"Matthew, can I have a word with you please?" Arthur beckoned Matthew from the door way of the room where the G8 meeting was to take place. The Canadian glanced away from Alfred and nodded to the Englishman before turning back to his brother.
"Sorry, could you excuse for a moment?" He asked Alfred politely.
"What for?" The American stared with a puzzled expression until he saw the beckoning Arthur. "You know you're independent from Artie, right?"
"I know but it would be rude if I don't talk to Arthur when he asked me. I won't even be that long." Matthew raised a smile and made his way past the other nations towards the Englishman. The Canadian had a very good feeling what Arthur was going to say to him. He remembered the promise he had to keep on the night he discovered Francis and Arthur's relationship. They were to be the ones to announce their engagement. After strolling further down the hallway, Matthew could see Francis, in his clean white suit, admiring the city square from the window. He looked up when he heard Arthur clear his throat and raised a smile to which Matthew greeted his father figure with a 'bonjour'. "You said you needed to speak to me?"
Francis nodded with affirmation. "You remember zee promise you made when you found out about us?"
"Oui," Matthew bowed his head. "What about it?"
"Today is zee day," the Frenchman started as he pulled Arthur towards himself. "Today, we will announce our engagement to everyone else in zee G8 meeting."
"Are you sure?" Matthew shifted his gaze at both his father figures. He did feel a little nervous for them when he bought his mind back to what concerns they had when they talked to him that night. But their body language told him that they were both ready. Arthur pulled Francis' arm from him and handed it back to him.
"Of course. After all, everything to do with our relationship was bound to come out eventually, so we may as well get it out into the open before someone else takes the idea the wrong way."
"So we 'ave a simple favour to ask of you," Francis wrapped his arm around Matthew's shoulders and grinned. "When we do announce zee news, would you try acting as surprised as everyone else is going to be? You zee ozers knowing you knew and interrogating you on 'ow you found out non?"
"N-No papa," The Canadian shook his head. "I'll do just that."
"There you guys are! Everyone else is waiting for you three!" The three blondes turned to the loud voice belonging to the approaching Alfred. Arthur stamped his foot and scowled at the American.
"You don't need to shout like that tosser!"
"I wasn't shouting!" Alfred raised his voice, proving the Englishman's point. "So, what were you guys talking about?"
"Nosing much," Francis rotated Matthew to face the American. "Just discussing matters between ourselves, weren't we Matthieu?"
"Uh, yes," Matthew jolted when his name was mentioned and nodded his head.
"Francis, stop trying to hit on my brother just because he used to be your former colony!" Alfred frowned and detached the Frenchman's arm from his brother, only for him to chuckle.
"Oh Alfred, I wouldn't dream of such a sing," Francis gave him a wink.
"Well let's get back into the meeting room. The other are probably getting impatient with us," Arthur suggested and made his way down the corridor. Alfred followed after but just as Matthew was about to start walking, he jumped at Francis placing his hands on his shoulders on his tan suit. He could feel the Frenchman's breath near his right ear.
"Artu'r and I will boz stand when eizer one of us is summoned to speak. Zat is when you must act clueless, d'accord?"
"You two hurry up!" Arthur called, causing Francis to pull away from Matthew and placing one hand in his pocket.
"But of course," The Frenchman waved away Arthur's demand, leaving the Canadian to contemplate how he was going to react to a surprise he already knew about.
It was another minute later before all four nations entered the meeting room; apologizing to the other half of nations watching them take their seats. As usual, the meeting was slow paced as each nation took turns speaking about whatever issues occurred in their country and plans on how to handle them. One could say Matthew was almost looking forward to Arthur and Francis breaking up the meeting with their announcement. They'd probably say it after one of them has said their piece. The Canadian snapped his head to the clock and the speaker in turn, just waiting for the surprise to be revealed. Normally he wouldn't be this excited for any news to be announced, but this was Arthur and Francis declaring their love for each other.
To keep boredom from enticing him with sleep, Matthew wondered how the other nations would react. Feliciano would definitely be overjoyed to see his 'big brother' France engaged (even if it was to Arthur who he feared for a long time but he's okay with him now). Japan would act polite and simply congratulate them and ask them just how did they get together, Russia… he would most likely stare in shock but not as much as Ludwig would be. If it weren't for him and his plan to lock Arthur and Francis in the cell together, another argument would delay the meeting instead of a declaration of engagement. The one person who he couldn't predict a reaction for would be Alfred. Would he be excited for them because they finally resolved their 'sexual tensions' as Francis would call it, or would he be angry that his former mentor would be getting married to the one person he used to hate? Matthew just didn't know; Alfred was just too unpredictable like that. Hours passed as these thoughts wandered the Canadian's head.
"Zee last person to speak before ve take a break vill be Arsur Kirkland of zee United Kingdom," Ludwig declared, waking Matthew up from his musings and waited for both him and Francis to stand. And sure enough they did, causing the other nations to utter amongst themselves in confusion. "Francis! I said Arsur vas next to speak!" Ludwig stood from his seat and waved the Frenchman to sit back down but both nations ignored the German and continued their way to the front. Arthur fidgeted with his red tie underneath his dark brown suit, taking a glance at Francis giving him a reassuring nod. After confirming with each other, they faced their perplexed audience.
"16th August 2011," Arthur started placed both hands on the table and leaned over it a little. "I suppose most of you will know that date well, especially you Ludwig." The Englishman turned to head to the wide-eyed German, the expression showed he knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Zee day you two vere locked up in zat cell…"
"Exactement," Francis said, placing one hand in his trouser pockets. "For three weeks, we were forced to go along wiz your tasks in order to bring us closer as friends, or to at least tolerate each ozer." The Frenchman took a few strides away from where Ludwig sat before facing everyone else again.
