I took the hand he offered me and stood up. I noticed that he was about a foot and a half taller than me. Great. He smiled down at me and I suddenly realized that all of his groceries were now a colorful print on the belly of my t-shirt. “Oh, ‘m so s’rry here take this m’ney so you can buy s’me more.” He looked surprised by my offer. “Thank you, if you come to my house I can wash your clothing.” “Um, ‘r ya sure it’s safe.” “Yes, after all what reason would I have to attack you. You are one of the strongest states that Alfred has.” “Well…okay, lets go.” I turned to leave when my wrist was grabbed from behind. I turned to look and stared into two very familiar golden pools. “Carlos! What are you doing here?” He looked anxious and stressed. “Alfred told me to come get you, he said you’d listen to me before him.” I yanked my wrist away from him. “Well m’be you should tell ‘m t’ not be such an ass!” “I’m not ready to go home ‘n get a lect’re when I did nuthin’ wrong.” And with that I left leaving a confused Mexico to watch me go. I looked to Russia and his smile beamed down at me. “Russia, do ya think Carlos will tell Antonio. I don’t want him t’ be worried fer no reason.” “Oh it will be fine, Spain has nothing to worry about. That is except for Alfred’s temper, I don’t think he’ll be happy.” “True, but I know he wont try t’ bring me back if ’m around ya. I think he doesn’t want t’ do anything t’ piss ya off.”

Chapter 7

Texas woke up, got out of bed and headed toward the occupied kitchen. Their Spain and Romano sat enjoying their breakfast as she walked in. “Wow, I’ve never seen someone sleep past Spain, I guess those rumors about Texans being hard workers were all lies.” Romano chuckled as if to pass it off as a joke. “Yes, well I guess the r’m’rs about South’rn Italians bein’ illiterate m’fia memb’rs w’s true.” Romano took a minute to process this. When he finally figured out what she said his mouth shot open but he closed it again, settling for an angry glare instead. Texas just smirked back, knowing that she had won the battle for now. It’s not like she wanted to be rude to Romano but the bitch started it! If Spain knew what they were doing it didn’t show. “Hey, Spain do you want me to go to the market for you.” Spain was surprised by Texas’s offer considering what happened when she was younger. As if Texas read his mind she looked at him like she was scolding a child “’m a big girl, I c’n handle m’self.” Spain smiled at her “okay Poco Stella.” She glared at him “’m goin’ to ign’re that for now, I’ll see ya later.” And with that she left. Texas had to admit, she was beginning to really like Spain. The people were friendly, wonderful music sang through the streets and it was a cloudless hot day, just like home. She smiled to herself “Mayb’ I need t’ visit Ant’nio more often.” She collected what she needed and started back to Spain’s home, humming to herself and staring up at the sky. Suddenly she ran into something, knocking her down and covering her outfit in squished fruit. She looked up to see whom she had run into “’M so s’ry!” “No problem, accidents happen, da?”

I looked around to see where I was it looked like a marketplace. I sighed to my self, looking around the busy streets of Spain. The only reason I’m here is because of America. I thought back to the conversation I had had with Alfred, he was really pissed off saying that it must be Texas’s ‘time of the month’. Then telling me I had to go fetch her, saying if she wasn’t at her house then she probably ran off to Antonio. I sighed to myself once again, don’t get me wrong I like Alfred, but when it comes to Stella he always misunderstands her. She’s always bein rebellious, her boss was currently threatening to leave America and become it’s own country again. Sometimes I wish she wouldn’t have fought for independence. I understood her a lot better then Alfred! Suddenly I heard a large crash and looked over to see Texas and Russia on the floor with scattered groceries. Wait! Russia? Isn’t that the guy Alfred warned me about! Yeah! In fact I remember him saying…’Don’t fuck with Russia or Russia will fuck with you.’ Oh, this could be bad.

