I do not own Hetalia

Peter gently placed the one of the many boxes onto the floor.

"Ah, I think that's the last one," he said.

"Thank you for your help, Peter," I replied. He smiled, then put on his jacket and turned towards the door. "Wait, I-"

He turned, his eyes gazed in my direction as he adjusted his jacket. "Hm?"

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to ask the seemingly easy question.

"Could you say hello to your parents for me?"

He broke eye contact with me, and his expression darkened. "Well... I don't really see Berwald much anymore. But I'll say hi to Tino for you, okay, Lukas?"

I nodded, and Peter turned and slammed the door shut, louder than he'd originally meant for it to be.

It was difficult trying to accept that Peter was nearly 40.

His hair had thinned quite a bit, and his voice had become much deeper than I ever expected. His sweet, soft accent had faded away and only traces of it were left in his speech.

I opened one of the boxes, revealing old books of mine.

Beowulf, some of the Discworld series... and a photo album.

I lifted it out, finding it to be covered with dust and grime, with the binding falling apart. I opened to the first page.

Tino and Berwald's wedding.

Emil's graduation.

Even a photo of me when I used to wear that silly sailor outfit.

I flipped through the album. Berwald, Tino, Emil, and I. Peter had even been included at some points.

I eventually found when we were all still teenagers and had first come to live in Denmark. This photo had to be the oldest, the quality was horrific, and four youthful faces did not look the same today.

There should be five of us.

Where was Mathias?

I began to frantically turn the pages, desperately searching for him. The memories flooded back, with Mathias in each one.

He'd always said that he'd take the photo, that there was no need to worry about him.

I flipped to the last page, finally revealing the Dane with the ocean blue eyes, the gravity-defying hair, and the freckles splattered across his body. His arm was wrapped around me.

My hands shook as I picked up the photo. Here he was, and based upon the angle, he took this photo himself.

I glanced at the back, noticing the sloppy handwriting.

Mathias had drawn a heart on the back, with our names written next to it.

Oh, Mathias...

I wish you could've stayed.