Mathis shifted uncomfortably as he waited for Berwald to return. He had no idea why he had agreed to this. The two had been dating for nearly three years but neither had ever meet the others parents. Berwald had informed Mathis only the other day that his mother, Mrs. Linnéa Oxenstierna, was on her way to Copenhagen and would arrive the next day. That had left two options, meet the woman, or run like hell.

Berwald had laughed at Mathis for hours, noticing how uncomfortable the other man looked. He had tried to dress up with black slacks and a white dress shirt, but that only made him feel even more nervous. No butterflies in his stomach. Nuclear bombs exploding seemed more like it.

Since the Swede had left to go wait for his mother at Copenhagen Airport, thankfully leaving the Dane behind, Mathis Køhler had sat on the couch, not daring to leave the room for any reason. Skipping breakfast seemed like a horrible idea now, but he hadn't wanted to vomit during his first impression with the woman.

"M'this, 'm back!" Berwald called before opening the door to their home, and glancing inside. All Mathis could do was wave back shyly. He shouldn't be scared of Berwald's mother, he knew that, she would more than likely be a sweet, caring, wonderful-

"Is that anyway to greet your lover?" the woman's voice was nearly as accented as her son's but years of traveling and few trips home had weathered it to a slightly more understandable one.

"N-no ma'am." Mathis said, realizing he didn't even call his own mother ma'am. Berwald was clearly hiding his amusement at just how pale Mathis had become as his mother walked inside.

The woman was thin but tall, her soft golden hair secured in a bun. She was in her late 50's, with sharp, unnerving blue eyes that were occupied with scrutinizing the strangely docile Dane before her.

She's going to destroy him. Berwald didn't dare voice the comment in front of her though.

Huffing, the woman glanced around the room. "At least your home is clean. Though that's probably my little Lejon." Turning her attention to Berwald and instantly looking every bit like Mathis' mom did when he showed her photos of he and Berwald's vacation to the Bahama's. "What ever happened to that cute little Finn? He was just the best! Definitely knew how to be a host and treat his guests."

Mathis scrambled to his feet, face a bright red. "F-forgive me ma'am. P-please have a seat. Would you like something to drink or eat?" he ran a hand through his messy dirty blonde hair, making Linnéa zero in on it.

He's fucked. Berwald noted.

"Oh, thank you sweetheart but I'm fine." Linnéa sat down on the couch, crossing her legs and motioning for Berwald to sit to her left, Mathis to her right. The venom in her voice didn't go unheeded. "No, Lejon tell me how you met such a...handsome young man."

"'e wo-" Suddenly Linnéa stopped him, eyes sparkling.

"Oh Berwald, I'm so sorry sweetheart, but I think it would be just wonderful if Mathis told me instead. So we can bond." The lack of a sneer on her face when she said his name definitely was a shocker. She turned her cold, accusing eyes toward him and it took all his strength not to flinch.

"I worked at a store across from his apartment building. One day I got...a little drunk and we both ended up in the hospital."

Nope, now he's fucked.

"See my little Lejon. I told you they were overly violent. You shouldn't have moved here, and with one of them that assaulted you."

"'e ne'er said 'e 'ssualted me." Berwald said lightly, defending what little respect his mother had for the love of his life. Mathis certainly was doing a shit job of it.

"Oh, your right. Maybe you can finish your little story later Mathis." she patted his arm with mock affection. "I made you a treat Ber. Knowing you must do all the cooking, I wanted you to have one night free with a home cooked meal you didn't have to slave over."

"M'this c'oks." the Swede sent an apologetic glance over his mothers head that made the man feel at least a little better.

"I'm sure he does. I just meant that you get a home cook meal that won't poison you." At least she wasn't pretending like it wasn't a verbal slap to the face.

"My cooking isn't that bad." Mathis realized how strained his voice sounded. Fuck being scared of her, if she didn't watch herself soon not even Berwald would be able to save her.

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that dear. For a Dane you probably cook amazing." Mathis twitched as she reached into the bag she had brought with her and pulled a plastic container out of it. "I have meatballs and cookies for you two. Not that that one needs any by the looks of it."

"Din kælling!" Mathis hissed under his breath, all fear for the woman gone. If Berwald hadn't hidden his axe she wouldn't still be breathing by now.

"What was that?" her voice was still soft and light but her face was twisted into an ugly mask. Mathis calmed himself.

"Nothing." No need to add the 'ma'am' any more. Silently he let her go on, insulting his cooking, home, love for her son, country, language, and everything else she could until one comment pushed him over the edge.

"Well it's getting late, I'm going to go." Berwald looked a bit surprised.

"'ou're 't gonna st'y?" he asked and she nodded, kissing him on the cheek while she stood up and brushed her long black skirt, as if trying to brush germs away.

"No, I'd love to but I called in and you remember Katarina? She lives here with her husband. Both nice Swedes. Wouldn't want to get sick staying here." Mathis jumped to his feet, eyes flaming.

"What the fuck does that mean?" he snapped but didn't wait for her to continue. "I can't believe someone as good and wonderful as Berwald has such a sad excuse for a mother! You come into our home by our good grace and the only thing you do is insult me and my country the whole fucking time your here!" Linnéa was looking at Mathis wide-eyed, clearly in shock. Berwald place a hand on Mathis' shoulder, only to have the Dane turn on him with an equally pissed look.

"And you! I spent 3 fucking years with you and you let her walk all over me! I know she's your mom but all I wanted to do was make a good impression. For you. I could care less what someone like her thinks of me." Finally coming down from his rant for a moment he stalked over to the door, throwing it open. "Out. Both of you." he snarled.

Linnéa had finally recovered and with just as much hatred as the blue eyed Dane went to the door, giving him one last look before hurrying out. Berwald made his way slower, stopping to steal a quick kiss and murmur an apology.

Knowing he couldn't just kick Berwald out he added, "You can come back alone in a few hours."

When Berwald got outside and caught up to his mothe,r Linnéa looked positively upbeat. Smiling at him she patted his head.

"Lejon you've finally found someone who can stand up to me. Though I might have gone too far. He seems like a wonderful young man, I give my blessing." Berwald smiled back.

"'ank ya." he said, embracing the thin woman happily.