Thank you, my followers and reviewers~ And, once again, I don't own shit, especially Hetalia, that's too awesome to even be shit. I also wrote this while eating breakfast at MickeyD's.

My idea for Peter to be Arthur's child was from the inspiration I got from reading PitFTW's story, This Shouldn't Be Legal. I recommend reading it!

"Blasted American food.." The Brit shoved the wrapper of his Sausage McMuffin back in the bag it came in and threw it into the passengers' seat. In the backseat, Peter had a different attitude about his meal. The boy happily bit into his hash brown and sipped at his McCafe orange juice.

Arthur looked at him through the rear-view mirror and smiled.

"Remember to use only your best manners, Peter. They really went out of their way to help us and I don't want to have to-"

"I will. I'll be good." The toddler's legs bounced excitedly in his booster seat. Arthur sighed in mild relief. "What are they wike?"

"Hmm..?" He looked back at his son once more, before turning back to the road. "Well, I haven't seen them in a while so I'm not so sure.." It was true. While he was looking up Tino's contact info. the day before, he only had a glimpse of a real modern-day photo of him.

Now that Arthur thought about it, he wasn't really expecting Tino to look much different, but he did seem to have a lower voice on the phone.. And then there was Berwald; he'd be taller and more intimidating by now. That thought was giving him second thoughts about staying at Tino's-

He shook his head. "Arthur, don't worry about it. Everything will be just fine.."

"Look, Daddy, look!"

"Hm?" He looked back at Peter, who was pointing out his window and kicking his legs in his booster seat excitedly. "There!"

Arthur looked out his own window. "Oh, the Empire State Building? It's way over there, isn't it?"

"Can we got go there?" Peter smiled and looked at Arthur's green eyes expectantly in the rear-view mirror. But the father just shook his head. "Not today, Peter. We're much too late to-"

"Okay.." The boy looked down at his lap sadly, his legs halted in their energetic swinging.

"I'm sorry, Peter. Perhaps we could some other time.."

"M'kay.." The toddler pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on them. "Cheer up, lad. Perhaps we could go there and take Tino and Berwald with us once we've settled in." Arthur blinked softly and smiled, the child mirrored it, to his relief.

Peter had wanted to visit the famous sights of New York ever since they'd moved there, but Arthur never had the time to take him because he was so busy finding a stable job. Or were you just waiting for Francis to come with? Arthur clenched his teeth and inwardly shouted for his conscience to kindly shut up.

While Arthur was silently cursing the evil thoughts swirling in his mind, Peter slowly fell asleep.

After Arthur picked his son from pre-school, he took a detour and went straight home. He had had enough of that day and just wanted it to be over. He wanted to retreat into his and Francis' room, curl up into their blankets and sleep his life away. There was no way that he could face Francis and tell him he just lost his job. Arthur's damned pride would be at risk. He could already imagine how disappointed and frustrated Francis would be with him. Guilt dropped like a cold stone in his stomach and he swallowed the knot in his throat.

"Daddy?" Peter pauses in playing with his stuffed seagull as his stomach rumbles.

Arthur shook himself out of his trance. "Y-Yes, love?"

Peter tilted his head questioningly, but didn't ask about the inner turmoil going on behind his father's mask. "I'm hungry."

A weak smile was shown in the rear-view mirror. "I know. I just have to pick something up at home really quick, so just sit tight, Peter."

Arthur gently prodded on his breaks and they came to a stop at a big cabin-looking house with all sizes of flowers painted on it. He looked at the navy blue mailbox in front of him and saw more flowers painted on the side of it. This is..cute. He looked back at the house and then down at his iPhone. "2120 Nordic Drive..This seems to be the right place.." He put the car in reverse and then neatly parked in the driveway. "Flowers...Really, Tino?" I thought he just referred to himself as a fragile flower.. The Brit turned off the engine and shoved his keys in his trouser pocket before opening the car door.

