Wow…another new story…well, if you've read any of my other fanfics, you'll note that I am rather…slow…at updating them. Well, I've gotta take whatever inspiration I can get! I make no promises for regular updates! Just to write the best I can! :3 Enjoy~!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Hetalia.

Chapter 1: Prologue

Madeline Williams is a soft spoken woman. With her long, wavy blond hair and impossibly large, violet/cerulean blue eyes, she was quite the beauty. Of course, being that she was a serious and strict, not only with others but herself as well, she took great care of her physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Now most would say, "Hey! What about her social life?" but that has been left out due to a…er…superior lack thereof. Anyways, because of that, she was a very healthy little lady. With a slim figure and no evidence of sleep deprivation visible anywhere, nobody could deny that she was the picture of health!

Forever eating a healthy and well-timed diet, always jogging first thing in the morning with her pet polar bear, more like best -and only- friend, Kumajiro, or Kuma for short, who can always be seen waddling behind her by at least five of her paces, earning a living by working at a live-in library as the librarian, none can deny that her life is well-balanced.

…Except for the percentage of the female population that believes she hasn't lived till she's met a man…

A-HEM!

Well, that's her life in a nutshell. Living in a quiet Canadian suburb at her family's library/bookstore, passing each day by peacefully- except for hockey season.

Her cousin, better known as Alfred Jones, lives in America with his mom, Alice Kirkland (she never really thought the last name 'Jones' stuck). They visit each other frequently since Alfred, who refuses to say it out loud, worries about his smaller, seemingly weaker cousin. Madeline watches over her family's business since her father, Francis Bonnefoy, likes to travel a LOT. She doesn't mind that she has her own mothers' maiden name. She couldn't help but cringe at the strange sound of Madeline Bonnefoy every time the name was uttered. But she loves her family dearly, as they love her.

Life was continuing on in the usual fashion: wake up at six in the morning, wake up Kuma, use the bathroom, get dressed for the day, comb through her ridiculously wavy hair and put it up in a low ponytail, fix for herself and Kuma breakfast, read the newspaper for thirty minutes, go for a jog for an hour, be back at the house a little after eight, get a quick shower, blow-dry her hair and put it in another low ponytail, get dressed in a plain red sweater and black jeans, slip on her nice shoes and move into the front part of the house.

The library opens up promptly at nine in the morning and she wouldn't have it any other way. Grabbing her reading glasses, she slipped them on and, grateful for the glare they provided to shield her strange eyes from others who have never seen such a strange variation of color before, turned the shops sign to the side that reads 'Open'. She had been looking forward to this day- it was finally Friday! That meant that the next day she'd be able to let herself sleep in and take care of the house. It needed a good cleaning. After all, with all the books in the front portion of the house, dust collects rather easily!

Before that though, she had an extra-long day ahead of her. While Fridays meant the weekend and relaxation for the next two days, it also meant a ten-hour work day. With her library/bookstore closing around seven that evening, she'd only have enough time to get to the nearest grocery store, pick up her food for the weekend and following Monday, get more food for the polar bear, and be back in time to watch her favorite hockey team. It is winter after all- the time of year for cuddling up on a comfy sofa with a warm blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and a good book (or good hockey game).

"Kumajiro, think you can take care of everything for a minute or two?"

Kuma would always deny that he enjoyed listening to his master/best friend and her soft, gentle voice. That didn't mean he wouldn't indulge in it whenever he could, though.

"Hm? Who? …" he asked in his confused tone. Yes, he is a polar bear and he can talk. Hey, Madeline can carry him with ease, so it's ok.

"Hehe, Maddie…" Madeline nervously chuckled. She was long since passed trying to figure out how her friend spoke the human language. She chuckled like she expected someone to jump out of nowhere and spook her. "Why can't Kuma ever remember who I am? I can't help but feel like I'm about to cry!" Maddie screamed in her head.

"Um, do you think you can watch over things here for a minute or two?"

"Sure…where?"

"Here."

"Sure…why?"

