Well, after not updating for a week YET AGAIN, I have returned!

My extreme apologies for not updating sooner, and also for neglecting to mention a very important fact...

This is the final chapter. I honestly did not realize that before, but this is, in fact, the conclusion of the "Soviet Insanity" series.

Well, sort of...

More on that at the end of the chapter. For now, I hope you enjoy the final installment! (And I desperately hope that everyone remains in character...)

Chapter Thirteen:

It was in the sleepless darkness, watching Lithuania cry in his sleep, that Russia received another visitor. He came quietly, unexpectedly, with a tremor in his voice and the desperate half-mad demeanor Russia had never expected from any of his Baltics, but had found in two of them.

When Estonia opened the door, it frightened Russia, because, for the first time, he found himself fearing the loss of self restraint that always led him to punish his family. And he also feared Estonia, who had come once with a gun and a determination to kill.

But there was no such malicious determination in Estonia's voice now, only a quiet pleading, and a certain brokenness that Russia would never have guessed could be inserted into the introverted Baltic's voice.

"Mr. Russia," Estonia said, "I… I know I've done a lot of things to make you angry… But I've come to ask you one last time. Will you… Will you make a deal with me?"

"What deal would that be, Estonia?" Russia asked, wondering what could have possibly brought about this change in Estonia. Ordinarily, there would have been no questions, no confession that Estonia had done wrong, merely anger. Now, Russia heard in Estonia's voice overwhelming pain and regret, and also a sort of determination, but not the angry kind that had sought to end the lives of more than one nation.

"I want to ask you again to make a trade," Estonia said, "My life for Lithuania's freedom. Please, please, don't make him stay here… He…"

Estonia fell to his knees, his head bowed.

"He's too kind to have to stay here in darkness, cold, and pain forever," he said, "I know you're lonely, and that's why you don't want him to leave. And, yes, Lithuania is a far better companion than anyone else… But he can't survive here… He shouldn't need to survive in here! I… I want him to go with the others, to be free…"

The blonde boy looked up at Russia, and in the dim light, Russia saw tears in Estonia's eyes.

"But I also know that you would hate it if we all left," he said, "You and I, Mr. Russia, are not so different after all. We share the same fear, and also, I have come to believe, we possess a similar madness. And…so that you wouldn't be alone or afraid… So Lithuania and the others could be free… I would ask to trade my freedom for Lithuania's."

Russia could only stare in shock at this boy, this nation, who, it seemed, had changed a great deal from the cold-hearted child he had once believed him to be.

"I… I know you get angry, and you have to take out your anger on someone," Estonia continued, "So I wouldn't mind if you hurt me, if you tortured me… I wouldn't care what you did… As long as Lithuania and Latvia, and Ukraine and Belarus… As long as they were free, I would willingly do anything you wanted…"

Estonia bowed his head again, but whether to hide the tears on his face, or for some other reason, Russia could not tell.

"Please, Mr. Russia… Will you accept this trade?"

"Estonia…" Russia said, "I… There will not be a trade."

Estonia's eyes flashed as he raised his head, and Russia saw frightening anger and a disturbing anguish in the boy's gaze.

"But," Russia continued, "I think that… I think…"

He paused, fully, terribly aware that what he was about to say would leave him hopelessly alone, perhaps forever.

"Litva cannot stay here," he said quietly, "He needs to leave, as do you all. Even you, Estonia, cannot stay. There will be no trade. No one will be staying here, except for me."

"W-what?" Estonia asked, staring at him, "What are you saying?"

"Take Litva back to his home," Russia said, glancing over at the brunet boy, who was somehow still asleep, "Take everyone back to their homes. I am sorry, Estonia, for what I have done."

At that moment, there were footsteps in the hallway, and then, Ukraine burst into the room.

"Ivan! Eduard! What are you…" her voice trailed off as she took in the scene, and Russia could see that she was both confused and relieved at finding Estonia unhurt.

"Hello, big sister," Russia said quietly, "I had just been telling Estonia that it was time to be taking Lithuania home."

"That's a cruel joke, Russia," Ukraine said, "That's extremely cruel."

"I do not joke," Russia said, "Ukraine, I have said it to Estonia, and I will also say it to you. I am sorry for what I did to you, and to everyone."

Disbelief was evident on Ukraine's face, but there was also hope there.

"Oh, Russia…"

"You need to go home," Russia said, "So, wake up little Toris, and you can go. I… I will not stop you now."

Lithuania almost liked waking this time, simply because his sleep was no longer a pleasant escape. But when he did open his eyes, he felt as if this too must be a dream.

Estonia stood next to the bed where he lay, smiling very slightly.

"Time to get up, Lithuania," he said.

