Thanks to Related to Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh-Trekkie-99, StuffyJinx and SansTheLanguage218 for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 9: Pancakes Vs Waffles

Canada sighed in relief when lunch finally came. During the meeting there had been fifteen fights, six of which involved England, France, and/or America. And finally they could get away from it all.

Canada stood, and he had barely a chance to speak to Czech when America tackled him in a hug.

"Hey Mattie," America said. "So, we're going to lunch now?"

"Actually, Al…" Canada began.

"Great," America said, not listening as he started to drag Canada away.

America paused when he was interrupted by Mexico.

"And where do you think you're going, gringo?" Mexico asked.

"Lunch with my brother," America said.

"And did he actually say 'yes'?"

"Come on. There's no way that Mattie would ever say 'no'."

"Al, let go," Canada said, squirming in America's grip.

None of them noticed Czech calmly walking up to America, before she grabbed his ear, earning a yelp of pain. America released Canada as he tried to release the grip on his ear.

"What the heck…?" America said.

Mexico was laughing at America's misfortune, and Canada was putting some distance between him and America.

"Canada invited me to go to lunch with him," Czech said. "He said that he was going with Netherlands. Not you."

"And why would Mattie invite you?" America asked.

Czech twitched, before she smiled.

"Because I've never had pancakes with maple syrup before and Canada offered to let me try it with authentic maple syrup."

America pulled away from Czech, glaring at the European.

"And who are you supposed to be?" he asked.

"I am the Czech Republic," she said.

"Never heard of it."

Her eyes narrowed, and she looked like she was about to launch herself at America again, and she might have, had Netherlands not showed up with Belgium behind him, glaring at him.

"I think that's enough," Netherlands said. "You're outnumbered, and your presence is unwanted. Now leave."

America glared at them, before looking around. He saw four nations glaring at him, and the reason why they were glaring at him was watching as well, and he seemed to be reluctant to go closer towards America. His bear was also glaring at America.

"Mattie…" America started.

Kumajiro growled at him, and America narrowed his eyes.

"You know, you suck as a brother," America said, stalking away.

Canada slumped, and the other nations turned to him. Mexico walked closer.

"Don't listen to that stupid gringo," Mexico said. "He's the one that sucks as a brother, not you."

"But I…"

"Come on," Mexico said, turning to Netherlands. "You were going to take him out to lunch, si?"

Netherlands nodded, before he glanced towards Belgium.

"And my sister decided to invite herself along," Netherlands said with annoyance.

Canada perked up.

"Great," he said. "The more the merrier, eh?"

Mexico chuckled.

"It's nice to see you making new friends, Matteo," Mexico said. "Well, I'll be leaving you now. I told Spain that I'd be eating lunch with him and Romano. And I promised Romano that I'd spare him from Spain."

Canada smiled as she left, and he turned to Netherlands.

"I kind of promised Czech that I'd introduce her to pancakes with maple syrup," Canada said. "There's a coffee shop that has it. You don't mind, do you?"

Netherlands glanced towards Czech before he sighed.

"Not at all," he said. "Although it might have been better if it was your pancakes."

"Unfortunately, I don't have all the ingredients," Canada said. "I didn't get a chance to do some shopping yet."

"Broer," Belgium interjected, looking at Netherlands. "Would you rather have pancakes than waffles?"

Netherlands looked between Canada and Belgium, but he didn't answer. Belgium sniffed, before turning to the Canadian.

"If you're speaking of the coffee shop that I think you're speaking of," she said, "then there are waffles as well. How about the two of us change? I'll order pancakes, and you'll order waffles, d'accord?"

Canada blinked, but nodded his head. He and Belgium had had a few… confrontations about the matter before. Of course, he stood firmly by his belief that pancakes were the best.

As they were walking, Czech turned to him.

"Um, what exactly is your human name?" she asked. "I think I heard a few variations, but…"

Canada chuckled.

"It's Matthew," he said.

"Oh. You can call me Klara, if you want."

"Klara. It's a nice name."

Czech's cheeks burned red, and both Belgium and Netherlands threw them looks.

"Why the sudden interest in Matthijs?" Netherlands asked his sister.

"It's not sudden," she said. "You just didn't notice. And you've already had lunch with Mathieu yesterday."

"Does it matter?"

"Oui. It does. You're getting too close for comfort."

"Um, is everything alright?" Canada asked, noticing the siblings' bickering.

"Oui, everything is fine," Belgium said. She turned back to Netherlands. "Right?"

"Ja," Netherlands said. "You know how siblings tend to get."

Canada looked down, sighing.

A few minutes later, Netherlands was watching his dining companions with amusement. As they'd agreed, Canada ordered waffles and Belgium ordered pancakes. But both were watching the other plate forlornly, itching to take back their preferred breakfast meal.

And then Czech said that the pancakes were the best things she'd ever tasted, which set off Belgium. She and Canada had exchanged a few words in French, before they each angrily took a bite from the other's plate, only for their faces to twist in disgust.

"These taste like merde," they both said.

Netherlands smirked, knowing exactly what had happened, and he turned to Czech, who looked confused.

"It's a national pride thing," Netherlands said, and Czech nodded.

"Why don't they just compare their own recipes then?" Czech asked.

"What did you just say?" Belgium asked.

Czech saw that both Belgium and Canada were watching her and she sighed.

"You each make your own batch, and then judge the ones you made yourself," she said. "And maybe let others judge it as well."

Canada smiled.

"That's a good idea," he said. "So, you two will be the judges? We can also ask Luxembourg, eh?"

Czech's eyes widened, and Netherlands groaned.

"You have no idea what exactly you just got us into," he said.