AN: So this is yet another chapter! School has returned which means the updates just got a bit slower but, I still prevail because I am awesome (not as awesome as Gilbert but, that's nearly impossible)

Thanks to the few people that reviewed this. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who liked the last chapter for some strange reason. I love writing this fic so much! I'm hope that my updates are getting better as well because I hate waiting a week before reading a fic that I like so I try not to make people wait to long for my fics.

Please review because Mattie loves reviews and he gives hugs for them all the time!


Matthew walked down the stairs with a sigh. He had been avoiding his brother for the past two days. Ever since he had found out that his brother had broken the sacred rule, he didn't feel like being anywhere near him. The problem was this was a meeting day so he didn't have much of a choice. Making things worse, Kiku would be at the meeting and so would Gilbert.

Matthew wished that he had an excuse to miss the meeting but, he didn't so he had to go to the damn thing and hope for the best. He didn't want to encounter his brother and Kiku. The very idea of his brother in a relationship made him sick. He didn't want Alfred to get hurt but, that's what love meant. Love meant letting someone close and then hurting when they left you broken.

To make things worse, Gilbert had been texting Mattie really often. He kept asking the Canadian what was wrong and kept telling him that he wanted to know so he could help in some way. He appreciated the concern but, it was too much right now.

Maybe, he should confide in Gilbert. He knew about the other mans feelings for him but, Gilbert was still Mattie's best friend so it shouldn't be too far fetched to want to talk to him about anything that's bothering him. Maybe he would tell the Prussian so that he could get it off his chest to someone that wasn't his twin brother.

Oh, he knew Alfred's opinions on the Gilbert thing now. His brother wanted him to go for a relationship with Gilbert. There was no way in hell that would ever happen to him. He would not fall for his best friend and he would not get in a relationship with his best friend. Friendship, that was as far as it got.

Matthew made it to the kitchen and sat down on the side opposite from Alfred. He ate in silence, his father watching the two with apprehension the entire meal.

Francis hated seeing his sons not talking to one another. That was not how things normally were in this house. Yes, they were siblings and therefore fought from time to time. No, they didn't sit in silence and ignore each other for no apparent reason. He wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that he had begun talking to Arthur again. He really hoped it didn't.

After breakfast, the three silent family members got in the car and headed to the meeting.

"Are you boys alright?" Francis ventured.

Matthew shook his head. "Not really." He shot a glare in his brother's direction.

"What happened?"

"Ask him." Matthew pointed at Alfred.

"Matthew I didn't do anything wrong so stop acting like I did. Just because you can't take my advice doesn't mean that I did something wrong." Alfred argued.

"You know exactly what you did." Matthew retorted.

The car fell into silence again and Francis sighed. Whatever was bothering his boys was bad. That much was easy for him to tell.

They got to the meeting and Matthew caught Gilbert's eye. Instead of sitting next to the Prussian, he sat down next to the one person that he didn't want to talk to but, needed to talk to. He sat next to his twin brother. Of course, it was partially to ensure that Kiku would not sit next to Alfred.

Halfway through the meeting, the whispers started.

"Why aren't you sitting next to Gilbert?" Alfred asked.

"I'm watching my idiot of a twin." Matthew answered.

They stopped talking and Matthew felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He took it out and saw that he had a new text message.

From: Gil

Whats wrong? U didn't sit w/ me. R u mad or something?

~TheAwesomeGil

Matthew replied.

From: Mattie

Not mad at u… mad at and watching someone else at the moment. Sorry that u thought I was mad at you. Nothing personal Gil.

~MWilliams

He got a reply rather quickly.

From: Gil

U alright though?

~TheAwesomeGil

Matthew started to respond but, didn't get the chance to because his brother started whispering in his ear once more. "Mattie… can you please go sit next to Gil so that Kiku can sit here? Either that or stop ignoring me…"

Matthew snapped but, kept his whispered tone. "No I can't go so your fucking boyfriend can sit here. And no, I won't stop ignoring you."