The scene was a Spanish ship preparing to leave the port. Spain was watching as everything he had brought with him was being loaded on the ship. “Hey! Antonio!” Spain turned around to spot Texas running to the port. She really had changed since Carlos’s revolution. Her black eyes were now coffee brown. Her hair changed to a mud brown and her skin had lightened to a very light caramel. She ran up to Spain “Hey, Antonio your going back to Spain now, right?” “Well I can’t exactly stay here now that Mexico won independence.” “I see, well…” Texas stared down at her feet. “Um, I’d like you to have this.” She handed him a soft blanket, which displayed the Spanish flag. “T-Texas?!?” “Um, America told me that Spain got cold at night, so I sewed you this blanket.” Spain smiled desperately trying not to hug her. “I’ll definitely use it Texas. I hope to see you soon.” She nodded. “Sure, but I have to go before Carlos noticed I’m gone.” And with that she turned and walked away leaving to snuggle his new favorite blanket. Years later Mexico had changed. He was still happy-go-lucky with Texas around but when other people around he stared them down as if they had personally wronged him. He also became over protective of Texas and would often attack people who got to close to her. Stella finally couldn’t take it anymore and rebelled earning her own freedom and becoming the Republic of Texas. But because of the giant debts from the war the country only lasted ten years. Then she became a state of America. He was friendly and willing to take her into his own country but he wasn’t Mexico. Texas still hadn’t faced Mexico after the war because he had gone kicking and screaming. Desperately trying to hold on to Texas. She hadn’t spoken with him since the Revolution. Sure, they were on friendly terms but they’d speak through their representatives instead of facing each other. It wasn’t that Texas hated Carlos she just didn’t want to see him after she saw that abandoned look on his face when he finally gave up and allowed Texas to be independent. She didn’t want to hurt her brother.

After that Spain was allowed to stay in the land and colonized it. It was never spoken but it was kind of a mutual agreement. Although Spain had yet to get used to the twins he was now living with. He had learned that Texas hid the Tequila for a good reason though, one time he had managed to find it. And Spain had woken up in his bed with Texas asleep on the ground and Carlos asleep hanging from the ceiling by his feet. He also noticed that Texas didn’t like going far from the house unless absolutely necessary. Whenever he asked if she wanted to go with him to the marketplace she’d stiffen, shoot him a death glare, and then walk out of the room with an excuse. Spain would end up going to the marketplace alone, avoiding the dirty looks he got from the villagers. Whenever he asked Carlos about it Mexico would give him a blank stare and then change the subject. Besides the weird way they acted some times they were getting along pretty well. Carlos and him would go to Fiestas all the time. And Texas was finally starting to warm up to him, lately it seemed to be his hobby to make her blush. After all, the only boy she had been around was her brother so she wasn’t used to being hit on. Today though it seemed that Texas would have to come, Mexico and him had to go in town to the blacksmith to get the horses fit for their horseshoes, so neither of them could go for her. Spain smiled, going to tell Stella of this. He walked into the Living Room, spotting the girl curled into a chair reading a book. “STELLA!” Spain shouted getting the girls attention. She sighed, “What do you need Spain, AND I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME STELLA.” He grinned at her agitation “You need to go to Marketplace, Carlos and I are going to the Blacksmith.” Texas froze, all anger evaporating from her face. “I-I see, well I’ll get ready to go than.” She turned and walked away leaving Spain confused in the Living Room. After talking with Spain Texas grabbed her things and started towards the village, dreading what was to come. It took her about thirty minutes before she arrived at the small town that lay South of her home. She pulled her hood up before entering the village. Praying she wouldn’t run into conflict before she left it. Mexico and Spain had just arrived at the blacksmith, Mexico told Spain to wait outside while the horses were fitted shoes. He didn’t mind though, the Marketplace was across the road and it was interesting to watch them all go about their days. Spain was just starting to get bored of it though when a figure in a hooded black cloak appeared, quickly going from shop to shop as if desperately trying to finish and get away from the place. All seemed to be well until someone recognized the masked person and the children began to chase them, throwing stones as they ran. A dog grabbed the end of the cloak, keeping them from running away. The kids continued to stone the person, until an adult threw a bottle at the figure’s face throwing the figure to the ground and removing the hood. “Texas!” the figure’s hood revealed a beaten Stella. Spain ran across the road towards her, dodging the stones the kids continued to throw. He knelt next to Stella who was fighting to continue consciousness. “Texas, are you okay?” Mexico walked out of the blacksmith with the horses “Oh My God, Stella!” And then everything went black. When she finally woke up she saw Mexico changing her bandages. “Stella, I thought you said this stopped.” Texas stared at the ground, the ceiling, anywhere but into the heartbroken eyes of her brother. “But, why are all these bruises here, they weren’t here the last time this happened.” Texas felt terrible; she still wasn’t looking up but she could tell he was on the verge of crying. The whole time Spain stood in the doorway watching the scene unfold. Suddenly Texas snapped her head “What do you want, Antonio” her words laced with poison “this is all your fault!” She launched forward but Mexico grabbed her wrist before she could attack him. “Let me go Carlos! It’s his fault! The villagers are attacking me because the Spanish and French are settling in my land! Because he came to our land you’re on the verge of crying and I wont allow that.” She turned back at the man she was aiming all her hatred at. “Go away! I knew we shouldn’t have let you settle here! I wont let anyone make Carlos cry!” And with that all of her strength depleted from her body and she collapsed into Mexico’s arms. He wrapped his arm around her and rocked her to sleep. Spain had never seen that side of Texas and he never wanted to again. Sure Texas was violent, grumpy, and the social skills of a five year old but Spain could see that underneath her tough demeanor was a shy girl who was just starting to come out and then this happened. Her eyes were full of pure hatred, blinded by fury and he could have sworn that underneath it all was fear. I shot up with a start, drenched in cold sweat. I never remembered going to sleep. I tried desperately to remember the events leading up to this. Let’s see there was Spain, food, LOTS of alcohol, and memories. I got up going to get a drink. As I walked to the kitchen I saw a light beaming from the Living room. I walked in there to see Spain sitting in his favorite chair reading a Spanish novel. “Spain, your still up.” He shot up but his eyes softened when he noticed it was I. “Stella, what are you doing up.” I walked across the room, sitting on the arm of his chair, curling into a ball and nuzzling my face into his neck. “St-Stella?” “Spain, I’m sorry.” As I dozed off I could have sworn he smiled at me.

