Chapter Twelve

I picked up the pieces

And put them back where they belong

But something is missing

Though I look the same, I'm not that strong

But I'm gonna learn to trust again

~Believe again (Denmark 2009)

One good thing did result from the disappearance of Ranveig. It was that her son would appear at where she was. Now that there were no consequences of him being there, he would often be at Lukas' part of the kingdom, as that was where his mother grew up.

He did not felt that it was weird that she grew up on another's land as he himself grew up in Denmark. Yet he felt that he could understand why she disappeared.

Much as he loved his father, he had to go and live on his own land.

Emil was a common visitor, but not Mathias. Today's visit was therefore very special, as Mathias was there.

This was due to that very important news.

Mathias was often the first to hear about a piece of important news, as his small but still powerful kingdom was connected to the main continent.

Upon arriving, the first that they saw was Tino, who was considerably agitated about something.

"Lord Mathias and Lord Emil, have you heard anything about what Russia is doing?" Tino immediately said. "Eduard, I mean, Estonia, told me that he is very worried. (1)

"Russia is growing in power and it is possible that it will do what Susanna and Lukas did." Mathias said very bluntly. "But the Polish-Lithuanian alliance remain powerful as it still have its other territories."

Ukraine and Belarus. Even though these two lands contained significantly less resources when compared to Estonia and Latvia, they were still useful.

"Estonia and Latvia…" Emil accidentally said out aloud. "I have not seen them much."

"Because neither Lady Susanna nor Lord Lukas regard them as the same as me." Tino explained sadly.

The personification of these two nations did not matter, they were almost regarded as objects and that was what was expected of them. A very different way from how they were treated in their old home and it would be yet a different way from how they would be treated in their next home.

"Eduard is really worried." Tino said again, but this was really to himself.

"Neither Susanna or Lukas would let Russia take away any of their territory." Mathias said, although he was frowning. "But it will be problematic. France and the others have not given up on the remains of Holy Roman Empire, this new Prussia. Susanna does have a fairly large problem due to the size of this empire."

"I do miss the times when all she had was her own land. Everything seemed so much simpler back then." Tino admitted.

But they all knew that this was not the only reason. It was not what they gained, but what they lost.

"I am really worried about Lady Susanna, she has been really stressed lately." Tino continued.

Even though Mathias was very tempted to remind Tino that this was the price that Susanna must to pay for her ambition, he did not; as he could tell that Tino was clearly very agitated and concerned.

"Can you get Lukas for me?" he said instead. "I wish to talk to him."

So that he could leave as soon as he could. Sad as it was, he was not comfortable with being here at all.

Another sign of all this chance was Lukas' greeting. Even though Lukas's greeting would never be extremely warm, there would never be any hostility before.

"You know that England is now looking after America?" Mathias began. "Just as Spain is now exploring the various parts in South America?"

This was merely a summary of old news, because Lukas has naturally made sure that he was aware of what happened with the countries around Vinland. Therefore, he knew of the news that was taken place in the area that was now called America.

"France now has a claim on the area too. He has Canada."

"Canada?" perhaps Lukas really didn't know, or maybe he wished to deny it. However, this was not really possible because why else would Mathias use such a tone or expression?

Taking a map, Mathias simply pointed to the relevant part.

"Canada." He said grimly. Vinland's name would be scratched up for this.

"Canada is America's younger brother and they are said to resemble one another." Mathias continued.

"What of Vinland?" Lukas said very softly.

"Canada says that there was once a nation before him as his birth was due to that nation's death." Mathias said. "At least that is what I managed to hear from Netherlands."

"Why him?" this question did not matter at all, and perhaps that was why he asked it.

"Who else shall I ask?" Mathias said. "England and France never forgave what I did when I was still fighting with the Viking, not that I blame them. Spain might despite his hostility to you two, but he had little interest in the Northern part. As for that land…I don't even know if I can go there."

Perhaps he did not try due to the fear of the result. He did not want to be able to go there- as it would mean that Vinland is gone, replaced by this Canada.

"But I don't believe that Móðir is gone." Emil suddenly said, but he would find the same difficulty in his uncle as he did when he tried to convince his father. "I don't believe it."

"Despite this Canada?" Lukas asked, thinking of how Holy Roman Empire had died, as well as what she had said to them.

"Despite this." Emil said firmly.

"Mathias…have you seen this new nation?"

