Emil POV

Complicated was always a word to describe my family. My mom died when I was little, I barely remember her. It's always been me, dad, and Lukas. I guess you could say we were an odd bunch of people. Dad was a people person, really outgoing, me and Lukas weren't. Dad always thought we needed a mother figure and brought home women almost constantly. None of them stayed long, which made me happy. I didn't really like any off them. I was content with our family of three, even if it felt more like two most days.

One of the reasons I'm bringing this up is because of a project for school I was never particularly fond of.

Mrs. Edelstein stood at the front of the room. "Okay class, for the next couple days we're going to explore our roots by making family trees."

I shifted in me seat. I never like making these things. It was just a complicated line of pretty much impossible to pronounce Nordic names.

I guess Mrs. Edelstein thought I looked uncomfortable. "Nikolaus, is there something wrong?"

"Can I not do the assignment?"

She frowned. "Why not?"

I shifted in my seat. "I just don't like talking about my family."

She pursed her lips. "Why don't we talk about this after school, Mr. Steilsson?" It didn't exactly sound like a question.

I nodded once as the bell rang.

"So why don't you want to do it?"

"I don't exactly have fond memories of my family, okay? Just drop it, Leon."

He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Well, excuse me for asking then."

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. "Look, I ran away for a reason. I don't want to remember them and they probably don't want to remember me." That's a lie, said the voice in my head. You remember what Matthias said. They want you home, they want you safe, you're the one that doesn't want to be there. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. "And how do you plan on doing yours? Most of your siblings are adopted, right?"

Leon shrugged. "Don't know. I'm thinking since Yao is my parents only legit kid, he gets the line connecting them to him. They rest of us will be floating near him, I guess."

I couldn't keep the slight grin from my face. "Floating?"

"Yeah, and I can draw little flags under the names to show where we came from. But school projects in my house become a whole family thing, so my project might not be as simple as I want to to be." He let out a little laugh at this.

"Sounds interesting to say the least," I teased.

"You have no idea," he groaned. "I came into school one school one time with a science project that Mai threw glitter over because it wasn't 'sparkly enough,'" he said using air quotes.

I had to stifle my laugh.

"You mock my pain," he teased.

The bell rang in the distance. "Okay, whatever, Mr. Sparkles. Let's get to class."

The rest of the day seemed to drag on and on. I was surprised I wasn't asleep. My hear lept for joy when the final bell rang and announcements came on. I started to leave when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Nikolaus, a word please?" And just like that, I felt my heart drop.

Leon shot me a look that said Good luck, buddy.

I shot him a glare that said Shut up and don't call me buddy.

He shrugged which I took as a Whatever you say. He then gave me a little salute I'll see you on the other side.

I waved him off. Over the last month, we were able to read each other like a book and could communicate with a look. I tried to shake him off, but apparently he really wanted to be my friend. The universe works in mysterious ways...

"Nikolaus?" Mrs. Edelstein's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see her sitting cross-cross on the rug at the front of the room. She patted the spot next to her. I sat next to her. This seemed rather informal for a teacher. I always thought that teachers always talked to their students from behind their desks. "Tell me what's on your mind?"

"This seems a bit informal."

She raised and eyebrow but said nothing.

"I mean, I expected you to sit behind you desk–"

"While you stand there and tell me why you should be excused from the assignment?"

I stared at her. "It's like you read my mind..."

"Well, we can go do that, but I doubt that's as comfortable as the rug. If you want to stand, feel free."

"No, no, I'm fine. It was just unexpected."

She smiled for a moment for turning serious. "Do you want to tell me why you don't want to do the project?"

I squirmed a bit. "That's never been a comfortable topic for me," I admitted. That was true. It was always me, dad, and Lukas. Dad brought home a lot of women over the years but none of them were ever serious until Rebecca. They dated for a few months. Before I knew it, they were married and I had a stepmother and two stepbrothers. My family had doubled in the space of a year. It was a hard thing to get used to. "Besides, I don't know where to even begin."

