Francis found Jenny over at the tables drawing. He smiled as he saw her small doodles of their group. She was so cute.
He took a deep breath. He could do it. He had to do it. But he was nervous. The last few times he had fallen for a mortal things had ended badly for them. He did not want something bad to happen to Jenny. But he also knew that he would never be able to move on unless he told her how he felt. Maybe if he did this he would be able to look back and remember what had happened in this mansion.
For being the country of love…he sure did get nervous when he would declare his love. Francis braced himself and reminded himself that he was France, the country of love. He could do this.
“I am a smart and extremely handsome, charismatic man. I can do this.”
He walked over to Jenny and cleared his throat, “Excusez-moi? Mademoiselle Jenny?”
Jenny looked up from her drawing and blushed. Francis was close to her. She always was a little flustered at first when Francis was near, because she really liked him a lot.
“H-hello, Francis,” was all that she could say.
Francis pulled at his collar nervously, “This is ‘ard for me to say…”
“What is it?” Jenny asked.
Francis weighed his options. He could just turn this all into a light heated joke like he sometimes did. But that would not be following his heart. He could try and turn on the normal France charm, but that was impossible with how nervous he was. When was the last time he did this to someone? Yes, sure he pronounced his undying love to a country every other day…But they all knew he was joking and besides…People did not last as long as countries. Their lives were so fleeting that they could be gone in an instant. He was not sure if he could go through that again.
“Je t'aime ma chérie!” he blurted out.
Jenny turned bright red, “W-what?”
Francis groaned inside. He said it. So…he might as well commit.
“I…I love you, Jenny…”
Jenny stayed silent trying to comprehend what she had just heard. Her brain exploded and her heart was pounding. Somewhere in her brain the alleluia chorus was also going off.
Francis twitched nervously, “I understand if you do not feel the same way…”
“No no!” Jenny cried, standing up quickly, knocking her chair over with a loud bang.
Jenny paused as she locked eyes with Francis. Their faces with red and both shaking a little from the nerves.
“I… Je t'aime t-trop…”she finally said.
Francis face went from nervous wreck to calm relief and joy as a smile appeared on his face.
“Then…Je suis rempli de joie! I am filled with joy!” he said hugging her.
Francis pull back and brushed Jenny’s hair out of her face. He leaned in close.
“May I?” he asked.
“Oui~”
Francis gently pressed his lips against Jenny’s and pulled her into a tight embrace as if their time was fleeting quickly. Francis wanted to show Jenny as much love as he could for as long as he could. Even though someday they would have to be parted. He could never grow old with her, but right now none of that mattered. All that mattered was here and now.
Suddenly, Francis felt like he had been struck by lightning. He pulled away from Jenny and gripped his head. Memories flooded in and stopped as quickly as they came. He remembered entering the mansion with England, America and Canada. He remembered the contract they signed and choosing the name Francis…what those names meant and what promise they held. But sadly he could not remember much else.
“What’s wrong?” Jenny asked.
“I…I remembered…”he said.
“Remembered what?”
Francis explained what Chero had told him before and how he had remembered a few things when they kissed.
“That’s awesome! We need to figure out how to get you to remember more.”
Francis tilted her chin up with his finger, “Maybe if we kiss more~”
“Maybe…” Jenny blushed.
“Or~ If we do more~” he flirted.
Jenny hit him playfully, “Oh shut up!”
