Tino dragged his feet all the way back to the house. He couldn't believe that Berwald was so upset with him. Honestly, he couldn't blame him. Tino was upset with himself as well. How could he have resorted to something so low just to get rid of Eduard like that? Violence and guns really weren't the answer. He knew that. Yet why was he so insistent on it? Maybe he wanted to show off to Berwald and show him that he really wasn't as helpless as he seemed. But oh what a toll that really took on their relationship.

He didn't say a word to anyone as he walked into the house. He simply went into his and Berwald's room and grabbed his blanket. Wrapping it around himself, he went to the living room and sat in the chair in the corner. He stared into the fire with a blank look on his face, just wanting to die on the inside.

Sigrid looked at Berwald as she watched Tino. "What's going on?" she asked him.

Berwald glared over at Tino. "I don't know, and I really don't care. Maybe he's just feeling sorry for himself."

"Stop that right now!" Sigrid said, smacking Berwald's arm. "That is not a way to talk about someone you love!"

Her son just stayed silent. His eyes fixed on Tino as he watched his every movement, from the way his shoulders shook and trembled to the way he wiped his eyes. Berwald was hurting just as badly, yet his mother didn't seem to care about that. He began to grow unreasonably angry as he began to think she only really cared for the one in front of the fire.

"What, so you only care about his feelings now?" Berwald loudly demanded, causing Tino and Mathias, who was washing dishes, to look over.

Sigrid took a step back, shocked. "Berwald, what has gotten into you?" she asked, blinking in surprise.

"What's gotten into me?!" Berwald demanded. "Why don't you go and ask Tino what's gotten into him?! You might get a more interesting story that way!" He stormed off to his room and slammed the door.

Tino cringed where he sat and burst into tears when the door slammed. "I didn't want things to be this way!" he sobbed. "I didn't mean it!"

Sigrid rushed to Tino's side. "What happened, Tino? I know that if I go and ask Berwald he won't talk to me."

The Finnish boy vigorously shook his head. "You're going to hate me just like he does!" he insisted.

"Berwald doesn't hate you," Sigrid told him. "He's just having a tough time, sweetheart." She put an arm around Tino. "Now what's going on that's just so terrible?"

Tino shook his head. "I can't tell you. You're going to hate me. I did something horribly wrong."

Mathias walked over. "Aunt Sigrid, please don't make him tell you." He placed a hand on Sigrid's shoulder. "I know what's going on, and it might upset you to know. I mean, look how upset Ber is."

"I don't understand," Sigrid softly said.

"I don't want you to know yet," Tino said, shaking his head as tears streamed down his face once more. "I can't let you know yet." He squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm sorry!" he wailed. "I'm so sorry!" He then threw himself onto the couch and cried himself into a nap.

.

Berwald laid awake that night, unable to sleep without reconciling with Tino. He didn't want to go to bed angry and without telling Tino what had been on his heart all day. His mind was racing all over the place and he really needed to tell Tino what was on it, but he didn't want Tino to respond. He just wanted to say it and be done.

He figured that now was a better time than any to say it, considering that everyone in the house was asleep. Tino was still out on the couch, having set up camp out there that night so as not to disturb Berwald. Berwald really had let his anger get the best of him that afternoon and honestly felt bad for it. He hoped he hadn't damaged Tino's feelings too badly.

His footsteps were silent as he crept down the hallway past his mother's bedroom. He didn't want to wake his mother up at all. He stopped when he reached the back of the couch.

"What you did this afternoon hurt," he softly began. "But I forgive you because you only had the best intentions. True, I don't know what the fuck you were thinking, but it's no reason for me to stay angry with you." He leaned down and brushed Tino's hair out of his face. "The truth is, I love you so much. I can't stay angry with you. Please find it in your heart to forgive me for what I said. Without you, I'm nothing." Berwald leaned down and kissed Tino's cheek. "I love you so much, Tino. I know I hurt you today, and I'm so sorry. It's been nagging at me all day. Please don't leave me or hate me."

