FAFF: Here's the second chapter as requested! This story was already done, so expect quick updates!

I do not own Hetalia and sadly, never will.

Reads and Reviews are the little cookies that keep us going!

.:===:.

Once they were in the lab and she was strapped down for the reattachment (more for standard procedure purposes than actual need), he got to work on sewing the cloth arm back on. It wasn't a difficult process; one wouldn't know it, but Dr. Kirkland had a hobby of embroidery when not doing his experiments, hence the inspiration for Madeline. It just took a bit of time so the stitching wouldn't fall apart suddenly. "Twice. Twice this month you've snuck that accursed plant into my tea just so you could go gallivanting about. Exactly when are you going to stop this nonsense?" he questioned her, tone clipped and irritated.

Three times. She smirked to herself, correcting him in her head. Another typical night...she was sure she was going to get yet another lecture about how she wasn't ready for so much excitement...

"When I can go out there by myself! Even Alfred has more freedom than me..." Madeline sighed, waiting as he stitched her up. "I DON'T have a weak heart...I'm just...restless..." The ragdoll insisted. She was sure a weak heart wouldn't beat as fast as hers (even if it was cotton) when Gilbert...oh...right...Gilbert... Her voice trailed off, feeling a bit melancholy.

Giving a sigh, having heard this many times before, Arthur continued to carefully weave his needle and thread through her cloth skin. He always calmed doing his embroidery, even if it was something as simple as stitching up Madeline. "I'm sure it's something that will pass with time," he explained, ignorant to her change in mood as he continued to focus on sewing. "Perhaps you just need to be patient? It just worries me when you go out on your own like that; you are one of my creations, after all, and I'd feel terrible if something bad happened to you, my dear."

With a light tug to make sure the stitches wouldn't be loose, he cut off the remaining thread and slid the sleeve of her dress back down, patting her arm. "Do be careful next time, and perhaps /asking permission/ would be in order for the future." Whether or not he'd give it, of course, depended on his mood.

Meanwhile, deep in the woods, Gilbert continued to wander aimlessly, head bowed. Gilbird fluttered around him earnestly, chirping in an effort to get his attention and cheer him up. "Sorry buddy, I'm not feeling awesome right now..." the demon murmured, waving the ghost bird off, but his pet insisted, cheeping louder. With a sigh, Gilbert paused, dug into his pocket and pulled out a small dead mouse, tossing it over his shoulder. "Go get it..." Uninterested in waiting for his friend, he continued walking, knowing the bird would catch up no problem.

Distracted for the moment, Gilbird changed form to a predatory eagle again, chasing after the mouse happily. He paused near where it landed, hovering above the ground for the moment, not seeing it immediately obvious, until his sharp eyes rested on a shadowed crevice underneath a tree root. Gliding over, he gave off a ghostly glow, lighting up the small space and revealing the mouse, to which he let out a pleased chirp at and picked up the snack, turning back to follow after Gilbert again.

The next morning, the Halloween Town Mayor was already grinning, arms packed with papers and scrolls and other chart and graphs. He braked, greeted the musicians, and toddled up to the monarch's door, pressing the doorbell. "Gilbert, I have ze plans for next Halloweeeeen. It's never too soon you know~" A few knocks and a doorbell ring later...the mayor was still waiting. "Mon ami? Are you home...? I had some something to go over wiff you..." His face turned, his now white lips turned into a frown, biting his nails in worry. "Gilbert, I am only an elected official! I cannot do all zis by myself!"

He pulled out his megaphone in a panic, calling out to the devilish king, tripping and ungracefully rolling down the stair, flat on his face, moaning as he was told Gilbert hadn't been home all night.

Sure enough, Gilbert was deep within the forest, eyes sleepy and tired in the early morning sun. He'd been out wandering all night, no destination in mind. Groaning at the bright light, he looked up, glancing around to see where he was. With amazement, he noticed that none of the forest looked familiar anymore. His face lit up with interest; a change in scenery! His steps carried him onwards until he came upon a circle of trees, all with strange designs upon them.

Curious, he walked to the center, turning around in one spot to look at them all. The designs looked like doors, and each one was different; one was shaped like a colorful egg, another, a misshapen heart. He observed every one of them until his gave finally fell upon the last, and frankly most interesting. Intrigued, the demon stepped closer. The door appeared to be in the shape of some sort of tree, but none Gilbert had ever seen. Decorated around it were all sorts of colorful toys and streamers. The large gold knob called to him, the sun shining off of it and causing it to sparkle in his eyes. As if in a trance, his hand reached forward, gently grabbing the knob and turning it, opening it the slightest. His heart raced excitedly. Oh whatever could be behind this mysterious door? He opened it more and more until it was wide open...

