Turvillinen ja Vakaa

A/N: All the Nordics live in the same house to make it easier for this story to progress. Deal with it!

Part Zero

Yellow: Part 1

(Yellow: can activate the anxiety center of the brain, it is a color of warning.)

~1~
Morning

The first thing he noticed was that he could not sleep. It was well passed two AM, and the rest of the Nordic house was completely silent. There was not a single sound and no one was stirring. Even his dog was asleep, her fluffy, white form curled up at the end of the bed, ignoring the world.

He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable sleeping position and trying not to wake the slumbering, gentle giant beside him.

A draft passed through the room and he shivered, pulling the blankets up to his chin and curled up into a ball, attempting to warm his small, thin form.

He tried to close his eyes again, but nothing happened. He just could not fall asleep. He opened them again. He felt small and vunerable in the large, dark room, and was suddenly very, very paranoid.

He looked around frantically, desperately wishing someone was awake so he didn't feel so alone and so afraid.

He scooted closer to his bedmate, but made sure to leave a tiny bit of space between them.

At this point, he wished the larger form was holding him close.

-xXx-

He continued to toss and turn, but no matter what he did, he just could not get to sleep. Maybe he could just not sleep? No. He was absolutely exhuasted. But his paranoia and anxiety was keeping him up. He didn't know why he was so restless. He just was. Everytime he tried to fall asleep, some scary thought would creep into his mind and disrupt it.

He thought to get up and get himself a glass of warm milk, to calm his nerves and soothe his mind. But the problem was, he was too afraid to get out from under the safety of his covers. So he buried himself further beneath them.

Besides, if he got up, he might step on some creaky floor board and wake someone, namely his bedmate...and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Su-san would get upset if he did.

Once more he continued to toss and turn. He tossed and turned so much, that he did in fact disturb Sweden.

"Mmm..." Came his deep voice. Finland froze.

He felt movement beside him. Nerves bubbled up inside him. Oh no oh no ohnoohnoohno...

"Mmm...T'no?" Sweden said softly, deep voice hoarse.

"Su-san i'm s-"

"Ye k'y? Yer m'vin a lot." The large man said sleepily. His aquamarine eyes were open and studying Finland's face in the dark.

"I'm fine, thank you...I am just having troubles sleeping." He whispered.

"Cold?"

"A...a little."

Large, warm arms enveloped the smaller form and pulled him close. He tensed at first, but eventually relaxed. Sweden was very warm, and his grasp was very gentle. He felt a little better.

"Warmer?"

"Y-yes th-thank you."

"Mmm." and he was asleep once more, almost immediately.

And Finland felt safer, and in Sweden's strong arms, once again resumed his attempt to fall asleep.

-xXx-

It seemed that the first rays of sunlight that streamed in through the curtains glared into Finland's face, waking him from the little sleep he had gotten that night. He was exhausted. He tried to go back to sleep once more, but gave up when he realized it was not going to happen.

Yawning, he very carefully wriggled himself out of Sweden's arms, and pushed back his side of the covers, swinging his feet over the side of the bed. He put on his slippers and pulled Sweden's covers up further, and then went into the master bathroom to splash cold water on his face.

He patted it dry and then took his robe from the hook on the door. He slipped into it, tied it, and then walked out of the bathroom and bedroom. He headed down the hall towards the kitchen, his mind set on coffee.

He picked up his favorite Finnish flag print mug from beside the sink, put a coffee pod in the coffee maker, and put the cup underneath.

While he waited for his coffee to brew, he set to work mindlessly on the dishes that had not been done last night, curteosy of Denmark. The six residents of the household had worked out a chore schedule, per Sweden's request, so Finland wasn't stuck doing all the house work. The little blond didn't mind doing all the chores, but he dare not say that to Sweden. Anyway, it was nice not to be the only one doing the work in the house every once in a while.

Sweden and Norway were always very diligent with their chores. Iceland kept up for the most part, but he usually complained about it, because his teenage brain told him he'd rather be hiding out in his room doing teenage things, whether it be homework, eating, sleeping, reading, going on the computer, listening to music, or whatever. Sealand had a few chores, sometimes he did them, sometimes he didn't. It really depended on the day. Sweden usually made him, and he too, usually complained.

Then there was Denmark. He was the oldest in the household, but yet he was the least responsible. He never did his chores. Ever. He would only do them if he was threatened by Sweden or forced to by Norway. But usually he left them for someone else to do, and that someone else was usually Finland.

So thus, that was what he was doing now, Denmark's dinner dishes.

He finished putting the last plate in the bottom rack of the dishwasher just as the coffee brewed into his mug. He mixed in creamer and sugar, and then carried it to the square table, sitting down at his spot. He yawned, resting his chin in his hand, zoning out. He tapped his fingers against the mat and stared out the open window, feeling anxious all of the sudden, his mood grim. He began to very much anticipate Norway's or Sweden's awakening.

Usually the household awoke in the same order every morning. Finland was always first, and depending on the day, Sweden or Norway came after him. Whoever wasn't second was third, and then they were followed by Sealand, then Denmark, and finally, Iceland, who was usually awake by noon.

-xXx-

Tino continued to sip his coffee, when the sound of jingling collar tags announced the entry of Hanatomago and Sweden into the kitchen.

