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Delaware couldn't remember the last time they were in a room together. Let alone even the last time they had spoken to each other. After the Civil War nothing had been the same.
It was hard watching them fight each other, Maryland thought so too. Delaware couldn't stand the thought of hurting the country they had created together, but he would have to leave the south behind. It was too hard of a decision to make, and Delaware didn't have it in his heart to put any group of states over the other, so he chose to stay neutral, along with Maryland.
He didn't know if staying neutral helped his relationship with the other twelve or hurt it more. Both sides were upset he wasn't helping. He turned down requests for help from both sides, but still didn't feel right as the south told him that he was "abandoning" them.
He only stayed neutral because the north never threatened his slaves. They wanted to keep as many allies they could.
If Delaware was being honest, he would say he didn't know where he belonged. He usually stayed with the south, but he was too north to be considered a part of the south. Hell, he bordered New Jersey. He always felt like somewhat of an outcast, never completely fitting in anywhere. Mary helped him feel better, but even he had somewhere to belong.
Delaware fiddled with the button on his jacket pocket. He looked at these people he knew all his life, the ones he went from colonies to states with. He questioned himself, Why aren't we that close anymore? What happened to us?
He looked down towards Georgia. He played with a penny he had found on the floor before they had left for war. His eyes fluttered shut, but he fought to keep them open. He felt the need to stay awake just in case anything happened. He didn't want to sleep through something important again.
Georgia was always interesting in Delaware's opinion. He was either sleeping or he was very energetic, helping out with the farm, taking care of the children, or helping some younger state.
Truly, five times out of ten, he was asleep. Delaware believed he was lucky because he could sleep absolutely anywhere.
He then watched North and South Carolina sit silently with their backs against the cold stone wall. It was unusual to see them civil, but even now North seemed upset at South. He just didn't feel it was right to have an outburst while the room was almost silent.
Delware liked the twins. Being around them was constant entertainment. They would find the littlest thing to argue over, usually over who was better. Delaware was more on North's side. He didn't know why. North just seemed more friendlier.
He felt a small tap on his leg. Looking down, he saw Pennsylvania, looking up at him. "They need ya over there, Del," Penn said, gesturing to the group of states across from them with his cigarette. Delaware nodded, quietly making his way over.
He saw Massachusetts cleaning some kind of wound on New York's arm. New Jersey looked annoyed, holding York's hand as Connecticut was on the other side of New York, quietly whispering something in his ear.
"I can't fuckin' do anythin' if ya keep movin'!" Mass yelled in a quiet tone. Virginia placed a hand on Mass' shoulder, "You want me to take over?" Mass shook his head, "Nah, Cut, hold his arm straight." Connecticut used his hands to hold York's arm still and linear as Mass cleaned the wound.
New York flinched harshly at the alcohol, hissing a line of curses under his breath.
"Uh- Ginny?" Virginia turned his head, then smiled, "Right, Delaware, could you take Jersey's spot for now? He claims he can't feel his hand." Delaware looked at Virginia, then at New Jersey, then back at Gin, "Will I not be able to feel my hand after this too?"
"Ya won't if York doesn' stop being a fuckin' baby," Jersey spat, glaring at York through the corner of his eye. York looked like he was about to use a rebuttal but instead he bit his tongue as Mass pressed down on it again. Jersey stood up, gestured to York, and walked away. Delaware took a step closer to the pained state and took a seat right next to him.
York quickly took his hand and squeezed it hard. Delaware winced at the feeling of his hand being crushed. "Jesus- I get what Jersey means- Ow-" Mass grabbed York's face, "Hey, asswipe, stop crushin' his hand. I don't wanna have another one of yous to take care of." New York scowled at him, but slowly released his grip on Delaware's hand. There was going to be a bruise there.
He has always admired Mass for how well he dealt with the other states. Always ordering, but always listened to. He was like a constant general in each of their lives and you felt bad disobeying his demands. He just had that effect on people that made them want to listen. They want his praise.
Virginia was something else. He was like Massachusetts, as all respected him, but he was more kind a mothering than Mass. If the United States had a mother and a father, it would be them. Ginny always cared for each state's mental and physical health liek a mother would. All of the thirteen never had a mother, so Ginny took that role.
Now for New York, Delaware didn't know where to begin and where to end. He always considered York as extremely influential but not entirely in a good way. Delaware had knew New York since they were owned by the Dutch, and even then he was kind of hot-headed and courageous. He always took daring leaps to make himself known, and to Delaware it seemed it had worked.
His city is one of, if not the, most important and influential cities out there. He definitely didn't fail on making himself known. The things he had done to get there, very questionable choices but York never explained why. He just told them that it didn't matter what he did to get there, as long as he made it.
New York was different, always doing the other thing, always going left of most went right. That’s why he was pretty much outcasted. Delaware felt bad for the state, but he didn’t really seem to care that much as long as the world loved him, or well, his city. New York was always the “Chosen one”and New Jersey hated York for it.
