Black. That's all that I remember.

Is this how it's meant to be? I've lived my share of happiness, and now it has to end in this abrupt way?

But wait; I haven't told him yet. I haven't told him that I love him…

XXX

"Ja, I am Sweden, and this is my w'fe" his gruff voice echoed as Estonia and I trembled with fear. Did I hear him correctly?

"Sve; I'm not your wife…Estonia, can you please take us in? Just for tonight? Matthias won't ever let us go if we return to him" I begged the short man. He was our last hope; we'd been camping on empty reserves for three straight days, and even I could see the wear on the Swedish man's shoulders.

"Finland, you know what will happen if HE finds you here; how can I possibly take responsibility for that?" Estonia murmured, gesturing at his now silent traveling companion. "And what am I supposed to do with him? Viking blood runs through his veins, Finland. I can't let that into my house without wondering exactly what he has over you" he expressed worriedly. My eyebrows creased at his response; "Estonia, it's just Sve; he wouldn't hurt a fly…" I started to say before I glanced back to actually look at the monster of a man; only to find him menacingly glaring at the two of us; ripping a very unmanly scream from myself and Estonia.

Estonia is sort of right on that account, I mean; who would willingly spend time with such a beast of a man? Not me, surely? Well, Sve's only protected me over the centuries; shielding me from Matthias every time my people rebelled against his brutish forces. I don't hate the man personally, though his wild whims make him a force to be reckoned with.

I sighed, breathing through my nose. "Please, Estonia. You're our only hope. Besides, what are the chances of him thinking of coming here, of all places? I'm not so self-absorbed as to think he'd come so far just to pick a fight with a tiny Fin like me" I lightly teased, though the smaller nation did not seem so convinced. Concerned, though a faithful friend to me, he ultimately agreed, and motioned us to enter his already crowded cottage; warily eyeing the brutish man behind me as he shadowed my entrance.

XXX

We couldn' keep goin' the way we were through the mountains and forests at this time of year. Fin and I had both seen better days when we finally arrived at the Estonian cottage; much to the native resident's surprise. My introduction rattled both of the smaller countries, though I left them to their private conversation while I assessed the property's perimeter. You'd be daft to leave things to chance in a monopolized state, but that didn't mean I wasn' prepare' to protec' my Fin. I ain' afraid to show my axe or blade from the old days to those who threaten his happiness; that infectious disease.

He may seem to prattle on abou' the mos' obtuse things, but it doesn' matter to me; it's all words from the heart. I couldn' bear ta watch as the people punished him through their uncontrollable urge to be set free, an' who coul' blame 'em? Suppression wasn' a big secret be'ween Viking cultures, an' it ne'er really ended I guess. Tha' day I knew I just ha' to ge' him ou' of there; Matthias wen' too far, though we coul' all see the grief it caused him. We coul' see it in his eyes.

Tha' regret didn' make it righ' though.

I'd just come back from choppin' wood for our household when I hear' the sickening shatter of glass breaking in the livin' room. I'd rushe' to the fron' door, only to fin' his bruised and bloodied body layin' sprawled across the floor; Matthias heaving above 'im with 'is iron swor' and bloo' red shiel' in either hand. I didn' think when I ran at 'im; my blood drawing my axe and chargin' at the pained Dane.

There's a reason why Matthias is our leader; he's the most spontaneous fool you'd ever meet. The pain ne'er lef' his eyes as he blocked and carried my attacks, bu' he eventually stopped tryin' to reason with me. As I aimed to take out the shiel' in his lef' hand, he edged his swor' bellow the curve of my blade, and thrust his shiel's sharpened centre into my chest; knocking me back towards the Fin.

I didn' feel the pain at tha' moment, but I coul' feel the bruising muscle soon after as I carried the unconscious Fin out of there. Matthias got me wi' his swor' in the shoulder, but it ain' that which reminds me of tha' nigh'. It was his words.

"He doesn't love you Berwald; he never will. Just remember, under my roof you can pretend to play happy families, but once you step out that door, you can forget all your happiness along with the pretence you hid behind for so long. Just remember, he doesn't even know your name." The Dane had laughed viciously at that, but I'd turned in silence with the small, limp body in my arms.

That night is why we're here at Estonia's place in the borderlands of the Nordic, Soviet and Western European territories, and that night is why I gave up everythin' for that little Fin with hair spun like starligh' and eyes as sparkly as the northern lights.

Lookin' back at the two smaller countries, I noticed Estonia waving Finland into his home and wordlessly proceeded to follow them; heaving our remaining blankets and flasks over my undamaged shoulder. Entering the low-ceilinged building, I felt a shiver run up my spine, and the hair bristle at my neck. Something wasn't quite right, though the other countries appeared to be immune to my ghastly premonition.

"We'll leave 'ere soon" I said briskly to the short men, but whilst they tensed at the sound, they didn' appear to notice the cold seepin' in through the walls.

Fin laughed nervously at my words, but said nothin' agains' my sleepin on the couch in the fron' room whilst he shared a double bed in Estonia's room. I didn' sleep a wink tha' nigh'; forever listenin' for tha' voice to tell me what it wanted; why it came to us here on the doorstep of our three bigges' nightmares, and why only I felt it's icy grip. The Fin an' I were safe for now, bu' for how long, I had no clue.

Hey Guys!

I'm new to the Hetalia Fanfic community as an author, though I'm no stranger to writing. This came to me while I was studying for some assignments, and yet somehow I couldn't get back to work knowing I had this seemingly great idea at my fingertips haha.

Well, I hope you like it; let me know what you think, and any SuFin you want to see in the future; I'm pretty open to suggestions, or if you've just imagined this cute scene between them and want it in writing; I'd love to give it a shot :D

Just a disclaimer; I don't own Hetalia or any of its characters!

Happy reading from me, and I hope to return soon with another instalment~~~