended in conflict, but the knowledge of Winter's power over him had left America with a bitter taste on his tongue for weeks after.

"Playing…" Alaska admitted shyly, half heartedly brushing snow off of her nightgown.

"Could you have waited for a sane hour to do that?"

"The sun is coming and soon the snow will once again be chased away." General Winter explained quietly in his mildly accented voice. "I will have to leave with the snow."

"Do you have to go?" Alaska whined

"Yes, I really do."

Oh lord, was she really pouting? America was aghast, blinking in surprise at his normally stern state's abrupt change in personality.

"Grandfather I have missed you…" Alaska looked up at the older personification, tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes. Her arms were unconsciously lifting as if she was begging to be picked up and hugged. "Missed you so much."

"I know you have, Snowflake." America watched in mild shock as General Winter bent to give the state a gentle kiss on the forehead. Alaska took the chance to wrap her arms around the bent figure as best as she could. Winter obliged, gently patting her on the head in return. "But remember I am always keeping an eye on your lands."

"Come visit again?" Alaska's eyes were so bright with pleading, that General Winter tightened his arms around her. As he held her he leveled his gaze with America.

"I will try, but until then make sure to take care of yourself."

The snow fall proved to be short lived. The hot morning sun quickly melted it and took the edge off of winter's frost. The two personifications changed out of their soaked clothing and America had taken a long bath to wash away bone deep chill that Alaska was apparently very resistant to. Now both were sitting on the couch in the den sipping hot cocoa in comfortable silence. In the quiet, America tried to understand what he had just seen.

"Alaska…even Ivan and Canada have mixed feelings when it comes General Winter, yet you seem to totally love him." It was more a question than a statement.

"He is my Grandfather." Alaska said, as though it explained everything.

"That is ridiculous." America snorted, but after a few moments he realized that Alaska hadn't been joking. She seemed hurt by America's reaction. Thoughtfully licking her lips in contemplation, she spoke timidly.

"Do you know what Canada calls Winter?"

"General Winter, I'm assuming."

"'Father'." Alaska stared into her hot cocoa. "Canada calls him Father. He does that because since his birth, Winter has been Canada's greatest teacher and parent. "

"Why do you call him Grandfather?"

"The old ones say I was born of fire, ice, and the sea. I don't know if the story is true, but it doesn't change the fact that Winter and the Sea raised me. Grandfather Winter has been my playmate and my protector my entire life."

"You consider General Winter to be your parent as well." He concluded for her.

"Maybe that would be how you would view the relationship in your culture, but in mine, things are different." Alaska explained quietly. "For thousands of years the role of provider has always fallen to the parent, the role of raising children is the job of the grandparents."

"So what role did Russia play in your life?"

"My relationship with Russia was complicated."

America snorted then spoke with a sarcastic tone. "Really?"

If Alaska heard his tone she chose to ignore it. "Yes, he was both a wonderful and a terrible parent…sometimes all at the same time. But regardless of his weaknesses, when I was growing up I knew that he would be there for me. That even if the rest of the world forgot that I existed, he would always cherish me. And now the one country that I thought I would always be able to trust is currently pointing nuclear weapons at me and threaten to invade…and I don't know what to trust any more…"

As Alaska ended her statement, America could see hot tear forming on the edges of her eyes. As they began to fall, she drew her knees up to her chest and buried her head in her hands. He tried to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, but she shied away from his touch so he tried something else.

"Why did you feel the need to close yourself off?" America asked calmly.

"You really need to ask me that?" The state refused to meet his eyes.

"Apparently...yes?"

"Alaska is the world's afterthought." Alaska admitted quietly. "I only exist to the outside world when they want something from me."

"And you feel like I only see you when I want something." America pushed.

"I know you do." Bitterness crept into Alaska's voice. "Did you know that territories and colonies talk to each other? We are not supposed to, but we do anyway. You abandoned me just like you abandoned Guam. If Canada had not stepped in, I don't know how WWII would have turned out. Believe me you, sometimes you make England look like a softy."

"Do you still feel that way now?" America prompted, with pained acceptance in his eyes.

"I don't know what I feel… I am grateful for the aid you have given me for this earthquake, but I can't help but think that next time I am in trouble I will face it alone."

Historical Note- When most people try to plot the shortest distance between two locations they usually try to draw a straight line on the map. If the world was flat this would be very effect…but the world isn't flat. Geographers have created the solution: great circles. A great circle is an imaginary ring which centers on the middle of the earth. In order to find the shortest distance you line up the two cities on the outside of the ring. Because of the curved shape of the earth most great circle routes will curve towards the poles. During the Cold War this meant that 90 percent of the hypothetical nuclear warhead flight paths would fly over Alaska. The only exceptions were bombs bound for Hawaii or Los Angeles. Today it means that if you are flying from most airports in the United States to Asia or from Asia to Europe you will fly over Alaska at some point. This flight path is so common it is often just referred to as the polar route.

End Note- So if you liked this chapter let me know. If you would like to read adventures of Alaska I would suggest taking a peak at Five Planes and if you want to take a look at my newest project look up Into the Coldest Night.

Next Chapter- Like a Phoenix- Alaska returns to Anchorage while America remains at the nation's capital. Though recovery for both of them is slow, life seems like it is getting back to normal but some unexpected news forces Alaska back into the spotlight.