Texaco Tales: A Family Gathering

"Come on!" Mexico shouted frantically as she pulled a shirt over Texas's head. "We have to get ready for Spain!"

"Yeesh! What's the big deal?" Texas exclaimed, trying to resist. He pushed and pulled, but Mexico was much stronger, and was able to squeeze him in."Is this so important?" He asked.

"Yes! Spain is my master, and he's coming over for a visit," she explained, "He's also bringing a few colonies with him-" she looked at Texas, before continuing, "-others just like me." She looked at several hats, unsure of which one to wear.

Texas looked at her. "Oh," He said.

Mexico nodded. "Yeah, it's a big deal," She repeated, "So please be on your best behavior."

Texas saluted. "Yes ma'am!" He shouted. Mexico smiled as she patted his head.

The two stood outside their home, both in their best attire. Mexico wore a white dress, adorned with beautiful patterns on the bottom, while Texas fidgeted in his cotton shirt, breeches and his tricorn hat.

"When is he coming?" Texas moaned.

Mexico stared at him. "Be patient," she scolded. "He'll be here soon enough."

As soon as she said that, two horse carriages appeared in the horizon.

"Here he is!" Mexico exclaimed, "act your best, okay?" Texas nodded, and straightened his back.

The horse carriages stopped in front of Mexico and Texas, and the doors slid open for a man to walk out. He wore a red outfit, a velvet jacket and ankle-high boots. After him a teenager walked out, also dressed formally.

"Spain!" Mexico flung herself at Spain.

"Mexico!" He exclaimed as he caught her. "How have you been?" He asked.

"Lonely!" Mexico shouted.

Spain laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I've been really busy back in Europe. I really don't have time to visit you," He apologized. Mexico pouted and turned her head away.

"I missed you," She muttered.

"I missed you too," Spain pulled her in for a hug. They stood there for a minute before Texas coughed.

"Who's that?" Spain asked, leaning over Mexico's shoulder.

"That's Texas," Mexico introduced. Texas tipped his hat.

"Hey kid!," Spain said, "Nice to meet'cha!" He turned to the other boy. "Mexico, remember Romano?"

Mexico clasped her hands. "Romano! It's been so long!" She gave him a quick hug.

"Well, since that bastard said we'll be visiting a cute girl, I decided to tag along," Romano grinned.

Mexico turned red, turning to Mexico. "Spain!" She shouted.

Spain laughed. "Hey! I thought we'd keep that a secret!" He laughed.

Romano grinned. "You thought!" He jeered.

"I hope you get along well with my Texas," Mexico said.

Romano stared at Texas, who had his hand on his hip and looking right at him. "We'll see," He quipped.

"Spain! It's dry and hot!" A girl's voice moaned. From the second carriage three figures emerged: two girls and one male.

"Why are we here?" The girl in the European style dress groaned. Her silk laced dress and sun hat was all covered in dust and sand.

"Shut it, Louise! Have you never gone outside before?" The girl in the colonial style clothes exclaimed. She jumped off the carriage and landed right in front of Texas. "Man, you look stuffy," She told the bewildered boy.

"Mind your manners, Florida! We're guests," Spain scolded her, before turning to Texas. "Those are my territories in America: Louisiana and Florida. I'm sorry if Florida is a bit rambunctious, and Louisiana is a complainer."

"Hey!" Louisiana snapped, "I am not yours! I am French, so you stupid Spaniard better mind who your talking to!"

Spain recoiled. "Yikes, I'm sorry," He muttered.

"You're going to take that?" Romano shouted, poking Spain in the ribs, "You're going to take that from a little girl?"

"I am not a little girl!" Louisiana thundered, "I don't want to hear that from you!"

"Are you guys okay?" Mexico asked.

Spain nodded. "It's fine. She used to be a part of France's colonial empire, but he gave her to me," He replied, "And while technically Romano ain't mine anymore, he still hangs around." He turned to the man. "Cuba, can you get all of our bags?"

"Let me help him!" Mexico said as she ran over to the carriage, picking up Spain's bags. Cuba smiled and together they walked into Mexico's house.

"Well, kiddo, welcome to the family!" Spain grinned at Texas.

"You're going to have lots of fun!" Florida exclaimed.

"You seem to be normal," Louisiana swiftly coiled her arm around Texas. "Help me." She whispered into his ear.

The group sat around the dinner table, where Mexico and Spain had made dinner together.

