There aren't many chapters left in this story. Maybe only one or two. Letting all of you know.

Disclaimer: You all know what I don't own.

Of course it was expected that this was not going to be quick or easy for any of them. But Finland, Sweden, and Sealand had to take it one step at a time.

The problem was how big those steps seemed to be.

Sealand had lost all his enthusiasm for most things. He usually just sat around and watched TV. Well, not so much watched it as stared at it. Finland and Sweden were trying to get him back to a normal life, but it didn't seem to work.

The others couldn't get him to open back up, either. Not even Sealand's friends could pull him out his sad condition. He didn't leave the house much, so Finland had to tell him when they were coming. The young boy was merely a shell of his former self.

Sweden wasn't much better off, either. The man was having nightmares now. They were often of him being killed by Fenrir, or some spirits coming to do the job...he often woke up sweating.

Once he had one where he was gripping that mangy mutt's jaw again, but when he awoke, it turned out he had his hand around Finland's neck. He apologized, and Finland didn't hold it against him, but he still felt bad about it.

One night, Sweden was about to go to bed when he heard noises coming from Sealand's room. He put his ear to the door, but the sounds were still somewhat muffled.

"Peter...?" He whispered so that Finland didn't hear him. When he quietly opened the door, he saw his boy curled up in his blankets, still awake. The tall man quietly went over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"C'n't sleep, Peter?" Sealand didn't say anything. He simply stared up with dull blue eyes. Sweden noticed that tears were flowing down his cheeks. He moved a thumb to wipe them away, then slowly, so as not to scare the poor child, he pulled him into a hug. Then, gently, he started to rock him back and forth.

He could say it was all over, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. There was still the healing to go through. And all three of them had to go through it.

"Berwald?" Sweden looked up and saw Finland standing in the doorway, holding Hanatamago and looking concerned. The Swede was able to free a hand and motion his partner to come over.

"Are the both of you having problems going to sleep again?" All three of them were having problems, actually. As the Finn set the puppy down onto the bed, he himself wrapped his own arms around the both of them. Hanatamago herself started whimpering and scratching at one of their legs.

"M'think we 'll are, wif'." For the rest of that night, all of them stayed in Sealand's room. They were pretty sure none of them had any sleep.

...

A few days later, Finland and Sweden were sitting out on the porch, watching Hanatamago play out in the yard. It seemed ironic that the only one seemingly unfazed by recent events, was also the one who dug up holes in the ground.

The Swede put an arm around his companion and held him close. Both of them had contemplated bringing Sealand outside, but he refused. Finland would have dragged him out, then he realized that would have a negative effect on the boy's recovery.

"Berwald..." Sweden turned to Finland, almost not hearing him say his name.

The younger man looked away and started to get deep in thought. From the time Sweden and Sealand returned to now, the two of them had made some progress. Sealand had begun speaking a little again, and was able to sleep through some nights. Sweden himself was having fewer nightmares.

"S'meth'n wrong, wife?"

"First of all, don't call me that. Second of all...I'm just thinking about some things." Finland leaned onto his partner and looked at him again.

"'Bout what?"

"Well, it's just...the two of you are getting better, and I should be happy. But the thing is, there's something inside me that's saying there's something else wrong. And I'm not too sure what it is."

Sweden was nodding, then looked down himself. "'S simple. Y'r holdin' a grudge."

"I'm holding a... to who? It can't be to you, or anyone else I can think of..." Then Finland realized who Sweden was talking about.

He was talking about England.

Of course. Sealand's brother must have been suffering this whole time. And Finland had blamed him for the whole mess. The two hadn't seen each other since the incident. In other words, England probably remembered him as someone who could snap at the right situation.

"Y' have to f'rgive 'em, or else y'r not going t' be very h'ppy." Sometimes the Finn was amazed at what Sweden knew. He got up to his feet and nodded, and Sweden stood up with him.

"I think you're right, Berwald. I have to go see him."

"M'kay. 'S all right wit' you if m'stay here? M'want to make s're Peter's okay." Finland decided that he could. After clarifying things with both of them about what to do, he set off.

...

Upon coming to the house, Finland noted how ramshackle it looked. The lawn looked like it hadn't been mowed for a while, and weeds were starting to grow everywhere. Empty bottles of liquor, many of them broken, littered the area at the front of the door.

It was like no one had lived here for a long time.

Shaking off the scene as best as he could, Finland approached the door and knocked. Unnerving as it all was, he could not turn back now. Whatever he was going to see, he'd probably have to be careful.

Again, if you're curious, there will be one chapter left. Unless any of you want an epilogue, in which case then it'll be two.

R&R?

-lyudesshadow