"Why are you being such an ass Mattie?"

Matthew wasn't whispering anymore. Rather, he was talking loudly, causing everyone to watch the argument as it developed. "You know damn well why I'm being an ass America!"

Alfred was stunned. His sigh and quiet twin brother had just called him by his nation name rather than his human name. They never referred to one another by the nation names. To them, they were brothers and didn't have to worry about the complications of being nations getting in between them. To them, the nation names had no importance or bearing whatsoever.

"Matthew Williams, why do you have such a big problem with my choice? It's my choice and one that you should consider making so you don't end up lonely forever!" Alfred yelled back.

"Alfred, you broke the rule. You broke the one and only rule without even talking about it with me first. With everything we've been through, you still feel the need to do this shit!"

"I broke the rule because I realized that living in fear was no way to live Matthew. You need to realize that as well. I know about all the shit we've been through but, we need to learn to live with it and learn from it without being lonely forever." Alfred wanted to get the message to his twin in any way he could.

"You're an idiot! The rule is the only thing that could possibly protect you. You risk everything when you break and I don't want you to get hurt. I am learning from my past. You're the one that's ignoring it." Matthew slammed his fist on the table.

"Matthew… I'm not the one that's hurting from all of this. I know what we've been through and I feel the pain every day but, I learned how to live with it. Sometimes, the risk is worth it anyway. Please Mattie; you're the one that's really hurting. You're the one that was always really hurting and scared." Alfred said this in a calmer tone.

"You don't know what you're talking about Alfred. I am fine because I'm not breaking a rule that could save me." Matthew had had enough.

He stormed out of the room. He continued on out of the building, tears streaming down his face as he walked. He walked all the way to the closest park and paced around, trying to stop the tears.

Matthew could only imagine what the others at the meeting thought about his outburst. It was insane because all of it was true. Alfred might have been right but, Matthew refused to let himself see it that way. The text he got next made everything worse.

From: Al

Bro, I no ur pissed at me and have every right to b but, I found something out that I need 2 tell u about. I no ur not gonna like this but I can't not tell u cause u have every right 2 no.

Here goes… it's about dad.

Well, dad and Arthur… I saw them talking and I asked dad and well… they're back together. They're trying a relationship again… sorry to tell u bro… u want 2 talk bout it?

~The Hero

Matthew felt his chest tighten and his tears become uncontrollable. There was no way in hell that his father would get back with Arthur. The sad part was he knew that it was true regardless of how much he wanted it to be a lie.

Matthew's knees gave out and he collapsed on the ground, the sobs wracking his body. There was no way in hell that any of this was happening. He wished that this was a dream but, he knew that it was reality. His world was crashing down around him.

He didn't hear the footsteps and didn't know anyone was following him until he felt himself brought back to his feet. He looked up and saw Gilbert's concerned gaze on him. "Birdie… what happened back there?"

Matthew couldn't form words and the tears just kept coming.

Gilbert saw that he wasn't getting anything from the Canadian and just sat there, holding Matthew close and hoping that he would calm down soon.

After a few minutes, Matthew was able to form words again and realized that Gilbert was holding him close. He quickly stepped away from the Prussian and looked at him. "S-sorry Gil…"

"Don't be sorry Birdie. Are you gonna tell me what happened?"

Matthew nodded; he might as well come clean. "It's a long story."


AN: End of chapter! I really like this one but, it makes me so sad to write! I might need to write fluff for Snapshots because of this! I love it though… not sure why.

I feel bad about making the twins fight but, it was necessary. I love Gilbert showing up at the end though.

I'm sure you all love my cliffhangeresque (not a word) ending. You must wait and review for it! (Evil laughter)

The plot bunnies have returned with an idea for a Hetalia high school thing that involves both PruCan and USUK… so should I do it? What do you guys think?

Also, taking request for Christmas fics!

Also, I included Fruk to make up for my depressing lack of Fruk in the past.

Please review!