AN: Chapter 4 is up. I am sorry that it took so long. I have had it written for three days, but it was a matter of actually typing it up. That and I have two concerts this week, marching band started up, finals and Highschool placement tests. Bleh. I hate busy weeks.

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Alfred's POV

I woke up long before I had to for work. Usually I was running out the door at the last minute. Matthew wasn't even up yet. I got up before Matt one day a year, and that was Christmas, but today was Thanksgiving. The resturaunt I worked at was going to be really busy, and I wasn't looking forward to it. If only I had the week off like Matt did.

Wasting no time, I began to get ready. Maybe when Matt got up I could scare him by being ready. He would totally freak out. He would be all, "Oh Maple, Alfred, why are you up so early. Since you are though, I will make you some pancakes to eat before you have to go to work." Just the thought was making me drool with anticipation.

I grabbed my work uniform from the closet and quickly got dressed. The workshirt was decorated with the flag of Greece in the front and Japan in the back. It matched the homelands of the co-owners, Kiku and Heracles. I had no idea how a multicultural returaunt like that could have money, but it wasn't a bad job so I didn't really care.

Footsteps from behind me were followed by Matt's quiet voice. "You're up early today, Alfred." He wasn't as shocked as I hoped he would be. Actually, he seemed really sluggish. Matthew was usually a morning person, so it was alarming to see him looking so tired. Then, I remembered last night with him talking to Francis. He must have stayed up really late talking. It wasn't a school night though so it didn't matter.

"Mornin', Mattie." I pretended not to hear him say that I was up early. I was the hero, and sometimes heroes got up on time to go to work. I watched him get some ice water and pull out ingredients for pancakes. Matt was the best pancake maker ever. He mixed up the batter dutifully. It was better for me to be quiet because Matthew was only scary at two times, when he was playing hockey and when he was making pancakes. It would be seriously dangerous to bother him right now, so I didn't. I just kept getting ready while he made some edible heaven.

Soon enough, the pancakes were ready. We both stacked our plates high and drowned them with maple syrup. I had to eat really fast because now I was running late. Still on the way I managed to text Arthur (AN refer to first converstation of chapter 3) and let him know what was going on. It would be bad if he tried to call me while I was working. He might wake up Heracles. That would be scary. He was a calmer, more talented chef when he was sleeping. He also tended to realize he was cooking with his arch nemesis, Sadiq, when he woke up. Then, Kiku and I would have to evacuate the building to save the day.

Upon arriving at work I clocked in and grabbed my tickets. It was Thandsgiving, so I expected lots of big groups to come in. When the first crowds made their way inside, I found myself wishing more and more that this place was closed for the day. I spent my entire shift bustling about working more than my share of tables, because my partner, Ivan, had conviently gotten sick. Communist bastard. Actually, busy as I was, I felt kind of bad for him. His sister was probably trying to get him to marry her again. She was really scary, but not to me of course because I'm the hero.

The day went by fast, and I couldn't wait to be home. I called Matt, but he didn't answer. It caused me to freak out slightly and sprint most the way to my house. Then I realized he was probably just sleeping or something and calmed down. I started texting Arthur (AN second conversation from last chapter.) and found out that he was talking to one of the French guy's friends. Apparently, he was a self proclaimed Prussian with a little brother that he raised. Since he was a brother too, he would understand if I had to kill him for hurting Matthew.

"Kesesesese sorry birdie I have to go, but I will text you later. I really have to go though because the unawsome Arthur might kill me if I don't get out of his house. Then what would you do?" The voice coming out of the shell was confident and brash. Hopefully some of that wore off on Mattie. People would certainly notice him if he talked a little more like that.

"Alright. I'll talk to you soon, Gil." I think that it was wearing off on him already. I had been trying to do that for years. Whoever that guy was, he was a miracle worker. Mattie was talking louder and speaking more. Too bad Arthur was kicking him out of his house. He did say he was tired though. I decided to alert Matt of my presence.

"Hey, Matthew" He looked up at me and grinned.

