Russia left Lithuania and Latvia. As promised, he and his men crossed the border back into their own country.

He called in reinforcements. Hundreds upon hundreds of men to be stationed all along the border between Russia, Latvia and Belarus. Every vehicle entering into Russia was thoroughly searched. Every person questioned. Had they seen a boy with blond, wavy hair who looked a little out of the ordinary? Had anyone who looked suspiciously like America asked for a ride or for directions?

The answer was always no.

Toris kept in contact with Ivan, giving him updates and reports about his military searches in Lithuania. Latvia had been called and asked to join in the search as well, and of course he'd agreed. Anything to keep Russia happy and at bay. But neither Baltic nation found Canada wandering their countryside or in their towns and villages.

"I doubt he'd have gone as far north as Estonia." Toris said, speaking with Ivan yet again for what had to be the hundredth time that day. He wanted to tell the huge nation that he had to stop calling.. he needed his line free to continue giving directions to his military.. but the Russian seemed to be crumbling more and more into panic with each passing hour. Toris was beginning to believe that Ivan really did care about Canada. Alot.

"Mr America is there now, isn't he? He's helping you look?"

"America is looking on his own. If he finds Canada first he'll take him away."

Lithuania frowned with a sigh. Russia sounded so distraught.

"They're brothers, Ivan. Mr America is just as worried as you are. If he finds Mr Canada he's not going to take him away unless he wants to go."

But Lithuania knew Russia couldn't understand that. It was so important to Ivan to find the little blond first, because in his mind that meant 'finders keepers'. The idea that the decision to stay or leave ultimately rested with Canada himself was a thought that hadn't crossed the Russian's mind.

Toris had a feeling that if Russia got his hands on Canada again he'd never go, despite what Canada truly might want. And this spelled ultimate trouble for everyone, because America was deeply involved now. If Canada was unwilling to go back into Ivan's needy arms, America would have a few things to say about it. A few things with guns and bombs and declarations of war..

And then all of Europe would be plunged into chaos again.

Russia, you complete fool.. Toris thought. But he kept his tone reassuring as he spoke with Ivan.

"Why don't I come there, to.. help you get along with Mr America? Help keep everything civil?"

"You'd come?" Russia sounded pleased, "I would like that, Lithuania. Thank you. My soldiers are very angry with so many Americans here on our soil."

Lithuania didn't doubt it.

He travelled to Russia and found himself amidst a makeshift military camp - if it could be called that - that was running so high on tension you could almost cut it with a knife. American and Russian troops were stationed less then ten meters away from each other in what was obviously their base of operations for the search. He found Ivan in one of the large tents on the Russian side of the camp, seated at a table with a few officers. There was a large map of the area before them, with little red and little blue markers pinned all along the border between Russia, Latvia, and Belarus. The red markers were places that already had Russian guards standing watch and searching. The blues were American.

There were spots that had more blue markers than red ones, and Ivan was arguing that more troops needed to be moved in to those places.

"But sir," an officer clearly high in rank, but obviously nervous said, "if we station another battalion so close to the Americans a fight might break out. There was already an accusation of a shot being fired here.." The officer pointed to another area on the map which had red and blue markers very close together. "The Americans claimed it was an accidental misfire and no one was hurt but.."

"Move them in." Ivan glared at the man. There was no room for further argument in his voice.

The officer gulped, then gave a nervous salute and marched out of the tent, his eyes set straight forward. The other officers followed him. Lithuania ducked out of their way as he entered through the tent door. Russia looked up to see him, then rose and hurried over, pulling Toris into a hug.

Lithuania froze. He hadn't been in Russia's arms.. in a very long time. He felt a small pang of regret somewhere buried deep inside his chest. Once upon a time he had come very close to loving this man.. this childish, foolish, crazy man. If history had been different..

Lithuania pushed himself out at arms length. History was in the past. This was the present.

"No sign of him yet?" He walked to look at the map on the table. Russia followed.

"None. They stopped a tour bus and found someone on board with wavy blond hair and thought it might be him but.. it turned out to be a girl visiting from France."

"Oh."

Russia sat back down at the table. He bent and put his face in his hands. Toris stood awkwardly by, feeling a bit strange as he watched Ivan's shoulders shaking. The man had begun to cry silently. He hadn't seen the Russian so upset since the fall of the Soviet Union.

He stepped a little closer, and reached out his hand.. placing it on Russia's shoulder.

"Come on, Mr Russia.. it's going to be ok. You know the expression.. if you love something, let it go.. if it loves you, it will come back."

"No one ever comes back." Ivan said softly.

To that, Toris didn't know what to say.

