(warning: slight angst)

(also a huge nugget of big sad lore™ is dropped here. Please put down your pitchforks, because I can assure you that Texas is OK and a certain someone is FAR FAR AWAY from him in prison and/or dead. EVERYTHING IS ONLY UP FROM HERE)

Texas and California were finally there.

Abuelos farm.

Texas was ready for fun.

Cali was confused as to why the sun hurt to look at.

"Aguilito! I missed you, mi vida!" Spain exclaimed, giving Texas a big hug. Also my laptop is being difficult so I am having trouble typing accents so sorry :(

"I missed you too!!! Cali missed you too!!" Texas exclaimed. Cali was indifferent.

"Come in amor, I've got dinner ready- is Cali ok eating normal food?" Spain asked.

"She's good with pureed fruits and veggies, yogurts, pretty much anything she doesn't need to chew. I brought some food for her in this bag, along with diapers, toys, and anything else she may need," America said, handing Spain the bag of baby things.

"Good, good... would you like something to eat? You don't need to leave so soon," Spain said. America smiled politely.

"No... me and Mexico are having a nice night out... I don't want to keep him waiting too long," America said. Spain smiled.

"Ay, my son has found a good man! Go, have fun," Spain said. America nodded, gave his kids parting hugs, and left.

Spain sat the kids down, and they started to feast, Texas talking about all the exciting things that had happened.

"And I have a enemy, a hero, and a princess friend. Tito says that her could be my girlfriend. What do you think?" Texas asked. Spain chuckled.

"Oh aguilito, you're far too young to know," Spain said.

"No! I'm a big kid! I'll be an adult before you know it!" Texas exclaimed.

"Ok mi vida, but do you really think you'd want to marry this princess you're talking about?" Spain asked.

"I could!!! Watch me!!!!" Texas exclaimed. Spain chuckled some more, which annoyed Texas.

"Love isn't a challenge. It's not a matter of what you could do, but what you want to build with the other person. A life, a home, a family, whatever it may be, must have genuine love and compassion for its foundation," Spain said.

"Huh," Texas said, very confused.

"Um... Just... you'll understand when you're older... you can have a 'girlfriend' if you'd like, but no getting married until you're at least eighteen," Spain said. Texas smiled.

"Yaaay!" Texas exclaimed, still not quite understanding the full purpose of dating and what it entails. However, he still liked having a special connection with each of his friends. Phil was his hero, Tito his enemy, and Holly was his girlfriend. He figured he should probably let her know, so that night, he had his abuelo set up a video call with Neth, so he and Holly could discuss this new advancement in their partnership.

T: Hi Holly!!!

H: Hiiii!!! Pa told me you wanna be my boyfriend?

T: Mhm!

H: Why?

T: Because my abuelo said I could!

H: Oh! Ok!

T: Yay!

H: Yay!

Meanwhile, Spain was talking to Neth on the phone.

S: Yeah, I don't think they really understand what they are talking about, soooo might as well let em' have their fun

N: Yeah, I understand. I mean, Texas still thinks he and Tito hate each other! Or, at least they are still pretending to

S: They're gonna have a good laugh when they think back to this ten years from now

N: it's still crazy to me how in ten years they'll be teens... that's too soon! I just wish they can be this young forever

S: Yes... although I'm excited to see what they'll grow up to be. I wonder how long Texas will hold his love of being a cowboy. I mean, he doesn't hate farm work, but I think he doesn't realize that cowboys are just... cowboys. Seeing how Texas acts, I'm sure he'd much rather be a cop

N: heh, yeah... I'm just worried about Tito... I hope he doesn't actually go down the path his brother did... Tito is very sweet, and I don't want Italy to lose another child

S: I haven't even met Tito, but judging by everything I've heard, he's on a much purer path than we might think. I think Tito just wants to appear cool, but on the inside he's just as loving and kind as Texas and Holly

N: yeah, I think so too, I still worry though... well, Holly seems sleepy, so I need to get her to bed. Have a good night

S: thank you, you too

That night, Texas woke up to another nightmare. He didn't like this. Good thing his abuelos house was small, so he could hear Texas crying immediately, and go to check on him.

"Ay, aguilito... another nightmare?" Spain said, sitting down next to Texas and hugging him close.

"It keeps happening.... I don't wanna sleep anymore," Texas cried.

"You need sleep, mi vida-,"

"It's too scary!"

"But-,"

"NO! You can't make me go back! I don't wanna go back!" Texas cried. Spain didn't know what to do.

"Um... hey...," Spain said, noticing a small stuffed bear peeking out of a drawer. Spain had forgotten he bought it for Texas a while back. He picked him up, and gave it to Texas. "This is Osito... he is small, but very strong. He'll make sure you're safe," Spain said. Texas hugged Osito close, taking deep breaths. "... Will you be ok if I go?" Spain asked. Texas looked uncertain, hugging Osito closer.

"Y-yeah...," Texas said.

"Remember mi vida, what happens in your sleep is all in your head... tomorrow, you'll still be here, safe. Osito and I would never let anything bad happen to you," Spain said. Texas smiled nervously and nodded, before falling asleep, snuggling close to Osito. Spain smiled, but sighed.

S: America?

A: Another nightmare?

S: yeah...

A:......

S: Ay mijo, don't cry-

A: I know why he's having these nightmares... I... I just know....

S: I know, I'll talk to him, ok? Don't blame yourself Ame, he's gone from your child's life for good

A: ok...

The next day, while Texas was holding California up on April's back, trying to teach her the basics of riding a horse, Spain was trying to get him to talk about his dream.

"So... do you remember anything from your dreams?" Spain asked.

"Big monster... he's scary," Texas said dismissively, wanting the conversation to go by quickly and painlessly.

"Mhm... does the monster hurt you at all?" Spain asked. Texas was silent for a moment.

"He's mean sometimes... and is really loud. He'll chase me and then when he catches me he almost kills me,"

"Almost...?"

"Mhm, he'll choke me until I'm almost dead, but lets me go before I do... he laughs too. I think he thinks it's funny," Texas said. Spain was disturbed, to say the least.

"That's... that's not...," Spain stuttered, wanting to find the right thing to say. "...that monster is awful," Spain said. Texas nodded.

"Mhm... I have nice dreams too though!" Texas exclaimed.

"Like what?" Spain asked.

"Dreams where I'm here, or where I'm flying, or when Cali is older and a warrior princess," Texas said happily, greatly preferring the good dreams. Spain smiled.

"Good things can happen in your dreams... and the bad is only in your mind. That monster has no power here, aguilito... No power at all... come with me, I think it's time to tell that monster he's not welcome here," Spain said. He had Texas draw the monster on a piece of paper, and then took him over to a small fire pit. Texas tore up the monster and dropped him in the fire.

"To hell with you!!" Texas exclaimed, repeating what he heard in a movie. Usually, Spain wouldn't want Texas saying that, but no monster- real or fake- could get away with hurting his grandchild.

"Yes, to hell with you, Confederate," Spain said softly.