I stomped to the stables, counting to twenty as I did. When I hopped on to the fence to sit, Midnight came trotting to my side. He nudged his nose into my shoulder as if to say, 'what's wrong?' I placed my hand on his nose, slid it to his mane and then back down to his nose. I sighed; feeling my temper cool as I gently touched my forehead to his. His strong breathing and the smell of his fur made the tension in my body disappear. I took these peaceful moments to relax and to clear my thoughts.

"Amy?" a gentle voice called out.

I turned around, "What do you want Francis?"

He shook his head, "Nothing. I just wanted to see the horses." He held out his hand to Midnight to sniff. Once Francis believed it was safe, he petted Midnight on his nose and neck. "He's beautiful."

I nodded, "Yeah, he was gift from Dad when I was fifteen." I smiled at a memory, "I remember he had to carry me out the stables every night because I would fall asleep next to Midnight's stall."

Francis smiled, "You care for your horse. Alfred was the same way. He was animal lover, like me."

"Do you have horses?"

He shook his head, "I live in Paris, I used to have a house in the country but I had to sell it when the economy was bad."

"Why don't you get a new one?"

He shrugged, "I would usually forget, with work and what's going on now," he sighed, "It's a lot to keep up with."

"If you ask me, that's the reason why you should get one; a safe haven from all this crap."

He chuckled, moved his hand away from Midnight and leaned on the fence beside me. We allowed the peaceful silence to last between us. Midnight snorted and walked away to roam the open field with Jack and Daisy.

"Amy," Francis took a breath before continuing, "Arthur did what he had to do to protect you."

I shook my head, "Francis I don't want talk about him." I crossed my arms and refused to say anything else.

He was silent, till, "Do you know of Joan of Arc?" he asked.

I lifted a brow in confusion, "Yeah."

He nodded, "Good. Then you must know what happened to her."

"She got burned at the stake for witchcraft."

"No. The main reason she was. . ." he sighed heavy, "burned; was because she knew what I truly was."

My eyes widened, "They put her to death because she knew you were a country?"

He nodded, "She found me when she was twelve, after I dug myself out of the grave Britain put me in."

"Grave?!" I repeated in worry.

"Yes, he cut of my head and buried me in the ground when I refused to be his colony. It took me about twenty years to heal."

"Not even cutting off our heads can kill us."

"The people of France still fought, so I had the strength to continue." He paused, "When Joan found me I was still weak. She dragged me to a church and helped me heal. When I was able to walk, she asked me to train her so she could fight the English."

"Did you?" I questioned.

"At first I refused, told her to live out her life in peace, but all she said was, 'there is no life when France is held captive.'" He smiled at the memory, "So every day I trained her how to use a sword, even thou I told her she will never fight in a battle, but it was best to be prepared. I taught her military strategies against Britain and instructed her how to put Charles VII on the throne."

"But she said that God told her to do all that." I remarked.

Francis gave a sad smile, "That's what she told the public, but when she went to the French court I told her of the test and when she passed. Charles asked to see her in private, that's when she brought me in to meet with Charles, we then told him of my plan to take my land back. But Joan and Charles believed it was best for me to keep playing the role of 'God'," he used air quotes around the word.

"Only members of the royal family, noblemen, and army generals could ever know I was country, but when I 'died'" air quotes again. "They believed France died, the French people were losing confidence and they needed something more powerful than knowing their country was alive, they needed to believe God was truly on their side. Joan continued to play role of God's messenger, even after she was captured by the English."

He sighed, "Like the fool I was I ran to Arthur, begging him to release her. But when he and his generals found out she knew what I was. They charged her for seventy crimes from sorcery to horse theft. But in the end they charged her for relapsed heretic, due to the fact that she wore men's clothes after she swore she wouldn't. But the only reason she did, was because she was threatened by her guards." He tensed as he inhaled a shaky breath.

"In the end she was sent to the stake for knowing too much."

"But," I whispered, "She helped you."

He shook his head, "It still didn't matter she was a farmer's daughter that knew who I was and because of that she was able to rally the public against the English. Even if the public only knew of me as the voice in her head, she still assembled my armies to free me." He paused, "That's what all our governments fear. If the public knew of our existence they would side with us against the government, or believe if they could change us it would change their government; either way it all leads to civil war."

"Is that what they see my family and friends as, a threat?" I asked.

"Most countries would, you're lucky it was only Sealand and Latvia that found out first, at least with them we could try and talk things out."

Both of us were silent till I asked, "Did Arthur try? To free Joan, I mean."

He shook his head and I sighed, "You know if this story was to make me see the goodness in Arthur, it's not working."

