Author Notes:

-Seriously, seriously, seriously worried. Once read something about how every once in a while it's good to piss off your readers, a lot, but I don't know...This is pretty big... Thanks for all your reviews though! It's good to hear you're ready to handle whatever I throw at you!

-Also, world meeting, not historical, just...I threw it in Chicago because that's where the Obama Administration set the NATO meeting in 2012. Figured any world meeting would go there again, since it's Obama's home city.

-Oh my gosh, new characters to the story. Sealand, Hungary, and, and, well someone else in the next chapter ;O

~!~

One Season

Part 1: Love is Complicated

Chapter 2

~!~

"The Prime Minister will be there, too. I'll have to meet up with him before anything starts," Canada was saying as they climbed out of the car, handing keys to a valet who merely glanced at the badge Matthew was now wearing.

There was another glance, too. One directed to Prussia. The typical widening of the eyes and then quick glance away, as if Prussia's albinism was something to not be gawked at. It happened every time he came in contact with a human. They weren't as accustomed to him, especially not now. Back when he had power, powdered wigs had been in style, so it wasn't near as shocking to see his white hair, and the red eyes didn't always stand out on their own.

Still, he was used to the human reaction now, and as long as he wasn't going to be outside for an extended period of time – he could handle not wearing anything to cover up. Matthew had immediately shot down his mumbled request for a hat and sunglasses. After all, they were going to a world meeting. Even if the nations wouldn't care, the humans in power would and heaven forbid if someone actually noticed him again.

"Right, right," Gilbert muttered as Canada grabbed his hand and began to lead him around again. "I'll find some place to hang out until the meetings are over."

Birdie smiled back at him as they walked up steps into some important American building that Prussia didn't really care to look at. "I'm sure you'll find something to entertain yourself with."

Gilbird peeped up, having found a roost in Prussia's silvery hair. "Give him a broom handle and an iPod and he'll be fine."

A blush hit his face at his bird's reveal, but Canada laughed so he let it go. He loved to see his Birdie laugh. He gave a semblance of a shrug – more difficult to do than you would think, what with Matthew still holding his hand. "Like I said, I'll find something to do."

Once inside the building, Canada slowed his steps and dropped his hand, taking a moment to speak with a few of the humans in the area. Prussia stood back and folded his arms, watching carefully. He would always be watching carefully from now on. No one was trustworthy. In fact, it was a little amazing to see how easily Matthew slipped into conversation with them. Some of the nations might have grown a hatred for humans after what had happened. Even Prussia preferred to stay away from them.

...but not Canada.

No, the man must have been quick to forgive. Or not one to even think about placing blame. Because he just kept on with his job, kept talking with the humans in politics, kept living life like nothing had happened. Even if Prussia knew, deep inside, Matthew was still coping. He had been woken up in the middle of the night too many times now to simply brush it off and call Birdie recovered, but he understood that; he understood it – and a part of him might have been glad to be able to cling to someone else, even though he never spoke about his own nightmares.

After a few boring minutes of watching his Birdie interacting with the humans, Prussia finally got attention from Canada. Birdie left the human circle and smiled as he walked over to him. "So, technicalities taken care of. Did you want to try to find your brother?"

Prussia felt his face flip into an instant grin. "Hells yeah," he said, keeping his voice down even if he had the urge to shout.

Matthew grinned back and then turned, not grabbing his hand this time. "Well, come on."

"Kesese~" Prussia laughed, quickly stepping up to follow Birdie down the hallways of the stupid American building. "You like telling me what to do?"

He was pretty sure he got a blush for his efforts, but another voice successfully distracted him. "Bruder?"

"West!" He exclaimed, turning his eyes up to actually pay attention to where they were walking. He found West standing dumbfounded in the middle of the otherwise empty hallway, and he chuckled. "What? Surprised to see me?"

Germany blinked, folding his arms. "Ja, I am, to be honest."

Prussia cackled, leaving Canada to go greet his brother, even though he kept himself behaved, keeping his hands in his pockets so they wouldn't betray him. "I figured Birdie could use some fun time during your breaks. Besides, I don't think I've ever actually been to one of these things -"

West simply smiled and shook his head, blue eyes quickly losing their surprise for something else. Something else. What was that look about? Birdie had given it to him earlier. The roaming eyes as if he were debating whether or not to share information. This time, Prussia frowned, and opened his mouth to ask what was going on.

