AN: Real quickly: Here is the next chapter. I am in a spot that doesn't have a very good internet signal and I'll be here a while so it may take me longer to get stuff out. I have something planned for the 1st and the 4th too... (so long as all goes well) Anyways, BrandyDawn: I hope you like it and I hope I did well with the chapter.

The song is Perfect by Simple Plan.

Enjoy!

Edit 8/2/14- Fixed the many errors in this chapter. Sorry about that, everyone!

His eyes shifted across the room, from nation to nation. He nearly sighed with relief when he didn't see a certain Englishman. Okay, maybe Arthur wouldn't come. Then he could just not sing it and- yeah, yeah, that would work right?

But then he caught a familiar flash of messy blond hair walking in the opposite direction across the room. Alfred nearly groaned. Come on-

Something bumped into him, or more likely he into it. Blinking in surprise the American turned, holding his hands up in peace before he even saw who it was. "Sorry-" He immediately relaxed (or tried to) when he saw it was Matthew. "Oh, h-hey bro." Even to himself he sounded nervous. God.

His brother smiled slightly, knowing exactly what he was thinking. "Al, its fine." 'I can feel how nervous you are over there,' he nudged his head towards the far side of the room, 'it will be fine, okay? Artie won't do anything bad. He'll listen, okay?'

'Yeah, but…' He paused, his eyebrows furrowing. 'You just called him Artie.'

Matt raised an eyebrow in mock confusion. 'Did I?'

Though he knew what his brother was doing, Alfred couldn't help but smile. He chuckled lightly, his nerves lightening if only a bit. 'Thanks, bro.'

Matthew nodded slightly, his smile widening, and motioned towards their seats. "Anytime, Al." The two moved towards them and were pleasantly surprised to be sitting next to each other. Alfred partially wondered if Matthew had requested it, to which he was extremely grateful and also a little embarrassed, but maybe the universe was on their side right now.

And that thought abruptly crashed as he looked up. Arthur was sitting almost directly across from him. He stiffened. Shit, shit, shit, shit shit shit shit shit-

'Alfie, calm down. it'll be okay.'

'Hehe… he…' he laughed nervously and glanced towards Matthew. 'How is this okay?' He would see how Arthur reacted and he wasn't sure if he wanted to. Especially if he got mad…

'Trust me, Al.'

The American sighed, nodding slightly. 'Alright…' He could still back out if he wanted to, but he… couldn't. Call it long overdue, but it needed to be done. Someone had to bring it up.

The meeting was just past halfway through and Alfred was sure that if he didn't do it now, or at least get called right now; he wouldn't do it at all. He wasn't confident about it. He was scared Arthur might yell at him or storm out while he was singing. He didn't even want to think about what might be worse than that…

Then, in one stupid act of bravery he raised his hand. Why he chose to raise his hand he wasn't sure. He wasn't in school. But, nonetheless, it had the desired effect. Ludwig paused in his speech and looked at him, his eyebrows narrowing. Maybe he thought that he wanted to add something? Yeah… he didn't have the slightest clue what Ludwig's speech was about, much less the last thing he'd said.

"Yes, Alfred..?"

For a second he almost laughed at the absurd urge to ask blatantly, "can I go to the bathroom," and instead shifted in his seat under the other nation's gazes. "Um…" He tried and failed to resist the urge to glance around the room. "Can I, uh, do a song later?" Why was he asking? All he had do was pull out his music.

For some reason (maybe it was the oddness of the request?) the German nodded ever so slightly. "…Alright…" After a moment of staring he added as an afterthought, "The last ten minutes as usual."

As Alfred nodded Ludwig continued with the meeting, though he could feel several nations' curious gazes on him. As he tried his best to ignore them, Matthew whispered,

"Good job, Al. You did it."

"Yeah…"

The meeting couldn't seem to go fast enough for everyone else. Minimal interruptions, some people actually listening so that Ludwig or whomever was giving the speech wouldn't have to wait for them to respond if a question was asked, even less chaotic breaks… all included with curiosity.

Then, finally, the time came. Ludwig nodded towards him, curiosity not lacking in his own stare, and gave a quiet, "Alright, Alfred. Go ahead."

