Author Notes: I hope the fact that this is the longest chapter yet makes up for how long it took to get here. Forgive me. I hope the smut is passable, too.

...thinking 2 chapters and an epilogue now. This one came out a lot longer than I expected, for real.

13

It's the summer of 1946 when Canada forces his way into England's office. It's been too long since he had a decent discussion with the nation representative of the British Empire and he's become antsy waiting for a good moment. He's started to believe it will never be a good moment. They haven't passed anything regarding Prussia's nation status, but they haven't let Gilbert go free yet either.

So here he is. Demanding an explanation. Or hoping to at least.

When he faces the wide eyes of both England and America he freezes in place. Canada never has felt like he's the best at demanding much of anything, even if he has the spirit. Prussia has been rubbing off on him over this past year of their relationship - a nice, slow, steady, comforting relationship - but it's still hard to face down the nation that to this day holds a good amount of power over him.

"Canada," England murmurs over thick raised brows, "what are you doing here?"

He clears his throat, takes a breath, then steps in and shuts the door behind him to indicate he's not taking that cue to leave. "We need to talk."

England frowns. "I'm currently in the middle of talking to your brother."

This gives Al the opening he needs to snigger in his seat. While America laughs behind his hand, Canada takes the moment to really size up the situation. England is at his desk, looking more put together than he has since the second year of the war. Still a little worse for wear because of the crushing debt in his country, but his brown suit is tidy and his necktie is recently ironed.

America, on the other hand, sits in a black leather chair with one leg crossed over the other. Somehow Al always manages to look comfortable and upbeat no matter the situation he's walked into. Then again, Al didn't show his face much when battling the economic depression before the second world war dragged them all into a further mess. Unlike England, America is wearing casual khakis and his signature bomber jacket barely covering a white oxford shirt, no tie.

Shaking his head, Canada takes a deep breath and lets out his whole entire reason for coming here. "You can't abolish Prussia."

Alfred groans and leans against the arm of his chair. "Mattie, come on, we're in the middle of something else right now."

"This isn't about you," Matthew snaps at his brother, then faces England again. "Please, it's not Gilbert's fault all this happened."

England sighs and leans back in his own chair. "You wouldn't be saying that if you knew him as well as I do."

Al interrupts again before Matthew can get another word in. "Hey, look, can't y'all do this some other time? We're not even supposed to make a decision on Prussia for a while yet, so -"

"What do you mean 'we,' Al?" Canada turns on his brother with wide eyes. "Don't tell me you're against him, too, now."

Sadly, all he gets from America is a shrug. The other nation doesn't even seem the least bit concerned about this topic, which makes Canada want to shake him. Hadn't he been there when they found Gilbert in the camp? Hadn't he agreed it wasn't his fault then? Why had he switched to working with England at this? Why were they putting the topic off for so long? Why couldn't any of them just see?

A movement out of the corner of his eye shows him England leaning forward and tapping on his desk. The British nation picks up a pen and taps it against a piece of parchment. Obviously, these two had been working on something rather important and not just discussing ideas, but England doesn't seem quite as perturbed at the interruption or change in topic as Canada had expected. In fact, he looks down right interested in hearing what America has to say about all this.

Fine. Then he'll change focus to his brother for now.

"Al, come on," Matthew says. "You saw him, didn't you?"

America heaved a sigh. "Yeah, I was there in the camp, I know, I know, but that doesn't mean Artie's points aren't valid. The militarism influence and nationalistic pride comes pretty strongly from Prussian ideals, you know."

"Like you can talk about national pride being a problem."

Alfred's eyebrows raise. "What? Pride isn't bad until it reaches the extent that it did in Germany."

"But -"

"That does come from Prussia, Mattie; his influence caused a lot of problems."

"But that doesn't mean Gilbert deserves to disappear for it!"

At this, America finally shuts his mouth and Matthew turns to the representative of the British Empire, only to see England smirking in mirth at America being so dumb struck. Clenching his hands by his side, Matthew takes a breath and reminds himself to keep calm. He won't get anywhere if he gets mad, though when it comes to talking to Al, he's always ready to throw something. He's still amazed that Gilbert could have such a good relationship with his brother, could even mend it after everything that had happened; in a way, he's jealous, too.