"I don't hate you," Tino softly said, opening one violet eye. "I've been wracking my brain all day to think of a way to apologize to you."

Berwald blinked his eyes in surprise. "I-I-I didn't know you were awake."

"Did you really think I could sleep while thinking you were mad at me?" Tino asked him. He opened his other eye and gave Berwald a pleading look. "Can I come back to the room?"

"Of course you can," Berwald said, smiling. He timed himself perfectly so that right when Tino sat up their lips met. A smile found its way to his face as Tino's arms snaked their way around his neck. "I've missed you."

"I won't do it again," Tino softly said when they pulled apart. He looked down. "I learned my lesson. I need to be assertive with Eduard, not aggressive." He stood up and gathered his blanket and pillow.

"Let's go to our room, Tino," Berwald said. He led the way to the room and placed Tino's blanket on his own bed. "I want us to sleep together tonight."

Tino smiled at Berwald. "Oh, Ber!" he excitedly said, standing on his tip-toes and kissing Berwald. He placed his hands on Berwald's shoulders, bringing him down to his level so he could kiss him easier. "I never thought perfection existed until I met you!"

Berwald's arms circled Tino's hips. "I could easily say the same about you." He kissed Tino once more. "I'm sorry for getting angry earlier."

"No," Tino said, putting a finger to Berwald's lips. "You had every right to be angry, Ber. What I did wasn't right. I know you hate guns. That was all my fault. I take the full responsibility." His eyes filled with tears. "You had every right to be angry with me. I keep feeling like I'm taking one step forward, but I'm really taking two steps back. It's like I can't help myself or something." He began to cry again. "Oh, God. I'm crying again…"

Berwald wiped away Tino's tears. "Yes, I was upset," he said. "Please just be more considerate next time is all I ask." He kissed Tino's forehead. "That's all I want from you."

Tino nodded. "I promise that I will be. I will do anything for you, Berwald." His hand reached up and stroked the side of Berwald's face. "I love you so much."

"I'm glad that you do," Berwald softly stated. He smiled and placed his hand over Tino's. "I'd be pretty upset if my love was one-sided."

Tino's lips crashed back into Berwald's once more. "Oh, Ber," he said between kisses. "Kiss me more."

"I'm trying," Berwald muttered between kisses. "Now stop talking so I can."

The Finnish boy quickly followed his boyfriend's command and wrapped his arms around Berwald's neck once more as they kissed. He tangled his fingers in the Swedish boy's as they both sat on the bed, Tino crawling instantly into Berwad's lap and straddling his hips. His kisses became more passionate once in that position.

"I love you," Tino panted between kisses. "I love you so much, Ber."

"I love you too, Tino," was Berwald's gruff reply. His lips moved on Tino's with expert skill. "I never want to be with anyone else."

"Neither do I," Tino softly sighed, pressing his forehead to Berwald's and smiling. He was breathless from kissing Berwald and needed some air. "You are amazing, Ber. Absolutely amazing."

Berwald chuckled to himself. "No, you are." He smiled, catching his breath. "I love you." His eyelids felt heavy. "What do you say we go to bed, Tino? It's late, don't you think?"

Tino yawned. "Yeah, it's pretty late," he said. He crawled off of Berwald's lap and sat on his usual side of Berwald's bed. "We should just go to bed, Ber."

"We can do that," Berwald said, crawling over to his side of the bed. He smiled at Tino and kissed his cheek. "It's the middle of the night. We probably should get to bed if I'm going to make coffee tomorrow."

"Get to bed," Tino quickly said, eyes wide. "Not even messing around, Ber. Get to bed."

Berwald laid down. "Right away, Tino."

Tino snuggled up to him and rested his head on his shoulder. "Goodnight, my love."

"Goodnight, my darling."

.

Berwald woke up at his usual time the next morning, hearing Tino softly snoring next to him. He smiled to himself and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Though he was up late, he couldn't sleep in. Everyone was counting on him to make coffee that morning, just like every morning. He fumbled for his glasses on his nightstand and put them on when he finally found them.

