A soft gasp formed from one of them, and Matthew felt a bare hand make contact with the side of his face and knocking him to the ground.

"You son of a bitch!" Arthur screamed, thrashing about in Francis's arms as he tried to beat the life out of Matthew. Said Canadian cowered away, eyes back to their normal violet hue as he stared with a blood and tear streaked gaze up at his fathering countries. "What have you done? You killed him! You killed your own BROTHER!" Arthur screamed at him, tears in his eyes. Matthew gulped, a lump forming in his throat and preventing him from speaking. It was only as a large figure appeared behind Matthew did Arthur finally calm down enough to stop thrashing. Ivan leaned down beside Matthew and stroked the red-tinted locks.

"Mattvey, you're bleeding badly…" Ivan muttered, inspecting the back of Matthew's head where the soldier had hit him. Matthew hadn't really noticed the dizziness that had drifted through him until Ivan reminded him of the wound, and with its reminder, his endorphins left him and he felt the sheer pain of his cracked skull. He cried out softly, slumping forward and propping himself up, though his eyes never left Arthur's.

"Mon Petite…." Francis whispered as he stared at the horror before him, the amount of blood that was splattered around the snow and on Matthew's own pale face, some of it his, though most of it Alfred's. Francis sighed, still holding a sobbing and trembling Arthur back as he shook his head. "Une telle déception…Je m'attendais à mieux de vous." Francis said critically, eyes no longer loving as they had once been. Matthew felt the fury build up in him, eyes changing colors again and making Francis gulp and gently pull Arthur back. "Angleterre…" He whispered to Arthur. "His eyes…" Arthur looked up and stiffened.

"I'm a disappointment…That's all I am to anyone in this family…" Matthew had dropped his gaze to the snow, body trembling in anger. Ivan placed a hand onto his shoulder, but the young Canadian shrugged it away with fury. "It was always Alfred, always the shining star in your eyes. I'm just his shadow, that's all I'll ever be." No one said anything, their gazes watching Matthew intently. He swallowed the lump in his throat as hot, burning tears coated his face. "I hate you…I hate you all so much!" He screamed, head snapping up at Francis and Arthur.

"Mattvey…" Ivan whispered sadly, closing his eyes and trying to block out Matthew's crying.

.:.

Date: Approximately a month after war is declared on Canada by the Americans.

Location: Ontario, Canada, where the capitol is currently being burned to the ground by a group of soldiers, Alfred F. Jones leading them.

Matthew stared in pure horror, brought to his knees in agony as he watched his capitol burn to the ground. He was lurched over, body shaking and trembling as he tried to get air into his lungs over the burning sensation. His vision was impaired by the smoke that made his eyes water and fogged his glasses, but he couldn't mistake the sound of ice crunching under heavy boots as they made their way towards his small frame. Matthew picked his head up, and had barely enough time to move his head to the side to avoid his eye being cut from the socket. A sharp hiss escaped him as a blade dug deeply into the side of his cheek, eliciting him to cry out.

"If a tiny little cut hurt you that bad, how is it you're still fighting so strongly brother?" Alfred's cold voice rang out over the screaming of his citizens. Matthew's violet-to-coal colored eyes traveled around the scene before him, fighting back tears. The dead bodies from the bombs littered the streets, and the entire town was glowing in the most beautiful yet most heart aching flames.

"All these people…all these innocent lives…" Matthew's voice broke as he choked on a sob, body trembling in agony and fury. Alfred's face was emotionless as he stared down at his younger brother, knife in one hand and pistol in the other. "I swear to god, I will avenge my people, not matter what it takes, do you understand me?" Matthew screamed, jumping to his feet and getting one good hit to Alfred's stomach before the older twin could even comprehend what had happened. A sharp gasp left his lips as he doubled over, Matthew letting him drop to the ground as he stood tall in the glow of fire. "Remember this big brother, I'm not just going to sit here and take the abuse. You wanted this war, and now you've got it." With that, Matthew turned on his heel and walked away, Ottowa burning to his backside.

Date: Approximately three and a half months after war is declared on Canada by the Americans

Location: Just outside the America-Canada border, Canadian side, approximately 48 miles into a surrounding forest.

"That's enough Matthieu! You have the right to be upset, but not to blame us for what's gone wrong. Neither one of us wanted this war to go on; you are the one who could have stopped it. You're the mature one Matthieu, and instead of acting like it, you acted like a child." Matthew stared up at Francis in disbelief, unable to say anything. His eyes were dark like coals once again as he glared at his parents with such hatred. A quick movement caught all three countries-Francis, Arthur, and Ivan-completely off guard and Arthur dropped to the snow covered ground, clutching his shoulder tightly.

"Treat me like a child, then I'll act like one. From this point on, Canada is at war with England and France." Matthew's voice was cold and ruthless as he stood and turned abruptly from the two older blondes, making his way back to his house a few miles inland. The three elder countries stared in disbelief, but it was Ivan who raced after Matthew, taking his hand and squeezing it. Matthew squeezed in return, waiting until Arthur and Francis were out of ear shot to stop and let out a choked sob.