For a moment he blinked, his hands clenching and unclenching nervously, before he realized that he probably looked like a moron and it was time to start it. Sighing softly to himself, Alfred took out his phone and set it carefully on the table. He pulled up the song with a bit more hesitation, clenching his jaw, and then hit the button. He scolded himself internally. He was being stupid.

He needed to do this. He needed to do this…

The music began slowly with a guitar and honestly, he wasn't sure what anyone was expecting anymore. It was slow for around fifteen seconds before the tempo quickened, more notes adding in. His foot began to tap to the beat. The young nation took a deep breath, knowing the lyrics would begin soon, and sent a fleeting glance towards Arthur before looking at his lap once more. Another deep breath and… it started. The tempo slowed slightly with it, becoming more like the beginning.

"Hey, dad, look at me…" He tried not to grit his teeth. It was always hard starting; bringing it up. Every time he tried it was like picking at a scab and every successful attempt was ripping the darn thing off. There was a pause that lasted a second or two and this time he didn't have the urge to look up. Arthur would have already reacted by now. He would have reacted within the first two words.

"Think back and talk to me… Did I grow up according to plan?" His hands curled slightly in his lap. Honest questions, Arthur… He was asking honest questions. He took another deep breath. "And do you think I'm wasting my time… doing things I wanna do?" He couldn't make himself look up. "But it hurts when you disapprove all along…"

Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about that time…

"And now I tried hard to make it, I just want to make you proud…" He carried out the last word. He did want to make him proud. Or maybe know if anything he had tried to do had counted for something. Hopefully, Artie would understand that after this. Alfred's eyes squeezed shut and he tilted his head further downwards. Part of him hated himself for trying to hide, but how could he not? "I'm never gonna be good enough for you…" And there was the kicker for the previous line…

He continued, still keeping his eyes shut. "Can't pretend that I'm alright..." That was what he'd been doing, though, wasn't it? He sang a little louder and, despite his best judgment, his thoughts wandered back to the fights, the words that had been said… "And you can't change me…"

He made his voice rise a little more, along with the music, and tried to ignore all of the eyes he knew were there, all of the shocked expressions he could sense behind his eyelids. "'cause we lost it all… nothing lasts forever-" Alfred pausedbefore the next line, his eyes briefly opening as be bit his lower lip, and then forced the words to come out. He kept thinking to himself, 'Ripping of a scab, ripping off a scab…' He sang softly, his voice downcast, "I'm sorry I can't be perfect…"

Maybe it was because he was a superpower now, maybe it was because he was surrounded by those that were older and wiser than him, but he felt that had to be. And he knew he had screwed up too many times.

Still, there was only a moment's pause and he had to keep going. Matthew helped with his silent encouragement of, 'Good job, Alfie. You're doing great.'

"Now it's just too late… and we can't go back-" Here it comes again… He clenched his jaw again briefly, his teeth on edge. "-I'm sorry I can't be perfect…" Sorry he had screwed up so many times, sorry he had caused them to fight so much… Sorry that he had caused Arthur so much pain.

To his relief the tempo picked up again soon, adding new rhythms, and there was a small break in the lyrics. The American tapped his foot and his eyes opened, glancing towards his brother. Though he didn't say anything, Matthew nodded, smiling reassuringly.

'You can do this, Al. It'll be fine.'

He nodded briefly and turned his head back to where it was almost facing Arthur, but he didn't want to see his expression, didn't want to see the look in his eyes. He was waiting to see if the Englishman was going to stop him, say something about this maybe being stupid or childish or… something like that. But nothing came so he continued.

"I try not to think… about the pain I feel inside-" He fought the urge to shift awkwardly at the line and in the split second of pause he remembered the one that was coming. Nearly wincing, he silently pleaded with the others in the room. Could they please, please stop staring at him? His eyes scrunched together once more, trying to them all. It was going to hurt to say this. "You know, you used to be my hero..?"

No, he did not want to see Arthur's reaction to that line… He thought he could hear someone coughing but a moment later the sound had vanished. Must have been his imagination.

"All the days you spent with me… now seem so far away-" They seemed like an eternity away to him. Lost but not entirely forgotten. It had been so long since they had actually gotten along. Even if it was a time of war and they were allies he and Arthur still fought. "And it feels like you don't care anymore…" …Did he? The American could only hope so.

