February 6, 1778

France was pleased with the alliance with the newly created United States of America. She loved any chance to get back at Britain, and since he had stolen members of her family, she would be happy to help him lose his beloved son, the one he seemed to hold in the highest regard.

Maybe it was petty, but it was fun either way.

The new little nation was so fascinating, with no king to follow, seemingly no actual army, and yet not only capturing a British army but two of Britain's own colonies! He was so interesting.

France knew an alliance could work for her benefit as well, even if the United States were not rich or competent. It weakened Britain's power in America and indebted him to her, and country or not, he was a former colony, and they always had weaker wills, as they were made to obey a greater power.

If the war turned out well, France could have a lovely little quasi-colony in the Americas, allowing her to keep ahold of her former power in the Americas, even as a lesser version.

The terms of the treaty would allow that as well. Sure, she was required to give military and financial aid to United States and recognize his independence, all things that benefited him, but she was most interested in the clause that banned either country from making peace with Britain without the consent of the other.

France knew it had been put in there to ensure that she would keep fighting alongside him until Britain recognized his independence, but she knew it had a far better purpose.

If the little United States, someone with no experience with peace treaties, couldn't create one without her permission, that gave her a chance to...manipulate the circumstances in her favor. United States would be willing to follow her lead, she was sure, as she was the angel saving him from his own destruction at the hands of Britain (he was doing well, but he could never win without help from other real countries), and with that trust, she would ensure a good deal for her.

Besides, he was a former colony. His biology demanded that he have someone to listen to, and while humans were a decent substitute, a country would be better for him in the long run.

She was sure United States would accept any deal that forced Britain to recognize his independence, so he was a non-issue. Still, France would need to start planting some seeds in his mind. Britain certainly told his colonies horror stories of her, so it was best to ensure that he viewed her positively by the time negotiations began.

Obviously, France herself would not be fighting against Britain, but she had plenty of colonies she could order to fight on her behalf. She would have to ensure any she sent wouldn't talk bad about her in order to keep from feeding into whatever biases United States had about her.

But as she planned her letter to both her colonies and to the United States, she couldn't help but smile.

She was sure this was going to be a fortuitous partnership for them both.

• ───────────────── •

February 23, 1778

Baron Von Steuben was a very interesting man. Benjamin Franklin had sent him to give their men a more professional training and appointed him as Inspector General.

He seemed nice and had been familiarizing himself with the camp since his arrival, talking with the men while inspecting their weapons and log huts. United States appreciated how he had immediately gotten to work, as he knew they were long overdue for someone who knew what they were doing.

"Hopefully, he can actually help. He's only been here for a day," New York said. United States sighed. He knew his son was right, but United States liked to cling to anything that could give him hope. It made it all feel less...daunting.

Eventually, Baron Von Steuben finished his round of the camp, walking up to United States.

"You are the nation, yes?" he asked in French. United States nodded.

"I am, sir," he responded in the same tongue, not expecting the Prussian general to know any English and figuring he must be speaking French for a reason.

"Your army is very impressive. No European army could have held together in such circumstances," Baron Von Steuben said. United States allowed himself a small smile.

"We've barely been holding together as is," Massachusetts grumbled, but still sounding proud nonetheless.

"Thank you, sir. We are very determined to win this. Of course, determination cannot win one a battle, so we appreciate any help you can provide us," United States said.

"I hope I can be of some help," Baron Von Steuben said before looking United States up and down, "You look more put together than most."

United States gave the man a wry smile at the comment.

"Courtesy of my father. He...he expected perfection at all times. Even if I was not to fight, I needed to know what I was doing. He..." United States shook his head, trying to push aside the memories that were swelling up unbidden.

"I can take control if needed," James offered. United States wanted to protest, but James' offer was less of an offer and more of a statement and the man quickly took control, and United States let the world fade into darkness.

• ───────────────── •

March 16, 1778

England wasn't sure how he felt about the Peace Commission that had been established. He knew establishing negotiations with the rebels was important, especially with Nova Scotia and St. John's Island being prisoners of war, but the idea of negotiating with rebels irked him.

Especially because it was less like negotiations and more like giving Thirteen Colonies almost everything he wanted because he threw a tantrum and got hundreds of innocent people killed.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Wales asked. England huffed out a small laugh before wincing at the pain in his jaw. Wales passed him some paper and quill, smiling sadly at England.

He hated the pity. He hated the godforsaken prison of silence that he had been trapped in. He hated the constant pain from the injury more than anything. Perhaps that made him biased regarding conversations about negotiations with the rebels, but he didn't care.

Thirteen Colonies had maimed him, and the best solution anyone could come up with was to grant the rebels all of their demands aside from independence.

England found it foolish. They were only encouraging further bad behavior from Thirteen Colonies. If his mother had been here, she would never have tolerated any of this, and she would have dragged Thirteen Colonies home from the get-go. She would have punished him so thoroughly that Thirteen Colonies would never even think to betray her again.

England missed her.

England picked up the quill, slowly writing out his thoughts for Wales. As tense as their relationship was at times, Wales was a good listener, whether you wanted advice from him or not.

I feel this will only encourage further disobedience with Thirteen.

"It might, but if we are getting to this point, I think that shows that people are worried that if we don't make some concessions, we'll lose him altogether. If we force Thirteen back, he'll become like Ireland. If we are able to work something out, he will be loyal again and more willing to listen to you and Britain because you are both willing to listen to him," Wales said. England sighed, knowing Wales probably had a point about Thirteen Colonies becoming like Ireland.

He's already become too much like Ireland.

Wales frowned at that message, looking perturbed. England knew the man was close to Ireland and had some sort of trust in the rebellious colony, but that should only make it easier to see the similarities between them.

"Ireland rebels because he hates you. Thirteen rebelled because he tried too hard to be listened to, only to be ignored, to the point where he felt independence was his only option. I think...I think this will be good. It will give him another option. I don't...I don't think he really wants independence. I just think he doesn't know what else he can do," Wales said. England frowned, looking away.

Perhaps you're right. I just worry about the precedence we would be setting with this.

Wales put a hand on England's shoulder, smiling softly.

"It'll be okay," he said, "Something will work itself out."

Wales said it with a sort of confidence that England wished he could have.

Because he didn't see this as something that they would be able to work out.