I know it's hard but you found somehow
To look into your heart and to forgive me now
You've given me the strength to see just where my journey ends
You've given me the strength to carry on

Denmark's heartbeat quickened as he stood before the humble log cabin that served as Sweden, Finland, and Sealand's home. A thousands thoughts were racing through his mind as he stared at the worn wooden door. Should he knock? Was Sweden even home? If he was, why had he wanted to see him? Was he mad at him? Did he hate him? Was this all some sort of sick, cruel joke Norway had helped him come up with? He shook his head and sighed. Whatever the reason was, it couldn't be good. Denmark took a shaky breath and knocked on the door. His fists clenched at his sides as Finland answered the door, blinking up at him in surprise.

"M-Matthias? What are you doing here?" Finland asked warily, looking ready to slam the door in his face any second. Denmark quickly forced a smile on his face and laughed, an obnoxious and obviously fake sound. "Ah, so Ber didn't tell you! He called and asked me to come visit!" Finland raised an eyebrow but stepped aside, letting the older nation in. Denmark grinned and nodded in thanks, bounding in.

'Berwald! You in here?" he called, shifting slightly on his feet. Denmark's heart was pounding in his chest and he couldn't help but notice the twitch of Finland's hand as he said his husband's name. Denmark swallowed hard and he hesitantly stepped further into the home in search of his brother.

"Oh... Matthias, is that you? I see you got my call," Sweden said in his usual monotone voice, stepping out of Sealand's bedroom. Denmark stiffened and he tried to force a smile on his face. Nodding, he slung an arm around Sweden's shoulder in an attempt to appear casual. The air was heavy with tension and now, annoyance.

"'Course I got your call! I answered it, remember silly? Anyways, why did you want me to come over?" Denmark said. Sweden's eyes momentarily flashed with anger and he grabbed Denmark by the front of his shirt. Denmark let out a strangled gasp of surprise as Sweden pulled him into his and Finland's bedroom, shoving him onto the bed before pulling up a chair and sitting down. Denmark shivered under his cold gaze and sat up, keeping his eyes to the floor.

"I called you because I wanted to sort out the rift between us. It's tearing the other Nordics apart and I'm getting sick of it. I can't change. I know that much. But I want to hear an apology from you," Sweden hissed. Denmark's throat constricted and he looked away, blinking to fight back tears. Of course that's what Sweden wanted. After years of ignoring him and acting like they weren't a family, the only reason he wanted to see him was to hear an apology from him. Denmark understood of course, seeing how horrible he was to Sweden, but why couldn't he apologize too? Sweden wasn't the only one that was hurt in their little feud.

"I can't change either. I am who I am. And I'll only apologize if you apologize as well!" Denmark replied coolly, meeting Sweden's unwavering gaze as he tried to hide the panic in his voice. Sweden's glare intensified and he got to his feet. Denmark shrank back against the bed as Sweden leaned down towards him, shaking in anger.

"Apologize?!" Sweden hissed, his voice filled with venom. "You want me to apologize?!" Denmark whimpered, the sound going unnoticed by the angered Swede. "You started wars against me, executed my rulers in the Stockholm Bloodbath, beat me, tortured me, made me feel like scum! When I tried to become independent from you, you almost killed Tino! He had nothing to do with it! And for what?! The sake of your kingdom?! To remain the most powerful out of all of us?!" Sweden snarled. His face was no longer a mask of emotion, instead twisted with rage and... grief? Denmark trembled violently, his eyes wide as the memories flashed through his mind. The wars, the beheadings, the so called "punishments" he gave...

Denmark's breathing came out in labored gasps and he hugged his knees to his chest, his eyes wide as he shook. He'd tried to suppress those memories, hoping that burying them would make it seem like they had never happened. But he should have known... He should have known that Sweden would remember. And oh God, the others... what did they think of him because of his deeds? They probably thought he was a monster. They all probably hated him; maybe they were even afraid of him. Denmark started to sob and Sweden blinked in surprise, standing up straight again.

