Can He Stay? Ch. 4

Arthur eyed the small boy. He wasn't so mad as he was extremely worried something would happen, like a disastrous fall.

"Brother please!!! Help me down, I am so scared. Please! Help me, help me!" He started to cry, and Matthew and Hughes stood helplessly watching. Quite frankly, the child did not care, he just wanted to get down. This was indeed a predicament, and Arthur did not know how he was going to get the child down.

"Ah…okay little one…I am going to count to three…you are going to jump down, and I am going to catch you. Okay?" England could not think of any other way but this. America on the other hand violently shook his head no, and held on to the tree trunk crying. "Alfred! You need to get down, and this is the only way…listen to what I say young man." He held out his arms and was reassuring the boy that this was the only thing that could be done.

Closing his eyes as tight as he could, Alfred plunged out of the tree and fell towards the open arms of his brother. To a small child, the falling never seemed to end, and he was quite scared. Before he knew it though, he was in the safe arms of England, and clutched very tightly to the man's jacket. Shaking with fear, the boy was in the safe grasps of his brother. England looked over at Hughes, nodded and had the man walk back to the mansion with Canada following.

They arrived into the foyer, and England set the boy down, but he did not seem to want to let go. It seemed like he retreated back to a time when he was much smaller, and held on to Arthur's legs. Giving Hughes a glance as to leave the two alone, the butler ushered Canada into the dining room where he would give the child a refreshment, and where England would have time alone with the visibly upset little America. Calming the boy, and wiping the tears from his eyes, Arthur picked him back up and the two walked to his study, and he closed the door.

At the dining room table, Matthew sat while Hughes brought him a sandwich and a cup of milk. The boy ate slowly and was a bit concerned about what was to become of his friend. England had looked very angry, and he did not want to see anything happen, but the boy did get himself into trouble by climbing the tree. Canada shook his head and sipped the milk.

Rubbing the child's back, England continued holding the boy in his arms. When Alfred was as calm as he was going to be, he was set down on the couch, and Arthur walked away from him standing against his desk with his hands on his waist and giving the boy a dreadful stare. England was not at one hundred percent of his health, and with so much activity, he felt quite faint, but he did not show this in any way, shape, or form to the boy. Alfred sniffed slightly and waited for his brother to talk.

"We have discussed that you were not allowed to climb up the sycamore tree because you are not old enough for that type of activity. Do you remember me telling you that Alfred?"

The boy sat sit and swung his legs back and fourth in a nervous composure. Looking up at his brother, he barley got the words out.

"I'm seven years old big brother…you said I couldn't climb it because I was five…I am much older now!" He sat straight up and got nearer to the edge of the couch anxious. England just shook his head.

"Two years older than you were is not much of a difference little brother…and it was very foolish of you to even think that it was okay to climb the tree. Climbing is not very gentlemanly anyway young man…such high places anywhere are dangerous!"  He moved away from the desk, and went to retrieve his slipper. The boy's eyes became wide and he moved off the couch clasping a hand over his bottom and looking very worried.

"Big brother…no please…I'll never climb the tree again…please, please? I'll be good…" He pleaded some more until England's concentration was broken as there was knocking on the door. Setting the slipper aside, he walked to the door. It was Francine, and she seemed terribly sorry for the intrusion, however America breathed a sigh of relief.

"Francine?" Said Arthur with a raised eyebrow.

"Master Kirkland, I apologize…but it seems as if Mr. Prussia has arrived." She moved aside, and there stood the nation whom England had not wanted to meet with, but as a gentleman, he did have to fulfill obligatory meetings with nations he had already promised to congregate with.

Prussia walked in and stood with a smirk on his face. Holding out his hand, England and him shook. The nation looked down at America and winked at him. Looking back up at the Brit, he spoke.

"Guten tag Arthur…very good to see you." He knelt down and held out a hand to America who just hid behind his brother's legs. Frowning the nation stood up. "Rude little brat…"

"Excuse you Prussia…he is not rude, he is just in an off mood right now." Looking over at Francine, he snapped his fingers. "Francine, please see Alfred is given some supper, and then please see that they boys spend the remaining time in the nursery. I will be holding the meeting with Gilbert in the drawing room." He went to turn away, but then feeling his nausea return he spoke up. "Francine, see that Hughes brings some club soda, and some refreshments for Mr. Prussia please."  

"Yes sir." She steered America out of the way, and the two walked down the hall. England made his way to the opposite side of the mansion where Prussia followed him. The door closed, and the men got down to official business. Francine had seen to it that both boys were fed and were now up in the nursery playing. She had warned them to behave because England was not in a good mood now that his guest had arrived. The boys got out whatever play things that America had in the room, and they both sat on the floor. Canada played with a wooden train and sat very quietly with America staring at him. He looked up.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" The boy made the train emit "choo choo" noises and waited for a response.

"Matty…where did you come from? You never told me…you said you would. Even big brother won't ask because he told me it was rude to ask, but, I want to know why you runned away from your home.!" Alfred took a toy airplane from the pile and made it fly around. Matthew sat looking uncomfortable.

"I don't want to tell you. I don't have to you know!" The boy picked up the train and walked over to the other side of the room. He emitted a deep sigh and looked down to the ground. Alfred watched this and said nothing. Canada stayed quiet and then turned around to his friend.

"If I tell you…promise me you won't tell Arthur…I don't want him to tell me to leave." The boy had tears in his eyes. He liked staying there, despite getting into some trouble already, but it was a gentle setting, and atmosphere. Alfred gave his friend a serious look and nodded. He walked closer, sat down, and put an arm around the boy's shoulder and listened intently on everything that was said with wide eyes.

