Hey I'm making chapter 2 of Cornflowers and Maple Leaves. I hope you all enjoy it, I sure had fun writing it.

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Once the treaty had been signed and everything worked out Matthew left with Gilbert to head back to his home in Canada. They had arranged with Ludwig and Alfred to have his things sent over from Germany's house. At first Matthew had been surprised that Gilbert had been living with his brother, but Gilbert had explained that during the war Prussia was more or less absorbed into Germany and it left him as little more than a territory to his brother. So like when Matthew and Alfred had been colonies he was made to live in his brother's house.

"Well, we're home. I have a guest bedroom upstairs that I can give you. Its not very large but I'm sure you'll manage."

Gilbert looked around the house from where he had come in through the door. The front door had led into a room that looked to be the center of the house. There were several bookshelves and cozy looking chairs set around the room. A few side tables with lamps and a buffet cabinet with a radio set atop it. It was comfortable and just messy enough to feel lived in. Gilbert determined it suited the other nation perfectly. Next to him he took notice of an arched entryway that led into the kitchen and dining area. A country table sat in the opposite half of the room from the counters, sink, oven and ice box. He noticed also that the sink worked by a pump, a bit older than he was used to but he'd deal with it. Its not like he had always had running water available to him.

Noticing his study of the water pump in the kitchen Matthew can't help but laugh a bit. "Don't worry, there's a cistern on the roof with an electric pump to the well for the bathroom. I just sort of like the idea of pumping the water myself for the kitchen. Call me old fashioned."

"Oh uh, thanks. So uh, which one did you say was my room again?" Gilbert heads for the stairs on the far side of the kitchen as Matthew follows after him.

"Its the one on the left. The bathroom is at the end of the hall just past the study. My room's on the right." Gilbert followed Matthew's directions and found the room Matthew was giving him quite easily. Stepping into the room he gave it a quick go over. There was a full sized bed set against the middle of the wall opposite the door with a side table and lamp on either side of the head board. a standing wardrobe acted as the closet in the corner down the wall from the door. And set between it and the door was a dresser with a wash basin and pitcher.

"If you need anything, just let me know and I can see what I can do for you, at least until your things get here."

"Thanks. I think I can manage though." Gilbert laid his suitcase at the foot of the bed, he could unpack later. "So what is there to do around here anyway?"

"Well I work the farm down the road most of the time and go into town once a week to fill out paperwork for my boss and to get the groceries. We'll need to find you a job though. What sorts of things are you good at."

Gilbert starred in confused surprise at Matthew. "Find a job?"

"Yes, you know to pay for food and things you may want or need. You need a job to get money."

"Well yeah, but we're nations. Isn't that our job?"

"Well of course, but you don't expect our people to support us do you? We just came out of a depression not too long ago and the war may have been good for the economy but that doesn't mean everyone has a ton of spare cash lying around. I work to support myself. Yes a get a menial stipend from my boss for the work I do there but mostly I support myself. And that means you will need to find a job yourself. So, you can work in a factory or on a farm, though I wouldn't recommend that because of your albinism."

Gilbert was having a hard time comprehending this. Suddenly the house size wasn't just cozy, it was small. Because Matthew apparently had to earn the money himself to pay for it rather than just having it handed to him. Sure it made sense what Matthew was saying, but they just didn't live like that. They were nations, they were born to be served by their bosses. How did Matthew live like this?

"I I guess I'll take a factory job. I've never really had to work before so I don't know what kind of skills I may have."

"Alright, well I'll call around a bit tomorrow to see if I can find anything for you. In the mean time make yourself at home."

"Sure."

Gilbert sat heavily on the bed and stared down at his lap. Maybe he should have gone with Russia, at least then he wouldn't have to get a job, right?

True to his words the Canadian made a few calls and had Gilbert a job in a nearby factory assembling radios. It wasn't an exciting job, far from it. At times it was downright boring, but the pay was good so Gilbert had no reason to complain. And when his shift would end he'd head home, usually with a co-worker that had to drive past Matthew's house, and then shuffle into the kitchen where he'd help Matthew make dinner. Then the two would sit down and eat, sharing how their days had been before cleaning up and moving into the front room. There Matthew would turn the radio onto a program and the two would sit in comfortable silence until it was time to turn in.

