A/N

People are still reading this trash?

And by the way, this takes place in 2016. For reasons.

~Shatter.

Chapter Five.

~°~

"Please don't tell," America practically begged England. "Please don't tell anyone."

"America," England said. "But I have to tell someone. Someone has to keep an eye on you. I don't want something like this happening again."

He doesn't believe me, even though I promised, America thought. Of course, I am lying. But still. . . .

"Please," America said, desperation seeping into his voice. "Please. Don't tell anyone. Especially not my kids. They can't know. I'm have to be strong for them. And if they find out. . . Please, England." Tears spilled out from the nation's eyes. "Please. . . ."

England took a break in cleaning and bandaging the younger (though taller) nation's cuts to wrap America in a hug.

(A/N People sure seem to be wrapping each other in hugs a whole lot. . .)

"It'll be alright," England murmured encouragingly. "Don't worry. . . what's wrong, America? What's wrong, exactly? Can you tell me? You don't have to, but something's really bothering you. . . and it's not just your. . . secret."

America eventually stopped crying, but didn't pull away from England. "I-I. . ." he choked back tears again. "I. . . had a d-dream. . . ."

A feeling of dread washed over England.

"I-I. . . I s-saw. . . B-Boston. . ." America burst into more tears at the mention of the city, and England tensed slightly. "M-my daughter. . . she h-has g-grown so much. . . ."

"Sh-she told me n-not t-to b-blame you any-anymore. . ."

England was highly surprised.

"I promised her. . . th-that I would f-forgive y-you."

There was a moment of silence. America pulled away, and looked England in the eyes.

"And E-England?" He said.

"Yes?" England asked gently.

"I-I kept that promise."

~°~

"What's taking them so long?" One of the nations mumbled. As if on cue, the two nations walked into the room.

"Hi, dudes and dudettes," America said when he entered, grinning (A/N LIES). "The hero is here! What's up?"

~°~

New York knew something was up. His father, though he his it well, seemed shaken up by something. He made a mental note to talk to his father later.

The way his father seemed shaken up though. . . it was hard for anything to shake him up like that. It reminded New York of the Civil War.

New York probably knew America better than anyone else. Possibly even more than Delaware, the oldest state, or even Virginia, the oldest colony.

(A/N Is that accurate?)

New York had been through a lot with his father. He helped in the American revolution (even though half of the population of his state were loyalists, New York helped America fight for freedom), the Civil War (he felt betrayed and hurt too, just like America), 9/11 (though it must've hurt worse for America, considering the other states that were injured too), and New York even helped in both World Wars, and the Cold War. While the eldest state and part of the first colony (along with others) betrayed his father and the North, New York remained more loyal.

And then, of course, there was the stress if the 2016 elections.

New York gasped. Everyone looked towards him.

"What is it?" America asked his son.

New York shook his head. "Nothing."

"Come on," America said gently. "You know you can't lie to me."

New York sighed and smiled. "You know me too well."

"It's my job," America replied. "Anyway, stop changing the subject."

"It just occurred to me that today is election day," New York said.

"It is?" America asked. "It is! How could I have forgotten?"

England glanced at America before looking away quickly, and it was just like that that New York realized that England knew something. He narrowed his eyes at the nation.

The nation saw New York looking at him and sent him a questioning glance. New York replied with a slight tilt of his head towards his father. New York saw England nod once ever so slightly in understanding of what New York meant, and then a second time in a silent agreement that he would tell the state later.

The exchange went unnoticed by everyone.

Except for one person.

New York glanced out of the corner of his eye at the nation that had been watching.

. . .

. .

.

America knew his son well. His son could never hide anything from him. But his son knew him too.

And he couldn't ever seem to keep a secret from New York either. He had kept this secret from New York longer than he thought he would, but today, the problems kept mounting on each other. He couldn't hide how he felt from the person who knew him best any longer. Especially now that England just agreed to tell him. . .

America had looked away, but when he looked back at his son, he saw that his son was glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. America raised his eyebrows. His son turned his head to face his father.

New York raised a questioning eyebrow back. America nodded. New York sighed inaudibly, then raised another questioning eyebrow. America paused for a moment, thinking, before eventually nodding and shrugging with a silent sigh.

(A/N Translations to the silent conversation are pretty much like this, haha:

(England and New York):

England: Why are you looking at me like that?

New York: You reacted weird to dad's comment.

England: Oh, so that's what you mean. *pauses to consider options* I'll tell you later.

New York: Alright. *sees America had been watching*

(New York and America):

New York: *looks at America from the corner of his eye*

America: *sees NY* *raises eyebrows in an "you wanted to say something?" kind of way*

New York: You were watching, right?

America: Yeah.

New York: *sighs* Are you upset or something about England telling me whatever he's about to tell me?

America: *thinks for a few moments* It's fine. I wouldn't be able to keep anything from you anyway.

So yeah. Back to the story.)

