Feliciano brought me back to the hospital. Why he would do that, I'm not sure on, but when we got back into the "Intensive Care" ward, I heard no more voices.

Nothing but the steady beeping of a heart monitor. Feli gently pushed me in the general direction of Francois' room. I glanced back at him, watching as he gave me a jaunty thumbs up, and took off.

My jaw dropped slightly, and my brows knit together. Why would he just leave me here to deal with this? What would he have done if Ludwig lost every single memory of him? I was hurt. My only friend was leaving me to do this alone.

I swallowed hard. I didn't want to go back in there and face more blind ignorance. Even though I was sure by now that someone would have at least informed him of the name of the country that ran out of his room with tears flowing out of his eyes.

But that's a far stretch.

I knocked on the door, and was greeted by his familiar lilting voice.

"Qui est la?"

"It's Matthew. May I come in?" I asked quietly.

"Of course, mon petit."

Already I was filled with sadness. Those words only ever passed his lips when I was still his colony. I crept into his room, to find him propped up in a chair next to the window. I took in his appearance.

Francois is a very loving man, but he also loves himself a bit too much, so seeing him in this state of being was a bit of a shock.

His normally beautifully put together hair was disheveled and messy. He was wearing the spotted hospital night clothes, although if he had any say in it, they would be tasteful and classy. Or nothing. his normally dancing, mischievous eyes were dull and flat.

"Mon petit, come give Papa a hug. He so needs it from his little one." I was wrong when I came in also, his voice was as lackluster as his appearance. Another first.

I pressed my lips together, trying to hold my emotions in, so as not to shock him. I wanted him to remember us on his own, not because I forced him to. I crossed the room to embrace him quickly, and let go just as quick.

I wanted so much more from those arms, but I knew that nothing I could do now would give me the familiar tender embraces that I so missed. Francois obviously noticed my reluctance to touch him, and I saw a small shadow of hurt cross his eyes.

"Mon petit, did Papa do something wrong?"

I shook my head quickly, not trusting myself to speak. I wanted so badly to brace my hands on his shoulders and kiss his fears away, but I couldn't do that. I felt my eyes filling with tears, and I pressed a hand to my mouth. I wanted desperately to touch his soft skin, and feel his warm breath in my ear reassuring me that everything was going to be alright, that nothing had changed, that he still loved me with all of his heart.

But the darkest part of me, the part that was always whispering the pessimistic thoughts crept into my ear; If he still thinks that you're his colony, he still thinks that he and England are still together.

Oh, God. No. Him just not remembering me is heart wrenching enough. Not let him be stolen by England again.

So here's chapter two! Thoughts?