An officer stepped into the tent and saluted Russia before starting to give his report about an area his troops had been sent to. Still no signs of Canada.. but plenty of arguments and bad feelings with the American soldiers. Ivan began to go over logistics with him, and Lithuania used this chance to slip outside the tent and walk away.

He headed into the American side of the camp. There were visibly less soldiers standing around, but they all carried huge guns and looked very keen on guarding this tiny little patch of Russia they'd claimed for themselves. Alfred Jones, America himself, was at the edge of the camp, a pair of binoculars raised to his eyes. He was scanning a distant treeline, searching.

"Ah, Lithuania! I didn't know you were gonna be here."

Alfred lowered the binoculars and grinned at him, but Toris saw that it wasn't his normal, carefree smile. He looked tired and worried.

"I thought I'd come and try to be of some help." Lithuania smiled back, then gazed off into the distance. American troops were marching one way, and Russian troops were marching the other.. all heading for different points at the border of Belarus.

"That's great! I need all the help I can get. Gotta find Mattie before that commie bastard Russia does and get him outta here." Alfred raised the binoculars back to his eyes, adjusting them slightly to get a better view.

Lithuania was silent for a few moments, listening as various orders were called out in the distance.

"Mr Russia loves Canada, you know.." he suddenly said. Alfred flinched.

"Yeah, well.. he's got a pretty shitty way of showin it. Matt wouldn'ta run off unless something bad happened. I wish you'd tell me what he told you."

Lithuania shook his head.

"I can't tell you, Mr America. I'm sorry. Mr Canada came to me in confidence, and I wont break his trust. What happened is between him and Mr Russia."

"Why didn't you keep him with you? Why did you let him leave?"

Lithuania blinked at America, surprised by the question that was so similar to the one Russia had asked him the day prior. He shook his head again and sighed, wondering if the two powerful nations knew how very similar they were sometimes.

"Nevermind." said America, "I'm sorry. I'm just gettin antsy with all the Russian guns around.. y'know?"

Toris nodded. He had to agree. He felt as nervous here in Russia surrounded by soldiers as he had back in his own country with Ivan on his way in his army trucks. But..

"Don't you find it odd that he let you and all your men come here?"

"Huh?" Alfred glanced at him.

"Mr Russia. Don't you think it's strange that he let you into his country at all? He must be desperate to find your brother."

"What are you saying, Lithuania?" America smirked at him.

"Only that Mr Russia has put aside a long history of cold feelings for you, so you could come here and help him look for someone he knows you care about as much as he does."

Alfred blinked at Lithuania. Toris could almost see the wheels turning in the mans head, processing this alternate way of thinking about the situation. Unfortunately America was not known for deep thought, and it wasn't long before he'd shook his head and frowned.

"Bullshit."

He watched as the American stalked off, angry.. or confused. Or perhaps both.

Lithuania turned to gaze at the trees in the distance again. The sun was slowly setting. Tomorrow would be yet another day that Canada was missing.

"Where are you?" he whispered.

Twice more they saw the sun rise in the east, then set in the west. Tensions were higher than ever in the camp, and along the borders. Reports of incidents and fighting between the soldiers came in daily, but nothing more serious than a few thrown punches and threats. The Americans wanted to go home, and the Russians wanted them to leave.. but Ivan and Alfred kept them searching for Canada relentlessly. They'd both sent troops as far north as the border with Finland, and as far south as the border with Georgia.

Lithuania knew there were some very delicate threads barely holding things together, and if Canada didn't show his face soon there would be trouble in a big way.

He did his best to keep both Russia and America calm. He'd lived with both, and he understood their temperaments. But he could not prevent the fight that broke out late in the afternoon of the third day.

Alfred was angry about provisions. The rations they'd brought with them from America had run out a day ago. A truck had rolled into camp to supply Russia's men with food, but none was being shared with the Americans.

"My guys are starving!" He yelled and stalked towards Russia, who was helping to unload the truck.

"Is not my problem." Ivan didn't even bother looking at Alfred as he hefted down another heavy box and set it on the ground.

"It IS your problem!" Alfred grabbed for Russia's shoulder and spun him around. "We're here because my little brother is lost out there somewhere cause of YOU."

Ivan's glare was dark and his lips pulled back into a snarl. He pushed Alfred, hard. The American stumbled back.

Men from both sides began to gather around them. Whispers of violence and fighting murmured through the air.

Lithuania, who had also come to help unload the truck, felt fear thrilling up his spine as he watched the two nations facing off against each other. There was nothing he could do now. The breaking point was here, and trying to get between the two would only result in his own serious injury.

"Alright, ya damn Russian bastard. You wanna throw down? C'mon, let's go."