~°~Hello. My name is Lazy Time Skip~°~

England locked the door with magic (why couldn't he just lock it normally? Because he didn't want to. Deal with it) and then told New York what he told New York that he was going to tell New York.

(A/N Don't question the weird wording.)

New York stared at England in shock. "What?!" He screeched. "No! I-It can't be possible!"

"It's true," said a voice from the corner of the room. The nation and state jumped, then turned to see who it was.

America was standing there, leaning against the wall.

"How'd you get in?" England asked.

"Tony helped me in," America said.

"Who's Tony?" New York asked.

America's eyes widened. Oh yeah. . . New York never met Tony. . . .

England stared at the alien next to America, then at America in disbelief. "You mean you never told your son that you had an alien friend living with you all?"

America shifted uncomfortably. "Um. . . Well, Tony doesn't usually come out of the basement. . ."

England kept staring at America. America fidgeted nervously.

England looked at the alien again, then to New York, who was just looking at the two nations blankly.

"What are you two talking about?" New York asked.

America shifted uncomfortably, and England looked at America.

"I still don't know why you would never show him your friend," England muttered.

America said something that no one could make out.

New York got frustrated. Why were they ignoring him?! "What the (BEEP) is going on?!"

(Steve: Language.)

England looked at the state, then at America.

"Well that's not good language," England muttered.

"I don't care about my (BEEP)ing language! I need to know what the (BEEP) you two are talking about!"

"Need is a strong word," America muttered. New York shot him a glare.

"So you comment on the word 'need' but not the fact that he just said three bad words?!"

"Yes, England," America said, "that's exactly what I did. He's about as old as me, you know. Well, it depends. Would you be talking about the day we appeared, or" America cut himself off. They both knew what he meant. America took a breath, preferring to leave that topic alone. There was a silence.

"I think we should answer New York's question," America said. His voice was quieter. He took another breath. "You see," he began (talking really fast, for the record), "Tony is an alien from outer space that I found once that has been living with us for years. He prefers to stay in our basement and play video games. But yesterday I found out that he is actually an illusion generated by the times of loneliness and a desperate need for a friend. Like that whale."

(A/N Mwahaha, the whale is imaginary too!)

There was a silence as the other two tried to figure it out.

"So. . ." New York said disbelievingly. "An. . . imaginary friend?"

America sighed. "Yeah. . ."

New York's look off disbelief increased. "Why do you need an imaginary friend?" He asked. "No offense, of course. But you have us."

America winced. "Yeah. . ." he repeated. "I know. . . but. . . well. . ." he struggled to find the words. "It's complicated. I had to take care of you all, and I have to act okay for you all. . . ."

New York felt like smashing his head against a wall. Why is life so confusing? "You have over sixty kids. How do you still get lonely?"

America laughed dryly. "Very easily, actually. You see, I needed someone I could tell anything to. If you're constantly worrying about someone, it's hard to tell them all your secrets. If I try to protect someone, and that person thinks I'm insane, it would be way too hard."

There was an awkward silence, then:

"Awkward silence broken!" America yelled. Everyone facepalmed.

(A/N *facepalms*)

"Please stop acting," England said. America's smile vanished for a split second before reappearing.

"And why would I do that?" America asked. England sighed.

"Because we care about you, America," he said. "We can't help you if you are always going to pretend that you're okay."

There was a silence before America sighed. He leaned against the wall again, crossing his arms, his smile vanishing as if had never been there.

"And what if I don't want your help?" America asked.

England flinched slightly at America's tone. "You're getting it anyway," England said.

"The hero won't need help," America said. "Heroes don't need help."

"So heroes suffer in silence for their whole lives, do they?" Demanded England.

"Yes, England," America said, "that is exactly what I do. Helping others comes with suffering. I just have to accept that."

He started to walk to the door.

"Dad," New York called. "If you don't let us help, I'll. . . I-I'll tell everyone."

America's hand froze an inch from the doorknob.

England looked at the state in disbelief. Not that he wouldn't of done the same thing. . . .

"You wouldn't," came America's reply.

"I would," New York replied. "If it meant I could help you. Don't suffer in silence."

(A/N *glares at Pandora* I was listening to a quiet song so I turned it up really loud. Then it decided to blast an ad into my ear.)

America turned around but didn't look at anyone else in the room. He leaned against the door and slid down it.

"Dam¹ you, New York," America muttered. "You know me way too well."

"I didn't know you well enough to know that you were suffering," New York said quietly.

America's head snapped up. "Don't you dare blame yourself."

New York flinched in surprise.

*cue silence*

England walked over to America.

"America," he said. "Please— we just want to help. How do you really feel?"

America felt his resolve start to crumble.

"Come on, dad," New York said. "How do you really feel?"

And with that, America's mask slipped away completely.

A/N

¹   I'm going to write dam* as dam because of 1) I'm not allowed to curse and 2) it's a PJO reference.

Anyway, how did you all like the chapter? Please comment and correct me and leave feedback!

Bye peoples!

~England.