It really didn't take long for them to get up there.
America was peacefully sleeping on the couch, his head on Brazil's lap. He had been fighting off sleep a while ago, remembering what Ecuador said. But Brazil had noticed how tired he was and told him that he could go to sleep and they would wake him up when the rest of the family got here.
The younger nation had also been afraid of going to sleep, afraid that this was all just a dream and that the agents would find and take him. But Brazil had swore on his life that it wasn't and that he was safe.
That he would die before any agent laid a finger on Alfred.
So now, Braz was gently running his left hand through America's hair and watching some futbol.
Which was pretty hard to do at the moment.
He had made sure his cousin was nice and comfy, had a blanket completely cover him to give him some warmth, and had massaged his tense shoulders to try and relax him. But he still couldn't help but feel so guilty at how none of them knew of this.
Like damn, America was the third to last in their whole family, one of the youngest. You were suppose to watch out for the youngest... They were suppose to watch out for the youngest. But they hadn't.... They had failed.
They had failed Amer- Alfred. They had failed him.
There had been suspicions on something being wrong, something had just felt wrong. And yet, they didn't go with that.
The way America had been so determined to leave them, to go back to the government, they had all thought that they would treat him right...... Even when Ecuador kept calling and was told 'America didn't want to speak with him', they had believed it.
And even if they all had felt something off, they had believed all of it.
He heard America whimper and quickly looked down at his cousin. He was slightly moving in his sleep. "Al," He said softly, still running his hand through his hair, "What's wrong?"
At the sound of his voice and the relaxing feeling of Brazil massaging his head, America stopped. " 'm sorry," He sleepily whispered.
"We know," Brazil nodded, "We know. We'll protect you, I swear. Go back to sleep, ok? Everyone will be here when you wake up."
"Mattie, D, and Mar?" He missed his siblings so much.
Brazil smiled and nodded, "Everyone. Now go back to sleep Maska."
America relaxed and basically immediately fell back to sleep.
And that's when there was a knock on the door.
Brazil looked at it and carefully moved America's head off his lap, putting it on a pillow. He heard him whimper at the lack of contact.
"I'll be back Al," He ruffled his hair and headed to the door.
Once he opened it, he had to quickly move aside before one of his family members trampled him.
Venezuela grabbed him, "Where is he?" Honestly, she was such a mom. It was like their North American cousins and Columbia were her babies, if someone messed with them, her first instinct would probably be to castrate them.
The couch was facing away from the door, so they couldn't really see Alfred.
"He's sleeping on the couch," He replied, "You can wake him." He looked at Ecuador, "I know you wanted to keep him awake but he was just so tired." Alfred hadn't told Brazil that he had been running from his monsters and that was the reason he had been in the hallway.
Ecuador nodded, he understood.
The Mexs rushed to the couch. Maria quietly sat down next to Alfred. "Alfie?" She quietly asked, "Maska?"
America hadn't been in deep sleep, so he started to stir a bit and a awhile, he looked up at his baby brother and sister. Canada had put down the clothes he had brought for his twin and walked to the three.
So now America was looking at all of them.
He didn't know what to say.
So his tears did all the talking for him.. He sniffled and looked down in shame and regret..
How could he have been so terrible and rude and selfish and....... He was so horrible to them.
"I-I," He sobbed, "I-I'm s-sorry."
After all he done, naturally, he wasn't expecting this to happen.
Maria had been the first one to throw her arms around him as he sniffled. She let her tears fall as her older brother wrapped his arms protectively around.
And Maria said the words, she had regretted not saying since he left. "I love you. I love you so much.... I'm sorry.." She was so sorry for not telling him that earlier.
So so sorry.
America shook his head, she hadn't done anything wrong. That had all been him.
Diego was next.
He let out a shaky breath, he sat on Alfred's other side. And laid his head on him shoulder, quietly shaking. And Alfred took one arm off Maria and put it around him..
He had made his younger siblings- his baby brother and sister cry- God, he would never forgive himself for that.
He was so sorry.
So so sorry.
"I'm so sorry D," He cried, "I-"
"Don't leave us again," Diego shook, keeping his head on his hermano's shoulder. "Por favor." He sniffled.
It had been some of the worst months in his life.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you, I didn't. Maybe it's my fault for-"
"No, don't you dare blame yourself for anything." Alfred quickly said, "I swear D, you did nothing wrong. You were just looking out for me. This is all just my fault."
And here came the last one.
Canada made eye contact with his twin and went down.
He put his arms over all his baby siblings and just like Diego, let out a shaky breath. "You were hurt Al. Nothing is your fault... We- we missed you so much."
America nodded, "I'm sorry."
Canada wiped his twin's tears and looked up, "So am I, I should have known the President was up to no good." He whispered painfully. "I'm so sorry. I-.... It's my job to watch out for you. And I failed, I'm so sorry little brother." He spoke softly, "You didn't deserve any of this. You were just pushed beyond your limit. But, we're here now. All of us, I promise. Talk to us please." Canada begged as his tears picked up, "We would never hurt you. We would never treat you like they did. Please..." He looked Alfred dead in the eye. "Please trust us."
And that's when Alfred noticed everyone in the room looking at him.
This was all up to him now.
His cousins had swore they would protect him, his siblings had cried their pain and guilt to him, and he.....
He had to make the decision, the right one. He didn't want to hurt them again.
He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he did.
Alfred looked at his baby brother and sister and wiped their tears away, then looked at Canada and did the same. "I do," He whispered.
And Matthew smiled, he smiled with his watery eyes and hugged all of his siblings tightly, "Thank you," He sighed, "Thank you Alfie," He whispered in his ear.
