Alrighty then, here's the chapter I promised. Early update, yay!

Hopefully you guys find this an acceptable chapter. I know not much really happens here, but the little flashback should give you all a hint as to where this is going (that is, if you're familiar enough with Canadian/American history).

The reviews are all amazing (even the ones that just say UPDATE). I send my love to you all. You're all awesome.

As I've said before, rating has gone up to T, but that's just for some mild cases of swearing.

And I still own nothing.

Enjoy.

"What the hell, Al? Why would you do this to me?"

"Mattie, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't mean to-"

"You burned down York! You set fire to part of MY COUNTRY! To part of ME!"

"It was an accident, I swear! I never wanted to hurt you."

"Yeah? What were you thinking, then? What the fuck were you trying to do, eh?"

"I just... I got angry, alright?... But I never meant for THIS to happen! You just never LISTEN to me!"

"I never listen? What the hell does that have to do with this?"

"Don't you remember, Mattie? We promised we'd stay together..."

"Not this again, Al..."

"Yes, THIS. What's taking so long, Mattie? Why are you still with that English bastard? Why won't you come be independent with me?"

"Alfred, I told you I'd gain independence on my own... and I don't need you BURNING my country to do so."

xxx

"Dead?" America repeated, blank-faced. "What do you mean, dead?"

England looked at America sadly. "I'm pretty sure you know what I mean."

America sat silently for a moment, his breathing heavier than usual. "Dude… you better not be joking with me right now…" The atmosphere in the room had turned cold.

England looked away unhappily. "Alfred… I'm completely serious. Matthew is gone. He's been dead for over two hundred years now. This is no joke. And this is why you shouldn't be able to see him. He's no longer alive."

America opened his mouth, looking ready to argue, but no words came out. He was frozen that way for a few moments before he clenched his teeth shut and frowned dejectedly. Then, in a whisper so quiet England had to strain to hear, "But I can still see him."

England felt his heart clench painfully. He'd never seen America look so distraught before. "I'm sorry, lad. I truly am. I wish it wasn't this way…"

America suddenly looked up, his gaze intense. "Explain it," he said forcefully. "Tell me what happened. I- I want to know… I need to know what happened."

"Lad…"

"No, something's wrong here." America stared England down, expression unreadable. "Why did I never know about this? My brother's d-dead and no one feels the need to tell me! Something's definitely wrong here and you seem to be the only person who has the answers."

England blinked once, surprised at America's tenacity. He hadn't thought the American would be this persistent.

"America," England eventually said, "there's nothing more I can really tell y-"

"Oh come on. I know there's more to it than that."

England sighed, he had hoped that it wouldn't come to this. He'd hoped he wouldn't have to explain his mistake. But America pressed on.

"God damn it Arthur, if Mattie's really d… If he's really gone…" America paused for a moment before continuing, allowing himself to take a deep breath. "Then I want to know how it happened. And why no one ever told me."

England closed his eyes in defeat. He knew his time had come.

He truly hoped that the truth wouldn't break America like it had before.