*1 month later*

"I can't believe I'm doing this." Norway stood in front of Denmark's house. He missed his best friend. Even if he didn't show it very well, he really did like Denmark. He took each step toward the front door like it was a death sentence, His palms felt clammy as he knocked on the door. He waited for an answer. There was none.

He knocked again, this time a little louder. Now he was getting irritated. So he kept knocking. He still wasn't sure what he was going to say, but he had a feeling he needed to say something.

"He's not here." Norway turned to see Netherlands smirking at him. "He left at first light." Netherlands smiled at the mix of disappointment and relief that spread over Norway's face. Norway took another look back at the door.

"Where is he?" Norway had to know. He had to at least try to make things right. Netherlands just grinned.

"Last I saw, work. He's been a lot more productive sense you two fought. He drinks less too." Norway felt his stomach drop. He had been the cause for all of this? It was all him? His knees felt weak. "You really don't get how much you hurt him, do you?" Netherlands tilted his head in amusement.

"I know just how much he hurts." Norway yelled. His fists were clenched at his sides. His jaw was shut tightly to avoid giving away just how guilty he felt.

"Course you do." Norway looked up in confusion. "You caused it after all. You always saw it." Netherlands walked to where Norway stood in place. He bent down and looked Norway in the eye. "You just chose to ignore it."

"How could I know how he felt?" Norway threw his hands up in frustration. "I'm not a mind reader!" Norway yelled at Netherlands. All he did was grin at the smaller man. "I'm not good with emotions. I never have been."

"Take this into consideration Norway. Denmark doesn't have many friends. He's scared that they'll leave him like Sweden and Finland did. He refuses to let others see how he feels. It's that last bit of Viking blood in him. You're all he really has. That's why he tries so hard to make you happy." Netherlands turned from the Norwegian and walked away. He smirked to himself over the look of surprise on Norway's face. "Good luck on that apology." He called over his shoulder.

*Awesome time skip because I can't think of a transition*

Denmark stretched back from his desk. He still wasn't used to actually working. He took a look around his office. He had never seen it this clean. He had been working hard at getting all of his paper work done. He was trying to show Norway that he didn't need him. Consequently, because he was working so much, he didn't have enough time to waste on drinking.

His country, and he himself, had never been in such good shape. Yet, he was still sad. It was hard not having Norway around. He was glad he wasn't being insulted all the time, but he missed his best friend. He was the one who stuck around when Denmark really needed him. He was the one who had taken care of him when he got sick.

But Denmark couldn't bring himself to forgive Norway. His country was benefitting from all of this. He was being a model country. He didn't blow off work to think of ways to mess with Norway. He didn't waste time trying to drink away his pain. Norway would always be his best friend. Nothing would change that. It just wasn't a healthy relationship, for either of them.

While he wanted to fix the friendship, he wasn't about to reach out. He hadn't caused all of the turmoil. The more he thought about it, the less he wanted to do it. His mind drifted to Norway. He wanted to just remember all of the good times they had, but there wasn't many.

All he could really remember was Norway insulting him. Or even Norway hurting him. Denmark was starting to get worried. Was that all their friendship was based off? Them hurting each other, was that all he was good for? This was the first time in 100 years that he even tried to evaluate himself. The more he thought about it, the less he regretted his decision. He wanted Norway to be proud of him. In order to do that he had to make the toughest decision. He would change how the world saw him and his people. He would do whatever it took.

*I'm sorry but another skip*

"Get up Norway!" Finland banged on the door. "Your room is the last room I need to clean." Finland was tired of Norway hiding from his problems. Besides, he needed to clean the house. Norway mumbled from inside. Finland braced himself and his senses and opened the door.

The smell hit him all at once and burned his nose. The room was filthy. Cloths were everywhere, the curtains were closed, it was dark, and there were dishes on any available piece of furniture.

"Are you kidding me? This is where all my dishes went? Do you relies how long I was looking for these?" Finland flung open the curtains in irritation. Norway groaned and buried himself deeper in his covers. "Get up Norway. Stop sulking. This is getting ridiculous!" Finland pulled the sheets off the bed and was surprised. Norway was curled into a ball, making him look like a child having a nightmare. His hair was frizzy and matted down in some places and wild in others. His eyes were red from crying and he was starting to shake.

Finland looked at his friend with pity in his eyes. He had never seen him this miserable. He left the room to get a wet towel. He put the towel on Norway's head and gave him a hug. He made sure that Norway was comfortable, and then he started to clean. He loved his friend to death, but his room was disgusting. Finland needed his house to be clean, no matter what.

"You really ought to talk to Denmark you know. He really misses you. And I know you miss him." Norway sat up and looked at Finland. Finland just gave him a smile. "All he needs to hear is an 'I'm sorry'" Norway just sat in silence as the small finish man lifted up chairs to move mess out from under them.

"What could I say? What could I do to make all the pain I've caused him to go away?" Norway asked quietly. His voice was raw from sobbing. Finland stopped cleaning and rubbed Norway's back.

"It'll be ok. Just say what you need. It's not ok to keep all of this locked up." Finland stopped his cleaning to leave Norway to think. "I want this room clean by the time I come back. You've let it go for too long." Norway let a small smile tug at his lips. It was decided. He would try to right his wrongs. He would apologize, no matter how much of his pride was torn away.

Right after he cleaned his room.

Thanks for the reviews. They were all really nice. I really appreciate you guys reading this. I'll try to update this as soon as I can, but with CST's it might be a bit difficult. -JR