Hello everyone! I'm back for N.L.!

Sorry for the long break. A lot of factors came into why it took me so long including working on my other fanfic Vigilant and I was working out in my head Matt and Sadiq's date.

About the reviews, THANK YOU! I love and adore them all. Remember I love fanart.

I discovered a flaw in my writing. I was researching Turkey and the religions there. I discovered that (a) the main religion is Islam and (b) Muslims don't drink. It's forbidden. So….chapter four really wouldn't have happened in a way. Sadiq wouldn't have drunk with Matt. Sorry if I offended anyone by making Turkey a drinker. I just didn't know.

Please make sure you check out my other fanfic Vigilant. I think it's the stronger piece to be honest with you, and I'm quite proud of it.

Please enjoy this chapter of Northern Lights.

Matthew stared at the clock hanging on his kitchen wall. Every minute, no, every second felt like an hour as the clock hands crawled along the face. He could hear it too. Each tick… tick…. tick… rang in his ears. But thankfully, for once, Sadiq wasn't late... yet. Matt was waiting because he was dressed and ready to go twenty minutes early.

Leaping up, he started to pace as he smoothed his shirt for the sixtieth time. Hands clammy and shaking, Matt tried to focus on breathing. His first date. The big one. Maybe. He didn't actually know. It's not like he had to make a first impression. They had been talking for several months now, and Matt considered Sadiq to be one of his closest friends. But this was different. Their relationship was about to go to the next level. In fact, it might go all the way…

Cheeks flushing with blood, he shook that thought out of his head as he forced himself to sit down again. What if they did go all the way! How could Matt ever tell Sadiq, who was known to be a legendary lover, that the little Canadian was… a virgin? Did people like virgins? Would he ever be able to please the Turk? Of course being the son of France he knew how sex worked, and Matthew had read PLENTY about it in various fanfictions. But the thought of being naked in front of another human being and being touched by them was almost frightening. From what he had heard, Sadiq had been making love and causing pleasure for centuries. How could Matt ever compare to that?

A gentle rapt on his back door made Matt leap up, nearly tripping over his chair. This was it. He had to be cool and calm at this moment. Glancing at his reflection in the stove window one last time, he threw open the door with a huge smile on his face.

"Hey Mattie!"

His smile faded a little.

"Gilbert?" Matt spoke slowly, getting over the shock that an amazingly handsome Turkish man wasn't there waiting for him, "What are you doing here?"

Gently scooting around Matt, Gil strolled into the kitchen and hopped up on the counter. "What?" he shrugged with that cocky smirk gracing his lips, "I can't swing by and see my favorite maple loving friend? At least I didn't break down the door this time."

"Thanks for that. Gilbert, look you have to le-"

"Man you look nice today!" the Prussian kicked his feet a little, excited about the compliment. His eyes trailed up and down Matthew's body as a light blush crossed his cheeks. "You look so awesome."

Matthew didn't notice the blush, and responded in an annoyed voice, "Thank you, but you need to leave. I'm expecting company."

Gilbert's smirk drooped a little, but the energy still rang in his voice, "Company? What are you psychic? How did you know that I was coming?"

"Not you, Gil. I'm sorry, but it's someone else. I have… I have a date."

All the mirth in Gilbert's eyes snuffed out as he frowned. Mouth suddenly dry, he tried to form a word. No sound came out. Trying again after licking his lips, he muttered, "A date? Like a date, date?"

"Yes."

"With who?"

Gilbert's frown lines deepened as he watched the Canadian flush and fiddle with the hem of his shirt. Shit. Fucking shit, someone had got to Matt first. This was not looking too good for the Prussian.

"Well," Matt spoke softly and sweetly, swaying a bit in his excitement, "I know it sounds a little weird but it's with Turkey."

"Tur-! WHAT! Mattie, you can't be serious?" Sliding off the counter, Gilbert placed his hands on Matthew's arms and pulled him close, "Turkey is a brute. He has a rough background and only wants to gain something from you. He'll hurt you. I don't want to see that happen to you."

Matt shook his head, taking a step back from Gilbert, "No, you're wrong. He's been so kind to me. I don't think-"

"You do not know him," Gilbert spoke softer than the Canadian had ever heard him speak. Eyes full of worry, he continued, "You're young. You're younger than a lot of countries. You never saw Turkey when he was the Ottoman Empire. He was terrifying and cruel. I just don't want him to hurt you."

