America frowned, looking around the empty conference room. When the other person cleared their throat was when Alfred finally glared down the table at England. Arthur was looking uneasily out the window because he'd much rather watch the birds than witness America's horrible gaze. "Y-you didn't give me an answer, Al-"

"Maybe I don't want to answer," America said bitterly. England almost flinched at the hard scowl directed at him when he finally forced himself to look at the younger man.

"Oh come now, Alfred! You have-"

"Careful with your words England!" America snapped with a great emphasis on the word England. It was a warning. It meant this meeting was certainly not friendly.

Arthur winced that time. He knew the underlying meaning of the words. Alfred was trying to remind England he couldn't force America to do anything. He couldn't do it growing up and he definitely can't now.

"America," Arthur began slowly as he put his hands up as a sign of peace. He didn't want a huge argument. "Look-you don't have a choice. You're going to die-"

"I'll be fine! It's just a rough patch!" Alfred's arguments were bleak because he was well aware of his situation. He just didn't like Arthur's suggestion.

England pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. When he spoke he kept his tone slow and even, "Come now, America. This is more than a rough patch. Your people are killing each other and you are getting more and more sick as they drain your resources-"

"I've gotten out of it before haven't I?" Alfred's voice was rising into an angry yell. He couldn't accept his fate just yet. Not yet.

"Yes, but this is a different time. Weapons are stronger and the rest of the world would love to take you over. Did you notice how everyone was eyeing you at the meeting?"

Even America couldn't deny how everyone watched him like a pack of wolves following a lost sheep. America was only getting weaker and Mexico had just gotten out of war with him. They only scraped by because Canada swooped in to help. It really hurt America's pride there... Much of Europe wanted to stay out of the short war because everyone thought it would figure itself out. However, when America was losing all their money and riots were breaking out to overthrow the government things were definitely getting out of hand. America barely ever had a chance to leave his home. He was hardly in any shape to travel or...do anything. It was breaking England's heart to watch America's slow downfall. But he hated watching the rest of the countries talk about going to war and taking over-especially the Russian. And that bastard frog had been eyeing America since the boy was a colony. England had to be sure America was protected. Protected by his ex-older brother especially.

"America... It won't be forever-"

"How do you know?"

England could hear the wavering uncertainty in Alfred's voice but he promised to ignore that. "Once your country gets back on its feet...everything will be fine. Just-we'll help you get there." Arthur dared take a step towards America this time, walking very slowly around the table. "Live with me for a while. We'll help you-"

Alfred didn't openly say anything but the intensity of his glare was enough to cut England off. After a moment his eyes softened and he looked almost in pain. He dropped down in a chair and stared off into space. "I don't want to," he said finally. A weak argument but he stopped yelling at least.

"Yes, well, we've all done things we don't want to do. I'll give you some time to talk it over with your boss. Just let me know your decisions." Arthur tried not to smirk knowing he had won. America might not like it but he knew it was pointless for him to argue anymore. England had won this small battle.

It was quite some time before America spoke. He was staring deeply at the table before him and this silence was making Arthur feel incredibly awkward. He cleared his throat again hoping for a reaction from America. Anything would do.

"You know my people aren't going to like it."

England glanced at him briefly and went back to buttoning his cuffs. "Well that's something they'll have to get used to. Not everyone will like your decisions." It was rare if the people of any country agreed on what was best.

"They'll rebel," America went on. His voice sounded on the brink of panic. "What it they split up? England, I don't want the confederacy back."

Arthur paused and he stared at the wall across from him. The confederacy... No, England certainly hadn't thought of that. They both knew some Americans were still in disagreement over the Civil War. There were very few of them but they did exist. Only took one spark to start a fire. England tried to ease America's mind with a cool smile. "Oh, they won't. They'll see. This is what's best."

"Yes but no one will be happy that America is under the rule of the British Empire again. Everyone's desperate. They'll lose faith in me."

England rolled his eyes again. One could forget how young America really was until he said something like that. "Well of course, America. It's the cycle of things. Besides, things are different now. It's the 21st century not the 1700s. You need to learn to make decisions that are difficult even if your people won't like you for them."

America sighed. He was still afraid of the confederacy. CSA was a bully, if nothing else. He almost beat Alfred completely and the United States would have been divided but luckily, that never happened. That was around the time England was ignoring Alfred. He didn't want to talk to his former colony. He wanted Alfred to see what it was like dealing with his first crisis. Becoming a country wasn't all fun and games-Arthur wanted Alfred to experience the pain and hard labor it took. Maybe then he'd take things a little more seriously.

"I'll talk to my boss," America said finally and stood up to his full height. He hardly looked tall at all, anymore. The brown jacket he always wore looked like it was weighing him down but as always, Alfred held his head high like the proud boy he was.

A/N: Ah-ps, I don't know very much about history or politics so I'm sort of going with small knowledge I know. Its also set more into the further future so-yes.