Ah! An update! What is this thing? Yeah it's been a while...I can't really give you my huge excuse, but it has to do with writers block, illness, psychotic new friends, a new boyfriend and all the stress it took to get that boyfriend, and finally getting out of high school. Yeah, I've been a busy bee. This had been started in March when the lower level French class was learning about the Carnaval de Quebec and I wanted to do something with it. I'm so so sorry this took so long to finish, I had to add a thousand or so words to it this morning so it may not be great, but it's something...And I'll edit it sometime soon since I have a few months before I start college.

Angel

Discovery number four: Snow can bring people together.

Language was one of the main problems of the nations, everyone - or so it seemed - had a different one and only the oldest were bi- or even trilingual. They had decided long ago to simply use English - England's English, not America's - since it was the most wide spoken language. Everyone had learned it, as opposed to their politicians who continued to rely on translators - though they were fairly accurate, there was still the risk of misinterpretations. Most knew the languages of their friends - like how Francis, Gilbert, Antonio, and Mathias could hold a conversation in all four of their languages without a problem, even while drunk - but that was through centuries of experience and practice. Matthew had his own version of French and he had English, but German was so very foreign to him. The sounds more gruff and stressed in different places. The verbs conjugated both similarly and differently than their French counterparts. It was hard for him, but thus was the advantage of having as much free time as he did - the only advantage to being alone it seemed. He had the time to learn and perfect his German so he could surprise the person he loved most.

Yes, he was learning to speak German to surprise Gilbert, to surprise Prussia. He wanted to be able to talk with his boyfriend in a language not many people in his country knew, he wanted to say things that he normally wouldn't with the chance of being overheard in public so only Gilbert could understand him. He wanted, most of all, for Gilbert to give him that small smile that always made his heart flutter in that way he was sure was not good for him. He wanted to be closer to Gilbert than anyone else.

He asked Francis for help, him having known Gilbert the longest of his dysfunctional family and being the easiest to talk to, but he really had not been much help. He was more concerned with the issue of 'his darling Mathieu' throwing his innocence away to someone such as Gilbert. Matthew would have been touched at the protective sentiment - though the words bothered him some - if Francis hadn't finished his accusation with the suggestion that he return to his roots, as he put it, and lose his innocence to him instead. Needless to say, he left without any help, as well as a vow never to ask Francis for help unless his life depended on it again.

The next person he sought out for help was Arthur. While that trip started out far better than Francis' had, the end result was more or less the same.

After the guilty glances and apologies for forgetting him, Arthur had very warmly agreed to help Matthew with any endeavor he may be starting - though Matthew suspected that he agreed more to show up Francis than by some parental obligation. Of course, that was before he found out Prussia was involved.

He wasn't hit on - thankfully, two parents in one day would have killed him - but he was yelled at and learned a few new…colorful words in the process. Perhaps he should have told Arthur he was in a relationship with Gilbert sooner. Francis knew, he was probably one of the first to know being friends with Gilbert and all that flower stuff, but regardless of when Arthur had been told, his reaction would have been the same. According to Arthur, Gilbert was a horrible influence and was surely using Matthew in order to become a proper country again. The words stung and he tried to defend Gilbert - honestly, if he had been after his vital regions, he would have simply taken them already - but there was a very small change in his attitude. The most he got was a maybe - maybe - Gilbert was serious, but Arthur still stuck by his assumption of the Prussian's influence corrupting his only innocent and decent son. And again, Matthew was left up creek without a paddle.

Alfred was far more supportive of his brother's relationship, though it was more out of his rebellious spirit than anything, and told his brother not to worry about Arthur and that the old man would come around once he saw how happy Matthew was - after all, he had finally accepted Alfred's relationship with Ivan, though it had taken a few decades. Regardless, Arthur would come around, he assured him; Francis would never change, however.

Alfred was also more helpful with the German problem. He gave Matthew several, slightly outdated, textbooks that the kids in his schools used. They weren't much, but the had sentence structure and all that important stuff the internet couldn't really give you. And who wanted to sound stupid using some poorly put together sentence taken from Google in front of their boyfriend? Matthew started reading on the plane back to his place, getting through three chapters and being asked to be quiet several times for doing the activities out loud - he had to practice pronunciation, of course.

He'd finished another half chapter by the time his taxi pulled up to his house. Seeing Gilbert's car in the driveway, he smiled and hid his books before stepping through the door.

Almost immediately, he was assaulted but a ball of fluff with a small yellow polka-dot on it's head. Kumajirou barreled into his master, knocking the breath out of him as he struggled to hang on to the bear. Gilbird was fluttering happily around his head, chirping out something that may have been the solution to global warming for all he knew. Matthew laughed and patted Kumajirou's head, placing him on the ground as footsteps approached.

"'Bout time you got back. That damn bear almost went crazy, he tried to eat your hockey stick, but my awesome self saved it."

Gilbert grinned at Matthew, Gilbird floating over to rest on his head. Matthew gazed fondly at the man, reaching up to poke the bird gently. It chirped and pecked at his finger affectionately.

"Missed you too Gil." He gave him a quick peck before heading upstairs to hide his books.

"Oi! Don't take your coat off yet, we're going out in a bit." Matthew stared blankly in the direction of his stairs, waiting for an explanation. He should have known better than to expect one with Gilbert, but it was in his nature to wait patiently.

"Where are we going then?" He couldn't remember it being a special occasion. Gilbert's birthday had past and his was still months away. It wasn't an anniversary or something like that. A meeting, maybe? Then again, he was pretty good at keeping up with his schedule himself, as well as managing Gilbert's - fairly more relaxed - appointments so that was not the right track. Something with another nation maybe?

