America's eyes grew as wide as they could get when he saw Canada crying in front of him. He dropped the bear and scooted right in front of the sobbing boy. Filled with sudden concern, America tried to get Canada's attention.

"Hey…what's a matter?" he asked softly. His hand reached out to gently touch the distressed colony's shoulder. "Don't cwy."

Canada didn't respond. He kept his face covered and rubbed his eyes as more tears poured out of him. America looked on in major confusion. Why was Canada crying? Was it because of something he had done? America looked over his own shoulder at the discarded bear on the floor. He grabbed the bear and held it out to Canada. Maybe that was what the boy wanted?

"Here, you can have your bear back," America tried.

Instead of taking the bear, Canada just slowly wilted forward and curled up, face down on the ground. His weeping did not let up as he lay on the floor. America felt awkward watching the pathetic sight. Now what? He looked around the room, wondering what he should do.

"Um…uh…" America stammered nervously as Canada cried on. After thinking the situation over carefully, America jumped up. "Wait here!" he commanded, and even though Canada was not looking at him, America automatically held out his hands to motion for his twin to remain in the room. America then made an about-face and sprinted for the kitchen. England would know what to do!

Before America could exit the room, however, he came to an abrupt halt. He froze in place as if he had been turned to stone. It had just occurred to him that he might get in trouble for making his look-alike cry, if England got involved (although he was still not sure exactly what he had done to cause the water-works). Getting England was now out of the question. America looked back at Canada, who was still in the same position and was still crying his heart out. America bit his lip with worry. He really wanted to help Canada, but he was not sure how. He didn't even know what was wrong. America started to pace back and forth as he pondered how to comfort Canada. There just hadto be a way to make him stop crying that didn't involve running to England for help! America could cheer him up! He knew he could…somehow…. That's when it hit him! The boy would have snapped his fingers at his burst of brilliance, had he been old enough to know how. America confidently turned back to Canada and once again motioned for him to stay put.

"Don't worry! I'll be wight back!" he promised. The boy then dashed out of the room. A minute or two later, he came running back with something extra. He got on his knees in front of Canada and addressed him again. "Hey! You can have one of my toys!" he eagerly offered. America had thought that it might help if he shared one of his own stuffed animals with Canada. "It's a wabbit! See?" America proudly held up a stuffed bunny with long, floppy ears for Canada to admire. Canada did not react as the American boy showed off his new companion. Really, any action America preformed in front of Canada was kind of pointless (seeing as how the Canadian kid's face was stillburied in the floor), but America would not give up. He was determined to make Canada happy again.

"Here, take 'em!" the boy pushed his peace offering towards his unhappy visitor. "It's alwight!" he assured as he did so. But it didn't matter how much encouragement America gave to Canada. Nothing changed. Canada ignored America and kept on crying in his soft way.

America eventually put his hands on his head in a panic. He couldn't make Canada stop! Nothing worked! What should he do? What should he do? America was starting to feel like crying, too. He could feel himself tearing up out of pity and frustration. It was just a good thing for him that Canada was bawling as softly as a baby mouse. Otherwise, England would have been in there, by now.

In a last effort to calm Canada, America crawled next to him, curled up on the ground beside him, and wrapped an arm around him.

"Why are you cwying?" America begged to know in a whisper. He got no answer, but he patted Canada's back all the same. "It's okay," he said soothingly. "There, there, there," he spoke to Canada in the same tender way that England would speak whenever the American was in distress. Before long, Canada's tears began to die down. America didn't know if it was because of what he was doing, or because Canada was just running out of energy to keep going, but he didn't stop just in case. At long last, Canada finally said something.

"I want to go home," he whined.

"You can't go, yet!" America's voice went from soothing to alarmed. He didn't want his new playmate to leave so soon! "You just got here!"

"I do not like it here," Canada whispered harshly. "And England scares me."

America sat up and scrunched his face in confusion. Canada's last comment had been very strange. England…"scary?"

"Engwand's not scawy," America said at last; his brow still creased as he tried to fathom the very idea. Canada said nothing, so America leaned down and put his arm around the boy again. "It's gonna be alwight," he said reassuringly. "You'll see. Engwand's weal nice!"

Canada took a few labored breaths as his body slowly recovered from the sobs.

"I want my brother," he whispered in-between hiccups.

America gulped.

"Uh…we don't hafta get Engwand wight now, do we?" he asked nervously. He was still worried about the chance of getting blamed for Canada's condition.

"No," Canada spoke like he was exasperated; as if he was having a hard time making himself be understood. "I want my real brother."

Once again, America was in the dark. He had been told that he and Canada were brothers, but he was right there with Canada, so the boy could not be talking about him. And if Canada wasn't referring to England either, then what other brother could he be talking about? America patted Canada's back some more, since he didn't know what else to do. He was afraid to open his big mouth again. Canada had sounded a little on edge with his last statement. The last thing America wanted was for Canada to start crying all over again.