Now that everything was clearer, he got out of bed and went to the kitchen to make the coffee. He made it his usual way and leaned against the counter, closing his eyes. He hadn't realized how tired he was until that exact moment. His eyelids felt extremely heavy.

Tino wandered into the kitchen, looking just as sleepy as Berwald. He yawned cutely and cuddled Berwald. "Good morning," he greeted.

"What are you doing up?" Berwald asked. "You look just as tired as I do."

"Trust me, I am," Tino said. "But I didn't think it was fair for you to be awake alone while I slept soundly when I was part of the reason you were up so late."

Berwald smiled. "You're adorable." He kissed Tino's temple and smiled.

Tino giggled and snuggled him more. "I can't wait until the coffee is done. Are you going to bed right afterwards, Ber?"

"I haven't decided yet," Berwald told him. He yawned. "I mean, I'm really tired. But if you stay up, I'll stay up with you as long as I can make myself." He gave Tino a tired smile. "Does that work?"

"You don't have to stay up at all if you don't want to," Tino quickly said. "I wasn't expecting you to."

Berwald blinked at him. "Why not?"

"You need your rest," Tino softly said, pulling away. He looked down at the floor. "You should probably sleep, Berwald. I don't want anything happening to you."

"Happen to me?" Berwald asked, confused.

"You could get sick if you don't get enough rest," Tino told him. "I don't want you getting sick, Ber." He stared at his feet even more. "I would feel like it's my fault."

"No," Berwald softly said. "It wouldn't be your fault at all." He hugged Tino. "It would be mine for being an idiot."

"Nej," Tino softly said, closing his eyes and leaning into Berwald's chest. He yawned cutely and smacked his lips a couple times. "I didn't think I'd be this tired, though."

"You never do," Berwald said with a chuckle. He looked as the coffee was nearly done. "But your coffee is almost finished brewing."

"Already?" Tino asked, blinking up at Berwald. "I didn't know it all happened that fast."

"You should probably go back to sleep after your coffee," Berwald suggested. "If you can."

Tino yawned and nodded. "You're right, Ber," he softly said. "I probably should." He smirked at his boyfriend. "But that doesn't mean that I will."

"Always the stubborn one, Tino," Berwald sighed, yet he still smiled to himself. He was so in love with this stubborn Finn that he just couldn't help it. All he wanted to do was take him back to their room and snuggle him all morning.

"I'm not stubborn," Tino huffed. "I just have opinions and rights."

"Right," Berwald sighed. "You have rights." He rolled his eyes, smiling softly to himself. Tino was so stubborn that sometimes Berwald had to coax him back to the bedroom on mornings like these. "You're sure you don't want to come snuggle with me after coffee?"

Tino blinked in surprise. "Wait, I get snuggles?" he asked. "Yes, I want snuggles. Let's snuggle, Berwald!"

Berwald shushed Tino, grinning. "I have to distribute coffee first, and you have to drink yours, and then we can."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Tino asked.

"I'm waiting for it to cool," Berwald said, gesturing to the pot. "So hold on a few moments."

Tino sighed and grumbled to himself in Finnish. Berwald suspected that it was about not getting the loving he wanted right that second, but he wasn't too sure. Either way, Berwald decided to stay out of it. That was Tino's issue.

.

Berwald woke up next to Tino on his bed. It seemed as if they had both fallen asleep. He rubbed his eyes and put his glasses on so he could see clearly. Tino was snoring softly beside him, so he decided not to disturb his precious love and got up from bed as soundlessly as he could.

His feet padded across the floor in his socks as he made his way to the door before he heard Tino's quiet voice ask, "Ber?"

"Yes?" Berwald asked, turning back to Tino. He was just inches from the doorway.

"The bed is a lot colder without you in it," Tino groggily said. "Can I use your blanket?"

"Of course," Berwald told him, going over to the bed. He grabbed his blanket and draped it over Tino's resting form. "Get some good sleep in."

"I will," Tino softly said, violet eyes fluttering closed. "I love you."

