Omg so sorry for the long break. Not only did I lose my writing muse so bad, but I had this chapter finished and didn't even realize that I didn't upload it. I am so stupid, sorry. :'D Anyway, yeah... hope you enjoy it. And sorry again for the longlonglong delay.
I watched as Finland and Sweden arm wrestled, the two having been completely bored just before and deciding this would be a good way to pass the time. Sweden's arm was shaking with strain while Finland's held relatively still. Australia was here with us, too, narrating the fight so maybe Denmark could enjoy it if he were listening; Iceland sat contently in a chair, sitting cross legged and chewing on some licorice, Mr. Puffin resting on his shoulder and enjoying his spoils when Iceland offered some of the salty treat his way. I myself was holding Denmark's hand, sitting in a chair beside the hospital bed while running my thumb over the toughened skin, still slightly chilly compared to his normal heat that seemed to come off in waves even in the most frigid conditions.
Sweden bit his lip and tilted his head back, slightly hissing to ask forth his strength to beat Finland, but the chubby Finn still prevailed, slamming down Sweden's fist with enough force to crack the table, even. Australia sprung up and squealed then, his face paling and lip quivering with the terror that he would have to explain it to the department, and possibly pay for it, too. As Finland spoke to Australia to calm him down, saying he would pay for it while Sweden awkwardly watched, not knowing what to say, I fought off the surge of giggles that bubbled up in my throat. Just the look of Sweden's face was priceless, and I wished I had a camera for it so I could treasure the moment forever. Iceland's lavender eyes sparked with amusement, and that was the gist of his emotions, munching nonchalantly on his licorice. I turned to Denmark and his blank, sleeping face, the smile that was on his lips before gone, leaving only the mystery of what he was dreaming about, or really what was going on in his head at all…
'Australia, you are needed in your office real quick.' The intercom suddenly crackled, and the brunette cursed softly.
"I hate it when they call me," he huffed, "normally it's to nag me about my hobbies, sayin' they're 'dangerous'. I'll be back, mates!" He dashed off, and just outside the door we saw him spin on his toes and slipping, the door closing and blocking out the view just as his face would have smacked the floor, causing Sweden and I both to go "awwww" in disappointment.
"Damn I was hoping to see him face-plant…" I deadpanned, and Iceland choked on his licorice.
"Norja! Don't say that!" Finland gasped; a little alarmed I had commented at all, "That was really mean! He could've hurt himself!"
"Ev'n better…" Sweden piped up, and Finland fumed.
"Don't you say that, Berwald!" Finland shouted, pointing right at Sweden's face with some kind of adorable rage boiling in his veins, Sweden dropping his shoulders in submission. It was silly, but then again Finland could be terrifying. "I can't believe you two! What if he broke his nose or splattered his brain all over the floor? What if he died none of us could take that I don't thi-"
"Finn you're ramblin'." Ice spoke up, and Finland blushed and dropped his shoulders, all the rage draining from his body and gaining a somewhat… exhausted appearance.
"Oops, sorry, Ice." Finland mumbled; leaving me to silently smirk at all that was going on around me, the chaos all too amusing.
The door suddenly banged open and Australia slid in like some sort of action movie star, his wide green eyes glistening so vibrantly that if I hadn't known better I would have guessed that he had just discovered the City of Diamonds or something. He was practically bouncing when he got still, and his words came out a blabbering mess, and he wouldn't calm down no matter how hard we tried to talk over him until Iceland threw a piece of licorice at his head, seeming to snap him out of his delusion.
"Oh, sorry…" he gasped, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "Okay so I was down in the office and everything and I was expecting either nagging or bad news, which is obviously negative so I wasn't looking forward to it but get this, mates! We can do the transplant! The main guy up there just got the call, so we can schedule the surgery in three days!"
A silence overtook the room, an extremely thick silence as the information needed to be processed. I was the first one to respond after a few minutes, springing up from my chair and stomping up to a suddenly fearful looking Australia before nearly crushing him in a hug, a rare show of affection to anyone outside our family. Australia choked and wheezed as all the oxygen was crushed from his lungs, panic overtaking his expression just as his cheeks turned blue and purple. I released him then and grabbed his face and held it in my hands, staring into his bewildered green eyes.
"If I didn't have any shame I would have kissed you just now." I mumbled, and Finland squealed about me being sick or something, I wasn't really listening; all I could think about was the fact that Denmark was going to have another chance, and I could scold him for being so reckless with his life the second he woke up and grinned that stupid grin.
The realization seemed to hit everyone else and it made the room erupt into a fit of joy. Finland laughed and smiled, pouncing onto Sweden who had a very soft but prevalent smile pulling at his thin lips while Iceland had a wider smile than I could ever remember ever since he grew up to be such an ass. I then dashed across the room and up to Iceland, wrapping my arms around his waist and squeezing, causing him to sputter and seeming to self-destruct, but then again he wasn't as built and as sturdy as Australia...
Australia said that by the time we came in the next morning that Denmark would be awake, and I wished I could be there when his eyes would open, to see those eyes light up when they saw me, like a puppy's when their owner is returning home after having spent the day at work. I would never admit it out loud but I missed his happy expressions, his loud laughter, and how he would snuggle up to anything like a kitten wanting attention. Sealand was dropped off by England during our visitation, and England even came in to see Denmark, seeming completely surprised when we told him the good news, while Sealand screamed in happiness and clung onto Sweden, his hug being returned tenfold when Finland finally allowed Sweden to bend down.