He breathed in deeply as he admired Tino's beautiful lawn, and the garden that looked like it was professionally built, along with a small greenhouse. He smiled and shook his head. What a lucky fellow. Arthur blinked at it a few times. It's like the place I've always wanted..He noted with a twinge of jealousy. He bit his lip and continued to open Peter's door.

"Wake up, love. We're here." The boy blinked drowsily and yawned, but made no move to unbuckle himself. "Daddy?" He rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms out to Arthur. The guardian sighed in annoyance. "Peter, you are too old for this.." Arthur picked him up anyways and closed the door. "We can get the bags later, I guess.." Peter snuggled his face into the man's neck with a contented sigh. Arthur just smiled and rubbed the boy's back.

As they neared the front door of the cabin house, Arthur gulped, wondering how he should greet his friend after so many years. Re-balancing Peter, he shakily pressed the doorbell and closed his eyes tightly, as if he was preparing himself for his first football game-

After a minute, he opened one eye as he heard shuffling inside, along with noisy barking. A person's footsteps could be heard inside and then they hushed the dog and opened the door.

A short blond man with bright violet eyes and a round face appeared in the tall doorway.

When he saw Arthur, he smiled widely. "Arthur! It's you!" His voice hadn't really changed, it was probably just the phone that made it seem deep. "Tino.."

They just stood there for a moment, looking each other up and down. And then they finally embraced each other. Peter bounced and slightly shifted in Arthur's arms. 'Thank God, he's such a deep sleeper..'

"It is so nice to see you!" Tino giggled as he released the Brits. "How've ya been recently?" he asked casually, as if he hadn't heard the whole checked in with him the night before.

"Better, I guess." Arthur chuckled lightly as the door was closed behind him. "How have you been, mate?"

The Finnish man shrugged and sat down beside him and Peter on the couch. "Oh, just enjoying this house and Berwald, as always."

Peter turned his head, still resting his cheek on his father's shoulder, as he blinked at the new person beside them.

"Oh, is this Peter?" Tino gasped and gave him a friendly smile. "Hei there, Peter!" he greeted cheerfully. The toddler's blue eyes widened and he hid his face once more with a small blush.

Arthur kissed his head. "Sorry, he's just a little shy around new people."

The puppy that was barking earlier circled their feet and sniffed at Arthur's pant leg, before licking his fingers. "Ah, who's this little tyke?"

Tino picked her up. "This is Hanatamago, but we call her Hana," she licked her master's cheek, "Ber adopted her and then used her to propose to me," he beamed, his violet eyes brightening from the memory.

"That's very sweet of him." Arthur smiled as Peter crawled off his lap and started playing with the white fluff ball.

"He's a very sweet guy once you get to know him.." the Finn said, blinking at his old friend.

Arthur looked warily around as if the Swede would pop out of nowhere and scare him. This made Tino laugh.

"He left for work a few hours ago, but he'll be back for lunch break since the clinic isn't far from here."

"Oh, alright then." Arthur suddenly remembered Tino mentioning his husband was a doctor, which reminded him of the job listings Tino had when he looked him up.

"So you own a bakery?"

The younger man giggled. "A cafe, actually. I used to run one with Berwald while we were still going to the university in Helsinki. And so I started one here` You may have heard of it, it's the across from the Russian dance studio near that one German pub.." He snapped his fingers. "I forgot the name-"

"Gil's Awesome Kneipe?"

"Oh, that means bar?"

"Yeah, Francis and I used to go there and.."

Arthur trailed off, looking rather remorseful.

Tino's happy smile soon dimmed to a concerned frown and his eyebrows drew up in a bit of worry as the Brit spaced out. He patted Arthur's leg to get him to refocus.

"So, really, how have you been?"

The two did not break eye contact for what seemed decades.

Sighing, the father finally gave in to the Finn's silent request for an explanation.

Peter and Hanatamago were shooed out into the backyard and they played as his father and his father's old friend talked.

The whole FrUk drama will be explained next chapter. Review if you liked it, review if you don't, but offer friendly tips. Currently looking for a beta, so recommend some good ones for me if you can!

Byyyyyye, my lovely ducklings~!