Reopen the Golden Gates

Little Updates[yes this is a chapter]

"Austin, update?" Alfred asked looking past the protective shield.

"Beautifully running," Austin smiled.

Hydrologic engines, only byproduct was water. Beautiful.
"You've done well Austin, and only in a month! This is incredible!" Alfred cheered.
"Thanks pop, I'm head of the head scientist of the entire nation. I better know what I'm doing," Austin said quietly.
"Well you're doing great Aussie, how is the air purifier?"
"Testing underway, it's set up in New York at the moment you might want to ask yorkie how he's breathing since it affects him" Austin explained.
"I'll get on that, thank you Austin"
"No problemo pop"

——

Days to months to years to decades.

——

"How do you feel, York?" America asked his son, they stood on the new Empire State Building.

York took a deep breath and let it out, he smiled feeling the rising sun on his face. "Great, thank you so much dad." Leonardo smiled.
"It's no problem Leo, I'm glad you can enjoy this all" Alfred sighed and smiled.
"Hey dad?"
"Yes?"
"What's that color?" He pointed to the sky as it turned a Cotton Candy pink.
"Don't mess with me, you can see?" Alfred asked.
"I think so, is that the sunrise? It's so... pretty." Leonardo smiled.
"Leo, Leonardo Hamilton Rogers-Jones you can see the sunrise?" Alfred asked, turning his son to look him in the eye, Olive green eyes to deep blue.
"I guess I can... but you are very... weird looking. Not like how to feel."
"You need glasses" Alfred laughed hugging Leo, "you can see, my beautiful boy can see" Alfred murmured while kissing his hair.
"Yeah, I guess I can," Leo smiled as he was crushed in a hug from his overjoyed father.

——

"Hawai'i?"
"Yes?"
"How's the oceans and coral?"

Hawai'i turned to look at Alfred, over the many years she accepted the fact she was stuck in the union but in more recent years, since Isolation, she had managed to gain much more control of her state. That was what the isolation was for, putting the personifications in charge.

"They are recovering nicely, so are my beaches." Hawai'i smiled. The oceans behind her sparkles in the sun's light. "The prices have gone down since there aren't as many tourists. We are adjusting to that and we are more self-sufficient when it comes to money, how are the distribution of the rich?"
"Going well, going well, the people are doing just fine with money. How's your education system?"
"Very well, much more focused on what needs to be taught, and no sugar coating. Well, a little for the younger children but they for their mental wellbeing." Hawai'i explained.
"That's for the best," Alfred nodded.
Kalani nodded, "I assume you are here to visit the islands?"
"Them, and you as well, you are their older sister, that makes you my child to some extent. So I'm glad you're doing ok," Alfred smiled.

Hawai'i nodded. "I'll be with the islands, but remember the 4th of July party is coming soon!" Alfred smiled and headed away from the beach as Kalani grabbed her surfboard and walked closer to the ocean with her surfboard and ore.

—————

Vermont, the republic, stood on a watch tower looking over the forest.
"Mable, you see 'hat road over 'here?"
"Ah? Oh yes, I think."
"Only road in this entire country that isn't coated with solar panels, do you know why?"
"Umm, no. Too cold? Bears?" Vermont state asked.
"Not bears, but because it's too close to the Canadian border. Do you know why the Canadian border is so unpro'ected?" Mary asked her younger sister.
Mable thought for a moment, "Because it has been for 100s of years, and the Canadians haven't harmed, invaded or threatened us, civilian or Military since 1812?"
"Correc!" Mary smiled, handing her a pair of binoculars while she pulled out her own.
"Our forests go into Quebec, us Vermonters are the very few who can go over borders." Mary said proudly.
"I know" Mable smiled.

"Are we going to reopen the borders one day?" Mable asked, looking at her older sister.
"One day, but we have our goals to meet beforehand, why? Missing traveling already?" Mary teased.
"No, just miss Pop."
"Ah, well." Mary sighed, it was a common feeling amongst the states, they missed their father's lover. "Maybe a letter? A group letter of New England all in one envelope?" Mary suggested.
"Not the same MayMay," Mable sighed heavily.
"It'll end eventually, eventually."

——

~Pruame~

Alfred stood looking out from his balcony, he held a solemn face. His hoodie was one of his lover's hoodies he had left many years ago.
"Damn, how long has it been since isolation?" He looked down at his phone, "28 years..." his voice trailed off, "we're not even halfway done. How much longer is this going to have to last?" he asked himself. He looked at his home screen. It was a photo of himself and Prussia. Gilbert had taken it when Alfred was asleep on his lap. He honestly missed Gilbert, he was his boyfriend after all.
Suddenly his screen changed, "speak of the devil and he will appear," Alfred laughed emptily and picked up.
"Hey Gil~" He smiled chipperly.
"Morning Liebing." Gilbert smiled, still mostly asleep and Gilbird could be heard chirping in the background

Gilbert had been feeling the same as Alfred, he missed being able to come over and not leave for a month. To be able to sneak kisses during meetings and drag him off to a supply closet to keep Alfred's loud mouth occupied. To sneak into Alfred's hotel room and greet him upon his return to give him a bit of a mood boost in more ways than one.
They talked a while as Gilbert went about doing his share of his brother's work.

Alfred looked out on his land, he and Gilbert had gotten onto the topic of land. "Clear sky's and beautiful tall trees" Alfred said looking at his backyard.
Gilbert hummed before an idea came to mind, "definitely not as beautiful as you are when I have you-" "GILBERT!" Alfred screamed over Gilbert as his face was easily compared to a tomato.

"Kesesese, Ich liebe dich auch Liebling" Gilbert laughed. Alfred still was blushing, "love you too, Gil."