A/N

So, may I present to you all, chapter ten!!

My screen is cracked pretty badly, so I'm writing this with a broken screen. You're welcome.

Also, Green Day is awesome. Ironically, American I**** is on right now. Amazing for this story. Sarcasm is awesome.

I love the song, though.

And by the way? This isn't UsUk anymore. I got some better plans, in my opinion. Something more original. For any of my readers for that one PJ fanfic, you know that I can make up ships sometimes. [Tell me if I didn't make it up though, and if you see another ship like it:) ]

~Shatter.

Chapter Ten.

~°~

America saw two figures as one. It was weird, like someone had placed two different see-through pictures on top of one another. It took America a moment to realize the glass; that he was looking into a mirror.

America was confused. This man did look just like him, but with a grey uniform and grey eyes. He knew who it was; Confederacy. But why was the mirror showing him Confederacy? Confederacy wasn't there.

Or was he?

"Where are you?" America called out. "Am I imagining things? What's going on?" He spun in a complete circle, trying to see if Confederacy really was somewhere in the room.

America heard laughter from the mirror and looked back at it. Staring back at him was Confederacy, who now seemed to be completely formed. Or it seemed like America was Confederacy.

"Union," Confederacy sneered. America heard the voice loud in his mind, as if he were thinking them himself, and his mouth move, as if he were the one talking. "I am really here. And yet, I am not."

"What does that even mean?" America —Union — yelled. He watched, confused, as the reflection shifted to his own as he talked before shifting back to Confederacy's.

"I am not in the mirror," Confederacy said. "I am not in your imagination. I am you."

Union shuddered slightly, involuntarily. What did that mean? "What do you mean, 'I am you'?" The mirror once again switched reflections, then switched back once Confederacy resumed talking.

"Well, Union," Confederacy smirked, "you are America. You are not only Union, but you are also Confederacy. I cannot have my body back, but I have always been there, lingering in the back of your mind."

Union's reflection replaced Confederacy's as he nodded in understanding and agreement. "So you have. You did say that you would always exist in America as long as people still believed in what you stood for. You also said I would never forget you. I never did. So, I'm America, but I'm also Confederacy and Union?"

"That's about correct," Confederacy replied. "You always knew that Union wasn't always just a name, it was just the side of the war that wasn't personified, so you had to become it. And now you have become Confederacy too."

Union sighed. "Confederacy and Union in one is what makes America," he said. "Even before the two technically existed. So that's why I pretty much became Union?"

"Yup."

"And Confederacy? Can anyone else see you if you were to talk through me?"

Confederacy gave a dry laugh. "I guess that is the only way that I can talk now, after you killed me." Confederacy felt Union flinch mentally (Confederacy was the reflection still, so it didn't show, but he could still tell), and felt satisfaction before continuing. "You won't physically change into my form unless you do on purpose, probably. But I can talk through you, as you can technically talk through me when it's in my form. And there's also a way to think to each other too, if we don't want to seem weird by talking into a wall during some random boring meeting."

Union nodded in agreement.

Union and America had noticed that there was a difference between them during the Civil War, though neither put much thought to it at the time. America, having been home to Confederacy before Confederacy was born (dude, that makes America seem like he was pregnant, which he wasn't), had a slightly lighter (more grey) uniform than when he was Union. It was barely noticeable, to be honest, but it was a difference. The same could be said for America's eyes: America's eyes were a hint more grey than Union's. After the war, they had gotten greyer by a bit more, but still so blue that it was hardly noticeable.

"How do you know all this, anyway?" Union asked Confederacy curiously.

Confederacy shrugged. "The author told me."

"Figures," Union sighed.

(A/N ((Insert me frantically calling for my sister to fix the 4th wall with duct tape.)) )

"So will we just go everywhere as America as we have been?" Union asked, raising an eyebrow.

Confederacy rolled his eyes. "We all know you've been tapping into Union's appearance to make your eyes happier and stuff."

"True," Union said. "But what else am I supposed to do?"

"Nothing," Confederacy said. "Go with your America form for now, because they probably won't even notice the difference. And if they do, they'll probably decide it was because of the elections."

"You're right," Union admitted. "And, of course, the only reason why I even calmed down enough to 'control myself' was probably because you were there."

Confederacy nodded. "Remember, Union, we are still enemies. But who ever said that allies couldn't be allies?"

(A/N Well they can't. . . . You know, I probably shouldn't oppose my own idea. My brain and I are very good friends sometimes, but sometimes my brain and I hate each other.

. . .

Oh.

Okay, brain, you win this time.

Anyway, back to the story.)

"Like frienemies?" Union suggested after the slight interruption.

"Yes, exactly," Confederacy responded. "Enemies in a battle, but allies in a war."

"Or the other way around," Union said.

"Be quiet," Confederacy replied. "I just wanted to say something inspiring."

Union laughed, but not in a mocking way. Soon they were both laughing.

(Kind of weird though: two voices laughing through the same mouth.)

They stopped laughing once they heard a knock on the door, and melded into the America form, where the usual "neutral zone" took charge. In other words, Union and Confederacy threw random pieces of advice at their brain while eating "brain popcorn" (imaginary popcorn that they ate while in their separate little places in America as they watched the "show").

(A/N America is technically the "central" place. Union and Confederacy are kind of just two extra personalities caused by the different beliefs in the country that weren't personified right then. In other words, America is actually a third personality, while Union and Confederacy are two other personalities/beliefs. "America" is kind of like the headquarters of Inside Out, but more complicated since the "personifications" inside it don't really have to do anything to make it work, because the place is a personification itself. When one of the other two personifications take charge, then America and the other one goes into corners and watches the show or whatever.  America is in charge most of the time though, since he's technically the neutral point between Confederacy and Union. Anyway, I'm probably boring you all, so if you have any questions, just let me know.)

