The United States of America simply didn't understand what he had done wrong. He had thought England would be proud of him for recognising the situation; he'd always said Hollywood was useful. Instead the older nation had assaulted him. That just wrong; the sidekick wasn't supposed to attack the hero. In fact they should be fighting the forces of commun-, erm terror together. Still, given America's amazing super strength it wasn't like an old man like Arthur could hurt him but it had lead to the situation now where Iggy was refusing to talk to him. He was glaring too. Iggy was really overreacting in Alfred's point of view. Perhaps the other had misunderstood him. After all not everyone would be able to see how Arthur's actions had been like Edward Cullen's trying to go away somewhere to deny the feelings to keep the damsel safe. Both were trying to avoid the whole mortality issue problem thing too. Actually that was a really good metaphor (or was it simile ), do he opened his mouth to talk to the older nation.

"If you even think of bringing up the a certain teen vampire series I'll be explaining to my boss why the special relationship is over due to the death of one of its members" England put in first.

"Aw, Iggy that's not fair, you're important to me, you raised me, I wouldn't hurt you. Anyway, I thought you liked Twilight. Actually how did you know I was going to mention it?"

"That's not what I said! I said it was an bog standard teen movie which portrayed the mental state of teenage girls surprisingly well. The sequels only advantage is that they make France focus on the screen not me. As for how I knew, you start to sparkle when you talk about it. You do it when talking about being a hero too."

"Prove your story is cooler then, Artie"

"I will" the other snapped. "Wait. I've just agreed to what you wanted haven't I? Shoot. Well, I will then America and trust me it will be easy."

Now, when England had been given leave by his Queen to pursue the sea to reach the spice-bearing lands of the East he truly had meant to. Of course that had been his aim; it had nothing to do with wanting to get away from Elizabeth and the strange feelings she brought up in him. Of course not.

Still regardless of his reasons for going he got rather sidetracked from it he had to admit ruefully as he surveyed the gold in front of him. Now, following Magellan's route had been a perfectly good idea. Arthur shivered at the memory of the route he had tried northwards a decade or two earlier, he had almost believed he would die of cold, although he had met another young purple-eyed nation who went be the human name of Ivan. There seems to be a good chance of trade with the other and it would be a good idea to keep an eye on him as he was extending into Europe.

"Wait. Russia. Russia. You were trying to go to the Spice Islands and you found Russia? And you claim my geography is bad old man."

"Actually I was looking for the North-East Passage, I wasn't particularly fond of heat. Besides look at a map it would have worked ." Arthur paused before quietly adding "Had the North-East Passage existed." He moved swiftly on "Do you even know where the Spice Islands are anyway"

"Nope." Alfred replied cheerfully " But I know they're not in the Commie-bastard's lands."

"America. We've discussed this, the Cold War is over."

"I know, it's just an affectionate nickname, plus he is still crazy."

"Humph, I'm going to carry on.

No, this route had been a good idea. It was just that it was so tempting to attack Spain's ships laden with gold. It was certainly enjoyable to be able to act as he felt sometimes. Besides it was so easy.

Much easier than establishing a colony in the New World anyway. For all that Raleigh seemed to be drawing up plans Arthur had heard no tell of a new American English nation. No, Arthur was much more interested in the nations that had something to offer him which he could actually trade with.

"Hey, Iggy, that's not fair! I'm awesome, you can't ignore me! In fact I'm much more awesome than any of your silly Spice Islands or Russia."

"I didn't ignore you did I? I came here and raised you! In fact if you actually listened you'd realise that it was the lack a personification, that is you, that caused me to have so little interest." England paused "I guess I always wanted a little brother. Anyway."

In the end though England supposed it wasn't that much of an issue, he was still bringing items of value back to the court. It was just that it was gold not spice. Besides the idea of giving gold to Elizabeth pleased him for some odd reason.

"Aw, Iggs, you wanted to give her presents, that's so sweet."

