Countryhumans Oneshots

The New Century

Turn of the century celebration, requested by NewLostIslands

America could hardly believe it. This was not the first turn of the century he had lived through, but the first where he was an independent country. It was hard to believe that just twenty-four short years ago, he had declared independence, that he had become a country.

"You've changed a lot," James said. America laughed.

"I suppose I have," he said, looking back up at the stars from his newly built home in his capital.

"Dad, can we please go join the others at the party? Please?" Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, better known as Ohio due to his long name, asked. America sighed, looking back up at the sky, before making his way to the front door.

"Of course we can. I can't deny you and Sippi a chance to hang out with your siblings after all," America said, stepping inside.

"Daddy!" Tennesse said, running over and jumping into America's arms. America laughed.

"Hey, Ness? How are you doing?" he asked. Tennesse had been a territory since 1790 but recently got statehood in 1796, meaning she had only recently reached her stable age of fourteen, something she always seemed to forget, with her habit of running at people and expecting them to be able to catch her. America had seen Rhode Island and Providence Plantations barreled over time and time again.

He was pretty sure some of the other New England states were encouraging it.

"Great! I'm so excited for this," Tennessee said, burying her face in the crook of his neck. America laughed, feeling warmth well up in him.

That was another thing he couldn't believe about the past twenty years. His children. Right now, he has eighteen children; sixteen of them are states, and two of them are territories that live inside the little world in his mind. Learning about them, learning about James and Rebecca, was shocking at first, but it quickly grew to be one of the most extraordinary experiences of his life.

He still felt an aching grief when he remembered all of those that he never got to talk to properly, who he never got to meet because he was choosing to remain ignorant to all of the colonies and people who shared a body with him.

It was his biggest regret.

But that's why he did his best to spend time with his kids now. The ones he neglected and the ones he recently had. He loved them with every fiber of his being and couldn't imagine hurting them, not the way his father—the way Britain hurt him.

He had done it once when New Jersey and New York were fighting over their border. As soon as he did, he panicked, started crying, and apologized. It was too horrifying to even think about doing it. He didn't understand how his father could have done that to him and his siblings.

He had experienced it once, with the United Colonies of New England, for those forty-three years they got together before his father's Dominion of New England ended her life. America never resented his brother for that. At least, he tried not to. Every time he brought it up with his father, things got fuzzy; either his father took control, or James did.

James still refused to tell him what had gone down between Britain and him in those three years.

However, although he didn't know it then, the New England colonies that existed within his mind wanted him gone and blamed him for the death of their sister. They were upset, and in turn, they convinced America to be upset. It was a confusing time. He didn't know how he felt because so many people dictated how he should feel then.