Italy smiled broadly as the world meeting came to a recess. It wasn't quite over, but it allowed all of them to get up and stretch for the next thirty minutes. Italy knew exactly what he was doing for those minutes he was going to take a well-needed siesta.

"I don't want to hear you're hungry because you didn't eat lunch." Germany sternly told Italy, as he was starting to walk out with the others.

"I won't!"

Romano didn't seem to think the same way as he left along with everyone else to go and get something to eat and drink. Soon the whole room quieted down finally allowing Italy to get some much-needed sleep. (Well, he was sleeping before this point but this was his second sleep and he needed that too!) So, he rested his head on his arm and tried to drift off to sleepy-land, but something stopped him from doing just that. There was someone else in this room.

Italy perked his head up and looked at all of the empty chairs. He didn't see anyone. So, hesitantly he laid his head back down on the table, but then he heard it. A small cough.

Italy's head whipped back up and he looked around rather wildly for the source of that cough. Yet, when he looked he saw no one. "Ve~" Italy breathed out slowly as he kept his eyes on all of the chairs. Italy felt the air turn heavy for just a moment and blinked. He then squinted hard in front of him. He could see someone. Someone transparent! It was a ghost!

The ghost was just staring longingly out the window. Odd, when Italy squinted he could almost make out a bit of big brother France in this ghost. Last he saw France wasn't a ghost…

So, out of curiosity, and even though he was slightly afraid, Italy took a step forward.

This ghost really did look like France, the same blonde wavey hair, the lilac eyes hidden behind glasses, but he had a single string of curly hair that rested in front of his face- wait a minute!

Italy frowned once he noticed that key detail. He knew this person, but he just couldn't place him. This person took note of Italy and looked at him, his lilac eyes went wide for a second as a startled "Oh!" before he darted his eyes from Italy back to the window. "I'm not bothering you am I?" He spoke. His voice soft like velvet, it honestly made Italy blush slightly hearing it. He recognized it but just couldn't place it.

"No! Not at all!" Italy spoke while clasping his hands behind his back. He looked out the window with the tall blonde.

They were in New York for this meeting and Italy had to say, the view from atop this building was rather spectacular to look at. Granted it did make Italy a little sick being this high up, but it was rather serene nonetheless. "America makes such tall buildings…" Italy tried to strike up a sudden conversation with this stranger. He couldn't place it, why he found himself rather intrigued by this man, but he was and he wanted to hear him talk some more.

"It's rather pretty isn't it?... don't you have tall buildings?"

"But none like this! All together so we could look down at all of the other places and people and… It's… I mean look at how far technology has come that we can have all of these… tall buildings! I mean we could have them way back when, but it'd take a century!" Italy let out a bit of a laugh and the man laughed back with him. "But now? … It'd only take a month… and that's pretty amazing…" Italy looked at the view with a slightly dopy smile on his face.

"Yeah…"

"Forgive me for asking-"

"Hm?"

"...Who are you?"

The man blushed suddenly and looked sadly out of the window for a second before looking back at Italy. "I'm Canada."

"Oh!" It was Italy's turn to blush suddenly as the realization struck him. "I'm sorry…" he then awkwardly started to touch his two index fingers together as he kept his head low.

"Oh, don't apologize, everyone forgets about me. It's alright." Canada had an underlying tone in his voice that told Italy that this was not alright. It honestly made Italy feel a little guilty about forgetting Canada's existence. So, without a moment of hesitation, Italy turned to Canada and brought his hand out for a handshake.

"Feliciano Vargas!"

Canada's mouth twitched a little. Italy couldn't tell if it was from a smile forming or if he was just getting annoyed at this point. Still, Canada took his hand and gave it a nice firm shake. "Matthew Williams."

"Matthew… That's a nice name."

"Thanks, I thought of it myself."

They both laughed at the silly joke. Before they glanced out the window once more. "Hey! Is that a gelato shop down there?" Italy excitedly pointed down at the lower-left corner. Canada glanced where he was pointing and saw a tiny little shop wedged between two bigger buildings and in bright yellow neon lights up top the building read Gelato plain and simple.

"I believe it does-"

"I'm starved! Let's go get some!" Italy grabbed a hold of Canada's hand and started to pull him towards the shop.

"Wait- you want me to com-"

"Of course! C'mon, it'll be my treat!"

"Are you sure you can afford it? Didn't you just talk to America about the debt you're in?"

"Oh, I always have money for gelato!"

Turns out the gelato shop wasn't exactly easy to get to. They had to cross four lanes of traffic and get through a sea of people to get there, but they eventually made it there and even though the place was rather busy they both managed to get their respected flavors.

Cream for Italy and Maple for Canada. Which was a surprise that they even had that flavor at all- "That's not a common flavor." Italy had commented as they were walking outside of the building, true to his word he paid for both of their frozen treats, and now they both took a seat down outside.

