A Thousand Years...USxUK

A Thousand Years
UsxUk
Part Five:Simply A Hello…Good-bye

I walked down the long hallway towards the room that held our World Meetings. I stiffened myself and nodded to Austria and Germany as I passed. Why was I nervous? Oh, yes…this was the first time I would see America since his…birthday…

"YO! Canada!" I stopped in my tracks and tensed hearing his loud voice calling to his brother. I didn't look over my shoulder but stood there. France came out of a smaller room and leaned against the hallway.

"Waiting for him? No?"

"No…just…how have you been?" I straightened my tie looking France square in the eyes.

"Good, good…Oh, Alfred! Come look what the Highlands dragged in!"

"Bloody…" Grumbling I tightened my fist and felt a hand on my shoulder. My heart stopped. I'd always know who that hand belonged too.

"Hey, Arthur," I turned into a smiling face, blue eyes, blonde hair…I pushed the idea of grabbing him and apologizing over and over again away.

"Hello, Alfred," I forced a tight smile back, "How are you?"

"Great, dude…never better," his smile was wide, but his eyes were dull on mine.

"Good…we should head into the meeting, don't want to be late," I tried to turn but the younger Nation's hand was tight on my shoulder.

"I'll see you in there," France took that as his exit and left me alone in the hall with America.

"What is it America?" I asked sighing, expected a long winded blow up about his birthday. Instead, I felt strong arms pull me close and I was pressed against his bomber jacket.

"It's okay…I don't hate you…I'm just glad to see you, is all," his voice was close in my ear, but tight. I swallowed my tears and emotion and gently hugged him back.

"Thank you…I'm glad to see you too." Before I could say another word he broke away from me and slung his arm over my shoulders.

"C'mon, we're gonna be late."

"It'll be your fault," I pretended to be upset, but watched his face closely. His smile was different, satisfied. My eyes widened it was like that time…when I had left for a few months and then came back to him…he had the same smile the entire time I was there…
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"We see the harbor, Captain Kirkland," A young sailor informed me. I walked to the bow of the large shit and inhaled the scent I had missed for so long.

"America…" I whispered. The anticipation to make in to the dock was deafening and I swiftly walked down the ramp leading to the dock. I saw a sea of faces staring at me, I was wearing a long red coat, black plants, a loosely fitting white shirt, and all sorts of embellishments, worthy of a pirate that I was. One small face, that wasn't as small as I remembered, lit up when my green eyes locked with blue.

"BRITAIN!!!" The young boy raced towards me down the dock and I felt my feet do the same.

I reached down and picked him up, holding him close, relishing his strong arms around me.
"Hello America, you've grown quite a bit haven't you?" I pull away and see tears running down the lads face, "Alfred?"

"I missed you so much Britain, I was brave like you said, but still, I missed you," his arms flew around my neck and his face nuzzled into my chest.

"I missed you too, America…so much," I swallowed tears but my heart was full of pure bliss that he had missed me as much as I missed him.

"I have so much to show you Arthur! I'm getting stronger!" I put him down and the young nation led me down the dock and towards the town. I watched his satisfied smile as he looked back at me, talking the whole time, I smiled back. This is how it was supposed to be, America and Britain…together…
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I looked over my shoulder at Britain, trying to hide it. His eyes were fixed ahead of us, but I saw the relief in them. It made me smile. He always was so good at hiding his emotions, especially from me…but that one time, when he left for the first time…something about France and Spain…I had seen his tears for the first time.
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"I have to go away for a while, America," his voice was uneven as I sat on his bed and watched him change from normal clothes into an elaborate costume of red, blue and gold.

"How long is a while?" I kicked my legs and tried to be brave. He had been talking about going to the sea for a while now. I never wanted this day to come.

"I'm not sure, but I'll return, I promise, lad," he came forward and ruffled my hair, but I took his hand and held it.

"Promise?"

I heard his breathing hitch and he knelt down in front of me, his emerald eyes brimming with tears, "I'll always come back for you, America. You mean everything to me," he forced a smile, "You know that."

"I know…but…I'll miss you…" I stuck my chin out trying to be the strong one.

"…I'll miss you too…" I saw a stray tear fall from his eyes and I caught it with my smaller hand. I watched him stare at me for just a moment and then his arms surrounded me, his shoulders softly shaking and his head on my shoulder. Had I had known our roles would reverse so quickly then…I would have said more…
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I was jolted away from the memory with a loud yell from France towards China.  I looked across the table at Britain, who was staring at me. My face flushed, but his green eyes looked lost, in time…like mine probably looked…I wondered if he was thinking the same thing I was…I smiled again, just knowing he was within inches of me was enough…He would always be my Britain, just like I'd forever be his America…