And Turning

It was strange having time to himself. Finland found himself constantly waiting for interruptions which never came. For so long he was used to his neighbor coming over, so much so he almost did not mind anymore.

But Sweden was not here. Finland was not finding him in his house, he was not finding him to the West. He would receive phone calls from the Russian line and barely be able to make Berwald out. Tino had waited for this freedom for a while, but now that he had it he missed his friend. It had been so long since he had been without him... was he just not used to it?

Don't be silly, Finland reminded himself. You are just fine. Missing a friend is just fine.

"When is papa coming back?" Peter swung his legs back and forth from where he was sitting on the counter. He was watching him for Berwald, because he did not want to take the boy with him. For obvious reasons. Tino continued to put away the dishes and picked the Micro Nation up and set him on the floor.

"Five o'clock, I told you," Tino reminded him gently. From the corner of his eye he could see Peter puff his cheeks and Tino hid his smile by ducking his head.

"It'll be the first time in a month! Why don'tcha sound more excited?"

Tino thought about it. There were plenty of reasons, right? "Maybe when you have lived as long as I have, you'll understand a month really is not that long."

"So time means less now?"

Tino frowned, looking down at Peter thoughtfully. "No... that's not right. It is just you learn to accept some things and not waste your time worrying about things that have to be."

Sealand did not seem to believe it. "Right..."

Finland went back to work.

England groaned.

"England! Hey! You're awake!"

That was not the sound of a voice England wanted to hear. He still felt dizzy and the back of his head hurt from where he was certain it had collided with the ground. Because of all of this, England decided not to open his eyes, just in case that would make America speak again. Let him think I just passed out again... just let him think...

Then England remembered what had happened to make him pass out. Not only that, but it would have meant that he had passed out and left America and Russia alone in a room together. Certainly neither of them were originally at fault for the war which occurred between them, but the hatred which rose up again because of it certainly was. Not only were the both of them here, Belarus was here as well. This had to have been the stupidest time to pass out for... why did he pass out again?

"Where's Belarus?" England coughed as he sat up (someone had moved him to the couch), glancing about. He saw Belarus almost instantly. And so stared at where she was.

"She's almost adorable," America grinned down at the child in his arms. He had found some of England's old clothes for him and had fit her into them. Natalia was wearing Alfred's old clothes. England almost wanted to die, more at the fact that America went through his things, knew where they were and that England had even kept them, and had easily given them to Belarus. "Yeah, and I think Russia's raiding your kitchen. The mix of both me and Belarus in the same room must have been too much for him, so he schmoozed off."

England hated that word. America had not even used it correctly, which was making England a little sorry for it. "Schmooze means to idly chat with... talking, not to slink off."

"Slank!" America snapped his fingers together. Belarus did not seem very phased as she glanced over at America's fingers.

The Briton decided not to argue about this, mentally declaring it pointless.

"So... England. England. England." America repeated his name several different ways, as if trying to get his point across without actually having to say anything. England glared at him, not that he expected it to work, and surprisingly got the point.

"What am I going to do with Belarus?"

"Exactly! Wow, you're psychic!"

Pushing back the feelings of hunger, caused by the impromptu usage of his magic, England rose up to his feet, staring over at Belarus. It did not take her long to stare right back. Even in looking like she was six or seven years old, she was a bit creepy. And rather quiet. "I... I think I had something in mind."

"You think?" America repeated, a snort escaping him. England put out his arms and, after a moment of consideration, America handed her over. Despite the fact England had the thought she might bite, he cradled her in his arms and stared down at her large, unblinking, eyes. "You can't think about keeping her! Well... actually, you could. You do like kids and all. Yeah." America nodded, as if he had decided on something.

England was rather certain America almost would not mind because he would rather England do this then try strengthening his relationship with Russia. Which England was just not going to take. "I'm not raising her, I don't have the time."

America frowned. "So... you turned her into a kid, made her incapable of being able to fend for herself, and you aren't going to take responsibility?" After saying that, he laughed. "Really? And you're always hounding me about that stuff! Ha!"

