❝i was born this thursday twenty-two years ago❞
Title: On This Day
Series: Axis Powers Hetalia
Words: -700
Characters: America-centric ;; France ;; Philippines ;; the 50 states ;; historical figures
Rating: G
Warnings: Fluff
Summary: A look back on Alfred’s important birthdays.
On This Day
July 4, 1776
It was certainly a day for the history books.
Fifty-six men and one nation stood in the room, each holding his breath as they signed their names with flourishes and solemnity. It was the day they'd been waiting for for years--finally, they would be free from the oppression of that great tyrant, England. As the last man signed his name, great smiles broke out across the faces of all present, and cheers rose up. One man approached the front of the room with great dignity.
"I now declare us an independent nation, free of England’s rule,” Thomas Jefferson declared. Suddenly, he turned to the adolescent nation beside him. “Happy birthday, Alfred-you’re free.”
Alfred, caught between exhilaration and fear, let out a nervous laugh. “Thanks, Tom,” he murmured, but he looked away from the crowd, out the window-James Madison was taking down the flag of the British Empire.
“Don’t worry, Alfred,” a soft, kind voice whispered in his ear. Alfred turned to see Abigail Adams, prim and proper, smoothing down her hair as she smiled at him. “We can take the English-I promise.”
Maybe I don’t want to take the English, Alfred thought, but Abigail reached forward and kissed his forehead like a mother would her son.
“Don’t worry. We all love you, Alfred.”
---
July 4, 1826
“Both of them? In one day?” There was a mixture of outrage and disbelief in the young nation’s voice as he spoke.
“I’m afraid so,” his boss, John Quincy Adams, replied. “My father passed this morning; Jefferson followed him a few hours later.”
His response was met by silence.
“America?” Concern colored the president’s voice. “Alfred?”
A tear trickled down his cheek. “They said they’d never leave me,” he said, shaking his head ruefully. “And, god damn, it’s my birthday.”
---
July 4, 1886
“Francis, what is this?”
“A present for you, mon amie. She’s beautiful, no?”
Alfred couldn’t argue with that. As he watched the statue being constructed in front of him, he marveled at the craftsmanship. Beautifully cast in bronze, she was a very beacon of freedom.
“…beautiful,” Alfred breathed. “But why?”
“One hundred years is a long time to be a nation,” Francis laughed, throwing an arm around Alfred’s shoulders. “Joyeux Anniversaire à vous mon cher ami.”
“Thanks, Francis.”
“You like me better than Arthur now, right?”
---
July 4, 1946
“Y’know, you don’t have to leave.”
She smiled sadly at him, tugging at her long, dark hair. Her eyes were like black opals, shining brilliantly under the vibrant sun.
“Yes, I do,” she said firmly, albeit with a touch of regret. “I’m sorry, Alfie-but this is goodbye.”
He approached her, wrapped his arms around her small frame. “Be good, okay?”
“Of course.” She offered him a cheeky wink. “And I promise, I’ll remember you.”
“How do I know you’ll keep that promise, Philly?”
The newly-independent Philippines laughed. “Today will always be Friendship Day for me, Alfie. Happy Birthday.”
With that, he watched her go.
---
July 4, 1960
“Get out of my way, New York!”
“California, stop shoving!”
“I wanted to be the one to give it to him!”
“No one cares, Illinois!”
“Shut up, Florida!”
“Hey, new kids, get up here!”
“What is all this noise?” America emerged from his bedroom, only to be faced by all fifty of his children, armed with a cake, presents, and balloons. California reached back and pulled one of her sisters forward.
“Hawaii wants to give you something, Dad,” she said, as Hawaii blushed furiously.
“What is it?” America replied, wary.
Alaska coughed. “Remember your present last year?”
“Yah-a flag with forty-nine stars. It was great.”
“Well, this year…” Hawaii held up the gift. America unwrapped it, revealing a new, vibrant flag-complete with fifty stars.
“I guess our family’s complete now, huh?” he asked, pulling Hawaii into a one-armed hug. The rest of the kids wasted no time in climbing into a fifty-one person group-hug.
HAPPY 233RD BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
---
Footnotes:
* July 4th throughout history…
* Thomas Jefferson
* James Madison
* Abigail Adams I don’t care if she wasn’t really there; she was cool!
* Declaration of Independence
* John Quincy Adams
* Yes, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on America’s birthday.
* Statue of Liberty
* . Joyeux Anniversaire à vous mon cher ami means “happy birthday, my dear friend.”
