Family Affairs

Have a Very Merry

Ehh, it's a long chapter, okay?

Disclaimer: Mother of God, so many effing characters!

Warning: Read if you may. You might laugh.

Thanks to P. for the ideas and for making sure I had Canadian Christmas right. There's just so much Italian that is not Canadian.

Merry Christmas? In advance?

Andrei = Alaska

Family Affairs

Have a Very Merry

Gilbert was sitting in the living room, reading the paper when Matthew came up to him and sat on his lap.

"Hey, Birdie."

"Hey Gil…" Matthew cuddled close to him and put his arms around the older man's shoulders.

"You know I love you, right? And I think you're awesome?" He murmured as he placed kisses on Gilbert's neck and jaw line.

"Hmmm… Matt?..."

"Tu es absolument fantastique…"/ "You are absolutely fantastic…" Matthew sat closer to him and kissed him deeply. Prussia was surprised, but quick to respond to the kiss, as he placed his own arms around his lover's body; when they pulled away, he quirked an eyebrow at the younger man.

"Alright, what's up?" It was cute to see Canada try to pretend nothing was the matter.

"Nothing… can't I just want to spend some time with you?"

"Yes… but when you start stroking my ego like that it's because there's something unpleasant you want to tell me." Matthew looked at him and was quiet. Then he pouted and Gilbert laughed.

"No fair. What gave me away?"

"Seriously, Matt? The French… you only use it when –" The blonde cut him off before he could go on.

"Okay, you made your point." Gilbert smirked and took advantage of the proximity to pass a hand under Canada's shirt and stroke the small of his back.

"So, spill, what is it this time?"

"Well… eum… Christmas is coming up and… on the twenty-fourth we're going to see my brother to celebrate Christmas Eve with his family and eum… the twenty-fifth the kids, Alfred minus his brood, Arthur and even Francis are coming over for supper…" Matthew gave him a hopeful, nervous, little smile and Gilbert stared back at him blankly.

"Gil?"

"…"

"… Are you really that mental, Matt?"

"Euh… maybe?" Prussia sighed and was quiet for a moment.

"What if I had plans for the holidays? Like, what if I was going to spend Christmas with my brother?" Matthew's eyes widened; he hadn't even thought of that.

"Oh, eum, well, in that case… ah… well, then that… well… I'm sorry! I assumed you'd be spending it here and that was silly of me and mnnnghh-!" Gilbert cut him off by kissing him once more. Matthew held on to him a little longer and sighed into the embrace.

"I was kidding. My brother's spending it with Feliciano and his brother. Feli I can handle; Lovino… I'll leave that to Antonio. Specs and Elizaveta are going away this year, and plus I'm curious to see how this is going to turn out with your entire family." He added with a loud cackle.

"Oh, gee, thanks, you're so kind. And here I thought you wanted to spend the holidays with me." Matthew said sarcastically as he poked Gilbert's stomach.

"I thought I was awesome and you loved me."

"Hmm… you are and I do… that's why I'm going to make it up to you when the holidays are over." He smirked seductively at him and played with the collar of his shirt.

"Oh? And how did you plan on making it up to me, if I may ask?"

"I was thinking… the week after, I could take a few days off and we could go up North… just the two of us… no cell phones, no computers and… no kids." Matthew finished by whispering in his ear.

"Mmh, I like that. A lot. Especially the last part." Canada chuckled.

"I knew you would. I thought you'd like to spend some quality time; just the two of us… and you've been so nice with me and the kids. I figured you deserved a little reward."

"Ah, I'm glad then… d'you think I could get one now? Since I've been so good and all…" Prussia ventured as he brought his hands higher on Canada's back.

"Hmm… I don't know… how good have you been this year?" Matthew whispered as he started unbuttoning his lover's shirt.

"I don't know… there were times when a certain someone made me act very naughty." He murmured back as he let out a little moan when he felt Matthew's hands on his chest.

"That doesn't count."

"Then I suppose I was mostly awesome and good. Well, always awesome. Mostly good."

"Then you get a present." Gilbert grinned as Matthew leaned forward and kissed him again.