He came to Delaware one night, ranting to him about how New York was a total asshole, stealing all the attention and spotlight off of him and putting it on himself. New Jersey asked Delaware if he was being selfish, jealous of his younger brothers success. He had then told him that it was normal to feel that way, feeling stuck in someone's shadow and being constantly reminded of someone who was said to be superior.
Delaware also told Jersey how he admired his garden and how well put-together it was. Yes, he would stay in his younger brother's shadow, but he would have to find the cracks of sunlight peaking through to continue to grow his garden. New Jersey told Delaware that was the cheesiest thing he had ever heard in his life, but still thanked him for the advice.
(Delaware agreed with New Jersey that it was all in the tomatoes as well. He helped Jersey make the recipe for the pizza deemed as the best in the nation)
Delaware was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard New York let out a muffled yelp, squeezing his hand yet again.
"York, it's alright, you're gonna be fine." Connecticut soothed. Mass sighed, "You just had to get shot, didn't ya? Outta all people.." Mass muttered, placing a gauze pad on the bullet wound. Mass looked in New York's eyes, so did Delaware.
Though he shoved them back, it was clear he was fighting back tears. Delaware cupped his other hand around New York's, holding his hand tightly as a way to calm him down. Delaware thought after years of fighting York would be okay with gunshot wounds and blood, but Delaware guessed fears like that never die.
"It wasn't that bad, was it?" Mass asked, grinning. York sniffled, "Fuck you." Delaware couldn't help but smile at their interaction. "I didn't know it would bring you to tears, I'm sorry." Mass replied. Ginny shoved Mass, "Stop annoying him and finish wrapping him up. He is the one who was shot," Virginia said. "He must've been scared." New York glared up at Virginia but didn't dare say anything.
“Cut, pass me the gauze,” Mass said, reaching his hand out to Connecticut. He reached over into the very large first aid kid Mass had on hand most of the time and tossed him the roller gauze from inside. Mass caught it and stretched it out but paused before he started wrapping.
“You promise ya won’t cry on me?” Mass asked. “Tears won’t help.” New York glared at him, “I ain’t gonna cry, dipshit! Jus’ get on with it!” York defended, furrowing his eyebrows. Mass chuckled, but started wrapping his arm anyway.
Connecticut was always there when you needed him, unless he was out on the boat, sailing away from all of their problems. But he made up for it, being there for every one of them if they needed it. Delaware had noticed he had stopped sailing and going near the water at all. It worried him.
Connecticut always looked towards the water, as did Rhode Island. Cut had a connection with the water, the waves, the fish, everything about the ocean. He told Del that if he could take Rhode Island and sail away forever, he would. Though, he mentioned he would feel terrible for leaving them behind, so he wouldn’t.
“Mass, why is there fishing hooks in this first aid kit?” Connecticut asked, looking up at the Bay State. Mass shrugged, but Rhode Island started, “Emergency fishing trip.” Cut laughed watching as he dug through the first aid kit, picking out all of the hooks he could find. “I’m going to steal these from ya, Mass,” Rhode Island stated.
“Put my goddamn hooks back!” “Explain why you have so many! I see five more at the bottom of this bag!” Rhode Island exclaimed, “There are around twenty lying on the floor as well!” Delaware smiled as Cut continued snickering as the two fought over hooks.
“It’s more of a survival kit, no?” Maryland chimed in, standing over Rhode Island. He look towards Mass. “Well a first aid kit is supposed to help people survive, right?” Mass asked, looking back at him. Maryland shrugged, “I guess, but hun, it’s not supposed to have three boxes of unopened bullets in there.”
“What?!” Delaware exclaimed, to which New York flinched. “Sorry-“ New York just waved it off, going back to looking equally as confused. Mass used his pocketknife to cut off the extra bandage and then crossed his arms, “It’s for protection,” He stated as if it was normal.
“Don’ see no gun in there,” York muttered, earning a glare from Mass. “What? What are you supposed to do with ‘em if ya ain’t got no gun?” York asked, honestly. “Throw them at people and hope they hurt?” “Are ya stupid or somethin’?” Mass asked New York, to which he grinned, “I just might be ‘cause I don’ have a clue what you would do wit’ them.” Mass huffed, standing up.
Rhode Island was entertaining to be around. He would pick and choose little things to annoy people about which was always constant entertainment, especially in the northeast where insults are thrown like baseballs. He’d usually start making fun of someone, usually Massachusetts or New Hampshire, and continue picking on them until they either threatened his life or they walked out of the room.
He too had an eye for the ocean. Cut and Rhode Island were sailing buddies since they were young. They built model boats together and sailed them on puddles after it rained or they would go to the harbor. They usually lost their boats in the harbor, so they would wait for it to rain.
New Hampshire called them weird, but they were just doing what they loved. Little did they know then that they would be sailing those ships docked in the harbor into battle one day.
