Author Notes:

- Seriously, it's not over ~ Fake ending is fake ~

- The question is: what does Prussia do when his one month time is over?

- This is one of those chapters where I wonder "why did we do this again" argh! But then, it's a good preview of what happens in the sequel, so ~ but seriously...you are all going to hate me...and probably Prussia...quite a lot...just warning you...

~!~

One Month

Chapter 25

~!~

There was a bird tweeting in the air when he woke up. That and the sound of a certain someone's voice incredibly close. He was still half asleep when he yawned. "What is it, Gil?"

"It's freaking cold..." he heard, feeling Prussia curling up against him. "You're warm though."

He started to blush as he opened his eyes, not accustomed to someone cuddling against him. Kumajiro, maybe, but another person? It was nice, but awkward. Especially after just waking up...which meant he was sharing a bed with Prussia...and...last night came back to him in a rush and he started to blush harder.

"I-it's not that cold, you know." His eyes widened when he realized he was naked and sleeping on top of the covers. He could feel his face warm ridiculously, because Prussia was stark naked, too. "U-um. Maybe you should get some clothes on."

"Oh no, this is fine," Gilbert commented, cuddling in closer if anything.

Seeing as the pale skin was still shivering, Canada narrowed his eyes. "I know you're still cold."

"Oh? How can you tell?"

Because it's obvious...

Before the words could break his lips though, he changed his mind, smiling and reaching out to pet the silver hair. "Because I know you." He blushed again; his eyes kept going to that certain exposed area he hadn't ever expected to see from another man. "Now please, get some clothes on."

"You're no fun," Prussia said, pulling back and sticking his tongue out. But, he did get up and stretch, grabbing some clothes as he started to walk to the bathroom. "Guess I'll take a shower." Then Gilbert said the most absurd thing, turning around to grin. "No peeking~"

Canada jumped up, staring at those red eyes. "O-of course I wouldn't -" He cut himself off, having found that his eyes were yet again wandering down.

The blush grew hotter and Prussia disappeared into the bathroom with a sarcastic, "Sure," before shutting the door.

With a sigh, Matthew closed his eyes, shaking his head as he tried to keep his mind from going crazy places. One time and he was already turning into a pervert. Was that really what happened after your first? Did you crave more all the time? Because it was so amazing... So unexplainable in so many ways. He was so glad he had saved it, so glad he had waited; he trusted Gilbert to stay with him forever.

He could still hear the bird chirp that had caused him to wake up at first, and hearing it so close, made him start looking around. It sounded like it was inside of all things. Prussia did have a bird, but what would it be doing - ?

Finally turning around, he caught the little yellow ball of fluff chirping and ruffling feathers as it sat on the bed's headboard. "Uhm..." He blinked, wondering if this bird had been standing there the whole time they... "How long have you been standing there?"

The bird simply hopped along the headboard, chirping as if he was answering the question. It almost sounded like an innocent whistle, too. Matthew sighed and shook his head. "Yeah, sure, I'll believe you." With another peep, the yellow bird flew up in the air and then settled in his hair. Canada giggled, not having expected the bird to treat him the same as Prussia. "You're cute."

Come to think of it, the bird was a lot smarter than a normal animal. He was almost like Kuma. Heck, it was apparently because of this little bird that they had been saved. If not for Gil's bird being so connected to Gilbert, they probably would be in Russia now. He shivered and then felt the bird hopping around on his head, and he laughed.

"I wonder if I should make some pancakes." Hearing the bird tweet happily, almost like he was singing a cheerful song, Matthew laughed again. "I'm sure Gil would enjoy it, too."

With a stretch and a yawn of his own, Canada climbed out of bed and started pulling clothes out to get dressed. "Have you seen Kumataro anywhere?" He heard a single chirp and then saw the bird fly over to the edge of the bed, hopping around and poking at the covers. Raising an eyebrow, he slipped into his clothes. "Is that a yes?" When the bird continued to hop around, he sighed. "Whatever, he'll show up once I make the pancakes."

Once he managed to get dressed, he quickly made his way to the kitchen. Pancakes made for a good breakfast, and he could find a way to get back at Gilbert for leaving the house in such a mess. Hiding the syrup. He grinned even as he grabbed the bottle and put it in his apron pocket – for now. Meaning well or not, letting everyone into his house had turned it into a wreck. It was wonderful being home, but it had taken more effort than he thought it would to clean everything up and get it looking back to normal.

