Please note: Anything in Italics is German, I just didn't bother to translate
Also note: I did not give The provinces human names... Sorry
Also also note: Australia and New Zealand don't have human names either.
Sorry guys, I had a migraine while writing this and it made me a bit lazy
The two slept in Ludwig's room that night, Ludwig holding Mathew securely to his side. In the morning Ludwig showered first, going downstairs to start cooking Christmas dinner.
Mathew got out of bed almost an hour later, showering and getting back into his pajamas before going downstairs.
"You're making dinner?"
"Yeah, if I don't start now it won't be ready when everyone gets here-"
"Everyone? You didn't tell me you were hosting Christmas." Mathew folded his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at his boyfriend.
"Didn't I?"
"You know damn well you didn't." Mathew sighed, rolling up his sleeves. "Where do you want me to start?"
Ludwig smiled, kissing Mathew on the temple. "Would you make dessert?"
"Depends on what we're having."
"Whatever you want to make, since I forgot to tell you my family was coming."
"Right, well if everyone is as fond of desserts as you and Gilbert-"
"They'll never admit it but they will are."
"Then leave dessert to me." Mathew nodded.
Mathew made several desserts while Ludwig worked on dinner.
"Who's all coming anyway?" Mat asked, rolling out the dough for pets du seours.
"Gilbert, Roderick, Vash, and Lily."
"And the odds of me getting shot on sight?" Mathew teased.
"With your reflexes? You'll be fine."
"Well that's reassuring, do you have any icing?"
"I don't think so, but check that cupboard." Ludwig gestured to one of the cupboards behind him.
"Well that's helpful." Mathew muttered, beginning to open various cupboards looking for the icing. "I don't see any."
"There's a little grocery store that's open today, they'll have it."
"Alright then, I'm off to the store."
"Give me a minute and I'll go with you." Ludwig offered.
"Nonsense, the guests will be here soon and you need to be here. I can manage to get to and from the store and I'll have my phone if I need you." Mathew assured him, washing his hands.
"But-"
"I still speak some German and this is Berlin, I'll be fine."
After pulling on his boots and tan coat Mathew made sure he had his mitts and wallet before going out into the snow.
He had no trouble finding the small corner store a few blocks from Ludwig's home.
It took him a few minutes to find the icing, as he struggled to read the labels. He'd learned German during the First World War, he'd been quite proficient in the language by the second one, but it had been a long time since he'd needed to use it.
"Did you find everything?" The shopkeeper asked him when he was getting ready to pay.
"Ja." Mathew nodded.
It took him a moment to get the right amount of money from his wallet, even after all this time Euros still managed to throw him off.
The shopkeeper gave him a warm smile as he took the container of icing in his hand.
"Happy Holidays."
Mathew nodded. "Same to you."
Mathew pushed open the door, the wind caught it so it banged against the wall.
"Sorry, sorry." Mathew sighed pushing it shut again.
When he entered the living room all eyes were on him.
"I've been gone how long and you didn't tell them I was here?" He sighed, hands on his hips.
"You didn't take your phone." Ludwig said holding up Mathew's cellphone.
"And I survived." Mat sighed, snatching the phone from Ludwig's hand.
"Manitoba was texting you."
"Well, I can check that after I finish dessert." Mathew nodded, going into Ludwig's kitchen.
Mathew was finishing the desserts when Ludwig came in to bring out dinner.
"They took the news well."
"I would hope so, do you know how awkward it will be?"
"I'm sorry." Ludwig said picking up the duck.
"And you said Manitoba texted, you did not tell me Ontario and Quebec called multiple times." Mat scolded picking up the cabbage and potato dumplings from the counter.
"Was it important?" Ludwig asked as they entered the dining room.
"If it was Ontario and Quebec it was important." Gilbert answered.
Ludwig flushed a little, realizing everyone was listening to them.
"At least someone understands." Mathew said warmly.
"Was it world war three?" Gilbert asked.
"Only a civil war, but Ontario got me Arrogant Worm tickets for Christmas, I'm pretty sure he wants me to bomb and or throw Quebec out."
"Not that Quebec would complain either way." Gilbert joked. "When's the concert?"
"February, you should come with me."
"You're inviting my brother and not me?" Ludwig asked taking his seat.
"You wouldn't appreciate the music." Gilbert assured him.
"Says you-"
"Says the fact you made a strange face when I put on Great Big Sea."
"Was it The Night That Patty Murphy Died?" Gilbert asked raising an eyebrow.
"Mari Mac."
"And he read the lyrics?"
Mathew nodded, taking the only empty seat left at the table. Ludwig must have set the table while he was at the store.
There was little conversation over dinner, mostly questions directed at either Mat or Ludwig about their relationship.
When the meal was finished Mat cleared the dishes from the table, after forcibly pushing Ludwig back into his chair.
Mat carefully placed the iced Pets du seours on one plate, the Pouding chômeur on another, and finally the Bethmännchen as well as clean dessert plates.
"How do you manage that?" Ludwig asked as Mat entered the dining room, carefully balancing the dishes.
"You think this is impressive? You should have seen me when we all lived with Arthur, double the plates and Australia and New Zealand running around." Mathew laughed placing the dishes on the table.
"Considering what they're like at meetings it doesn't seem they've changed much." Roderick nodded as Mathew placed a clean plate in front of him.
"They haven't, they know Arthur won't smack them in public, but when we all get together they sit quietly and mind their manners."
