Something was coming.

Norway could feel it growing stronger each day.

Actually, no, it more like he could plainly see it waving a gigantic neon lit sign saying "BE PREPARED FOR INCOMING ANNOYANCE" gaudily decorated with many Danish and Norwegian flags, love hearts and a set of colours that could never be rivalled in how offensively they clashed with each other.

Something was definitely coming, and it was made clear by Denmark's constant bothering that "you totally owe me for last year still, ditching me like that" and to "keep your December calendar completely blank and that's an order!" that he would most likely have all of the Christmas season to endure it.

On December 1st, it arrived.

"Norge!" Denmark yelled out before even beginning to knock. "Norge Norge Norge Norge," he chanted in time with his thumps on the dark wooden door. There was shuffling from within heard just over and between the rhythmic pounding right up until said door was slammed open, revealing a foul-tempered face and the smell of a house just waking up. "God morgen Norge," Denmark greeted, not noticing the near shattering grip enforced on the handle of the coffee mug and handle of the door simultaneously.

"Danmark, if you enjoy hitting things so much please do so to your own property, starting with your face." The Dane grinned, undeterred by Norway's ever-charming morning disposition. Also, it was difficult to take anyone seriously when they appeared dressed in mismatched thermals, of various patterns and colours, covered just with an even more mismatched dressing gown.

"Sorry, sorry. Ya free today?" Norway leaned lazily against the doorway, nursing his coffee lazily for a moment just to tease the impatient man (already bouncing between the balls of his feet).

"Actually I have several things planned, each more entertaining and important than the last. Most definitely more entertaining and important than anything you could be planning." There was whining before he even finished talking, to no surprise. By the time he finished Denmark was shifting his shoulders in agitation.

"Come on, ya gotta be kidding me. I told you to keep this month free, especially today!" He gave Norway a scrutinising stare. "You are joking, there's no way you'd just blow me off like that," he decided aloud. The Norwegian downed his coffee with an unheard mutter of "you'd be surprised" and straightened his posture.

"Suppose I was free, then what would you be suggesting?" Denmark beamed again, switching back to the light hearted bouncing of his feet.

"Well first, there's a big mug of cuppachino and a slice of tiramisu with your name on it at that café you like in town," he goaded, voice lilting with a cock of his head. Norway was silent for another moment, staring intently into his own coffee dregs as if he were trying to read them.

"That's the very least you owe me for forcing me up at this hour." Denmark grinned, knowing his victory as soon as he saw it. "Wait here." The door was swung shut again in his face before Norway retreated into his house, so he did just that. He stepped aside off the doorstep to rest on the wall beside it. The weather was rather nice today, for the season they were in, though the temperature was continuing to fall. He would probably always prefer his own country and their oh-so-slightly warmer winters, but a season alone there was hell compared to a season with his love here.

Norway emerged a minute later, wrapped up in a fair few more layers of clothing (now in complementing colours with less gaudy patterns). He took a look at the Dane again, giving him a one over with an unreadable expression, and began walking down the front path of his own accord. The other blonde followed suit, jogging lightly just to catch up, and as they found themselves walking at a matching pace slipped their hands together, trying his luck. Norway's eyes darted down for the quickest of moments before returning to their dead stare ahead. There was a movement of his hand, which could've been interpreted as a weak attempt to break the grip, but nothing more. The Dane tried to contain his growing grin as he counted his second victory of the day.

The café was quiet when they first arrived, just beating the morning rush, so they ordered and were served quickly. Norway slipped to the back of the room to occupy one of the few plush armchairs set out whilst Denmark paid for their drinks. By the time he pulled up his own seat across from him, the smaller man had sunk into the cushions of his own, cradling the mug as if only for its warmth. Denmark thought he looked rather peaceful. He bit his tongue and immersed himself in his drink just to watch the scene a bit more. However, as if sensing his presence Norway opened his eyes and shot the man a look.

"So what is it you've been wanting to tell me for the past however long it's been?" he asked, rolling the question off his tongue. He obviously wasn't a morning person, but he kept his grace even when slumped across a 1980s couch at the back of a small town café.

"What? Why do you think I've got something to tell you?" He asked the question seriously, but the excited grin across his face only served to make his intentions even more evident.

"You're unbelievably obvious. Please just spit it out before you explode." The Dane's laugh tinkled through the room, even as more people began to line through the doors.

"Ok, ok. So, you remember what happened last year around this time right?" Dear Lord, it took control not to groan and roll his eyes at that sentence after the previous month of build-up and prodding reminders.

"Haven't a clue," he chose to say instead, diluting the words with sarcasm to which the man just laughed again.

"You remember, that Advent box from last year. I've still got it, by the way, tucked away in my closet. Of course it's short a few things, like the treats I ate and the picture of you since I keep that on my nightstand." Norway's eyes flickered, the only giveaway to the little flush of nerves that admittance caused. "Anyway, since you owe me for that month without you, I've organised something similar for you this year." The Norwegian finally looked straight at him, raising an eyebrow sceptically.

"So for me putting you through all that suffering, you're going to give me a month away from you? I feel so punished." He bit lightly into his tiramisu, taking a moment from his flat sentences to enjoy the full taste of the cake.

"No way in hell am I doing that again!" Denmark declared adamantly. "It's similar, but different, and that's why you had to keep this month completely clear." He took a gulp of his hot chocolate (childishly prepared with extra sugar and marshmallows, though Norway supposed he should be thankful it wasn't caffeinated) before starting a different approach. "Tell me Norge, how many dates are there between now and Christmas?"

"You mean days?"

"Well each day has a date." Norway gave him a look but answered.

"25."

"Yup!" Denmark played with the marshmallows in his mug, foot tapping below the table restlessly. "24 if you don't count today. Second question; in English, what do people call this?" he asked, gesturing to the store around them. Norway noted that there was now a larger crowd of morning workers sharing the building with them, but that didn't particularly help him understand the question any more.

"A coffee shop?"

"Nei nei nei, I mean what we're doing." He sipped his drink again. "Ya know, two people who love each other going out together, one of them paying and all of that." Norway caught on finally.

"A date?" he sighed, sensing where this was going.

"Yup! So I thought, if there's 25 day dates from now until Christmas, we should have 25 romance dates until then too. And this is the first." Norway just looked at him , not sure whether or not to be in disbelief or worry (or possibly be experiencing the little flutters in his chest he was refusing to acknowledge.)

"Well I'm sure that'll fit in great around our jobs and everything else this month," he commented to make a point. Denmark however simply shook his head with a smile.

"I got that covered; neither of us has to work this month unless it's really really important. I legitimately explained this to our bosses." Norway couldn't help but be disbelieving at that statement.

"How on earth did you manage that?" Denmark tapped the side of his nose knowingly.

"I have my ways. Well, I have to work extra in January to make up for it, but you work hard so your boss didn't mind that much."

"I don't work that hard. I just actually show up."

"Yeah, that too." Norway once again found himself staring at his coffee, thinking over what had just been said. A month nearly of Denmark, everyday and most likely every night, and a date every day for all of that; he would be lying if he said it wasn't a daunting prospect, but also if he ever thought there was a hope of stopping it.

"It had better be an entertaining month for me then." Denmark grinned, that smile promising it would be.

It's that time of year again~ I wasn't planning to do one this year, but here we are. This is a bit different from last years though. Please enjoy. :)