This piece is inspired by Strawberry Swing by Coldplay. There is another song by the same name by Frank Ocean that is just as pretty. I believe it sampled the first one.

Strawberry Swing

Canada crunched over the pebbles and sand surrounding the wooden structure and walked to the swing set tucked in the shadow of the building. It was after midnight but a single lamppost illuminated the entire scene in a wash of warmth. He could see Prussia rocking back and forth on one of the swings, his hands tangled in the chains, and his heart ached at the sight of him.

He looked so lost. So alone.

Canada approached and stole the swing next to him without asking.

"You were not at home. What happened?" He asked; not looking straight at him but instead staring into the distance as a kindness. He could still see Prussia shrug his shoulders from the corner of his gaze.

"No one could see me…"

Ah. That made sense. Prussia had been struggling with the concept of fading from the popular consciousness. It meant that most mortals could no longer see him and that the other nations were having a more and more difficult time with it. He must have gone out while Canada was at parliament and felt invisible. It frightened him, although he would never admit it, to be forgotten.

Canada had been there, done that. He knew how much it hurt. Perhaps that was the reason Prussia had come over last week in the midst of a rainstorm instead of just picking up the telephone. He had not left since.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault."

"I'm still sorry."

Prussia tightened his hands on the chains.

"Does it ever get easier?"

Canada thought about it.

"Never," he answered. Prussia laughed.

"At least you're honest."

Canada reached over to tug on the sleeve of his sweater and the two of them must have looked more like children than adults. Prussia turned to him with sad eyes that never seemed to cry and his heart ached a little more. He wanted to wipe that look off of his face.

"But it's not all bad, y'know?"

"No?"

"No. Some of it is wonderful."

Canada pushed his swing over so that their swings clinked together. He kissed him, even though it was audacious, because he wanted Prussia to know that someone could see him and that someone wanted him around. Always.

He had never told Prussia that he was in love with him but…

He could not imagine a world without him.

Prussia paused for a moment, not responding, before he almost leapt off his swing in an attempt to deepen the kiss. Canada gasped against his lips. It was difficult for him to imagine that Prussia might want to kiss him too but... It sure seemed like he did when he kissed him so hard that their teeth banged together.

Or perhaps he just needed someone to care.

Canada thought that either was fine. He would take what he could get.

Prussia broke the kiss to stare at him in awe and Canada wondered if the surprise was just as evident on his own face. He could not help but think that it was a much better expression than the doubtful, desperate one from before. This expression suited him much better.

"Wow…"

Canada blushed and stared at his shoes for a moment.

"Shut up."

"That was so…"

"I said 'shut up'." His blushing worsened. Prussia jostled him a bit as his look of wonder widened into a smile.

"… Amazing."

Prussia kicked his swing back and started pumping his legs as Canada spluttered. He started swinging backwards and forwards until momentum took over and began catapulting him up into the air. The lamppost cast shadows that flickered and danced as Canada watched the other nation.

Prussia reached the zenith and started laughing as weightlessness took over. It seemed that his heartache was gone but Canada knew better. It was still there, beneath the surface, but he had managed to distract him.

That was alright. He would just need to make sure that he was always there to distract him.

Canada kicked his own swing back, still thinking about the kiss, and worked to join Prussia up in the air.

Author's Notes:

I often end up writing from Prussia's point of view because it requires a little more exploration and thought. Canada makes perfect sense to me. I do not need to write what he is thinking because I know what he is thinking. But, sometimes, it is important to write it down because he is such a beautiful person. Caring, considerate, and kind to the point of hurting himself instead of sharing a burden. I love him and I think we all need a Canada in our lives.

I am posting something else today and then spending a couple of days writing replies. My mother and grandmother have been sick so I have been falling behind. I need to send my love to everyone who sends me reviews, especially those who post multiple reviews and keep my spirits up.

I am still looking for more song titles and artists for future chapters of this.