Ah~ chapter two, just to tie ends up. In case you're wondering why Alfred's being a bit of a bitch to England, Australia (or NSW) became a colony in 1770, which is about the time Americans decided they'd just about had enough of this "empire" crap. So, there you are. Enjoy.

"America?"

The afore mentioned stirred in his sleep, muttering.

"Alfred, mate?"

Waking slowly, he became vaguely aware of someone else in the room, and of dim candlelight, closing his eyes tight again.

"Bloody wake up."

An elbow jabbed his ribs and he finally complied, sitting up and rubbing his cheeks dazedly. "Wha…?" Wide, olive eyes were only inches from his nose, and he started.

"Sorry," apologised Zack, backing off a little. "Thanks," he whispered, looking quickly over his shoulder. When Alfred looked at him quizzically, he explained his edginess. "I think England's still awake. Anyway. You're a good mate."

"Don't mention it," grumbled Alfred, putting his head back down, wriggling into his sheets. He hated being woken up. "'Night."

"What did you do with him?"

"... Buried him," muttered the American from beneath his pillow. Okay, he liked the little guy, but honestly... he didn't really feel like describing how he scooped up the remains of a huge spider and coaxed them out of the kitchen...

"Really?! I thought you'd have thrown him out! Onya, Al!"

"Ssh," complained Matthew from the bed on the other side of the room.

"Sorry," repeated the little Australian, who was bouncing happily on his knees. "So we can go an' see him tomorrow?"

Alfred muttered a reply.

Zack squeaked loudly, about to shout his thanks, before Matthew cut across him.

"If you don't keep quiet, you won't be allowed to see him."

"Fine... still... awesome, thanks, mate," he grinned at Alfred.

"Yeah," he agreed, smiling groggily. "Bonzer."

Zack chuckled and leapt off the bed, looked both ways up and down the hall, and scurried to his own room.

--

"Wake up, you bloody lout."

... and for the second time that night, mere hours after his first nocturnal encounter, Alfred was rudely awakened. He groaned when sunlight invaded his bleary eyes. Oh wait, that meant it was morning... he stretched and sat up, before noticing Arthur sitting sheepishly beside the bed.

"What do you want?"

"If you're going to be like that, then..." the Englishman stood, taking the tray had been sitting on his lap, happening to pass it in front of Alfred's nose for just a second. A sweet, comfortable smell caressed his nostrils, and his empty stomach complained immediately.

"Wait... what have you got there?"

"Just some breakfast, I thought you'd be hungry. But since you can obviously get your own-"

"But it smells good," he pined. "It's not even burnt..." noticed Alfred as the food was sat in front of him.

"Yes, well... I got your brother to help."

Alfred froze just before putting a bite of a pancake into his mouth. "You mean Matt, right?" Arthur nodded, and he continued to eat.

"I think I owe you some thanks," he admitted awkwardly. "I didn't mean to- You see a spider, you kill it, you know?" Alfred nodded, unable to answer as his mouth was full, watching Arthur carefully. "I didn't mean to upset him so much, I didn't really want him to see-" Alfred nodded hurriedly again, swallowing forcefully.

"It was pretty bad," he said finally. "How many times did you hit it?"

"It was bloody huge!" cried Arthur, suppressing a smile when Alfred almost choked on his meal, laughing at him. "Shut up. Anyway. Thank you for taking the blame, is all I wanted to say."

"What do you mean, 'taking the blame'? It was my fault!"

"Please, Alfred. You were 'looking for something to read'? Do you think I've never met you?"

Alfred's mouth opened to retaliate, but he was beat. "Nicely played," he muttered. "I don't want him to hate you... anymore than he does."

Arthur smiled as he stood to leave. "Thank you."

"Because... you're not so bad, actually..." Alfred felt his cheeks burn as he looked up to meet Arthur's stare. "For, you know, a Brit."

They looked at each other in silence for a moment, unsure of what to say. Part of Arthur wanted to smack Alfred upside the head, tell him not to be so ungrateful, and a quieter, calmer, more matern- or rather paternal side of him... wanted to put the young man in front of him to bed with a warm drink and a story.

"I think I'll take that as a compliment and leave," he concluded, nodding and turning, closing the door behind him.

Alfred smiled. Okay, he hated England... the England that never listened to him, and made him pay tax to a government he had no say in, and ignored him, occasionally, in favour of another colony that was less hassle.

... but he loved the Arthur that cooked him breakfast after they had a fight.

--

"... and I didn't realise he was so important to you."

"He was like my pet," said Zach defiantly.

"Hey, Al," whispered Matthew from beside a doorframe, pulling his brother over. "Listen."

They put their ears against the wall to hear the conversation in the room.

"I know," sighed Arthur. "I'm really very sorry. Maybe you would like a pet that's... a bit less of an acquired taste?"

Pause. "I like Matt's bear! Can I get a bear?"

"That depends-"

"A koala!" shouted Zack. "Can I get a koala? Please?"

"I don't know..."

"But Matt's got a bear! A bear! Koalas are smaller and they don't eat meat! I know how to look after him and everything, I can look after anything, I'll even name him after-"

"Okay, okay," surrendered Arthur, and Matthew looked around at Alfred, with a very, "awwww" expression on his face. "Next time you're home, we'll find one that's well-behaved-"

"Bonzer!" squeaked the boy, throwing himself at his guardian, wrapping his arms around his neck. "He'll be good, he'll never be in the kitchen, dead cert! Aw, strewth, thanks, England!"

"That's quite all right... so, we're friends again?"

"You betcha!"

Canada and America had to jump back quick-sharp as a little Australian bundled out of the room and into their legs. He apologised to them loudly, and they rolled their eyes.

"Listening in, were you?" came Arthur's voice.

"... just a bit," admitted Alfred. "You love us, really, don't you?"

Arthur didn't reply, but both boys standing outside the door could almost feel the heat radiating off his cheeks.

--

"Welcome back," smiled Matthew, taking Zack's coat for him, admiring the little grey animal clinging to his arm, black eyes wide, observing. "Wow, that's your koala, eh?"

"Yup!" beamed Zach. "His mama didn't want him, so I'm gonna look after him. Ain't he a beut?"

"Definitely," agreed Matthew. "What did you name him?"

Zack looked around awkwardly just to make sure they were alone, then beckoned Matthew to bend over so he could speak quietly. The Canadian obliged, putting his ear beside the boy's mouth.

"I called 'im Artie."

And he picked up the koala from under its arms, swung it over onto his shoulder, where it sat quite comfortably once it had adjusted itself, grinned, and ran to his room.

DAMMIT AUSTRALIA YOU'RE TOO FCKN CUTE. Haha, I've seen his koala called "Artie" before, a few times, so it's not really original, but I thought it was a very sweet sentiment. I hope you all like England more now; really this chapter was only for him to redeem himself (which I think he did, with flying colours :D).

Anyway, R&R, dears ~