The buzz of people was overwhelming, and typical, piano music played from above. If you saw the many people walking through the building, you immediately would've guessed that it was a busy time for the airport, and you would've been correct. The piano music changed to a jaunty, Christmasy tune, and you could feel the holiday cheer radiating off of the people.

If you had looked out the window, you would've seen the sky filled with enormous clouds. Snowflakes continuously fell from the sky, and once in a while, one would lightly hit the window, where they would melt slowly, due to the heat inside the building.

Now boarding all passengers for flight 176 to Queens, New York.

Once hearing the call for the long-awaited flight, Tino Väinämöinen gathered up his two suitcases and prepared to board the plane that would take him to his destination. After handing in his ticket, he boarded the huge craft, safely packed away his luggage, and took a window seat, so he could continue to gaze in awe at the incredible weather outside. However, he took notice that seats were quickly filling up around him.

Soon enough, a passenger took a seat next to him, but Tino didn't bother to turn, for he was still infatuated with the serene, almost magical view outside. However, when he did turn to say hello to the person who was currently residing in the seat beside him, he immediately froze.

The passenger was a tall man, and was already looking at him, with a dangerously frightening expression. He wore a pair of glasses, and his icy, aquamarine eyes seemed to bore into Tino.

"H-hello!" Tino sputtered, internally screaming.

The man slightly tilted his head, the same expression on his face. "H'llo."

Before Tino could respond, flight attendants scurried around the plane, telling passengers that the plane would lift off in any second. Once it was up in the air, Tino turned back around to the passenger.

"So…um…what brings you to New York?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Tino mentally gave himself a facepalm. What kind of a question was that? It was the question a stalker would ask!

The man gave him a curious look, but mumbled, "'m on m' way to m' family's h'use. Why?"

Tino bit his lip, and then exclaimed, "I-I was just curious! I wanted to make some conversation with you so that I wouldn't seem rude but now I sound like a stalker and I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to sound creepy!"

To his amazement, a strange glint appeared in the man's eye. He turned to face forward, and muttered something under his breath.

Desperate to somehow get on the man's good side (that is, if he had one), and said, "I'm on my way to my family's as well!"

He nodded, yet remained quiet.

Tino pulled his light blue coat around him tighter and figuring that the man didn't want to talk to him, returned to looking out the window.

"Why 're ya lookin out that w'ndow so m'ch?"

Surprised, Tino looked back around. "I…I just love the weather, I guess. I've always loved winter. The world seems to transform into another place, a place so at ease, so beautiful, so breathtaking, that I can't help myself but stare."

When he was finished, the corners of the man's lips slightly rose, and to Tino's amazement, a tiny smile appeared on the man's face. This completely changed Tino's view of the man; the scary glare was gone from his eyes, which were softened by his smile. His icy aqua eyes, which had reminded Tino of a snowstorm before, now resembled the color of calm, Caribbean Sea.

Before Tino could stop himself, the words, "You have really beautiful eyes," popped out of his mouth, which he immediately covered. "I-I'm sorry, I—"

"S' do you."

Despite himself, Tino laughed quietly. "Thank you." He looked up at the man, and was a bit disappointed to see that his smile had disappeared, although he didn't exactly know why. The silence returned after that, and after a while, Tino decided to break it once more.

"So…do you want to do something to pass the time?"

The passenger looked at him curiously. "Like wh't?"

Tino pursued his lips. "What about twenty questions? We seem to be asking each other a lot of questions lately."

The man seemed to think, but after a moment nodded with a grunt. "'kay."

Tino nodded as well. "Alright! I'll start then!" He thought for a while, and then asked, "Favorite…season?"

"Fall." Tino nodded and waited for his question. He was then asked, "F'vorite c'l'r?"

"Light blue. What about you?" Tino responded.

"R'yal blue." The man narrowed his eyes, and murmured, "F'vorite food?"

"Salmiakki or any type of candy! What's yours?"

"Panc'kes 'r herring."

The game progressed, and after the game ended, both played another game, and then another. A couple times the answers that the man gave were so unlike his seemingly cold demeanor, that Tino couldn't help but laugh at them, and when he did, he was rewarded with another one of the man's rare yet handsome smiles.

As time went by, both actually grew to know much about the other. Tino found out that the man wasn't scary at all; despite his frightening appearance, he was very kind, knowing, and although he wouldn't admit it out loud, extremely sweet and enormously handsome.

The man soon asked an unusual question. "G't a g'rlfriend?"

Tino shook his head. "No, I'm single at the moment. I've never had a girlfriend before." He then repeated the same question he was asked.

