The two stared at each other for what felt like hours to each but wasn't more than a few minutes. Matt blushed and looked away, caught up in how cute he thought Matthew was. Matthew thought this was odd but was too shocked to say anything. Matt cleared his throat and tried to think of something to say to his Chickadee.

"So… this is unexpected." God, that was lame, He scoffed to himself. Luckily, it broke Matthew out of his shock.

"Umm.. who might you be?" Matthew asked.

"I'm Canada but call me Matt."

Matthew cocked his head to the side, confused. "How are you Canada when I'm Canada?"

Matt already knew this about his Chickadee from his dreams but since he obviously didn't recognize him, which confused the painter, he would bring it up later. "Maybe we are different Canadas?"

"But that isn't rational. There are only one versions of all the nations. Unless…" Matthew suddenly remembered something Arthur had said when drunk and at his house. He had said something about another world with other nations but they were more violent and not to be trusted. Matthew had brushed it off as one of his drunk ramblings but maybe…

"Well, I had heard a legend that there are more than one worlds. Maybe we somehow open a path between the two." Matt suggested. He watched Matthew nod and he found himself forcing himself not to stare at the other. Dammit, why does he have to be so cute.

Matt's scientist side had kicked in. I wonder what all is different between us. Maybe he would let me interview him. And I wonder if the pathway is traversable.. If he could come over here, I would be able to study him better! Matthew used the mechanical arm and lead it to go through the pathway a few times, making sure it was safe.

It was when Matthew did this that Matt noticed that his canvas had gotten bigger. He could easily step through it at this size. Since the mechanical arm was going through fine, he stuck his hand through to find nothing happened. He shrugged and, after putting the canvas on the ground,he stepped completely through. Once on the other side, all he could do was stare in wonder at the massive laboratory. His Chickadee was really impressive. Guess I can't call him that anymore since I know his name..

Matthew watched as he looked around his lab, making sure no ill effects came from the crossover. He quickly grabbed a clipboard with some paper and started to write down his observations. Matt noticed but didn't mind, too caught up the scale and complexity of the lab. He felt the need to draw it. Something the impressive needed to be drawn.

Now that Matthew had written down his current observations, he started the questions.

"Full name?"
"Matthew Williams."

"Occupation?"

"Nation and underground artist." Matt felt no reason to keep it a secret for some reason.

The questions continued. They ranged from his personal life to differences in their worlds. After the interview, Matthew looked at his notes in bewilderment and shook his head. They lived in very different worlds and were very different people for sure. He was going to have to continue his study of this other world and way of life but he wasn't sure how long the pathway would be open.

Matthew sighed. "I want to know more about you. See how you live your life and things like that but I'm worried that the pathway will close.. What do you recommend?"

Matt thought for a moment. The options he was thinking about were different from Matthew's. Be with his Chickadee or don't be. The answer was simple to him, the only thing he was trying to figure out was how to ask Matthew to let him stay at his house. That way he would still be with him no matter what. He wasn't a social creature so he had no friends and really no close family. The only thing he enjoyed in life was his artwork and he could do that here.

"M-maybe I could stay with you? That way you can learn what I do.." He suggested awkwardly, groaning internally.

Matthew smiled brightly. That was just what he had hoped for but was too shy to ask. "That sounds great!" He said excitedly. Matt smiled at his excitement, think about how cute it was.

Matthew yawned. "Well, today has been pretty long and very eventful. Why don't you go back to your side and gather some clothes and supplies then I can show you the room you can sleep in."

Matt nodded and quickly hopped over to his side, stuffing what all he needed in a duffle bag then coming through. Matthew smiled and turned to lead the way. After having taken off all his gear, he showed the way to the room right across from his. Matt followed behind and drop his things carelessly on the bed. Then he turned to look at Matthew, who was standing in the doorway.

Matthew gave him a tired smile. Now that the excitement had died down, he really was exhausted. "Well, the bathroom is the last door down the hall on the right and you're welcome to use the shower. Good night, hope you sleep well."