America shrugged out of his jacket and shirt and threw it aside, leaving him in a white wifebeater and black gloves. He spat at the ground near Russia's feet, then raised his fists, his shoulders hunched forward, ready for a fight.

Ivan's glare never wavered and he stared into Alfred's eyes as he shrugged out of his own long jacket. A Russian soldier quickly came to take it away, and Ivan was left in a wifebeater as well, his being black. When he raised his fists it was slow and careful, his violet gaze piercing. He reminded Toris of a poisonous snake about to strike.

The two nations circled around each other. America danced, jumping back and forth, never staying still as he rushed at Russia, then dashed back in an attempt to intimidate him. Ivan did not flinch, however. He just waited patiently, his muscles tensed, his eyes never leaving the Americans.

"Kick his ass!" One of the soldiers shouted.

Alfred threw the first punch. Russia easily stepped aside and brought his elbow down in the middle of the American's back. The blond nation spun around and caught the Russian square in the jaw with a closed fist. Ivan rebounded quickly by grabbing the American's head, pulling down while bringing his leg up, smashing his face into his knee.

All hell broke loose.

Soldiers rushed in from all over the camp to watch their nations fighting. Cheers went up from either side when Alfred or Ivan got in a good punch or a kick. Both nations were powerful men. Russia was bigger, stronger, and hit much harder.. but America was fast and moved around Ivan easily, ducking many punches and quickly throwing his own, then dancing back out of the way.

At one point Ivan caught hold of Alfred by the front of his wife beater, then pulled back and sucker punched him hard enough to send him stumbling back out of the camp. The ground was slick and muddy from the Spring thaw and Alfred slipped as he staggered to his feet just time in before Ivan was on him. He stuck out his leg and tripped the Russian, who stumbled to his hands and knees, mud spraying everywhere. The Russian soldiers gasped when America used his chance to kick Russia in the side of the face.

"Ivan!" Toris gasped, watching in horror as Russia was sent sprawling in the mud. He stayed down.

America wiped his bloody nose with his arm. His glasses were cracked, and he was covered with scrapes and bruises. He limped as he began to walk away.

A short, surprised yell from one of the soldiers had him turning just in time to see Russia on his feet and coming at him. He was tackled to the ground. He hit his head on a rock, and he saw stars as Russia pounded into his face with his fists, over and over again.

Alfred did his best to block the blows. He twisted and threw Russia off balance. He caught Ivan in the face with his boot again, and blood ran freely from his nose.

"Stop!" Toris yelled, "Someone stop them!"

No one listened to him. The soldiers only cheered louder as their nations pounded each other down into the mud.

Lithuania looked around wildly for help, hoping that someone in the camp was sane enough to try and stop the fight.. when he saw something off in the distance.

He pulled himself away from the crowd and grabbed a free pair of binoculars. He lifted them to his eyes.. and what he saw stole the air from his lungs.

"Wait.."

Toris choked on his words, trying to force himself to speak.. to be heard over the yells and jeers of the soldiers.

"WAIT!"

He threw the binoculars and hurried back into the crowd, pushing soldiers aside to get to the fighting pair at the centre.

"Ivan! It's Canada!"

Russia immediately stopped, his eyes wide as they searched out Lithuania from the crowd. America threw another punch, but Russia caught his fist in his palm. Alfred screamed when a sickening cracking sound signaled his hand and fingers were being crushed in Russia's grip. Russia let him go, and Alfred doubled over in pain, cradling his mangled hand close to his chest.

The crowd dispersed as Russia pushed himself to his feet and hurried to follow Toris. Lithuania pointed, and in the distance they could see the little Canadian walking slowly towards the camp.

"Matvey.."

Russia took off at a run.

"Matvey!"

He dashed across the open field between himself and Canada. He tripped and skidded to his knees, shredding his skin and drawing even more blood, but then he was back up and running again. He didn't stop until he'd reached the little blond, who he grabbed and crushed to his chest with a cry.

"Matvey! Matvey.. where have you been.. my Matvey.."

He kissed Matthew on the forehead, on his cheeks, on his lips, leaving a bloody, muddy mess behind. But the Canadian was already a mess. He was dirty, and his hair was tangled and matted together. The clothing Lithuania had given him was torn up and filthy. His skin was cold. He was trembling, but only as much as his exhausted body could allow. His eyes were unfocused and his breath was shallow.

"Vanya.." his voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry I ran away.."

Russia picked him up and cradled him. Tears gathered and washed away the blood from his cheeks. He brought his face in close and kissed the little blonds mouth.

"I love you, Matvey."

A weak smile touched Matthew's lips... and then his eyes rolled back and he fell limp in the Russian's arms.