Ignoring that, England thought about what he had done. Even though it was Belarus, he wanted to keep her. Why? Because. Because now, after America, Canada, Hong Kong... after those children he really thought he could do better. At the same time, he knew he should not, he could not. The time was passed his ability to be able to take care of a child.

Yet, there was a certain duo who came to his thoughts of which the same could not be said of.

"I know where I am going to put her. Someplace which will be good for them as much as it will be good for her."

"Huh?" America asked, but England was rather finished talking to him. America wanted advice about asking Japan to marry him? England did not know what to think about that. He also did not know who he would be worried for. That on top of this was simply too much for England to want to deal with right now.

"Can you come back later America?" he asked quietly, hoping America would not argue too much.

"Uh... you sure you can handle everything?"

"Of course I can!" England announced. Belarus tried to get out of his arms, but he simply shifted how he was holding on to her. "Go America! You want my advice, give me a few days to think it over and I'll get back to you."

"Your advice...?" America blinked. It took him ten seconds, but he finally remembered what it was that he was here for in the first place. "Oh! Yeah! Right, that. 'Kay, I'll talk to you on Monday then?"

"Yes, yes," England nodded, head gesturing toward the door. "Goodbye America."

America head toward the door, but (as it was too good to be true) he stopped and turned around again. "You sure you can handle Russia? I mean, you could probably scare him out with Belarus, but–"

"Goodbye, America."

America stared at either him or Belarus one last time before he finally left the premises. With a sigh, England looked down at the child in his arms. Natalia looked up at him.

"Actually, I don't know why I never thought of this earlier," he told her. He knew why though, before this really had not been his problem. What transpired between her and Ivan was not a big deal to England... most of the time. Still, even he could tire of watching such events from a distance.

She did not respond.

England moved toward the kitchen, where America had said Russia had gone to. Deciding scaring the Russian while in his house would be a bad idea for the quality of his belongings, he knocked on the door frame before sticking his head in.

"Russia?"

"Is it gone?"

England narrowed his eyes. Really, that had to be his first question. Belarus seemed to have perked up at the sound of her brother's voice though and that really was creepy to England. "I have her. I am taking her somewhere else, where she'll be taken care of. When is the next time you can come over?"

Russia finally showed himself from around the corner, looking at him with a mixture of confusion, fear, and surprise on his face. "Vould... Monday vork?"

Monday? Wait, Alfred was coming back then. "Tuesday would really be better for me."

"I vill talk vith Matthew... surely he'll let me come zen."

"Call if you can't make it then."

"Zanks, England."

"Thank you."

After England was certain Russia had left his house, he locked it up and with Belarus headed East. She threw one fit when Russia left, causing Russia to practically sprint for it, but after that she was quiet once more.

Not that it made up for it. That single fit was a nightmare. She had bitten him too, England glowered down at his bleeding finger. It made him almost want to think twice about inflicting her on anyone else. Then again...

It took a few hours to arrive at the house. Belarus had thrown another fit when he had kept her from the flight which would have taken her to Moscow and England was rather tired once more by the end of it all. He had gotten her some chips and eventually she quietened down once more to feast on them. Feast on them? Well, England thought it as he saw it.

Just don't let that little brat open the door. Just don't let–

"Hey! Jerk England!"

Damn it. England stared down at Sealand, shifting Belarus in his arms once more. He was afraid to put her down, just in case she would try and run away or get lost or the like, but by now his arms were starting to hurt. "Is Finland here?"

"Why would I tell ya anythin'?" Sealand demanded, puffing up his chest as if that made him look bigger or something. England stepped inside, reminding himself to apologize to Finland for intruding. The door was just opened, I don't know why... "Hey! You're not listening! Who're ya carrin'? Hey!"

"Finland?" England called, glancing around the house. "Finland!"

"England?" Finland walked into the room, setting down a basket which seemed to be filled with shirts too big for him. England was not going to ask. "Can I help you with something? Peter, stop bothering him."

"But he just barged in!" Sealand pouted. Finland looked at him and Sealand seemed to deflate. Staring at the floor for a moment, he looked over to the basket. "Is that papa's shirts?" Arthur winced at the mutilation of the English language. "I'll iron them!"

