Hello again. Sorry about the length of time since I updated and the length of this story. I don't think I understand what the term "short" means...mainly because my romance has GOT to have a story behind it! anyway, enjoy the beauty that is CanadaxPrussia.

"Julchen, how did you meet my brother?"

Julchen smiled, crimson eyes sparkling. "Well, now, that's a bit of a story."

I gave her a mock glare. "You know how Arthur and I met, I told you the whole story. And Matthew refuses to give me any answers. How did the two of you end up together?"

Julchen chuckled. "Alright, alright. I worked in a saloon in a small town just West of here. I came out here after being abandoned by my brothers some – oh what has it been – nearly twenty years now."

"Brothers?"

"Don't interrupt. But yes, my older brother Gilbert and younger brother Ludwig."

"Was Ludwig blonde and did Gilbert look a lot like you?"

"Yes, why?"

"Unfortunately, they died eleven years ago. They were part of Arthur's crew."

"Well, fancy that. Anyway, as I said, they abandoned me, and I moved West. I got a job in the saloon and I worked there a year or two before I met Matthew."

Julchen turned as the doors swung open and a young man, about her age, walked in. He was easily recognizable as a cowboy, and she resisted the urge to kick him out. Cowboys always caused trouble, but money was money. He sat at the bar with a sigh.

"What can I get you?"

"Beer, please," he said quietly.

She raised an eyebrow. That was unusual. Most cowboys drank stronger stuff than that. She filled a mug and handed it to him. "Here ya go, stranger."

He nodded in thanks and took the mug, raising it his lips before pausing and setting it back down without drinking.

"If ya don't mind me prying, what's eatin' ya cowboy?"

The man looked up and Julchen resisted the urge to stare. He was gorgeous. Under his hat, he had soft, golden curls with a rebellious curl in front of his face. His eyes were a warm violet and he was extremely well-built. She cleared her throat. "What's gotcha down, cowboy?"

"Matthew."

"Huh?"

"My name's Matthew Jones."

She smiled. "Julchen Beillscmidt."

"Pleasure," he said. Then he frowned. "You want to know what is bothering me? This whole place bothers me."

"My bar?"

Matthew shook his head. "The West. There is not an honest soul anywhere. I came out here for honest, hard work, tired of living the easy life, but people are so blatantly dishonest, I cannot trust anyone. Those who appear honest are even worse."

Julchen chuckled, thinking he was an idealistic child fresh from the East. "How long you been out here, Matt?"

"Four years," he said, not reacting to the nickname.

Julchen whistled, he'd been around a lot longer than she had expected. "You found a job yet?"

Matthew shrugged. "Not a steady one."

"You any good at cattle drivin'?"

Matthew shrugged. "I suppose I am, I would not know for sure. All my fellow drivers are either foreign or serious assholes."

Julchen chuckled. "That tends to be the case with most cowboys. You have a place?"

Matthew shook his head.

Julchen smiled. "Why don't you stay here tonight and tomorrow I can hook you up with a friend of mine who can help you get started on your own."

Matthew nodded. "Thank you. How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing."

He started to protest.

She shook her head. "If you must, you can pay me back when you're rich. Besides, you're cute, so you get your drink and room free."

He turned scarlet and she giggled. He was absolutely adorable. Unable to respond, he turned to his beer and quickly drank the whole thing.

"You want anything to eat, Matt?"

He shrugged. "Sure, thank you. I will pay for this though."

Julchen shook her head. "Absolutely not."

"I cannot let you give me all this for free."

She winked. "Your pretty face is payment enough for me."

Despite the blush rising in his cheeks, Matthew scowled. "How much do I owe you?"

"One kiss."

"What?" Matthew asked, startled.

"If you are so hell-ben on payin' me back, you can give me a kiss and I'll count it good."

His cheeks were now a glowing crimson. "Very well," he said awkwardly.

Julchen grinned, walked around the counter, and approached him. She smiled at him innocently. Matthew was shifting on the stool, obviously uncomfortable. He stood up and faced her, swallowing hard. She looked up, realizing how tall he actually was. He closed his eyes and leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on her waiting lips.

He pulled away and said, "Could you show me to my room, now? Please?"

Julchen barely heard his request. She had kissed a lot of men in her lifetime, and a lot of men had kissed her, but she could not remember a kiss that was anywhere close to this one. The sheer simplicity, and pure innocence of the kiss left her craving more, and she decided that she wanted this boy.