Before Matt could answer, a second knock rang out breaking the conversation. Matt glanced at the door before touching Gilbert's hand, "I know what people think about him. But he's never been like that with me. Please just… just be nice right now, Gilbert."

With a slight nod, the Prussian released Matt and watched with a grim expression as the blond shuffled to the door. With some disgust, he sneered seeing the Turk waiting there with a rose in hand.

"Hello Matthew," Sadiq grinned holding out the rose, "I'm on time for once."

Matt, blushing a bit as he took the rose, nodded, "You are." With a squeal, he launched himself into Sadiq's arms and squeezed him tight, "I've missed you! I can't believe we haven't seen each other in such a long time."

"I can't get hugs through Skype," Sadiq chuckled as he noticed Gilbert watching them. Tilting his head in confusion, he motioned towards Gil, "What is he doing here?"

Seeing the begging eyes of Canada, Gilbert cleared his throat and nodded to his young friend, "I was just leaving. I didn't know that Matt had a guest coming. Have fun today, Mattie." Stepping around the couple, Gilbert shot a quick glare to the Turk before slipping out and shutting the back door behind him.

"What was that about?" Sadiq glanced over Matt's shoulder, taking in the Canadian's kitchen for the first time. It was homey but up to date with environmentally forward appliances.

Picking up a tote bag that had been lying on the table, Matt draped it over his shoulder shrugged, "I don't know. Gilbert has a habit of just showing up at my door for no real reason. But let's not worry about that. Are you ready to go?" He crossed his kitchen and pulled a vase from his cabinet. Filling it with water, Matthew placed his gift in the window over his sink.

"I am ready. I've been ready to see you for a few months now." Taking Matthew's hand, Sadiq leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the Canadian's cheek, "Lead the way."

Sadiq stared at himself in the mirror of the changing room. He knew that the date would be a little different than normal, but the last time he had been on a legit date had been the 19th Century. He had thought that it would just be some modern date, maybe go to a comic book store, get a coffee at a café, and that would be it. He never imagined that his first date with Matthew Williams would leave him in this kind of situation. Though his skin was completely covered, he still felt so exposed. The material he wore hugged his skin, showing the contours of every muscle on his body. His eyes trailed down the mirror image. Yep. He could clearly see his crotch. Maybe this was Matt's coy plan to see him naked without him actually being naked. Frisky, smart little Canadian.

"Sadiq?" Matthew called in, knocking lightly on the door, "Do you need help getting it on?"

Gathering his clothes up and cramming them in a plastic bag that the shop had provided, Sadiq opened the door and smirked to Matt, "You know this is the first time that I've ever worn a wetsuit during a date. In fact, I don't think I've ever worn a wetsuit in my life."

"Well you look good in it… except for this bit of bunching on the shoulder," Matthew pinched the material and tugged it down to cover the rest of Sadiq's wrist.

Catching his hand, Sadiq turned Matt towards him and looked the young nation up and down. Damn. The Canadian just shimmered in the wetsuit, the elastic hugging his skin. He was a bit skinnier than Sadiq originally thought, but it wasn't too much. And those hips that the Turk wanted to touch so much? They were a little wider than a normal man's, but not quite like a woman's. It made Matthew unique and beautiful.

Blushing and tucking some hair behind his ear, Matt smiled at Sadiq and pulled him towards the lockers to store their clothes. "Well," he spoke quietly, snapping the lock shut, "I wasn't quite sure if you would like this sort of thing. I kinda like outdoor sports, so I thought we could do a little kayaking. I made a picnic lunch, but we have to actually go to the little island to eat. If that's okay with you!"

Sadiq chuckled as he stepped out of the shop to the docks, still holding Matt's hand, "It fine. This is really… special. I like it a lot, Matthew."

After a quick run through of rules about using the kayaks from the instructor and getting their life vests fitted—which made Matt and Sadiq giggle at how ridiculous they looked—the two of them slipped in their individual kayaks and paddled out into the lake.

"Hey Matthew!" Sadiq called up as the Canadian led, "We're not going to go over any rapids or anything are we?"

Matthew just chuckled to himself.

This is part one of their big date. Please read and review.