"I would probably be the last person that France would allow to see his precious ward. But Netherlands describe him as a little boy who has little knowledge of the world. A child."

"What do you think, Mathias?"

"You have no right to ask me that question."

"Faðir!" Emil said sharply- almost in warning, before he turned to Lukas. "Uncle Lukas, we will leave now."

As he watched them leave, Lukas suddenly recalled the day when he and Susanna went to tell the other two of Ranveig's disappearance. It seemed just like that day.

"…what do you think?" he suddenly said out aloud, as if he expected Tino to answer.

"I? I do not know." Tino said very carefully. He was not sure whether he should say this, but he somehow decided to do so. "I think she might have met an accident because I do not believe that she intended to run away."

But what option would hurt the most? Lukas was not able to answer.

Susanna knew that her cousin and nephew were both here, and it was not hard to guess the purpose of the visit. She sighed as she released the curtain, letting it cover the sight of the two outside. It was likely that her husband's expression would be one that she did not want to see.

She did not know how to help her husband. She wanted to, but she did not know how.

More then anything, she loathed the time when she found him staring out at the window, seeing a scene of the past that only he could see.

She hated to admit it, but she was jealous of how Vinland could take so much of Lukas' attention. Ironically, that was all because she was not here. If she was here, then it would not be so bad.

Yet at the same time, she felt guilty at thinking in such a way. That she could not give Lukas the support and comfort that he needed, and she really do want to help him.

But she simply does not know what words she should say.

Therefore, all she could do was to return to those works. At the very least, she would make sure that she got this right. After all, this was happening due to her and this was a way to help her husband, so he would not be bothered by these things that should not be of concern to him.

Absorbed in her work, she did not notice her husband making his way into the room.

There were times when Lukas truly felt that Susanna was the complete opposite of his sister. However, this did not mean it was one or the other.

He did care for Sweden very much, and he recently realised that what he felt for her has changed. When they were younger, he cared enough about her to be concerned if she was injured. However, that was all. Now, he was actually concerned at what would cause her to be like this.

He wanted to help her, to ease her burden. He did not like seeing her so worried and weighed with work.

But how could he ask her? She was so capable and there were many times when he felt that she was much more skilled at dealing with those work.

"…I can help." Was what he'd say, and it'll be met with a "No need".

He could remember Mathias doing many things for Ranveig, but he did not think that he ought to do it with Susanna, not to mention that he'd find it very awkward.

Yet he cared for her and wanted to do something for her.

Was this what Mathias felt? That was the only 'love' he has seen with nations and it seemed so different from all this.

"Was it bad news?" Susanna began, stating the obvious, but it would break the silence.

Briskly and almost flatly, he told her of what happened. However, she herself knew how affected he was.

"What do you think?"

"I do not know."

This was not the truth as she actually felt that the most logical explanation was that Ranveig died. However, she was not able to tell him that. Perhaps she did not want to admit it either, as she did care for the younger girl.

Therefore, this was the best thing that she could say.

That night, she woke up seeing her husband staring out of the window to the direction of Norway. After all, that was where he had lived with his precious little sister.

She wished she could get up to comfort him, but she knew that this was not possible, so she pretended to be asleep. Shutting her eyes when he turned around.

It was Tino who first noticed that something was wrong with Susanna and perhaps it was because he has spent so long observing her that he was able to notice the small differences. Perhaps he even noticed it before her.

Due to the amount of work she has, she would naturally get tired. However, the major difference was that this was shown and there were times when he caught her steadying herself or even putting a hand against her forehead.

"Lady Susanna, are you alright?" however, the answer was a simple wave of hand.

At this, Tino could not help but to wonder whether this was due to her husband. Even though they all knew what the other was like, this did not mean that they understood all that the other was thinking.

It was especially bad when it was the two that did not really show or admit their own feeling.

Ranveig was not as expressive as her husband, as she could be rather shy. However, she would confide, to an extent, to those that she was fairly close with. Therefore, Mathias did learn of what she was thinking now and then.

But Susanna and Lukas…Tino desperately wished that one of them would say something as it was clear that they both had many things that they wanted to say to each other. Because the other did not say it, it remained unsaid.

"I once asked you about what you want." Tino suddenly said. "And you told me that you wanted to be powerful in your own right and be an independent nation. Now that you have what you wanted, are you happy?"

