SuFin – Body Language

Chapter 9

This chapter will be written mainly from Sweden's point of view. Don't shoot me for changing it up!

Berwald was happy. He didn't find it necessary to move from his spot on the couch. Peter's show was wrapping up, and to be honest, he didn't want it to end. He had Tino to his left, his son to his right, and his adorable dog sitting on Peter's lap. Both were leaning against him for support, and it just made him feel so… loved. Accepted.

In Berwald's mind, he had it all. He had everything he could ever ask for. A safe home, a loving …wife…(well, he was working on that), his adoring son, who admittedly could be a little obnoxious and brash but, in an endearing way. And of course, who could forget little Hanatomago, only the cutest ball of cottony sweetness since the sugar cube was crafted.

Now, Berwald had to admit to himself that it was kind of wrong to let Tino do today's chores on his own… He honestly felt pretty bad about it. He didn't mean to pretend to have work on a day off, making Tino do twice the work… He just really, really, really wanted their first time to be everything he'd hoped for it to be. He knew that Tino would be happy with the even simplest of gestures, but Berwald almost felt that by not doing anything special, he wasn't truly conveying to the Finn about how deeply he cared for him.

It was hard for Berwald to use words he'd never said before, so he tried to convey to Tino his feelings through actions.

Though he didn't want to move, Peter's show ended, and Tino stood, leaving a cold gap of air to his side.

"Okay, Peter, we've got two options," He stood in front of the TV, obstructing the opening sequence of whatever show was coming on next. "We can either get ready now, go get Raivis's birthday present, and then go straight to Raivis's house, or go get Raivis's present now, come back home, get ready, then leave for his house. Decide your fate." Tino crossed his arms over his chest, looking as if he were still thinking over a million options and trying to calculate for every second of the day.

"Oh… I suppose you could go get ready while I shovel the snow…" He put a finger to his chin and began lightly tapping it, "But I'm not sure if Estonia wants me to stop in and say hi. I don't want to show up looking like a total mess. Hmm…" He walked over to the window and peeked through the curtains.

The morning sun's reflection off of the snow made him squint his eyes and pout his lip.

"Ber, honey… What time did you have to be at work again?" Berwald felt new emotions for Tino when he started using these pet names. He was happy, yes, but something else inside of him was more overpowering. It was like a subtle light, of a homey-warmth that grew inside of his heart and made his family feel even more genuine. It made him feel more like the man of the house, and, although Tino was a man, Berwald liked to think of himself as the protector of the house.

"Hm? Back to Earth Berwald?" Tino called, bringing him back from his thoughts.

"Mmm, loo's like work'll b' cancelle.'" Tino's eyes lit up, and Berwald knew that he was about to be employed in many tasks for the rest of the day.

"Great, would you mind shoveling the snow from around the car and driveway?" Peter and I need to get ready, and it's already-" Tino whipped his head around to look at the time, "ah! It's already ten! Peter!" Tino's mind must have been in a state of panic, because by the time he called out Peter's name he was practically yelling, causing Peter to jump off the couch and puff out his chest, and bring a flattened hand to his forehead.

"What mama!" Peter stood at attention, the sailor in him coming out.

Tino explained the plan to Peter, and Berwald was sent outside to rid the driveway of the snow.

He looked out to the great expanse of white before him, and couldn't help but feel happy. Berwald had specifically wanted his house to be out here, in the country. With both Tino and Berwald's jobs in the capitol cities, and the world meetings always taking place in other major cities, Berwald wanted to make sure his home was some place quiet and peaceful.

He shoveled the snow for an hour before there was enough room for the car to travel along the dirt path. Standing at the end of the drive, Berwald looked back on his house and saw Tino and Peter coming out, all ready to go to town.

Peter looked so funny, all swaddled in layers of clothes. Tino, though, Tino looked as handsome as ever. Berwald was glad the sun was shining today because its light allowed him to look at Tino in the most glorious setting.

"Heeey! Ber! Wow thanks!" He called out, waving his arms in an overly exaggerated gesture. Berwald lightly trotted back up to them, and planted a kiss on Tino's cheek.

"Leavin' now?" Berwald questioned in an effort to find out what Tino's plans were, so he could figure out when to start his preparations for the rest of the night.

"Oh well, yes, but actually in like 20 minutes, I- well we-," Tino looked down at Peter, and then back up at Berwald, "want you to go into town with us! And besides, you're better at driving in the snow anyway, and I thought it would be fun... Like a family outing kind of thing! And, while we're in town I was hoping to take care of some errands and-"

"'f ya'll ge' the car warm I'll go wi'h ya." Berwald cut Tino off. As much as the Swede loves the sound of Tino's voice, he knows that if you ever let Tino finish one of his never-ending rambles, Tino will feel like you're disinterested in what he's saying to you, so he usually cuts him off.

"Great!" Tino exclaimed as Berwald made his way back into the house to shower quickly are get some appropriate winter clothes on. After he was done, he met Tino and Peter in the living room, and they said their good-byes to Hana and headed out the door, locking it behind them.

