A/N: So, here's the last chapter. I hope you like it and thanks to everyone for all the support.
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
The blare of her alarm clock forced America to choose between throwing against the wall and getting out of bed. Tempting as the former sounded, she rolled out of bed and lumbered over to the closest with her suits. Stupid bosses, not considering a personification's human limits. Stupid video game marathons. Stupid people waking her up after midnight. Once her mind kicked into gear again she might think differently, but everyone knew better than to approach her before the first cup of coffee. At least she wasn't pmsing. Showered, dressed and feeling marginally less zombie like, Amelia walked down stairs.
Someone made bacon and eggs. The scent of fresh brewed coffee, properly brewed not that Keurig crap, perked her up.
Who?
No, Canada was back in Ottawa. Of course! Rogers woke before her and cooked breakfast. Perhaps he wasn't as stupid as her boss or video game marathons. Since he woke her up at two in the morning he must feel guilty and planned to make it up to her by cooking breakfast. Bacon and eggs beat her plan of cereal and orange juice by a mile. The dreary day looming a head brightened, not by much, but still looked more pleasant than two minutes ago. At least she started it with a proper meal in her stomach.
"Morning," Rogers greeted her when she entered the kitchen.
She held up a hand forestalling further comment and beelined for the fresh cup of coffee in her favorite mug. Every four to eight years she received a new mug with all her Presidents listed, the old joined the rest of her stuff in the basement. Two gulps later she felt human again.
"Good morning Steve," she replied, leaning against the kitchen counter. Perhaps she should get this over with. "I know why you came here."
"Ma'am?" Damn, he returned to calling her ma'am and he didn't know the truth yet.
A sad smile tugged at her lips, "you came here because you learned that Major Amelia Jones still existed. The truth is she and Commander Alfred Jones ceased to exist in 1945."
"I don't understand. You're Major Jones."
"I was. I was Commander Alfred Jones too."
None of this made sense to him, his eyes filled with confusion as he tried to work out what she meant. Rather than torment him, she plunged in, "Roger's the truth is…"
The door bell interrupted her.
"I'll get that ma'am."
Before she could say anything he fled the kitchen. Damn it all to hell, she had braced herself for his reaction and someone just had to ring her door bell. Though curious, she opted to remain in the kitchen and eat two slices of bacon. A wise choice she soon discovered and that she would arrive very late to the White House. What a fantastic start to her week.
"Who the hell are you? Where's Ms. Jones?" A woman demanded.
America signed; her 'babysitter' had turned up early. For safety reasons that made sense only to her bosses, a team of four Secret Service Agents followed her about. Not many stuck around for longer than two years, some never made it passed one. Every time one resigned they called her 'difficult' and impossible to handle. Maybe she would go along with their ridiculous habits if they didn't treat her like a two year old. None of them ever remembered the truth after resigning, not unless they stuck around for four years.
"Jackie, Steve, it's okay." She stuck her head around the corner, "Don't hurt each other. Jackie, that's Steve, he's an old friend of mine who needed a place to crash. Steve, that's Jackie, she's on the team the President assigned to protect me. No, Jackie he has no idea that I'm the personification of the United States of America." She said the last in a single breath before Jackie could find some oh-so conspicuous way to ask if Roger's knew the truth or not.
No one got the chance to say anything else before Stark appeared on her door step too, "That would make sense if it weren't impossible."
Behind Stark stood a reluctant Pepper Potts and Bruce Banner.
"Jackie, be a dear and go tell the Boss I'll be late."
While America hated calling on her ability to order citizens around she brought it forth to get rid of Jackie. The Secret Service Agent nodded and walked off, her eyes blank.
Soon as Jackie walked by, Stark welcomed himself into her house, sauntering right up to her. That he tried to intimidate her amused America to no end and she let it show. No matter how he acted, he could never scare her, best to let him know that now. The silent battle of wills ended the moment Stark backed up a step, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. Well, she would see how long that lasted once he accepted the truth.