"So England…as you can tell, I am a man who takes what he wants…and I very much want an alliance with you." Prussia picked up his glass and swirled around the club soda, taking a small sip, he cringed, and then set it down. England tapped a finger and seemed bored. He wondered what the boys were doing. "Am I boring you Arthur? Is there something else that is troubling you?"

"Nothing is troubling me…I just have a little more on my plate than I had expected right now…and its making it all the more difficult to give you an answer right now." He stood  up from the couch where he was sitting and paced around the room, while not paying Prussia any mind. Gilbert got up and stood next to him and cleared his throat.

"Well…this meeting has been a total waste of my time. I will go and speak with some nations who actually care about my alliance. Arthur…I will not give up though…you will hear back from me. Good day." He nodded his head at the distracted Brit, and walked out of the room.

As Prussia walked down the hall, two little boys ran out of the nursery in full force and trampled down the stairs almost running into him. America just giggled, and Canada looked up at him and smiled as well.

"Oh, excuse me sir!" Said little Matthew as he followed Alfred.

The two little boys were on a mission. Gilbert seemed to recognize the boy whom spoke to him, but he could not put his finger on it. Something was going on in the Kirkland mansion, and he was going to find out. He walked down the hall towards the door, and Hughes saw him out. The man walked down the path and looked back at the window with a queer smile.

The two boys ran until Matthew was out of breath. He stopped, and looked into a room they were both standing in front of. It had many, many books in it, and interested him. America smiled and walked to Canada.

"This is big brother's collection of books. Sometimes…when he has the time, he reads to me…but, lately he hasn't had the time." The boy looked very sad as he stopped talking. Then grabbing Matthew's hand, he pulled him forward. "Hey! Come on…we can find something to look out, brother showed me a book with pictures in it!"

"Okay, yeah! Let's go and see!" Matthew seemed a little more excited and ran into the large room with his vast and expansive selection of books.

The library was a prized room of England's, but it was not off limits. It was child friendly. Books were lined up, in the walls. Spanning up to fifteen feet high. A ladder had to be climbed to get to the taller shelves. England was the only one to climb the ladders. Again, this was something that America was told he could never do because he was too small.

Walking over to a couch, Matthew sat down, and was in awe with the millions of books he laid his eyes upon. America stood with a perplexed expression, there was one book that England had shown him, and it had pictures of the earth and other planets. He was excited to show it to his friend. It must have been put away…and maybe in a high up place. He eyed the ladder, and decided the book must be found.

England rang the servant bells from the drawing room and Francine walked right to the door. She awaited her instructions.

"Francine, please remove the tray, and glasses, and I suppose you can prepare something light for the boys. Speaking of which, whatever are they up to right now?"

The timid maid grabbed up the tray and put the glasses on them. Picking it all up, she smiled back at Arthur.

"Why my lord…last I checked they were up in the nursery…but that was a little while ago…I suppose I can go and check to see where they went."

"No, its alright, I am free now…I will see what the little rascals are up to. You are dismissed Francine, I shall see you in a little while." He walked out of the room and ascended up the steps to see if maybe they were still playing. Once he approached the room, he did not hear anything. Toys were strewn about the carpet, and he scratched his head. They had to be somewhere.

He walked down the steps and heard giggling coming from the library. Perhaps the boys were looking at picture books. He walked down the hall, towards where little voices were speaking. Smiling as he pushed the door open, he suddenly ran towards the ladder at the moment little America had just so happened to miss a step. He was quite high up. He looked back and became startled. Loosing his grip, he started to fall backwards. Canada's eyes widened as he saw his friend and started to yell. England ran, and had it not been for his timely entrance, the boy would have been seriously hurt. Alfred landed right into the arms of Arthur, and Arthur caught him while falling to the ground, hurting his lower body as he landed hard on the ground, with the boy in tow.

The boy gripped Arthur tightly and breathed a deep sigh. He was safe, and opened his eyes looking at his big brother. England lay on the floor clenching his teeth. Holding the boy tightly, he sat up.

"Oh big brother! You are my hero! Thank you so much for saving me! I thought I was going to fall and smash to the ground." The boy looked over at Matthew and laughed. "Did you see? My big brother saved my life!" The child hugged Arthur. However, the Brit did not see any celebration in this. He stood up, clasping America by the ear, and walked over to the couch. He sat down, and the boy soon found himself face down over his big brother's knees.

"Did we not just have this conversation little brother? I am not going to tell you about climbing again!" He was so angry because the boy jeopardized his little life. Arthur could not fathom having anything happen to him. He pulled down the boy's knickerbockers and in quick haste delivered a well deserved spanking to the small upturned bottom. England's palm was quite effective, and the stinging slaps made the boy think twice about ever climbing up a high area ever again. Bursting into tears, Alfred sobbed through the brief but complete punishment. Canada watched as each slap landed, and winced at the sound. He stayed quiet and felt bad for what his friend was receiving.

As England finished, he set the crying boy on his feet, adjusted his clothing, and gave him a very stern glance.

"Do not climb anywhere again…is that understood?" He crossed his arms and waited for an answer. America rubbed his backside, looked over at Matthew, and then with a red face streaming with tears, responded.

"Yes big brother." He sniffed loudly. Once that was over, he glanced at Matthew.

"What were you two doing anyway? Were you not having fun in the nursery?" He did not get a response from Alfred, but Matthew chimed right in.

"We wanted to see picture books. Alfred said something about the planets. Can you show us?" Arthur smiled, and then looking at an untouched shelf, pulled the correct book out. He held out a hand to America who took it, and the other hand to Canada.

"Come along you two, we'll read the books, and then the two of you can get some sleep." The three walked out of the room and approached the bedroom. England tucked the two in and sat on the edge of the bed. Reading from it quietly, it wasn't long before there were sounds of two sleeping little boys.