"Ssh…" Ivan pulled Matthew into him, gently placing his hand on the back of Matthew's head, trying to avoid the still bleeding gash. "I'm so sorry Mattvey, for everything." He swept the small Canadian into his arms bridal style and proceeded to carry him back to the house, trying to block out the gasps and sobs that left the boy's mouth. He nudged the front door open and went to the bathroom, setting the still crying Canadian down on the sink and fixing up his head wound, as well as bandaging a few small cuts he'd gotten. When he was done, Ivan smiled a bit sadly up at Matthew, who leaned down and pressed a small kiss to the Russian's lips before slumping against him in exhaustion.

"Thank you for staying with me Vanya…I can't do this without you…" He murmured as Ivan picked him up again and moved him to the bedroom upstairs. Ivan's lips caressed the top of the Canadian's head as he walked to the bed and laid him down. Matthew smiled weakly before his head flopped to the side and he was fast asleep. Ivan sighed and pulled the covers over him, sitting on the edge beside him and stroking his pale cheek.

"I'm so sorry Mattvey. I'm sorry for leaving you that day, I'm sorry that this war started, I'm sorry that you're in so much pain, I'm sorry you had to kill your brother…" Ivan tried to swallow the lump in his throat as he leaned down and brushed his lips on Matthew's temple, whispering against the cold skin. "I'm so sorry Mattvey…I love you so much."

.:.

"Artie, Artie! Look at what we found!" Alfred cried happily as he and Matthew raced up to Arthur, tiny bodies quivering with eagerness and strain from the run. Arthur turned to face the two small boys and smiled lovingly down at them, kneeling to their level as he stared quizzically at what was in Alfred's hands.

"Oh? And what is it you two have found?" Arthur smiled as the two brothers giggled and Alfred opened his hands to reveal two dandelions. Arthur smiled sweeter and took the flowers from Alfred, motioning for the two to come closer to him. "Here, twin dandelions for the twins of North America." He said softly as he tucked one flower behind Alfred's ear, and tucking the other on the opposite side of Matthew's face. The two brothers turned to each other and giggled like the children they were.

"Mattie looks so cute with a flower in his hair!" Alfred squealed and tackled Matthew in a hug. Matthew squeaked as the two crashed to the ground in each other's arms, not being strong enough to hold the two of them up. After a moment of silence, the two trying to figure out what had happened, Arthur burst into laughter, following backwards onto his bottom as he laughed. The twins looked at him, then back at each other, and soon all three of them were laughing happily like a real family. When they had all settled down, the two small boys crawled over to Arthur and curled up beside him under the tall tree that shaded part of their front yard. The elder nation sang quietly to them, stroking the mess of blond locks that covered the top of the boys' heads and coaxing them to sleep.

"No matter what happens, you are my boys, and I'll always love you." Arthur whispered to the young brothers, whose hands were clasped with each other across Arthur's lap. "I will always love you…" He whispered again as he settled against the tree trunk, and all three were fast asleep within a few minutes.

.:.

Matthew gasped and sat up, tears coating his cheeks as his head snapped around desperately. He had heard it, he knew he did; Alfred's voice just a moment before he'd woken up. After a few minutes of looking around the dark room, he sighed in anguish and hugged his knees. His fists clenched and he gasped as he felt his fingers curl around something, something that hadn't been there when he fell asleep. His hand uncurled and the tears came faster. Within his trembling palm lay a tiny flower-a dandelion, the same one from his memories. Ivan sat up when he realized his love had stirred and looked at him worriedly.

"Mattvey? Mattvey, what is it?" He said in a panicked tone, caressing the other's cheeks in an attempt to stop the tears. To his shock, Matthew smiled, even if it did seem sad, and leaned over to peck Ivan gently.

"A-Alfred's forgiven me…" He whispered as he tugged Ivan down and curled into his arms, dandelion held tightly to his chest just above his heart, and for just a moment, the war was forgotten as he slept as peacefully as he had in years.

.:.

A figure, shadowed by the dark of the night and concealed by the trees, stood just outside the home of his former son. This war had to be stopped now, before any more people got hurt, and if that meant killing Matthew in the cruelest of ways, then he'd do it. Arthur took in a shaky breath as he emerged from the wood, tears blurring his vision.

"I can't do this Frog…I just can't. He's my son." Arthur whimpered, and Francis sighed in frustration, standing beside the other.

"Angleterre, I know this hurts, but if we want this to end, we 'ave to do it. He's my son too you know." Francis nudged him forward, but when Arthur still wouldn't move, he sighed and took the matches himself. He walked up the front porch and struck the match against the wood of the old swing, dropping the match and letting the flames catch onto the fire bees to honey. He swiftly made his way off the porch and pulled the now hysterically sobbing Arthur back into the woods, away from the growing flames as they lit up the star filled sky.

A/N: It might be a while before I update again, if I don't update by this weekend, so here's another chapter of the story a few days early~ I hope you enjoyed it and continue to read.

Translations: Une telle déception…Je m'attendais à mieux de vous-Such a disappointment…I expected better of you (French)

Angleterre-England (French)