Maple Leaf - Canada

You felt round, feeling soft things and hard things _(oo-er). Then, you touched something crispy and dry. You took hold of it softly, and brought it out.
‘A leaf?’
‘A maple leaf.’ You looked to the man who had said that. He smiled at you, and took you into his arms, holding you comfortably against him, smoothing your hair down. You liked the feeling, and snuggled into him, your eyes slowly sliding shut.
‘Ohonhon, look at mon fils! ‘E iz going to be a great papa!’
‘Hopefully better than his father.’
‘I ‘eard zhat!’
‘Shh! She’s fallen asleep!’
‘Amazing vith your loud voice…’
‘Q-Quiet!’
You heard that come from right above you, and gave a small smile.
‘I zhink ve shall end zhe meeting.’
‘Dude, does this make me an uncle now?!’
‘I-I guess s-so.’
‘Mon dieu, I am a grand-père.’
‘Haha, feeling old now frog?’
‘Still younger zhan you.’
‘HEY!’ Your eyes shot open at England’s yell.
‘Look, you ‘ave awoken ma petite-fille!’ France whacked England round the head.
Your daddy sighed, hoisting you up into his arms more securely.
‘Daddy. Is he really my grandpa?’ you asked.
‘Yes, he is.’ Canada sighed. ‘He is your papi.’
‘Papi…’ you slowly tried the word out, the language foreign on your tongue.
As you said the word, France, who had been strangling England, dropped him and smiled at you.
‘I like zhat.’ He said softly.
You nodded, before looking up into your father’s violet eyes.
‘S-So, what is your name?’ he asked.
‘Girl.’ You responded.
‘R-Really?!’ He was shocked. You nodded.
‘I-I can’t let you be called that.’ He muttered softly. ‘How about, m-maybe, [name]?’
You thought for a moment. ‘Yeah!’
He smiled at you and hugged you even closer, yet still being gentle as to not awaken any bruises.
‘Who are you?’ you looked down to see a polar bear by his foot. You stared in amazement – why was there a Polar Bear here?!?!
‘That is K…Ku… Oh, Kumajirou.’ Canada said.
You continued to look at the bear, before tentatively reaching a hand out and petting it.
‘Who are you?’ it asked again.
‘I’m [name].’ you responded simply.
Seeming satisfied, it then turned to Canada. ‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Canada.’ He sighed.
‘Oi dude! Meeting next month is in New York! Remember to bring my niece!’ Another man tackled Canada, making him fall and drop you. You landed on your bum fortunately, and merely blinked, looking at the two men.
‘You idiot!’ Canada snapped, much to the surprise and shock of the American.
‘Woah, bro, what’s got into you?’
Canada merely ignored that question as he scooped you up, cradling you tightly against him.
‘Are you ok maple leaf? Are you hurt?’ he asked worriedly.
‘I’m fine papa.’ You grinned – that was really nothing to you.
‘America, mon ami, it iz ‘is parternal instincts!’ France clapped the confused Al on the shoulder. ‘Ma fils is protecting his bébé.’
‘Dude, why didn’t he just say?’
‘I’m taking [name] home.’ Canada mumbled.
He left the meeting hall, still holding you safely against him.
‘Are you sure you’re ok?’ he asked.
‘I’m ok papa. Don’t worry.’ You smiled.
Leaving the building, he set you down in his car, before getting in his own side and heading off. You peered out the window, intrigued by the Canadian landscape.
Arriving at his house, he picked you up and entered. You looked round, taking in the house, which was free from beer bottles and empty take-away boxes.
‘Do you like pancakes?’ he asked
You stared at him confused. ‘What are pancakes?’
You swore his eyes would of dropped out of his head if they hadn’t been attached.
‘You don’t know what pancakes are?’ he exclaimed.
You shook your head.
‘Mon dieu, we need to fix that.’ He said, moving towards his kitchen. He sat you on the countertop, and began to grab stuff from cupboards, placing them in a bowl. Mixing it all together, you gave a small giggle at some of the batter flew out and landed on his cheek.
‘Zut.’ He mumbled, turning towards the cooker.
Your child-like curiosity peeked at you, and you dipped your finger into the bowl, before bringing it to your mouth, tasting it. You pulled a face – was that what pancakes tasted like?
‘They’re not very nice raw, maple leaf.’ You looked to see Canada had been observing you out the corner of his eye, and blushed.
Chuckling, he took the bowl and poured it onto the hot frying pan. It sizzled as it hit the surface, and soon browned. You watched as he flipped it, before tipping it on the plate. He repeated it a few more times, before taking a golden colored liquid and pouring it over. He set in front of you, and gave you a knife and fork.
‘Are these all for me?’ you asked confused.
‘Why yes.’
‘But, I don’t deserve food like this…’
‘Maple leaf, I never want to hear you say that again.’ You look into his face. He gently cupped your cheek. ‘You are worthy. Whatever that man that you had to call ‘daddy’ said to you, it’s not true, ok?’ he smiled.
You nodded, slowly, before moving to wrap your tiny arms round his waist. ‘Thank you, papa.’
‘You are welcome. Now, eat up before your food gets cold.’
You let him go and began to eat. They tasted wonderful.
‘Do you like?’ he asked.
You nodded eagerly. He gave a chuckle. ‘I’m glad.’
His eyes then rested on your tatty dress. ‘Let me go see if I can find you a shirt…’
He disappeared, and you finished your pancakes. You looked next to you, and saw a wooly hat, in white and red. You picked it up, and pulled it over your head, giggling as it fell over your eyes.
‘Maple, that is too big for you.’ A hand pulled it up and you were met with your father’s face. ‘But it does look cute on you.’
You saw he had a t-shirt with him. You looked at it as he picked you up, carrying you to the bathroom. He took off your dress and sucked his breath in sadly as he saw your battered body.
Setting you in the bath, he drew the warm water, and washed you down, gentle on your bruises. Lifting you out, he dried you, put you in his shirt, and then rubbed your [h/c] hair dry, laughing as it stuck out oddly.
‘Come on Maple Leaf. Time for bed.’
He took you into his room, laying you on the bed, before climbing in next to you, drawing you close.
‘Goodnight my little maple leaf.’

