It's not that China wanted to be late. Quite the contrary, he would have preferred it if he arrived on time, but other things always seemed to take precedence over a timely departure. It started when he allowed himself to sleep in later than he probably should have, but it didn't stress him out any. He simply got up, stretched and left his bedroom in search of his morning meal.

At no point were his steps particularly hurried as he walked down the hallway that lead towards the meeting room. Business was occupying the forefront of his mind and he wasn't entirely keen to sit in on the arguing western nations. But, it couldn't be held off forever as he finally stood before the large doors. He sighed at the sign that read "Super Top Secret Allies Meeting Today!" surrounded in bright yellow stars and decided to just get this meeting over with as he pushed his way into the room.

Imagine his surprise when he found the room was empty save for Russia and America. Neither nation paid him too much attention, or perhaps it was that they just didn't want to divert their focus away from their current staring contest. Sat on opposite sides of the table, both nations grinned at one another behind clasped hands and China gulped at how cold the air felt in the room.

"Yo, China, my man." America acknowledged the new comer without turning his head. "Tell this bastard that I'm not nearly as fat as he is."

"Nyet, comrade, explain how I am merely big-boned compared to this pig." Russia added also keeping his eyes trained on to America's blue ones.

China, wisely, chose not to comment.

"Have either of you seen England or France?" he instead asked, glancing to the far corners of the room half expecting to find the missing nations strangling one another in one of them.

America shrugged while Russia shook his head in response to his question and carried on with their previous activity which, although could have used a referee, China didn't want to get involved with. Instead he huffed at the childish actions of the two nations as he pulled his seat out from the table and hoped England would arrive soon. If the last meeting was anything to go by, France would likely not be showing up at all.

But as time dragged on and he was getting bored watching America and Russia, he started to grow worried. Although he was not the British nation's biggest fan, it did seem out of place that he had not arrived well before anyone else. And especially since it had been England to send word of the impromptu meeting, he would have known the date and location.

At long last and just before China was considering leaving in search of something better to do and let the other two nations solve their issues without his company to witness it, the large doors were flung open and produced one grumpy looking Brit dragging behind him a depressed Frenchman. Immediately China jumped to his feet and frowned at them. "Where were you? You are more than an hour late! Do you have any idea how long it takes me to get here?"

England glared back as he released the unhappy France into his usual seat. "I am not the one to blame for being late! All of it rests on this cretin!"

France merely collapsed in his chair in a heap and muttered quietly, "This is what I was saying before. Your personality is like that of a large, raging, hormonal bear. No wonder no one wishes to be near you."

The response caught China off guard, and even Russia looked up in surprise while England marched away fuming towards his own seat at the table. Both of them studied the nation of love carefully, taking in the light pink of his eyes, the snarls and mats of his hair, and the wrinkled state of his clothing and noting how they all were dull and listless opposed to the normally vibrant colors. France shifted a bit, uncomfortable beneath both of their stares and slunk further down into his chair extending a hand in the direction of England's seat. "You promised you would let me have them."

Without a word, England produced a carton of cigarettes and chucked them directly at France's head.

"What exactly is going on?" China cautiously asked, gaze flickering between the two late arrivals in curiosity.

"We found him like that the other day." America chimed in, leaning back in his chair to munch on today's snack of chocolate.

China continued to stare expecting some sort of explanation for what was happening and was displeased when no one seemed more forth coming with information. Russia, however, had no problem asking. "Is France ill?"

"Oh how I wish I was," France began to murmur as he lit up, "then I would be able to avoid being with all of you."

The largest nation giggled. "That's a strange thing to say. You cannot mean something like that."

France tilted his chin up to take in the smiling nation. "Don't mean it, you say? Then perhaps I also don't mean it when I say that it would have been better if you had frozen to death as a child in your own home so that we would not have to be tortured by your very presence now."

Silence followed the Frenchman's statement where no one dared to breathe. Russia was sat completely still with his usual smile in place and they were beginning to think he was going to simply laugh it off until he rose slowly out of his seat, pipe in hand and grinned further down at the dirty blond nation. "Do you mind repeating that, comrade. I didn't quite catch all of it."

America leaned over in his seat to loudly whisper to his neighbor, "20 bucks says Russia makes France cry like a baby."

England tsked at the bet. "Please, you haven't spent as much time with him. I'd be willing to place 50 quid on the frog not shedding a tear."

America gave it some quick thought before agreeing, much to the astonishment of an appalled China. "Can we please get somewhere with this meeting so that we can all go home?"

The others seemed to agree to the suggestion, though Russia was a little less willing to do so, and even as he retook his seat, his eyes never left France.

England sat up straighter in his chair as he looked around the room. "Right, so it was America who wanted everyone-"

"Okay, everyone, listen up!" America jumped in, flying out of his seat and leaning over the table. "Folders have all the information in it you need. In it you will see that I have managed to secure the location of where the Axis of Evil will be meeting all together. And I have devised the best strategy to take them down once and for all! England, you-"

"If you say 'back me up' I will throttle you."

America laughed but none the less took the hint. "Right, so France-"

"Will be at home."

America visibly deflated at the other's deviation from his plan. "What? No way! You have to be there to witness the triumph!"

Ash was tapped off the lit end of his cigarette as France responded. "I will be ill and unable to make it."

The American frowned. "You don't look ill."

Light pink eyes rolled inside their owners head. "Another astounding observation by our dimwitted leader."

Awesome heroes did not hurt their allies, America had to remind himself as he tried to move on. "Russia-" the blonde stopped talking as Russia turned his head at his name being addressed and it could still be clearly seen how much on edge he was after France's comment. "Uh, right, you know the drill..."

China's head hit the table before his turn even came.

AN: Hello everyone! I know, not a whole lot going on in this chapter, but a special news announcement! This fic is nearing triple digits in reviews! I am beyond words astonished and thrilled so I'd like to thank everyone who has made this possible because you all make me smile with your comments. This week I've decided to extend the invitation to everyone, if you would like, to send me anything you would want to see Germany and 2P Italy doing. Whether it is a date you think they should go on, a special occasion, or impromptu shenanigan, I will consider everything everyone sends me and incorporate as many as I can. Again, thank you so much everyone :3 Have a lovely week!