Forget Me Or Forget Me Not | Countryhumans (RusAme)

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐭.𝐈

June 24, 1940

Now a young man, America sat in his office on his territory, having left Great Britain's territory at the start of the Great Depression. He had his own office made in the White House, with documents and files dating to even before America was even born, spanning to 1776! He never bothered to read them, it was mainly old news and he had more pressing issues at hand. His father had written to him about his concerns regarding the Third Reich - the second son of the German Empire - who had forcefully taken power from his older brother, the Weimar Republic. The Weimar Republic had later been executed by Third Reich to prevent an uprising from him to topple the younger brother from power. But the worry stemmed from issues unrelated to the German family drama and focused more on the German Forces now engaged in a new war, much like the one his father had only twenty years before. Though it technically can be said it began in 1936, with Third Reich violating the Treaty of Versailles and invading smaller countries and America's parents doing nothing to stop it, war wasn't declared until 1939. Now, Britain and France had finally begun to take action only after the invasion of Poland, declaring war on Third Reich and it was like history would repeat itself. In late 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland but subsequently got their asses kicked and settled for peace in March 1940. America planned to stay out of the war, rather focusing on rebuilding his economy and appeasing his own people, who didn't fancy the idea of entering into another war during these trying times. Still, even as he stayed away from the conflict, he made sure to provide any aid he could to his father, Britain, which wasn't much for now.

Possibly the most stunning turn of events was when the Soviet Union, whose father was a former ally of Britain and France during the Great War, had turned and become allies with the Third Reich in late August 1939, creating something called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Together, they invaded Poland back at the beginning of September, splitting the country between them. Another previous ally of Britain and France that turned against them was Italy, furious at the small amount he received after the Great War and wanting to take more than what he was given by force. He and the Third Reich formed the Pact of Steel in May of 1939, unifying their countries and militaries to stand against the Allies. Since Britain first declared war on Third Reich and his new allies, he sent America's younger siblings to stay with him to keep them away from the fighting. Australia was now only 9 years old and their newest sibling, New Zealand, was sent to America as soon as he was received, only a month prior. America had been housing them in his house in D.C. while keeping an eye over what he could about the war. It was difficult, to say the least, with a terror child and a newborn in the house along with the responsibility to help uphold the government and maintain the country. Which was exactly what he was doing that late June afternoon.

He was confined to his office, papers piled around him, spilling from his desk to the floor around his feet. Beside his desk was a bassinet, in which New Zealand was taking an afternoon nap. Australia was nowhere to be found, which concerned America more than it normally would for most parents or caretakers. Yet, he couldn't pull himself away from his work. He had to get it done as soon as he possibly could and taking time to make sure Australia didn't destroy something was not entirely worth it. Whatever that boy did could wait until he was done. Most of the papers merely contained the fluctuation of the economy, the cost of the supplies being shipped out to the United Kingdom, and the steady growth of available job opportunities. He was more than halfway done with it, having been there since the early morning and if he was not working at his desk, he was working in whatever room he stood in.

Turning to check on New Zealand, breaking his focus, he could hear the faint sounds of the television downstairs, making him sigh in relief. Australia was kept busy with cartoons at the very least and New Zealand was still heavily sleeping, which allowed America to finish his remaining work. When he did, he organized them all into their folders, tied them together with twine, and left them on his desk to be taken to Congress the next day. Standing up, he stretched, feeling his muscles sting slightly and hearing his spine and elbows pop. Satisfied, he sighed and fixed his shirt before turning and carefully picking New Zealand up from his bassinet, causing him to squirm and whine softly, though he stayed sleeping. As cautiously as he could, America ventured downstairs. He quickly checked the time and saw it was only almost half past noon. He smiled to himself, content with having enough time to himself and to spend with Australia, which he hadn't much time to do since he arrived.