Keeping In Touch

"Try to restrain from squirming." England instructed America harshly. His bushy eyebrows were scrunched up in annoyance. Though they were just about to make history, England's actions suggested he wasn't too fond of this. Hesitant and grouchy, England continued on with his lecture. He pushed his messy golden bangs from his face and he strapped America in on the machine. After checking the straps further, he punched in a few numbers on the keypad. Worry stuck his mind but failed to reflect from his glimmering green eyes.

"America..." His voice was barely a whisper, "Are you sure about this?" America looked back at the elder nation.

"Totally dude! Fire her up!" America's enthusiasm rang in his vocal chords. Biting his lip, England began to tamper with the contraption. Unsure of how this would result, England closed his eyes. His grip on the lever tightened.

"Good luck, America." He whispered as he tugged back on the lever.

Sparks began to fly and the machine buzzed and crackled. Pieces started to spin and sputter. Eletrical waves flew across the room to hug anything it could touch. England leapt toward the machine.

"AMERICA!" England yelled as he yanked on the safety straps that kept America confined in the seat. "It's malfunctioned! America! Can you hear me?" England pounded back the lever to the off position. England turned back to his companion. He sat motionless in his chair. His eyes were covered lightly by their lids.

"America?" England whispered into the chilled air.

~~~

Waves of different colors passed by at racing speeds. Voices and murmurs could be heard, but were unintelligeble to the ear. Screams of fear pierced the air. Sounds of guns firing took place as well. It sounded like all out war. Then silence.

America coughed as he found himself lying on the dusty ground. Peeking around he saw he was in some kind of war camp. Tattered and rundown it seemed, but familiar. Slowly, America lifted himself off the ground. He dusted himself off and turned to tour his surroundings. In a sudden bolt of motion, America was stopped by someone's musket, bayonet end his way.

"State your business!" A sharp tone of the person snapped. His voice suggested he was only but a minor, a teenager.

America looked down at the man, but only slightly for he was just a tad shorter than America. His face was dirty and caked with crimson blood. His wheat colored hair was matted up from harsh days of war. His uniform was tattered and torn with stains all over it from mud to blood. Breathing heavily, he shot America a challenging glare. In his eyes was hope and longing for freedom. America gave a slight smile that seemed to anger the teen.

"What's so funny? Who sent you?" He cried out in an agressive tone. He prodded America with the end of the bayonet, but not hard enough for the dull metal to cut into him.

"America?" The nation said questionably to the young boy. For a moment the boy's face softened and his expression turned around, but he quickly caught himself in the action.

"H-how do you know my name?" The teen America questioned his older self. The nation moved forward to the freedom hungry colony. As the rebelling colony took notice, he lifted his musket in a warning. "Tell me how you know my name!" He growled.

"Easy big boy, you don't want to hurt yourself dude." The nation laughed as he took hold of the barrell of the musket. Out of slight fear, the colony released his weapon at once.

"Wh-what do you want? That jerk England sent you, didn't he!" The teen yelled with a wavering voice. America, the independant nation, shook his head at the younger.

"I sent myself. I had to see you again." The country whispered to the boy. With a tad bit of fright, the teen looked into the eyes of the man. Those eyes he had seen many, many times before. Only one person had eyes like that.

"Again?" The teenager whispered. The older of the two cocked his head to the side.

"You don't reconise me?" He asked. This caused the colony's brain to stir and thoughts to race. Those eyes and his eyes. That hair belongs to him. It was obvious who he was, but the teen couldn't help but demur the thought. The colony shook his head furiously.

"What kind of sick joke is this?" He roared.

"There's no joke here dude." The young adult replied. The teen grew irritated. The nation took notice of it quickly. "America, you know who I am right?"

The teen looked away with dagger-like glare, "There's no possible-"

"I am from the future!" The country laughed, "Man! I've been wanting to say that for ages!" The colony shot the nation an unimpressed look. He let a long sigh escape his lips. The nation gazed at his younger self. He finally could see himself from someone like England's veiw point and man was he cute as a colony!

The older America held out his hand to the younger, "Sup dude, I'm America!" The teen looked at him wonderously. Hesitantly,he grasped the other's hand and shook it firmly.

"You already know me..." The teen said quietly. He bit his lip as he thought up questions he could ask. Sure the situation was scary, but also a chance to discover himself. His future self.

"Dude, you should come with me." The nation simply drug the colony behind him into a thicket of trees. The boy struggled to free himself. "If I take you with me, promise not to tell anyone of anything?" The country whispered childishly. The younger nodded slowly.
"Do you swear? Pinky swear?" The nation continued with his childish shenanigans.

"Uhh... Yes." The teen replied.

"Here, wrap your pinky around mine and say 'I swear'." Present-day America instructed. The past America did as told. "Gimme your hand." The country commanded.

"What? No!" The colony pulled back his arm. The strong nation rolled his eyes.

"Just do it." He said. The teen gave a pout but gave his older self his hand, it is his anyways. With his other hand, the nation clicked some buttons on the side of his watch. In a flash they were caught in some place with swirling colors passing them by quickly. The shots of war were going wild as screams accompanied them. The young colony clung to the nation before him as the sound of bombs dropping rung in their ears. Speeches of proud and devestated leaders called out through their colorful walls. Then silence once more.

