Would you shut up?

America winced as he pulled open his button-up shirt, revealing several small splintered cracks that were sprouting from his heart.

He was sitting on the edge of his bed, a mirror propped up on the cream-colored corner wall.

It's not that bad.

Dixie's snort rang inside his head.

Why would you think that.

Look around, Ame. It is because of me. People are hating and destroying things and it's

Stop saying stuff like that. You aren't even corporeal anymore. You have no effect on the world.

America sighed out loud, flopping back down on his bed. It was true that Dix had been louder in his thoughts than normal. And by louder, he meant less... muffled. He still remembered the confusion of when Dixie appeared in his head. How he had just driven a bayonet through his heart, how thousands of cracks splintered through his body, and how he shattered into dust. Then the exact phrase What in tarnation?

He felt his other half stomp around in his brain, rummaging through his memories, trying to find some proof that he was the reason his States kept bursting into flames.

Stop that. Ame thought at his brother. You're making my brain hurt.

He huffed.

Don't say stuff like that.

"You are not the reason this is happening!"

It took America a few seconds to realize that he had said that out loud. He sighed, sitting up, and put his head in his hands. You're the only one, Dix.

That believes in me.

Ame ran his hands through his hair. Then why does it feel that way?

"Dad!" A voice rang outside the door. "Minne's on fire again!"

America sat up quickly, snapping his buttons into place. "I'm coming!"

You need to tell them what's happening to you.

Shut up.

Ame shot off his bed and out the door, California close behind him.

"How bad is it?"

"Not that bad. Just her arm."

"How long? "

"A couple of minutes. We thought we had it under control, but it started spreading."

America bit his lip and turned his fast stride into a jog.

Tensions have been high. He and Cali haven't been getting along, and relations were only getting worse. So they only spoke to each other when necessary.

My fauuuuuult.

Shut. Up.

They soon reach the lounge, where a good amount of States were crowded.

"Back up!"

"Give her some air! "

"No way! Oxygen helps fires!"

"New Jersy, on a scale from one to ten, ten being the most stupid and one being the least, where would you say how dumb you are?"

"Hey!"

"Everyone move! Dad's here!"

Ame pushed his way through the sea of children and saw they had propped Minnesota's head up with a pillow. Her face contracted pain, but she was refusing to yell. Her arm was a charcoal mess, flames still active.

"No." Minne snapped. "This is my problem and I'm gonna deal with it! I won't let you take the pain away."

"Minne please." Ame looked at his daughter.

"No!" She curled in on herself, and let out a yelp of pain as her arm's flames grew higher.

"Let's all take a little bit." New Mexico said, his monotone voice cutting through the silence.

America sighed. "Would that help?"

Minnesota blinked away tears of pain. "O-ok. Fine."

America shifted in front of her, placing his hands on her shoulders, and took a deep breath. He felt his States place their hands on his shoulders, and when there wasn't enough room left on shoulders, the states that were left put their hands on the state's that were touching his shoulders.

"Don't even think about just channeling it to you Dad."

"Ya, we can tell!"

Give some to me too.

Ame chuckled and began the process.

He and his States were connected, so he could take away their pain and visa versa. Although he usually never let them. He hated hurting his kids.

The process felt strange. It was like drinking poison. Like you were draining them of the thing that was causing them to lose life. After the tingling sensation, you got pain. Sharp, raw pain.

He had taken small things for his states. Knee scrapes, stubbed toes, and an occasional broken bone. But this was different. The pain was coming from the heart. Fire burning you from the inside. It wasn't pleasant.

He felt Dix hiss softly as he passed some of the pain to him. Don't hold it back. I can take it.

If I give you anymore I'll get a massive headache.

He heard each of the states grunt, yip, or moan if pain as he passed some to them. Soon the strange sensation was gone, but the fire was still there. He looked down at his arm, not very surprised to see a patch of burned skin that would heal in a few days.

He removed his hands from Minne's shoulders and stood up. Minnesota relaxed back into her propped up- pillow. America took note that the flame was gone but the burn didn't shrink.

"Well," Texas said, observing the burn on his arm. "when you said we'd bee spending 'more time together Pap I never thought it would be like this."

A soft wave of giggles passed over the crowd of kids, and He heard Dixie's rumble of a laugh tremble in his head.

Ame smiled. "Who wants some Apple Pie?"