"There's a reason why ya don't jus' get up an' visit Spain, of all people." The former nation's back was to her as he spoke. There was no response from the female state, "Cali, are ya even listenin'—" he turned around and stopped when he noticed his sister staring out one of the portholes in their cabin.

"Did you know, Tejas—"

"Don't call me by that name," he interrupted coldly, dropping his accent completely. She didn't even give him a nod of acknowledgement at this order.

"—that many of my people are going to fight in the war? They really want to fight against Japan and all…but they've agreed to defeat Germany first. Strange isn't it?"

"Not really," he mumbled, knowing she wouldn't be listening to his side commentary.

"I can hear their voices," she raised her hands slowly and cupped them against her ear, blocking out the outside noises. "I never knew I had so many people."

Her brother rolled his eyes in exasperation. It wasn't the first time during this trip he realized his sister was starting to tire. He doubted she had much sleep after she was captured by Germany. Passing out because of blood loss was only a temporary and ineffective measure. She had been unnaturally silent all the way to the docks, and upon stepping onto the ship, she started babbling incoherently about their fellow brothers and sisters. He had heard his own name appear in that babble once or twice.

"Were you surprised when you realized how many people you had, Brother?" she asked, and without waiting for an answer, rambled on. "I bet Father was. We know by numbers that our bosses receive, but we never actually feel them all at once until something like this happens. It's an interesting feeling."

"Go—ta—sleep," he moved quickly to her bed and sat down on the edge, his hand roughly grabbing her shoulder and throwing her back. "Can't stand anymore of yer inconsistent chatter."

"I'm not that tired. I'll sleep when we get home," she seized his hand and pushed it off her shoulder. "You don't have to worry about me, Brother." Texas raised an eyebrow as she finished. This had been the second time she had spoken formally to him—completely out of character for his tomboy sister.

"You. Are. Pathetic," he pronounced each word slowly and clearly, drawing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her up against him. He settled his chin on top of her head, a position he had taken when they were both younger under Mexico's rule.

She made a noise of agreement and leaned into his embrace. There was silence in the cabin as she slowly started drifting off to sleep aided by her brother slowly and gently rubbing circles on her back with his hand.

"A real pain, Cali," he sighed, his other hand tousling her hair slightly. "A real pain."

She was wound up in America's arms, and had been like that ever since she stepped off the boat. He had mumbled something about "sending everyone over to destroy Berlin", but that was lost when she greeted him with a hug and soft, "I'm sorry."

"Don't ever do that again," he whimpered, trying his best to stop his emotional side from taking over completely.

"That's fine," she smiled slightly and patted his shoulders gently, feeling his overpowering strength pressing painfully on her wound.

"Let 'er go, America. She's hurtin'," her brother grumbled, reaching out and tapping the blonde roughly on the shoulder.

"Sorry, Texas, but I'm so happy—"

"Happy that Germany saved 'er from Prussa?" America kissed the Californian on her forehead before stepping back.

"I'm at war with him, remember? I'm just happy that you were able to bring her back from Spain," he smiled broadly, hitting him lightly on the shoulder.

"Stop treatin' me like a saint an' go find yer boss. Ah can't do anythin' without his permission. Yes, we declared war, but the troops haven't been deployed yet. Do somethin' 'bout that one before Ah get bored an' make Ginny take over. She's been lookin' at my position for awhile."

"Yes, we cannot let the Axis win!" he agreed. "Cali, get your fleet ready!"

"You're letting me fight?" she asked in surprise. "But I thought—"

"Your brother asked my permission for you to fight. Your boss argued with me for a bit as well. He doesn't really trust you staying home," America waved at them both and left the room, his obnoxious laughter echoing down the hall.

"Before ya say anythin', Ah didn't speak with him," Texas spoke when his sister turned around and opened her mouth, the new question on her lips.

"Who was it?" she asked, changing her question in mid breath.

"Don't know," he shrugged. "Someone America looks at fondly, Ah guess. Don't really care, either. Someone thinks too highly of ya. Ah wouldn't trust ya with my navy." At light of this insult, his sister stuck her tongue out and punched his arm.

More out of instinct than anger, he punched her back—landing a blow on the side of her face, sending her reeling backwards. He realized too late what he had done. Before he could utter an apology, California lunged at him. The back of his head hit the chair behind him as he went down.

He couldn't even feel the powerful blows his sister was inflicting, concentrating solely on staying awake and not passing out from hitting the chair. After several moments of rapid blinking and silent groaning, he focused back on her.

