Chapter 14: France and Canada.
Matthew never felt as small as he did right now. Sure he was a child, and the word was large to his tiny body, but now he felt small not only in body, but in soul. His papa stood over him, holding little Matthew in place with one hand on the top of his head. Not that Matthew would have made any move to try to get away anyway. Before him stood the man that his papa always argued with, Arthur. Then in his arms was a small boy just like Matthew, named Alfred. Matthew wanted nothing more than to hide behind his papa and try to get away from these strangers.
"Take him Arthur." His papa suddenly said, making everyone in the room stare at him in surprise.
"What do you mean Francis?" Arthur said wearily. He already seemed to know where this was going, and he almost seemed to be dreading it. Matthew hugged his little polar bear closer to him.
"Take Canada, I don't want him anymore." Matthew looked up his papa with tears staining his violet colored eyes.
"Papa-" He started, but Francis gave him a stern look.
"Hush Matthew." Matthews jaw snapped shut with a snap. Francis never called him that. He was always called Mattie or (French spelling).
"Are you sure git? He doesn't look like he wants to go with me." Arthur said wearily, seeing the tears begin to pour out of Matthew's eyes.
"I'm sure." Francis gave Matthew a push towards Arthur, almost making the child fall. Arthur bent down and scooped Matthew up in his arms, just like how he was holding Alfred. When they looked up again, Francis was gone.
"I'm Arthur, but you can call me whatever you want. This is your new brother Alfred." Alfred beamed brightly at Matthew, but it just made Matthew cry even more. He clung to Arthur's shirt, crying his heart out.
"Don't cry! The hero doesn't let people cry." Alfred said, awkwardly hugging Matthew since they were both being held up by Arthur. Matthew held onto his new brother and cried even more.
"I…I didn't get to say goodbye…" The child managed to croak out in between his sobs.
Arthur took the cold home where he grew up happy and healthy. But he never did get to say goodbye.
-Many years later-
Even though Matthew was a grown man now, he was still invisible to many people and really basically everyone except a few select countries. Even Arthur began to forget about him after a while. Matthew was happy though, he lived a good life and he still had his polar bear, even if he could never remember the name of his bear. It was something like Kumakichi.
Another world meeting ended, and Matthew began to gather his stuff. He always liked being the last person to leave the meeting, as then he could clean up the mess that the other countries made and make someone's life a little easier. As soon as everyone had left Matthew began to clean up the broken furniture and the glass that seemed to be all around the room. As he was cleaning, he heard the meeting room open and close.
"Can I help you?" Matthew started to say, but he froze when he saw who it was at the door. Standing in the door was his old caretaker, his papa, Francis. Matthew immediately froze up, his voice catching in his throat.
"Matthew, it's good to see you again." Francis said his own voice cracking. Matthew felt tears began to form in his eyes as he forced himself to nod back at Francis.
"I know that you probably won't believe me, or even want to listen to me right now, but I truly am sorry for what I did." Francis' voice was so small and meek, so unlike his normal cocky voice. Matthew felt his tears finally begin to pour down his cheeks; he still didn't say anything though.
"It's okay if you don't want to say anything. I'll be going now. Goodbye mon Mathieu." Francis began to walk out of the room, just as he walked out of the door; he heard Matthew's small voice behind him.
"Goodbye papa."
Through the sadness weighing heavily in the air, Francis managed a small smile. And Matthew finally got his goodbye that he had missed all those years ago.