Hey guys! So, this is the first of my promised twelve Christmas oneshots. They're all going to be published under this one story though. And, as an extra challenge for myself, each is going to be exactly 1,000 words long. Not counting the author's note, of course.

Anyway, when I was setting up the schedule for myself, I only realized afterwards that I gave myself all the hard ones at the start. For example, this one. I don't know how to write Finland and Sweden! They haven't even made a real appearance in GEMINI yet. And how to GOD does one write Sweden's accent? I DON'T KNOW. I think I eventually got an okay grasp of the characterization but the accent…well. Just bear with it, okay?

Anyway, random Hetalia real life story of the day: In my science class, we were reviewing mitosis; specifically the five steps of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telephase. So, my teacher gave us one of those stupid assignments where you have to think up a mnemonic device with the first letter of each word: in this case, I, P, M, A, and T. My friend (who likes Hetalia, but is not quite as obsessed as I am), however, made this assignment infinitely better by giving me a post-it note that said I Pinch My Adorable Tomato. And beneath it, there was a tiny picture of Antonio pinching Lovino's cheek.

We then went on to make more. Some of the highlights were: Iggy Please Marry America Tonight, In Prussia Men Are Too awesome to stick to mnemonic devices, Italy's Pasta Makes Anybody Thrilled, and I'm Pretty Much Always… ohnevermindnoone'slistening (For Canada)

Thanks Lily! Love you, even though you don't read fanfiction!

Anyhoo, enjoy. Me no own!

SUMMARY: With Christmas coming so soon, Finland is having a hard time finding time to spend with his self-proclaimed 'husband'.

…

Finland sat back in his chair, Santa hat slipping until it was the verge of falling off his aching head. He had been at work since Thanksgiving had ended, making plans and checking gifts and going through everything three times over with a fine comb, finding and fixing even the most inconsequential of mistakes. And it had only gotten busier as Christmas drew ever nearer. Sometimes he hated the holiday season. But the smiles he got to see on children's faces were absolutely worth all the effort he put into his job. He was a perfectionist to the extreme.

But this year had been even busier than most for some reason. Everything he did seemed determined to obey Murphy's Law to the letter, and most days, he found himself scrambling about like a chicken with its head cut off. This was not doing wonders for his relationship with his husband.

Er, 'husband'.

Sweden, that is.

He hadn't seen the other nation since last Wednesday, a whole week previously. And even that had only been when Sweden had come in with two steaming cups of hot cocoa that he couldn't bring himself to say no to. When he'd left, a grand total of ten minutes later, he had muttered something like "I c'm b'xt w'k," and bolted out the door. Seeing as that sentence was even more unintelligible than usual, Finland had brushed it off as some weird good-bye. Still…he had kind of hoped that it had been a "I'll come back next week," but it was nearing nine o'clock and the other nation had yet to show his terrifying face. He was really craving some of that hot cocoa…

Finland massaged his temples, brows furrowing in concentration. He still needed to perfect his present schedule as he was running a little bit overtime according to his plans. Maybe he should not save Helsinki for last? He could always spend his night in Lapland instead, just one more night before heading home officially. It was really the easier option but…he kind of missed his bed…

Well, as a last resort then. He made a painstakingly neat note on the notepad in front of him, letters all uniform and even. He threw his pen down then, resting his head on his hands. He could just take a short break now…couldn't…he…?

"Y' look like yer I' some work done," Finland jolted upright at the voice, spinning around in surprise. Berwald stood behind him, hat pulled down over his ears and his version of a smile sitting on his face tremulously. A thermos was held in each hand, and he held one of them out to Finland invitingly. "I brought y' some cocoa."

Finland grabbed it from his hand greedily, opening it up and taking a much-needed gulp. Sweden continued to awkwardly hover over him until the smaller nation finally noticed and told him to pull up a chair. Sweden did so, sitting down slowly. Every motion he made he did without taking his eyes off him in that creepy yet somehow sweet way of his. He didn't open his own thermos, instead just turning it in his hands for the warmth of it. "Thanks, Sweden! I really needed this."

"N' pr'blem," Finland had always noticed that when Sweden got nervous, his vowels starting going away at even faster rates than normal. He stared at the thermos twisting around in his hands. "Anyway, I w's wonderin'…"

Finland paused in his eager consummation of the warm drink in his hand to glance up at the other nation. Something that resembled a blush was painting Sweden's cheeks. This was unusual. The bigger nation never really had a way with words, but he was never this shy and uncertain. He found himself lowering the thermos to place his whole attention on the other. He frowned slightly as he spoke. "Yes? What were you wondering about then?"

"W'll I w's wonderin'…" Sweden trailed off again, then took in a large breath. "'f ya would sp'nd Chr'stm's w' me."

"Sweden…you know that-"

"N't Chr'stm's Eve," Sweden said impatiently, and even after spending so much time with him over the years, the expression on his face made Finland draw back a little in fear. "I know ya c'n't spend tha' w' me. I m'nt, would ya spend Ch'rstm's Day 't m' house?"

Finland glanced at the papers in front of him desperately. Ah, he wanted to go, but…"I mean, I'd love to, but my plans aren't-"

"I'll p'ck y'up fr'm wherever th' night leaves ya," Sweden mumbled, finally working up the nerve to look Finland directly in the eye. "I want t' be able t' spend it w' m' wife."

"For the last time, I'm a boy!"

"Finland."

Finland stopped talking, hot chocolate forgotten now. Sweden was looking at him gently, probably still terrifying for anyone other than him, but it was somehow still less scary than usual. Finland blushed, pulling on the Santa hat so it covered the top part of his face. "I'm just always so exhausted on Christmas, and probably most of what I'll be doing the whole time I'm there is sleeping. It'd be really boring for you to have me there."

"Ya could n'ver be borin' ta me, Finland," Sweden said, still giving the smaller nation his strained version of a smile. "Yer m'wife."

Somehow, Finland didn't find the declaration as embarrassing this time. He nodded, raising his hands in defeat. The Santa hat finally slipped off his head as he did so, and with it went all of the worries that had been stacking up on his shoulders since the holiday season had begun. Something had changed here, in this short little exchange. There had been a shift in their relationship that brought the blood rushing happily up to Finland's cheeks. Something had changed for the better.

"Seriously, though, stop calling me your wife all the time. I'm very clearly a male."

Glare.

"O-Okay, n-never mind…"

Christmas was going to be fun this year.

…

After this, we have Switzerland and Liechtenstein!

…

Kill me.

Read and review please! Hyvää joulua! God jul!