After her encounter with Gilbert at the end of the war Matilda found herself being made busy by her government as new policies were made and new lands were added. To add to that she soon found herself caught in the middle, quite literally, of the Cold War. Geographically she was the largest land mass separating the two superpowers. From a personal side both Russia and America claimed closeness to her, Alfred kept berating that she was his sister while Ivan kept toting on the fact that both nations made up the borders for the North Pole. As her boss preached neutrality in the stand off Matilda was made to play nice with both nations often visiting them or having them visit her. Of course she always made sure that the two were never at her house at the same time as even she knew it would be disastrous.

It was during her visits to Russia's house that she began to see more of Prussia. The older nation intrigued her. He didn't seem as broken as the other Soviet nations at the house, remaining stubborn despite the evidence of abuse. Matilda scolded Ivan on his treatment of others in hopes that he would stop hurting and scaring those under his power. She saw a decrease in the evidence of abuse after that but she could tell it was still there. Ivan it seemed only wished to appease her by keeping from her what he was truly like. Matilda felt sorry for the Soviet nations but there was little she could do other than visit and give them respite. And still, in-spite of this abuse Prussia seemed to almost thrive. She wondered about why he was able to over come this adversity but was never given an opportunity to ask.

Matilda wasn't sure exactly when it began but if she had to guess it would be sometime in the 70's. She was visiting Ivan when she noticed he was getting rather close and touchy. She tried to distance herself and discourage the Russian but he was persistent. Distraught she began coming to his place less often. He began coming to hers though to make up for it it seemed. One day when the Russian was over unexpectedly the two were sitting in the living room. Ivan had situated himself next to Matilda on the couch and she had moved as close tot he armrest as was physically possible. Despite this the other half of the couch wasn't getting used very much as Ivan was practically on top of her. Matilda didn't know exactly how the next set of events came to be but she was mixed between being grateful that Alfred also decided a surprise visit was warranted and pissed off that he would ignore her one request to always be given warning of his visits to prevent exactly what happened next.

Alfred came through the door in his typical American fashion and spotted Matilda on the couch with Ivan practically draped all over her. At that moment he saw red and rushed the Russian. The two went over the couch and right into the coffee table. Matilda let out a squeak of surprise at how suddenly she was alone on the couch. At seeing her superpower brother and his superpower rival duking it out on the remains of her coffee table, screaming obscenities at one another, Matilda had enough. Standing up she reaches out and grabs both men by their collars and hoists them up and apart. With an angry scowl she directs Alfred to her kitchen. He protests a bit, not wanting to leave his little sister alone with the big commie brute and completely ignoring the fact she manhandled him and the Russian single-handedly. A glare has him scurrying into the other room and Matilda is left alone with Ivan. Seeming happy to be alone with Matilda once again He smiles and makes to embrace her but is stopped by a firm hand on his chest. Matilda looks up at Ivan, the anger dimmed behind her eyes but still there even as she puts on a neutral expression.

"Ivan, I think you should go."

"Hmm, but I have just gotten here. I realize that your idiot brother barging in like that has upset but I can make him sorry for interrupting." The Russian moves to head for the kitchen but is once again stopped by a hand on his chest. He looks down at the blonde and blinks in confusion.

"No Ivan. I'm mad at him, yes, but not because he interrupted you. I don't know what you thought our friendship may have been about but I am not interested in you the way you are interested in me. If you can't respect that then I suppose we can't be friends anymore."

The smile that Ivan always seemed to wear became strained as he seemed to fight to keep from scowling. Matilda never took her eyes from him and eventually he left, silently and in no hurry. He did not want her or the American to think he was leaving in defeat.

After Ivan left Matilda went into the kitchen to see a pouting Alfred sitting at her kitchen table.

"I'm still mad at you for coming over unannounced and breaking my coffee table. You're fixing that or buying me a new one by the way." She begins to get out the ingredients to make pancakes.

"Are you mad at me for beating up your boyfriend too?"

Matilda sets the pan onto the stove with a sigh and turns to her brother. "Ivan isn't my boyfriend. And the only reason I'm not reading you the riot act is you came in at the perfect moment to get him off me."

Alfred's eyes seemed to widen a bit at what she just told him and he nearly jumps from his seat to comfort his little sister. But apparently Matilda knows him well enough that the moment he moved to do so she was shaking her head at him.

"Al, that's not to say I couldn't have gotten him off if it came to that but I appreciate that you would rescue me from the 'giant commie creeper' as you would put it." She turns back to making pancakes as Alfred settles back into his seat.

"So what was he doing here anyway sis? I know politically you two are friends or something but why did he have to be over here?"

"Alfred I'm sort of caught right between you two all the time during this whole Cold War you have going on. Heck Germany even sits me between you two at meetings because I seem to be the only one capable of sitting there and preventing World War III. I'm politically neutral, but that doesn't mean I like him as a person. I've seen what he's been doing to the Soviet nations behind that Iron Curtain and the main reason I still go over there to visit is because he seems to be nicer to them when I am around." She frantically stirs the batter as her anger at the Russian is vented. "And look where that's gotten me. Practically molested. I swear sometimes I think the only reason he is nice to me is so he can trick me into joining him and then rub it in your face." A violent swirl of the batter has half of it going onto the counter. Pausing Matilda takes in the spilled batter and sighs before setting the bowl down and turning off the stove. She then sits down heavily across from Alfred and rests her head in her hands. "God, I can't do this anymore Alfred. I don't want to add to the tensions between you two but I'm not interested in Ivan. I'm not even interested in remaining friends with him at this point regardless of how much my boss wants me to remain neutral."

Alfred lay a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle pat. "Its ok Mattie. I'm sure if you explain to your boss what's going on he won't make you continue to spend time with him."

Matilda looks up at her brother and smiles, thankful that he isn't ranting about what a bad person Ivan is, even if most of it is true. "Thanks Al. I'll be sure to do that."

Matilda did speak with her boss and he seemed absolutely appalled by Ivan's behavior towards his nation. He told her that from then on she wouldn't be made to spend time with the Russian outside of meetings and other political gatherings between the two nations. Thankful Matilda went home and spent the remainder of the Cold War with no further personal visits from the Russian.

Then the Soviet Union collapsed. The wall came down and all the Soviet nations were back in their own houses. Matilda was happy for them, they deserved this. She knew they had been through a lot and she hoped this would help them to recover. She made one visit to Ivan after his house fell into shambles. He hadn't changed much. She could see that he was thinner, his economy was suffering and was one of the major reasons his government collapsed. His clothes more threadbare. He had lost everyone and Matilda saw how behind his cold and angry eyes he was sad and confused that everyone had left him. He was lonely. Matilda sympathized with that loneliness, thinking back on her own life before England came to take her from France. Not really understanding why, and slightly wishing she could take it back, she leaned over and gave Ivan a comforting hug. The action caused Ivan to stiffen in surprise before looking down at Matilda and returning the embrace.

"I am sorry for everything little one. I do not deserve your sympathy."

"No, everyone deserves sympathy, even the most cruel. They perhaps deserve it more." She looks up at him. "If you will respect that I only wish to be friends we can be friends."

The Russian let a genuine smile grace his features before answering.

"Da."

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Awww, isn't that cute. I hope you guys are liking this so far and I really hope that the confusion from the first two chapters is clearing up. Canada is a boy, no ifs, ands, or but about it. He does not think he is a girl, he knows he is a boy. He is just very good at acting like a girl and even will think of himself using feminine pronouns to complete the illusion. Anyway review please.