Get the tissues cause Alfie's dyin

_________________________________________________

America was so strong that everybody thought he was invincible. All the nations looked to him for safety and shelter in their times of need. The aftermath of World War II was when the nations were especially dependant on him. He had proven his strength with the invention of the most powerful weapon on the planet, the atomic bomb. Many nations asked him how he was able to perfect and wield such an ungodly weapon. His answers varied, but the gist was always the same.

"It's a secret"
"That's confidential"
"You don't have to worry about it anymore"

The nations eventually dropped the subject, realizing that he wouldn't tell. The secret was kept for decades and Alfred continued to prosper. Many nations noticed how Alfred's attitude shifted after World War II. He was bolder, happier, and lived his life with a wild spirit. This didn't set off any alarms for the nations, America was a young man after all. He was bound to be energetic and bouncing with life. Nobody figured anything was wrong, this was Alfred being Alfred.

But they were very wrong.

Alfred didn't tell them that the atomic bombs were tested on him before he used them. He didn't tell them he was a lab rat for the scientists when it came to nuclear energy. He didn't tell him he knew he would die because of it somehow. He didn't tell them anything, he never told a single immortal soul.

In the year 2019, America had been formally diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. He knew as soon as he got the diagnosis that his cancer would spread quickly. He wasn't wrong at all. Within three months his cancer spread to his liver, kidney, stomach, and began to creep onto his lungs. No treatment was working, no matter how much the doctors tried. America, because of nuclear testing, became immune to all the treatments. Chemotherapy, radiation, and even cryoablation failed to extinguish the torturous disease. America knew that he didn't have more than a few months left, so he began mending burnt bridges.

He began to give China gifts to make up for his debt.
He confessed his feeling to Russia, knowing that he would regret never telling him the truth.
He spent an entire weekend with England, doing whatever he could to make the Brit smile.
He cooked with France to show he truly appreciated his company.
He took Germany to a bar and had a few beers, just so he could hear the stoic blonde laugh.
He had a yaoi binge session with Japan, fangirling over every gay ship.
He went on a drive with the Italian brothers, letting Feliciano drive so he would feel loved.
He went to a hockey game with Canada and let his brother douse him in sticky maple syrup, showing that he loved his brother infinitely.

After Alfred apologized to other nations, like Vietnam and North Korea, the said nations apologized back. He went to many different appointments to get everything in order for his family after his death: his will was established and signed, all of his bills had been paid, he had set aside a good amount of money for his funeral, and handwrote letters to each nation explaining what had happened. He was finally ready to die, so on July 2nd, 2019 he admitted himself to the hospital. He spent his final day as a free man partying with his brother and family.

JULY 3RD, 2019
10:24 PM

Canada was sipping some maple coffee in front of his fireplace. He was humming to himself and had his phone right by his side so that right at midnight he could call Alfred. He was pretty happy and was bouncing from side to side. Kumajiro was copying his movements and swaying side to side. The clock on his phone read 10:28, causing the Canadian to growl.

"Midnight can't come fast enough. I'm just aboot to hop the border and burst into his house. I really want this to be the best birthday for him, eh. I'll barge into his house and make him a tall stack of birthday pancakes. Then we can go to the Statue of Liberty, it is his favorite place to visit. Then we can grab some hotdogs from his favorite vendor and walk around the park. When we get home we can watch movies and eat junk food before we go to the rooftop and watch the fireworks. We can finish the day by making burgers together and drinking five kegs of his favorite beer! It's a perfect birthday, eh!" Canada squealed excitedly. 

Just as the clock read 10:30, his phone rang. It was playing "American Idiot" by Green Day, which was reserved solely for his brother. He jumped up and nearly faceplanted into his carpet, quickly answering the call. He didn't even get a chance to speak before a deep voice came through the receiver.

"Is this Matthew Williams?"

"Yes, I am. Who is this and why do you have my brother's phone?" Matthew asked warily.

"My name is Dr. Greg Biks with Harper Hospital for Modern Medicine. I have been Alfred's oncologist for the past seven months. I wished to-"

"Oncologist? What do you mean?"

"I'm afraid Alfred has been sick for a while, he was diagnosed with cancer back in January. He has since gotten all legal obligations done and admitted himself July 2nd, 2019. I don't think he will make it through the night, it would be best if you came to the hospital. You are listed as the primary beneficiary, so we contacted you first,"

"I'm coming now! Please tell him to hold on!" Canada hung up before he could get an answer and ran to his closet. He threw on a coat and snatched his wallet and keys, quickly leaving the warmth of his house and entering the whipping winds of the cold Canadian night. As he started the engine to his car, he dialed France.

"Matthieu? What iz it?" France yawned through the receiver.

"Papa, get to the Harper Hospital for Modern Medicine now! Alfred's dying!" Matthew had sped off while France was on speaker.

"What do you mean 'Alfred's dying'? Ze boy was fine a few days ago!"France sounded panicked.

"He's been sick Papa! He's had cancer since January! He never told me anything, Papa!" Canada had begun to cry as he sped through traffic.

"Ok, calm down Canada. Britain and I will be zere as soon as we can! Drive safely!" the line cut and Matthew continued to break every traffic law in the book. After running every red light, blowing every stop sign, and basically hopping his border, Canada had arrived at the hospital. He jumped out and threw a 100 dollar bill at the valet as he ran inside to the reception desk.

"Alfred Jones!" he yelled frantically. The woman typed on the computer as Matthew felt his pain flow through his pulsing temples.

