OMFG!!! Last chapter! *cries* Enjoy!!!
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England felt his throat close off, utter shock taking over his body. America gazed at him the same way he had under the spell. His cerulean eyes seem to look deep into him as if he could see into his soul; as if he could see everything there was to know about him. A look of understanding him perfectly, both the good and the bad, and loving him anyway.
"Everything?" England repeated, still clutching America's shoulders, now more for his own support than America's. "Everything about… about what?"
America smiled, his expression warm. It made England feel like he was melting. "I remember everything about the five days I missed," America explained. "I remember you staying at my house. I remember you saying that you loved me."
England felt himself blush furiously, both from embarrassment and something else he was so unfamiliar with—was it happiness? "Everything?" he whispered, clutching America's shoulders as if he let go, the moment would leave and never come back.
America's smile sent his mind reeling as he felt his hand gently rest beneath his chin. The distance between their lips closed, just barely touching. "Everything," he whispered back, his lips grazing England's as he spoke.
The whole scenario just didn't click in England's mind. For days, he had wanted this contact, wanted America to remember. But now that it was here, without even thinking, he jumped back, his eyes wide with shock. Why was he kissing him? Why did he remember? Why was any of this happening?
"How?" England whispered, cursing himself as he heard his voice quiver. "How did this…? Why do you remember?"
America paused, giving England a puzzled look. "I'm not sure," he said, his hands clasped together awkwardly in his lap. "The flashes happened randomly. I would look at a picture, and I'd remember. Then you said that you loved me, and…" He paused again as some sort of realization showed itself in his eyes. "They jogged my memories," America said, his eyes shooting up to England's. "I found a picture of you, and memories of you came to me. Then you said you loved me, and memories of us saying that came to me. It makes sense—they jogged my memories somehow!"
England thought this over, still trying to figure out how this was possible. The spell was meant to be permanent, so it shouldn't have been broken so easily. None of it made any sense to him whatsoever.
"England?" He looked up at him, and suddenly realized just how hurt he looked. "What's wrong? I remember. Isn't that a good thing?"
"N-no!" England said, clenching his fists. "You remember! You shouldn't be remembering! What if that means the curse is back? What if that means you still love me just because of the damn spell!"
His words made America jump back, seeming to shock him. England felt pain at making him feel upset, but he couldn't be happy. He couldn't be happy knowing that the only love he had in life was a fake one. England lowered his head, not wanting to look at him any longer. It hurt him far too much.
"I loved you long before the curse happened."
For a moment, England continued to let his head hang, the words bouncing around in his head, not quite making sense. Finally, his mind deciphered them, and he lifted his head to look at America. The American's face was so focused and determined, a kind of expression that made the thought of him lying absolutely impossible. America was speaking the truth. "Before?" he whispered, barely able to believe it. It couldn't possibly be true—who would ever love him willingly?
"I thought I wanted independence because I just wanted to be your equal," America said, his eyes never leaving England's. "I thought I just wanted to be my own country, be just me, America. But, now that I think about it, I think I did it all just…" He paused, his eyes flicking away for a moment as his face reddened slightly. "I did it so I could be an equal to you. So I'd be on the same level as you. So we could be…more than brothers, more than just allies." Ever so slowly, America edged closer to England, inches between their faces. "I've wanted to be with you all of this time. The curse just finally gave me the courage to act on it."