"It...It wasn't like that, I just found her much more deserving of the gold than Spain"

"Of course Iggy, you just keep telling yourself that"

England stared around the court morosely as the various explorers presented their riches to Elizabeth. It was of course stupid to feel jealous. They were his people doing what he did. It was as if he was jealous of himself which was ludicrous. They were just humans. Of course however that's were the heart of the problem lay was it not? They were human and she was human. It simply wasn't fair that they had this closeness to her which he could never emulate. At least this one was the last today. However when the court all filed out Elizabeth stayed in her seat. Which actually took England a moment to realise as he had been too busy staring at her and composing poetry about her (She would make a good Faerie Queen, would she not?) to notice everyone else had left.

Attempting to show he had reason to stay behind he approached her "My Queen, your spirits seem surprisingly melancholy, is all well?"

"All well? Yea, all is going as well as it could, yet something plagues me. I have driven the French out of Scotland for you and our mariners bring back wealth from overseas. Despite this though the court seems to be quite obsessed with having one marry. Do they not see that to marry outside the realm could cause us to lose our independence as happened to my sister?" She paused "What happens to you when the monarch marries the royalty of another country?"

"There are many routes it can take depending on the circumstances, if it is but a marriage to a one who will not inherit the throne then little happens save for an increase in friendship, although that dammed frog France would wish for more. If the result causes two countries to be united under one monarch, it is almost a marriage between the two countries, although often with none of the emotion, as is the case for Spain and Austria. It is different for us countries to how it is for mortals"

"Well, in that case I will definitely have to avoid it. I will not force such on you. Still I cannot marry instead the realm either for to promote one of them over another would cause too much disagreement. Besides there is but one Englishman I desire to marry and he does not return my affections."

Arthur stood there in shock, who would spurn his Queen's affections? How dare they when Arthur would, would...His emotions suddenly became perfectly clear. "I would marry you my Queen" he blurted out.

"Iggy! That's like the worst proposal ever, I mean it's kinda cute if you were asking her to prom, but as a marriage proposal it kinda sucks. I mean you didn't even had a ring""Well, it wasn't deliberate! I didn't mean to say it. Besides what would you know about it, would have you ever proposed to?"

"Em, Puerto Rico and Hawaii? And Canada I think once"

"America those were not proposals of love, that was you doing your own impression of Russia's 'become one with me'. Besides if I remember correctly Canada and Puerto Rico told you they were quite happy as your siblings not your spouse and you didn't seem too bothered by it" Well, Canada's had annoyed him at the time but that seemed to be more based on the fact that his brother choose England over him rather than any romantic interest.

"Course not, I was just giving them the chance to be part of the Awesome US of A."

"Right. I guess I'll have to take you word on that. Well my proposal had heart behind it at least."

Elizabeth looked shocked and Arthur wondered if he had done wrong and offended her.

"Well, they could hardly object to that now could they? What could be more proper than for a Queen to devote herself to her country as a wife to her husband? I rather like the sound of that notion I must use it to address Parliament sometime."

"But, Elizabeth, Bess, I spoke the true with my earlier declaration, yet forsooth, surely you can see this cannot be done, zounds, it would endanger both of us"

"Language Arthur. It is but unadvantageous for the court and the leaders of other countries to know of our marriage, there is no problem with the event itself."

Arthur's only response was to stare at her blankly.

"You must understand that it is for you that I do this, Arthur I must act as I am still unmarried. I must act in all ways as if this is the case."

"Why bother having a marriage then? You are not a virgin, whatever we may claim to the wider world. I would not be your first lover."

"You besmirch me by representing me as such, I was not deflowered of my own choice. Anything else is but what is necessary for me to survive as a women in the royal court. Since I have become Queen all my machinations have been for you. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions for why I want a marriage"

"I...apologise, it was wrong of me to insinuate such."

"In that case, make sure you are free Sunday.""Sunday?"

"Yes, that should have be long enough for you to organise yourself for your wedding should it not?"

"Well…that is…I guess…but really."

"Good. Make sure you are ready"

"Iggy, she had you whipped"

"No, she didn't, that was, it suited me. Yes, that was it"

"Keep telling yourself that."

A/N: This has been on my computer for ages and while it's a rather rubbish chapter I'm not happy with, I thought I'd post it as I won't have the time with school to improve it and with this done, hopefully I'll be able to write this fic some resolution.