Union hummed dramatic music as America got closer to the door. The humming got loudest as America threw open the door to reveal. . . .

(A/N Union told me to leave a cliffhanger here.)

(A/N Confederacy told me to make it a trick and keep going. It's a compromise. Huzzah!)

And the door was swung open to reveal. . .

England, New York, and Texas.

Union sighed. "Well that's anticlimactic," he muttered.

"No it isn't!" Confederacy replied. "Remember the whole romance thing earlier?"

"Oh yeah!" Union replied. "I think that was just a crush though. . . ."

"Yeah. . ." Confederacy agreed. "Crushes go away. Love doesn't. But to be sure, let's see about England."

"Yes," Union said. He dropped into a voice like the ones used in commercials for movies. "Will England like us back? Or will we be rejected? We will just have to wait and see."

"Yes," Confederacy said. "Now hush up."

Union looked out the "screen" and ate a handful of brain popcorn.

America loudly invited them in. The three walked into and took seats in various places in the room. America just leaned against a wall.

"Something's different about those two," Union muttered, looking at New York and Texas.

Confederacy looked at the states, then stuffed some popcorn into his face. "I nokt mocice anehing," he muttered with his mouth full.

"Ugh," Union muttered. "Anyway. . . Yeah, of course you wouldn't. You were born of hate."

"Doesn't mean that I don't know about things other than hate," Confederacy protested.

"It doesn't," Union agreed. "But it does mean that you might not see when others are in love, while I might. Those two. . . that's love."

Confederacy studied the two states, then simply shrugged. "I still don't see it."

"Well I do," Union huffed. "And I am the hero."

"No, I am!"

"No, that's me."

The two personifications stood up, yelling at each other across the brain, probably causing America a killer headache.

Suddenly, America was there, standing in between the nations.

"You two are giving me a killer headache!" He shouted. "Let's break up the fight. Union, you're on."

Union knew what America meant and closed his eyes. The next moment he was gone.  Or everywhere. Or rather, he just was. They were now inside Union's mind instead of America's. Everything was just a little bit lighter than it had been moments before. Now, it was Union talking to the states, England, walking around, and doing anything.

America and Confederacy sat in seller are little corners, America eating brain popcorn.

Confederacy wished up some brain hamburgers and started eating those.

~°~

Union opened his eyes, and he immediately looked towards the two states. He raised his eyebrows to them, and they blushed. Union cocked his head to true side slightly in a questioning manner. The states nodded, answering the unspoken question.

England just looked confused.

Union mentally smirked.

~°~

Confederacy had paused mid-brain burger to see what the response would be from the states.

"I stand corrected," Confederacy muttered as he saw the blushes on his sons' faces.

A few moments later, an image of Union's smirking face popped into the air in the middle of the room. Union must've mentally smirked. Seriously, though. Confederacy already knew he was wrong; why did Union have to rub it in? :(

~°~

Union was watching his blushing children, hiding a smirk. England was just looking between the three, completely confused.

"You're in loooooove," Union teased, and the children blushed harder than before. Union couldn't help it this time as he doubled over laughing.

England finally understood what was going on. Somehow he felt as if he should defend the children. "And you're not?" England raised a bushy eyebrow at Union, and despite it being quite comical (those caterpillars were hilarious at times), it effectively shut Union up, also starting a faint blush spreading on his face.

"Wait, what?" New York asked, seeing the blush.

Union's blush became slightly more prominent at the comment.

England decided to break the awkward silence.

"Um. . ."

It worked so well.

Union totally wasn't being sarcastic.

Neither was I.

Totally not. . . .

Anyway. . .

"Okay!" Union said louder than necessary. "Um, kids, I don't think you want to see your father's tragic love life, so please, just get out. . . ."

The two kids nodded and left.

Another awkward silence could be heard. Or rather, not heard.

"So. . ." Union said before looking away, blushing slightly.

England put a hand on Union's.

"Union," he started. "You have always been like a younger brother to me. But you were right about the 'something new' thing." Union's breath hitched slightly in anticipation of what England was going to say next.

"But I don't know if the way you're saying is the way our relationship has changed. . ." England said quietly. "I've been taking care of you these past few days, but somehow to me, it feels more like how a father would a son than a lover."

~°~

"AJDJAJRHFIFNWNFNF JJANDMDJFJQNFJ FNWNFKJSNDJFDJAMFMFKSWFM MQMFKDNDMSKDKW MDMOSFJWMDKFJWMD!!!!!!"
Confederacy couldn't even form words as he tried to somehow lunge through the "screen" at England. America held him back.

"AIFNWMNDIJJNGFNEMFKCNDMKENFJSJFNDDDJDNFIDNCJSJDIJKEOOOOOMEKDODMSLFOSJDIFNS!!!!!"

~°~

Union looked away from England, the hope in his eyes diminished. He gently pulled his hand out of England's grasp and turned away, falling into a chair.

"America," England said. "I don't want to hurt you. I just. . . ." he didn't seem to be able to think of the words.

"I understand," Union said, voice shaking slightly. "I understand. . . ." his voice broke.

And with that," England realized that his former colony was crying.

Because of him.

Once again.

He sat in a chair next to Union. Union was shielding his face from view and sobbing silently, barely making any indication that he was crying.

It pained England's heart to see the man he thought of as a son like this.

~°~

All that was heard inside the mind of Union was silence. The sound of silence. Two people silently crying in separate corners of the mind, their brain food piled up next to them, now ignored.

It was darker than Confederacy had ever remembered it being in Union's mind before.

A/N

Okay, I'm going to end the chapter here for now.

So. . . heartbreak. Cheerful.

Anyway, please comment and give feedback and stuff:)

~Arthur.