Sunflowers

Chapter 2

The two countries had just finished shaking hands. "Why are you all the way over here, in Russia?" Ivan asked. "Oh, I just thought that I needed to get away. Today's my birthday, and nobody ever pays enough attention to say anything about it. They're always obsessing over my younger brother, Alfred." He answered. "Today's your birthday, da? Well, would you like to go back to my house? We can celebrate!" Mathew nodded. "Oh, why were you looking over that cliff?" Mathew suddenly asked. "No reason. Just, looking..." The truth was was that he was thinking about jumping, but Matvey didn't need to know that. Not on his birthday. "Hmm, I don't believe you. What was the REAL reason?" The smaller nation pressed. "You caught me. I was looking because, I, I really don't want to bring you down, especially on your birthday, but since you want to know so badly, I was thinking about jumping. I got a message to go to a world meeting today, and I wasn't supposed to. I went to the meeting, and everyone said that they, that they hated, me. So I needed to get away like you, da?" Mathew looked down, as Ivan kept smiling at him. Mathew started shivering, as harsh wind blew their way. "Are you alright?" Ivan asked. "Yea, I'm just, r-really cold!" "We're almost there. Don't worry."
They got back to Ivan's house and quickly shuffled inside. As they were about to shut the door, a small, white figure appeared there. He shook snow off of himself. "Hello there little one. Who are you?" The small animal looked up at him and ran inside towards Canada. "Oh, right. Ivan, this is Kumajiro. Or Kuma, for short." He responded. Ivan shut the door, with the wind forcing it open. "Lithuania! I'm home! And we have guests!" Russia shouted. The small country hurried inside to see the three standing in the doorway. "W-welcome home M-Mr. Russia. C-can I get you a-anything?" The trembling nation asked. "Will you please light the fire? And then feel free to take the rest of the night off." "Y-yes sir!" He quickly went to light the fire place and hurried to his room. "Thank you!" Ivan called up the stairs. "Now. What would you like for your birthday? Please, let me get you something." The large nation politely asked. "Um, I don't really know. I don't need anything, it's just great to have someone to talk to!" His small bear quietly roared as if to say 'what about me?' "Other than you, Kuma." The bear seemed satisfied. "Please, something. I wouldn't feel right." Ivan said. "Well, do you like pancakes?"
Ivan brought over a plate of three pancakes with maple syrup and a lit candle on top. He started to sing, "С Днем Рождения Вас, С Днем Рождения Вас! С Днем Рождения, чтобы Мэтью, С Днем Рождения Вас!" Mathew had no idea what it meant, but he liked it anyways. He blew out his candle and wished to always have Ivan as his friend. "I'm not used to cooking, so my apologies if it's not very good." "It's delicious! Thank you, Ivan! This is the best birthday ever."