"How did you come back?" Britain asked, speaking the question that seemed to have been going through all of the mens' heads out loud.

Kalda sighed a little, standing up to become the animated talker that she was.

"Well, it was weird, to be honest," she started off. "At first, I was in a coma-like state, almost in a daydream. There was this light on my right side, and a dark shadow on my left.

"Everything else around me was a neutral grey, so I knew then that I was stuck. As it just so happened to turn out, someone who had also died, probably someone from a long time ago, told me to choose between the Shadow, and the Light."

"What did you choose?" Veneziano wondered.

"It was hard to pick, so I looked through both of them," Kalda answered, not skipping a beat. "The Light showed me the good future that I had, one that I couldn't quite figure out since I hadn't paved the road for it yet.

"The Shadow, however, showed me what my true death would look like if I didn't choose the Light. I chose the Light, mainly because I want a good future. I have my whole life ahead of me, and the stranger knew that."

"Some of us didn't zhink zhat you were going to come back," France stated. "You scared us all."

"And there will be punishments for that later," Britain smirked, "but all that matters now is that you're safe."

"I guess you are a country after all because you just regenerated," Canada smiled.

"Nothing can ever kill me," Kalda grinned.

"I just vant to know vhy you did it," Prussia said, looking at her with a sad look. "Vhat compelled you to do zhat?"

"I couldn't just let one of my friends die," Kalda answered. "What kind of a friend would I be then?"

Romano suddenly put Kalda in front of him, giving her a slap on the face.

"Ow!" Kalda whined, rubbing her cheek. "What was that for?"

Everyone laughed, including Kalda, all of them knowing exactly what was happening.

"That was for sneaking into the World Meeting that Veneziano went to and starting this whole shenanigan in the first place!" Romano yelled her. "Seriously, Kalda? Didn't I teach you anything? And while I'm at it...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kalda stood in front of her grave as the others tried to calm Romano down; he had started crying in the fetal position after his lecture to Kalda, and so she sighed a little as she looked at her gravestone.

My death seemed to have affected everyone today, she thought. Everyone but me.

"Looks scary, doesn't it, poppet?" Oliver asked sadly, hugging Kalda from behind and giving her a light kiss on her cheek.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," she apologized. "I didn't know how my actions would affect you guys. In my head I did the right thing, but in reality I-"

"Shh," Oliver soothed her, swaying them back and forth a little. "You are okay, poppet. Yes, something bad happened, but you aren't dead, so now we can put all of this behind us."

Kalda stayed silent, still looking at her grave.

"How many graves have you seen?" she blurted out quietly.

If Oliver hadn't been paying attention, he would have missed her question.

"Tsk," he clicked his tongue thoughtfully, looking at her grave as well, "that all depends. How far back do you want to know, poppet?"

"As far back as you can remember," Kalda answered, craning her neck to look into his bright, blue eyes.

He had a serious look on his face, and Kalda didn't need to ask why.

"Well, I guess that I could start from the beginning, if you would like?" he replied, a small smile on his face.

Kalda just nodded, wanting him to continue on.

"You shouldn't hug her like that," Britain scolded his other half, interrupting their soon-to-be-storytime. "It makes her uncomfortable."

"I don't mind, Arthur," Kalda smiled. "It's nice of him to do this for me."

"Well, I did teach him that, so...I guess I can't argue," Britain laughed. "Anyway, we're ready to take you home."

"No, Kalda is coming with me!" Romano instantly argued. "Aren't you, Kalda?"

Uh-oh, Kalda thought. Not this, Romano. Please, not this.

"She could stay vith us," Prussia suggested quietly.

"Kalda belongs with us now!" Luciano demanded. "You promised!"

Kalda sighed, not liking the argument that she was in; she had a choice, but it seemed different this time.

Family, friends, dark family, dark friends? Kalda thought in anxiety. How will I choose who to go with? Either way, someone's going to get hurt, and I don't know what to do!

"Tick tock, Kalda!" Romano interrupted her thoughts. "I don't have all day!"

Kalda stiffened, already making her decision.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Kalda?" Britain asked, awkwardly walking into her room.

"Hm?" Kalda hummed in response, still reading the book in her hands.

