The Lost Colonies of Vinland (Hetalia)

Author: Ashynarr

Summary: In 1960, the remains of two Norse villages were discovered in Canada and carefully excavated and recreated over the next few decades. With their discovery comes old memories for the twins and a past no one could have expected...

Disclaimer: Hetalia's not mine.

Warning: Vinland!Verse (AU to Real Life and Hetalia); Native American Spirits; Culture, History and Lore

Important Note: Read my Author's Page for notes on any differences between Hetalia canon and my canon. You'll be less confused about certain things that way.

Epilogue: Two Families (Some Things Should Stay Secret)

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In the end, they decided to keep Nanuq's story within the family (and that felt weird to say; up until then family had just been France and England). To everyone else, they had simply started recovering some memories when the excavations started revealing familiar sights; their survival was attributed to 'sympathetic Native personifications' and deliberately left vague.

The meeting between the two families afterwords was distinctly awkward.

"So..." England said, trying not to remember when the people across from him had enjoyed raiding his people (and the rest of Europe as well); instead, he chose to focus on his former colony. "...you've gotten your memories back?"

America shrugged. "Not a lot, and they're still kinda fuzzy, but that should change as they continue excavating. Plans are already being made to set up a fund to protect and preserve important sites like them."

Canada nodded, Nanuq curled up beside him on the couch. "Once the excavations are finished, my people plan on recreating the villages as accurately as possible, which should help a lot towards recovering more of them."

America paled. "...fuck, does this make me Canadian? Because my old village is in his land..."

Canada grinned wickedly. "It's too late, Alfred... the changes are already overwhelming you... soon, you too shall give in to free health care and hockey-mania..."

"Noooooooooo!" America cried dramatically. "Artie, save me from his Canadian-ness!" He tackled said Nation, 'hiding' behind him and shaking with silent fear (and amusement, although he'd never admit it).

England just huffed before shoving him off. "Oh grow up, Alfred; you aren't going to become Canadian. Matthew, please stop taunting your brother; I raised you better than that."

Canada blinked, the picture of innocence. "But the Nordics raised me first. I was young and impressionable back then; I obviously picked up something from them."

France chuckled in amusement, and America pouted, turning to the Nordics, who looked like they felt out of their depth in the current situation. "See, these guys who claim to be my family are cruel and vicious people; obviously you're the only family I can turn to."

Denmark chuckled. "Of course; as my kids, you two can come and hang out whenever you're in the area."

Finland frowned. "Mikkel, they're our kids as well; you aren't the only one who provided people for the villages..."

Denmark ignored the comment, instead walking over to America and slapping him hard on the back, knocking him over the table and onto the laps of the seated Nordics (Norway, Sweden, and Finland), head in Sweden's lap.

"Oops, sorry guys..." America muttered as he moved to get off, but was held in place by Sweden. The quiet Nation had a warm look in his eyes, and he put a hand on America's head, lightly grinning at the squawk of protest. Finland chuckled at the sight. "He missed you two the most, you know. Well, we all did, but him especially. You were some of the few people to not be intimidated by him; that meant a lot to him."

While America was being held prisoner on the couch, Canada watched with an amused grin. "You know, he's still ticklish along his sides." America only had time to mouth You traitor at his brother, betrayal in his eyes, before Sweden started in on him, quickly reducing the superpower to tears and choked laughter.

Denmark, gleam in his eyes, eyed the northern Nation speculatively. "I wonder... since you're twins, does that mean you're still ticklish as well?" Before Canada could react, Denmark had closed the difference and set in on him, falling much like his brother had before him.

England and France sat on the side, watching the events contemplatively. France hummed thoughtfully. "It almost feels like we have been replaced, does it not?"

England huffed. "I don't know what you're talking about, frog."

France wrapped a comforting arm around the smaller Nation's shoulders, ignoring the protests. "They have found their original parents; the ones who, if not for a certain bear, would still be their parents today. I wonder how different the world would be if that had happened..."

The sad tone in his voice made England stop struggling. After a moment of thought, he quietly responded, "We never would have had the opportunity to raise them... see them bloom from young colonies into the Nations they are today..."

"They probably wouldn't be alive today." Both turned to Iceland, who had joined them while they were lost in their thoughts. "You heard the story; we would have eventually been driven out anyway, and without the Spirit-infused blood to preserve them, they would've faded away like morning fog. In a way, Nanuq made it possible for all of us to reunite like this, as opposed to in the afterlife..."

The two were thoughtful at this. "I suppose that is true... I didn't consider it like that... a life without my Matthieu..."

"A life without either of them... Alfred might be annoying most of the time, and he might be loud, but he was cute as a child... and when Matthew moved in, the two were inseparable..." England smiled lightly as he started to lose himself to fond memories of the past.

The Nordics all perked up at the mention of the twin's childhood. Finland smiled excitedly. "Why don't we swap stories? I want to know what the two were like when they lived with you!"

France smiled as well. "And we would like to hear what they were like with you. Plus there is the benefit of completely embarrassing them with their childhood antics."

All the older Nations grinned at this, leaving the twins suddenly fearing for their prides. They tried to make a quick escape, but were caught and forced to listen with embarrassed blushes as their childhoods were cheerfully discussed among both their blood and adoptive parents.

And thus bonding occurred through the mutual traumatizing of the twins.

It was the start of a new future.

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Mikkel = Denmark

AN: The end. Well, not really, since this is the prologue to a whole new range of possibilities... I wonder how things will change now that they're all one big awkward extended family? Not even I know...

I have to say, this story turned out a lot better than expected for me. Of course, considering what standards I'm holding myself to, I've got a long way to go before I can consider myself great, but... this was good. Short, but good. And I wrote France not being a pervert (which, while amusing, does tend to grate after a while – hey, if America's not a complete idiot, France isn't a complete pervert.)

This chapter was actually written the same day as the last one, but I decided to space them out so that there was more time for you guys to vote (and to pathetically fish for reviews). It looks like there's a popular choice for the next story, so I've already started working on the outline (along with several others) and will probably get started on it within a week of this getting posted.

I'll probably toss up a one-shot collection for days in the life of the CAFE-Nordic families in this universe. It will probably involve holidays, birthdays, and things exploding. And cake.

And Tony + Mr. Puffin friendship. Because yeah. :)

Send in suggestions for what you'd like to see – I'll try just about anything (except pairings, because I want to leave those open for full stories...)

I hope you enjoyed this! Thanks for reading!