Author's Note- Hey this is the last chapter. After this there is only an epilogue left. But before we get it the chapter a quick thanks to the people who left reviews. Thanks to The NSIGirl, mofelle, and kshima. Also a special thanks to Pruhana for betaing this chapter.

Disclaimer- Don't own Hetalia, have lived in Alaska though.

Chapter 19- Like a Phoenix

Alaska had been homesick for most of time she spent at America's house. She missed her people, her climate, her topography, but she had managed to prevent those feelings from interrupting her everyday duties. The unexpected snowstorm had changed things. The sight of snow had caused the homesickness to grow painfully acute. She tried to fight the feeling of despair that had started to fill her heart, she really did, but ache was getting worse. It was almost December and on every other year, she should be at the cabin by the lake baking with Yukon, or ice-skating with British Columbia. She should be a place where she belonged…a place with snow.

Tomorrow she would ask if she would be allowed to go home.

"I think it is time for me to go home…"

It was a statement that America knew that Alaska would voice, but he thought that it was still a few more months down the road. It was almost Christmas, and he wanted to take the week off and bring Alaska to New York City for the second time. From skating in Rockefeller Square to a sleigh ride at Central Park, he was planning for her to have an amazing time, but it was starting to look like the trip would never happen.

"It's not that I am not happy here, but I need to be responsible for my own people. I can't care for them when I am two thousand miles away from home." She was looking up at him with her big dark eyes and he knew he couldn't tell her no.

"It's okay," He assured, smoothly hiding his disappointment beneath a smile. "We'll make arrangements for you to return home."

Dropping Alaska off at the airport for her trip home was one of the hardest things America had done in a long time. He had to turn up the radio as loud as he could on the drive home to drown out the empty silence. When he got home, his old Victorian mansion seemed too large and empty. Virginia had left his dinner warming in the oven, he grabbed it before himself in front of the TV to eat it. The set blared Candid Camera, but despite the show's humor the only thing America seemed to do was worry about his second youngest state.

It wasn't like she was going to be alone up there; there would be a state, province, or territory staying with her until Alaska was fully on her feet but on some level America couldn't help feeling a bit worried. Alaska had lived in his house for almost eight months, and during that time America had gotten use to the state's constant presence. Now as America returned home after dropping Alaska off at the airport, he was the one feeling lonely in his empty house.

And for the strong front she was determined to keep up, Alaska was far from healed. Many of the roads and railroads still required major repairs and the state's warm-water ports were barely functioning. The salmon fisheries had collapsed and ecological disaster was exasperated by the fact that most of the canneries were only able to produce enough fish to feed the state's population. Although on the upside, the collapse of the fish and mining sectors freed up a huge work force for the road building effort.

The hardest part of sending his state home was the fact she was so unhappy. Alaska's current health conditions did not leave her with the strength to complete military service and her duties as a nation. She had to accept an honorable military discharge. America had found her a part time position acting as a cartographer with the USGS, a job she was very good at, but he could tell that she was really only happy when she was working with aircraft. Perhaps when the earth under his most northerly state finally stopped moving, she would be able get a position with FAA or some other job where she could take to the sky…because he knew that more than any of his other children, Alaska shared his need to touch the clouds.

"Samantha…" Yukon's voice broke her train of thought as his gentle fingers brushed the side of her face. She glanced towards him and tried to give a comforting smile. It didn't seem to have the effect that she wanted. "Sam, if this is too much for you to take in let me know. We can always go up to the cabin in the woods and let you recuperate there."

Great, she though, I have been back in Anchorage for less than an hour and my best friend is already treating me like glass. It was true that she was acting a bit odd returning home for the first time in eight months, but who could blame her? During that time thing so much had changed. Large sections of the city had been rebuilt, other parts had been abandoned. The place where her former apartment once stood was now a park, which was why she was now standing in front of a newly constructed home on the east side of town. The whole situation was overwhelming.

