Mealtime Pleasantries

"Will they be alright?" England asked as the Canadians drove away.

"Oh yeah, Mattie might be a little mad with them, but it should all be sorted out by the end of the day." America said with a nonchalant wave of his hands.

A bell then reverberated throughout the estate.

"Well, it's lunch time." America said as he led the way to a rather large dining hall. The room was as large as a small high school gymnasium with a long table covered in a white table cloth already covered in a wide variety of food and drink. Golden painted chairs were on each side and glittering crystal chandeliers hung from above. On the other side were seven ceiling high windows that looked out to an outdoor patio with a small fire pit.

There was a small tapping noise as four states came out of an adjacent kitchen carrying more trays of food, one of them was a using a cane to support his lame right leg.

"Wow, I'm surprised that we do not have to eat fast food." France said with a small twitch as Louisiana pulled him to a spot beside two states she identified to him earlier as Colorado and Wyoming.

"Nah, Pa doesn't eat that stuff all the time." Alabama said as he placed his cane on a clip beside his chair. He nodded to South Carolina who pushed his seat closer to the table for him and Florida took the seat next to him to get away from Spain.

"You don't?" the countries said looking at America.

"No way, that stuff is mostly to go food." America laughed, then cautiously looking over shoulder. "Besides, the more health conscious states would force me to go vegan or something if we ate nothing but McDonalds."

"Oregon, and California already tried." Georgia said as she passed a platter of grilled steaks towards Sweden.

"Oh yeah, I remember that one." Idaho said as she speared a baked potato from the bowl Montana offered her. "I have never seen Dad run faster than Indy's formula racer."

"Faster than one of my Raptors." Colorado added.

"When was this?" Finland asked.

"Eh…during the food pyramid reform and Pilates craze few years ago." Nevada said with a pause.

"You would high tail it too if you were threatened by some little sociopaths." America said looking at his States who were trying to look innocent. "There was a reason the Civil War caused me a lot of pain and not just because of the split."

"Next time you guys are visiting I should make you guy try a real dish." Texas said with a smirk. "Texan barbecue is the best in the US of A!"

There was a pause before some of the states stood up and started to scream.

"NO WAY! OUR CAROLINA BARBECUE IS THE BEST!" South and North Carolina yelled.

"In your dreams maybe!" Kansas snapped.

"Yeah, the best is Kansas City!" Missouri added.

"Forget it! It's Memphis all the way!"

"Not this again." Kentucky groaned.

"Hawaiian~!"

America twitched as the states started arguing over the best recipes for barbecue including what kind of spices and meats to use.

"Are they always like this?" Japan asked.

"Well we are called the 'Melting Pot' for a reason." Arizona commented. "With so many cultural views, ideas, and variety of history it's not a surprise that sometimes we fight on food."

"There was also issues about fashion, dialects, and customs but lets not go in to that."

"Thank you Vermont, I rather not have the house nearly destroyed." America commented before glaring at Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Massachusetts "...Not again!"

"Like the time New York insulted Kentucky's Hot Brown?" Florida asked.

"I still think that it's terrible." New York said a crinkle in his nose.

"You have the right to have an opinion Brother, that's why it's called an opinion, but call my food a 'messed up tragedy' again and the jockeys will be chasing Velte at the next race at the Churchill Downs!" Kentucky bellowed.

"Don't you dare touch my beaver you horse head jock!"

"You wanna do this again? Let's go!"

"Oh wow, this is almost bad as the time when New York insulted Illinois' Chicago pizza." North Dakota whispered to South Dakota.

She nodded. That was almost a culinary massacre. America had to actually skip a meeting with Congress to break them apart. Especially when Illinois started to zap New York with his magic and blocked out the other magic states.

That was the angriest they had seen him since the MA vs RI match of '79. If the exploding pumpkins wasn't enough, there was also barrels of whiskey being launched from a crudely made catapult.

"BOYS!" America snapped. "Enough."

He then looked at the BBQ States. "Do I need to go over there?"

Lightning fast they all sat down and said "No Sir."

England just blinked. "So you have raised them properly."

"What, you expecting them to be complete little hellions?"

"Well…the apple doesn't fall from the tree."

"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Utah asked politely.

"Yeah, especially since Papa was a pirate too." Florida added.

America blanched while England nearly choked on his lemonade. Spain actually did until New Mexico hastily whacked him on the back.

"Wh-what?"

"Yeah…I sort of was…"

"Sort of?"

"Pa you were blasting the Spanish and French raiders left and right!" Georgia yelled.

"Only if they got close to the coasts."

"Lies!" Florida and Virginia yelled.

"What about when you took out my crew and destroyed the Red Queen?" Virginia snapped.

"Red Queen?" Poland asked with confusion.

"It was her ship." Lithuania whispered.

"I had to Elizabeth; you were messing up the coastal trades."

"It was bad enough that Carol blasted my ships!" Virginia wailed. Her sister to the south just smirked.

"Like Dad said, you were messing up the trade. And my deep sea fishing."

"Oh shut up Black Sheep." Louisiana commented as she spooned more shrimp creole onto her plate. "No one wants to hear about your days as a criminal."

"What was that CAJUN FROG!"

"Girls!"

"Sorry Papa."

"Sorry."

'These children are insane….' Several Nations thought.

"Geez, if they were like this with us, how do you they will react when they meet our cousins?" North Carolina asked Virginia.

"Or better yet, when Mexico gives in and lets them visit her family."

Brief State Bios!

Arizona – Yanaha Jones

Brief History- Joined the Union as the 48th State February 14th, 1912. One of the Four Corner States.

Yanaha is a headstrong girl who lived amongst the Navajos and with Mexico a few years before joining the U.S. as a state. Enjoys free climbing, kayaking, and various other outdoor activities. Worked with the Navajo code talkers during WWII.

