Je Vous Anch'io Ti Amo (Hetalia AU) Ch04
It was a sudden knock at the door that got Matthew back into the living; he was awoken by a rather firm one at that. Pushing himself up, he looked out the window and saw Alfred standing there with a rather annoyed person. Odd, wasn't Alfred supposed to come back tomorrow? So why was he at the door?
With his curiosities alone, Matthew got off the couch, knowing that Arthur was now in the kitchen preparing dinner, and answered the door. He looked up at the woman that was standing there, her shocked expression on her face. Oh, this must be Alfred mother, he guessed. For just a second he looked into her eyes, her green eyes that seemed to have warmness written in them, before retreating to Arthur.
The woman watched this boy return with Arthur, hiding behind his leg. Arthur looked at the lady, hugging her, "Elizaveta! Oh love, how I missed you! How was the business trip?!"
Elizaveta laughed, kissing her husband on the cheek, "Very good! Also, hope you don't mind, but I picked up THIS one here after getting a call from Yao." Getting a confused face, she sighed, "I'll explain later…" She spotted Matthew, "Is this the child we're keeping?"
"He's not a dog, for one. Also, yes. This is Matthew." He scoped Matthew up, chuckling, "This is Elizaveta, Mattie." Matthew just stared at her, before sheering away. He looked at her, sighing, "He's shy…"
"Oh…" He chuckled, pushing Alfred in the door, "That's okay, I don't mind that much actually."
Matthew was placed on the ground once they reached the kitchen, his curious eyes glancing at everything in sight. It was rather large in his opinion, with oak doors covering every draw and door in the area, as well as a bench top that was too high up in his opinion. He sighed, places were just going to get bigger, eh?
Alfred ran into the room, knocking Matthew on the floor. He ignored him for now, and just stared up at Arthur, "Daddy! Wanna come play with me?!"
Arthur sighed, and nodded, "Sure thing, lad." They both walked out of the room, not seeing Matthew on the floor, who was now whimpering because his leg hurt.
Elizaveta, being the mother of the household, heard the cries, and saw the little one on the floor, bawling his eyes out. She gasped, and held him close, rubbing his leg, "Oh Mattie, are you okay lovey? Where does it hurt?"
Matthew pointed to his leg, sobbing, "My leg…"
She placed him on the work bench, placing something cold on the injury, "There, let's leave that on there and it'll heal right up!" Seeing those two huge eyes stare up at her, she stroked his cheek, smiling warmly, "You hungry? What would you like?"
He shrugged, "I don't know…"
"Well now! How about I give you one of these?!" She handed him a chocolate chip cookie, and smiled, "You like?"
He nodded, getting the melted chocolate on his cheeks, "Oui, I like it very much! Thank you…" He stopped, trying to figure out what to call her.
Seeing the confused look on his face, she smiled, "You can call me Mama, eh?"
"Really?!"
"Yes, you can!" Hearing the childish cheers, she laughed, ruffling his hair, "You're so cute, you know!"
Arthur, despite playing with Alfred and his toys, was thinking about what he was doing for Christmas. After all, it was the 1st of December, and usually he was the one in the family holding the party on Christmas Eve, but this year was different. He had another child on his hands, and he hadn't got a clue if he celebrates it or not. Arthur sighed; he was going to have to find out.
Alfred was babbling on about something, until he realised something. In his five year old mind this fact was important, Santa was coming! Yes, this was Alfred's favourite time of year, besides his birthday nerveless, and this Christmas would be special. He finally had a 'brother' to hang around with! Just thinking about Christmas now made him jump happily all over.
A thought crossed his mind however, and he stopped. Matthew had no family to spend it with. Sure, he had his dad and mum, but to Alfred, Matthew had absolutely no one. His eyes saddened, what was going on in HIS mind?
Arthur, noticing the excitement had disappeared into thin air of his son, raised a brow, "What's wrong, Al?"
Alfred looked at him, "What?"
He sighed, "You seem troubled, love. Something on ya mind?"