Sometimes, when people learned the truth about Nations they backed away in horror. More than a few ran off down the street to tell people, but forgot the whole thing before making it several feet. Some people were inspired. They welcomed the truth and it became a key part of their being in ways she could never understand. A lot fainted and forgot not only what she told them but her as well. Part of her fear of telling Rogers laid in that knowledge. Her good, dear friend might not be able to handle the truth. If he fainted, he would forget any memory of her. That morning they met under the tree, the motorcycle she lent him, crying on her shoulder after Bucky died. All would be lost. Sometimes her existence stank.
"So, who's this boss?" Stark asked, trying to regain his balance.
"President Matthew Santos. He's expecting me but it can wait."
"So, you're the personification of the United States of America? That's not possible. You survived through some weird age gimmick. What planet are you from anyway?"
"Earth. Which is this one, unless my house traveled to another planet and I didn't notice."
Rogers stepped over, "Ma'am… Amy, just tell us the truth."
The young Nation rolled her eyes at the pair of them, "I've already told you. Whether or not you believe me isn't my problem."
Afraid to say anything, she hoped he believed her; that he wouldn't faint or run away.
The other new arrivals, Banner and Pepper, explored her home as she spared with Stark and Rogers. From what she saw out of the corner of her eyes, Pepper took particular interest in the pictures on her living room.
"Hey, Ms. Jones?" Pepper asked, "Is this you?"
Everyone gathered about the picture she pointed to. The picture in question, one from the 1920s, America lounged across a tree branch holding a bag over England's head as he tried to jump and grab it. Under the tree, Canada, Scotland and Wales had collapsed from laughing so hard; above them Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong played tree-tag. As she remembered the moment, Ireland had taken the photo. That she managed to climb the three in a flapper dress and heels still impressed people.
Laughing, America nodded, "That was a fun day. We didn't get too met up often in the 20s."
"That's your family?" Rogers asked, "It's that Sir Kirkland and Commander Williams?"
One-by-one America pointed out her family, "England, Canada, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Ireland took the photo."
From Roger's expression, he believed her. Somehow, without a word he accepted her dual identity. Perhaps to him it just felt right.
"America, how is England?" Rogers asked, confirming her suspicions.
Stark rolled his eyes, "Cap, you can't really believe this story about personified Nations? I've heard of some fantastical things and seen even more, but this is impossible. Thor is one thing, she is another."
"When you see Thor again, tell him that if he doesn't visit the Nordics, I'll get an earful at the next conference. The Brits would like a visit too. It would be hilarious to watch Denmark and Prussia try to drink him under the table." America mused.
"Well," Stark clapped his hands together, "That proves you can't be telling the truth. Prussia was dissolved in the 1940s."
America shrugged, "Normally that would be the case, but he adopted East Germany to protect Germany from feeling pain while that part of the country was under Russia's control. No one has a clue how he survived Reunification; most think he stuck around to keep Germany sane."
"That doesn't make sense," Banner pointed out.
"Nor does most of our existence, but it is what it is."
"You're lying, this is just what you want us to believe." Stark accused her.
"If you need further proof, hack the SHIELD database. My basic information is in there; but no one else's because I refuse to let Furry have that information. Call Furry if you have too, he'll be pissed you came here though."
Off to the side Pepper muttered something about that no being a first. The only who really heard her, Banner, chuckled. Stark scowled at them.
Bored the conversation, and desperate for the breakfast cooling on her kitchen table, America turned to face Stark. Her bright blue eyes bore into his brown, showing him in a brief glimpse her history, her life. All those events, happy, painful, and bitter flashed across her eyes. Stark stumbled, hand flying to his head when the slideshow ended; that he remained standing impressed her. More than a few collapsed after that.
"Tony," Pepper stabilized him, "Are you okay?"
Stark demanded, "What did you do?"
"It was easier that talking," America shrugged. "I showed you my how history in a second, it's something we can do to our citizens."
After that neither Banner nor Pepper needed further explanations, but all four had more questions they wanted answers too. Before she answered questions, she insisted they all eat breakfast. Rather than eat, Stark decided to explore her house. When he asked about her basement, she told him that rules forbid anyone but the owner from entering a basement. In their world a basement was the only private place entirely theirs.
