France's Daughter // Hetalia

Chapter Three- I Blinked, and You Were Five

France (Francis)

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"Papa! Papa! oncle Feli! Et oncle Antonio!"

Charlotte grips my hand firmly, tugging my shirt with her free hand. Up until now, I had always left her in the hands of my body guards when I'm off to World Meetings, but, It's always good for young ladies to get some open air. Besides, it'd be fun for her to see all of her oncles and tantes. Everyone normally only comes over for Holidays and her birthday... The day I found her. June 18th. 

"Oui, Oui, I see them, Charlie. Now come on, we don't want to be later than fashionably late", I tug her gently, and she matches my pace.

She's sporting one of the many articles of clothing England donated to me when I first got her- which happens to be America's old gown, when he was just a petite little thing. Oh, how cute he was, as England says. It's a shame he grew up to be so fat and dumb. Ah, we love him nonetheless.

"Is that Lottie?!", England shouts from behind, and I grimace. "Why, you've gotten so big!".

Before I can react, he sweeps Charlie off her feet, cradling her and tickling her stomach. She hates it, I know that. Sure, it'll make her laugh, but if you tickle her feet, you can get her close to peeing herself. It makes me a bit proud that only I know this.

"Dear, have you been eating? Is Papa not feeding you well? You know, my doors are always open if you get hungry"

I quickly grab Charlie from his hands, and set her down next to me. She grimaces, and I hold back a laugh.

"If I wanted to poison my child I would choose a much more humane way- like cyanide"

"Why you- She loves my cooking! America loved it too, when he was little!"

"You're the densest black sheep in all of Europe!"

"You eat frogs! You look like one, too!"

Between the bickering, the fighting, the screaming, I don't notice Charlotte's fingers slip from my hand.

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Charlotte (Charlie, Lottie)

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Papa and Oncle Arthur are fighting again. They do that. It's funny, but nobody is talking to me. I bet oncle Ludwig would talk to me. Ah, there he is! He's with oncle Feli! Papa wouldn't mind if I went and talked to them, oui? I'll only be gone for one second! 

I scurry off, skipping and humming, admiring the tall building before me. Papa says that this is where everyone in the family holds their "secret meetings". I forget what he calls them, but they're super important! I won't ask. Papa likes to keep to himself. 

"Oncle Lud! Oncle Feli!", I call, waving one hand in the air. "Bonjour, bonjour!"

Ludwig is the first to notice me, but I jump onto Feliciano first. He's very lanky, meaning it's much nicer to slam into his skinny frame than Luddy's muscular one. Feli turns around, and I get the honor of seeing his infamous grin.

"Bella! Ve, I wasn't expecting to see you here! Germany, Germany, look who's here!", his voice is as scratchy and Italian as I remember. 

I'm not sure why everyone calls each other by countries. It doesn't make much sense to me, but Papa never explained it, so I guess it doesn't mean much. I won't ask. They call him "France"... Where we live!

"Da, guten tag, Charlotte", Ludwig greets me, his cheeks flushing pink. "Good to see you."

I've always liked his voice, all deep and German. It reminds me of a burly dog, like a rottweiler. Quickly, I wriggle free from Feliciano's grip, and skip off again, this time inside the building. The Sun was getting to be a bit too much for me to handle... I don't want to get all hot and sweaty! 

In the main hallway, I see some people who's faces I don't recognize, but I also spot oncle Alfred. He's eating food Papa always tells me to stay away from- he says it's poison that only oncle Alfred can eat. Scary...!

"Oncle Alf-"

"There you are!"

I feel myself being lift up by the shirt by someone, so I start to kick and squirm to get away. When I realize my struggle is in vain, I turn around to my attacker, only to realize that Papa had noticed I had gone missing. I smile, as cute as I can- That usually works when I'm in trouble.

"Mon dieu, what would have happened if I couldn't find you!?", he yells, setting me down. "Do you know how worried I was!?"

I shrug, careful not to meet his gaze. When Papa gets mad, his eyes change. They're usually go gentle and soft and caring... but when he's mad, I feel like he can see right through me. It's scary enough to make me cry.

"I'm sorry, Papa...", I mumble, embarrassed by the attention he attracted from his yelling. "It won't happen again."

"Mon petite Charlie, I know it won't", he whispers, scooping me up into his arms. "I just haven't taught you well enough yet. Charlie, I'll do better. I promise."

He kisses my forehead, and sets me down, holding my hand tight- but all I can help wondering is why it seemed like he was talking to someone else.