Given The Choice

A festive and upbeat mood swept across the room, leaving everyone in its path under its influence. Streamers hung from the walls and balloons that had long ago run out of helium were littered around the floor, being kicked back up into the air whenever someone moved. The low sound of music could be heard amidst the constant chatter, or arguing in the case of two certain provincial neighbors. A table creaking under the weight of food was pushed up against one of the walls. A cooler overflowing with ice and beer was next to it, and if you went close enough, you could see a container of brownies hidden behind it, out of view.

"Ohhonhonhon~" A distinctively French voice laughed out. France, while lazily clutching a glass swirling with wine in one hand, wrapped an arm around his current victim conversation partner. "So, ma petite chouette, how have you been? It's just been so long since we've been able to talk like this, I've been very concerned with your well-being."

The ever polite smile that was plastered onto New Brunswick's face wavered slightly as the Frenchman's breath lightly blew across her face. The scent of wine tickled her nostrils, and she had to force herself not to wrinkle her nose and pull away. "I-I have been fine, Papa. Everything is going well in my home." She responded politely, reinforcing her smile convincingly.

A scoff was heard from behind the pair, which caused the two to turn and look in confused surprise. An annoyed England glared at France, his arms crossed over his chest, foot tapping on the floor and usual scowl covering his face. "You bloody frog!" He snapped. "You should know by now that she's only doing this to be nice to you." He scolded, walking over to the two. He grabbed onto the arm opposite of France and gently pulled New Brunswick away from his rival. "Although why she'd bother with doing something like that still escapes me."

"She is not!" France objected, ruffling up defensively. "Don't be ridiculous. She obviously cares for me. Isn't that right, ma petite poulette?" He asked, turning his eyes to New Brunswick, who jumped and began to splutter out words of agreement. A smirk crossed France's face as his gaze returned to England's. "See! You're just jealous you didn't find her first." He argued, taking a sip of his wine. "That was me. So of course she'll always have a special love for me."

England spluttered a bit, a light blush coming onto his cheeks, as he continued to glare at the Frenchman. "Th-that's bollocks! She likes me just as much as she likes you!" England whirled around to face New Brunswick, softening his facial expression. "Isn't that right...um...what was your name again...?"

New Brunswick frowned. "N-New Brunswick..." She reminded him unhappily.

"Ah! That's right!" England suddenly remembered, trying his best to ignore the smug looks France was sending him. "New Brunswick. The good one out of British North America." He commented, watching as New Brunswick's face lit up with delight and a small blush crossed her cheeks. His smile widened ever so slightly. "You're on my side with this, right? You like me just as much as you like that damn Frog, correct?"

New Brunswick nodded her head eagerly. "Oui, Papa England! Of course." With a smug look on his face at being right, England turned back to France with a smug expression. France just scoffed.

"Doesn't count if you practically force her to say it, chenille."

"You bloody git!"

From the other side of the room, a saddened Nova Scotia watched the three, sitting down comfortably in a chair and clutching his beer and sighing. British Colombia, who had been looking for his brownies at the food table next to Nova Scotia and was displeased when she couldn't find them, glanced up when she heard her fellow province sigh. Following her gaze to the trio, a small smirk came onto her face. Giving up her hunt for her magically disappearing brownies, she sat down on the arm of Nova Scotia's seat. "So...outshined by both of our fathers again, huh?" British Colombia asked, nudging the other gently. Nova Scotia just let out an unhappy grunt and turned his head away from the female, resting it on the palm of his hand. British Colombia's smirk grew slightly. "Of course, it's not totally unexpected. France and England are both a lot older than you. They've obviously got more money and strength then any of us provinces. Probably better in bed too." She added in, taking amusement in the way Nova Scotia, who just went to take a sip from his beer as she spoke, spat it all back out, coughing roughly. "Wouldn't surprise me if she left us all for one of those two."