"Förlåt mig, broder. Snälla... Jag är så ledsen.... Snälla!" Denmark cried, tears rolling down his cheeks. Sweden's face paled in shock as Denmark slipped into Swedish, apologizing fervently and asking for forgiveness. Denmark sobbed harder into his knees as Sweden stared down at him, saying nothing. He recoiled violently as Sweden gently touched his arm, rage gone and instead replaced with concern.

"Don't hurt me... I'll leave, and never come back, I swear! You'll never have to see me again! P-Please, just don't..." Denmark's voice trailed off and he went silent, a constant flow of tears streaming down his cheeks. Sweden hesitated slightly before sitting next to him on the bed and carefully wrapping an arm around his shoulders. This was so unlike him... He didn't even know why he was being sympathetic to the Danish man, after the hell he'd put him through. Sweden felt Denmark stiffen under his arm and bent slightly to look at his face. Denmark was still crying, but his face was pale and his eyes were wide in pure terror.

"Hey... D-Don't..." Sweden was at a loss for words, watching helplessly as the older man slipped further and further into panic. Denmark was shaking now, his breathing shallow and uneven. Was he having... a panic attack?! Sweden abruptly got to his feet and briefly peeked his head out the door, shouting for Finland to come as fast as he could. He rejoined Denmark on the bed, clenching his jaw in reluctance before putting his arms around Denmark in a bone crushing hug.

"I forgive you, alright? Just calm down. Everything's fine; I'm not going to hurt you." Sweden was terrible at comforting people. Denmark could hear the annoyance and fakeness in his voice. His vision began to swim and he went limp, gasping for oxygen that refused to enter his system.

"Liar!" Denmark rasped, looking up at Sweden. Sweden froze as he saw the agony, the brokeness in Denmark's eyes. The cheerfulness and pride was gone, the two qualities that Sweden had come to know as a solid part of Denmark, unbreakable and unable to leave. As Denmark once again dissolved into tears Sweden cradled the back of his head, allowing Denmark to bury his face in his chest.

"I'm not lying. I forgive you. Please.... calm down," Sweden said, pleading. Denmark's breathing started to regulate but he was still shaking, and he tried to get out of Sweden's grip. Sweden instinctively loosened his embrace, hoping that his voluntary movement would help calm his brother's distress. Denmark blinked in confusion, slowly allowing his body to relax and leaning against Sweden. This wasn't right... he was a monster, he didn't deserve this sort of comfort.

"Do you mean it? Really?" Denmark asked softly, looking up at his younger brother with slightly wide eyes. Sweden nodded slightly. "Sorry about...yelling at you... I could've just asked," Sweden said with a shaky breath. Denmark shook his head and sighed, his eyes cast down once more.

"I deserved it. I'm a monster for what I did to you and the others. There's no denying it." Sweden opened his mouth to retort and Denmark cut him off with a glare. "I wasn't finished. Yes, I'll probably always see myself as a monster and hate myself for what I did, but knowing that you've forgiven me...if you really have, that is, will give the what it takes to carry on." The slightest hint of a smile spread across Sweden's face and he hugged Denmark tighter, childishly nuzzling into his shoulder.

"I do forgive you. So stop being a stubborn Danish idiot and forgive yourself." New tears welled up in Denmark's eyes and he returned Sweden's intense embrace, burying his face in the younger man's hair and grinning from ear to ear. He could hardly believe it. After all this time, the moment he'd longed for had finally come. The bind between the two of them was far from fixed, he knew that, but it was a start. As he hugged the little brother he thought he'd lost forever, Denmark finally found his strength. He could see the future of his small family, all of them growing close once again. They would never be part of him again, not in the sense of being a country, but they would always hold a place in his heart.

Förlåt mig, broder. Snälla... Jag är så ledsen.... Snälla = Forgive me, brother. Please... I'm so sorry... Please! ((Swedish))