It had been so long.
America looked up when he felt someone ruffling his hair. He saw Ecuador smiling at him.
Too long.
"Welcome back Maska," His oldest cousin spoke.
And he couldn't help but smile back.
Venezuela rushed over and hugged him with Colombia following. She looked him up and down, not liking what those bastards had done to him. "We're going to take care of you," She promised, holding him.
He nodded, he truly didn't doubt it.
Argentina clapped him on the back. "You know, we've been missing out on a lot of futbol games. When you gain back your strength, South America is gonna have to keep beating North-"
"Dios Mio," Diego shook his head, "Tina, don't bring that over here!!'
Peru grinned, "Aww," He ruffled Diego's hair, "That's cute. You don't want to hear about your losses-"
America laughed, "We still play good and we have beat you all before-"
Colombia let out a loud laugh, "You two," She motioned to America and Canada, "Mr. Hockey and Baseball or Football, let Mexico carry you to victory."
"Hey!" Canada said. He was more of a hockey person, but he had played futbol before.
"This is disrespectful," Maria spoke to her cousins.
"Mari," Suriname smiled, "It's not our fault, your oldest brothers can't play hardcore like u-"
"You're going to eat your words when I get stronger, Suri," Alfred smiled, "All of you, all this trash talk. Just wait."
"We'll be," Paraguay nodded,"We'll be ready," He teased.
"I mean, like, it's not like we never are," Boliva said, "Unlike you all."
"Oh my God," Canada looked at Kuma, he wasn't getting into this. It was too late for this.
"We have food!!!" Chile finally called out, he motioned to the table. He had been waiting for that to be acknowledged.
Everyone looked at him and Alfred's jaw dropped at the large amount of food they had, "Do I have to eat all that?"
"Al," Brazil said, "You eat as much as you want."
His eyes went wide, "Really?"
He didn't notice how disturbed his family felt from him having to ask that. Of course he could..
"Of course you can," Ecuador and Canada both responded.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
So now, here he was.
He was sitting on the couch, with a plate full of food.
Two grilled cheese sandwiches, some lasagna, mashed potatoes, he had a bowl of soup. A cup of hot chocolate.
Wearing his brother's comfy clothes.
He had changed into the clothes a while ago. And many in the family didn't like how loose they looked on him.
Covered with blankets.
Colombia, being the blunt person she was at times, had dumped the sheets right on him.
And surrounded by family... The family who loved and had still cared for him, no matter what.
"We're going to have to leave soon," Urangay said as he fixed himself a plate, "Portugal's gonna want his room back."
Alfred shifted nervously, "Where am I going to be?" He didn't want to go back to his room. What if the agents were there? He really didn't want to.
And his family saw that.
"With me of course," Canada smiled at him. And America looked surprised before relaxing and smiling in joy and relief.
North America were all sharing a couch. Alfred was between the Mexs, with Canada was next to Diego. He had his arm around his younger brothers, while Maria was laying her head on Alfred's shoulder.
It was obvious, the youngest two of North America didn't want to be separated from him. And honestly, by the look of it, you could say the same for him.
It had been such a rough past few months.
Alfred munched on the good food, he was eating so quick. Like a starved man, well technically, he had been. He drank down the hot chocolate.
And it all felt so good. It tasted so good. This all was just so good.
For the first time in months, he was full.
He wrapped his arms around his tired younger siblings.
Everything had been so much on everyone that sleeping schedules were jacked and they all were tired.
But now, everything, all the pain, and tears, and hardship, the lying, and name calling, the starving, overworkment, and the separation- The terrible, terrible separation.... All of it..
It all was over.
Finally.
Now, they were all reunited.
Now, they would be happier, now they could all rest.
And now, finally. Things would go back to normal.
No, actually, things would be better. He had a feeling.
XXXXXXXX
"So what should we do about this?" Peru asked. He motioned to North America.
They had all fell asleep on the couch together. Alfred had his arms around Maria, with Diego's head on his shoulder and Canada having an arm around him.
Brazil and Argentina on another couch, let out loud snores.
"And that?" Peru went on.
"They look so adorable!!" Venezuela said, taking pictures.
"I'm adorable," Chile, who was tiredly laying on the floor with Suriname said. His cousin rolled her eyes at him.
Portugal, who had come back and was putting a blanket on Brazil and Argentina, laughed, "Leave them."
Ecuador looked at him, "Really?"
His uncle nodded, "Sim." (Yes) "They're not bothering anyone. I'm fine with them."
"Well," Urangay said, "Okay then..." He yawned.
"The rest of you look pretty tired too."
"It's been a tough few months," Bolivia rubbed his eyes.
Portugal nodded, "I can see that. You need to get some rest," He motioned to a closet, "There are more blankets and pillows in there. I'll call down for some cots," He smiled at them, "I'll see you all in the morning." And walked to the bedroom.
"Wow," Venezuela said, "He just-....Okay then...". She sat on a couch.
"Since we're all having a sleepover," Colombia dumped a blanket on North America.
"It's been such a day," Paraguay stretched.
Ecuador nodded in agreement, "Yep, it has been," He looked at North America all cuddled up together and smiled.
"It's been a hard one, an emotional one, and a happy one."
Venezuela followed his gaze and smiled at him, "And tomorrow's another one." She got up and adjusted the blankets on her younger cousins.
And it would be a happier, a better one.
After all. One glance at all of them and it would tell you.... One glance at North America...
And you would see it.
The storm was over.
Finally.
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Thoughts?