But now is not the time to let the differences between him and America get to him. Now that he knows Alfred is part of the same group that will decide Gilbert's fate, he's going to do what he can to convince his brother to go easy. Though, apparently, it won't be a simple thing to manage, and England's little smirk seems to say it all.

Gritting his teeth, Matthew swallows the bile rising in his throat and nods at England. "You saw the proof, too. Even if the ideals were his influence, Gilbert has suffered enough for what it all turned into, don't you think?"

England frowned. "No. If he's not punished severely, he'll go right back to it in a few years. That's what he always does. He doesn't know any different."

"So you'd really kill another nation?"

Green eyes flash and England stands up. "We can and we should. He's become a menace."

"No he hasn't!" Matthew snaps, slamming his hands on England's desk. "He isn't at all -"

"Don't you raise your voice at me, Canada," England says, his voice deathly quiet. "And handle yourself better. It feels like Gilbert's influence is affecting even you now. Maybe I should separate you."

Ice runs down his spine at the statement. He pulls back, eyes wide. The very threat makes his heart skip a beat and he has to lick his lips to keep from trembling. England could easily separate them, but that's the last thing he wants right now.

He likes being with Prussia. He likes Gilbert. A lot. The longer they pursue a slow-moving relationship, the more comfortable he feels with the albino nation. To be separated in the midst of all this uncertainty...

"You can't," he murmurs. "I like watching over him."

Al sniggers, still sitting in his chair. "You mean you like him ."

Canada turns a glare to his brother. "Shut up, Al."

"Oh, whoa, so it's true? You actually do like him in that way!"

Gritting his teeth, clenching his hands into fists, Canada resists the urge to throttle his brother. Whether America realizes the truth isn't the problem here. He can deal with Alfred's teasing and insufferable attitude, especially considering how he knows Al's own love secrets. But for Alfred to spout off the truth about Canada and Prussia in front of England right now…

"What?" England says, standing up on cue. "What does that mean, Canada?"

He shakes his head. "I'm not explaining."

Green eyes narrow as thick blond brows lower. "Don't you defy me, Canada. What does America mean when he says you like Gilbert 'in that way,' hm?"

A scowl crosses his face before he can shake it away. England notices. Canada can tell because the other nation frowns and stiffens. Mapleleaf, he does not want to go through this right now. He hadn't come here to talk about his love life or relationship status or how he truly feels about Gilbert.

He just wanted to come in here and demand they let Prussia go and forget all the crap about blaming the albino nation for everything wrong Germany did in the war. So much for that plan. With a sigh, Matthew glances away. He finds the lush curtains at the window, pulled back and showing the calm day outside; the sun hits his eyes and he blinks away. He'd wanted to keep this secret, but thanks to Al, he didn't have much of a choice now.

"Gil and I are in a relationship," Matthew states. "I think I'm in love. So that's why I don't want you to do anything drastic like cause him to disappear."

When he looks back, England's eyes are wide and stricken. "My god."

Al, meanwhile, whistles between his teeth. "All right, bro, I'll do what I can. Wouldn't want you to lose someone special to you."

"No," England says. "No, this cannot happen. Matthew, I'm making arrangements for Gilbert to move somewhere else. This is your last night in the same house as him. He's corrupted you already."

"He hasn't corrupted me!" Canada snaps. "You're just obsessed with getting back at him because of your people and you won't leave the nation and think on your own for half a second to realize how -"

"Canada," England cuts him off, slamming a fist into his own desk and causing both of the brothers to jump. "Leave, now. I'll talk to you later, once I can remove his influence."

"Fine!" He shouts, spinning on his heel. "But I'm not helping you pay for the war anymore!"

When he slams the door behind him, he knows he sounds childish but he doesn't care. Tears are in his eyes as he tries to reconcile the knowledge that he just screwed up Gilbert's nice lodgings, their nice place together, ignoring the rest of the world in the midst of cleaning up the chaos. He's ruined it. How come every time he tries to help, he's either ignored or things go in the complete opposite direction?