Berwald kissed Tino's forehead. "I love you too," he softly said before walking back over to the door. "Sleep well." He heard Tino mutter some kind of response and went out into the house.

"Nice to see you're awake, Ber," Sigrid said, smiling. She patted the couch next to her. "I haven't had a chance to talk to you about yesterday yet. Why don't you come and sit by me?"

"I'll sit by you, but I don't want to talk about yesterday," Berwald sighed. "It might aggravate me. I don't want to think about the past if it doesn't matter anymore."

"I like the way you think, Berwald," Sigrid said with a smile. "I think more people should view things like you do."

"If only they did," he sighed, sitting down. His mind immediately went to Tino and how Tino was constantly thinking that Berwald hated him because of Eduard. "That would make life so much easier."

"Are you speaking with a double meaning, Ber?" Sigrid asked, raising an eyebrow to her son. "I think something bad happened between you and Tino yesterday, but you don't want to talk about it."

"Why would you think something like that?" Berwald asked her. "Because I told you I didn't?" he added sarcastically. "Honestly, it's nothing bad, and it's all resolved now."

"Oh really?" Sigrid asked. "It's all resolved?"

"Yes," Berwald said with an impatient nod. His mother's expression was cool and unreadable.

"So if I called upon that boy you keep arguing with in our yard, then everything would be just fine?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"Mother, you would be hurting Tino more than anyone else if you did that," Berwald warned. "Please don't." He put his hands up in defense. "I'll tell you about yesterday if you please just don't ever invite that boy over."

"What happened then?" Sigrid asked, glad that her bluff had worked on her son.

"Tino was out in the woods having target practice," Berwald began. "I got mad at him for playing with guns. Those things are dangerous." He thought of his father, who was killed by a fatal gunshot wound. "They killed Dad…"

Sigrid frowned. "He didn't mean to hurt you, Berwald. I'm sure he forgot."

"He did forget," Berwald said. "And that upsets me even more."

"Why does it upset you?" Sigrid asked.

"Because when you love someone, you should remember things like that," Berwald softly stated, looking down at his hands, which were folded in his lap. "You should always remember those kinds of things, Mother."

She nodded her understanding. "I can see where you're coming from," she softly said. "But I can see where Tino was coming from as well. He wanted to solve the problem quickly, so he was going to scare that boy with guns, correct?" She sighed when Berwald nodded. "Not everything is done the way you like it, Ber," she said, placing her hand on her son's shoulder. "But we have to accept that about people. We are all different, and we all do things differently."

Berwald sighed as he nodded. "I know that, Mother. I am aware. I just wish that Tino would…" I just wish that Tino would ask me about things first.

"That Tino would what?" Sigrid asked, cocking her head to the side. "You can't change him, Berwald. And if you try to, then shame on you."

He felt ashamed of himself for thinking that he could change Tino's perspective to his own. How dare he even think such a thing! Tino would never forgive him if he ever found out.

"It's nothing," Berwald sighed. "Forget that I said anything." He stood up and began to walk toward the kitchen.

"I won't forget," Sigrid softly told her son. "And I hope you don't forget either. Never try to make someone be what they're not. You'll only regret it."

Berwald nodded. He knew his mother wouldn't understand anyway. She was too old-fashioned to understand how he felt about certain things. Maybe one day she would understand, but he guessed that moment was not the time.

.

Tino woke up later and stretched, yawning. He looked around for Berwald, but he found himself alone in their room. He shook his head and frowned. Where was he?

He left the bedroom and wandered around the house. No one was home. Sigrid must've been out shopping and Berwald and Mathias were probably out in the shed.

A knock on the front door made Tino jump. He knew who it was, and he knew he had to answer it. Eduard had finally come, and it was finally his turn to answer him. This time, Tino knew what was going on. He knew what he was going to say as well. All it took now was the courage to answer the door.

As soon as the door swung open, Tino heard Eduard's voice come to him, calmly saying, "We meet again, Tino. Oh, how I've missed you."