They were busy making out on the couch, Matthew still sitting on Gilbert's lap and grinding against the older man, Gilbert's shirt was removed a long time ago, hands roaming on each other's bodies and Gilbert's hands were gripping Matthew's behind with force.

"I'd laugh… if your kids walked in… again." Prussia said between kisses.

"Shh! Don't say that! You'll jinx us."

"True. By the way, I like your… little hat. It's very festive." He added as he played with the white puff ball attached to Matthew's Santa hat.

"Thanks, but how about we forget the hat and pass to something else, eh?" Gilbert smirked at Matthew.

"But of course." Prussia pulled him close yet again and was just about to remove said hat, when they were startled out of their embrace.

"S-Santa?! What are you doing?! Oh my God, Dad?!" Matthew literally flew off of Gilbert's lap.

"Jesus Christ; Edmond?! What are you doing here? I thought you were only coming tomorrow. Oh God, you couldn't – ugh, this is so –"

"Ew… why were you and Gilbert… oh ew… I slept on that couch… Dad…. I thought you were Santa!" Gilbert tried hard not to laugh, but found it extremely difficult to do so.

"Shut up, you. You're not helping." Matthew hissed to his lover.

"Look, Eddy, this is normal for people who love each other… and why would you think I looked like Santa Claus?"

"Your hat and sweater… and… are you one of Santa's elves?!"

"Eddy… Eddy, please tell me you don't… you're not…" Alberta cut him off.

"You know Santa!"

"Honey, Santa… he… he's not as real as you think he is. Didn't we go through this last year?" Prussia had to take a pillow and laugh into it when he saw Alberta's crestfallen expression.

"But… but Vincent told me–"

"That boy is so dead." And then Gilbert just couldn't hold it in anymore.

Christmas morning proved to be a very interesting thing. When Matthew told him they would be flying home instead of taking the car, he h wondered why, but when he saw how much food they still had to prepare, coupled with the fresh snow on the roads, he understood why.

He didn't like the idea of getting up after what seemed like a very short night of sleep, but he did so anyway and went to help Matthew. He was very well surprised when he found Jean-Pierre in his pyjama pants at the kitchen stove making cranberry sauce.

For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating. Then dreaming. And then he wondered what exactly Alfred put in his drink last night.

"Should I be worried?" He finally opted to ask Matthew.

"Behold; the Christmas miracle." His lover told him with a chuckle.

"Seriously Matt; is this some alternate dimension or something?"

"No; this is Jean helping me with Christmas dinner. A word of friendly advice; don't talk to him. He'll only grunt at best. Just let him do whatever it is he's doing and stay out of his way." Prussia nodded and swore he heard a grunt coming from what he labelled "caveman" Jean-Pierre.

Somehow or other, the three of them managed to get everything ready with the help of the others, and around two o'clock, Jean disappeared to go and get some sleep. The last of the preparations and final touches were added and by six thirty, everyone was more or less awake and there. As per tradition, everyone had something to bring to add to the meal. Victoria brought a plate of Nanaimo bars, Samuel brought the eggnog, or at least, whatever he hadn't drunk on the way there and Vincent was allowed in the kitchen long enough to make mashed potatoes, before Jean kicked him out. The only reason he was let in was because everyone in the family knew Vincent made absolutely fantastic mashed potatoes.

Of course, Matthew made sure to make plenty of tourtière. He also made chicken and gravy, like every year, which would get his brother to complain and protest there was no turkey, like every year, and Matthew would remind him he preferred to eat food that was not shot with chemicals, like every year. Then Edmond would complain as well, like every year, side with his uncle and the two would list the pros and cons of turkey, until they were quite literally stuffed a bite of chicken and then they would shut up for another year.

Then Arthur would make sure to bring extra rum and Francis would make his special béchamel sauce and Aileen, Louise and Lucy would bring extra dessert in case they ran out. To top it all off, there would be the ever so present Christmas log and if they were still hungry after that, then they could cook their own food.

"Mattie, why did you make me sit here? Aren't I cool enough to get to sit at the head of the table?" Alfred asked his brother as they ate.