She blinked and found him looking into her eyes. "Excuse me, ma'am?"

She took a step back and laughed. "Don't call me that. Makes me feel old."

"Sorry, miss."

She chuckled. "Please, Matt, call me Julchen."

"Alright, Julchen."

She tried not to sigh. His voice was so beautiful. It was educated, and had an Eastern accent, but also had the suggestion of another, foreign language.

"What did you want, Matt?"

"Would you please show me to my room?"

She smiled. "Of course."

She led him around to the stairs and led him up the stairs to one of the empty rooms. "Here ya are, Matt."

"Thank you, Julchen."

"Good night, Matt."

Matthew nodded and went into the room, closing the door behind him and leaving Julchen wishing he was staying forever.

I laughed. "Julchen, you sound like a love-sick maid."

Julchen scowled. "Oh come on, Amy, don't tell me that's not how you first reacted when you met Mr. Eyebrows."

I turned pink and looked away. "Fine, you have a point. But, how did you end up getting married? You met him, hooked him up with a job, and then, what? He asked you to marry him?"

We both laughed. "Like Matt would actually do that," Julchen said smiling. "No, he came back a few years later, having gotten a place, and becoming rather prosperous, he returned to pay me back."

I laughed. "That is so like Matthew."

"And one of the reasons I fell in love with him."

Julchen turned as the door opened and saw Matthew walk in. Her heart stopped. He had been gone five years, and he had matured quite a bit. He was even more attractive than he had been.

He sat at the bar and smiled. "Hello, again, Julchen."

"Matt, fancy seeing you here," she said, not quite looking at him.

He chuckled. "It has been a while. I am here to pay you back, and thank you for connecting me with James. With his help, I got my own ranch."

"That's wonderful, Matt," she said, smiling, slightly disappointed.

He nodded. "So, how much do I owe you?"

"Matt, do you have," Julchen paused. "Do you have anyone special?"

Matthew looked confused. "I have my family. My twin brother and younger sister, is that what you mean?"

Julchen shook her head. "Do you have a special someone?"

Matthew's eyes widened and he laughed awkwardly. "No, not really. I have been too busy for that kind of stuff."

Julchen shifted slightly. "There is a dance in town tonight, would you like to go?" She looked at him, trying not to appear eager.

"Well, I was planning on leaving tonight, but," he looked at Julchen and sighed. "I suppose it could not hurt."

Julchen smiled. "Awesome! Meet me out front at sundown."

Matthew nodded. "Now, Julchen, how much do I owe you?"

She frowned. "I'll tell you after the dance."

Matthew grimaced. "Why won't you just let me pay you?"

Julchen ignored him and Matthew sighed and left. Julchen sighed. "I want another kiss," she mumbled.

Sundown came and she waited outside her bar. Matthew walked up. He sighed. "I want to apologize, Julchen. My reaction earlier today was uncalled for. I just prefer not to owe anything to anybody."

"You don't owe my anything, Matthew," Julchen said quietly.

Matthew frowned. "You alright, Julchen?"

"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

"Julchen, you never call me Matthew, not even the first time we met. I know we do not know each other that well, but you helped me, and I would like to help you."

"Then kiss me."

"What?"

"Kiss me. That's all you owe me. That's all you have to pay. Just another kiss."

Matthew sighed. "You are a funny girl, Julchen."

He kissed her softly again, and she couldn't help herself. The dam broke and she threw her arms around his neck. He tried to pull back, startled, but she gripped his head and held him in place, kissing him desperately, passionately, feeling a spark that was new and exhilerating.

She finally broke the kiss, but did not release Matthew. He was staring at her in absolute shock. "W-w-what was that?"

"It was a kiss, Matt. That's what is wrong with me. I am completely in love with you."

Matthew just kind of stared at her.

"Matthew?" she asked, placing a hand on his cheek.

He blinked and stepped back. "I-uh, I like you Julchen, and think you are attractive, but I never-"

"Did you feel something?"

"What?"

"When we kissed. Did ya feel somethin'?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Then you must feel something for me."

"No, it is just an expected reaction to a kiss like that."