Gilbert's been relying on him this past year. Matthew has been able to figure out that much. He's not sure if the albino nation really has feelings for him, but at this point he doesn't care. Gilbert needs someone to cling to and being torn away from him is going to hurt . Whatever England does with Prussia, Matthew won't let their time together end like this. If Prussia is going to be abolished and is going to disappear, that would make this the last night they could be together forever .

And he just can't let it end on a sour note. He has to give Gilbert something loving, something to make sure the nation knows he's loved, because so much of what Prussia spouts these days feels like forced bravado for the sake of the nation he's losing. Well. He'll make this night one to remember, to carry with him if he does disappear into the place that nations go when they die, if there even is one.

He shakes his head. No. He can't fall into that thinking. He has to be optimistic. He'll see Gilbert again. But still, tonight can be special anyway. He'll make sure of it.

~!~

Prussia is busy building a massive artistic design of dominoes on the floor when Canada returns home. He barely spares a glance toward the front door, knowing Matthew will find him eventually. Instead, he puts down one more domino in the perfect position as slowly and carefully as possible, tongue sticking out the side of his mouth in focused concentration. This one is going to be the most awesome yet.

He's pretty sure he's gotten everything lined up just right. He's had months to practice, after all. Always building one thing or another while Matthew leaves to attend to duties elsewhere, to acquire food, to help the people. While Prussia wishes he could lend a hand with the people of London as well, he knows his presence wouldn't be as welcomed if a certain other nation ran into him out there. After all, he's supposed to be a prisoner.

Even if it's already been a year since the war ended. He can't imagine Germany is still here. He's heard rumors that they're already setting him up to cleaning duty in his own nation. The people there have a lot of work to do, and Gilbert also wishes he could lend his aid to his own country - or the people that he represents at least. But again, he's stuck here, because no decision has yet to be made on his nation status and they're holding him captive until that all important discussion is held, apparently.

So he wastes his days away in this large mansion and tries not to remember the days when he lived in a castle. Tries not to think of his glory days. He loves his past, but that's what led to all this in the first place. Having his journals to go through would have been nice - if they aren't piles of burned scrap under the rubble of his old townhouse - but he's made do with a new set to write in while here. Matthew has been kind enough to hand him almost whatever he asks for, and Gilbert has done his best not to throw fits about his confinement since he knows it's not Canada's fault.

One more domino set up, Gilbert grins and reaches for another. This is going so well, he can't wait to see the end result. Just a few more and it'll be perfect. Then he'll show the best design yet to Canada and watch the man's eyes light up in wonder and excitement. Much better emotions than what Prussia feels so often these days, but if he can pretend to be happy by making someone else happy, then it's fine.

"Gil."

The sudden call of his name makes him jerk a bit and his hand shakes the domino between his fingers just enough to make the closest domino fall over, which leads to the chain reaction he'd been dreading this whole time. "Scheiße! So close!"

He stands up and watches the dominos fall, doing his best to admire what he had managed to accomplish at the very least, grinning at the sight of the Prussian flag slowly showing itself with each new wave. He sets his fists at his waist and laughs uproariously at the sight of Matthew's face. Canada can't seem to figure out what reaction to give, so Gilbert steps over his domino art and claps the man on the shoulder.

"It's awesome," he says, "isn't it?"

Matthew blinks, then gives him a smile. "Sure. Did I mess you up?"

Prussia shrugs. "A little. I was almost done, but the result still looks awesome, so it's not a big deal."

"Hah. All right then."

Gilbert frowns. The Canadian nation is a little quiet. Usually when Prussia is showing off something, Matthew goes along with him and either teases him for his silly antics or asks how much time it took or, well, any number of things. Now he's just quiet and standing there as if he's not really in the real world right now.

Searching his mind, Gilbert realizes the man had said something about talking to England. So things must not have gone as well as he'd hoped, if that look was anything to go by. Probably something to deal with him , too, since Matthew couldn't leave well enough alone when it came to the whole abolishment question.

