For the next week, Tino danced around the subject of Eduard whenever it happened to come up, which was more often than he expected. Every time, he would find a way to change the subject or leave the room, whichever came first. It was too weird for him to speak of a past lover to his current boyfriend, especially a past lover whom he never truly loved and only slept with for the hell of it. Just the thought of it made his cheeks burn with shame.

"Tino, stop avoiding me," Berwald complained, following him into the kitchen after another failed attempt at an evasion. "Look, I get it. It's awkward."

"Then if you get it, stop pestering me about it!" Tino whined back. "I don't want to talk about him, okay? He's a person of my past, and I want him to stay there!" He clenched his fists. "I don't get what part of that is so hard for you to understand! Say we didn't last forever, Berwald. I'm just using that as an example. Would you want your next partner to go on and on asking about me all the time?"

Berwald was quiet for a moment. "Well no, because it would remind me of how much I loved you," he answered, looking down.

Tino's eyes widened as he ran to Berwald and cupped his lover's face in his hands. "I never loved Eduard," he softly said. "That's why I want to leave him in the past. I was stupid, okay? I have never loved another person the way I love you, Ber. And I'm certain that I never will as long as I live. You are everything I could ever hope and dream for. Everything I've ever wanted for my whole life. Berwald, I love you more than life itself." He softly kissed his love's lips. "Please just forget about Eduard. That's all I ask. Because that's what I want to do as well. Let's just forget him and enjoy this new chapter in both of our lives. Let's enjoy us."

"Okay," Berwald agreed after a moment. "Let's do that."

The young Finn smiled and hugged his Swedish boyfriend, humming happily to himself. He felt like the luckiest boy in the world. Everything felt perfect to him. His heart felt as if it had grown wings and he were flying, soaring higher than the heavens, past where all notions of right and wrong became irrelevant.

"I love you," Tino softly said, snuggling Berwald close. "Don't you ever forget that, Berwald Oxenstierna. Until the day I die, I will always love you, but never the same. It will only get stronger with every passing day."

"The same goes for me," Berwald said, cradling Tino's head into his chest. "I will always love you as well, Tino Väinämöinen." He felt his heart racing rapidly in his chest. No matter how many times they may hug or kiss, it will always feel like the first time to him. "You will always be number one in my heart. Forever."

Tino giggled and began to rock back and forth with him. "I'm glad," he softly said. "You're amazing, Berwald. I can't wait to be with you for the rest of my life. I just thought I'd let you know right now that you're stuck with me forever."

"That's one thing I'm certain that I can live with," Berwald said, kissing Tino's forehead as he turned on the radio.

"Now that the stars are in your eyes, I'm beginning to see the light," the woman's voice on the radio sang.

"It's our song!" Tino excitedly said. He looked up at Berwald and extended his hand. "May I have this dance, Berwald?"

Berwald laughed. "Of course you may, Mr. Väinämöinen."

Tino giggled and began to dance around the kitchen with Berwald until the song ended. He quickly pressed his lips to Berwald's. "Now that your lips are burning on mine, I'm beginning to see the light," he whispered to him.

.

Berwald laid awake that night, pondering. He knew that he had told Tino he would let it rest, but he knew that his mind would never let him do that. He wanted to know who the hell that Eduard guy was and what made Tino want to sleep with him. What made Tino want to have sex with Eduard, but not him? What was so special about Eduard?

He sighed aloud. What made him so insignificant to Tino? If Tino really loved him, wouldn't he want to have sex with him? And if he didn't love Eduard, then why did he have sex with him? What the hell was up with that? Nothing made sense to him, and it was so frustrating. He rolled over and saw Tino sleeping peacefully on his cot.

Why was Tino sleeping so peacefully when he had to be up at night thinking about these sorts of things? It wasn't fair. Why wasn't Tino troubled by the whole Eduard thing? Was this because Berwald never had any past lovers for Tino to be troubled by? Why was Berwald so upset by the fact that Tino wasn't a virgin? Why was he so angry about it?

Berwald got up. If he couldn't sleep, he might as well go take a bath and do something useful with his time. But after he sat in the bath for a few moments he realized that the last bath he took was with Tino. And that night was when he learned of Eduard. He quickly drained the tub and dried off. No more of that.

It was too early to make coffee, and he didn't want to go back into their room and see Tino sleeping so peacefully, so he threw on his coat and went out for a walk.

His breath came out in puffs of smoke as he walked along the streets of the city that morning. The sun hadn't risen yet and his boots made almost clicking noises as he walked along the sidewalks. He wondered what time it was, but he really didn't care. All he wanted was to get Tino's sexual history off his mind in some way or another.

Once the sun began to rise, Berwald knew he needed to head back home, so he started his trek back to the house. He didn't notice how cold it really was until the warm air hit his face. He also didn't realize how early Tino usually got up until he noticed him sitting in an armchair by the fireplace when he walked in the door.

Tino jumped up and ran to him. "Oh my God!" he whispered. "Where have you been?! I've been so scared that you just up and left all of us! I've looked everywhere for you!"

