Canada smirked as he watched the building before him burn to the ground. The White House was rather lovely engulfed in flames.

America coughed as she stumbled out of the burning building, her white sleeping gown reeking of smoke. She hadn't the time to dress in proper clothes, the flames too near by the time she had escaped. She had to get away before someone saw her. There was not doubt in her mind that they were here. The brother who refused to join her and the caretaker who hadn't listened to her. She took to her heels, running to the safety of the woods.

Canada saw a flash of white and gold and looked to the side, seeing someone flee into the woods nearby. Canada gave chase; he was unsure why he had the urge to follow, only that it was important he did.

She could hear someone following her. She darted from tree to tree, hoping to lose him before he caught up to her. Sure Canada was her brother, but soldiers see a pretty woman as a target. No matter how short her hair. She soon found herself in a meadow and turned, knowing that if he had managed to keep up with her, she was doomed to be captured. She squared her shoulders and adjusted the skirt of her dress. She was going to be dignified in her defeat.

Canada burst into the meadow and froze at the sight that met him. He knew that face! That beautiful face. He however did not know that gorgeous body! Canada was frozen as he stared at the beautiful woman before him; he was sure that it was his brother but at the same time it could not be; the person was very obviously a woman. Canada took a hesitant step forward.

"A-America?" Canada asked uncertainly.

She paled, staring at her brother in shock as she backed away on suddenly shaky legs. Not him. She couldn't believe it was he who followed her. She had been more interested in flight, but now that she was still... She could feel the burning ache in her chest and head that indicated an attack on her capital. She swallowed, knowing that if she tried to flee, he would pursue her. She closed her eyes and nodded once, not wanting to see what he was going to do to her. He had caught her unawares after all. She had done the same thing, but had been driven off before she could drag him to her house. Here she was vulnerable.

Canada's mind worked at a rapid place as he put together small clues that he had always brushed off as his 'brother' just being odd. Canada walked forward again and pulled America into his arms, unable to fight the sudden urge to do so. As he held her in his arms, he felt a sudden rightness in his heart and possessiveness flare. He considered taking her. Now was the perfect time after all, but then the thought of England entered his mind and he knew that should he take her now, she would just end up as England's property; he would not have that. Decision made, he opened his mouth to speak to her.

"America quickly, we need to go this way." Canada told her, pulling back and pointing further into the forest in an eastern direction. "Troops are waiting to the west to capture anyone that escapes." He informed her, pulling her along as he walked quickly in the direction he pointed.

"We don't have much time." He said, looking back into her eyes, conveying his honesty.

"Wh-what?" her eyes widened, shock etched into her expressive face as she followed his lead, "Y-you're letting me go? Ma-C-Canada... You're... If Arthur finds out you helped me... Why?"

She didn't understand what he was doing. She would have thought he would take her back, force her to her knees in front of her old caretaker and then she would be shackled back into the chains of a colony. Instead, he was leading her to safety. They were at war! She invaded his lands! She almost forced him to join her home. Why was he doing this when he could get into so much trouble?

Canada remained silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts together even as he led her to safety.

"You don't belong to him. You should never belong to him." Canada told her simply, omitting the fact that he wanted her to belong only to him. He wanted her for himself and he was not willing to bring her to England, who would surely guard her like a savage beast should she become his again. Canada could wait. He had miles of patience to spare; he would wait for the opportunity and America would become his, exactly as she was meant to.

She smiled, glad that he wasn't angry enough to hurt her and drag her back to Arthur's side again. She wrapped her arms around him, stopping him long enough to press a happy kiss to his cheek, and pulled away to look the way he had pointed.

"East you said?" She asked, looking at him with a wild and excited gleam in her bright eyes, "I want to ask you to come with me, but you've already made your point. I'll see you at the next battle brother. Good bye Canada!"

With that said, she turned and ran off, her long white gown billowing behind her as she did.

Canada froze as America kissed his cheek and watched her go, placing a hand over where he was kissed with a smile curling his lips. She was like a glorious angel and Canada had to resist the urge to take her then, clenching his fists tightly and forcing himself to turn in the opposite direction. He knew if he continued to watch her, he would chase after her and take her for himself. Canada ran back to where he knew his soldiers were, preparing a false story about where he had been. He would allow her the time to escape, hoping she would make it to safety.