TO MY READERS: I HAVE EXPANDED THIS CHAPTER.

Due to my friend, Hinotori-Hime, I have decided that I needed to put more detail in this story, starting here.

Please, Everyone, keep reviewing, because I need constructive criticism. With your help, this story can be even more meaningful and touching. If it wasn't for helpful reviews, my other stories wouldn't be as good as they are now, either.

Furthermore, leaving reviews lets me know that you are actually reading the story, so please leave me a review, okay?

~+~ The pioneer with a heart for people and a thousand stories to tell ~+~

Chapter 14

My debt to you, Belovèd,
Is one I cannot pay
In any coin of any realm
On any reckoning day.
~Jessie B. Rittenhouse

((((ppppqqqq))))

((ppqq))

(pq)

A few days passed, in which Belarus repeatedly contemplated where Lithuania received his scars. At length, she could not bear the question any longer, and finally asked him where he got his scars, for a second time.

While Lithuania was sitting at a table and reading, Belarus watched him, contemplating if she should ask. She reminded herself that he said he preferred to not speak of it, so maybe she should simply leave him alone... yet, at the same time, she found the desire to know what happened to Lithuania completely unbearable. After all, they were married, so... why was he hiding it from her? Did he not trust her? Was he afraid that she would get angry at him for telling her the truth? For several minutes, Belarus tossed these questions around in her mind while also contemplating if she should ask him for the truth... after all, she deserved to know, as his wife. Then again, he was her husband, and as her husband he had a right to NOT answer her... Nevertheless, she was determined to know the truth. Hence, she asked him.

Cautiously, she walked towards Lithuania, and after a few moments, quietly piped up, "Toris... I need to ask you something."

Lithuania put his book down, turned around in his chair and faced her kindly. "What is it, Tasha?" He responed politely.

"Well... I know you don't want to talk about it... and I would understand if you didn't answer me, but... well... I... I want to know how you got the scars on your back," she blurted out at length.

At first, he looked away, studying the table he was sitting at when he asked her the question. Deep within, he didn't want to answer her, yet simultaneously he knew that it wasn't right to hold back the truth from her, since she was his wife, after all. For several minutes he didn't answer her, contemplating what to say and whether he should say it. While Lithuania was silent, Belarus sat beside him at the antique wooden table, which held many scratches and chips from decades of use. Belarus gazed at him, her dark blue eyes pleading for an answer as she sat beside Lithuania silently. Although she didn't say anything, her heart was beating fast in anticipation, and a thousand things flew about her mind in worry-would he deflect the question again? Did he not trust her enough to talk about it? Was it such a dark memory that he would never tell her? She couldn't bear wondering about this anymore. All the while, Lithuania refused to lock eyes with her as he pondered whether or not he should answer her as he silently eyed the table before him.

As Belarus was desperately waiting for an answer, Lithuania was deeply struggling with what to tell her. He knew where he received his scars, and he also knew that it would probably hurt her deeply. Because he loved her, his heart ached at the thought of telling her the truth, for he was certain that it would either anger her or break her heart. However, because he loved her, he also didn't want to hide the truth from her-she was his wife, and he wanted to be open with her because of that fact. Indeed, it was a very deep struggle that threatened to tear him apart within himself.

At length, he answered, "Tasha... I got some of those scars from wars... but most were from your brother, Russia, abusing me."

Those words slammed into Belarus like a bolt from a crossbow. She turned away from Lithuania, unable to speak with the flood of emotions suddenly swelling to the surface of her heart. It was her brother who hurt Lithuania. Although she had a feeling that was what occurred, hearing the truth out loud cut deep into her. Part of her was angry at her big brother for hurting someone as patient and kind as Lithuania while the other part was broken-hearted because it was HER brother that hurt him, which also now hurt her heart because it was her flesh and blood that injured him so horribly that he was forever scarred from it deeply. As she thought about it, she reminded herself that at one time she would have been indifferent to anything her brother did to Lithuania, and that thought convicted her severely. A harsh part of her said, Why should you care where he got the scars? Don't you hate him to death? Meanwhile, another part said, He has every right to hate you now-not only did YOU abuse him, but your brother did as well. Then, another part whispered, See? See how much he loves you? Even though both you and your brother scarred him for life, in more ways than one, he loves you. You are entirely unworthy of his affection... or anyone's affection. She turned away from him, with a sorrowful tear falling down her cheek. Indeed, she was unable to utter a word with the feelings raging inside of her.

Seeing that Belarus was crying, Lithuania knew that the truth hurt her. Instantly his heart ached within himself. He predicted this would happen, but actually witnessing it agonized him. He never wished to hurt her, and he had. His stomach cramped in sorrow and guilt as he watched the lone tear slide down her cheek tragically.

Gently he wiped the tear away from her eye, and whispered, "Tasha, I still love you-I do not blame you for what your brother did to me, or to anyone else."

His green eyes displayed how much he loved her, and how sorry he was for making her cry. The tone in his voice echoed the pain in his heart at hurting her emotionally, and Belarus heard it clearly.

She turned back to him, and her heart began to ache less. His words made a warmth spread over her, from her heart to the deepest part of her gut. This man had a million reasons to curse her, leave her, even beat her... but he never did. Instead, he consciously chose to love her, even though she didn't deserve it. How could he have such unconditional love for her? It didn't make any sense. She didn't know that he struggled with loving her months ago, and had leaned on his faith to strengthen him to love her. If she knew that, she probably would have fainted in shock, because it was nonsensical for him to love somebody that he didn't feel like loving... much less fall in love with her even more than before. She didn't know that, but she did know that he loved her, and that was already amazing enough, because at one point she didn't care for him at all. If he died, he died, if he lived, he lived; she didn't care at all. This thought brought the ache back to her heart.

Quickly she threw her arms around his neck as she sobbed, "I am so sorry! I am so sorry! Please, forgive me for what he did, and forgive me for not caring about you before."

Lithuania stroked her hair and consoled, "I am not angry;I forgave you... please, don't cry, it is all right."

He said it was all right, but she knew it wasn't; he was scarred, and that would never change. No, it was not all right, but because he loved her, it was all right. Because he loved her, those scars were nothing to him. To him, those scars were basically healed, or nonexistent, because he loved her... at least, he didn't blame her for them. As far as his love for her was concerned, it was all right, even though he had every right to be not all right with her.

After some time, Belarus calmed down, but she never forgot that it was her brother who scarred him... and that she truly had a behemothic debt to pay to this nation who loved her despite what her brother did, and despite what she did to him.

Dear Reader,

I am back, and here is the next chapter!

Did you like it?

If so, please leave me a nice review! By the way, if you like ANYTHING about this story, please leave me a review so I know! I want to know if you appreciate the quotes, or the grammar, or the characterization, or ANYTHING!

Again, I give special thanks to The Scheming Turtle for all of the help she gave as my Beta-reader.

Furthermore, I give deep thanks to all my supporting fans, especially those kind enough to give me a review, whether it is a guest or signed review. Yes, if you do not have an account you may leave a review. Yes, people have asked me that before today.

The pioneer with a heart for people and a thousand stories to tell ~+~