"It's not about Arthur, it's about your family and friends. If the other nations find out they know, the nations will-"

"Kill them?!"

"No." he exclaimed, but then he thought about it, "Well, in some cases they would. They have world leaders in the back of their pockets; they could frame your family for drug possession, theft, fraud, or murder. Even for federal crimes if they want."

"But they can't-"

"They will. If it's to stop civil war from even starting, destroying a few lives won't bother them. That's why Arthur said he was raising you, so none of the other countries would come searching for you and your family." He sighed, "He also told them he would take you to Austria's party so you would meet them in a safe environment and not have to worry about your family."

"Why didn't he tell me any of this?"

"We tried this morning." Francis proclaimed.

The memory of breakfast came to me and I groaned.

"Wait! Why would the countries care about me? Doesn't everybody hate America, or prefer to make fun of it," then I remembered I was America, "Me." That sounded weird, so I gave up, "Whatever."

Francis chuckled, "Yes, America was always the punch line in our jokes but when Alfred disappeared. We feared for the country, thinking it was on its last legs; but when America continued without Alfred it frighten us to a whole new level. World leaders began to think that they didn't need national personifications and worse, we were beginning to think that. They lost confidence, and I admit I was the same way, till I met you." He smiled, "When they found out you were alive, you brought hope to them, but belief can only go so far. They need to see you."

"And what am I supposed to do when I get there? Give a cheer? Throw poms poms in the air as I do back flips? Do I look like cheerleader to you?" I said sarcastically.

Francis's eyes sparked with irritation as he spoke harshly, "Okay don't go for us. Go for your family, go for your friends. If you still refuse to go, we can't stop them from coming here. And I already told you what the consequences will be." With those final words he walked back into the house.

Francis slammed the door as he came back inside, that girl is so stubborn.

"How did it go?" Matthew asked as he came into the kitchen.

Francis shook his head, "I told her what she needed to know." Then he sighed as he rubbed his temple, "How's Arthur doing with Peter?"

"Oh, the argument started out on why Peter would hack his computer, but it quickly turned into a screaming match about Arthur not seeing him as a country," said Matthew.

"You're not a country! You're a bloody fort!" Arthur's voice ringed out from the living room.

"Then why am I here!" Peter's voice met his in volume, "You're just angry because my people have more faith in me than yours!"

"Do even have people on that sorry excuse for a port?!"

"Stop yelling." Francis commanded as he walked in.

"We don't have to listen to you frog!" Arthur hissed.

Francis placed a firm hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "I know you're angry but I need you to shut up for one moment." He doesn't wait for a reply and focused his attention on Peter and Raivis. "Peter, please understand we need keep Amy's situation a secret."

"Why?" Peter asked as he sat himself beside a nervous looking Raivis.

"If the nations find out about her life here, they will take it away from her. You don't want that do you?"

Peter pouted and crossed his arms like a spoiled child. Raivis suddenly took an interest in his shoes, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

"Fine, do you want Russia to find her then?" Francis said as his last resort.

Both teens tensed and looked up to Francis. "He doesn't care," Peter said uncertainly.

"Arthur heard him." He turned to Arthur, "tell them."

Arthur sighed, "He wants to conquer her, and we all know what that means."

Raivis began to tremble and crossed his arms over his body to hold himself. Peter swallowed back any backhanded comment he had and rubbed his friend's back. "Hey Raivis pull yourself together, it's not like he wants you."

"Are you saying it's okay if it's Ms. America?" Raivis whispered. "No one deserves that."

"He's right, Peter," Francis proclaimed. "Will you help us lock away Amy's files?"

Peter was silent till Raivis begged, "Please Peter, help them. Help Ms. America. She's not so bad," he said as his face turned a shade of crimson.

Peter took a moment, "Fine, give me a computer and a few minutes and I'll have those files buried in firewalls."

I tried to block out the conversation I had with Francis mostly to the part where I became a sarcastic smart ass. Guilt ate through me as my conscience reminded me of my actions today. Punching Peter in the face, scaring Raivis, hurting Arthur's feelings and dissing Francis when he was trying to make me understand. I groaned out loud, "Why do I keep messing things up!"

When no answer came, I sighed and hopped off the fence. "Okay Amy time to say you're sorry and that you're going to that stupid party," I mumbled to myself.

I walked through the back door and headed straight into the living room. Peter was on a laptop, typing rapidly over the keys. Raivis sat beside him, looking over his shoulder in a respectful distance. Francis sat on the love seat rubbing his eyes and forehead with his fingers. Arthur wasn't in the room, and Matthew was the first to see me.

"Uh, hey Amy," he greeted with an uncertain smile. Francis and Raivis turned in my direction and I nodded to them.

