Author's note: I've been meaning to write some more of Freja because I adore that little cutie, so here's something to start off the 14 Days of (Hetalia) Love with. Freja is about 3 here as she is in most stories, because that's a really precious age and she's a really precious girl. And so often I write her with Papa!Sweden when really, Daddy!Norway probably spoils her more (even if he does it in his own way, Freja understands).
Daddy's sad days
Sometimes Daddy gets sad. Normally it happens when Papa has to leave for Sweden, kissing Freja and holding her and making her promise she'll look after Daddy. Freja says she will and watches her fathers kiss, the way their faces change when they part. Freja doesn't like it when Papa has to leave because it makes Daddy sad and it makes her sad too.
But other times Daddy gets sad after Papa's already gone. He looks at photos, or books, or hums a song, or a television show comes on and he becomes sad. It's not the kind of sad Freja becomes; he doesn't cry and his face doesn't scrunch up. Instead Daddy becomes quiet, smiles less, speaks less. Uncle Christen calls it "terse". Freja thinks its horrible.
Because if Daddy gets sad when Papa's home, Papa makes him feel better, but if Daddy gets sad when Papa is away, how can he do that? Papa might be amazing but no one was that good.
Today Freja decides she's going to make Papa proud and cheer Daddy up. After all, Daddy had been fine until the newspaper over breakfast, dressing her in near silence as she babbled on, sitting in his study but not typing on the computer. So the newspaper had to have upset him, and that meant it was up to Freja to distract him.
When she's managed to finish climbing down the stairs Daddy isn't in his study anymore, or the kitchen: he's on the back deck with Tessan at his side. As quietly as she can Freja opens the door, creeping up on her Daddy until she throws her small arms around his neck and presses into his back.
"Daddy!" she screams lovingly into his ear, kissing his cheek. Daddy's hands take hers and he leans into her touch, turning his head, but he doesn't smile like he normally does.
"Hello beautiful," he sighs, the same thing Daddy says whenever he wakes her.
"Daddy, you're sad," Freja pouts.
"I am, baby girl, I am."
"I don't like it when you're sad." Daddy does smile a little at that.
"I don't like it when I'm sad either. I'm sorry, Freja."
Freja pouts some more before hugging Daddy, shifting so she can really squeeze him the way he squeezes her before leaving on a trip she can't come on. Freja puts all she can into the hug because she knows how much Daddy puts into his hugs and he deserves to feel that too.
For a long time they stay like that, Daddy hugging her back, until he sighs and kisses her shoulder and smiles against her neck.
"I love you Daddy," Freja whispers.
"I love you too Freja, so, so much."
Papa would be proud of Freja when he comes home, but mostly Freja was happy that Daddy wasn't sad anymore. Because who can be sad when they're so loved?