"Ingredients from all over the world!" Spain had shouted, "It will be amazing!"

And so, the table was lined up with pasta, enchiladas, salsa, guacamole, paella, and other foods. Everybody dug into the feast.

"Mm! This is so good!" Spain cried out, "Mexico, you are the best cook out of all of us!"

Mexico blushed. "You think so?" She asked.

"Hey, I am much better!" Romano protested as he shoved mouthfuls of food down his throat.

"Don't worry Romano, I'm sure you'll become a great cook too!" Spain told him.

"I sure hell am," Romano muttered underneath his breath.

"Where are the South American colonies? Why aren't here?" Mexico asked.

"They were too busy, and we can't invite all of them," Cuba explained.

"Oh," Mexico said somewhat disappointedly. "So how are things in Europe?" She asked, changing the subject.

Spain groaned. "Bad. Really bad. France is in some terrible revolution. He got his own royal family locked up, and they even might get executed! Prussia and Austria are working together for once to stop that French bastard-" Louisiana gave him an intense glare, "And if things go wrong England, Netherlands, Portugal and myself might even have to join in stopping him."

"I hope everything goes well," Mexico said, "We don't want anything bad to happen there."

"That frog bastard even attacked my younger brother," Romano added.

"But didn't you two help America gain independence?" Mexico asked Spain.

Spain let out a little laugh. "Oh, that little upstart? We only helped him because we had a common enemy. It's not like we actually like him," He said.

Cuba chuckled. "Let's hope that doesn't bite you in the ass later," He said.

Spain rolled his eyes. "What is he going to be able to do?"

Texas was squished between the irate-looking Louisiana and the energetic Florida.

"Soo," Florida leaned towards Texas. "What's your deal?" She asked.

Texas was taken back. "What? What do you mean?" He asked.

"Are you a colony? A country?" Florida specified.

Texas shrugged. "I'm just a region of Mexico, I guess. I'm a culmination of the Europeans and natives mixing together," He replied, not completely sure himself.

"Does that make you related to her?" Louisiana asked, pointing to Mexico.

Texas shook his head. "Nah. Her papa was the Aztec empire, she told me. She said she found me one day up north," He explained.

"Oh," Florida gasped, "That's cool. I'm part native too you know." She exclaimed. "Hunting alligators and boars all day, exploring the swamps, it's all fun." She pulled out a large hunting knife. "I'm an expert with these, you know? Want me to show you sometime?" She waved it at Texas.

Texas leaned back. "Oh, sure," He said.

Florida grinned. "Yeah! You've got the Spanish blood in you!" She shouted. She leaned towards to table to look at Louisiana. "You on the other hand need to learn to love adventure," she wagged her finger.

Louisiana turned her head away. "You think I'm going to join your little filthy games?" She pouted, "I can't bear to see myself rolling in the mud with the likes of you."

Florida sighed. "What, are you scared to get your pretty dress dirtied up a little?"

Louisiana glared at her. "I guess you can't comprehend that unlike you savages, we wear proper clothing. This dress is of the finest quality of materials woven in Milan. You can play around in your rags while I prefer to be a lady," she scoffed.

Florida rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," she waved her hand, "You think you're so high and mighty just cause you used to be a part of France. Let me tell you right now; give up on him. He abandoned you. You're never going to see him ever again."

Louisiana slammed the table with her fists. The plates and the cups jumped up, making a loud clattering noise.

"Louise-" Florida stopped herself as everybody turned to look at Louisiana, He face was red and tears were rolling down her cheeks.

"You don't understand!" She screamed, "None of you do!"

"Now calm down, Louisiana," Spain said.

"No!" Louisiana hollered at him. "You drag me out here in the middle of nowhere, out to your stupid relatives, trying to turn me into just another of one of your colonies. I won't have it! And I won't have you attack France any longer! He confided more to me in five years than he had to lot of you in the past 500! You don't understand what he's going through! He loved me, and I love him!" She stood up, shaking with anger. "And you took him away! I won't forgive you for that!" She ran away, sobbing before anybody could stop her.

Everybody stared at each other.

"Let me get her-" Cuba stood up, but Spain stopped him.

"Let her calm down first," He advised. He then turned to Florida. "Florida! What did I tell you? She is sensitive about that!" He snapped.

Florida looked down. "I'm sorry," She muttered.

