When Matthew first met Gilbert it was not on the best terms.

"You fucking bastard!"

The Prussian soldier took a swing at his opponent who had jumped him from the trench wall. It was one of the Canadian soldiers on a raid of his trenches. This one had blonde hair, just a tad pale, with strawberry highlights. He seemed to be the one leading the raid tonight. He slashed at Gilbert with his bayonet, forcing him back down the trenches. Gilbert even found himself unable to fight back against this terrifying vision. And then just as quickly as they had come the Canadian soldiers were pulling back, taking their prisoners with them back across no-man's-land. Gilbert was left haunted by nightmares for weeks afterward of violent violet eyes surrounded by soft waves of gold.

When the war was over he was shocked to see that same man standing in the room for the signing of the treaty to end the war. He wasn't signing himself but was there none the less.

"Hey, what's your name?"

The man blinked, "I'm Matthew. Canada."

Gilbert blinked for a moment before sticking out his hand. "Gilbert, Prussia."

"Its nice to meet you." The two shook hands before Gilbert rubbed the back of his head in nervousness.

"Yeah cause the last time we met you were trying to skewer me with a bayonet."

"Oh." Matthew's eyes widen a bit. "Sorry about that, eh. The different platoons were competing to see who could have the best raid and I got a bit caught up in things."

It was Gilbert's turn to stare with wide eyes. "You were competing, making a game out of it?"

Matthew sheepishly looks away, "Well, not a game. But it helped motivate my soldiers."

The two hadn't talked long after that before England came up and led Matthew away with the other members of the commonwealth.

They wouldn't meet again until World War II.

It was during the Normandy Landing near the end of the war. Ludwig had assigned Gilbert to overlook the defense of their military holdings in France as the two were friends and he figured Francis would be more cooperative with Gilbert watching him. Gilbert was stationed with the 716th infantry division and it was pure coincidence that he ran into Matthew that day.

The Canadian forces had already taken the beach. Gilbert had been left behind when he took a shot that, had he not been a nation, should have been fatal. All he had was his side arm and one clip of ammo. He was cursing to himself as he tried to make his way back through the lines to his side of this battle, wondering why they didn't tell the infantry just who he was. To them he was just an officer, higher ranked than them but no one too important.

He was resting against a bombed out concrete bunker for artillery when Matthew came around it. The two had quickly leveled there guns at one another. Gilbert took in his opponent and was quite surprised to find it was Matthew. He looked like a thing of nightmares. Covered in filth and soot, even caked into his hair. There were splatters of red mingling with the brown and black. His hair was wild, tangled and in severe disarray. What caught Gilbert the most though were his eyes. The soft violet from that meeting at the end of the first World War had turned, dark and hard with bloodlust. The look in Matthew's eyes sent a shiver down Gilbert's spine.

"Prussia." Matthew simply stated his nation name as if to confirm what he was seeing.

"Canada." Gilbert replied in kind.

Gilbert wondered if he stood a chance of getting away. Usually when nations met on a battle field one would attempt to capture the other. So Gilbert had no doubts about what the Canadian would attempt with him in this weakened state. But Matthew surprised him and quickly glanced around before lowering his weapon. and stepping forward. Gilbert was too shocked to react and nearly dropped his weapon when the other's gloved hands reached out and took his arm in a firm but gentle grip before leading him around and out of the open. They went into the bombed out artillery bunker where Matthew made Gilbert side down before pulling out a first aid kit and getting to work on cleaning and bandaging Gilbert's wound. Gilbert just sat in shock at the treatment.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why aren't you beating the crap out of me, taking me prisoner or whatever? We're enemies! But you're helping me."

Matthew seems to stop for a moment in what he is doing before looking back at Gilbert. His eyes are no longer those of a warrior. They are soft, kind.

"I suppose its because, even if we are enemies, we're the same. We're both more than just soldiers."

"So. That's never stopped one of us before. We play at war like its capture the flag and each of us is the flag. Hold the nation person prisoner and you control their country."

Matthew had continued with his bandaging during Gilbert's rant, mouth held in a tight line.

"Be that as it may, our objective here isn't to capture. We're here to free France and if it makes you feel better about why I'm not just forcing you to come with us. We don't have the needed supplies or manpower to deal with prisoners, so don't go thinking this is purely out of kindness."

Gilbert shut up after that as the downright evil look had returned to Matthew's eyes at that point. It wasn't much longer before Matthew was done and was picking up his gun and leaving. Neither said a word of farewell as Gilbert watched Matthew's back fade into the distance.

Their next meeting was once again at the signing of a treaty to end the war. This time Matthew was signing and had a say in how things were divided between the allies and other outcomes of the war. When discussions turned to Prussia it was decided that Prussia would be officially dissolved. That decision left the question though of what would happen to the personification of Prussia. There was discussion that he should be allowed to fade, be merged into Germany, be reassigned. Gilbert just sat off to the other side with his brother and their European allies. They were there more as a formality than anything and had little say in how things were decided in the end. That was when Gilbert heard a quiet voice break through the noise of the Allied Powers' argument.

"We should put it to a vote. There are three ways this could go."

"Da, Matvey is correct. We should put this to a vote."

The others quickly agreed.

"Let the bloke bloody fade away. He was with Germany from the beginning and could have put an end to this whole bloody mess before it came to war."

"I vote zat 'e should be reassigned. We are dividing up Germany's lands anyway. One of us should simply take control of him with our share."

"Well I think he should be allowed to fade, aru. There is no reason to keep him around."

"Why not just merge him into Germany, cause there are like two Itallies, why can't there be two Germanies?"

"Hmm I agree with France, we should reassign him to one of the territories we are taking from Germany. Then one of us will be responsible for him, da?"

They had reached a stalemate with five votes, it was obvious he wouldn't be getting merged with his brother, he was ok with that, but he was one vote away from being left to fade away. The only Allied Power to not yet vote was Matthew.

"So now what? That was a fail."

"Matvey has not yet voted."

All eyes turn to Matthew and he seems to shy back from all the stares.

"I I think we should reassign him to a new territory."

"Then it is decided. Prussia will be reassigned to one of us."

"Well he shouldn't go to the Commie bastard, he's already got half of Germany, he doesn't need to get a personification for his share."

"Give him to bloody France, he has the smallest piece, besides they're friends."

"Ohohohon. I think that we should let l'Amerique take him. 'E is the only one with the resources to provide for a personified territory."

"No way dude. I don't want him, Besides my boss would kill me if I brought a Nazi home."

Gilbert watched anxiously as the Allies argued over his fate. The ruckus was once again interrupted by a soft voice.

"Why don't I take him, eh?"

The others look around for a moment before noticing Matthew.

"Whoa, bro when did you get here?"

Matthew gave his brother a scalding look. "I've been here the whole time, eh. Anyway as I said why don't I take him. I'm the only one without a piece of Germany. Its only fair that I get something out of all the fighting my people did."

"But, mon cher. Just as you 'ave said, you have not gotten any of Germany's lands. 'Ow then would you take Prussia?"

"He doesn't have to be reassigned to German lands. I have provinces and territories within my nation. One is even called New Prussia. I can assign him to that."

"Nyet. I do not agree. I believe Prussia should come with me."

"I think Mattie's got the right idea. I say let him have the guy. He isn't gaining anything from taking the dude."

"l'Amerique is right. Let Canada take 'im."

"It would be for the best. Perhaps the lad can even rehabilitate him of his vices."

And with that it was decided. Matthew, Canada would take in the personification of the former Kingdom of Prussia.

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Alright people. Opinion time. Should this stay a one-shot or should it be continued. I could easily do both. So review and let me know.