Alright time to get going on the next chapter. Please enjoy.

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Alex didn't cause anything to blow up during science, a relief to her partners. After class the three split up and it was time for math, which Gilbert had both Jake and Jordan in his class. Groaning at the fact he had yet another class with his tormentor, Gilbert took the seat next to his friend. and pulled out a notebook and pencil.

"Alright spill what did Jake do?" At the blank look from the albino Jordan continues, "He's been wearing a shit eating grin since last period. What did he do?"

Sighing Gilbert tried to act normal, well as normal as he could anyway. "It was nothing, we have history together..."

"Holy shit, that is so not cool." Gilbert tried to distract his friend but failed, Jordan was the last person Gilbert wanted knowing about his tendency toward panic attacks in history and he was also his only friend that did know. "Say no more about it. You know I did a little research on it this summer. You know to figure out why you get those panic attacks during history. Either you're reincarnated from some serious warriors or something really cool like that. Or even cooler, you're some kind of immortal or something with amnesia. Alex showed me this one anime this summer with a theme like that in it, what was it called. Oh yeah, 3X3 Eyes."

Gilbert just stared at his friend, "You really need to cut back on the sugar and caffeine. where the hell do you get half of this? Never-mind do not answer that. Let's just take notes and be good little nerds like the class expects of us."

Jordan agreed and the two sat studiously through class and bolted with the bell to their fourth periods.

Gilbert had his language class this period and he had decided he wanted to take German. He had actually decided to take the class because after he had been reassigned as New Prussia's representative he had forgotten most of his German language skills with his memory. He had self taught himself German over the years but he hadn't really focused on it due to that when he did actually try at learning the language it came to him rather easily, like he was remembering. He was though, sort of. Matthew had tried to figure things out by speaking in French around him from time to time and Gilbert was able to respond in French back without having to think about it, not even realizing what he was doing. It was the first clues they had had towards what had really happened. Gilbert had known some French as Prussia, but he had never been fluent in it. And the Canadian French he now was fluent in was slightly different than what he had known. So apparently language skills are something based on your title. Which is why Gilbert wanted to learn German.

After language it was time for lunch and Gilbert made his way back to the large common space that housed the cafeteria. Sitting down with his friends he saw that none of them had even touched their lunches, in fact Alex didn't even appear to have a lunch. Sighing he pulls out the large bag he carried his lunch in. He should have known. Somehow they just knew when Matthew had made his lunch and they all were waiting for him to share the bounty that was pancakes with maple syrup. the first time his friends had swarmed his lunch on pancake day Gilbert had come home hungry and Matthew had just laughed at the reason Gilbert gave. The next time Matthew made Gilbert pancakes for lunch he was sure to include plenty of extras and a larger bottle of maple syrup.

"Seriously guys, you all have your own lunches why do you always want to steal mine from me?" He starts to serve out the cakes to them and raises his brow at Alex who only has a plate in front of herself. "Please tell me you weren't counting on my bringing you pancakes for lunch Alex."

"Nope, but why spend the money my mom gave me on school food if I could get pancakes from you. Well worth the risk of starving." She began to dig into the pancakes Gilbert gave her and the group began chatting about their classes and how they had been so far.

"So what are we doing after school?"

"Don't know, should be something fun though."

"Hey Gilbert, you said you had a pool this morning, didn't you? Why don't we all come over and hang out?"

Gilbert pauses at Byron's question, why don't they all just come over? Gilbert knew why. It was the one unspoken and unofficial rule that he lived by. No friends at the house. It was way to risky. You could never be sure that Alfred wouldn't come bursting in and there would be no way to hide friends. Homework could be explained away, the occasional random clutter for a smaller person 'It was the neighbor kids, must have forgotten it.', but friends...

"Sorry guys, not my place. Why don't we go over to your place Byron?"

"Cause Byron doesn't have a pool. You do."

Gilbert fidgets in his seat before alex slams her hands down on the table. "Alright, its decided then. We're all going over to Gilbert's after school today."

Gilbert let out a groan at her statement and sent up a silent prayer that this would not get him killed.

School ended without any further excitement and it was with great dread that Gilbert found himself leading his friends to his home.

"You know I just realized we've never been over to your place before Gil." Leave it to Jordan to figure that one out.

"Hey you're right. How come you've never had us over before?"

"Er... I just never thought about it before I guess."