But then West decided to spill. "Since you're here, why don't you attend the meeting that the micro-nations are having?"

Which told him nothing and only succeeded in confusing him further. He blinked. Several times. "Err...what?"

A nod. "Ja. You're a micro-nation now. New Prussia."

At the nation name, Gilbert felt something pulse in his chest. A little extra feeling of something he had long ago lost. He was still confused about it, though, and the old familiar feeling didn't really explain any how or why or what exactly West was talking about.

"...I have a nation again?"

West was smiling now. Really smiling. Even though Prussia kept staring with blinking, dumbfounded eyes. "Ja. Descendants from your empire days have also seemed to take a liking to your new home." A hand reached out, held his shoulder, squeezing down. West's silly little close-but-not-too-close gesture. "Congratulations."

And then it hit him. The pulsing in his chest. The extra bundle of emotions. The hum echoing in his mind. All things nations learned how to block out but hold to when necessary. The touch of his people. Only a nation could get that feeling. Only a...

His grin split his face in half and he let loose by tackling his brother in a hug. "West! West! I'm a nation again!"

He felt like dancing around. He felt like partying. Like screaming it at the top of his lungs. It was amazing. It was...it was like a dream. A dream come true. When he felt his brother reach around to hug him, too, patting his back, he nearly lost it. Tears hit his eyes. The emotions were overwhelming. And his people. He could say it again. His people! Yeah, the pulse was small, but it was there – it was there.

"Ja," West said, "It's great."

Laughing, Gilbert broke away from his brother, eyes latching onto Matthew who had stepped back and was smiling at him. He jumped over to his Birdie's side and grabbed his hands, his legs unable to stay still, dancing around because he couldn't contain the excitement. "Birdie, did you hear?"

Matthew laughed, squeezing his hands. "Oui. I've known for a while." A playful glare was sent over Prussia's shoulder, probably aimed toward Germany for spilling the news. "I meant to tell you later today, but..."

His legs stopped but the grin stayed. And the swell in his chest. He kept his hands in Canada's, too as he chuckled. "Aw, you were going to make it a surprise? Kesese~ That's kind of sweet, Birdie," he said, leaning in to kiss Matthew on the cheek.

It earned him a blush. "It really is great, isn't it?"

And then West had to go and clear his throat. "Come on, then. The meeting is about to start."

Prussia turned around, sending a pout to his brother. "Always one for business, aren't you? Won't even let me enjoy the moment."

To his surprise, West winced, which made him feel bad because he hadn't meant to make that happen. But then Germany shook his head, sighed, and gave him a short smile instead. "All right. You can have your fun, but don't take too long."

"Kesese~" Gilbert laughed, and then dropped his grin for a straight face. "Wait. What's a micro-nation?"

This time Canada winced. What on earth was wrong with asking that? "Well, a micro-nation is a nation that's not exactly...uhm...recognized...by governments around the world."

Prussia felt his grin fall. "Oh. So not really a nation." The feeling in his chest swelled and he found the wide grin returning. "Kesese~ my people are awesome enough to go against the rules of dissolution and try to make a nation again anyway." My people...I can say that again...I can really say that again... "That's awesome."

Birdie smiled back at him and gave a nod. "They are. And who knows, maybe someday you'll be recognized."

And then there was a kiss. Hands held onto his own, keeping him at bay, but it didn't matter. Emotions exploded and he felt tears hitting his eyes again. Little things. Not that he was going to cry, but it made his eyes water. The old familiar feeling in his chest. He could reach out and touch it and they would actually be there. He hadn't felt this since...since...

He licked at the lips against his own, and was granted entrance. He didn't know how long they stood there. How long they kissed in the hallway of the the human's important building. But he heard West clear his throat, as if telling them to quit. Closing his eyes, Prussia blocked everything else out. There was just him, Birdie, and his people.

Gott, his people...

Hands squeezed his own and then another hand touched his shoulder, forcing him to open his eyes, especially when Ludwig's voice came so close to his ear. "Bruder, seriously, the meeting is going to start soon."

With a groan and a sigh he broke away. "Right, right," he muttered, turning a smile to his Birdie with the flushed face and panting breaths. "So...where do micro-nations...sit?"

