The ride from London to Dover ended up with the following things that happened: Jeanne called Alfred a loud, obnoxious man after firing her loads of questions one would ask on a date only for said man to prove her point by laughing and shouting so loudly it grated on the ears of everyone inside the taxi and Kumajiro constantly having a cringing Matthew to remind him that he was the bear's owner. The taxi driver was relieved when they finally made it to Dover and he didn't hesitate to drive all the way back to London after they paid him.

Then there were the hours of waiting (or what felt like hours) before they were allowed on the Eurostar train by security (Alfred and Matthew had to quickly remind Jeanne who's body she borrowed, preventing her from taking on the security guards and demanding they know who she was. Fortunately, the guards overlooked Arthur's strange behaviour and let them on with just a warning.)

Jeanne was taken aback by how big the inside of the carriage was when they entered; it seemed to go on for almost forever and if it wasn't for Alfred and Matthew guiding her to a set of seats, she could have stared down the aisle forever. As everyone placed their luggage on the shelf above them, Alfred exhaled a breath of exhaustion and sunk into his seat. "Man, all that traveling is tiring me out." Jeanne snorted to that comment.

"In my day, men 'ad more stamina zan you 'ave right now," Arthur's annoyed expression turned away and folded his arms.

"Seriously, what is your problem?" The American exclaimed. "We're not your soldiers! Your time and war has been and gone Jeanne!"

As soon as that was said, Arthur's eyes stared blankly at the white table. No-one was able to say another word as there were other people in the carriage and because everyone had something to say, but was unable to bring it out in case it sounded more like shouting. Even after the train began to move, it was only an hour later until sleep finally consumed Alfred. Matthew however, stroked Kumajiro's head and stared at the darkness outside the train, glancing occasionally at Arthur whose head still hung gloomily. Even when he offered Jeanne some refreshments (she asked whether he could get her an apple), Arthur's emerald eyes never left the green apple sitting on the table. Matthew remembered what Alfred said and the Canadian knew better than to upset a spirit like Jeanne, no matter how strong they act. He let out a sigh and decided he couldn't stand watching Arthur's disconsolate expression and finally plucked up the courage to ask her: "Are you alright?" Arthur lifted his head slightly and nodded.

"I am fine," Her French accent escaped from his voice box but somehow it sounded melancholic than intended.

"Well you haven't stopped staring at that apple for sometime," Matthew tucked a piece of his wavy, blonde hair behind one ear. "Is something wrong?" Jeanne hesitated with her answer until she made the effort to lift her head and gaze at the sleeping American.

"Is 'e always so loud?" She asked.

Matthew exhaled and nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. People can't believe we're actually brothers."

Jeanne chuckled quietly and resumed staring at Alfred. "'E may be a loud mouthed fool 'oo could get 'imself killed instantly but…" She let out a sigh. "'E seems 'opeful and full of dreams… just like Francis."

Matthew stared at Arthur pensively. "Well, I know Francis can be fanciful with his imagination but he never really talks aboot his dreams with anyone. Not even me."

Jeanne let out another inaudible chortle and gazed at the apple with a nostalgic smile. "Whenever we were able see each ozer, we would always go to Orleans and sit under an apple tree on a 'ill over looking over zee countryside. Some'ow we always managed to pick zee days when it was most sunny, warm and when zee sky was most blue. Francis would always talk about 'ow after we win against zee English, 'e will lay down 'is sword, and plant a giant orchard full of trees bearing fruit and an allotment where zee vegetables will grow. 'E said zat 'e would 'ope to grow enough food to prevent people in France from 'unger ever again. After all, a lot of people were starving while zee kings and noblemen ate too much. I told 'im zat it was an unrealistic dream but 'e insisted 'e'd try for zee sake of zee people 'oo didn't deserve to starve."

Matthew hugged the sleeping polar bear to his chest and felt a sort of sadness for the Frenchman.

As a child, Francis made sure the garden at the Canadian's house was trimmed and the flowers bloomed as beautiful and alive since the last time he visited. In fact, that was one of the few times when the boy could tell his 'papa' was truly happy as he always smiled proudly after he finished with the gardening.

And even at the present, Francis seemed more comfortable in the garden than anywhere else at his house. He assumed gardening helped him relax since he felt like he still has more control over it than other aspects of his life.

Napoleon Bonaparte's death made him hang his sword up and take up farming and he seemed to enjoy a lot more than fighting. Matthew felt somewhat sympathetic thinking about it since he would avoid confrontation at all costs unless there was no alternative. He didn't even want to think about how he joined forces with Arthur and went against his own brother just to get revenge for being attacked in the first place.

