A/N: So, I'm back~

Several people have pointed out we haven't seen our favorite British tsundere in a while, and he does seem to be pretty important to the story, so, I have him in this chapter where something happens (no spoilers, you will find out in a few minutes).

I still do not own Hetalia (or do I and this is just some new Canon things hidden on a fanfiction website. Okay, that isn't true. But it is the major thing I question when I read people's fanfiction).

Matthew smiled when he noticed that Feliciano was feeling better, nearly two months after winter break. His smile stopped looking so false, and he started singing as he skipped down the hall, for the first time since... he had been bullied.

Everything seemed to be going so much better for everyone in general.

Since Matthew had rejected Ned (God, he felt so incredibly guilty for it, but he seriously didn't want to lie about who he actually liked because it would end up just hurting Ned even more) Gilbert had relaxed a bit, though he still was acting a little weird and edgy around Matthew, but he still was glad to be able to talk to him about nearly everything.

And he didn't want to tell Gilbert one thing specifically. And he decided to tell Alfred, because if he didn't tell someone, anyone he would explode.

He walked into Alfred's and Arthur's room and said, quietly, when he saw that his cousin was the only one there, "Hey, Alfred, I need to tell you something."

Alfred, though he had changed a lot this year so far, was still Alfred, and so, instead of listening to what Matthew was planning on staying, started talking rapidly, "Oh my gosh, I feel the same way, I need to tell you that there is something wrong with Artie, and I really like him, and everything was almost good, but then something happened and it's like beginning all over again with him, and it is annoying the hell out of me and I really want to take him to the Valentine's day dance in a few days and-"

"I am in love with Gilbert," Matthew blurted and slapped his hand over his own mouth in shock.

"Wait," Alfred froze in his pacing around the room. "Who?"

Matthew steeled himself. Too late to turn back. "Gilbert. Gilbert Beilschmidt. I believe that you guys have met once or twice," he said, trying to lighten the mood. It was useless, though, he could tell from the expression on Alfred's face he was not going to take it well.

Alfred slammed his head into a wall. "Why. In the name of everything. Did. You fall. In. Love. With that. In the best of terms, asshole. And, God fucking dammit, why did you fall in love now of all the shitty times in our lives?"

"I-I don't know, it just happened to happen that way," Matthew squeaked, terrified. Alfred never cursed like this, the worst he ever normally said was 'god' and 'hell'. And Alfred was clearly angry.

Alfred snarled, "You don't know?! You don't know why you chose now, when our lives are so fucked up, to fall in love with Gilbert?! The dudes one of my closest friends, but why him?! He will... And after my parents died, while I am having my own relationship problems, you have to go and be selfish with your own goddamn problems!"

Matthew felt his temper flare. "You can't seriously call me selfish! You and your 'hero complex'! The moment I say I have a problem you flip out and call me selfish! Who is really the selfish one? Tell me, who?"

Alfred glared readily back. "I don't know. Maybe I am. But you can be damn selfish right back. And... now..." his glare splintered into a defeated look, "you are going to leave me behind for Gilbert, or whoever you fall in love with. And then I will be alone. I loved it so much when you came and lived with me after your parents died. And... I don't want you to forget about me."

Matthew hugged him, his flash of anger dissolving. "Are you really stupid enough not to realise that I am your family, and you are mine? We will literally never be able to get rid of each other."

Alfred smiled after a moment, then laughed, and said, "Alright, that's fair. So, I want to know your reasoning behind liking Gilbert, and tell me if you want any help in talking you up to him."

And the excited American dragged Matthew over to his bed and had the two sit on his American flag bed, grabbing his soft plush whale that Kiku had given to him a few years back, and that he had declared his 'best friend', besides his other stuffed animal, Tony, and still hugged both of them when he slept, though he never would admit it to anyone besides Matthew. "So. Start talking."

"Well... his hair is incredible and white and matches snow... his eyes are really cool and red... And he is really nice and protective... And he is really good at keeping the room clean... And his taste in music is perfect... And it's really cute when he is with Gilibird, and how he refuses to eat food that has a face... And he is cool... I don't know, everything about him is great," Matthew smiled as he spoke.

Alfred hugged him. "I understand. And I am glad for you."

Matthew smiled softly, "Now, I want to hear all of your problems, and maybe I can help you with the Arthur Situation."

Arthur shoved some of his blond hair out of his face.

His hair was starting to get a bit too long for his comfort. Now it looked stupid and punk like when he was England. Now he pretty much was the exact same as himself before the spell. God, why had he been such an idiot? He had been... what, twenty three? Twenty two? He had thought that would be old enough not to need to be so stupid.

