Maria left Berwald to poke around the kitchen, tiptoeing away to her bedroom to finally have some time to herself. Closing the door she locked it behind her, pressing her forehead into the wood for a moment feeling exhausted. Turning around slowly her bare feet pattered across her room towards her bed and to her laptop. Squaring her shoulders she opened it up, hearing another loud crack as she did so.

The screen miraculously was okay, there were no cracks that would cause upset, it was the body of the laptop that wasn't. Both corners near the keyboard had cracks that she knew would get bigger with every time she opened it.

"Duck tape and super glue maybe?" She wondered out loud, opening the top drawer of her dresser, pulling out the ducktape while the glue she found hidden on her bookcase. Biting her bottom lip, she held the screen just so that the crack was as closed as she could get it before sticking the glue on it. She repeated this process for the other side, holding everything together until she took the ducktape that had mustaches on it. Slapping the ducktape across the newly sealed cracks she hoped it would last. She wasn't looking forward to the possibility of having to buy another laptop unless she bought a new body for it? No, it would just be easier to buy a new laptop altogether, it's not as if she had a nerd squad in her tiny town to put the hard drive into the new body of a laptop.

Closing her laptop she set it back onto the middle of the bed face planing near the foot of the bed, letting her legs hang out the side.

She started to cry.

There was too much to do, too much for her to do, too much responsibility at once. She wished that her grandpa was here with her, he would be able to handle it all. He'd help her, help take care of the things she didn't have time for like taking out the trash or cleaning the kitchen counters.

A memory hit her, one that only made more tears fall from her eyes...

"oi you listening to me, ya ragamuffin," she heard a gruff voice ask, throwing the wrapping of the staw at her face. Maria giggled looking up from her phone to see her grandfather's twinkling blue eyes and wrinkled dark face. 'you and your phone! I swear you might get sucked in it one day, what's so interesting on that thing anyway,' he asked teasing tone, all the while, wiggling his fingers as if he would tickle her right then and there.

Her twelve-year-old self stuck her tongue out at him, teasing him right back, setting the phone down so she could pick up the wadded up wrapper and throw it back at him. She's heard it all before from other old people, but unlike them, her grandpa never really mind it. It was just another thing to tease her with to make her laugh, he was cool like that! That's why she hung out with him, he was awesome even if others thought she was lame for it they were just mean.

"I'm trying to learn how to speak Swedish," Maria exclaimed face flushed as she thought of Sweden from Hetalia. She had a huge crush on the large imposing man, his hight and silent air pulling her younger mind in. It may have been the mysterious air that surrounded him, or the fact that his kind acts where misunderstood. (she liked Russia for the same reasons minus the kind acts bit)

'oh really?' he raised a brow leaning over the table and without hesitation she turned her phone to show him the app she had open. He nodded looking at the digital flashcards, 'I can't say I'm fluent myself but I had a friend I served with who knew how to speak it. He wanted to move out to Sweden but the war got to us before he could do it."

A melancholy silence fell over the old man causing him to sigh deeper eyes having gone foggy as if looking at something else. Slowly though his eyes lit up, his lips curling in a soft smile at the memory. Shaking his head his smile widened, chasing away the melancholy air by asking her if she wanted him to get his friend to help her learn it.

"Whoa, really grandpa!" Maria almost yelled, hopping up and down in her seat with the idea that she could learn from someone who knew the language than through the app that was voice generated. Unable to stay in the booth, she hopped out and towards his side, wrapping her arms around him squeezing him as tightly as she could planting a kiss on his cheek. "You're the best!"

"Don't thank me yet Duncan hasn't even agreed."

It ached to think about it, even Duncan who she had seen as an extra uncle, while not dead suffered heavily from dementia. It was but a matter of time when he too would leave her and she wasn't sure if she could handle it not so soon after her recent loss. While she wasn't as close to him as she was with her grandpa he still was a staple in her young life; helping encourage her to reach her dreams even after she had given up learning Swedish, (it was after all one of those childish fantasies that kids had, a dream that kids strove for a little while before being distracted by something else) he still held contact with her.

Now she was left alone, the only other people to share her memories with her grandpa were the local hospital staff and the extended family. The thought of the betrayal by a certain family member stung, causing her to grit her teeth infuriated just by the thought of them being called family after what they had done. Taking deep controlled breaths she managed to rope in the anger that had started to simmer to the surface. The wounds were still fresh, leaving her to crawl further onto her bed grabbing a pillow and screaming bloody murder into it so she didn't take it out on anyone else.

Berwald tilted his head, positive he just heard something coming from the other side of the house...

He ended up shrugging it off going back to exploring the kitchen having finally decided to explore the upper cabinets. Specifically, the cabinet that Maria had been putting stuff into. He found the cans to be odd while appealing in a strange way that he couldn't vocalize. He stood still on the stool furrowed brows staring down at the can with a look on his face as if it publically insulted him.

Not that he was affronted in the least. Alas, that was just his face.