The two tots stayed huddled together like this until Canada had fully calmed down. America stayed by Canada's side and waited attentively to see if his double would talk again. Eventually, Canada did speak again; very softly. What he said, came as a huge surprise to the other boy.

"I miss France."

America shot up as if Canada had knocked him off his feet. He sat on the floor in shock. "France?" Wait…he couldn't mean…did this weird kid mean that France was his brother? America had never imagined in a million years that the same France that England was always bad-mouthing could have a little brother, too! America looked closely at Canada. Even though he had stopped crying, his depressed form still seemed to be the very definition of "sorrow." Now America understood why. It was clear that Canada loved his former brother, France, in the exact same way that America loved his brother, England. America remembered how much he had missed England when he was away. He couldn't imagine how bad he would feel if he had to be separated from his big brother forever!

"Oh," was all America could say.

After a few seconds, Canada sat up, as well. He wiped at his nose and eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. America felt uneasy and his eyes began to search around the room to find anything to watch besides Canada. It was not as if Canada needed privacy to clean his face after a good cry. America was simply unsure of how to act around the boy now. He knew that he couldn't begin to understand what Canada was going through. That's when America noticed that Canada's white bear was laying on the floor, still. He picked it up and fumbled with it nervously, before shyly holding it out to Canada.

"Um…here."

Canada, avoiding America's pitying eyes, accepted the bear with a sniff and gave it a small hug.

"Thank you," he mumbled back.

An awkward moment of silence passed between the two. Neither one really knew what to say or do. Canada was feeling embarrassed that he had allowed himself break down like that in front of America. He was sure that his actions were responsible for the uncomfortable atmosphere that now hovered between himself and America. He figured that America wasn't saying anything because his little emotional fit had scared him into silence.

What Canada didn't realize was that America was actually quietly brainstorming to himself. America was determined to help the suffering Canadian in any way he could. He thought that he should start off by taking the lonely boy's mind off of his absent French brother, but how was he going to pull that off?

While America was trying to come up with the perfect way to make Canada's troubles disappear, Canada was trying to come up with a way to break the silence. He settled on an apology.

"I…I-I am sorry I yelled at—"

"Hey, I've got it!" America shouted out of nowhere. The exclamation made Canada jump.

Got what?

Canada thought as he raised his head to stare questioningly at America. He was again startled by America, who had moved so close to the Canadian that he was practically in his face. Well, not "practically." He was in his face. When Canada had lifted up his confused face, it was greeted by America's brightly smiling one. Canada was forced to bend back, uncomfortably as America leaned further into him with excitement.

"We're s'posed ta be brothers, wight?" America opened his case with a question. "Weal brothers?"

Canada looked away from the large eyes of the boy who was taking up way too much of his personal space. He wondered how he should answer the random question. Were they brothers? Well, that's what England said, anyway. But where was America going with this? He sniffed one last time and shrugged.

"I guess."

That was all America needed. He sat up and smacked a confident hand to his chest.

"Den I'll be da big brother!" he proclaimed. "So you don't hafta be ascared of anything, cause I'll protect you, okay?"

After hearing that, Canada hesitantly looked back at America. What did America mean by that? Was he trying to cheer him up? Canada squeezed his bear as he wondered how he should respond. Before he had a chance to say anything, America was scooting up close to him again.

"Hey, uh…what's your name?" America asked.

Canada's eyes fell. He sighed. Hadn't they been through this already?

"I told you, I am Canada," he quietly reminded the American colony of his name.

"No, no!" America shook his head. "I mean your other name!"

Canada's expression towards America was blank.

"You gots another name, don't cha?" America pressed. "What is it?"

All at once, Canada realized that America wanted to know his human name.

"Matheiu," Canada revealed his name with a shy hug to his bear.

"Bwess you."

"P-Pardon?"

"Didn't ya just sneeze?"

"OH!" Canada gasped at his blunder. "Er, I meant my name is Mat-th-ew," he repeated his name again; eyes glancing around the room for any sign of England. This time, he was careful to pronounce the "th" sound in the way that his new guardian had instructed. He hoped that England had not overheard him accidentally use the French variation of his name instead of the English one. Using French around England was not allowed.

"Oh," America nodded at the clarification. Then, he paused. He tilted his head at Canada as if he was pondering something. "You talk kinda funny," America had finally decided.

Canada blushed.

"I-I…I do not," Canada tried unsuccessfully to deny America's innocent remark. The boy was a little embarrassed by his strong French accent.

"Do too," America maintained.

"D-do—"

"Mine's Alfwed."

"no—ah…uh?"

"My name's Alfwed," America eagerly shared his name with Canada. Then, he moved even closer to Canada. To Canada's surprise, America reached out, lifted up locks of his long hair, and began to study them, curiously. "Hey, how come I've nevuh seen you before?"