The chorus came again and this time it was a little easier. "And now I've tried hard to make it, I just want to make you proud…" His fingers tapped lightly on his knees, partially to the rhythm and also in a mere nervous dance. "I'm never gonna be good enough for you… I can't stand another fight…" He paused to take another breath. "And nothings alright…"

He sang a bit stronger, with more purpose. He directed the words and simply his own voice towards his former caretaker, his brother, even if they didn't act like it, though his head was still pointed down towards his lap. "'cause we lost it all… nothing lasts forever, I'm sorry I can't be perfect…" He felt a twinge of satisfaction. He hadn't paused or hesitated that time!

"Now it's just too late… and we can't go back, I'm sorry I can't be perfect…" His voice rose a bit in volume as the music picked up again, the tempo faster. So the scab was off now… "Nothings gonna change the things that you said…" He took a deep breath, his hands clenching in his lap again. "Nothings gonna make this right again!"

He paused slightly, sighing, and then his voice came a little louder. "Please don't turn your back. I can't believe it's hard just to talk to you, but you don't understand…" The tempo slowed again, seeming almost like it was in the beginning, but he knew it wasn't over yet. Alfred relaxed slightly through it, and then the music became faster as it hit a certain point. He continued with the repeat, glad that it wasn't as slow,

"'cause we lost it all… nothing last forever. I'm sorry I can't be perfect… Now it's just too late and we can't go back… I'm sorry I can't be perfect…" Without a pause he went into the seconds repeat. "'cause we lost it all… nothing lasts forever. I'm sorry I can't be perfect…"

He quickly stole a breath, having the absurd idea to smile. He was doing it and it was almost over with. Almost done. "Now it's just too late… and we can't go back. I'm sorry I can't be-"

The music slowed and he trailed off with the last word. "-perfect…"

As the last of the guitar faded away and he pressed pause, Alfred was met with complete and utter silence. There was no murmuring, whispers, and above all not a word from Arthur. The American risked it once as he turned towards Ludwig and glanced towards Arthur. The Brit looked like… Well… it was difficult to describe. He looked like he had been slapped in the face while kicked in the stomach. His emerald eyes were wide and his mouth was partially open in shock.

Alfred quickly looked away as if he had been slapped himself, some sharp emotion stabbing at his stomach. His eyes quickly made their way towards Ludwig, though he could see now that everyone (literally everyone) was staring at him. Fighting back a nervous smile he pointed towards the door, not exactly trusting his words at the moment.

The meeting was close enough to being over and he did not want to stay for everyone to continue… this. To his utter relief, Ludwig nodded. After whispering a barely audible and meek, "thank you," he stood to grab his things. Matt stood next to him and, after realizing his things were not where he left them, he saw that his brother had them. With a small, grateful smile, Alfred quickly made his exit with Matthew in tow.

Francis quickly took longer strides down the hall, trying to catch up with the frustrated Englishman in front of him. "Arthur, wait." Though he thought he could hear the other give a quiet, "No," in response, he sprinted forward and managed to grab Arthur's shoulder.

When Arthur stopped, but did not say anything, the Frenchman spoke. His voice was quiet, holding none of its usual tone that tended to annoy or anger the man in before him. This was beyond a delicate subject. "You have to talk to him, Mon ami."

He wasn't surprised when Arthur shook his head, though when he spoke it caught him a little off guard. "No, Francis. You heard him." His voice was grating in parts, raspy, as if he were losing it.

Francis sighed quietly, his expression softening. "They were only lyrics, Arthur."

The Brit's upper body quickly turned towards him, his eyes narrowed in something between anger, sadness, and apprehension. His voice was merely the first of the three. "You really think that? After all of this?" His voice cracked at the last word and he started coughing, his hand quickly moving to cover his mouth.

Francis took out a tissue from his pocket and held it out for his friend. Arthur's eyebrow's furrowed and he shook his head, but when the Frenchman failed to withdraw his hand he took it reluctantly. Though the fit subsided quickly a tired expression now flitted onto Arthur's face as it ended and he wiped his mouth. His eyes stuck to the ground as he mumbled a, "thank you".

Neither moved for a few moments, Francis still waiting patiently. Arthur shook his head again, raising his eyes. "I'm not doing it." With that, he turned and continued down the hall.

AN: Thank you for reading! Let me know what you thought. Also, the next few chapters are going to mainly involve either the North American brothers or Arthur and Francis.