He was greatly tempted to open it wondering if the fish within would taste familiar to him. Only to remember. "Allt är inte guld som glimmar." (All that glimmers is not gold.) Berwald muttered to himself putting the can away firmly deciding not to mess with the items that Maria seemed to have hidden away for a purpose. Stepping off the stool he took a look at the clock, taking note that it was afternoon which made him realize that Maria hadn't eaten anything. (That he knew of) The idea of her not eating made him frown ever so slightly. It wasn't good for one's body, he should know he saw many of his men sub-come to hunger. While he too could feel the hunger pains, he never fell to it. It was it's own brand of torture in a way, so many times he had wished for death only to be spared for he wasn't human in the least. The hunger pains were one that he had gotten used too as the years had passed.

Right then and there Berwald did what he believed he did best. Cook a good meal. It wasn't a lunch type of food, but it wasn't lunch nor dinner yet so why not give her a breakfast food instead? Swedish cinnamon rolls were very delicious. Only the rich were able to get them due to how sugar and cinnamon were difficult to get their hands on. He was in slight awe at the fact that a modest woman like Maria had the ingredients needed to make the sweet dish. Along with the sweet treat he had managed to find sausages hidden away in the fridge as well. It seemed that while she didn't have much food she still bought quality items, the smell of the sausage so tantalizing that he almost took a bite out of it right then and there instead of cooking it.

The growl of her stomach interrupted her wallowing, the hint of cinnamon in the air hitting her. Without meaning too she had rolled over onto her back breathing deeply through her nose. With the way her day had gone, she'd completely forgot to eat lunch... The realization made her stomach rumble unhappily. Though she tried to ignore it, her stomach only growled louder in protest of being ignored. It wasn't even close to dinner yet, that she knew. She'd have to wait a few hours if she wanted to wait until then. But why would she want to do that? Though her bed was pretty comfortable. It was a difficult choice, lay in bed and try to sleep as her stomach growled or stand up and see what Berwald was making that smelled so good...

The sweet smell only grew as time passed making her choice in the end quite obvious...

Standing in the hallway she peaked into the kitchen watching as Berwald moved some sausages around. The action of him cooking was sweet, they didn't know each other and he had no reason to do it, but he was cooking for her. Still, that didn't stop the well of irritation from rising up, she was suppose to be doing all the work. This was her house, she knew how to take care of herself and guests! She didn't need help, she didn't need him taking up all her chores. Frowning she stared down at her feet, swaying back and forth in place watching her dress sway with her taking slow breathes and trying to categorize her feelings. It was strange that an action like this was calming her, making her head seem less pained none of the other thoughts of who why and how seemed important.

"'Take things one at a time you little urchin- stop trying to take the world by storm and break your problems into manageable pieces.'"

Hearing her grandpa's voice in her head made her laugh, even after all those years he stilled referred to her as a dirty little child. Not in any way to be offensive, it was the truth. She had a nasty habit of coming inside as if she fought some wild animal, hair a mess and puffed up from the heat with twigs and whatnot within them as her knees bled. Her face almost intimately knew the ground by then but back then it hadn't mattered one bit what she looked like as long as she was able to explore her grandpa's land and search for secrets in the woods.

With a soft little sigh, (she felt she had done that far too often today) she made her way fully into the kitchen, veering off to the side suddenly when she decided to sit where she set up the small table and chairs in the open kitchen instead of sitting on the couch on the other side of the room. There was a dining room but she left it alone, for the most part, there was no reason to use it when she didn't have anyone over. It was only used for family gatherings and holidays which now were unlikely to happen anytime soon as her grandpa was the only reason the family truly ever got together again.

Settling down she folded her arms, resting her head onto her forearm mentally ranking the problems in her head and which one she should make a priority. Suddenly gaining a housemate without a job was a problem. While she had money it didn't mean she was rolling in it thankfully she only had to pay for water and electricity- the house having been paid off a long time ago. Though things were still tight enough as is with just her around, her harvest wasn't even ready yet! Sure she had the strawberries ready as she recently picked them but she couldn't go into town with just those now could she? It wouldn't do well to just not go through... It would be better to try her luck then to stay at home and not try to sell them, no to mention they could go bad! she still needed to get those to market sometime this wee-

"Sorry gramps," she mumbled to herself realizing she was going on tangents once more and losing focus in the whole, 'take things one at a time' bit. Attempting to get back on track her thoughts turned stern, 'So I suddenly have a new housemate who I have to take care of and possibly come up with a backstory for him to tell the whole town. What will I do when Alex comes over on Saturday- or god forbid the pink pixie decides to take Friday off to come and see me. I only have two days left before she comes by- how could she tell her? Alex would believe me if I bluntly tell her, that he's Sweden from Hetalia, right?'

"God I sound insane," she muttered shaking her head and combing her fingers through her hair in a nervous gesture. She didn't want to lie to her, Alex was her best friend and she trusted her with everything. Alex would tell her if she ended up in the same situation she was positive of this, she was just worried Alex would become overzealous and try to ask how she got him and try to buy her own. The thought of Alex having America and Russia in the same house made her gut clench. That was a disaster waiting to happen and knowing Alex she'd do it without thinking, wanting her favorite ship in the same house forgetting the fact that America and Russia hated each other's guts. How one could forget about the cold war in this day in age was a mystery.

