I don't know what I'm going to do... Arthur just downed his fifth glass of beer. Francis sat next to him and rubbed his back. "Why does young Matthew have to...have to move to Canada?" Arthur slurred. "There are...plenty of great, great jobs here in England!"

     Francis sighed. "Our young Matthieu is nineteen, mon amour. He wants to live his life, and it's not healthy to hold him back."

     "Aw, phooey. He had a jolly grand old time living...living his life with...in the bloody United Kingdom." Arthur continued as he made large arm movements and spilled his drink every so often. "That bloody Matt... Why did he have to discover our child when he was so...young? It's like...he's trying to drag him away from me."

     Alfred stopped paying attention to the conversation when Francis started giving him gentle words of comfort and reassurance. He sighed. Sometimes I'm glad that I haven't found my love whatever yet... He thought to himself. He could hear his brother pacing around in his bedroom, located right next to Alfred's. He's really gunna do it...

     Alfred yawned as he moved around in bed. He closed his eyes and hugged his pillow the same way he did every night. His mind drifted off to what it would be like to live in Canada, then America. He thought of making his way through the busy streets of New York City. He thought about all the other cities, and eventually he thought about the different states he had heard about. New York...New Jersey...Pennsylvania...Massachusetts...Maine...Texas...California... Alfred sighed. I think too much. I'll never fall asleep like this...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

     "So...you're really doing this." Arthur said quietly, avoiding eye contact.

     Matthew was also looking at the ground. "Mhm..." A tense silence fell between the two. Francis stood close to Arthur, and Alfred had his head down like the rest of them.

     Suddenly, Matthew dropped his bags and lunged towards Francis and Arthur for a hug. They both flinched a little bit, and Alfred jumped from the noise of the bags, but the two parents hugged back. "I'm really gunna miss you guys..." Matthew said as tears slowly made their way onto his face.

     Arthur held Matthew close, and Francis stroked the child's head. "Don't forget to give us a call."

     Matthew pulled away from the two and wiped his face. He looked at Alfred and smiled as he placed his hand on his shoulder. "You know, you've always been my best pal growing up." He started. "Never forget that."

     Alfred couldn't say the words he wanted to. It all got caught in his throat. He thought about what he was going to say over and over again in the car, but now he just wanted to see him go so that he wouldn't have to break down in front of the person who he had known all his life. He thought that he would get what he wanted at first.

     Then he hugged him.

     They didn't hug all too often, but right now, it was what they needed most. Alfred lost it. He sobbed into Matthew's shoulder as he rubbed his back. "Mattie..." Alfred tried to speak through his tears. "I'll miss you...I've l-looked up to you...I've never told you before, because I c-couldn't...Please, be happy wherever you end up...R-Remember to visit..." Alfred couldn't say anything else.

     They stayed in that position for a while, then the two pulled away. Alfred wiped his sleeves on his face, then forced a smile. Matthew smiled too after drying his own subtle tears. "Alfred, I'll always remember you. Try your best to be happy." He said. He picked up his bags and looked at Arthur and Francis. Before leaving the small family, Matthew looked at Alfred one last time. "But this time, try to be truly happy."

     They watched the man walk away, and Alfred couldn't help but wave like a small child would to a departing friend. When he disappeared from his view, Alfred heard a tiny voice inside his head.

     "Your next milestone takes place over the country known for freedom."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

     Ever since Matthew's departure, Alfred felt confused and depressed. He thought that the feeling of emptiness and uselessness would disappear in a week or two, but it has been going on for a month and a half now. Not only was his brother gone, but he can't follow the voice's instructions with Arthur being so overprotective lately. He has gotten better since they got back from the airport, and he didn't drink as much as he did the first few days when Matthew was gone, but he still felt like he needed a good dose of alcohol every now and then.

     Francis was always there to support him.

     Alfred looked outside the window. I don't blame him for clinging onto Mattie. It's hard, seeing a child you have raised longer than they remember start the part of their life without you. Of course, Mattie will call and visit when he can, but it's not the same. Alfred smiled as he got an idea.

