A/N: This is for tuesycakes! I tried super hard to get Ludwig to try and be all comforting, but he wouldn't cooperate... Damn Germans.. No.. I shouldn't say that... I'm part German... Damn stiff Kindergartner teachers! XD
But, I did have fun writing this. And I found out I really like Hungary. She's so cute!
Mrs. Héderváry - Hungary
Ismael - Cuba

Comforting his students was not one of Ludwig's strong points. If a child turned to him, crying, he would pat their back stiffly and ask why. Feliciano was usually the one to ever distribute care in that department.

So it was when Matthew Williams came to him with tears in his eyes and a large, swelling bruise on his cheek that Ludwig wanted to pull his hair out.

"M-Mr. Beil-Beilschmidt?" Matthew stuttered out, rubbing his cheek tenderly. The bruise was just starting to swell and was tinted a pink and purple color.

"Yes, Matthew?" The majority of the class was still focused on their crafts and talking to each other. Only Gilbert and Ismael were glancing over with worried expressions.

"C-C-Could I get an icepack from the nurse?" A few tears fell down his cheek.

Ludwig sighed. "Yes. I'll take you down there." He crossed the hall, to Berwald's classroom and asked if he could keep an ear out for them. He thanked the Swede, both not having to actually say anything about why Ludwig asked him to do that.

He came back a few seconds later, taking Matthew by the hand and started on their way to the nurse's office. "M-Mr. Beilschmidt? M-My mama said that if I got hurt again… th-that she would take me out of school…"

Ludwig faltered in his gait. He had heard nothing of that sort from Mr. Vargas. "I-Is that so?"

Matthew nodded. "I don't want to be home-schooled, Mr. Beilschmidt…" A few more tears fell down his cheeks. "I-I really like going to school with everyone…"

Ludwig stopped walking and squatted down to Matthew's height. "Your mother said… she would take you out of public school if you were hurt again," he repeated. "Matthew, sometimes it is for the best that you are taken out of school."

"B-But Mama said she would take Alfred out too. I-I don't want to be the reason Alfred has to leave all his friends." Ludwig placed his hands on both of Matthew's shoulders.

"Don't worry, Matthew. Your mother would never do anything that didn't help you and your brother. Now, we need to get some ice on your cheek before it swells too much." Ludwig stood back up and took Matthew's hand, leading him the rest of the way to the nurse.

Mrs. Héderváry was a very… outgoing person. She had beautiful brown hair that flowed down to the backs of her knees and she could be a bit assertive. She was the only nurse that hadn't left in less than a month's time, working for the Hetalia Elementary school.

When Ludwig came into her small office, she greeted him happily. "Hello, Mr. Beilschmidt! How are you today?"

"I'm fine, Liz, but could you get Matthew an icepack for his cheek?" He ushered Matthew over to a small chair and he stood over by Elizaveta's desk.

"Oh, what's happened this time, Mattie?" She took an icepack out of the small freezer she kept in her room and wrapped a small towel around it. The woman placed it over Matthew's cheek after examining it for a moment. She placed his hand over it and then held it there for a few more seconds before letting go.

"I-Ismael hit me again." He looked up at the woman with the one eye that wasn't covered by the comically large icepack on his face.

Mrs. Héderváry swooped down to his level. The flower in her hair swished delightfully. "Is that so? Now why did he do that? Did he mix you up with your big brother again?" Matthew nodded while blushing. Mrs. Héderváry was really pretty… and she smelled like flowers.

"M-Mama said that she's going to take me out of school now…" Ludwig went to sit on the bed next to him.

"I told you, Matthew, your mother knows what's best for you. She's only worried for your safety."

"B-But, I'm not in any trouble. Alfred promised to protect me." Ludwig sighed.

"Listen. I will send a note home to your mother today. I'll explain that maybe taking you out to be home-schooled isn't the best idea. But you have to promise to start standing up for yourself, Matthew." Matthew nodded.

"I-I promise."

"And that means no more stuttering, no more letting people order you around, and no more telling Alfred the answer to a question so he can answer for you. Promise?"

"I pinky swear." Matthew held out his left pinky to Ludwig. The hooked his larger pinky around Matthew's and they shook.

"Good. Now we need to get back to class. Do you think you can start practicing?" Matthew nodded.

"T-Th-Oops… Thank you, Mr. Beilschmidt. And thank you Mrs. Héderváry for the icepack."