I took a deep breath, "Francis, I'm sorry for my attitude and," I exhaled, "I will come to Austria's party."

Francis sighed in relief, "alright."

"And Peter, I-"

"Yes, yes, you're sorry. Thank you but right now I'm busy," Peter said, his eyes never leaving the screen.

"What are you doing?" I couldn't help but ask.

Raivis answered, "He's locking away your files so none of the other countries will find you."

I beamed, "Really," I came to stand over Peter's shoulder along with Raivis. The screen displayed computer language as Peter placed power firewalls upon more firewalls.

"I even hid some viruses in there just in case," he grinned to himself.

I grinned, "Peter you are officially the coolest person I ever met."

He grinned from ear to ear, finished with the key 'enter' and announced. "Done," he closed the laptop. "The only person that can ever get through those walls will have to be as brilliant as me, which is impossible."

I gave a quick peck on his cheek, "Thanks Pete, I owe you one."

A slight blush swept over his cheeks as he smiled bashfully.

I moved away from the couch and asked, "Where's Arthur?"

"Probably sulking in his room," Francis proclaimed.

I bit my inner cheek nervously and ran up the stairs to the guestroom next to my room. I stopped and knocked on his door, "Arthur it's me, can I come in?"

No word came and when I decided to walk away, he said, "Come in."

I slowly opened the door and found Arthur leaning on the rail of the balcony.

"Hey not planning on jumping are ya," I opened with a distasteful joke.

He didn't respond, only stared at an object in his hand. I walked over and saw that the object he was holding was the photograph of Alfred he showed me back at the hospital. His green eyes stared into his face, as if they were asking questions that will never be answered.

"You know, I didn't mean what I said-"

"No. You did," he said it as a fact. He gave a sad smile to the picture, "You're so much like him. We would fight over the most ridiculous things and in the end he was always the one to say he was sorry first. Even if it was my fault, he would say he was sorry. Cause he knew. He knew I would never say sorry first; I was too prideful and he never liked it when we fought. Especially after that fight we had about his independence, it took so many years for us to get back on speaking terms."

"You really loved him huh?"

"He was my little brother, I practically raised him. Tried to protect him from anything that would hurt him, which was mostly the reason why I wanted him to stay my colony, so he would never have to carry the responsibilities of a country. But all I was doing was smothering him. I drove him away," he sighed.

"But," I leaned on the rail next to him, "you guys worked that out."

"'Brothers shouldn't fight'" he chuckled sadly, "that's what he always said when he came to apologize to me. I was the oldest, it was my job to be mature." He muttered.

I giggled, "Sounds like Alfred beat you there."

"Yes, yes he did." He paused, "I see why Alfred didn't want me involved in your life till you were eighteen. He wanted you to have a family, and what kind of family are we? I pick at any small thing that irritates me, be a smothering mother hen one minute then be a, in Alfred's words a complete control freak the next. Matthew would be better but he's a pushover, you've gotten away with anything."

"You forgot Francis," I remarked.

"I didn't forget anyone; Francis barely took any part in raising Alfred. I admit he had a longer time with Matthew and got him to call him papa. But I raised them both."

"Papa? Does that make him my grandfather?"

"No."

"But don't we share the same blood?"

Arthur sighed, "We're not technically bounded by blood. None of the countries are."

"So, Alfred was not your brother?"

"He was. Some nations make family ties with one another; it gives us the idea of family."

I smiled, "Arthur, you and my family are more alike than you think. I share no blood with them but they still love me just the same. I don't want to be corny but, blood doesn't make family, love does."

He takes a moment, "You're right," he pushed himself off the rail to stand, "that was corny."

I laughed, "So you do have sense of humor, I was worried there for a sec."

He grinned and placed the photo on the night stand. We both took a moment to look at Alfred's smiling face. I wonder was he smiling down on us now. Is he happy that they found me ahead of time? Annoyed? Is he proud of the person I came to be? Is he not? I admit a part of me wants to know more about him. Maybe Austria's party will have some answers.

"So when do we leave to Austria?" I asked.

"Tonight," Arthur answered.

History Notes: About Joan, she was sent to the stake for relapsed heretic, meaning she wore men's clothes after she signed a paper swearing she wouldn't. She also told the judges that she heard the voices again, that only encouraged her death penalty. If you want to know more, type in this: 7-things-you-didnt-know-about-joan-of-arc

Other Notes: I know some of my fans (You know who you are) wanted Amy to go beast mode on Iggy, but I thought it would be best if they bonded instead. The next chapter is where Amy arrives in Vienna, gets all dolled up for the ball, meets all the countries, and ends up getting herself lost in Austria's house. I'm going to have so much fun writing it :)