Doodling on England

*Read the description below if you are confused, there is a picture/drawing from a fellow deviantART member that goes along with the short story.*

It was getting late in the day, approximately six thirty in the evening. Dinner had been a delightful and fulfilling event with the two younger nations of America and Canada. England, the devoted older brother wanted a wonderful life for his two younger brothers. He had every intent of having them grow up into two influential nations, but it was going to be a long road, as the "child nations" were only around the age of four.

The house staff cleaned up, and the two children were taken to the night nursery to play. England stayed back sitting at the table with a restful cup of tea. These were the moments he enjoyed because it was quiet, but he always needed to wonder what the two boys were up to. They had followed the maid, named Francine up the stairs nosily talking back to one another about random things and activities. She arrived there and sat down in a rocking chair observing the boys as they played.

Taking the last sip, he set the cup in its saucer, and pushed himself back from the table. Standing up with a yawn, he walked out of the dining room and towards his study which was all on the same floor. The bedrooms and nursery were up the stairs.

Once arriving, he walked over to his desk, pulled out the chair and sat down with a sigh. It had been a long day of playing games with the boys, meeting with several other nations, and signing dispositions. He was thoroughly fatigued. While he sat, he could hear the merriment from the boys, and smiled to himself. As he continued his work, the laughter got louder, and it was slightly breaking his concentration.  The clock displayed seven in the evening, and he had only accomplished half of the work he had wanted to get done. Tossing the pen aside, he got up from the desk, and strolled out of the room, climbing the stairs to where his little brothers were.

Arriving in the room, he stood by the doorway and smirked because the two boys were coloring with markers and sharing conversations between one another. Francine was reading and rocked back and fourth. It wasn't until Arthur cleared his throat, did she notice him.

"Master England…why hello! I hadn't expected you to be done with your work so early. What a nice surprise. The youngsters have been asking for you since they have been up here." As soon as the words left her lips, little Alfred looked up and his eyes widened. Matthew also grinned.

"Big brother! Big brother, yay!" America got up and ran to the elder nation, and he was picked up.

"Hello poppet…are you being good for Francine?" He kissed the little boy's face and then looked over at Matthew who was coloring in a picture book.

"I am being good brother, me and Matthew are coloring. Do you want to see what I did?" He wiggled to get down.

"Okay, okay little one…" England set the boy down, who promptly ran to where he had been sitting. He picked up one of the pictures and lifted it up in the air to show Arthur. The picture was of a horse. It was colored out of the lines, and was a delightful shade of purple, but still it made him smile.

"Oh that is just brilliant Alfred, you are such a talented little boy, yes you are!" He pat the boy on the head, and looked over to Canada. "And what did you make Matthew?"

The blue eyed boy who was slightly shy, bit back his lip, and put down his marker. His picture had a hippopotamus. It was red, and the coloring was all out of the lines as well. England took the picture and held it up high.

"Oh Matthew…a red hippo…you know these are very rare. Look at what a great job you did! Matthew's face lit up, and he was very excited to have made his big brother so happy. England took the two pictures and held them in his hand.

"I am going to put these in my office, and when I have other nations who visit, I am going to say my little brothers made these for me." He went to leave, but Canada ran towards him and tugged at his leg. Arthur looked down with a raised eyebrow. "Yes Matthew?"

"Can you read us a story?" He held his bear in his arms and gripped it tight awaiting an answer from the Brit. Smiling down, England nodded.

"I will read to you just as soon as Francine gives you a bath…and then…"

America suddenly ran to his brother's legs and pulled on them too. Wondering what the sudden movement was, he looked down.

"Alfred?"

"Arthur…Arthur you have to give us a bath…you make the shark noises…Francine can't do them…" He got closer and whispered. "She doesn't do it right."

"Ah…okay. Let me go down to my office, hang these beautiful pictures up, and then I will be right back. Stay put you two." He turned to the door and walked out, with both pictures in his hand.

Arriving back to the study, he pinned up the pictures behind his desk on a small part of the wall. He smiled, and knew these were the moments he cherished. Once he was finished, he hurried up the stairs and went back into the nursery. Francine got up from the rocking chair and seeing as the boys were going to be taken care of by England, she dismissed herself and walked out of the room, humming to herself. Seeing as he had quite the task ahead of him, he held out his hands to both children.