"Pardon?"

"How come I've nevuh seen you before?" America repeated as he now began to poke Canada. "If we're s'posed ta be brothers, and we're s'posed ta wiv weal cwose, den how come I've nevuh seen you?"

Canada was starting to get annoyed with all the poking and prodding. He tried to scoot back from America's examinations. America noticed the long, curly cowlick that was sticking up on the top of Canada's head. He stared at it with fascination. He reached out gave it a tug just as Canada was backing away from him.

"Aie!" Canada yelped in pain. He defensively lifted his bear up and held it on top of his head like a helmet for protection from any further pulling. "I-I do not know," he quickly answered America's question. Actually, Canada was also wondering how he could have gone his whole life without knowing that he had a twin brother, as well.

America continued to stare at Canada for few more seconds before backing up a bit, himself. He crossed his legs and looked upwards as if he was thinking about something.

"Ya know, I thought I was all awone for da wongest time," America confessed; speaking a little quieter now as he reminisced. "And den when all da big people started coming, I got ascared and hid cause I thought I was da only one my size."

Canada slowly lowered his bear from his head. America had his attention. The Canadian understood how he felt. He could still remember when all the explorers, along with their specific countries, had started showing up. The whole experience had been very unnerving to him, as well.

"Me too," he softly empathized.

"But I didn't wike being scared," America added seriously as he turned back to Canada. "I'm widdle, but I'm stwong!" (Here, he raised his arms and flexed his "muscles" to prove his point) "So I decided dat I was gonna be bwave! And den I met Engwand!"

Canada's spirits dropped again at the mention of England. He looked away from America and tightly held his bear. America was surprised by the reaction at first, but then he remembered that Canada didn't like England. America still couldn't understand why Canada was afraid of England. England had never frightened him…wait. America's memories took him back to the time that he had witnessed England and France fighting over him. The countries had eventually come to the decision to let America choose for himself who he wanted as a brother. England had immediately tried to encourage the boy to come to him. England's chuckling, greedy expression had really creeped America out at the time. As if watching two grown men get into a violent fist-fight over who would get to keep him had not been scary enough! America remembered feeling like he was being closed in on by some kind of hungry monster.

Of course, America knew better than to be afraid of England, now. England had turned out to be harmless (at least in America's eyes). England was a little weird sometimes, but he was an ok guy! America crawled forward and leaned down to look up at Canada's down-cast face. Surly he could make Canada understand that, too. America spoke soothingly to Canada again.

"He's big, but he's not weally scawy. Honest. He takes care of me," America kindly assured, before standing up tall to make himself look important. "And I'll take care of you, so don't cwy anymore, 'kay?" he added with a big-brotherly pat on Canada's head.

America did not know why England had taken Canada away from France when he seemed to love him so much, but he was sure there was a good reason! Besides, he was positive that Canada would be happier with England, anyway. He just needed to get used to him. Until then, America decided that it was his mission to make Canada feel more at home. That was what big brothers were for, right? America got back on the floor with his new "little" brother.

"You wanna pway wif me?"

Canada looked up at America.

"It'll be fun."

Canada stared at the ground as he considered America's offer. It did sound tempting, but he was still trying to decide how he felt about America calling the possession of "big brother" and promising to take care of him. What could a boy his own age do to protect him from anything? Still…the thought was nice. Canada looked back at America. He looked as if he was on the edge of his seat, waiting for Canada's answer. Canada sighed.

"Ok," he decided softly.

"Yay!" America jumped up and tackled the unsuspecting boy. He gave his long-lost brother a bear hug and then sat back up. "I'm gwad you're here! Now I got someone wike me ta pway wif when Engwand's not around!"

Canada was lying on his back after America's sudden hug attack. He opened his eyes and looked up at the smiling boy. When Canada saw America's joyful expression, he felt himself smile spite of the fact that he had just been knocked down. He still felt uneasy in his new situation, but he was warming-up once more to the idea of having a brother his age. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

"What do you want to play?" Canada asked shyly as he sat back up. He wasn't sure how to start.

"How 'bout Indians?" America suggested after a moment of thought. Canada instantly perked up at that idea.

"I like Indians," he said. "I know some back home."

"Weally?" America exclaimed as he scooted closer to Canada. "You gots Indians at your house, too?"

Canada smiled and nodded.

"I know some Indians too!" America started out, but then a strange look of regret seemed to take over his features. His head and eyes lowered slightly. "But…Engwand won't wet me pway wif 'em anymore."

Canada bowed his head, as well.

"Me neither," he said in an all too understanding voice.

Things were quiet again until America spoke up.

"Well…we could still pway Indians," he pointed out with a positive attitude.

"Alright."

America stood up.

"Gweat! I'll be da chief!"

Well here's part 2 at last! Hope you guys like!

Yay! It looks like Canada made friends with America! Hope they play well together. England comes back in part 3!