...And all he saw was black. Fighting back the disappointment, Gilbert gave a sigh and turned back to Gilbird, shrugging.

Something seemed to call and pull him back suddenly. A mysterious wind. He tried to fight the odd chill, but before he could properly grab on something, the wind had picked up and sucked him in, causing him tumbling down into the blackness, and no matter how much he flapped his wings he couldn't right himself. He shouted and yelled, hoping for Gilbird to come help, but the door had shut closed after him. Desperately he clawed at the air, confused as to what was going on and where he was going. Would he see Halloween Town again?

But as soon as that thought flitted through his mind, he landed in something soft, cold and wet. Eyes shut from the shock of the impact (it wasn't painful, just a surprise), he could hear the distant echo of cheery music. Curious, he carefully cracked open his eyelids, then opened them up wide in wonder.

"What...?" he murmured, a hint of excitement in his voice. "...is this...?"

It was a wonderful new land for Gilbert to explore. Everywhere was covered in snow, every one of the small beings, rushing and hurrying about with boxes and treats, reindeer, polar bears, and seals playing about on the ice, lights glittering, paper rustling, and everyone decorating and busy.

"We only have about two months, everybody! So let's keep working!" A cheerful voice arose from one of the extravagant houses, belonging to none other than the infamous Santa Claus, a red coat and black boots already shined and cleaned to perfection. Warmth stirred in his heart every time this year...only a couple of more months, and he'd be going on his yearly round the world trip for Christmas.

It was all so beautiful, so wonderful! Laughing, Gilbert made his way down the hill, making sure to keep out of sight. Everywhere this white substance was, on the bright and happy buildings covers in lights and decorations he didn't recognize. The citizens all laughed smiles on their faces as they walked by Gilbert in his hiding places. Where were the screams? The shrieks of horror? Where were his fellow monsters to terrify them? Why were they putting things under those decorated trees, or kissing underneath that sprig of mistletoe?

"What is this place?" he asked aloud, approaching a large factory where the little people seemed to be working, only to walk into a sign pole decorated white and red. Dazed, he looked up, blinking his vision clear. "...Christmas Town?"

Of course, back at Gilbert's home, everyone (mainly the Mayor), was in a panic.

He scrambled to the top of his car, grabbing his megaphone. "We HAFF to find Gilbert! Zhere's only 365 left till ze next Halloween!"

"364!" The werewolf popped up.

"Is zhere any place we've forgotten to check?"

Everyone thought hard. They searched the graveyards, the sarcophagi, the pumpkin patches, and all his other local haunts. "It's time to sound ze alarm!" The Mayor announced.

And as the loud wailing ensued, a small head peeked from the Doctor's kitchen. Something was wrong...and Madeline was determined to go with the others and help! But how to distract the Doctor...she was sure he wouldn't let her go out of his sight THIS soon...even if it WAS a town emergency!

Dr. Kirkland hardly gave a glance out the window at the sound of the alarm. As far as he was concerned, the daft mayor seemed to find any silly excuse to use the infernal thing, and it gave the scientist a headache each time. Grumbling as he rubbed his head, trying to concentrate on his latest plans, he contemplated getting Madeline to shut the window.

Actually, speaking of Madeline, his stomach was growling. "Madeline, how is that soup coming along?" he called, sounding terribly annoyed from his growing headache.

"In a minute!"

The ragdoll contemplated, and slowly reached into her spice cabinet for her deadly Nightshade. She really DID feel bad about tricking her creator once more...but this time it was an actual emergency! Pouring it, she gagged as the soup went black, trying to find something to mask the odor. "Frog's breath...that'll kill any smell..."

Setting out the second can, Madeline coughed quickly at the mixture. "Way too...B-Bitter...! Need...womswort..." Scrambling to find a pink can, Madeline was relieved at the green soup and pink smoke, and with a satisfied smile, climbed up the stairs, bowl in hand, and placed it next to the mad scientist. "Lunchtime~!"

Perking up, the doctor pushed the blueprints aside to make room for the large bowl. He leaned over and took in a big breath, breathing in the smell of the hot soup. "Ah, wormswart!" he exclaimed happily, licking his lips. "Smells delicious as alwa-"

Hungrily he picked up the spoon and went to scoop some up, but something made him pause. Furrowing his thick brows, he narrowed his eyes, taking another sniff. "Hold on...is that frog's breath I smell as well?" Suspicions high, he turned to his headstrong creation with a glare.