Spain turned to Mexico. "I'm so sorry," He apologized, "I'll make sure it never happens again."

"It's fine," Mexico shook her head, "She just needs to sort things out, doesn't she?"

Texas pushed himself off the table. "I'm finished with dinner," He declared, walking out from the dining room. He glanced back at Mexico and winked. She nodded, and gave a thumbs-up.

Texas walked into his room, where he saw Louisiana on the side of his bed, crying.

"Hey," Texas said, sitting on his bed.

Louisiana looked up. Her eyes were puffed up. "What do you want?" She demanded angrily.

"This is my room," Texas pointed out.

Louisiana hesitated. "Oh, I, I'm sorry," She stepped back, unsure of what to do next.

Texas jumped to his feet. "I know a place for you to calm down," He said.

Louisiana scowled. "I am calm!" She grunted.

Texas smiled. "Just let me take up there. It'll make you feel better," He grabbed Louisiana's hand and led her out the back door.

"Where are we going?" Louisiana demanded, as they began walking away from the house and into the wilderness.

"A secret spot that only Mexico and I know," Texas answered, leading her through a wooded path.

They traveled under the ceiling of tall trees, guided only by the occasional beam of light that punctured the curtain of leaves.

They came across a light stream, with several stones dotted across like a path.

"I can't cross this," Louisiana mumbled, "My dress will get wet."

Texas looked at her. "Really? It's just a stream," He said.

Louisiana pouted, her face turning slightly red. "I don't want to show my legs," she added.

Texas sighed, walked over to Louisiana and picked her up, carrying her like a bride.

"What are you doing?" She shouted.

"Can you stop complaining for once?" Texas groaned, and Louisiana shut up.

"I'm, I'm not heavy am I?" Louisiana whispered after a while.

"Haha, not at all. I've dragged heavier game with my right hand," Texas laughed. Louisiana nodded and relaxed, letting herself be cradled in Texas's arms.

Texas carried Louisiana through the woods until he got into a clearing, where the trees were spread out, allowing sunlight to fall onto the small patch of grass. There were large enough stones for people to sit on, and there was also a small pond at the edge.

"This-this is beautiful!" Louisiana cried out.

Texas grinned. "I know, right? This is where Mexico and I go when we're stressed. It's our little secret, you hear me?" Louisiana nodded, and Texas hauled her over to the grass, where he set her down.

Louisiana immediately rolled onto her back. "This feels so good," She exclaimed.

Texas joined her. "Yeah, this is the most calming place of all of Mexico," He added. He looked at her. "So, here we are. Tell me everything."

Louisiana nodded, inhaling. "I was originally part of New France, France's colonies in North America," she started, "He was such a nice man. He taught me everything about Europe, especially about chivalry, honor, and courtly love." She sighed. "He was such a gentleman. He always brought me clothes and other stuff every time he visited me. We were so close together. But then," she paused, seemingly getting emotional, "He was forced to give me to France as part of the peace for the Seven Years War, which he lost. He didn't want to leave me, and I didn't want to leave him, but-" she sniffled.

Texas held her hand. "It's alright," He said.

Louisiana wiped her eyes. "We loved each other, and being separated broke me," she paused again, composing herself, "Spain became my new master. He-" she hesitated, "He's not a bad person at all, to be honest. He's just as nice as France actually. But he forces me to learn Spanish, and he doesn't want me speaking French." She spat out. "And Florida. She's such a jerk. Always making fun of me,"

She sighed. "I know they want the best for me, but it's just not the same," she exclaimed, "They're so insufferable!" She squeezed Texas's hand. "I just want to be with France again…" she whimpered.

Texas swept his hand through her hair. "Don't worry," he said, "everything's going to be alright."

Louisiana snuggled closer to him. "I just have a feeling," she whispered, "things are going to get worse for all of us."

"What?" Texas laughed, "What do you mean?"

"Something terrible is happening to France, and all of Europe is going to punish him," Louisiana muttered, "But he will prevail, and will unleash a force never seen before. I can just tell." She stared at Texas with her large, blue eyes. "Your family is going to be torn apart because of this. We all are," she prophesied.

Texas rolled his eyes. "Look, just because things are going bad for you now doesn't mean it's going to get worse-"

"Please listen! Spain doesn't, He just laughs at me. But when I get a feeling that something bad will happen, it does. It's like someone is warning me," Louisiana dug into Texas's chest, "please. I just want to be happy… I was everybody to be happy…" she muttered.