Mathew sat back down in his seat.
"Okay, the only one I recognize is Bethmännchen, give me a hint Mat." Gilbert said examining his desserts.
"Those are Pets du Seours, they're similar to Nun's puffs and those are Pouding chômeur, which is really just cake with syrup." Mathew said warmly.
"French names are always promising." Lily teased.
"Well I was lucky enough to get his kitchen skills so I figured I should give him some credit. Plus most of my desserts are variations on his."
Everyone tried all three of Mathew's desserts, although he was certain it was more to be polite than anything else. After dinner everyone sat in the living room, the Germanic nations exchanging gifts and opening the ones marked from 'Santa' although they all knew it was Tino. Mathew received a new notebook and a nice pen from Tino.
"There's another gift." Lily remarked when they thought they were done. "There's no name."
"There's a card." Vash pointed to the card taped to the box.
"Does anyone mind if I read it?" Lily asked.
"Not at all." Roderick nodded.
Lily carefully opened the card and read it through. "It's in English but there's no name."
"Read it out." Roderick encouraged her.
"Knight to F6, I hope you have a Merry Christmas and I look forward to the New Year the new nickname you promised would come with it. Sincerely, Junior."
"That's from my boss." Mathew's brows were furrowed as he looked at Ludwig. "Did he ask you to bring it?"
"I would have given it to you last night with my gift." Ludwig shook his head.
"But I didn't tell him about Tino so there's no way he knew-"
"Open it." Lily pushed the box and card into his lap.
Mathew carefully opened the gift, while Ludwig reread the card. He stopped hearing Mathew gasp. He slowly removed the snow globe from the box, examining it.
"How did he-"
"The collection is in your office." Ludwig shrugged.
"This was made by the same man who made most of mine."
"Is that strange?"
"He passed away years ago." Mathew said slowly.
"There's more to the note." Ludwig said suddenly. "P.S. I found this gift in the attic at Sussex addressed to you. I recognized it and thought you might like it." He read. "What is he talking about?"
"It's got to be from-" Mathew stopped suddenly, noticing the note in the bottom of the box. "Aha, it was from his father. It must have got put in the attic of Sussex with gifts my bosses have received in the past."
"I'm lost." Gilbert admit, his hands in the air in confusion.
"My current boss is the son of one of my previous bosses. It's why I call him 'Junior' and can get away with doing whatever I want."
"You mean like leaving for the holiday?" Ludwig asked.
"Well he wasn't given much of a say on that, none of my bosses have been in years. Actually they never have."
"Let me guess, Arthur demanded family time?" Gilbert teased.
"He hates being alone on Christmas more than any other time." Mat nodded, placing the snow globe on the coffee table, examining the note from his former boss. "Never thought I'd have to read his hand writing again." Mat shook his head.
Lily carefully picked up the snow globe, examining the three figures inside. A young woman with coloured skin wearing what looked to be a dear skin dress carrying a basket of food, a young woman wearing a knee length skirt with what appeared to be a red scarf tied around her waist playing a violin, and a young man wearing furs and holding an odd spear.
"It is lovely." She remarked.
"If I know him the way I do," Mat began, taking the snow globe from her hands. He found the key to wind it up and turned it a few times hoping it worked. The music began and Mathew laughed.
"Red River Jig." Mathew nodded. "The fiddler in the snow globe is supposed to be playing it."
"How did you know?" Lily asked, wide eyed.
"This completes the set, I have Native America singing and Inuit playing a drum, made by the same crafter."
"These, represent your first people, then?"
"That's Native America, her clothes are supposed to be tribal non-specific but they're based on the Ottawa. The one with the fiddle is Metis, she's dressed as a Metis dancer the sash is an Arrow Sash. And that's Inuit, his clothes are made of caribou."
"Metis sounds almost French." Vash commented.
"It almost is." Mathew nodded. "The Metis were the children born of white men and Native women. Their language is partially French and partially Cree."
Somehow the conversation veered from the snow globe to politics to everything else they could think of.
Around midnight the nations agreed to go to sleep. Mathew took the spare room he had slept in when he and Ludwig first started dating.
He was about to climb into bed when someone knocked on the door. Mathew opened it, revealing Vash.
"Can I have a moment?" he asked in a hushed tone.
"Of course, why don't you come in?" Mathew offered, stepping out of the way. Vash nodded, following Mathew into the room.
"What can I do for-"
"Look, you and Ludwig are both adults you can make decisions for yourselves. I don't believe you would intentionally hurt Ludwig, but if you do even by accident, I won't think twice about coming after you." Vash warned darkly.
Mathew felt a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thank you, Vash. I will do my best not to hurt him."
"Would you tell me-" Vash stopped, shaking his head.
"I will if you ask." Mat nodded.
"What is it about him you like?"
Mathew hesitated, deciding how exactly to word it. "The way he smiles, he doesn't show it to everyone but from the first time I saw it I just wanted to do everything I could to make him show it more often."
"You're dating him for his smile?" Vash asked skeptically.
"That and Ludwig is one of the few nations who has seen me at my absolute worst. Of those nations he is the only one who accepted that part of me. The others try to cover it up, as if it never happened or else try to use it against me when it suits them. Ludwig understands that it's part of me but doesn't define me." He explained. "He sees me and he understands and while we have our differences and sometimes we fight I still feel like we get each other in a way no other nation does." Vash nodded, accepting the answer. He bid Mathew a goodnight before leaving the room for his own.