Yay, new chapter. This actually came pretty easily to me and I hope it works out well.

There's a pain in my chest. Could I have fallen in love? Is this a broken heart? Matthew winced as he felt his chest. Damn, the ribs again. He sighed and opened his eyes. Could be worse, could have been the arm, again. Wincing, he pushed himself into a sitting position and examined his surroundings. It was an attractive room, he had to admit. The paper screen doors were beautiful with some nice designs on them and the room had a rather wide assortment of aesthetic objects such as some old photos, paintings, and a few flower vases with... were those red lotuses? Abruptly Matthew realized whose house he was in and recalled the vents of the previous evening.

He sighed and swung his legs out of the bed, best to leave before she found him. It could be awkward for her. Standing he winced and felt his chest. Hmmmm, at least two, best to assess any additional damages. Looking around the room, he located a bathroom and wandered over to it, removing his shirt and dropping it on the floor; he examined himself in the mirror. Bruises in various places, a black eye and, again, the broken ribs. Nothing too bad, he resolved.

"Hello," Matthew froze, "are you awake." A nervous voice came from his room. Matthew slowly turned his eyes wide as Vietnam stopped in the middle of the room and turned to look at him. Both nations turned beet red.

"I'm so sorry." Vietnam shouted, pulling her straw hat over her eyes.

"No, it's my fault." Matthew said, eyes darting around until he found a towel, which he grabbed and held up to hide his chest.

"I'll just, wait outside." Vietnam hurriedly backed out of the room, keeping the hat over her eyes as she exited the room. Once he heard the door shut, Matthew let the towel drop slightly. Approaching the entrance of the bathroom, he looked around the corner to ensure that no one was in the room. Sighing, he re-entered the room and came to a sudden realization, he had no clothes.

Vietnam sat beside the door leading to the occupied guest room, face red. That had been awkward. Sighing she buried her head in her arms and waited for the nation to come out.

"Ummmmm, Miss Vietnam." A nervous and quiet voice came through the door. Vietnam turned her head in the direction that the voice came in.

"Yes." She responded hesitantly after a moment's pause.

"Uh, what did you do with the clothes I was wearing?" Vietnam flushed as she recalled she had taken the shirt down to the laundry room to be cleaned, and that he knew she had half undressed him. She tried to think quickly, there had to be something she could give him to get dressed in and out of his old pants. She shook her head at that last thought, trying to banish the half formed mental image she had unintentionally conjured. Wait that was the room Korea had stays in.

"There should be some, um, men's clothes in the closet. You can use them." Vietnam shouted to the door, forcing her voice to remain even and calm. She stood and began to pace in front of the door, wondering what she would say to him. A few minutes passed before the door swung abruptly open, startling Vietnam who suppressed a slight gasp. Matthew stood in front of her, his cheeks seemingly lightly brushed pink in embarrassment, wearing the blue and white kimono Korea had left behind when he visited last. Though the clothes were baggy in typical kimono fashion, he filled them out quite nicely. The white and blue seemed to accentuate the violet of his eyes and his hair fell about him like a golden halo causing Vietnam's breath to catch in her throat.

"I'm sorry; these were the only c-clothes I found in the closet." Matthew began to stammer. Vietnam realized she had made him uncomfortable by staring at him and coughed in an attempt to regain her voice.

"It's fine." She said tightly. Spinning around so that he didn't see her face she started walking down the hall. After a moment she heard Matthew hurry after her, his soft footfalls barely making a sound on the hard wood floor. He was quiet, she noticed, not just in manner but everything it appeared.

She led the Canadian into the living room and kneeled in front of the table. She gestured for him to do the same, which he did after a moment's hesitation. Now that she had Matthew here she sighed and gathered up her courage. This was ridiculous, she had fought back two invasions from two of the remaining superpowers within the last 50 years and this unnerved her. Opening her mouth she was about to begin explaining her actions when he began talking.

"I'm sorry for imposing on you like this. If you could point me in the direction of the conference building I'll leave. I am very sorry for causing you any trouble." Matthew said quickly and in a subdued tone. Vietnam was silent for a moment, surprised at his words and him.

"But I- I mean, I broke your ribs, I think." Vietnam stated, still in shock and her brain attempting to catch up with how the conversation had turned around. Matthew glanced at his knees sheepishly.

"It's all right, it's just a fracture, it should heal on its own."

"It is not okay." Vietnam shouted, leaping to her feet. Matthew shot his eyes up in shock to regard the nation before him. Vietnam pointed an accusing finger at him. "I beat the living tar out of you and you're apologizing?" Matthew continued to stare at her with wide eyes. "Honestly, what the hell you're Americas brother. Be indignant. Now, you're staying in my place until you recover and that is final. Do not try and argue with me."

