I'm sorry...~America

The bridge and the castle

~Alfred's POV~
"Hey Alfred, are there any current little countries?"
Christina asked whilst she rinsed the soap off of Jessie's head. "Yeah there's a few, why?"
"Do you think I'll ever get to meet one? I'm just curious since I've never actually seen one- minus a portrait of you and Matthew" I chuckled and dried Joaquin off before putting a fresh diaper on him.
"Hm I dunno...my friend Tino has a kid- well it's not really his, he's like Francis and Arthur he adopted Sealand with Sweden"
"Sealand?? I've never heard of that country"
"Heh...yeah he's an unrecognized micro nation no many people know about it...honestly you can hardly call him a micro nation as it is, sadly I don't think he's ever going to grow up"
"Why's that?" Christina frowned at me.
"Well...he's only big enough for about five people to live on, they have to dinners delivered by helicopter and it's just a little landing pad in the middle of the ocean"
(Seriously it is if you haven't ever looked up what Sealand looks like then do it)
"Oh...how old is he?" I paused and scratched my head. "I think he's twelve right now? Twelve or eleven...he was founded in the sixties I think"
"Poor baby...he must be so tired of being so small"
"Hah! No way, he abuses his power of youth like you wouldn't believe, Finland and Sweden spoil him rotten so he expects it from everyone else- but he is a cute kid though and he's sweet. But he pisses Arthur off like you wouldn't believe"
"Oh my" Christina chuckled and dried Jessie off.
"You two certainly will not turn out like that" I pretended to scold the twins as they giggled and reached for us. I smiled and set Joaquin in his crib, "you know it's been a while since I've talked to Finland...I should probably give him a call" I took out my phone and paused before dialing, if I call him and he wants to meet up or something that would totally get in the way of my proposal plans. I shook my head and put my phone away, "actually it's pretty   Early in Finland right now I wouldn't want to wake him up, I'll call him later" Christina nodded and kissed my cheek. "Are you and him close?"
"Yeah he helped me out a lot when I was going through my little downward spiral...even before that we were pretty close friends, he always invited me over for Christmas since I had a hard family life and no one to spend it with, he'd do the same with Matt too"
"Aw...that's so sweet" Christina put Jessie to bed and walked over to me hugging my arm. "He sounds really nice" I shivered and scratched my head, "yeah...he is...and he's absolutely terrifying when he wants to be..." Christina raised an eyebrow. "Trust me you don't wanna know" Christina shrugged and dragged me onto the bed and snuggled up against me. "So what's Sweden like then?" I paused and thought for a minute, "he's like...the exact opposite of Finland...he's huge. And terrifying on the outside and he's not very talkative or good at conversations, but deep down he's a sweet guy and I think he's really awkward, but just like Finland he's not afraid to get his hands dirty"
"It sounds like a mob family..."
"Hah...yeah no they don't go around scaring or threatening people but...when they need to be their really good at it"
"I think that's kinda sweet in a weird way"
"I guess it kinda is...their good people"
"I don't mean this in an offensive way but I've just noticed it's a common pattern...is it common for male countries to hook up and get married?"
"Well yeah actually, originally it started as a way to form alliances between countries but as time went on it became a bit more acceptable for countries to really embrace their relationships"
"Yes but...are they just forced to be that way?...are they even gay?..."
"Uh...not all of us are...like I know a few countries who are straight but a lot of us are bisexual rather than gay, like me" Christina blinked and looked at me shocked, "your bi" I blushed and fixed my glasses. "Yeah...is that okay?..."
"Of course it is! I just never knew, I thought you were straight" Christina really was surprised...idk how I literally have a pride flag on my suitcase.
"Yeah well I've had a lonnng time to figure the whole sexuality thing out...it was pretty hard honestly I don't know how normal people do it in only like 20 or so years..." I sighed and held Christina close to me. "Anyway it was seen as normal by monarchy's and such when two male countries would "court" each other since ya know...the whole pairing with humans thing never turns out too well and there aren't very many female countries"
"Why's that?" I shrugged as a response, "I don't really know...It's not like there aren't any female countries there's just...not a lot, idk why"
Christina shrugged and yawned pressing her head against my chest. "I'm sorry...that all sounds so frustrating.." I cracked a small smile and held her tight, "yeah...but we live in different times now so it's okay...let's get some rest okay?"
"Mhm..." Christina nodded and fell asleep pretty quickly. 