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"Hey, Amy," Stark stuck his head around the corner, "Why do you have this?"
The object in question happened to be America's Sailor Jupiter costume. To everyone's amusement, she went bright red. While Rogers had no idea what the costume meant, given how little it covered he could guess why it was embarrassing.
"It's for Halloween."
"Which is months away, and your face says it's for something else entirely."
"It's old."
"It still has the tag."
"Fine," she conceded, crossing her arms and looking the posture child for petulance. "But what my boy friend and I get up to is our business."
Stark dropped the outfit as Roger's jaw hit the floor.
"You know what; let's go see your library or something…" Pepper suggested.
Unfortunately Stark and Rogers drowned her out, "You have a boy friend?"
The young Nation rolled her eyes, "Course I do. Don't worry, he's another Nation." She pointed at them both, "Don't go acting like big brothers. I get enough of that from my family; they've already threatened him anyway."
"But…" Rogers trailed off. He had no point to argue with her, nothing that made sense.
At least her siblings had done what brothers do, probably her sisters too, aunts, uncles, parents or however she thought of her family. While he knew she considered Williams and the British Isles family, he wondered how Nations' knew who was related and who wasn't? Did blood tie them together like humans? Or did they have some sixth sense that told them who was who? Was it based on cultural ties? Did they just pick someone and call them family? Even after their conversation, he knew so little about it all.
"Right then…" Stark put the costume back in the closet; "Is Jonathan family?"
America froze. Whatever Rogers expected, it wasn't the mix of fear, hatred, sorrow and regret on her face before she remastered her emotions. An older, weary woman replaced the relaxed young women with the easy smile. For the first time he saw the toll of the years on her shoulders, finally glimpsing the burden she bore. Over two hundred years speaking for a growing nation, and the last seventy as an undisputed superpower took its toll.
"Don't say that name around me," she whispered, eyes hinting at the immeasurable power lurking just below her skin. America took from Amelia, this wasn't someone they could mess with.
"Why? What's so bad about saying Jonathan? He's your brother."
"He's dead," she spat, dislike for her brother clear as day. "The twisted bastard got what he deserved."
Rogers blinked, "but he's your…."
"He's nothing to me anymore. He's a chapter in my history and nothing more."
"But Jon…"
America cut Stark off, "Don't say that name around me."
Why would she treat her dead sibling like this? From what he remembered from what she said in the 40s, she regretted what happened to him. He knew that one some level she blamed herself. Still, 70 years was a long time for her opinion to change. But family was family, no matter what they did.
"What's wrong?" Pepper asked, "What happened to him?"
America looked ready to shove them out of her house, but she answered, "He died on August 6th, 1965."
Banner realized the significance of the date before anyone else, "The same day Johnson passed the Voting Right's Act. He was the Confederacy wasn't he?"
"Exactly. He should have died in 1865 when the Civil War ended, but I was a fool and didn't kill him then. I've paid the price for my short sightedness." She held up a hand to head off their questions, "We have rules on how to deal with the death of Nations. For ones like the Confederacy, the human name is taboo until after a hundred years later. Speaking their name keeps their memories alive, making the adjustment harder for the citizens."
It looked like she appreciated the phone call from the President. The three avengers and Pepper listened as she assured everything was fine and that she would be in the office soon.
"So," America put the phone down, "Who wants to wander about D.C?"
Three of the four frowned, the phone call from the President clarified her identity while making in clear he expected her in Oval Office as soon as possible.
Pepper voiced her thoughts first, "Shouldn't you go see the President."
"Eh," she shrugged, "I've learned not to get scolded on an empty stomach. Later we can have lunch at Ben's Chili Bowl."
"They have fantastic chili dogs," Stark mused, "I haven't been in years."
Nodding America headed for the stairs, "Right, let me change and we'll go."
"Ma'amerilia," Rogers struggled on a means of addressing her, "You were given orders, shouldn't you follow them?"