Texas looked down at the downcast girl. He felt a twinge of sadness for her; what she had felt must have been unbearable. "It's alright, everything is going to be okay," He muttered underneath the now moon-lit night sky. Everything was quiet except for the rustling of the trees.

"Alright…." Louisiana mumbled as her eyes closed. Texas smiled as he picked her up once more.

Back at the home, everybody was in a panic. Spain, Florida, Cuba and Romano ran around, frantically looking for Texas and Louisiana, while Mexico watched with glee.

"Where is she?" Spain shouted.

"I dunno!" Florida screamed, "She's just gone!"

"She isn't outside either," Romano panted, just coming back from outside, searching the area.

"Texas isn't here either," Cuba said, "Where did they go?"

"Oh, they're fine," Mexico whistled.

"No! What if something happens to them?" Spain exclaimed.

Suddenly the door swung open, and in came Texas, carrying a sleeping Louisiana. "I'm back," He said, walking up to Spain and Mexico.

"So how was it?" Mexico asked.

Texas nodded. "Went well," He replied.

Mexico smiled. "Oh, sweetie, thank you!" She hugged Texas, who grew a smile.

"Where were you?" Spain demanded angrily at Texas.

"It's….a...secret…" Louisiana mumbled in her sleep.

Spain looked at her and sighed. "Alright, fine," He put a hand on Texas's shoulder. "Thanks, kiddo. I really appreciate it."

"The girls room are across the hall, and Texas, the men can sleep in your room, right?" Mexico suggested.

Texas nodded. "Right, I'll get the blankets out," He said.

"Thank you dear. Good night," Mexico said. She turned to Spain. "Shall we?" She asked.

Spain grinned. "Of course! Gotta make up for all these years!" He said, throwing his arm around Mexico's waist. Together they walked into Mexico's room. She gave a little wave at Texas, before closing the door and locking it.

Texas noted the looks the two gave each other; it was one of romantic passion. He sighed, and walked into the girls room. Florida was already lying on the bed, but jumped up when she saw Louisiana.

"My god! Louise!" She shouted, running over. She looked at her sleeping form. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed. She looked up at Texas. "Thank you so much. I can't even imagine-"

"It's fine," Texas said, "She just needed to vent."

Florida let out a sigh of relief, hugging Texas. "You are a godsend," she breathed out.

Texas smiled as he walked over to the bed, trying to put Louisiana in. But she latched on to him, not wanting to let go. Texas chuckled, and walked into his own room, where Romano and Cuba were sleeping.

He went up to his bed, and to his amusement Louisiana rolled out of his arms and into his bed. "What the hell," He muttered, getting in as well.

He had just gotten comfortable when he felt something move under the covers. He turned around, and saw Florida grinning at him like a madman. "I don't want to be left alone," she said, "I want to join the slumber party too!"

"Fine," Texas rolled his eyes, "do whatever."

Florida wiggled right up so close that their noses were touching. "You know what? You're a good brother, you know that?" She kissed him on the forehead.

Texas's cheeks burned. "Thanks," He said.

"You're supposed to say I'm your best older sister!" Florida giggled, lightly punching Texas on the arm.

"really…" Texas muttered, "Fine, you're the best sister ever."

"I know I am," Florida cackled, tightening her grip around Texas. "We're all on the American continent; we should all hang out more, like siblings ought to!"

"Yeah," Texas agreed, as he felt Louisiana's head against his shoulder. "We're family from here on out."

"Even me?" Louisiana whispered.

"Of course," Texas brought her closer to him.

"shaddup!" Romano shouted.

Florida giggled even harder. "I guess we're all connecting. Or reconnecting in those two's case…" she laughed, patting Texas on the shoulder. "We can hear those two if we're quiet enough," she hushed.

Texas lie quiet for a minute, listening intently. He knew what was going on in Mexico's room. "You got a weird mind, you know that," He said.

"Oh, I'm older, so I have adult tastes," Florida winked, "And since you're a guy, let's just say in a few years Mexico's going to become a lot more attractive."

"Go go to sleep!" Romano begged, and Florida and Texas had to stifle a laugh.

"Good night," she whispered.

"Good night," Texas whispered back.

"Night…" Louisiana mumbled.

And so, the Spanish family slowly drifted to sleep, each of them coming closer together.