Gilbert left from his encounter with Canada feeling slightly better about his future. That soldier, Matthew had shown him that even if one doesn't have a whole lot going for them that they can still persevere and triumph. With his head held high Gilbert made his way to the room in which the Soviet Union was waiting for him. He didn't know exactly what awaited him in his future but he would take a lesson from Matthew and do what he could, even if escape in this situation was not possible.
Life for Gilbert quickly became Hell. From the end of the war to the sixties when the Berlin Wall was built was bad, but he found himself able to persevere. He could visit his brother and that helped but Russia was a cruel master and would often beat Gilbert for speaking out of line. Then the wall went up and he felt as if he was in a prison. He was not allowed to meet with anyone outside of the Soviet Union and its allies. Tensions amongst those behind the Iron Curtain began to grow and then it was as if an angel came to them in the form of a sweet little blonde. Canada began to come over to Russia's house to watch hockey games sometime in the late 70's. She w kind and for some reason when she scolded Russia for being cruel to his underlings the giant would listen. Gilbert hated the way he would see Ivan grow kinder while in the Canadian's presence. And it took him a while to realize why. He was jealous because she would direct those soft smiles and kind eyes at Russia. Russia who was cruel and harsh and didn't deserve those soft hands anywhere near him.
Gilbert stood in the window of his room watching as Canada left after having stayed the night for a hockey game once again. He didn't understand why he felt so protective of the little blonde, jealous even. It didn't make sense. Maybe it was because of Matthew. Oddly enough that was how Gilbert knew she had to be Canada the first time they met. She looked so much like that soldier and now he was seeing him in her and getting jealous because she was spending time with Russia. Gilbert sat down heavily on his bed and held his face in his hands. Gott, how could he be doing this. Getting close to humans was a bad idea. Being friends with them was worse. But by far the worst thing a nation could do was fall in love with a human. Humans didn't last, they grew old and died. That was why it was the biggest taboo for a nation to fall in love with a human.
Gilbert had seen first hand what it had done to Francis. Jeanne had been a wonderful girl and her time was even shorter on this earth due to England's interference but it didn't change the fact that regardless she would have died and left Francis' heart broken. Now Gilbert found himself questioning why he was falling in love with a man he had barely even known. He had watched as Matthew was held in that camp and realized he couldn't take his eyes off of him. Even so the soldier had rallied the prisoners and led them out of that prison and to freedom. Canada must have been very proud to call herself home to such a soldier. He must be old by now. Married and with kids, maybe even a grandfather already. He wondered if he told them about how he escaped that prison. He couldn't help but imagine that for the tenacious blonde. A happy little child bouncing on his knee as he regaled them with tales of his military career. It brought a small smile to the albino's lips. He wondered if Matthew ever thought of him the way that he thought of Matthew. Gilbert chuckled. Wouldn't that just be grand. If Matthew even remembered him what must he think of the Prussian soldier that acted as his guard while he had been held prisoner. It didn't matter they'd never meet again so why dwell on it.
The next several years seemed to fly by. By the eighties Canada was coming less and less often and the Soviet Union was beginning to fall apart. In the end the wall fell and Gilbert was sent to live with his brother. It was a stiff but happy reunion. When asked how he survived his internment without any psychological scars like so many of the other nations under Soviet control Gilbert simply answered, "I had an awesome source of inspiration to get me through it."
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By no means is this the end. I just wanted to give perspective on how Gilbert viewed both Matthew and Matilda. All those thoughts will come together in the coming chapters. Review please.