'A mother's love is instinctual, unconditional and forever.'
Canada might be invisible most of the time, even to France and England (his beloved papa and maman) but he knew that when he needed it most, they'll both be there.
He sighed tiredly, watching the chaos in the meeting room as the speeches descended into petty squabbles. Immediately, he felt concern coming from England, who looked around, eyes sweeping over his son, trying to root out the sad child. Canada could laugh at how perceptive England is when it comes to his former colonies. He watched as England absent mindedly pulled France's hair, earning him a very weird moan (and several strange looks). His mother-nation scowled at the frog and turned back, eyes finally settling on Canada.
Canada felt uncomfortable as England's attention was diverted to him. For all that he wanted to be seen, it was weird to have all the attention on yourself, and he wondered how his brother could stand it. His motherland marched over purposefully, the frog following one step behind, peering at his baby Canada with worry.
"Pancake, what's wrong?" asked England.
"Just tired maman," Canada murmured, even as France gently fussed, running his fingers through Canada's hair.
"Hmmm, I'll make you a sleeping draught," England decided.
"Make sure it doesn't taste like your scones," France quipped. England swelled angrily for a moment before Canada yawned again, and they turned from 'France and England' to 'papa and maman' again. It's strange how fast they switch between the two personas. When he was little, Canada had been confused as to why his parents were so different around each other and others, but he came to learn that being a nation and being a person were two very different things. As such, he was not Canada but Matthew at that moment, basking in his parents' attention.
It is also completely instinctual, he realised. England didn't know who was hurting, but he knew one of his children were. Canada may be invisible to England (and the world) but Matthew was always on his mother's radar.
(He wasn't sure if Alfred's on that radar anymore. He thought maybe Alfred hovered on the edges.)
England's head snapped up again, and his gaze focused on Russia. Canada smiled. Russia wasn't so bad, and he wouldn't mind having the nation for a sort-of brother. He watched as England struggled to restrain himself, and France decided to help by creeping his arms around him (earning him an elbow to the face). He watched, quietly, as Russia and England's eyes met, and the whole world seemed to fall silent and still in that second; the second where they were both looking with such longing and need for each other, Canada wondered how they never found each other before.
The moment is gone again, as Russia broke eye contact to say something to his president and England looked away, no doubt to prevent an international incident - it wouldn't do anyone good if England was staring while Russia held a conversation with his president. But the longing remained, and England calmed himself by brushing away imaginary dirt on Canada's nose using an embroidered handkerchief. Canada let him, because he liked the attention and he knew England needed it.
Then France made a snipe about England's cooking and Canada just managed to escape before the corner of the room became a fighting cloud containing the two parent nations, while Germany yelled in the background. He shook his head in amusement, deciding to tie his brother's shoelaces while he wasn't looking and put the ensuing fall on Youtube.
13.10.18: Ack! Sorry for not posting last week, I forgot!