Peter ran to the car and called shotgun, but Tino claimed that that only works when no adults are around.

The drive into town was slow, nobody was prepared for such a full snow so early in the winter season, so there were barely any other cars out on the back roads, but when the family got into town, it was definitely a different story. Berwald parallel parked the car like an expert, and they all got out, thankful that that snowplow had already come down this street earlier that day.

They began walking down the cold winter street, Peter hopping and skipping a bit in front of Tino and Berwald, who were walking sluggishly, actually rather romantically, holding hands in this small town they call theirs.

"Hey hun?" Tino looked up to Berwald, "Would you mind taking Peter to get Raivis's present? I just need to stop off at the supermarket to pick up some food for the house?" Tino questioned, and Berwald agreed. Tino handed Berwald the little piece of paper with the details of Raivis's size and preference scribbled on it. They parted ways at the corner, the supermarket to their left, and the shoe store a block ahead.

"See you in a bit, call if you need any help!" Tino called over his shoulder as he shoved his gloved hands in his pockets, trying to replace the warmth that Berwald's hands had offered him.

"Alright papa! Lets do this!" Peter said excitedly, practically bouncing down the street.

As father and son neared the shoe store, Berwald noticed a new store right next to it. The store itself was nothing special, its façade a bland tan color, with black window trimmings. The lights of the store were off, and its window display seemed to be transitioning into the winter season, with little red, white, and silver ornaments placed delicately around the stores merchandise. And what was nestled and yet gloriously displayed within the colors and other various items that caught Berwald's eye.

It was so subtle, yet perfect, in every way.

A gold band, brilliantly shiny with five small princess cut diamonds pressed into it. Noting too showy, and the band looked as if you could run your fingers all around it, and not feel a single bump or scratch. He stood, fazed, upon his luck. There it was, the perfect engagement ring, nestled into the black velvet cushions, right before his eyes.

By this time Berwald had moved over to face the object, he was crouched down and everything, his lips slightly parted. He could feel his heart bounding slightly as he thought of how amazing this ring would look on Tino's ring finger.

Apparently, Peter had noticed too.

"Papa?" Peter quirked an eyebrow at his adoptive father, with a slight grin on his face, "Are you gonna propose to mama for real? Because I think you should." Peter interjected, before pressing his palms up against the windowpane in order to get a closer look at the ring his father was looking at.

"Woooah! That's so much money!" Peter's eyes went wide and he grinned a little, "Mama's so lucky to have you papa."

At that Peter turned around to enter the shoe store, leaving Berwald behind to take one last look at the ring, and, as pointed out by Peter, the price tag. He swallowed, and let his eyes follow the thin white twine that led from the bottom of the box to the tiny tag, left dangling from the pedestal the ring was on.

Shit. Berwald knew that that was too much money, and it was most certainly money that he didn't have. He fretted for only a little under a second before his determination kicked in, and he knew that he would start saving up every last penny to be able to afford that ring.

The shoe shopping went flawlessly, Peter already had picked out a perfect (and reasonably priced) pair of boots that matched Tino's, well Raivis's, description. By the time Tino made it to the shoe store, Berwald was just checking out, leaving the trio ahead of schedule- and hungry.

"Guys I'm hungry…" Peter complained, rubbing his belly as the family walked out of the shoe store.

"There's a pizza pla'e." Berwald directed with his thumb, to Josie's, a local pizza and wings bar. The only problem was, in order to get to said pizza place, Tino had to walk right by the ring Berwald was hoping to get for him. Part of Berwald wanted Tino to see the ring and admire it, and part of him didn't want Tino to see it at all, because, well, because what if Berwald wasn't able to get it for him?

He decided it was best if Tino didn't see it.

"Okay, sounds good." Tino stated simply, looking into the windows of the shoe shop as they passed it. Berwald intertwined their fingers, and in a last ditch effort to prevent Tino from seeing the ring, as it was the next window in line, he took his free hand, cupped the his wife's cheek in it, and safely planted a kiss on his lips after successfully passing the window.

Tino was left smiling, and Peter hadn't seen a thing because he was happily skipping along ahead of the couple.

Okay, this chapter is more or less a lead-in to the next one; which will most likely be super long I promise… (mostly because I already started on it and I have a lot to finish hehehe...)

I need to say to everyone who reviewed and replied about the snow and my winter questions, you ALL are so beautiful, amazing, superb, wonderful, smart, witty, amazing, fantastic, wonderful people. I know I didn't use too much of the stuff in this chapter, but, I swear to you, there is so much going on in the next chapter, and it's all because of you guys. You are so amazing and gave me so many ideas and everything. Really, I seriously mean it.

I would like to wish a happy birthday to PinkPanther123, sorry this is up so late but I got super busy during the day and ended up just getting home.

And another thank you to my amazing, fast reading beta, Ravynne Nightshade Dru just because you always are amazing! :D

Anyway, prepare for next chapter lads and lasses! Oh, and reviews would be pleasant ;D

Xoxo, OurGloryDays!