A/N: A shorter chapter but the story is technically starting here. :D

Legend:
Eduard- Estonia
Eyvindur- Iceland

Updated (12/03/2015): Chapter has been cleaned and updated with a name change for Iceland.

Disclaimer: Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya. I don't own anything but the story itself.

Eduard drove through the vast fields of empty farm land and made his way home. The roads were bumpy around these parts since it was mostly filled with dirt and gravel. He didn't seem to mind however since the scenery heading up to his tiny home made up for it.

More than a year had passed and he had adjusted to his new life fairly quickly. But he was homesick and frequently worried about his mother. He settled in a growing suburb outside the downtown core in the capital. The community was primarily French-speaking and many who lived on the outskirts of the town worked as farmers. There was a wood mill that was also one of the main employers but rumours had been circulating that the mill was going to be shutting its doors, putting a good portion of the town out of work. Eduard doesn't converse with the townspeople or partake in community activities. There are few foreigners in town and he's often given strange and intimidating glares. He doesn't think much about it however as he wants to keep his presence low key.

As he continued to drive, he saw an individual walking up ahead on the side of the road. He's a young man with silver hair, neatly dressed in a dark grey suit similar to his, and carrying two suitcases. He honks his horn to grab his attention and pulls the vehicle to a complete stop next to him.

"Hey, you look like you need a hand. Did you need a ride?" Eduard smiled. The man didn't say anything but a mere "thanks" and got inside. Once he was settled in, the man threw his suitcases in the backseat and Eduard continued on his way back into town.

"Where are you heading?" The man asks.

"Home. I live in a suburb near downtown. Is there a place you wanted me to drop you off?"

"Just in town is fine," he replied, "If you want, you can drop me off at your place and I'll be on my way."

"Do you even have a place to stay? You've got a lot of stuff back there."

He huffs, "Of course I do." The car became silent for a few moments till the man sighed uncomfortably, "No I don't. I was hoping to stay in a hotel but I'm short on cash so I guess I'll stay at a shelter or-"

"You can stay with me for the night," Eduard interrupted, "I've got plenty of room and I wouldn't mind the company."

"Are you always this nice to people you haven't met before? You should be more careful. I could be a criminal you wouldn't even know it."

"No offensive, but you don't look like you could even hold yourself in a fight," he laughs, "What's your name anyway?"

"Eyvindur Sveinsson."

"That's a bit of a mouthful," he chuckles, "Mine is Eduard-" He nearly bites his tongue over the slip-up but he doesn't miss a beat as he pretends nothing has happened. "Eduard Pääsuke. Where are you from? You don't sound like you're from around here."

"I'm from a small town called Glimi in Manitoba. But I was born and raised in Iceland. And you? You don't sound like you're from around here either," Eyvindur asked curiously.

"I'm from Estonia. I moved out here little over a year ago for better job opportunities. I've done some odd jobs here and there but I've never been able to keep anything permanent. But I'm optimistic I'll find something soon."

The ride into town was largely uneventful and silence took over after their brief exchange of words. When they arrived at Eduard's home, Eyvindur looked at it in awe. It was a newly built bungalow, complete with a beautiful front porch and a well-kept groomed garden. Surely this was not his house, he thought to himself. Eduard went into the back of his car and helped Eyvindur with his bags. The two men walked up to the door and Eduard unlocked it. When they entered, he put Eyvindur's bags up against the wall next to the entrance and left to go turn on some lights.

"Make yourself at home. It's not much but it's cozy and modern."

Modern was an understatement. His house had indoor plumbing, electricity, and even some goods that only the rich could afford. Before Eyvindur hit the road with his belongings, he was living in a house with neither of these luxuries and he had no idea how Eduard could even afford a place like this. Especially when he had just told him earlier that he was unemployed.

"Come with me, I'll show you to your room."

Eyvindur grabbed his bags and followed Eduard across the small dining area and down a small and narrow hallway. He opened the door on his left-hand side and turned on a lamp on a night table. The room was nicely decorated with dark-coloured wooden furniture and some items that appeared to be heirlooms from back home. The room was covered in family photographs and two twin-sized beds were up against the wall and fairly distant from each other. Each of them had their own night tables.

"This house unfortunately wasn't large enough for a guest bedroom so I turned the master into both. The one closest to the door is mine. If you're not comfortable sharing a room, I have no problems sleeping on the couch."

"No, no, it's fine. This is more than I had ever expected. I appreciate your hospitality," Eyvindur said before walking over to the other bed and placing his suitcases on top.

"I'm going to go and start dinner. If you need to wash up, there's a bathroom across the hall. Let me know if you need anything," Eduard smiled. Eyvindur thanked him before he left the room. He began unpacking some of his belongings and came across a photo of him and his brother together, taken shortly before he had left Glimi for Toronto. He placed the framed photograph on his night table. The glare of the sun setting catches his eye and briefly blinds him. He walked up to the window and took a look at the scenery. The fields are fairly open but it's clear the area is expanding with new houses being constructed. In the distance he can see a church and the cross is poking through the top of the trees. Eyvindur feels lucky that Eduard has opened his home to him. But his problems are far from over. He has little money left, he's unemployed, and he has no home. Eduard offered to let him stay for the night but he knows he can't stay here forever. He's not sure where he'll go after this but for now he's decided that tonight he'll be worry-free. A nice bath would do him and his feet some good.