"I need to get something from the basement!"

"Okay…" and at that, Kuma stood watch over the humble library while Maddie made her way to the basement to get her homemade decorations for the store front.

While it is mainly a library, if people wish to, they can buy the books as well as accessories for their phones, books, or just random things, like candy or small children toys.

Coming back up the front of her library, she was pleased to see that she already had one possible customer. Putting her snowflake decorations behind the cash register, she walked to the tall man until she was a few feet away from him.

Putting on her best smile, she quietly cleared her throat before speaking.

"Hello sir, and welcome to the Bonnefoy Library & Shop! May I help you?"

"Okay, good going me! I didn't stutter!" Maddie congratulated herself.

The man who had silver hair and slightly reddish purple eyes almost jumped at the sudden sound of her voice. Turning his head towards the direction he had heard the sound, he stared…and stared…and kept staring for a full three minutes till he finally saw her!

"I can't blame him…" Maddie silently sighed.

"Hm? Oh, da! Please be helping! I am looking for a…cookbook?…Da! A Russian cookbook! You have, da?" he asked in a surprisingly soft, childish voice, a slightly creepy smile plastered on his face.

Maddie wanted to ask him to stop smiling at her. She couldn't help but feel that he was forcing himself to smile, and she hadn't even known him for five minutes! …Scratch that, she didn't even know him!

"Hello~? Is anyone home~?"

His voice closer to her ear and his face closer to hers made her jump and squeak.

"Eep! Eh? Ah! Y-yes, I-I-I'm home!" she couldn't help the blush that exploded on her face. Great, juuuuuuust great. She had already managed to stutter and seem like a space-case.

"Hehehe~. You need not fear me. I am friendly. You understand?"

"S-Sorry. I was just lost in my thoughts and before I realized it, you were right in front of me. Um, R-Russian cookbook? I'm not sure. I'll go look now. Please feel free to browse around!"

And with that, Maddie left to look for what her rather large customer requested.

Letting his eyes wander after the little, practically invisible, Canadian, he found his eyes wandering from her to the place he had just walked into. Ivan Braginsky, quite possibly the largest living person from his home country, Russia, wondered why he had stepped into the small bookstore. Sure it had a homey feel to it, but it was relatively small as compared to chain bookstores he had been in. He highly doubted that what he was looking for would be found here.

"Sir, I've located the item you wished to see!" and with that soft, barely audible call from across the bookstore came the little Canadian.

He almost let his mouth fall open in silent shock. Almost.

"Thanks much, da! Is exactly what I was searching for. How much will I need to give for book?"

Taking in more of his appearance for a bit, Madeline sighed quietly. She couldn't believe what she was about to do…

"You can have it for free. To be honest, I still don't know how we got ahold of that cookbook, and since I didn't think anyone would want it, I never put a price on it. It's yours. Do you want a bag to hold it in? Just in case it falls into the snow," Maddie rambled on.

"This book…free? Da?"

"Yes, it's free. Think of it as your first gift from the neighborhood!"

"I believe I have much thanking to do now, da?" Ivan couldn't help but ask. It's not like he was poor, and the Canadian is right- asking for a Russian cookbook in the middle of Canada is…strange, to say the least.

Shaking his head, he refused.

"I cannot take such a precious thing for free. I will give you some money and you will accept it, da?" he asked in what he thought was a polite tone.

To the socially-dead Canadian, however, it sounded more threatening than ever.

"S-S-S-S-S-SURE! N-N-N-NO PROBLEM!" Maddie shouted in her way too soft voice.

Ivan thought that she was done whispering. Sweat-dropping a bit at her increased stutter, Ivan let his gaze drop from her as he looked around the library/bookstore more. He couldn't help but note how…lonely…it seemed.

Maybe the two of them were actually alike.

Annnnd she rips out a new one! :D I can't wait to see where this one goes. :3 I'm very excited for it~! I do ship PrussiaxFem!Canada as well as RussiaxFem!China, but I also like this pairing. Please review!