A/N Oh, my, over 70 reviews? I must say, I am so honoured that so many people like my story :3 You people. You're all the best. *pokes everyone on the nose* You're the best!

Grr, I didn't have time this week to pre-write this. It's all straight from my brain onto the computer, so it might be bad...I'm sorry!

Disclaimer: Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Hiramuya. Come What May belongs to Baz Luhrman and Moulin Rouge. I own naught but my own ideas.

On with the show~!

Chapter Seven – Seasons May Change, Winter to Spring

He was staring at his plate, willing the food to look more appealing than it actually was. Even though he constantly told himself that breakfast was the most important meal of the day, today Toris simply could not find the stomach to eat.

His mother watched him from across the table, absentmindedly stirring her coffee. There was something odd about Toris, she decided. Something had happened between when he got home yesterday to when he got up this morning that had made him go from sublimely happy to severely depressed.

The loud thunk of Raivis tripping on the carpet jerked Toris out of his reverie. Blinking rapidly, he piled his untouched plate on the counter and shuffled towards the stairs.

Henrietta beat him to the door. Placing both hands on his shoulders, she look straight into his eyes. "Toris," she asked forcefully. "Are you alright?"

He looked down, avoiding her gaze by staring at his feet. "Yeah," he said unconvincingly. "I'm fine." He sidestepped her to step out the door.

She watched him go, to worry clear in her eyes. Yes, there was something odd about Toris. And she wanted to know why.

xXx

"Laurinaitis! You're ten minutes late!" the coach barked the second Toris wandered in through the gym doors. He waved off the angry man and trudged into the change room.

As he sat on the bench, willing his muscles to cooperate and change, he heard a few whispers from outside the door.

"...have you heard..."

"...fuckin' fag..."

His head shot up, blood rushing to his face instantly. W...what? Oh no. No no no no this couldn't happen. People, how did they find out, no no no! Fingers clenched in the fabric of his pants. Shit. Feliks.

Grabbing his bag, he snuck out the back of the change room, silently moving down the hallway and out the door to the field out back.

Hidden from view of anyone in the school, Toris curled up in a corner and forced himself to breathe. Okay. So. His gym class knew about him and Feliks, which meant it wouldn't be long before the whole school knew, and there was nothing he could to stop the rumour from circulating.

He could drop out of school. Yes. That was an easy solution!

Ah, but who was he kidding! Toris wasn't brave enough to do something as daring as dropping out of school!

"Liet?"

He looked up slowly to see Feliks, tentatively standing a few feet away from him. "I, like, couldn't find you, I was totally worried..." he took a deep breath. "Liet, everybody knows about us, but – but I didn't say anything, I swear! I never, like, told a single thing to anybody, Liet!"

"Feliks!" Toris raised his hand. "Come here."

Feliks bit his lip and sat down beside him. Toris wrapped his arms around his shoulders. "I know you didn't tell anyone," he murmured into his hair. "I believe you." He hugged him tighter. "Do they know about you?"

Feliks shook his head. "No," he sniffled, and Toris realized with a start that he was crying. "Nobody knows about that yet."

"Good," Toris sighed, and raised Feliks' face, wiping the tears off with his thumbs. "Now, stop your crying. It's not all over yet."

Feliks smiled a little, and curled his fingers around Toris' hand. "Hey, Liet? Can we just, like, not go to school today? Please?"

Toris sighed, and put his head on Feliks' shoulder. "Yes. That sounds like a wonderful idea."

Their heads rose, and their lips met softly. For a moment, Toris contemplated telling Feliks about what happened with his father. But then, Feliks slipped his tongue into the kiss, and Toris forgot about everything.

xXx

They sat on Feliks' couch again, the smaller boy curled up against Toris' chest. They had both already called the school, unable to mask their giggles as they imitated their own parents. Now, halfway through the day, they were watching another chick flick and Toris found himself rather enjoying it.

...even if Feliks was mouthing along to every word.

Halfway through, Toris nudged him slightly. "Hey, Feliks?"

"What?" he mumbled, not moving.