"Start with you and branch out," she said. She tapped her chin in thought. "But you're not living with your family, are you?"

"Blood family, no. But I'm living with people I consider family."

"No relation?"

"No relation."

"Do you remember your family before that?

I nodded. "Sort of." Bella and I had a number of stories we used to get sympathy money from people. I could use my family from one of those easy.

"If you need any help, there are a number of online resources you could use. I'm sure your housemates can also help you."

"Thank you ma'am."

"If you ever need to talk, Nikolaus, you know where to find me."

I nodded as I gathered up my thing. "Yes, of course."

I was almost out the door when I heard her say, "I have a question."

I turned. "Yes?"

"Your family, your blood family I mean, where are they now?"

"They're dead," I said flatly.

"Oh," she looked like she regretted asking. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. I'll see you tomorrow, Mrs. Edelstein," I didn't hear if she responded or not because I was quick to get out of there. "They're dead alright," I muttered under my breath, "dead to me."

One of the things Antonio insisted on is that we all ate dinner together. It was nice, Dad wasn't usually home so Lukas and I ate together or I ate alone. It was rather awkward to say the least. But here, it felt homey, it felt right. This was what dinner should be like.

And honestly, it was hard to not eat the food in front of me, but Antonio had a rule and that rule was we prayed before eating. Antonio was Roman Catholic, so were Lovino, Feliciano, Bella, and Matthew. Raivis and I were both raised Lutheran. Lovino wasn't too keen on the holding hands part and always did so with much reluctance.

After that, Antonio started passing numerous plates around. "So, anything interesting happen today?"

Lovino was always quick to put in his "no bastard, shut up and let me eat."

Antonio would always smile, roll his eyes, and look at the rest of us expectantly.

Today, Matthew cleared his throat. "Hockey tryouts are coming up soon."

"That's nice," Antonio said calmly.

"And I was thinking I could I try out."

His calm expression never left his face. "Absolutely not."

Matthew started to open his mouth to protest when Lovino shouted. "Well, why not?!"

"Do you know how dangerous that sport is?" Antonio asked. "They're always ramming into one another, starting fights, losing teeth, getting concussions. He could get seriously hurt!"

"It's not that bad," I heard Matthew mutter.

"I don't see how it's that bad," I put in. Dad usually had hockey games on when he came home. I wasn't a big fan, but skating itself looked like a lot of fun. "It's high school hockey, not the NHL or the Olympics."

Bella spoke up. "Besides, isn't it just tryouts? I don't see the harm in it."

"And just because I try out, doesn't mean I'll make the team," Matthew added.

Antonio taught about it. "If it's just tryouts... I guess I could allow it."

Matthew beamed. I guess he really liked hockey.

"How was school for the rest of you?"

Bella got an A on her Physics test, Feliciano made friends with some German guy whom Lovino said was a "Potato Bastard" or something and should not be trusted. Nothing interesting happened to Raivis. Then it came to me.

"I got a family tree project."

I swear, the whole table froze. To be honest, I'm sure Antonio know this was coming sooner or later. We all didn't want to be found, after all.

Bella was the first to speak. "So, what story are you using?"

"I was hoping you could help me pick." The table relaxed again.

Bella's kitten-like grin grew. "Of course I can! We can talk about it while I do your hair! Then we all can help design it and–"

I honestly stopped listening after that, but I thought about what Leon said earlier about projects at his house and it looks like that way the way I was heading. Soon, everyone put in some idea for it. I couldn't stop myself from smiling if I tried. Yeah, this is the way a family should be.

AN: I live! I know I said there would be tragic backstory and, okay, I'll admit, this isn't really that tragic, but I promise you it will be! I just wanted them to be happy for now. Next up is Lovi's POV and we're gonna find out just how much Raivis is worth. For the everyone wondering, Antonio and Arthur are not related. They were in a similar situation to the kids now, but that will all be revealed in good time. For everyone reading Of Skin and Scales, the next chapter will be out soon, I hope.

Hope you enjoyed. Please comment, I love comments.

And as always, I don't own, never owned, or ever will own Hetalia.