"They have...their own room," Canada said, still blushing. "England said that since we had enough trouble with America, it seemed like the best course of action."

"Aw, we have to separate?"

"Oui," Canada responded with a nod, lifting up to kiss his cheek. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

And before he could say anything else, Prussia found himself once again getting led around by the hand. Fingers clutched to his, holding tightly as Matthew moved down the hallway. A quick goodbye to West. A couple of turns. A few nods at humans with raised eyebrows. And then Canada stopped before a door with a rather childish looking sign plastered on the front, as if it had been colored in – upon closer inspection, Prussia saw that it had indeed been colored in crayon.

He frowned. "This is going to be boring as hell."

Letting his hand go, Canada shrugged. "Well, I'm sure if you get bored, you can just go to sleep." A sigh. "We're going to be over God-knows-when."

Prussia made a face. "Just tell America to shut up and focus for once."

"If only it would work that way," Birdie giggled before lifting up to once again kiss him on the cheek. He was starting to like these small gestures. These cute innocent kisses that had once driven him mad were now something he almost looked forward to every day. "Try not to kill anyone, okay?"

He chuckled. "I can't make any promises."

Birdie simply rolled his eyes as he pulled away, walked away, looking for everything like he wanted to stay even though he knew he couldn't. "Good luck, Gil."

Prussia grinned and shrugged, giving a little wave once he was sure no one was in the hallway – and that Canada was too far away with his back turned to even see it. Then, he took a breath and turned back to the door, grimacing, wondering what in the seven hells he was going to find in here.

"Well, let's get this over with," he mumbled to Gilbird, who was sleeping in his hair and gave no response.

Grabbing the door handle, he walked inside, seeing a somewhat small round table sitting in the center of the room. There were of course pictures along the walls and the carpet was just as nice as the hallway, but the empty chairs caused him to frown. As well as the little kid that perked up at his entrance. Blue and white sailor outfit. He furrowed his brow, trying to think of who it could be, and then remembering he had no clue about this micro-nation deal.

"Whoa! Hey there! Other nations aren't supposed to be here! Didn't you read the sign? Micro-nations only!" The kid jumped up, looking up at Prussia for all the world like he was trying to stare him down.

Gilbert could only blink back. "Hey, squirt, I was told to come here."

"Why would you be told to come here?" The kid questioned, standing directly in front of him, arms crossed, eyebrows raised. Until the thought must have connected in his tiny little brain. "Are you a micro-nation, too?"

Prussia grinned, still not entirely sure how he felt about this new development but deciding to roll with it anyway. "Yep! The Awesome Prussia is making a come back because my people and fans are just that awesome."

"Well, I'm Sealand, and since I'm the leader of this group, you're now my younger brother!"

Prussia stared at him. Blinked. Stared some more. Then cracked up with laughter, having to wipe tears from his eyes and hold his sides. "What? I'm no one's younger brother. And wouldn't you be a little...young to be my older brother, anyway?" He reached out to show the definite pint-sized height of this kid, this Sealand.

The kid scowled, obviously not amused. "Well, I've been in this situation longer than you, so I'm your older brother and that's that!"

With a roll of his eyes, Prussia waved his hand in the air and let it pass. "Whatever. It doesn't really work like that, but whatever. Believe as you wish."

Walking around the brat, he made his way to the small round table and plopped into a chair, leaning back almost immediately. Sealand jumped around to sit next to him, blue eyes staring at him. "Well, we still have to wait for Seborga. He's always late. And Wy never shows up to these things anyway."

I don't blame him...or her...what kind of name...

"Who?" He found himself asking, determined to at least learn something before taking a nap.

Sealand sat back in his chair, making hand gestures against the table as he talked. "Well, Seborga's a city in Italy that became independent, and Wy is similar except she has received acknowledgment from Australia."

Oh? Received acknowledgment and still not a real country?

Prussia groaned. This was not at all what he had been expecting. He was almost wishing for a broom and iPod to jam out to now. Anything would be better than sitting here with a little child talking about stupid things. Learn who the other micro-nations are, and then proceed to ignore Sealand for the rest of the however-long-this-was-going-take.

Yeah, he was officially bored already.