What he hadn't counted on, was Gilbert's absolute horrendous skills at cleaning up. After forcing the man to work, he had then been showered with more broken dishes or extra scuffed tiles or dirty hand prints all over a door he had just finished cleaning... Yeah, he had learned quickly. Gilbert Beilschmidt, the "great and awesome" Prussia, did not know the first thing about keeping things tidy.

Sighing at the memory, Canada shook his head and focused instead on making up some pancake batter. Food first. Then his little revenge would come later. As he worked, he started to hum an old song he could remember from his childhood. Something France used to sing. Not that he would remember the name.

But then a voice was at his ear. "My music's better." Followed by a pair of lips touching his exposed neck.

He yelped and felt his body shiver, remembering last night. "Sorry for not growing up with it," he said.

"You'll learn if you hang with me long enough," Prussia said, hands reaching around to wrap around Canada, voice still close to his ear. "Can you still cook like this?"

With a blush, he gave a nod. "O-Oui."

To his surprise, though, it didn't last. Prussia soon yelped, and then dropped his grip and moved away. Before Canada could ask what happened, Gilbert growled, "Stupid bear."

Immediately understanding, Matthew turned around with a sigh. "Be nice. Both of you." Leaning down, he picked up the polar bear, and on his way back up got a good view of the shirt Prussia had decided to wear today. A shirt depicting a rainbow colored pony with the words "20% cooler." He groaned, knowing exactly what it was from. "Not you, too."

Gilbert was sticking his tongue out at the bear but Canada's groan caused him to blink. "What do you mean?"

With a sigh, Matthew set Kumajiro down on the kitchen counter, turning away from Prussia and his rainbow pony shirt. "Please tell me you don't actually watch that show. I hear enough of it from Al," he muttered, focusing back on the pancakes and trying to erase the image of seeing the albino in a pony shirt of all things.

"What's wrong with it?" He could hear Gil get defensive. "It's awesome! It's something America did right!"

With another groan, Matthew shook his head. "It's a show for little girls..."

"It is not!" Prussia exclaimed, the sound of a strange light tweeting making him think of Gilbird laughing. "You shut up!" Yes, definitely Gilbird laughing.

He giggled. "It seems Gilbird agrees with me."

Hearing the bird chirp sweetly, he could only laugh when Prussia snapped at it. "You traitor! I should have never -" More chirps and then Prussia grumbled, pulling a chair out, making Canada cringe as he heard the legs scrape along the floor. "Stupid animals."

Finding himself giggling, he turned back around, two plates of pancakes ready. "I think they're adorable." Glancing to the polar bear, he amended his statement. "Well, when they want to be." Seeing that Gil had decided to sit backwards in his chair, when he started reaching out for his plate, Matthew smirked and placed the plate on the table. "Here, and if you want syrup, you'll have to find it."

It made Prussia sit up, blinking his eyes. "What? Are you -" When Canada winked and made his way over to the other side of the table, sitting down with his own plate of pancakes, Prussia gaped. "You're serious." Keeping his face as still as possible, he nodded, pleased when Gil grinned. "Birdie's got a game," the albino said, laughing as he stood up. "All right. I'll bite."

Matthew watched as his albino lover started bouncing around the kitchen, pulling open the bread cabinet, searching around jars and anything else sitting on the kitchen counter, coming up empty-handed at everything unturned. "Call it payback for letting everyone in my house."

He was pleased to see the Prussian stop where he was, freezing as the reason behind this 'game' finally clicked. "Aw, c'mon, Birdie, I was drunk..."

While Gilbert started opening the cupboards, searching for the syrup and still coming up empty, Matthew reached into his apron pocket and quickly poured syrup over his breakfast, closing it as quietly as possible and shoving the bottle under the table before he started eating his own pancakes. "The place was an entire mess."

Groaning, Gil turned back around, a hand in his hair. "Aw, Birdie, that's not my fault."

"You had a key and you let them in," Matthew said, poking his fork accusingly toward the albino. "So, it is your fault."

"Heh...But I -" The red eyes widened as they seemed to notice the sugary goodness coating Mattie's plate. "Hey! You -!"

"Hm?" Canada said, tilting his head in mock innocence.

He nearly laughed at the eye twitch. "Oh I get it." But then Gilbert's mood changed as the albino smoothly slid into place behind Matthew's chair. "I think I know where you're hiding it."

Lifting his head to look up at him, he felt his body grow tense and wary, knowing the sly look in those red eyes meant the albino was about to do something unexpected. "Oh, really? Where is it then?"

"Right here!" Prussia exclaimed, his hands diving down and reaching into Canada's shirt, feeling around his skin as if Matthew would hide it under his clothes or something.

Yelping at the sudden intrusion, he felt his face blush. "H-hey!"

