Chapter 7

""This is your grandfather? You must be mistaken."

"Nyet, that is most definitely him. Why?"

"Ivan... this... is the man that created me nearly three hundred years ago." Matthew said breathlessly."

The was an air of 'awkward' that hung about the house a couple of days after Matthew's announcement. And as much as Ivan would have loved to get on a plane and fly to Russia, where his grandfather lived, he simply did not have that kind of money. So they stayed put for a while, he needed a few weeks to gather funds and perhaps sell some knick knacks around the house for some cushion money. He went to work, but not for nearly as long as before he got stabbed by Matthew, the living doll and mostly rested in bed or on the couch as he healed.

Things had actually gotten rather... domestic between Ivan and Matthew. While Matthew still played occasional pranks, they were not nearly as cruel and had significantly less potential for someone dying. Which was a plus for Ivan. Matthew now did little things to make Ivan's life easier. Whether it was fetching things for him or it was simply sitting with him and keeping him company.

Matthew happily sat on Ivan's lap as Ivan slowly knitted him a tiny sweater. Matthew had tried to explain that it was useless as he didn't feel the cold despite the sudden appearance of emotions. Ivan insisted anyway, saying that he need clothes other then the dress. He had asked Arthur to sew him a small wardrobe to be ready by the time they made it back from Russia.

"Ivan, how long till we can go?" Matthew asked from his spot on his lap.

"I should have enough in the next paycheck... so about two weeks." Ivan said and they fell into silence once more.

"Ivan..." He began, nearly an hour later.

"Yes?" Ivan prompted when it became clear he had stopped talking.

Matthew sighed. "I don't know if... I'm ready to meet him." He was literally going to meet his maker. He had so many questions.. ones he didn't know if he wanted answered.

"It will be fine, Matvey. My grandfather is a very kind man." He paused for a moment before speaking again. "Even if... well... despite what ever he did... before." He looked over at Matthew on his lap and put his knitting away for the night and began to talk about a man. A great and generous man who raised him and his sisters. But no matter how highly he spoke of him, and he mentioned the good and the bad, he couldn't equate that man with someone that would create him, a doll for killing people.

~TreesAndCheese ~

It was two weeks later exactly and Matthew was waddling around Ivan house in his new sweater helping him pack. He looked a little odd with an over-sized, slightly lumpy, tan sweater over his scarlet old fashioned dress, but he was thrilled with it.

"I am definitely excited to see him it's been about 11 years now, ya know? It will be good to see him" Ivan said cheerfully, Matthew mm-hmm-ed while trying to close the clasps of the suitcase and keep his long sleeves out of the way. "I miss him, da?"

"Yep." Matthew said once he finished with the suitcase and Ivan picked him up along with the bags.

"Arthur should be here to drive us to the airport in a moment."

"When do I have to get in the suitcase?"

"Um... what was that, Matvey?"

"Well, we're going by plane, oui?"

"Yes..." Ivan drawled out after a moment.

"Well? Then when do I need to get in the suitcase? Everyone else has put me in one." Albeit, some were rather reluctant, depending on how strong a hold he had on their mind.

"Nyet. You are welcome to sit with me in the plane."

"Sit where?" He asked, bewildered. Ivan looked at him in confusion.

"On the seat. Just don't move around too much or let other people see you."

Matthew looked shocked for a moment. "I guess I just never thought of how humans traveled in them. The every time I went in one it was dark and stuffy and I was stuck in suitcases." he realized not a moment later that it was lonely as well.

"Don't worry," Ivan said with a fond smile, "it will not be like that this time."

Just then a car horn sounded outside and they piled into Arthur's car waiting outside. Arthur drove them to the airport, almost cheerfully chatting about the tiny wardrobe he was making for Matthew.

~TreesAndCheese ~

The airport was crowded and loud and positively fascinating from his view in Ivan's arms. He was in awe of how many different people there were in one place. Ivan even told him little stories about his grandfather in whispers when he stopped for a bagel.