Series: Axis Powers Hetalia
Words: -700
Characters: America-centric ;; France ;; Philippines ;; the 50 states ;; historical figures
Rating: G
Warnings: Fluff
Summary: A look back on Alfred’s important birthdays.
On This Day
July 4, 1776
It was certainly a day for the history books.
Fifty-six men and one nation stood in the room, each holding his breath as they signed their names with flourishes and solemnity. It was the day they'd been waiting for for years--finally, they would be free from the oppression of that great tyrant, England. As the last man signed his name, great smiles broke out across the faces of all present, and cheers rose up. One man approached the front of the room with great dignity.
"I now declare us an independent nation, free of England’s rule,” Thomas Jefferson declared. Suddenly, he turned to the adolescent nation beside him. “Happy birthday, Alfred-you’re free.”
Alfred, caught between exhilaration and fear, let out a nervous laugh. “Thanks, Tom,” he murmured, but he looked away from the crowd, out the window-James Madison was taking down the flag of the British Empire.
“Don’t worry, Alfred,” a soft, kind voice whispered in his ear. Alfred turned to see Abigail Adams, prim and proper, smoothing down her hair as she smiled at him. “We can take the English-I promise.”
Maybe I don’t want to take the English, Alfred thought, but Abigail reached forward and kissed his forehead like a mother would her son.
“Don’t worry. We all love you, Alfred.”
---
July 4, 1826
“Both of them? In one day?” There was a mixture of outrage and disbelief in the young nation’s voice as he spoke.
“I’m afraid so,” his boss, John Quincy Adams, replied. “My father passed this morning; Jefferson followed him a few hours later.”
His response was met by silence.
“America?” Concern colored the president’s voice. “Alfred?”
A tear trickled down his cheek. “They said they’d never leave me,” he said, shaking his head ruefully. “And, god damn, it’s my birthday.”
---
July 4, 1886
“Francis, what is this?”
“A present for you, mon amie. She’s beautiful, no?”
Alfred couldn’t argue with that. As he watched the statue being constructed in front of him, he marveled at the craftsmanship. Beautifully cast in bronze, she was a very beacon of freedom.
“…beautiful,” Alfred breathed. “But why?”
“One hundred years is a long time to be a nation,” Francis laughed, throwing an arm around Alfred’s shoulders. “Joyeux Anniversaire à vous mon cher ami.”
“Thanks, Francis.”
“You like me better than Arthur now, right?”
---
July 4, 1946
“Y’know, you don’t have to leave.”
She smiled sadly at him, tugging at her long, dark hair. Her eyes were like black opals, shining brilliantly under the vibrant sun.
“Yes, I do,” she said firmly, albeit with a touch of regret. “I’m sorry, Alfie-but this is goodbye.”
He approached her, wrapped his arms around her small frame. “Be good, okay?”
“Of course.” She offered him a cheeky wink. “And I promise, I’ll remember you.”
“How do I know you’ll keep that promise, Philly?”
The newly-independent Philippines laughed. “Today will always be Friendship Day for me, Alfie. Happy Birthday.”
With that, he watched her go.
---
July 4, 1960
“Get out of my way, New York!”
“California, stop shoving!”
“I wanted to be the one to give it to him!”
“No one cares, Illinois!”
“Shut up, Florida!”
“Hey, new kids, get up here!”
“What is all this noise?” America emerged from his bedroom, only to be faced by all fifty of his children, armed with a cake, presents, and balloons. California reached back and pulled one of her sisters forward.
“Hawaii wants to give you something, Dad,” she said, as Hawaii blushed furiously.
“What is it?” America replied, wary.
Alaska coughed. “Remember your present last year?”
“Yah-a flag with forty-nine stars. It was great.”
“Well, this year…” Hawaii held up the gift. America unwrapped it, revealing a new, vibrant flag-complete with fifty stars.
“I guess our family’s complete now, huh?” he asked, pulling Hawaii into a one-armed hug. The rest of the kids wasted no time in climbing into a fifty-one person group-hug.
HAPPY 233RD BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
---
Footnotes:
* July 4th throughout history…
* Thomas Jefferson
* James Madison
* Abigail Adams I don’t care if she wasn’t really there; she was cool!
* Declaration of Independence
* John Quincy Adams
* Yes, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on America’s birthday.
* Statue of Liberty
* . Joyeux Anniversaire à vous mon cher ami means “happy birthday, my dear friend.”