From where he was sitting, he could see them enter perfectly. Hanatomago pranced by Sweden's side, and then made her way towards her food bowl. Finland smiled when he saw them, grim expression lighting up.

"Good morning Su-san!" he exclaimed, although he was not near as cheerful as usual.

"Mornin' T'no." Sweden replied, and then retrieved his own mug from the side of the sink to prepare his own morning coffee.

Finland yawned.

"Umm...did you sleep okay?" he asked afterward.

"Ja. Fine. How'dya sleep?"

"Okay." Finland replied honestly, "I've been having trouble sleeping lately."

"Mmm." Sweden nodded, "I see."

Awkward silence.

"I am glad we don't have anything to do this weekend. We can all relax for a change. It's nice." Finland said, changing the subject.

Sweden nodded again. He was a man of few words after all.

"So, the other day..." Finland started to tell another one of his strange, awkward stories.
Towards the end he yawned once more.

"Ye tired?" Sweden asked as he joined Finland at the table and waited for his coffee.

"Ya," Finland said, "I honestly didn't sleep very well last night."

"Hmm..." Sweden studied him.

"...I-I mean it wasn't because of you of course...you were warm and cozy...I mean...I-I just...like I said...tr-trouble sleeping." Finland felt blush crawling up his cheeks, he had embarassed himself once again.

"Ye k'y?" Sweden asked.

"Ye-yeah...of course. J-just tired."

"Yer tense."

"I-I am?"

Sweden nodded and then pushed back his chair and got up, going behind Finland's. Then he very gently set his hands on his shoulders and back and began to massage them.

"Yer r'lly stiff. This sh'ld help ye r'lax."

"Th-thank you." Finland stuttered. Slowly relaxing under the Swede's touch as he rubbed out the knots and stiffness. It felt good. Finland reached for his mug to take another sip of coffee, trying his best not to move very much.

-xXx-

Moments later, the sound of someone clonking down the steps was heard. Norway entered the kitchen.

"God morgen." He said.

Sweden stopped briefly to nod.

"H-" *yawn*, "Hi Norway. How did you sleep?"

"Fine. As usual." The peculiar Nordic made his way towards the coffee maker, talking quietly to one of his invisible troll friends as he did so.

"Is this your coffee, Sweden?" He asked.

"Mm. F'rgot about it." He stopped massaging Tino's back and then went to finish his coffee, which he added a couple of spoonfuls of sugar to.

Eventually, the rest of the Nordic residence woke up, and soon everyone was gathered around the table with coffee (except Sealand, there was no way Finland was going to let a twelve-year-old drink caffiene) and Danish pastries that Denmark and Sealand had made the other day (along with a huge, holy mess in the kitchen).

"So, since none of us are busy this weekend," Denmark started, "We should all do something as a family! 'Cause we're that awesome."

"Can I sleep instead?" asked a groggy, irritable Iceland, who, judging by his messy bed-head, had very clearly been woken up.

"Icey, don't be so boring." Denmark replied.

"Hmph."

"I think spending time together would be fun." Finland agreed, "Don't you all think so?"

"Can we go to the park?" Sealand piped in, "We can have a picnic or something."

"That sounds fun," Denmark agreed, "Let's all go to the park!"

"I think I'd rather stay home and read." Norway said softly.

"No thanks," Iceland added.

"Nor! Yer bein' silly!" Denmark said, "You can bring yer books to the park. And Ice, you have to come, 'cause yer part of our family too. And plus it's a really nice day. It'd be a shame to waste it inside."

"You can always nap on the blanket if you are tired, Iceland." Finland said, "And it wouldn't be the same if we were missing a family member or two."

"I th'nk we sh'ld go." Sweden inputed quietly.

"Fine," Norway said, "I guess i'm not getting out of this one. I suppose it is nice to read under a tree on a picnic blanket."

"I'll go but i'm bringing my headphones and I'm gonna sleep the whole time."

"K! Fine with me! As long as you come." Denmark said.

"Can we play football?" Sealand asked excitedly.

"Whatever you wanna do, kiddo." Denmark ruffled his hair.

"Hey! Not cool, Uncle Den! I actually combed my hair this morning!" Sealand exclaimed, all the while giggling.

The spiky-haired nation laughed.

"Well," Finland started, "I guess after breakfast we should all get ready to go then? I'll pack the picnic basket."

"I w'nna h'lp ye." Sweden said.

"Oh, okay. That is very sweet of you, Su-san! It'll be faster that way." Finland replied, with his sweet little smile.

"Yay! Let's go!" Sealand and Denmark jumped out of their seats and started to run towards the stairs.

"Boys!" Finland stopped them.

Both blonds turned back towards the table.

"You are both forgetting something."

They looked at each other and then to the group at the table.

"Your plates, idiot." Norway answered, rolling his eyes.

"Right. Oops..." Both of them set their plates to the sink and rinsed them, before turning and heading up the stairs.

Translations

God morgen: Good morning. (Norwegian).

A/N: I'm back with another Hetalia fanfic. Nordics this time. I love them so much! I hope it turns out good. I already plotted some of the plot points, like I usually do. It won't be quite as long as "'Til Winter Ends" was, but I hope it will still be a decent length. I figured I would try experimenting with different characters. So, as always, stay tuned!

Also, question of update: Who is your favorite Nordic country and why? I love Finland. He is SO CUTE and kick-butt too!