A/N- I know you all want to read this chapter but a few things first.

-this part of the story switches from Mattie to Gil and back again, the whole first paragraph is Mattie, then it switches, then back to Mattie later on...

-Guys this stories almost over, thanks for reading my first full fanfic! I wrote a short epilogue so enjoy.

With that out of the way enjoy the rest of their story!

I skated into the ice, my whole body was tense. I knew this was going to happen, these games are one of the only times where I feel like this. I was excited, ready for almost anything. Ivan saw me get up and had gone unto the ice as well. This was it, the most stressful part of the game, right before. A player only has a second or two before the puck reaches the ground. Al had the puck now so the match was going to start I steadied my breath, there was no use hyperventilating before the match. Al tossed the puck uo, my whole body tensed up, the puck reaches its height then dropped, I tightened my grip on my stick, the puck began to fall, Al had already left the ice it was just me and Ivan now, the puck was a meter above the ice, time to go, the puck finally got the ice and the game had begun.

Gilbert had watched the match start and was glad he wasn't playing. Those two played like wild animals, seriously it was like watching polar bears fight. Then there was the air temperature, it had been relatively warm when the group had come out, then it turned ice cold. It's said a nations weather and temperature can be directly influenced by its personification, if that was so therm Mattie must be telling some cold emotions right now. The others had seemed to think ahead, they had space blankets and Al even had a below freezing sleeping bag. Arthur looked at Gilbert and handed him an extra blanket, Gilbert thanked him and felt much better.

The fierce battle raged on for hours, noon soon came and left. The nation's not playing were getting hungry, so Arthur and Kateryana went back to the house to cook. They were back within the hour with warm sandwiches and hot cocoa. Gilbert noticed that there wasn't any food for Ivan or his little Birdie. He brought it up to Al, but was only dismissed by him saying that this competition was one of both skill and strength They both would have to rely on their bodies to succeed, also they wouldn't want to stop for the food and it wasn't advised to make them stop either. So the match continued on late into the night. By 1am the match still raged on but Alfred and Natasha were half asleep. So Arthur and Kateryana walked those two to bed then returned to watch the rest of the game. By 4am the game had taken its toll on Gilbert, luckily Arthur had thought ahead. He handed Gilbert a 5 hour energy, after drinking it Gil's strength returned to him so he could watch the game some more. At 9am the game was still going and the 5hour was wearing off. But hope arrived in the form of Coffee. Alfred and Natasha had gotten up and made everyone some caffeinated drink, coffee for everyone but Arthur who Al had made some tea for.

Their fierce battle had now raged on for 24hours, how were those two still going?! Also neither of them had yet to score a point! The day and battle raged on till once again to was midnight and neither country showed any intention of stopping. Gilbert was beginning to admire how much strength his little Birdie had but the hours were beginning to take their toll on him. Gilbert lasted only until the 48hour mark them passed out.

The world around me had faded into nothingness. There was only me, Ivan, the puck, the ice, and the goals. The people watching had left, they might still be their but I couldn't see them, my eyes were trained on Ivan and the puck. I couldn't here cheering or the encouragement that I knew Gil was sending me, my ears had long since given up trying to hear them. I knew I couldn't talk even if I tried, my breath was to heavy. My legs were sore, but I kept them going. Ivan showed signs of fatigue, but he wasn't slowing down. Hours must have passed, but no one called for the end of first period or the start of a new one so we kept playing.

I couldn't tell how long we had been going, but this game was going nowhere. Me and Ivan had promised each other that only one goal was needed to win the game, but that was hours ago...I think. This is getting ridiculous, we had been training so hard that neither of of could even get the puck more than a meter towards the goal before the other pushed it back a meter. Then there was the ice, it would only last for so long before cracking and pulling us into the water.

The game raged on, then out of the corner of my eye I saw Gil fall. These games were always taxing on us, but I had forgotten what it's like on the spectators. I almost tripped on the ice, but held my resolve. I had to win if not for my same or bragging rights then for Gil's. This was to show him that he wasn't wrong to pick me as his partner, no I'm strong enough to be their for both myself and him. With a new resolve in my heart, I went after the puck.

The game is almost over, with Gil in my heart I can do anything. Now add that to his worried I am about him and my speed had increased. Ivan was in the way of my seeing my Gil, so he was going down. I went after the puck and caught Ivan off guard, giving him no time to recover I raced toward the goal. One shot was all I had, so I took it. The buzzer went off, time froze. Ivan stood their speechless, Alfred had come back just in time to see me win, Arthur was crying, Kateryana was stunned, and Natasha looked like she was going to murder me. But none of that mattered, Gil had stayed just to see me win, he was running on to the ice in his sneakers. Next thing I knew I was surrounded by Gil.