Immediately, she tried to look as innocent, honestly confused, and unsuspicious as possible, blinking her eyes rapidly and folding her hands across her front. "What's wrong, eh? I-I thought you liked frog's breath..." Madeline tried to put a disappointed hilt in her voice like a child who's parent didn't know what they had drawn.

Narrowing his eyes further, he pointed the spoon accusingly at her. "Frog's breath is suspicious and incriminating. Now..." he pushed the bowl towards her. "I'm not having one /sip/ until /you've/ had a spoonful." Making his point, he scooped up a bit and held it towards her, giving her a look that dared her to defy him.

There was a small frown, and a flicker of worry went across her face, but then Madeline thought fast and feigned interest. "I'm not hungry..." The doll tossed her hand accidently-on-purpose knocking the spoon from his hand and making it clatter to the floor, spilling the contents. "Oops..." She looked to the floor, offering him an apologetic smile and a shrug for her seemingly clumsiness.

This only seemed to incur Dr. Kirkland's ire further. "What is this? Do you expect me to starve?" he growled, briefly turning away from her to rant. "Me! I am but a scientist who - though I loathe to admit it - is getting on in his years and only wanted some assistance with day-to-day things! I gave you life!" Drumming his fingers against the table, he calmed down to mutterings. "Bloody sentience...bet you got this from that accursed frog of a mayor, never should have asked him to teach you cooking..."

Thankful for his distractive ranting, Madeline bent down low, shoving the spoon under the table and pulling out a decoy full of holes. It was a good thing she planned ahead. "Oh don't be so dramatic..." She shook her head and took the bowl, taking a fake sip and placing it back in front of him. "See? Delicious as always...now eat before you really do starve..."

With his mutterings interrupted, the doctor looked back over to see her take a sip. For a moment he continued to look at her with a scrutinizing glare, but after finding no change, something between a smirk and a smile stretched across his face. "Don't mind if I do then darling!" he replied happily, picking up the bowl and for once foregoing his manners by drinking directly from it. Frog's breath and wormswart were some of his favorite things after all, and he wasn't about to let this soup go to waste!

Soon enough he had the entire bowl of soup finished, and he put the dish down with a pleased sigh. "Ah, wonderful cooking as always, Madeline."

She rubbed her hands gleefully; eyes alight with anticipation as he drank the soup down. "Glad you think so~"

Meanwhile, outside, everyone was laying down exhausted with despair. "Did anything think to check ze lake?" The Mayor sighed, flopping an arm over his face.

"This morning..." One of the vampires sighed.

All was quiet and then one of the monsters pointed. There! In the distance! A ghostly large bird! It was Gilbird...and where there was Gilbird...

"GILBERT!" The Mayor and others clamored to him in excitement. "Where HAFF you been?" His face turned back to normal, a wide grin in his relieved expression.

Sure enough, Gilbird came swooping in through the main gate, the Demon King following soon after in an odd-looking car, a grin on his face. Everyone cheered as the gate lifted and he drove through, a large sack filled with something mysterious packed in at the back. The monster children ran around gleefully, happy to have their idol back and safe.

Soon enough he was parked in front of the mayor's car, everyone clamoring around and firing questions at him. He simply chuckled in response, waving his hands to calm them down as he stood with a flourish of his wings. "I'll tell you all about where I've been soon! Call a town meeting, gather everyone! There's something really awesome I've discovered! And do it immediately, the sooner the better!"

Meanwhile, in Dr. Kirkland's tower, the bushy-browed doctor was starting to feel drowsy. "Hm, perhaps I have been looking at these plans for a little too long..." he mumbled to himself, rubbing his eyes.

Madeline perked up, hearing the Mayor calling for a town meeting excitedly as he drove by. Ooops...perhaps there hadn't been a need for the nightshade after all! Oh well...

The doll lovingly took a blanket and moved aside the plans, taking away the bowl and spoon, picking the other one off the floor. "Here...a small nap will do you good..." She placed the blanket over his shoulders, gently bending down to kiss his forehead. Her creator really did mean well... The doctor nodded sleepily, leaning forward and crossing his arms to rest his head on them, muttering a quiet thank you to Madeline for the blanket before dozing off completely, snoring a little.

She made sure the dishes were clean, hiding the fake spoon where it wouldn't be discovered, and then Madeline snuck out to the Meeting Hall when she was sure the Doctor was asleep, everyone else already crowding for a seat, the Mayor taking hold of the lights.