There's only a few chapters left, it was a cute little story for me to start with I think, getting used to the fact that others are reading it… thank you for all the great feedback! It was very helpful and uplifting! It was nice to get other peoples opinions (you know… besides your friends and parents who are like, required to praise you…) anyways… thank you all!

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Matthew woke slowly, the pain aching through his chest as a torturously sluggish pace. He moaned a bit and opened his eyes, finding himself immediately face to face with a knocked out Alfred.

"Alfred?" Matthew sat up, his head spinning and his chest aching unpleasantly, "wow…déjà vu…" he muttered to himself rubbing a hand over his eyes. He pressed a hand to Alfred's forehead and found it at a healthy heat. He was okay then, a glance around the room revealed Ivan's hunched form against a wall.

Matthew stood shakily, one hand going to his chest as a sharp pain twined there, and made his way over to Ivan, placing a hand on his shoulder. Ivan flinched and tensed.

"Soyez calme, son seulement je…" Ivan slumped, but was still tense at the touch on his shoulder. Matthew crouched down, leaning against the wall next to him and spoke quietly.

"Ivan, what's the matter?"

"I know who you are, stop pretending you do not know who I am." He mumbled sharply, his voice as biting as a blade.

"You're Russia. Ivan, I know who you are." Ivan gave a bitterly rueful chuckle before answering harshly.

"Then why are you still here? You are free to go, you did not need to run away… I would not keep you… da." Matthew stared at him for a long moment—there was that self-convincing tone again—before laughing loudly, catching himself and smothering it as Alfred stirred on the bed.

"You thought I was running away? Why would I do that?" Ivan's head snapped upward, his expression full of incredulity at the statement.

"You are kidding me, da?"

"No. Not at all."

Russia abruptly broke down and began to weep, the tears pouring down his face like drops of dew as he buried his face deeply in his arms.

"B-but I almost killed you, a-and I beat up your brother, and I planned to do so many horrid things to you in my mind…and... And… I'm s-so sorry…" he hiccupped once, and a wave off feeling washed through Matthew. He had never expected to ever see the great Russia weep, or smile, or apologize for something that had seemingly caused him more harm than it had anyone else. The grief shaking his form made him seem smaller, but no less dangerous, there was tenseness in his shoulders, a certain gauging curl to his fingers that suggested violence.

Then Matthew did something not even he truly expected, he leaned forward and pulled Ivan's strong form into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Je vous pardonne…you are forgiven."

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The sound of a burst of loud laughter woke Alfred from his slumber, and remembering what had happened, how he had fallen asleep while watching Mattie and Russia, how he had woken up to Russia's face, how they had fought, and how Russia, that Commie scoundrel, had snuck up behind him and hit him over the head while he was down.

Instinctively he froze, blanking out as he gauged where he most likely was— Russia's house—and to gauge the danger of the situation. All caution flew out the window when he heard the sound of choked sobbing; something was said in another language, followed by something to quiet to hear in English.

Matthew was crying! He sprang out of the bed reaching for, and surprisingly finding a gun at his belt.

Leaning against the wall was …Mattie? Why was Matthew hugging that commie bastard? He must have done something unmentionable to him, blackmailed him or worse! Without hesitation Alfred grabbed Matthew by the arm and dragged him away, flinging him to the side and onto the bed. He cocked his pistol and aimed directly at Russia's forehead.

"A-Alfred? S-stop!" Matthew's voice cried out.

"Why should I? This communist Russky kidnapped you, the Bastard! Why should I stop, I'm a hero! Hero's never give up!"

"Y-you've got it all wrong Alfred! P-please at least wait to get the facts strait! Please!" Alfred did not lower his gun but he gave a slight nod, glaring fiercely at the livid looking Russia who had stood slowly, glaring red hot daggers strait back at America.

"H-he- h-he… GOD DAMN IT ALFRED PUT THE FUCKING GUN DOWN! I CANT FUCKING TALK WITH YOU POINTING IT IN HIS FUCKING FACE, SHIT!" even though Alfred didn't actually mean to listen to the demand the shock of hearing his sweet little brother talk like that made him unable to do anything but stare in shock right along with Ivan.

Matthew slapped a hand over his mouth his own expression just as surprised and horrified as the other two's.

"M-Matthew…?" Alfred said tentatively the gun hanging by his side.

"I-I'm s-sorry… will you listen now?"

Alfred nodded once, his sense returning just enough to make him glare at Ivan.

"he didn't kidnap me, Alfred. He saved me, so if you kill him you wont be a hero anymore, just-j-just another mindless bigot. " The last word held a vehemence that made Alfred flinch a bit, then he turned on Ivan, his expression fuming furiously, his eyes nearly glowing red with anger.

"This is YOUR FAULT! What the HELL did you do to him you FUCKING COMMIE!" once again his trigger happy nature showed as he pressed the cold steel muzzle of his gun forcefully against the forehead of a non-resistant Russia, pushing his silver hair away from his brow. This time he didn't plan to wait for doubts to take over; his finger flew towards the trigger.

BANG!

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I'm sure you all hate me for my sudden use of cliffhangers… Sorry couldn't help it… and the next chapter doesn't come until after winter break, or maybe sometime during… you have a right to rant on the comments if you like! ^,^ Anyhow!

Happy holidays! Whatever they may be!

And now…(drum-roll please!)…

Translation notes!

"Soyez calme, son seulement je…"—be calm, it is only me…

Je vous pardonne—I forgive you

Thanks for reading! Please review and vent on stupid cliffhangers!

-Sai