A/N: When did I update this last? I believe it was Monday? Let's see, it was updated on August 1st. Yeah, it was Monday. A week ago. The week was so long I lost track of time. Having your wisdom teeth out is no fun :(. So the recovery process has made the days drag by. Anyway, here's the once a week update. Sorry that these updates are slow and the chapters are short. This is my least planned story between the three I am working on. I need to try and get a summary/outline going. This is why ideas are very much welcome and appreciated. And so is feedback. Anyway, here's the update. Sorry about how short it is. There isn't a lot that happens in this "Night" chapter.

~4~

Night

After Mathias, Lukas, and Emil had gone to bed, and Peter was tucked in, Tino and Berwald reported to their own quarters, followed by an exhausted Maltese puppy.

Their bedside lamps were on and they sat up side by side in their large bed, elevated by the pillows, beneath the covers.

Ever since their villa in the Americas during the colonial era, the two had grown quite close. This was why they always shared a bed. It was comforting for the two of them, sleeping side by side. It made them both, especially Tino, feel safer and warmer. He was small in form, and could get cold relatively easily. And Berwald just straight up enjoyed being in the company of someone who wasn't so afraid of him. Someone he could trust with his life. Someone who trusted him too. To be frank, they loved each other very much. Besides for Estonia, the Swede was Finland's very dear friend.

Although all five of the Nordics felt like they were practically brothers, there was a certain closeness that Sweden and Finland had with one another that they did not share with the others. It was a very special bond...one could even describe it as a queer-platonic one. Although they never kissed or engaged themselves in other romantic activities, there was still a very large degree of love, admiration, fluffy cuddles, and affection towards one another. And Sweden still called Finland "wife", a term of endearment that the small man had at first been puzzled and slightly disturbed by, but eventually had grown to love very much.

"We're al'ne now, wife." Sweden said to him. "W'nna tell m' wh't's both'rin ye?" His expression appeared concerned.

Finland nodded and took a deep breath. "Ya. I do...y-you already know what happened with the football, so I don't need to explain that I don't think.

"Mmm."

"Well...wh-when I went to the playground to get the snow cones with Denmark and Iceland...one of the balloons that the vendor was selling popped. In my mind I heard a gunshot...s-so I ran for cover under one of the benches. A bunch of people started to crowd me...and I-I was scared...I couldn't calm down. I kept having all these blurry image flashes of scary things...a-and...I d-didn't know what to do...I thought I was back in the war again...I was confused...I d-didn't remember...and wh-when I came back to my senses, Denmark was there, trying to calm me down...the same thing happened with the football...the memory flashes...it's been bothering me...I think it's my PTSD..."

"But T'no, ye got over th't y'rs ago, didn't ye?"

"I-I th-thought I did too...but my symptoms started coming back a few weeks ago...now I don't know...I-I'm scared, Su-san..." he trailed off, "You remember how bad it was last time...I-I'm afraid if it comes back...I'm going to hurt someone...I don't want to hurt anybody..."

The taller form pulled the smaller one into a hug.

"It'll be 'kay T'no." he comforted, "Ev'r'yth'n's gonna be fine."

The Fin melted into his friend's embrace.

"You're the first one I've told...I don't want to worry anyone else."

"I w'n't say noth'n, unless it gets w'rse."

"Thank you Su-san."

"'M gl'd ye told m'. I w's w'rried 'bout ye."

Finland only curled further into his chest.

Berwald looked down at him, his heart going out to him. Finland's PTSD had been the worst thing that they had ever gone through. He didn't want it to come back and reoccur. He remembered with a pang the pain it had put them both through. He remembered how different the Fin had been. He remembered how the tiniest thing would send the sweet-natured young man into a panic. He remembered how turbulent his emotions were: the bursts of anger, fear, sadness...He remembered the screaming in the middle of the night from the nightmares. He remembered the blood...the tears...it had broken his heart. He could not stand to see him go through that again.

"T'no..."

The large violet eyes met blue.

"Ev'rythin'll be okay. Okay?"

The Fin nodded, but he wasn't convinced.

"I'll b' with ye..no matter what."

"Kittos..." Tino replied.

"We sh'ld try t' sleep." Sweden told him, That way this day can be over with and tomorrow can be better.

The smaller blonde he let go of Sweden and scooted back to his own side of the bed.

-xXx-

Sweden awoke in the middle of the night from a slightly restless sleep. His discussion with Finland earlier left him worried and concerned. He blinked his eyes open, and briefly glanced beside him. The Fin's back was turned to him, and he seemed to be sleeping soundly. Satisfied that he was content, the larger man decided he needed a glass of water. So he carefully got out of bed, being as quiet as possible so as not to wake him. He walked into the bathroom to fill up the cup beside his bed with the sink water. He took a drink and then carried it back over to his night stand, climbing back in bed. He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep. However, he was disturbed with movement beside him. He turned. Finland's body was shaking. He was gripping fistfuls of sheets, and small whimpers escaped his mouth.

Must be a bad dream. Sweden thought. He scooted over at sat up, and started to rub Finland's shoulder.

"T'no! T'no! Wake up! S'okay!" the taller of the duo called out to the other.

The Fin stopped shaking, blinking awake. He was slightly disoriented.

"Yer jus' h'vin' a b'd dream. S'okay." Sweden replied. He took his hand off his shoulder.

Tiny tears were in the corners of the Fin's eyes as he held Sweden's gaze for a couple of moments, expression greatful. He even offered a tiny ghost of a smile. Then, he turned back around and readjusted his body. Sweden laid down as well, rubbing his back with one hand, and propping himself up with the other arm. He did this until he felt Finland's slow bretahing again, before completely lying down and turning back on the side he normally slept on.

That wasn't so bad...I just hope they don't get any worse.