Arthur winced at the loud static from the other end of the phone, which was cut off as Alfred hung up. "Bloody hell." He growled, hanging up as well. Still, despite how annoying Alfred was, it was enough to bring a smile to his face that he was awake, and on his way to help. Honestly, sometimes he swore that boy did things like this on purpose to make him worry. He always came into their wars late to 'save the day'. "He must be having a hard time dealing with the fall of his land."

"Arthur? I'm coming in, okay?" Finland called softly, opening the study door. He was carrying a small tray of tea, the thoughtful dear he was. "I thought you could use something…"

"Yes, thank you love. Care to join me?" The normally sharp emerald gaze always seemed to soften considerably when he was talking with Tino. "We just got word from North America." He declared happily as Tino sat down beside him, clearing the smaller chair of blueprints and scribbled notes.

"That's good. How is Matti?"

"He sounded fine, but a little tired. I didn't get as much of a chance to talk with him before Alfred interrupted.

Tino brightened at that. "America woke up?"

"Yes, and he was sounding quite… Alfred."

The Finn burst out laughing, something rare in their current situation. "That's good to hear! I'm sure poor Matti must be wishing he was out cold again!"

"Well, he's happy to have his brother back, I'm sure. But Alfred must have a black eye by now."

(He actually didn't, but his shoulders were a little abused from Matthew not really trusting him at all, and Nantucket was sore from being pulled in irritation.)

"I'll bet." Tino stood up. "I'll go tell the others," But as he turned to leave, Arthur grabbed his wrist firmly.

"No!" He rasped, throat suddenly feeling very dry. "No they shouldn't know just yet."

"Why not?"

"The two are on their way here as we speak. Alfred's hero complex won't let him sit quietly in the cabin, helping us from there like Matthew has been. Not that I mind having his strength to help us, but they've got a dangerous trek ahead of them. If the others know, we runt he risk of any one of them trading the information to China for the safety of their people. It's bad enough that we all know the location of the cabin, and I'm suspicious enough as it is about Lithuania's disappearance."

"You really don't think Toris gave China information, do you? At the time he vanished, he didn't know much anyway."

"I don't know!" Arthur ran a hand through his sandy hair in exasperation. "I don't know who I can trust anymore."

"If no one else, could you trust me?" The Finn asked quietly.

Arthur brought up a hand to cup Tino's face gently, and he smiled. "Good Lord I hope so, love."

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Yao snorted as he watched the display. "Well Toris, it appears your work hasn't been a complete waste of my time. It's about time they talked about something important." He stood up and wandered over to where the younger nation was sitting silently on the long couch. "You should be happy Toris." He murmured, stroking the light brown hair. "Your precious America is awake. We were all starting to get worried he never would."

"I am." He managed to whisper.

"Then why don't you smile for me? After all, he's going to come all this way to 'save the day'. You wouldn't want to have such a haunted expression stuck on your face when he does, would you?"

"No." He turned up to look at Yao, a faint, soft smile touching the corners of his lips. "No, I wouldn't want that at all."

"Good." The lanky nation turned to leave the room, humming cheerfully as he went. Toris slumped back on the couch, and couldn't help but feel like he was back in Russia's house. 'No.' He thought bitterly. 'That place was a haven compared to here.'

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Matthew sighed in content as he lifted his wounded leg onto the dashboard of the mud-spattered jeep. Alfred noted with a frown that his brother was looking even paler than he had inside. "How long have you had holes in your leg bro?"

The Canadian made an irritated noise at his brother's tactlessness. "A little over three days. I was just getting us some supplies when there was another raid. As if they really think the civilians even have the strength to rebel anymore." He muttered, prodding the bandages gingerly before deciding they were fine. "You do remember how to drive, don't you?"

The American gave his brother a sarcastic look, followed by a loud 'tisk, tisk.' "You underestimate my awesome skill Mattie!"

"Now you sound like Gil." He shot back with a snort.

"Speaking of which…" Alfred started up the vehicle, and began pulling onto the long, winding dirt road away from the lakeside cabin. "How'd the Gibbster fare in all of this?"

"Well, seeing as he's technically not a nation anymore, China hasn't really paid him that much attention. But he can't exactly offer up any help to us, what with the current situation, it'd be a risk to Ludwig's safety."

Al just couldn't wrap his head around the idea that Yao had gotten his hands on Germany. Somehow, it just didn't seem to fit in any way, shape, or form. Getting captured early one seemed more like an Italy kind of thing. Speaking of which… "How's Feliciano? He must be pretty shaken up what with his brother being missing and all."

"Well…" Matthew's eyes clouded over a little. "Italy and Japan are currently allied to China."

The surprise caused Alfred to jerk the wheel, nearly sending the two careening into a tree. "You're kidding! Kiku too?"

