So sorry this chapter is a few hours late folks. Been sick all week and didn't have time to finish it up before the publishing date.

December 26, 1776

It was cold. There was rain, sleet, hail, and snow, absolutely miserable weather.

"The reason why winter attacks aren't common," James joked. United States suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. James had been making that joke ever since General Washington revealed his plans to attack the city of Trenton, where intelligence showed that Hessian mercenaries were staying, guards presumably down after Christmas.

The element of surprise was smart, as it seemed to be the best way for them to win battles, as they were so undertrained and underequipped. Even United States, with the biyearly military training his Father forced them all to do, was not enough to train their militiamen. Most would be leaving come January, and United States had no idea how to pass his skills on to others.

"We were trained to be followers. Not to teach. Just to obey," New Jersey grumbled. The state had been begging to be in control of the body for this battle, but United States refused. He would not make his son fight in his battles.

Besides, this battle was against Hessians, guaranteeing that his Father would not be there. It might be United States' only time to fight without James taking his place.

He had to fight.

"You don't have to prove anything to your people, Da. We know you want to fight, and they think you are, even when it is us," Delaware said.

"He's not proving it to them. It's to himself," James said, far too perceptive of United States' feelings. United States did his best to ignore them. Daybreak was upon him and his army, and they were reaching Trenton.

Later than they had planned but not too late. The icy river and the storm didn't stop them.

"I am splitting the force into two columns. Would you rather join Major General Greene or Major General Sullivan?" General Washington asked United States as they approached.

"As long as I can fight, I do not care who it is with," United States answered with a small smile. He didn't like being forced to choose. His influence was too great, and he could divide people too quickly. General Washington nodded.

"Go with General Greene and attack from the North," he ordered, and United States quickly moved beside the other general, nodding as he did so before the order was spread and the army began to divide into two columns.

While United States was nervous, as any sane man would be, he was not as nervous as he thought he would be. His militia had been wearing the Hessians down for weeks; their defenses would be low, and his father would not be there—there was no way he could lose, and it filled him with giddy excitement.

"And once we win, we will liberate much of my state, and then we can move to liberate Yorkie's," New Jersey added, excitement in his voice.

When they reached the outskirts of Trenton, they engaged with pickets on the outside of town. Worry squirmed in United States' gut, and he was worried that this might cause them to lose the element of surprise.

"You'll be fine; just stop worrying about what might happen and focus on what is happening!" New York cheered, full of a youthful faith in his father. A small part of United States didn't feel like he deserved it, but much of him was swelling with joy.

He had failed New York so terribly, but the state still believed in him.

Now, he had to prove that he deserved that faith.

Despite the fight at the picket lines, they really didn't seem to lose the element of surprise, as United States and his army overwhelmed the Hessians, leading to a one-sided battle, something that seemed to excite both New York and New Jersey.

Soon, the Hessians began surrendering, and not just a few dozen, but hundreds. United States let out a shocked laugh as New Jersey crept closer. Knowing what his son was trying to do, United States relented, knowing that although New Jersey didn't fight, he needed this victory.

He hadn't heard excitement from them since the British landed in New York. It was all fear and terror.

This victory was for United States, yes, but also for his states.

While there was no official surrender yet, the crushing weight of the American army, his army, left United States certain that New Jersey would be okay.

"Don't do anything stupid," United States whispered before passing control of the body to New Jersey.

They had managed to win. They weren't defeated yet. They could still do this. United States could be a country.

Even though he drifted in a space of awareness and unawareness, United States felt a hand slip into his own.

"My state next," New York said, his voice a mix of mournful and happy. If we can, my state next."

Eager to make more of his children happy, United States nodded. Even if it seemed impossible, he had to try.

For his states.

• ───────────────── •

January 3, 1777

New Jersey had not expected to fight a battle. While he knew that the British would counterattack after Trenton, he had just been in control of the body to celebrate, not to fight. But despite Uncle James' pushing, he knew that he had to fight.

Father had fought for New Jersey and his people, and New Jersey was grateful for that, but now it was time for him to fight for them.

"Just don't get hurt. We can't risk losing morale right now," Plymouth said, his voice worried.

