25)
Lithuania's eyes fluttered open. He was lying on soft sheets, in a warm, bright, yet unfamiliar room. Food particles wafted in through the door. He felt very tired, and he was cold. A brief survey of the room and his surroundings caused him to realize he was covered up with Russia's plaid blanket. And it smelled like him. But the Russian himself was not here. Where on earth was here? The environment was very quiet but felt warm and cozy some how. His eyes caught sight of an old map on the wall. It looked like a viking map with Scandanavian characters written on it. There was a stack of books on the nightstand near him. Two about mythical creatures and another of Norse mythology. What on earth was he doing at a Nordic house? And which Nordic was it?
"H-hello?" He called, voice hoarse, "Is anyone here?"
He heard soft humming and someone came into the room with a glass of some liquid. He was small in form, with shaggy light blonde hair with the fringe pulled back by a silver cross clip, an odd curl that seemed to just float next to his head and bright blue, sparkling, myterious eyes. Lithuania recognized him as Norway.
"Good morning," he said, walking over to the bedside, "The troll said you were awake. How do you feel?"
"Troll?"
"He's a friend. He's very shy and gentle. He was watching over you."
"Oh...umm, alright then. And to answer you're question, I do feel better...but I am still tired."
"Hmm. That's good."
"Excuse me...umm...Mr. Norway but...do you mind telling me what I am doing here? And...where exactly "here" is?"
"Yes. This is my house. You're here so I can monitor your recovery process. I used a healing spell to remove the ice from inside you. Russia asked me to save you. So I did."
"Oh...I see. Thank you...for saving me."
Norway shrugged, "It was an easy spell. Luckily I performed just in time. Here." He handed him the cup of liquid. Lithuania sat up and took it but looked at it suspiciously.
"Don't worry. It is just a concoction of herbs, like a tea. It won't hurt you. I promise. It will speed up your healing process."
Lithuania thanked him and took it, putting it up to his lips and sipping. It was thick, warm and sweet...though it tasted very strange...although it was a good strange.
He put it down, then asked, "Is Russia here?"
"No. I sent him home to rest. But I will send you back to him when you've healed."
"Oh. Okay. Do you know how long it will take?"
"Anywhere from two days to a week. But judging by how well you're condition is improving. It shouldn't take a week."
"Oh...that's very good news."
"Ja. Indeed it is. By the way, one of my fellow Nordics suggested that I call some friends for you to make you feel more at home, since you aren't familiar with my country or my house."
"Really?"
"Yes. They're here now." He turned towards the doorway. "You can come in now."
The first voice he heard was a very familiar one. "Liet! Omg! You're, like, an idiot, you know. You got yourself hurt again!" And Poland came in and jumped on the bed, pulling him into a tight hug. Lithuania laughed and then smiled when he saw Estonia and Latvia enter the bedroom.
Norway took his leave without a word.
Poland let go and faced him, kneeling on the bed in front of him.
"Oh my god, you look hot!"
"Wh-what?" Lithuania turned bright red. Latvia giggled and Estonia snorted.
"I mean, like, this is the best you've looked in like, forever. You're smiling and you have color in your face and like, you're really awake and stuff."
"Th-thanks."
"I'm glad you're okay." Latvia said.
"Yes, we were worried." Estonia added.
"Thanks. I feel much better, definitely."
And so the four of them spent quality time together that morning, and Norway made lunch for all five of them.
- xXx-
The next few days without Lithuania were terrible for Russia. He spent every day worried, and wanted him home. He hardly slept or ate. He missed him. And both Vanya and Kyra had noticed his absence as well, and it was clear they missed him too.
The only thing that kept his spirits some what up was the fact that the snow was slowly, slowly melting. And the weather was gradually improving. He could go for walks without worrying about General Winter now, although it was still cold.
Walking down the streets and Moscow comforted him too, being around the bustling crowds lifted his heart. But it wasn't the same without Lithuania.
