It had been almost a month since the letter talking about Lukas' unconfirmed death had been given to Emil, and Tino had stuck by him every single day. It wasn't easy, it never would be, and it didn't help that Emil was bullied, but they were surviving. Sometimes Tino would hear Emil crying at night and he'd go and comfort him in his room, hugging him until he fell asleep, but Tino knew that the wound wouldn't be healed unless Lukas came back home. School was always a problem, and Emil still didn't have any friends there, and he would often come home crying and injured and depressed, but Tino would make sure that he was there to comfort the boy.

However Tino knew his time was running out; Uni would start again soon for him and then they would both have to move there. But that could possibly be a good thing; Emil would start a new school and make new friends who wouldn't tease him, but the problem was that Emil may not go so easily. Tino actually lived in Helsinki, and that's where he went to University; he was only in Norway for the holidays and since his holiday home was so close to where Emil and Lukas lived, it was convenient for him to do this for Emil. But he didn't know how the younger boy would take this news of having to move all the way to Finland. Tino sighed as he drummed his fingers against the table he sat at, waiting for Emil to get back from school. It wasn't long until he heard the familiar click of the front door opening and then closing and he sat up straight, waiting for the boy to walk in.

"Hi Tino..." He spoke as he entered the kitchen. Tino smiled at the boy, thought he was still nervous.

"Hey Emil... How was school?" Tino dared to ask, though Emil didn't seem as depressed as some days.

"It was okay. I just kept out of the way of the mean kids and I was fine, I guess..." the boy continued before taking his coat off and hanging it up.

"Well that's better than being attacked... Uh, Emil, I have to talk to you..." Tino finally confessed. Emil looked at Tino with a quizzical and slightly worried expression.

"Oh? What is it?" he gingerly asked. Tino gestured for him to sit down at the table and he did so, more worried than quizzical now.

"Well... As you know, I'm a student at the University of Helsinki..." Tino began. Emil nodded, hearing the deflated tone in his friend's voice. "And... I have to be your guardian until you're old enough to legally live life by yourself. Trouble is... My University term starts again in just two weeks!" Tino explained, looking at the table, clearly stressed about the dilemma found in his hands. Emil froze, unsure of what to think. He didn't know what was going to come next. "So... I kind of have to take you with me to Helsinki. Don't worry about it, I live alone in a house with three bedrooms so you can just live with me easily... I can find you a new school and we'll have a new life!" Tino suggested, trying to make it sound as positive as he could. Emil was still frozen, unable to speak for a while. He thought about what Tino had said, how he could have a new life. It did sound appealing, but there was something wrong.

"But... Lukas... What if he comes home and doesn't know where I am? I can't leave this place; it's my home! Lukas and I live here and it holds so many memories!" Emil stuttered, his eyes filling with tears. Tino sighed; he knew this would be the case.

"Okay... Well, I'll give you some time to think, though you have think fast... I'm sorry this is such short notice..." Tino sighed, gently taking Emil's hand in his own and squeezing it reassuringly.

"You sound like I have a choice! Do I have a choice?" he asked, looking at Tino and squeezing his hand back. Tino bit his lip and looked away.

"Yeah... You do..." He gulps, taking a deep breath. "If you really can't bear to leave this place, then I can give up going to university at Helsinki and somehow try and get into Oslo next year... Hopefully, that should work..." Tino explained, but Emil could sense the reluctant attitude in his voice. He paused again. Tino would risk giving up his education and degree just to look after him? Emil's heart broke. He knew Tino cared about him, but now... Now he was acting like another brother!

"N-no, Tino... That's not necessary... I don't want you to risk your education for me! It's not fair... I-I'll go with you to Helsinki..." Emil stuttered, trying to smile, but he was clearly depressed about it all. Tino gently reached out to take his hand.

"Emil, if you really don't want to move, then I'm fine with changing universities! Honestly I am!" Tino said, actually smiling. Emil didn't have the heart to let Tino do this. After all the Finnish kid had done for Emil, and how he had asked for nothing in return, it wasn't fair.

"Tino... I want to go to Helsinki! I'm fluent in Finnish and I think it would be nice to go to a different country; start a new life, especially after all that has happened..." Emil confessed, squeezing Tino's hand back. Tino blushed a little and looked Emil in the eye.

"Emil, you don't have to decide right now, just decide in the next three or four days.. It's whatever you're happier with that matters, not me!" Tino said, smiling. "I had better leave you to do your homework, don't worry too much about it. Just do whatever you want!" Tino finished before standing up and walking away, into the kitchen. Emil sighed, thinking it better to continue with homework before thinking about it. He picked up his pens and began to write.

***

Emil stared at his digital clock on the bedside table. It was 1:00am! He couldn't sleep; his brain was working so hard on this decision. He was so grateful to Tino for everything he had done, and he didn't want to take it all for granted! But... If he left, what if Lukas came back?! What if he was alive and they just never saw each other because he moved away? Emil sighed, riddled by these choices. He turned to face away from the clock, thinking that maybe if he could just sleep, then in the morning, he would have the answer.

"Oh Lukas... What if you are out there? If you're missing, then you could be anywhere... You could be being tortured..." Emil panicked, imagining his stoical brother screaming in pain with blood running down his broken, destroyed body, pleading for the enemy to stop. The younger boy instantly burst into tears, unable to bear such a thought. He shook violently under the covers, crying with fear about what could be happening to his poor brother. He barely noticed the pair of warm arms wrapping around him, and the feeling of someone pulling him close. Emil opened his eyes again to see Tino, hugging him tightly and gently stroking his hair. Emil instantly reacted, throwing his own arms around Tino and hugging him closely, needing this hug more than ever right now.

"T-Tino... Lukas is missing... What if he's being tortured or something right now?!" Emil sobbed into the older boy's chest. Tino quietly shushed the younger boy, calming him down.

"I'm not going to lie; it is a possibility. But that might not be the case! He may be perfectly fine! You have to keep optimistic about this, Emil" Tino whispered, hugging the crying boy tighter.

"I-I don't want him to be in so much pain! I just want him to be safe!" Emil kept crying, but calming down also.

"Emil, it's so late and you're not going to think straight if you're tired... You need to sleep; then you can think about this rationally! Okay?" Tino softly said. Emil nodded, being lulled into a sleep by Tino's warmth and soothing words. His eyes began closing as he slipped into a state of unconsciousness.

"Goodnight, Emil" Tino said, gently kissing his forehead.

"G-Goodnight... Lukas..."