AN: And here is the next chapter. Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday Alfred! The song is The Older I Get by Skillet. I meant to put another chapter between the last one and this one, but I procrastinated a little too long. Hope you guys like it!

Also, I wasn't sure what name to use for Hong Kong so I'm just using Hong for this chapter. (The last part was kind of just for lightening the mood.)

Disclaimer: The song belongs to Skillet and Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya.

"Everyone, please quiet down."

There was a slight pause, the other nations obviously hearing the German's words, but few actually stopped talking upon his request. They continued speaking to one another, talking about various things. There were so many conversations going on at once that, if not used to it, it would be a bit overwhelming. But, seeing as they had the… the pleasure of going to these things so often the noise was hardly noticeable.

That is, until it got too loud. Too loud meaning…

"Would all of you SHUT UP so we can begin?!"

The sudden yell caused everyone, Alfred included, to fall silent. They turned their heads towards the end of the table, where Ludwig had once again taken the initiative to get the meeting started on time. He seemed to relax a little when he saw they were all listening, though his voice was still tight when he spoke.

"Thank you. Can we get on with the meeting now?"

There were no rebuts to his question as everyone stayed silent, waiting. Ludwig nodded a moment later, satisfied, and continued. The words dribbled out of focus almost immediately, however, for a certain American nation as he fidgeted.

Today was his birthday. He knew that good and well, though he hadn't announced it at the top of his lungs like he might normally and he was most definitely present. He tried not to let his smile seem nervous, though it was pretty much a useless effort. Matt was sitting next to him again, though he wasn't sure how his brother knew what he was planning. …then again, how could he not know?

The nation glanced down at his pocket and the phone inside it, tapping his feet. This idea had seemed alright earlier in his head. sure, sing something else and maybe Arthur would respond this time. But… now it didn't seem like a good idea. At all.

Someone nudged his shoulder. He glanced up to see his was Matthew. A small reassuring smile flitted onto the American's face. "I'm fine, matt."

His brother mirrored the smile. "It'll be alright, Al."

Alfred nodded, not arguing, and took his phone out. He should probably just get it over with now. After last time he was more okay with singing it, even if Arthur hadn't responded. Yet. Sighing softly, he placed an ear bud in his ear and waited, glancing around the room. No one was looking at him, or at least hadn't noticed what he was doing yet.

His eyes shifted towards Ludwig because in his case that was a bad thing. He didn't want to lose his nerve and pull out the things before he was called. But, he told himself, he'd done this before. It shouldn't seem so bad a second time.

…yeah, it was that bad. He waited a couple more seconds, biting his lip, and it seemed like forever before his hand started itching to be raised in his lap. He knew why he hadn't waited to be called on now. The first time he would have pulled them out for sure.

As he was about to raise his hand his name was called.

"Alfred."

The American blinked and looked up, meeting Ludwig's eyes. The German nodded, not giving him any other words to go by. He supposed that he could go now or later, but honestly he would rather wait until he was called on. So he did.

The wait was long, though he welcomed it. It gave him more time to… to think, he supposed, about how Arthur might react this time around. It would either be better or worse; it was the second time he was trying to get a response, but it was also the fourth. So… it could go either way really. The other nations still seemed curious, though they probably knew what he was doing. They made the wait a little less and he wasn't sure if he should thank them for that or not.

At some point, though he had been zoning off for a moment or two, his name was called again. Alfred turned his head once more towards the German, who nodded, and he took his phone out. After removing the ear buds he carefully unlocked his phone and scrolled through his list of song.

He hadn't realized how much he needed Arthur to respond until he didn't. So… he would try again. He had to try again.

As he set the phone against the hard wooden table Matthew raised his hand. Alfred paused, his eyes widening. 'Matt, what're you doing?'

'I'm gonna do the same thing you did.'

'Thanks, but can't we wait until we leave?'

Matthew smiled slightly as Ludwig called on him. The other looked like he knew what his brother was going to do. It wasn't that hard to figure out. Still, his brother asked politely. "May I?" 'But some of the others agreed to sing with me.'

He internally groaned while half laughing, glad that some of them would actually join. Ludwig nodded, huffing, and after a few moments Matt started singing. It was met with a bit of an awkward silence, his voice somewhat quiet like it was normally though the volume rose as he went on. "Happy birthday to you…"

It didn't take long for others to join. Francis, Jett, Feliciano, Gilbert and a couple others joined in. "Happy birthday to you…" A few more came in a moment later, though he couldn't pinpoint from exactly where. He thought he heard someone cough and it sounded like it had come from Arthur. The American's eyebrow's furrowed, glancing towards the man, though he saw nothing but the stubborn expression he was usually met with.

"Happy birthday dear Alfred…" They held it out for a few moments dramatically, though Gilbert was the loudest. He caught Yao and Ivan rolling their eyes, though they surprisingly added in at the last part. "Happy birthday to you."

They paused and Matthew turned towards him. He smiled and nodded slightly, feeling better as his eyes roamed the room and he gave a quiet, "Thank you." Not a moment later he had unlocked his phone once more and, after a brief moment, pressed play.

To his surprise, he was more relaxed once the music had begun. It was more upbeat, or perhaps it was only more relaxed than the last one he had sang. e HHffssllThe waiting time was about the same, if a little shorter. He took a deep breath, preparing himself as the guitar drifted out of the speakers, and soon it began.