"However, during those three weeks we did learn to get along together. And before we knew it, the place was no longer a cell but a world just like any country like ourselves." Arthur continued, taking a step back from the table. "We did things that many of you would never dream of us doing together like, for example, getting you guys back by pretending we had cabin fever."
"What!" Everyone else shrieked in almost perfect unison. Even Matthew was getting into pretending he didn't know what the two nations were talking about.
"You two weren't rearry ill the day we rereased you?" Kiku stammered, reliving the horror that was Arthur and Francis pecking him on the cheeks.
"Non," Francis shook his head at the Japanese man. "Not only zat but while you all zought zat we disappeared causing potential trouble, we were really visiting each ozers places. We wanted to keep each ozer company after all while we were 'sick' shall we say?"
"B-But… h-how!" Alfred stammered, suddenly standing from his seat while everyone else glared in disbelief.
"I know you two have gotten friendly over this past year but… to elaborately plan secret meetings behind our backs?" Ivan blinked in bemusement. "That's unlike you."
"Not secret meetings," Arthur interjected. "Ever since we've been released from the cell, Francis and I have been dating each other."
"What!" A collective gasp reverberated around the room; eyes wide and mouths open in shock. Matthew judged by the looks on the other's faces, no one had any idea that Francis and Arthur had been in love for a year and three months.
"Zis brings us to zee big announcement; on zee island we used to fight upon, we gave each ozer zee same gift and asked zee same question." Matthew watched the two nations delved their hands under their suits and shirts and pulled out the gold engagement rings on the chain necklaces. It was an almost perfect reconstruction of the night they told him about their engagement. However, the Canadian had to hide his happiness for them by keeping the aghast expression everyone else cast. He knew exactly what was coming next.
"We, Arthur Kirkland and Francis Bonnefoy, are engaged!" Both nations hung the chain necklaces in front of them while their hands linked together while they made that announcement. Speechlessness captured everyone else in the room. No one could think of anything to say as the news slowly sunk in.
Finally, Feliciano made the first move and jumped out of his chair and embraced Francis into a hug. "You're getting married! Congratulations big brother!" He squealed in delight before latching onto Arthur. "You too Arthur! I'm so happy for the both of you!"
"Whoa! Easy there!" The Englishman nearly fell over when the auburn haired Italian leapt onto him. Ludwig sat at the table with the surprised expression on his face until he stood up and made his way to the door.
"Excuse me… I… I zink need some fresh air…" The German stuttered and vanished through the door which caught Feliciano's attention.
"Ludwig! Wait!" He called and detached himself from Arthur. Next, Kiku approached the engaged couple and bowed respectively.
"I suppose a congraturations are in order," He spoke with the upmost politeness as he always did. "I had no idea you two were even going out with each other."
"I sincerely apologise for putting you through the trauma of that cabin fever joke," Arthur laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I hope we didn't cause you too much distress."
"Well I'm getting used to being around you wizout feeling tense so it's not to much of a worry," Kiku said. "But I'd appreciate zat you don't do zat sort of thing again."
"We'll try," Francis grinned. Matthew watched the scene unfold. He smiled seeing how everyone seemed to be taking it well (some more than others) but no one had objected to their engagement as of yet.
BA-DUM!
The loud sound bought everyone's attention before Ivan stood from his chair and glared at the floor. "Alfred's fainted!"
"Alfred!" Arthur immediately shot and sprinted to the spot where the American lied. Matthew followed after the Englishman and let out a gasp seeing his unconscious brother sprawled on the floor. Arthur turned Alfred onto his back and patted him on the face. "Alfred! Alfred, wake up!" Matthew watched the chaos as Arthur tried to revive the American. Of all the people who could have fainted, Matthew never expected it to be his brother. But then again, he couldn't really imagine his reaction before the announcement and this is was the result.
"All right, step back! He's waking up! Give him some air!" Arthur said as Alfred began to stir to consciousness. He blinked himself awake and sat up. After coming back to his surroundings, he began to laugh.
"Wow you guys! I had the craziest dream!" Alfred began. "I dreamt that we were in the middle of a meeting like this one and Francis and Arthur announced that they were gonna get married. Man! That was crazy! Ha ha ha!" Some nations stared at Alfred with pitiful expressions while others turned away awkwardly. This diminished the American's laughter to a nervous snigger as he glanced at each face. "I'm still dreaming aren't I?"
Matthew decided now would be a good time to get everyone to take a break since the news it was apparent had blown a lot of people's minds. "I think we should take a break since people are clearly not in the right state to continue."
Alfred rose to his feet quickly and turned away from the rest of the nations without saying a word and marched out of the room. Arthur tried calling Alfred back but he didn't even look back as he disappeared down the corridor. The Englishman placed a hand on his face and exhaled deeply. "Damn it!"
Francis instinctively gently grabbed Arthur's shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. "Let 'im get some air and clear 'is 'ead." He said softly.
Matthew turned to the doors where Alfred exited and sighed. Something told the Canadian that the American wasn't ready to accept Francis and Arthur being together. At least he knew where he could find Alfred whenever he gets upset.
!
A/N: This chapter took longer than expected. It was also surprisingly hard to write; I had everyone's reactions figured out and I thought, "This will be easy to write". I was definitely wrong. Alfred's reaction was the hardest to write which shocked me even more; I thought he would be easy to write! I knew he was going to faint at the news, I knew that much. We'll soon see his true feelings at Arthur's and Francis' engagement in the next chapter.