"Hi, Alfred. How was work? I started a ham for Thanksgiving." So my suspicions were right. Matthew did get confused. Man I really wanted some good turkey. I could make Matthew do it backwards and have turkey for Christmas. It should be all right. I followed Matt as he went to the kitchen and pulled out a small ham. There were some potatoes on the stovetop and stuffing too. Everything was right, except for the whole no turkey thing.

"You goofy Canadian, ham is for Christmas. What is up with that?" I used a really light tone and usually Matt would get defensive over Canada, his homeland. This time he didn't. He shrugged.

"You Americans eat so much that I couldn't keep it straight. Sorry." Oh it was on now. I almost thought he was serious for a second, but then he started laughing.

"We do eat more than maple syrup. I remember when you came here all like' what is all that'. Maybe you still haven't learned what food is what yet."

"At least Canada has water that hasn't been contaminated."

"Hey! You rode on the American Dream. Is there a Canadian Dream? I didn't think so."

"Canada is bigger."

"Quality over quantity baby!"

"Ooh we win both ways."

"Shut up, you annoying little leaf." I called him that based off the flag that was always on his person. Why a leaf anyway? Stars were way better. Everyone know that.

"Whatever you say, stripes." He stole my tactic. That was not heroic of him to do. It was also my last straw. I reached over and mercilessly began tickling him. He laughed like he hadn't since I graduated highschool, since the bullies hit him full on. His pleas for me to stop only made me do it more. I treasured these brotherly moments ever since he came to America.

When my mom was pregnant with Matthew, my parents argued a lot. All the time they were fighting and nagging at each other. When Matt was born my mom gave up on us and left with him to Canada. Nine years later, when I was thirteen, my dad and I got a call that my mom was dead. With no one closer, Matt came to America to live with us. We were immediatly inseperable, and we did everything together. I was in the stands for every hockey game, as he was for my football stuff. My senior year our dad died and I fought hard to stay with Matthew. We were allowed to stay together and now, while he finished high school I was his supplier. I was responsible for keeping a roof over his head and food in his belly.

Over dinner we talked about random stuff, ranging from a story he heard on the radio to a weird hat a customer was wearing. When I asked about how his conversation was with everyone on the other side, his eyes lit up. He told me about Gilbert and how he listened and how Lovi and Antonio were a match made in heaven. He told me that Francis was like some long lost cousin or something. Matthew had finally make friends. I was happy for him, but I had this really weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. Plus, it would do him some good to have some friends not on the other side of the Atlantic. It is a pretty big ocean.

Time skip to Alfred's Dream

I examined the world around me. The sky was a dismal gray with no light. The ground beneath me was black. There were no hills or plants. It was all flat, neverending black. There was no color, no light, no life. Then I saw someone. They were small and fast, so I didn't get a good look. Then, he came back out. He was short with blond hair, hidden behind a black cap. He also had bright blue eyes, like the sea I had recently visited.

"I'm Romanche (AN- thank you Tabby-tan for the awesome name.)" He let his voice out the timid nature of his actions, his voice was strong behind the tentativeness. It was as if he had practiced. "Are you" he looked up at me with fierce yet hopeful eyes "the person who can help me?" This person, Romanche, was in need of a hero. I was a hero, so he came to the right person.

"Yeah, I'm the hero. What would I need to do to help out?" I figured I would need to get us both out of here, but I didn't know how. Maybe this kid had been here long enough to know how.

"My friend. I can't find her. We were split apart when the land cracked. I don't think that she is in this portion."

"Wait. The land are you talking about? Do you mean like an earthquake or something? I don't really know what you're talking about."

"You don't know about the splitting of the land how-" His voice was cut off abruptly. All that was left was some sort of vibrating noise. Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz. Slowly, I opened up my eyes and wasn't met with the gray dark world I was just in. Sorrounding me was my American Flag blanket and pillow along with my matching walls. On my bedside, my phone was blinking the sign of a message from Arthur.

From: Arthur

Hey, Alfred. This is an emergency. Please call me as soon as you get up. I know that you are on America time. I also know that it is 4 in the morning at your house, but please call! Soon.

TBC