Britain took in a deep breath, not even sure if Kalda would agree to what he was about to ask her.

"I want to ask you something super important," he finally managed to get out.

Kalda closed her book, standing up to walk into his study downstairs; Britain followed her, not quite sure why she wanted to talk in there specifically.

He closed the door behind him, sitting at his desk to look at her stare out of the window.

"You can sit down in front of me, if you want," he kindly offered.

Kalda nodded, sitting down in the chair in front of the desk as she stared into his mysterious, green eyes.

"After what happened yesterday, Kalda," Britain started, "I think that it's time that I finally make you an underling of mine."

Kalda's brown eyes widened, and she instantly knew where this was going.

"You want me to...become a...a nation under your...guidance?" she stuttered. "Why?"

"Well, I just want to protect you and keep you safe," Britain explained. "It's perfectly fine if you refuse, but I just...I just don't want a repeat of what had happened yesterday, and...earlier before that."

Kalda stayed silent, thinking it over;  then, the argument she had with the Second Players came back to her mind.

They had argued over the fact that Kalda was going to stay with the First Players, and that made Kalda stressed out.

Oliver didn't mind, since he had learned to accept her decisions; however, Luciano had demanded that Kalda came with them, and he even promised to make her happy.

Whether he would keep that promise to her or not was what worried Kalda the most; then, after much arguing and yelling, the Second Players had surrendered, leaving Kalda and the First Players to deal with their own problems.

Kalda knew that they would be back, and Oliver had even promised her that himself.

"Kalda?" Britain asked. "You okay?"

Kalda nodded slightly in answer.

"I'll do it," Kalda agreed. " I'll become a part of your nation."

Britain would have felt overjoyed if the reason wasn't so devastating.

He only nodded in return, and Kalda took that as a sign to leave his study.

The nineteen year old girl sighed as she flopped onto her bed, tired because of what had happened over the past year and a half.

So much has happened, she thought to herself, and Romano was right. All of this happened because I went to that stupid Meeting in a desperate search for Veneziano.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Kalda and Britain dressed up as nice as they could, and wanted.

"I never took you as a sweater vest person," Kalda laughed, seeing Britain wearing khaki pants, dress shoes, a white shirt with long sleeves, and a blue sweater vest.

"That's all you have to say?" Britain chuckled. "Look at yourself."

"I may have kept some of your guys' stuff," Kalda blushed in embarrassment.

She looked at the patchwork dress that she had made out of the different materials from Veneziano, Germany, and Britain's military outfits, proud of her sewing skills.

Kalda had also put on the Iron Cross necklace that Germany had given to her, and she cherished it with her life.

"Germany gave it to me," Kalda said, seeing Britain look at it. "He said that I could keep it, even if I went back with you."

The blonde nodded as they walked out of the house, Britain locking the front door for good luck.

"This isn't going to be a wedding-type thing, is it?" Kalda asked awkwardly.

"Of course not," Britain smiled. "I would never drag you into something like that."

Kalda just nodded, walking into the church with him; she tried not to scream when she saw that literally the whole world was there, and she looked at Britain with a scared look.

"It's a World Event, Kalda," he explained, his smile still on his face. "It's not every day that a country gets a new nation. Besides, most of these people don't even know you, and I'm sure that they would just love to meet you."

"But that's them," Kalda whispered to him, "not me."

"You'll be fine," Britain assured her. "All we have to do is just a sign a form saying that it's okay for us to become united together. That's all."

"That doesn't sound hard," Kalda agreed, following him into the chapel.

"You're not really going to do zhis, are you?" France asked them with worry. "Please tell me zhat you won't."

"It's not a marriage," Kalda calmly told him. "I'll be fine."

America face-palmed, everyone else gasping at her comment.

Kalda looked around, seeing their shocked faces.

"Why are they looking at me like that?" Kalda asked nervously.

"Kalda, becoming united like zhis, usually as new nation, is marriage," France explained, becoming angry. "You are only nineteen! Why didn't you refuse?"

"Kalda, you belong with us," Romano stated, standing up. "We took you in, therefore, you still belong to Italy."