"I am alright. I just need a few moments to get my bearings…" Alaska said, composing herself and gingerly walked towards the steps. "So much has changed."

"But not all of the changes are bad." The territory commented as he helped her up the front stoop. He unlocked the front door and gave her a few moments to take in the building's interior. "Well what do you think?"

"It is bigger than my old apartment." The state said diplomatically, but what she really wanted to say was that the house felt bare and unfamiliar. Yukon smiled almost as though he read her mind.

"Don't worry, the place will grow on you soon enough. Let me give you a tour."

Alaska allowed herself to be dragged around the house and shown all of its various features. The building had four bedrooms (two more than she would ever need), two bathrooms, a study, a living room, and massive kitchen. By the end of the tour the state wondered how she would ever be able to keep the place clean, complete her duties as a state, and get the sleep she needed to continue healing. As Yukon droned about how cool her new refrigerator was, she mused over how much a maid cost. Then she noticed a brightly colored package with the corner of her eye. Taking a closer look, she saw that it was a small gift wrapped box.

"What's that?"

"A present." Yukon said cryptically. "From Alfred."

Alaska picked up the palm sized box and peeled open the paper. She found herself not knowing how to respond to what she saw nestled within.

"Keys?"

"Look out the back window."

She peeked through the pale yellow curtains and nearly dropped the keys in surprise. In the small backyard, sitting in front of a newly constructed garage was a green 1964 Mustang.

Time passed. Winter melted into spring, and spring into summer. A year passed, and then another one and with each passing day, the state Alaska grew stronger. There was still a whole lot of work to be done; roads that still needed repairs, communities that were still rebuilding, fisheries that needed nursing, but that didn't matter. The U.S. Government had made sure that her people had enough food, fuel, and other goods to survive until her people were back on their feet. It felt good not having to fear.

It also felt good to sit in front of the fire. Alaska was so comfortable that she barely moved to acknowledge the Yukon Territory as he came through the door shaking the snow off of his clothing. Smiling, he came to her, with a letter from the post office. She slit the letter open with her fingernail and unfolded the cold paper. At first she couldn't believe what she was reading, but after reading the words four or five times the meaning finally sunk in.

"Really?" She looked up at him, tears leaking from the edges of her eyes. He nodded and placed a warm kiss on her forehead.

"It looks like Seward will get to celebrate being an all American City after all."

The world is getting more complicated, America thought to himself as he stretched. He was about to turn back to his paperwork when there was a soft knock at his office door.

"Come in." The nation said, and Virginia quietly slipped in. "What's up?"

"Look at the list." The state beamed.

He took the piece of paper that the state offered him. He scanned down the list of cities, until he reached the last three-Anchorage, Seward, and Valdez. America paused a looked up at this state, confusion in his voice.

"What's this?"

"It's the announcement for this year's All American Cities."

America blinked in mild surprise, staring at the list with new understanding. "…so when are we going to plan the celebrations?"

Virginia shrugged. "I don't know. I still haven't called Samantha yet, but I will be sure to put it on your calendar as soon as the arrangements are made."

Once the state had left, America stroked the paper lightly with his fingers. Occasionally, the committee would select two cities from one state, but never three. The All-American City committee was making a statement. As if to remind the populace that even through the dark days of the Good Friday Earthquake, these communities were still filled with courage, self-reliance, and hope. As if to say that Anchorage, Seward, and Valdez represented what it is to be an American.

Alaska almost didn't recognize herself in the mirror. Virginia had flown into Anchorage just over a week ago to help her get ready for the All-American City, but it felt like the older state had spent more time prepping Alaska than organizing the event. Still, Alaska couldn't help but admire her sister's handiwork.

The state was standing in front of the mirror in a gauzy floor length gown. It was one she would never have picked for herself. The pattern was too frilly, the sleeveless cut showed far too much skin for her taste…but she had to admit she looked good in it. Absent-mindedly letting her fingers trace the scars along the length of her collar bone, Alaska was in wonder yet again with what a few bottles of makeup could do. Silently commending Virginia for a job extremely well done, Alaska finally turned her back on the floor-length mirror and walked out the door.

