A/N: I know, I know. I have other stories to update and I know some people really want to see the next chapter of And We Thought Our Meetings Were Bad? but this plot bunny has helped me deal with AP American. I seriously cannot go a day in that class without imagining my state characters in the history periods we're talking about and since we're getting into the Revolution…yeah, I just couldn't help it.

Imagine the colonies as you will, I try to leave descriptions vague in order for the reader to form their own personal view of the character. The colonies are described as small children but it's up too you to determine how small, I'm personally thinking around six, seven, or eight. Either way you'll notice they're much smarter than their age appearance would suggest but they're nation/colony things and it's just works out somehow if you don't get technical, right?

Anyways I'm really liking this story and hope whoever's reading this enjoys it too.

Takes place near the beginning of the French and Indian War.

Happy reading.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia Axis Powers.

Sighing wearily America gingerly began making his way back to his tent, all too aware of his body's soreness.

The war was going…well, to be honest not so great.

No matter how hard America tried to persuade him England refused to believe it was a different type of fighting over here. The young colony gritted his teeth as he remembered their previous discussion-

"Really Arthur, I think he could be a lot of help-"

"Are you out of your mind! He started the damn thing in the first place!"

-That's right Iggy, just ignore my suggestions as usual-

Taking a deep breath America slowly managed to exhale his anger. It wouldn't help at all if he was angry with England, they had to think together if they were gonna win this thing. Still, he felt bad for Washington. No matter what Arthur said that guy had a lot of potential…

His thought process and walking slowed down considerably as he caught sight of the campfire before him.

Thirteen small children sat gathered around the flames.

It wasn't the sight of the children that was surprising. Even though it was unorthodox for children to be present in a war zone they had demanded to be here and after hearing their arguments America hadn't been able to say no.

See, they were the thirteen colonies he represented. Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Georgia, New Hampshire, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

It was the sight of all of them sitting together that was surprising. And not fighting at that!

It wasn't normal (repeat that, NOT NORMAL) for them all to even be in the same area. America had made a few attempts to get them all together in the past and, well, let's just say things could have gone better. And even in the rare circumstances when they were all together they usually stayed huddled in their respective groups; The Southern colonies (Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Maryland), the Middle colonies (New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey) and the New England colonies (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.) And even then they argued amongst their little cliques.

But now…now they were all sitting peacefully together. Seemingly transfixed by what their oldest sister, Virginia, was saying.

America paused before them for a moment, watching in awe as he attempted to burn the scene in his memory, to revert to next time there was a screaming match. After a moment though he hesitantly came to stand next to the fire as well. At his appearance all colonies fell silent, they almost seemed embarrassed to be caught getting along.

"Hey," America said warily, "What are you guys up to?"

A slight hesitation then "Virginia was just telling us stuff about Jametown," Maryland supplied.

"Jamestown," Virginia corrected gently.

"Oh," America felt a smile light up his face, "That's nice. Can't believe how long ago that was, really."

"Yeah!" Delaware spoke up, "Did someone really try to eat their wife's body?"

America grimaced at the memory of 'starving time' but nodded at the boy's question.

A collective chorus of ew's came from the children before Pennsylvania turned to Virginia again.

"I can't believe the stuff you've been through," she said, a note of respect creeping in her voice, "How come you've never told me?"

"Oh, I don't know," Virginia said idly as she poked the fire, "You've never asked I suppose."

There was a lull in the conversation after that and they all sat staring at the campfire. America, once again, reveled in the peaceful (if not somewhat awkward) silence.

"So if you had the first settlement," Georgia broke the silence slowly, "Does that mean you've known Alfred the longest?"

"Yes," Virginia shot America a look for conformation, just in case she was wrong.

Suddenly America found himself drawn back in time. He remembered finding her, then just a little baby, outside of the fort and somehow knowing that she was like him, except that she was his. It had been around the time when it had become somewhat certain that Jamestown would be able to carry on and, oh, he remember how scared he was, still being just a boy himself and having to look after and protect such a tiny thing…

"Alfred," someone questioned, and America was jerked out of him memories to find the Thirteen watching him curiously. He quickly nodded to confirm Virginia's statement, "Yes Virginia was the first, then it was little Mass over here," he shot a smile at the girl sitting to his left.

Massachusetts smiled proudly at the recognition, "Yeah I remember! You found me at the church!"

That he did. America smiled at the memory and reminded himself of how (secretly) glad he was that Massachusetts had mostly outgrown that extreme religious phase.

"I remember meeting you too," Connecticut said to his sister, "I don't really like that memory though."

America internally groaned, here came the fighting.

But Massachusetts just laughed good naturedly, "Feelings mutual scum head!"

"I remember when we lived together," North Carolina gestured to her sister, "And we didn't get along at all."

South Carolina giggled, "I do too! I never told you this sissy but I was so happy when they split us up."

"You guys used to live together and didn't get along? How? You two are best friends," New Jersey leaned forward, obviously eager for more information.

"Pol-poli-polit-pol," South Carolina face twisted in concentration as she tried to spit the word out.

"Political stuff," North Carolina explained, "Alfred finally separated us awhile ago."

"And now we get along great," South Carolina finalized with a grin.

Chatter like this continued for awhile and America sat there, soaking it all in. He watched as the colonies shared random parts of their history, which gradually gave way to unconsciously discussing their general ideas and values. America could see that the colonies were agreeably surprised at some of the things they found they had in common.