"W-what are you doing here?" Lithuania asked, panicked, "Does Mr. Russia know you're here?!"

"He does," Estonia said, "We… We're going home."

For a moment, Lithuania did not register Estonia's words. And when he did, he burst into tears, certain that it was a cruel joke.

"Lithuania…" Estonia said, leaning over and grasping Lithuania's thin hand, "I promise you, I'm not lying! We're going home. Russia said we could. Didn't you, Mr. Russia?"

"Da," said the unmistakable voice of Russia, "I did. Get up, little Litva. It is time for you to be going home."

"See?" Estonia said softly, "He agrees."

"Home…" Lithuania murmured, "I… I think I liked that word, once."

Shakily, he pushed the covers off and climbed out of bed.

"Will we all go home?" he asked, "Is it allowed?"

"We're all going, Toris," Estonia said, "We're going home together!"

"I will not be going," added Russia's quiet voice, "This is where I must stay."

"You should probably say goodbye to him," Estonia informed Lithuania, "He… He'll miss you."

Lithuania nodded, and, vaguely, he noticed Estonia leaving him to join Ukraine near the door. He was left alone to face Russia.

"It would be seeming that this is goodbye," Russia said, smiling sadly, "I… I would say it has been fun, but… It has not been much of the funness, has it?"

"N-not really," Lithuania said, "But… Did I help, Ivan? In the end, did I do something to help?"

"Da, little one," Russia said, "You helped very much."

And then, unexpectedly and rather frighteningly, Lithuania found that Russia was hugging him.

"Thank you, Litva," Russia whispered, "Thank you for trying hard. I am sorry that you were having to go through so much pain to make me finally see things rightly."

Lithuania smiled shakily.

"My sole purpose in life is to go through pain," he said, "So don't worry about it."

"Nyet, Litva," Russia said, "I will worry. But… You will be safe from me now."

To Lithuania's relief, Russia released him, stepping away slightly.

"Go now, little one," Russia said, "I am still not completely of the betterness, so… It is not safe for you here. Eventually, I will be regretting this decision… And then I will hurt whatever is close to me."

Lithuania nodded, and then turned away, only to be halted by the sound of Russia's voice.

"Litva…" Russia said, "One more thing. Thank you…for being my friend."

Lithuania turned back, one last time, to see that Russia was crying.

"It was the least I could do," he said quietly, "G-goodbye, Russia."

"Farewell, Litva," Russia said, "I wish you happiness."

Once, Lithuania would have said the same. But his heart was heavy, his mind broken, and he could barely even remember why it was that home sounded like such a wonderful place. He could only move forward.

And so, he left the room, Estonia at his side. And he did not look back, although he knew that Ukraine had not yet followed them. He did not look back, although the image of Russia being left behind, in tears, would be fixed in his mind forever.

Ukraine paused as Estonia and Lithuania left the room, turning instead to look back at Russia. Her younger brother stood at the window, staring out at the snow.

"Russia," Ukraine said, "Will you be all right?"

"I… I do not know," Russia said, "It may be that I will not be, but… I am… I am somewhat okay again, Ukraine. I am not only thinking of blood and punishment… Well, I am not planning punishment, that is, only knowing that I have done very bad things. I have not found healing, but maybe… Maybe at some time, I will be all better. Until then… You would be wanting to stay far from me, da? For your safety, it would be best if you were staying away."

Ukraine nodded sadly.

"At the time when you think we can visit each other in safety," she said, "Don't hesitate to call. We may all be leaving, little brother… But I still love you. I'm sure that in time the others will come around."

"Da," Russia said, "I hope so. Until that day… Farewell, big sister, Katya."

"Farewell, Ivan," Ukraine replied, "I hope you find happiness. I hope we all find happiness."

She turned away, leaving Russia to stare out at the harsh, white landscape which would soon be his only companion. It was not without misgivings and regrets that she left him, her brother. But she had to go, for there was no other way to guarantee the safety of the rest of their family.

"I will return one day," Ukraine whispered, so quietly that even she could barely hear herself, "When it is safe… I will come back to see you, Russia. After all… You are family, too."

When they finally made it downstairs, Lithuania immediately collapsed in the nearest chair. He had never felt so exhausted, and for some reason, he couldn't stop shaking.

Then, almost before he had sat down, there was an overjoyed squeal from somewhere close by, and Latvia ran over.

"Lithuania!" Latvia squealed, his violet eyes alight with happiness and relief, "You're okay!"

Lithuania nodded tiredly, not even wanting to try to explain to Latvia that he was broken beyond all repair, and simply wanted to cease existing.

"T-Toris?" Latvia stuttered, "Are you okay?"

"He's just tired, Lati," Estonia said, "Come on. Let him rest."

