Hello and Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a fabulous holiday season!

For those of you that read my other stories, this is the eleventh series in the Baby Universe. For those of you that are new, I hope you will enjoy this story!

America shifted the odd wiggling and whining lump underneath his shirt nervously. He hoped none of the others would notice. As casually as possible, America snuck into the meeting room, and slipped into his seat, doing his best to ignore the incredulous stares he was receiving. He adjusted the lump when it gave a cry of protest at being squished against the table.

"Hey, America," Feliciano asked, grinning over at the nervous looking country. "Whatcha got there?"

"Nothing!" America answered quickly. He glowered suspiciously at the curious Italian as said man came over and poked the lump.

England frowned as a chubby little hand slipped out of the bottom of America's shirt and snatched a cracker off the plate China had put out earlier. "America, what the bloody hell is that?"

"…my food baby." America answered.

At that moment, France ran into the meeting room, a look of terror on his face. "There's a Wooly Mammoth in the hallway! Why is there a Wooly Mammoth in the hallway?"

At that moment, whatever was in America's shirt slid out. A loud plop resounded through the room followed by a little cry. All the countries looked first at America whom was doing his best to not look guilty before they all simultaneously looked under the table.

A tiny, tan baby blinked back at all of them with large black eyes. Black tufts of hair poked out from under his furry hooded jacket. The baby stared around curiously, sucking on his pacifier. The baby shakily stood up and latched onto America's leg.

"It's a miracle!" America laughed nervously as he picked the baby up. "My food baby was born!"

"That's not a food baby!" England and a few other countries shouted together.

Germany could feel a migraine coming on as the room suddenly burst into loud shouting. America was dangling the baby high up in the air, keeping him out of reach of the other clamoring countries. The baby's look of curiosity was turning into one of distress. It didn't help matters when the baby opened his mouth to make a noise and his pacifier fell out. The baby let out an ear piercing cry, wailing at the top of his tiny little lungs. Germany had had enough. "Be quiet!"

Everyone fell silent save for the baby whom continued to cry. Feliciano quickly plucked the pacifier off the floor, brushed it off and shoved into the baby's mouth. "Shhh." He whispered to the baby. "Germany will get mad if you keep making noises."

Germany sighed and flopped back into his seat. He waited until everyone else had seated themselves before glaring over at America. "Explain."

America looked down at the baby in his lap and grinned when the baby tilted his head up to look at him. "I found him! I was exploring the world, seeing if anyone need help, since I'm the hero, and I came across a little island just off the Artic coast. I decided to explore it and I found him. He's one of us, just a cute little baby country."

The baby let out a whine of protest as America began snuggling him. He looked around the room and wanted to start crying when he saw how intently all the strange people were looking at him. Immediately, the baby crawled back under America's shirt to hide.

Germany refrained from rolling his eyes. "Well, now we have to decide what to do with him."

"What do you mean?" America asked, frowning. "I found him. I get to be his big brother."

"We don't need another idiot." England fumed. "I'll be his big brother."

"Nonsense!" France interjected. "I shall be his big brother!"

"Oh, can I be his big brother?" Feliciano asked.

"No!" Everyone shouted.

While the countries were once again bickering, the little baby crawled out of America's shirt and climbed up onto the table. He looked around for more of the yummy crackers he had had earlier. He saw a large plate of crackers in front of China and toddled over.

China blinked as the little baby plopped down in front of him. "You like the snacks, aru?" The only answer he received was the baby shoving more crackers into his mouth. "Good baby, aru." He said as he patted the baby's head.

The baby blinked when all the crackers were gone. These people were so noisy. Especially the blonde that he had heard the others call Germany. The man really needed to calm down. The baby toddled over to Germany and plopped down in front of the man.

Germany paused in his yelling, looking suspiciously at the baby. "What?" He stood there for a moment, dumbfounded, as the baby shoved his pacifier into Germany's mouth.

The baby grinned up at Germany and held a chubby finger to his lips. "Shhh. Night-night."

The table fell deathly silent before breaking into howling laughter. Germany's face was a mix between shock and murderous intent. The baby toddled back over to America and climbed into his lap.

Germany yanked the pacifier from his mouth and threw it at America, smirking in satisfaction as the pacifier smacked the young country in the side of the head. "Well, it seems the baby is more comfortable with America right now. For the time being, we'll allow you to keep him, America."

America grinned and held the baby up in the air. "Did you hear that, Baby?" He frowned as he smelled something rather disgusting. "What is that?"

England smirked. "That is a dirty diaper. Since you are in charge of him, you must change him."

"I don't want to!" America whined. "I'm the hero! Hero's shouldn't have to do things like that!"

The baby blinked as someone held up his pacifier for him. He smiled as the person gave him back his pacifier. This person had black hair and eyes like him but was rather pale.

"I will change him, America-san." Japan said softly, taking the little baby from the still whining country. "What's his name anyways?"

America stopped in his whining for a moment. "Oh, the tag on the back of his shirt says Arktos."

"Is that your name?" Japan asked. He cracked a small smile as the baby nodded his head. "Well, welcome, Arktos-chan."