Disclaimer: Hetalia and its characters do not belong to me or Da Yuu-May - unfortunately - they belong to their respective creator/owner.
Author Note: This story is a product of my and Da Yuu-May's intellect and wonderful creativity. Enjoy and leave feedback!

Chapter 1:

Cruel Realizations

Sealand – Peter Kirkland, adopted son of Papa Berwald Oxenstierna and Mama Tino Väinämöinen, brother of Jerk Arthur, and greatest country in the world – was not feeling so great now. In fact, he felt worse than that time he had a stomachache from eating too much candy. Worse than the time he gave Hanatamago chocolate and didn't know it made dogs sick. Worse than the time he tried a bottle of alcohol from Jerk's secret stash of scotch that happened to be left on the table. Actually, that one was kinda fun...afterwards, anyway, when Papa Berwald kept giving Jerk Arthur the "Swedish Glare", as Denmark names it.

No, this was worse than all those times put together.

Because this time he just realized something that he wished he never did.

The family – his family – he…he didn't belong with any of them. He didn't belong in the Nordic family.

He didn't fit in with any of them and just thinking about it again hurt. It made him want to scream and bury his face in his arms. It also made him want to run as far away from all of them as he could and maybe that would make them go out looking for him so that he could feel like they cared. He didn't know which one he really wanted to do so he continued to sit at his upstairs window in his room and stare outside morosely.

How did this happen again? Oh, yes. The comments.

At first, it was a bunch of little things. Comments. Little comments mentioned by other countries outside the World Meetings he often tried to sneak into. "The Nordics". They didn't mean any harm, but once it had been said enough times, Sealand had a thought:

Why doesn't anyone call me a Nordic?

At first, he supposed it had to do with region. Because he wasn't geologically near them, maybe? Still, after that thought, he couldn't help but note how many times the title of his family came up in conversation. A title that didn't pertain to him because he wasn't part of any of those conversations nor was he mentioned beforehand.

"The Nordics are almost impossible to get along with during a meeting!"

"Did you see how the Nordics looked today? I guess they're tired from the government crisis, too."

"Finland really stuck up for the Nordics this time – I was surprised!"

"If I see another Nordic, I'll scream! Oh, excuse me, um, Sea…world, was it? Don't stand in the hallway like that."

That last one was particularly frustrating and he wanted to yell his name at the ignorant country, to correct everyone that he was Sealand and a country and that maybe he was a Nordic, too, because his Papa and Mama were and he was part of their family now! But at that moment, he couldn't even bring himself to utter a single word. He just…felt…so left out. He wound up standing in the hallway like that, thinking, until his family exited from the meeting. That was when he had "The Thought". That was three months ago.

Sealand sighed for what felt like the tenth time since he started sitting at his window. What was he going to do? What was he? If he wasn't a Nordic, what was he? A Kirkland? The Jerk didn't even put up a fight to get him back from Papa Berwald once Sealand auctioned himself off. (He tried not to think about the part where Sweden was the only one who even bothered to place a bid in the first place – even with that Russia-guy's weird obsession with owning everyone.)

Which brought him right back to the question, "Where did Sealand belong in the world?" Wy had Australia, and Seborga had the Italian brothers. None of them had to be auctioned off like he did.

Sealand felt like hitting himself in the head. He was getting nowhere with his thoughts. He didn't have any answers for himself. Weren't you supposed to go to your parents when you're confused about something? He didn't think he could tell his parents about this. What if it was true and they just didn't tell him he wasn't a part of the family to spare his feelings? Mama Tino does like to avoid hurting feelings. What if they don't think he's being grateful enough and send him back to the Jerk? They wouldn't do that would they? They…they love him.

…Right?

Of course! They tell him practically every day! But somehow…that thought didn't uplift him as much as he thought it would now that he had more things to think over.

A sound from downstairs caught his attention and he paused in his thoughts to listen to what it might be. He could hear the deep baritones of his father's voice and the answering, soft tones of his mother figure. Oh. His papa must have just gotten home from the convenience store. Dinner would be ready soon.

A family dinner. Family. They had pictures of the three of them all over the house. You didn't fill your home with pictures of someone you hate. That would be plain stupid.

Sealand glanced up at the clear, yet darkening sky with a lighter heart. Yes, you filled your home with pictures of people you liked. That's all there was to it. Why else have pictures, then? He pushed away from the window sill and started down the stairs at a swift pace, overcome with a sudden need to see his parents or Hana or someone! He reached the edge of the kitchen right as his Papa Berwald was walking out of it and he nearly barreled into him, burying his face into his Papa's stomach as he wrapped his arms around his middle and ignored the grunt that escaped because of this action. Mama was all about affection, too, but sometimes it was best to get a hug from Papa because he was so big and strong it felt like he was a giant bear who could beat all the superheroes in the world put together! He felt a hand come down on his head.

"Pet'r. Y' fine?"