He could hear Gilbird laughing again. Strange, that he could know when a bird was laughing. Prussia seemed to freeze, but only for a moment. Those pale hands started reaching elsewhere, heading lower. "I think I know where to find some sweet syrup."

Feeling his eyes widen – the very idea of doing something in the kitchen – Matthew snapped, "All right, all right! I'll tell you where the syrup is!"

Letting out a breath in relief when Prussia removed his hands, he ignored the triumphant laughter, "Kesese~ I knew you would."

With a sigh, he leaned down, reached under the table, and pulled the bottle out, tossing it to him. "Here. But you better hurry. Kuma's been eating your pancakes."

Returning to his own food, Canada grinned around the fork at Gil's exclamation. "What? Stupid bear!" It was still hilarious when Prussia rushed over to the other side of the table and grabbed at the polar bear, picking him up and shaking him. "Stop eating my food you stupid bear."

Sighing, Matthew mumbled around his fork. "Put him down, Gil. He got what he wanted."

With a growl, the albino set the bear down before flopping down in his chair, looking positively upset as he stared at the now empty plate. "Hrm," he grumbled, lifting the syrup bottle to his mouth as if he were going to eat the maple syrup alone.

At first his eyes widened, then he shook his head and sighed...again. "Please don't waste it all."

"Not wasted if I eat it," Prussia mumbled around the bottle as he started to suck, still looking ridiculously upset over something so trivial.

Rolling his eyes, Matthew set his fork down and pushed the plate away, picking up a fake tone in his voice. "Oh no, it seems as though I am too full to finish my breakfast." Then he smiled, especially pleased to see Gilbert's eyes light up.

"All right!" Gil said, perking up immediately and reaching out to grab the plate, pausing only when he was about to drown his food in that syrup he loved so much. "You sure?"

"Oui, it's fine," Matthew said, trying to keep his smile, but wincing when the memory of sharing a bowl of rice with the albino came back to him.

He could feel the red eyes staring at him, and he started praying that Gil wouldn't say anything about it. He didn't want to talk about it. Of course, he couldn't stop thinking about it now. And Prussia seemed to understanding, simply returning to the plate of food in front of him. "Your food is the best, Birdie."

Smiling at the compliment, he took a breath and muttered, "Merci. It's not that great though."

The damn memory kept coming back to, and the feeling of it. The poison. The pain. He almost whimpered, biting his lip to keep it back. It would be stupid to let something like a memory bug him this much. But he couldn't help it. Even thinking about the food he had just eaten, thinking about sharing with Gilbert...it was...

"Sure it is," Prussia was saying, wolfing down the last of the pancakes before noticing what Canada was trying so hard to fight. "Something wrong?"

Looking away, he shut his eyes, but that only made it worse. "N-no. I'm fine..."

"Birdie? I can't fix it if you don't talk to me."

Opening his eyes, he found himself staring right at a frowning silver-haired red-eyed concerned Prussian. "I – I just can't forget, Gilbert. No matter how hard I try."

The man put his elbows on the table, leaning his chin into his hands as he stared back at Canada. "Well, talk to me. Just...talk to me."

"That night. When they gave us food." He shook his head, staring down at the table. "It's so hard to eat after that."

"Ah, but if you cook it, then it can't be poisoned, would it? I mean, I could understand if you didn't want to eat out anymore, but..."

"It's not like that, Gil," Matthew whispered, his hands moving to wrap around his stomach, wishing the stupid pain would just go away, trying so hard to push it away, trying to be strong. "Every time I eat something, I remember everything that happened. And it scares me..."

To his surprise, he soon found Gilbert crouching down on the floor beside his chair, looking up at him. "Memories...suck sometimes."

Looking back at him, Matthew mumbled, "I just...I want everything to go back to the way it was."

Again, to his surprise, Prussia looked down, mumbling his own words. "That's not possible." His gaze turned to the side, the red eyes narrowing. "Believe me, I've wished that for a long time."

Suddenly understanding how selfish it was to wish such a thing, Canada flinched back. "I'm sorry. I – I forgot."

But then, Prussia surprised him – again, looking back at him and grinning so wide his eyes closed. "Oh it's fine." There was a pause, a hand touching his leg. "That's the past right? And without that, we might not have met...right?"

Staring back at him, Matthew blinked before smiling lightly. "That's true..."

"So – uh – yeah -" Gilbert stuttered before giving up on talking altogether and leaning over, resting his head in Canada's lap.

It was a strange way to comfort someone, and it made Matthew's eyes widen. But then he smiled. His Gilbert was a strange one, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, reaching down to pet the silver hair...it felt nice. It was like a distraction, especially when Gil gave a content sigh.