"Why did you hit me?" she shrieked, raising her fist for another strike. Texas reached up and grabbed her wrist, stopping her assault. To him, her body weight amounted to nothing as he flipped her off and smashed her against the floor. His hand quickly found her thin neck and curled around it, ignoring her body arching as her back hit the flooring painfully.

"Now, before ya try to hit me again, Ah apologize for hittin' ya," he frowned down at her. It didn't surprise him when she continued to glare at him, her left arm finding a death grip on his shoulder. "But Ah don't apologize for what Ah said."

"Why?" she croaked. It was a struggle for her to mouth out that simple word with her brother's hand blocking her windpipe.

"Ah haven't seen ya prove ta me that ya deserve ta be treated different," he scowled. "Ya can't take care of the ranch if ya even tried. Despite Mexico forcin' yer people ta farm, ya still don't do a good job. No wonder he noticed an' tried ta take advantage of yer gender. Spain noticed too."

He had loosened his grip on her throat as he felt sudden jerking movements under his hand. He thought she was in convulsions from the blow her back had taken just from short gasps coming from her mouth. It surprised him when he saw tears beginning to appear in her eyes.

"All right, all right," he sighed, cradling her against his chest. "Ah'm sorry for bringing up Spain."

"Do you really think he was telling the truth?" she asked, hiccupping slightly as she struggled to get her breath back, brushing the tears out of her impatiently. "About how America will betray me?"

"America will think twice before crossin' me," he disagreed, narrowing his eyes at the wall above her head. "Ah' won't let 'im get away with somethin' like that. Don't worry 'bout Spain. He had a grudge 'gainst America since we were under his house."

"Oh," her voice became softer as the realization sunk in. "I forgot."

"S'all right," he rubbed her back in what he assumed was soothing to her. "Ah don't remember much of that either."

There was a small amount of rapping on the door. Texas glanced up at the door, then back down at his sister. Much to his annoyance, the person knocking creaked open the door by themselves.

"Ya could have waited fer a response, Ginny," he grumbled as their elder (adopted) sister walked over to them.

"You wouldn't have let me in," she stopped in front of them, one eyebrow raised in amusement. "I'm a bit surprised to see you both here. I would have thought you would be halfway across the country by now instead of messing around in here."

"Messing around?" California asked in a rather high-pitched voice. Texas narrowed his eyes at her. Virginia ignored her, directing her next question at him alone.

"I thought you were supposed to be chivalrous," she raised her head and looked down at him. "That's what you said to me years ago."

"It's a bit different when it's about Cali," he shrugged. "An' if Ah have this correct, ya don' even think she's a woman anyhow, Ginny."

"True," she glanced down at California in disdain. "Nevada's looking for you. Apparently Arizona woke up right after you left and was wondering where you were."

"I'll go see him then," she stood up and started walking away.

"We'll go see him," Texas corrected, grabbing her wrist and pulling himself up. "New Mex's been worried sick 'bout him, kept callin' me. The captain was getting' tired of hearing his "

Virginia watched as they walked away, her frown becoming more noticeable on her face. They were halfway down the hall before she opened her mouth and spoke again.

"Texas, are you forgetting something?" she asked. Both states stopped and turned towards her. Texas patted his sister's shoulder and whispered something to her. Then she was nodded and left him alone, the heavy doors swinging shut behind her, echoing down the hallway.

"Fergetting what, Ginny?" he asked dryly after the echo died down.

"About our 'agreement'. You lost your temper at Father and his guest, and then you frightened a bunch of my people. I think it's time you—"

"No," she stopped in surprise, her hands frozen, palms up in the air.

"What?" she took a step forward, but hesitated and stepped back again. "What did you say?"

"Yah heard me, Virginia," he scowled. "Ah won't give ya control of the Army. Don't ever convince Cali that she needs ta go visit her fatherly figure ta get permission ta fight, an' then stab her in the back by persuading America not ta let the female Western states fight. Ah thought Florida was jokin' when he mentioned that."

"Florida?" she looked confused.

"Florida's our older brother," he reminded her icily and watched as she paled in sudden realization. Her knees buckled and she fell against the wall, staring at him, her mouth open in shock.

"Jus' so ya know," he turned and walked away, his heavy boots thudding loudly on the polished floors of the White House.

I was incredibly tired when I finished this. It was meant to end on this note, as I'm still wondering how to bring out the next part. Yes, as a few reviewers noticed, it would have been one of the original 13 states that should have been America's second-in-command as well as head of Navy, Army, and Air Force. So naturally, quite a few of them are jealous of the special treatment.