Her hand suddenly clenched together and Tino could not help but to wonder whether he was brave or foolish. Even more foolishly, why was he asking this question?

Then there was the additional surprise. She answered the question.

"I should be." She was the ruler or a fairly mighty empire- the ruler as the other co-ruler had little interest in all this. Yet she was not happy as she ought to be.

Why was it that she kept on thinking of her cousin's happiness when the news of Ranveig's pregnancy was announced? Why was she occupied with whether she herself could achieve this happiness?

When Susanna was certain of her condition, she thought of what Frederica, Holy Roman Empire. She had been sceptical of what the young girl had said, but if the first part of it came true, then it made sense if the rest would be true.

The pregnancy was not physically obvious yet, but she could already feel the child inside her. It was as if a part of Lukas was with her. When he left their bed, she was able to still feel him with her.

She did not know how she should reveal the news. She even desperately wished for Ranveig's miraculous appearance as the other was the only person who had been in a similar position.

Telling him about it should be easy as she knew that he would love their daughter. However, this logic did not seem to hold as she still did not know how to tell him.

If Ranveig was here, then she would ask the other to tell her of how she told Mathias. This was a sign of her desperation because it would most likely be a method that she could not use, or would be too shy to use. Mathias was always a demonstrative person and his wife was more like him then her brother in this aspect. There were times when they saw her whispering something to Mathias or embracing him in public.

Susanna had to admit that she was a bit envious of Ranveig. What would Lukas do if she suddenly stretched her hand for him to hold after a meeting?

Now that she thought about it, the physical aspect of their relationship was intimate without being so.

Sometimes a part of their body would accidentally be brushed against the other; a hand might be offered on the shoulder in support; a kiss would be done for a ceremony or a display.

There was a line that divided them.

Yet she was pregnant with his child- caused due to the most intimate action.

"I will tell him soon." She vowed as she looked in the mirror once more. She would let her husband and the rest of the world know of her pregnancy before it become obvious, as she would not have anyone saying that she only revealed this when it was no longer possible to continue hiding it.

Since it was Susanna who would contribute the meeting more, Lukas had more opportunities of observing her. This Susanna remained pretty much the same. She still dressed in the masculine way with her hair long and styled in the most convenient female fashion. Her face remained extremely composed even with the most difficult situation.

He did like this side of hers, because he admired it immensely.

Yet there was another side, a very rare side that even he almost never gets to see. The moment when she actually appeared very vulnerable. Did he like this Susanna because this was one of the very few times when he felt that he could so something for her? Was this actually so important to him?

However, saying this was misleading as she remained very strong in these situations.

"I have something to tell you." Susanna said, having decided that her strategy was that she would blurt the news out to prevent her from putting it off for another day. Therefore, she did not even give the chance of letting him reply.

"I am pregnant."

Then she did not say anything else. After all, she has done her part.

At first, the words seemed like a joke to Lukas as it was so surreal. However, the idea of his wife joking would be a greater joke. Therefore, this could only be true.

"…a child. Our child."

Ranveig was his sister even though they were not related. Likewise, Emil was the same and this would never prevent him from loving them any less. However, this child would be a part of him and this thought was a rather fascinating and scary one.

Yet he was very glad of it, especially due to the fact that it would also be a part of Susanna.

He would like to tell her all this, but found this impossible, as the words simply refused to form into a sentence.

"I am glad." He finally said.

His reply made Susanna smile because she could hear the emotion in his voice.

Lukas then stretched out a hand and Susanna nodded, sensing what he wished to do. When he placed it on her abdomen, she then placed her hand over his.

They then remained like this for a long time. The two of them connected by their hands, as well as due to the child.

They were happy and this was how they would show it.

All that Fredericka predicted came true: not only would the successor of Holy Roman Empire be the child of Sweden and Norway with the name of Germany, the child was a girl.

A girl whom her parents named Monika.

The pregnancy had not been without difficulty. As the child began to grow bigger, Lukas began to become increasingly concerned with the fact that his wife carried on with her day-to-day activity, as if she was not.

"…I can do these works for you." Lukas finally said. "I want you to rest."

Susanna was naturally very moved by this. Therefore, she immediately agreed. However, she quickly began to feel restless as she lied on the bed during the middle of the day.

Yet she felt bad for not doing so especially when it was her husband that did this for her. However, she was simply unable to remain here.