"See? Just push the bad stuff to the side and think only of the good. It'll be all right eventually."

Is that how you get through it all? Is that you manage to stay so energetic after everything that's happened to you?

"Oui. That sounds like the best thing to do," Canada said as an answer.

"Of course it is," Prussia muttered, not even moving from his spot, as if he were actually getting comfortable. "Mmm...you're nice and warm."

Blushing, Matthew blinked, but he continued to pet the silver hair, finding that he liked making the strange albino happy. "Merci..." he muttered, not knowing what else to say to such a comment. "Your hair's really soft."

"That's a new one," Gilbert said before sighing again. "Mmm...I feel like a spoiled kitten."

Unable to help himself, Matthew giggled at the very idea of the crazy Prussian being compared to such a cute animal. "I never thought you would compare yourself to a kitten of all things."

"Why not?" Gil asked as he nuzzled deeper into Mattie's lap. "Cats are awesome enough."

"Well, I was expecting something along the lines of a dog. Cats are a little graceful for someone like you."

He could feel the man's shoulders slump as he pouted. "Not graceful enough? Aw...then what animal would I be, according to you?"

"Ah, well, that's a hard one," Matthew said, closing his eyes as he tried to think of a good fit. "Probably something like...a raven?"

This caused the albino to lift his head and blink. "A raven? Why?"

Opening his eyes to smile at Gilbert, he shrugged. "I guess because of the Prussian Eagle."

An awkward moment of silence passed between them, as if the words were taking a while to sink in. Canada blinked. Prussia stared back at him. And then Matthew suddenly found the chair teetering back dangerously as Gilbert basically jumped on top of him in excitement, grinning wildly, pulling him into a hug. "You really do understand."

"O-Of course I understand -" he yelped, the chair falling back and causing a slight pain to run up his spinal cord at hitting the floor. "O-ow.."

"Kesese~" And Prussia just laughed, like he was completely content in this awkward position. "Thanks," he muttered before locking their lips together.

Kissing back, Canada responded. "Y-you're welcome."

~!~

He didn't want to break the kiss. He really didn't. He was enjoying himself. Gilbird was flying around them, tweeting like mad, enjoying himself as well. But even as he kissed Canada, a little noise went off in the background, demanding to be heard. Prussia had decided to ignore it. A phone call would not be a good sign. Not now. He knew exactly what they would be calling about and he didn't want to face it.

The month was over and he hadn't asked to stay. He didn't want to assume. He was waiting for Canada to say something, but it never came. So, he just wanted to sit here and make this moment last forever. Even if the month was over. Even if it was technically time to go home. Even if he hadn't been asked to stay, as much as he had been hoping for it, waiting for it. All he needed was one word. But Canada hadn't said a word.

Not one.

So, Prussia followed his own advice and pushed it to the back of his mind, thinking only of the here and now and how good it felt to be with this silly little Canadian. Of course, even the awesome Prussia needed to breathe, so their kiss broke apart, just as the phone was ringing again. He tried to ignore it again, but Canada stopped him, a hand on his mouth.

"You should answer that. It might be important."

Pouting, Prussia refused to move. He stayed where he was, sitting on top of Birdie, his hands on the floor on either side of the beautiful man beneath him. "But I don't wanna move," he whined.

That was when the cute little Birdie narrowed his eyes. "Answer it, or I won't give you pancakes for a week."

Rolling off of him, Prussia felt his eyes widen. "You wouldn't..."

"I would and you're running out of time," Matthew emphasized, his cute smile not doing anything for Prussia's will.

Groaning again, Gilbert finally stood up and raced to catch his phone. "All right, all right, I'm going!"

He made it to the living room, frowning as he picked his phone up. Underneath the phone sat his plane ticket, the one he had gotten when he first decided to come here. A trip here. A trip back home. One month. It was time. Damn it, he didn't think he would regret it this much.

Snatching the ticket from the mantle, he snapped his phone open and growled, "Ja? Who is this?"

He was not at all happy to hear Italy's voice on the other end. "Ve~ Prussia~ Your month's over and Germany and I will be waiting for you at the airport."

"Right. I almost forgot," he lied. It had been on his mind all day. Glancing to the kitchen, he was reminded of how he was still waiting on Canada. Still waiting for his Birdie to ask him to stay. He had thought for sure... "Wait, why the fuck are you calling me?"

Italy's voice responded in his usual sing-song answer. "Well, Germany told me that you probably forgot, and we wanted to make sure you knew~" There was a pause, and when Italy's voice came again, it was not sing-song at all. "Unless you want to stay over there, that is."