"Is it really okay for me to stay here tonight?"

"Yes." Feliks sat up. "Just call your mom when school is about to be over, and tell her. My mom isn't gonna have a problem with it."

Toris sighed. "What about tomorrow?"

Feliks blinked. "What about tomorrow?"

"Well, are we going to go to school?"

"Of course we are!" Feliks jumped off the couch, and pumped his fist in the air. "We're gonna walk through those doors and show the school just how awesome we are!"

Toris laughed. "Okay, okay. I get it. We'll go."

Feliks' grin was bright enough to light up the whole room. "I love you, Liet."

Toris blinked, blood rushing to his face. A smile grew on his face, and he covered it, blushing wildly. "I love you too, Feliks."

xXx

They lay side-by-side in the darkness, hands intertwined. The canopy on Feliks' bed covered them in soft pink light. Toris watched the boy beside him, smiling at the way his face twisted in a pout as he slept. Oh, Feliks, he thought affectionately. You're such a diva.

His mom had declared it great that he was sleeping over at a friend's house for the first time, and was eternally glad that he called her. Feliks' mom was overjoyed that he was staying over. Apparently, she had no problems at all with the fact that they were dating, and even let them sleep in the same bed.

Now, clad in nothing but one of Feliks' T-shirts and his boxers, Toris watched the face of his love. He had been, actually, for the past hour. He'd been doing it for so long, in fact, that he hadn't noticed Feliks' eyes open.

"Liet?"

He jerked awake. "F-Feliks! Ah, I thought you were sleeping!"

"Like, I was," he grumbled. "And then my dreams were totally interrupted by the feeling of somebody staring at me!"

"Oh." Toris rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry."

Feliks leaned forward and cuddled against him. "S'okay," he murmured. "Mmm, you smell good, Liet."

He blushed. "Thanks."

Feliks raised his eyes. "And? Don't I smell good?"

Toris rolled his eyes and broke into a grin. "Yes, Feliks. You smell very good."

Feliks grinned back at his and buried his face into the fabric if his T-shirt. "Plus, my shirt looks totally hot on you," he said, voice muffled.

The next few minutes were passed with nothing but gentle touches and sweet words whispered into ears, smiles on faces and muffled giggles, trying not to wake up the woman sleeping next door. Fingers intertwined, lips so close that when they moved, they touched lightly, Feliks and Toris declared their love a thousand times over.

"Um, hey, Feliks?"

"Yeah?" the boy had practically fallen asleep again, but he opened his eyes anyway.

"Do you...live with your father?"

Feliks' whole face seemed to fall, and he rolled over. "Like, no."

Toris gulped, and backtracked instantly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pried, you-"

Feliks rolled back. "Liet, it's okay. It's just..." he sighed. "Please don't ask about him. I'm not..."

"I get it." Toris took his hand. "I know. You can tell me when you're ready."

Feliks smiled, and leaned over to kiss him. "Thanks. 'Night, Liet."

"Goodnight, Feliks." Toris pulled his arms around the blond and pulled him in tight. Feliks curled up, fingers gently clutching the front of his shirt.

You can tell me about your father when you're ready, Feliks, he thought gently, and I'll do the same. I hope you understand.

And so they slept, nightmares chased off by the warmth of each other's presence.

xXx

But all sweet dreams come to an end, and theirs did, the following morning as they sat in the car.

"Feliks, I can't do this," Toris moaned as he stared out through the tinted glass. "I can't."

"Yes, you can!" Feliks cried, grabbing his hand. "I'll be here for you the whole time, Liet. We can totally do this."

Toris sighed, and looked down. "If you don't do it now, then you'll never be able to," said Feliks' mother from the front seat.

Feliks nodded. "Like, come on, Liet. Let's go."

Toris squeezed his hand, and looked up. "All right," he said. "Let's go."

Feliks smiled, and kissed him. The he opened the door and they both stepped out into the bright, late spring sunshine.

A/N Dun dun dun!

Yeah. Short chapter is much shorter than usual.

Stay tuned next time for the reaction of the general public! And don't forget -

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