This went on for several months before Gilbert started getting antsy. It was while sitting one night and listening to a program that Gilbert took a log from the stack by the cast iron stove in the corner and grabbed a pocket knife he always carried. He began to whittle the wood and over the next several days had formed it into a pickup truck, minus the wheels. Matthew had watched him as he had carved the vehicle and when he had it completely carved out he drew Gilbert's attention.

"It needs wheels."

"Ja, I know. I need to drill holes for the axle to go through and ten attach them. Might be nice to paint it too."

Matthew hummed in agreement before standing up. "I have a wood shop out back, there should be a drill in there and some other tools as well. As for paint we can get some next time we go to town."

"Awesome. Thanks Mattie."

After that Gilbert began going out to the building out back every other evening to work on a new project. Sometimes he'd bring them into the house and work on them while listening to the radio with Matthew. At one point he mentioned that it would be nice to have a radio in the shop and the next week they picked one up in town. This became their routine for years and some time in the mid fifties Matthew came out to the wood shop to get Gilbert in for his program. What he saw in the wood shop surprised him. Toys. Everywhere he looked were toys. Dolls, cars, trains, boats, toy soldiers, rocking horses, wagons, push toys and pull toys, marionettes and puppets. All made from wood, paint and fabric. They were beautifully crafted, each one an individual work of art and love.

It took Gilbert a while to notice he had company and he looked up from the doll he was making, a little girl in a green dress and short chestnut colored hair.

"Oh hey Matt, didn't see you there. Is something up?"

"Uh, no, its just. I hadn't realized you'd made so many."

"Huh, oh yeah. I usually take a few to that orphanage a few miles down when I get a chance, and some of the guys at the factory have kids and I give them some too. Its starting to look like I may need to take them out again soon though, starting to get a bit crowded in here."

Matthew smiles at how easily Gilbert talks about sharing these things with people, then an idea hits him. "You really like making toys don't you?"

"Well yeah. Reminds me of when Ludwig was little and I'd make him toys to play with. Now, I don't know, I guess I just like working with my hands. It helps me to relax." He shrugs his shoulders a bit and sets down the doll he had been working on. "Why do you ask?"

"Well I was just thinking. You've never really liked the job at the factory, but here is something you're good at and you enjoy. Plus there is an empty storefront down in town that we could afford with the money we've set aside."

Gilbert looks wide eyed at Matthew as what he is suggesting processes. "Are you saying we could open a toy store?"

"Well you certainly could and I could be there to help out since its probably better to have two people than just one person running a store. So what do you think?"

"I think that I may just think you're the awesomest person alive."

Matthew smiles back at Gilbert and the two head in and start talking about their plans for the shop. About a month latter they've signed the lease for the store and were moving the stockpile of toys into it and setting up the shelves. Apparently there had been more toys than just what Gilbert had in the wood shop, his room had nearly been taken over by them as well. In the end it was more than enough to stock the shelves. Matthew had been a bit surprised though when he found a violin mixed in with the toys, as well as a few drums and pipes. He had tested it out and was astonished at how clear the sound was. He looked it over for the manufacturer and only saw the initials 'GB'. Gilbert couldn't have made this too, could he? Matthew had confronted him about it and Gilbert had taken credit for the violin, blushing all the while. Matthew had immediately insisted that the instruments have their own section in the store with the violin at the center of the display. Gilbert had agreed but declared he got to name the shop.

"It is your shop Gilbert, why wouldn't you get to name it?" Matthew chuckled a bit at Gilbert's pout.

"Well fine. Anyway I was thinking about what to name this awesome place and I was thinking 'Heirlome Toys'. What do you think?"

"I think its perfect."

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So, the long wait was worth it for this I hope. There should be more, don't know when but I like the idea of Gilbert owning a toy store and making all the toys himself. lol

Please review.