What happened could be defined as an argument, although they did not exchange any words. Lukas simply ignored her as he was too alarmed at what he might say when he opened his mouth.

In the end, it was Tino who had to help them to reach a compromise, and this seemed like another example of how they had trouble communicating due to the caring for one another.

Like Mathias and Ranveig, Lukas and Susanna went to the land that would one day be their child's. There was, however, a major difference, and it was that this land had a current ruler, who was waiting to see the child.

Lukas was with his wife throughout the ordeal and it was a very difficult trial for him too, as he could do nothing to help her. He couldn't even think of anything that might be of help to her.

Yet the pain was worth it, as their daughter was one of the most beautiful being he has ever seen.

The other was naturally his sister.

"Monika." He whispered the name, it was almost a sacred word. "Monika."

He suddenly felt that same emotion he experienced when he first met his sister. No matter what, he sought to protect this child. However, this was not just limited to the baby, but it was extended to the mother too.

A family. He had a family again.

"Monika." Susanna said in equal softness. No matter what, the two of them would always be connected due to the child. This precious child.

For the first time, she could understand why both her cousin and her husband had been so protective towards Ranveig. After all, she now has someone whom she would desire to shield from all danger.

Yet this child was destined to be a great nation.

Even now, Susanna knew that she would not do what Mathias and Lukas did, but she could not help but to feel a deep pain at the mere thought of her child leaving them to rule here.

"Lady Susanna, Lord Lukas, Prussia wishes to see Lady Monika." Tino said softly.

Husband and wife both tensed, but both then nodded.

Gilbert continued to appear as a brash youth, but the two elder nations could tell that ruling the new Prussia- which contained more then that small piece of land he originally had.

That piece of land had been more then enough, especially when everyday was a battle of survival due to all that had happened around that part of Europe.

"The bouchan can say whatever he want but he was no different then Elizaveta or I." Gilbert once said about Austria due to a comment made by France and Spain. "We fought and we fought dirty if needed. Our past was hard and the reason that we all stand here was because we did the opposite of what he claimed." (2)

"So…this is Germany." Gilbert stated as he entered. Upon seeing the baby girl, his eyes did soften slightly. "She is…not bad. Not as awesome as my sister but she is still pretty good." (3)

"Monika. You can call her Monika." Susanna decided.

"It is a tough load." Gilbert said in response. "I'll do what I can to help her, but it is really all up to her."

She was not the sister that Gilbert loved, but she would be someone very important to him. Likewise, it would be this young man that gives her the help that she would need. After all, being the ruler of a large country in the middle of Europe was very different from Emil's small land.

At the reminder of this, Lukas grimaced, as he had not really thought about al this.

"It is what must be." Gilbert said, perhaps a bit too sharply.

"We know this." Susanna said firmly. "But it would still be very hard…especially after what has happened."

"My sister was too weak for this position." Gilbert suddenly said, and it was perhaps because he saw the emotion behind the mother's usual composure. "If she could, then she would just walk hand in hand with the little boy she had a crush on. To have him teach her painting instead of being occupied with how to keep peace. My sister was too unsuited for this position. However, if your daughter is anything like you two then…"

That would be enough.

The family then returned to the combined Sweden and Norway. Once there, they were to face a family that they had a role in breaking. It was not their fault, but nor were they free from all responsibility.

"…so, this is you two's daughter." Mathias commented as he laid the gift from his rulers down. "Susanna, I hope you play a more active part in raising the child then Lukas."

This was the cruelest thing he could say, so a punch was naturally given. The reason that he said this was because he was now the one who was in the position of missing the person so important to him. Seeing the new family was an active reminder of this.

"Faðir, don't be like this." Emil said before he turned to his cousin. The child had blond hair, but her hair was of a darker gold then theirs, perhaps an influence of Frederica. Her eyes, however, was the blue of both his parents.

"I believe you'll see your aunt one day." He whispered to his cousin.

He'll continue to believe that their family would reunite.

Note:

(1) In this story, the countries call the others by the name if they are close (this is what I am trying to do, but I am not sure if this is working.

(2) I think you can probably tell that I don't like Austria much. Although it is quite funny, but I initially liked him. Initially I liked him as I thought that he was quite funny with his piano and all that, but once I watched the anime and read the manga a bit more, I realised that he is actually the type of character that I don't like. So I guess I tend to portray him a bit more negatively.