"You're wrong!" Nova Scotia snapped, whirling around to look at British Colombia. A frown sat upon his lips, eyebrows furrowed and eyes glittering with unhappiness. "B-Bonnie wouldn't care ab-about anything like that! She loves me, she's not going to leave me for one of our FATHERS, for God's sake!"

British Colombia raised an eyebrow at his outburst. Crossing her legs, she placed her elbow on top of one and cradled her head in her hand. The smirk remained on her face. "Who are you convincing? Me? Or yourself?" she asked calmly. Nova Scotia's expression and answer faltered, for just a second, but it was enough to confirm British Colombia's suspicions. "See! You don't even believe it yourself!" Chuckling to herself, she pushed up off the chair's arm and stood up. Turning, she placed a comforting hand on Nova Scotia's smile and gave him a small smile. "Don't worry about it too much. It was mostly me taking out my lack of brownie anger." She admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "She does love you, even if she spends most of her time with our fathers. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go...convince Canada to show me where he hid my brownies." With that said and done, British Colombia turned on her heel and hunted down said nation, leaving the previous male she had been talking to sulking.

Nova Scotia watched his western neighbor walk off with a sour look on his face. He had heard her later words of comfort, crappy and unthoughtout as they were, but her earlier comments stood out in his mind more. Could his Bonnie...could she really leave him? Sure, he had considered it briefly before, but never as seriously as he was now. She did spend all of her time with the two nations when they were here visiting, often leaving Nova Scotia behind. Could it be that...she loved them, and he was just a toy? Raising his head up once more, he glanced back in the direction his love and two fathers had previous been in. His heart dropped into his stomach when he saw that they weren't there anymore. Perhaps British Colombia had been right. Perhaps she had decided to go to Europe with them...

Nova Scotia was knocked out of his depressing thoughts by the feeling of someone taking his hand. His head shooting to face that side, his eyes widened slightly as New Brunswick frowned down at him. "Est-ce que...t'es correct?" She asked him gently.

"B-Bonnie!" Nova Scotia shouted, ignoring her question and sending his hands flying upwards to cup her face. "Y-you're still here? You didn't go off somewhere with France and England, wooed by their European charms? Because I promise you, I can be so much better of a lover than either that pirate or creepy French rapist could ever be! Just please, please don't leave me and stay by my side and-"

"Joel!" New Brunswick interrupted, grabbing onto his shoulders and shaking him lightly. "Please, calm down! I'm not leaving you for either of our Papas, so please, get a hold of yourself." She watched him silently as he took a few breaths to do as she wanted. When she deemed him calm enough, she smiled at him and let out a small giggle. "What made you think that I was going to leave you for our fathers?" She asked him.

A light blush claimed its place on Nova Scotia's cheeks. His eyes trailed over to the side to avoid hers as he mumbled his answer. When New Brunswick simply frowned and asked him what he said, Nova Scotia sighed, knowing he'd have to tell her. He looked back at her. "British Colombia..."

New Brunswick stared at him silently for a little while with a blank expression covering her face. Suddenly, she burst into loud laughter that attracted the gaze of a few close by provinces. Nova Scotia frowned as he watched her continue to laugh at him. Eventually she stopped and wiped away some tears from her eyes. "Y-you really believed what our soeur said! You know she's always teasing people!"

"I know!" Nova Scotia replied quickly, frowning a little. "But...but you're always going to see France and England when they're here...and you leave me behind..."

New Brunswick blinked in surprise at the confession. She let out a small laugh, her smiles easing out into a gentle one. Leaning forward, she placed a feathery light kiss on his forehead. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you unhappy. But you know..." She paused to gently run her fingers through his hair. "If ever given the choice between the three of you, I'd pick you. Every time."

Nova Scotia blushed a bit more before smiling widely and wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I love you." He smiled, pulling her into a tight hug.

New Brunswick laughed gently and wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her face up against his chest. "Je t'aime aussi."