The Estonian boy guided his smaller friend away, glancing back at Lithuania with an almost pitying look in his eyes.

It was then that Lithuania remembered Belarus, remembered that he had something else worth escaping for.

He looked around, trying to find her, and finally located the girl. She was sitting on the sofa in the other corner of the room, not looking at him. When she finally did look up, their eyes met for a moment, and Lithuania smiled slightly.

Then, Belarus looked away, a cold, almost disdainful expression on her face. Somehow, inexplicably, it was the same expression that she had always worn before they had become more than acquaintances. Somehow, it seemed, she had retreated back into her hardened shell, almost as if she had decided that Lithuania was not worth her time after all.

"Belarus, w-what's wrong?" Lithuania asked, unable to keep desperation from seeping into his voice.

She looked over again, her gaze harsh and frightening.

"Be quiet," Belarus said harshly. Then, she resumed staring at the floor, almost as if Lithuania did not exist. As if he had never meant anything to her.

And, seeing that, all that was left of Lithuania's shattered hope melted away.

When Estonia turned back to check on Lithuania, he found the older boy in tears.

"Toris?" Estonia asked, "Toris, what's the matter?"

The brunet boy looked up at him, his eyes dull and full of tears.

"What did I do wrong?" he asked, "Why won't Belarus speak to me?"

Estonia glanced over at Belarus, who was glaring at Lithuania.

"I don't know," Estonia said, "She's been depressed and unpredictable lately. I'm sure she'll get over it."

"I must have made her mad," Lithuania sobbed, "It must be my fault! But she won't even explain… She won't even look at me!"

"Ssh," Estonia said, sitting down next to Lithuania, "It's all right."

Lithuania shook his head, crying harder, and Estonia realized that now, it was up to him to comfort his shattered, hurt friend.

"It'll be all right," Estonia said.

Wrapping his arms around Lithuania, Estonia rocked the older boy back and forth.

"You need to rest," he said, "Don't worry anymore, Lithuania. Just rest."

He paused, hearing footsteps in the hall, and knowing that Ukraine had come back to join them.

"Rest now," he told Lithuania, whose sobs were growing fainter, "We'll go home in the morning."

Estonia smiled, and it was not a smile of insanity, but of pure happiness.

"We'll go home in the morning," he repeated, "We finally get to go home."

-"Soviet Insanity", End-

Agh, it's over?! *runs around my house screaming* Just like that?!

I admit, I'm probably more shocked than anyone else that I've actually finished writing this series. When I started "Interference" last October, I fully intended to write a simple, three chapter story. Then I decided to write a sequel. Then a sequel to that sequel...

And here we are today, at the end of the fourth story. This little idea of mine has grown to quite a magnitude, it would seem. According to Microsoft Word, there are would be over 230 pages in this story if all four installments were to become one! That's quite a lot of pages, and quite a lengthy project for me!

I think it's safe to say that the story isn't really over though. Feel free to imagine that they don't escape here, if you wish to be particularly morbid. But in my mind, the Baltics, Ukraine, and Belarus do leave Russia at this point, and do, in fact, get to go home. (All historical accuracy has likely left the building... My apologies.)

However, as the story has ended on a rather abrupt note, I am planning to write a series of oneshots that will take place sometime after this series' conclusion, but before "Written in Blood" begins.

And, of course, there's the aforementioned "Written in Blood", my other current project, which takes in this same universe, but in the distant future.

So, the main "Soviet Insanity" storyline has concluded, but at the same time, it continues on.

I have some ideas for other stories, but, for now, I plan to stick to simply updating "Written in Blood" fairly regularly. Perhaps this summer, when things are less busy, I'll consider taking on a new project centering around these six characters whom I've come to love writing about.

Now, all my news aside, I'd like to extend a huge thank you to all of you readers and reviewers and generally awesome people! I most certainly would not have continued this story after "Latvia's Absence" had everyone not shown such interest in a continuation. Thank you all for your amazing feedback, and for the ton of encouragement you've extended to me throughout the writing of these stories! I feel like I've really improved in my writing while in the process of writing this series, and you guys got me through it more than anyone else, so thank you! This project was just what I needed to distract myself during the winter months, when life is at its most depressing, so... OK, I can't really thank you all enough, so... AN INFINITE NUMBER OF THANK YOUS HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO YOU ALL!

Seriously, though, you guys have been amazing readers! This, I think, has been both my overall best and my most successful fanfiction yet, and as I've said, I think I've improved a lot while writing it! So thank you again. It's been a lot of fun (and it's probably never going to be fully over...)

And... So ends "Soviet Insanity", and yet, it continues on, but under a different name this time. Thank you all. :)

-Shadows in the Light of Day