Updated 1/24/25
This was the most nerve-wracking moment of Vermont's life. It had been over two hundred and forty years since I last talked to his...his other father.
However, could he and Canada even be father and son anymore? It had been years. War had severely ruined things between Vermont's father and Canada, even if things had begun to improve. Not to mention the secret keeping. Canada would be pissed.
Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe Vermont should just leave.
He didn't want to ruin things.
But he had to tell Canada about Michigan's wishes.
"You promised to tell Canada that you were alive, Monty. Don't back out of it now." Vermont heard the familiar voice of Northwest Territories say from behind him. Vermont groaned, knowing that if they were here, he was not getting out of leaving, no matter how hard he tried.
Vermont turned to face the fox-narwhal chimera, who had hidden their narwhal tail in favor of human legs, leaning against a delicately carved cane. They smirked, and Vermont sighed, letting his head drop.
"I regret telling you about this," Vermont said. Northwest Territories threw their arm over his shoulder, giving him an encouraging grin.
"Don't worry, Monty. I know you're nervous and that things between you and the snitch have always been weird, but he has always cared about you. And if this goes horribly wrong, then I owe you a hundred USD." Northwest Territories said, reassuring Vermont some.
"You're an ass," Vermont said before ringing the doorbell. Northwest Territories smiled.
"An ass with good intentions, though. It's about time Canada stops living with the ghosts of the dead, and it's better once he stops thinking of Michigan as his," Northwest Territories said. Vermont nodded.
"That's the main reason why I even came. Michigan deserves to have someone tell Canada to back off." Vermont said before he was cut off by the door opening. Vermont froze, scared to turn around, scared of who he was going to see. Was it Canada? Was it someone else?
"Northwest, you have a key, so you don't have to ring the doorbell." Vermont heard a familiar voice say. It was different; the hints of a French accent were gone, but his voice was still the same. Vermont gulped, nervous, not wanting to turn around.
His second father was behind him, the one he disowned in favor of America, the one who thought he was dead.
"And who's this?" Vermont heard Canada ask, curiosity in his voice. Vermont's breath hitched, and he slowly turned around.
Canada looked different. He was in a wheelchair, had a breathing tube, had a different flag, and even gained animal features from his old colonial flag. He now had lion ears, and gills were present on his neck as patches of fur crept around said gills and climbed up his neck. From where his hands were pressed against the door, you could see that they were now webbed.
Canada gave Vermont a small smile, revealing fangs. It was a different face but the same smile.
"Bon—Bonjour Canada." Vermont stammered out. Northwest Territories returned their arm to its spot around Vermont's shoulders and gave them a small squeeze, definitely picking up on his nervousness.
"Canada, my beloved brother!" Northwest Territories began, "I'm sure you haven't forgotten Vermont. Remember him?"
Canada's eyes widened, and his head turned to look Vermont in the eyes, looking for some trace of familiarity, probably. He wasn't the only one who had had an animal put on his flag since the last time we met. Vermont felt his ears press down against his head as he looked down, not liking the piercing gaze on him.
"Monty?" Canada said in a voice that was full of an emotion Vermont couldn't recognize, as tears seemed to appear in the corners of his eyes. Vermont nodded, and Canada lurched and held out his arms as if he were looking for a hug or just a touch to prove what he was seeing was real.
Vermont felt Northwest Territories remove their arm from his shoulders, and then heard the door shut, and knew they must have left to give him and Canada alone time.
Vermont pulled away from the hug and gave Canada a small smile and then a small laugh.
"Hey Cana—Père. It's been a while." Vermont said. Canada looked crushed when Vermont almost referred to him as Canada. Vermont winced. He hadn't meant to, but it was habit.
Michigan had shed a lot of light on a lot of things.
"Canada?" Canada asked softly, questioning the name change. Did he think Vermont hated him? Canada must. After all, he had attacked Vermont and his siblings before and kidnaped his brother. It's not a wild assumption.
"I still care about you. It's just...well, it's Papa. It's awkward with both of you being my dad. So I picked one. I ended negotiations with you and Britain and decided to become an American state. I don't regret it. If I joined you, I would be dead. I'm not." Vermont said, knowing that he would need to get that out of the way first. Otherwise, they would just talk in circles. If Canada was going to hate Vermont for being a secret, hate Vermont for disowning him, he should at least know why.
"I thought you were. I thought...I've lost so many, and you were still across the border. Still there. But I still lost you." Canada said slowly, looking sad and relieved. The tears that had previously been in his eyes were falling.
"I...I like you, Canada. But it's been a while...too long. And....certain things have changed the way I view you. Like with what happened with Michigan," Vermont said.
"I never hurt him," Canada said, his voice becoming hard.
"Maybe not on purpose, but Britain kidnapped him and used martial law to make him loyal. You can't say that was healthy for him—or for your relationship. That's part of why I'm here. Michigan...he doesn't want you to contact him, not until he's ready," Vermont said. Canada looked heartbroken.
"He's my son. I never wanted him to...for him to be hurt, to not trust me," Canada said. Vermont shook his head.
"That's why he won't talk to you." Canada looked confused before his face became saddened.
"Because he doesn't trust me," Canada sighed.
"No. Because you can't see that it's about Michigan. You are thinking of your actions and your intentions, but not about how they might have hurt Michigan, not about how you maybe never abused him, but you never stopped Britain. You want someone to blame, you want to feel sorry for yourself, but none of it's about you, Canada," Vermont said, shaking his head, "It never was."
"I lo—I love Michigan. I mourned him. I had a funeral. I buried him—I buried you, too. I want...I've missed you both. I'm...I'm sorry," Canada said. Vermont sighed. Canada still didn't seem to fully get up, but Vermont hoped that with time, he would.
"I know you grieved. Michigan grieved Upper Canada. But...he needs time. He kept secret for a reason. Don't give him more reasons not to want to talk to you," Vermont said. Canada nodded.
"Okay...I...thank you, Vermont. For the message. Tell Michigan...tell him that I love him," Canada asked. Vermont nodded.
"I will."
"Would you like to stay and catch up?" Canada then asked. Vermonts shook his head.
"Things are still busy at home, and as one of the more mature ones, I'm helping keep order. When things calm down, maybe. But...don't pry into anything else," Vermont requested, knowing he would need to go back to being the impulse control of New England.
Canada nodded, eyes still sad.
"I'll try. Goodbye, Vermont."
"Bye, Father.'
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