"Maaaaattttttt… your table is hurting my hero fooooot!"

"Maaaaaatttt; your table hates me!" Finally Matthew lost it. It wasn't his fault his brother was sitting where there was the leg of one of the two tables they were using.

"For the last time, Alfred, the seats were assigned randomly with only one exception and that was my seat. See, I'm sitting close to the kitchen so I can get the food and bring it out faster." Matthew rolled his eyes at his brother.

"So the fact I'm sitting between Arthur and your mental child and you're sitting next to your boy toy has nothing to do with any of your planning?"

"Ugh, no it doesn't. And he's not my boy to – Al, don't say that so loudly! My kids are here."

"S'okay, Uncle Alfred, we're not as stupid as Dad thinks we are." Victoria interjected.

"Yeah, we know what goes on between Dad and Gilbert." Alfred laughed loudly as Matthew sputtered and turned beet red.

"Really guys, really?! We can't eat; have a nice meal without talking about this? Didn't I raise you better?"

"Of course you did, but it's a hard thing to ignore when you're sleeping in the guest room next to your room."

"Aileen! That's enough. Okay, changing subject time…" Despite how hard Matthew tried to start a different conversation, it seemed the others were too amused by it.

"Mais il n'y a rien de mal avec ça, Mathieu. C'est bon d'avoir une vie sexuelle ardente et passionnée!"/ "But there's nothing wrong with that, Matthew. It's good to have a passionate love life!" Francis added with a flourish.

"Ça m'aide vraiment pas."/ "That doesn't really help me." Canada found himself praying for a distraction of any kind and then came to regret it and cursed himself for not specifying what he wanted in his distraction.

"You're awfully quiet, Nana. Too busy thinking about Andrei?" Aileen smirked as she asked her sister. Tunana blushed deeply and tried to regain her composure.

"N-no! Ew, why would I even think about him?"

"You couldn't keep your eyes off of him yesterday." Nova Scotia commented.

"Yeah, you looooooove him. C'mon, admit it!" British Columbia said as she scooted closer to her two sisters.

"I do not! Don't be so ridiculous."

"You're all red in the face and you've stopped coming over to watch the RCMP train. C'mon, everyone knows you like him."

"Quit saying such stupid things!"

"Riiight. Please, it says so on your face. And you were so pathetic just staring at him last night." Louise joined in much to the surprise of her sisters.

"Ugh, not you too! I told you, I don't like him. He's just a family annoyance." The sisters exchanged a look between them which clearly meant they didn't believe Yukon.

"But Nana, why then did I find a scribbled note in your bedroom with your name and his name in a heart?" Lucy asked innocently even though everyone knew better than to be fooled by her innocent demeanour.

"… You went in my room?! I'm so going to kill you, you little shit! And how did you find that?! I had it hidden –" She stopped herself when she realised what she was saying. Prince Edward Island smiled gleefully and high fived Nova Scotia.

"Oh… now you're really dead. You tricked me! You didn't even know that paper existed. Ugh, I hate you."

"Just shut up already, Nana, you're only making it worse for yourself." Manitoba told her with a sigh.

"So it's true then? You like Andrei?" Rupert asked his sister as he scooted closer to her. Yukon groaned.

"No. Leave me alone. I don't."

"I'll have to have a talk with him then, if that's the case. There's no way I'm letting him off the hook that easily."

"Shut up. He's not like that anymore. He's –" Again, she cut herself off.

"I'm telling you, Tunana, quit while you still can." Louise mentioned once more while the others sniggered and smirked.

"I hate you guys."

"But you love Andrei." The comment from Aileen sent the others roaring with laughter and Tunana chose to ignore them for the rest of the meal.

"Papaaaaaa, when are we going to open the presents?" John asked a few hours later as they ate their salad.

"When you stop trying to look like the idiot." Alberta told him from across the table.

"And by idiot you mean yourself?" Vincent asked. The comment caused some to laugh.

"No. I meant you. You're the idiot. Why would anyone want to look like you? Johnny, you should forget about your glasses, comb your hair differently and wear a hat! Hats are in style now."

