Disclaimer: Hetalia and its characters do not belong to me or Da Yuu-May - unfortunately - they belong to their respective creator/owner.
Author Note: Final chapter, everyone! It has been fun writing this but I don't think it's completely over. I think it's obvious many want a companion fic, so I'll definitely be sure to write that in the future.

Epilogue

It was the weekend of another World Meeting, and the countries had just braked for lunch. Many were stretching their legs in the corridor, looking more lively speaking about gossip and other frivolous subjects than about the important themes in the meeting. Sealand, who had again failed to sneak into the conference hall, (this time, the plan was to stick close to Belgium and maybe his small stature would allow him to go unnoticed or his blonde hair and hers would confuse someone, zebra style. It didn't work, apparently the guards outside of the room were informed beforehand to be on the lookout for him.) was bouncing toward his approaching family, leaving Latvia, who he had been avidly speaking with, to converse with others. Following his return to his family (and his previous punishment from the day at the market as well as the added one from running away without telling them), the only thing he had not been banned from was telephones and cell phones and that was only because his family thought he'd get depressed or something if he was cut off from his friends. They really were being too careful around him – he was fine! Well, now anyway.

Denmark raised a hand in greeting. "Hey, Sea! Didn't make it in this time?"

Sealand pouted and scuffed his foot. "No. They noticed me before I even got passed the doors." Denmark ruffled his hair in apology for his plight.

Iceland stepped up beside him and tapped his shoulder to get his attention. "I'll tell you later. There really isn't much to it so far."

Sealand beamed at him. "Thanks, Ice! At least someone is willing to help out a fellow country!" Over the past weeks, he and Iceland had become closer than ever. They had gotten along great so far, with minor fights, and his friendship with the young country was starting to rival that of his and Denmark's.

Denmark frowned as Finland started to lead the group toward the cafeteria. "Aren't the meetings confidential?"

Iceland shrugged, unconcerned. "Only to countries and leaders…"

"…and I'm a country!" Sealand finished, arms raised with a smile.

Finland smiled at their friendship as they passed a group of countries coming back from the cafeteria. England was among them and his eyes raked over Sealand's form twice before moving on. Sealand stopped and gave his brother's back a confused look. What was with the inspection? He glanced at the others. No one had seemed to have paid attention, except for Norway, who was now studying Sealand as well.

"…What?"

Norway shook his head and began walking again, Sealand matching his steps. "You look much healthier than you did the last time he saw you."

"Oh, is that what that was about?"

"Mhm. Emotions affect the physical appearance. Your happiness reflects on you."

Sealand puffed out his cheeks for lack of a response. "I guess I am happy. Do I really look that different? Or, did I really look that bad?"

"Yes, very much so."

"Huh." He looked toward the others starting down the stairs. "Then I guess I have you all to thank for that." He smiled up at the older country.

Norway tilted his head in appreciation.

After a moment of gazing at him, Sealand asked, "Nor, why are you so wise?"

Norway huffed in annoyance not directed at the fort. "Because I have to deal with him." He pointed toward Denmark who had just jumped over the stair's safety rail in an experiment to reach the next floor faster. The multiple sounds of agony and curses indicated not only had he injured himself, but America, Switzerland, and China as well. "If I look at what he does, all I have to do is the opposite."

Sealand laughed as the other Nordics disappeared from view to hurriedly help those who had been in the collision. "Hahaha! I guess it's actually really easy to be wise. Maybe I can be, too!" He chuckled more though Norway merely hummed.

They reached the bottom, finding the situation resolving itself as China was ranting as he stalked away, Switzerland was nowhere to be found, and Finland was promising to buy a depressed America a replacement for his now-squashed burger (courtesy of Denmark's ass). America looked at them as they approached and grinned and waved.

"'Sup?"

Sealand nodded in greeting the way he'd seen young teenagers do when they wanted to be cool. "'Sup?"

Iceland held a hand up. "I'm leaving if you two are going to start using slang." Though seeing the cafeteria through a set of doors, he left anyway, following an annoyed Norway and a limping Denmark. America and Sealand then followed Finland and Sweden through the doors as well.

America nudged him as they walked. "So, how's the recognition going, young land of sea? (Heh. That's, like, a paradox or something. I'm so hilarious~!)"

Sealand sighed, not even questioning America's tendency to pick apart names for fun. "It's…going. It's tough, but I'm trying harder than ever to get recognized." He puffed up in enthusiasm. "Everyone will see me as a country, I just know it!"

America gave a tilted smile and scratched the back of his head. "Well, that's good and all, dude, but I meant recognition as a Nordic."

Sealand blinked and stared at him. "How did you know about that? Did the Jerk tell you or something?"

America laced his hands casually behind his head as they got in line to order food behind Finland. "Naw, not really. Your folks mentioned it a while back, and they've been spreading the word around since. Today, too." He whistled. "Don't think there's a country here or otherwise who doesn't know you're now 'a Nordic'." He laughed at a sudden memory. "'Ol Denny nearly attacked that dude, Austria, when he tried to get technical about it – guy just wanted to get the facts straight, you know? Of course, I was all ready to jump in and be the hero everyone expects me to be if things got worse. That's just how prepared I am." He grinned to himself as they moved up the line.

Sealand became lost in thought. His family had gone around, telling them he was a Nordic? He hadn't…he hadn't known at all. He looked for one of the others and saw Iceland, Norway, and Denmark already sitting at a table. Sealand knew they'd try to correct everyone but…he hadn't actually thought they'd try this hard. For him. Lately, he'd been more and more surprised about how wonderful his family truly was and he appreciated them just about every day. It meant so much to him that they had already taken his feelings in consideration.

So he was now 'a Nordic', huh? Official and everything? And every country here now knew it, too. He blushed, smiling as he bit his lip to avoid grinning like an idiot. He looked at America in answer to his question.

"I've got the best family ever. I'm a Nordic no matter what anyone else thinks." He briefly left America in line to run ahead, latching onto his papa's hand. The Swede didn't ask about the sudden display of affection and allowed Sealand to swing their hands back and forth as they walked towards the Nordics' table.

And I couldn't be happier.

End.

Post Script - My first fic started, now finished! Yay! And it only took about a year. I wanted America to be in this fic earlier but he never made it - well, he's at least in the epilogue! Is it weird I have a harder time writing the country I'm from? It's tricky to write America's speech patterns uniquely because to me, it's already normal. Haha!

A special thanks to everyone who followed/favorited/reviewed this fic. It was fun!

Edit 9/15: The first chapter to the "Nordics and I" companion fic titled "Our Nordic Family" is now up.