She stuck her head over the railing, "They were suggestions. Besides, it's not like I haven't ignored him and every other boss before. He'll still be there when we get back."
"But ma'am, he said…"
"So? It's not like its anything important."
"How can you be sure?"
"He called the house phone."
"Ma'am…"
"Lighten up Steve, this'll be fun."
A baffled Rogers turned back to his companions. The woman he remembered followed orders far more closely than the girl up stairs.
Stark smiled, "I like her."
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After lunch, America bid everyone but Captain Rogers farewell. While Rogers would have preferred to leave with his friends she insisted he come with her to meet President Santos. The Security Guards waved them through without question.
"Amelia," Chief of Staff Josh Lyman called out, "He's pretty mad with you."
America shrugged, "He'll understand, besides it's not like I'm not used to it. Josh, this is Steve Rogers. Steve, meet Josh Lyman White House Chief of Staff, former Deputy Chief of Staff under President Bartlett."
Josh shook Steve's hand, "A pleasure to meet you. Amelia has told us all about you since you woke up."
"The pleasure is all mine, she's been singing your praises too."
"I should hope so after putting up with her for fourteen years."
The men chuckled at her expense.
"You're gonna miss me in two years Josh."
The black haired man ruffled her hair, "Who says I'm going anywhere? I'm going to be here until they turn the lights off and drag me out."
"Only if another Dem wins," she shot back.
"Yeah. Go see the President before he gets angrier."
"Yeah, see you later Josh."
Rogers and Lyman shook hands again.
The secretary waved them through into the Oval Office. President Matthew Santos, America's first Latino president, scowled at her when he saw them.
Leaning back in his chair, he asked, "Where have you been America?"
"Sightseeing with Rogers, Stark, Banner and Ms. Potts," America looked a little ashamed. She wasn't, but he might believe it. Some said she treated her Presidents like a parent. "Mr. President, this Steve Rogers, aka Captain America."
The President stood and walked over to greet him, "Welcome to the 21st Century Captain. I wasn't aware you knew America."
"We were war buddies, but I only learned the truth today. To be honest it's kind of overwhelming."
"It can be," Santos agreed, "and she doesn't help matters."
"No sir."
A look crossed the President's face that unnerved America. That expression never boded well for her.
Santos waved for them to sit, "Captain, how have you been adapting?"
"Slowly sir, it's a bit difficult. I've started working for SHIELD, but it only helps so much."
"I've got a position open you might be interested in."
"Sir?"
Oh God, America realized where this was going. Though it might be fun, she admitted.
Santos smiled, "There isn't a single Secret Service Agent who can really handle America. Most burn out after a year and a half. Last week, the head of her detail resigned because of exhaustion."
"You want me to replace him?"
"She already respects and likes you."
Feeling ignored, America pouted, "I'm right here you know."
Both men disregarded her comment.
Rogers glanced at her before turning to the President and nodding, "I accept."
America perked up, "Yay. This is going to be fun. Forewarning, I got stuck with bringing a guard on the annual family outing. This year we're hiking across the Australian outback."
That almost made Rogers reconsider, but they got everything sorted before the end of day. The other Nations would throw a fit when they found out, but America could care less. This would be fun, she already scheduled a Star Wars Marathon, and Lord of the Rings and Star Trek and Indiana Jones and a whole lot more. To thank him for his past service and continued help, she would bring him up to speed with world events.
A/N: Can't say I'm pleased with this chapter, and I'm sorry that it's not up to the usual standard. Any last thoughts or comments? Forgot to add this when I posted the chapter, 30th reviewer receives a sneak peek of the first chapter of the sequel of one shots tentatively titled 'Of Captain and Country'. The events of Of Captain and Country and Winter's Burning Light follow this story, with WBL following OCAC.
edit (May 14, 2014): Japan is America's boyfriend.
Matthew Santos is a character in the 6th and 7th seasons of the West Wing, and John Lyman is in all 7. Guess how I stand politically. So yes, Operation Northern Lights is part of My 'Verse.