"Maybe, but not cowboy hats." Gail interjected.

"Shut up, Gail."

"You shut up. Leave them alone."

"It's okay, Gailie, I can take care of Squeak by myself." Vincent told her.

"But what's wrong with the glasses?" John asked, trying to get a word in.

"They're ugly."

"You're ugly." Ontario told Alberta.

"When was the last time you saw yourself in a mirror?"

"When was the last time you bathed?"

"This morning!" Edmond defended himself.

"It doesn't look like it. Your hair is a fucking grease pit. Or should I say, oil pit."

"Vincent, language!" Matthew reprimanded him, but it fell on deaf ears.

"At least I have oil."

"At least I'm clean and have values."

"At least I'm not involved." Saskatchewan told no one in particular as she rolled her eyes.

"But why can't I wear my glasses?!" Newfoundland practically shouted over his two brothers. Ontario and Alberta quit their arguing and looked at their youngest brother.

"Because it makes you look like him." Edmond pointed to Vincent.

"So? What's wrong with that? I like looking like Vincent. Why d'you think I'm wearing a red shirt? Wow, Ed, you really are as stupid as the others say." The comment got Edmond to effectively pipe down, while Vincent laughed loudly.

"Ha! See, in your face, Squeak! Johnny wants to be like me, so there."

"Ugh, whatever."

"Yeah, that's right, go drown your sorrows in your ginger ale. And put some shoes on or something; your feet stink."

"I already have slippers on."

"Boots would be better, or you just leaving."

"At least no one's finding mysterious feet at my place." Vincent looked at him funny.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, Vic keeps finding severed feet at her place. That's just weird." Alberta declared as he looked at his sister.

"You better watch it, dumbass, or I'll cut yours off in your sleep and then we won't have to smell them anymore."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me." And by the gleam in her eyes, Edmond knew if she really wanted to and no one was around to stop her, she probably would attempt it.

After that, Matthew was able to get a few minutes of his children not trying to kill each other off, but as always, those moments never lasted long. He was about to get the desserts when it happened. He almost saw it happen in slow motion, actually.

Jean-Pierre was coming back from the bathroom and Vincent was coming back from the kitchen. They both passed under the threshold to the dining room at the same time and of everyone who was over at his place, it had to be Gilbert who made the comment.

"Hey look, both Vincent and Jean-Pierre are under the mistletoe at the same time. Hehe, that's funny." Canada would have expected his brother to make such a stupid comment.

"What are they supposed to do, kiss each other?" And of course, his brother would get himself involved. Matthew sighed just as his boys exchanged looks of disgust.

"Care to kiss my ass, maybe?" Vincent smirked to his older brother.

"Ta yeule."/ "Shut up." Jean-Pierre said as he flipped him the bird. "'M'a te l'crisser dans ton cul."/ "I'll shove it up your ass."

"I'm sure you'd want to put something else up my ass; you freak."

"Ouais, une plug. Comme ça j'aurais pas besoin de sentir l'odeur de tes pettes."/ "Yeah, a plug. That way I wouldn't have to smell your farts."

"I wouldn't talk if I were you."

"Au moins j'allume le fan quand j'vais à la toilette."/ "At least I turn the fan on when I go to the bathroom."

"Grow up, Jean. God you're immature."

"Me semblait ch't'avais dit d'la fermer. C'est toi qui m'a d'mandé d'embrasser ton cul, crisse."/ "I thought I told you to shut up. You're the one who asked me to kiss your ass, Christ."

"Oh, so you do understand English! And here I thought you burnt all your brain cells."

"M'a t'rentrer mon poing dans l'fond d'ta gorge pour que tu t'la ferme pour de vrai si t'arrêtes pas."/ "I'm gonna shove my fist down your throat so tyou can shut up for good if you don't stop."

"You talk a lot, but you never do anything; wuss." There was a moment when everything was perfectly still and perfectly quiet in which Vincent kept smirking at Jean, taunting him, and Jean-Pierre glared at his brother. It seemed everyone was watching them and Matthew was wondering whether or not he should intervene. In retrospect, he should have.