As she glided down the stairs of her home she couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the scale of the celebration. Every year ten communities that exemplified what it was to be American were selected for the honor. This year three of the ten towns were Alaskan. It was an achievement worthy of the massive celebration planned. There was going to be a fair in the park downtown with music and activities, and then a banquet held in her honor and a ball where everyone could dance long into the night. But before al that could happen, there was first going to be a parade.

Just outside of the front door stood the people who were going to join her in the car. There was Virginia and Massachusetts, Colorado and Newfoundland. On one side there was the Yukon Territory looking sheepish and a bit disheveled in his tux, and on the other, Canada looking far more sophisticated in his. America was also there, looking absolutely dashing in his Marine dress uniform. He moved from his place by the car and offered her his hand.

"You look beautiful." America whispered into her ear as he helped her into the open top limo.

She smiled. Today streets that were once filled with rubble would be filled with cheering people. Today the terror of yesterday would be replaced by the joy of the present moment. Today Alaska was the belle of the ball.

"Uncle Mathew…can I ask you a question?"

When Canada had noticed that Alaska was missing from her party, had become concerned and started to look for her. Initially he suspected that the state had been overwhelmed by the events of the day and heat of the hotel ballroom packed with various dignitaries. He assumed that she had gone up to her rooms to decompress, but then out of the corner of his eye he saw the flutter of Alaska's gown in a darkened courtyard. She was sitting alone on a stone bench in the lamp lit square, staring at the sky, seemingly oblivious the rest of the world. When he approached her, her dark eyes had looked up at him full of questions.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Sure." He said taking a seat next to her on the bench.

"Does it ever bother you that sometimes England doesn't remember who you are?"

"That is an odd question."

"You you don't want to answer it you don't have to…" Alaska backpedaled, refusing to meet his eyes.

"No it is okay. You just caught me a bit off guard…" He pursed his lips together as he tried to figure out the best way to frame his answer. "Yes, it does bother me that most of the time rest of the world forgets that I exist. Especially when the most of the commonwealth nations doesn't even recognize me, but I after a while I realized that just because they don't see me, it doesn't mean that they don't care about me. Alaska," At his words Alaska looked at him her, big black eyes filled with mixed emotions. Canada allowed a soft, sad smile to cross his lips as he leaned in to whisper into her ear, "you need to remember that just because you are sometimes invisible to America and the other states doesn't mean that everyone has forgotten you."

"I think I can learn to live with that." Alaska said a blush spreading across her cheeks. She took a few more breaths of the crisp, outside air before moving to stand, ready to return to the ballroom. Canada stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Being invisible does have some advantages." He said with a wink.

"What?"

"Playing practical jokes." As he spoke he could feel his face spilt into a huge grin. "Did I ever tell you that America happens to be terrified of ghosts?"

That night after all of her visitors had already gone to bed, Alaska moved from her room to the balcony that was overlooking the harbor. The two a.m. dawn painted the waves pink; she couldn't help but remember of the past two years. Alaska, the land of the midnight sun, had risen from destruction of fire and earthquake. She had survived the horrors of water and ice. She had lived, and in less than two years she had changed a broken landscape back into thriving towns and cities. If one looked hard enough it was still easy to see the scars, but it was quickly being over taken by shear amount of life that was covering the wounds. In a way, she knew that it was that resilience that would forever make Alaska different from the rest of the fifty states…but she was beginning to realize that she wouldn't have it any other way…

Historical Note- While repairs to Alaska's earthquake damaged infrastructure would continue until 1969, the celebration held for the three winning cities of the All America City Award is considered to be the end of reconstruction. This was the only time in the awards history when three of the ten awards were given to cities in the same state and it is was considered as a public statement that Alaska was just as American as the lower 48.

End Note- If you liked it, I would love to hear from you!

Next Chapter- Come High Water- If nothing else, Alaska kept America's life interesting…