Soon the day ended, and as I settled into my bed my phone rang, no tune escaping it as it was silent, but a series of lights dancing across the screen alerted me to a message. Emotionlessly I picked up the phone and flipped it open before opening the text that was awaiting my eyes.
'Gud luck with Den 2moro~' There wasn't any notification of who had sent it, but I could guess from the text it was one of the more laid back nations like America or Poland, or possibly Hong Kong, but then again people could be surprising so it could be really anyone.
Shrugging I set the phone back down and curled up under the blankets, pretending the thin sheets were my own thick quilts that had stood the test of time just for the sole purpose of keeping me warm. I missed the Nisse that ran about my attic as I slept… and I hoped that Iceland had tended to it like I had asked, seeing as it would probably destroy the house if he wasn't; the scampering of the Nisse's feet and the sound of its giggling always acted as background noise when I slept, but the only noise in this place was the soft sounds of souls wandering the halls, and unlike horror movies they didn't want revenge and weren't lost, they just wanted to hang around and check in on patients to make sure they were okay, or even to accompany dying patients on their way to wherever. With no trouble and the promise of my Dane awaiting me the next day I fell into a deep sleep, for once not being troubled by the sounds of screeching metal and the sound of Denmark's angry voice haunting my dreams.
In the morning I walked down to the room where Denmark was in, the rest of my family and Australia waiting patiently as I shuffled up to them, baggy white pants shuffling against each other with every movement of my legs, causing an irritating shhing sound. The hospital was cooler today… the tile underfoot cold as I my slippers were thin, but the warmth that radiated off of Finland and Sealand, as well as the little rays of sunshine coming off Australia, was warming to say the least, so I was barely troubled by the chilly ground underfoot.
"Happy you could make it, mate!" Australia beamed, "Now I need to tell you all that Denmark's not awake yet…" his smiled turned sheepish then, and he grabbed the doorknob to Denmark's room.
Iceland blinked and shuddered, "What? Why isn't he? You said he was going to be just fine…" He looked to be on the verge of anger, but luckily New Zealand swooped in in time to save the day before Sealand could join him.
"He's just sleeping, don't worry, it's not a coma." The curly haired nation said pleasantly, "He has responded well to our tests just to be sure, and like Norway said he's a really deep sleeper." New Zealand blinked dreamily before turning and half-stumbling down the hallway, still managing to look positively adorable and graceful in the process. "He'll wake up when he finds out how hungry he is, don't worry!"
Australia chuckled quietly and rubbed the back of his head nervously, "Well… yeah… what Benjamin said…" He straightened up and opened the door quietly and gestured for us to be quiet. "Denmark will probably be really groggy when he's waking up, so just be careful, okay? I gotta go do some paperwork so I'll be around shortly. Remember if something happens the red button's always there!" He dashed off after New Zealand, leaving the group of us Nordics and Sealand behind.
Sealand instantly tried to charge into the room, and probably would have if Finland hadn't caught him, needing Sweden to catch him so they wouldn't stumble like a bunch of falling dominos into the room. When the doorway was clear of the insane family I looked over at Iceland, who seemed cooled down from his earlier episode, and I reached over to grasp his hand with my own, still so cold even through his silky white gloves. He didn't refuse the contact, our fingers intertwining as we entered the room, Iceland shutting the door behind us quietly, nervousness purring in his eyes.
"Papa, Denmark's still sleeping…" Sealand whispered quietly, looking a little afraid as his blue eyes looked over Denmark.
I walked up behind them and moved to the side so I could see Denmark, his face still pale and almost lifeless, chest barely rising and falling with each shallow breath, but he was lacking some of the machinery from the day before so I knew there was some improvement; the tube that was going down his throat the other day was missing, as well as some of the tubes that were running through his limbs, though the spots where they were buried were red and blue as well as swollen. We took our spots that we had occupied last night, with me and Iceland sitting beside him with Sweden and Finland at the foot of the bed, Sealand occupying Sweden's lap as he impatiently awaited any signs of life to come from the sleeping Dane.
Cautiously I took Denmark's hand, which seemed warmer, and I held it against my cheek, Iceland appearing conflicted with wanting to do the same, and I willed him to before Sealand could snatch the Dane's hand away. Suddenly Iceland seemed to get a gust of courage and he stood up, leaning over the bed so his face was beside Denmark's, the white locks that normally hugged Iceland's face to make him resemble a barn owl now falling to tickle the fawn's cheeks, which seemed to twitch beneath the tips of shining silver.
"Daaaaaanmörk…" Iceland said quietly and softly, startling me he'd be so bold. "Danmörk wake up, you promised we could go build a snowman today." His mouth held a faint smirk but his eyes glimmered with hope, which only increased when a sleepy murmur came from the sleeping fawn.
Everyone jumped from their seats and crowded around to watch as Denmark roused, his head starting to move slightly as his eyebrows furrowed and knitted together as it seemed like he was trying to physically unravel sleep from his mind, a sleepy mumble barely escaping his lips. Everyone had a smile on their face when Denmark opened his eyes, the seawater blue gems blinking as they fought to focus, and they suddenly widened when he saw us, slowly processing the image as they scanned all of his family, his mouth turning up into an extremely wide smile.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty." I said teasingly just as tears began to fall from Denmark's eyes.