"Really, I'm fine you don't have to-." Canada was interrupted by Vietnam abruptly reaching across the table and grabbing his shirt collar and staring deep into his eyes.

"If you continue to argue with me," Vietnam said through gritted teeth, "I'll break your legs so you can't leave." Matthew just nodded dumbly at this. Vietnam released him after seeing him wince in pain, realizing she had probably just irritated his broken ribs. She leaned back, sighing. "Ok, I have to- wait, how did you know they're just fractured? Your ribs I mean." She added suspiciously, narrowing her eyes. Matthew squirmed a little under her scrutiny.

"Well uh, you see this isn't exactly a new occurrence for me." He looked at the floor and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. Vietnam's eyes widened slightly.

"So this is a regular thing for you then."

"Uh, yeah something like that. My brother tends to irritate a lot of strong people and when they see me, well..." Matthew added, shrugging in embarrassment. Vietnam nodded in dumbstruck understanding; she had done it after all.

"So why didn't you defend yourself when I attacked you?" She asked. Matthew merely shrugged again, the kimono he wore shifting slightly with the movement.

"It wouldn't be fair to hit you, it was an honest mistake. And if it helps Alfred it's a small price to pay." He told her in an earnest tone and looking towards the corner of the room, clearly not entirely comfortable with the conversation. Vietnam didn't speak for a long while. Matthew started to shift nervously at the silence, casting his eyes around until he saw the clock on the wall.

"Oh god," he jumped to his feet, wincing again, "I'm going to be late for the conference." Vietnam jumped to her feet as well and slapped his chest, trying to ignore the firm feel of it. He recoiled in pain.

"You're not going anywhere. You're going to stay here and relax. I'll be back later and you had better be here." She ended in a menacing tone. Matthew appeared thoughtful, which alarmed Vietnam that he was even considering having his legs broken rather than miss a meeting. She almost sighed in relief when he relented.

"I'll stay here but, if I do," She raised an eyebrow and tensed at that, "can you bring me back notes about what happens." He ended shyly, glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes.

"Sure, whatever." Vietnam answered in deliberate casualness. She stood and began to walk towards the front door.

"One more thing if you could." Vietnam stopped, her hand on the doorknob, and turned her head to regard the Canadian.

"Yes?"

"Do you know where my glasses are, it's kind of hard to see without them." Vietnam stiffened.

"I'll get you a new pair." She murmured, low enough that Canada could barely hear before she opened and closed the door. Canada cocked his head and lifted a hand to several cuts near his eyes.

"Oh." He said in a low voice, running a finger over one of the half healed wounds.

*****

Vietnam saw her sister waiting at the conference building door with a wide smile on her face. She sighed in irritation and walked up to her and past her, pushing her way into the building. She heard footsteps behind her hurrying to catch her.

"So?" Taiwan said with an expected look on her face.

"So what?" Vietnam stated. Taiwan rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"So what did you two do last night? You seemed awfully eager to kick me out, and where is our friend today anyway?" She added, winking. Vietnam gave her sister a harsh glare. Then sighed under her sister's innocent look.

"He woke up this morning, and no nothing happened." She added seeing the twinkle in her sister's eye.

"Then where is he." Taiwan pressed, grabbing her sister's arm. Vietnam stopped and looked at her sister for a moment, wondering if she should continue to confide in her, then sighed when she realized she may as well. Her sister was already in pretty deep.

"I left him at my house, told him I would break his legs if he tried to leave." Taiwan gave her sister a look. "He was injured, he needed to rest." Vietnam stated defensively. Taiwan sighed at her. They both resumed walking towards the conference room.

"Really, this is no way to build a relationship."

"I am not trying to start a relationship." Vietnam said in exasperation.

"Then why did you kidnap him?" Taiwan asked innocently.

"I am not having this conversation with you." Vietnam said shooting a glare at her sister.

"So who are you going to have it with?" Taiwan retorted with a grin on her face. Both stopped in front of the door leading to the conference room and Vietnam turned to her sister with a concerned look.

"You won't tell anyone?"

"No." Vietnam sighed in relief. "It's way too much fun to see you try and flounder around."

"How reassuring." Vietnam stated with a roll of her eyes and sarcasm in her voice. She sighed and rolled her shoulders.

"Ready?" Taiwan asked with a smile.

"I suppose." Vietnam countered. Taiwan smiled wider and pushed the doors open.

*****

Matthew sat in the same spot he had since Vietnam had left the house. What should I do? He thought to himself. I need to do something but what? God I'm bored. He heard the door open and turned his head to regard the entrance.

"Ana- Vietnam, are you home?" An impossibly cheery voice inquired.

"Maple."

This story is actually pretty easy to write, however now I'm introducing Thailand. Apparently he has a verbal tic of saying ana- before any sentence. I am not entirely sure that this is 100% accurate though, so if anyone knows for sure please mention it. Read and Review please.