On the thought of New Hampshire, Delaware never really knew when it came to him. He would constantly talk about not wanting to be there, not wanting to be apart of this country, but then joined them when the time was right, living by “live free or die”. Though, New Hampshire was more reserved to himself, not wanting to go anywhere other than the occasional dinner at one of the Thirteen’s houses.
He told Delaware that he felt obligated to be there. He was apart of their family after all.
Delaware noticed how he had said “family” to describe them. He thought it was sweet, wondering if all of the Northeast felt the same way. They were truly just one big family, if not by blood then by choice. They had all agreed to start a country, to rely on each other, to make it out on top, and it worked. Delaware will never get over the feeling when they had won the war.
Each of the states hopeful eyes that something bigger and brighter was ahead of them. A whole new life with their own freedom and opinions. They got to make the rules.
Even if New York wasn’t there to witness it that day, Delaware knew for sure that he could feel it. They all could.
“Delaware? You in there?” Maryland asked, shoving his shoulder lightly. Delaware snapped out of his thoughts, “What? Oh, right, sorry.” Maryland smiled sweetly, “Don’t apologize, but it is time to rest,” he stated, reaching out a hand for Delaware to take. He hadn’t even noticed New York and the others leaving.
He and Maryland walked over to their cots. They had only so many, so New York and New Jersey had to share one and so did Gin and Mass. Ginny and Mass didn’t seem to mind but York and Jersey hated it. Delaware woke up to them fighting in the middle of the night.
Delaware sat down on the side of his cot, kicked his boots off, and laid back, staring at the concrete ceiling.
Maryland has been the one Delaware had been the closest with. He is so caring and considerate that sometimes Delaware hates him for it. His home and his arms are always open, even when people don’t deserve his care. Delaware isn’t good with speaking up, but Maryland’s even worse.
Maryland’s only flaw is that he can’t stand up for himself. He wasn’t as tough as the others. He was easier to break, softer skin to punch. Del can’t always be there to help him speak and sometimes Maryland had other thoughts than him, so he had to be careful. Maryland wouldn’t tell Delaware if something he had said didn’t mix in with his beliefs. He was just too kind.
They had to be careful with Maryland’s heart, for it shattered too easily. Pennsylvania punched a artisan once when he insulted Maryland to the face. Mary was upset, but thanked Penn for defending him.
Pennsylvania was never.. all there. His personality seemed to change every day. One day he could be normal, the next completely insane, then back to his calm and slightly annoyed self. Delaware always blamed it on the early access to alcohol, but he wasn’t so sure. Mass started drinking at twelve and he never had huge mood swings like Penn did.
Pennsylvania had a hard time with alcohol, but he was a good father nonetheless. He raised the government, Del had to give him credit for that. (Even if Delaware hated Gov. Everyone did) Penn had a handful of kids and they were all raised nicely. Delaware doesn’t have many kids, but he hopes he’s a good father like Penn.
Most of the Northeast had children and they were all different around them then each other.
New York had explained to him how he could not force himself to get mad at them. Del thought maybe York let all his anger out on the others that he had none left for his kids. At the time, his three kids, NYC, LI, and Albany loved him to death. Delaware loved watching after them when York needed someone to. Maryland always came over to help.
It was like that for most of the Thirteen. They yell at each other but vowed to keep the fighting to the Statehouse. He believed it was a response to how they were treated as children. They don’t want their children ending up how they did.
“Fuck you- move over!” Jersey whispered-shouted at York, who was to tall for his own good. “I can’t fuckin’ move asshole- OW!” York exclaimed, not as quietly. “Will you both please shut up? I’m fuckin’ tired.” New Hampshire pleaded quietly.
“This motherfucker is takin’ the whole bed up!” Jersey groaned, shoving York. York pushed back, the cot creaking loudly under the two. York sighed, “Fuck this, I’m sleepin’ on the floor.” Delaware turned towards New York, who shuffled into a sitting position. He stood up slowly just to sit down on the floor.
After a few moments of silence, Jersey piped up, “York, get yer ass back on this bed.” York rolled his eyes, “I can’t sleep, you can. Take the power ya have and use it.” Jersey sat up, “Sleepin’ isn’t a power, it’s somethin’ ya need to survive,” He stated. “Now c’mon, I won’t push ya anymore.”
York huffed, standing up and falling back on the cot. Jersey stuck to his words even if he was uncomfortable. Delaware believed that this was the definition of brotherhood.
Delware wondered if he was the only one who thought about each of them separately. He constantly told himself that he was just overthinking, he needed to stop holding on to this “family” thing.
He couldn’t let go. This was his family, something they were together. He would say that there was no “I” in family but there was so it wouldn’t really make any sense. But it does in some sense.
There couldn’t be this family without Delaware. Nor without Mass or Penn or Rhodey. Each of these states helped create this union, and it wouldn’t be the same if one of them didn’t exist.
They say they hate each other, insult themselves, but they always come back. No matter what, they will always come back.
They all swore when they were younger and they kept their promises.
They really are still children, aren’t they?
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