"Oh well. We're going now. So no big." Alex had run a bit ahead, and now that Gilbert thought about it she reminded him a bit of Alfred. Well she was American after all.

When they reached his house Gilbert did a quick check to make sure that Alfred wasn't there and noticed that Matthew was gone as well. Must have had a meeting with his boss.

Letting his friends into the house Gilbert realized there was another reason he didn't have friends over when they got to the living room. There sitting on the couch was Kumajirou, a smallish polar bear kept by Matthew as a pet. Fuck.

Alex let loose a squeal of glee at the large bear on the couch. "My god, its huge. Gilbert is this guy yours. where do you even find a stuffed bear this size?"

Gilbert meanwhile just looked horrified as she made to hug the bear. He was frozen one hand outstretched to stop her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. And just as he thought this couldn't be worse he hears a bang from the front door as it is slammed open followed by the loud voice of Matthew's brother rushing in.

"Hey Mattie!" The American stops upon entering the living room and seeing the kids all standing there. All but one staring at him in surprise. the one that isn't is staunchly keeping his back turned and tensing up, radiating fear.

Shit!

That was the one thought that ran through Gilbert's head as he took in just how this was a worst case scenario. It couldn't get worse, no possible fucking way. His friend was hugging the polar bear and Alfred had just barged in to see him and his friends standing in his brother's house and worse yet gilbert saw no hope of help from Matthew as he was not home at the moment. Shit!

Then it got worse. Apparently it was possible, as Alex seemed to realize that what she was hugging was not a giant teddy bear but an actual living breathing bear and began freaking out.

"It's alive! Gilly, its fucking alive!" She then tackled him as the other four boys watched. She took him right down to the ground, clinging to him tightly. Gilbert winced when he hit the ground and kept his eyes tightly shut. Maybe he could pretend it was just a really big dog or something.

"Hey what are you kids all doing in my brother's house?"

And he had managed to forget about Alfred.

"We're Gilbert's friends."

"Hey you look a lot like Matthew. Hey Gil does this mean you have another brother?"

Gilbert cringed with each word his friends said, each question asked. Opening his eyes he saw he was looking up at a confused but slowly angering American.

"Er, yeah. Hey today's not such a good day to hang out guys. I'll see you all tomorrow."

Alex was still clinging to him and he was still on the floor but Ed seemed to get that they should leave and began to usher the others to the door. It took both Ed and Dustin to help detangle Alex from Gilbert but they managed and once all his friends had left Gilbert and Alfred stared at each other for a good five minutes. Alfred glaring and Gilbert trying to figure out the best way to retreat and call for back up.

"We thought you were dead." The American's tone was cold and you could feel the anger laced in it.

Gilbert gulps and darts his eyes around, he was trapped, there was only one door and it was behind the American. "I, I don't know what you're talking about. Er..." Gilbert's eyes widen as the much taller man takes three quick steps and is right in front of him, grabbing the front of his shirt and glaring down at him with hate and anger. "Where's Mattie you Nazi bastard? What have you done to my brother?"

Gilbert grabs Alfred's wrist and tries vainly to pry his hand from his shirt. "I haven't done anything to him."

Gilbert lets out a yelp as the larger man lands a punch that nearly takes his head off and he is flung across the room.

"Don't give me that bull. Where is he?" Alfred draws back his foot to kick the boy only to be stopped by teeth yanking back on his pant leg and pulling him off balance. Kumajirou moved quickly to get between Gilbert and Alfred. Plopping down and beginning to lick at the swell forming on Gilbert's cheek.

"What the hell you stupid bear? Why are you helping the enemy?" Alfred is now sitting up, on hand propping him up the other rubbing the back of his head where he'd hit it when he fell.

Gilbert groans, disoriented, and pushes at Kumajirou to stop. Alfred by now had gotten back to his feet and dragged the albino boy up and had him pinned against the wall at eye level, his feet dangling.

"I don't know what's going on but I'm not letting you get away with whatever it is you've done." Alfred draws back his fist to punch Gilbert again. Kumajirou is tugging at the American, trying to get him off Gilbert. Gilbert has come out of his daze and realized what is going on. Struggling to break free Gilbert watches in slow motion the fist intended for his face and cringes as it starts to come around, drawing closer.

"Stop!"

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Oh I did a cliffhanger. Fun. Another chapter down and I hope you all liked it.

Please review, they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.