Damn, and he'd been in such a good mood, too.

"Okay," he groans, sliding his hands into the pockets of the dark pants. "What happened?"

Matthew turns to him and the blue-violet gaze flinches back. "I messed up."

"Tch. Not likely."

"No, I really did," Matthew says, rubbing the back of his head. "I was supposed to help you out, but I ended up...England says he's going to separate us starting tomorrow."

"Hah?"

The shocked exclamation is all that manages to break from his lips at the news. Sure, this isn't as terrible as learning his nation is set for future abolishment, but it still hurts. Had he gotten too comfortable living with Matthew? Possibly. Now at the thought of leaving Canada and having to suffer in silence among whatever guards he's given, Prussia can't help but grimace and pull away.

He glances down at the incomplete Prussian flag on the floor - the art he'd made with dominos after so many attempts - and he feels his hands clench into fists within his pockets. The war is over and still he sits here in limbo, waiting for the inevitable. He's been clinging to Matthew in this dismal time, whether the Canadian realizes it or not because it's been in the subtle things. After all, it wouldn't be like him to make it obvious that he needs someone - even if they're supposed to be in a relationship now.

Prussia just isn't the type to go to someone else when his problems get to be too much to bear, but Canada has been there anyway. This constant reassuring presence standing beside him and letting him work things out as he needs to in whatever way he wants. Now because of Arthur being a controlling freak, that is all about to go away. Of course he's not sure what to say, or even think now, especially because of how sudden the proclamation hits.

"I'm sorry," Canada murmurs. "I tried to help and I -"

Prussia waves him off. "Hey, don't do that. You apologize too much as it is."

"But this -"

Gilbert pulls his chin up and smirks. "This is the natural fallout of the war. We've been lucky enough that he left you with me in the first place. Shouldn't have expected it to last, I guess."

"Yeah, but…" Canada says, and Prussia wants to reach out and force that frown to flip back to the smile he likes so much; he holds back, of course. "It's so sudden."

Forcing a grin, Gilbert shrugs. "Whatever. That's how a lot of things happen. Best we can do is drink to our last night together."

He turns to make his way to the kitchen, leaving the dominoes on the floor. They'll clean up later. Right now, he wants a beer. Even if it's not a good German beer, alcohol will help dull his senses enough to stop caring so much. He shouldn't have cared so much in the first place. Didn't this happen last time he fell in love?

Having it all ripped away because time marches on despite his protests…

Ah, well. Nothing for it but to cling to the hope of better days, even if that hope looks smaller than ever before because of this talk of being abolished.

Shit.

~!~

Being drunk with Prussia is such a wonderful experience that Canada forgets to keep any sense of reason once the first beer is in his system. From that point onwards, he's not sure what exactly happens and what is drunk imagination working in his memories. He knows that Gilbert sings a few disgraceful inappropriate songs, which make him laugh. He knows Gilbert makes some food at some point, and there's water and more beer to wash it all down.

The little details elude him completely, except for one: Prussia's red eyes are dim and lacking the spark of joy he's come to love.

So when Matthew wakes up in the middle of the night, it's with more than a little trepidation. All his plans had gone out the window as soon as he gave into Gilbert's drinking lust. Now when he quickly surveys the room, he realizes they only have a handful of hours left together before England can rudely tear them apart in the morning.

He's picking at his bottom lip when he notices something else. This isn't his room. This is most certainly not his usual bed. And he's not the only one awake.

"Gil?" He whispers, his voice a croak. "When did I -? Did we -?"

Red eyes gaze at him from the darkness of a pile of pillows, but then Prussia's chuckle melts any cold fear in his heart. "No, we didn't do anything inappropriate. Except for that time you were clinging so tightly to me that you pulled my pants down."

"I - I did what? "

Prussia's chuckle becomes a real spurt of laughter. "I'm kidding. You weren't that bad. I'm surprised you're awake now."

Matthew narrows his eyes. "That should be my line. Why are you still awake?"

"Pft, you think the awesome Prussia sleeps before 3:00 AM?"