~!~

Elizaveta Héderváry managed to rush out of the meeting room this time, hardly sparing a word for her President. It was always awkward having world meeting discussions, anyway. Sometimes their leaders left them in a separate room just so they could fight amongst themselves and not cause a disruption – because, honestly, most of the nations were still such children. She was pretty certain that he did not want to speak with her; no, he was probably much more interested in interacting and meeting the other leaders of the world. Who cared about the ones who were actually the nations?

She had another reason for wanting to leave as quickly as possible, though. A real reason. Whispers had fluctuated and notes had been passed – as they always were when the nations had to meet in the same room as their leaders. This was how they passed rumors back and forth. It was almost like children sending angry text messages sometimes, at least when she read the things passed between France and England, for example.

Most of the time she didn't catch anything worth while. She liked to learn about juicy relationship stuff, especially when it involved two nations. Since most of them were male and it was undeniably cute to see them together. Then again, most of the nations who were worth working to pair up were already together, so the most she got to see were a few stolen kisses in moments when they thought no one else was watching – after all, such behavior at a world meeting would not go unnoticed by the human populace. America was specifically good at catching England off balance – at least when the brat wasn't busy repeating everything his leader said.

This time, however, a little piece of information had gotten her excited. Apparently, Prussia had decided to show up to the meeting. With Canada of all people. Once she found out, she had been sending glares to the little nobody nation – well, technically, he was the second largest nation in the world, but she still saw him as this little shy nobody. How in the world had such a person managed to snatch Prussia away from her? Didn't he know that Gilbert was hers to play with?

Seeing an opportunity to rectify a certain situation, Elizaveta had rushed out of the meeting room as fast as she could without running or letting on that she was in a hurry. She was pretty sure Canada would be shortly behind her, unless he managed to get caught up talking to humans or other nations. Which she was hoping for. She had a little old friend to visit before Matthew Williams had a chance to interrupt. Ever since Japan had passed the picture of Canada and Prussia kissing in the hallway...she had felt the urge to find Gilbert and make him remember who he really belonged to.

...especially considering his now micro-nation status. As a micro-nation, he had to belong to one of the other nations. He was not truly independent, not really recognized. Micro-nations were always talked about alongside the nation they were closely represented with. Sealand, for example, was always considered England's. Seborga was Italy's. And Wy was Austrailia's. America even had a micro-nation – Molassia – though that one never showed up to any meeting and wasn't even worth talking about most of the time.

Prussia, however, if he was going to be a micro-nation, it meant he could be claimed. It meant he was open, because Hungary was quite certain that he had no idea what his new status meant. Even if the land was technically in Canada, he still had to say he was a spin-off of the Canadian people. Or the Prussian people who had immigrated to the area or whatever silly explanation he wanted to come up with. He was still open for being claimed, though; which meant that she would not be the only one seeking to grab his assets. Russia had been smiling strangely for the entire meeting, too.

Well, she was going to pounce first, and she was pretty certain that it would simply be another matter of toying with his heart. Easy, easy game. With all their history? With their friendship? With the way he had been trying to look up her skirt just the last time she saw him? Yeah...this wouldn't be a problem at all.

Making her way to the room Sealand had claimed for micro-nations, she was pleased to find Prussia stepping out of the room, shutting the door behind him and sighing, staring at the floor. Hands in his pockets, suit jacket open – amazing, he was actually dressed nicely – he grumbled. "That was almost insulting."

Almost, Gilbert? I expected more out of you.

Smiling as cheerful as she could, she stepped closer to him, putting her hands behind her back for now. "I'm surprised you even showed up, Gilbert."

His eyes snapped up immediately and she could see the rush of emotion hit him. She could see it. True, she knew what to look for. The gasp of breath. The widening red eyes. The slight flush in those pale cheeks. His eyes actually glanced away and he swallowed nervously, setting a hand behind his head.

"Uh, hi, Lizzy," he muttered before catching himself and turning back to face her with his wide grin, shutting his eyes. Still avoiding her gaze on purpose. "I couldn't keep my awesomeness away forever, you know."

She kept her smile, made it wider if she could, and then chuckled as she took a step or two forward, her dress almost knocking into his legs. "Still the same, aren't you, Gilbert?"

The flush in his face grew, spreading most noticeably across his nose and in his cheeks. "Of course. Awesomeness never changes," he stated, though his voice wavered a bit and he now backed up, trapping himself against a wall next to the small meeting room door.

