[Authors Note: This is a short story that is actually a contest entry on Quizilla, but I thought I'd publish it on FF.N too.]
Norway crossed the room, stepping over stuffed animals and other toys to reach the window, which was covered by a heavy navy blue curtain. His little brother was sleeping soundly, he was so cute, Norway felt bad for waking him, but it needed to be done. He pulled the curtain back and blinked his eyes to adjust to the sudden sunlight that filled the previously dark room.
"Rise and shine."
Iceland grumbled into his pillow and pulled the penguin patterned comforter over his tousled silver hair. "Big brother, it's cold..." He whined.
"I know." Norway murmured, running his fingers through Iceland's hair. "But it's time to get up now. Breakfast is on the table and then we have to go to Christmas shopping." It took nearly five minutes to tug the blankets away from the silver haired toddler and another five to get him dressed in a pair of jeans and a beige sweater and socks.
Sweden and Finland were already sitting at the kitchen table, nearly finished with their breakfast. "Where's Denmark?" Norway asked, putting Iceland down on a chair. "H'ng ov'r." Sweden mumbled. Norway went back up the stairs to wake up the hungover Denmark while Finland put a bowl of colorful sugary cereal in front of Iceland.
When Norway came back downstairs, dragging a half-concious Denmark by the tie, Iceland was slurping the remaining milk in his bowl. Soon enough everyone was dressed in there outerwear and in the car, driving to the mall.
"I told you we should have gotten here earlier."
The mall was incredibly crowded, people were doing their Christmas shopping and usually, the five Nordics wouldn't wait this long to do their shopping, but between planning Finland's Christmas party and nursing Iceland back to health after he came down with the flu, they just didn't have the time.
Norway glared at the hung-over Denmark as he sat down on one of the benches with his head in his hands. Iceland was resting on his hip, clutching the fur of Norway's hood in his hands. "You take Iceland, take him to a toy store or something."
He put the toddler down on the bench next to Denmark and grabbed the collar of the Dane's shirt, bringing his face close to Norway's, his dull blue eyes suddenly full of emotion. "Don't take your eyes off of him."
Denmark rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." Norway stared at him pointedly for a few more seconds, before he pressed a kiss to Iceland's tousled silver hair and he left for the escalator. Sweden took Finland by the hand and they disappeared in the crowd.
Denmark grumbled to himself, clearly he did not want to be in this noisy mall, right now he really regretted going out to drink last night with England and Prussia. His head was pounding and he really, really wanted a strong cup of coffee...
The food court was on the first floor, barely twenty five feet from the entrance. "C'mon Icy..." He murmured, walking over to the small coffee shop. He flirted with the pretty girl working the cash register and paid for his large cup of black coffee. "Do you want anything Icy?" He asked, taking a deep swig of the bitter drink, letting it warm his insides and make his pounding headache disappear.
Iceland didn't answer. Denmark turned around and his heart almost stopped when he realized that Iceland was nowhere to be seen. His eyes scanned the crowd of people, looking for the small silver haired toddler with a marshmellow jacket and winter boots that glowed red with every step he took.
"Icy!" He called, his heart hammering painfully against his ribcage. "Iceland! Where'd you go?!" The first thought that registered in his mind was that Iceland was missing, the second was that Norway was going to kill him.