"Uh-huh! I…um…just wanted to see you is all! Haha…ha!" Peter swallowed as he realized he sounded a bit nervous. Nervous? Why in the heck was he nervous? Weird. He did like it when his papa rubbed his hair like that, though, and he started to feel better again without realizing it.

"Peter?" his mama's voice drifted out of the kitchen. "You've been in your room for a while now. Want to come help me make tonight's dinner?"

"Um…sure! Okay!" He made his way into the kitchen and set about opening cans of food for dinner per Mama Tino's request. While Sweden was in his bedroom changing into some more comfortable clothes, it became silent in the kitchen save for the sounds of the two of them getting dinner ready for the night. Peter, left alone with his thoughts, started getting into that state of nervousness again when his mama's voice distracted him.

"So, Peter. Are you excited about tomorrow?"

Sealand stopped what he was doing. Tomorrow? What was tomorrow? Was something happening? The World Meeting wouldn't be for another three months, right? Or did he sneak a peek at the wrong calendar? Oh. Bloody. Baroness. What if he was left behind on purpose because he wasn't good at keeping track of dates! What would that say about his country!

"…eter?"

People would never take him seriously! They would say he's forgetful like the Italian countries. Or that he's lazy like that Greek one. The one with the cats. Come to think of it, he likes cats. Hana's better, but he'd like to have a cat someday as well. Just to see if he could build an army with them, too. Maybe he could do it with dogs instead. Was someone calling him?

"Peter!"

"Huh? What?"

Finland let out a relieved sigh. "What were you thinking about so hard? I asked you a question but you never answered." He peered at Sealand with his brows drawn together in a worried expression. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, of course. I mean…I'm a country! Of course I'm fine! Haha!"

Finland smiled a bit. "Good. I asked you before if you were excited to go see the family tomorrow. Do you not want to go?"

The family? Oh! The trip to Norway's. He'd forgotten about that, what with the new revelation he'd had to deal with lately. The one about not belonging. He wondered if the other's thought this, too. What if they had meetings or talked over the phone about how he had yet to realize that he wasn't welcome anymore? No, he couldn't imagine any of his family members talking like that. Especially his parents and Denmark. Denmark was his pal and pals always stick together. Even if their pal's family didn't want them anymore. This was, like, pal rule number one! Still…Denmark did hang around Norway a lot. And did whatever Norway said a lot. Maybe he would…no. He-He was getting himself worked up again over nothing. Again. Realizing that he still had not answered, he forced down the nervous, sick feeling threatening to crawl up his throat and answered in what he guessed was a normal voice.

"Y-Yeah! I can't wait." He tried to think of something more positive to keep the conversation going and not dwell on any feeling of alienation in the coming future. "Um…" Oh! "Denmark said he would try to find an elk for me and we could ride it through the woods," he blurted.

Finland had been taste testing the soup for that night at that moment, and upon hearing this, sucked it down his throat violently. After that bout of coughing finally subsided (with an appearance by Sweden to make sure everything was alright), he turned back to Sealand with a grimacing sort of smile.

"Denmark told you what now?"

Sealand, feeling relieved that he could focus on a more fun conversation instead of all these uncomfortable thoughts in his head, gave a smile. "Yeah, he said we'd go into the forest outside of Norway's house and find an elk and ride it! He said he could do it with one hand tied behind his –"

"No."

Sealand blinked at this sudden denial, feeling his soaring feelings start to take a nosedive. He turned to his papa.

"N-No?"

A nod. "No."

"But…" No? No? What did he mean by that? He couldn't go play with Denmark? "But, Denmark-!"

Sweden's face took on a slightly darker quality. "Too dang'rous. Get ya' killed. Answ'r's no."

Sealand could feel his face start to heat up with emotions as he stared at his papa who had that unmovable look on his face. He didn't get to hang out with Denmark as much as he would've liked in the first place. He didn't know if they could ride an elk or not but as long as he could spend time with his buddy, it didn't really matter, did it? Now his father was telling him he couldn't go? Why! It's not like Sealand himself was going to wrestle a wild animal – give him more credit than that – the only one that would get hurt is the Dane, and, given his daily beatings courtesy of Norway, Sealand thought Denmark could handle his own against a little deer. He would probably just watch at the most and it's better than always being stuck in the house during these visits. Just as Sealand opened his mouth to argue, no not argue, to bring up these important points to his unfair papa, his mama interrupted.

"Sealand, elks are dangerous creatures. They travel in herds and I – we – wouldn't want you to get hurt doing something that will probably send Denmark to the hospital in the least if he tries it." His Mama Tino gave him an apologetic but unwavering smile. "We want you to have fun, but be safe, too. There are…er…less dangerous things to do there."

Sealand, who had sulked over to the dining table while Finland was talking, now slumped in his chair. The feelings of unfairness at this outcome brought the other thoughts to the forefront of his mind. Because of this, he couldn't stop the voice in his head that said they didn't want him to have fun because that would make him want to stay with them longer.

TBC...