     He practically flew down the stairs and almost fell the last few feet. He made his way into the kitchen to see Francis reading the newspaper at the table. Alfred smiled. "Hey Papa! I want to do a thing!"

     Francis looked up. "What is it?"

     "Well," Alfred began as he spun around on a stool, "I was thinking. I saw a poster the other day that there is a festival or something down at the park. We could head down there and enjoy ourselves!" Plus, it will help me get my mind off things.

     "That sounds like a great idea." Francis said with a smile. "It sounds like something we need."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

     "Hey Artie, look! They're selling some fancy hats over there!" Alfred practically yelled as he dragged Arthur by the hand over to the stand. Francis chuckled and followed the two. Alfred looked around the stand. "Whad'ya think of this?" Alfred asked and slipped on a cap with a picture of the american flag.

     Arthur tilted his head. "An american flag? Huh." He looked at the different selections of caps. "Looks like they have most of the popular countries. There's the British flag, french flag, Spanish flag, even the Italian flag." He looked a bit closer for a moment and moved a few flags around. "Oh. It looks like they don't have one with a Canadian flag, though. What a shame."

     "Why did you pick the american flag over any of the other flags?" Francis asked. He didn't sound all too concerned about it: just curious.

     Alfred shrugged and looked at the cap. "I dunno. I guess it just stood out to me." He said with a smile. He picked up the caps with the British flag and a french flag and headed towards who he liked to call 'the ruler of money'.

     Arthur cocked his head. "Alfred, what are you doing?"

     Alfred came back to the two men and smiled like a dork. "I'm getting hats for us. It's a sunny day, and plus, these hats are great!" He handed them their caps and slipped his own on again.

     Francis smiled and slid his cap on his head, and Arthur looked at the flag before doing the same. Looking at Alfred's dorky smile and Francis looking like a man trying to keep up with the latest fashion and was not doing so well with the cap on his head, Arthur couldn't help but smile himself. Today is a good day.

     The three of them continued down the street, Alfred in the front. He smiled as he looked at different stands for food, knickknacks, and other great things. Arthur and Francis followed him. Ever since Matthew's move to Canada, Arthur has to admit; he's having a great time. Alfred was running around like the happy dork he was, and Francis was quietly admiring the scenery and Alfred's dorkiness.

     "Hey Artie, Papa! Lets grab some food!" Alfred said and grabbed Arthur's arm. He dragged him over towards a food stand. Francis followed them and looked up at the stand. It looks like a type of stereotypical american stand. I don't know what stands look like in America nor England, but this right here practically radiates America.

     After a bit of time, the trio found a place to sit and enjoy their food. Alfred got the stereotypical american cheeseburger, Arthur settled with a hot dog, and Francis decided to get a corn dog. "I don't really understand why Americans like their food as large as it is." Arthur stated.

     Alfred shrugged. "Eh, it tastes good, and the cost ain't bad!" He said and took a bite of the burger. "Heck," he mumbled, "it tastes great!"

     "Alfred, chew and swallow before you speak. You act as if you're six." Arthur said and rolled his eyes.

     Alfred swallowed and chuckled. "You got it wrong. I actually have the heart of a five year old, remember?"

     Francis laughed. "How could we forget?"

     "Arthur forgot."

     "Oh shut up, you bloody git!"

     "Anyways, I was wondering," Francis started and looked at Alfred, "why do you continue to call me Papa, but you started calling Arthur by his name?" He asked.

     Alfred shrugged. "I guess Papa is more fun to say than dad, and I'm also taller than you!" He said and smiled at the Englishman.

     Arthur rolled his eyes. "I can't help what genes I get, nor yours. Don't forget, Matthew's taller than you." He then looked at Francis. "Actually, I think Francis and I are the same height."

     Francis chuckled. "I still look taller, though."

     "Whoever's taller between you two, I'm the tallest!" Alfred shouted the last part happily and earned glares of a number of strangers.