"Ta. Yeule."/ "Shut. Up." Jean-Pierre rammed Vincent into the wall and Vincent lost his footing, not expecting his brother to actually do something. He tried to keep his balance, but ended up falling and as a reflex, tried to grab something. That something happened to be Jean and the two fell in a tangled heap of limbs with Jean-Pierre landing on top of Vincent.

"All I asked for was a kiss." Gilbert said innocently which caused him to receive a sharp glare and kick from his lover.

"Seriously, Gilbert?" Canada got up and walked over to his sons.

"Get up! Just how old do you think you are?! Can't we have one evening, one simple evening, with the whole family, without any of you acting like… like…"

"Immature enfants?"/ "Immature children?" Same offered to his father.

"Yes! Like immature children!? Especially you two! You're supposed to set the example for your brothers and sisters!" Canada pulled the two younger men apart and then went to take his seat. Ontario and Québec glared at each other and went to sit as well.

"By the way, you're heavy. It's gotta be all that poutine you eat. It's making you fat and u – OW! Dad, Jean kicked me!" Vincent whined as he grabbed a chestnut and chucked it at his brother's head. Jean retaliated.

"Ugh… I give up…" Matthew moaned as he hit his head repeatedly on the table, not caring pieces of chestnut shells went in his hair. Gilbert patted him on the back sympathetically.

"And then you still try to convince me it's my kids who have issues…." Alfred threw it.

"Shut up, Alfred." His brother mumbled.

"I still say those two remind me of someone. Don't you agree, Frog?" Arthur asked Francis.

"Oui, mais je ne sais toujours pas qui."/ "Yes, but I still don't know who."

When things calmed down a little and Matthew stopped trying to get a bruise on his forehead, he finally went to get the fabled and long waited for desserts. The fact there was dessert got everyone to calm down and behave and for that, Matthew was forever thankful. It also helped he made his specialty everyone gathered absolutely loved.

"Daaaaad…" Alberta started.

"Are those…" Saskatchewan continued.

"The cookies?" British Columbia asked.

"Define the cookies." Canada asked in return, half amused.

"The ones with the maple syrup."

"And the pépites de chocolat…"/ "And the chocolate chips…" Nova Scotia and New Brunswick added.

"And the oatmeal!" Prince Edward Island piped in.

"Ma recette, Mathieu?"/ "My recipe, Matthew?" France asked.

"Un peu… j'l'ai modifiée."/ "A little… I modified it." Canada answered the older man.

"You didn't answer the question, Dad." Manitoba said.

"Please tell me it's those and not something else!"

"Yeah, you promised you'd make those last time." Yukon added to what Newfoundland said. Even Labrador barked to agree and Nunavut clapped her hands.

"And if they are?"

"Then you're clearly the best father in the world." North West Territories added with a calm smile.

"And brother."

"And lover."

"Jeez, guys, they're just cookies, but yeah, that's what they are…" There was a loud chorus of varied happy exclamations and Matthew couldn't help but smile. He set the dish down and mentally calculated how many seconds would pass before his family attacked the dish. The first one to make a move was Gilbert.

"Wait your turn." Jean-Pierre was quick to say in his heavy accent as he pulled the dish away from Gilbert's hand.

"What?" Prussia asked, confused.

"Yeah, you have to respect the pecking order." Vincent added.

"Pecking order? What pecking order? Why is there a pecking order? There wasn't a pecking order before." The ex-nation said, slightly miffed and annoyed. There was a collective eye roll from most of the table and Prussia was reminded how new he was to this family.

"Y'a un ordre. We h'all 'ave a turn wit de cookies. I go first. Den Vincent, Sam, Lee, Louise, etc until de last person h'of de family end den it's de oders."/ "There's an order…"

"…"

"These are Dad's cookies. Respect the pecking order or get none." Ontario said.

"…" Prussia looked at the others, hoping to maybe find a sign on their faces to indicate this was all some clever joke, but everyone looked dead serious.

"Matt?" He asked, as he turned towards his lover.