An hour had passed and an empty bottle sat in front of a drunk Texas. Spain had learned that Tequila was a lot stronger than he expected so he had stopped after a sip or two. Now Spain and Carlos sat there waiting for her to come back from her drunken stupor and start hitting them. But as her eyes began to seem to refocus they noticed they didn’t look the same. Stella’s eyes were piercing, dangerous and bottomless. If you stared to long at them you’d lose yourself and she’d see straight through you. The black eyes staring at them were full of innocence and looked very childish. Suddenly she sprang up tackling Spain and hugging him around his neck. “Big brother, can you and Carlos play some football I’ll be cheering you on.” She giggled and looked up at him. Spain looked horrified, an hour ago the girl who was currently cuddling up against him had threatened to cut his manhood off. He looked up at Mexico, begging for an answer Mexico pointed at the bottle and mouthed drunk. Spain sighed, their wasn’t anything he could do, sure he didn’t mind her acting like this he just prayed that she wouldn’t remember it in the morning. “Big brother are you gonna play football with Carlos?” she asked once again. He looked over at Mexico again who flashed him a smile as if to say HELL YEAH! With that Stella sprung up, grabbing Spain’s hand and leading him outside. Carlos followed behind, trying not to laugh at the scene of a drunk Texas and a blushing Spain. They arrived at an abandoned football field. Mexico tossed a ball with black and white hexagons on it. “Do you know how to play football, Antonio?” “No, but I learn from experience, so lets play!” With that Carlos dropped the ball kicking it with his foot and dodging past Spain towards the goal. Spain chased after him “Hey! No fair!” he shouted at Carlos. Carlos laughed, “Who said Football was fair!” “GO! Big brother you can do it!” Texas shouted from the sidelines “Looks like you have a fan Antonio!” Mexico chuckled as he slammed the ball into Spain’s goal “And looks like I’m winning.” They played for two more hours but stopped when Spain kicked in the winning goal. Stella ran across the field hugging Spain around the neck again and placing a kiss on his cheek. Mexico chuckled “Oh, so he IS your boyfriend.” “Yup!” Stella replied nuzzling her face against his. “Um, Mexico maybe we should head back to your house.” “Yeah we probably should, you can stay in the guest room if you want” Stella released her hold on Spain and started walking towards the house. An embarrassed Spain and a cheery Mexico followed Texas back to the brick house. It was gonna be long night.