Gilbert sits up and thanks to the adjustment in Canada's eyesight to the dim lighting, he's able to see the dark bags under Prussia's eyes. He wants to believe the albino nation is joking around at such a statement, but now he wonders. How much sleep has Gilbert gotten since he's been here? How much since the war?

Mapleleaf, why hadn't he ever noticed?

Wait…

"Gil," he murmurs. "Were you watching me sleep?"

Prussia smirks and gives a light-hearted shrug. "A little. You're pretty cute, you know."

Heat rises into his cheeks and he rolls over to hide it in the pillows. "I'm not cute."

"Are too," Gilbert says. "Oh. No, I'm sorry. You're adorable."

"Would you stop bringing that up? It was one time!"

"It was adorable, though," Gilbert says, and Matthew turns to look at him with a blank stare, which causes the Prussian to flush. "I didn't mean to do that, I swear."

"Uh huh."

"I swear, Matthew!"

"Right."

Rolling his eyes, Matthew buries his face in the soft pillow. It still smells freshly washed, which tells him Gilbert hasn't been sleeping on this side of the bed even though he's had the whole thing to himself. Guess he prefers the other side. Or maybe he's not used to something so huge.

Well, that's a depressing thought so he shakes it away quickly and pouts into the pillow instead. He would never admit to pouting, but it happens on the rare occasion when he can't think of how to broach a subject. He's pretty sure Prussia hasn't been sleeping well at all and the man hasn't said a word. It's so easy to brush off his mental state thanks to the way Gilbert always finds an excuse to laugh or party - or to completely avoid the topic. Is it a pride thing? Maybe. He does recall Prussia mentioning the fact that he doesn't like pity, so he probably doesn't talk about his issues because he doesn't want to face anyone's eyes when they hear what's on his mind.

No, his thoughts are going down a depressing road again. He needs to stop.

The mattress shifts and Matthew spares a glance off to the side. Gilbert is laying down again, hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. There's a slight glow from the dim lighting of the room, thanks to the moonlight coming from the window, and it falls perfectly on the ablino's silvery white hair. Of course his eyes tend to fade around different shades of red, but the light from the moon only makes them appear brighter than normal.

Matthew can't look away.

Gilbert's skin has its own special shine, too, something the other nation doesn't really show off much, even now that they've been in a relationship for a year . Matthew's thoughts wander down the road of questioning why - but he shoves the curiosity to the side. It would probably only lead somewhere sad, and he doesn't want that right now. He wants to sit here and admire Gilbert for as long as he can. Sit in his presence and bask in the glow of love - or whatever they have.

After a moment, Gilbert sighs and turns on his side, the glow of moonlight leaving his pale skin and allowing a dark haze to breed in those red eyes. "Now you're the one staring at me, aren't you?"

Matthew flushes and hides his face in the pillow, though he does mumble. "Maybe."

Gilbert chuckles. "Not like it bothers me. You should admire me. I'm awesome, right?"

"Mhm," he agrees. "Awesome."

"So are you, you know."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am -"

The playful back-and-forth comes to a quick halt. Prussia grabs his shoulder and flips him around, and Canada realizes that the albino nation is sitting up and hovering over him now. He gulps, his face heating, but before he can ask a question, his thoughts are silenced by the touch of Gil's lips on his own.

Warmth fills him to the depths of his heart and he reaches up to wrap arms around the other nation. Fingers toy with the silvery white hair and he presses his palm into the back of Gilbert's neck to keep him from lifting away. He knows what the kiss is for. He knows what the intentions are. But he doesn't care. It's sweet the way Prussia wants to make some point about how Canada shouldn't put himself down, but maybe instead of lingering on that conversation he can let Gil know that he's ready to take another step forward in their relationship.

Gilbert sets a hand on Matthew's shoulder as their kiss continues into heated, desperate territory. So Matthew lifts his hips and manages to brush against Gil's growing erection. His face heats at the feeling, but Gilbert hisses and breaks the connection of their lips to whisper against his mouth.

"Oh," Prussia gulps. "Scheiße."