"It's not?" Canada had questioned. He then took a spoonful of the stuff and shoved it in his mouth. It was good, really good! Rich, creamy, and the maple flavor was on point, not that fake stuff America likes to claim is 'just as good.' as real maple syrup. (It's artificial bullcrap and he knows it!)

"No." Italy swung his feet as he happily munched on his frozen treat. He would have easily passed off for a teenager if it weren't for the (probably expensive) black Italian suit he was currently wearing.

Canada was wearing a suit as well; it wasn't as expensive as Italy's that's for sure.

After ww2 everyone agreed to come to the meetings more well dressed and not in their old uniforms.

Italy let out a happy noise as he continued to "This stuff is pretty good~"

"Isn't it always?"

"It's a gamble in America, some of it can be authentic, but most of it is just so-"

"Artificial." They both spoke at the same time and then they let out a similar laugh. Canada felt himself blush slightly as he looked down at his gelato. Italy shoved another spoonful in his mouth before looking at Canada. The younger nation had his head down, but honestly, he no longer looked transparent the longer Italy stared at him the more solid he was becoming if that made any sense. Canada must have noticed Italy's stare because his head suddenly snapped up to meet his gaze.

"Ve~" Italy quickly looked down and started to eat some more of his sweet treat. "... What's your land like?"

"Cold."

"Just cold?"

"No, we got Tim Hortons, oh and moose!"

"What's a Tim Hortons?-"

"Only the best fast food and coffee place in all of Canada- it might actually be the only place… next to America's fast-food chains…" Canada trailed off at the end of his sentence. That was when Italy noticed the bit of gelato on the left of Canada's mouth.

"Oh! You have-" Italy trailed off as Canada looked at him. Italy simply tapped by his own lips to show Canada, who instantly tried to wipe off the other side of his face and Italy shook his head quickly. "Here-" He snatched his own napkin up and gently wiped the cream off of Canada's face for him. Canada's face must have turned about five shades of red from that action alone.

Italy wanted to ask him more, but a hand on his shoulder made him stop and jump slightly. He didn't know this strange tall man touching him. They honestly looked like an everyday average American Joe, that was until they spoke.

"Felicano Vargas?"

Italy looked back at Canada, who just shrugged. "Si."

"You're expected back at the meeting."

"Oh! The meeting! We forgot!"

"Uh- We?" The man asked.

"Can-" Italy covered his mouth quickly before he finished his sentence. At least he managed to stop himself this time, he once called Germany by that name in front of a group of people and that was a mess as he quickly had to explain he wasn't being racist. "M-Matthew!" He pointed towards Canada and the man let out a soft 'oh.' in response.

"Let's not waste any more time, eh?" Canada stood up from his chair quickly and walked passed Italy. "We really shouldn't keep the others waiting like this." Canada looked back at Italy and he had just the sweetest smile on his face.

Italy smiled back with a soft "Si!" before happily following behind Canada and the stranger.

Both of their gelatos lay forgotten on the table.

"So, how do you know Alfred?" Canada asked the man as they were ushered into a black van. There were more men in this van that kind of made Italy just a smidge uncomfortable once he saw that all of them had guns on them.

The man didn't answer until he, Canada, and Italy were all in the car with the doors closed. "Secret service, sir."

"Oh, I should have suspected that."

"Ve~"

They made it back to the building faster than they had originally left for. The secret service stayed with them every step of the way. Every. Step. They and all four guards pushed themselves into a small elevator and went up to the top floor. "You know… I think we can make it up top by ourselves, sirs." Canada spoke in that same soft voice to the first guard that had collected them to start with.

"No, our orders were strict."

"Ah."

"Ve~" It was all kind of awkward after that as they stood in silence, neither Canada or Italy had much to say now. Still, they both sort of stole little glances at one another every few seconds or so. Finally, the elevator opened up and all six of them emerged. It was weird to be boxed in by these guys for Italy. He honestly didn't like it at all.

Thankfully the room they needed to be in wasn't much farther away. They managed to slip back into the meeting, but not exactly unnoticed as Italy was flanked by four armed men. "Sorry, we're late! We just lost track of time!" Italy, rather loudly and cheerfully, informed everyone.

"... We?" China was the one to ask.

"Canada and I!" Italy gestured to Canada and instantly a chorus of "ohhhs" as they realized that Canada was indeed a nation like the rest of them.

"Well, regardless you're late. Let's not make a habit of this, Ja?" Germany lightly scowled as Italy took his seat down next to him.

"Si."

Finally, the meeting could continue, and it did! But man, Italy became bored pretty fast. He absentmindedly started to doodle on a spare piece of paper. First, it was little things like a sunflower in the corner of the page, but then he found himself drawing Ameri-

No, he sketched out Canada's face. He looked so similar to America it was almost uncanny to think about. Quietly he finished off the rough sketch with Canada's curl and looked at it.

"-Okay, clearly we aren't getting anywhere…" Italy heard Germany sigh, this snapped him back to what was going on around him. He was so wrapped up in his sketch that he hadn't realized that a minor fight seemed to have broken out between America and France as America and France were now on the floor. America had France in an armlock with his legs over France's torso and neck.