"Top floor, room 704," she printed Matthew a visitors' pass and gave it to him. He stuck it to his pants and began to run to the elevators. He looked at his phone's clock, seeing it was already 11:30. Matthew impatiently tapped his legs and waited for the elevator to open. When the door dinged he bolted out towards Alfred's room. He was running quickly and many security officers had yelled for him to slow down. But Matthew couldn't stop, he just looked at the room numbers as he ran.

696...698...700...702...704

Matthew skidded to a stop and tossed the door to the side. His entire world crumbled as he saw how pale and weak Alfred was. His brother was staring out the window with a small smile. The room was empty of anything: no warmth, no laughter, no happiness. The only sound that echoed in the room was the heart monitor beeping. Canada ran right to his side and hugged him tightly.

"Alfie?! What happened to you, eh?!" Canada looked down at his brother with glistening eyes. Alfred looked up at him, still a smile on his lips. He looked so, non-Alfred. He looked tired, weak, fragile.

"Pancreatic cancer," Alfred answered. Alfred took a deep breath and cuddled into his brother's chest. Matthew remained silent, words failing to come forward. Alfred smiled up to his brother and began to tear.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I knew from the very moment I tested the atom bombs in World War II, I was going to die. All the bombs were tested on my land, so I became immune to radioactive energy. It doomed me and helped me. I never would have been physically affected in the Cold War became an actual war. But it also made me immune to most of the treatments that would have helped me heal. I knew the atomic bomb would mean my death, that's why I never told any of you guys anything,"

"A-Alfred... I don't-"

"I gave you the New York mansion, the one by our shared border. I'm going to be cremated, so I have directions I want to tell you, ok?" Canada nodded and held America closer, "I wanted to be buried there. You can keep a small amount of my ashes in your own tiny vile, but I want the majority to be buried in the garden of the mansion. Don't put a tombstone on my grave. Tombstones are heavy and cold, I don't want something heavy and cold over me. I want a rosebush instead. Bury my ashes with a rose shrub. I want white roses if you can get them, but red is ok too," America inhaled deeply, "I don't want any nations to come to my funeral in dark colors: no scarlet, no navy, and especially no black. I want everyone to wear really bright colors and pastels. I don't want anybody to be sad, I don't want anybody to cry if they can help it. I want my funeral to be a gathering where all of you appreciate the company of one another and tell stories and laugh, ok?" Canada gulped and nodded again.

"I understand, Alfred," Canada looked at the clock and took a shaky breath.

11:56 PM

Alfred scooched over and patted next to him. Canada immediately laid next to his brother and held him. They sat in silence for a few seconds before Alfred nuzzled Matthew's chest.

"Please sing to me, Mattie. You sing really nice," Alfred whispered. Canada gulped and nodded, thinking for a moment. He took a deep breath and began to sing.

"Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?" Canada began to cry as he felt America cuddle closer. He gulped and hoped his voice wouldn't crack, "and the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave. O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" Alfred took a deep breath as the heart monitor slowed, "happy birthday, Alfred. My totally awesome, heroic, baby brother," Canada kissed America's temple.

As the clock struck twelve, Alfred's heart monitor flatlined. Canada crumpled into a ball as he held Alfred close. Just as Canada began to bawl his eyes out, the door flew open. France and England ran in and stared wide-eyed at the scene. They both began to cry as doctors came in to take Alfred. France and England untangled Matthew's death grip from Alfred and held them with all their strengths.

"Matthieu, calm down. They need to take 'im away now," Canada began to flare his arms around, trying to escape their grip.

"NO! HE'S NOT DEAD! HE CAN'T BE DEAD! HE'S AMERICA! HE'S THE HERO! HEROS DON'T DIE!" Matthew screamed.

"Lad, he is dead. I'm sorry to-"

"ALFRED! WAKE UP! THE PRANK ISN'T FUNNY! THIS IS A JOKE! IT HAS TO BE A JOKE!" Canada yelled as he continued to struggle. The three of them were all crying.

"CANADA!!!" the two Europeans shouted as the trio collapsed to their knees. Canada clutched both of their arms tightly.

"He...He can't be dead. He just can't be," Canada whimpered quietly as the two elders hugged him tightly.

The day of Alfred's funeral came and everybody came clothed in pastels and neons. Canada did as Alfred wanted, planting a white rose shrub with his ashes. He kept a small, sealed vile around his neck at all times. The nations felt awful about not being nicer to Alfred when he was alive. When they truly thought about it, everything made sense. The way he lived on the edge, the way he mended all his relationships, and even the way he had been acting at Matthew's birthday party. They all told stories about the fun times they had with America, even Afghanistan and Cuba said nice things about him.

To this day, Canada often goes to the mansion he inherited. He would pack a picnic and talk to the rosebush as if it were his brother and not a plant. Rosebuds would bloom with certain phrases, making the Canadian smile.

He prayed every night that Alfred would return.

_________________________________________________________________________

As someone who has lost over five people and two dogs to cancer, I will tell you it is the worst thing to witness. I couldn't even face my stepdad (who was like my true father) when he was dying because of how he looked. They don't all go out peacefully, sometimes it's heartbreaking. My Grumpy (we called him that, but he was my grandfather) couldn't even speak and had to scribble on paper. My aunt literally was just waiting for it when she died. The only loved one who went peacefully with cancer was my Chihuahua, Pixie. Even then, my mom had to hold her because I couldn't even bear to watch her die.

Moral of the story, appreciate your family while you still can. They can die at any moment.