"Please don't leave us, Kaldy," Veneziano pleaded. "You're my little Kaldy. I'm lonely without you."

Kalda looked at Britain with anger.

"You lied to me," she told him. "Why didn't you tell me the truth when I asked you?"

"Well, I never anticipated on everyone talking about it," Britain snapped.

"It's a marriage!" Kalda argued. "How could you think that no one would say anything?"

"The choice was still yours," Britain argued back. "Once you agree to this, you can't go back."

"I can't believe that you did this!" Romano continued to yell. "You're more stupid than I thought!"

Kalda ignored his hurtful words, becoming even more angry; Britain tugged her hand, signalling her to walk with him.

No turning back now, Kalda sighed, holding the pen that was about to change her life forever.

She took in a deep breath, lowering the pen down and onto the paper.

"WAIT!" Lithuania yelled, busting the doors open and running into the room. "DON'T SIGN THAT PAPER!"

The two signers looked at him, noticing that he was tired from running.

"Are you objecting, too?" Britain snapped.

"I have something to show you," Lithuania replied, holding up a book.

"A book?" Kalda wondered, seeing how beautiful the leather cover was.

"It's not a book," Lithuania answered. "It's a diary."

"By whom?" France asked.

Lithuania looked at Kalda again, handing her the diary.

"It was written by someone who we all knew and loved, someone everyone but Kalda remembers," Lithuania explained.

Kalda opened it, reading the passages.

"What in the world?" she asked, looking at her friend. "Why are all of you in here?"

"Kalda, this diary belonged to Maria Hush, your mother," Lithuania said softly. "Everyone in this room, from Germany to America, had met her at least once."

"Nein," Germany muttered to himself. "Not-"

"Yes," Lithuania nodded.

"I remember meeting her," America stated. "She was so full of life and adventure."

"She loved music, und sang vhenever she felt like it," Austria added on.

"She alvays helped me prepare for battle as vell," Hungary continued.

Everyone started to speak at once, sharing their own stories about the mysterious woman that was supposedly Kalda's mother.

"I-I don't understand," Kalda stuttered. "What are you talking about?"

"Read the last few pages," Lithuania told her. "She saved the best one for last."

Kalda did just that, seeing that her mother really did save the best one for last.

Kalda shoved the diary into Britain's hands with a gasp and a smile, the Brit looking at it as well.

He gasped quietly, tearing up as he read the pages to himself; they were words that he hadn't heard in a long time, all sorts of memories coming back to him.

"The reason you had those dreams, Kalda, was because you and Britain were connected in a bond stronger than the one that you almost created," Lithuania went on.

"He's right," Kalda nodded, looking at Britain in his beautiful, green eyes. "Britain, I think...I think that you're my...father."

Britain smiled a little, closing the diary.

"You reminded me so much of Maria," he said softly. "I...I didn't know how to react any other way."

"How did she die?" Kalda wondered softly.

"Remember that story about the soldier, his wife, and his daughter?" Britain replied.

Kalda's eyes widened, putting two and two together.

"Maria," she whispered, "no."

"I thought that I had lost you that day as well," Britain explained. "That's why I didn't want you to come and work for me. It was the same way that your mother and I had met after she was divorced."

Kalda felt tears well up in her eyes as she hugged Britain as tight as she could.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU COME AND FIND ME?" she wailed through her tears.

"Because I thought that you had died in the fire as well," Britain sobbed softly. "I didn't know what to think about it, then."

They fell to their knees, still in their embrace.

"I've always wanted a father like you," Kalda whispered through her tears.

"And I've always wanted my beautiful, wonderful, and amazing daughter back," Britain answered. "How did you survive, anyway?"

"I have zhe ansver to zhat," Germany said, standing up. "I vas in zhat group zhat attacked your camp, Britain. I grabbed Kalda und ran, putting her on a raft vith a voman. Apparently, zhat voman from zhe raft didn't keep her promise of keeping you safe, Kalda."

"That was...very nice of you to save her, Germany," Britain replied. "Thank you. I...don't know what to say or how to repay you."

"No need," Germany nodded. "It vas zhe least zhat I could do for attacking your camp in zhe first place."

