Late September, 1943, Stockholm, Sweden

"Nice flight today, Bondevik!" Mathias Køhler greeted in English as the fighter pilots in training came back to the base after a test flight. The Dane's smile could barely fit on his face as he smiled at his Norwegian friend.

Lukas Bondevik sighed. "You're so loud," he complained back in English as well as he walked past Mathias. He tried to make a habit of speaking English since his goal was to make it to the British military after this.

Mathias followed after him. "How can you stand heights anyway? Isn't it more natural to stay on the ground?"

Lukas scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Says one of the tallest guys in the base," he grumbled to himself. He narrowed his eyes as he began to walk toward the fighter pilot barracks. "Can you stop following me?"

Mathias stopped in his tracks. "What's your problem today?" he asked, confused. He never understood Lukas. Some days he was nice and fun to be around, and other days he had the personality of a wet biscuit. Today was a day of the latter variety.

Lukas sighed. "My family was evicted from the place they were staying, if you really must know," he huffed leaning heavily against the wall. "Mother's job isn't paying well, and it's really not a good time for that to be happening to them. What will happen to Emil? He was just beginning to adjust, and he's just so difficult when it comes to change anyway!"

"Hey, calm down," Mathias said. "Breathe, Lukas. I'm sure there's a place for them. If anything, I know a place they can stay for free."

Lukas narrowed his eyes at Mathias curiously. "What's the catch?" he suspiciously asked.

"What do you mean by that?" Mathias asked, trying to hold back his shock at his friend's question. "Why would you think there was a catch to that?"

"There's always a catch when it comes to you, Mat! That's why!" Lukas stabbed a slender finger into Mathias's toned chest. "And I know you'll demand proof, so I'll give you proof! That time you offered me some advice on getting rid of my nervousness 'for free'? Remember what the cost of that was? I'll remind you!" He jabbed his finger into Mathias's chest once more. "I had to do your chores here at the base for three days! I'm not going to subject my mother and little brother to your stupid slave labor, Mathias! It's not going to happen!"

Lukas began to storm toward the door, but Mathias beat him to it and leaned against it, a playful smirk resting dangerously on his lips. The Norwegian scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at him as if daring him to either move or keep standing there. Either way, it seemed as if it would end badly for Mathias.

"Lukas, why do you think I only want bad things for people?" Mathias asked, the smile still playing on his lips.

"Because of that stupid, fucking smile of yours!" Lukas answered, angrily pointing at Mathias's lips. His glare hardened. "I hate it because I know you probably grew up using it at home to get your way!"

Mathias's smile grew wider. "And what would you know about how I grew up?" he asked, amused. "You know nothing about my childhood or how I was raised, Bondevik. You don't even know how raised me or if I have any siblings."

"You're obviously an only child," Lukas scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"But was I raised as one?" Mathias asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"That doesn't even make sense," Lukas sighed, pinching at the bridge of his nose in frustration. "What did you mean by that?"

"I was raised by my aunt," Mathias answered. "She has a son four years younger than I am, and four years ago she took in a Finnish boy who is a year younger than her son. My aunt, bless her heart, will take in anyone in need because she is a fucking saint."

"So that's what you meant," Lukas mused. "How about I check it out first?" He eyed Mathias for a moment. "Just to be sure that you're telling the truth."

"My beautiful, amazing Aunt Sigrid is the last thing I would ever dream of lying about!" Mathias quickly insisted. "She is like an angel, Lukas Bondevik! An angel, I tell you!"

"I get it," Lukas said. "She's an angel." He sighed. "Look, how soon will I be able to check it out? My mother and little brother need a place to live as soon as possible!"

"Are you done with training?" Mathias asked.

Lukas gestured to himself. "Does it look like I'm in a fucking plane, Mathias?" he irritably demanded. "Just give me a moment to put my civilian clothes on." He stared at the tall Danish man for a moment. "Can you move? Please? I need to change."