First of all, what Prussia said about him, Austria was actually in a similar state as Hungary and Prussia, which means that they had to fight quite a bit. Yet I feel that Austria seems to be denying this quite a bit as he behaves as if he has always be this aristocrat. I feel that Austria is like a nouveau riche who refuses to admit his past. I do not feel that he is a hypocrite on purpose as he is really snobbish due to him feeling that the other is vulgar and crude, yet there is no denying that he was from that background too.

In regard to the word Prussia use, this is a word that Prussia used to describe Austria in the anime, and I don't intend to translate it to German, because the word used is that word. I would have wrote it in English (as this is a story in English) but I can not find the suitable English equivalent. Therefore, I decided to use the original word.

The word that Prussia used is 坊ちゃん (ぼっちゃん), and basically this is a way to describe a male who knows little of the world. As well as someone who has been brought up in a very rich home (and therefore knows little of the world).

As mentioned, Prussia does use this word and I believe that not only does he feel this way towards Austria, this also relates to his belief that it was Austria being like this that caused Hungary to become very different. I think Prussia really does like Hungary and is both jealous at Austria, as well as blaming him for causing Hungary to be like this.

(3) I watched Chinese-subbed versions of Hetalia, so I don't know if Prussia actually uses awesome all the time, I was certainly quite surprised when I saw how many times he would use the word when I read fan fictions. I would use the word now and then, but it won't be as much as most authors.

Author'sNote: I intended for this chapter to be about Germany arrival and there would naturally be some focus on Sweden and Norway. But I had no idea that this chapter would end up being mostly about their relationship. I like the result, but it is just that it is quite surprising. But I think this chapter basically showed what I feel about their relationship. Perhaps their biggest issue is their problem of communicating with one another. I think the best example is how Norway wants to help Sweden doing work, but Sweden feels that she should help Norway by doing these works herself.

I probably have mentioned this already, but I will just say it again: there is no Finland-Sweden-Norway triangle. It is quite weird but I feel that in this fan fiction, Finland really just sees Sweden as a bit of a younger sister when it comes to this aspect. This is because he sees her like this, uncertain of her emotion, and he just really wishes that she could be happy.

Most of the time, I focus on showing what Denmark, Norway and then Iceland feels about Vinland. But I want to point out that Sweden and Finland cared for her too, just as she cared for the two of them. After all, they were all a family.

I have decided that I will call America 'America'. I know that this sounds like stating the obvious, but given that America is really the United States of America, and the continent is America. So if I want to be politically correct, then I ought to call it USA or United States of America, but I feel that this is really weird, so I will just call it America, since we do use America as a country too. However, Netherlands would naturally be Netherlands (although in Japanese and Chinese, Holland is actually the name we have for Netherlands. We don't have a word for Netherlands. It is Holland)

Netherlands would make an appearance in the next chapter since he is involved with both Canada and America at this stage (which I learnt from Hetalia). And I like Netherlands too. But I feel that it would make sense for him to be the one who provide information since both England and France would most likely want to avoid talking with Denmark.

Obviously, Canada is Vinland/Kanata. However, the rest of the nations would not know this. The most logical conclusion would be that Vinland is died, because how else would she be able to become little again? Not to mention the fact that she also disguised herself as a boy. In addition, the other example that they would think of was Holy Roman Empire and given what happened to her…

I know that femGermanuy's name is often Louise, but Wikia said that the author once said that he quite like the name Monica for female Germany. The German version (according to the site) is Monika and I really like that name, so I decided to use it. I want to point out that Germany is Germany, she is not the Holy Roman Empire (despite her hair. Germany's hair seems a bright gold, where as the Nordic has a rather pale blond hair).

In regard to Vinland, I feel that she was a bit shy and so there were things that she did not know how to tell people. For example, she did not like the necklace which Mathias took from Russia. She hinted that she did not like it, but she never pushed the issue. Yet at the same time, I feel that she is not like Sweden and Norway, as she would try to express what she feels.

Finally, in regard to Holy Roman Empire. I feel that Holy Roman Empire is really just a little kid, yet he was not like Italy, who really just did not think about being a nation. I feel that Holy Roman Empire did know this, as he is not completely oblivious to everything. Yet he want to be a little kid at the same time. Sometimes, when he talks to Italy, he really just seems to be a little boy. In this aspect, he is quite different from Prussia and I think Prussia does know this.