The security people seemed to take particular interest in Ivan for some reason, but they managed to make it to their flight just before it left. The plane itself, Matthew thought, was amazing. It was so... bright. And there was all these people. He even got to spend the entire time with Ivan which was so much better then being shoved in a bag. He sat, still as... well.. a doll... as the plane took off. The little girl in the same aisle as them seemed to take an interest in him. It made Ivan a little nervous when she leaned over the the arm rest and started chattering on excitedly and tugging on his clothes and playing with his hair. Ivan's hands tensed around his middle when she asked to hold him, but with an almost imperceivable nod form Matthew, he allowed it with a gruff, "Da, but be very very careful." Mathew wondered idly if Ivan thought he would kill her, but he knew for once he wouldn't.

For the first time since he got his emotions he was being held by a little girl. He took a pensive moment to himself and retreated into his mind ans she clutched him to her chest and named him "Suzy".

He had been held by girls through out his entire existence. Three hundred years of it and he had no opinion of it either way. Now that he thought about it. It made him... happy. Probably one of the few things in his life that was pleasant. But when he compared the feeling to being held by Ivan, it simply paled in comparison.

What would it be like? He wondered, To be held by Ivan for all for eternity? For the rest of his existence? It would be bliss. But he knew it would never be able to happen. He was no expert in humans, but he knew they didn't normally last very long.

Eventually...

Ivan would die.

His perfect smile must have dropped from his face just long enough for Ivan to notice. Before he even knew what was happening he was back on his lap and the girl next to him was crying and being consoled by her very embarrassed mother.

"Hold me, " He whispered only loud enough for Ivan to hear it. Confused and perhaps a little worried, Ivan complied. Matthew tried desperately to hold down his misery. It was easier now that his face was buried in Ivan's strong, comforting chest.

Of course Ivan would die. That really shouldn't be such a surprise to him. He would die while Matthew lived on. But... what if that didn't need to happen. Matthew had a thought. A terrible, glorious thought. Now all he had to do was figure out if it was possible...and if it was, what would the consequences be...

Still, He reasoned, it's not like I plan to live much longer then Ivan anyway.

The rest of the flight was spent with Matthew in a contemplative mood. Ivan noticed this and, while he was curious he decided not to pry.

~TreesAndCheese~

Touch down was easy, if not a little long and boring. The two of them rented a car and began their trip from Moscow, where they landed to a city called Rybinsk, where they would meet his grandfather. The drive over to Ivan's grandfather's house was actually very pleasant, even if they were too excited to do much more then some light chatting that eventually faded away as they got closer and closer to their destination. At Last they pulled to a stop to a little house, at least compared to Ivan's, and He stared to get out of the car, bringing Matthew with him.

The walk to the door was he longest that Matthew had ever known. He felt what he now know th be fear and nervousness pool in his stomach Ivan rang the doorbell. He could feel Ivan's breathe stop as the door opened.

"Ivan." Questioned the confused man dresses in grey pants, a blue shirt, and a grey hat.

"Hello, Grandfather."

it was at that moment that he had noticed Matthew tucked in his grandson's arms.

"M-Ma-Matthew?" He stuttered in shock. His otherwise calm and happy face twisted with fear and shock.

"Grandfather," Ivan said softly, "We have some things to discuss."

He nodded and led them inside.

Hey~ this is TreesAndCheese!

Sorry for the long wait, but school just has to come first.

I was looking over the story and decided that the time line wasn't quite right, so in the upcoming weeks I will edit all the chapters and tweak the time-line, an perhaps some minor details that I will tell ya'll about in the next weeks.

Heres the new time line.

Ivan is about 30. His sisters died at 6 and 7 when Ivan was 10. So that was 20 years ago. He last saw his grandfather 11 years ago when he was 19 when he moved to a different part of Russia to study and then America to work. Matthew is a little older than 300. Maybe about 320 something. I'll decide later.

I also spend a lot of time on tumblr. If your there feel free to follow me and give me hetalia stuff to consider following. I pretty much keep all my ships off my blog and its not even fandomy, but if you want to follow me i'm Specious Sunflower. I write some poetry there sometimes too.

Thanks to everyone still reading or just starting this story. Don't worry the net update won't take too long.

Please leave a review, they mean a lot to me.

Tons-o-luv

Treesandcheese