He looked into his father's eyes, seriousness written into them, "It's Christmas, daddy. But…"
"What?"
"Well, who will Mattie celebrate it with? I mean, isn't it about family and stuff, but he doesn't have one anymore…"
He gasped, realising that fact. That's right; Matthew didn't have a family to call his own anymore, so this Christmas will be the first one he'll spend alone. He picked up his son, walking into the kitchen. "Matthew, lad, may I ask you something?" Matthew looked up, chocolate smeared all over his face. Arthur tried not to say that he was cute out loud, instead smiled, "Do you celebrate Christmas, love?"
The blond nodded, grabbing another cookie from the tray, "Yes! Papa was never home for it though, but I do!"
His father was never home for it? Elizaveta tilted her head to one side, "Your papa wasn't home for Christmas?"
He nodded, "He was always so busy, but I had Wendy! She's really nice!"
"Wendy? Who's she?"
"Oh, my aunty. She sounds a lot like Iggy, but she's nice! She also wears glasses like me! And she from France!" He paused, thinking, "Although, she can get mean at times…"
She smiled a sad smile, "Really?"
"Yeah…" Matthew was picked up, much to his surprise, and placed on the floor, next to Alfred. He looked up, "Why did you do that?"
She pushed them out of the kitchen, "Dinner will be ready soon, why don't you two go wash up, hmm?"
They both nodded, running towards the bathroom, "Okay!"
Elizaveta sighed, and turned to Arthur, who was now helping himself to the cookies she's just baked. Sometimes her husband could be so weird, "Arthur, stop eating them."
Arthur looked up, a half bitten cookie in his mouth. He took it out, smirking, "Now now, I didn't do anything wrong, so there…"
She smiled, "What are we going to do?"
He looked at his hands. He had to do something for the lad, from what he is hearing out of Matthew, he had to make him happy, but how? A thought stuck him, "Why don't we see the Christmas lights tonight?"
"What? But I just made…"
"After dinner, I mean." Seeing his wife's confused expression, he explained, "It might cheer him up slightly. He obviously still misses him, so maybe it may help…"
She thought over it, before nodding, "That's a good idea, actually." Hearing footsteps running down the stairs, she sighed, "After dinner. Let's make it a surprise too!"
He laughed, "I hope it helps a little…"
Dinner was nice, not with the food, then Alfred babbling on about something, and hearing Matthew chiming in a few times. It was pleasant to hear, actually. Arthur had to wonder though, what was dinner like for Matthew? Did he eat alone?
Shaking that thought away though, Arthur helped clear the table, oddly enough, and bobbed down in front of the two boys. He chuckled, "Come with me, lads." Elizaveta picked up Alfred, and carried the surprised boy out the door, while Arthur was holding Matthew's hands. They all walked into town, standing in the square. Alfred knew what was going to happen, so he couldn't stop squirming. Matthew, on the other hand, was utterly confused.
The blond boy turned towards Arthur, tapping his cheek, "Iggy, why are we here?"
Arthur held his finger, shaking it playfully, chuckling, "You'll see, my dear lad." When the announcements came on, his eyes lit up, "Matthew, look there!" He pointed.
His eyes went towards the large tree, his eyes growing big. It was lit up, like a star in the sky, the tree was so pretty! He grinned, "Wow!"
He smiled, "Pretty, isn't it?" Seeing the boy nod, he held him tighter to him, "We have to home now, but I'll take you a special way."
Seeing Elizaveta walking besides them, he had to wonder, "What special way?"
"You'll see."
The special way was indeed special in Matthew's eyes.
It was the pathway of Maple Trees they walked through, but it was lit up like candle lights. Christmas lights were hanging from the branches, making the path light up in a beautiful way. The snow glisten in the lights, making them look like white glittering lights among the walkway. Matthew's eyes grew heavy, but it was so pretty, he never imagined anything like it.
It was so delightful that he fell asleep on his shoulder.
Arthur felt him go limp, and smiled. Tonight was going to be one of those nights were nothing could ruin this child's mind.
Nothing…