"They're right. It was the only way or else they'd seriously fight to draw blood for these."

"Weird kids…" America said between two coughs. Canada kicked him under the table.

"OW!"

"And then he wonders where his lot gets it from…" England mumbled to himself with a shake of his head.

"So, eum, getting back to the cookies, there's no way you can cut through the order?"

"Nope." Vincent said.

"Not even if you're sick and or dying!" Lucy added cheerfully.

"That's so un-awesome."

"Hey, be glad Dad made a lot this year. Last year we ran out after Victoria."

"That's because Sam took, like, six." Aileen said.

"Hey! C'est pas true! I pris five et Rupert took six."/ "Hey! That's not true! I took five and Rupert took six." Samuel tried to defend himself.

"And I gave two to Nana and one to Nyla. I shared mine, unlike you, Samuel." The two brothers glared at each other, before Sam stuck his tongue out to Rupert.

"Whatever. Je growais."/ "I was growing."

"Yeah, stomach wise." Louise added.

"Shut up…" The others sniggered and it got him to quiet down.

"In any event…" Matthew started to diffuse their attention. "There are plenty of cookies, help yourselves and limit yourselves to two each for starters." And without further scuffles, the cookie dish was passed around. Prussia was at least glad he managed to get two and he got to pass before Francis and Arthur. At least there were other desserts as well.

"Matt…" Gilbert started as he poked the younger man's shoulder some time later.

"What is it?"

"Should I be worried your two kids are about to get completely smashed on cheap beer?"

"Hey! What d'you have against my beer, ya damn kraut? At least I brought something over." Alfred interjected. Gilbert rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, well, at least I helped with the cooking preparations. Oh, burn."

"Alright, alright, cut it out guys. Gilbert, what are you talking about?" The older man sighed and grabbed his lover's face before turning it in the direction of Jean-Pierre and Samuel who were indeed drinking the beer Alfred brought over.

"Why do you penses tu can boire more que I?"/ "Why do you think you can drink more than I can?" New Brunswick asked his older brother as he opened another bottle of beer and started to drink.

"Pass chu plus vieux qu'toi pis la dernière fois qu'on est allé boire ensemble c'est moi qui a dû t'a'r'conduire chez vous."/ "'Cause I'm older than you and last time we went out drinking together I had to drive you back home."

"… I était tired!"/ "… I was tired!"

"Tes excuses sont mauvaises."/ "Your excuses are lousy."

"You're juste jealous."

"And you're both immature." Ontario snapped at them both as he sipped on his sixth glass of eggnog. Spiked eggnog. Whether or not he was starting to feel any effects of it was completely irrelevant at the moment.

"J'parlerais pas. T'étais là la dernière fois, pis t'étais complètement parti après, genre, trois bières."/ "I wouldn't talk. You were there last time and you were completely smashed after, like, three beers."

"Was not! Stop inventing lies, Jean."

"Are tu jealous, Vincent?"/ "Are you jealous, Vincent?" Samuel asked with a fake innocent smile. Vincent gave him such a cold stare the weather outside would have seemed warm in comparison.

"I'm not as immature as you think I am, Samuel. I will not sink to your level and get pissed drunk on Christmas, for Christ's sake!"

"Ooooouh, quelqu'un est fâché."/ "Oooooouh, someone is upset." Jean-Pierre smirked and chuckled.

"Shut up! At least I'll remember what I did in the morning and I can't believe you're drinking beer of all things. After dinner too! Jeez, get some real booze out at least." He raised his glass and took another sip.

"Don't encourage them!" Matthew told him, but it was too late. Samuel thanked Vincent for the good idea and went to get the bottle of rum.

"Vinceeeeent…" John asked shyly.

"Hmm, what is it Johnny?" It was almost scary how Vincent's tone changed all of a sudden from angry to calm.

"Can I… Can I have some of that?" The boy asked pointing to his older brother's glass. Vincent looked from his glass to his brother and then back to his glass. It was almost as if a big discussion was going on in his head and for a moment Matthew was sure his second eldest was going to do what any responsible adult would, but then again this was his son. Not a responsible adult.