She grinned, moving closer until she was practically on top of him. She could almost see the sweat on his brow. "Did you miss me at all?"

He gulped and looked away, turning his head completely, eyes staring down the hallway. "Tch. No."

A denial. She could recognize that denial anywhere. He had friends telling him not to trust her. He had friends telling him to stay away. His friends were always left to pick up the pieces when she was finished with her games, after all. But he always crawled back. He couldn't get rid of his feelings, not that easily, not with all their history. She was his friend, too, after all.

Lifting up on her toes, she took her chance to whisper in his ear. "I think you did~"

The blush grew across his face and he finally turned back to face her, finally met her eyes. She kept her gaze as innocent and as wanting as she could make it. With him, it wouldn't be too hard. Even as he kept his hands down, as if still denying himself, as if still fighting the pull to act.

"Why now?" he whispered.

She smiled and stared back at him, blinking slowly, letting her long eyelashes fall and rise at a noticeable speed. "Because I missed you," she whispered back, a hand reaching out to grab at his tie and tug him down.

Their lips crashed against each other. She hummed the instant she got the chance to feel him against her again. It had been a while. At least he wouldn't be able to deny her now. For whatever reason, he was successfully falling for her again. It was almost too easy.

Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw a certain Canadian walk around a corner and freeze. She fought the urge to smirk even as her mind screamed in victory. And then Gilbert did the most absolute perfect thing he could have done. He reached out and held onto Hungary, shuddering against her, even as he pulled her in close and deepened their kiss. It was honestly way too easy.

Once Canada had turned and run off, like a little high schooler upset over a little kiss – as expected – she pulled back from Gil and turned her smirk into a strong smile. "Well?"

Gil was still staring at her, panting lightly, eyes lost in a familiar haze. "Well what?"

"Was that like everything you've hoped?" She asked, sliding a hand down his chest, feeling satisfied when he twitched; lord, she could almost feel the heat from here. "Because I know you've been thinking of me."

"Oh yeah?" Gil snapped back, but the tough-guy attitude was lost when his voice cracked. "How do you know that?"

Her eyes flashed before she could hold it back, but she smiled sweetly and he didn't seem to have caught anything. Good. He was so oblivious to her ploys, this was almost too perfect. "Because I know you, Gilbert."

I know you. And you're mine. Must I always remind you? You don't belong to anyone else but me. Why, why, why are you with that Canadian? Why do you have a micro-nation popping up in his territory? Hm? Do I have to force you to realize you belong only to me?

You don't belong to anyone else. Not your brother. Not Russia. Not this new Canadian fling.

You belong to me.

~!~

A/N: I honestly squeed like a fangirl after writing "West! West! I'm a nation again!" And if I had a Prussia plushie I'm sure I would have squeezed it to death. By the way, whether or not "New Prussia" actually exists or existed as a micro-nation (because that's been debatable and so difficult to find out any real information), I'm still using the idea for this story because it's too ajfkdjlfkdjarlkeruieaofjdkal fjeruaoifjd not to... Deal with it ~

-lol Sealand-

-and omigosh Hungary is...possessive? Jealous? Honestly, I love her and I hate her. At least this version of her. Incredibly way too much fun to write from her point of view, though. Not to mention, there's like three different ways to spell her name? What is up with that? I chose one and went with it, and now it just looks weird.

-I'm of the opinion that Japan and Hungary totally spy on the other nation relationships; hence why Japan is mentioned here as taking a picture of PruCan kissing; I don't know; just something funny that's grown on me from the fandom, I suppose.

-One last note: I wanted to fit all of the world meeting scenes in one chapter, but then I'd have about 10,000 words and that's WAY over my personal limit for a chapter. 4000-6000 is a nice average, I think. So there. Here's 4700-word chapter. And the next one should be just as long. Though the one after that...eh...

~~Thank you for all reviews/alerts/favorites; I appreciate them all! I try to reply but I'm usually so caught up in writing or schoolwork, I can't think up any nice response other than "thank you for the review" so this little blurb is my way of letting you know, that yes, I love your reviews and sometimes I respond, sometimes I don't, depends if I have an immediate response in mind or not; still love you though~~

IAmaCat: Glad to see you still on board for the sequel and I feel so bad for all the heart-breaking that will occur (except the author side of me is like 'yes yes yes mwhahaha me likes it when i twist your emotions')

~Reda