Alabama- Roy Jones

Brief History- Joined the Union as the 22nd State December 14th, 1819.

Roy was once considered to be a more laid back agriculture kind of guy until he began to expand into several different industries after WWII. Played a major role in the desegregation of the South and destruction of the Jim Crow laws. He suffers from a lame right leg due to the Tuskegee experiments.

Colorado – Ethan Jones

Brief History- Joined the Union as the 38th State August 1st, 1876. Formerly known as the Colorado Territory.

Ethan is an outdoors explorer. Likes to hike, mountain climb, canoeing, etc… Was the first to create the standards for the official juvenile justice crime system. Currently he works alongside the US Air Force. Still is trying to be the next Broadway.

Wyoming- Zane Jones

Brief history- The 44th State, joined the Union July 10th, 1890.

A real supporter of animal and environmental rights. He is also fascinated, if not obsessed with symmetry after being the first to allow suffrage for women. He is also said to be the guardian of the buffalo and often takes part in their preservation.

Georgia- Mabel Jones

Brief History- Formerly the Province of Georgia. Joined the Union January 2nd, 1788 as the 4th State.

Mabel is considered to be the embodiment of Southern Hospitality. She can be rather polite, and loves to cook, however behind that sweet face lays the embodiment of evil. Her fellow Dixie states also refer to her as Madea when she gets pissed off. Was friends with Ray Charles.

Vermont – Allison Jones

Brief History- One of the New England States, was the 14th to join the Union March 4th, 1791.

Was the first state to allow gay marriage. A Yaoi fan, and many of the New England states believe she may be trying to play matchmaker with their dad. Like her Canadian relatives she likes maple syrup. Has an iron skillet from her colonial days that she still uses as a weapon. She disguised herself as a boy during her involvement with the Green Mountain Boys in the Revolutionary War.

Maryland- Marigold Jones

Brief History- 7th member of the Original 13. Became a state April 28th, 1788.

Named for her golden hair, Marigold or 'Mary' is called the mad scientist of the family; working extensively with biotechnology. Due to their closeness she is referred by many as 'America in Miniture'. In order to prepare for a possible zombie apocalypse she is rumored to have founded a company called Bloom & Doom. Is a bit conflicted if she is Catholic or Protestant.

Idaho- Emma Jones

Brief History- Formerly known as the Idaho Territory; joined the Union as the 43rd State July 3rd, 1890. No one really knows of names' origin.

Likes to focus on her agricultural routes, Emma also loves skiing and snowboarding. So much so that she once went to the Winter Olympics to compete. Is as crazy about potatoes as Germany and Ireland. Maybe more.

Iowa- Aden Jones

Brief History- Formaly called the Iowa Territory; became the 29th state December 28th, 1846.

A quiet boy; he's mostly interested in agriculture and making advancements in alternative energy. He currently is assisting Maryland in her newest project to ensure the safety of the rural areas in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Don't mess with his corn, or straw hat.

Kentucky- Winston Jones

Brief History- Joined the Union June 1st, 1792 as the 15th State.

Loves horses and racing; his first was a mare by the name of Bluebell. Friends with child Abe Lincoln he helped bring for many changes in law. Was the last to perform public executions.

Mississippi- Emily Jones

Brief History- Joined the Union December 10th, 1817 as the 20th state.

A God fearing Dixie girl, Emily is not one to be trifled with. She can hunt with the best of them and then some. Supposedly she tried to hit Vermont with her Bible once. Her past of racism still haunts her, but she is working hard to repeal it.

Montana – Edward Jones

Brief History- Became the 41st State November 8th, 1889. Has many nicknames but none official.

Works as a cattle rancher, and various other livestocks but also in many aeronautical industries. After suffering during the Depression Edward was among the states to join the Code Talkers to intercept messages from Japan. Has a pet grizzly bear.

Florida- Yolanda Jones

Brief History- Originally Spanish territory Florida joined the Union March 3rd 1845 as the 27th State.

Loves the beach, oranges and sunshine, and dreads making the trip up north during the winter. She works with Maryland and North Carolina in horticulture bioengineering, Hates Spain due to him having killed off many of her first freinds.

New Mexico- Fabian Jones

Brief History- Became the 47th State January 6th, 1912. One of the Four Corner States

A professional UFO tracker by trade, Fabian works with Tony a lot and like to promote the awareness of extraterrestrial life. Haves a diverse life style.

North Carolina – Carol Jones

Brief History- Originally called the Province of North Carolina. 12th member of the Original 13. Joined the Union in November 21st, 1789.

Moving away from her former livelihood of tobacco farming and textiles, she has moved onto to making advancements in biotechnology, engineering, and various other fields. Fraternal twin to South Carolina. Was conflicted about joining the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Nevada – Felipe Jones

Brief History- Joined the Union October 31st, 1864 as the 36th State.

Despite his go lucky gambling tendencies, he's quite a mathematician, and often helps America weed out morons stealing money from the government both civilian and politicians alike. Gets along with his siblings, except for New Mexico when he constantly tries to sneak into Area 51.

North Dakota- Mason Jones

Brief History- Jointed the Union November 2nd, 1889 as the 39th State.

Fraternal twin to South Dakota, Mason still holds on tightly to his origins, particularly the Icelandic culture. Like his sister, his is the protector of several wildlife preserves.

South Dakota – Olivier Jones

Brief History- Joined the Union November 2nd, 1889 as the 40th State.

As a tomboy, Olivier is very pleased her name is not girly at all. Rumored to have bit her father until he agreed not to call her Olivia. A hard worker, she is the protector of several state parks. One of her biggest and most proudest achievements is Mt. Rushmore. Suffered the most during the Dust Bowl.