"Matthieu?" Arthur's voice jerked the Canadian from his wanderings in his memories. He blinked a few times and got used to his surroundings before gazing at the Englishman.

"Eh?"

"Are you alright?" Jeanne asked, while Arthur's face looked with concern. Matthew raised a smile.

"Oui, I'm fine. I was just remembering some things that's all."

Arthur uttered a quiet "oh" and beamed back. "You remind me of Francis so much. Your appearance and everysing, even if you are less vocal zan 'e is." Matthew wasn't quite sure how to take that so he laughed nervously.

"You really think so?"

Arthur bowed his head. "Of course. You are kind and considerate like 'im. 'Oo else can sink of building a farm in 'opes of feeding 'is starving country? So far, Francis 'as been zee only one I know." He sighed and finally picked up the green apple and took a bite out of it. Arthur seemed to savour the sweet taste and chewed for some time before swallowing and staring nostalgically where he had just bitten the apple, letting out a sigh amd closing his eyes. "Zis apple… it's just like zee one Francis gave to me before I was taken 'ostage by zee Englishmen. It's as if 'e gave it to me only yesterday."

It was strange how Matthew seemed to have forgotten that Jeanne possessed Arthur because he began to imagine how she would look in Arthur's place. She must have been beautiful or Francis wouldn't have taken much notice of her and imagined her with long, flaming red hair (despite Francis telling him she had blonde and shorter hair) but she replaced Arthur's emerald eyes with sapphire blue. Pure blue eyes like the sky. She sounded like a person who could bring out the sun on a dark day. Well, Francis thought so anyway from the way he talked about her even if it wasn't often. Matthew leant back and smiled at the thought of them sitting on the hill, laughing and smiling while eating an apple each from the tree they sat under. This provoked Arthur to cock his head to the side with a perplexed look on his face. "What were you sinking about just now?" Jeanne asked curiously.

Matthew smiled at the man sitting across the table. "Even though you're inside my friend's body, you somehow make me feel like..." He paused. "YHe's her in stead of himself. Like the world is a bright, beautiful and peaceful place."

"Francis always said zat to me," Jeanne giggled. "From zee moment we met right to my moment of death. But I'm proud of 'im for looking at zee world as a wonderful place as 'e always 'as and I sink ozer people should follow zat example of gratitude." Matthew then remembered what Alfred said to silence Joan bit his lip.

"Um… about what Alfred said… I'm sure he didn't mean to-"

"'E is right in a way. I 'ave gone from zee world of zee living," Arthur stared at the ceiling. "But zat doesn't mean I'm completely gone, for Francis seems to be living pour moi as well as 'imself and many ozers 'e 'olds dear. So non, I am not upset with Alfred at all."

"Oh. That's good," The Canadian stroked the top of Kumajiro's head, slightly relieved of her response. "Just like the sun," He thought.

An hour or so later, they finally arrived at France and called the taxi. Matthew held the phone up to his ear and ordered a taxi for Paris when he heard his name being called by Jeanne which provoked a glance. "Please," She began. "Can we go to Rouen first? I just want to visit zhere before we visit Francis." Matthew hesitated for a moment before changing the demand on the phone. For her to ask such a request could only mean there was something significant about Rouen. Ten minutes later and the taxi cab arrived. Throughout the journey though, everyone was quiet. The silence wasn't awkward but it did unnerve Matthew a little bit. Whether Alfred felt guilty about his comment to Joan or not, was the question playing on the Canadian's mind as well as what Jeanne wanted to do once they would arrive in Rouen. Another few hours later and they finally arrived at Rouen but what happened next shocked both the North American brothers. The taxi door opened and since Arthur sat nearest to one of the doors, he managed to throw himself out of the car and broke into a run in a random direction. The brothers panicked and immediately dashed after the rogue Englishman.

"Arthur! Come back here!" Alfred shouted as the brothers meandered past many people who gave them hostile or inquiring looks. Matthew called out to Arthur in French in case Jeanne ignored the English cries but Arthur didn't slow down his pace. Not until he reached the Place du Vieux-Marché, by which time, he stopped amongst the hustle and bustle of people on the cobblestone square. It was a minute later that the North American brothers finally caught up with him.

"What the hell were you thinking!" Alfred panted for breath. "You maybe French but places can change and you could have gotten run over by a car or something!"

Arthur didn't respond to the American's scolding but instead stared across the square where people talked, laughed, chatted, walked; and generally toured around the place naturally. Matthew stepped to Arthur's side and shook him gently. "Jeanne? Are you alright?"

Arthur didn't respond straight away but when he did, he murmured; "Zis place 'as changed so much… zee place where people watched me burn is zee place where people flock to enjoy zemselves. It is most strange 'ow so much 'as changed over time." Both brothers gazed at him until Matthew turned his head towards a cathedral and quickly snapped his head back at Arthur.