Mathias slowly moved to the side. "Since you asked nicely…"

Lukas scowled at him and pushed past him, heading toward his bunk in the barracks to change. If Mathias was telling the truth about his aunt, then maybe his family would be okay. Maybe his mother wouldn't have to work like crazy and have to afford rent and child care for a five-year-old. He just hoped he could find all of this before the day was out and maybe have her moved before it was too dark.

.

Lukas found himself at a small house with Mathias. He was beginning to question why he had followed through with that dumb Dane's shenanigans, but he had nothing to lose, really. If there was a possibility that his mother and brother could stay here, then he would come check it out.

Mathias just opened the door and walked in. "Moster Sigrid?" he asked in Swedish, walking in. "Tala engelska! Vi har en gäst! Han är en vän till mig!"

A slender woman with graying hair and glasses walked into the room. She was wearing a robe over a dress that was covered in many patches. "Hello," she greeted, smiling at Lukas. She didn't look much older than Lukas's own mother, which made Lukas wonder how old she really was. "I am Sigrid Oxenstierna, Mathias's aunt. What is your name?"

"My name is Lukas Bondevik," he answered. "I'm training to be a fighter pilot. I have come to request a favor."

"I am all ears, Lukas," Sigrid said, seating herself on the living room couch and gesturing for him to have a seat as well. "What is your request, dear?"

"My mother and brother are here with me from Norway while I do my training," Lukas began. "They are very poor and have no place to stay. You see, my mother, Elsa, is very sickly and weak, and my brother, Emil, is only five, so he is unable to work."

Sigrid put a hand up to stop him. "Say no more, Lukas. They are welcome to stay in Mathias's old room here. How soon would they be moving in?"

"That is the catch, ma'am," Lukas began. "They were just kicked out of their other place today, so I was hoping for as soon as possible."

"What are you doing here, Lukas?" Sigrid kindly asked. "I will make dinner, and you two go and get their things and move them. How many people will you need? We have two more men to help if needed. Berwald! Tino!"

A blond man stood in the doorway of the living room moments later, a permanent scowl seemingly plastered to his face. His seafoam green eyes stared at Lukas through wire-rimmed glasses as he seemed to size up the shorter, Norwegian man.

Beside him was a shorter man who was slightly more plump and happy-looking. He had wide, violet eyes that were slightly hidden by light blond bangs. His smile brightened up the room as he looked up at the bespectacled one. He seemed like the complete opposite of the man next to him, yet they both seemed to compliment the other very well.

Mathias scoffed. "Look, I appreciate Berwald and Tino coming along, but Berwald might scare the poor landlord or even Lukas's brother, and Tino might…I don't even know what Tino might do. You know he's the tiny, dangerous one."

Judging by what Mathias had said, Lukas quickly guessed which one was Berwald and which one was Tino. Tino was obviously the little plump one, and Berwald was the bespectacled one. Lukas observed the way the two interacted with each other. Though they seemed so different from each other, they were both so soft-spoken and gentle with each other that Lukas couldn't help but almost smile.

"Tino är du säker på att du vill gå?" Berwald asked, looking down at Tino.

Tino puffed up his cheeks at Berwald as he turned to face him. "Jag är inte så hjälplös som jag brukade vara. Dessutom är det bara bära saker, eller hur?"

Lukas was anxious to go. He wanted to make sure they could move his mother and brother before it was too dark outside. Emil was scared of the dark, and he didn't want to take a frightened child through it.

"So are we ready?" Mathias asked, looking to Tino and Berwald, who nodded. Mathias turned to Lukas. "They don't speak much English, so I apologize in advance. I mean, Berry speaks some, but Tino only knows a few words."

Lukas nodded. "Okay. But we should probably go. I don't want to have to take my baby brother through the dark. He's scared of it."

"What's this? Lukas Bondevik actually cares about someone other than himself?" Mathias teased as they all began to head down the lane.

"Shut up," the Norwegian grumbled. "My mother and my brother mean the world to me. That's the only reason I was willing to even beg your aunt if I had to."

Mathias smiled. "It's like I'm seeing a new part of you. This is pretty interesting."

"I will punch you," Lukas warned. "Don't tempt me, Mathias."

The Dane's smile turned to a smirk. "You know, I always figured there was something you cared about."