~~~

England stood up quickly as deep breathing erupted behind him. Turning quickly he saw America was sitting in one of the three chairs. His eyes flickered open. He looked around to find himself back in the testing room.

"America!" A voice called with a thick British accent, "You're okay." He walked quickly to America's side. He gave a relieved sigh and hugged the American.

"Uhh... Yeah, I'm fine", America said awkwardly. England pulled himself away from the embrace.

"The machine looked like it was malfunctioning. I was-"

"AAAIII-YAHHH!" The small colony had finally arrived and lunged for England. Swiftly, his older self got a grip on his arm and pulled him back.

"AMERICA YOU BLOODY IDIOT!" England smacked the younger nation on the head. "I told you not to tamper with the past! Did I not? Now look what you've brought back!" The rebellious colony gave an offended look and growled at the British nation. England prepared to take a swing at the colony, but couldn't bring himself to it. Biting his lip, he turned away from the two Americas. "J-just... Make sure you get him back before the day is up." England muttered as he left the room. The two Americas watched as he walked away.

"Jerk!" The colony yelled after him. The nation nudged him hard in the rib. He looked up at his older self. He sighed as he was replied with a disapproving glare.

"C'mon America... I want to show you something." The country said to his colonial self. The young colony obeyed. If there was one thing anyone would miss about America as a colony was how loyal and obedient he was, kind of like a dog.

The nation led the young colony through the house. Hallway after hallway, going through doors and up stairs. Until they reached the top floor balcony. The coony looked over the view with wide eyes. Things everywhere were things he had never seen before. He took in the panoramic view and was left in awe.

"What is this?" He asked the nation beside him.

"Everyday life." The country replied, "But you can't get this way with  a grudge wedged between you and another country." The colony looked up at what he had become.

"Why not?"

"Because you need help, even the strongest heros need a sidekick!" The older America laughed. His contagious smile infected the young colony who also began grinning.

"Can you show me more?" The teen's eyes twinkled with curiosity. The nation looked at the colony and smiled with a nod. The young America was bouncing with excitement.

The few hours that followed was like an adventure to the young colony. Riding around with his older self and learning about his future history. The nation showed him many things from video games to the Statue of Liberty. He told the tale of his freedom and how it influenced other countries near and far. They talked and laughed from hours on end. The two who were the same were totally different.

The tired young colony rested his head on the nation's shoulder. He let out a small yawn as they watched the orange glow of the setting sun dissappear behind the wooded land. With the same twinkling blue eyes, they looked at eachother with calm smiles.

"I don't really want to leave." The colony whispered softly. The country beside him cocked his head.

"Why not? You have to go back home." He asked quietly. His younger self turned to him and gazed in his eyes.

"I don't want to leave you. I've had so much fun." The teen replied sweetly. The older America smiled slightly. In a way, he was thinking the same thing.Subconsciously, he started to run his fingers through the teen's, now clean and unmatted, hair. The teen beammed a small smile back. It was like in a movie as they started to lean in closer to eachother. The colony closed the space between them eagerly. The kiss lasted awhile before both pulled away simultaneously. Both were flustered with red faces, the teen's more so than the young adult. Both looked away from the other awkwardly. The same thoughts about kissing themselves ran through their mind.

"Was it really that bad?" The nation broke the icy silence. The colony looked up, biting his lip.

"N-no." His voice shaky and unsteady, "Th-that was my first kiss..." He finished in a whisper. The country looked back in a bit of shock. Wow. I am as innocent as everyone says, he thought to himself.

The older of the two checked his watch. "It's getting late, we have to get you back home." He said casually. The colony gave a sad smile.

"Your right..." He said as he begun to stand up. They both dusted themselves off before starting back to the testing room. The country took the colony's hand in his own as they walked.

~~~

England helped strap the young nation in. As he sucured the last buckle, the colony took him in an embrace.

"I'm sorry for being a bad colony..." He whispered to England. Hesitantly, England hugged the colony back. It felt nice to have him back in his arms, just one more time.

"You were never a bad colony lad..." He whispered along with his good bye. As he went to prepare the machine, America walked over to the teen. The colony looked up at him with sad puppy eyes.

"I'll miss you, America." The colony said to the nation. The country scuffled the teenager's hair.

"I'm always with you, dude!" He laughed, "But here's something for when you want to talk..." The nation slipped the colony a cellphone as England wasn't looking. "Now, go win that war." He smiled at the colony. The colony nodded and beammed back at him.

"I will!"

"And one more thing!"

"What?"

"Don't elect Obama for president!" The nation laughed as the machine was up and running. With sparks flying and parts churning, the machine took the colony back home. America gave England a weary smile.

"I'm gonna miss him." He said softly. England walked over beside him. A small, sad smile twinged at his lips.

"I will too, lad, but I've still got you to look after," England joked softly. America chuckled and gave a playful, 'Hey'. They both looked at the machine knowing good and well that America was off to do bigger and better things in the world, so why stop him now?

~~~

America yawned as he reached for his phone. Who's texting him this late at night?

Lil' 'Meri: Jst 1 r frdm!! 8)

America smiled as he read the text. He'll miss the little guy.