"G-Gil," Matthew stutters, his voice cracking. "Yes. We can -" He licks his lips. "Yes."

The red gaze in Gilbert's eyes smolders down to a haze and Matthew shudders pleasantly at the look. Heat has built between them and there's no mistaking the lust breaking free from his partner. Partner. Yes, they are in a relationship, but he hasn't felt the urge to say anything deeper than that yet. Now - now he's ready to commit.

Commit completely.

Matthew reaches up to the necklace Gilbert always wears, the one usually hidden under his shirts these days. But since Prussia isn't wearing anything over his chest, the iron cross hangs on its black thread, a reminder that Prussia has received high honors in his own military, that he once was revered among his own people. So many memories, so many stories waiting to be unearthed in so small a thing. When Canada touches the cool metal, he notes the way Gilbert's breath catches, and when he smiles up at the hovering nation before reaching past that to touch the man's chest, Gilbert moans for a reason not entirely brought on by lustful emotions.

He runs his fingers along the chest muscles, stopping at the raised scars he finds every so often. A nation can heal from any wound so long as their actual nation still stands, so long as their connection to their people still remains. But sometimes wounds are brought on with emotional baggage and the marks of their scars will stay for ages. Gilbert has far too many crossing his rough pale skin, and Canada can only think of how he only has one or two of his own.

How many betrayals has Gilbert experienced? How many shocks to his own inner self? How many stories are hiding behind each of these marks?

The questions burn in his chest, but Canada bites them back. He knows Gilbert doesn't like to talk of such things, and besides, now isn't the time. Prussia definitely has other things on his mind now that he has been granted such permission. The albino nation leans down and brushes lips along Matthew's cheek, down to his jaw, up toward his ear, then back down to his neck where he latches on harder to suck on the salty skin.

Matthew gasps at the feeling running through his veins and quickly reaches around to cling into Prussia's back. This playful touch is nothing new to them. After a year, they've done many things that come before actual intercourse. Kissing, making out, even a bit of oral sex play, but nothing more. Nothing that went too far, for Matthew had always reached a point where he felt too nervous to continue, too unwilling to commit that much.

Now things are different. Now he wants to explore his partner's body in ways they haven't yet, with the knowledge that what comes next will forever be with him. No matter what happens in the future, he won't ever forget this moment. He won't need anyone else. He wants Gilbert and only Gilbert.

The kisses continue down his neck and then back up to his jaw. Matthew moves his head to catch those lips in his own, to deepen it, to playfully tap tongues until the heat drives them both wild. He lets himself fall into the feelings, forgetting everything else but what's happening here and now. No more thoughts about tomorrow. No more thoughts about the future. Tonight, this moment, is all that matters.

Tingling heat spreads around his body and in no time at all, he's helping Gilbert to remove his own clothes - a set of red pajamas that he must have changed into even while drunk earlier. The top goes away and the touches spread further, tugging at the pants, which Canada also helps to remove, though he groans and reaches up to tug at the waistband of Gilbert's under shorts as well.

When their next kiss breaks for air, Matthew stares up at Gilbert's eyes and pants. Their bodies are revealed completely to each other now and he has to take a moment to admire the uniquely pale skin of his partner. It feels like time slows as Gilbert moves away to rummage around in the top drawer of the nightstand, and Matthew stares at the toned hips and ass now in his view.

He licks his lips, ready to beg for more attention, but then Gilbert pulls back with a smirk and holds up a bottle of lotion. "Good. I thought I saw some of this in here earlier. You ready?"

Matthew gulps, knowing what it means, and he shakes a little despite his determination. "Y-yeah."

"Hnn," Gilbert frowns, holding the bottle in his hand, "I wonder…"

While Matthew sits up on his arms with a petulant pout on his face, Gilbert slides his back against the intricately designed headboard of the bed. He doesn't understand what the albino nation is doing now. Why stop their intimacy? Why lean against the headboard? Why -?