"Get off of me, you brute!" France roared out suddenly. "I'll bite you!"

"Do it and you'll get a knee to the teeth!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Mr. Jones…" Came a sigh as wary secret service agents started to come into the room to break up the fight.

"He started it!" America tried to defend his actions, rather childishly, still, the secret service separates the two.

"I think it's best if we end it here…" Germany sighed out once again and he tapped his papers against the table to straighten the papers up. "Meeting adjourned." Before he even finished his last sentence the other nations were already starting to pile out of the room, some even running, probably to get away from America.

"Italia, how many times do I have to tell you to pay attention and not doodle during these meetings?" Germany suddenly asked as he flashed Italy the paper he had doodled on. Italy stood up from his seat and simply laughed a little.

"Sorry, Germany! I just got so bored!"

"Italia, these meetings are important, we have to go to our bosses about this- and this-" he pointed to the sketch of Canada. "-Is not something I want to be sending to my boss, understood?"

"Ve~ Scusate." Italy rubbed the back of his head. Germany let out yet another sigh before handing Italy the drawing.

"Here, I'll just have to make another copy of the paper, just one question?"

"Si."

"Why did you give America that weird curl?"

"Ve~ It's Canada, silly."

"Cana- oh… right." That's all Germany said before he turned his heel and walked off.

Italy had no idea why he found himself staring at his drawing for a little longer than he normally would, but he did. He just stood there, looking at it. Then it hit him why-

"Canada!" He called after the, almost, invisible nation. He wasn't in the meeting room anymore (Italy checked twice) so he had to be fast if he wanted to catch the taller nation. Thankfully, running was one of his redeeming factors. He ran down the hallway, bumping into a couple of other nations as he pushed his way past them to try and find Canada. A couple of other nations cursed at him in their native language, but he ignored them as he ran forward towards the cars.

Finally, he saw him. He was almost to his own car where a driver seemed to be waiting for him. "Waaiiit!" Italy cried. He… didn't think Canada would actually stop and turn to him, because Canada actually stopped, Italy ran face first into him.

Funny thing: running into Canada turned out to be the same as running face first into a wall. Canada didn't move, but Italy was sure he almost broke his nose. "Maple- Are you alright?" Suddenly Italy was grabbed before he fell and hoisted back up to his feet keeping him steady. All Italy saw for a few moments were stars floating in his vision. He quickly gave his head a good shake before putting his dopey smile back on his face.

"Ve~ Sorry about that! I didn't mean to run into you like that!"

"It's quite-"

"Oh! Can I paint you?!" Italy cut Canada off. Canada gave him a slightly taken about look.

"Eh?"

"Can I paint you!? You see, I was drawing and I drew this-" He flashed his drawing to Canada, who looked rather impressed. "-And I realized I don't have a painting of you! I have everyone but you! I want to fix that!" Italy smiled brightly at Canada.

"Oh? Y-You, do?"

"Si! Why don't you come over to my home sometime?"

"Uh…" Canada hesitated for a moment, Italy felt a frown tug at his lips, he could tell he was making Canada a little uncomfortable. So, quickly, on the same piece of paper as the doodle, he wrote down his phone number.

"Here! In case you ever want to! You can call me anytime! And feel free to keep the picture if you'd like!" Italy grinned brightly at Canada.

"Idiota! Where is my stupid brother?!" Came a more aggressive Italian shout from down the hallway.

Canada took the paper before he could say anything more Italy took off. Man, that guy was fast when he wanted to be. Still, Canada looked at the paper and number. He did give the paper a little flip-around to see German writing- to his amusement. When he flipped it back over to look more at the picture he had to admit… Italy was a very good artist.

"Mr. Williams." His driver caught his attention. The man was standing there with the back door of the car open waiting for him, probably during the whole thing.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Canada stiffly apologized to the man before getting into the back seat of his car. His car that he should be driving. But again, thanks to Alfred and his stupid damn policing-

"Sorry, Dude, look it's best if we all have drivers, you know? Just to be on the safer sides of things. No crashes or attempted assassinations. People know we're some sort of government officials and I don't want the worst to happen. "

Surprisingly, Canada was one of the few to protest this new rule. Mostly everyone agreed, while they were in America it would be safer to have drivers instead of driving themselves. 'Whimps, the whole lot of them. They just don't want to get on America's bad side…' Canada could only think as his door was shut and his driver took him off to the airport. He honestly couldn't wait to get off of American soil at this point. He wanted to go home, have a nice pint, and relax. Still, he looked back down at the, now slightly crumpled, sketch in his hands. Italy had done that in only forty-five minutes? Incredible, give Canada the same amount of time and you'd just get a stick figure.

He thought about Italy, the smile he had given him, the attention, it all felt nice, and the fact that he was willing to paint him for the first time in a rather long while Canada felt noticed and that alone felt rather nice.

… Maybe he'd take Italy up on that offer after all...