And he wouldn't deny that his heart soared at the phrase Rhode Island uttered off-handedly, "I guess we really are all Americans."

0 0 0

It was late when the conversation took a dangerous turn. America was realizing he had let them stay up too late and was just about to open his mouth to tell them it was bedtime when-

"You know Arthur's been getting kinda annoying lately," New Hampshire mentioned.

A thick and shocked silence fell over everyone, most of all America who had jerked violently at the boy's statement.

Oh God, oh God, oh God he chanted in his head as his eyes flickered from shocked face to shocked face. Please don't let them say anything else, please don't let them say anything else. America wasn't ignorant; he knew this simple statement had the potential to turn fatal for everyone. No one else speak, everyone just be quiet, look at the fire or something. Just. Don't. Speak.

For a moment it seemed America's desperate prayer had been answered as all of the other children stayed silent. But right before he was about to lay New Hampshire down with a lecture a breath was drawn, someone was going to speak. Dammit.

"Well, I mean" Georgia floundered for words slightly before continuing, "I guess…I'm getting really sick of the whole big-mighty-better-than-you attitude he's been givin' us."

"Really," Maryland turned to her excitedly, "You think so too?"

"What," America gasped, but he went unheard.

"He thinks he knows how to fight on our land," New York grumbled, "He has to do it like a 'gentlemen.'"

"And the Indian attacks," Pennsylvania cried out, "They're horrible! And what's he doing to stop them?

"Nothing," North Carolina said darkly, "It's not like bribing for an Indian scalp is gonna get the job done."

"Sometimes I wonder if he even has any idea what he's doing," Rhode Island shook his head, a sour expression on his face.

"You and me both," New Jersey said irritably.

"That's enough," America snapped.

At his tone, the excitement which had been stirring was murdered. The Thirteen regarded him with caution, knowing he wasn't happy with their previous subject and America regarded them right back. They all sat there, waiting for the next move.

Swallowing loudly America finally continued, "You all should know better than to speak of Arthur like that. It's…disrespectful."

At his words an unexpected anger suddenly clouded each of the Thirteen's faces.

"Disrespectful," Massachusetts repeated crossly, "Alfred, he's disrespecting us."

America quickly tried to defend England, only to find that he wasn't sure what to say, "No, no Mass. He's just….It's…"

"He treats the soldiers from my colony like they're idiots," New York snapped, "He won't-"

"Listen to them or believe they can help," New Hampshire finished.

America felt his stomach sink even as he stubbornly shook his head. Yet he knew the Thirteen were right; hadn't he been thinking similar things just a short time ago?

"He's never even liked me," Georgia pouted, "All he remembers is that my first settlers were convicts. He probably thinks I'll steal somethin every time I'm near him."

"That's not true," America argued even though he secretly suspected the same thing.

"He always thinks you'll just go along with whatever he says," Virginia added, "Maybe that's how it used to be but England doesn't always know what's best for us."

"He's an ocean away," Delaware growled.

"Stop it," America barked, his voice firm. The colonies fell into a disgruntled silence.

"I'm surprised at you," America said harshly, "All of you are just little colonies. I'm just a little colony.

-That doesn't mean we're no good.-

But England, he's the one of the most powerful nations in the world! Of course he knows what he's doing!

-Then why have we already lost so many battles under his leadership?-

And you know, besides that you should be grateful to him! Neither you guys nor I would be here if it wasn't for him. We owe him everything!"

-Oh yeah, because in those years of neglect it's not like you grew up or anything right?-

America flushed in shame at his little side thoughts, but was unable to keep them from creeping up.

"So all of you just think about the next time you're angry with him," he finished tiredly, "We need him."

The Thirteen just glared back at him stonily.

"It's time for you to go to bed," America finally muttered, "I'll see you in the morning."

One by one all of the children rose and turned to head back towards the tent while America put his face into hands and slouched down. He really, really didn't need this unrest right now.

"You know Alfred," the soft voice of his eldest broke through his thoughts. He looked up to see all of them still standing there, with Virginia in the front, looking at him with an emotion he couldn't quite place.

"I have to disagree with about one thing," Virginia continued.

America tensed slightly, preparing for a possible verbal match, "Ginny please not-"

"We don't owe everything to England," she cut him off and her eyes burned brightly into his. "We owe everything to you."

The others simply nodded their agreement and with that all of them turned and headed to their tents, leaving their caretaker a floored and confused mess with the simple phrase swimming round and round his head.

We owe everything to you.

A/N: So there it is. What do you think? Would you continue to read it if (when) I update?

Please leave a review to let me know.

Historical Notes-

George Washington actually did start the French and Indian War when he and his men engaged in a scuffle with some French troops, who later forced him to remember at Fort Necessity. Washington was also in charge of defending the frontier against the Indian attacks Pennsylvania and North Carolina mentioned though he had a very small number of men to do so.

The French and Indian War offered a unique opportunity for the colonists to get to know each other. It has been said that this was one of the first places that barriers of disunity began to melt.

The military personnel from England were generally much more respected while the colonist militia's were seen as country bumpkins.

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement while Plymouth was the second. Therefore Virginia is the oldest and Massachusetts the next in line.

England shipped convicts over to Georgia to settle it, much like what it did with Australia.