"Peter–" Finland started, but the boy had already gone over, picked them up, and ran out of the room. He stopped at the doorway to stick his tongue out at England.

"Brat!" Arthur gritted his teeth. With a laugh, Peter left. Finland seemed about to say something, but stopped.

"Is... is that Belarus?"

Belarus glowered at him and England turned her face away. He rather hoped she looked adorable or something, but knew better. So he told Finland what had happened.

"Will you take her?"

Tino looked honestly surprised.

America had asked to marry him. No, that was not correct. Alfred had asked if he could ask to marry him. It was a simple enough question, one which should not have had any say on his previous feelings, or make him blush or giggle at the oddest of times, no that was very silly of him. It was a question which should not have had him waiting for it.

Alfred was going to ask him to marry him, was he not?

Kiku wondered whether he was reading too much into this. He was never quite certain what to make of America. The other was his friend, to be certain, and Japan loved him (that he could no longer deny), but he still found himself completely confused around the other at times. Still, he was not certain whether he did the same to America, as America acted so out of the way about all of it... therefore he had reiterated how much the other Nation did not make sense. It was a cycle to think about.

"Kiku!"

Japan nearly screamed, hair standing on end as he gripped at his chest, America's sudden entrance through his kitchen window (again) scaring him nearly to death. He almost thought of reminding America he was too old for things like that, but America never seemed to listen to that excuse. Still. "Alfred! Don't... What did I say about my windows?" Japan managed to take in a deep breath, re-oxygenating all of the blood cells which had lost oxygen in those few seconds.

"You won't believe what I just saw happen!" Alfred continued, despite Kiku's words. Kiku sighed, shutting his eyes.

I do not suppose it is a proposal, Alfred? "What would that be?"

"I went to see England, right? And Russia showed up, but–"

"Russia?" Alfred was not going to bypass this conversation. Not after everything. America waved it off anyway.

"I was with England, it was alright. At least, until Belarus showed up and freaked him out. Russia, that is."

Japan considered the situation. "Why was Russia there in the first place?"

"Wanted to ask England to be his friend or something." America was, quite obviously, pouting. Not only was it ridiculous that he try and hog England like that, his face was absolutely adorable. Kiku tried to remember what they were talking about, but was too busy hoping America's face would not change. "Idiot Brit seemed to want to go along with it."

No matter what, Kiku was not going to move. He fought against his smile, but was loosing quite quickly. "Yes?"

Opening his mouth to say whatever had come to mind next, America paused, staring at him. "Why are you about to laugh?"

"About to laugh?" Japan asked, eyes wide in confusion. "What ever do you mean?"

"Don't 'what ever do you mean' me! You're laughing at me!"

"I am not!" Kiku announced. "This is not laughter! You... you are just adorable!"

Alfred's facial expression faltered. "I thought we talked about this! I'm not cute!" The more he denied it, the more adorable it was. Kiku just could not stand it.

"かわいい!"

"No! Kawaii nai, or whatever! No!"

Kiku clung to him anyway. Alfred was pouting again and it would probably stay there for a while, which he was plenty happy for. It was enough time for Kiku to get it out of his system and recall the fact they had been just in a conversation. "Eh... sorry. I interrupted you..." He tried to pull back, but by this point Alfred's arms were flung carelessly around him and he was not about to let go.

"It's nothin' too interesting. England just shrunk Belarus."

Japan blinked. "What?"

"Yeah, that was my reaction! She's like this tall now," America let one of his arms loose so when he leaned over he could mark about how high she was. "Like... one of your chibi things. You would have been all over her."

Regaining his composure, he pulled back from the other with a frown. "What is that supposed to mean?" America stared at him with a bit of surprise.

"Cute child! You're all grandmother over small cute children."

"'All... grandmother'?" he deadpanned.

"Y'know..." Alfred started, as if it was supposed to make sense if he thought about it for a little longer. "Like how parents are about their children's children. They're not in charge anymore, so they feel like spoiling the kids. Ergo, everything about them is perfect."

Kiku was lost somewhere within the explanation. "How am I like that?"

Alfred hesitated. "I forgot."