"Good night. Hope you have pleasant dreams." Matt replied. Matthew turned to take his leave as Matt observed from the bed. Once he left, Matt fell back on the bed and covered his face. He was somewhere between elated, nervous and freaked out so he settled for tired. He got up, headed for a quick shower. Once back, he collapsed on the bed and fell asleep, dreaming about his Chickadee.

Matthew had sat on his bed and pondered over what happened. Such an interesting discovery! A whole other world. Of course, he couldn't tell anyone. That would have only ill effects. As tired as he was, he simply couldn't still his mind! What puzzled him the most was that when he had tested the gas before, nothing like this had happened. He had caught a few glimpse of what he now knows is Matt's world but a solid pathway?

Matthew sighed, too exhausted to keep thinking. He changed into his boxers and climbed under the covers, quickly falling asleep.

The next morning, Matt woke up in a bed very not his in a bedroom very much not his either. After the initial panic passed, he remembered last nights events. He found himself smiling slightly when thinking about Matthew but quickly shook his head. Matthew wasn't some elusive painting anymore, he was an actual person. Which also meant he had no right to be happy thinking about him.

Matt sighed and got dressed then headed downstairs to wait for Matthew. He started looking through the cupboards and after finding the ingredients, started making pancakes for breakfast.

Matthew woke up slowly and stretched. After a moment, he recalled last night and quickly got dressed then went to look in the room across the hall, worried it had been an odd dream. He didn't find Matt but did see his things which was enough evidence to convince him that it was real. That's when he smelled pancakes. With a watering mouth, he went downstairs.

Matt looked up at the sound of steps on the stairs. "Morning." He greeted, adding another pancake to the ever growing stack.

"Good morning. How did you sleep?" Matthew smiled brightly, glad Matt also liked pancakes.

Matt nodded and brought the stack to the table as well as two maple syrup bottles he had found. "You? Any interesting dreams?"

Matthew sat down and waited for Matt to do the same before digging in. "Dreams? Why do dreams matter?" He said between bites.

Matt paused before continuing to eat. "Dreams are pretty special. They show you what you want and things you need to know. Almost all of my pieces are dreams."

Matthew thought about this quietly. He had never payed attention to the dreams before, never saw a reason to. They were just images your brain came up with while you slept. He knew there was a science to it but that wasn't his field so he never bothered. "Actually, that reminds me. Why do you think the chemicals made a pathway this time? I had tested them before and caught quick glimpses of your world but never a solid pathway."

"Was it chemicals that did it? I thought my painting had come to life. Maybe your chemicals had made a pathway and my painting a doorway?" Matt suggested. It made as much sense as any.

Matthew thought about it. It seemed impossible but he did have another Canada eating breakfast with him so who knows. "What were you painting anyway?"

Matt promptly did a spit take. Well, that was a rather awkward question. Matthew was surprised by the reaction and the surprise grew as Matt started stammering. What could he possibly have been painting?

Matt swallowed quickly. "I was uhh actually painting… you."

That confused Matthew to no end. "How? We have never seen each other before."

Matt sighed. "Well, I had seen you, quite often. You would appear in my dreams a lot." He said, blushing brightly.

Matthew stared for a moment before shaking himself slightly. Well that was surprising. Matthew blushed and looked around before catching sight of the clock. Eight o'clock. The meeting was at eight-thirty! He squeaked and jumped up. "I'm going to be late for the meeting!" He rushed off to his truck with a quick goodbye to Matt and Kuma.

Matt watched Matthew rush out the door and sighed. Guess I need to go to my meeting too… He thought unhappily. He sighed and gave Matthew's polar bear a fish after putting the plates in the sink. Then he stepped through the pathway and dropped a fish down for his own polar bear. Then he begrudgingly grabbed his hockey stick and headed out to his truck. He was going to be late but didn't care.

On the way to the meeting, both of them thought of the other. Matt couldn't stop thinking about how cute Matthew was and Matthew was trying to stop the blush inducing thoughts about how attractive he found Matt. Once at the meeting, neither could focus (Though Matt wasn't really trying to unlike Matthew.) Part way through, both leaned back and sighed. Thing sure have gotten interesting.