Alfred sang quietly, his eyes looking at the table now instead of his lap. He couldn't describe what his own voice sounded like. It was stuck somewhere between sad, nostalgic, and maybe… apologetic? "The walls between… you and I…" The guitar picked up, becoming a little quicker and louder. He made his voice a little louder with it, glancing very quickly at Arthur to see the other man's emerald eyes wide.

"…Always pushing us apart, nothing left but scars fight after fight…" There could be so many of his memories attached to this song. He shut his eyes briefly, remembering. "The space between… our common rage… started growing shorter, disappearing slowly day after day." He could remember various times in the house he used to stay in when he and Arthur would go at it with only Matthew try and stop it. Other times it would only be in near silence, neither of them wanting to speak with each other. It was sad really.

He took a deep but quick breath and his eyes flicked open, slowly moving up to meet Arthur's as he sang the next line. "I was sitting there waiting in my room for you… you were waiting for me too…" He shut his eyes again, singing, "And it makes me wonder…" The chorus began, the guitar adding back in with the drums after a brief pause.

He sang stronger, "The older I get, will I get over it… It's been way too long for the times we missed, I didn't know then it would hurt like this," He really didn't. He didn't think Arthur had known either. "But I think-" He met Arthur's eyes again. "-the older I get maybe I'll get over it-" And… back to the table. At least Arthur wasn't gaping with time. His voice grew a little louder. "-it's been way too long for the times we missed, I can't believe it still hurts like this."

There was a short break, the guitar taking up the same rhythm it had in the beginning.

'Good job Alfred.'

'Thanks, Matt. Maybe he'll answer this time.'

'Either way, I'm proud of you.'

He paused momentarily before he smiled, glancing at his twin, before it was time for him to sing again. The smile fell within the first two or three words. "The time between… those cutting words…" He flinched, gritting his teeth for a second or two. Which ones? They had said a lot of things to each other that they hadn't meant over the years. "...built up our defenses, never made no sense it just made me hurt…" Alfred looked up at Arthur, as if he were actually asking. At least Arthur looked to be listening this time, though he was sure he was the last time as well. "Do you believe… that time heals all wounds?" He paused before he continued. "It started getting better, but it's easy not to fight when I'm not with you…"

He bit back a sigh. Why did they keep fighting? Maybe there wasn't a reason at all.

He continued, his voice a little louder. "I was sitting there waiting in my room for you… You were waiting for me too… and it makes me wonder," he smiled if only slightly, even if it dropped soon enough, a bit more comfortable with it the second time around, "the older I get will I get over it? It's been way too long for the times we missed. I didn't know that it would like this-"

Alfred tapped his foot, his eyes shutting. "But I think the older I get maybe I'll get over it it's been way too long for the times we missed. I can't believe it still hurts like this…"

The music continued at the same tempo after the chorus. This was the part he was waiting for… His blue eyes opened and he began, his eyes on the table again before he changed his mind and met Arthur's eyes. For a brief moment he almost looked ashamed or guilty but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. "What was I waiting for… I should have taken less and given you more." His eyes turned sad for a moment. "I should have weathered the storm…"

The American continued, not avoiding eye contact this time, practically begging the other to hear what he was saying. Or singing. "I need to say so bad…" If the scab was already off then he was sure it was bleeding now. Someone was going to have to patch it up. "What were you waiting for..? This could have been the best we've ever had…"

Alfred took a deep breath in the few seconds of pause and sang louder, leading briefly up to the last repeat of the chorus. "…Oh!" He held it out a little, feeling better. Arthur would respond if we wanted to respond. He had said what needed to be said for the moment. "The older I get… will I get over it? It's been way too long for the times we missed, I didn't know that it would hurt like this, but I think… the older I get, maybe I'll get over it. It's been way too long for the times we missed-" Much, much too long. "-I can't believe it still hurts like this..!" He carried out the last word of the line into the echo of it, which he sang a little softer.

"Hurts like this…" He glanced at Arthur for the next lines. "I'm just getting older… I'm not getting over you," He sighed, singing louder after he shut his eyes. "I'm trying to wish… it didn't hurt like this… It's been way too long for the times we missed, I can't believe it still-" the guitar and drums started to slow down note by note. "-hurts like this…"

The guitar held its last chord out and immediately after it had faded away he pressed pause. The room was silent again, though it was different then the last time he had sang. He just couldn't pick out what it was that made it different.

He glanced towards Ludwig, who nodded slowly. "Meeting dismissed."

Alfred stood, Matthew behind him. He still was going to have a birthday party, though now it seemed a bit awkward. Heh… he could probably convince them to act like it hadn't happened, though if the others ended up getting drunk, which… happened quite a bit, they wouldn't need to pretend.

He glanced around. Arthur wasn't anywhere to be seen. He'd probably left immediately afterwards.

"Feeling better?"

He turned and nodded towards his brother. "Yeah."

Matthew smiled. "Good…" He paused, saying in a rare teasing voice, "Don't want the birthday boy to be sad." The American elbowed him a little harder than usual, setting him off by a few steps. Matt laughed, coming back in step with him, though they both paused near the door. "Okay, okay, but seriously. We aren't putting that many candles on your cake right? Because we'll need a big cake and a ton of candles."

"I don't think they make enough for Yao."

"I heard that!" The Chinese man called to their left.

He probably would have apologized, but it took all he had not to laugh. Yao didn't seem too offended though when they looked at him, only rolling his eyes again.

It was that moment that the usually silent Hong decided to speak up. "You know, if you can't find enough candles you can always use my fire-"

Before he could finish Yao was already profusely arguing against it and the two of them had burst out laughing.

AN: Thank you for reading! Let me know what you think. Arthur's response will be next.