I do not own hetalia
Denmark and Norway were both already in the kitchen when Amelia finally stumbled down the stairs, lured by the scent of coffee and breakfast. Her face was pale and her hair once again in a rats nest. Amelia looked tired and sleepy and didn't even speak, she clambered onto her chair and set her head on the table.
"Are you alright 'Melia?" Denmark swopped down a planted a kiss on her head, he smelled clean and his hair was damp from his earlier shower.
"I had a bad dream," she said and both nations exchanged sharp glances.
"What was it about," Norway sipped on his coffee, wincing as he shifted in his seat.
"Well," he eyed the plate of eggs Denmark set in front of her, "I dreamed that someone kept yelling your name again and again last night Papa," Norway's face went beet red and he yanked the newspaper in front of face to hide it from the oblivious girl, "It sounded odd because I heard lots of thumping around downstairs and I thought a monster was coming into the living room and then to your room. And then there was a lot of moaning, like a ghost."
Denmark's face also went red but it was from trying to contain his laughter, he settled for having a deathbed coughing fit into his elbow while Norway stood up and limped out of the room, looking furious.
"Papa, did I say something to upset Mama? Is he okay, why is he limping?" Denmark had another violent fit of hacking.
"He's just sore because he fell onto his back last night, he's not mad at you, he's just really grumpy in the morning."
"Oh," with that she proceeded to scarf down her food while Papa continued to chuckle at the newspaper.
"Papa."
"Mmmmmm?"
"Did Mama fall really hard?"
For some reason he found his hilarious and began laughing again.
"Yes, yes he did."
"What's going on?"
# # # # # # # #
Once noon rolled around Amelia was cheerfully drawing on the living room floor under the watchful if emotionless eyes of her Mama while Papa did take home paper work. Norway tried to see what Amelia was working on but every time his eyes lifted from his book she flopped over it, covering her artwork.
"Why can't I see it?"
"Because it's a surprise," she said giggling, "I have to show both you at the same time Mama!" Norway sighed at that annoying title he couldn't convince the girl to give up under any circumstances, Denmark had thought it was insanely cute. Now he knew how Finland felt, after mocking him for being Mama; boy did he feel like an ass now.
"Hey guys!" Denmark emerged from the hallway and grinned at the homley sight and tried to pretend his heart wasn't breaking. "Guess what?"
"Papa!" Amelia shot to her feet and grabbed his coat, "I made a picture for us! Come see, come see!" She shot over to Norway's side and sat next to him, patting the cushion next to her. Denmark smiled but Norway he was miserable as he sat next to Amelia and looked at her expectantly.
"What is it?" Slyly Amelia slid off the couch and from under the pile of art supplies Denmark had found in his house pulled out a piece of paper. She walked forward, biting her lip and flipped it around.
There were three stick figures. The tallest one was outlined in black with two large blue dots for its dis proportioned head and several long, slanted lines served as his hair. It had a wide slant for its smile. Just above it in childish scrawl was the word "Papa" The little girl wore a triangular dress with red and black scribbles filling it in, her arms reached far above her head to hold those of Papa and the next stick figure labeled "Mama". 'Mama' was drawn heavily with blue and was a good inch shorter than 'Papa' two thick purple dots were it's eyes and it had no smile, Mama was holding the little girls hand. Above the two titles were three oddly well drawn flags.
The American, Danish and Norwegian ones.
"It's for you to carry in your wallet Papa, do you...do you like it?"
Denmark didn't speak, he didn't need to. He swept both Norway and Amelia into a bone crushing hug. Amelia squealed and threw her arms around his neck and Norway allowed for himself to be held for the briefest moment before extracting himself.
"This is so awesome Amelia, I'm going to put it in my wallet right now." True to his words Denmark did so. "And I've go news, we're going on a trip!"
Norway raised an eyebrow, "We're going to England. I'm supposed to be visiting a few friends for a few days."
"REALLY!" Amelia looked ecstatic.
"Yeah, but you need to go get packed alright. I'll be up to help you in a few minutes, alright?"
"OKAY!" Amelia sprinted from the room and clattered into hers.
Denmark turned to Norway and his smile disappeared.
"I called England and Romania, they'll be waiting for us tonight. Tomorrow we can see about getting Amelia to her normal age."
"You've been dragging your feet with this whole thing I didn't think you would actually do it." Denmark's shoulders slumped and he sighed.
"It needed to be done, I knew from the start I couldn't keep her her forever," the Dane sighed wistfully and stared at the wall, "But I'd really like to."
"PAPA!" He shook his head.
"Better go help her pack." With that he was gone. Norway stared after him for a moment before returning to his book.
#$#$#$#$#$
It was extremely late when the expected knock came at England's door and he hurried to let them in.
"Welcome," he said gaped at the sight. Denmark was dusted lightly with snow, in one hand he held a large suitcase and in the other he cradled a small girl who rested her face against his neck, sleeping. She wore a black coat that had two bunny ears on the hood. It was excessivly cute. Norway was struggling with two suitcases and he thumped them down once the door opened and glared around.
"Good flight?"
"It went fine," Denmark answered in a hushed whisper, "But I need to get Amelia to bed."
"Of course, Norway, there is tea in the pot, help yourself." Norway nodded and disappeared while England lead the Dane up the staircase. "When did she fall asleep?"
"Halfway here."
"Did she behave on the plane?" England opened the door to a dark room and flipped the light on. A large bed dominated the middle. Denmark settled the girl gingerly on the bed and began removing her coat and winter gear.