"Stop it," Lukas said, his voice low and threatening. He almost turned around when he heard Tino giggled behind him. What the hell was he giggling about?! This was serious! Lukas grabbed Mathias by his collar and pulled him down to his level as they walked. "What is that kid giggling about behind us?" he hissed in Mathias's ear.

"First off, that kid is twenty," Mathias began, but stopped when he heard Lukas's impatient growl. "Anyway, they're not used to seeing me being threatened or bullied, so they think it's funny. Especially when it's coming from someone like you."

Lukas shoved Mathias away. "What do you mean by 'someone like me'?!" he demanded.

Mathias grinned. "For starters, you're a lot smaller and thinner than me," he began. "I mean, you're probably at least eight centimeters shorter than me, give or take. And I'm pretty sure I'm a lot more muscular and weigh more than you."

Lukas huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Just stop talking," he grumbled as they walked. "You're annoying me."

Berwald and Tino's snickering became more noticeable behind them. It began to bug at Lukas. Was it really that funny watching him and Mathias talk? Were they really that funny? Did it amuse the two that much? It started to make Lukas wonder what the guys back at the base thought of them. It almost made him uncomfortable.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mathias asked after a moment. "You look a little pale. Do you need to sit down for a minute?"

"I'm fine," Lukas grumbled as he remained walking. "Besides, we're not too far from where my mom and brother are. The sooner we get to them, the sooner we can get them to your aunt's house. I won't be able to relax until I know they're safe and in good hands, Mathias."

Lukas's mind went to his mother. She had looked so sickly and thin the last time he saw her, yet she had insisted that she was doing just fine. Her cough had told him otherwise, and so had his brother. Her hair, which had been so beautifully blonde was now dull and graying. Her eyes that were once a dazzling sapphire like Lukas's now seemed so dull. It seemed like every time Lukas went to see her, the mother he once knew kept disappearing more and more. He was terrified that one day he'd visit her, and he'd only see a stranger.

And then there was Emil, Lukas's younger brother. Emil was technically Lukas's half-brother, but Lukas refused to use that term. The two looked like their mother and both had her face, though Lukas had her blonde hair and sapphire eyes. Emil had his father's violet eyes and silvery hair.

Lukas was eighteen when Emil was born, and though he tried everything in his power to hate Emil, he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Especially the day when Emil had a high fever when he was two years old and Lukas had to babysit him. The small boy had crawled into his big brother's lap, thinking that his big brother could make him feel better and make the bad feeling go away. Emil had clung to Lukas with everything he had and cried, begging Lukas to take the fever away. Lukas, just humoring his younger brother, had chanted what was supposed to sound like a magic spell, but was just random silly words. Moments later, Emil had begun to sweat profusely as his fever broke and he began to feel better. Ever since that day, Emil thought of Lukas as magical and his hero. Lukas never once corrected him.

"They mean that much to you, huh?" Mathias asked, raising an eyebrow to his friend.

"Doesn't your family?" Lukas asked, raising an eyebrow back. "The way you corrected me on Tino's age, I can tell you care about him a lot, whether he is blood or not."

"You are very perceptive, Bondevik," Mathias stated, smiling widely.

"And you're not?" Lukas shot back.

"Fair enough," Mathias said with a smirk as he chuckled to himself. "You are just full of surprises, Lukas."

Lukas stayed quiet. He didn't feel comfortable with knowing how he was full of surprises at the moment. Besides, they were to where his mother and brother were staying. "We're here," he said before knocking. He looked at the three bags next to the door. They most likely belonged to his family. It made him angry to see them out on the street where anyone could get them.

The landlord opened the door, but Lukas didn't even let him get a greeting out before simply saying, "Jag är här för min mamma och bror."

Elsa Steilsson came to the door, holding her younger son. "Lukas?" she softly asked in English. "You don't need to be rude." She began to cough so hard her body shook.

Lukas quickly took Emil from her, the sleepy five-year-old too tired to know who was even carrying him. He cradled his little brother's head into his chest. "We're here to take you to a new home, Mother," he softly told her. "These are some friends of mine. We're going to take your stuff and we're going to move you to a nice place where you and Emil will be safe."