"Sure!" Vincent replied cheerily and gave John his glass and let him take one or two or maybe even three and perhaps five sips out of it.

"VINCENT LAMBERT!" Matthew nearly flipped the table over.

"What? It's only eggnog. It's not like he downed the entire thing."

"HE'S A MINOR! A CHILD! HOW COULD YOU BE – "

"Oh, that's so good!" John said. Matthew let his head fall on the table again.

"I'm doomed." He bemoaned.

"… Is it like this every year?" Gilbert asked as he watched the two younger men try to out drink each other pathetically and Vincent making John drink the eggnog that probably had way too much rum in it.

"If you mean the drinking, then yes… there's no point in stopping them. I'm just glad they're staying here and not going out in a car after this." Prussia had nothing to say and simply watched. He chose to refrain himself from asking if he could join them.

"Daddy, when can we open the presents?" John asked some time later.

"Soon, my love, it won't be much longer." Canada told him as he brought his attention back to Québec and New Brunswick.

"I… hic… pari… that je… can… hic… boire… more!"/ "" Samuel slurred as he tried to grab another drink.

"C'est c'que… hic… t'penses… ha!"/ ""

"Mattie, isn't this a bad influence for your other kids?"

"Alfie, don't your kids do the same?" Canada sneered and mock toned his brother.

"He may have a point though… such exposition will surely lead to bad consequences for the younger ones."

"Et parce que toi tu es le parent parfais qui n'a jamais bu ou qui n'est jamais devenu ivre devant sa famille?"/ "And because you are the perfect parent who never drank or never got drunk in front of his family?" Francis asked Arthur, causing the man to flush deep red and sputter.

"That's different, Frog!"

"Es-tu certain de ça?"/ "Are you certain of that?"

"Yes!"

"Pfft, I think Francis owned you on this one; Artie." Gilbert cackled.

"I don't recall giving you permission to call me that or to act so familiar with me." Arthur spat out.

"I honestly think at this point, it runs in the family." Matthew told them matter-of-factly. Alfred was about to say something else, but everyone then heard a loud thud.

"Ugh, great, they passed out again!" Vincent said as he pushed one of his brother's away from him.

"Did anyone see who hit the table first?" Aileen asked, bored.

"Sam did." Lucy told her.

"Okay, now we can open presents." Canada redirected their attention to the Christmas tree and everyone made their way to the living room, leaving Jean-Pierre and Samuel drunkenly sleeping at the table.

By the end of the night, the only two that were still awake were Matthew and Gilbert. Everyone else had either fallen asleep on a couch leaning on someone, at the table, or some even managed to make it to their bedroom/sleeping place.

Canada was about to pick Yukon to bring her to her bed and Prussia was about to put Nunavut, who had fallen asleep in his arms earlier, down for a moment to help his partner, but as he was about to do so, Matthew picked up his daughter effortlessly and made his way upstairs.

"Euuh… need a hand?" He asked anyway.

"Oh, eum, sure, can you put Nyla in her bed while I take care of the others?" Gilbert nodded and brought the youngest of Canada's children to their bedroom where her small bed was set up. He felt kind of silly having to take care of the baby when Matthew was heaving the others as though they weighed nothing.

"You sure you don't need help with those?" He asked.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just dumping them in their appropriate sleeping places. It's not like I have to change them into their pyjamas as well." Matthew added as he picked up Victoria. "But thanks for the offer, though." Gilbert simply nodded and waited for him to be finished.

"Well, that's the last of them. What d'you say you and me go to bed as well, eh?" The younger man asked him as he took his hand.

"Are you implying anything by it?"

"And if I was?" Matthew asked with a smirk on his face.

"Awesome then."

OWARI 25

TO BE CONTINUED

I do accept anonymous reviews.

WHY WON'T THIS THING EVER END?!

Started writing: November 6th 2011, 4:45pm

Finished writing: November 24th 2011, 8:24am

Started typing: December 1st 2011, 1:20pm

Finished typing: December 1st 2011, 10:13pm