"If it makes you feel any better, Italy's not much more than a hindrance to Yao, and it took Kiku ages to finally break down and help his brother."

Alfred allowed a quiet chuckle at the idea of Feliciano 'helping' Yao. From the stories Ludwig had told him about the time during the Second World War, he figured it'd be pretty funny to see. "So why'd Italy ally in the first place? He can't really support what Yao's doing."

"No. Feliciano's an ally out of fear. It's more like he's a servant in China's house. That's what Arthur told me awhile ago."

Alfred had been about to say, 'sort of like the Baltics were for Russia.' But then he remembered just how hard it had been for his brother to say that Ivan might be dead. Now probably wasn't the best time to be bringing up the man's colourful past. "So by the way. Where're we going anyway? You don't happen to have a private jet in the area?"

"Head to the Sault." He murmured sleepily. He'd been up all night watching Alfred; he needed a nap, damnit! "There's an airport there, and from what I've been told, they ship livestock to France sometimes. We can smuggle on a plane, and work from there."

"Alright! Sault Ste. Marie…" He scrunched up his nose in thought. "So I turn left on the highway!"

"Turn right Al! Right, you directionally-challenged idiot!"

Alfred stuck out his tongue at the younger blond, but followed the directions onto the disturbingly quiet highway.

"Who?"

The American jumped, letting out a (totally manly) shriek pass his lips, waking up the now-slumbering Matthew, who started laughing as Kumajirou wriggled out from under the tarp that was stretched across the back of the jeep, yawning.

"Not cool man! That thing is terrifying! It'll eat me in my sleep, I know it!"

"He wouldn't do that, would you Kumataro?"

"No." The bear promised sweetly, flashing a wicked look at Alfred, who was attempting to keep staring at the road, and pretend there wasn't a polar bear relaying so many threats in its dark eyes right beside him.

So focused, he didn't even notice the heavily armoured vehicle quickly approaching them from the rear. It was his brother's strangled yelp that snapped his attention back. He pulled over, hoping it would just pass them and be on its way. But of course, life is never that easy, and it slowed to a stop behind them.

"You know Chinese, right Al?"

"Do I look like Mulan to you?" He snapped, ignoring the Canadian's raised eyebrow, and flashed a shaky grin at the two soldiers who approached the jeep. "Can I help you?" He asked in flawless Italian. (Romano used to kick his ass every time he decided that 'Inglorious Bastards' Italian was right. Eventually, with the help of some New Yorkers, he mastered the language out of fear. He'd miss those days.)

"You an Italian soldier" One asked, his words much more broken and heavily accented. He was looking suspiciously at the two blonds, while Alfred was desperately hissing to himself, 'Think Italy! Pasta! Beautiful women! Art! Uh…weak! Aww yeah, I'm pro! Like a boss. Fuck yeah!'

Out loud, he managed, "Yes. We were sent to survey the activities in Sault Ste. Marie." This much was mostly true. They were going to survey what was going on. They just weren't going to report any findings.

"Your friend. What is wrong with him?" He was now leaning forward to peer at Matthew, who still had a bandaged leg up on the dash, and was pressed against his door to hide Kumajirou.

"Resistors. He was lucky they couldn't aim worth shit." He threw in a light chuckle, which the soldier returned, despite the obvious look on his face that said he barely understood anything of what was being said. Even though they were allies, to find a Chinese soldier who could speak Italian was a lucky break.

"Move along." The man said, waving for the boys to leave, which they did quickly, not even daring to breathe until the larger vehicle was far ahead of them.

Matthew sat up, allowing the disgruntled bear to return to his spot between the two, and promptly flopping over to sleep.

"You know, I bet Gilbert's camped out in Ludwig's basement, drinking himself stupid right now." Alfred mused to break the silence.

"That kind of sounds like fun! Hey, you wanna stop there first, and then go on to London?"

"You read my mind Mattie!" He cheered, grinning. "But, the hero must always resist temptation, so onward to help Eyebrows McFairyPants and those weird Europeans!"

Matthew groaned, rolling from side to side in irritation. "Why must you be so good all the time? I wanna drink myself stupid too!" He whined, something very odd for Canada to do.

Which was probably why Alfred spent the next twenty minutes or so laughing at the genuinely miserable pout on his brother's face when he still refused to divert from their path for even a minute.

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Thanks for reading~!

Did I lie when I said the pairings would be cracktastic? I think not. Don't even bother asking where any of them came from, because even I'm not quite sure. All I can say is, it got about ten times weirder from the hand-written copy to this one.

Review s'il vous plait? Cyber-hugs all around to those who do!

Next chapter: Al and Mattie continue their journey of epic proportions. Meanwhile, Yao starts "interrogating" prisoners, and Arthur's being worried is rubbing off on the others, even though they don't know what to be worried for.