The next day Francis and Arthur agreed to watch the twins whilst Christina and I went out on our date. I took her for a simple stroll around a pretty market and then we went and ate at a bakery in the British countryside, we took a few pictures there too because it really is beautiful over there. We continued to walk along a dirt path we found until the sun set and we came across a beautiful white and grey stone arched bridge above a pretty crystal blue stream. Christina walked over to the edge and looked down into the water at a couple of turtles and smiled to herself happily, "it's so beautiful out here...I'm so glad you brought me" I smiled and stood next to her taking her hand, "I'm glad too..." Christina blushed and turned her head away sheepishly. I chuckled and kissed her cheek letting go of her hands and looking down at the water. "You know this bridge is actually super old...this is where Matt and I would play as kids when dad was busy..." I looked up and pointed to some ruins a few feet away. "There used to be a castle over there too...damn thing was super cold in the winter because- well there's no insulation in a stone castle" Christina picked a bit of moss off the pride and twirled it in her fingers. "It's amazing that a bridge could last longer then a castle...it would be a great example for some symbolic metaphor about the hierarchy" I chuckled and nodded, "yeah it would" I glanced over at her and felt my heart thump as the sun went down casting a beautiful array of collars above us. "Um...Christina?..." I felt my hand tremble as I reached in my pocket for the engagement ring- that I purchased a few months before the twins were born -that I had been saving for the perfect moment. "Hm? What is it?" Christina turned and looked into my eyes and I swear I nearly fainted. I looked down as I felt myself start to let my nerves get the best of me, my cheeks flushed red as I slowly took the ring box out of my pocket and got down on one knee. Christina gasped and dropped the moss she had been fidgeting with, "Christina I...the last thing...I remember before meeting you...was how lonely I felt...even though I was surround by my closest friends and my brother again...it just wasn't enough to...really fill that hole in my heart...but then one day...I went to retrieve a ball and simply throw it back over the fence so I could carry on with my day...but then you came alone and...when I heard you speak for the very first time it was like electricity coursing through my veins...and that electricity is still here...it always has been...i love you with all my heart Christina...all I want is to make you happy...I want to be happy with you...so of course what could possibly make two people happier then asking the most special question in the world?" I smiled at her and opened the box and held it out to her nearly loosing my balance. "Christina Garcia...will you make me the happiest man on earth...and marry me?" Christina's lip quivered as she struggled to answer me, eventually all that would come out was a squeak behind her tears. I stood up quickly and hesitantly held her hands, "Christina are you okay?..." She hiccuped and nodded her head rapidly, "yes- yes I'm fine- and yes I will marry you- I'm just so happy right now" Christina burst into tears and hugged me tightly, I smiled and held her close resting my chin on top of her head. "I love you too Alfred...I love you so much..." Christina let go and kissed me deeply, I kissed her back for a long time before finally pulling away and sliding the ring on her finger. "Your my everything Christina...you and the twins...there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you..." Christina smiled at me and wiped her eyes. "Oh Alfred...I actually have a surprise for you...well I did have one anyway" Christina sniffled and took a box out of her purse and laughed, "I was actually going to propose to you" My jaw nearly hit the floor as she slipped my engagement ring on my finger. "Are you kidding me? So if I had waited just a little longer-" Christina snorted and covered her mouth giggling, "I would have been the one on their knee" "that's amazing I should have waited a little longer dang it!" Christina chuckled and held my hand, "I can rehearse my speech for you on our walk back to the car"
"I. Would love that"