"Jeanne, if you let us, there's a place we think you might, um… appreciate." Arthur turned to the brothers and stared at them before slightly nodding his head. While following Alfred and Matthew across the square, Jeanne still found it confusing how people mourned for her death on this very square yet no sadness can be sensed now; just joy and the enjoyment of visiting such a historic place. Her head scanned the area in different directions watching the many people stroll across the square until she finally faced forward and widened her eyes in surprise at the statue in front of them. A concrete woman stood praying with her hands clasped together. Needless to say, Jeanne was completely entranced.

"Is zat supposed to be… me?" She whispered as Arthur took a step forward towards the statue as his hand floated up to the left side of his chest.

"I suppose it is in a way," Matthew said as something on the ground caught Arthur's eye. At the statue's feet lay a white flower with many petals and that raised a smile on the Englishman's lips.

"Francis 'as already been 'ere," He crouched and pointed to the flower. "'E left anozer chrysanthemum 'ere."

"Really?" Alfred frowned slightly. "Does he come here every year?"

Arthur nodded in confirmation but didn't say anything and hugged his knees. "'E never was good at saying goodbye." He said sadly. Matthew wasn't sure whether Jeanne was about to shed some tears because of the touching gesture from Francis. He can't imagine a strong-willed woman like Jeanne to cry but he thought the same thing about Arthur until after losing to Alfred in the American Revolution. He could recall the Englishman crying for several days. He didn't want to think further than that since things escalated in more chaos from there but right now, his hand gently touched Arthur's shoulder and looked at him with concern.

"Um… did you want to see Francis now?" He asked softly to which Arthur responded with a nod and stood up straight.

Another taxi was called and the silence lingered again, only it was solemn as though it was disrespectful to say anything. Even Alfred was on his best behaviour and that was saying something. Matthew stared at the floor the whole time, fidgeting with the polar bear's fur between his fingers. What Jeanne said about Francis not being good at saying goodbye rang true for all nations in a way. He remembered when the Frenchman had to give him up to Arthur as a child. The first few days was quite stressful: he found the English language difficult to grasp and he had cried several nights begging his 'papa' to walk through the door and take him back home so they could carry on with the lives they had before.

"Earth to Mattie! We're at Francey Pants' place!"

Even Francis' brief visits didn't settle him down; he just wanted to go home. He waited for him to take him back to where he felt he belonged.

"Matthieu, we're 'ere."

That gentle voice snapped the Canadian out from his musings and got used to his surroundings. He glanced out of the window to find the big, cream house outside and stepped out of the taxi to collect his stuff from the boot. Once everyone had gathered their things, they made their descent up the garden path. Arthur couldn't help but look around the front garden with a smile on his face. "I see Francis 'as kept 'is promise about 'is love for growing sings. Zee flowers look as zough zey've been loved."

"Yeah. Apparently it helps him relax or something," Alfred interjected cheerfully. Matthew supposed he was trying to brighten the mood up which was a nice gesture. Finally they stopped at the wooden front door as Alfred extended an arm to press the doorbell button. The chime rung from the inside making Matthew feel nervous. How were they going to explain to Francis that Arthur, his life long rival, is channelling the woman he once loved? Speaking of which, he turned to Arthur who stared at the door intensely.

"Are you going to be okay Jeanne?" He asked. "If you can, try to act a little like Arthur until you're ready to tell him who you are."

"I will be fine," Jeanne said immediately after Matthew spoke. "Sings will work out in zee end. We just need to explain everysing while being respectful towards 'is feelings."

The Canadian nodded before turning to the sound of the door creaking open.

END OF BEFORE - PART 2.

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AUTHOR'S NOTES: And the first out of three bonus chapters is done! After so much college work and other things going on in real life, I finally managed to get this up. I'm pretty worried that I may have confused people with the whole Arthur/Jeanne ghost possession going on but hopefully I've made it clear enough for people to understand what's going on. This is the second most serious chapter out of the three bonus chapters and the next one is going to be even more sad and melancholic.

I've been listening to a lot of songs by Zazie (who is an amazing French singer by the way) while writing this; especially 'Sur Toi'. I've also been listening to a lot of sad piao music too. I've been trying to make myself cry while writing this chapter and thankfully I succeeded in shedding a few tears. For some reason, I get really depressed when writing for France; it's like I've slowly gotten to understand the character better. I just hope I haven't made Jeanne too aggressive/wimpy but so far, people have been saying I've been doing a good job so I can breathe a sigh of relief on that.

So until the next bonus chapter comes up, leave your comments and fav this story when you can. I would really appreciate it very much.