Prussia bounded shakily into the living room at Canada's house.

"Mein awesome scarves! They have arrived!" he exclaimed joyfully to his blond best friend, who was sitting on the thick rug in front of the fireplace.

"That's great, Gil!" Canada laughed at the excited ex-country.

Wasting no time opening up the package, Prussia dumped four colorful scarves and a black puffy headcap on the floor.

"I cannot wait to get these on," Prussia said, looking up at Canada with tears in his eyes.

Canada smiled back at him, nodding.

"Do you need help getting to the bathroom, Gil?" he asked softly.

"Even the pain in my legs could not stop me today birdie! Today, I will be as powerful as I used to be."

Canada still reached out when Prussia almost toppled over as he attempted to stand. The pain must have been bad today.

As the albino wobbled over to the bathroom, Canada thought about how rapidly the ex-country's health was degrading. It had been three months since the first day Prussia had fallen on the stairs, and only a month since he first noticed him constantly covering his hair with a beanie, even inside. And then there was the constant complaining of his feet hurting.

Luckily, the Canadian's house wasn't very big, so Prussia had little trouble walking around it. He only needed a cane when they went to world meetings, or for a walk. Falling wasn't as common after he got the cane, but it still happened some days. And now that he had these scarves, Prussia was sure that he would be ok until the end.

"How do I look?" he asked as he walked carefully back into the living room. A blue and pink scarf was wrapped precariously on his head.

"Beautiful," Canada told him happily. "Model the others for me? Sil vous plais?"

Prussia laughed, then said "Of course, birdie."

After all four scarves had been modeled sufficiently, Prussia sat down on the rug with a flop.

"I am so tired now."

"Why don't you take a nap? I have to make dinner anyway," Canada offered.

"I would rather spend as much time as I can with you, birdie."

Canada looked up sharply. He thought he could see tears in his best friend's maroon eyes, but wasn't sure.

Prussia took a shaky breath, then began to explain, "I think I am beginning to disappear, Matthew."

"What are you talking about?"

Extending a hand, Prussia showed Canada a new symptom he hadn't noticed: a very severe tremor. Very slowly, the albino undid the wrap on his head. His hair had thinned to a point of being barely noticeable. Canada gasped in shock.

"Gil! Why didn't you tell me?" he asked breathlessly. "You really think - you really think you're disappearing?"

Prussia nodded. "I have very limited time left, birdie…" His voice trailed off, and this time tears really did begin rolling off his cheeks.

In a flash, Canada was kneeling beside him, pulling him into a tight hug.

"Shh, hush now, it's ok Gil. We'll find a way to keep you around, eh?"

Prussia looked up with a regretful smile. "Only if I become human, I even spoke with Arthur about it."

"No." Canada shook his head. "I'm not gonna - not gonna let you disappear, Gil. I - I can't."

He said the statement with such conviction that Prussia couldn't help but look up into his purple eyes, only to see a burning intensity deep within them.

"Ich liebe dich," he said softly.

"What? Gil, you know I flunked out of Duolingo German months ago."

Prussia sighed. He had yet another task before disappearing, and that was getting Canada to notice his feelings for the taller country. The only problem was, he didn't know how much time he had left. All of his symptoms were coming on so fast…

"What is for dinner, birdie?"

Canada paused before saying, "Didn't you say you wanted to teach me how to properly cook bratwurst?"

"I am too tired, can you just make some awesome pancakes?" In reality, Prussia wanted to make sure he could taste his best friend's pancakes one more time.

"Tomorrow then. Teach me."

Looking back up at the blond, Prussia realized this was something Canada was serious about.

"Tomorrow," he agreed.

…

The next day was a rough one for Prussia; his legs refused to lift high enough to go up stairs. He clung to Canada, trying not to cry at being so weak. Canada pretended not to notice his tears, and helped him around the house until he was able to settle in front of the fireplace with a large skein of yarn and a pair of knitting needles.

"Whatcha making, anyway, Gil?" the blond asked.

"I am making an awesome gift for my awesomest friend," Prussia responded, looking up at Canada with a grin.

Canada laughed, the first time since he had gotten the news of Prussia's suspected disappearing. Prussia decided he would only make the country laugh and smile until he was gone. He held his breath while Canada hugged him tightly, trying to keep his heart from racing.

He originally fell in love with the blond when he had taken him in after Germany's boss forcing him out of the house. Canada had taken him in, no questions asked, even though they had barely interacted after Prussia stopped helping America during his revolutionary war against England. Each day after he moved in, the pair became closer and closer, until suddenly Prussia realized he had feelings for his new best friend. This disappearing thing just had to go and make everything difficult.