Berwald looked down at Tino and noticed that his eyes were puffy and bloodshot. He didn't realize that Tino would wake up before he got back. That was the only thing he didn't think about. But then again, a small part inside of him that felt a sense of karma on Tino's end. That small part was glad that Tino now knew how he felt, staying up and worrying about things, even if it wasn't the same thing.

"All I could do was blame myself," Tino said, suddenly crying. "I only thought that it was all my fault because I was honest with you about my history with other men. But if I had lied, I knew that I would have felt worse in the end, and so would you!" He balled Berwald's shirt up in his hands. "So I knew I had to tell you for the sake of both of us! I can't stand waking up with you not here! Don't ever do that to me again, Berwald!"

That small part of Berwald that felt the satisfaction now felt only pure guilt. How could he have been so happy that Tino had been crying? How could he have been so happy about hurting Tino just moments before? That wasn't fair at all to Tino! How could he have been so heartless, even if he never did admit it out loud? Who was that side of him? It certainly wasn't the real Berwald!

"I won't do it again," Berwald promised, kissing the top of Tino's head. "I will never make you worry like that again. I just went out for a walk to clear my head because I couldn't sleep. I lost track of time and started heading back once I saw the sun rising. I should have left a note."

"You damn well should have!" Tino whispered through his tears, clinging to Berwald. He buried his face in his love's chest. "Please just never do that to me again! Never again! Do you hear me, Berwald? That's not okay!"

"I won't do it again, Tino," Berwald said. "I promise."

For the next hour, Berwald had to hold Tino and keep promising over and over not to leave him like that again.

.

Tino calmed down after having his morning coffee. He was back to his usual self by the time that Sigrid and Mathias were up and about, not once mentioning what had happened that morning to either of them, keeping it between him and Berwald. They had both decided that some things were to be shared with Sigrid and Mathias and some things were to be kept between them. That was one of the things to be kept between them.

Berwald was cleaning up the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. He went to answer it and found a boy there around their age. He had shaggy, blonde hair and glasses like his. "Can I help you?" Berwald asked him.

"Uh, yes," the boy timidly stated. "I was told that a Tino Väinämöinen lived here."

Upon hearing his name, Tino bounded over to the door. "Who's looking for me?" he cheerfully asked Berwald. He saw the boy at the door and instantly froze in panic. Not knowing what else to do, he shut the door in the boy's face quickly. "I'm not here," he whispered to Berwald.

"He already knows you're here," Berwald hissed back to him.

"Get rid of him," Tino hissed back, giving Berwald a pleading look.

"What do I get out of it?" Berwald quietly asked.

"Anything you want, just please do it," Tino quietly begged. "Please!"

"Go to our room until I come in there to claim my reward," Berwald sighed.

Tino kissed him full on the mouth. "You're the best!" he whispered before scampering off to their bedroom while Berwald got rid of his unwanted visitor.

Berwald put on his coat and stepped outside. "Who are you?" he asked the boy who was outside. "Because whoever you are, he doesn't want to see you right now."

"I get that," the boy answered. "I mean, I did leave him pretty suddenly. One night I was there, and he woke up the next morning and I was gone."

Berwald's mind went back to that morning. Was that why Tino was so freaked out? Because this boy had done that to him? Who was this boy anyway?"

"How rude of me," the boy said, chuckling to himself. "I haven't introduced myself yet. My name's Eduard Von Bock."

Berwald immediately stiffened up at the name. "I'm Berwald Oxenstierna," he answered. "What do you want with Tino?"

"I just wanted to apologize to him and ask for another chance," Eduard said. "I really messed up our friendship."

"Disappearing like you did, I'd say so," Berwald said. He didn't want to talk to Eduard any more than Tino did at that moment. He kicked himself internally for wanting to help Tino out of this. "Anyway, it's probably best that you don't come around here anymore. Tino's just now getting his life sorted out after losing everyone in his family."

"Yeah, I heard about that," Eduard said, looking down and sighing. "But if you think I'll give up just because you told me to, then you're wrong."

Berwald stared at him in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Eduard stated. "If you think I'll give up on Tino that easily, then you have another thing coming, Oxenstierna. I won't lose to you."

"How did you know that…?"

Eduard cut Berwald off before he could finish his train of thought. "It's written all over your face. You're in love with Tino. Well I won't lose to someone like you. You may look like an intimidating guy, but that's not the kind of person Tino usually goes for. Just remember, I know the kinds of things Tino desires. I've known him much longer than you, Oxenstierna."

"This conversation is over," Berwald stated, walking back toward the house. "Get off of my property." He walked back into the house and shut the door before taking off his boots. He couldn't stop thinking about Eduard's words, though.

I know the kinds of things Tino desires. I've known him much longer than you, Oxenstierna.

Berwald angrily took off his coat and stormed to his bedroom. "Thanks for the warning," he growled at Tino, who was anxiously sitting on his cot. "You could've at least told me who it was instead of making me go out there blind."

"I was panicking, okay?" Tino said, eyes filling with tears. "What did he say to you?"

"He's not going to give up on you, Tino," Berwald said, struggling to hold his temper back. "Goddammit, Tino. Why do you have to pick the stubborn ones?"

