Chapter 3

AN: I apologize for the lack of communication :( Fanfiction has that 24h rule for new users so please be patient, only a few more hours and I can actually tell you how much I appreciate your input! I know this chapter is really short compared to the others, it's just that I have a major test tomorrow that I haven't been studying for, like at all . So I wanted to put up one more before I leave the internet for today!

[here's just some photos that would be up there (and no, I do not own any of these photos)] . This website won't allow you to post links, so if you want to see them, type in "/68a54521f5551fcad6beed542b90e3ff/tumblr_mlmnao6R p21rilw9to1_ " after the regular 24 . media . tumblr . com (except without the spaces in between the periods :3 Sorry! )

Gilbert stood there, dumbfounded.

On the wall were pictures of what he believed were Matt's childhood, possibly before he became alone. It showed him smiling, brighter than any smile he had ever seen out of him before, pictures of him with his brother, or France, or Britain. Just the sheer surprise and meaning behind all of this was actually enough to make his eyes prick. There were a few hand-drawn things, one was framed, and it as something that Alfred obviously drew. It was a portrait of Matt in crayons, and in a young boy's writing wrote: "I love my brother, Canada!"

It was just too much for Prussia, a tear actually started rolling down his cheek.

That's when he heard Matt start talking again, only this time it wasn't really talking…

"Grand frère! Non! S'il vous plaît! REVENEZ ! GRAND FRÈRE! Revenez… [Big Brother! No! Please! COME BACK! BIG BROTHER! Come back…]" yelled Matt.

Gilbert quickly ran out of the room, locking it behind him, then dropped the necklace with the key beside Matt so it would look like it went over his head in his sleep.

He woke Matt up by shaking him, he was sobbing into his pillow in his sleep. When Gilbert shook him, he shot up, nearly head-butting Prussia in the process.

"Are you okay?" He asked Matt, worried.

Matt just stared ahead, then buried his face in his hands. Prussia, who was used to dealing with Germany as a child, immediately sat in the bed beside him, and put an arm over his shoulders. Matt turned his face towards Gilbert and buried his face in his shoulder, silently sobbing. Gilbert rubbed his back until his breathing evened out, and eventually slowed. Matt was back asleep, but Gilbert didn't have the heart to let him go, not in this time of need. He wasn't like Germany, who would pick fights with others, then come crying back to him when he lost, this was different. Canada was a peaceful country that got picked on. There was nobody here for Canada, they left him all alone. He guessed they thought Canada was strong, which he is. America on the other hand, went crying for Britain whenever a bad plan didn't work out. He understood though, sometimes one child needs more attention than the other, look at the Italy brothers. Veneziano was the wanted one, Romano was very lucky to have Spain look after him as well as he did. Canada had France, but when Britain to him away from France, that's probably what caused all of this. Gilbert could only image what Matt had to go through internally on a daily basis.

In terms of self-control, Matt was probably one of the strongest people he knew.

Listening to Matt's now-steady breathing, plus the new tranquility of holding him, protecting him was enough to let Gilbert relax. He didn't even notice he fell asleep.