"Come along you two…bath time." He stood, and America and Canada walked over each embracing a hand, and the three walked down towards the bathroom.

England drew a bath, with amusing bubbles, as to make the children happy. He changed them out of their shirts, and knickerbockers and the two little boys were set in the water, splashing away and having a good time. Arthur washed America's hair while Matthew played with some of the toys the boys had brought into the basin. While he massaged soap into Alfred's hair, the boy started jumping up and down.

"Brother, make the shark noises…make the shark noises!" He tried to move away, but England grabbed him back.

"Hey now Alfred…you've got a head full of suds…calm down now." Pouring some water over his head, the child screamed, and laughed hysterically. "Okay, okay…come Matthew you are next."

He washed Matthew's hair, and did the appropriate noises for the boys, making bath time once again even more enjoyable. Taking the two out of the tub, he dried them off, and then lead them to the bedroom. Opening the wardrobe, while the two stood slightly shivering, England took out two night shirts. He walked over to the bed, and sat down. Taking Matthew first, he pulled the shirt over the boy's head, and the gown came down, and he was neatly dressed. He then did the same to America and stood up.

"Story story story! Read us a story brother, read us a story!" America ran over to the book case and grabbed a familiar story book off the shelf. It was used and looked about a hundred years old, but the boys loved the stories. When England saw this he shook his head, and grinned.

"Again? How many times are you two going to have me read this?"

"Its our favorite…can you read "Jack and the Beanstalk"?" Said Matthew.

England grabbed the book, which meant a yes to the two. He walked over to a comfortable brown chair that was in the corner of the room, and sat down. Both boys ran over and climbed up onto the nation's lap. Opening the story book, he began reading. This was supposed to help put the children to sleep, but England was getting slightly tired, and his eyelids were becoming very heavy. He finished a couple sentences and soon leaned his head back and was slumbering. This made both children giggle, but they had to hid their laughter. America thought of an idea. He got down from his brother's lap and ran out of the room.

Matthew waited as he sat still, and watching the door, saw America run back in with a black marker. His eyes were wide with anticipation on what was about to happen. Canada was slightly hesitant, but never the less, watched as he brother climbed back up his brother's lap. He took the marker to his brother's face, and started drawing little doodles. He began with a swirling circle, and then when he got bored with that, he drew the letter A. He also colored his brother's nose, and then made some cat whiskers on the left side of Arthur's cheek. Satisfied with his accomplishments, Alfred started to get tired, as did Matthew.

"Come on…we have to go to sleep." He dropped the marker on the floor and walked over to the bed. Matthew jumped down from his brother's lap. This caused the nation to suddenly jolt out of his sleep.

"Oy…ugh. You two…need to get into bed now, and…" He stopped talking as he saw that was what the two boys were doing at that precise moment. "Look at you two…such good lads. Alright, tuck in time." He walked over to the bed, and pulled the covers over them both. Kissing them both on their foreheads, he leaned down. "Love you both, have a good nights rest, and I will see you both in the morning."

America and Canada smiled to themselves. It took a lot for them to keep in their laughter, as their big brother's face was very comical. They both closed their eyes, and sleep found the two. England walked out of the room, and down to his study. When he arrived, he sat down and continued where he left his work. Working late into the night, it wasn't until he heard knocking at the door.

"Come in…" Said Arthur as he kept his head down working diligently. It was Francine, and she had a tea trolley, walking into the room with it.

"Evening Mister England…I have some tea for you, and biscuits if you should fancy some." She stood waiting, and watched as England looked up. An extremely large smile formed on her face, and a giggle escaped.

"Francine? Are…are you alright?" The expression on his face was completely perplexing, as he had no idea why she would be laughing at the Master of the house.

"Um…pardon me Mister…um Mister England…its just that…I believe you should go and use the washroom?"

Confused, England stood up and walked swiftly out of the room, and towards the bathroom across from his study. Once he walked in, he switched on the light, and peered into the mirror. He stood staring, and a large smile formed on his face. Francine walked to the doorway and put her hand to her mouth holding back a laugh.

"Such lovely little brothers you have. Come now…your tea is going to get cold." She left the room and walked down the hall.

England stood there, just looking at what had happened. He washed his face, and wiping himself dry, he shut the light. Going back into the study, he poured himself a cup of tea, and sat down…tomorrow was another day.