I do! I do but...

"Tch. Right. Stay over." One last longing look around the room and he let out a long drawn out sigh. "No...I guess I'll see you there..."

He didn't even wait to hear Italy's answer, hanging the phone up with a snap. "Is everything okay?"

Canada's voice startled him and he couldn't even make himself look at the blue-violet eyes when he raised his head. "Ja," he muttered, a lie. His fingers clenched the ticket and he took a breath. "Well..." and then let it out, shaking his head, giving up the thought of asking to stay himself.

"What...what is that...?"

At Matthew's question, Prussia looked down at the plane ticket in his hand, giving a nonchalant shrug. "It's my ticket to go back. You know...one month."

He could hear the Canadian's breath catch. "When...when are you going back?"

"Uh...today?"

Say something. Say something. Anything, dammit.

"Oh – uhm – t-today..." There was a pause. Shuffling of feet. Then a shout. "Then just go already!" Followed by a door slam.

Prussia winced.

Not that. Why that?

Just ask him to stay you idiot. You both want it.

But I can't. Isn't that considered rude? I was only allowed over here for a month. Everyone else always kicks me out...This is no different...

Groaning, Prussia made his way to the bedroom door, putting his hands on it and leaning his forehead against it. "Hey – Birdie? My stuff -"

He was interrupted by the door opening and a bottle being thrown at his head, followed by the door once again slamming closed and the sound of it locking, too. He grimaced and rubbed his head, bending down to pick up the bottle of lube, wincing again just at seeing what Canada had thrown at him.

"Just go! I'm sure your brother can buy you some more stuff!"

"No, he won't buy anything for me," Gilbert groaned. "Just give me my stuff back and I'll be out of your way. I promise." It took a while. A good long couple seconds. But finally the door creaked open, allowing Prussia to walk in and start gathering his things, as much as it was killing him to do so. "I – I guess it's too late to ask if I can visit again?"

"What, like a fuck-buddy or something? Yes, it's way too late."

Not wanting to see the obvious hurt or sneer or whatever the hell Matthew was feeling right now, Prussia made sure to stay focused on his task. He'd heard this one before, too. Heck, everyone always made a jab at his promiscuity when kicking him out. But to think that Matthew – to think that Gilbert would even use Canada for such a reason... The knowledge that Birdie thought that was enough to make him tense up and cringe.

"No, that's not what I..."

"Just shut up and get out!"

Finding himself cringing yet again, Prussia gathered his things and made his way outside, giving Canada one long last look. "I -" he almost managed to say it. Almost. But his brain started to second guess things and seeing Matthew turn his back... He clenched his jaw and stomped out, glaring at the snow sitting all puffy and cute on the ground. "I hate the cold anyway."

"You idiot! Get back there!" Gilbird was in his hair, tugging, yelling at him, tweeting ridiculously fast.

"Why?" He snapped at his bird, continuing to walk down the street and away from the place he had come to love over this past month. "He made it pretty clear he doesn't want me there."

"That's because he thinks you want to leave! What about everything you did to keep him safe?"

Still walking, Prussia shook his head, trying to get the bird to stop pulling on his hair. "Why would he think I wanted to leave? I've had this ticket to go back since the beginning. It's always been there. It's always been the deal..."

"That's just it! You didn't ask to stay and instead you asked for your stuff!"

Kicking at the snow, Prussia continued on, talking to his bird, not caring at all for the strange looks he was getting from the townsfolk. "How am I supposed to ask to stay? Isn't that considered rude over here? Keh...Just shut up and leave me alone." And then Gilbird shrieked, tugging one more time before flying away back toward Canada's house. "Hey! Are you coming back with me or are you just going to fly on your own?"

Scoffing at the bird, Prussia walked a few more steps, only to have the yellow chick land on his shoulder, obviously still upset but giving in. "I was hoping you would follow me back."

"Keh. Whatever. Forget about it. I'm going home."

Home...

Where is home for you? If you're going to turn into a coward and run away just because of a misunderstanding -

Shut. Up. I don't need an argument with the voices in my head today. I'm. Going. Home.

...I think you're walking away from home right now...

~!~

A/N: GAH! It's SO stupid, right? The BIGGEST misunderstanding example of reader's know what characters do not. I hate writing this part. I really do. It's so ridiculous on both ends. THIS IS WHY YOU MUST TALK WITH YOUR PARTNERS! BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS STUPID MISUNDERSTANDINGS BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THINGS. Anyway, uh, two more chapters? (And let's all join Gilbird in beating up stupid stupid stupid Prussia, kay?)