     "Keep it down, will you?" Arthur snapped. "You look as if you've never been to England before!"

     The three finished their food while Alfred did most of the talking, mainly about pointless things, like how clouds are majestic or how grass is dashing. Eventually, he rambled on about how you could write a book from the point of view of a piece of grass and all the pain it feels whenever someone mindlessly steps in it, and how it has no way to defend itself, but it still lives on.

     Then he got up and rolled down a small grassy hill.

     The rest of the day consisted of browsing small shops, getting small treats every now and then, and Alfred dragging the other two to play games. "Oh, look at that! Come on, I got this!" Alfred yelled and dragged Arthur over towards a stand with the classic knock-down-all-the-bottles game. 

     Arthur almost tripped, but caught his footing. "Alfred, slow down! You're going to get someone either hurt or annoyed!" 

     "I wouldn't be surprised if he did both already without realizing it." Francis said under his breath and smiled at the thought.

     Alfred slammed five bucks on the wooden stand, and the person running it glared at him. He took the money and handed Alfred a basket of three balls. Alfred smirked and looked back at Arthur and Francis. "Watch this, one throw!" He said. He looked back at the bottles and threw it as hard as he could. He knocked off the top bottle and sent the ball flying to the wall at the back of the stand. It bounced and bumped the bottle on the bottom right, but it didn't fall down. 

     Arthur snickered, and Alfred glanced back at him. He rolled his eyes and smiled as he tossed the second ball at the two remaining bottles. They both fell down, and the ball dropped to the ground this time. "YEAH, SON, DID YOU SEE THAT?" Alfred fist-bumped the air and turned around. He held up his hand for a high-five, but Arthur and Francis left him hanging. He turned back towards the man and pointed at a small stuffed bear with white fur. 

     The man sighed and handed Alfred the bear. "Thanks, dude!" Alfred thanked him and walked back to Arthur and Francis. He handed Arthur the bear. "Here ya go!"

     Arthur looked at the bear. "What? No, Alfred, you won it, you keep it." He said and pushed the bear away.

     Alfred laughed. "Nah man, I don't need this. Legit." 

     Arthur sighed. "Knowing you, you'll probably sneak it into my shoe anyways." He took the bear and looked at its face. He subconsciously smiled. 

     Alfred looked around the park and noticed that it was starting to get dark. "Hey guys, we should probably head back home." 

     Francis looked at the soon-to-set sun. "That sounds like a good idea." 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

     Arthur looked out the window of the master bedroom. He smiled at the dark and colorful sunset as he thought about what happened that day. The bear that Alfred gave him was sitting on the windowsill. He sighed. "You know, Francis," He started, not turning his head away from the window. "I'm not sure what I'll do when Alfred leaves to go to America." 

     Francis walked over to him and wrapped his arm over his shoulder. "Now why do you think he's going to go to America?" 

     Arthur rolled his eyes. "Isn't it obvious? He's practically American already."

     Francis chuckled. "Yeah, I guess he is." He turned his attention to the nearly-gone sunset. "It's a dashing sight, isn't it?"

     Arthur nodded. "It's great." Francis placed his chin on Arthur's other shoulder. 

     "I wonder how Matthieu is doing." He thought out loud.

     "Hopefully well." Arthur sighed. "You know what? Today is the happiest day I've had since Matthew left."

AYO PAPPIE I DID A THING :D

I decided to update cause I'll be dead for a while, and I won't be able to work on anything cause mah uncle's cabin doesn't have wifi, so DERP :3

I know what I'm gunna do for the next chapter, but it's gunna be a while until that happens XD

Stuff's gunna go DOWN I think...

I dunno, my definition of "stuff's going down" is different than other people's definitions, so DERP :3

*casually enjoys sad fanfic/one-shot/Hetalia episode 23.5 without feels, except for that one time*

I understand how schools in England work now. I was about to do the FrUK story with this AU when they're in college, but I dun feel like doing the research XD
So it be in high school instead cause life :3