Title: Santa’s Little Helper
Characters: Sweden, Finland, Sealand, Hana-Tomago
Challenge: Bingo Challenge 1
Square Filled: It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Rating: PG13
Summary: Finland has his annual Christmas meltdown, only to have Sweden come to the rescue…
For Jen with love…
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Sweden thought as he looked out the window. Sealand was outside, playing in the snow with Hana-Tomago. And sound like it too… he thought when he heard a loud crash. “Wife, are you alright?” He turned to see what happened.
Finland sighed as he surveyed the damage. Luckily the wooden toys were okay, but he was still annoyed at having to pick them up. “Yes! And stop calling me that!” he said testily. As it got closer to Christmas, he became more and more agitated. Since he was one of Santa’s many helpers, Finland took that responsibility seriously and as a result, his nerves were frayed.
Sweden said nothing; instead, he calmly helped Finland pick up the toys. Taking the box, they were in before his beloved dropped them; he brought them over to the kitchen table. Finland, meanwhile, went and got the wrapping paper, bows, and tape. The two of them quietly set to work wrapping this batch of toys. When they were finished, Finland went and got a basket full of dolls that in turn were wrapped. That was followed by other toys and presents like books, sweaters, socks, electronics, and the like. Sweden raised an eyebrow as he finished wrapping the last present.
“I figured we could wrap the more adult stuff when Sealand goes to bed,” Finland answered his unspoken question.
“Okay. Break time?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll make dinner tonight.”
“Thanks, Sve.” Finland smiled as the current wave of anxiety passed. “Do you think we could have those meatballs I like for dinner?” He got up to clear the table.
“Sure.” Sweden also got up, and instead of helping Finland; he walked into the pantry and put on an apron. While there, he grabbed a large mixing bowl. Bringing it back into the kitchen, he put it on the counter. Sweden puttered around the kitchen getting the ingredients to make meatballs.
Finland came back and made himself a cup of coffee. He sat, watching his beloved cook. He inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of frying onions. It wasn’t long before that scent was replaced by the meatballs themselves being fried. When they were ready, he watched as Sweden placed them into a baking dish, before adding some chicken stock and covering the dish.
Sealand came in from playing just as Sweden was putting the meatballs into the oven. While he finished making dinner, Finland tended to the younger country. After being semi-adopted by Sweden, Sealand spent a lot of time with them, not that Finland minded. Somehow, with the addition of Sealand, their family felt complete. It was especially nice over the holidays and Finland had grown to look forward to having both Sweden and Sealand welcome him home Christmas morning, with a cup of hot chocolate. That led to unwanted thoughts about all the work he still needed to do, until Sweden and Sealand hugged him. Then everything was fine again and he could not wait for Christmas…