He gulps as he watches Gilbert squeeze lotion into his palm, watches as the man rubs his cock until it's covered so well it's practically dripping. Matthew swallows something in the back of his throat, feels his heartbeat spread. The blush on Gilbert's face is enough to call him cute. Everything else is enough to make fire race through his body. He needs more now. So much more.

So he crawls over and then hesitates in front of his partner. "What are you doing?"

"Hnng," Gilbert moans, one eye open. "Getting myself ready for you. It's your first time, right?"

"Uh - uhm - y-yeah?"

The albino smirks. "Then take charge and lower yourself on me as fast or as slow as you want. That'll keep you from getting hurt."

"O-oh," Canada flushes amid a weak, embarrassed smile. "Okay."

The lotion bottle is tossed to the side, and Gilbert leans in to connect their lips. A spark of electric tingles shoot from his tongue all the way down Matthew's throat and he moans in pleasure. He's so on edge. Might be best to stop thinking how he's going to do it and focus on the moment. Trust in himself the way Gilbert trusts in him.

Then there's a feeling near in his ass and he moans against the kiss, leaning in further so his sounds will be swallowed. He can feel the heat from Gilbert's body, most especially the one thing he's yearning for now. While Prussia pulls him in close and lifts him up, he's stretching his hole with delicate fingers, warming things up for the big moment.

Matthew pants as he pulls away from the kiss, opening his eyes to stare at the hazy red of his partner, his lover, his everything . Gilbert reaches up and runs a clean set of fingers over Matthew's face, toying with the long blond bangs of his hair. Then he smiles - a real smile that Matthew knows has been so hard to earn from him - and it gives Canada all the push he needs to set his hands on Prussia's shoulders and line himself up and lower his body down onto Gilbert.

A hiss escapes them both at the contact, as they connect in a deeper way. Panting heavily, Canada squeezes his eyes shut and focuses on relaxing. He's been warned before about what to do, about what to maybe expect, but it still makes his heart rate speed up and throb in his ears. He bites his lower lip and lifts up, only to come down slowly, pushing in further this time. Slowly, gently, all at his own pace, while Gilbert holds his hips and whispers sweet things into his neck, landing kisses that make him shiver.

Hands run up his side and Canada feels comforted by the fact that even Gilbert's hands are trembling. At least he knows he's not the only one getting lost in the moment. He has never felt something so special, so unexplainable, so warm and filling. He needs more, so after settling down and becoming accustomed to the feeling, he lifts up and pushes down again, searching for that friction, needing harder and faster.

At some point, he knocks his forehead against Gilbert and begs for help. While it feels wonderful to have control over something so intimate, so precious, the longer they go, the harder it is to focus. He's breathless. Kisses and touches and so much more. Gasping for Gilbert to take charge leads to Prussia picking him up and laying him among the pillows and blankets of the bed.

Then he's looking up as Gilbert smirks at him. Those hazy red eyes are only half open and Canada moans loudly as the albino nation slides into him again. Oh, yes, the pace and angle is so much better from here. Gripping onto Prussia's back, he digs his fingers in, looking for anything to cling to as the work is taken from him. And he loves every thrust, every further connection, deeper, deeper, harder, faster.

His moans switch to cries and he finds silvery white hair to grip into, clawing at Gilbert's neck while the albino nation gasps and moans along with him. Lips touch his own, then fall away to land on his eyes and his forehead. Little, sweet pecks to juxtapose the harsh pounding down below, and it makes Matthew shudder as the world falls away.

A hand reaches between them and he practically yelps when Prussia pumps him in rhythm with his thrusts. So much attention. So much loving attention. He cries out Gil's name between his pants, and his toes curl as the experience comes to its height. A long, low moan follows the cry and as his seed drips from his member, he feels Gilbert bite into his neck to hide a cry from the albino while the man comes inside him.

For a few moments, the world is nothing but the two of them, basking in the glow of being together so completely. Gilbert mutters an "I love you," in German and Matthew responds in French and then they both say it in English with a light chuckle. After that, the night turns into sweet cuddling and Matthew falls asleep in the arms of the one he never wants to leave...

...knowing that tomorrow he'll have to say goodbye anyway.