"How did you know that they were father and daughter, Lithuania?" Latvia wondered.

"Was that the book you dropped that one day in the library?" Estonia added on.

"It was," Lithuania answered with a smile. "I figured that it was only a matter of time before they realized it, so I just gave them a little push."

Lithuania grinned, continuing on.

"Plus, the way that Kalda talked about her dreams was a sure sign that she was related to him because of his Magic," he concluded. "Maria could also have dreams, so it was easy to put everything together."

"Don't ever be afraid to fall in love again, okay?" Kalda laughed.

"I won't," Britain chuckled.

Kalda eyed Russia and his usual grin, seeing how happy he was for her.

"Can I?" she asked, looking at Britain.

"Well, why not?" Britain smirked. "Now that we're not getting married and all."

Kalda instantly stood up, running up to Russia as he picked her up in his arms, spinning them around.

It was unusual behavior for the Russian, but everyone ignored it since it was such a happy time.

"Guess that means we finally get a sister," America smirked, walking up to her with Canada by his side.

"Well, I wouldn't say that," Kalda refused. "I still have Veneziano, Romano, and Seborga."

"Damn right you do," Romano snapped, walking up to her with his brothers at his side.

"Hey, since she's Britain's kid, that means she's our sister now," America defended.

France rolled his eyes and shook his head with a smile, walking up to Britain and hugging him from behind.

The two men watched all of the siblings argue, strangely enjoying it.

"What have we done, Angeltarre?" France chuckled.

"We've done nothing," Britain grinned, looking at France. "They did this to themselves, and we have no one to thank but Lithuania."

"Perhaps we should save our brozhers from the ozhers burning zhem alive?" France suggested. "Mostly Romano, zhough, because he knows how to burn people better zhan anyone I know."

"They grow up so fast, don't they?" Britain flatly stated.

"Zhey really do," France sighed with a grin. "I remember when zhey were just small zhings."

"Hey, France?" Britain started nervously. "Can I ask you something?"

There was silence as everyone's eyes went to the two blondes, increasing their romance.

"Just...get...married...already!" Kalda squealed from a distance, looking at their position.

"And this is what happens when I try to be subtle," Britain sighed in annoyance.

"Zhey are right, you know," France replied, poking Britain's cheek. "You did promise me zhat we would hook up after we found Kalda when we sat on zhat trench togezher."

Britain smiled, taking both of France's hands in both of his, the two blondes staring into their green and blue eyes.

"I...uh...don't know how to do this that well," Britain started, "mainly because I haven't proposed to anyone ever since Maria, but...Francis Bonnefoy, erm, wilt thou marry me and make me thine?"

Britain took in a deep breath and continued,

"Even excluding the fact that I went through a tea withdrawal, I'm mean, I'm sarcastic, I'm cynical, and I speak Shakespeare when I'm nervous?"

France smirked, laughing as he hugged Britain.

"Oh, Angeltarre," he whispered, "I will always love you, no matter how you act."

They pulled apart, kissing as everyone cheered.

Even Romano cracked a smile, and Spain poked his cheek.

"Someone's smiling," Spain said in a sing-song tone.

"Get away from me, you jerk," Romano blushed in anger, crossing his arms.

America and Canada celebrated with their brothers, Kalda walking up to her own.

"I guess that this would make me your...niece now?" she asked nervously, trying to her best to smile.

"Kalda, we will always be your brothers," Romano told her softly. "Please remember that for me, okay?"

Kalda nodded, hugging him.

"We'll visit you every day!" Veneziano added.

"And I'll share more stories," Seborga promised. 

"I can't wait," she grinned.

"Well, how about a wedding par-tay?" America asked, and everyone agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the wedding reception commenced, everyone danced and talked to each other.

"Mein house after?" Prussia smirked, nudging Canada.

"Wh-what?" Canada stuttered. "What about Hungary? Don't you like her?"

"Yeah, but you're more chill," Prussia replied. "I'd razher have you because you listen instead of talk."

"I...uh...I have to go," Canada answered, running off.

Prussia laughed to himself, walking over to Hungary.

"America!" Canada cried at normal volume, running up to his brother.

"Whoa, Canada," America soothed him. "What's up?"