Even with their victory at Trenton, the British general had come for them, but General Washington had snuck away from the general the night before and was now preparing to flank the British troops.

Unfortunately, when he had detached Hugh Mercer's brigade to investigate the area, they ran into some British troops. Mercer had been wounded, his men routed in a bayonet charge, and the British were on the verge of splitting the army.

New Jersey had been worried—terrified that the Battle of Trenton had all been for nothing and he would be back under British occupation, somehow forced under Grandfather's control, and used to hurt his family.

The fears were unreasonable, but they terrified him so.

But General George Washington had quickly attached new troops to plug that gap to prevent the British from splitting the army. However, the troops, like so many, were new and inexperienced and once again broken by British bayonets.

It wasn't fair! They outnumbered the British, so how could they win?

"Better training," New York grumbled angrily.

"United States! I am going to lead fresh troops to plug the gap. Are you going to stay here or come with me?" General Washington asked. New Jersey felt his brain stuttered as he processed the request.

"IS HE MAD?" Virginia exclaimed, and the other states, including New Jersey, began to echo her shock.

"But, sir, you could be injured or killed. We can't lose you!" he protested.

"Someone has to rally them to fight and hold the line," General Washington responded. New Jersey shook his head.

"I can do it. I am their country!" he exclaimed, almost forgetting to keep up the facade that he was his father.

"And I am their commander, and I need to show them that I will stand by them," General Washington said. Stressed and scared as he was, New Jersey could not help but feel more confident with his general beside him, who was promising not to abandon them, abandon Father, abandon what they were trying to build.

"He's a good man," Uncle James said.

"And I will stand by you," New Jersey said, his voice full of more conviction than he felt. General Washington seemed touched, but the expression faded as he began to rally more troops.

Later that day, when Faher returned to control of the body, New Jersey proudly regaled him with the tale of how he and General Washington had defeated the British.

• ───────────────── •

January 15, 1777

New Connecticut was caught in a bad situation. That was one of the first things explained to him when he was born only a few hours ago. On one side, the United States of America, a colony of the British Empire, fighting against his father to become a country.

He was the country, if he won his war, that is, that surrounded New Connecticut on three sides. On his northern border was the Colony of Quebec, the former French colony now loyal to the British Empire.

In short, he had been born in a warzone, and with his status as a new country, he might be mistaken as an ally of the United States.

In a way, he was, as many of his people were inspired by the United States and wanted to be allied with the new nation.

New Connecticut didn't know what to think. He had finally found a moment to himself, fiddling with the clothes he had been given, thinking over the threads he could feel connecting him to the personifications that lay below his Northern and Southern border.

His parents, the United States of America, and the Province of Quebec. He was guessing it was them, at the very least. He wouldn't know until the owners of those bonds came to him or until he came to them. But he knew whoever was on the side of the invisible tug was his parent.

Then there was a knock at the door, and New Connecticut opened it to see a young boy standing there, someone who looked to be about his physical age, fifteen.

"Good evening, sir. My name is Liam Walker, and I have been assigned by your government to be your assistant until you have adjusted to...life, I guess. It's a pleasure to meet you!" the boy said, holding out his hand. New Connecticut took it.

"It is nice to meet you. And please, there is no need to call me sir. I am much younger than you, even if we look like we are of a similar age. It feels strange to make you call me that," New Connecticut said. Liam looked nervous and surprised at that but nodded.

"Okay, si—New Connecticut. I will try to remember that. Although I do not have much experience in dealing with your kind," he said. New Connecticut smiled.

"Neither do I. I was nothing more than an idea a few hours ago. We can learn together, and I will forgive you for your mistakes, as we are both learning. I am...I am glad I have someone to help me learn. How to be a person, that is. I am excited to know you," New Connecticut said, excitement flooding him. He didn't exist a few hours ago, but something within him felt excited to be a country, like he had been waiting for a long while.

He supposed, in a way, he was his people's eagerness for the official creation of, well, him, their countryhuman.

New Connecticut was excited and nervous.

His people were afraid of failing him. New Connecticut was more afraid of failing them.