"Just fine, kept asking Mama about how planes worked so he spent the entire time answering questions before she fell asleep." He opened the suitcase and pulled out a nightgown and proceeded to change the little girl who stayed deeply asleep the entire time.
England watched the happening with growing astonishment, unused to seeing the loud, irritating Dane act so fatherly, it seemed so wildly out of character for him.
"Papa," bright blue eyes that made England wince, they looked just like America's when he was younger, "Papa." she sat up, looking around with fear.
"I'm here," Denmark smoothed her hair and tucked the blankets around her.
"Where's Mama?" she mumbled, eyes already drooping again.
"Downstairs, warming up," Mathias said, kissing her forehead, "Go back to sleep, alright?"
"Okay," her voice dropped off and she began to sleep again. Denmark sat on the edge of the bed and fussed over the wrinkles in the blanket before standing up and moving the suitcase out of the way.
"Lets go see Norge, alright?" He ushered England out and with one last glance to the sleeping child he flipped off the light.
#$#$#
Norway was sipping his tea and conversing quietly with the fairy's when they re-entered.
"She's asleep," was the Danes answer to Norway's questioning gaze, "I got her into her bed clothes and tucked in."
"Good," the blank faced man turned from them and back to the fairy's.
"Are you Mama?" England asked, disbelief infusing the question he directed at the Norwegian, who blushed a light pink.
The silence was all he needed for an answer.
"Well, you certainly fit the role well, what with that feminine form and all." England's mouth twitched up in a snarky grin.
"Shut up," Lukas hissed.
"I bet you feel like an ass for all those times you were a jerk to Finland."
"Shut up."
"Tell me, does Denmark come in through the door and say, "honey, I'm home!"
"SHUT UP!" Norway was on his feet, face red and eyes laden with fury, "you insolent, untalented, idiotic.."
"Guys, calm down!" Denmark shoved both of them into chairs.
"I'M NOT CALMING DOWN! HE INSULTED ME IN MY OWN HOUSE!"
"It's not my fault you're an idiot."
"YOU LITTLE!" England's shout and Norway's hisses were cut off when Denmark grabbed the top of England's head and began to squeeze with Norway he grabbed his tie and yanked them both close. Both magical nations stared into the blazing eyes of the furious Dane.
"If either of you two wake Amelia I swear you won't be able to sit down for a week, and it won't be the pleasant way. Understand?" The last word was bitten off and laden with unspoken threat.
England only gaped in astonishment, it had been centuries since he had seen the Dane this dangerous while Norway narrowed his eyes and nodded.
"England?" The Brit also nodded and massaged his sore head once Denmark let go. Norway straightened his tie and glowered but said nothing.
"England, don't provoke Norway or make fun of him. Norway, try to not take so much offense to everything. Now, I'm going to bed and we'll talk in the morning. Give Scotland a call so he knows what's going on."
With that Mathias had disappeared up the staircase into his and Norway's shared room.
"He's not going to kick you to the couch is he?" Asked England while he fixed his ruffled clothes and Norway shook his head.
"He doesn't have that sort of power, besides; it will upset Amelia is she knows we've argued, he won't let her see that." Norway picked up his tea again.
"I saw him getting Amelia into bed, he really is a good father. I thought the reports were exaggerated.
"As much as I'd like to say he is he isn't, he takes very good care of her, I'm going to bed."
#$#$#$#
Twenty minutes later Norway eased into the dark bedroom and saw the muscular form of Denmark against the bed. With as much silence as possible he slipped into bed and stared at his partners broad back.
"I'm sorry," the words were difficult to form. It wasn't a phrase he said very much or even contemplated ever but in this moment it was necessary.
Denmark didn't answer but he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, he interlaced his fingers over his chest and sighed.
"Anko?"
"I don't want to give her up Norge," His voice trembled and from the outside light he could see a small sphere slide out of the Danes eyes and down to his ear. "She's had a hard life, I wish she could be happy with me forever, happy with us. Take her to school, go to the park, get ice cream, some new clothes and watch her go on her first date or day to a school. I want to be the man she looks up to, her protector and her friend. I want to be a Dad Nor, I want to be Amelia's dad. It's not fair." Denmark was definitely crying now but he didn't make much noise, like he was embarrassed of the tiny spheres which represented his misery.
"If you took her to the park she'd probably get in a fight," the smaller male muttered. Mathias gave a noise which was somewhere between a laugh and a sob, a soft choking noise which sent a piercing arrow through Norway's heart.
"You're right, she had a terrible temper when it came to dealing with other people." Humming in agreement Lukas rolled onto his side and began playing with Denmark's fingers, pulling them from their locked position. He began to rub soothing circles on the Dane's large, rough palms.
"You'd make sure the clothes were red and black with a small dash of pink or bunnies. You'd stalk her on her first date, even if you ever let a boy get anywhere near the girl. Who knows, you might even home school her so boys wouldn't even see her. If I remember she was a really pretty teenager."
With a strangled sob Denmark rolled over and yanked Norway into his arms a snuggled him close like a human teddy bear. Norway would never admit it but he adored it when they cuddled, it was the fuzziest feeling he'd ever allow himself to feel.
"I know you don't want to give her up but we don't have choice." Norway muttered into Denmark's well- toned chest.
"You like her too, right Norge?"
"...Yes, even if she gave me that awful nickname."
"You mean Mama?"
"Yes."
"That's not a nickname Norgie, that's your title."
Norway huffed even as Denmark kissed his forehead, "I'm not a mother."
"Yes you are, Amelia loves having a Mom and Dad, just pretend until she gets changed back."
"There won't be much acting," He didn't mean to say it out loud, expecting the Dane to gloat in triumph but he simply smiled and closed his eyes.