Pushing that nightmare aside next on the list... Finding Berwald a job...

Maria was grumbling to herself and thinking deeply again, the sight of it made Berwald sigh and want to go over there and massage her head. It was painful just looking at her hunched over form and he had to wonder just what thoughts were causing this pain. He could swear just looking at her made his own head, ache and that was saying something.

Turning off the stovetop, he moved the pan towards the sink setting the still-hot pan next to it while he reached up for two plates bringing them down and setting them on the counter before grabbing a fork and skewering a hot sausage setting it down on the plate repeating this process until the sausages were evenly distributed. Turning around he leaned against the counter, watching the woman with heavy-lidded tired eyes. All at once he felt old but also timeless, living for so long could do that to a person, make them feel as if they had learned everything they needed to know only to be proven wrong time and time again.

He decided he made the right choice after noticing her eyes light up once the sugary treat was done. Berwald wouldn't lie, seeing her smiling face made his chest well up with pride. He was the one to do that, to make her smile like that. His lips quirked up into a small smile watching her stuff her face with the cinnamon roll her cheeks puffed out with how much food she stuffed in them. He almost felt like laughing at her enthusiastic eating, after all, there was a bit of mess on the corner of her lip he was content to not tell her though and watch on fondly.

Maria appeared to forget about everything else around her fully enjoying the meal that was cooked for her. He had to wonder just how long had it been since she had someone cook for her? It reminded her of her mom's cooking- momma was an awful cook but mom was by far the best while her dad was second place compared to her.

She wouldn't admit it out loud but... Maybe, just maybe it would all be okay.

Authors Note: BAM ANOTHER UPDATE! So yes flashback time I suppose? I felt that there needed to be a little something to show her relationship with her grandfather. Not to mention that memories of dead loved ones come upon you at the most random of times and the memories themselves can be random as well. I recently lost a family member and I find myself thinking about them suddenly, it is without thought that they appear in my head. Sometimes it's a simple item that triggers a memory, or a word- even food and I am brought back to happier times; which only makes my soul ache more now that I know I am unable to share my future with them. Maria is going through the same things I am in this moment in time. Unlike Maria, I have accepted shoulders to lean on while she still tries to be the strong brick wall and distance herself from her family so she doesn't appear weak.

This will come back to bite her in the ass.

Maybe I shouldn't be giving that away so soon...

Hullanta: Once again thank you for your kind review! I wanted to be a bit more proactive with asking for reviews but I cannot lie, I was a tad nervous I would be seen as whiny for asking for it as many people expect writers to update, 'just because.' I'm sure every writer has had the experience of writing something they love but losing steam when the only comments they received were, 'please continue' Not that, that comment in itself is bad, per se, but it grows old fast when it's the only thing in your reviews

I'm thankful to have someone else agree with me on this. One of the main reasons on why I didn't want to have a ship for this story was my distaste of how others immediately expect a guy and a girl to get together without any true relationship building on their part. It's expected that once a man and woman make eye contact they are destined to be together while in the LGBTQ community both partners could have tremendous relationship growth only to be categorized as, 'best friends' or 'like a sibling.' I'll come right out and say it, it irritates me greatly. (That is another rant for later as I am getting off track...) The main purpose of this story when I first posted it in 2018 was to prove a point. That guys and gals don't have to be romantically interested in one another to care about one another. They don't have to be related by blood to feel like a family, or have some sort of romance to care for each other's well being. I just don't get what's up with that or how society views adoption as the last resort if you can't have your own children? (that was random but it along with poly are the two things I believe media has done dirty. Then again when hasn't Hollywood and mainstream media screwed up?)

I won't lie and say I didn't think about shipping for a bit, (As that in itself would be hypocrisy) but that was only done in the really early stages of the story before I even knew what to name it or even to add the androids aspect! If folks are curious the end game ship was going to be Sweden/Maria/Finland. Poly ships are far and few in between and at the time I was thinking of writing my portrayal of a healthy poly relationship as that's rarely done or if done, done well. I was planning on saying done right but that feels a bit pretentious now doesn't it? As everyone's right and wrong is different from someone else's, just like how relationships are all vastly different from one another.

Raven: Maria's sexuality isn't something that's set in stone. She, like every other human on this big blue hell ball, are forever changing. She hasn't truly settled down with something that she likes but her track record is mostly women, (as she felt connecting to them was easier) While she does find men attractive she is far too nervous to get involved with one and rightfully so as well.

Hm, I suppose you could call it that? It was an out of body experience for him, where he recognized he was talking but he didn't fully comprehend the memories in his head nor the words he was saying, (due to damage from before) Think of it this way. You know how when someone asks you a question, and you know you heard them but the words just don't connect in your head? That's what Sweden was going through when he started talking about being activated, tested, and whatnot.

You weren't forcing a ship you were just giving an opinion, while unlikely of it happening., (no hard feelings here I hope) it's still valid.