And now he needed to figure out how to tell his friends. Or not tell them. Either way worked. He slammed his head against his desk.

He felt so incredibly alone right now, and stressed. Alfred would hate him when he found out, that was certain. It would be worse than when he had raised the tea taxes. He didn't understand why it was such a big deal for him to raise those taxes. America didn't even like tea.

"Yo, Artie!" Speaking of the idiot, Arthur cursed, his head still resting against the smooth wood. He felt footsteps through the floor and then a hand against his back, "Hey, are you okay?" Arthur could picture those blue puppy dog eyes looking at him in concern through glasses. "So... I was thinking... you know today is Valentine's Day?" Arthur raised his head up.

"What? What do you mean by that?" Arthur honestly had not realized it was Valentine's Day.

Alfred smiled and Arthur's heart fluttered. He slammed his hand over his chest, as if that could make it stop. Fucking hormones. "Well you have been so stressed lately maybe you could come to the dance tonight with me. The seventh through ninth grade one is tonight and the older three grades are tomorrow, so all of our friends would be there and it could turn out really fun."

"I kind of am busy. You should be too, we have a lot of school work," Arthur said sharply. He really didn't want to deal with Alfred right now.

Alfred pouted, "Artie, come on, everyone is going. And," he spoke in a hushed voice, "I need your help. Mattie wants to get Gil to like him."

"Well, that should be easy enough," Arthur laughed dryly, "the albino is already head over heels in love with him. Not that I blame him."

Alfred tilted his head, supporting the puppy look even more, "Didn't realize it. And what do you mean you can't blame him?"

Arthur smirked. Might as well see if Alfred is jealous, and this is a pretty good distraction from stressing out. "Well, Matthew is obviously very cute. His hair, well, it's even better than the frog's, and he has really large cute eyes, and he actually is incredibly smart, and the polar bear thing is surprisingly endearing, so yeah, I can see why he could be desirable."

"Yeah, well you had better leave my cousin alone," Alfred said, a frown becoming definite.

Arthur laughed at him, "No, he isn't my type of person by any measure. So, if you wouldn't mind giving me some space, I am going to get ready for the dance that starts when?"

"Five. We are eating dinner at five, then going to the dance at seven. So, you have like an hour. And don't worry, I am heading to Mattie to get ready," Alfred said, starting off angry until the end of the sentence, then hugged Arthur and ran from the room.

When Arthur got to dinner, he learned they were having pizza. He was angry that they forgot how well the last dance had turned out.

But after a while he relaxed. And because of that, he actually was able to enjoy himself, and talk to Alfred pretty much the whole time.

However, part way through the dance, Kiku grabbed his arm and dragged him to a corner. "Er, Kiku, what are you doing?"

"What has been wrong, Arthur-san? You have been on edge until now? What is wrong?" Kiku asked.

Arthur thought briefly for a moment, before deciding that Kiku would be the least likely one to get angry at him for what he did, so he decided to trust him. "It's my fault that we are this way. That we are kids. It's my fault."

Kiku blinked in shock. Well, Arthur didn't know if you could blink shock, but he knew that if you could blink in shock, Kiku just did. "I thought it was something about Alfred-san. But this seems more important. I want to know more on this, but I have to go over to Heracles-san," Kiku turned away, but glanced back briefly back just to say, "And you should tell the others."

Arthur watched him go back to his tall boyfriend, before deciding just to pretend that didn't happen and deal with it later. He was pretty sure he saw Alfred holding a plate of cake in each hand, and he assumed one was for him. He might as well enjoy himself before Alfred started hating him.

Arthur marched back over to the American and Alfred hugged him, saying, "I am getting exhausted, so I might be heading to bed soon, but first I have cake!"

Arthur hugged him for a minute longer, "Don't hate me," he whispered, then pulled away. "Thanks, idiot," he grabbed the cake and immediately ate a bite, making Alfred laugh.

Arthur smiled back up at him, but he still couldn't help thinking, 'Please don't hate me. Please. It would kill me if all of you ended up hating me for what I did.'

A/N: Aw, poor Arthur. They won't hate you, probably. Haven't really planned that far ahead.

Anyways, I noticed some characters haven't shown up much in these last few chapters, but they will definitely show up soon, hopefully in the next chapter.

Also this will not end up with Kiku and Arthur together, because that might end up being a question after this chapter, but no! I am Giripan and UsUk trash, and don't forget it. I have even started a Giripan story you guys should check out!

I took down my poll, because this is obviously heading toward PruCan, but I have started a new one where you vote on your favorite character in this story (personality, role in plot, character development, etc that is your favorite overall for one character), and please vote on that.

And, finally, thank you everyone who reviewed, and please review, send suggestions, plot ideas, anything is good!