AN: Am I allowed to jump onto the Hetalia wagon with this piece of beauty? (Warning, it's not that good as I haven't even finished Axis Powers, but I love these two!) (BTW at the time of writing this I'm somewhere in episode 40.)

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Relationship: UsUk - America x England

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TW: Depression, Mention of Wars (Kinda, I mean, you expect to get a little bit of that with this ship)

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America's independence had shocked the world, none more than England. His little brother, moving up in the world.

At first, England was horrified. And then he was angry. And then he was sad.

Now, he felt nothing at all. He was just a hollow shell of what he once was.

Usually it wasn't noticed. It was hidden well under a tone of indifference and annoyance. Now, not so much.

France was the first to notice and he offered an arrange of arts that he hoped would cheer England up. From actual artwork, to clothing, to fine cuisine.

No response.

France told Russia, who sat next to England in silence.

"You know, when I get said... I have a nice talk to the people who made it happen."

No response.

Russia left to tell France the news, and then the two asked China.

China also tried France's approach of food, and he even tried to sell England a herb that cure's everything, though China himself had no idea what it was meant to do. But still, as with the other two, there was no response.

So, China went to America, who probably knew England the best and told him.

And America called an emergency conference.

"Right! Well, we all know why we're here!" America exclaimed to the group who gathered. Unsurprisingly, England wasn't among them.

"Poor England isn't responding!" France said and the others agreed.

They all looked to America to have some sort of idea.

America had none, and he looked blankly at them. When he realized what they wanted he shook himself awake and said, "Well... How about I talk to him?"

"We already have, but you're welcome to try." China said and they watched as America went out the door.

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"England?"

Nothing. And then, "What did I do wrong?"

America knew they were directed to him. He also knew that is was because of the independence. Though, he never realized it would of hit England this hard.

"May I sit down?"

Silence. So, America sat.

"I did everything I could." England said, "And you left me alone."

"I'm still here." America said, and he was tempted to tilt England's head up so that he could see him. "I'm sitting right next to you, right now."

"You're not my little brother anymore."

"No." America agreed, and he earned the tiniest of sideways glances from England. "No, I'm not. But it wasn't anything you did that was bad."

Silence.

"England... I didn't... Leave because I hated you or because of something you did... I left because... I... I wanted us to be something more than brothers."

England glanced up at him, green eyes sparkling with tears he had been trying to hold back. America felt his heart break at the sight of the sparkling crystals that fell from his eyes, and started to wipe them away for his British friend.

"I..." England started and then he jerked away from America's hands, furiously wiping at his own tears. "Just stop pitying me, just because you outshine everyone else."

America had been stunned into silence, and he heard the sniffling of England, who at this point had burst into tears and was trying to hide it. He hugged the smaller country, who didn't shy away anymore mostly because he had no where else to go. "I'll be back, I've got to do something."

America stood up and he felt England watching him as he left him alone for now.

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America returned with a plate of scones and England reguarded him curiously, his tears had dried up in the time it had taken for America to make the scones. "I've got scones! And if you give me a second I'll have tea."

"I've got the tea America." China said, coming out after America with the tea and then leaving America alone with England again.

"What did you do to them?" England asked, nervously poking at the scones. America grinned at him, which didn't ease his worries the slightest.

"I borrowed a few recipe books, and I told France that if he did anything to them, I would notice 'cause I'm watching him do it." America smiled and he plopped the tray on England's lap and sat down next to him, still grinning at the worried british. "Come on Iggy, try one!"

England picked a scone up and nibbled on it, and after deeming it was safe he tasted the tea as well. Deeming that both were safe he continued to eat, and America was pleased when he saw England's smile, however small it was. "These aren't as good as MY scones, but I suppose they'll do."

"Yeah! You'll be better in no time." America said and he jumped off the bench to leave, when England caught his arm. He looked down at England, who didn't meet his gaze and just started at the floor. "Huh?"

"Can you... Stay for a little bit?" England asked and America sat down again. "Thank you..."

"No problem!"