Elsa smiled gratefully. "All of our things are outside. I'm afraid there are only three bags." She blinked curiously. "You said 'these', but there is only one person in here with you, Luke."

Lukas turned around to see Mathias. "Where are your cousins?" he asked him.

"They probably stayed outside with her stuff to make sure none of it got stolen," Mathias answered with a shrug. "Ber's pretty intimidating. I don't think anyone would want to steal something he's standing next to."

Lukas nodded. "Right." He then noticed something. "Wait, does Emil not have a coat anymore?" he asked. "It's too cold for him to go outside like this, Mother."

Elsa sighed. "We had to get rid of it this past summer to pay rent," she softly said. "Mine, too."

Mathias shrugged off his coat. "Here, you wear mine," he told her. "It's not too long of a walk. I can handle it." He put his coat over his shoulders. "My cousins can carry your bags, ma'am. You don't look like you can walk too well, so I will help you."

Lukas gave Mathias a suspicious look before carefully shrugging out of his own coat without waking Emil and draping it around him. Why was Mathias being so kind to him and his family? It worried him to know what Mathias would expect in return for all of his chivalry. He made sure his brother was nice and snug before stepping outside without another word to the landlord.

"Are you sure you won't be cold?" Elsa asked Mathias as they also stepped outside.

Lukas heard the laughter in Mathias's voice as he said, "I am sure, ma'am."

"Please, dear, call me Elsa," she said.

"Then call me Mathias," he told her in response. "I am a friend of Lukas's from the base. You will be staying with my beloved Aunt Sigrid and her son Berwald and his friend Tino. They are all great people. Berwald and Tino will help with Emil and I know my Aunt Sigrid will love your company."

Elsa coughed harshly into her fist. "That sounds lovely, dear." Her body shook with coughs as she stopped and nearly doubled over.

"Mother!" Lukas exclaimed in panic. He turned to her, shielding Emil away from the cold. He himself was rather cold, but he ignored the chills he felt as his mother coughed behind him.

"I'm fine, Lukas," she struggled to say between coughs. She finally doubled over as her face turned red.

Mathias looked to Lukas before picking Elsa up bridal style. "I'll carry you the rest of the way, Elsa. It won't be too far." He frowned when he saw how worried Lukas looked. "It's nice and warm there, and I'm sure my aunt has something to help that cough. She's all about home remedies."

Lukas began to walk in step with Mathias, Berwald and Tino taking the lead. He wanted to reach out and hold his mother's hand to reassure her that everything would be okay, but he needed both hands to carry Emil and to make sure the coat stayed secure on him. No matter how reassuring Mathias's words sounded, he couldn't stop the knot from forming in the pit of his stomach. His mother was very sick, and there was nothing he could do.

.

Lukas sat on the couch in Sigrid Oxenstierna's home, sipping at coffee made by Berwald. It was really good, he had to admit. Emil was asleep, his head in Lukas's lap and laying across Elsa and Mathias, Elsa seated between the two men. Lukas was absently running his fingers through his brother's hair as he sipped.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Sigrid," Elsa said, nodding her head to her new landlord. "If there is anything I can do, please let me know."

"Please," Sigrid said, smiling, "you are a guest for now. I would like for you to get your strength back first. You must take care of your health. Berwald, Tino, and I will help with little Emil while you recover."

Elsa's eyes widened. "You must be some sort of angel!"

Mathias smirked at Lukas as me mouthed, "Angel," to him. Lukas rolled his eyes and huffed into his coffee, looking away. Again with that angel nonsense. Yet even though he was annoyed with Mathias, he knew he was forever indebted to him for what he had done for him that day. Lukas would never be able to repay him for the kindness shown to his family, yet he was worried about what he would have to do to repay him. That was enough to make him put down his coffee, unable to finish the delicious beverage made for him due to the knot in his stomach. If he had to drink one more drop, he was worried it would all come up. Deep down, he was terrified of what he would have to do to pay back Mathias.