“England! England!” You walked around, calling out for your youngest son. “England!”

“He’s not here, mam!” Scotland ran in from the moor. “I looked at that pond he’s always lurking by too!” He was a tall boy, he looked about fourteen, with dark red hair and green blue eyes.

“He probably went out lookin’ for fae again!” Your daughter, Ireland sighed. She was slim, with lighter ginger hair and pale green eyes.

“Do you know where Wales went?” You asked her.

“Nae, but if I had to guess, probably with that little scumba-“ Scotland shut his mouth as he saw you shoot him a warning look. “Probably with England,” he finished lamely.

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “Scotland, can you go ask your father if he’s-“

“I was just there, mum,” Wales walked in. “Germania says he hasn’t seen him, but he’ll keep an eye out.” Wales was, along with England, the only one of your children who didn’t have red hair. Instead, his hair was dark brown, and he had blue eyes.

“Thanks, Wales,” You mussed his hair while he grinned.

“Mum, want me to ask the elves to look for him? They like him, you know,” He asked helpfully.

“Ugh, if it involves your singing again, please don’t,” Ireland put her hands over her ears. “I’m sick of it!”

“Ireland! Apologize to your brother!” You chided her.

Ireland scowled at Wales, but grudgingly apologized. You sighed. It was stressful being the mother of four boys and a daughter who acted just like them. You were glad Germania had offered to take care of your other children…

Wait, four sons.

“Ireland,” You grabbed your daughter by her apron as she went to scurry off. “Where’s your brother?”

“He’s right here, mam,” She replied innocently.

“I meant your twin, Ireland,” You corrected, raising one eyebrow.

“He’s drinking again,” She sang, skipping away. “He’s in the bathtub!”

You rolled your eyes. You didn’t have a problem with your children drinking- with you going off to drink with Germania and Rome all the time, how could you discourage it?- but you needed all of your children’s help in searching for Arthur.

“Britannia!” You heard a voice call from the kitchen. You spun around and hurried towards it. “Did you find him?”

“Germania! Thanks for coming!” You smiled at the long-haired blonde man, who looked worried. “No, we didn’t…not yet. Although…” You looked thoughtful. “I think I may have an idea of where he went…”

“If you need to, you can borrow mein horse,” Germania offered. “I vill stay here and vatch the children.”

You heaved a grateful sigh. “Thank you!” You turned to go out the door and he kissed your cheek. “Gut luck,” He murmured.

“Thanks,” You smiled.

A chorus of ‘ew’s were heard behind you. “Oi, you lot, be quiet!” You whirled around. “One day, you’ll-“

“Aye! I’ll be kissin’ girls left and right!” Scotland smirked. “In fact, I-“

Germania smacked his head. “Scotland, zere is a time und a place.” He nodded. “Go on, leib.”

“Good luck, mum!” Wales waved.

You smiled and swung up onto Germania’s horse, galloping towards the southeast of your family’s homeland.

Finally, you came to a lake, where sure enough, you saw your youngest blonde son in his little black cloak sitting by the water’s edge, talking animatedly to the Lady of the
Lake.

“And then Wales and I-“ He broke off as he saw you coming. “Mumsy!” He jumped up, looking guilty. “Was I…?”

“England,” You said slowly, “You were gone for six hours.”

England sucked in his breath, staring at his feet. ‘I’m sorry, Mumsy! I didn’t realize…”

“Do you realize how worried I was? I had all of your siblings and Germania and his boys looking out for you!” You knew you were panicking in your worry, and you knew England knew too.

England bowed to the Lady, who smiled and pushed him gently towards you. He hurried over and hugged you around the legs. “I’m sorry, mumsy,” He sniffled. He knew you were upset, and now he was too.

“Oh, little one,” You sighed, picking him up. “Just let me know when you’re going, or go with one of your siblings.”

“They don’t like me, though,” England buried his face in your hair. “I want to go with you!”

You smiled. “Should we go now, then?” You whispered.

He pulled back, looking excited. “Can we, mumsy?” He asked in a hushed voice.

“Of course!” You smiled. “Let’s go find the dragon! He always has wonderful stories.”

You put him down, and offered your hand, and the two of you went to listen to the dragon’s stories.

************

When you came back, you found Germania and your children all dead drunk and passed out in the living room, along with Prussia, who had apparently shown up in the night and was collapsed across his vati’s lap.

England tugged at your sleeve. “Mumsy, is drinking fun?”

You rolled up your sleeves. “It will be for us! What do you say we give them all a rude awakening?” You went outside and returned with a little pail of water for England and a bucket for yourself.

You both exchanged a devious grin, and splashed the water all over the sleeping family.

They all woke up, sputtering and spitting out water.

You grinned at them, including your glaring lover. “Come on, the least you all could have done was waited until we got back!”

You picked up a sleepy England and took him up to his room, and put him in bed. Before you left, you heard his tiny voice call out. “Mumsy?”

You looked back. “Yes, England?”

“Mumsy, will I be a strong nation one day?”

You smiled. “Yes, England. I’m sure you will be a great English empire.”