Tino looked down at his hands that were folded in his lap. "What else did he say?" he softly asked.

"He said that you probably hate him because he left in the middle of the night without so much as a goodbye," Berwald said. He watched as Tino nodded. "Is that the only reason you hate him?"

The Finnish boy shook his head. "No," he finally said after a moment. "I don't want to get into this right now."

"Remember how you said you'd give me anything if I got rid of him?" Berwald asked. "Well I got rid of him, and what I want is this conversation."

"That's not fair," Tino stated, looking up at Berwald.

"Well neither was throwing me into the shark pit like that," Berwald said. After a moment of silence from Tino he asked, "So will you answer my questions I may ask about him?"

"Yes," Tino softly stated. He looked back down at his hands as he lip trembled a little bit.

Berwald almost felt bad, but he knew this conversation needed to be had, or else it would never happen. "When did you two meet?"

"The summer of '37," Tino answered.

"How did you meet?"

"His family was staying at my family's inn," Tino softly said. "My parents were innkeepers and me and Wolff helped out there a lot. So we knew all of the guests."

Berwald nodded. "Are you sure you didn't love him?"

Tino's head snapped up. "How many times do I have to tell you this?!" he demanded, voice growing louder with every word. "I never loved Eduard! I never did! Why don't you believe me?!" He stood up and clenched his fists. "Why do I have to be interrogated?! It's not fair! Why do you have to be so pure and simple while I'm just a mess?! I hate it! You make me hate myself! You make me hate every little thing there is about me because you're just too fucking perfect to ever have anything for anyone to judge you for! You've never done anything stupid like I have, or so it seems! It's just not fair!"

Tino turned to storm out of the room, but Berwald stood and caught him by the wrist, dragging him over toward him. "No!" Tino cried out. "Let me go!"

"No," Berwald stated. "I don't want to." He pulled Tino into a hug. "Eduard may try to win you back, but I won't let him. I love you, Tino. You're mine now. I'll never let you go." He pressed a kiss to Tino's forehead. "I'll be damned if I lose to him."

Tino blinked in surprise and smiled. "I love you, Berwald," he softly said. "I'm sure of it now. More sure of anything in my life."

"What are you sure of?" Berwald asked.

"I'm one hundred percent sure that you are who I want to be with for the rest of my life," Tino said before standing on his tip toes and kissing Berwald softly. "I love you so much. You have absolutely no idea."

"Then give me a hint," Berwald said.

"I drop hints all the time," Tino said, smiling. "It's not my fault that you don't pick them up."

.

Berwald curled up next to Tino in his bed that night. They decided to sleep together, but only sleep, nothing more. Tino was still not ready for anything more, and Berwald honestly wasn't either. Both of them were honestly happy that the other wasn't ready either, feeling relief wash over them at the end of a stressful day.

Tino smiled as he placed a hand over Berwald's, which was on his stomach, his arm wrapped around Tino's waist. He played with Berwald's fingers absently as he yawned and began to nod off. He hadn't felt this content in awhile. His love for Berwald was refreshed at the end of a long day, and he knew that there was only more love for that amazing Swedish man to come tomorrow morning and throughout the day.

Berwald smiled and pulled Tino closer to him. His heart raced in his chest as he laid with Tino. He loved this small Finn more than he ever loved another person his entire life. He just wished there were other ways to express it, new ways to show it with every passing day. He was just so in love and wanted to find a new way to let him know.

"Ber?" Tino softly asked, rolling over to face him. He placed a hand on Berwald's chest and smiled. "I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're mine. As if I don't already say that enough…"

"I'm glad you're mine too," Berwald said, smiling. "You're everything I could ever ask for in a lover, Tino. I've always wanted someone like you."

"Really?" Tino asked, eyes lighting up in joy.

"Of course," Berwald said. "Do you think I would lie to you?"

"Well, no," Tino softly said, giggling to himself. "That's true…"

Berwald smiled. "I'm glad that you know that much." He pecked his lips against Tino's.

"No," Tino softly said before kissing Berwald's lips passionately. "Thanks for putting up with me today. Even after what I said to you when I was upset. I didn't mean it. I was just so frustrated, and that wasn't fair to you."

"No, I deserved it," Berwald said. "I was letting my jealousy get the best of me. I was being an ass."

Tino smiled. "We were both in the wrong," he said. "We'll just settle it that way." He snuggled in closer to Berwald. "Could you promise one thing to me, Berwald?"

"What would that be?" Berwald asked.

"No matter how unreasonable I may get at time, please don't ever give up on me," Tino said. "I don't ever want to lose a gem like you. You're amazing and I never want to lose a wonderful man like you. You have no idea how long I've waited for you."

"Only if you do the same for me," Berwald said, smiling at him.

Tino grinned at him. "Deal." He kissed Berwald softly. "Hey Ber?"

"Yeah?" Berwald asked.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too, Tino," Berwald answered. "Get some sleep, okay?"

"Okay," Tino laughed.

And both boys got some great sleep that night, neither of them worrying about a single thing in the world.