The man, like Tino, shook his head. "N'ver had 'ne."

It was at this moment that a voice was heard above, "Please remain seated, we will be landing in Queens, New York shortly."

Tino raised his eyebrows. "Wow, did two hours seriously already pass? Time literally flew! No pun intended," he added, with a smile.

The landing went very smoothly, and when the plane had come to a stop, the same voice called out, "Please gather your belongings, and in an orderly fashion, please exit the plane."

The other passengers immediately arose from their seats and began exiting the plane. Tino found himself right behind the man, and followed him and the other passengers to get their luggage. Once having received their bags, Tino checked his phone, which had one unseen text message.

"Oh…apparently my family has a cab outside the airport waiting for me."

Before Tino could say goodbye to the man, he murmured, "'ll w'lk with ya." Happily surprised, Tino smiled and began walking towards the exit, with the man right at his side, while he hummed happily to the Christmas tune that was currently being played within the airport.

Sure enough, the cab was waiting right in front of the building, with fresh snow on the window shield. As he exited the airport, Tino looked up to say goodbye to the man, and despite his first thoughts of him, felt completely at ease with him at the moment, and realized that he wanted to know much more about him; what he did in his free time, if he had any pets, what his name was, if he would ever see him again—"

"Wait! I didn't even catch your name!" Tino exclaimed, throwing his hands up.

The man chuckled, and Tino caught a glimpse of the smile that he had come to love in just two hours. "N'me's Berwald Oxenstierna." The man, Berwald, bent down to pick up Tino's two bags (which he had dropped in his shock) and went to place them in the trunk of the cab, which was so sweet and caring that it hurt Tino that he would probably never see him again.

"You don't have to do that! I can put them away!"

"I kn'w I don't h've to. I w'nt to." Berwald uttered, and with ease lifted his two bags in the trunk. "'nd I n'ver did catch your n'me."

"I'm Ti—achoo!" he broke off sneezing, and pulled out a tissue. "Sorry! My name is Tino Väinä—achoo!" he sneezed again.

When he looked up, he saw a handful of napkins held out to him. "I 'lways h've a few with m'," Berwald murmured.

Tino gratefully grasped them as he furiously wiped his nose. "Thank you," he replied quietly. "It must be because of this cold weather."

He was about to state his own name when Berwald nodded towards the cab. "Ya b'tter get in your cab. Looks as if he's 'bout to drive 'way."

Hearing this, Tino whipped around, and indeed saw that the driver was ready to leave. Stuffing the napkins in his pocket, he began walking slowly to the car, not wanting to say goodbye to him. "I…thank you for everything Berwald," he painfully stated, as he pulled open the door.

"Your w'lcome," Berwald said quietly. "H've a M'rry Christm's."

"I-you too! Goodbye!" Tino exclaimed, taking a seat in the cab.

"G'bye." He gave one more of his heart-wrenching smiles as Tino shut the door. Almost immediately after the door was shut, the cab driver took off. Tino looked in the rear window, and watched as the airport and Berwald faded into the distance.

As he turned forward and buckled his seatbelt, he couldn't help but feel downcast. He would've given anything for just a little bit more time with the man named Berwald Oxenstierna. He placed his hands in his lap and closed his eyes. To his irritation, he sneezed again, and pulled out the wad of napkins Berwald had given him. It was something so simple that it had almost no value at all, but to Tino, it was considered precious. With almost a sorrowful look on his face, he slowly picked up the first one, only to reveal one underneath with writing on it.

His nose was immediately forgotten, and with a perplexed look on his face, held up the embellished napkin. Upon it were the words,

Still didn't catch your last name.

- Berwald Oxenstierna

Underneath his name was a phone number, presumably Berwald's. Tino's face lit up and held the invaluable napkin to his chest, with a small, yet ecstatic smile upon his face.

No, the smile wasn't about Christmas break, which he was excited for. No, the smile wasn't about Christmas, which he had looked forward to all year. No, the smile wasn't even about seeing his family, whom he missed dearly. His smile was for Berwald Oxenstierna, and the fact that he too wanted to see him again as well.


A/N

Thank you so much for reading my story! Still am not really sure if I am pleased with it or not.

I know its barely March, but I insanely love writing stories that take place during Christmas. Especially Sufin!

Speaking of Sufin, if you are interested in a multi-chapter fic that focuses on that pairing, check out my ongoing story, 'Those Three Little Words'!

Once again, thank you so much for reading! Feel free to review any of my stories; I am always open to criticism and ideas and any review left will brighten my day!

And, as always, Hetalia doesn't belong to me! It belongs to Himaruya Hidekaz, who has created these amazing characters.