Canada slowly removed the covers from his head and listened. It had been quiet for quite some time now; only the faint hum of the television could be heard. He made his way into the main room where he found America laying on the couch holding the remote loosely in his hand.

"Hey," he said softly as he kneeled down next to him. "Are you doing ok?" No response. "Come on now, it's not the end of the world… You two will get another chance to talk things through. He just needs time to calm down." Canada was starting to get worried. America wasn't responding to anything he said. "You should probably eat something. How about I make you some pancakes? Does that sound good? Maybe some maple syrup?" With that America gave a slight nod and Canada went off to the kitchen.

They sat next to each other, eating their pancakes and watched tv in silence. Canada finished his sooner than America and the more he watched he began to realize America wasn't eating much at all. He was picking at it, pushing it around. Maybe America needed some time to be alone as well. "I think I'm going to go. Will you be ok?" America nodded once more and reluctantly, Canada went home.

Two days had passed and Canada hadn't heard a word from America. Had he spoken with Britain yet? Just as the thought passed through his mind the phone began to ring. Could it be him?

"Hello?" He waited for a response and listened. "Of course," he replied. "What time would you like me to meet you?"

"Sorry I'm late. I hope I haven't kept you waiting," Canada said as he sat down at a table outside of a small bistro.

"No trouble. I took the liberty of ordering you a tea, I hope you don't mind." It was Britain sitting across from him.

"Not at all, tea is fine." They continued with small talk here and there until the tea arrived. "Is it safe to say you asked me here today to talk about America?"

"Yes. I'm leaving him," Britain said rather calmly.

"W-what?" Hands shaking, he almost dropped his glass. "Please, don't do this because of me…"

"You have to understand Canada; I'm not making this decision solely based off of what happened between you two. There are a number of things and I have taken the time to think this through. It's what is best."

"But… He loves you." Canada was no longer able to look him in the eyes. His heart felt heavy.

"No, America loved me when I was great. He doesn't know how he feels right now. If he was sure in his feelings about me, then you and I would not be sitting here today having this conversation. I have thought this through and I find that I… am not what he needs right now." The hesitation in his voice brought Canada to look at him once more. This Britain sitting before him wasn't a man resolved with his decision. This was difficult, but it was what he thought was best.

"Britain…"

"We've grown apart…"

"Have you talked to him yet?"

"No, I thought you deserved to know."

"Why, because of what happened?"

"No, because you love him… in a way I never could." This shocked Canada. What was Britain saying? "I've always tried to control him. Make a proper man out of him. But that has never been him. And I've realized I've never truly accepted that. But you, so innocent, you care about America faults and all. You don't care if he wears a suit, or if he speaks with his mouth full. You love him simply for existing, no matter how he chooses to do so. That's something I can't do. I will forever attempt to change him." He smiled half-heartedly. "I won't keep you any longer. I should get going myself. But thank you for meeting with me to day and listening to what I had to say."

It was only a few hours after Canada had arrived home that he received another call. This time from America, asking him to come by. It was hard to tell his emotional state on the phone, but Canada wasted no time in traveling yet again. "America?" he said as he threw the door open. He was greeted with a weak smile. "America!" Before he knew it he had thrown himself into America's arms, hugging him tight, and began to sob.

"So you know…" He raised his arms and gently returned the hug.

"I-I'm so s-sorry!" He rubbed his eyes across America's shirt in attempts to stop the tears.

"Hey now, what reason do you have to cry?"

"This is all my fault! If I hadn't… Then things wouldn't have turned out so bad!"

"Bad?" Canada looked up at America in shock. They eyes looking back at him were not hurting, or remorseful. It didn't appear he had been crying either. He had talked to Britain hadn't he?

"W-what about Britain?"

"We talked, a lot. It was good and I think he's right. And France… is right."

"France?" The next thing Canada felt was something he had never expected to experience again. America let his lips fall softly on Canada's. Quickly he pushed himself away. "W-what are you…?"

"France said I was lying to myself, that I wouldn't have done these things with you unless I felt something for you. And after talking to Britain, I know he was right." Canada felt his heart skip a beat. Was he hearing this right? "So I'll ask you again. What do you want?"