‘Calm down [name]!’ Matthew laughed as he ran round the room, trying to catch you.
‘But Papa, I’m excited!’
He laughed, finally scooping you up. You were wearing his hat again, something that he had just given in trying to get back. ‘Come on, let me put your shoes on.’
He sat you down and slipped your little white Mary-Jane shoes on, doing up the straps. You were wearing your new [f/c] dress and [f/c] tights, along with your little [f/c] wooly cardigan.
‘Come on little Maple Leaf.’ He smiled, kissing your forehead.
Taking you to the car, and strapping you in before setting off, he reflected on how different his life was. He was certainly noticed a lot more now, taking you out with him. He enjoyed being a dad, taking care of you and tending to your needs. France was a great grandfather to you, and America, as strange as it sounds, was also a great uncle.
Arriving at the airport, he was immediately met at the door by a bunch of old ladies.
‘Awww, Lookie at this cutie!’ One cooed.
‘She’s so adorable!’ said another.
‘Where’s the mother?’ asked the third.
‘Oh, y-you see, s-she’s…’
‘With the Angels.’ You cut in – with Matthew having been asked so many times, you had just started answering that question for him.
This gained a collective ‘awwww’ from the group, and one dove in her carpet handbag, before pulling a [fav sweet] out and giving it to you.
‘Thank you very much Miss!’ you responded.
‘Such a little lady.’ She smiled.
They all moved off, allowing Matthew to head towards the check-in gate and the plane.

You watched as the plane circled the Airport in New York, like it was trying to decide where to park. Eventually, it picked a spot, allowing everyone to get off. Matthew put you down and grasped your hand as he made his way through the busy airport and out the gate.
‘Dude! You made it! And brought my niece!’ America met them – the Conference Building wasn’t more than a ten-minute walk from the Airport.
‘Of course I did. Did you expect me to leave her at home?’ Canada asked softly, yet you could hear that he was offended by America’s words.
‘Of course not dude! C’mon, we better get there!’
Canada sighed, and followed the excited American, you looking round in wonder at the tall buildings and the large amounts of people – that kept bumping into you.
Your dad noticed, and you felt his hands take you under your arms, lifting you up into the air and settling you in his shoulders. You grinned at him, ducking as you entered the building. The noise as you grew closer to the room increased, but whilst a month ago, it had scared you, now, you felt a small giddy feeling in your stomach.
‘HEY GUYS, THE HERO IS HERE! Oh and Canada and [name]!’ America burst in.
‘Thanks for the introduction.’ Canada mumbled as he followed, gently lifting you from his shoulders.
He sat in his chair, you on his lap, as France and England began to fight. Greece was asleep, and Germany was trying to regain control over the meeting.
Matthew sighed, and looked down, noticing you had pulled a piece of paper from your rucksack and the crayons that he had brought you last week, and were currently drawing, your tongue poking out the side of your mouth from concentration.
‘What are you drawing Maple?’ he whispered.
You turned to look at him, and smiled.
‘A picture! Its of us!’
He looked, and saw you had drawn him, you, America and France, with a strip of green at the bottom and the sun in bright yellow in the corner, with the sky behind you painstakingly colored in blue. Above you all, you had written “My Family” in black crayon.
‘Do you like it papa?’
Canada smiled.
‘I love it, my little Maple Leaf.’