"No!" Julchen snapped, causing him to step back, slightly. "I have kissed many men in my life, I've even gone farther with them, but none of them ever felt like that kiss we just shared. Nothing. There is something between us, but with you randomly showing up whenever you feel like it, it is impossible to tell and you act like you don't give a shit about how I feel!"

Matthew sighed. "I had no idea-"

"Of course not, all you men are the same." She turned and started to walk away. "Go home, I don't feel like going to the dance anymore."

"Julchen-" He grabbed her wrist and spun her around to face him. She gasped slightly, realizing that he really was quite a bit taller than her, and much stronger. "I am sorry, and I do like you, but I have never really been in any sort of relationship, so, I know nothing about love, or kissing, or, anything. I am sorry my ignorance has hurt you."

"Oh, Matt," she said softly and stretched up to place a soft kiss on his lips. "I understand. We can take it slow. You just have to promise to visit at least once a week."

Matthew nodded. "I promise," he said, leaning down and placing another soft kiss on her lips. He stepped back. "Now, we have a dance to attend."

She smiled and linked her arm through his. They danced the night away.

"That is so sweet," I said.

Julchen chuckled. "He is. He came every week for the next three years, and he finally popped the question."

"That is about when I left with Arthur. No wonder he did not seem to care if I no longer needed monetary support. I suppose it was a good thing."

"Yes, I guess it was."

"How did he ask you?"

"Now that's a funny story."

Matthew walked into Julchen's bar, but could not see her. He smiled and slipped around behind the counter, ducking down behind it. He hid the small box next to the beer and left again. He waited a few minutes, then walked back in, seeing Julchen cleaning the counter. He smiled and walked up to the counter. "Give me a beer, please, Jules."

She smiled. "Comin' right up, Matt."

She turned around and began to fill a mug, then stopped. "How? When did-?" She set the mug down and turned around, holding the box. "You sneak!" she said, smiling.

Matthew grinned. "So?"

She opened the box and saw a simple diamond ring. She gasped audibly. "H-how? M-Matt, do you know how much these cost?"

Matthew shrugged. "If I want to ask you to marry me, I have to do it right."

She looked at him, eyes sparkling, and a smile on her face. "Are you serious, Matt?"

He climbed over the counter and stood in front of her. "I have never been more serious in my life."

She looked at him and sighed. "Yes. Yes, I will."

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "Good, I am glad."

"I love you, Matthew Jones."

He smiled. "I love you, Julchen Beillschmidt."

He kissed her and the room exploded into cheers. Matthew stepped away, shifting awkwardly. Julchen grinned. He took the ring from her and slid it onto her finger. "So, I cannot get you a dress, but a pastor is comin' in tomorrow, you think we can have a wedding in this town?"

She grinned and hugged him tightly. "Yes. A thousand times yes."

"You are not going to be able to work here anymore."

Julchen shrugged. "I couldn't care less."

He smiled. They broke apart and she smiled, turning to the crowd. "Drinks on the house! All this alcohol has to be gone by tomorrow night!"

There were cheers and Julchen quickly became busy tending the bar. Matthew just stepped back and let her work, watching her every move.

The next night, they were married, and the whole town celebrated. The next morning – after the party had ended, he took her home to his ranch.

"And that's how it went."

"What about children? Did it just not ever happen?"

Julchen shook her head sadly. "No, it never did. It was not for lack of trying though," she said, smirking.

We heard a strangled noise and we turned to see a scarlet Matthew, stopped inside the doorway. I started laughing and Julchen grinned. She sauntered over to Matthew, swinging her hips and stopped in front of him, walking her hands up his chest, and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Hi, Matt."

He cleared his throat. "Hello, Jules."

I giggled.

"Just snog her already," came Arthur's voice from outside. Matthew's face got even darker, but he complied and I squealed. I stood up and checked on little Madeleine who was cooing softly. I picked her up and rocked her, then felt familiar arms slide around my waist. "Hello, Arthur."

"Hello, love." I turned my head and kissed him softly. I heard choking coming from the corner. "EWWWWW! ALL YOU OLD PEOPLE ARE KISSING! IT'S SO GROSS!"

The four of us broke apart, chuckling, looking to see ten-year-old Alfred running up the stairs.

I smiled and looked around, happy to have my family with me, in this fairy-tale ending.

It is too adorable. So...That is the end of the story. I don't think I will write anymore for this story (the sequel will be done separately). Hope you enjoyed. :)