He tried to keep busy. He cooked, baked, cleaned, did the housework, played with the animals and walked the dog. He watched television, listened to music, did paperwork for his boss, organized pictures, read, and wrote in his diary. He even called Canada, China, Belarus, Ukraine, and France. As well as Iceland, because he had been helping the young nation out a lot lately. It made him feel happier and less lonely. But Lithuania's missing presence was still nagging at him. And he didn't like it. He wanted him to come back.
- xXx-
One morning, four days later, Russia was preparing to take Kyra for a walk. When he went out the door and stepped out into the sunny air, standing on his doorstep, he saw a figure in the distance. He shaded his eyes from the sun and strained them to see who it was. He could not tell since they were so far away, but he could tell they were carrying something. However, as they got closer, he soon realized who they were. Joy overflowed him and overtook the rest of his emotions. At first he thought it was too good to be true, but when the figure was fifty yards in front of him, he realized it was not. There was Lithuania, completely healed, in a bright yellow wool sweater, carrying a bouquet of sunflowers.
"Toris!" He let go of Kyra's leash and sprinted towards him. He threw his arms around him, and lifted him off the ground in a strangling hug. They both laughed, overjoyed to see one another. Russia set him back on the ground. When he had been put down, Lithuania gave him the sunflowers.
"I got these for you."
"Sunflowers!" Russia took them and hugged them. "They're beautiful! And so bright! Where did you get them?"
"Your sisters."
"Oh that makes them even prettier! Did you ask for them?"
Liet nodded.
"I love them, but my favorite sunflower is the one who gave them to me."
"What do you mean?"
Russia laughed. "You look just like one with your yellow sweater, brown hair, and green eyes."
"Oh." Lithuania smiled, "I get it."
"Hee hee, see? Come on. Let's go put them in a vase. And then we can take Kyra for her walk."
- xXx-
Lithuania stayed with Russia, just like he promised, until the very end of winter. On the evening of March 20th, Russia was driving him to the airport to say goodbye.
They were sitting at the airport, waiting for Lithuania's plane.
"I promise to contact you as much as I can. And visit when I can. I'll try to arrange with my boss so that I can come and stay with you for a few days every winter. And you can always come to visit me too." Lithuania said, trying to cheer him up.
Russia nodded. "You had better." he added, "...And, Lietuva?"
"Taip?"
"Thank you. For everything. Especially for staying with me after everything. I would not have made it through winter if you had not been there for me. I am very greatful."
"Oh. Yes. Of course."
Lithuania looked up at the board.
"That's my plane." He got up off the bench, "I have to go. I will see you again soon." Russia got up and pulled him into a tight hug. They remained in their tight embrace for a bit before Lithuania finally broke away. It would have been a lie to say that tears were not shed.
"Goodbye Litva." Russia said.
"Goodbye Ivan." And with that Lithuania turned and walked away, pulling the suitcase behind him with one hand and walking his dog with the other. Before he vanished though, he turned and waved, calling,
"Kol mes vėl susitikti!"
Russia smiled and waved. And as he waved goodbye, a sunflower of hope-of happiness-bloomed within him. For he knew he would never have to be completely lost or alone again. He was going to get his family back, as he was going to fix the relationship between him and his siblings, and Lithuania would visit him and return again. He smiled. Winter wasn't so bad anymore.
He watched the brunette vanish into the crowd, and then got up, turned, and went the opposite direction.
-xXx-
"We've come a long way from where we began, and I'll tell you all about it when I see you again..."
-Charlie Puth
Translations
Lietuva: Lithuania (Lithuanian)
Taip: Yes (Lithuanian)
Kol mes vėl susitikti: Until we meet again (Lithuanian)
A/N: And I'm done! That's it for the main chapters. However, there will be an epilogue and potentially two other endings. Just saying, this was the actual ending. And, what I would call "the good ending". So, stay tuned, and please review! Goodbye for now.
-Scarlett