"It's a surprise. Just hurry up, will you? It's like waiting for a chick sometimes."

"No beer with dinner tonight, Gil." Matthew laughed at the indignant squawk he got back.

"It was just an observation. Come on! Really? No beer?" Oh it was fun to tease Gilbert.

"It was an observation that should be kept to yourself. And really, no beer. For you at least. I'll be sure to drink plenty!" He laughed again at the frustration he could tell was starting to come over his boyfriend. It was just too easy sometimes.

"Fine, I didn't mean it. You are not like a woman at all. Just a very frustrating guy that drives he crazy 'cause he takes way too long on the bathroom. Even I don't stare at myself that long, Mattie. And we both know how awesome I am." Matthew rolled his eyes. Leave it to Gilbert to make this about himself.

"Yeah, yeah, Gil, you're amazing. We're all just drowning in your awesome wake."

"Damn right you are! Now let's go! All the good food will be gone if we don't hurry!"

It took seven hours for Matthew to finally catch on as to where they were going. In his defense he was half asleep most of the time and Gilbert took some strange route that wasn't really legal at times, so the times he was awake were like looking through a painting at high speeds. It was nauseating, but the Prussian refused to slow down even with the foot of snow threatening to flip their small car at every turn. He saw the signs before he saw the palace, they all read something along the same lines and the palace was sparkling in the meek sun that was showing itself through the clouds. Had that really started already? Why hadn't he been informed?

"So? Good surprise or what?" Gilbert took in his expression - something between shock and utter amusement - with a wide smile, placing a hand on Matthew's shoulder to steer him on to the snow covered carnival grounds.

"Gil, how did you know the Carnevale started today? I didn't even know." He looked up at his boyfriend with a pleased smile. It was his favorite celebration on the year, how did he for get it? The Carnevale de Quebec was what he waited for all year long.

"There was a huge flier outside this morning when I got back. I figured you forgot since you were off flying around the world, so my awesomeness bought us both those little tags to get in. Good surprise, right?"

There was a small blush forming on Gilbert's cheekbones, though it may have been from the cold. Matthew laughed, brushing his gloved hand over Gilbert's cheek once and giving him a small peck in thanks before dragging him to the ice palace to begin their day.

It was late and far more cold than was comfortable, even with all their coats and shared body heat, as Matthew and Gilbert flopped back in the snow to stare at the night sky together. They were exhausted, their day full of various contests and games - and far too much alcohol than was healthy even for a nation despite Matthew's promise of no beer. They had tried, drunkenly, to enter the snow sculpture competition and failed miserably when they managed to make half a snowman that looked more like a snow copy of Francis' vital regions than anything else. Needless to say they were banned from that particular attraction for a while.

"Hey Gil?" Matthew mumbled into his boyfriend's coat where he was hiding his face from the frozen wind nipping at his face.

"Hmm?"

"Isch liewe disch und danke schön."

Matthew waited patiently for Gilbert's response, listening to his breathing and the steady - though slightly racing - beat of his heart. He had expected surprise, but as the minutes passed and there was still no answer, he lifted his head to look at Gilbert's pink face in confusion. The albino's bottom lip was sucked into his mouth and being bitten on while the rest of his face was the picture of restrained laughter.

"H-hey! Don't laugh! I know I'm not good at it….but was i-it really that bad?" Matthew bit his bottom lip in embarrassment, glad for the cold to blame on his rapidly blushing face.

Gilbert broke his concentration and chuckled slightly, still keeping most of his laughter locked up to keep from making the Canadian even more embarrassed. "No, no, Mattie. It was cute! Just…just where did you learn to speak German?" He managed in between chuckles.

"Al gave me a couple of books his schools use…"

Gilbert laughed a bit louder at that. "Of course he did. I bet they had writing in them, ja?"

Matthew nodded, the flush rising to his ears now.

"Did you read the writing and not the actual text?" Another nod. "There's the problem, liebling. The was your stupid brother's way of remembering, incorrectly, to pronounce stuff. Next time, just ask Westen if you want to learn. Now lets go! We're gonna make the most awesome snow angels ever!"

"But…Gil! It's dark! How the hell are we going to find the car!" Matthew protested, being dragged out of his comfortable patch of snow and over to another part of the empty field they occupied.

"It doesn't matter, we're staying the night here anyway." Gilbert said, as if it was something that everyone did.

"What? Why?" How were they supposed to sleep here? The car was small enough just to drive, they couldn't sleep in the thing too…could they? Gilbert had his ways of being creative…

"There's a pancake breakfast in the morning, we need to be there first! They won't be as good as yours are, but then you get to relax and eat with me! We can even have a contest! Wanna make a bet on who can eat most? Loser has to cook for a week."

Matthew shook his head, trailing after the man with their fingers linked together through their gloves. He was already planning on losing that bet, his kitchen wouldn't be able to survive a week of Gilbert's cooking. And wurst for diner every night just didn't seem like something he could handle, not that he didn't love them and all, just too much.

"Pick up the pace, Mattie! I want to make the biggest snow angel ever!"

"Yeah, yeah Gil, I'm coming."

"Not yet, you're not baby! Later though." Gilbert laughed lewdly just as a snowball hit him in the back of the head.

And the epic snowball war began, ending in a peace treaty in the back of their small car.

I hope some people still read this...I know it's been a while but all the alerts and favs and reviews mean the world to me, even though I can't answer all of them. I hope the next chapter is better and gets up sooner than this one. Thanks to everyone that stuck with me! It means a lot!