This was a usual conversation with Alfred. They never stayed on subject, they often forgot what it was they were talking about in the first place, and yet neither of them really cared. Japan used to try to, but now he found himself accepting this as the normal and simply trying to diverge whatever the current topic of conversation was back on to what was trying to be discussed.

"Alfred–"

Alfred kissed him and as angry as he wanted to be for being interrupted... well, he did not want to be angry, actually. "What... brought that on?"

"You always think that I have to have a reason for doing what I do," Alfred smirked. "Why can't I just be kissing you?"

Because we were talking about something.

Not that Kiku minded.

He had been the one to volunteer himself. He had felt it necessary to go. He had wanted to watch for himself the situation in Russia to make certain that nothing was going wrong. After the war Sweden and Finland had managed to end, he did not want there to be another one.

But Berwald missed Tino.

It was like someone had removed a piece of him and had sent it away, untraceable to all, and without a return address. Sweden managed to stay his ground, do as he had decided, be what he had told himself he was going to be... but only because he had told himself ahead of time that was what was going to happen. Only because Finland said it was such a good thing he was going to be doing, even if it was for Russia.

He had committed those words to memory.

"You're such a good person, Su-san. I'll miss you."

"T'no."

No one would have believed how quickly Sweden managed to return home. Finland's home, anyway. It was his home, or as good as. Better than his own house – for it had Finland in it. Easily, he found the key he had made for himself (though the key to his own house had been lost months ago) and unlocked the front door. It was only five, someone would be home.

"Papa! You'll still love me more than her, right?"

Berwald looked at Peter and thought about it. There was no 'her' he believed to even be in competition. So he nodded. Peter looked rather relieved.

"Dinner's just about ready, but Finland's sort've got his hands full..."

With the knowledge that his wife needed help, Sweden headed straight to the kitchen. He saw the back of Tino and so hugged him.

"M' w'fe."

"Ah! Su-san!" Tino squeaked, stiffening up and then relaxing into his grip. "You sneaked up on me! Don't be so unexpected."

"I'm hungry!" Peter announced.

"Table," Berwald told him before he could touch anything. Peter stared into the pot with a strange expression on his face, before sighing and doing as he was told.

"...someday I want some real food..."

"No!"

The third voice Berwald heard was not one he was used to. Glancing about, his eyes landed on one of the kitchen chairs, where something was sitting.

"Sweden... I can explain!" Finland pulled away from his grip and went over to the chair. Sweden looked for a few more moments before realizing just who he thought he was seeing. Belarus. Though he was pretty certain the last time he had seen her she had been taller then that.

Berwald blinked.

"You see... England accidentally turned her into this while trying to protect Russia from her," Tino began explaining quickly. Berwald, of course, simply listened. "He said he really could not care for her though and asked if we... um, if I would do it. I'm still considering, I mean, that's a lot to ask for, but I figured she could stay here for a little bit until we figure out where she should stay!"

Tino really did not need to explain. Berwald knew exactly what Tino was saying.

Tino had gotten them another kid.

Berwald had never been so happy in his life.

"...Su-san?"

Berwald hugged him, which Tino stiffened in, then relaxed. "I don't quite understand what that means, Sweden... but I guess you're not upset?"

"No!" Natalia screamed again as she tried to get off the chair. Berwald turned his head so he had her in his view. She stared at him.

He stared back. "N'."

A small squeak escaped her and she hid her face into Tino's side. "What...? Oh, um... it's okay! B-Belarus–"

"Nat'lia." Tino looked back up at him. Berwald considered the situation. "D'n't call her th't. Call her Nat'lia."

"N... Natalia." Tino said. For a while he stayed quiet. "Does this mean you want to keep her?"

Berwald hugged him again.

America fails at Japanese. If I recall correctly, it should have been 'かわいいではない' if he really wanted to protest. He knows some things, just not enough to respond quickly and in these situations. (Lately I discovered how to actually make my computer write hiragana (I know I fail at computers) and therefore I feel a bit more confident putting more of the Japanese I learned into things. Hooray!)

There will be a lot more between Sweden, Finland, Sealand, and Belarus in another one of the stories I have planned about this. 'Raising Natalia'. It will probably be the story I write after this one.