"Oh Ivan!"

I turned and looked around for the person who called my name as I headed up the hospital's front steps. No one I recognized was around but hospital staff and patients coming in and out the building. Nurses pushing smiling patients in wheelchairs around the pavement to get in some fresh air. With a desperate hope, I searched for my sister in those chairs but the only blonde patient was not Natalya.

"How was Berlin?" The voice continued as I approached the entrance, only it seemed closer now.

Turning my head to the right, I finally noticed Dr. Dmitry sitting on a wooden bench that rested next to the front entrance. He moved his clipboard over as I sat next to him; briefly seeing my sister's name on it.

"Wet. It rained a lot," I shrugged, gazing around at the patients again. "How's Natalya?"

He looked down at his clipboard even though I doubted he needed to check for her status. "She's feeling better today than any other day. It's been rough for her while you've been gone."

The moment those words left his mouth I felt an overwhelming guilt in my heart. It felt like someone reached inside my chest and twisted my beating heart around.

"Um…excuse me, doctor," a nursed mumbled nervously as she poked her head out the automatic door. "You're needed inside."

"Thank you. I'll be right there," he told her, rising to his feet and heading towards the door before turning back to me. "She's resting now so head in quietly."

Following him inside, I headed to the elevator and up to the seventh floor; slowly creeping into her room. I could hear her soft snores mixing in with the buzzing of the machines. Only she wasn't in bed alone. Toris slept next to her; his arms around her at distance so not to hurt her injuries yet close enough to be considered holding her.

Quietly grabbing a chair, I sat next to the bed so I could wait for them to wake up. I glanced around the room to see if anything had changed while I was away. Three vases filled with a variety of different flowers were lined up on the windowsill; adding a pop of colour to the white room. I picked up a brown teddy bear holding a "Get Well" heart that rested at the foot of bed. Toris probably gave it to her earlier.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, startling me into dropping the bear on the floor. Picking it up, I placed the bear next to my sister before checking my phone. It was a text from Yekaterina.

"Have you arrived in Moscow yet? I'll be back at the hospital soon."

I heard some shuffling and looked up to see Toris sitting up. "Ah Ivan, you're back," he whispered, looking down at Natalya. "She'll be happy. All she talked about since I arrived was you and ice cream."

Oh that's right. I promised her I would share some ice cream with her when I returned.

"When did you get here?"

"We arrived last night," he replied while stretching his arms. He looked like he was still sleepy.

Us? He probably meant the other Baltics. Where are they now? Maybe they went out somewhere with my older sister.

"They went to get some of Natalya's stuff from your house," he continued with a yawn. "We thought it might make her feel a little better to have her own things."

"Sounds like a good idea."

"T-Toris," Natalya whined; her eyes fluttering open.

Toris grabbed her hand and used his other to move the hair away from her face. "See? I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere," he whispered softly to relax her. "Look who's here to see you."

With his help, Natalya shifted so she could see me and immediately smiled wider than she has been able to before.

"Braht!"

It came out as only a choked whisper yet I could tell she was trying to call out in excitement. Even through her pain, she looked so happy to see me. She let go Toris' hand so I could hold it instead.

"That's right, baby girl," I cooed and leaned over to kiss her forehead. "I'm here."

"Can I h-have my ice c-cream n-now?"

"Of course, honey."

"Oh! My baby is awake," Yekaterina sang as she came through the open door with Raivis and Eduard. "How are you feeling?"

Natalya smiled as she looked up at our big sister. "H-happy. Braht h-home."

I sneaked in another kiss to her forehead, squeezing her hand gently. "Da, baby. I'm home. I won't leave you again so we can have lots of ice cream."

Dr. Dmitry poked his head in the doorway, looking at my sister. "Speaking of ice cream, what kind did you want, Natalya?"

She paused, thinking about it for a few minutes. "M-mint chocol-late chip."

"Okay," he replied, giving her a soft smile and thumbs up. "I'll bring you some right away."

Natalya kept smiling even after he left. She seemed so happy with the promise of ice cream. Something so simple made her so happy even though she was suffering so much. But why….?

"So while we wait for your snack, Natty, let's unpack the bags," Yekaterina interrupted my thoughts as she placed a bag on Natalya's bed.

"Let's see what your big sister brought you," Toris hummed in a soft little tune, grabbing the bag for her. He had to her pull things from the bag for since she can't move her arms well. Nothing much was in the first bag but some toiletries from home and some extra blankets.

"I brought some of your favourite books so I can read to you," Yekaterina cooed as she pulled some books out of another bag. "Just like when you were my tiny little baby."

"We also brought cards," Eduard stepped in before my sister could make herself cry. "And some games you could play in bed."

"I'll play with you," Raivis added, smiling sweetly down at my sister. He still seemed a little scared of her even though she could hardly move.

"T-thank you."

"What's in that big bag?"

"All of her stuffed animals," my sister chuckled opening the large garbage bag. "I thought they would make her feel a bit better."

One by one, we picked out each stuffed animal from the bag, placing them around the room. Each one gave Natty a kiss on the tip of her nose or cheeks, receiving a small giggle in return. Since she has so many, this took a long time to do. But I wasn't allowed to complain; I bought most of them.

Speaking of which, where is Dr. Dmitry with her ice cream? It's been quite a while.

"Wow, Natalya! Looks like you've got lots of new visitors."

As if on cue, her doctor waltzed in, carrying the bowl of the promised ice cream. He adjusted her bed so she could be somewhat sitting up and placed a tray on her lap. I was expecting just a cheap cup of vanilla ice cream but instead he got her a bowl of mint chip, a small layer of chocolate sauce and a cherry on top.

"Doesn't that look yummy, Natty?"

My little sister nodded, smiling happily.

"Okay, call me if she has trouble getting down or chokes on it," Dr. Dmitry sighed as he headed out the door, waving to Natalya. "I'll be back to check on you soon."

"Guess we should trade places, Ivan," Toris yawned, getting up from the bed.

I took his spot next to Natalya, grabbing the spoon so I could feed her. "Say ahh, Natty."

Very gently, I placed the melting ice cream in her open mouth. Only after it completely melted, she managed to swallow it.

"Y-your turn now."

To make her happy, I took a spoonful of the soft ice cream.

"Y-yummy?"

"Yummy."

"That's my baby," I cooed into her ear. "Here, let's have another bite."

I took a little more on the spoon and placed it in her mouth. It didn't take her as long to swallow this time. That's a good sign.

"More?"

She held her mouth open, taking another spoonful.

"Happy, Nata?"

"V-very."

Natalya fell asleep just before finishing the bowl. Luckily she didn't choke on any of it but she did have a hard time swallowing even the melted ice cream.

"I'm glad that made her so happy," I yawned as I cuddled up one of the cots.

"Well of course sharing her brother's favourite snack would make her happy," Yekaterina chuckled, brushing my bangs away from my face. "She loves you so much."

My sister was right. Natalya wanted ice cream because it was my favourite, not hers. And mint chocolate chip was my favourite kind to indulge on when I feel down. My little sister still put me first even though she was in so much pain. That made me feel like crying again; tears escaping on their own. How much have I truly done for her?

"If only it were the days were my kisses made all wounds better," Yekaterina continued, stroking my hair gently like she knew how I felt. Then again, she always knows exactly I'm feeling; good or bad.

"Can I have one of those?"

"But of course, "she whispered as she lifted my head up and placed her lips on my forehead.

And I hoped that could take all the pain away, just like it used to when we were children…

Sorry this chapter took so long. I lost all confidence in my writing. I am trying to start up again.