"Prussia tried to hit on me!" Canada replied, freaking out.

America face-palmed, already knowing what his brother had done.

"Why did you run away, then?" America asked. "If he tried to hit on you, that means he likes you."

"But I don't like him!" Canada stated. "I don't want him to like me only for me to not like him!"

"Then just tell him you don't like him and he'll hook up with Hungary," America reasoned.

"But then I would feel bad," Canada said.

"Then I'm out of ideas," America explained. "This is a France question. Go ask him."

Canada nodded, running off to France.

"France!" he cried. "France, I need love help!"

America chuckled to himself, but then he frowned as he saw Britain standing in a corner all alone.

The dirty blonde followed Britain's eyes, and noticed that the Brit was watching Kalda dance with Romano.

America sighed, walking up to his older brother.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Romano is right," Britain sighed. "I can't just take Kalda away from him like this. I mean, they look so happy together, and who even knew that he could dance like a gentleman like that?"

"She's your daughter," America smirked. "He'll understand. Besides, you've been looking for her ever since the fire, and didn't I say that you would figure it out?"

"No, you said that you couldn't wait to see my reaction when I figured it out," Britain rephrased.

"Oh, right," America awkwardly agreed. "Whoops."

Britain rolled his eyes at America's "apology."

"Well I didn't anticipate on you two falling onto your knees and crying," America defended.

"I guess that I can't argue with that," Britain agreed. "Anyway, it just makes me think about something."

"What do you mean?" America asked.

"I think that I need some air," Britain gasped, trying not to hyperventilate.

He ran out of the church, standing by the open door.

"Why do I feel so sick?" he asked himself.

"Would you like a cupcake, poppet?" Oliver questioned, making his appearance on the bottom of the steps that led up to the church.

Britain sighed as he looked at the other man, seeing him hold a cupcake in his hands.

"Don't worry, poppet!" Oliver chuckled, skipping up the stairs. "It's not poisoned or made with human blood and flesh, I Promise."

"Well, all right," Britain reluctantly agreed.

He took the chocolate cupcake with blue frosting, pulling it apart; he gave one half to Oliver, keeping the other half for himself.

"Does this make you feel better?" Oliver grinned, eating his half in one bite.

"Yes, actually," Britain smiled, eating his own cupcake. "I never thought that I'd feel so happy to eat a cupcake on an empty stomach after an informal wedding and finding out that my daughter was right there in front of me this whole time."

"Slow down there, poppet," Oliver laughed. "You're rambling."

Britain chuckled, licking some frosting off of his pointer finger.

"Yes, I tend to do that sometimes," he smiled.

"I told you that she was our daughter, though," Oliver stated softly, smiling too.

"I know," Britain replied. "I just...didn't know if I could trust that information from you."

"When are you going to start listening to me, Arthur?" Oliver chuckled, ruffling Britain's hair.

"I don't know, actually," Britain smirked. "When are you going to stop being the smart one?"

"Probably never," Oliver stated, looking at the night sky.

He closed his eyes, letting the breeze play with his strawberry blonde hair.

"Nice night for a wedding," he agreed. "Too bad it was inside."

"Thank goodness that you didn't see my proposal," Britain laughed, turning a dark red as he looked at the night sky as well.

"It couldn't have been that bad."

"I spoke in Shakespeare."

"Oh my! That is bad, poppet."

"I still love the wanker, though."

"And he loves you."

"Are you going to go in and say hello to Kalda?" Britain asked, looking at Oliver.

"I'm afraid I don't have time for that, poppet," Oliver replied sadly. "I already overstayed my welcome enough as it is."

"What did you come here for this time?" Britain sighed, annoyed. "I knew that the cupcake wasn't a peace offering."

"Luciano would have come here to tell you this himself, but since he's in a hissy fit, he told me to tell you that he took back our surrender," Oliver explained.

"What?" Britain gasped. "Oh no."

"I feel that same way, too, poppet," Oliver sighed.

"So does this mean-?" Britain cut off.

"Yes, poppet," Oliver nodded. "The real War has only begun."

"And Kalda is in the dead center," Britain concluded, knowing that the worst was yet to come.