~*~

Chapter Twenty-Five: Forgiven and Seemingly Forgotten

~*~

"Mattie?" Alfred called. He had just finished his book (and he had been balls deep in it with a thumb in his mouth for most of it), and was wondering where everybody was. Matthew had awoken a few hours prior, and had suddenly disappeared.

FRANCIS CAME BACK FOR HIM! Alfred thought before pushing it back and praying to anyone that Ivan was taking care of the Frenchman. And by taking care of, he meant…

Alfred heard a creak come from upstairs and dashed up there to find Matthew's bedroom empty, save for some dust and a ladder leading up to… the attic. "Mattie? Are you up there?"

There was a sniffle and then: "Sh—Yes, I am!"

Alfred was intrigued now. He climbed the ladder and saw that Matthew was sitting on a plastic toddler's chair, weeping into what looked like a red jacket. "Mattie… what's wrong?" he asked, pulling himself out of the hole and delicately walking over to his younger friend.

"I… It's nothing…" Matthew replied quietly, nearly snuggling with the jacket.

"Should I leave you two alone?" Alfred joked.

Matthew just stared at the jacket, "It was… it was my father's. I never actually knew him… but his death was… hard on my mother…" Matthew tried to explain.

"Is that… is that his Mountie uniform?" Alfred asked, coming closer to the Canadian.

Matthew nodded and held up the jacket. "The pants are in the box still… but… this is it…"

"It looks like it would fit you, Mattie…" Alfred replied, taking the jacket and putting it up to Matthew's chest. Matthew let out a sob, "He was my age when he became one. This is the old one… he was… he was buried in his… his other one…"

Alfred put down the jacket, "Is it your father that's making you this way, Mattie?"

"No… probably not," replied the Canadian psychologist wearily, "My mother… she was heartbroken because of his death, and that's why she… moved here with me from Toronto… and then she slowly wasted away… and died…"

Alfred remembered the day Matthew had found his mother, stone cold in the very room Matthew slept in now. He had broken down crying in class and he had to be taken home… or rather, he had to be taken to the Vargas'. Alfred had wanted to go to funeral, but he had a spelling test the next day, and his spelling was atrocious from the get-go.

Alfred knelt down onto his knees and wrapped his arms around Mattie's frail body, "It's a wonder you didn't waste away yourself."

Mattie blushed slightly, "I had someone to live for…" he whispered into Alfred's chest.

"Feli?" Alfred asked, smiling.

"Ah… yes… but someone else, too…" Mattie whispered. Alfred hardly heard him.

"I think your done cleaning your attic for today, Mattie…" Alfred said, breaking off the hug. He took the jacket and folded it, putting it into and closing the box. He made his way to the trapdoor and began to descend the ladder. Matthew wiped away the last of his tears and shortly after followed the American down the steps. He closed the attic door, looking up at it before making his way down the steps to the kitchen.

Alfred had put a water kettle on the stove and was going through Matthew's tea collection.

"Jeez, been stocking up for a nuclear war?" Alfred asked.

"No… what are you looking for?" Matthew asked, pushing the bigger male out of the way.

"English Breakfast…" Alfred replied, "For some odd reason, Arthur got me hooked…"

Matthew's face fell, "Are… are you still hung up on him?" he finally asked.

Alfred was shocked, "Uhh…" Alfred knew he was stuck in a corner, "Not any more…?"

There was a tight silence as Matthew found the box of English Breakfast and started fiddling with the tea bags in it.

"Will you… Are you going home soon, then?" Matthew then asked, tears threatening in the corners of his eyes again.

"Do you…" Alfred's voice became a whisper as he went on, "Do you want me to go?"

Matthew looked up, dropping the box, "No! I… I don't want you to go…" Matthew clutched the counter in front of him for support, "I… I never want you to leave…"

Alfred wrapped his arms around the younger male, pulling him over to him, "I told you I was your hero… If you don't want me to leave, I won't…"

"Good…" Matthew replied into Alfred's chest, "I don't want to lose everyone who's close to me…"

Alfred was about to ask about Kiku, Arthur, Feliciano and their other friends (Ivan), but he decided that would ruin the moment. Thought talk about moment-ruiners, if Alfred hadn't wanted tea earlier, the kettle would have never gone off at that moment…

~*~

Well... a lot of you wanted a return of the fluff between Alfred and Matthew. I didn't promise you anything... I just planned for it. /feels evil/

Here's another chapter for you. Matthew has emotional problems, and Alfred likes to be Mattie's hero. It's an awesome relationship, non? Now tell each other you've loved each other for 15 years...

Please review, before I jump back into my closet. No? Okay then... /gets ready to dive in her secret gate to the nation of Anastasie Rossi loacated in her closet/

Ciao~

~Ana~