Work Text:
June 1679 :: Lachine, Canada
Francis held his hat in his left hand, knocked on the door with his right. Waited.
The woman who opened the door was a good deal older than he remembered, but she still had the same bright eyes as the girl he declared a ward of the king and handed into the ship. "Hélène Guillaume?"
"Yes? Oh!" She smiled. "It's been a long time, Francis."
"Fifteen years isn't that long."
"For you, maybe." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I have six children of my own, now."
"I'm sure they're as lovely as you are, my darling."
She swatted his arm, but her smile didn't dim. "Don't let Alfonce hear you say that. Are you here for Canada, then?"
"May I see him?"
"Of course." She ushered him into the room, indicated the boy setting the table with a tip of her chin. "To be honest, I'd expected you to come for him earlier. It's nearly ten years he's been with us."
"And I didn't expect him at all. If you could?"
She nodded. "Matthieu?" she called.
The boy looked up, trotted over when she extended her hand.
"This is Francis Bonnefoy- France," she corrected herself. "France, this is Canada, Matthieu."
Francis crouched so he could be eye-level, and oh he could see his influence on the colony - that golden hair, those manners. "Good day, Canada."
"Good day." He squinted, just a little. "You're like me."
"Mm-hm." He dropped his hand to his chin. "I'm your big brother."
"I already have a brother." He gestured vaguely south, and Hélène clucked her tongue.
"Matthieu."
"No, he's correct. But I'm your big brother, and I'm sorry it took me so long to find you."
The boy's eyes were very serious. "Why are you here?"
"Matthieu," Hélène said with a squeeze of her hand, "Francis is here to start your apprenticeship."
"But I like it here, with you and Alfonce and the children."
Francis opened his mouth, but Hélène stilled him with a gesture. "Don't you want to grow, to help people?"
Matthieu bit his lip, and Francis tsked.
"Now now, Hélène, he doesn't have to decide right away. I've secured a room at the Sepulcian manor house, and we can speak again tomorrow. Would you like that, Matthieu?"
The boy nodded, so Francis smiled and ruffled his hair. They both had time.
Five days later, Hélène's husband handed Matthieu up onto Francis' horse, and they rode away from the seigneury, down the road to Montréal.